TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Government to cut salaries of some appointees by 30 percent

    Government could, in the coming days, reduce the salaries of some appointees by between 20 percent and 30 percent, a report from Asaase.com has revealed.

    According to the report, the move is to protect the social intervention policy of the Akufo-Addo administration which includes Free Senior High School policy.

    This was discussed at the ongoing cabinet meeting being held at the Peduase lodge.

    Per the report, “critical among the issues to be discussed is whether to maintain the 20% cut across board or increase it.”

    The outcome of the decision would be made public at the end of the cabinet meeting today

    Some of the appointees to be affected by this decision if approved will be ministers, heads of state enterprises as well as heads of municipal and district assemblies.

    Meanwhile, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has announced that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, will make available details of measures that have been put in place by the government, to mitigate the impact of the global economic difficulties on Ghana.

    This comes after the cabinet held its quarterly retreats at Peduase Lodge from March 17 to 20, 2022.

    At the meeting, Akufo-Addo approved measures aimed at mitigating the Cedi depreciation, ensuring expenditure discipline, and providing relief in the face of fuel price hikes among others.

    The finance minister is expected to share these details with Ghanaians later this week “after consultations with key social and economic stakeholders,” a statement by the Information Ministry read.

    You can also watch the last episode of People & Places here:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • E-Levy not an option, consider best IMF programme to rescue Ghana Apaak to government

    The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak, has said government is better off debating which IMF programme will rescue the nation and give policy credibility rather than thinking about reintroducing the E-levy in any form, which according to him, is not an option.

    According to Dr Apaak, the Minority will support the government if it decides to seek help from the IMF but will continually oppose the E-levy.

    In a Facebook post, he reminded President Akufo-Addo that he would have the embarrassing record of not presenting the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February as has been the trend with all past Ghanaian leaders.

    His post read: “Government Crisis Retreat – What is there to debate? KILLER E-LEVY is not an option. They are better off spending their retreat time at Peduase debating amongst themselves the best IMF programme that will rescue the nation and give policy credibility.

    “With seeking the support of the IMF, they have the mandate, with KILLER E-LEVY, they don’t. Let no one deceive them at Peduase, it is still 137 No votes against E-levy any day it comes to the floor of Parliament resurrected, revived or resuscitated.

    “While at their retreat, they should not forget that SONA, a constitutional obligation, is yet to be fulfilled. In fact, from 2017 to 2021 NADAA presented SONA in the month of February as did his predecessors. It is clear that NADAA will have the embarrassing record of NOT presenting SONA in February in the history of the 4th Republic.”

    Meanwhile, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has announced that Cabinet has concluded its deliberations on ways to revive the economy and President Nana Akufo-Addo has taken some decisions aimed at mitigating the impact of the global economic difficulties on Ghana.

    To this end, he said: “Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will provide details of these measures later this week after consultations with key social and economic stakeholders”. 

    “In addition to the scheduled appraisal of the performance of government programmes, Cabinet also extensively discussed the impact of global economic difficulties on Ghana and the Ghanaian people”, a statement from Mr Nkrumah noted.

    It added that President Nana Akufo-Addo approved “far-reaching” measures aimed at “mitigating the depreciation of the cedi, ensuring expenditure discipline and providing relief in the face of global fuel price hikes and inflation; as well as ensuring that priority programmes meant to grow the economy are protected”.

    The statement said the “government appreciates the efforts of all who contributed to a successful retreat and looks forward to the support of all Ghanaians in implementing the agreed measures.”

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Ghana beats Nigeria in latest World Happiness Ranking

    Ghana has been ranked 111th in the just-released 2022 World Happiness Report, a UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network publication.

    This indicates a drop by 16 places from the 95th position last year, 2021.

    The ranking was based on variables such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and views of corruption, as well as other qualities that tend to lead to better happiness.

    Although no African country was among the first 50 countries, Mauritius secured the 52nd position, dropping by only two places.

    Ghana also trails Libya -86th position, Ivory Coast 88th position, South Africa 91st position, Gambia 93rd position Algeria 96th position, Liberia 97th position, Congo Brazzaville 99th position and Morocco 100th position.

    However, neighbouring country Nigeria ranked behind Ghana in 118th place.

    In 2021, the most populated African country fell by 57 places to rank 116th after they had ranked 59th in the 2020 Report.

    Meanwhile, Finland maintained its position for the fifth time in a row ranking 1st in the Report.

    It was closely followed by its neighbours, Denmark and Iceland securing 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

    Also, Canada was ranked 15th followed by the United States -16th and the United Kingdom 17th.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • Policy rate increased substantially to 17.5%

    As expected, the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Ghana has increased the policy rate the rate at which it lends to commercial banks by 2.5% percent to 17.5%.

    The decision is due to the current pressures on the economy, the uncertainty about the economic outlook and developments in Russia Ukraine, which has pushed fuel prices up astronomically.

    The move to adjust the base lending rate of the Central Bank is expected to control the rising inflation and check the rapid depreciation of the cedi.

    However, cost of loans is expected to go up with immediate effect.

    More soon………

    Source: Joy Business

  • ECG goes after two companies engaged in illegal power theft for 12 months

    A special task force of the Electricity Company of Ghana has gone after some two companies found to have been engaging in illegal power connections. 

    The two companies, which are; Samnort Company Limited located in Nsawam and Concrete Jungle and Wellness located at Cantonments in Accra have since been surcharged GH¢62,000 and GH¢256,008.2 respectively for the power theft. 

    According to the Public Relations Officer of the ECG for Accra-East, Mary Eshun-Oppong said, “Both companies will be made to pay all outstanding debts plus the fine for illegal connection before the matter is handed over to the police for further action”.

    She revealed that Samnort which operates as a sachet water producing company was engaged in an illegal meter bypass while Concrete Jungle Wellness which operates a restaurant was engaged in a similar act involving a 3-meter illegal bypass through a changeover connection. 

    Marry Eshun Oppong said the ECG discovered that both companies used power for a period spanning about 12 months which was unaccounted for.

    Meanwhile, the ongoing checks by a special disconnection task force from the ECG is aimed at recovering debts from clients and curtail the rampant menace of illegal connections made by individuals and institutions on it’s distribution network. 

    In the past few weeks, the power distributing company has gone after some 27 public and private institutions which are heavily indebted to it.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We warned Free SHS will create problems for Ghana IMANI

    Director of Strategy at IMANI Africa, Selorm Branttie, has stated that the problems his outfit foresaw in the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy are beginning to emanate.

    According to him, IMANI Africa warned that the government was going to have challenges funding the Free SHS policy, myjoyonline.com reports.

    Speaking in an interview on Joy FM, the director of strategy said, the current issues with the policy is “a kind of IMANI told you so” moment.

    “… 10 years ago when this policy was mooted during the campaign of the NPP in the 2012 election, IMANI sounded a very big warning about the fact that this was a kind of a trojan horse that will bring complications in the future.

    “… unfortunately, the reality has caught up with us and we now have to grapple with very hard decisions because we have nurtured this kind of freebie mentality to be pervasive in the psyche of the modern Ghanaian parent,” Branttie is quoted.

    Selorm Branttie made these remarks reacting to comments made by a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, and former Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Prof Stephen Adei, for the government to reconsider the SHS policy.

    Kennedy Osei Nyarko said that the free SHS policy should be suspended together with other social intervention policies such as school feeding, Planting for Food and Jobs, and the Nation Builders Corps programmes as well as payment of the teacher and nursing trainee allowances, in other for the government to get the funds to implement other policies.

    Prof Stephen Adei stated that the flagship programme which cost about GH¢7.5 annually should be reviewed because it has stretched the already impacted economy.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Government should reconsider road toll system — Dickson Adomako Kissi

    The Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi is urging the government to reconsider the collection of road tolls which was cancelled a few months ago.

    Speaking on Joy News, he stressed that before the restoration of road tolls, measures should be put in place measure to ensure that funds collected are directly wired to the national coffers to cushion Ghanaians.

    The lawmaker further indicated that the constant fuel hikes are imperative government introduces drastic measures to salvage the situation before it gets out of hand.

    “On a personal note, I think that maybe we need to revisit our toll system again. The revenue collection at the toll booth has to be taken straight to the main fund of the country and that process has to be perfected before we reintroduce it,” he told the host.

    According to him, Zimbabwe in the midst of dire economic challenges turned its eye to road tolls, increased the fee, and generated more revenues to restore the economy.

    He admitted that the cancellation of the tolls was just an exaggerated excitement with the notion that the Electronic Taxation Levy (E-Levy) would be passed swiftly.

    “Let me be just honest about it. I think it was just a lot of excitement and thinking that maybe the E-levy would have just gone through and I think that we counted our eggs before they were hatched in literal terms,” he confessed on the show.

    Source: ghanaweb.com

  • Bipartisan probe into bullion van robberies will help restore confidence in the police Adam Bonaa

    Security analyst, Dr Adam Bonaa, has stated that a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into the killing of two key police officers suspected of being involved in the recent bullion van robberies will help restore confidence in the Ghana Police Service.

    According to him, given that the police officers are suspected to be involved in the bullion van robberies, it is essential to ensure that an independent body conducts an investigation into the matter rather than the police, myjoyonline.com reported.

    “As far as I’m concerned, a bipartisan probe is something that I will welcome. In any case, once there is loss of life, usually, the police themselves would have to institute various forms of investigations. But I want to believe that this probably would be the first of its kind where we have a bipartisan probe involving such a matter. And so, whatever findings they’re able to bring out, and recommendations, will go a long way to help the Police Service itself,” Bonah is quoted.

    Also, the security analyst advocated for the setting up of a ‘Police Complaint Authority or Commission‘ to handle matters relating to the police.

    He said that such a commission would ensure that recommendations of inquiries into the police services are effectively implemented.

    Dr Bonah was reacting to a motion filed in parliament by the minority caucus for a probe into the bullion van robberies.

    The minority caucus in parliament filed a private member’s motion in the House, asking for a bipartisan inquiry to be carried into the circumstances leading to the death of two police officers who were indicted for recent bullion van robbery attacks recorded in the country.

    Addressing the media on the basis for their motion in Parliament on Thursday, March 17, 2022, a Ranking Member on the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament, James Agalga, said, “The killing of the two police officers has now resulted in a situation where the police administration would be denied of very crucial evidence in its quest to unravel the bullion robberies in our country.”

    “What makes the matter even more worrying is the fact that the persons implicated, some of whom are now dead, are, themselves, police officers. That is what makes a probe and an inquiry very compelling,” he added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ola fishermen cry over lack of premix fuel

    Correspondence from Central Region

    Fishermen in the Ola community of the Cape Coast Metropolis have lamented over the lack of premix fuel for fishing. Ola is one of the fishing communities in the Central Regional Capital located under the Cape Coast North Constituency. 

    Although not all the residents of the community are into the fishing business, quite a number of the men are fishermen.

    Thus, fishing is the job they do to take care of their families. It is the business they engage in to cater to the basic needs of their families. 

    However, the current happenings at the shore are not helping their business in any way and in the long run, rendering them incapable of taking care of their families.

    In an interaction with some of the fishermen at the Ola seashore, they mentioned that of late, getting premix fuel for fishing has become a major challenge for them. 

    They lament that premix fuel has become very scarce so they do not often get some to apply their trade. Due to that, they are able to go to work sometimes once or twice in two weeks.

    According to Nana Obuor, “We are pleading with the government to make the premix available for us. This is the job we do to cater for our families and so we struggle without the premix fuel.” 

    Mr. Nana Duah also said, “Just like my brother earlier mentioned, all that we are waiting for is the premix fuel. Our work becomes easier when the fuel is available! This is what we do to cater for the education of our children therefore, we appeal to President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government to come to our aid.”

    Information gathered reveals that the scarcity of premix fuel has resulted in a black market where they sometimes have to buy it at exorbitant prices. In addition, they mentioned the role of politics in their inability to get enough fuel for their work. 

    They alleged that because it is the NPP government in power, the NPP supporters who are fishermen are favoured ahead of the NDC members and other political party supporters. 

    They, therefore, pleaded with the government and all authorities concerned to come to their aid and make the premix fuel available for all.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We have enough food in stock but we are managing it Dep Agric Minister

    Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong Addo has refuted claims there is a shortage of food in the country.

    In a JoyNews interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Addo said that the country had enough food to serve the needs of Ghanaians till the next harvesting season, which is from August to September.

    “We still have some (food) in stock; we need to manage it well. Every year, around this time, food prices begin to rise, but this year has been serious. But, the good thing is this, we have food in the system.

    “If you don’t regulate it (food supply) well, everything will be gone by April, and May, June, July these are very tough times, every year. May, June, July are very tough times, so we need to manage these things so that we will spread it (food supply),” he said.

    He indicated that Ghanaians should not be worried about the current increases in food prices because the country’s food stock management is essential to ensure there is food all year round.

    “People will be okay if they go to the market and they get some of these items to buy even at whatever price than not getting it at all. And when you get to such a situation, that is where you need good managers. We need to manage it (food stock), and that is what we are doing … We need to manage it so that we do not run out by May, June… we should not run out of food in this country,” he said.  

    The 2021 Global Food Security Index recently published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) showed that Ghana declined from the 78th position in 2016 to the 82nd position out of 113.

    According to the EIU, agricultural challenges for Ghana include food security, policy commitments, food loss, and dietary diversity.

    However, Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto disagreed with the assessment of the EIU, saying that data gathered by his Ministry does not support the assessment of the EIU that Ghana’s food security index has dropped.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana give Nigeria 2,000 tickets for World Cup qualifier at Baba Yara – NSA confirms



    The National Sports Authority(NSA) has reserved 2,000 tickets for Nigerian fans who would want to attend the Super Eagles‘ World Cup qualifier against Ghana at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.  

    Per FIFA regulations, the home team is to grant 5% of the stadium capacity for the traveling fans.  

    Therefore, the Communications Director for NSA, Charles Amofa, has said although Nigeria requested 10,000 tickets, Ghana will give them 2000 which is in accordance with the FIFA rules. 

    “Our Nigerian brothers who want to watch the game on Friday made a request. They wanted 10,000 that was Cape Coast Stadium. But at Baba Yara, the full capacity is 40,000 so what the Ministry of Youth and Sports has done is that the CAF requirement is 5% of the full capacity so that will be a number of 2,000. With that, the E-ticketing team will block that number for our Nigerian brothers to come and with the game,” he told Peace FM.  

    The match was initially set to be played at the 20,000-seater capacity Cape Coast Stadium but was moved to Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi after Nigeria expressed concerns about the poor state of the Cape Coast pitch.  

    The match which will be played on March 25, 2022, is 7 days away from the kickoff with the Super Eagles expected to land in Ghana on Wednesday, March 23.

    https://youtu.be/zSJqtaLXe34

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Thomas Partey converts to Islam – Reports


    Black Stars midfielder, Thomas Partey has converted to Islam after successfully going through the required process for months. 

    Chief Arsenal reporter for football London, Chris Wheatley, has confirmed the widespread rumour via a Facebook post with an image of Partey standing beside a Muslim cleric.

    “Thomas Partey has converted to Islam. Congratulations Thomas Teye Partey” Wheatley wrote.

    Reports claim the Ghanaian midfielder’s religious switch might have come as a result of his Moroccan girlfriend who is a Muslim. 

    Meanwhile, Partey is having a resurgence at Arsenal after struggling in his first season in the English Premier League. 

    The 28-year-old has been the main man for the Gunners in thier quest to secure Champions League football this season. 

    Arsenal currently sit 4th on the table with 51 points with two games in hand. 


    Chekout Chris Wheatley’s post below

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Strong earthquake jolts western Philippine province, capital region

    A 6.4-magnitude earthquake jolted a western Philippine province and the capital on Monday, but no major damage has been reported so far, government seismologists said.

    The quake struck at 5:05 am (2105 GMT) with an epicentre located off Lubang town in Occidental Mindoro province, 76 kilometres southwest of Manila, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

    It was felt in different intensities in the capital region of Metro Manila, the nearby provinces of Batangas and Cavite and as far as the province of Zambales, 83 kilometres north of Lubang, Phivolcs said.

    More than 40 aftershocks have been recorded since the quake, the strongest of which had a mag

    The Philippines is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where about 90 per cent of the world’s earthquakes take place.

    A 7.1-magnitude quake that killed more than 220 people in the central Philippines in October 2013 was the last major quake to hit the country.

    In July 1990, more than 2,400 people were killed on the northern island of Luzon in a 7.8-magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest ever to hit the country.

    Source: GNA

  • PSWU gives Fair Wages 2-weeks to open negotiations for conditions of service for GBC staff

    The Public Services Workers Union, PSWU, has given the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, a two-week ultimatum to open negotiations for Conditions of Service of GBC staff.

    Failure to do so, will compel staff of the Public Broadcaster to embark on industrial action.

    Speaking to GBCNews after a meeting with the staff in Accra, the National Chairman of PSWU, Brother Ken Kodua, said the Union has done all that is required since May 2021.

    He said the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has been using the mandate it is expecting from the Ministry of Finance as an excuse to delay opening negotiations with the Union.

    Mr. Kodua said ”letters to this effect have been submitted to the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and the TUC”.

    Mr. Kodua also explained efforts by PSWU in addressing issues hindering staff welfare and the work of the GBC Divisional Union.

    Source: gbcghanaonline.com

  • Man captured on video assaulting alleged sex worker granted GHS 20K bail

    The Cape Coast Circuit Court 2 has granted a GHS 20,000 bail with two sureties to a 42-year-old, Godwin Bayor, who is alleged to have assaulted a sex worker.

    Godwin Bayor was arrested on Monday by police in the Central Region for physically assaulting the woman in a video which has since gone viral on social media.

    The accused person was charged with assault and causing unlawful harm but pleaded not guilty to both charges.

    The court presided over by Her Worship, Veronique Praba Tetteh, after listening to both prosecution and defendant adjourned the case to April 4, 2022.

    According to the narration accompanying the video, the suspect after patronizing the services of the woman refused to pay, leading to an exchange of words.

    The suspect, driving a government-registered vehicle, GV-127-16, is reported to have hit the woman in the face during the altercation and hit her many times as the woman held on to his shirt insisting that he must pay her.

    According to the police, the incident occurred on March 6, 2022, at Cape Coast, and the driver was arrested after a complaint by the woman on Sunday, March 13, 2022.

    The police said, “his arrest follows a Police investigation into a viral audiovisual tape intercepted in which a man was captured assaulting a lady in the night. The victim subsequently lodged a complaint of assault at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), Cape Coast, today Sunday, March 13, 2022,”.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Deploy only deserving serving soldiers – Bombande to Military High Command

    Respected Peacebuilding Practitioner and former Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Emmanuel Bombande has called on the Military High Command to deploy only serving members of the military with the requisite training to Bawku so as to avoid the situation where the military becomes a part of those committing atrocities instead of keeping the peace.

    Mr Bombande, who has worked internationally as a peace mediator, made the call following news of the clash between some soldiers and civilians in Bawku following a renewed conflict there. The clash has left three soldiers shot and several civilians injured.

    “These stories coming out of Bawku where our Armed Forces is contributing to atrocities by shooting and killing civilians is utterly disturbing. Our Military is trained to uphold international standards of Peacekeeping with Human Rights approaches at the core.

    They understand very well that in any Peacekeeping mandate, the primary of their interventions integral to their mandates is the protection of Civilian lives. They cannot adhere to these Peacekeeping principles elsewhere in other countries and do the opposite at home in Ghana.

    The Military high command may want to consider personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, likewise the IGP for the Police to deploy to Bawku, only serving personnel with the requisite training,” Mr Bombande recommended.

    Mr Bombande slammed persons exploiting the ethnic differences, stressing that those keeping the peace must understand the nature and dynamics of the violence in Bawku so as to bring lasting peace to the area.

    “Again, it must be emphasised that for those exploiting ethnic cleavages in the inter-communal violence in Bawku, Peacekeeping must understand at first hand, the nature and dynamics of the violence.

    When Peacekeeping does not protect all the people but instead contributes to Military killing civilians, it could create the grounds for radicalisation and violent extremism. This is further exacerbated by Bawku sharing borders with two countries where terrorism continues to come too close to the shores of Ghana,” he noted.

    Meanwhile, calm has been restored to Bawku following the clash. Military personnel injured as a result have been airlifted to Accra for medical attention.

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Treat road crashes as pandemic and reduce it Akufo Addo charges police

    President Akufo-Addo has directed the Police Service to, as a matter of urgency, come up with innovative and intelligent measures to address road accidents in the country.

    Provisional data from the Motor Traffic Transport Department (MTTD) indicates that 469 people died in road crashes between January and February alone.

    Describing the situation as worrying, the President at the Kofi Annan Road Safety Awards on Wednesday asked for road crashes to be nipped in the bud as soon as possible.

    “We must treat road traffic accident as a global pandemic and assume equally, a more proactive responsible attitude to deal with it.

    “Increasingly, the exposure of pedestrians and motorcyclists to the risk of road traffic casualties, particularly in the urban environment, can no longer be overlooked,” the President stated on Wednesday.

    https://soundcloud.com/joynews_adomnews/treat-road-crashes-as-pandemic-and-reduce-it-akufo-addo-charges-police?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fjoynews_adomnews%252Ftreat-road-crashes-as-pandemic-and-reduce-it-akufo-addo-charges-police

    On his part, the Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, also called for proactive measures to reduce the carnage.

    “As transport professionals and road safety advocates, we must assume a more proactive and responsible attitude to deal with the situation.

    “It is important to minimize the dangers on our roads through the creation of road safety culture that reinforces proper behaviour, safer road infrastructure and the use of safer vehicles,” he said.

    He further quoted the late Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, “Road traffic crashes do not result from fate or destiny, they are a product of systems and behaviours and thus, must lend themselves to prevention and mitigation.”

    In recent years, road crashes have become one too many in the country.

    The incident has claimed lots of lives and maimed others, thus, changing the trajectory of their lives.

    According to the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD), Greater Accra Region has recorded the highest number of road crashes, with Ashanti Region closely following.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • Why Arsenal star Thomas Partey has the nickname Senegal

    Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has mentioned “Senegal” as the name he is referred to by persons close to him. 

    His nickname is very confusing to some Arsenal fans due to his Ghanaian nationality.

    However, the 28-year-old was nicknamed by his dad back then whilst playing for his junior team in Ghana.

    The name Senegal was bestowed on him after his playing style reminded his dad of his former friend and a former Ghana international Emmanuel ‘Armah Senegal’.

    Armah Senegal was a force to reckon with when it came to the Black Star’s ability to construct solid defensive barriers during the ’90s.

    Partey started off his career as a defender and played just like the former Black Stars defender, thus the reason behind his nickname.

    The former Atletico Madrid midfielder has been in good form for Arsenal this season.

    Partey capped his impressive performance with a goal against Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in that 2-0 win.

    After a difficult spell in his first season coupled with injuries, Partey is currently enjoying his Arsenal career with a series of brilliant performances.

    He scored in his side’s 2-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday and is expected to play a big role in the game against title contenders Liverpool on Wednesday.

    Thomas Partey will captain the Black Stars when they face Super Eagles of Nigeria in the 2022 World Cup playoff on March 26 and 29.

    Source: ghanasoccernet.com

  • Government should reconsider road toll system – Dickson Adomako Kissi

    The Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, is urging the government to reconsider the collection of road tolls cancelled a few months ago.

    Speaking on Joy News, he stressed that before restoring road tolls, measures should be put in place to ensure that funds collected are directly wired to the national coffers to cushion Ghanaians.

    The lawmaker further indicated that the constant fuel hikes make it imperative that government introduces drastic measures to salvage the situation before it gets out of hand.

    “On a personal note, I think that maybe we need to revisit our toll system again. The revenue collection at the toll booth has to be taken straight to the main fund of the country, and that process has to be perfected before we reintroduce it,” he told the host.

    According to him, Zimbabwe turned its eye to road tolls, increased the fee, and generated more revenues to restore the economy amid dire economic challenges.

    He admitted that the cancellation of the tolls was just an exaggerated excitement with the notion that the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) would be passed swiftly.

    “Let me be just honest about it. I think it was just a lot of excitement and thinking that maybe the E-levy would have just gone through, and I think that we counted our eggs before they were hatched in literal terms,” he confessed on the show.

    Source: kingdomfmonline.com

  • Ten doctors refuse posting to North East Region – BMC hospital Director bemoans

    Correspondence from North-East Region

    Ten medical doctors are said to have refused to accept posting by the Ghana Health Service to the North East Region, especially, Baptist Medical Centre (BMC) in Nalerigu, the regional capital. 

    The Director of the Hospital, Mr. Addai Edward in an interview with GhanaWeb has bemoaned that only one person out of the ten doctors who were posted to the Region accepted the posting and the rest declined for reasons best known to them.

    Mr. Addai Edward says the lack of medical doctors at the BMC hospital is affecting quality healthcare delivery and that doctors should accept postings to the hospital by the Ghana Health Service.

    The North-East Region can boast of only three hospitals, namely, Walewale Government hospital, the Baptist Medical Centre(BMC), and the Binde hospital in Binde.

    The Walewale hospital is the foremost government hospital in the Region with the other two hospitals being private but absorbed by the government.

    The Director of the Baptist Medical Centre added that the hospital receives about 80,000 patients annually with only four permanent Doctors and ten physician assistants helping the Medical Doctors.
    This he said is retarding quality healthcare delivery in the hospital.

    Mr. Addai Edward is therefore appealing to the Government of Ghana and the Ghana Health Service to post Doctors to the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu to support the Doctors at the hospital to boost healthcare services.

    His appeal comes after the Doctors had refused to accept posting to the Region for that matter BMC while accepting posting to other Regions.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ECG cuts power supply to Accra Sports Stadium

    The National Task Force of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited has cut power supply to parts of the Accra Sports Stadium debt owed to the company.

    The Accra Sports Stadium was disconnected on Wednesday as part of efforts to reduce the debts of the company.

    Nene Shadrack Mase, who led the task force, disclosed that the national stadium owed ECG GH¢587,087.37.

    According to him, management of the stadium must pay one-fourth or 75% of the total debt for power to be restored.

    He added that the rest of the debt will be scheduled and in the event of a default, the facility will be cut off again.

    The facility is used by Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, and Accra Lions for their Ghana Premier League home games.

    The task force also cut power to Kotoka International Airport, Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel due to debt concerns.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Make use of RTI; Oppong Nkrumah tells academia and media

    Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has charged academia as well as media practitioners to utilize the RTI law, Act 989, to obtain reliable information from state institutions for their work. 

    Answering questions in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Nkrumah said the law which imposes an obligation on public institutions to provide information to applicants is being underutilised.

    “Mr Speaker, may I take advantage of the opportunity given me to reach out to the whole country, particularly the academic community. A lot of our young people have complained about difficulties in getting access to information when they are preparing their dissertations and so on because a lot of institutions operate as though they are doing you a favor. 

    “The RTI Act gives you legal cover to apply for information from public institutions for academic purposes.. Also to our colleagues in the media, we want to encourage a lot more use of the Act and a lot less resort to speculation and hearsay. The RTI Act grants you to by law access to information for purposes of media work,” he added. 

    The Minister was providing updates on the progress of the implementation of the law since its inception in 2020 on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

    The law he said allows both media practitioners and persons in academia to get access to credible information with which they can use in dissertations and media works.

    He said the law since its introduction has made remarkable progress noting that from the time the implementation of the law commenced to date, a total of two hundred and twenty-three (223) RTI requests have been received so far by public institutions.

    This he indicated that per interim figures collated from the various RTI offices of state institutions in 2021 alone, a total of one hundred and twenty-nine (129) requests for information were submitted by individuals and institutions and were received by 47 institutions. Out of this number, 87 were received from individuals while 42 were received from institutions.

    In 2022, a total of ten (10) requests for information were submitted by individuals and institutions and received by seven (7) public institutions as at the end of January 2022. Out of the ten (10) applications received, 5 (50%) were received from individuals while 5 (50%) were received from institutions.

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • Data on 2018 maize production from Agric Ministry wrong – Dr Akoto

    Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has said that documents from his ministry that show that Ghana’s maize production in 2018 was around 600,000 metric tons is wrong.

    The Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Operational Performance (2017-2018) report prepared by the ministry’s research department showed maize production for 2018 was 637,200 tons.

    In a Citi FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, the minister said, “No, no, before we came into office, the highest maize production in Ghana was 1.8 million metric tons. We have increased that to 3.1 million metric tons by 2020 … the total production (in 2018) was never 637,000 metric tons.

    “You are being too technical here; you are asking me statistics … I cannot sit here and give you specific statistics, but if you say that Ghana’s total production of maize is around 600,000, I will challenge you to that, is not true. It is never true (that we produce around 600,000)… this document is wrong.

    The minister also refuted claims of food shortage in the country, saying that “we are in a very comfortable position. Before 2017, we were importing food into the country, even plantain from Côte d’Ivoire.

    “I am saying that we have statistics to show the amount of food that we have been exporting to neighbouring countries has been going up. If we didn’t have a surplus, how could we be selling food to our neighbours,” he said.

    The minister, however, accepted that there was a shortage of animal feed in 2020 due to a drought in the forest belt of Ghana, which reduced the production of maize and other grains.

    He added that the drought was ameliorated by the increase in grains production in the Savana Region due to the success of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We have to work together to address current economic challenges Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo is calling for a collaborative effort to deal with what he says are difficulties facing the Ghanaian economy.

    Nana Akufo-Addo says support from the citizenry and all stakeholders will go a long way to deal with the economic challenges affecting the country.

    Speaking at a meeting with officials from FBNBank at the Jubilee House, Nana Akufo-Addo, while stressing that the government is working to mitigate the plight of Ghanaians, suggested, that the prevailing situation was driven by external factors that have also negatively affected other economies of the world.

    “The difficulties that all of us are going through now are nothing that we have to re-emphasize and reiterate. It is obvious, and the source of it is also something that all of us know. It has been different impacts on different economies and countries but the root causes of it are well known. They are matters that we have to also resolve together. I believe that at the end of the day, it is this cooperation across borders in our regions that will give us the strongest base in which to deal with the problems that have emerged in these last two years,” he said.

    The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Russia-Ukraine war has created challenges to many economies.

    The prices of fuel products have recently shot up across the world owing to the war.

    In Ghana, the fuel price hikes have led to a corresponding increase in the prices of general goods and services, sparking serious inflation concerns.

    FBNBank Ghana is a member of the First Bank of Nigeria Limited Group which is renowned for its great customer service and general stakeholder engagement garnered over its 127 years of operation. FBNBank Ghana has 21 branches and two agencies across the country with almost 500 staff.

    FBNBank offers universal banking services to individuals and businesses in Ghana.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Disobeying Supreme Court verdict is breaking the law, Parliament won’t dare! – Nana Akomea

    The Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has deflated all arguments that Parliament is a master of their own, therefore the Supreme Court giving a verdict on the Deputy Speakers of Parliament is an interference of the parliamentary rules.

    The Supreme Court has come under intense public heat after a seven-member panel unanimously ruled that a “Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a Member of Parliament for quorum” and can “vote and take part in the decision of Parliament”.

    While some critics like former President John Mahama say the Supreme Court, by their ruling, has set a “dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future”, others like the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, describe the decision as “despicable”.

    In a series of tweets, he said; “The sham called Justice delivery in our Republic. Despicable!” he said in a tweet.

    “Abi we all go dey the Chamber inside. Come and give the referee the ball to play some let us see. The sweetness of the pudding is in its eating.” 

    The Supreme Court, to some critics, is by this ruling interfered with the business of Parliament because, to them, the House has its own rules and regulations.

    Reacting to the issue, Nana Akomea noted that Parliament has no choice but to obey the Supreme Court ruling.

    Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, he emphasized; “If they refuse, it means Parliament is breaking the law. It’s a very simple matter; it means you’re breaking the law. So, you cannot refuse.”

    He expounded that, “there is no contradiction in what the Supreme Court is saying. They are saying they cannot give rules for Parliament, so go and do your rules. There’s no contradictions. How Parliament, the procedure that Parliamentwill use to obey the law is left to Parliament. That’s why we say Parliament is the master of its own rules but Parliament is not a master of its own laws. Parliamentis subject to the law”.

    To him, the Legislative House must begin implementing the verdict because “they cannot and they will not choose to disobey what the court has said”.

    “They would have to bring a procedure to allow the Deputy Speakers to vote because that is the law,” he stressed.

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Horse rider shot dead, 18 arrested after sporadic shooting at Bawku

    One person is confirmed dead while 18 others have been arrested after sporadic shooting at Bawku in the Upper East Region, on Monday, March 14, 2022.

    The deceased, Mohammed Bole, 81, was returning from Pusiga to Bawku on his horse when he was shot and killed by an unknown assailant at Guzasi.

    According to the Bawku Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent of Police, Simon Akabati, when the police personnel arrived at the scene, the deceased had been shot multiple times, with sporadic shooting within the area.

    He said the 18 persons were in police custody in connection to the shooting and would be arraigned before court, while investigations into the cause of the killing continues.
    Security personnel were deployed to the scene to maintain law and order and calm has since been restored.

    Since November 2021, the Bawku Municipality and its environs had experienced violent chieftaincy disputes resulting in the killing and injuring of many.
    The conflict is as a result of the performance of the funeral of a chief of the traditional area, who died more than 41 years ago.

    The funeral, if performed, would pave the way for the enskinment of another chief. 
    Currently, a curfew is in place from 2000 hours to 0500 hours and a ban on motorbike riding and wearing of smock within the Bawku Township and its environs.

    Meanwhile, the Government, through the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, in an earlier statement, said the chieftaincy disagreement was settled by the Supreme Court in 2003 and urged all parties to respect the ruling.

    More than 40 people have been killed, so far, with several injured since the reoccurrence of the impasse in November.

    Source: GNA

  • NPPs Greater Accra regional secretary faces court over assault

    The Greater Accra regional secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Odailai France, will be put before court today [Wednesday, March 16, 2022] over his alleged assault on an individual last weekend at Dansoman in Accra.

    According to the police, the suspect ordered a gang of eight to beat up the victim during the Ablekuma West NPP polling station acclamation event held at the Dansoman Liberty Park.

    “The Accra Regional Police CID invited the suspect to assist in the investigation and formally charged him yesterday Tuesday, March 15, 2022,” a police statement said.

    It added that the suspect has been granted a police enquiry bail ahead of his appearance in court today.

    According to an eyewitness account of the said assault captured in news reports, one Daniel Amakye Kingsford, who is an aspiring First Vice Chairman in his attempt to enter the event grounds to observe the proceedings was denied entry by the regional secretary, Daniel Odailai Parker who claimed that Daniel Amakye had threatened to kidnap him [Daniel Odailai Parker].

    Daniel Odailai Parker reportedly ordered some well-built men who were with him to attack Daniel Amakye.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Reduce $150 COVID-19 testing fee, make it free for Ghanaians Minority

    The Minority in Parliament has called for a downward review of the cost of the mandatory COVID-19 testing at the Kotoka International Airport.

    Addressing the press on Tuesday, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, complained that the pandemic was being used to unduly make money.

    “For non-Ghanaians to be compelled to pay an amount of $150 in the name of COVID test in which its procurement is questionable, and raises eyebrows on the fact that Covid is being used as a caveat to make money instead of combating a pandemic, we do not think that persons travelling to Ghana from abroad be made to pay $150.”

    He also maintained that the testing should be free for Ghanaians.

    Mr. Iddrisu added that he would be a party to a motion demanding accountability from the company handling the testing.

    “We consider this a rip-off and too high. Even $50 for Ghanaian citizens is too much. It should be free for Ghanaians. I would lead a motion very soon, supported by the Hon. Ablakwa and Hon. Akandoh to demand accountability from Frontiers, in order to account for all the $150 they charge travellers.”

    The Minority has previously expressed concern that Ghana was short-changed in the deal with Frontiers Healthcare Solution Services Limited with regard to COVID-19 testing services at the Kotoka International Airport.

    The government engaged Frontiers Healthcare Solution Services Limited to conduct the rapid COVID-19 tests at KIA following the reopening of the airport to international passenger flights in September 2020.

    The 30-minute PCR COVID-19 test initially attracted a $150 fee but was subsequently reviewed.

    While the amount was maintained for non-ECOWAS citizens, those from any of the West African countries were to pay $50 for such services at Kotoka International Airport.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Irate ECG workers kick against extension of MDs tenure

    Workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana have kicked against the extension of the tenure of Managing Director, Kwame Agyemang Budu, warning the company will go bankrupt soon as it struggles for office stationery such as A4 sheets.

    According to the workers, even though the MD has reached his mandatory retirement age of 60 there are moves to extend his stay in office.

    Such a move the workers are warning will spell doom for the company given the level of mismanagement that has taken place under his leadership.

    Addressing the media, the General Secretary for the Public Utility Workers Union, Michael Adumatta Nyamekye cautioned that the nation will soon be plunged into darkness should President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the ECG board fail to act immediately as the company will go bankrupt.

    Mr. Adumatta also accused the board chairman of ECG Kelly Gadzekpo of usurping the powers of the MD for the selfish interests of board members.

    Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghana has disconnected power to the Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport and other offices of the Ghana Airports Company over unpaid bills.

    The disconnection exercise was undertaken by a National task force of the ECG Monday after the KIA failed to pay their indebtedness to the power distribution company.

    Sources say KIA owes ECG close to GH¢49 million.

    An attempt by the management of the KIA to pay the debt by cheque when the disconnection exercise was underway was rejected by the task force.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Nearly 14 million SIM cards linked to Ghana cards – NCA

    The National Communications Authority (NCA) has stated that there have so far been 13,676,648 SIM Cards successfully linked to the Ghana Card system. 

    This number is the total number of subscribers who have completed their registration process using the *404# platform.  

    Also, the Authority said that there has also been a total of 9,744,071 completed SIM Card registrations in the country. 

    This figure, a photo statement shared by the NCA on its Twitter handle said, are those who have fully completed their SIM registrations in the country. 

    All these figures were however as of March 11, 2022, it added. 

    According to the Minister of Communication, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the re-registration of SIM cards is to monitor and track down persons who use their phones for criminal activities. 

    This is to end the rising cybercrime issues in the country.

    With the first stage of the registration process, you will have to link the SIM card to the Ghana Card via USSD (*404#).

    For stage 2, you visit your service provider (agent or customer care) to complete this stage of the registration.

    People who fail to re-register their SIM cards will have them blocked, the communication minister noted.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Cases against Sosu, Funny Face, Mensah Thompson, Bobie Ansah, others adjourned to April 25

    A number of trial cases currently before the Kaneshie Magistrate Court have been adjourned to Friday, April 25, 2022.

    The adjourned cases include the trials of Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu; Executive Director of Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson; actor and comedian, Benson Nana Yaw Oduro Boateng, aka Funny Face; as well as broadcast journalist, Bobie Ansah.

    According to a Daily Guide report sighted by GhanaWeb, the adjournment of the four cases which are at various stages of trial is due to the absence of the presiding judge, Isaac Oheneba-Kuffour.

    According to the report, the judge who is currently attending a professional course was unavailable for sitting when the cases were called on Monday, March 14, 2022.

    Francis-Xavier Sosu is standing trial at the court on charges of obstruction of public way, causing damage to other road users and unlawful damage.

    The Madina MP who has pleaded not guilty to all the charges is alleged to have led his constituents to conduct a violent demonstration of poor condition state of roads.

    The MP has been on self-recognizance bail following his arraignment.

    Funny Face has been charged for threatening the life of the mother of his twin daughters and also threatening to commit suicide.

    The Kaneshie Magistrate court had earlier committed him to a medical facility to undergo mental treatment but he was later granted a bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 by the court.

    A journalist with Accra FM, Bobie Ansah, is also facing two counts of publication of false news and offensive conduct at the magistrate court.

    His arrest and arraignment follows comments by the broadcaster to the effect that the First and Second Ladies had granted themselves state lands at AU Village, around the Kotoka International Airport for the construction of a Rebecca Foundation.

    Bobie Ansah has been placed on a GH¢50,000 bail by the court.

    Mensah Thompson, who is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability, is also facing charges of two counts of publication of false news and offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    He was charged for alleging that some family members of the president used the presidential jet for shopping in the United Kingdom in December last year.

    Mensah Thompson made the claims on his Facebook page in January, which drew a lot of public outcry. He later retracted the allegation and apologised for it after he was not able to prove his statements.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Two dead in fire incident at Asante Mampong

    A 90-year-old woman and an 11-year-old boy have reportedly died from a fire outbreak recorded at Worakese near Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region.

    This was after a fire, which according to firefighters, started around 3:40am, razed through a five-bedroom house on Friday March 11, 2022.

    Ghana National Fire Service officers from Worakese were called to the scene but arrived after the fire had already trapped and killed the 90-year-old woman and 11-year-old boy.

    The victims have been identified as Adwoa Agyakoma and Yaw Mensah.

    Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Fire Service, DO III Peter Addai, said the service is yet to establish the cause of the fire.

    He noted the destruction of some valuable properties during the fire, but stated that the firefighters did well to bring the situation under control.

    The PRO urged members of the public to adopt early fire warning systems as well as put install firefighting equipment such as extinguishers to help fight fire outbreaks.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Accidents: We cant continue to blame the devil, fix the problems Nortsu-Kotoe tells NRSC, MTTD

    Akatsi North lawmaker, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe has charged all relevant stakeholders, especially the National Road Safety Commission (NSRC) and the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to take further steps to clamp down on individuals whose actions continue to threaten lives on roads.

    This follows the multiple fatal road accidents that occurred in parts of the country including Asuboi in the Eastern Region over the weekend.

    The Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament noted that the statistics on road carnage on our roads this weekend alone is horrendous and adds up to the already alarming cases of death on the road; most of which could be attributed to recklessness, indiscipline, and human error on the part of drivers and motorists.

    “Sunday, 13th March 2022 we received with shock and pain the tragic killing of some nine persons, two of which were students of the University of Education-Winneba, in an accident that occurred at Asuboi on the Accra-Kumasi highway.

    “The fatal accident has also been reported to have left some other passengers on board the vehicle seriously injured and are currently receiving treatment. This heartbreaking and unfortunate incident has robbed us again of young lives that would have been very significant to our development as a nation.

    “Sadly so, the statistics on road carnage on our roads this weekend alone is horrendous and adds up to the already alarming cases of death on the road; most of which could be attributed to recklessness, indiscipline, and human error on the part of drivers and motorists.

    “While we condole with the families of the deceased students, the University community, and with all those who have lost their loved ones in this very crash, I take this opportunity to further charge the relevant stakeholders, most especially the National Road Safety Commission (NSRC) and the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to take further steps to clamp down on such individuals whose actions continue to threaten lives on our roads. We cannot continue to blame the devil for these unacceptable happenings.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Why should we pay to preach in town? – Street preachers in New Juaben protest fee regime

    Correspondence from Eastern Region

    Street preachers in Koforidua who call themselves Christ Preachers Association (CPA) have raised a red flag over the New Juaben Municipal Assembly’s intention to accredit them at a fee in the coming weeks. 

    The Assembly’s intended step is to regulate the activities of the street preachers and to serve as a form of identity for all the preachers in the municipality.

    The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Isaac Appaw-Gyasi, at a stakeholders meeting stated that there would be a need to provide identity tags to all the street preachers at a fee to be determined as soon as possible so that their activities can easily be tracked and regulated. 

    “They themselves (the preachers) suggested it. We are going to register them. 

    “Look, they don’t pay anything to the Assembly. What I even dislike about them is the noise level, okay. We have given them time but they never go about the time given. They always go beyond 9 am into the working hours and that is what is causing a problem.

    “You know this issue was even brought about by the media. It tells you that a lot of people are not happy about this noise pollution and we are going to act on that,” the MCE said.

    However, members of the Christ Preachers Association have expressed dissatisfaction about the step and have indicated their plan to meet again with the MCE to come to a consensus on the Assembly’s decision.

    According to one of them who is popularly called Evangelist Octopus, the Assembly’s decision would be unconstitutional.

    “Why should I pay money before I stand along the street to preach? I have a problem with the fee but I don’t have any problem with the registration or being given a permit to preach. 

    “Why is it that as a pastor when I come out of the church to go out to the market to preach Christ you want us to pay tax. You want me to pay money. I don’t understand. Unless they explain to us by law,” he expressed.

    The preacher furthered that even though it would not be a bad idea for the assembly to give them permission, it would be distasteful for the Assembly to attach a fee to their being registered. 

    “I have a problem with the fee that is attached to it. It will boil down to the point that we have to pay something before we are given a tag preach in town.

    “And this money that they may be collecting from us will be renewable. It means that any government that comes may choose to increase the fee.”

    Evangelist Octopus averred that as pastors, they already contribute to the development of the nation and that since the Church is a non-profit organisation, the Assembly “can’t tax the church since it is against the law of Ghana to tax the church.”

    Another preacher, Apostle Frederick Adu held the view that it would be unheard-of for the assembly to collect a fee from them for only projecting Jesus Christ to the society.

    “It beats my imagination about MCE’s stance that they are going collect a fee from us the preachers. 

    “All we do is to project Jesus Christ to the world so that all who have not accepted Him will do so.

    “There are drunks, armed robbers, and thieves on the streets as well as some prostitutes who hear what we preach and end up refraining from those social vices. This goes a long way to help society.

    “We can decide to stop the preaching but what will we make of the society when social vices increase?” He said.

    When referred to the offerings they receive from passersby as some of the profits they make, Apostle Adu said “Oh how many offerings do we even get?” 

    “Let me tell you the truth. It’s not possible for the preacher to carry his speakers on his head from one place to the other. It is money he will use to convey such items. If the offering is against the law, then it should be stopped in the churches. How much do we even get? It’s just a small amount we get from volunteers,” he explained.

    Meanwhile, when approached, the Chairman of the CPA, Felix Amankwaa intimated that it is actually not a wrong call for the preachers to pay some fee to help develop the Municipality.

    He said that “I don’t think it is wrong for us to pay something to help the Assembly. But what I know is that preaching the gospel cannot be taxed.

    “But the Assembly being our home and our big brother, the MCE approached us in a nice way and assured us of a good relationship. We have also decided to relate with him well for the betterment of our society.

    “We have taken it in good faith but we will still sit with him to discuss further,” he said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Why use Jubilee House Facebook page to project ‘private citizen’ Gabby Otchere-Darko? Sam George questions

    The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has questioned the basis for which the appointment of a private legal practitioner, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Commonwealth and Investment Council (CEIC) was published on the official Facebook account of Ghana’s presidency.

    Gabby Otchere-Darko was appointed the new chair of CWEIC Ghana Hub on September 1, 2021.

    Sharing a screengrab of a post made on the presidency’s Facebook page with the handle name “Jubilee House,” Sam George sought explanation on why such information about the private legal practitioner was shared with a state account despite several claims that he holds no state or government position.

    “Dear Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe and Kow Essuman, can you explain to me a taxpayer why the presidency is using its official social media handle to put out information about an individual who we are told has nothing to do with government?

    “Why is the Jubilee House projecting Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko? What’s going on guys?” Sam George sought his answers from two staffers at the presidency.

    In response to the post, however, a member of the ruling party and current Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, said the post was a mistake which was acknowledged with proper corrective measures taken.

    “Pulled down long ago. Mistake acknowledged,” he stated.

    However, Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, one of the presidential staffers Sam George sought his answer from, tagged the question by the opposition MP as needless propaganda.

    “Next time, do a little research and reading and stop your usual needless propaganda. Now read and come back again,” he shared his comment with a link to the publication of Gabby’s appointment after initially acknowledging the post as a mistake in another comment.

    A cousin to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has been labelled by some people as influential in the current government. 

    However, there have been counterarguments against claims influence wielded by the private lawyer in the current government with point being made to the fact that he holds no official position in the government of his cousin.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Government opted against sacking 15% of workers during COVID-19 Kusi-Boafo

    Thomas Kusi-Boafo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Sector Reforms Secretariat, has disclosed that the government saved all public sector jobs at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when all signs pointed to the need to retrench some workers.

    According to him, even though the economy was not all that good at the time the pandemic hit, COVID-19 dealt a further blow to the economy.

    He stated in an interview on Accra-based Okay FM that 15% of public sector workers were retained and duly received all payments at a time the private sector was either cutting jobs or salaries.

    “Ghana needed to retrench 15% of workers at height of the pandemic. That 15% would have given us the (fiscal) relief but the government agreed to let them stay on and to be paid. 

    “Many companies reduced salaries by 25% but who in government was impacted in terms of salaries or pensions?” he asked before adding that President Akufo-Addo has shown great commitment in seeing to it that the economy rebounds as quickly as possible.

    “Whoever says it is not COVID that has devastated the entire global economy, excuse me to say, they need a psychiatric examination,” he added.

    Whereas government insists the pandemic and its effects was largely to blame for the economic woes being experienced, the opposition says the government is using the pandemic as an excuse to cover up its horrible economic management.

    The World Bank Country Director, Pierre Laporte, recently disclosed that even pre-pandemic, the Ghanaian economy was not strong and that it is in a dire state, a situation government and other stakeholders have admitted.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Hundreds of hardworking NPP members have silently resigned Musah Superior

    General Secretary aspirant of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Iddrisu Musah Superior, is claiming that hundreds of youth and some hardworking members have left the party unofficially.

    According to him, the mass silent resignation from the NPP is caused by neglect.

    The former Mayor of Tamale observed that the situation was worrying and posed a major threat to the political fortunes of the party in 2024.

    “…Hundreds of our hardworking party people who have been abandoned have either silently left or resigned unofficially from our party. They feel very neglected…,” he said in a statement.

    Mr. Superior, therefore, holds the view that the only antidote in addressing these grievances and concerns that have forced hard-working people out from the party is the need for people with fresh ideas and capable of mobilizing the party in unity.

    “…This situation calls for fresh ideas and a new face to re-recruit our disgruntled party people back to work for the party to win the 2024 elections…” He added

    He assured that, “…I have a strategic plan to re-energize and mobilize our teeming grassroots unto victory…” 

    His comments come at a time some party footsoldiers are bleeding over a huge amount of money that has been given to media personality Afia Schwarzenegger by the Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare when they are hungry.

    According to most of them who are lamenting on social media, their efforts have not paid off whereas those who never suffered with them in the trenches while in opposition are those large and in charge.

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Coup comment trial: ‘Still justice for SALL’ – What the inscriptions on Barker-Vormawor’s placard reads

    The embattled convener of the #FixTheCountry movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has returned to court on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, for the continuation of the hearing of his treason felony case. 

    Appearing in court at the Ashaiman District Court with the typically heavy-security presence, the youth activist held out a placard that read the inscriptions, “STILL JUSTICE FOR SALL.”

    Oliver Barker-Vormawor was arrested on Friday, February 11, 2022, at the Kotaka International Airport upon his return to the country, and was put before the Ashaiman District Court on Monday, February 14, where he was denied bail and remanded into police custody.

    The police in a statement said his arrest was necessitated by comments he made on social media to the effect that he would stage a coup if the controversial Electronic Transactions Levy, popularly known as E-Levy, is passed into law.

    A subsequent application by lawyers for the youth activist to seek answers from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Attorney-General on why their client was detained more than 48 hours was thrown away by the Tema High Court. 

    The court advised that the lawyers should rather appeal the bail if they so wish.

    The judgment on the appeal for bail is expected to be delivered on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Bagbin hasn’t sidelined Parliament’s Department of Public Affairs – Kate Addo

    The Public Affairs Department of Parliament has denied reports that the Speaker of the House, Mr. Alban Bagbin, has sidelined the unit and similar departments while he focuses on the staff affiliated to his office for official assignments.

    A statement denying the report signed by Kate Addo, Director, Public Affairs, emphasised that her department continues to remain committed to the communications management of the office of the Speaker and the performance of any allied duties as may be assigned by the Speaker.

    The statement admitted that although it is true the Speaker has a communication team, that team has an entirely different mandate from that of the Public Affairs Department.

    It added that the Speaker continues to engage with the Director on relevant issues and is keen on growing the department and other departments of the legislature.

    As an apolitical outfit, the public affairs department noted that it is committed to working to enhance the overall development of the entire legislature without recourse to any political party or ideology.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Parliament cannot do ‘whatever it likes’ – Sam Okudzeto

    A renowned lawyer and member of the Council of State, Sam Okudzeto, has said the perception by people that Parliament can do anything they like is wrong.

    According to him, though Parliament has the mandate to enact laws, the court can declare them null and void if the laws are inconsistent with the constitution.

    “There’s some wrong perception that Parliament can do anything they like; they don’t have such power. There are certain powers that are limited to the President alone. There are rights given to Parliament to make laws, but if the laws are inconsistent with the constitution, the court will declare it to be null and void,” Asaaseradio quoted Okudzeto.

    He added that constitutional law makes it clear that there must be checks and balances; therefore, the powers of Parliament are not absolute.

    “That’s all separation of powers is about. If you understand constitutional law, it talks about checks and balances. And constitutional law makes it clear that there must be checks and balances. It means that one has power, but that power is not absolute; there are limits to it. The President has powers, but those powers are not limitless, and if he goes beyond it, he can be checked,” Okudzeto said

    There have been a lot of reactions from both the minority and majority after the court ruled that Deputy Speakers could vote and form a quorum while presiding in Parliament.

    On March 9, 2022, the supreme court ruled that a Deputy Speaker of Parliament presiding over proceedings has the right to be counted in decision-making and to participate in voting.

    The court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse held that the Deputy Speaker does not lose his right to take part in decision-making upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 103 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution.

    The unanimous decision was taken after the court dismissed a writ by a law lecturer, Justice Abdulai, who was challenging the decision of Mr Osei-Owusu to be counted as part of the quorum to pass the budget.

    The court, therefore, held that the passing of the budget on November 30, 2021, in which Joe Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker, counted himself as part of the quorum, was valid.

    Also, the court struck down order 109(3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament that prevented a deputy speaker presiding from voting, ruling it was unconstitutional.

    This development got some mixed reactions from both the Minority and Majority. Whilst majority members, including Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu, deem it a satisfactory verdict by the Supreme Court, the minority believes the ruling by the highest court of the land amounts to judicial interference.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • E-Levy: It will not be mandatory – Sylvester Tetteh

    The Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, Sylvester Matthew Tetteh, has indicated that the controversial Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) being introduced by the government is not mandatory. 

    He explained that after the levy is approved, while there will be immediate attrition in users of electronic transactions in the country, the situation will normalize, reports 3news.com.

    “The E-Levy is not a mandatory tax, that is why I say that even the projections of government could be lower,” he said. 

    The E-Levy has received several rejections from several quarters in the country since it was introduced in parliament and has since has been put on ice since the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has failed to re-lay the bill before parliament. 

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs have constantly stated their stance on the bill, insisting that they will do all that is possible to reject it. 

    There have also been concerns about the full representation of all members on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) side of the House, particularly with the continuous absence of the MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 20% reduction in government’s expenditure affecting development Gabby Otchere-Darko

    Leading member of the NPP, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has hinted that although the government was able to control the COVID-19 pandemic, it is having difficulties reviving the economy.

    In a tweet posted on March 15, 2022, the NPP (New Patriotic Party) stalwart indicated that the economic challenges of the country are as a result of the failure of parliament to pass the government’s revenue mobilisation efforts. 

    “The Ghana story: president said of covid: we know how to fix the economy but not how to revive the dead. Covid controlled but Parliament says no to fiscal measures to fix economy. 

    “Spending now cut drastically by at least 20%, affecting development, contractors, incomes and jobs,” the tweet Gabby shared read.

    Meanwhile, former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has accused the government of owing service providers of the National Health Insurance Scheme arrears of at least 9 months.

    In a tweet posted on March 11, 2022, Dr Forson said that the arrears of the service providers form part of a long list of debts the government owes.

    The ex-deputy finance minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, added that the government owes statutory funds including the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) and the Road Fund are even worse.


    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Nkrankwanta mourns death of 3 persons in Asuboi accident

    Correspondence from Bono Region

    The entire Nkrankwanta community in the Dormaa West District of the Bono Region is in grieve following the death of three persons in the tragic accident that occurred at Asuboi in the Eastern Region in the early hours of Sunday, March 13, 2022.

    According to the residents, they are yet to come to terms with the untimely demise of the three individuals who were on board the Accra-bound Hyundai universe commercial bus with registration number AK 324-22.

    The deceased are; Venn Yeboah, a Level 200 Social Science student of the University of Education, Adwoa Falida, and her little daughter, Clementina.

    Mr. Charles Amponsah Tweneboa-Kodua, a family friend of Venn Yeboah describes his demise as “catastrophic, ruinous and unfathomable”.

    The grieving mother of Venn Yeboah, Madam Kyeremaa Juliana, told GhanaWeb that the passing of her 24-year-old son came as a big blow to the family.

    She describes her late son as humble, obedient, and very friendly whose void will be difficult to fill.

    “We have lost a good person in the person of my son. Kwaku was a very good person but sadly death has taken him away from us. It is a big blow to think that he is not coming back to us again. I am not sure we will ever forget that sad day,” Venn Yeboah’s mother lamented.

    Meanwhile, the family has slated Saturday, April 2, 2022, for the final funeral rites of Venn Yeboah at Nkrankwanta.  

    Ghanaians woke up to the news of the fatal accident at Asuboi near Suhum on the Accra-Kumasi Highway (N6) which claimed nine lives and injured several others on Sunday.

    The accident involved a Hyundai universe commercial bus that crashed head-on with an articulated truck parked on the road at Asuboi.

    According to the police, the driver failed to observe traffic and in the process crashed into the forty footer container which fell partially onto the road killing nine passengers in the process.

    “There is a fatal accident at Asuboi, near Suhum on the Accra-Kumasi Highway (N6), involving a Universe commercial bus and a stationary 40-footer-container loaded with wood in which 9 passengers have died and leading to the closure of the road,” A police statement reads.

    Adwoa Falida and little Clementina

    Venn Yeboah

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Government should have retrenched 15% of workers at height of COVID-19 Kusi-Boafo

    Thomas Kusi-Boafo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Sector Reforms Secretariat, has disclosed that the government saved all public sector jobs at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when all signs pointed to the need to retrench some workers.

    According to him, even though the economy was not all that good at the time the pandemic hit, COVID-19 dealt a further blow to the economy.

    He stated in an interview on Accra-based Okay FM that 15% of public sector workers were retained and duly received all payments at a time the private sector was either cutting jobs or salaries.

    “Ghana needed to retrench 15% of workers at height of the pandemic. That 15% would have given us the (fiscal) relief but the government agreed to let them stay on and to be paid. 

    “Many companies reduced salaries by 25% but who in government was impacted in terms of salaries or pensions?” he asked before adding that President Akufo-Addo has shown great commitment in seeing to it that the economy rebounds as quickly as possible.

    “Whoever says it is not COVID that has devastated the entire global economy, excuse me to say, they need a psychiatric examination,” he added.

    Whereas government insists the pandemic and its effects was largely to blame for the economic woes being experienced, the opposition says the government is using the pandemic as an excuse to cover up its horrible economic management.

    The World Bank Country Director, Pierre Laporte, recently disclosed that even pre-pandemic, the Ghanaian economy was not strong and that it is in a dire state, a situation government and other stakeholders have admitted.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Global natural disasters set to increase 37% next three years Fair Tech Institute

    Natural disasters globally are set to increase by 37 percent from 442 to 541 occurrences in the next three years (by 2025), according to a Fair Tech Institute whitepaper released by Access Partnership a leading global public policy firm for the technology sector.

    This projection is based on the simple average of five-year percentage changes in natural disaster frequencies over the past two decades, within each region.

    Again, research revealed that the number of recorded natural disasters more than doubled between 1980 and 1984 and between 2015 and 2019, a trend likely to continue in the next decade.

    According to the whitepaper, this increased frequency of natural disasters is set to overwhelm National Emergency Telecommunications Plans (NETPs) and terrestrial service providers currently in place to minimise and mitigate the human and economic cost of adverse weather events.

    The whitepaper emphasised that satellite technology could be crucial to averting this situation and saving human life in low and middle-income countries like Ghana if governments and the private sector can invest in and leverage satellite technology for more effective disaster management efforts.

    Senior policy manager of Access Partnership, Ivan Suarez said: “Putting in place satellite services and next-generation satellite-enabled connectivity can mean the difference between saving millions of lives and losing them”.

    Providing unique data, the document forecasted the economic impact and future burden countries will face if disaster communications planning is not taken seriously.

    Furthermore, the paper indicated that, currently, natural disasters cost the agricultural sector of developing economies more than US$108billion in damaged crop and livestock production. Should the level of financing in climate adaptability remain low, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that climate change adaptation and natural disaster damages could cost developing countries a range of US$280billion to US$500billion per year by 2050.

    To reduce the socioeconomic impact of climate-related disasters, governments are encouraged to increase investment in physical and social infrastructure and allow for the upscaling and acceleration of far-reaching, transformational adaptation strategies. This includes the effective use of satellite networks and next-generation satellite technology.

    “As shown by this study, we need a concerted effort to fix the underlying inefficiencies of our current existing communication systems. The paper highlights that the availability of communication networks is directly related to the ability to respond quickly to emergencies,” Suarez proposed.

    The whitepaper emphasised the need for the development of emergency telecommunication plans (NETPs), given the crucial role telecoms can play in saving lives and protecting communities when disasters strike.

    The whitepaper comes after organisations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, Vision of Humanity and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) all agreed that weather-related disasters are likely to become more frequent and widespread in coming years due to climate change.

    Source: thebftonline.com

  • Four students died, not nine UEW SRC

    The Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has said that four of its students lost their lives in the road accident at Asuboi and not nine as reported early.

    In a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, the Public Relations Officer of the SRC, Shadrach Appiah, said that although nine people died, only four were students, and the others were passengers who joined the students.

    “Because of the increases in prices of fares, students normally organise buses to the school because it is relatively cheaper. The bus involved in the accident was the last bus from Sunyani, and it had 35 students and other passengers the driver picked on the way because the bus was not full.

    “Two of the students who died are male, and the other two female. The bus organiser was able to identify the two ladies, but he could not identify the gentlemen. I can confirm that one of the students was in level 300, the others were continuing students, but I have not been able to confirm their level as of now,” Appiah said in Twi.

    The SRC PRO also disclosed that some of the students were gravely wounded, with three of the injured students referred to a health facility in Koforidua and subsequently to Accra.

    It was reported on Sunday, March 14, 2022, that nine people died in an accident on the Asuboi road, a suburb of Suhum on the Accra-Kumasi highway, after a bus with registration number AK324-22 crashed into an articulated truck parked on the road.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Groom crashed to death on his way to wedding reception

    A 40-year-old man has crashed to death while en route to his wedding reception at Fumesua in the Ashanti Region.

    The Sunday incident occurred after the marriage ceremony had been held that morning.

    According to police, the groom, Mohammed Zakari Babangida, lost control over his Ford vehicle and consequently veered off his lane and landed into a ditch.

    “It was an accident which involved a Ford Escape with registration number AS-3222-21. They were driving from Bomfa in Ejisu towards the Kumasi direction.

    “Upon reaching Fumesua, a section of the road, the information we received indicated that the driver of the Ford Escape was over speeding so in the process, he lost control of the steering wheel and hit a nearby culvert, and landed into a ditch”, Ejisu District MTTD Commander narrated.

    Groom crashed to death on his way to wedding reception

    ASP Francis Mireku revealed that the groom, who was driving the vehicle, was in critical condition and rushed to the hospital but died shortly after.

    The other four occupants sustained injuries and are responding to treatment.

    Accra-based Citi News reports that the bride became unconscious following the news on Sunday but regained consciousness later that day.

    Also, a sister to the deceased became unconscious for a while when the news broke.

    Some relatives expressed shock about the development.

    According to them, a groomsman was initially driving until the deceased took the wheel shortly before the accident.

    The deceased has since been buried in line with Islamic customs.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • 81.6% of respondents want E-Levy Bill cancelled Survey

    A survey conducted by the Center for Economics Finance and Inequality Studies has showed that some 81.6 percent of respondents want the proposed Electronic Transaction Levy cancelled and never introduced by the government. 

    According to results from the survey captured on JoyBusiness, 36.4 percent of the respondents on their part, had no knowledge about the tax measure whereas 1,679 out of the 2,650 had knowledge about the E-Levy. 

    In addition to the results from the portal, 13.5 percent of the respondents sampled were of the view the E-Levy should be passed into law and implemented by government. 

    Meanwhile, a small portion of 4.9 percent of respondents held the view that the E-Levy should be passed next year in 2023. 

    The survey was conducted by Professor Anthony Amoah of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development and Dr. Benjamin Amoah of the University of Ghana Business School. 

    Results of the survey counted on Google Online Forms for data collection, of which respondents were automatically restricted to one entry only.

    Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has insisted the passage of the tax measure, also known as the E-Levy, is critical to fill revenue gaps. 

    He contended that the economy has been ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic which requires the implementation of key tax measures to sustain the economy. 

    But since the announcement of the E-Levy in November last year in parliament by the finance minister [Ken Ofori-Atta], there has been widespread backlash and condemnation over the tax measure. 

    Lawmakers in Parliament and a cross-section of the public have also kicked against the proposed E-Levy and described it as one that is regressive and would place more burden on the ordinary citizen.


    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Former president Mahama mourns Asuboi accident victims, cautions drivers

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has advised public and intercity drivers to exercise more caution on the roads with the lives of citizens left in their care. 

    In a Twitter post, John Mahama, while commiserating with the families of the accident victims, described the accident tragic and unfortunate.

    “What a sad waste of young lives in the Asuboi accident! My condolences to the families of the dead, and speedy recovery to the injured,” John Mahama tweeted.

    Nine passengers including 4 students of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), have reportedly died in an accident that occurred Sunday dawn at Asuboi in the Eastern Region.

    The accident involved a Hyundai universe commercial bus with registration number AK 324-22 and a 40-footer container loaded with wood.

    The bus is said to have been transporting the students from Sunyani towards Accra but on reaching a section of the Asuboi road, the driver failed to observe traffic ahead. He was alleged to be sleeping.

    He crashed into the 40-footer container loaded with woods which had fallen partially on the road after a previous accident.

    Eight passengers died on the spot, and one later died at the Suhum Government Hospital, where the injured were rushed to.

    The Public Relations Officer of Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, says the police are making effort to remove the accident vehicles from the road.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • E/R: Accident at Nkawkaw-Oframase claims 5 lives

    A gory accident at Nkawkaw-Oframase in the Eastern Region has claimed the lives of five persons.

    District Police Commander, DSP Foster Asante, confirmed the incident to the media over the weekend.

    According to him, a sprinter bus with registration number, GC 6521-21 crashed into a stationary truck on Sunday down after the commercial vehicle driver took a wrongful overtaking.

    He disclosed further that the driver of the commercial bus was a spare driver.

    He finally advised the drivers to be careful with their speed, especially during weekends, myjoyonline reports.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com