TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • GHS recommends rapid coronavirus tests at all entry points

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has recommended the introduction of rapid diagnostic tests at all points of entry as the COVID-19 cases surge.

    Addressing the media at the end of its two-day high-level strategic meeting on COVID-19 at Fumesua in the Ashanti Region, the Director-General, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said this will help to test trucks and cargos that carry people on arrival.

    Speaking on its recommendations to tackle the third wave of the COVID-19, he said they will increase surveillance and screening at the seaports and land beaches.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said they will also ensure monitoring of the situation at the Kotoka International Airport and institute appropriate measures to contain the importation of the virus.

    He said the GHS will scale up its testing capacity while antigen testing will be used as part of their rapid response in locations where there are outbreaks such as schools, workplaces and points of entry.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the contact tracing, quarantine and isolation will also be strengthened.

    Speaking on challenges faced, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said total disregard for safety protocols, limited access to COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, inadequate number of ICU beds, vaccine hesitation and misinformation and oxygen supply in case of a higher surge in cases are some of the challenges.

    The number of active COVID-19 cases has shot up to 3,446, the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service indicate.

    Some 304 new cases have been confirmed.

    The death toll has also risen to 817.

    Since mid-March 2020, a total of 99,734 cases have been recorded.

    Of that number, 95,451 have recovered.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Suspend planned duty increment – Importers and Exporters Association

    The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana is unhappy about plans by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to increase duty at the port.

    The association believes stakeholders in port activities are already burdened with astronomical increase in freight charges, hence the need to suspend this plan.

    Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, Sampson Asaki Awingobit, in an interview with Joy Business said, an intercepted internal document from Customs intends increasing value.

    “Currently, Customs is pushing duty on 20-footer container to $4,000 and $5,000 for 40-footer. Those with reefer containers have to pay $8,000 from an initial $6,000,” he said.

    He said the intended action of Customs was nothing new with freight charges being increased by about $800 between 2016 and 2018.

    According to him, importers budget $2500 to import a 20-footer container but one had to pay around $4,000 as duty.

    The association has asked government to as a matter of urgency halt this decision which further increases the cost of doing business and affects the prices of imported items.

    He cited an instance where importers used to pay between $2,000 and $3,000 for a 20-footer container and paid between $ 3,000 and $4,000 for a 40-footer container.

    Mr Awingobit sees the move as quite absurd for one to pay $6,000 for a 20-footer container.

    The advocacy body said Customs was being insensitive to the plight of stakeholders and wants central government to listen to the cry of importers and traders to ensure they recover from losses made.

    “This is the time we believe government could have supported the business community as other countries have done to keep those in port activities afloat,” he said.

    According to him, shipping lines have also increased local handling charges to break even after having made losses last year over the impact of COVID-19 on global trade.

    Early this year, freight charges went up and checks by the association revealed a general trend across the African continent.

    Additional information from some quarters indicated at the time ports were closed due to COVID-19 that shipping lines had dropped so many containers on the continent.

    Although some protocols were put in place for transactions to resume, Europe was no longer accepting containers from Africa leading to it shortage with freight charges increased.

    Asaki Awingobit said in May 2021 charges should have been reduced because imported containers had gone back to Europe.

    “In anticipation of having freight charges reduced, we received a notification from Customs of its intention to review freight using increment in Asia as justification,” he said.

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution: 5,455 Cases Mediated Last Year

    A total of 5,455 cases were mediated through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the country last year out of which 2,312, representing 42 per cent of the cases, were settled.

    The ADR programme was also extended to 131 courts across the country, while 635 mediators were trained with at least five of them being assigned to each court.

    Additionally, regional ADR secretariats, including coordinators and supporting staff, had been established in 10 out of the 16 regions.

    The Judge-in-Charge of the ADR, Justice Irene Charity Larbi, announced this at the launch of the third quarter ADR Week celebration for the Legal Year term in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region yesterday.

    The event, which was on the theme: “Making our court’s user friendly through the use of ADR,” was commemorated to create more awareness of alternative dispute resolution and also sensitise other stakeholders such as judges, court officials and lawyers to the use of ADR.

    Also, during the week-long celebration, mediators are assigned to courts to help parties resolve cases alternatively.

    The commemoration for the first quarter was marked from April 12 to 16, this year.

    Successful implementation

    According to Justice Larbi, who is also a Justice of the Court of Appeal, after nearly 16 years of the successful implementation of the court-connected ADR system, it was time for it to become the “go-to option” for people seeking justice in the country.

    She said the ADR had also chalked up some “verifiable and demonstrable” successes over the years to the extent that it was “our expectation that in the years to come ADR becomes not just a complement to the justice delivery architecture” but rather an easy option for people seeking justice.

    Justice Larbi also said the ADR had helped in reducing the backlog of cases in the courts substantially due to the mass mediation exercise.

    “The ADR concept has served as a complement to the traditional court system in making access to justice cheaper, easier, expeditious, non-adversarial and faster for the citizenry,” she added.

    Justice Larbi mentioned the advantages of the ADR to include privacy, willingness of parties to comply with agreements they make after the ADR process, promotion of healthier methods of resolving conflicts and helping to decongest the courts to enable judges to have more time for cases not amenable to the ADR.

    Furthermore, she said, apart from offering financial and emotional relief to parties, the ADR also cut down cost of litigation, thereby making justice more accessible to a greater number of people.

    “This clearly indicates that the ADR mechanism is a reliable partner of the traditional justice delivery system and must, therefore, be embraced and nurtured for a quality justice delivery system,” Justice Larbi added.

    Sustaining ADR

    The judge-in-charge further stressed the need to sustain the ADR mechanism since it was “critical in our goal of promoting excellence, speed and efficiency in judicial administration”.

    She said the judicial service attached much importance to ADR for which reason in 2005, it created space and the necessary environment to serve the litigating public with all the benefits of ADR to ensure quality justice delivery became “real and accessible to all, especially the poor and the vulnerable”.

    “We can only achieve the excellence we seek if judicial outcomes are not the product of long, drawn-out processes that lead to pyrrhic victories for the parties in a dispute,” Justice Larbi said.

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Foster assistance given amongst citizenry – MP

    Armah-Kofi Buah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle in the Western Region, has urged the government to create the necessary steps to ensure that the citizenry support and assist one another to overcome difficult situations.

    Mr Buah said since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, global malnutrition had increased and many people go to bed on empty stomachs and there is the need to take necessary steps to avoid such situations.

    He noted that at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a food bank to store food for onward distribution to the aged, poor, vulnerable and needy in the Ellembelle District.

    Speaking at a stakeholder meeting to mark the first year anniversary of the Ellembelle Food Bank at Ambainu in the Western Region, Mr Buah indicated that so far the food bank had distributed raw food items to more than 6,000 vulnerable people and the figure was expected to double to 12,000 people in the second year.

    “The food bank programme is not about the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), but inure to the benefit of all vulnerable in the district, the gesture is service to God since we have a rich culture of belonging but gradually losing it and there is the need for all efforts to revive and strengthen it,” he stressed and donated a cheque for GH¢20, 000.

    Nana Nyamekeh Fofole, the chief of Ambainu and chairman of the Food Bank, said the committee had secured a 10-acre farmland towards cultivation of food crops to stock the bank.

    Arko Nokoe, the MP for Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira, in the Western Region, lauded residents of Ellembelle for their support and assistance for him to go to Parliament and pledged success for the project and team up with MPs for Ellembelle and Jomoro to stem youth unemployment and donated GH¢2, 000.

    Nana Kobina Nketiah, the Paramount Chief of Essikado, who chaired the function, observed that the well-being of Africans was characterised by inter-dependence and lauded Mr Buah for humanitarian gesture and advised people in Ellembelle to foster unity and harmony to spearhead growth and development.

    Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli, the Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, thanked the MP for major projects such as Mobile Clinic van, Elder Care Centre and Food Bank, his selflessness, stint for progress and development which had transformed the constituency.

    Source: GNA

  • Prominent journalist Omar Radi in Morocco sentenced to 6 years in prison

    A Casablanca court sentenced prominent Moroccan journalist and activist Omar Radi to six years in prison on Monday after finding him guilty of espionage and sexual assault.

    His colleague, Imad Stitou, was convicted of “participation in rape” and sentenced to 12 months in prison, with six months suspended.

    The Casablanca court ordered Radi and Stitou to pay the equivalent of more than $22,300 to the victim of the alleged sexual assault.

    Charges held against Radi have been heavily criticized by rights groups who claim they are politically motivated. Since his arrest in July 2020, the investigative journalist has always denied any wrongdoings.

    Omar Radi’s arrest had once more fuelled concerns, with many denouncing a crackdown on news media, and a harrassment of critics of the government.

    In a June 2020 report, Amnesty International said Moroccan authorities had unlawfully spied on the journalist through his phone by using sophisticated surveillance software.

    A claim disputed by the Moroccan government.

    However Radi was found to have been amongst 189 journalists around the world identified as being on a list of allegedly targeted clients of Israeli-based NSO Group, a hacker-for-hire group using the “Pegasus” military-grade malware for potential spying on journalists, human rights activists and political dissidents, as reported by a global media consortium this week.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Wanted Yoruba nation activist Sunday Igboho bin arrest in Cotonou

    Local media for Nigeria dey report say authorities don gbab Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, AKA Sunday Igboho for Cotonou, Benin Republic.

    Dis one dey come weeks afta Nigeria secret police, di Department of State Security Services, DSS bin declare Igboho wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms, allegation wey e don deny since.

    Wetin we know about tori of Sunday Igboho arrest

    BBC Pidgin find out from pesin wey close to di case say dem arrest Sunday Igboho around 2:00am for Cotonou on Monday through joint operation.

    As at di time of filing dis report, e still dey Cotonou for Benin Republic but dem go repatriate am to Nigeria and dem, go likely araign am for court afta.

    DSS bin don tell Igboho to surrender afta dem raid im house weeks ago.

    Afta di raid, Igboho tell BBC Pidgin say, two pipo die and several others bin dey miss afta unknown men wey wear military uniform enta im house for Soka area.

    Afta series of rallies for different part of states for di south west, Igboho suppose lead rally for Lagos on Saturday, but e say dat don cancel now becos e no dey safe and im need to dey safe.

    Di DSS bin explain say one joint operations for Sunday Igboho domot result in di death of two of im guards.

    While odas escape with gunshot wounds and 13 suspects wey include 12 males plus one female dey DSS custody. E tok.

    DSS bin parade items wey dem say dem recover from di Sunday Igboho house during di raid earlier today.

    Afunanya say Ak-47, Pump Action, Pistols, 5000 rounds of ammunitions dey among items dem recover from Igboho house.

    Sunday Igboho begin make news afta e come forward since January 2021 wen e issue seven-day ultimatum to who e clall killer herders for Ibarapa area of Oyo State.

    Since den, e don lead im pipo and rally to demand for a Yoruba nation and to stop di farmers-herders clash for im region.

    But authorities bin don cut several warnings give am about im ways and method.

    Source: www.bbc.com

  • King Faisal players pocket GH¢1000 each after avoiding relegation

    Players of King Faisal have been awarded GH¢1000.00 each for maintaining their status in the Ghana Premier League.

    The ‘Insha Allah’ side fought hard to picked a point against Liberty Professionals in their final game of the season at the Red Bull Arena at Sogakope.

    King Faisal after a torrid start of the season finished the campaign on the 15th position with 41 points.

    According to the bankroller and owner and the club, Alhaji Grusah, the players were awarded GH¢1000.00 each after fighting hard to stay in the top-flight.

    “We have been paying a winning bonus of Ghc1000.00 but we decided to pay each GH¢1000.00 after avoiding relegation,” Grusah said in an interview with Asempa FM.

    “We did not start well as a team but were determined to stay in the Premier League and at the end of the day, we were able to achieve our target.

    He also lauded Vice President, Dr Bawumia for helping to clear the outstanding wages and bonuses.

    “I want to say a big thank you to the future president of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for helping the club to stay in the Ghana Premier League,” he said.

    “We were owing the players salaries and bonuses but Dr Bawumia devoted to paying all the debt and talked the players to ensure the club stay in the Premier League and they did just that.

    “We are grateful to him for helping us to maintain our status in the Ghana Premier League,” he added.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • GFA boss Kurt Okraku arrives in Ivory Coast for meetings with WAFU/FIFA Officials

    GFA President Kurt ES Okraku has paid a maiden official visit to the West Africa Football Union Zone B (WAFU B) Secretariat in Ivory Coast on Monday morning.

    The WAFU B President was met on arrival by the Executive Director Balima Boureima and other staff of the Secretariat.

    Amongst the issues discussed were updates on the state of affairs at the Secretariat and preparations for the WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualification tournament to be staged next month.

    The WAFU B President also outlined his plans for the zonal body and key policies he intends to roll out in WAFU B.

    In his capacity as president of the zonal body, the GFA President also met the president of the Ivory Coast Normalisation Committee Mrs. Mariam Dao Gabala.

    The meeting was to share ideas on the roadmap towards returning Ivorian football to normalcy and ways of developing football across the WAFU B Zone.

    Mr. Okraku is expected to hold other meetings of mutual benefit for the Zone at the WAFU B Secretariat before returning to Ghana.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • FIFA orders USM Algers to pay €300k with interest to Asante Kotoko on Kwame Pokus transfer fee

    World governing football, FIFA has ordered Algerian side USM Alger to pay Asante Kotoko an amount of €300,000 for the transfer of Kwame Poku, according to a report by Hot FM.

    The center forward joined the Algerian giants in April this year on a four and half year contract.

    USM Alger have failed to pay the transfer fee to Asante Kotoko after the Ghana International completed the move to join the club.

    The Porcupine Warriors reported the Algerian club to FIFA in June over the unpaid transfer fee of their former player.

    According to the report, FIFA has ordered USM Algers to pay the transfer with interest.

    Background

    Asante Kotoko SC have reported Algerian club USM Alger to FIFA over unpaid transfer fee of striker Kwame Opoku.

    Opoku joined the Algiers based side in April 2021 from the Ghanaian in a deal reported to be around US$300,000 in a four-and-a-half year contract.

    The Algerian side are yet to pay amount to Kotoko since completing the signing of the highly-rated forward.

    The 22-year-old scored nine goals in 20 appearances for Kotoko during his short spell at the club before leaving for Algeria.

    Opoku has scored two goals and provided two assists in his six games for the Mouloudia club since he joined.

    Source: ghanasoccernet.com

  • Betting syndicates in South Africa, Kenya and Italy fingered in Ghana match-fixing scandal

    Betting syndicates in South Africa, Kenya and Italy have been fingered in an international crime syndicate that rigged several matches in the Ghanaian top-flight this season, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively report.

    The 2020-21 Premier League season has been tainted in the most unimaginable manner after video evidence showed the match between AshantiGold and Inter Allies was heavily compromised.

    The miners recorded a resounding win over the relegated Premier League table at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi on the final day of the campaign.

    However, video evidence emerged on Monday to point to a clear case of match-fixing which has rocked the integrity of the 2020-21 season.

    Substitute Hashim Musah scored an incredible two own goals to take the tally to 7-0 in the most shocking manner which has sparked outrage in the West African nation.

    Young striker Isaac Opoku Agyemang netted a hattrick in the 16th, 44th and 77th minutes of the match taking his tally in the season to five goals.

    Skipper Amos Addai added two goals in the 26th and 50th minutes to increase the advantage.

    This means syndicates have been working to compromise such matches to win bets.

    With people betting in heavily on such matches in these countries it is suspected they are working with some people in Ghana to compromise the matches.

    Focus will be on those betting large sums of money and they could be traced. Potential members of the syndicate and their associates in Ghana are being secretly investigated by those with the right software to determine the betting patterns and the individuals who bet heavily.

    They phone messages, WhatsApp message and bank account as well as other means to determine their involvement is being looked at by investigators abroad.

    The Ghana Football Association has started investigation  into the match which has gained inches in the local media.

    Kenya, South Africa and Italy are at the heart of a global match-fixing empire, smashing a network rigging hundreds of games.

    Suspicious matches targeted by bettors from these cartel-based countries of illegal activities stretched to players, referees and officials across the world.

    Analysts said revelations about the scale of the scandal could damage Ghana’s image in the global game.

    Allegation of match-fixing has rocked the Ghanaian top-flight this season with a number of top officials, journalists, reporters and fans heavily involved in the betting syndicate.

    Source: ghanasoccernet.com

  • Caykur Rizespor in advanced talks to sign Ghana star Andre Ayew

    Turkish super lig outfit Caykur Rizespor are closing in on a deal to sign Ghanaian star Andre Ayew in the summer transfer window.

    The 31-year old is currently a free agent after leaving Swansea City following the expiration of his contract last month.

    Ayew enjoyed a successful season with the Swans scoring 17 goals in all competitions but was unable to lead the club to secure promotion to the Premier League last season.

    According to Turkish media outlet Biz Rizesporluyuz, negotiations between the Ghanaian player and Rizespor has been positive and it is likely he will join them ahead of next season.

    The enterprising forward has been a subject of interest for several club sin Europe including Crystal Palace, Celtic Fenerbache and clubs in the Gulf states following his swashbuckling performance last season.

    Ayew is said to be on a weekly wage of 80,000 Pounds.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • The government will ensure good governance in the exploitation of forest and mineral resources – Bawumia

    The Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says government will continue to ensure good governance in the exploitation of Ghana’s forest and mineral resources without fear or favour.

    The Vice President stated this when he opened the second Regional Consultative Dialogue on small scale mining and Deforestation held in Tamale on 19th July, 2021.

    Dr. Bawumia said issues relating to the exploitation of Ghana’s Natural resources are part of “Our National Life, which must be insulated from Partisan Politics”.

    The Vice President further called for candid deliberations in the Consultative dialogues devoid of parochial interest to help build national consensus to stem illegal mining and deforestation.

    The Paramount Chief of Kumbugu Traditional Area, Alhaji Iddrisu Abu, who represented the Yaa Naa, described the theme for the Regional Consultative Dialogue “Sustainable Mining and forest conservation for National Development” as fitting and appropriate and called for strict enforcement of the emergency interventions by government including the deployment of the military to safeguard the forest reserves and water bodies.

    He also bemoaned the dangerous habit of cutting down trees for charcoal particularly economic trees such as shea, dawadawa and ” redwood”.

    The Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor reiterated the government’s policy on small scale mining, which is to build a responsible, viable and sustainable Small-Scale mining industry which rejects practices that compromise the environment.

    He announced that government is formulating a comprehensive Alternative Employment and Livelihood program for illegal miners affected by current cleanup in the sector.

    On Forestry, he reiterated the directive on the ban on Rosewood exportation whether legally acquired or otherwise.

    Government, he said, has also secured funding to implement the Ghana shea Landscape Emission Reduction Production (GSLERP).

    The project, he stated, will among others, address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and promote the cultivation of shea.

    The Minister also expressed the hope that the Dialogue will help develop concrete measures to safeguard the environment for posterity.

    The Tamale Dialogue brought together participants from other neighbouring regions including North East, Savannah, Upper East and West. MLNR PR UNIT

    Source: Public Relations Unit – MLNR

  • Increase in robberies, murder cases alarming – Group

    A group called Advocates for Good Governance and Proper Democracy has raised concerns over the increasing rate of crime and murder across the country.

    The group says the situation is a threat to peace, stability and economic growth, hence, the security agencies must be up and doing.

    David Opoku Boahen, Executive Director of the group, speaking on ‘Nyankonton Mu Nsem’ on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM stated that, Ghanaians are not safe and it would be best if the Police deal ruthlessly with these criminals.

    He admonished the Police to adopt new ways of fighting crime because crime is getting sophisticated.

    “For how long should we sit down and allow people to be killed. You wake up and hear someone has been murdered, and this is increasing, yet, we see nothing happening. It has created fear and panic, and we need the security agencies to deal with the matter,” he admonished.

    He further asked for intensified patrols across the nation with a joint Police and Military Force to deal with robberies and other high crimes.

    “We have to protect and preserve the peace and stability of Ghana. We have nowhere else to go if we allow criminals to take over the country,” he added.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Eid-Al-Adha: Police pick up 378 suspects

    The Accra Regional Police Command has picked up at least 378 suspects to ensure an incident-free Eid-Al-Adha celebration, an official statement has confirmed.

    The operation which spanned a week saw the arrest of 354 males and 24 females from various hideouts in Accra.

    The operation was conducted out simultaneously across all divisions and districts commands and in areas such as Sowutuom, Kwabenya, Osu, Kotobabi, Airport, Dansoman, Oyibi, Mamprobi, Abokobi Ayi Mensah, Darkuman, Cantoments, Kaneshie, Korle bu, Kokrobite, Adenta, Tesano, Legon and Nungua.

    The suspects are between the ages of 19 to 57 years and have been detained for screening and those found culpable will be arraigned before Court.

    Items retrieved include quantities of dried leaves suspected to be marijuana, sachets of liquid substances laced with narcotics, 33 motorbikes, laptops, mobile phones, knives, cutlasses and other offensive weapons.

    The police have called on the public to “continue to offer police the needed support in its crime-fighting efforts in the area of volunteering credible information.”

    Source: www.dailymailgh.com

  • Bird Flu: Over 5,800 deaths of poultry and 58,000 infections recorded so far

    A total of 5,868 deaths and 58,253 infections of Avian Influenza have been recorded among commercial poultry chicken, ducks, guinea fowls and turkeys – between July 9 and 14, 2021, with the source of infection unknown.

    A report by the Veterinary Services said the disease had been identified at eight farms in the country so far.

    The farms are at Nungua, Klagon, Lashibi, Community 25, and Darkuman, all in the Greater Accra Region.

    The rest are: Domenase in the Central Region and Denu in Volta Region.

    The report indicated that the infected birds had been humanely stamped out and disinfected, with movement in and out of the farms also controlled.

    “Farmers are always encouraged to prevent the movement of vehicles between farms to prevent further spread of the disease. Farmers are alerted of the zoonotic nature of the disease and, therefore, the farm hands are admonished to use personal protection when handling poultry birds,” it stated.

    The farmers had also been educated on the need to implement appropriate bio-security and proper disposal of dead birds to contain the spread of Avian Influenza type A subtype H5.

    Dr Fenteng Danso, the National Head of Epidemiology, Veterinary Services, told the Ghana News Agency that samples of the current infections had been taken to Canada for “sequencing and collaborative report.”

    Avian influenza (AI) is a disease of viral etiology that ranges from a mild or asymptomatic infection to an acute, fatal disease of chicken, turkey, guinea fowl, and other avian species, especially migratory waterfowl.

    In Ghana, the first HPAI H5N1 outbreak was reported in April 2007 in a small scale poultry farm at Kakasunanka, near Michel Camp in the Tema Metropolis.

    This was followed by further outbreaks at New Dormaa of Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region and Aflao in the Volta Region.

    The disease reoccurred in 2015 and crossed-over to 2016 in six regions; Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, and Ashanti, affecting 148,448 birds.

    In June 2018, H5N1 outbreaks were reported at Bonkra and Atia in the Ashanti Region as well as Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, affecting 12,175 birds.

    Source: GNA

  • Consult broadly before the passage of Universities Bill – Asantehene to government

    The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has admonished the government to consult broadly before presenting the draft University Bill to parliament.

    The traditional ruler who is also the Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology (KNUST) underscored the need for government to consult broadly due to the interest the bill has generated.

    “The interest generated by the general public in the bill should give a strong signal to the government to accommodate divergent views being expressed by key stakeholders such as the Vice Chancellors Ghana, University Teachers Association of Ghana and Members of Convocation across all the public universities,” he said.

    “Ultimately, the concerns and interest of all major stakeholders must be seen to have been taken on board in the final draft for the sake of harmony and industrial peace on campuses. All stakeholders must respect the views of others and avoid must confrontation and consolidation of positions on the bill.”

    “I strongly urge the government to allow further and broader consultations in order to iron out any grey areas before the bill is placed before parliament for consideration,” the Chancellor who was speaking during a graduation ceremony at KNUST for postgraduate students added.

    Among other things the bill seeks “to provide the procedure for the establishment of Public Universities, principles of management of Public universities, the legal status of Public universities, the procedure for financing Public universities and administration and supervision of the activities of Public universities and related matters.”

    Also, the draft bill gives the president the power to dissolve the university council which will now have the power to appoint a chancellor.

    The Bill also gives effect to the University Council to control the finances of the university and determine the allocation of funds.

    Source: rainbownradioonline.com

  • Health Ministry reviews laboratory policy for implementation

    The Ministry of Health has begun a review of the national health laboratory policy (NHLP) for implementation this year.

    This is to ensure that proper standards are followed in the sector as demanded by medical laboratory scientists over the years.

    The NHLP was drafted between 2010 and 2013 to, among others, provide a guide in the expansion of laboratory services to support healthcare programmes and also promote quality healthcare delivery in the country.

    Commitment

    In a speech read on his behalf at the 2021 annual general meeting of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science (WAPCLMS) Ghana Chapter in Accra last Saturday, the Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, pledged the commitment of the government to the implementation of the policy.

    “We are aware of your request which include the launch of the NHLP document for implementation and finding a suitable place for your secretariat,” he said.

    According to the minister, “we are currently reviewing the NHLP and hope to get it launched for implementation before the end of this year”.

    Mr Agyeman-Manu further assured the WAPCLMS that the ministry was working to secure a suitable place for its secretariat to enable the college to perform its duties well and expeditiously.

    He also said that the ministry was considering the establishment of a postgraduate college for allied health professions to train more people in the sector.

    According to the minister, his outfit recognised WAPCLMS as the technical arm of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) responsible for medical laboratory science policies, practice and research, including serving as an advisory body to the government.

    Mr Agyeman-Manu added that the ministry would support and collaborate with the college to develop and implement programmes for the health sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Call for unity

    The Registrar of the WAPCLMS, Dr Godswill C. Okara, called for unity among professionals in the health sector to promote quality healthcare delivery to win the confidence of patients.

    He said doctors and medical laboratory scientists should play complementary roles, saying “no profession is superior to the other”.

    Dr Okara cautioned that failure on their part to collaborate in the discharge of their respective duties could undermine public trust thereby affecting quality of service to patients.

    “Together, we can achieve more. That is what we need now more than ever in our region. The sky is big enough for all stars and we should, therefore, not feel threatened by the contribution of other members of the team,” he added.

    For his part, the President of the WAPCLMS, Professor Nafiu Amidu, said there was the need for amicable solution to the long-standing impasse between medical laboratory scientists and doctors.

    He encouraged medical laboratory scientists to make themselves available whenever they were asked to make input to demonstrate roles of laboratory scientists in the health delivery value chain.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Thousands queue for GAF recruitment

    Thousands of Ghanaian youth have besieged the El-wak sports stadium with their credentials hoping to be recruited into the Ghana Armed Forces.

    The long queue started at dawn on Monday, 19 July 2021.

    The applicants, made up of mostly unemployed youth are being taken through various stages including screening, body and height check.

    The huge number of applicants had caused vehicular traffic as job seekers queued from the ends of the walls to gain entry into the stadium.

    Last week, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, gave financial clearance for the recruitment of close to 12,000 people into the police, prisons, immigration and education services. A total of 11,840 jobs are available to be filled.

    The clearance covered the Ministry for the Interior, Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Education.

    The financial clearance, communicated in six separate letters to the respective institutions said the recruitments will take place on 1 August 2021.

    Four of the letters were addressed to the Ministry for the Interior under whose wings the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service and Ghana Prisons Service fall.

    The letter to the Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ambrose Dery, said the Ministry “is hereby granted financial clearance to enable the Comptroller-General of Ghana Immigration Service to recruit 2,000, the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service to recruit 2,000, Chief Fire Officer to recruit 2,000 and the Inspector-General of Police to recruit 5,000 personnel to augment the staffing position of the services”.

    “The emoluments of the personnel should be charged against the Compensation of Employees vote of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service, National Fire Service and Ghana Prisons Service, under the Ministry for the Interior in the 2021 Annual Estimates”, the clearance letter stated.

    Regarding the National Security Ministry, the letter, dated 21 June 2021, granted financial clearance to enable the National Signals Bureau (NSB) to recruit additional 100 and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to recruit 140 individuals to augment its workforce.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Form 3 SHS students begin mid-semester break tomorrow

    Form three students of senior high schools will begin their mid-term break from tomorrow, Tuesday, 20 July to Sunday, July 25, 2021.

    This was contained in a letter signed by the Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in charge of Quality and Access, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh.

    The letter, however, noted that all students who do not wish to go home or find it difficult to go home should be allowed to remain in the school and heads are to ensure that they are fed and follow all school rules.

    “By this, regional directors of education are to inform all heads of senior high schools to take note and to communicate same to staff, students and parents,” the letter addressed to all regional directors of education added.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Terrorism: Recruitment of Ghanaians worrying Government

    The government has expressed worry over the recruitment of at least one Ghanaian by a terrorist organisation to participate in their activities.

    Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Sunday, 18 July 2021, Information Minister Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah urged the public to be on high alert and report suspected acts of terrorism to the security agencies.

    He stated that “There is now also evidence that Ghanaians or at least one Ghanaian is confirmed to have been recruited by some of these terrorist groups to participate in their activities. If you follow the history of terrorism around the world, once they recruit people from your country and use them there and people come back into the jurisdiction, you begin to have challenges of cells growing up in your country so some of these latest developments of Ghanaians being involved now creates severe worry for us.”

    Mr Nkrumah noted that although cabinet has been briefed on the preparedness of security agencies to counter activities of terrorism organisations there is still the need for the public to aid in intelligence gathering.

    “Cabinet has been briefed on the growing worry and nature of these threats and the preparedness of the state security agencies to counter them but we believe it is important to let the public know that these are some of the challenges and the public has a role to play also in alerting security agencies and being aware so that intelligence gathering is made easier for any necessary responses,” he said.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Two jailed 11 years for selling man to undercover police officer

    Two persons who lured a 20-year old Beninois to Ghana to be sold for $160,000 to a police decoy have been sentenced to a total jail term of 11-years, by an Accra Circuit Court.

    Ibrahim Keita, a 33-year old unemployed, would serve six years, while his accomplice, Baba Issah, a 31-year-old barber and a driver, would serve five years.

    This was after the court, presided over by Mrs Christina Cann, had found them guilty on the charge of conspiracy to commit human trafficking.

    Keita was additionally found guilty of human trafficking.

    The Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Agartha Asantewaa, told the court that both Keita, a Malian, and Issah resided at Agona Nyakrom in the Central Region.

    The Prosecution said in April last year, the Swedru Police Divisional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had intelligence that the two of them were looking for someone who would buy a young man.

    Consequently, a police officer, in an undercover operation, began engaging them over the phone.

    They initially asked for $150,000, but later increased it to $160,000, claiming that the cedi had depreciated.

    The Prosecution said Keita, assured of a deal, lured the victim and sent him money for his transportation from Benin to Swedru.

    When he arrived in Ghana on June 26, this year, he called Keita, who asked him to wait at a lorry station for him.

    The Prosecution said Keita and Issah then arranged with their prospective buyer to complete the transaction.

    In the process, they were arrested, while the police officer revealed his identity and rescued the victim.

    The matter was duly referred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit at the CID Headquarters.

    Chief Inspector Asantewaa said further investigations revealed that Keita had earlier travelled to Benin, where he and met the victim, who was assisting his aunt to operate a restaurant.

    He discussed with him his desire to have his money doubled, but the young man could not assist Keita.

    In September 2019, however, Chief Inspector Asantewaa said, Keita arrived at Agona Nyakrom and lodged with Issah.

    Prosecution said Keita discussed with Issah his desire to have his money doubled, therefore, the two of them travelled to Wa in the Upper West and Assin Fosu, in the Central regions, but Keita could not find any helper.

    Chief Inspector Asantewaa said Keita then asked Issah to find someone who would buy a human being for him.

    The Prosecution said Keita thereafter called the victim and informed him that he had secured a job for him as a cleaner in Ghana.

    They were, subsequently, arrested during the transaction at a spot in the Bawjiase Lorry Station at Agona Swedru.

    Source: GNA

  • Kennedy Agyapong leads Parliamentary Committee to probe Wa military brutalities from today

    The Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior will today, Friday, July 16, 2021, commence a probe into military brutalities in the Upper West Regional Capital, Wa.

    Members of the Committee chaired by Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, visited the town on Thursday.

    They first had a closed-door meeting with the Upper West Regional Minister, as well as members of the Upper West Regional Security Council.

    The soldiers were seen in a viral video beating some residents of Wa, over claims that someone on a motorcycle had snatched a mobile phone belonging to one of them.

    Three of the soldiers have been demoted, while eight others have been charged, tried, and awarded 30 days each in detention by the disciplinary board of the Ghana Armed Forces according to the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul.

    The Defence and Interior Committee was sanctioned by the Speaker of Parliament to probe the issue and report to the plenary for subsequent actions to be taken.

    The Committee Chairman, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, coincidentally has a case before the Ashanti Regional Police Command, after he was reported by the Multimedia Group for allegedly threatening one of its journalists in Kumasi, by asking people to beat him up over his testimony before the Committee probing the Ejura disturbances.

    Background

    On Thursday, July 1, 2021, a video showing armed soldiers beating some residents of Wa on the street went viral.

    Some eyewitnesses who spoke to Citi News said the soldiers claimed they were searching for their stolen mobile phone.

    A day after the incident, a team from the military, led by the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Thomas Oppong Peprah, visited the area and offered an apology to the people of Wa.

    The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also apologised for the brutality.

    Aside from the disciplinary action from the military, the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament has also been directed to probe the incident after a request by the Minority side in Parliament.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Establish an independent body to ascertain pay structure for public sector workers PSWU

    The Public Service Workers Union, PSWU, of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has stated that, to ensure fairness and equity, an independent body must be established with the mandate of determining the salaries of public sector workers.

    According to the Deputy General Secretary of the PSWU, John Sampah, the decision has become important due to the current unequal pay structure for public sector employees.

    Speaking in an interview with GBC News, closely monitored by GhanaWeb, Mr. Sampah noted that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has failed to ensure fairness in the salary structure therefore there is a need for re-formation.

    “There should be a re-formation because the fair wages and salary commission has failed,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Sampah has expressed joy over the statement issued by the TUC against the payment of salaries to the spouses of presidents and vice presidents.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Bibiani-Anhwiaso- Bekwai to get gari processing factory

    Plans are advanced for the construction of a gari processing factory at Bekwai in the Bibiani-Anhwiasi-Bekwai constituency,

    Mr Alfred Obeng-Boateng, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area has disclosed.

    The idea, according to the MP was to transform cassava production in the constituency from subsistence farming to commercially viable Agro-agribusiness.

    The project, to be financed from the MP’s own coffers formed part of the initiative to create jobs and increase the socio-economic activities to eradicate poverty in the constituency.

    The factory, when completed would go a long way to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the Municipality.

    “My office has made the necessary arrangements for the commencement of construction works on a gari processing factory in the municipality”, he told the GNA and indicated that the factory would serve as a ready market for cassava farmers.

    According to the MP, he had a lot of projects in the pipeline which he was putting measures in place to execute them.

    Source: GNA

  • 86% of adult population registered as taxpayers Dr Bawumia

    Vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has revealed a proportion of the adult population representing 86 percent have registered as taxpayers following digital reforms introduced by government.

    According to him, this is a significant increase from an initial 4.1 percent earlier recorded amid the adoption of the Ghana Card numbers merging as Tax Identification Numbers.

    Dr Bawumia speaking during a virtual forum organised by the African Centre for Transformation (ACET) said the implementation of the mobile money interoperability platform has also witnessed an increase from 30 to 90 percent among a proportion of the adult population.

    “The last year demonstrated the relevance of digital transformation to delivering contactless payments, direct rapid transfers to the adult population and effective track and trace mechanism”

    The Integration of the Ghana Card, Digital Address System, National Health Insurance. Passport Services and the National Pensions Systems enhances the delivery of public services, improve the convenience of citizens brings considerable cost savings and improves revenue generation capacity of service providers,” the vice president said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Police, civilian conflicts have increased – Adam Bona

    Security analyst Adam Bona has noted that civilian or police conflicts in Ghana have increased due to the unprofessional conduct of some police officers.

    Mr. Bona speaking on ‘Nyankonton Mu Nsem’ on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm said the training given to the police officers is not holistic.

    He suggested it was about time the police training is reviewed and enhanced to meet modern policing, crime and disturbances.

    He posited that the way some police officers handle civilians in Ghana is horrible.

    He was worried about how police officers intimidate, harass and attack civilians especially commercial drivers and ‘okada’ riders.

    This, he lamented, has created a situation where the police have become inefficient in managing crises meant for them and allowing the military to tackle issues meant for the police.

    He also asked the government to resource the service with the logistics they need to make them efficient. Adding, they also need more men to be employed to meet the international standard.

    He said the police to civilian ratio is terrible and must be resolved.

    Meanwhile, the government has given clearance for the recruitment of 5,000 police officers.

    Other security agencies have also been cleared to recruit more officers.

    A letter from the Ministry of Finance to the Interior Ministry said the ministry,

    “is hereby granted financial clearance to enable the Comptroller-General, of Ghana Immigration Service to recruit two thousand (2,000), the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service to recruit two thousand (2,000), Chief Fire Officer to recruit two thousand (2,000), and the Inspector General of Police to recruit five thousand (5,000), personnel to augment the staffing position of the Services.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Police failed to pay the GH¢50,000 due me after I gave tip-off Informant

    An informant is complaining that despite assisting the Sekondi police with a tip-off, leading to the arrest of a notorious suspect, who has been on police wanted list for sometime now, they have refused to reward him with the GH¢50,000 after the job was done.

    Complaining bitterly to Paa Kwesi Simpson on the ‘Omanbapa’ morning show on Connect FM, the obviously peeved man said the police have neglected him after he gave them the tip-off, as a good citizen, to arrest a notorious suspect last Tuesday.

    According to the informant, whose name is withheld, he got information from the Sekondi police to assist them arrest a suspect, whose phone was with him for repairs.

    He said aside the tip-off, he personally arrested the suspect at about 9:000pm and sent him to the police.

    “The police promised to offer me GH¢50,000 if l am able to assist them in the arrest of the notorious suspect, and l single-handedly apprehended the suspect and handed him over to Sekondi police but they have refused to pay me,” he bemoaned.

    All efforts to get the police to fulfil their promise has yielded no results, he complained.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Blame teachers for increasing corruption in Ghana – Lecturer

    A lecturer at the University of Education Winneba (UEW), Mr. Samuel Ziggah, has asked Ghanaians to partly blame teachers for the corruption in our public space and life.

    The psychologist believes that some teachers have contributed to the corruption, mismanagement on the part of leaders we have had in the past and today.

    In assigning his reasons, the lecturer said an ineffective teacher is a dangerous person to society.

    In his view, such teachers and their effect may not be seen immediately but in several years and students who go through their hands become a threat to the development of the country.

    According to him, teaching is not preaching in a church for anybody at all to join.

    He argued that we need competent, qualified and skilled persons as teachers to help produce disciplined, qualified and skilled people for the job market.

    He said the inefficiencies of some teachers could affect every aspect of our economic life.

    In an example, he said if an accounting student does not get quality teaching from a qualified teacher, that student could grow to become an incompetent professional who could create a serious economic crisis for an organisation.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Sammy Gyamfi to be dragged to Privileges Committee for insulting Haruna, Bagbin

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Tolon, Habib Idrisu, has filed a motion seeking to haul Sammy Gyamfi, the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC’s) National Communications Director; before the Privileges Committee of the lawmaking chamber.

    The move is in conection with comments made by Mr Gyamfi in March 2021 calling out the Minority Leader and Speaker of Parliament for their roles in approving some ministerial nominees of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    The Tolon MP in filing his motion cited order 38 of the chamber’s standing orders and said: “the following act or conduct shall constitute a breach of privilege or contempt of Parliament.”

    He said the attack specifically on the Speaker was by extension an attack on the entire house which he leads.

    Sammy Gyamfi in a Facebook post claimed that Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and Speaker Alban Bagbin had defied the party’s official position to oppose the approval of three nominees but that they had opted otherwise for personal interest.

    “They brazenly defied the leadership of the party and betrayed the collective good for their selfish interest,” his post read in part.

    The nominees in question were: Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Hawa Koomson and Owusu Afriyie Akoto; ministers-designate for Information; Fisheries and Aquaculture and Food and Agriculture respectively.

    This is the second time that an NPP lawmaker has pushed for Gyamfi to be summoned before the Privileges Committe.

    Months back, Tafo Pankorono MP, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, also pushed unsuccessfully for a similar action to be taken.

    The Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, who was presiding over the sitting subsequently deferred action on the motion.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Rebecca, Samira deserve praise, not crucifixion – NPP man on salaries saga

    Mr Samuel Adu Adjei, the Western North Regional Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has bewailed the reaction of Ghanaians to the recent emoluments for the country’s first and second ladies.

    He said the first and second ladies have done no wrong to warrant the kind of bastardization and crucifixion from a section of the public.

    Mr Adu Adjei, in an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA) lamented how the issue was politicised with some people trying to score political points with it.

    He noted that the allowances for the first and second spouses had been in existence since the 4th republic which the Ato Dadzie report acknowledged.

    In that regard, he admonished Ghanaians to be circumspect in their choice of words when contributing to the emolument and accord the necessary respect to the first and second ladies of the republic.

    He commended the current first two ladies Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo and Mrs Samira Bawumia for the bold decision to refund all allowances paid them since 2017 and charged former first lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama to follow suit.

    Mr Adu Adjei described the comment of the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu asking the first and second ladies to refund the monies paid them with interest as unfortunate.

    He noted that the NDC wanted to use the issue of Presidential spouses to seek favour from Ghanaians come 2024 but they would not be successful.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ‘Tallest’ man in Volta region appeals for footwear

    Charles Sogli, a 22-year-old man, who is nearly eight feet tall, has appealed for customised footwear and working gear to keep him in his welding and metal fabrication job.

    He also needs a special vehicle to aid his mobility.

    The young man, believed to be the tallest man in the Volta Region, said he dropped out of school because he could not get footwear for the size of his feet and feared the same fate could truncate his apprenticeship as a welder.

    Sogli, comes from Ziope in the Agotime-Ziope District of the Volta Region.

    He is the third of five siblings and the only one with the unique feature.

    The young man told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he enrolled as a welder and metal fabricator apprentice in Ho about a year ago, with challenges of not getting appropriate footwear and working gear for the job.

    Sogli also said it was difficult for him to use commercial vehicles due to his height, with many commercial drivers denying him their services.

    Micheal DeSouza, Sogli’s Master, described him (Soglo) as very “helpful and hardworking.”

    “He is a good, quiet and peaceful person. All he needs is appropriate footwear and working gear for his size and maybe a special means of transport- a special car,” he said.

    Charles’ foot measures 16 inches.

    He told GNA a shoemaker got him footwear for work but, ” it is not protective.”

    Metal fabrication is the creation of metal structures, which involves cutting, bending and assembling processes.

    Metal fabricators are expected to wear hard hats, goggles, gloves and safety shoes.

    Source: GNA

  • Parliament approves car loan agreements for MPs, Council of State members, plus tax waivers

    Parliament has approved the $28 million medium-term loan agreement involving the government, Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Eighth Parliament and the National Investment Bank (NIB) Limited to finance the purchase of vehicles for parliamentarians from 2021 to 2024.

    The House also approved a $3.5 million medium-term agreement among the government, members of the Council of State and the NIB to finance the purchase of vehicles for members of the Council of State.

    Additionally, the House okayed the request for the waiver of $13.1 million tax and duties for the purchase of vehicles for the official use of MPs and the Council of State members from 2021 to 2024.

    The waiver will cover import duties, import national health insurance levy (NHIL), import GETFund levy, import value-added tax (VAT), EXIM levy, COVID-19 levy, African Union (AU) levy, inspection fees and withholding tax (IRS tax deposit) on the vehicles.

    Endorsement
    The approval came after the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng had moved a motion for the House to adopt the committee report and recommendations, which was unanimously supported by all the members of the House.

    The motion was seconded by the Ranking Member, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

    The chairman said the loans were necessary to provide the framework for the disbursement of funds by the NIB to finance the purchase of vehicles for MPs and Council of State members.

    He said the need for a safe and reliable means of transport for MPs, in particular, in the performance of their functions between Parliament House and their respective constituencies could not be overemphasised.

    According to him, the agreement in relation to the MP required an undertaking by the Parliamentary Service of Ghana to make deductions from the remuneration of the beneficiaries at source and to issue a single cheque to cover the monthly repayments of the loan.

    In the case of the members of the Council of State, he said the Ministry of Finance was required to secure an undertaking from each beneficiary to ensure that allowances were channeled through their accounts with the NIB and to mandate the NIB to effect deductions for the purpose of the loan repayment.

    “Additionally, the loan agreements require each beneficiary to obtain a comprehensive insurance to cover the vehicles purchased,” the report said.

    Numbers
    He told the House that the committee agreed with the Ministry of Finance that the number of vehicles to be purchased by each beneficiary member be capped at two for the purposes of the tax waiver which shall not exceed the cedi equivalent of $43,750 for any member.

    “Thus, any member who purchases more than two vehicles will be required to foot the tax bill on the extra vehicles even if the total tax exemption on the first two has not exceeded the tax exemption cap,” he said.

    Discontinuation
    He pointed out that the committee took note of recent concerns expressed by many sections of the public about the burden the current vehicle loan arrangement for MPs and members of the Council of State imposed on the public purse.

    “These legitimate concerns are fueled by the fact that of all the Article 71 office holders, it is only MPs and Council of State members who benefit from these vehicle loans, part of which are re-paid by the state,” he said.

    “The committee took the view that as representatives of the people, MPs cannot continue to leave these concerns unattended which weakens the confidence Ghanaians have in us and we have a responsibility to reflect the values and ideals of the people we represent,” he said.

    Accordingly, the committee strongly recommended to Parliament the discontinuation of the current vehicle loan agreement for MPs and the Council of State members, he said.

    “Members of Parliament and the members of the Council of State should have similar duty post vehicle arrangements as other Article 71 office holders have. And the committee respectfully recommends that Parliament and the Parliamentary Service take the necessary steps to ensure that this happens.

    “The instant vehicle loan arrangement for MPs and Council of State members before us today should, therefore, be the last one the state is sponsoring,” he added.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Adopt French language to deepen formal trade ties Akufo-Addo urges Ghanaians

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to take up learning of the French language in order to deepen trade ties among African countries.

    This he believes is vital towards the implementation of the free trade pact for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement with Ghana already selected as the host secretariat.

    In an interaction with the French Ambassador to Ghana, Anne Sophie Ave on the Touch of France show, President Akufo-Addo explained this was necessary to encourage bilingualism between Ghana and its neighbours.

    “As a necessary consequence, the language will have to be a determinant of that [trade] and it will be a very important incident of our capacity to trade effectively,” President Akufo-Addo said on the show.

    “As the trade becomes more and more formalised, I think the necessity for both sides; both the French people and the English-speaking people to be able to exchange information in the languages that they speak is going to be almost irresistible,” he added.

    Meanwhile, there are some 29 countries in Africa that speak French as their official language.

    Watch the video below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Crystal Palace is interested in Black Stars captain Andre Ayew

    English Premier League side Crystal Palace are keen to reunite Black Stars captain Andre Ayew with his younger brother Jordan Ayew at Selhurst Park.

    The Black Stars captain is a free agent after leaving Championship side Swansea City in the summer after the expiration of his contract with the team.

    According reports emanating from England the Eagles who have a new coach in Patrick Viera is keen to snap the free agent as he seeks to build a strong formidable squad.

    The Eagles have reportedly opened talks with the representative of the 31 year old forward who has in the past played in the Premier League for West Ham.

    Ayew played an integral role in helping Swansea reach the Championship play-off final in 2020/21 where the lost to winners Brentford 2-0.

    He scored 17 goals the entire  season, and with one coming in the se promotion play-off semi-final win over Barnsley.

    Andre  Ayew could link up with brother Jordan for the third time in their career after spells in Wales with Swansea City and with Olympique Marseille.

    Source: ghanaguardian.com

  • Kotoko set to lose five key players at the end of the season

    Kumasi Asante Kotoko are set to lose five key players when the season finally comes to an end with a lot key players among the clear out.

    Club captain Felix Annan, defensive stalwart Abdul Ganiyu, Wahab Adams, Guinean striker Naby Keita and Augustine Okrah are all heading for the exit at the club for varying reasons.

    With the above mentioned players the common situation they are facing at the club is the lack of game time with the exception of Abdul Ganiyu and to some extent Augustine Okrah.

    Felix Annan who is the club captain has been on the periphery of the first team as he has been overlooked for the number one slot with Kwame Baah and Razak Abalorah preferred in post over him.

    The 26 year old goalkeeper joined Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 2011 from then Feyenoord Academy at Gomoa Fetteh.

    He lost his place in goal under former coach Maxwell Konadu and it continued under Portuguese gaffer Mariano Barreto.

    He was named the club captain in 2018 after the departure of Amos Frimpong and was a member of the Black Stars squad at the 2019 AFCON.

    Former Aduana Stars center back Wahab Adams will also depart the club when his contract run out at the end of the season as he has rarely been used this season.

    Guinean import Naby Keita has always flattered to deceive since joining Asante Kotoko in October 2018 failing to score enough goals for the club as a striker.

    Augustine Okrah started the second round under coach Mariano Barreto in good fashion prompting the coach to label him as the best player in Africa but that good form has evaporated as the winger is back to factory settings recently.

    And has seen his game time reduced drastically getting to the end of the season.

    One player Kotoko fans will hate to lose is Black Stars defender Abdul Ismail Ganiyu whose contract runs out at the end of the season but is knocked back a new offer tabled before him by the club.

    The former Karela United defender is one of Kotoko’s most marketable players as there are a lot of clubs in Europe eyeing the defensive colossus.

    Kotoko will wrap up their campaign with a game against Elmina Sharks at Obuasi on Sunday.

    Source: ghanaguardian.com

  • Watch Thomas Parteys powerful free-kick that hit crossbar

    Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey showed his free kick prowess in a preseason game on Tuesday where his effort came off the crossbar.

    The 28-year-old came on as a substitute as Arsenal lost 2-1 to Scottish side Hibernian. But, he made a good account of himself with his passing and free kick prowess.

    Although his effort did not find the net, it gave Arteta something to think about ahead of the start of the new campaign.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • ‘My players are capable of conquering Africa’ – Hearts Coach

    Samuel Boadu, Head Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak is confident of making a positive impact in this year’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League.

    The Phobians would represent Ghana at Africa’s topmost club competition having emerged Champions of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League (GPL).

    According to the highly experienced gaffer, he believed his current team can go out and make Ghana proud on the continental level even though he was yet to decide on whether to augment the squad with the season yet to end.

    “It would be my first time playing in the CAF Champions League, so we try our maximum best to make an impact and people shouldn’t underestimate my players.

    “We might not have big names but I believe they can put out some excellent performances and I urge the media to encourage them, likewise the fans and management and we would not disappoint Ghanaians in our African campaign.

    “I’m yet to decide if we should bring on board some players to augment the squad because the league is yet to end and the MTN FA Cup is still ongoing,” he told pressmen at the team’s training ground on Wednesday.

    When asked about his assessment of this year’s league, Boadu said:” This year’s league has been very tough, every team can win anywhere unlike previously when you know the home team had a better advantage of winning a game. The ‘Bring Back the Love’ campaign also worked perfectly with the high level of enthusiasm among fans, players, among other stakeholders.”

    Hearts would finish off their campaign against WAFA at the Red Bull Arena in Sogakope on Saturday.

    Source: GNA

  • Edmund Addo signs three-year deal with FC Sheriff Tiraspol

    Ghanaian midfielder Edmund Addo has joined Moldova first tier club, FC Sheriff Tiraspol for three years.

    Addo has made the move from Slovakia side FK Senica where he spent three years after singing from Ghanaian colts club Mighty Cosmos.

    The 21-year-old played 35 matches in the Slovakia Fortuna Liga last season with an attacking contribution of two goals and two assists.

    Addo’s composure in possession and technical quality on the ball made him a preferred choice in defence as FK Senica playing style demanded play out from the back. But his industry and creativity had a noticeable effect anytime he bombed forward.

    His new club, Sheriff Tiraspol were crowned league champions of the Moldovan Divizia Nationala last season.

    The Yellow and Blacks have successful qualified to the second round of the UEFA champions league play off after dispatching Teuta on a 5-0 aggregate.

    Agent, Oliver Arthur intimated that the prospect of Champions league football is one of the pull factors that attracted the player’s interest.

    “The opportunity to play in the Champions league was a major consideration. And We believe it’s a step up for Edmund Addo who has got the quality to succeed anywherein Europe “

    Source: footballghana.com

  • 2021 Census: About 85% of Ghanaians have been counted Statistical Service

    About 85% of households in the country as of the 14th day of the exercise, July 11, 2021, have been counted, a report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has said.

    It stated that it has received data from fifteen out of the sixteen regions so far, which is above 80%, with ten of the regions above ninety percent of all data collected.

    “This figure ranges from 99% in the North East Region, to 64% in Greater Accra Region,” it said.

    In a statement by the GSS and available to Happy FM, it said the census was very smooth and commended the effort of Ghanaians for cooperating.

    It stated that, the current figures at their disposal are what they received electronically as they are yet to receive the hardcopy collections.

    “These numbers are based on the data transmitted electronically to Headquarters,” it said.

    However, the GSS has entreated the general public to contact them if they have not yet been counted.

    “Census Management is appealing to the members of the public who are unwilling to be enumerated to cooperate with Enumerators and to persons yet to be counted, please make yourselves available by using the call-back card or informing your neighbors when you will be available.

    “GSS wishes to assure the public who are yet to be counted that no one will be left behind. The 2021 PHC aims for complete coverage and the generation of quality data for decision-making. Members of the public who have not been counted should contact the census call centre on the toll-free number 0800-426-426, 059-147-6893, 059-147-6895, 055-162-5567, or 020-685-0157,” the statement added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • US$13.3m tax waiver on imports for MPs, Council of State members tabled before Parliament

    A tax waiver of US$13.3 million has been tabled before Parliament to cover all importation of cars for Members of Parliament and Council of State members.

    This is coming up as an add-on benefit for the officials after the loan facilities being worked on by the government, through the National Investment Bank, for them, a citinewsroom.com report has indicated.

    It must be noted too that of the loan facility of US$28 million, for instance for MPs, they will only pay up forty percent of the monies used in the purchase of the cars.

    By this arrangement, each MP is expected to receive $100,000, while members of the Council of State will get an accumulated US$3.5 million.

    The Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ebenezer Kojo Kum, laid this before Parliament on behalf of Ken Ofori-Atta, on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, the report said.

    “Request for waiver of the Import Duty, Import GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, Import VAT, EXIM levy, COVID-19 Recovery Levy, Special Import Levy, ECOWAS Levy, AU Levy, Inspection Fees, and Withholding Tax (ITS Tax Deposit) amounting to the Ghana Cedi equivalent of thirteen million, three hundred and eighty-seven thousand, five hundred United States Dollars (US$13,387,500.00) on vehicles to be procured for Members of Parliament of the Eighth Parliament of Ghana (2021-2024) and the Members of the Eighth Council of State (2022-2024),” contents of request stated.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Bawumia launches digital platform for effective revenue mobilisation

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has launched a centralized digital platform, the Ghana.Gov on Wednesday July 14.

    According to him, the Ghana.Gov, is a one-stop platform to enable citizens to easily access government services, simplify payments for public services, ensure prompt payments for the services and promote transparency and visibility of internally generated funds.

    Dubbed Ghana.Gov and can be accessible via www.ghana.gov.gh or shortcode *222# on any mobile phone.

    “I am excited that once again we did not have to go beyond our shores to develop and manage a platform to address a local challenge. Indeed, the spirit of collaboration and innovation exhibited by the local technology companies ( Hubtel, expresspay and IT Consortium) is worth commending.

    “Ghana.GOV will offer a simple and single convenience for all government services and will also make it easy for everyone to find and pay for government services.

    “The convenience of enabling all of us to pay for government services with our mobile money, our bank cards, our new GHQR code, our fintech apps on our phones or at any bank branch will eliminate the hassle of going through long queues and hopping from office to office just to make a payment for a government service.

    “I congratulate and thank all who worked hard to turn this idea into reality, leapfrogging bottlenecks in public administration, accelerating our economic transformation.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Food, transport dominant drivers for 7.8% inflation in June 2021

    The Year-on-year inflation stood at 7.8 per cent in June compared to 7.5 per cent in May, pushed slightly by transport and food items, the Government Statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Annim said on Wednesday.

    Speaking at a press briefing to announce the rate, Prof Annim said food and transport were the dominant drivers for the higher rate of inflation in June 2021.

    Food contributed 41.8 per cent to overall inflation while transport contribution increased from 16.5 per cent last month to 18.1 per cent.

    “Inflation for June 2021 indicates that the six-month continuous decline in food inflation has been reversed by 1.9 percentage points,” he said.

    The Month-on-Month inflation was 1.3 per cent while the Month-on-month food inflation exceeds non-food inflation by 1.0 percentage point.

    Year-on-year variation between food 7.3 per cent and non-food inflation 8.2 per cent was 0.9 per cent.

    “A reversal in the declining trend of food inflation has been observed for the first time in six months as it increases by 1.9 percentage points between May and June 2021. This has contributed in closing the gap between food and non-food inflation,” Prof Annim said.

    Inflation for locally produced items has regained its dominance over inflation for imported items, surpassing inflation for imported items by 0.9 percentage points.

    Inflation for locally produced items was 7.9 per cent compared to that of imported items at 7.0 per cent.

    The Northern Region continues to record higher Year-on-Year food inflation at 16.2 per cent, closely followed by Upper West 14.8 per cent and distantly next is Greater Accra at 9.9 per cent.

    The Western Region recorded a deflation in food inflation by 1.1 per cent.

    Overall, Greater Accra recorded the highest rates of inflation for both non-food 14.4 per cent and overall inflation at 12.5 per cent.

    Source: GNA

  • Cyber criminals target Ashfoam

    Mr George Massih, General Manager, AshFoam Ghana, says the activities of cyber criminals are targeting the activities of the furniture and bedding producing company.

    Mr Massih said Ashfoam as an organization had issues with cybercrime activities where people had been imitating the websites, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms of the company and putting up fake accounts and numbers to dupe clients.

    “This is a big problem and very alarming to us as an organization and other companies but it looks like authorities do not seem equipped to handle this kind of threat,” Mr Massih said.

    He made the statement when Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, Organizing Secretary and aspiring presidential candidate of Ghana Journalist Association ( GJA) paid a visit to the Ashfoam head office in Accra.

    He added that Mr Dwumfour was familiar with the distress and challenges of the Organization and was hopeful he would continue from where the predecessor’s left off when given the opportunity as GJA President.

    Mr Massih said the Organization had directly employed 4000 and about 13000 indirectly but the high rate of sneaking second hand mattresses and products into the country was affecting them, saying it might lead to a decline in employment rate if authorities did not stop it.

    “We have tried as much as possible to stop this activity but it is still prevailing so we need a voice to let the authorities know and realize that it is still happening and affecting us, because we cannot compete with something that is free, “he added.

    He urged the Media, GJA to engage authorities on pressing issues affecting organizations, to let authorities know and understand their plight and hold them to task.

    Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, Organizing Secretary, and aspiring President of GJA, said there was the need to strategically positioned GJA to deepened and strengthened the relationship that existed between the Association and other corporate bodies to understand their plight, and challenges confronting them and informed authorities to come to their aid.

    He said the meeting was to assure the Organization that as the National Organizing Secretary, an executive and aspiring candidate for GJA, would work closely with support and ensure that businesses thrive and grow in an enabled environment, championing and protecting local businesses.

    Mr Dwumfour appealed to the media to cease unnecessary attacks on businesses, adding that organisations had endured trying moment under Covid-19 and there was the need for surviving businesses to be protected.

    ” We don’t need to encourage attitudes where somebody will deliberately attack businesses for their selfish gain because if the corporate thrives in an enabling business environment, the media stand to gain, “he said.

    Mr Gabriel Asante Bosompem, the campaign manager, urged all aspirants to understand each other and remained calm, truthful and be factual about issues on the ground.

    Source: GNA

  • Street robber arrested at Abokobi

    The Adentan police command has arrested one Alfred Asare for attacking and snatching the handbag of two persons (names withheld) containing a Samsung tablet and some cash in Abokobi at about 7:05 am on 9 July 2021.

    The Samsung tablet, a kitchen knife, and some blood-stained cash, were retrieved from the suspect.

    The suspect is in police custody pending processing for court.

    The arrest was made easier by the victim’s action of reporting to the nearest police patrol team, the police said in a statement.

    “We encourage the general public to follow this good example of reporting crimes to the police immediately they occur and cooperating for the police to carry through actions,” the statement added.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Buying a unit of past questions at Gh¢78 is fishy – Clement Apaak

    The Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament Dr. Clement Apaak, is demanding answers as to why the government spent GH¢68,513,455.75 to buy 1,035,733 exam questions through sole sourcing.

    He also wants to know why the government awarded the contract to the same company two years in a row and agreed to pay for the same exam questions at GH¢78 per unit when it paid GH¢58 per unit only a year ago.

    The legislator said it is outrageous that the same past questions about a year ago, got increased by a whopping 32% increase, which begs the question.

    The government has admitted that to help final year students prepare for the 2021 West African Senior High School Certificate Examination, the Ministry of Education purchased 446,954 past questions from Messers Kingdom Books and Stationery at a unit price of Gh¢78.

    It added that the government procured 568,755 past questions for students to try their hands on before sitting for the final exams.

    Kingdom Books was contracted to supply the past questions at a contract price of GH¢33641,043.75.

    Reacting to this, Dr. Apaak says the deal is stinky and must be probed.

    Read his full statement below

    Government Spends 68,513,455.75ghc To Buy Past WASSCE Questions In 2 Years From Same Sole Sourced Supplier

    Based on two questions posed I posed to the Minister for Education on July 14, 2021:

    1) To ask the Minister for Education if Government will procure and distribute past exam questions to final year students preparing to write WASSCE this year, 2021, and how this will be funded;

    2) To ask the Minister for Education how much it cost the state to procure 568,755 past exam questions for students who wrote WASSCE in 2020 and the source of funds for the procurement. The written answers of the Minister, which he made in Parliament revealed the following.

    Government in 2020 and 2021 spent 68,513,455 ghc from the Free Senior High School Account to procure 1,035,733 units of past exam questions for 2020 and 2021.

    For this year, 2021, Government has already spent 34,862,412ghc on 446,958 past questions at a unit price of 78ghc from Messers Kingdom Books and Stationery via sole sourcing.

    In 2020, Government spent 33,644,043ghc to procure 568,755 past exam questions via sole sourcing from the same Kingdom Books and Stationery at a unit price of 59ghc.

    Why Government will spend 68,513,455.75ghc to buy 1,035,733 exam questions through sole source from the same company two years in a row, and agree to pay for the same exam questions at 78ghc per unit, when it paid 59ghc per unit only a year ago, a whopping 32% increase, begs the question.

    Interestingly the price of textbooks used by Senior High School students have not increased over the period. So how can the past cost of past exam questions increase by 32% from the same supplier? I will share the content follow up questions and follow-ups with colleagues at a later date.

    Source: rainbownradioonline.com

  • Bring your expertise and experience on board – Mireku Duker to Western Regional Lands Commission

    As part of Government initiatives to decentralize Lands Commission and it’s related activities, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources George Mireku Duker on July 14th July, 2021 inaugurated a 20-member Western Regional Lands Commission with a call on members to bring on board their diverse professional expertise and experience to help Government achieve its agenda in the Land sector.

    The Deputy Minister used the platform to also thank members of the immediate past Regional Lands Commission for their dedicated service to the Region.

    The Deputy Minister mentioned that “the vast natural resources of this Region has made it a very attractive investment destination, stressing that prospective investors particularly in the mining, timber, cocoa, rubber and oil palm sector have been trooping the region to acquire lands among other things.

    “The discovery of oil in commercial quantities has ignited a renewed interest in the Region. This has resulted in a plethora of litigation in several communities and many are currently pending at different courts in the Region” he added.

    The Deputy Minister also bemoaned the Galamsey menace in the region and indicated that “many farmers and land owners are coerced to cede off their land for illegal mining of precious minerals. This has led to the wanton destruction of our forest reserve”.

    He therefore tasked members of the Regional Lands Commission to help find practical measures to mitigate these problems by collaborating with relevant government agencies and land owners.

    “I therefore urge you to see your appointment as a challenge and work with the needed zeal and commitment to help transform the Region into a business hub creating jobs and opportunities for it’s inhabitants” he concluded.

    The Chairman of the reconstituted Western Regional Lands Commission, Dr. Isaac Obirim Kofi Sageo expressed his appreciation and that of his colleagues to the government for the honor done them and pledged their unwavering commitment to make Western Region Land administration a success.

    “We are quite a strong team and we shall not disappoint, but deliver on our mandate”, he concluded.

    Source: Public Relations Unit – MLNR

  • JB Murder: Daniel Asiedu brought late MPs mobile phones to unlock Witness

    The third prosecution witness in the case of the Republic versus Daniel Asiedu and Vincent Bosso has been telling the High Court in Accra how Daniel Asiedu brought him two mobile phones belonging to the late Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu for one to be unlocked

    The witness, Kenneth Koranchie, giving his Evidence-in-Chief said on February 9, 2016, the suspect knocked at his door at 3:00 am with bloodstains on him while in boxer shorts.

    The witness who is currently into the sale of phone accessories told the court that he had known the first accused person for about six to seven years.

    He told the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei-Marfo that one Janet who is a family friend and seen as a sister came to introduce the first accused as her boyfriend where they became friends.

    He explained that he was in his room on that night when he saw the accused Daniel Asiedu, knocked at his door, he then opened the door and saw Daniel wearing only boxer shorts.

    He told him to charge his phone since he had no light and asked him to heat Water for him of which he did. He told the court that Daniel told him that he had sustained injury and upon seeing blood on him, he believed him.

    According to him, there was blood on his hands he escorted him with the heated water in the kettle. His girlfriend came out with a bucket and poured it for him.

    He gave him two phones to unlock for him of which one was completely off.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Be measured in your response to the pressure UG Lecturer to 1st and 2nd Ladies

    Director at Centre for Asian Studies-University of Ghana, Dr Lloyd Amoah has asked the First and Second Ladies Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Samira Bawumia respectively, to be guided in their responses to the public outcry against the allowances they were paid.

    His comments come after Mrs Akufo-Addo has refunded all the allowances paid her since 2017.

    On Tuesday July 13, she issued a Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited cheque for GH¢899,097.84 as a refund of all allowances received since 2017.

    She had announced on Monday, July 12, that due to the “extremely negative opinions” which have laced conversations on her allowances, she was refunding every pesewa.

    She also served notice not to receive any monies that have been allocated to be paid to her pursuant to recommendations of the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa Baidu Committee, which was tasked in 2019 to review emoluments of Article 71 office holders.

    She found the public debate “distasteful, seeking to portray her as a venal, self-serving and self-centred woman who does not care about the plight of ordinary Ghanaian.”

    Barely 24 hours after that, her office wrote to the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, to present the cheque number for the full refund of the monies.

    “Her Excellency, the First Lady remains committed to her role as First Lady and is devoted to her charity work championing the wellbeing of women and children in Ghana,” wrote Mrs Shirley Laryea of the Office of the First Lady.

    Second Lady Samira Bawumia has also announced that she will refund all allowances paid her since 2017, when her husband became the Vice President of Ghana.

    A statement issued by her office on Tuesday, July 13 also indicated that Mrs Bawumia will not accept any monies allocated her as per recommendations by the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa Baidu Committee.

    “Mrs Bawumia continues to be committed to the service of the nation,” the statement noted.

    It added that she stays committed “to deliver humanitarian interventions and initiatives in the areas of health, education and economic development”.

    In a Facebook post reacting to this development, Dr Amoah said “What if we also decide to reject your services from 2017 to date? The responses to these things must be measured. Pay attention.”

    Founder of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, has also disagreed with the decision of Mrs Akufo-Addo to refund all the allowances paid her.

    Mr Ayariga stated that First Ladies play an important role in the governance of the country through the emotional and physical support they give to the president.

    Therefore, he said, they deserve to be paid the allowances.

    “First, I think it is a wrong idea that she [Rebecca Akufo-Addo] refunded the money,” he said on Good Evening Ghana on Tuesday July 13.

    “If the president is not well the First Lady is the first person to know,” he further stated while explaining the role of the First Lady.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Hawa Koomson shares 15,000 bags of rice, others to fisherfolks

    The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson has decided to distribute over 15,000 bags of rice, 7500 cartons of oil and 6,000 fishing nets across the fishing communities to support the livelihood of the fisherfolks in this closed season

    The initiative of the Fisheries Minister started on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 as she distributed over 600 bags of rice and over 300 cartons of oil to fisherfolks at Gomoa Nyanyano, Gomoa Dampase, Gomoa Fetteh, Senya and Winneba in the Central region.

    The gesture by the Sector Minister is the first of its kind since the establishment of the Ministry.

    The Minister is using her interaction with the fisherfolks to fish out the happenings at the fishing communities in this closed season.

    Mrs Hawa Koomson urged the fisherfolks to observe the ban wholeheartedly because anyone who would be caught fishing in this closed season would be prosecuted.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • 2 dead, 3 in critical condition in gory accident on Mankessim-Cape Coast highway

    A driver and mate have both died in a gory accident on the Mankessim to Cape Coast Highway.

    The accident happened at 10:30pm Tuesday evening at Saltpond, in the Mfantseman Municipality in the Central Region.

    The accident involved a VIP bus with registration number GT 5255 17, and a petroleum tanker in a head-on-collision.

    The VIP bus reportedly attempted to overtake another vehicle but ended up colliding with the tanker driver. The bus was bound for Samreboi in the Western Region, while the tanker driver was heading towards Accra after discharging some fuel.

    The driver of the bus according to eyewitnesses died instantly following the crash, but his conductor gave up the ghost upon reaching the hospital.

    Assembly member for the Nkubeam Electoral Area, Saltpond, Francis Ekow Dotse said it took the Ambulance Service to cut parts of the vehicle to enable them remove the body of the conductor and that of the driver.

    Three out of six passengers on board the bus who sustained injuries are currently in critical condition at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.

    Meanwhile, the other victims, according to reports have been discharged early this morning after receiving treatment.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com