TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Heavy rains cut off more communities in North East Region

    More communities in the North East Region are being cut off daily from the rest of the region due to heavy rains, the Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Alhassan John Kweku told the media on Monday.

    He lamented that more than ten communities in the East Mamprusi District in the early hours of Monday could not be accessed due to the torrential rains in the area.

    Mr Kweku added that several houses have been collapsed compelling occupants to move to nearby communities for safety.

    The regional director of NADMO further revealed hundreds of farmers have lost their farm products as farmlands continue to be submerged in the water.

    Mr Kweku bemoaned that the NADMO response team were doing everything possible to go to the aid of the victims, but was quick to add that, “the situation is becoming tough.”

    “The heavy rains couple with spillage of the Bagre Dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso continue to cause havoc in the region.

    “We are finding it difficult to offer the prompt assistant to the victim, because of the incessant rainfall,” he explained

    Information reaching Ghanaian Times indicated that communities around Kpankpe in the West Namprusi District have been cut off.

    Mr Alidu Musah, a teacher in the area, in a telephone chat with Ghanaian Times said residents were using canoes to cross to other communities.

    He added that several roads in the district were no more accessible.

    Mr Musah, therefore, appealed to the authorities to, as matter of urgency, come to their aid as conditions “are worsening day in day out.”

    About six people have been reported killed as a result of the floods in the area.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • NDC will create Gold Board to regulate small scale mining

    The next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will set up a Gold Board to regulate and support the small-scale mining sector.

    The service support would range from concession viability, health, safety and efficiency in mine operations, equipment financing and mining input, research and standardisation, gold recovery optimisation and land reclamation services.

    Mr John Dramani Mahama, the Flagbearer of the party, announced this on Monday during the launch of the party’s manifesto in Accra.

    He said the NDC government would develop a national policy to restructure the small-scale mining and miners to undertake skills training in land reclamation as a required component of their operations to minimise the environmental impact of their activities.

    He said the party would ban the export of unrefined as gold refineries in gold producing regions would be established in conjunction with the private sector to ass value to the metal.

    “Gold Board will issue licenses to Ghanaian companies and foreign companies with local partners, giving clear geographical boundaries as their catchment area for production,” he said.

    According to the Flagbearer, his government would introduce an off-taker system for the refined gold, with a buying programme, where the Bank of Ghana, would refine gold as part of its new precious metal reserve purchasing programme.

    Source: GNA

  • Next NDC government will protect indigenous Ghanaian businesses

    The next National Democratic Congress government will aggressively promote and protect indigenous Ghanaian businesses, to ensure greater indigenous control of the economy, Mr John Dramani Mahama, the Flagbearer of the party, said.

    The NDC Flagbearer said the NDC when voted into power would enhance the current environment for Foreign Direct Investment, adding that local economic development would be the bedrock of the country’s national development strategy.

    Speaking at the launch of the party’s manifesto christened, “People’s Manifesto” in Accra, Mr Mahama said the NDC would ensure that every district and community in country participated fully in national development and benefited accordingly.

    He said in line with article 36(1) of the 1992 Constitution, the State was mandated to take all necessary measures to ensure that the national economy was managed in such a manner as to maximise economic development and to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every Ghanaian.

    He said the party would collaborate with the private sector to establish agro-processing factories across the country based on regional comparative advantage to promote private sector development and make the Ghanaian industry internationally competitive, and to protect consumer interests and safety.

    “We will enact the National Competition Law and Consumer Protection Law, to support the establishment of a Consumer Protection Council.

    “Existing laws and policies that constrain the growth of the private sector will be reviewed, amended, or eliminated. We will continue to work with key stakeholders, such as the Association of Ghana

    Industries, the Private Enterprise Federation , the Ghana Union of Traders Associations, and other identifiable groups like the market associations, mechanics, tailors and barbers to ensure greater private sector participation,”he said.

    Source: GNA

  • NIC to deploy taskforce to enforce fire insurance

    The National Insurance Commission (NIC) will soon hit the metropolitan and district business enclaves of the country, to intensify its sensitisation and enforcement drive on the compulsory property insurance.

    The Compulsory Commercial Property Insurance Taskforce comprises officials of the NIC and other relevant stakeholders such as the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service.

    This was disclosed in a statement by the Commissioner of Insurance, Justice Yaw Ofori. He indicated that though the Insurance Law, Act 724 of 2006 made it compulsory for privately owned business entities to insure their properties, many are yet to comply.

    The law, per Sections 183 and 184, makes it mandatory for all commercial properties either under construction or completed, to have valid insurance certificates.

    The compulsory property insurance is to provide financial protection against legal liabilities arising from accidents that cause property damage, bodily injury or death to the public. Occupiers (tenants) of commercial buildings can also benefit from taking fire insurance on their businesses because they may be held liable to the public.

    Mr Ofori cited the June 3, 2015 disaster as a typical example of a commercial property that should provide compensation to victims of the accident.

    The impending enforcement exercise, he hinted is to ensure that Sections 183 and 184 of the Insurance Act are complied with in the interest of owners, occupiers and the general public.

    He lamented the fact that many people spend fortunes in setting up businesses but have a foot-dragging attitude towards paying a little premium to protect these investments. One needs not be an owner before legally insuring a property but an occupier has equal responsibilities too, he stressed.

    “People who come on to your property to transact business are seen as invitees as such and you are responsible for their well-being,” he cautioned.

    He used the opportunity to clear any ambiguity regarding what property insurance covers. According to him, property insurance is the same as fire insurance as the term is used interchangeably in certain western jurisdictions but conventionally acceptable anywhere in the world.

    He also indicated that it is not only the peril, fire that is covered but other perils such as earthquake, flood, thunderstorm, burglary are all covered under fire insurance.

    He stated that as a country, earth tremors occur and the Richter scale records between 2 to 3 tremors monthly without people noticing.

    He said although the law was not specific about churches and other religious places of worship but it is important to have them insure their properties because they could be held liable for property damage, injuries or death to the public arising out of their negligence.

    Source: angelfmonlinegh.com

  • Conduct rigorous background checks on staff to curb cyber-attacks on Banks CEO of UBA

    The Regional Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) (Group) Limited has called for the conduct of rigorous background checks on workers in sensitive roles and other staff as part of measures to curb cyber-attacks on banks and financial institutions.

    “Investigate staff living above their means and most importantly compensate adequately to protect staff from undue financial pressure.”

    Mrs Abiola Bawuah said this at the induction and award ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) Ghana’s Maiden Presidential Ball ceremony in Accra.

    The ceremony was used to induct 52 members into CICM Ghana. Seven persons were conferred with Honorary membership, thirty five were awarded as Chartered fellows. Seven persons who had distinguished themselves in various businesses over the years were also awarded as Honorary fellows.

    Mrs Bawuah recounted that as fraudsters become more agile in their methods, Banks and other financial institutions must also adapt and stay ahead of them.

    “As banks, we must ensure that security is paramount in all our decision especially in technology and processes that can expose us or our customers to cyber-attacks.”

    She said it was important that Banks and financial Institutions would embrace cyber security preventive mechanisms and work assiduously to ensure retention of trust in Ghana’s financial system.

    “Cyber threat is continuously evolving and as custodians of the financial sector, let us embrace the cyber security preventive mechanisms and work assiduously to ensure retention of trust in our financial system.”

    According to Mrs Bawuah, internal collusion remained a strong factor in most cyber-attacks.

    “The defense against cybercrime is one that has to start from within every financial institution. Internal governance, framework from internal control, Audit, compliance and risk and credit management should be at their best,” Mrs Bawuah stressed.

    She said there was also the need for constant education of bank staff and customers on the various typologies of cyber fraud.

    On the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs Bawuah said banks had been compelled to use technology more to deliver financial services.

    She said because banks and financial institutions were providing services through digital channels, there had been a reduction in face to face interaction.

    Consequently, she said banks and financial institutions had become prime targets for cyber-attacks by criminals all over the world.

    Citing the Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Department data, Mrs Bawuah said from 2016 to 2018 the country lost $97 million to cybercrime related activities.

    She called for collaboration between Bank of Ghana, Banks and other financial institutions to deal with emerging threats of cybercrime.

    According to her, cyber criminals were obtaining access to personal data via data breaches by using personal information to gain customer’s trust in scams or takeover some accounts.

    “Fraudsters are aggressively using SMS authentication with phone porting, Phone spoofing of legitimate business…scammers have attempted to record victim’s voices to bypass voice recognition, finger prints, biometric and customer personal data sourced from cyber market places.

    She said digital transformation was “changing fraud typologies and therefore to respond, banks needed to be proactive and update their fraud risk framework… Look for next generation prevention and detection solutions.”

    Dr Cudjoe Awudi, Director, Corporate Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Forestry Commission, who chaired the occasion, urged stakeholders in the financial sector to look for solutions to cybercrime as huge sums of monies were being lost.

    Dr Awudi said cyber security threats were real and scarier than most pandemics, saying however that with effective collaboration, it could be contained.

    Mr Amo Agyapong, Executive Secretary of CICM, Ghana, noted that businesses thrived on credit, hence the need for the public to understand credit issues in order to promote the growth of businesses.

    The programme was on the theme: “This Era of COVID-19, Conundrum and the Increase Cyber Security Threat in the Banking and Financial Service Industry.”

    Source: GNA

  • Todays newspapers front pages

  • We will investigate the assassination of Ahmed Suale, J.B Danquah – Mahama promises

    John Dramani Mahama, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, has vowed to find the murderers of investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale and J.B Danquah Adu, the former MP for Abuakwa North.

    He said, “We will commence investigation into the death of Ahmed Suale and other unsolved issues including the murder of J.B Danquah.”

    Ahmed Hussein-Suale who was an undercover investigative journalist and an associate of renowned investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas was murdered on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.

    Assailants reportedly rode on a motorbike and shot him thrice: twice in the chest and once in his neck while the journalist was in a moving car in Madina, apparently heading home.

    Despite efforts by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service to find the murderers and bring them to book, it appears their investigations have hit a snag.

    Ahmed played a key role in Tiger Eye Private Investigations which unravelled corruption in the Ghana Football Association in the documentary named “Number 12”.

    In the case of J.B Danquah Adu who was murdered in 2016 in his home, the accused has been remanded in prison custody for four years now without the trial showing signs of progress.

    Meanwhile, the accused has made videos from his prison cell and mentioned names but the police have yet to give the public any progress report.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We’ll track down missing excavators and hand them over to rightful owners – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has promised to ‘track down’ all the missing excavators which were reported missing under the ruling government.

    The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been criticizing the ruling government for their inability to locate the missing excavators and to prosecute the individuals who were allegedly involved in the scandal.

    The flagbearer of the NDC speaking at the manifesto launch of the party said when he assumes office as President, his government will “will track down and take the excavators that are missing; we will return them to the rightful owners”

    “We will improve the mining sector” he added.

    A next NDC administration will also:

    a. partner with mining equipment owners to support small-scale miners due to equipment challenges of the small-scale mining sector

    b. establish mini-processing plants in strategic mining locations to support and improve metallurgical recovery of mined ore, leading to increased revenue generation

    c. take stock of existing large-scale mining concessions to make abandoned lands available for small and medium scale mining operations

    d. promote legal and properly regulated and operated medium and small-scale mining to become attractive and well-paid business ventures, creating jobs for the youth

    e. re-issue confiscated legitimate mining licenses to miners

    f. return seized legitimate concessions to their owners”

    Background

    It may be recalled that in February 2020, excavators that were seized by the government from illegal small scale miners were reported missing.

    Subsequently, the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng wrote to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the disappearance of the excavators.

    The central Regional Vice-Chairman of the NPP, Horace Ekow Ewusi and some five other persons were also invited by the CID over their alleged role in the matter to assist in investigations.

    Source: Peace FM

  • NPP has superior track record in fulfilling manifesto promises – Dr Abdul-Hamid

    Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Deputy Campaign Manager of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), says the Party has superior track records in fulfilling campaign manifesto promises as against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party.

    He said, over the years, the NPP had been faithful with Ghanaians by fulfilling most of its promises and, thus, urged voters in the December polls to endeavour to judge the two political parties based on their achievements.

    “The 2020 presidential polls is unique in the sense that this is the first time the two main candidates -President Akufo-Addo and former President John Mahama have been Presidents before.

    “Therefore, voters should judge the two candidates based on their track records when they had the opportunity to serve the country,” Dr Hamid emphasised.

    Dr Abdul-Hamid, also the Minister of Inner City and Zongo Development, made these remarks at a news conference in Accra, on Monday.

    The media encounter was a platform for the NPP to provide further perspectives on which political party and presidential candidate best qualified to lead the nation.

    Dr Abdul-Hamid was of the conviction that anyone with clear and objective mind when analysing the achievements of President Akufo-Addo and Mr Mahama, would conclude that Nana Addo’s track record far outshined that of Mahama in every stretch of imagination.

    He mentioned some of the NPP government’s fulfilled promises, including the Free Senior High School policy, restoration of teacher and nursing trainee allowances, Planting for Food and Jobs, One-Constituency-One-Ambulance, establishment of Zongo Development Fund, One-Village – One-Dam, provision of government scholarships to 40 Zongo students to study medicine in Cuba and One-District-One-Factory.

    “Mahama has nothing to show for the period he had the opportunity to serve the country because he is “no keeper of promises, unlike President Akufo-Addo,” he said.

    ” Therefore, track records should be the basis for electability for the 2020 elections.

    “Those with good intentions make good promises, but those with good character keep their promises.”

    The Deputy NPP Campaign Manager also condemned the NDC Flagbearer for endorsing what he called “a tribal-laced article” that sought to create disunity in the country and asked Mr Mahama to apologise unreservedly.

    Source: GNA

  • Messages from political parties not from us Telcos

    Telecommunication companies in Ghana say unsolicited messages from political parties are not from them.

    According to the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) in a press statement copied to GhanaWeb, the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are politically neutral and that their “policies and principles prohibit the promotion of any political party”.

    “As an industry, we are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the continued growth of our democracy,” the statement added.

    The GTC explained that the political parties mostly rely on content providers to forward bulk SMS transfers on their behalf.

    The Chamber urged customers who receive these messages and would wish to unsubscribe from UECs of any kind to type STOP, press the enter key for one space, type sender’s name, and press send to the number from which the message or call came. This will stop the UEC from being received.

    “If the UECs persists, contact your service provider to omit you from the promotional list and the Regulator as last resort,” the statement added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Give us your mandate and hold us to strict accountability – NDC to Ghanaians

    The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has asked Ghanaians to return the party to power in the December 7 election and hold them to account over the promises they have made to transform lives.

    Addressing party executives and supporters at its 2020 manifesto launch at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on Monday, 7 August 2020, the National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo said the governing New Patriotic Party is confused and exhausted.

    In his view, if the NDC does not take over from the NPP, Ghanaians will be worse off in the next four years.

    According to him, it is only the NDC that can move the country in the right direction.

    Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said: “We the citizens of this noble country are now at a difficult juncture; we cannot sit any further than we have.

    “We are at rock bottom, the incumbent is not only confused and exhausted, but President Akufo-Addo is also digging an even deeper hole from which if not stopped, we will all be buried alive.

    “I, therefore, call on all our countrymen and women and every citizen to go to the poll in December and with one big push rescue Ghana and Ghanaians from this affliction. Enough is enough”.

    “Give us your mandate and hold us to strict account of the things that you find in this manifesto. Vote for President John Dramani Mahama and let us together move Ghana in the right direction because indeed Ghana must work again. Vote for the John and Jane ticket for jobs and prosperity for all not a few”.

    Some of the manifesto promises include the creation of one million jobs for the youth, legalisation of okada business, provision of free primary health care, corruption fight among other promises.

    Source: Class FM

  • NDC promises free tertiary education for people living with disability

    The National Democratic Congress has promised to offer free tertiary education for people living with a disability if the party wins the 2020 elections.

    The party also says it will maintain the payment of allowances to teacher-trainees and abolish the teacher licensure exams.

    “Maintain the status quo with regards to payment of allowances for teacher and nursing trainees. Abolish the mandatory national service and teacher licensure examinations for graduates of the Colleges of Education. Restore automatic employment of newly trained teachers. Provide free tertiary education for persons with disabilities. Support tertiary institutions to invest in virtual infrastructure,” the party promised in its 2020 manifesto.

    On law education, the NDC manifesto said: “vigorously reform and expand access to professional legal education and provide opportunities to all qualified LLB holders by granting accreditation to certified law faculties to undertake the professional law qualification course.

    “Review the Legal Profession Act in consultation with stakeholders, and establish a Council for legal education and training, to accredit certified law faculties to run the Professional Law Course subject to the oversight supervision of the Council. Establish a faculty of law in the Northern Region to serve the northern sector”.

    Source: Starr FM

  • NDC to provide free laptops to students – Naana Opoku-Agyemang

    A next NDC government will absorb half of fees to be paid by all tertiary students in the country.

    This was made known by the running mate of the NDC, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang at the manifesto launch of the party.

    “we will absorb 50 percent of fees for tertiary students,” she said and added that free laptops will also be given out to students; all of this is to reduce the burden imposed on parents following the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Below are some takeouts from the manifesto

    a. absorb fifty percent (50%) of fees of tertiary students for the 2020/2021 academic year as an incentive to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on students and parents

    d. establish free Wi-Fi zones in all public and private tertiary institutions

    e. provide free laptops to tertiary students to facilitate participation in virtual classes

    f. encourage shared laboratory experiences especially for those in the science and technology programmes and include private tertiary institutions

    g. complete the conversion of all polytechnics into Technical Universities(TUs) in line with our original vision of creating opportunities for professional mobility of practitioners

    h. reposition the TUs to produce relevant manpower for national development

    j. equip all Amatrol labs and provide appropriate training both home and abroad for instructors

    k. operationalize the National Research Fund


    Source: Peace FM

  • NYA equips teenage mothers with vocational skills

    Some fifty out of school and underprivileged teenage mothers have been given a three-day intensive Vocational training to provide them with a stable income sources to improve their standard of living.

    The beneficiaries, most of whom are between the ages of 17 to 20 were drawn from, South Dayi, Afadzato South, Central Tongu, Akatsi North and North Dayi Districts in the Volta region, and were trained in beads craft, hairdressing; which includes styling and wig cap, Pedicure, including eye lashes and temporal tattoo making and designing.

    The programme was initiated by the National Youth Authority (NYA) and sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNDPF) and the government of Canada. In all, eighteen of them were trained in wig cap making, four in hairdressing, six in Pedicure and twenty in beads craft.

    Speaking to the media during a brief closing ceremony on Saturday, 5 September 2020 at Akoefe in the Ho Municipality where training was organised, the Volta Regional Director of the NYA, Mr Yao Semorde said the initiative is to discourage teenage pregnancy and also to empower teenage mothers especially the underprivileged ones.

    ” We realized that, when young girls or adolescent girls get pregnant it actually truncate their dreams, they are not able to realise their full potentials and source of livelihood becomes a problem, at times too the parents themselves do not have the means so it difficult for this young girls to actually make earns meet so there the need to give them this livelihood skills” he said.

    He noted that, out of the three days training, which commenced on Thursday, 3 September and ended on Saturday, 5 September 2020, the beneficiaries were also taken through, basis of entrepreneurship, adolescent reproductive health and moral education, adding that the training will go a long way to transforming their lives saying “Before they leave here they will have a better understanding of their sexuality then they will know that, now that I’ve acquired this skills I should be able to use this skills to help myself so that I don’t rely on okada boy or taxi driver giving me 10 cedis or 5 cedis a day”.

    One of the facilitators, Mrs Gifty Dorga who trained some of the beneficiaries in hairdressing and wig cap making indicated that, it takes ” two or three years to learn all these and to perfect them but they used three days only, it was really difficult combining something that I will teach for three years in these few days” she then praised them revealing that, ” it was really difficult but they picked it up early, most of them can do this without me and I even asked those that are near me (Ho) to come and perfect it” she said.

    An 18 year old underprivileged girl, Constance Eyram Amenu, who completed her secondary school in Mawuko Girls Senior High School in 2019 and had the opportunity to participate in the programme and learned hairdressing told journalists that ” We got employment and we will not be vulnerable in the society, I’ll not beg at the end of the day, after all I can start doing something out of this to get some money for myself “.

    Another facilitator who taught beads craft, Mrs Diana Mensah also reiterated that, it was difficult to teach them but she is grateful that, “majority of them, those that are the fast leaners were able to picked it up, the slow learners too are trying”. She then advised the girls to make use of whatever they have gotten from the training to changed their lives for good, charging them to desist from actions and inactions that had led them to become teenage mothers and be of good moral in their societies.

    The third facilitator, a male fashion stylist who took some of participants through Pedicure, eye lashes and tattoos making, Sammuel Koku Anane Gbidi, praised the beneficiaries of showing good moral and enthusiasm during the training and encouraged them to make a good use of the knowledge and skills acquired.

    Mr Yao Semorde emphasized that, NYA will be considering tracking of the beneficiaries to make sure that, they (the beneficiaries) put the skills into practice in thei various communities, adding that more of such vulnerable ones will be engaged in the region in the subsequent times.

    All the fifty participants were also given un disclosed amount of start-up token including working tools and equipment to enable them establishe themselves.

    A 20-year-old Junior High School leaver, Patricia Mawunyo who learnt Pedicure at the programme was full of joy and thanked the organizers. She said, with the skills acquired, she will be able to earn money for a living and also take care of her child.

    Source: Albert Kuzor, Contributor

  • Thank you for giving us a region and development- Kpembewura to Akufo-Addo

    The Overlord of Kpembe Traditional Area, Kpembewura Daari Haruna Bismark says the people of Savannah Region cannot thank President Akufo-Addo enough for making their dreams of having a region a reality.

    The Kpembe Traditional Area falls within the Savannah Region, one of six newly created regions by President Akufo-Addo.

    Addressing a durbar in honour of Vice President Bawumia on Sunday, September 6, 2020, the Kpembewura expressed delight and gratitude to the NPP government for fulfilling that dream, as well as bringing numerous development to the area.

    “Your Excellency, it is my singular honour to, on behalf of the traditional authority of Kpembe, express our thanks and gratitude for the numerous development projects that the area is benefitting from. Principal among them is the creation of the Savvana Region,” said the Kpembewura.

    “Others include market projects, over 15 public toilet facilities, school projects such as the one currently under construction in Kpembe, a community centre at Kuwani, the construction of Salaga town roads, the construction of a rice milling factory, among others.”

    The traditional ruler also expressed special gratitude to the government for the water project in the area to solve their perennial water problem.

    “Your Excellency, another project worthy of particular mention is the Salaga urban water project which is almost completed. This project solves a long-standing historical problem, notably referred to as “nchu ma worta’.”

    While thanking the Akufo-Addo government for its commitment to the area, the Paramount Chief also lamented the poor state of facilities in other areas within the community as a result of neglect by previous regimes.

    He appealed to the Akufo-Addo government to give them more development, especially the construction of more roads for some deprived communities in the area and uplifting of infrastructure for the Nursing and Midwifery Training School in the area.

    In his address, Vice President Bawumia assured the Kpembe Wura and his community of the Akufo-Addo government’s commitment to evenly spread development to all parts of the country, including the Kpembe Traditional area.

    He said President Akufo-Addo has demonstrated his commitment to this by the level of development he has brought to the area in his first term, as acknowledged by the Kpembewura.

    Source: Atinka Online

  • 3 organisations launch road safety campaign in Central Region

    The Central Regional office of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has launched “save lives and cost” a new campaign aimed at curbing the rate of road crashes in the country.

    It is being undertaken in collaboration with Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) and Bidi Group Limited to support public education on road safety with the sharing of additional information on the existing public education.

    As part of the campaign, the NRSA would be carrying out public education at various locations in the region while items at GOIL shops had been embossed with road safety messages to achieve the needed target.

    In an address at the launch, the Regional Manager of the NRSA, Mrs Linda Afotey-Annang, explained that the collaboration involved in the project underscored the need for all stakeholders to work together in order to deal with the challenging rate of road crashes in the country.

    She indicated that the region recorded 470 road accidents involving 817 vehicles and 108 pedestrian knockdowns between January and July, this year.

    According to her, 145 people were killed while 824 individuals suffered injuries as a result of the road crashes.

    She said: “Compared with the same period in 2019, there was a two-per cent reduction in the number of crashes reported, 27 per cent reduction for pedestrian knockdowns as well as a three per cent for the injured.”

    Mrs Afotey-Annang, however, said the number of persons killed as a result of the crashes increased by 48 per cent, saying,” This is quite disturbing, particularly for the involvement of vehicles associated with public transportation.

    “We have a collective responsibility to work together to make the road safe for ourselves as well as the public. Strong partnerships with corporate citizens often send the right signal that we care about the profit but also care for the society,” she said.

    She expressed optimism that the initiative would motivate other corporate bodies to partner with the NRSA in implementing other road safety campaigns.

    In his remarks, the second-in-command at the Central Region MTTD, ASP Bismark John Setuchie, urged transport operators to observe all road safety precautions in order to minimise the rate of road accidents.

    He cautioned that the police would arrest and prosecute drivers who flouted road safety regulations, saying, “We are ready to deal with all road safety offenders in this country.”

    He commended the NRSA and the corporate bodies working to sensitise the public on road safety precautions and urged the public to support efforts in reducing the rate of road crashes.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Lactating mother jailed for harming step daughter

    A 21 year-old lactating mother and a seamstress apprentice who harmed her step daughter at Nyankoman in the Aowin Municipality has been sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Enchi District Magistrate court.

    The court in addition ordered Mary Ackaah, alias Assor, to pay a fine of GH¢1,200 or in default serve six months in prison.
    She was convicted on her own plea of guilty.

    Detective Inspector Joseph Kwadwo Agyare, prosecuting the case, told the court presided over by Mr Eric Baah Boateng that Hannah Mensah, the complainant, resides at Yiwabra, while Kwame Agyemang, a witness, is one of the parents of the victim (name withheld) who is eight years old and a primary two pupil.

    He said the victim lived in the same room with her father, siblings and the convict at Nyankoman.

    Errands

    The prosecution said at about 10. a.m on May 26, 2020, Mary invited the victim to run some errands for her, while she was playing with her friends in the neighbourhood but the victim did not respond to the call.

    He said later in the day, the victim went home to have her supper and Mary upon seeing her got upset and decided to lash her with a cane but in the process the cane hit the victim’s left eye which became reddish and swollen.

    Inspector Agyare said Mary kept what happened to herself and even warned the victim not to tell the father or else she would subject her to severe beatings.

    Victim lied

    He said when the victim was questioned by the father about her injury, she lied that it was his younger brother who hit her left eye with a stick while they were playing and so the father sent her to the Episcopal health centre at Nyankoman for treatment.

    The prosecution said on May 27, the complainant paid an unannounced visit to the victim but seeing her condition, she rushed her to the Presbyterian health centre in Enchi, where a referral note was issued to her to send the victim to the Agogo Hospital in the Ashanti Region to seek further medical attention.

    He said the complainant thereafter made a report at the Enchi Police station, where a medical report form was issued to her on behalf of the victim for a medical examination, and later Mary was apprehended.

    Inspector Agyare said a medical report from the hospital indicated that the victim was totally blind in the left eye.

    He said the convict confessed to the act in her caution statement and after investigations she was charged with the offence.

    Source —GNA

  • NHIS pays GH¢915 million claims to service providers

    The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has paid GH¢915 million claims from January to August 2020 to service providers.

    In the order of payments, a total of 4,292 service providers comprising 2,993 public health facilities, 1,038 private health facilities, 228 mission health facilities and 33 quasi-government health facilities have been paid.

    This was in a statement by the Corporate Affairs Directorate of the Authority and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

    It said the public health facilities received GH¢491,386,957.09 representing 57.3 percent, while the private service providers were paid GH¢254,873,282.36, 28.7 percent.

    The statement said mission health facilities received GH¢151,747,098.00 representing 16.6 percent, while quasi-government service providers got GH¢17,705,908.36, representing 1.9 percent.

    The total National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) facility breakdown under primary care is 353 hospitals, representing eight percent, 21 polyclinics (zero percent), 172 pharmacies (four percent), 143 maternity homes (three per cent), 68 laboratories (two percent), 726 health centres (17 percent), 51 diagnostic centres (one percent), 376 clinics (nine percent) and 30 chemical shops (one percent).

    It included; 32 Ultrasound centres (one per cent) and 2318 CHPS Compounds (54 per cent).

    The Authority entreated NHIS Service Providers with enquiries regarding their claims to submit them to claimspayment@nhia.gov.GH for swift redress.

    It also requested that all claims be submitted on time to enable the Authority to provide a quicker payment turnaround time.

    Source: GNA

  • President Akufo-Addo hints of relief package for private schools

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has disclosed that the government, through the Ministry of Education, is planning a relief package for private schools whose finances have been affected by the coronavirus-induced school shutdowns.

    “We have been able to find some way for small, medium enterprises by supporting them with a relief package. I think we should also look at how to support private schools, too. We know the critical role they play in our education sector,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo said the Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and his team will look at the matter and find a way to provide some support to private schools.

    The President in March this year directed schools, both private and public, to shut down when the country recorded its first two cases of the global coronavirus pandemic.

    Though government has allowed the partial reopening of secondary and tertiary schools, the President, in his 16th address to the nation, announced that pre-secondary schools will remain closed until January 2021.

    The Coalition of Private School Teachers kicked against this decision by the government, complaining that it would deprive them of their livelihoods as some school owners have already laid off staff while others have stopped paying salaries to their teachers.

    Meanwhile, final year Senior High School (SHS) students have completed their West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) across the country, while their junior counterparts at the basic level are yet to begin their Basic Education Examination Certificate (BECE).

    Government, as part of efforts to support these candidates at basic level, directed the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to provide one hot meal a day for both public and private final year JHS students and their teachers.

    About 584,000 students who returned to school on June 29 to prepare for the BECE are benefitting from the intervention, in addition to 146,000 school staff, for a period of 20 school days, starting from August 24 to September 18. In all, there are about 730,000 beneficiaries of the intervention.

    The intervention has brought relief to caterers who provide school meals for public basic schools under the Ghana School Feeding Programme since their work was suspended following the closure of all schools in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

    Source: Business 24

  • Suncity Radio CEO laments lack of development in Sunyani

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sunyani-based Suncity Radio, Mr. Ransford Antwi has bemoaned what he says is the age-old neglect of a modern or standard sports stadium for the Sunyani municipality.

    Mr Antwi, an indigene of the area, noted with sadness, the persistent neglect of the Bono regional capital by successive governments (both NPP and NDC) in providing this all important facility, for the development of football and other sporting disciplines in the area.

    The CEO was contributing to Suncity Radio’s flagship programme, “Suncity Sports” anchored by Akosua Frimpomaa and Kofi Asoma Reagan.

    He observed that if there was any regional capital in Ghana that needed a modern sports stadium, it was the Sunyani municipality- the capital of the Bono Region.

    “The Bono region has produced great sporting talents like Agyemang Gyau, Atta Kwame, Adansi Fofie, Barnie Jnr, Barnie Snr, Kwasi Owusu, Dan Owusu, Saara Mensah, George Arthur, Kwasi Appiah, among others, and serves as the food basket of the nation. It’s very sad and pathetic how the area continues to lag behind when it comes to the provision of infrastructural projects and programmes by both NPP and NDC presidents, Regional Ministers, MPs, MCEs and the host of other political and public office holders”, he lamented.

    He said considering the immense contributions of Sunyani and the entire Bono region towards the socio-economic and political development of Ghana, it is very sad and disheartening to treat the area and its people this way.

    Mr. Antwi therefore called for an equitable distribution of the national cake, stressing that politicians in Sunyani and the Bono region have not been fair to the people of the area. “A child cannot attack responsible parents before being fed. It’s the parent’s duty to know the number of children or mouths they have to feed fairly.”

    The media magnate who spoke passionately, appealed to chiefs, opinion leaders and politicians to rise up to the urgent call so that they will not be condemned by posterity.

    Mike Duodu/Suncity.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Kumasi to get theatre – Tourism Ministry, Chinese company sign MoU

    The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Bengbu International Technology and Economic Cooperation Limited (CBITEC), a technical conglomerate that specialises in international design, construction, and management of projects, for the construction of a modern theatre in Kumasi.

    The MoU was signed in Kumasi on Saturday, September 5, 2020.

    The sector Minister, Mrs. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, signed for the ministry, while Mr. Li Zhongchun, the business executive of CBITEC, signed for the company, with the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Kumasi, Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, serving as witness.

    Designed for large conferences, drama and music performances, and modern dance, the theatre will seat 2,000 people in the main auditorium and also contain a 600-capacity hall for conferences and meetings.

    The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has provided a parcel of land for the project.

    Significance

    Mrs. Oteng-Gyasi said the theatre, when completed, would not only add to the beauty of the architectural skyline in Kumasi but also inject new energy into the arts and culture space in the metropolis.

    She said it would also increase business and events in tourism, create jobs, as well as have a spillover effect on the ancillary arts and culture sector in the region.

    She said the project was expected to commence next year, after preparation works had been done.

    Rankings

    According to her, the 2020 Global Peace Index Report ranked Ghana as the most peaceful country in West Africa and the third most peaceful on the continent, adding: “This enviable position has great marketing potential for the creative arts sector.”

    Mrs. Oteng-Gyasi said a thriving creative arts industry in Africa could trigger the potential growth of players in the sector, such as artists, entrepreneurs, distributors, and support services for accelerated growth.

    She said the government was exploring comparative advantages and potential in the various regions to see how culture and arts could drive the local economy for development.

    For instance, she mentioned the Kente weaving industry in Bonwire, Ntonso, and Adanwomase as places that could be offered the necessary support for job creation, adding that the sod would soon be cut for expansion works in those areas.

    Commendation

    The minister commended the Kumawood movie industry for its contribution to the film industry, which she said was also a tool that could be harnessed to revolutionise the creative arts and culture industry.

    She said the Creative Arts Bill, when passed into law, would also help put the Ghana movie industry on the global map like Nollywood, Bollywood, and Hollywood.

    Appreciation

    Mr. Osei Assibey expressed appreciation to the Asantehene for providing land for the project.

    He also thanked the ministry for selecting Kumasi for the project and gave an assurance that the KMA would offer the necessary support for the execution of the project.

    He said plans were underway for the construction of a cultural museum in Kumasi by the assembly, saying the architectural designs and a concept paper had already been prepared.

    The Apagyahene of Kumasi, Nana Owusu Afiyie IV, who represented the Asantehene, also lauded the government for the decision to construct a theatre in Kumasi.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Chereponi defies heavy rains to give Bawumia a fitting reception

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s visit to Chereponi on Saturday was heralded with a heavy downpour, but enthusiastic constituents defied the rains to welcome him.

    The Vice President who is on a working visit of the northern parts of the country, visited Chereponi on Saturday on the third day of his tour.

    As the Vice President’s entourage arrived, news of his arrival spread through town and scores of people defied the heavy rains and trooped out to welcome him.

    Before the Vice President and his entourage proceeded to the venue for his interactions, he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Chereponi Traditional Area, Nyanyame Kofi Malaba VIII.

    The Paramount Chief commended Dr. Bawumia for his frequent visits to the area since becoming Vice President, as well as President Akufo-Addo for his flagship programmes, which he said are benefitting the poor.

    The Paramount Chief was particularly grateful to the government for the Free SHS policy, as well as the One Village One Dam initiative, which he said have brought relief to farmers.

    He also expressed appreciation to the government for bringing development to Chereponi, citing the water system in the area and the rehabilitation of roads in the area.

    Dr. Bawumia who addressed identifiable groups inside a church auditorium but scores of people spontaneously trooped to the ground to catch a glimpse of him.

    Dr. Bawumia said President Akufo-Addo has proven to be a leader who is for inclusive development through policies such as Free SHS, One Village One Dam, Planting for Food and Jobs, among others.

    The Vice President urged them to reject former President Mahama’s lure for a second chance because his track record of cancelling pro-poor programmes such as teacher and nursing trainee allowances as well as Arabic instructors allowance, is an indication that he cannot be trusted with the good policies initiated by President Akufo-Addo.

    Dr. Bawumia stressed that Nana Akufo-Addo as a development leader, has brought development to Chereponi in just three-and-half years and listed a number of projects in various towns within the constituency.

    He urged them to vote massively for President Akufo-Addo in December to continue with his good works.

    As the Vice President’s entourage set out to exit the town after the programme, scores of enthusiastic people on motorbikes and on foot, sang and escorted him.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • NAM1’s case adjourned again to October 1

    The Circuit Court in Accra presided over by Her Honour Ms. Ellen Asamoah has adjourned the case in which the Chief Executive officer (CEO) of Menzgold Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM1) has been arraigned to October 1, 2020.

    The State had previously on June 24, 2020 filed new charges against him at the Accra Circuit Court.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare then told the Court that his directives were that he should hold on to the new charges and the plea taking of the accused.

    On July 20, ASP Asare told the court that, they were seriously working to advise the court on the matter.

    To this end, he prayed the court for a long adjournment after which they would have been able to advise the court on their intention of prosecution on the matter.

    He said when the advice is ready they will issue hearing notice to the accused persons to appear before the court to do the needful.

    But in court on Monday, prosecutor prayed for an adjournment and it was granted.

    The accused person, NAM1 was present in court.

    Bail

    The Circuit Court on July 26, 2019 granted NAM1 bail in the sum of GH¢1 billion cedis with five sureties, three to be justified.

    He had pleaded not guilty to all initial 13 charges levelled against him by the State. The state had since amended its charged sheet which is yet to be moved.

    He is also to report to the police every Wednesday at 10:00 hours.

    He was initially charged with abetment of crime, defrauding by false pretences, carrying on a deposit-taking business without licence, sale of minerals without licence, unlawful deposit-taking, and money laundering.

    It is alleged that the accused had taken various sums of money, totaling GH¢1.6 billion from customers.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • President Akufo-Addo attends 57th ECOWAS Summit in Niger

    The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left Ghana on Monday, 7th September 2020, to lead the Ghanaian delegation to the 57th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, which is being held in Niamey, capital of the Republic of Niger.

    The meeting of the Heads of State will discuss matters the COVID-19 situation in West Africa, the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme, and the political impasse in Mali. Additionally, they will also consider reports form the 44th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level, and the 84th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, which preceded the Summit.

    President Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway MP; Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, and officials of the Presidency and the Foreign Ministry.

    The President will return to Ghana on Monday, 7th September 2020, and, in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.

    Source: presidency.gov.gh

  • Include us in bailout package – Menzgold customers to government

    The Coalition of Aggrieved Customers of Menzgold wants its members to be included in the bailout arrangement for collapsed fund management companies.

    They contend that since Menzgold falls under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), they also fit in the category of beneficiaries of the bailout package.

    “We write on behalf of members of the Coalition of Aggrieved Customers to request that customers of Menzgold Company Limited be made part of the beneficiaries of the bailout fund for depositors of collapsed institutions by Securities and Exchange Commission,” the Menzgold customers indicated in a statement.

    According to them, over 60 people have died while many others are living with severe health issues with others also left bedridden, as a result of the shut down of Menzgold.

    Meanwhile, SEC has agreed to cover all payments due the clients as per amounts validated.

    SEC has validated GH¢1.08 billion claims put in by clients of 22 fund management companies (FMCs).

    In a statement issued last Wednesday evening, the SEC further clarified that clients of 22 companies against whom the official liquidator (OL) had secured orders would form the first batch to receive payments, while another petition was pending in court to secure orders for the second batch, which would cover clients of about 28 FMCs.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • NHIS pays GH¢915 million claims

    The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has paid GH¢915 million claims from January to August 2020 to service providers.

    In the order of payments, a total of 4,292 service providers comprising 2,993 public health facilities, 1,038 private health facilities, 228 mission health facilities and 33 quasi-government health facilities have been paid.

    This was in a statement by the Corporate Affairs Directorate of the Authority and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

    It said the public health facilities received GH¢491,386,957.09 representing 57.3 per cent, while the private service providers were paid GH¢254,873,282.36, 28.7 per cent.

    The statement said mission health facilities received GH¢151,747,098.00 representing 16.6 per cent, while quasi-government service providers got GH¢17,705,908.36, representing 1.9 per cent.

    The total National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) facility breakdown under primary care is 353 hospitals, representing eight per cent, 21 polyclinics (zero per cent), 172 pharmacies (four per cent), 143 maternity homes (three per cent), 68 laboratories (two per cent), 726 health centres (17 per cent), 51 diagnostic centres (one per cent), 376 clinics (nine per cent) and 30 chemical shops (one per cent).

    It included; 32 Ultrasound centres (one per cent) and 2318 CHPS Compounds (54 per cent).

    The Authority entreated NHIS Service Providers with enquiries regarding their claims to submit them to claimspayment@nhia.gov.GH for swift redress.

    It also requested that all claims be submitted on time to enable the Authority to provide a quicker payment turnaround time.

    Source: GNA

  • Six reported dead in Bagre Dam spillage

    Six people have reportedly died in the Upper East region from the Bagre Dam spillage from Burkina Faso.

    The situation has been compounded with heavy rains in the area.

    Speaking on Morning Starr on Monday, John Kwaku Alhassan, North Eastern Regional Director of NADMO confirmed that two people were killed as a result of the dam spillage while efforts are made to confirm the other deaths.

    “We lost two lives and in some communities, some farmlands have been submerged in water,” Mr Alhassan told host Francis Abban.

    Several farmlands have also been submerged by water from the Bagre Dam with several farmers losing their livelihoods and farm produce.

    Information sent to NADMO from Sonabel, the agency responsible for the management of the Bagre and Kompienga dams, indicated that the volumes of spilled water could be heavier this year.

    The upstream level of the Bagre Dam as of Tuesday, August 11, 2020 was 234.97 metres. The rate of filling is 99.60 per cent compared to 62.44 per cent on the same date in 2019.

    The spill gates have been opened, with an average discharge/flow of 76.50 cubic metres per second as of August 10, this year.

    For the Kompienga Dam, the upstream level was 172.54 metres. The rate of filling is 39.26 per cent compared to 28.76 per cent on the same date in 2019.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Ghana, Nigeria propose joint council to address bilateral trade issues

    Ghana and Nigeria are proposing a joint business council that would govern matters of trade and investment between the two countries.

    The initiative is as a result of the recent high-level exchanges between the two West African neighbours over the closure of Nigerian owned alleged to have breached Ghana’s domestic investment laws.

    The proposal was disclosed when the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Femi Gbajabiamila called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, Accra on Thursday.

    Mr Gbajabiamila, who is at the head of a Nigerian delegation, was on a two-day visit to Ghana to hold talks with his Ghanaian counterpart, Speaker Prof. Mike Aaron Ocquaye, on relations between the two nations following the implementation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act 2013, Act 865, which Nigerian traders in Ghana say was inimical to their businesses.

    Mr Gbajabiamila noted that perceived frosty relations between Ghana and Nigeria were mere “chatters” due to “misconceptions and misinformation” by people as to the real issues of Nigerians in Ghana.

    He said the relations and bonds of friendship forged over decades between the two countries, should not be allowed to wither because of misunderstandings and difficulties that could be resolved amicably through dialogue.

    The Nigerian House of Representatives Speaker told the President that since his arrival in the country, he and his delegation had met and educated a section of the Nigerian community in Ghana on some of the misconceptions they held which had generated the impasse between the two nations.

    He noted that during their discussions with officials of the Ghanaian Legislature, both sides resolved to undertake the necessary actions to maintain the cordiality between the two nations, because “there cannot be a talk on Africa without a mention of Nigeria and Ghana.”

    “It is that combination of strength that we seek to protect, not just for today, but for tomorrow and the future moving forward,“ he said and appealed to the President to have the GIPC Act 865 reviewed to enable his countrymen and women trading in Ghana to meet the demands of the law.

    Mr Gbajabiamila suggested a Ghana – Nigeria business council backed by legislation by both countries as the roadmap for a successful trade and business regime between the two countries.

    “There is nothing as good as a bilateral trade agreement backed by two countries to give better results,“ he noted, appealed again to the President to give critical attention to the outcome of discussions that he had with the Ghanaian legislature in order to sustain the enviable relations between both nations.

    On his part, President Akufo-Addo made reference to the strong historical relations between Ghana and Nigeria, which continued to wax stronger.

    He said that he was alarmed by the tone and issues that emerged in the statement that was issued by the Nigerian information minister, and had to.speak to the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari immediately when the matter came up to find a solution to the issue

    The President said it was heartwarming that officials of both countries, in the spirit of maintaining the friendship between Ghana and Nigeria, had gotten together to chart a way forward.

    He praised the suggestion for the setting up of a Ghana/Nigeria Business Council to oversee the trade and investment matters between the two countries, saying, “It may well be long overdue, but the time has come for it to be done and I think it is a worthwhile step that is being taken.“

    The President told the delegation that he had in discussions with his Nigerian counterpart mooted the idea of setting up a Joint Ministerial Committee to shepherd issues between the two countries and report outcomes to both presidents on how matters should be resolved.

    He said he hoped to advance that discussion to a conclusion when he meets President Buhari the ECOWAS Summit in Niamey, Niger next Monday,

    The President told the delegation that the government of Ghana took the concerns raised by Nigeria seriously and would seek a common ground to address the challenges.

    “The review that you are asking for makes a lot of sense for our mutual prosperity, the request would be treated seriously…It is important that we preserve what has been built if we cannot enhance it,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo assured the Nigerian delegation of the safety of Nigerians in Ghana, many of whom have lived in the country for decades without any problems.

    “That culture of cooperation and brotherliness will continue…Whatever initial problems we have will be resolved,” he said.

    Source: GNA

  • Government to roll out GH¢ 600 million stimulus package for tourism sector

    The Government intends to roll out a Stimulus package of GH¢ 600 million cedis to the tourism sector.

    The move forms part of measures to cushion operators in the hospitality industry due to the hazardous effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah dropped the hint at the 2019 Western and Western-North Regional Tourism Awards in Takoradi.

    The annual awards scheme which aims at rewarding excellence in the hospitality industry to stimulate healthy competition in the tourism industry was on the theme, “Growing Tourism Beyond The Return”.

    Mr Darko-Mensah lauded the hardworking staff in the hospitality industry for the successful Year of Return programme.

    The Regional Minister said 200,000 more visitors from the diaspora were expected to visit tourist sites in the country as the COVID-19 scourge continues to go down.

    He said the government was putting long time sustainable measures to eradicate the pandemic.

    The Regional Minister who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi said the Region had been making giant strides to be the Number One tourism destination in Ghana but for the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Mr Darko-Mensah said the government continues to develop the tourism sector to showcase the Region globally.

    He said the Spanish government has set up a development platform for the Region, adding that the region abounds in tourist attractions such as Nzulezo(village on stilt) which is a multi-dollar facility and stressed the need for people to invest in the facility.

    He said the Western Regional Coordinating Council the Takoradi would be holding a carnival performance and invited the rest of Ghana and the world to witness the street carnival on December 25 and 26, this year.

    He said the Region observed the first-ever gold museum as part of the positive outcomes of tourism and appealed to the youth to venture into the tourism industry and set up their businesses.

    The Director-General in charge of Operations of the Ghana Tourism Authority(GTA), Mr Ekow Sampson said tourism was another vibrant sector and asked industrial players to strive hard to make the sector attractive.

    He said under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, the 2019 Year of Return was successful.

    Mr Sampson said though the COVID-19 had impacted negatively on the tourism industry, stakeholders must find ways to sustain the industry by observing the safety and hygienic protocols to make the industry bounce back.

    He was worried that the industry was being confronted with illegal operators who flout the law and added that the GTA and other stakeholders have set up the Tourism Site Regulation 2020 to regulate tourist sites in the country.

    Mr Sampson announced that the GTA would set up a Hospitality Training Institute in the country which would be funded by the World Bank as part of initiatives to address quality tourism delivery in Ghana.

    The Western Regional Manager of the GTA, Mr George Nkrumah, whose speech was read for him, said there was a diasporan initiative in the 2019 Year of Return charter which has been eroded by the COVID-19 thereby eroding the gains in the Industry.

    The first Regional tourism personality of the year award went to Dr Stephen Saforo Yirenkyi, while the media of the year award was grabbed by Focus and Spice media.

    The best chef of the year award went to Mr Samuel Agyekum of the Kingstel hotel at Apollo with the site guide of the year going to Mr Emmanuel Amuah.

    The visitor attraction site of the year went to Ankasa Forest Reserve. The tour operator of the year went to Flylinks Travels at Anaji with Sadak car rentals grabbing the car rental service award.

    The traditional caterer of the year award was scooped by “God Is Love chop bar” while the Fast Food Establishment of the Year award went to Latara restaurant.

    Source: GNA

  • North East region: Four persons confirmed dead in flood

    Four persons have been confirmed dead following a weeklong heavy downpour and floodwaters from the spillage of the Bagre Dam in the North East Region.

    Three persons are said to have drowned in the flood in the Bunkpurugu District and East Mamprusi Municipal after a heavy downpour last week, while another person also drowned in the floodwaters from the spillage of the Bagre Dam in the West Mamprusi Municipal.

    Several residents along the white volta in the Mamprugu/Moaduri and West Mamprusi have been displaced. Large acres of farmlands have also been submerged and business and trading activities halted due to flooding resulting from the spillage of excess water from the Bagre Dam by Burkinabe authorities.

    Rescue mission

    The North East Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Alhassan John Kweku who confirmED the incident to the Daily Graphic said personnel of the Operation ThunderBolt, a disaster taskforce have been dispatched to the affected areas to rescue the victims.

    He said his outfit was also on the ground assessing the extent of damage caused by the flood to enable them to provide emergency relief items to the victims.

    “So far I can’t quantify the extent of damage caused but I can confirm that four persons have lost their lives in the weeklong heavy downpour and floodwaters from the spillage of the Bagre dam. Our team are on the ground rescuing victims and taking stock of the damage caused,” he said.

    Sensitisation

    Mr Kweku indicated that NADMO was also sensitising the inhabitants along the white Volta through community announcements in churches and markets for people to vacate to higher lands, adding that most farmers who heeded to the advice have since relocated.

    Victims

    Some affected farmers who spoke to the Daily Graphic said all their crops and properties have been submerged.

    A farmer at Duu in the West Mamprusi, Mr Duko Buzongo said his 20-acre maize farm has been destroyed by the flood.

    “I can’t even go to my farm because the water is too high even with a canoe so I am always at home for safety” he lamented.

    Another farmer, Mallam Osman who has lost all his crops to the disaster expressed fear that there could be severe hunger and poverty due to the extent of damage to farmland in the area.

    The farmers, therefore, called on the government and various benevolent organisations to come to their aid with relief items.

    Background

    According to SONABEL, managers of the Bagre Dam, the spillage had become necessary due to the 81 per cent increase in the water level.

    As a result, residents close to the bank of the Black and White Volta were advised to relocate to other communities for shelter and safety.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Its not good enough to appoint ministers from parliament Kufuor

    Former President John Agyekum Kufuor says the provision in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana that allows the elected President to appoint half of his ministers from Parliament is not good enough.

    According to him, the nature of governance and power provides that there is a checks and balance system which allows the three arms of government to have an oversight responsibility over each other.

    “The executive has his hands full, formulating policies, getting approval from Parliament, implementing and hold the entire society to live together in law and order. So why should a minister, who is part of the executive, be also saddled with the job of overseeing the work of the executive?” he quizzed.

    The former President told Kwaku Sakyi-Addo on rhis week’s edition of his Sunday Night programme that, when this happens, it gives room for contradictions with the Constitutions.

    “I am truly for strict separation of powers. So, that bit of the Constitution if I have my way, I will amend it to have the executive on one side, legislature the other side,” he said.

    J.A. Kufuor noted that his preference of a Constitution for Ghana would be the 1979 Constitution which gave room for strict separation of powers.

    He said the local governance system in Ghana, however, gives room for the electorate to demand accountability and transparency.

    “The slogan for a proper local governance system is from cradle to grave,” he said.

    He added that the Central government has always been too far from the ordinary people living in the hinterlands, so the MCE or DCE should be able to be elected by the people within the District or the Metropolitan Assemblies with Assembly Members becoming the legislature for the Assemblies.

    Mr Kufuor however believes that the Central government should have a say in the selection process of the MMDCEs.

    He indicated that within the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, the people know where one belongs to therefore one cannot become an MMDCE when your party is not in power.

    “We should do away with that hypocrisy and let the parties work. If the majority of the locality is for party A, let them do it but the Central government influence should be there to ensure that government has a say and wherever government is sending revenues to empower locality to run efficiently, then such government should have the right to demand accountability of the local governance,” he said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Government breaks grounds for construction of Krachi-West town roads

    A groundbreaking ceremony has been held at Krachi West District of the Oti Region, to mark the commencement of works on its town roads.

    Works that would include asphalting of 15- kilometres of roads is expected to be completed in 24 months.

    Mr Kwesi Amoako Atta, Minister of Roads and Highway said, roads made meaningful contributions to economic development, growth, and social benefits to the people and were one of the most important of all public assets, the government was poised to construct.

    On n matters of interest to Nana Mprah Besemuna III, the road Minister stated that a Dutch company called FDN Group made a proposal to the Highways Ministry for the construction of a bridge over Oti River.

    The Minister said, pre-feasibility studies were completed and financial terms under examination at the Ministry of Finance and waiting for no objection letter from finance before they could negotiate the construction agreement which will be brought to Cabinet and subsequently to Parliament for approval before the end of this year.

    Nana Mprah Besemuna III, Krachi-Wura thanked the President for awarding the town roads as they were promised after the inauguration of the Oti Region. He said the people of the area were aware of the good works the President was undertaking and promised that they would show their appreciation at the December polls.

    Nana Besemuna reminded President Akufo-Addo about his promise of establishing a University in the Oti Region in its second term should he win the December elections to be sited at Kete-Krachi.

    Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, some drivers, who used that corridor said awarding the contract was only one segment of the project, and completing it was their problem.

    The drivers called on the government to ensure that the Contractor remained on-site to complete the project on schedule.

    The Sector Minister was accompanied by Nana Owusu-Yeboa, Oti Regional Minister, Mr Maxwell Kofi Blagogee, Deputy Oti Regional Minister, Mr Michael Yaw Gyato, Member of Parliament for Krachi East, Mr Douglas Ntim, Chief Executive of Krachi West District, Mr Patrick Jilima Chartey, Municipal Chief Executive of Krachi East.

    Source: GNA

  • Election 2020 will be fought on records, not tribalism – Bawumia

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says this year’s election will be contested based on track records and competencies, not on ethnocentric comments that divide the people.

    He, therefore, condemned former President Mahama for endorsing an article which sought to whip up tribalism, and asked the NDC Flagbearer to apologise unreservedly.

    Former President Mahama endorsed a disparaging and tribal-laced article written by Isaac Adongo, an NDC Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, by repeating it on his official Facebook page.

    Many Ghanaians have since condemned Mr Mahama for highlighting the tribal-laced article.

    Addressing a durbar of Chiefs and people of Gushegu on Sunday, Dr. Bawumia expressed surprise that Mr Mahama endorsed a statement that had the potential of causing disunity adding “Ghana is a united country, which has moved beyond the kind of divisive, and tribal politics by the former President.

    The article referred to some members of the ruling government as “Akyem Sakawa boys”.

    “How do you take a whole tribe and refer to them as Sakawa boys?” Dr. Bawumia asked.

    He said Ghana had gone beyond tribalism and the Presidency cannot be won based on whipping up tribal sentiments to divide the people.

    The Vice President noted that President Akufo-Addo was widely acknowledged as a champion of peace, having played a significant role in the resolution of the protracted conflicts in Dagbon.

    “The Paramount Chief of Gushegu, Gushe-Naa, Abdulai Shitobu, on his part, praised President Akufo-Addo for his tireless efforts in bringing peace and harmony in Dagbon…”Dagbon owes Nana Akufo-Addo a depth of gratitude.”

    “Nana Addo is an Akyem man, who has brought peace to Dagomba land through his effort, along with others, so we’re deeply grateful to him.”

    Source: GNA

  • John Mahama sends passionate letter to his countrymen and women about his 2020 return

    The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has revealed that his decision to take another bite at the presidency, was not taken lightly, but was made “out of a sense of urgency”.

    In an emotional letter to his fellow countrymen and women, ahead of his party’s manifesto launch today, Monday, August 7, 2020, ex-President John Dramani Mahama, insists “no country can aspire to become developed; no society can be truly resilient in the face of crisis and adversity without a solid economic and social infrastructure”.

    “In all honesty, I didn’t take the decision to run for a second term as President neither easily, nor quickly. I didn’t jump into it. I did it out of a sense of urgency, after I began to contemplate more and more thoroughly about our vulnerabilities as a nation”.

    The launch of the NDC’s “Peoples’ Manifesto” is billed to come off at 6pm today, and will be aired live on all major TV, radio and online platforms from the University of Professional Studies Accra.

    A statement from James Agyenim-Boateng, Campaign Spokesperson issued yesterday announced that after months of wide consultations with various interest groups and individuals across the country, all was set for the launch of the NDC manifesto.

    The document he said “represents the vision and programmes of the John Mahama-Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang ticket for the 2020 elections”, and “addresses the felt needs of people”.

    Ahead of the launch, both Mr Mahama and his running mate, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, have been talking about the manifesto.

    On a campaign tour to Kwasiadukrom in the Bodi Constituency of the Western North Region, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, said it was high time the will of the people was brought to mainstream governance, hence the NDC’s People’s Manifesto.

    She intimated that the times when leaders sat in Accra and drafted manifestos for the people, are long gone.

    “We must make sure the exact cry of the people are incorporated into policy documents to ensure the people benefit directly”.

    She pointed out that, ‘The Big Push’ agenda in the manifesto, for instance, when implemented will ensure job creation for many people, adding the youth will be given hands on skills training and projects started by the NDC government, which have been abandoned by the current government, will be completed.

    Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, specifically called on women to rally behind the John and Jane ticket, especially as issues affecting women and children are on top of the NDC’s agenda, adding “This is our time as women and we must take advantage of the opportunity”.

    With a very passionate tone, Mr Mahama addressed his “brothers and sisters”, saying “you offered me the humbling chance to serve you from the highest offices in Ghana first as Vice-President, for four years, and then as President for another four years. For this, I will forever be grateful, and I will fight for your wellbeing, for your hopes and for your rights with all my strength for the rest of my life”, adding “but since I have already been there, why run again? I know many of you ask this question sometimes openly, sometimes in silence. Why run again? It is a fair question, and it deserves a fair, personal answer”.

    “To create sustainable and ever-growing prosperity something we all deserve it requires building a robust social and economic infrastructure, one that supports creativity, innovation and the production of high value-added products and services”.

    “This is precisely why, during my Presidency, I took aggressive steps to develop and consolidate our healthcare infrastructure, our educational infrastructure, our transport infrastructure and our digital infrastructure. This is the only way to build a resilient nation. Without creating and consolidating a developed infrastructure, no nation can resist global shocks” he explained.

    “Unfortunately, this current government has refused to continue on this path and therefore failed to make our nation less vulnerable and more resilient”, the ex-President noted.

    “I know how to do it, part of it I’ve already accomplished, and since I know how to do it and the current government doesn’t, I feel I have the moral duty to ask for a second term. This is not about me, it’s about Ghana and Ghanaians, adding “This is what today’s manifesto is about”.

    Below is what Mr Mahama wrote

    My brothers and sisters,

    On Monday, we will launch our manifesto for 2020.

    Let me take this opportunity to offer some personal reflections on the political substance of this manifesto.

    You offered me the humbling chance to serve you from the highest offices in Ghana first as Vice-President, for four years, and then as President for another four years. For this, I will forever be grateful, and I will fight for your wellbeing, for your hopes and for your rights with all my strength for the rest of my life.

    But since I have already been there, why run again? I know many of you ask this question sometimes openly, sometimes in silence. Why run again? It is a fair question, and it deserves a fair, personal answer.

    In a sense, our manifesto will provide the answer, but it will be a collective answer, coming from all the fabulous NDC members and supporters, men and women, who participated in its formulation.

    In all honesty, I didn’t take the decision to run for a second term as President neither easily, nor quickly. I didn’t jump into it. I did it out of a sense of urgency, after I began to contemplate more and more thoroughly about our vulnerabilities as a nation.

    No country can aspire to become developed; no society can be truly resilient in the face of crisis and adversity without a solid economic and social infrastructure.

    To create sustainable and ever-growing prosperity something we all deserve it requires building a robust social and economic infrastructure, one that supports creativity, innovation and the production of high value-added products and services.

    This is precisely why, during my Presidency, I took aggressive steps to develop and consolidate our healthcare infrastructure, our educational infrastructure, our transport infrastructure and our digital infrastructure. This is the only way to build a resilient nation. Without creating and consolidating a developed infrastructure, no nation can resist global shocks.

    Unfortunately, this current government has refused to continue on this path and therefore failed to make our nation less vulnerable and more resilient.

    Let me give you just one example: access to electricity. In 2012, 69.2% of Ghanaians had access to electricity. In 2016, when I left office after my first term as President, 79.3% of Ghanaians had access to electricity. A 10 percentage points increase in 4 years. When I left the office, I was confident that a new government will deliver 90%, if not 100% access to electricity in the next four years.

    However, the NPP government increased overall access to electricity from 79.3% to only 82.3%, a mere 3 percentage points increase.

    It is our sacred mission to turn Ghana into an advanced nation as soon as possible! It is our moral obligation to be bold and to aim for greatness!

    “Good enough” is no longer good enough! To prosper and thrive, we need fundamental change! We need to set our standards and expectations far higher than “good enough”! If we settle for “good enough”, we settle for a slow death of our very soul and of our pride.

    I run for President because I want to leave a legacy: a solid infrastructure, with 100% access for all. With this legacy, we will build a truly developed Ghana, on a par with the advanced nations.

    I know how to do it, part of it I’ve already accomplished, and since I know how to do it and the current government doesn’t, I feel I have the moral duty to ask for a second term. This is not about me, it’s about Ghana and Ghanaians.

    This is what Monday’s manifesto is about.

    This is why I encourage all of you to watch the launch ceremony.

    God bless Ghana! God bless each and every one of you!

    Source: The Herald

  • Thank you for ‘One Village One Dam’ policy – Chereponi Chief

    The Paramount Chief of Chereponi Traditional Area, Nanyame Kofi Malba VIII, has lauded Government for its targeted, pro-poor policies which are transforming the lives of many, especially rural dwellers.

    Welcoming Vice President Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia, who is on a working visit to all five northern regions, to his palace on Saturday, 5th September 2020, Nanyame Malba expressed deep appreciation for these initiatives, which continue to touch lives every day.

    “Your Excellency, we wish to thank you and your government for all the good works you are doing to transform Ghana.

    “The several pro-poor policies and programmes by your government like the One Village One Dam, One District One Factory, Free SHS, Planting for Food and Jobs, expansion of the LEAP programme, NABCO, the expansion of electricity to many rural communities amongst others are highly laudable.”

    The Chereponi chief was particularly happy with the One Village One Dam policy, which had extended the farming season and provided essential water for livestock, thus eliminating the yearly ritual of near starvation and famine.

    The Chereponi Chief continued:

    “I also commend your government for the intervention in providing Chereponi with a town water system. Indeed, we all acknowledge the significance of providing just a dug out as a source of water for humanity, how much more providing the entirety of this town with potable drinking water.”

    The Overlord of Chereponi also expressed deep appreciation to government for the peace Chereponi now enjoys, as well as the successful effort to create the North East Region, which has led to massive improvements in infrastructure.

    “More dear to the heart and wellbeing of the people of Chereponi is the peace and harmony we enjoy now. The Chiefs and people of Chereponi are grateful to your government for the interventions made to restore the peace in Chereponi for development,” Nanyame Malba VIII stated.

    Vice President Bawumia assured the chiefs and people of even more initiatives to accelerate the development of the north especially and the country as a whole, and urged the voters to give President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo another four years to do more for the people of Ghana.

    Source: Jubilee House

  • Ghanaian forward Paul Ayongo finalizes move to Academico de Viseu

    Ghanaian forward Paul Ayongo has completed a transfer to Portuguese Liga 2 side Academico de Viseu, GHANASoccernet.com can exclusively confirm.

    Ayongo finalized a move to Academico de Viseu after undergoing a successful medical examination on Thursday.

    The 23-year-old put pen to paper on a two-year deal ahead of the forthcoming Portuguese second-tier campaign.

    The pacy poacher joins the Black and White lads from Liga NOS outfit FC Paços de Ferreira.

    Ayongo spent last season on loan at Segunda Division side Mafra, scoring 4 goals in 25 matches.

    The Ghanaian youngster becomes Academico de Viseu’s fifth signing ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

    He arrived in Portugal in 2014, to play in the juniors of Oeiras, later passing by Amarante where, in three seasons, he scored 34 goals, arousing the interest of Paços de Ferreira, who he would represent in 2018/2019.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Gilbert Koomson ready to swap SK Brann for Turkish side Erzurumspor

    Ghanaian winger Gilbert Koomson says he is prepared to swap SK Brann for newly-promoted Turkish SupaLiga side Erzurumspor.

    The deadly wideman has become a subject of offers from several European sides following his distinctive display for SK Brann in the Norwegian championship.

    GHANASoccernet.com exclusively reported on Friday that Turkish top-tier newcomers Erzurumspor have officially made a bid of 400,000 to sign the dead-eye winger.

    The 25-year-old has now indicated his desire to make the move, saying only if SK Brann are satisfied with the offer.

    “I’m ready to accept the challenge but won’t force it. If Brann are okay with the bid, I’ll surely try to test myself elsewhere.”

    Koomson has been Brann’s most important player this year, scoring eight goals in 16 matches from his right wing position.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Tudu Mighty Jets lose appeal against PSC decision

    Tudu Mighty Jets have been ordered to pay amount of $16,672.50 to Cheetah FC in respect of the payment of 30% of the transfer fees of player, Philimon Kwasaa Tawiah to Paderborn 07 of Germany.

    Mighty Jets appealed against the Player Status Committee’s earlier decision which directed Tudu Mighty Jets to pay an amount of $19,950 to Cheetah FC from the transfer fees.

    The Appeal Committee’s has however dismissed that Appeal and varied the orders with respect to the amount to be paid.

    Source: ghanafa.org

  • Today in History: Ashgold wins first league title in 19 years

    On 6th September 2015, which is exactly five years today, there were celebrations in the mining city of Obuasi after Ashanti Gold defeated West African Football Academy (WAFA) 1-0 on the final day of the 2015 season to clinch the Ghana Premier League for the fourth time.

    The Obuasi giants won the league title with a game to spare and consolidated 4-point advantage at the top of the standings to win the title.

    Ashantigold ended the season with 52 points and despite losing matchday 30 against Great Olympics their accumulated points were enough to win them the title.

    Ashgold were the first club to win the Ghana league when it went professional in the 1993/94 and defended it twice in 1995 and 1996 but failed to win their fourth title until 2015

    Coach Bashir Hayford who won the Ghana Premier League title with Asante Kotoko in the 2007-08 season, he made it two league titles as a coach, when he did it with the Miners who had last won the championship in the 1995-96 season.

    He and Herbert Addo are the only two coaches to win the title with two different clubs.

    Source: Pulse Ghana

  • Bechem United CEO proposes quarterly meetings for GFA stakeholders

    Bechem United owner, Kingsley Owusu Achiaw, has proposed quarterly stakeholders meeting for the Ghana FA for members to discuss issues on Ghana football.

    Agama as popularly known in the football circles said this will ensure the Ghana FA is transparent in its activities and also inform and seek ideas from relevant stakeholders on how to develop and market the game.

    He explained that the stakeholders could comprise of three members each from the Ghana Football Association, Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) and the media.

    “In my view, quarterly the GFA, GHALCA, referees and the media should appoint three people from each group so they can meet and discuss issues affecting the game as well as measures to promote it.

    “Through this, the media especially can send a good message to the public to also promote the brand and image of Ghana football. When it happens this way it will help in securing sponsorship for the GFA.

    “The FA should try and make it audited accounts available every quarterly to the public so those who invest their money in the game will have some hope.

    (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});“Football is a very big business and we have a lot of prominent people doing football and we should hold the game in high esteem”, he added.

    Agama also advised GFA president not to see anybody as opposition but ensure unity within the Football fraternity in order to achieve the needed success.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Chereponi defies heavy rains to give Bawumia a fitting reception

    Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s visit to Chereponi on Saturday was heralded with a heavy downpour, but enthusiastic constituents defied the heavy rains to welcome the vice president.

    The Vice President, who is currently on a working visit of the northern part of the country, visited Chereponi on Saturday on the third day of his tour.

    Despite the Vice President’s visit not meant for a large congregation due to coronavirus safety measures, Chereponi eagerly waited for the arrival of Bawumia, and not even the heavy rains could stop them.

    As the Vice President’s entourage arrived, news of his arrival spread through town and scores of people defied the heavy rains and trooped out to welcome him.

    Before the Vice President and his entourage proceeded to the venue for his interactions, he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Chereponi Traditional Area, Nyanyame Kofi Malaba VIII.

    The Paramount Chief commended Dr Bawumia for his frequent visits to the area since becoming Vice President, as well as President Akufo-Addo for his flagship programmes, which he said are benefitting the poor.

    The Paramount Chief was particularly grateful to the government for the Free SHS policy, as well as the One Village One Dam initiative, which he said has brought relief to farmers.

    He also expressed appreciation to the government for bringing development to Chereponi, citing the water system in the area and the rehabilitation of roads in the area.

    Dr Bawumia addressed identifiable groups inside a church auditorium but scores of people spontaneously trooped to the ground to catch a glimpse of him.

    Speaking, Dr Bawumia said President Akufo-Addo has proven to be a leader who is for inclusive development through policies such as Free SHS, One Village One Dam, Planting For Food and Jobs, among others.

    The Vice President urged them to reject former President Mahama’s lure for a second chance because his track record of cancelling pro-poor programmes such as teacher and nursing trainee allowances, Arabic instructors allowance, and others, is an indication that he cannot be trusted with the good policies initiated by President Akufo-Addo.

    Dr. Bawumia stressed that Nana Akufo-Addo as a development leader has brought development to Chereponi in just three and a half years and listed several projects in various towns within the constituency.

    He urged them to vote massively for President Akufo-Addo in December to continue with his good works.

    As the Vice President’s entourage set out to exit the town after the program, scores of enthusiastic people on motorbikes and on foot, sang and escorted him until he left the town.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Sixty-six foreigners identified to be trading illegally in Koforidua

    Sixty-six shops belonging to foreigners have been identified to be operating illegally in the Central Business District of Koforidua.

    They have, therefore, been cautioned by the Technical Sub-Committee on Foreigners in Retail Trade, of the Ministry of Trade and Industry to regularize their trading activities to avert the closure of their shops.

    This came to light, when the Technical SubCommittee, undertook a two-day exercise within the business hub in Koforidua. Whereas some of the foreigners had no resident or working permit, others had not registered their businesses and therefore had no Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) and others were found to be using documents of Ghanaian traders in transacting their businesses.

    Briefing the media after the exercise, Mr Maxwell Apenkro, Secretary of the Committee indicated that all the owners of the 66 shops had been given a period between 3-14 days to rectify the anomalies or risk closure of their shops.

    He said the team made up of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA) among others realised that most of the foreigners owning shops did not have appropriate documents to operate in the country.

    Mr Apenkro explained that once most of the foreigners were not having TINs, it implied that they were not paying any tax and assured that the committee would ensure that they regularize their immigration and business documentation within the time frame.

    He said per the laws, foreigners were not supposed to register as sole proprietors but as limited by share, and were also required to pay corporate taxes and not tax stamps to ensure they paid the right taxes to the state.

    Mr Apenkro disclosed that the Committee also identified in some cases, where the shops were owned by Ghanaians but the workers were foreigners, however, once they were no documentary evidence to prove as such, the purported Ghanaian owners must ensure they had resident as well as work permits to that effect.

    He said the team would follow up after the given period to ascertain whether they had complied with the directives, however, “if they fail to do so the only option would be to lock up their shops”.

    Source: GNA

  • OMC complexities impose enormous challenges Marketing Expert

    The complexities in the oil marketing supply-chain impose enormous challenges for both operators and consumers of petroleum products, Mr David Afiawo, a Marketing Consultant, said on Saturday and called for cooperation among stakeholders.

    He said management of petroleum products was not the responsibility of filling station attendants, dealers, and managers alone but also involved the driving public and others who operated within the vicinities of filing stations.

    He said any lapses on the part of any stakeholder, including regulators, would spell disaster and that; “We must all work together to ensure safety at filling stations and around it”.

    Mr Afiawo, speaking at the commissioning of a filling station at Osino in the Eastern Region by Engen Ghana Limited, appealed to stakeholders in the oil marketing industry to collaborate to ensure the safety of lives and property at all times.

    He called on attendants and dealers to enforce the disciplinary code including none use of mobile phones and putting off engines while purchasing petroleum products.

    Mr Afiawo emphasised the need to adopt best practices to manage challenges in the supply chain and urged the OMCs to focus on transporters of petroleum products, equipment, communication, customers, and finance as any operational deficiency had the potential of affecting the nation.

    He called for the training of frontline staff in best practices and effective customer service to inject professionalism into the field of operations.

    Alhaji Abdulai Yahaya, Dealer of the Osino Engen Filling Station, said operating a filling station in a rural environment was quite challenging but “we must not only look at the financial side of business but consider the interest of our people at the countryside”.

    “Operating oil and gas companies in some of the most physically and politically challenging environments may not offer huge financial attraction but service to the people is service to God,” he said.

    Source: GNA

  • $150 for coronavirus test exorbitant – Organisation of Ghanaians Abroad

    The Organisation of Ghanaians Abroad has stated that the fee being charged for the Coronavirus test at the Kotoka International Airport is exorbitant.

    All those arriving in Ghana after the opening of the KIA to international flights are to pay $150 respectively.

    The Organisation of Ghanaians Abroad stated that taking into account that another test needs to be done 72 hours before departure, the $150 is too high especially when one travels with family members.

    “The concern is centered on the $150 charge that has to be paid for COVID-19 test at the Airport in Accra. We find this charge exorbitant.

    Taking into account that another test needs to be done 72 hours before departure, the $150 is high especially when one travels with family members,” the Group stated.

    The group is, therefore, appealing to government to reduce the cost for them.

    “We therefore request that the fee of $150 be reduced considerably to match the average fee in Ghanaian laboratories. We hope that this request will meet your consideration,” the Group said.

    Source: Atinka Online

  • Notorious car snatcher nabbed in Tamale

    A 38-year-old Tema-based suspected car snatcher, Alhassan Imrani, has been arrested by the Tamale Divisional Police Command at Banvim in the Tamale Metropolis.

    The arrest, which took place on Saturday, September 5 at 1100 GMT, was upon a tip-off, according to police.

    The suspect is said to have been involved in cases of robbery reported at the Tema Regional CID.

    A search conducted at his residence revealed 3 pistols, 4 mobile phones, 1 black HP laptop, 1 AK47 assault rifle bat and 1 G3 empty magazine.

    Other items retrieved include 6 registered vehicle number plates, 1 plier, 98 auto 45 live ammunitions, 165 auto 389 live ammunitions, 4 pistol empty cartridges and 1 white Toyota Highlander with registration number GW 3241-20.

    “Enquiry was extended to a spraying shop and one ash colour Toyota Highlander recovered,” a police statement said.

    Source: 3 News

  • I will get married in 2021 to celebrate NDC’s victory – Sammy Gyamfi

    The National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamf, has announced his intention to tie the knot in 2021.

    This, he stated, is to celebrate the gargantuan re-election of former President John Dramani Mahama after the December general election.

    “I will get married in 2021; it will be a victory wedding,” he stated on Accra-based Neat FM.

    However, Mr Gyamfi, who was very certain about the date, said he is still waiting on God for his missing rib.

    The father of a nine-year-old boy, in response to who his wife-to-be is, said “God will provide”.

    Mr Gyamfi, however, dispelled rumours that his fiancée is a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party.

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Prof. Opoku-Agyemang expresses concern about abandoned projects

    The Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has expressed concern about the huge number of projects abandoned by the government all over the country.

    She says it is unacceptable that so many projects started by the NDC administration have been left to rot.

    Speaking to journalists during a visit to the abandoned Community Day Senior High School at Asempaneye in the Joaboso Constituency as part of her tour of the Western North Region, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said projects funded by tax payers must not be left to deteriorate simply because there is a change of government.

    “We have seen gravels over-grown by weeds and shrubs, iron rods that have disappeared. If we have to definitely return to this project, we have to do revaluation and spend more money and all of this cannot be very helpful to us as a nation”, she said.

    Describing the situation as unfortunate, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the habit of abandoning projects that were started under a particular administration impedes progress and must be stopped.

    “It is not as if we just cut the sod and abandoned it. We started, the foundations are done, the columns are being raised. You can all see the images beside and behind me”, she pointed out to the journalists.

    Source: James Agyenim-Boateng, NDC Campaign Spokesperson

  • Agyapa Royalties transaction not suspended Ministry of Finance

    The Ministry of Finance has debunked claims that the Agyapa Royalties transaction has been suspended.

    “The Ministry wishes to state that the Agyapa Royalties transaction has not been suspended as is being reported,” a statement from the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry said.

    It said Mr Mark Agyemang, the Technical Manager of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee, who is purported to have spoken about the suspension, was not in the meeting with the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

    “The main outcome of the meeting as acknowledged by both sides was that the Government had fulfilled the requirements of the law. There was, however, the need for broader consultations to ensure the buy-in of all Ghanaians,” it said.

    The statement said the meeting with the CSOs was one such consultation and the Ministry agreed with them to further broaden the consultations and to solicit further input from them and other Ghanaian constituencies going forward.

    A number of concerns raised by the CSOs included registration of the entity in a tax haven, transparency, how the values were arrived at and what the country stood to benefit from the Agyapa Royalty transaction.

    “After their concerns were aptly addressed by the Minister of Finance and his Deputy, they called on the Government to engage other institutions and stakeholders. At no point was there any suggestion that the transaction is being halted as being reported,” the statement said.

    “It is regrettable for a media house to publish such a story and wrongfully attribute it to people who contributed meaningfully at the meeting with the Minister of Finance. The Ministry sees the media as a major stakeholder and wishes to call on them to seek clarity, especially on such emotive issues, before publishing.”

    Source: GNA

  • Dompem-Pepesa turns into state of mourning after Chief was spotted in wheel chair


    Dompem, a community in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region, turned into a state of mourning when a Divisional Chief, Ohyeawora Bian Nyonwah IV, stormed the town in a wheelchair.

    The chief sustained various degree of injuries when he was forced to jump out from a window together with his wife and 8 months baby after his residence was set ablaze by unknown assailants.

    The confusion which took place at Dompem-Pepesa Palace in the Municipality of the Region when police men together with court bailiffs on Wednesday, August 26 2020, went to the Palace to execute the court order that is, the writ of possession against the supposed destooled Chief of Dompem-Pepesa.

    Information has it that the policemen started throwing teargas and given several warning shots when the Chief (Ohyeawora Bian Nyonwah IV) refused to step down from his Palace to receive the writ.

    After the throwing of teargas and warning shots, the Palace was set ablaze when the Chief, his wife, brothers as well as his eight-month-old baby was in a room upstairs of the place.

    This forced the Chief, Ohyeawora Bian Nyonwah IV, who had gone for surgery for three weeks jumped from the window of the bathroom of the story-building.

    The eight-month baby was also saved from the burning flames through the same opened window with support from the Chief’s brothers who also helped the wife to escape.

    Ohyeawora Bian Nyonwah IV was rushed to Apinto Government Hospital in Tarkwa where he was admitted.

    Arrival in a wheel chair

    Following his discharge, the Chief decided to visit the community to have a look at what had happened to his Palace.

    When he arrived in the town on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, in a wheel chair, people in the town including the young and aged started shedding tears and raining curses at the perpetrators.

    Addressing the gathering and the press, Ohyeawora Bian Nyonwah IV accused the police of perpetrating the evil act against them and cursed them for the humiliation meted out to him.

    “The fact that I don’t have money doesn’t mean my situation is bad. I thank the Police; the Commander says I pulled a gun, however, they should show me the gun that I used. I have done surgery on my butts, you all can see that. How can I pull a gun, I don’t have a gun. I haven’t smoked before, but the Police are claiming I smoke.

    Divisional Commander says I burnt the palace. I can’t even walk because of the surgery done on my butts. May thunders above, and the gods strike all of them dead if what the police are saying is false.

    I summon that police officer who claims I pulled a gun to the gods, he should rot before dying. I swear by the gods, he should rot before dying,” he said in tears.

    All efforts to get any response from the police proved futile.

    However, the Western Regional Minister who is the Chairman of Western Regional Security Council, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has ordered the police to protect the town.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Professor Opoku-Agyemang unhappy with abandonment of Asempanaye Day SHS project

    The Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Prof. Naana Jane Opoku – Agyemang has described as financial loss to the state, abandoned projects across the country.

    According to her, the situation where projects undertaken by the erstwhile NDC administration were left to rot was unacceptable.

    “We have seen these structures over grown by weeds and shrubs as well as iron rods that have disappeared. We definitely have to return to this project, in which case we have to conduct a re-valuation and spend more money and all of this cannot be helpful to us as a nation.”

    A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday said she was speaking to journalists, when she made a stop over at the abandoned Day Senior High School project site at Asempaneye of the Juaboso Constituency in the Western North Region as part of her campaign tour of that part of the country.

    Describing the situation as unfortunate, the NDC’s running mate said the practice of abandoning projects started under a particular administration impeded the nation’s progress.

    “It is not as if we just cut the sod and abandoned it. We started, the foundations are done, the columns are being raised.”

    Source: GNA