TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Ghana International Bank makes a loss of US$16.5 million – Bright Simons

    Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has expressed concerns over the unprofitability of the Ghana International Bank (GHIB), a subsidiary of the Bank of Ghana in London.

    According to him, Ghana seems to have its state-owned enterprise gloom based on the performance of GHIB.

    In a post shared on his Twitter handle, the Founder and President of mPedigree indicated that GHIB six years ago used to make a profit of US$17 million.

    However, the performance of the bank has plummeted over the years to the extent that it is now making a loss of $16.5million.

    Bright Simons said despite making such losses, the bank had also tripled its staff cost over the 6-year period.

    “Ghana seems to have exported its State-owned Enterprise gloom. Most folks don’t pay attention to Ghana International Bank, a Bank of Ghana subsidiary in London. From profit of ~$17m 6yrs ago to a loss of ~$16.5m today. And, oh, they tripled staff costs during the same period,” he tweeted.

    Ghana International Bank (GHIB) was incorporated in the United Kingdom in 1998 to finance international trade and serve as an intermediary for the flow of funds to and from Ghana.

    Authorized and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority, the bank is now owned by a consortium of major Ghanaian financial institutions, with the Central Bank of Ghana[Bank of Ghana] serving as the majority shareholder.

    GHIB focuses on six key areas: treasury and global markets, trade finance, corporate and institutional banking, retail and small business banking, correspondent banking, and payment solutions. But our focus remains the same to support the economies of Ghana and the wider African continent.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • LIVESTREAMING: Dr Mahamudu Bawumia speaks on the economy

    The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is set to speak on the economic state of the country later on Thursday, April 7, 2022.

    He is the main speaker at a National Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) Training and Orientation Conference at Kasoa in the Central Region.

    As the head of Ghana’s Economic Management Team, he is expected to touch on issues such as the continuous price hikes on fuel and commodities, the depreciation of the cedi, and the controversial E-Levy, among others.

    Watch the event below

  • Former Nigerian President Jonathan survives road crash

    A motorcade of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was involved in a road crash in the capital, Abuja.

    The Wednesday evening accident claimed the lives of two policemen attached to him.

    His spokesman Ikechukwu Eze told the BBC that the former president was not personally affected in the accident.

    Mr Eze said it was only the vehicle carrying the policemen that skidded off the road when the driver lost control.

    It occurred when Mr Jonathan, who is a special envoy of the regional bloc Ecowas, was leaving the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to his residence in the city.

    Mr Jonathan has expressed deep sadness over the death of the two police officers, the spokesman said in a statement.

    Two other policemen sustained injuries in the crash and were taken to a hospital for medical attention.

    Source: bbc.com 

  • Rwanda marks 28 years since the 1994 genocide

    Rwanda is holding a subdued memorial at the Kigali genocide memorial, for the 1994 genocide that left about 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates dead in just 100 days.

    Similar events are being held at sites across districts – but they have been restricted to not more than two hours.

    Rwanda has been holding low-key memorials of the genocide following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

    Previously the government held weeklong events to commemorate the genocide.

    This year the famous ‘Walk to Remember’ and night vigil at the Kigali main stadium have been suspended “to limit the spread of Covid”, the government said.

    The genocide was sparked by the death of the Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, when his plane was shot down above Kigali airport on 6 April 1994.

    Source:  bbc.com 

  • Intensify advocacy on development challenges – Mahama urges Gonja youth

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged the Gonjaland Youth Association to increase its advocacy for the government to live up to its responsibility and respond to the needs of the people.

    He noted that the Savanna Region, being a new region, should have had its development priorities expedited.

    He, however, assured the association that the next administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would attend to the region’s developmental needs.

    Courtesy call

    Former President Mahama stated this when the newly elected executive members of the Gonjaland Youth Association last Tuesday paid a courtesy call on him to introduce themselves and also discuss issues of concern to the Savanna Region and other parts of the north.

    A statement issued by the Office of former President Mahama said the issues discussed included the falling standard of education in the region, concerns about insecurity, chieftaincy conflicts, lack of potable water in many communities, the state of roads and tension between communities and Fulani herdsmen.

    College of Education

    It said Mr Mahama decried the government’s seeming lack of interest in continuing with a proposed College of Education project started by the NDC administration.

    The college, he explained, could have provided teachers for schools in the region to help address the poor standard of education complained about by the executive members.

    On how to resolve the matter of Fulani herdsmen, the former President suggested that the group liaises with the government to provide fodder for cattle grazing.

    That, he explained, would forestall the cattle herds entering and destroying farms in search for food.

    It said former President Mahama thanked the association for the visit and the opportunity to interact and discuss issues.

    The statement said he also applauded the association for its efforts geared towards contributing to the development of Gonjaland.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Kumasi International Airport ready in August

    Barring any unforeseen delay, the Kumasi International Airport could start operating international flights from August this year, two clear months ahead of the expected time of completion.

    In December last year, the contractors working on the airport expansion project, Contracta Construction UK Ltd, told the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) that the project would be completed in October 2022.

    However, during a tour of the project by the REGSEC last Tuesday, the Project Manager, Alan Frazeto, told the members that “by September, Kumasi will have an airport that meets international aviation standards and could be ready to start operating international flights”.

    This follows the steady progress of work done on the expansion project which started in 2018.

    So far, the construction of the terminal, as well as the installation of escalators, the baggage carousel, check-in points and passenger boarding bridges has been completed.

    While the total work done in both phases two and three of the project is estimated to be about 82 per cent complete, that of the terminal is about 98 per cent complete.

    Tour

    Members of the REGSEC have been visiting all the important project sites in the region on a quarterly basis to appraise themselves of progress of work.

    In the first quarter of this year, the team visited all the projects being executed by Contracta in the region, except the phase two of the Redevelopment of the Kejetia Market and the Baby and Maternity Block of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

    Simulation

    When the Daily Graphic visited the airport project site last Tuesday, it observed that the contractor was undertaking simulation exercises to test the readiness of installed equipment for a smooth take-off later in the year

    The luggage carousel for both domestic and international flights was being fixed and the check-in conveyors tested.

    Work was progressing steadily on the new control tower and the utility block that would house the standby generator, fire tenders and other emergency facilities.

    Mr Frazeto, who conducted the Daily Graphic around the project, said there had been no major hitch, a situation that had enabled work to progress ahead of the scheduled time of completion, “and barring any unforeseen challenge, the rest of the work currently ongoing should be completed and tested before September”.

    Satisfaction

    The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, who led the REGSEC team, expressed satisfaction with progress of work and the fact that they might even complete the project before schedule.

     

    He said he was impressed by the level of improvement from what the team had seen in December when it visited the project.

    “As they promised, it means we are even going get the project completed earlier than they said. Previously, when we came here with the President, they assured us that by October 2022, we would start receiving international flights.

    “Today, we have been informed that by August, we can open up to international travels, which means that they have been able to move faster, and that is excellent and commendable,” he said.

    According to Mr Osei-Mensah, almost all the basic facilities required for international flights were available at the airport, saying: “Of the greatest importance to me is that it will have the best scanner, which can even allow flights from here to move directly to the US, something which has been the most difficult eligibility criteria in terms of aviation.”

    Project

    The expansion work at the Kumasi International Airport is a €124.9-million project being undertaken by Contracta Construction UK Ltd.

    The scope of work includes the extension of the existing runway pavement from 1,981 metres to 2,320 metres, the construction of a new taxi link and apron, two new apron parking stands and an aeronautical ground lighting system.

    Others include the design and building of a terminal with the capacity to handle 800,000 passengers per annum, an 11MW substation, as well as the provision of new bulk utility services, independent of the existing utility services for the airport.

    Phase three of the project involves the construction of the air traffic control building and a fire station, as well as the expansion of the existing runway pavement.

    Source:  graphic.com.gh 

  • NSMQ star Francisca Lamini gains admission to Harvard University

    The 2021 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) poster girl, Francisca Lamini, has gained admission into the prestigious Harvard University.

    Announcing the news on social media, the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, revealed that she has been granted a full scholarship to complete an undergraduate program at Harvard University.

    Also in a post on Facebook, radio and TV personality, Berla Mundi revealed that after completing her program, Francisca Lamini would gain admission into Harvard Medical School or any other Ivy League medical school of her choice.

    Taking to his Facebook account to confirm the news, the Chair of Harvard Interviews in Ghana, Sangu Delle, wrote “…I can confirm that Francisca Lamini was granted admission to Harvard College (undergraduate) on a full scholarship.”

    This news has gotten many Ghanaians excited for the young girl who stole their attention at the 2021 NSMQ competition.

    Her school, Ketasco, made history when they qualified for the finals of the NSMQ. The school represented by Francisca, Bright Senyo Gadzo and James Lutterodt battled against six times champions Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) and Prempeh College.

    Though her school did not win the ultimate prize, she received praises for being the only female in the grand finale of the popular quiz show in the last eight years.

    During her exploits on the programme, it came to light that the prodigy from the Keta Senior High Technical School had already scored straight As in the private Nov/Dec WAEC examinations.

    This was back in SHS 2 when she sat for the test. She, however, repeated the feat in the just-ended West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) when the results were released on December 8.

    It also emerged that she was at the top of her class throughout her primary to JHS journey.

    Francisca Lamini was also named the Most Outstanding Student at the 2021 NSMQ where Prempeh College emerged victors.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • Referee who handled controversial Ghana-South Africa match to officiate at World Cup

    Senegalese referee, Maquetta Ndiaye, who dominated the headlines after officiating Ghana’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa has been shortlisted to officiate at the tournament in Qatar.

    Ndiaye has been named among a preliminary list that was announced on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, which has 36 center referees, 63 assistant referees, and 36 VAR officials.

    The 35-year-old will be hoping to make his first World Cup appearance in his refereeing career.

    Ndiaye was named alongside 7 other African referees on the provisional list.

    The other 7 include Bakary Gassama from Gambia, Jean Jacques Ndala from RD Congo, Mustapha Ghorbal from Algeria, Redouane Jiyed from Morocco, Balmak Tessema from Ethiopia, Victor Gomez from South Africa, Janny Sikazwe from Zambia.

    The final list for the tournament will be announced a month before the intercontinental competition kicks off in November 2022.

    Referee Maguetta Ndiaye became topical after officiating Ghana’s Group C FIFA World Cup decider against South Africa in November 2021.

    Ghana won 1-0 via Dede Ayew’s penalty goal in the 34th minute. The Black Stars, following the win, topped the group and qualified for the play-off at the expense of the Bafana Bafana.

    The aftermath of the match was the penalty call by Ndiaye, in which the South African FA accused the match official of match manipulation and filed a case at FIFA.

    Lo and behold, Maquette Ndiaye was vindicated after FIFA dismissed the case in December 2021.

    Watch the penalty incident below.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • Four nabbed in GH¢200,000 SIM swap fraud – EOCO

    The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has arrested four persons who have been engaged in SIM swap fraud.

    The action was undertaken by the EOCO in collaboration with the Ghana Association of Banks.

    According to hdfc.com, SIM swap fraud means changing mobile SIM cards.

    If this is done without your knowledge, then it is probably done for some fraudulent activity.

    Under SIM swap fraud, fraudsters get a new SIM card issued against your registered mobile number via the mobile service provider.

    With the help of this new SIM, they can get One Time Password (OTP) and other alerts required to carry out financial transactions through your bank account.

    Ransford Nana Addo Jnr, a representative of the Association of Banks, said the suspects were picked up at various locations in the country for colluding and illegally accessing the accounts of some Ghanaians from which they stole various amounts.

    It emerged that they managed to withdraw an amount of about GH¢200,000 in their modus operandi before their cover was blown and subsequently apprehended by the security agency which was working closely with the banks.

    CitiNewsroom reports have stated that the suspects are due for interrogation and will be arraigned before court later this week on various charges.

    Executive Director of EOCO, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah (Mrs) had earlier met with Mr. John Awuah CEO of the Ghana Association of Banks to deliberate on ways to be able to eliminate fraud in the banking sector.

    Mr. John Awuah has however lauded the efforts of personnel who were able to nab the fraudsters, and caution miscreants of the dangers involved in attempting to perform fraudulent operations.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • E-Cedi must be implemented to forestall disruptions in payment space BoG

    The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has noted that in recent years, the idea of issuing digital currencies by central banks has been topical around the globe.

    The BoG said it is one of the first few African central banks which declared its intention to pilot a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) within the framework of its financial sector digitization program and the overall digitization agenda of the Government of Ghana.

    From the point of the CBDC classification, the BoG said, the digital Cedi (or the eCedi) is a retail token-based CBDC.

    This is a value-based approach that implies an eCedi that represents a token, or a digital value note. Payment is done by transferring the value note from one person to another.

    The concept is similar to cash payment transactions, where payment is done by transferring banknotes and/ or coins from person A to person B.is particularly important that the eCedi is implemented to forestall disruption to the existing payment space.

    For this reason, the eCedi will be integrated into the existing interbank payment systems and mobile money interoperability platform operated by the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GhIPSS).

    In its report titled “Design Paper of the digital cedi”, the BoG said “The eCedi has to be accessible to everyone and any part of the country. The absence of mobile data networks in the rural areas of Ghana should not serve as a barrier to the use of the eCedi. In other words, the eCedi should work effectively in both online and offline environments.

    “Speed of payment is very important from a consumer`s perspective. The transfer of funds from a payer to a payee should be near-instant, easy to confirm and traceable. Both the sender and receiver should receive a confirmation of a successful transaction. Similar to cash, an eCedi transaction will be free of charge to consumers.

    “By this approach, the eCedi would be a strong contender of cash, promote competition in the payment market and facilitate the provision of innovative value-added services to individuals and businesses by banks and payment service providers at affordable fees and charges.

    “It is particularly important that the eCedi is implemented to forestall disruption to the existing payment space. For this reason, the
    eCedi will be integrated into the existing interbank payment systems and mobile money interoperability platform operated by the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GhIPSS).

    “In the era of globalization, it is important that domestic CBDCs are designed with the prospects of adaptation for interoperability with CBDCs of other jurisdictions. Efforts to accelerate the integration of the economies of African economies, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) makes this a key consideration in the eCedi design. The eCedi takes into consideration CBDC standards, making it possible for Ghana to participate in international projects on cross border CBDCs.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Meet members of the ‘all male’ Privileges Committee of Parliament

    Parliament’s work is usually done at the Committee level, which is a usual refrain one encounters from lawmakers and students of Parliamentary politics.

    That view has recently been reechoed by Speaker Alban Bagbin, while addressing the issue of attendance into the Chamber for Parliamentary work.

    One of Parliament’s famous committees is the Privileges Committee. It has previously been seen as an avenue where MPs haul members of the public who abuse Parliament and Parliamentarians.

    But in recent times, the Committee has been tasked to probe three lawmakers for breach of basic rules.

    The three complicit MPs are all from the Majority Group (i.e. New Patriotic Party) – Sarah Adwoa Safo (Dome-Kwabenya), Kennedy Agyapong (Assin Central) and Henry Quartey (Ayawaso Central).

    According to Parliament’s website: “The Committee of Privileges consists of the First Deputy Speaker as Chairperson and not more than 30 other Members. It enquires into any complaint of contempt of Parliament or any matter of privilege, which may be referred to it.”

    Incidentally, GhanaWeb checks show that the current composition of the Committee has 31 members, all of who are incidentally men.

    Below are Members of the Committee:

    HON. JOSEPH OSEI-OWUSU (Bekwai) – Chairperson

    HON. AKWASI OWUSU AFRIFA-MENSA (Amasaman) – Vice Chairperson

    HON. GEORGE KWEKU Ricketts-Hagan (Cape Coast South) – Ranking Member

    HON. ABEIKU CRENTSIL (Ekumfi Esuahyia) – Deputy Ranking Member

    Members:

    HON. HENRY YIADOM BOAKYE

    HON. JOHN OSEI FRIMPONG

    HON. EMMANUEL AGYEI ANHWERE

    HON. STEPHEN AMOAH

    HON. SULEMAN ADAMU SANID

    HON. EMMANUEL ARMAH-KOFI BUAH

    HON. SAMPSON AHI

    HON. ERIC OPOKU

    HON. IGNATIUS BAFFOUR AWUAH

    HON. FREDERICK YAW AHENKWAH

    HON. DOMINIC NAPARE

    HON. DOMINIC BINGAB ADUNA NITIWUL

    HON. KOFI AHENKORAH MARFO

    HON. TEDDY SAFORI ADDI

    HON. JOSEPH CUDJOE

    HON. ANDREW KOFI EGYAPA MERCER

    HON. JOE GHARTEY

    HON. JOHN KOBINA ABBAM ABOAH SANIE

    HON. ROBERT WISDOM CUDJOE

    HON. ELVIS MORRIS DONKOH

    HON. JAMES GYAKYE QUAYSON

    HON. EDWIN NII LANTEY VANDERPUYE

    HON. CARLOS KINGSLEY AHENKORAH

    HON. WISDOM KOBENA WOYOME

    HON. BENJAMlN KOMLA KPODO

    HON. MICHAEL OKYERE BAAFl

    HON. ALHASSAN BASHIR ALHASSAN FUSEINI

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Appiatse reconstruction to begin on May 1 as promised MCE insists

    Municipal Chief Executive for Prestea Huni Valley Dr. Isaac Dasmani has given a strong indication that the assembly is working assiduously to ensure that reconstruction of the Apiate community begins on May 1 as so promised by the government.

    According to him, the necessary ground assessments are all but complete to allow for the erection of new structures in the community.

    “As I speak, ground assessment is currently ongoing. You know that already the majority of the structures affected by the blast have been pulled down and the ground leveled. They were mainly mud and thatch structures. The ones built with block and mortar have been left standing. The assessment will determine whether to keep them standing or that only renovation will do”.

    He mentioned that “so in our consideration, some over 200 new structures will be put up”.

    Dr. Isaac Dsamani was speaking to 3news.com after the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) donated 2,000 bags of cement to the Appiatse Resettlement Planning Committee.

    He mentioned that the bags of cement will be of immense benefit in ensuring that the reconstruction timetable is followed religiously.

    “You have been to the site. And you have seen that workers are working round the clock, molding blocks. We need the cement to keep us going as planned. So the cement from GPHA has come at the right time. We cannot thank GPHA enough. They have been very spot on with this cement intervention.”

    Director of Port of Takoradi Captain Ebenezer Afadzi, who presented the bags of cement on behalf of GPHA, explained that what they did was what any good corporate citizen should do to “wipe the cries of the disadvantaged”.

    “We are here today not only to present these bags of cement. But to demonstrate that GPHA understands their pain understands their loss and stands with them in their times of grief. This is our commitment and desire to help them find hope in a period where everything seems lost. GPHA will continue to serve as a pillar they can also run to.”

    Captain Afadzi said: “What happened is terrible and should not have happened here or anywhere. But it has happened. The question is what can we all do to right the unfortunate incident. Let us learn our lessons and all commit and promise that what happened here will never happen again.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Outgoing US Ambassador bids Otumfuo farewell

    Outgoing U.S Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie S. Sullivan, has visited Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to officially inform him of her departure from Ghana.

    Ambassador Sullivan used the occasion to thank the Asantehene for the remarkable working relationship she and the U.S Embassy staff have enjoyed throughout her time in Ghana.

    Ms. Sullivan has completed three and a half years of duty in the country.

    She assumed duty in September 2018 and initiated a number of bilateral interests which have deepened US-Ghana relations.

    She leaves Ghana on Saturday, April 9, 2022, after a three and a half year of duty tour.

    Ms. Sullivan has visited about 35 African countries but lived and worked in four of them for an extended period of time.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Government creating enabling environment for mining sector to flourish Jinapor

    The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, says President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government is committed to creating a conducive environment for the mining sector to thrive.

    The Minister said this when the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ms. Kathleen Csaba paid her second official visit to him on Monday, 4th April 2022, in Accra.

    Ghana’s mining sector, the Minister said “is one that is very robust and indeed we are happy to work together to create that conducive environment for the mining sector to flourish with a strong Canadian involvement.”

    Mr. Jinapor pointed out that the over-arching goal of the President Akufo-Addo-led government is to make Ghana the Mining Hub of Africa, where all the various components of the Mining industry in Africa can be found, mainly from exploration, mining, downstream services, financial services, and other related mining activities will be planted in Ghana.

    To achieve this, it will require that “We at this ministry will create a conducive environment for private sector involvement and that will mean a whole gamut of measures are needed to attract private investments and that is exactly what we intend to do.”

    For her part, the Canadian High Commissioner said Ghana is blessed with many natural resources as Canada is with lots of expertise and know-how, and she is looking forward to continuing to work closely with the Ministry in developing Ghana’s vast resources together.

    “We are pleased as to the degree of investment we have made so far by Canadian Mining companies in the Ghanaian Mining sector and we look forward to growing that,” she said.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • All we know about the ‘gunman’ identified as police sergeant, who has been interdicted

    The Ghana Police Service has confirmed the identity of a man who was captured in a viral video brandishing a pistol while physically assaulting another on the shoulders of a road believed to be the Accra-Cape Coast Road.

    The man, identified as a sergeant with the Central Region office of the Ghana Police Service, has, according to an April 4, 2022, statement, been interdicted in line with standard procedure.

    This will also pave the way for a full investigation to be conducted into the case, the statement said.

    Here is all we know about the matter from when the news broke on Saturday, April 2, 2022:

    – Viral amateur video showed a man and another in a disagreement. One of the men was brandishing a pistol while intermittently assaulting the other man

    – Unsure what led to the two getting into such a confrontation, the tall lankier-looking man, wielding his gun in his right hand, more than once gets slaps to the face of the other man

    – At the next opportunity, the man who was on the receiving side of all the abuse, rushes to his car and quickly prepares to drive away but is again chased down by the man wielding the gun

    – With no access to the man now because he is in his car, the man with the gun turns on his anger to the car, smashing the side mirrors and the windshields of the car before the car finally makes it onto the road and the driver speeds off

    – In the evening of Saturday, April 2, 2022, the Ghana Police Service issued a statement to the effect that the unidentified man who was seen in a viral video brandishing a pistol while physically assaulting another motorist had been arrested and the weapon he was brandishing retrieved

    – The following day, Sunday, April 3, an audio emerged of the suspected gunman

    – In the audio shared on a Ghana Police Service Press Corp WhatsApp platform, the man identified himself as the policeman

    – While blaming whoever shared the video and the media for not carrying the full details of the story, he went on to give his narration of things, emphasizing that he only acted the way he did because his life was threatened by the civilian

    – In an April 4, 2022, update, the police stated the man in the video is a police officer is with the Central Region office of the Service

    – The statement detailed that the police sergeant had lodged a complaint of assault alleging that he was attacked by a group of people, one of whom was wielding a cutlass

    – Preliminary investigations required that the police sergeant is interdicted

    – The Police statement also mentioned that it has launched an investigation into the conduct of the unidentified officer, adding that both criminal investigation and the professional standards investigation will run concurrently.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Henry Quartey, Kennedy Agyapong, Adwoa Safo referred to privileges committee for absenteeism

    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has been referred three Members of Parliament to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for their absenteeism.

    The three MPs are the Members of Parliament for the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo; Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong; and Ayawaso Central, Henry Quartey.

    They have been reported to have breached the 15-day rule after they have been absent for 15 sitting days without permission.

    They are to offer reasonable explanations before the Privileges Committee as to why they have been absent.

    Based on the committee report, the House will then vote to take a decision as to whether or not the seat will be declared vacant.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Assin North MP suffers another blow as Supreme Court throws out application

    An application filed by the embattled Member of Parliament for Assin North James Gyekye Quaayson at the Supreme Court has been dismissed in a unanimous decision.

    According to a Joynews report, the court deemed the MP’s application as lacking merit.

    The MP, in a review application, had asked the Apex court to set aside an earlier ruling in which the court ordered Mr Quayson to file his defence in a case that seeks to stop him from holding himself as a member of the legislature.

    On March 8, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that the said case had sufficiently been brought to the attention of the MP and thus ordered him to go ahead and file his defence.

    This came after the Supreme Court in February 2022 ordered that processes be brought to the attention of the MP through substituted service, including newspaper publications.

    The MP was also to be served through a notice posting on the wall of the Supreme Court in Accra, the High Court in Cape Coast and at his residence.

    A private citizen, Michael Ankomah Nimfah, in a suit filed against the MP, notified the court through his lawyers that attempts to serve court documents on Mr Quayson had proved futile.

    In July 2021, a Cape Coast High Court delivered a judgment in which it declared the 2020 Assin North Parliamentary elections as null and void.

    The court upheld the prayer of a plaintiff that Mr Quayson, at the time of filing his nomination for the elections in which he was declared winner, owed allegiance to another country aside from Ghana, contrary to provisions of the constitution.

    The court ordered a rerun of the election, but Mr Quayson has since been battling to get the decision of the court set aside in what has now turned out to involve multiple cases being fought in different courts on the matter.

    Michael Nimfah, through his lawyers, has asked for Mr Quayson to be restrained from performing any parliamentary duties until a decision by a Court of Appeal is made on the Cape Coast High Court’s ruling.

    At a previous sitting of the Supreme Court, lead counsel for the Assin North MP, Tsatsu Tsikata, told the court that the order of substituted service asked to be served on his client had not been served properly.

    He noted that a publication of the court processes in the Daily Graphic only contained the order of the court and the date for hearing and not the entire process.

    However, the lawyer for Nimfah, Frank Davies, informed the court that its order in respect of the Daily Graphic publication could not mean the MP has not been made aware of the court processes.

    The court after hearing arguments from the counsels, including the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, declined Mr Tiskata’s objection in a unanimous decision.

    “The essence of substituted service is to bring to the attention of a party of the pendency of the suit. This court does not expect all processes to be published. Again the letter by Mr Teriwajah speaks for itself. We, therefore, dismiss the preliminary objection.

    “On the issue of whether this case is ripe for hearing, this court, in a majority decision of 6-1 with Justice Kulendi dissenting, holds that the first accused was duly served as of February 28 2022. The cause is adjourned to March 16 2022, for hearing. The first defendant is to file all processes on or before March 16”, President of the Panel Justice Dotse ruled.

    Following various motions by Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata to support his application and get the court to reverse its March 8 decision, the court, in a ruling read on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, described the application by the Assin North MP as being without merit.

    “The application lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed”, Justice Dotse, reading the ruling of the court said.

    The court panel was made up of Justices Jones Dotse, Agnes Dordzie, Nene Amegatcher, Prof Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkonoo, Clemence Honyenuga, Prof Henrietta Mensah Bonsu and Emmanuel Y. Kulendi.

    Prof Ashie Kotey and Justice Clemence Honyenuga also joined the seven members who heard the original application in hearing the review application.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • GH¢35 million not sufficient to rebuild Appiatse community – Dr. Joyce Aryee

    Chairman of the Appiatse Support Fund Committee, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee has said the over GH¢35 million received as donations to the Appiatse Support Fund is not sufficient to rebuild the community.

    According to her, although the sum is not sufficient, the Fund is, however, grateful for all contributions made so far.

    Addressing journalists in Accra on Monday, she said, “This amount notwithstanding, we are far from reaching what we would call sufficient funds. This is because the extent of damage to the Appiatse Township cannot be overemphasized and this amount raised so far will not be adequate”

    Dr. Joyce Aryee made this declaration when the Appiatse Support Fund Committee held a press briefing on Monday April 4, 2022 to among others update the general public on funds received so far.

    She also stated clearly that the monies collected do not include the US$5 million fine allotted to Maxam Company Limited to pay into the fund, disclosing that Maxam is yet to pay that fine through the Minerals Commission.

    She further opined that, for the purpose of utmost transparency, the committee will at an appropriate time, make available to the press and the general public the list of corporate institutions and individuals who have donated both in cash and kind to the fund which is also captured in the bank statements of the Fund.

    The Chairman of the Support Fund Committee, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee also made a passionate appeal to all who are yet to donate in order to ensure that the people of Appiatse, are relieved from the untold hardship and damage to their properties.

    “We are still insisting on our hashtag: “obiara entuabi” to enable us make this project a reality”

    She hoped that every means available will be employed to equip the Reconstruction Implementation Team with the requisite funds to construct an eco-friendly, green and sustainable town that is energy efficient.

    She expressed her profound gratitude on behalf of her team and people of Appiatse to all those who have donated and assured that the Committee will work collaboratively with the Reconstruction Implementation Committee to bring Appiatse back on it’s feet.

    Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Chairman of the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Team who joined the briefing further explained that the amount of work to be done at Appiatse would determine the exact amount the Fund would need to raise for completion of the project.

    He asked Ghanaians through the media to be patient while they put together an inventory to know how much will be needed, adding that the exact quotation of amount will also depend on the contractor who is awarded the contract to reconstruct the community.

    Blankson Hermans, a member of the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Team and representative from the Ghana Institute of Architects gave a summary of activities of the Reconstruction Implementation Committee thus far.

    “For the time period that we’ve been working, we’ve come up with a land use plan which was developed by the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority. It forms the basis for the design that will be used for the provision of the housing and commercial facilities for the community” He said

    “So we’ve inspected a root going through the main town and out of it, we’ve got about 120 of 126 bedroom houses to reconstruct. But essentially, as we develop, what we are doing now is to start with the road networks by April ending and we hope to meet that deadline” he concluded.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana is relatively stable despite a number of threats – Kan Dapaah

    The Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has said that despite the recent number of threats and insecurity concerns in the country, Ghana is relatively stable.

    According to him, a number of measures have been instituted to ensure the country is continuously stable, adding that night patrols have been deployed while police visibility has increased.

    “I want to state that Ghana is relatively stable despite a number of threats, both external and internal, that can potentially undermine security and stability.

    “These threats have been prominent in recent times include crime, land chieftaincy disputes, violent extremism, and activity of secessionists,” he said.

    He added that there has been a decline in criminal activities in the country as well as with tensions emanating from land-related issues.

    “There has been a noticeable decline in criminal activities across the country,” he said in parliament.

    Speaking on the Bawku conflict, he said measures have been put in place to curb the situation.

    “…there is an ongoing investigation to unravel the individuals behind the shooting incident. We will try to make sure that all persons connected to the shooting incident are arrested as quickly as possible,” he said.

    He said maintaining peace in Bawku has not been easy for the security agencies but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • EOCO investigating Zongo Development Fund, CEO over financial impropriety Report

    The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund Secretariat, Arafat Suleman Abdulai, and other officials of the agency, are reportedly under investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office for alleged financial impropriety.

    According to a Daily Guide report, the investigation follows a report by a whistleblower who has furnished the anti-graft agency with evidence to support allegations of various financial breaches such as procurement anomalies and project cost inflation.

    The alleged malfeasance such as inflation of astro turf projects and unusual payments for contracts under the management of the secretariat is said to have taken place over a period of several months.

    The acting CEO is said to be under investigation for causing financial loss to the state while a female procurement officer of the agency is also being questioned over some transactions authorized by the CEO.

    Also assisting in the ongoing investigation is an accountant at the secretariat on various matters including a COVID-19 sensitisation programme which reportedly cost the state some GH¢50,000 for per diem payment.

    The beneficiaries of the per diem according to the report include persons who are not associated with the Zongo Development Fund.

    Other individuals associated with the ongoing investigation are an internal auditor as well as contractors and engineers.

    According to the report, some auditors who refused to conform to the malfeasance at the secretariat were hounded out of the state institution.

    Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Fund, Musah Yahaya Jafaru has denied knowledge of the EOCO investigation.

    The Zongo Development Fund established by an Act of Parliament in 2017 has been set up to provide financial resources to develop and transform the social and economic conditions of Zongo communities.

    The Fund initially operated under the Ministry of Zongo Development and Inner City Development.

    The ministry however now operates as a secretariat under the Presidency.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Bagbin plans to establish a dialysis center in Wa

    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has hinted of advanced ongoing plans to establish and run a functional dialysis unit at the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa.

    Speaker Bagbin made this disclosure at his residence in Wa on Saturday, April 2 when he met a cross-section of journalists and football enthusiasts.

    It was during the occasion of his personal donation of sports equipment to Real Crusaders Ladies Football Club, a Division One ladies football club based in Wa.

    Touching on his commitment to use his privileged position as Speaker of Parliament to better the lot of the Upper West Region, the Rt Hon Bagbin intimated that he has been able to secure some support from an undisclosed source for the establishment of the dialysis unit.

    He bemoaned the stress and difficulties that people of the Region endure whenever they have to seek medical attention, which requires resort to dialysis and hence the reason for which he is pushing relentlessly to bring the project to fruition.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Sporting CP coach reveals when talented Abdul Fatawu Issahaku will join first team

    Coach of Portuguese side Sporting CP Ruben Amorin has sung the praises of Ghanaian youngster Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.

    The 18-year-old joined the Portuguese giants in January this year when he turned 18 years after spending some time on loan with Dreams FC.

    He signed a four-year contract with the Portuguese side after spurning overtures from several top clubs in Europe.

    According to the Sporting CP coach, the talented youngster will train with the first team in the summer during pre-season.

    “At least pre-season will do. We believe him for what we have seen, we have called him. He made a small adaptation in the B team for him to grow physically and adapt to the life and way of being of the club, which is transversal from the B team to the A team,” Amorim said in an interview.

    “It is noted that he needs tactical concepts, normal because he is young and played in a completely different football. He has a great talent, he is very fast, he shoots from very far and from different areas of the terrain.”

    “He can improve a lot. We count on him and it’s only up to him to belong to the A team. In my mind, he’s a team A player, like many others”

    “We count on him and we believe in him a lot, that’s why it took a lot of work to convince him, knowing that there were many clubs that wanted him. We have this advantage of the project, that they know it’s up to them, young or not, to participate in the main team.”

    They can go down or up, depending on the income. Inácio, Matheus, Nuno Mendes went up but we didn’t know what could happen. It depends more on him than on the coach,” Amorim concluded.

    He was a member of the Ghana U-20 side that won the African Youth Championship in Mauritania in 2020 where he emerged as the best player.

    Issahaku was part of the Black Stars squad that played against Nigeria in the 2022 World Cup playoffs.

    Source: ghanaguardian.com

  • E-levy: Ghana hard but we can’t stop paying taxes -Analyst

    Political analyst Mr. Boakye Yiadom has admitted that Ghana is currently facing challenges with citizens complaining of economic hardship.

    But it does not mean we have to stop collecting taxes to develop the country, he added.

    Reacting to the passage of the E-Levy, he said we are currently experiencing the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak and the ongoing Russian and Ukraine war.

    However, we cannot stop collecting taxes.

    “We need the taxes to pay workers, construct roads, provide portable drinking water and that is why the passage of the E-Levy is good.

    “What Ghanaians must do is hold the government to account and ensure that the taxes collected from the levy are used for the intended purpose. We have a responsibility as Ghanaians to pay our taxes and then demand accountability from our leaders”.

    “We cannot rule the country without taxes. We have to support the government,” he stressed.

    He asked the Minority to let go and forget about their court case.

    He said if they were against it and the government found a way to pass it, they should let go and forget about going to court.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Duffuor intensifies campaign with launch of ‘NDC ahotor project’ for grassroots

    A leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Dr Kwabena Duffuor is set to launch an NDC grassroots empowerment and a self-financing project dubbed the “NDC ahotor project” for the grassroots.

    “Ahotor” means “relief” in the Akan language.

    In a statement, the project manager stated that the former governor of the Bank of Ghana and former finance minister in the erstwhile NDC government of Professor Evans Atta Mills, and a business magnate makes it clear that the main aim of the Project is “geared towards setting up micro-businesses in all the 275 constituencies in order to create the much needed, but currently unavailable local funding for the day-to-day running of the NDC party at the grassroots level”.

    This Initiative is a direct response to the recommendations of a business feasibility studies commissioned by Duffuor and carried out by a team in Ghana. It was to establish the most feasible and sustainable business idea capable of helping to finance the NDC party activities at the local level.

    He bemoans the present situation where the responsibility of raising resources for grassroots activities of the NDC is either left in the hands of branch and constituency executives whose work for the party is purely voluntary affecting their personal businesses and families or in the hands of sitting MPs who are also overwhelmed by financial demands of their constituents, is not a sustainable way for financing a modern-day political organisation.

    Aim of project

    This project which is yet to be implemented is meant to lessen the burden on MPs, relieve local executives of the huge financial difficulties they face in running the party. It is believed that the NDC AhotÉ” Project will create a medium for the local party machinery to be financially self-sustaining through regular income streams to help support their ongoing initiatives. It is also to empower and reposition the NDC and make it battle-ready for election 2024 and beyond.

    According to the project manager, the NDC AhotÉ” Project will be micro-businesses focusing on social events such as funerals, naming ceremonies, marriage ceremonies, durbars, political campaigns, and rallies which are mostly outdoor activities.

    The nature of these activities places a high demand on the use of plastic chairs, canopies, public address systems, power generators, podiums, mobile toilets etc. A local rental business of the accessories owned and run by the party at various constituency levels, will create employment opportunities and generate income which will bring relief (AhotÉ”) to the grassroots.

    Duffuor is, therefore, sponsoring and financing all the 275 constituencies with all the equipment and accessories necessary to set up a rental business.

    The pilot phase of the NDC AhotoÉ” project is set to be launched at the Ashaiman constituency in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday 7 April.

    Source: dailymailgh.com

  • After 9 years, court rules against Odartey Lamptey’s ex-wife over East Legon property

    Former Ghana international, Nii Odartey Lamptey has finally claimed his seven-bedroom apartment from his ex-wife Gloria Appiah after the court gave the latter one month notice to evict the property.

    On March 2, 2022, Court ordered Gloria to vacate the apartment after yet another failed appeal to claim ownership of the seven-bedroom apartment as part of her alimony after their divorce.

    In an interview with Peace FM, Odartey confirmed has finally claimed the property and will move in the coming days.

    “I got a call from my lawyer with about two hours to Ghana’s game against Nigeria and he said the one month given to her(ex-wife) is up after the ruling on March 2. So I can go for my keys. I was extremely happy because after nine-year battles in court I have gotten the house. So quickly I organized the to boys go there. But for myself, I will move in this week.

    Glory Appiah filed the first appeal in 2017 to own the 7-bedroom house after their much-publicized divorce in 2013. But the appeal was thrown out in 2020.

    Unsatisfied Gloria filed another appeal in 2021 at the Court of Appeal but it was thrown out again. This time she was given a month to exit the property.

    Currently, Odartey Lamptey has a new wife and has been renting since the divorce.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • SHS Placement: There are enough vacancies for qualified candidates Education Ministry

    The Ministry of Education has urged the public to remain calm as candidates continue to be placed in senior high schools via the Computerised Schools Selection Placement System (CSSPS).

    There have been concerns regarding the placements with some accusing the System of bias.

    Resolution centres have thus been mounted across the 16 regions of Ghana to resolve issues parents and, by extension, Ghanaians may have with the exercise.

    In a statement released on Friday, April 1, the Ministry said “all the resolution centers across the 16 regions of Ghana will be opened and continue to operate beyond the 4th of April, 2022”.

    Candidates who have had schools of their choice are scheduled to report on Monday, April 4 to begin their academic life in senior high school.

    In commending all stakeholders including parents and guardians for the cooperation received since the release of the placements on Saturday, March 26, the Ministry assured all and sundry that “there are enough vacancies for qualified candidates”.

    In all, 367,811 candidates out of the 555,353 qualified for the placement automatically into schools of their choice.

    The other 187,542 qualified candidates were asked to do a self-placement to available schools since they could not be matched with any of their choices.

    Source: 3news.com

  • UGMC performs first open heart surgery

    The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has performed its first set of open-heart surgeries at its Cardiothoracic Centre.

    The four surgeries were carried out by a team of local and foreign-based medical personnel, including a surgeon, an anaesthetist and two cardiologists.

    The patients, made up of three males and a female and aged between 42 and 63 years, had open heart surgery for single and double valve replacement and a bypass.

    The cardio centre, which is now the second biggest in the country, has eight more surgeries to perform, including that on a 10-year-old boy, beginning today.

    Readiness

    The Head of the UGMC Cardio Centre, Dr Baffoe Gyan, said the hospital was ready to perform cardiothoracic and vascular surgeries of the heart, lungs, blood vessels, the esophagus and the coronary artery, pacemaker implantation, synchronisation therapy, decortication of clots in lungs, among others.

    He said the facility was currently concentrating on adult surgery, and that with time, it would go into paediatric surgeries, which were mostly hole-in-heart cases.

    He said at the moment they were ready to operate on uncomplicated hole-in-heart cases in children.

    According to him, there were many people in the country who needed open-heart surgeries, but due to the fact that there was no medical facility that offered such specialised services in the country, apart from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, some patients were compelled to seek treatment abroad.

    Technology

    Dr Gyan further said the centre would use more advanced technology in the performance of surgeries, such as cutting through a small hole to operate the heart while it was still beating.

    He said the centre had a capable team of medical personnel, including the technology and the equipment, to perform such surgeries.

    He said his outfit would form a cardiac team, comprising a cardiologist and a cardiothoracic surgeon, who would be working together to perform the surgeries.

    Dr Gyan said that would enable them to complement each other in the operating theatre.

    Source: graphic.com.gh 

  • Nearly 230,000 people in country blind – GHS

    About 230,000 people of all ages in the country are blind, many of the cases from conditions that started from infancy.

    The blindness prevalence rate in Ghana is 0.74 per cent.

    Known in medical terms as Retinoblastoma, the condition is a malignant tumor of the retina that develops during childhood.

    It is severer among children, especially those in rural areas, due to either lack of funds for medical care or access to appropriate health facilities to detect the disease early for treatment.

    Other causes are abnormalities in chromosomes – thread-like structures located inside human cells that also contain a persons DNA.

    To encourage early detection and treatment, the government has given approval to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cover the treatment of Retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye, which also kills many children.

    Event

    The Head of Eye Care at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr James Addy, disclosed this when speaking at a Rotary outreach programme in Kumasi last Saturday for the training of midwives and nurses in the Ashanti Region on how to improve the survival rate of children with Retinoblastoma, since it is treatable, manageable and curable when detected early.

    He said the Rotary Club of La East, Accra, in partnership with the GHS, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS), had already trained many midwives and community health nurses across the country in the early detection of Retinoblastoma.

    The support formed part of Rotary’s contribution to improving eye care in the country, he said.
    Dr Addy called for more collaboration between stakeholders and the government to help nip the disease in the bud.

    Death rate

    An associate professor at the UGMS, who is also a paediatric eye specialist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Vera Adobea Assumang, said more than half of the children who contracted Retinoblastoma died every year due to lack of support.

    “About 60 children contract Retinoblastoma every year and most of them are reported late, which makes it difficult to save sight,” she added.

    Prof. Assumang said some of the causes of the disease were preventable and advised parents not to hesitate in reporting such cases to health facilities for early detection and treatment.

    Source:  graphic.com.gh 

  • We need help Residents of Keta and Agavedzi displaced by tidal waves

    Some residents of Keta and Agavedzi in the Volta region have been displaced by tidal waves yet again.

    The latest incident on Sunday, April 3, has left many homeless.

    Some moved to higher grounds to seek shelter, while others had no choice but to sleep on mattresses along major roads.

    At Keta, the famous Emancipation Beach Resort has been badly affected by the high waves, destroying many properties owned by the facility owner.

    Residents who spoke to JoyNews lamented the continuous ravaging impact of the sea, adding that the recent waves may cut off streets and make it difficult for people to use the roads.

    “We need help. The main street leading into the township has also been submerged, and the school under the waters and means of livelihood are being destroyed.

    “We are constantly living in fear due to the continuous ravaging of the sea, and it appears to us that if nothing is done soon and urgently, the whole area will be cut off. Therefore we are appealing to government to look for funding and start a sea defence wall, which seems to be the only solution to our problem,” a resident lamented.

    Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South, Maxwell Lugudor, says government is committed to making sure their problems are resolved immediately.

    He added that he has secured funding to build infrastructures for victims who lost their houses due to the incident.

    “I was in the community just yesterday with the engineers to commence work on the land only to hear this afternoon of another devastation by the sea,” Mr Lugudor recounted.

    Parts of the Greater Accra Region, specifically the Ada, was also hit by the waves.

    At least 3,000 people in Keta municipality have been rendered homeless after tidal waves swept through their homes in November 2021.

    Communities such as Abutiakope, Kedzikope and Keta Central were primarily affected as affected homeless residents are left with nothing to salvage.

    Affected residents, mainly children and women, had their residential abodes destroyed by the tidal waves.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Heated exchange in Parliament as Minority accuses Akufo-Addo of constant breach of law

    Tempers flared up in Parliament today after the Minority accused President Akufo-Addo of being in constant breach of the law despite his much-touted status as an advocate of the rule of law.

    North Tongu, MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, insists that President Akufo-Addo has not complied with a constitutional provision to furnish Parliament with the annual report on the staff at the presidency.

    This, he said, is in breach of the Presidential Office Act and “undermines the authority of this institution.”

    The MP believes that it is unbecoming of “a President who likes to project himself as a paragon of the rule of law to be violating the laws of our country in this manner.”

    Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who was incensed over the description, called on his colleague NDC MP to withdraw the words.

    He described the comments as unacceptable and demanded that they be withdrawn.

    “You cannot do that…Stop misbehaving…Ablakwa, you will withdraw it…You cannot say that about the President,” he responded.

    The demand threw the house into chaos as members from both sides argued on top of their voices.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Burkinabe government dismisses ECOWAS calls for Kaboré’s release

    Burkina Faso has dismissed regional bloc ECOWAS ‘expression of serious concern about its 36-month transition period and calls for the immediate release of former President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré’.

    A few days after the summit of ECOWAS heads of state held in Accra on March 25, the Burkinabe government reacted Thursday saying it will do things on its own terms.

    ” The government of Burkina Faso has only one deadline. The deadline is to do things right, to plan its actions in accordance with the realities on the ground, in all objectivity and with the greatest possible prudence and realism.” government spokesperson Wendkouni Lionel Bilgo told journalists at a press conference.

    The government spokesperson stressed that the transition duration was adopted by consensus during the national conference.

    On the case of former President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, Bilgo hinted that consultations had been initiated for three weeks for Kabore’s return to a family residence of his choice. “When a solution is found, he will be in a residence with appropriate security,”

    There have been growing calls in Burkina Faso for the release of the ousted leader Kabore who has been under house arrest for two months since the coup that brought the military to power.

    ECOWAS heads of state at its last meeting on the social and political situations in Mali Guinea and Burkina Faso called for the unconditional release of the former president.

    Source:  africanews.com 

  • Abu Jinapor presents motorbikes to West Gonja Municipal Health Directorate

    AS part of efforts to enhance healthcare in the West Gonja Municipality, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo in the Savannah Region, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has presented 10 motorbikes to the health directorate to support its work.

    The motorbikes would enable health personnel to carry out community outreach programmes and attend to the health needs of residents in hard-to-reach communities.

    Presentation

    Presenting the motorbikes to the health directorate for onward distribution to various health facilities, Mr Jinapor reiterated his commitment towards improving healthcare in the constituency.

    He acknowledged the challenges associated with healthcare in the constituency and gave the assurance of doing everything possible within his remit to address some of the challenges.

    “My dream is that when I am done and gone, the bar will be set so high that whoever wants to be MP in the Savannah Region will be held to the highest standards of delivery and responsibility,” he stated.

    According to him, some aspirants sought for votes but often failed to address the needs of the constituents including locating them to seek answers to the challenges of constituents.

    Mr Jinapor, who is the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, urged the health directorate to put the motorbikes to good use and ensure regular maintenance so as to deliver on their mandate to the people.

    Appreciation

    Receiving the motorbikes, the West Gonja Municipal Director of Health Services, Madam Gertrude Yentumi, expressed gratitude to the MP for the donation.

    She said it would go a long way to complement the efforts of the government and the directorate in proving quality healthcare services to the people.

    While pledging to put the machines to good use, she appealed for more motorbikes as transport challenges made it difficult for the directorate to reach out to most of the rural communities to attend to the health needs of residents.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Domestic air travels surge: Record highest patronage in 8 years

    Since the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions in the country last year, domestic air travel has increased, recording the highest patronage in the last eight years, data from airport authorities have indicated.

    According to the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), domestic passenger flows (throughput) jumped from 423,718 in 2020 to 722,721 in 2021, the highest since 2013.

    This represents a 70.57 per cent surge in domestic passenger traffic over that of the previous year, indicating the full recovery of the aviation industry from the impact of the pandemic.

    There was a halt in domestic air operations in Ghana between March 30 and April 20, 2020 as part of measures by the government to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

    Experts have attributed the growth to strong consumer confidence in the aviation industry, which is hinged on safety, reliability and affordability.

    Decade performance

    Further analysis of the data released by the GACL shows fluctuations in the domestic air traffic.

    From 543,379 passengers in 2012, the number of domestic air travellers rose to 778,466 in 2013, before declining to 421,986 in 2016.

    The industry, which recorded 483,261 passengers in 2017, experienced a jump to 690,314 in 2019, after dropping again to 423,718 in 2020.

    The number increased to 722,721 last year, with indications to grow further in the coming years.

    The travellers were airlifted by Africa World Airlines (AWA) and Passion Air to and from Accra to the five regions with airports — Northern (Tamale), Ashanti (Kumasi), Western (Takoradi), Volta (Ho) and Upper West (Wa).

    Kumasi processed 417,510 passengers, representing 57.8 per cent of the total throughput, while Tamale handled 207,216 passengers, representing 28.7 per cent of throughput, with Takoradi processing 92,949 passengers, representing 12.9 per cent.

    Wa managed 4,696 passengers (0.6 per cent), while Ho, which began operations in December 2021, handled 350 travellers.

    AWA carried 65 per cent of the throughput, while its competitor, Passion Air, handled the rest.

    Expert opinion

    An international aviation expert, Mr Sean Mendis, said Ghana was one of the two countries in the world (the other being Russia) with a million annual domestic passengers that had shown actual growth in domestic air travel in 2021, as against pre-COVID-19 benchmarks in 2019.

    That, he said, was an indication that policies adopted by stakeholders in the industry when domestic flights restarted in May 2020 had been successful.

    “Interestingly enough, the domestic market in the country is actually suppressed somewhat because neither of the domestic operators has been able to expand fast enough to keep up with the growing demand.

    “I estimate that there is approximately 30-40 per cent of demand that is being spilled at the current price points, and likely as much as 150-200 per cent unmet demand at a lower price point,” he said.

    According to Mr Mendis, there was a huge potential for operators who would charge lower fares in the domestic market and provide the appropriate value proposition to more travellers.

    Responding to market

    The Head of Commercial at AWA, Adedayo Olawuyi, told the Daily Graphic in Accra that the upsurge in numbers was an indication that the market was responding to efforts put in place by stakeholders in the aviation industry.

    “Since the pandemic broke out, we have stayed in the market continuously, building capacity on all major routes and we can see that the market has responded adequately.

    “The advent of COVID-19 also allowed a lot of people to start looking inward and we saw more intra-country travels since 2020, which has reflected in increased domestic traffic,” he said.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Goldfields pays GH¢86.7 million dividend to government

    Goldfields Ghana Limited has paid an interim dividend of GH¢86.7 million on its Tarkwa Mines to the government for the 2022 financial year.

    The dividend was paid in respect of the government’s 10 per cent stake in the mining company.

     

    The acting Executive Vice-President and Head of Goldfields West Africa, Joshua Mortoti, presented the cheque for the amount to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in Accra last Tuesday.

    Investment

    Mr Mortoti said apart from fulfilling its financial obligations to the government, the company, through its Goldfields Ghana Foundation, had also invested US$84.4 million in development programmes and projects in host communities in the Western Region since 2004.

    He mentioned the 33-kilometre Tarkwa-Damang road, which was funded at a cost of US$27 million and completed in 2019, as a major project funded by the foundation

     

    It had also expended over US$16.2 million on the refurbishment of the T and A Park in Tarkwa, turning it into a 10,400-seater stadium which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

    “We do these things to ensure that the 19 host communities of our Tarkwa and the Damang mines benefit from the value we create through the foundation,” Mr Mortoti added.

    He called for more collaboration with the government to ensure that the company remained in sustainable business for the benefit of all stakeholders.

    Commendation

    Mr Jinapor commended the company for being consistent in the payment of dividend to the government.

    “Goldfields Ghana was one of the companies which stepped forward to pay dividend even before I was sworn in as minister, and I recall that vividly. I commend you for consistently fulfilling your financial obligations to the government, ” he said.

    The minister urged other mining companies to endeavour to pay their dividends to strengthen the bond between the state and the companies.

    He said as the regulator of the mining industry, the government would continue to create a conducive environment for the sector to thrive.

    “Let me reiterate the fact that the government, being the regulator and custodian of public interest, has a responsibility and duty to create that conducive environment for businesses to thrive and be able to declare and pay dividends to the government,” Mr Jinapor said.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • 2 Busted for posing as ECG staff

    Two persons, who posed as staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and allegedly extorted money from some customers have been arrested.

      The suspects, Richard Nii Moi and Edward Quartey, were sent to the Israel Police Station near Sowutuom in Accra.

    Narrating the incident, the ECG Achimota District Manager, Mrs Mary Kpordzih, said the suspects posed as revenue collector and disconnection officer of the company and allegedly extorted money from some customers who could not show receipts of recent payments of their ECG bills.

    Operation

    “Their mode of operation however got some of the residents suspicious and so they quizzed them and demanded to see their identification cards, adding that they were unconvincing in their responses so the residents raised an alarm and reported their activities to the office,” she said.

    The two were subsequently traced, arrested and sent to the police station for them to be investigated.

    Commendation

    Mrs Kpordzih commended the residents for their vigilance and charged customers to verify the identity of persons who visited their premises claiming to be staff of the company.

    “Where you are in doubt, always report suspicious persons to the nearest ECG office or to the police station,” she added.

    Revenue collection

    The Electricity Company of Ghana has in recent times increased its revenue collection activities. These activities include the commissioning of a National Revenue Taskforce to clampdown on customers engaged in illegality.

    Source:  graphic.com.gh 

  • Police Service regaining trust and confidence of the public under Dampare Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo says the Police Administration under new IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare is gaining the confidence and trust of the public in the discharge of their duties.

    According to him, the Inspector General of Police has instilled law and order after assuming office which has seen improvement in the service.

    The President made the observation while delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA), on the floor of Parliament, Wednesday, March 29, 2022.

    “The morale of police officers has received a considerable boost and today public focused interventions instituted by the Inspector General of police have resulted in a better police public relationship.

    “The police service is gradually regaining the trust and confidence of the public under the leadership of its new Inspector General of Police,” he stated.

    He added: “I believe we can all testify that our police service is undergoing a great improvement and a change of image before our very eyes during times of anxiety.”

    Commenting on the need for a responsive policing to boost the Police Service, the ECOWAS Chairman observed that law and order have no respect of persons in the country.

    “We need a responsive police service to boost the confidence of the population and it is good to see the police rise up to the challenge. Gradually the police are bringing order to the rules and we all know that the law is no respecter of persons or vehicle types,” President Akufo-Addo noted.

    He called on the general public to cooperate with the police to perform their duties to enable the country go about the lives of Ghanaians in peace.

    Source: angelonline.com.gh

  • Why has Akufo-Addo not extended sympathy to tidal wave victims Dafeamekpor tackles president on SoNA

    South Dayi Member of Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of deliberately turning a blind eye to victims of tidal waves which rocked the Ketu Municipality and its environs somewhere last year.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the State of the Nation Address delivered on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, paid tribute to victims of the Appiatse explosion while stating government’s efforts in rebuilding the community reduced to rubbles in the January 21 accident.

    “Let me use this platform to extend, again, the condolences of the nation to the victims of the Appiatse Explosion. The response to the disaster by the public and the organs of State was highly commendable. Government responded swiftly in the immediate aftermath of the incident by dispatching a high-powered delegation to Appiatse.

    “An Appiatse Support Fund has been established to spearhead the building of a decent, green and sustainable community, to enable victims of this tragic incident and members of the community to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. Arising out of this incident, government will ensure that the Health and Safety policies of the mining industry are in accordance with international best practices.

    But reacting to the president’s address in a Twitter post, Mr Dafeamekpor bemoaned the president’s silence on the Ketu tidal waves while his government has paid close attention to the Apiate incident.

    “Two disasters befall a Nation: one was natural, the other, man-made. One destroyed over 400 homes displacing over 4000, whilst the other destroyed about 50 homes and displaced over 300. Strange but true, Prez never said a word about Keta & Blekusu but constantly talks about Apiatse

    “In respect of Apiatse, the State has actually set up a Fund to source for monies to assist the people. Indeed, brand new housing units are being built to house the victims at the expense of the State. The damaged highway has also been redone quickly & opened to motorists,” the MP wrote.

    Questioning why the president and his vice have not paid the same attention to the tidal wave victims, the South Dayi MP described the government’s action as deliberate.

    “Why has the same Prez not extended a word of sympathy to the people of Blekusu, Adina, Keta & Dzita who suffered heavily when the tidal waves disaster struck? And why no visits by the Prez nor his Vice, Dr. Bawumia? And why no arrangements to also settle the people in new homes?

    “The staggering & clearly deliberate differences in policy approach in managing these two not-related but nonetheless very devastating disasters cannot escape my scrutiny as an MP of the Volta Region & a son of the area. Very Sad,” he added.

    The Apiate explosion which was a result of an accident involving a truck transporting mining explosives, led to the loss of 13 lives and an entire community reduced to rubbles.

    The truck reportedly caught fire after crashing with a tricycle leading to a massive explosion.

    On the other hand, the tidal waves saw the displacement of over 3,000 residents when sea waters flooded several communities.

    There were also some reports of casualties from the incident.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • I saw how Ahanta MP was brought in an ambulance – Speaker

    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has confirmed speculations that the Member of Parliament for Ahanta Constituency was brought to Parliament in an ambulance on the day E-Levy was approved in the chamber.

    The Speaker’s comments come after Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, asked why the Ahanta MP was marked present when he was not seen in the chamber.

    In response, the Speaker said, “I saw how Ahanta West MP and Chieftaincy minister, Ebenezer Kojo-Kum was brought to Parliament in an ambulance”.

    There were suspicions that the Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, Ebenezer Kojo, was conveyed to Parliament on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, when the House was due to approve the controversial E-Levy today.

    This suspicion is a result of the arrival of an ambulance in Parliament on the said day.

    The scene that was captured on video shows a paramedic behind a wheelchair at the entrance of the ambulance.

    Though the video is not long enough to show anyone being brought out of the ambulance, some persons have taken to social media to reveal that the Ahanta West MP who has been bedridden for months was the person on board.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Akufo-Addo assents to E-Levy bill, makes it law

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assented to the E-Levy bill which was approved by Majority side in Parliament on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

    The action taken by the President today, Thursday March 31, 2022 means the bill can now be passed into law.

    This follows its approval in Parliament on March 2022 in the absence of the Minority in Parliament who staged a walk-out during the consideration stage.

    The bill was approved after its third reading, with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in the seat.

    The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, moved a motion in Parliament, asking the House to approve the second reading of the reviewed 1.5% E-Levy bill to advance its passing into law.

    The debate on the motion was divided between the Majority and Minority, who argued entrenched positions on the bill.

    While the Minority maintained their opposition to the bill, members of the Majority argued in favour of the E-Levy, tagging it as essential for revenue mobilization and development.

    The Majority leader, Haruna Iddrisu during his submission on the bill informed the presiding Speaker of a decision by his side to abstain from supporting the bill.

    “In conclusion we are not able to support the Electronic Transaction or Electronic Transfer Levy of 1.75%. we think that it is regressive, it smacks of double taxation and the people of Ghana should not suffer further taxes, financial institutions and banks should not be made to pay E-Levy.

    “Therefore, Mr Speaker I am serving you notice, I have listened, my colleagues have listened to me. Mr Speaker, because we do not support the E-Levy, the Minority group led by me after listening to the majority leader will not be associated with any further proceedings on the E-Levy. We want to be recorded that when the E-Levy was brought to the 8th Parliament, we stood together, we opposed it, we asked for its rejection and we said we would not support it,” the Minority Leader said.

    President Akufo-Addo has signed the E-levy Bill into law

    Following his announcement, the Minority trooped out of the chamber.

    The Majority Leader who was scheduled next to make his final statement on the debate, waived the opportunity and impressed on the Speaker to go ahead and put the second reading to a vote for adoption.

    Speaker Alban Bagbin who was presiding over proceedings went ahead to put the second reading of the E-Levy to a voice vote which was given in favour of the Majority who were the only side in the chamber and shouted for the adoption.

    The House, following the adoption, went ahead unto the consideration stage of the bill also without the presence of the Minority.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • The 4 ex-players leading African teams to 2022 World Cup

    Five African countries have booked their ticket to the Qatar 2022 World Cup slated for later this year.

    The sub-Saharan Africa set include: Ghana, Cameroon and Senegal, with the North African duo of Morocco and Tunisia, completing the list.

    Whiles the respective teams begin preparations towards the Mondial, all things being equal, four African coaches will be leading their sides to Qatar.

    A commonality for all four is that they were all former national team players. Two are substantive managers whiles the other two are interim coaches.

    The four are as follows:

    * Jalel Kadri: Tunisia (interim coach)

    * Otto Addo: Ghana (interim manager)

    * Rigobert Song: Cameroon

    * Aliou Cisse: Senegal

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ATM withdrawals not included in E-Levy

    The Finance Ministry has stated that ATM withdrawals will not attract the 1.5% charge on electronic transfers.

    Also, same person transactions will not attract the E-Levy.

    The E-Levy is a tax imposed on electronic transfers charged at the time of transfer. The levy shall be administered by the GRA and collected through licensed Banks, Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions, Payment Service Providers(PSPs), and Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs).

    According to the Finance Ministry, this is to help widen the tax net and also afford Ghanaians the opportunity to contribute to nation-building.

    In a document, explaining which transactions or otherwise the E-Levy will affect, the Finance Ministry noted Loan repayments will not attract the Levy if the recipient is registered with the GRA for Income Tax or VAT. “Otherwise, the sender will pay the E-Levy.”

    It also stated that salary payments from corporate bank accounts which are registered with the GRA for income tax or VAT, will be exempted from E-Levy.

    Here is the full document

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Government begins Military Housing Project – Akufo-Addo

    Government has started the first stage of the Military Housing Project, dubbed, the Barracks Regeneration Project, at all garrisons across the country.

    The Project seeks to address the accommodation problems facing the Military in the country.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said this when he delivered the 2022 State of the Nations Address (SONA) in Parliament on Wednesday in Accra.

    He said the Military Academy at Teshie had also been modernized whiles entire Armed Forces had been retooled and reequipped to perform their duties.

    “We are building a modernised Armed Forces, with higher personnel, that will be fit to meet the demands of the 21st century,” he said.

    The President indicated that each of the Armed Forces branches being, the Army, Navy and Airforce had received significant financial assistance to upgrade its logistical bases, and strengthen its capabilities, and its welfare requirements being addressed substantially.

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo came with a vision to industrialise Ghana – Gabby

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is gradually fulfilling his vision of industrialising Ghana, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has said.

    Gabby said already Nissan, VW, SinoTruk, Peugeot, Suzuki, and Toyota are assembling in the country.

    “He came in with a vision to industrialise Ghana. By 2030, AfCFTA will be in full swing. Already, Nissan, VW, SinoTruk, Peugeot, Suzuki, and Toyota are assembling here. KIA, Hyundai, and Renault are to start production this year. Ghana is on course to produce for an integrating Africa,” the former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute tweeted on Thursday, March 31.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will later today, Thursday, March 31 commission a Nissan Assembly Plant in Ghana.

    The ceremony will take place in the Tema Industrial Area.

    Delivering the 2022 state of the nation address in Parliament on Wednesday, March 30, Mr. Akufo-Addo said “Mr. Speaker, quite a number of global vehicle manufacturing companies have set up assembly plants here in our country, and started producing vehicles for our market and for the West African market. The well-defined Ghana Automotive Development Policy we outdoored in August 2019 has facilitated this welcome development.

    “Since June 2021, Toyota and Suzuki brands of vehicles are being produced here, commencing with the production of Hilux Pickup and Swift models. VW and Sinotruck, which commenced commercial operations in 2020, have continued to assemble their brands of vehicles and are enjoying significant local patronage.

    “In addition, a new state-of-the-art assembly plant with the capacity to assemble 5,000 new vehicles per annum has been established by Nissan in Tema, which is currently producing Nissan and Peugeot brands of vehicles for the Ghanaian and West African markets. I will have the pleasure to commission this new plant in Tema tomorrow. Three other vehicle manufacturers, namely KIA, Hyundai, and Renault are also expected to commence commercial production this year.

    “Our national iconic automobile brand, the Kantanka brand produced by Kantanka Automobile Company Ltd., also stepped-up production of its made-in-Ghana vehicles which include Nkunimdie SUV, Omama Pickup, Onantefo 4×4 Pickup, Otumfuo SUV, and K71 Small SUV models.

    “Now that the Minister for Finance has announced an embargo on the importation of 4×4 vehicles for official use, I hope the local assembly plants will take full advantage of the opportunity especially since the government is continuing with its policy of giving first priority to locally assembled vehicles in respect of all publicly financed procurement of vehicles.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Akufo-Addo has no credible funding source for Agenda 111 Akandoh

    The Ranking Member for the Health Committee in Parliament, Kwabena Minta Akandoh, has said President Akufo-Addo has no funding source for Agenda 111; hence it is unachievable.

    According to him, the continuous changing of the timeline for the project means the president is only preparing the minds of Ghanaians that he will not be able to complete it.

    “That is clear; I mean, there is no ambiguity in that; let’s see where we came from. Do you remember that in 2020 the president promised us that he was going to build 88 hospitals within one year? It’s in public records.

    “So at the end of 2021, we were expecting that we would see 88 hospitals, but that didn’t come on; he increased it to 111. Even if anything, when he promised 88 hospitals, and it’s ambitious, he should have learnt lessons from there. He then promised 111,” Mr. Akandoh told Starr FM’s Parliamentary Correspondent, Ibrahim Alhassan.

    He continued, “When he promised 111, what the president is telling us is that he didn’t think through the project. The president didn’t think of the cost of the project; he didn’t look for a source of funding for the project because, as I speak to you now, nobody knows the source of funding for the project.”

    The Ranking Member further explained that “For your information, the budget of Ghana is in public records; go check the records as far as Agenda 111 is concerned. An allocation of 580 million Ghana cedis was made. Ask yourself how many hospitals can that amount construct?”

    President Akufo-Addo, when addressing Ghana’s Parliament on the State of the Nation on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, admitted that the initial schedule he gave for the completion of Agenda 111 was overly ambitious.

    According to the President, identifying suitable sites around the country for the project has turned out to be even more problematic than anticipated.

    He, however, added that a great deal of the preparatory work has now been completed, and work has started at eighty-seven (87) of the one hundred and eleven (111) sites.

    “Mr. Speaker, I have to report that, like all major construction projects, it is evident that the initial schedule we gave for the completion of Agenda 111 was overly ambitious. Identifying suitable sites around the country, for example, has turned out to be even more problematic than had been anticipated.

    “I am able to say that a great deal of the preparatory work has now been completed, and work has started at eighty-seven (87) of the one hundred and eleven (111) sites. I have been assured that preliminary work on the remaining twenty-four (24) sites is ongoing.

    “We have every intention of seeing this project through to a successful end, which will enable me to commission all one hundred and eleven (111) hospitals before I leave office on January 7 2025,” President Akufo-Addo assured.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • I’m surprised Bagbin didn’t check for quorum before passage of E-Levy Ayariga

    Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga says the minority caucus in parliament is surprised that Speaker Alban Bagbin did not check whether there was a quorum before the E-Levy was passed.

    The MP (Member of Parliament), in a JoyNews interview monitored by GhanaWeb, said that the minority caucus was expecting the Speaker of Parliament to check if there was a quorum in the House for business to be conducted when they walked out of the House because he had previously done so.

    “Remember that when the majority, not too long ago, on the day for the passage of the budget, decided to walk out, what did the Speaker do? He said I want to find out whether we have a quorum so that we continue transacting business and then he counted minority members in the chamber. We were 137, and he felt that there was a quorum to continue transacting business relying on the provisions of Article 102.

    “So, we assumed that the legal position will be that when we walk out, anybody who wants to transact business will also check; the minority side having walked out, there should be at list 138 people to conduct business,” he said.

    Also, Ayariga indicated that there was no need for any of the minority MPs to be present to object to the passage of the levy, saying, “when the majority walked out when we (the minority) voted against the budget, no objection was raised, and it was the same Alban Bagbin who was presiding over the House. It was the Speaker, on his own, who after the majority had walked out, decided to check if there was a quorum.”

    Meanwhile, the minority caucus in parliament has indicated that the bill’s passage was illegal, citing the lack of a quorum.

    According to the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, the House did not have the numbers to decide on the passage of the bill. He believes the recent Supreme Court ruling has been violated.

    “The House had less than 137 in the chamber. They only proceeded in illegal business,” he said.

    Mahama Ayariga, Haruna Iddrisu and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa have filed a suit at the Supreme Court, asking the court to declare the approval of the levy null and void.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • If you doubted the insensitivity of Akufo-Addo’s govt, look at how they dragged a sick MP to parliament – Ablakwa

    The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called out the incumbent government over what he describes as their “stubborn insensitivity” in getting the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) passed.

    After months of backs and forths, parliament, without the Minority in attendance, passed the E-Levy on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

    Although the Minority had always kicked against the levy, it staged a walkout from parliament just before the controversial document was passed, giving reasons later to the effect that did so to show they stand with Ghanaians.

    But reacting to their decision, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP said that the extent to which the government, led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, went to get this unpopular levy passed was a testament to their insensitivity.

    “If anyone doubted the stubborn insensitivity of this government, just look at the extent they went in violating the dignity of their own extremely sick colleague MP by dragging him to the precincts of Parliament in an ambulance. That is not a superior political tactic, it is heartless politics without regard for human life. Politics must not be this ugly and barbaric,” he wrote in a post on Facebook.

    Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa further stated that the NDC MPs had done everything possible to ensure the E-Levy was not passed but admittedly, it had become evident that it takes much more to sustain a hung parliament of this nature.

    “For 5 good months, we have stood by the Ghanaian people in fiercely resisting the E-Levy and standing up to a government desperately determined to do everything by hook or crook to impose the most unpopular tax policy of the Fourth Republic.

    “It takes grit, strategy and integrity to sustain a hung parliament resistance of this kind for this long,” he added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • MPs cry in Parliament after being marked absent on E-Levy consideration day

    Some Members of Parliament whose names were not captured as part of attendees during Tuesday’s proceedings in Parliament, have raised concerns.

    According to the MPs, the absence of their names has courted attacks from constituents who have criticized them for being absent on a critical day E-Levy was being considered.

    Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka said the action has cost them a lot.

    According to him, some members of the House have, following this, even called for the removal of the Minority leadership, citing their failure to ensure their names were captured.

    Muntaka further accused the Clerk of being partisan.

    Member of Parliament of Zebilla East, Cletus Avoka, whose names were part of those captured as absent, on his part said he has been traumatized. According to him, his constituents have, following reports, called to slam him for being absent on an important day when the E-Levy was being considered.

    He said even though he approached the table to write his name, he was told by the table of Office to sit and that they were going to bring the list to him but they never did.

    MP of Ablekuma Central who also claims to be a victim described the action as a diabolic and deliberate attempt to mark him absent.

    MP for New Edubiase, Abdul-Salem Adams also said his name must be cleared as he has been accused of taking bribe to be absent for the E-Levy to be passed.

    They called on the Speaker to make the amendment to reflect the true report of the Votes and Proceedings of the House on March 29,2022.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Tamale Interchange is not a flyover – NPP MP clarifies

    Deputy Majority Chief Whip who doubles as Tolon Member of Parliament Habib Iddrisu has maintained that the Tamale Interchange is not a flyover.

    He explained that the project is an interchange and the first of its kind in Tamale, for that matter.

    To him, it will boost trade, decongest the area and enhance the movement of vehicles.

    “The Tamale interchange is the first of its kind in the Northern Region and will not only improve trade and regional integration because of the proximity to neighboring Burkina Faso but also improve traffic management in Tamale,” he said.

    He commended the President for the project adding, he has done so well for the country.

    To him, the achievements of the President is unprecedented.

    He touched on the free Senior High School saying it has also provided opportunities for several people to access secondary education.


    The interchange has about 1.1km of bridge and ramps, drainage works, streetlights, and 10km of Asphalt overlay around it.

    In 2019, President Akufo-Addo, cut sod for the commencement of the multi-million dollar Tamale Interchange project, funded under the $2 billion China-Synohydro deal.

    The project is aimed at enhancing inter-urban and national traffic flow, reducing the cost and risk of doing business, thereby enhancing trade within the regions.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • 2022 SoNA: Weve spent GHC17.7billion on COVID-19 since 2020 Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Adoo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disclosed that the country has spent a whopping GHC17.7 billion fighting the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020.

    Delivering the 2022 State of the Nation address in Parliament on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, the president said, “In all, data from the Ministry of Finance tells us that an amount of GHC17.7 billion (or 4.6% of GDP) has been spent in containing the pandemic since 2020.”

    He noted that the economic devastation of COVID-19 has been further aggravated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine since the beginning of this year, which has worsened the economic outlook of the entire world.

    President Akufo-Addo added: “We, in Ghana, have not escaped this development, and the consequences are being felt in rising living costs at our markets and at fuel stations”.

    “The terrible events in Ukraine have a direct impact on our lives here in Ghana. Mr Speaker, 30% of our wheat flour and fertilizer imports come from Russia. 60% of iron rods and other metal sheets are imported from Ukraine, and almost 20% of Ghana’s manganese is shipped to Ukraine.”

    “The bombs might be dropping on cities half a world away, but they are hitting our pockets here in Ghana. Even so, we have managed to ensure that fuel supplies have not been disrupted, unlike in several other parts of the world.”

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • 2022 SoNA: President Akufo-Addo’s joke about eliminating football age syndrome

    The era of “football age” will soon be a thing of the past as the government intends to extend its digitisation drive to the Births and Deaths Registry. 

    This, according to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will be made possible as the Ghana Card has been fully integrated into everyday lives.  

    He added that with this system, people could no longer alter their ages since the synchronised system would make it impossible to do so.  

    “Indeed, Mr. Speaker, we are expecting greater things from the greater use of technology and the digitalisation of our economy as a whole. I am happy to report that the National Identification Card, the Ghana Card, has finally been integrated into our everyday lives as a cradle-to-grave necessity.

    “Never again will it be that someone, born in this country, will live a full life, die and be buried without any record of his or her existence. The operations of the Births and Deaths Registry are finally being digitised to make sure that documents issued from that department are accorded the respect they should have,” he said.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo added that this would eliminate all forms of age alterations in the country. 

    “Every child born in this country will be registered, and the date of birth registered will remain your date of birth throughout your life. There will be no school age, no football age, no SSNIT age, and no official age. When we register for National Health Insurance, the details of our identification will be the same as the details on a driving license, a passport and yes, on our tax identification,” he added. 

    President Akufo-Addo made this known while addressing parliament during his 2022 State of the Nation Address, in line with Ghana’s constitutional provisions. 

    Watch the president deliver his address here:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com