TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Tarkwa Police Command arrest 37 Nigerians over robbery

    Tarkwa Municipal Police Command has arrested 37 Nigerians suspected to be involved in a robbery case that happened at Agona Wassa in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.

    The Tarkwa Municipal Police Commander Chief Superintendent Thomas Osei -Ababio who confirmed the arrest said the suspects were arrested based on intelligence they picked from the ground.

    He explained that two suspects out of the 37 arrested have been identified as being part of the robbery.

    According to Chief superintendent Thomas Osei Ababio, the incident happened on March 10, 2021, around 2 am at the Unicom fuel station at Agona Wassa.

    The robbers tied the security man at the post before their operations where they bolted away with over Six Thousand Ghana Cedis.

    Chief superintendent Osei Ababio said three fuel attendants who saw the robbery operation are assisting the police for investigation in order to arrest the others.

    He the two suspects are in police custody, while the rest of the 35 suspects have been granted bail after a rigorous screening exercise.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Apostle Kwadwo Safo celebrated in new primary four book

    Celebrated Ghanaian inventor, Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo has been celebrated in a primary four text book reportedly approved by the Ghana Education Service.

    Parts of the book that capture the biography and illustrious works of Apostle Kwadwo Safo were shared by YouTube channel Ebo Safo TV

    The book which was published by A. A. Series Publications had Emeritus Prof. Eng. Kwadwo Safo at reading two, with a concise biography about him, his philanthropic activities, inventions and his great achievements so far.

    Apostle Safo who started his great works in 1971 after he established Kristo Asafo Church, has been celebrating the Church 50th anniversary, together with the new Leadership of the church, headed by his hardworking son Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena.

    In the said book, it teaches young pupils that Apostle Safo is the first man on earth to produce metal from seashell.

    https://youtu.be/fJwO8fw2dV8

    Source: Ebo Safo, contributor

  • COPEC kicks against new taxes on fuel products

    The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has urged Parliament to kick against the government’s plans to introduce Sanitation and Pollution Levy, which will charge 10 pesewas per litre of petrol/diesel.

    Mr Duncan Amoah, the Executive Secretary of COPEC, said Ghanaians were already paying too much for petroleum products and should not be overburdened with new fuel taxes.

    In a media interview on Monday, Mr Amoah said Ghana was losing GHc1.9 billion annually through fuel smuggling because of loopholes in the petroleum value chain and urged the Government to plug those loopholes rather than introduce new fuel taxes.

    He said fuel prices had increased by 17 per cent over the past two months from GHc4.7 per litre to GHc5.45.

    He asked government to put the necessary measures in place to ensure the Tema Oil Refinery functioned efficiently so that petroleum products could be processed locally, which would go a long way to reduce the cost of fuel in the country.

    Mr Amoah also called for a review of the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy since the purpose for its introduction was not being adhered to by government.

    Meanwhile Nana Amoasi VII, the Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security, has said 50 per cent of the prices of fuel were made up of taxes.

    He said if the current increase in petroleum products continued, Ghanaians would be paying GHc40 per gallon of petrol by 2024.

    During the presentation of the 2021 Budget Statement to Parliament on Friday, March 12, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Caretaker Finance Minister and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, announced government’s intention to charge 10 pesewas on a litre of petrol/diesel to manage sanitation and pollution challenges in the country.

    A section of the public, however, has strongly kicked against the proposal.

    Source: GNA

  • The pain of being a Ghanaian

    Life becomes more challenging when one goes through hardship coupled with disability.

    This has been the story, especially of some residents in communities like Gomoa Ayensuadze and Gomoa Tetsiam in the central Region, a region noted for acute poverty. These residents, mostly physically challenged persons and the aged seemed to have been abandoned by the government. Their situation has compelled Crime Check Foundation, CCF to go to their aid.

    CCF with support from its donors gave each beneficiary monies ranging from Two Hundred Ghana cedis to Four Hundred Ghana cedis to help ease their financial difficulties.

    The Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation, Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng expressed gratitude to the donors who contributed. He appealed for further support to enable the organization extend its aid to other communities. “In accordance with the Holy Bible and Holy Quran it is mandatory to extend a helping hand to those who are afflicted. That is why we have taken it upon ourselves to go to the aid of these struggling individuals.” He said.

    Some beneficiaries including 75-year-old Maame Yaa was left to her fate when she got bedridden after separating a fight between two neighbors. She told crimecheckghana, that she cannot afford medical care. “Life has not been easy at all. I struggle to get a meal a day. I lost all hope because of the harsh living conditions.” She said.

    CCF gave her Two Hundred Ghana cedis hoping to get more support for her. Maame Yaa blessed the Foundation and CCF for the support.

    Similarly, 70-year-old stroke patient, Ama Etiwaa received Three Hundred Ghana cedis after narrating how she has been abandoned and struggles to feed herself. She was thankful to CCF and its donors for coming to her aid.

    CCF has supported many struggling village dwellers with business capital and funds to ease their livelihood.

    Source: crimecheckghana.org

  • Probe further into details surrounding unapproved textbooks – Africa Education Watch

    The Africa Education Watch is demanding further inquest into the details and circumstances surrounding the initial circulation and subsequent recall of unapproved textbooks that contained distorted histories.

    In a statement signed by Executive Director, Kofi Asare, the organization is wondering how the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), in an earlier disclaimer, stated that it had not approved the said books but they still found their way into the Ghanaian market.

    “We note apologies from some Publishers involved in the circulation of the said unapproved textbooks on the market and their assurance of a market recall. We find the apologies timely but puzzling, necessitating further inquest. Specifically, if NaCCA disapproved sample copies of the said textbooks by raising issues with some content as far back as September 2020, how did commercial quantities find their way to the book market in 2021?” he questioned.

    With that, the Africa Education Watch is requesting that a thorough and expedited process is initiated to ensure that answers are arrived at, calling for the Ghana Book Development Bill to be quickly worked on as it will help avert such things in the future.

    “Professionalism and ethical conduct are prerequisites for the development of every field of business or venture; hence, the urgent need to expedite action on the Ghana Book Development Bill which has been in Parliament for some time now. The said Bill when passed into Law should provide a legal and institutional framework to guide the Ministry of Education and Ghana Book Development Council to develop and implement a comprehensive National Book Development Policy with ethical and professional standards in book development,” the statement explained.

    Read the full statement below:



    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Dumsor is not looming – Government insists

    Government has dispelled suggestions of a return to dumsor following weeks of incessant power outages in the country.

    Government has been heavily criticised by members of the public who are demanding the truth about the state of the energy sector, with some calling on the government to release a load shedding schedule to salvage the situation “We want consistency in the power supply, we don’t want dumsor to come back, but if for some reason it is, let us know the schedule so we will plan accordingly and stop destroying our electrical gadgets.”

    “When Nana Addo came to power, didn’t he say he had solved the dumsor, so what is happening now?” were some of the comments from a section of Ghanaians Ghanaguardian.com interacted with.

    However, reacting to the concerns, representative of the President at the Finance Ministry, Charles Aduboahen insists despite the recent outages, the country is not returning to the dumsor era.

    Mr Aduboahen who was speaking to Multimedia’s Emefa Apawu on The Probe, Sunday, March 14, 2021, as monitored by Ghanaguardian.com said “our biggest challenge with the energy situation is the excess capacity charge, our installed capacity is slightly lower to 5000 megawatts and I think our peak demand is about 3000 megawatts and so we have 2000 megawatts in excess capacity.”

    “In terms of the reliability of power, there was a recent incident with Gridco where there was a system shutdown. I think also the other issue may be on the gas supply’ He further stated

    But when pushed by the host on whether the country is inching toward another dumsor era, Mr Aduboahen insisted, “there is no energy crisis looming, that I can reassure you.”

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • We used world’s best, most robust technology for 2020 election – NDC Collation team replies critics

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has finally responded to claims that the party did not have a collation system during the 2020 election hence their inability to produce figures when the party was asked to.

    According to the party, it developed one of the best collation systems in the country with some of the finest brains in the Tech industry for the 2020 election and this took two years to develop ahead of the polls.

    “The collation system as deployed for the 2020 elections is one of the most robust and cognitive systems ever built for any collation exercise in Ghana. This system was underpinned by 11 micro services from application monitoring, results matching & inconsistency flagging to cognition. It is also very imperative to note that, not only were the results collated timely but also able to predict how many parliamentary seats the party had won,” a statement from the Secretary to the Collation Team said.

    The statement further said, “Due to the parallel computing and transmission channels deployed, any disengagement of one channel could not in any way have hampered the efforts of the exercise. To even suggest that the system was an “Excel System” goes to even show that the proponents of this absurd agenda have little or no information on the length and breadth of the system deployed. The brain work from planning, analysis and design to engineering from some of the finest brains in the industry was impeccable. This exercise spanned a period of two years. It is very abysmal for anyone, and even more hurtful for a high ranking member of the party to insinuate that such efforts were put in yielded negative results”.

    The collation team thereby debunked any assertion that the NDC did not collate its electoral figures.

    “It is hereby stated without an iota of equivocation that this statement is nothing but palpable falsehood and that the auditing exercise was done with the exhibition of the strictest forms of professionalism.”

    READ FULL STATEMENT HERE

    NDC UNDERTOOK AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN COLLATING RESULTS OF THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTIONS

    Professionals in IT restrain themselves from engaging in ill technology perceptions due to the solid training received in information security and management. But it is sometimes very prudent to set the records straight.

    The collation system as deployed for the 2020 elections is one of the most robust and cognitive systems ever built for any collation exercise in Ghana. This system was underpinned by 11 micro services from application monitoring, results matching & inconsistency flagging to cognition. It is also very imperative to note that, not only were the results collated timely but also able to predict how many parliamentary seats the party had won.

    Due to the parallel computing and transmission channels deployed, any disengagement of one channel could not in any way have hampered the efforts of the exercise. To even suggest that the system was an “Excel System” goes to even show that the proponents of this absurd agenda have little or no information on the length and breadth of the system deployed. The brain work from planning, analysis and design to engineering from some of the finest brains in the industry was impeccable. This exercise spanned a period of two years. It is very abysmal for anyone, and even more hurtful for a high ranking member of the party to insinuate that such efforts were put in yielded negative results.

    Results were being communicated to our representatives at the strong room from the wee hours of 8th December,2020. It is even more regrettable to note that pink sheets meant to be audited were lost in the process.

    It is hereby stated without an iota of equivocation that this statement is nothing but palpable falsehood and that the auditing exercise was done with the exhibition of the strictest forms of professionalism.

    We know the pains that accompany the loss of an election. We must be very guided in these times. The focus presently should be firm on how to stay united as a party for the tasks ahead.

    RALPH APETORGBOR
    Secretary to the NDC Collation Team

    Source: My News GH

  • Man, 21, stabs junior brother, 19, to death at Effiakuma

    A twenty-one-year (21) old Emmanuel Ato Simpson is in the grips of the Effiakuma police for allegedly stabbing his nineteen-year-old brother Christopher Mensah to death.

    It is unclear what might have provoked the alleged murder but some eyewitnesses told Empire News the deceased was stabbed with a knife at car washing bay at Effiekuma Sunday.

    Eyewitnesses say the deceased was quickly rushed to the Grace Mission clinic at Effiakuma for medical attention. He was later pronounced dead by the medical officer while receiving treatment.

    The suspect Emmanuel Ato Simpson who is the elder brother of the deceased was subsequently arrested and according to police will be processed for court today, Monday, March 15.

    The police further disclosed to Takoradi-based Empire News that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Effia Nkwanta hospital for autopsy and preservation.

    Source: Starr FM

  • 2021 budget has no good news for workers Haruna Iddrisu

    The budget statement for the 2021 fiscal year has no provision for the Ghanaian worker, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has said.

    Rather, he noted, the budget is intending to make life difficult for workers following the introduction of new taxes for the year..

    Speaking at a forum for the lawmakers in Ho over the weekend to discuss the budget statement, he said “Two important taxes are for my attention. One, sanitation and pollution tax. But Mr Speaker, we have a duty as parliament to work with the executive for the economy of Ghana to recover. That should be the challenge as we speak today.

    “What do we do post COVID-19 Ghana in order that we can generate economic and investment opportunities that will spur growth for the Ghanaian enterprise and provide opportunities to address the growing unemployment in our country.”

    The Tamale South MP added “The workers of Ghana do n0ot know what they fate is in this 2021 budget because minimum wage and public sector wages have not been determined and conclusively negotiated and determined.

    “So whatever numbers you have for compensation budget is likely to grow and is likely to erode any gains that may be made.”

    The government is proposing in the 2021 budget statement the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19.

    “To provide the requisite resources to address these challenges and fund these activities, government is proposing the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19,” the budget statement presented by the leader of Government Business, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said among other things on Friday March 12.

    It added that “to leverage other resources to fight the pandemic, Government passed the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Act, (2020), Act 1013 in April, 2020 to establish the Fund. As at 31st December, 2020, the Fund had mobilised GH¢ 57,134,093.58 of which GH¢45,218,313.23 had been utilized.

    “These resources complemented Government efforts in providing PPEs and medical supplies to COVID-19 selected institutions, distribution of food items to the aged, vulnerable, and needy persons; providing vehicles to selected Treatment Centres, National Public Health & Reference Laboratories, Testing Centres, and the COVID-19 Central Care Management Team. It also supported the construction of the National Infectious Disease Centre.”

    Source: 3 News

  • National Health Insurance Levy increased by 1%

    As part of revenue measures to help recover Ghana’s economy, government has announced a one percent increment (1%) in the National Health Insurance Levy(NHIL). This is to say that the hitherto 2.5% NHIL charge on goods and services has increased to 3.5%.

    Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader in Parliament disclosed this during the presentation of the 2021 budget statement in Parliament on Friday, March 12, 2021.

    In addition to the slight increment in NHIL, government has introduced new levies namely; Sanitation and Pollution levy, Energy sector recovery levy, Financial sector clean-up levy and the Covid-19 health levy.

    According to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister who read the 2021 budget statement on behalf of the Finance Minister Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, these newly introduced levies are intended to be used in the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, establishment of 14 medical waste treatment facilities and also to assist in the construction of 33 major health projects and the recruitment of more health professionals.

    Government also announced the ‘Agenda 111’ project that will see to the construction of a 100-bed capacity hospital in districts with no hospitals.

    Source: Vida Adutwumwaa Boateng, Contributor

  • Kill the Nigerians in my presence Family demands over Kidnapped Takoradi girls

    Families of the four murdered Takoradi girls are demanding, from the state, copies of the DNA reports to study and assure them that indeed the skeletal remains the police discovered belong to them.

    At a press conference at the behest of the Concerned Mothers Movement and with tacit support from the families of the murdered girls, Chairperson of the Movement Josephine Amu insisted that it should not be hard for the state to provide copies of the DNA results “if there is nothing to hide”.

    The families also want the state to support them in giving a befitting burial to the girls, if it believes the DNA test conducted actually showed that the bones discovered are those of the girls.

    “We believe the families have not received enough support in terms of helping them fight the trauma they are going through. We believe that by now the state should have provided them with some professional counselors to move them from their denial state into acceptance state,”
    she said.

    Josephine Amu asked whether it will be possible to do something to support the families financially or some form of compensation for their loss is extended to them.

    “Some of the parents have become hypertensive because of the trauma they had gone through. Is it possible for the state to provide some medical services for them?” she demanded.

    Father of Priscilla Bentum Francis Bentum insisted that the girls are alive as stated by former CID director, COP Tiwaa Addo Danquah, and “will continue to demand the children from her”.

    “It cannot be the case that the director of CID for Ghana can say something which is not true. It cannot be the case that the director of CID of Ghana will speak without cross-checking her facts. No, it cannot happen. So, I will continue to demand the children from her.”

    He, however, said: “I am willing to accept that the children are dead if the two Nigerians are killed in my presence. They should not be blindfolded. I want to see that”.

    The two suspects Samuel Udoetuk Wills and John Orji were on Friday, March 5 sentenced to death by High Court judge Justice Adjei Frimpong.

    Reacting to a question that the police has stated that they [family] can get a copy of the DNA report only through a court order, grandfather of Ruth Abekah Emmanuel Cobbinah averred that the police will be acting in bad faith if it still insists on a court order.

    “When the police came to pick evidence in our house was it by a court order. When we had to be travelling back and forth to Accra for identification of the bones, when we had to go to the police station for DNA samples to be taken was it by a court? So why will the police want to act this way? We cooperated with them so it is their term to reciprocate.”

    He stressed: “We will still insist that there is something wrong with the bones. How can you show us bones that are 60 years old? The pathologist, we asked him when were the kids killed, he said he does not know, what instrument was used to kill the children he said he does not know. That, you show us skeletons and the panties are new. That the thread in the beads is new. Bones that are six months old. You cannot treat us like we are kids.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Angry UCC distance education students demonstrate against difficult examination questions

    The final year students of the College of Distance Education at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in their final examination have demonstrated against the set of questions(Advanced Financial Reporting II) given them to complete their two years Bachelor of Commerce education.

    The said paper was the final of a three-week examination which entails six courses to climax their stay at the school, but the final paper did not go well and the students are very angry at their examiner. This propelled a written petition to the management and the Governing Board of the school for the necessary action to be taken.

    The Centre Rep for Zenith College-based students, Emmanuel Angmortey speaking after the exams assured his students that “we will ensure this time our petition reaches the highest and the right authorities for the right action to be taken and the issue rectified as soon as possible.

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Parliament lacks ability to independently examine budgetary information Bagbin

    Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has said that Parliament lacks the ability to independently examine budgetary information in such a short time frame available to the house for approval of the budget.

    He explained that the problem is a result of several constitutional, legal and institutional weaknesses.

    Speaking at a forum for the lawmakers in Ho over the weekend to discuss the 2021 budget statement, Mr Bagbin explained that best practice recommends that a minimum of three to four months is required for the approval of a budget by the legislature but in the case of Ghana, it is not like that.

    “Parliament as presently constituted lacks the ability to independently analyses budgetary information in such short time frame available to the house.

    “It is not because members of have no such capacity but that parliament is constrained by several constitutional, legal and institutional weaknesses.

    “International best practice recommends that a minimum of three to four moths is required for the approval of a budget by the legislature and that approval is to be based on meaningful analysis and scrutiny,” he said.

    Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that the Akufo-Addo-led administration will ensure that the local economy becomes stringer and better after the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

    He said the pandemic has created sever problems for the economy but with the right polices and flagship programmes introduced by the government these difficulties will be dealt with.

    Speaking at a forum he said “Our collective efforts to wither the impact of the Covid pandemic has largely been successful and we are ready to soldier on to build back stronger and better.

    “In this regard we will continue our investments in our major flagships, invest in the real sector to drive growth , accelerate the industrialisation and transformation of our economy.”

    For his part, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said the budget statement for the 2021 fiscal year has no provision for the Ghanaian workers, Rather, he noted, the budget is intending to make life difficult for workers following the introduction of the new taxes.

    He said at the same forum that “Two important taxes are for my attention. One, sanitation and pollution tax. But Mr Speaker, we have a duty as a parliament to work with the executive for the economy of Ghana to recover. That should be the challenge as we speak today.

    “What do we do post Covid Ghana in order that we can generate economic and investment opportunities that will spur growth for the Ghanaian enterprise and provide opportunities to address the growing unemployment in our country.”

    The Tamale South MP added “The workers of Ghana do not know what they fate is in this 2021 budget because minimum wage and public sector wages have not been determined and conclusively negotiated and determined.

    “So whatever numbers you have for compensation budget is likely to grow and is likely to erode any gains that may be made.”

    The government is proposing in the 2021 budget statement the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19.

    “To provide the requisite resources to address these challenges and fund these activities, government is proposing the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19,” the budget statement presented by the leader of Government Business, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said among other things on Friday March 12.

    It added that “to leverage other resources to fight the pandemic, Government passed the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Act, (2020), Act 1013 in April, 2020 to establish the Fund. As at 31st December, 2020, the Fund had mobilised GH¢ 57,134,093.58 of which GH¢45,218,313.23 had been utilized.

    “These resources complemented Government efforts in providing PPEs and medical supplies to COVID-19 selected institutions, distribution of food items to the aged, vulnerable, and needy persons; providing vehicles to selected Treatment Centres, National Public Health & Reference Laboratories, Testing Centres, and the COVID-19 Central Care Management Team. It also supported the construction of the National Infectious Disease Centre.”

    Source: 3 News

  • 41-year-old man dies in mining pit

    A 41-year-old man, Emmanuel Okyere, popularly called Mensah has died inside a mining pit at Akyem Dokyi in the Kwabibirem Municipal District of the Eastern Region.

    He died on Thursday, 11 March 2021 when he fell into the mining pit, belonging to BSD Company.

    According to an eye witness who is also brother of the deceased, both were engaged in construction work, not far from the mining pit when his brother went to wash down near the pit.

    He was cautioned by some children around the area against washing down near the pit.

    However, he fell deep into the uncovered mining pit before he could move away from it.

    All efforts to save him proved futile.

    The body which has been recovered has been deposited at the St Dominic Hospital at Akwatia awaiting autopsy.

    Source: Class FM

  • 5.7% increment in fuel prices pure wickedness – Union

    The Public Relations Officer of the True Drivers Union, Yaw Barimah has described the government as insensitive to the plight of drivers.

    Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he said the day Caretaker Finance Minister Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu announced the 5.7% increment in fuel prices, the prices of fuel products had been increased.

    When he presented the budget statement last week, Caretaker Finance Minister Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told Parliament the price of Petroleum products will go up by 5.7% in the coming days.

    “I should note that on the basis of existing world crude oil prices, the implementation of the two proposed levies for sanitation and pollution as well as to pay for excess capacity charges would result in a 5.7% increase in petroleum prices at the pump,” he said.

    Reacting, Yaw Barimah claimed that fuel prices have gone up on five occasions representing 13.3%.

    He said the Union would have no option other than to increase transport fares, adding, drivers are currently experiencing extreme hardship due to the regular price increment in fuel products.

    Yaw Barimah asked Ghanaians to brace themselves to pay more for transport because the increment has gone beyond the threshold for them to increase transport fares.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Parliament commences work on 2021 budget in Ho

    Members of Parliament have started deliberations on the budget statement for the 2021 fiscal year.

    The lawmakers started the deliberations in the Volta regional capital Ho on Sunday, March 14, according to Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah.

    “In Ho this morning, Parliament has started work on the 2021 budget. The detailed analysis will aid MPs in our debate, consideration and approval of the budget in the next two weeks. Godspeed to all Hon members,” the Ofoase Ayirebi Lawmaker said in a tweet.

    The government is proposing in the 2021 budget statement the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19.
    “To provide the requisite resources to address these challenges and fund these activities, government is proposing the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19,” the budget statement presented by the leader of Government Business, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said among other things on Friday, March 12.

    It added that “to leverage other resources to fight the pandemic, Government passed the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Act, (2020), Act 1013 in April 2020 to establish the Fund. As of 31st December 2020, the Fund had mobilised GH¢ 57,134,093.58 of which GH¢45,218,313.23 had been utilized.

    “These resources complemented Government efforts in providing PPEs and medical supplies to COVID-19 selected institutions, distribution of food items to the aged, vulnerable, and needy persons; providing vehicles to selected Treatment Centres, National Public Health & Reference Laboratories, Testing Centres, and the COVID-19 Central Care Management Team. It also supported the construction of the National Infectious Disease Centre.”

    Source: 3 News

  • GH¢5.5 billion required to fully settle asset management investors

    To fully settle investors of the remaining failed 17 asset management companies (AMCs), the Securities and Exchange Commission will require an additional amount of GH¢5.5 billion, equivalent to 1.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the interim Finance Minister, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has said.

    Presenting the 2021 budget statement to parliament last week, he said government is seeking approval of the amount from Parliament to complete the asset management industry bailout.

    Out of the estimated GH¢8.5 billion in total required to pay investors of the failed AMCs, legislators approved GH¢3.1 billion in the 2020 mid-year budget.

    The bailout covers 47 failed asset management companies, including Gold Coast Fund Management (now Blackshield Capital Management), First Banc Financial Services, Liberty Asset Management, Beige Capital Asset Management, Ideal Capital Partners, and Frontline Capital Advisors.

    By the end of December 2020, government had provided GH¢3.4 billion for the payment of validated claims to investors of 30 AMCs for which liquidation orders had been obtained. This amount was in a combination of a three-year marketable bond of GH¢2.5 billion and a five-year zero-coupon bond of GH¢915 million.

    In December 2020, SEC revealed that 2,802 clients of the defunct fund management companies had received full or partial payment of their investments.

    The full bailout package involves a special arrangement whereby the government will pay clients of defunct fund management companies whose liquidation has been approved by the courts the full amount of their investments within a three-year period.

    The partial bailout, on the other hand, is a flat cash payment of GH¢50,000 to clients of fund management companies whose liquidation has yet to be approved by the courts.

    Source: thebusiness24.com.gh

  • Exercise power over public purse with conscience and integrity – Speaker

    The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Bagbin has asked members of the House to be guided by their conscience and integrity in their exercise of the power over the public purse.

    He reiterated that it required fair knowledge about financial issues, and urged the legislators to learn from capacity building programmes and use the knowledge to make meaningful and effective contributions in their deliberative functions on financial issues.

    Speaker Bagbin made the call when he opened a two-day 2021 post-budget workshop for Members of Parliament in Ho, the Volta Regional Capital to equip the legislators with knowledge to make effective contributions in the debate on the 2021 budget and economic policy of the Government of Ghana, presented to the nation, through Parliament by caretaker Finance Minister, Osei-Kyei-Mensah Bonsu last Friday.

    “I would urge members to engage in thought-provoking deliberations and take home lessons from the workshop that can enrich debate and discussions of the budget at plenary.”

    “… Honourable members, at the end of the day after all have been said and done, it is left to your conscience and integrity to do what is right and in the interest of the country and our people,” the Speaker said.

    The workshop on the budget theme: “Economic Revitalization through Completion, Consolidation and Continuity.”

    Topics to be discussed include; policy underpinnings of the 2021 budget-General Analysis, Overview of the 2021 budget-Macro Economic and Fiscal Management and what to consider in analyzing the 2021 Sector Budget.

    Other topics are Employment Generation and Public Sector Wages the 2021 budget, Decentralisation of the 2021 budget and Composite Budgeting, the Health Sector, COVID and post-COVID Management the 2021 budget, the Agricultural Sector and the 2021 budget, Revenue Mobilisation, and Education and the 2021 budget.

    Mr Bagbin noted that decision making by Parliament in respect to budget approval should be evidence-informed with readily available accurate data and information that members and the House can rely on in its deliberations.

    He however observed that access to such data and information to enable the House to take informed decision on the budget is limited.

    Also the time available for the House to debate such matters was short, in addition to constraints posed by constitutional, legal and institutional weaknesses.

    “International best practice recommends that a minimum of three to four months is required for the approval of a budget by the legislature, if that approval is to base on meaningful analysis and scrutiny, “the Speaker said, adding that the budget should be tabled sufficiently in advance of the fiscal year to which it relates, to enable the legislature to make decision on the matter.

    The Speaker reminded the legislators that the scrutiny of the budget should make Ghana stronger and better positioned to face the challenges that confront the nation and its people.

    Speaker Bagbin reminded the House that the scrutiny of the budget also reflected the moral values that each member had.

    “So honourable members do not think that we are here only to understand and give direction on members: the debate on the budget will also signal the values that MPs stand for, what we cherish and the direction we want Ghana to pursue.

    The Speaker said the activity of debating and approving of the budget and financial policy proposals to the President, was crucial to the health, well-being and quality of life of the country and its people.

    To that end, Parliament had to also employ and put into use all its functions, skills and tools of deliberation, representation, law-making, financial scrutiny, and priority setting.

    The Speaker put the blame of the lack of, or misuse of and misapplication of public funds equally at the doorstep of both the President and Parliament, stressing the need that the House would ensure discipline in the management of the public purse.

    “It is therefore unfortunate for members to sometimes to be seeing to rather act as gag dogs of the President, and not watchdogs of the people during budget debate on the floor of Parliament and on the airwaves.

    “To this respect one needs not emphasis the importance of post-budget workshop to Parliament and parliamentarians,” Mr Bagbin said, adding “It is my expectation that this will equip you with the necessary understanding and tools to adequately discharge your responsibilities of ascertaining the extent to which the budget addresses the numerous problems of constituents, and reflect the collective interest needs and aspirations of the citizenry as a whole before voting to approve it.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Police Service reshuffles regional commanders

    The Ghana Police Service has reshuffled some regional commanders and members of the Police Management Board.

    Under the latest reassignment, COP Frederick Adu-Anim is now the Director-General of the Motor Transport and Traffic Department.

    DCOP Boapea Otchere has taken up the role of Director-General for the Information, Communication and Technology Department, DCOP Owusu Donyinah is now the Director-General for Finance while DCOP Charles Domanban is now the Oti Regional Commander.

    Meanwhile, the former Director in charge of Operations at the Police headquarters, DCOP Dr. Sayibu Gariba has taken over as the new Upper East Regional Police Commander.

    DCOP Dr. Gariba took over from DCOP Osei Kwaku Ampofo-Duku who went on retirement on March 5.

    In a statement issued by the Upper East Regional Police command, DCOP Dr. Gariba assured residents of the region of maximum security.

    He further appealed for tight collaboration to ensure effective crime-fighting in the region.

    Source: gbcghanaonline.com

  • Social welfare must be reorganised to fight domestic violence Former Director

    A former Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Herbert Kokui Mensah is calling on the government to reorganised to enable it effectively deal with domestic violence and other related issues.

    According to him, reorganizing and resourcing the department will better equip it to handle the the issues.

    He lamented that the department has been neglected for a very long time, making it difficult for it to deal with its responsibilities.

    His call comes on the back of recent reports of deaths of victims of domestic violence in the country. The development has drawn some attention to the many issues confronting the department and making its work ineffective.

    Mr. Mensah who was speaking to Accra-based Citi Fm said a reorganized Social welfare department will help reduce domestic violence in the country.

    “It is very important that we think about family and the role the family plays in the welfare of society. We have what we call the society of social workers but we are inadequately supported.”

    “I think now we are reorganizing the whole services of the government, social welfare must to be attended to deal with recent issues of violence.”

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Elephants takes over Mole motel over low patronage

    Elephants in the Mole National Park have taken over the facilities of the Mole Motel located on the fringes of the Park following the low patronage by tourist as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, elephants in the park noticed there are not many tourists as it used to be and have taken advantage to roam the premises of the hotel on daily basis without any hindrance.

    The elephants found the premises which used to be a beehive of activities more enticing due to the abundance of overgrown “milk bush” plants which are their delicacy and takes advantage over the low numbers of tourist at the facility to make the place an everyday venue where they gather to have fun.

    On daily basis elephants usually moving in groups of about 10 can be found around the facility with some of the comfortable and not fearful animals making attempt to drink the water from the swimming pool in the Motel.

    The Mole Motel started operations after the park which was temporarily closed down on the 23rd March, 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic resumed operations and opened now to tourist but few tourists make it to the popular holiday resort.

    The Mole Motel has put in place several safety protocols on the spread and prevention of the coronavirus by ensuring the practice of social distancing and wearing of face masks.

    Management of the facility is also ensuring there is enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the facility on regular basis.

    Source: Nkilgi FM

  • Meet the man who has been selling ice cream since 1983 in Tema

    Joseph Agyiri is a 56-year-old man who has been selling Yoghurt for the past three decades.

    If you grew up or had your education in Tema, you must know ‘Our Day’ as he is popularly known.

    Speaking with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa, Agyiri stated that he has had a good time serving children.

    “Most of the children call me our day. I have been to almost all the schools in Tema to selling my ice cream. It is a very difficult job because it comes with very little profit but I enjoy it,” he said.

    Now a father of nine, Joseph Agyiri now owns a 6 bedroom house in his hometown.

    He has also been able to see his children through school.

    Source: SVTV Africa

  • Parliament holds post 2021 budget workshop for members

    Parliament on Sunday commenced a post-2021 budget workshop for members of the House in Ho, the Volta Regional Capital.

    The workshop will equip the legislators with the knowledge to appreciate the dynamics and objectives of the budget.

    At the workshop, members are discussing the policy underpinnings of the 2021 budget, an overview of the budget and its macro and fiscal management and implications.

    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Caretaker Finance Minister, presented the budget statement and economic policy proposals to the nation, before Parliament, with a promise from the Government to continue with its economic revitalisation through the completion, consolidation of socio-economic gains of the first term of the Akufo-Addo led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

    Source: GNA

  • Leadership of Parliament proposes national conversation on completing abandoned projects

    The Majority and the Minority leaders in Parliament on Sunday reignited discussions on the completion of projects that were left uncompleted in previous regimes.

    The two leaders said some development projects started by previous governments but abandoned by successive was a thorny issue which has costed the nation fortunes and suggested how that could be solved to benefit all.

    At the beginning of a two-day post-2021 budget workshop for MPs underway in Ho, the Volta Regional Capital, the two leaders though from opposing political camps, expressed the need for a national conversation on how to continue projects that were not completed by previous governments.

    The workshop on the theme: “Economic Revitalization through Completion, Consolidation, and Continuity”, would allow the Members of Parliament (MPs) to share thoughts with experts on key aspects of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana and its policy intent.

    The Budget Statement was presented to the nation through the Parliament of Ghana by the caretaker Finance Minister, who is also the Majority Leader in Parliament on Friday, March 12, 2021, and the workshop is expected to create an opportunity for the MPs to discuss the key points for promoting national development.

    It will also provide the MPs with the knowledge to make meaningful contributions to the debate on the 2021 Budget Statement by Parliament which begins on Tuesday, March 2021.

    Mr Haruna Iddrisu who is also MP for Tamale South Constituency, concerning some legal provisions reminded the gathering of a national policy decision to complete standing projects.

    He suggested that they should include projects by previous governments inherited by opposing political parties.

    He suggested that projects should not be initiated if there was not enough monetary provision on resource allocation from the start to completion.

    “No projects should come up unless it is supported by adequate monetary and material provisions, the Minority Leader said and suggested that sanctions should be applied to government officials who start a project but did not see through their completion.

    Responding, Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu attributed part of the problem of not completing previous projects to the intervention of foot-soldiers.

    According to the Majority Leader, successive governments from opposing parties found it difficult to continue with development projects when foot-soldiers intervene and put pressure on current governments not to continue with projects from previous governments as they explained that their parties would not be credited for starting such projects.

    To avoid this, successive opposing governments from other parties might not want as he put it to be led into the part of unrighteousness.

    Every party, he implied, would therefore want to initiate its projects which might not be completed in its term of office.

    Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin entreated the participants to make contributions on the Budget Statement to make it pass the litmus test to ensure that it is transparent, accountable, and responsive to national goals.

    Source: GNA

  • University Student reportedly commits suicide after his phone was allegedly seized during exam

    According to a story by Vanguard, a Nigerian student with a popular university has committed suicide by plunging from the third-floor of a storey building on Friday, March 12.

    The report says the young man decided to take this unfortunate path after he was caught cheating in an exam. The unnamed lecturer reportedly seized his phone, tore his script a few minutes to the end of the exam, and handed him a new script to start afresh.

    The deceased left the examination hall, went to his lodge at Onuiyi, in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state, and allegedly injected some poisonous substances including rat poison. When the poisons failed to produce immediate results, the student jumped from a storey building around 11:34 pm.

    According to an occupant of the lodge, who identified herself as Nkechi Abo, when the incident happened, they rushed to the deceased room where they discovered rat poison, bleach containers and syringes.

    Another occupant, Christabel Okpara, told Vanguard that they alerted the caretaker of the lodge when they discovered the student struggling for life after jumping from the third floor. He was rushed to the Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka where he died in the early hours of Saturday, March 13.

    The caretaker of the lodge who pleaded for anonymity told Vanguard that he reported the incident to the police after every attempt to revive him failed in the hospital.

    “A friend who stayed with him when he regained consciousness in the hospital said he complained of frustration with his last examination encounter and financial hardship. He told him that his family was not giving him enough money for upkeep. He said he was bitter that the lecturer also seized his phone,” the caretaker narrated.

    “When I rushed to the lodge, I saw him on the floor clutching a kitchen knife. We immediately rushed him to the hospital and he was given immediate medical attention. We later returned to his room where we discovered rat poison and bleach. We also saw syringes on the floor. We also saw a rope tied to his ceiling fan.

    “He is a loner because I have not seen him with any friend since he parked into the lodge. I was surprised that one girl who identified herself as Scholastica showed up as his girlfriend. I think he must have been suffering from depression silently.”

    Source: GH Base

  • Parliament to summon Education Minister over Ewes in new textbook

    Parliament is expected to invite the Minister of Education Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum to appear on the floor of the House to answer questions relating to newly-authored history textbooks for students.

    This comes after lawmaker for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said he has filed an urgent parliamentary question requesting the minister to appear before the House and respond to the two bigoted publications in issue.

    In a tweet, the former Deputy Education Minister said “This is to notify all concerned that I have filed an urgent parliamentary question requesting the Minister for Education to appear before the House and respond to the two bigoted publications in issue.

    “The text of my urgent question is as follows: “To ask the Honourable Minister responsible for Education whether the publications titled: History of Ghana, Text Book 3 by Badu Nkansah Publications authored by Badu Nkansah and Nelly Martinson Anim and Golden English Basic 4 authored by Okyere Baafi Alexander both of which contain bigoted content.”



    Source: 3 News

  • Father of Barcelona wonderkid Moriba reveals he cancelled flight to Manchester to scupper City transfer

    The father of Barcelona wonderkid Ilaix Moriba has revealed that he cancelled a flight to Manchester just as the midfielder was about to join City in 2019.

    Moriba made his long-awaited senior debut for Barca at the start of the year, and hit headlines after scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Osasuna on March 6.

    The 18-year-old is now being tipped to become a star for the Blaugrana’s next-generation, but his father claims his career path could have turned out differently had he not intervened when City tried to sign him two years ago.

    Mamady Kourouma told SPORT: “With Barca, the negotiations [over his first professional contract] did not advance. We met with Txiki Begiristain [Man City sporting director] and he explained his entire project to us.

    “We liked it because they bet a lot on him. A few weeks later we had the tickets to travel to Manchester and sign the contract.

    “I cancelled it the morning that we had to go there. I wanted Ilaix to be an example and a reference for the next generations of Barca.

    “His friends were gone. If he stayed, it was proof that Barca was betting on the youth players. We managed to reach an agreement where we all came out winning.”

    Moriba joined Barca’s academy ranks in 2010 after a stint at Espanyol, and has since worked his way up to first-team level.

    The teenager broke into the club’s B team at the age of just 17, earning comparisons with Manchester United star Paul Pogba due to his physicality, technical ability and vision.

    Similarities were also drawn between Moriba and City legend Yaya Toure, who won two Premier League titles at Etihad Stadium after joining the club from Barcelona at the height of his career.

    City were hopeful that Moriba would follow in Toure’s footsteps, but he opted to continue his development at Camp Nou by committing his future to the Blaugrana through to 2022.

    Moriba will be back in contention for a place in Ronald Koeman’s squad when Barca host Huesca in La Liga on Monday night. He could also feature when the Spanish giants travel to Real Sociedad five days later.

    Source: goal.com

  • Election 2020: No candidate got 50% – Tsatsu Tsikata insists

    Tsatsu Tsikata insists that the Presidential Election 2020 did not produce any winner because none of the candidates that contested the elections crossed the 50% threshold as stipulated in the constitution.

    According to Tsikata, speaking on the KSM Show last Friday, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, knowing that none of the candidates won the election, went ahead to declare the NPP candidate winner, something that is very problematic and a bad precedence for the country.

    Tsikata stated: “Fundamentally, what I think is most problematic about the judgement is that, we have a situation in this country now where if you base yourself on the Declaration that was made by the Chairperson […] there was not a constitutionally valid Declaration because no candidate got 50%.

    “Mr Nana Akufo-Addo got 49.625% based on the numbers that she herself had announced. Now what the court then said was that, the next day, there [were] some corrections issued by the EC but those corrections were not by the Chairperson [Returning Officer]; they were unsigned press releases. Even more important, the numbers in those corrections were different from the numbers on which the court was basing itself as the results of the election.”

    But the only person who could have responded to those inconsistencies, that is the Chairperson of the EC, who refused to mount the witness box.

    John Dramani Mahama filed a Petition to challenge the Declaration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as President-elect in the December 7, 2020, Presidential election.

    He was praying to the court to order a rerun of the election because the NPP flagbearer did not cross the 50% threshold as stipulated by the constitution, but the Supreme Court dismissed the case stating that it lacked merit.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Police kill robber after he stabbed man at Awudome Cemetery

    Police at Kaneshie on Friday night gunned down a suspected robber at the Awudome Cemetery after he had stabbed and robbed a passer-by.

    It was on his second attempt to rob another commuter when he was shot dead, according to police.

    A situational report made available by the police said the robber, part of a two-man gang, attacked a gentleman who was walking along the SSNIT Building heading towards Obetsebi Lamptey Roundabout.

    The gang stabbed him in the neck and robbed him of his black bag containing spare parts, his phone and a cash of GH¢250.

    He ran to the near-by police station for assistance but the robbers could not be traced when the police got there.

    The officers combed through the near-by bushes but did not find them.

    They then laid ambush and the robbers resurfaced in an attempt to rob another target.

    One of them, in his early 20s, according to the police report, was shot and the other managed to escape.

    The shot robber was rushed to the Police Hospital but was pronounced dead.

    His body has since been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary for identification and autopsy.

    Source: 3 News

  • Suspected goat thieves involved in accident at Wa

    Luck eluded three suspected goat thieves who attempted to bolt with their booty in a tricycle in the Upper West Regional capital, Wa.

    Kasapa FM reports that while absconding with the stolen goat, which was heavily pregnant, the trio were involved in an accident.

    According to the report, two of the suspects bolted albeit with minor injuries.

    The third suspect was, however, double-unlucky as he was seriously injured and arrested together with the “stolen pregnant goat”.

    The owner of the goat claimed the incident was the second of its kind having endured a similar occurrence.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • UPSA: Two female students sexually assaulted

    The Student Representative Council of the University for Professional Studies has asked the student body to be careful with movements in and off campus.

    The caution comes after two female students of the University were allegedly raped by armed men.

    A statement signed by SRC Chairman for UPSA SRC, Prince Nartey Wade, mentioned that the  campus and routes around the University of Professional Studies- Accra (UPSA), were gradually becoming unsafe.

    According to the statement, this rape incident is one of the many reports the SRC has received.

    The statement also noted that thieves on motorcycles have been snatching monies, phones during the night.

    “The SRC is therefore urging the student in “limiting physical cash” and to also limit the use of electronic gadget as they (SRC) are trying to provide security at vantage points to monitor, deter and deal with these crimes”, the statement added.

    Read the full statement below:

    Source: Atinka Online

  • Ive instructed my lawyers to withdraw my case against A-G over Domelevos saga – Kwaku Azar

    Accounting Professor and private legal practitioner, lawyer Kwaku Asare aka Kwaku Azar has instructed his lawyers to withdraw his case against the Attorney-General (Writ no. J1/15/2020) on grounds that the issues had become moot.

    In the writ filed in July 2020, the lawyer prayed in relief 12 for the Court to grant “An expedited hearing of the motion for injunction and the substantive cause given the important financial watchdog role played by the Auditor-General and the irreparable harm that any delay will cause to the financial systems and the integrity of the Constitution.”

    He had also asked the court to restrain the Deputy Auditor-General from acting as the Auditor-General since the country could not have both a substantive and an acting Auditor-General.

    According to him, the Court did not grant the injunction, and did not give any directives pursuant to his prayer for an expedited hearing and adjourned sine die.

    ”When the Court, in a later case on the same day, recognized the Acting Auditor-General, I was alarmed as that essentially meant the Court did not only fail to act on my prayer for expedited hearing but had also taken sides by recognizing the Acting Auditor-General, a position unknown to the Constitution.

    Shortly after that hearing, the Court took its two months vacation and here we are in March 2021,” he posited.

    Prof. Azar said his writs made it clear that any delays will cause irreparable harm to the financial systems and the integrity of the Constitution.

    “The 9-month delay has just done what I feared and even worst.
    In the circumstances, there is no value in pursuing the case and it is why I have issued that directive this morning.

    The Constitution instructs that I act when I see a violation of the Constitution. That same Constitution too instructs the Court to enforce its terms. Not just enforce its terms but do so timeously.

    The Constitution is a mere document. It is not self-enforcing. It is only as good as those who are charged with its enforcement in the triangle defense,” he bemoaned.

    He concluded: ”as this saga comes to an end, all those involved will have to examine and live with their conscience.

    SALL is the cardinal sin of the 8th Parliament. The Constitution has a voice on representation. But it is left to us to vindicate its terms.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Make the fight against corruption an economic policy – Expert

    Political analyst and economist Mr. Emmanuel Amoah-Darkwah has proposed to the government to make the fight against corruption an economic policy.

    He said: “if Ghana is losing billions to graft annually, then we have to make it an economic policy”.

    He told Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that corruption is depriving the country of several billion hence it would be important to deal with it once and for all.

    He was hopeful that we could save several amounts if his approach is adopted.

    “The fight against corruption should be an economic policy because if the country is losing 3 billion annually to corruption, the fight against it should be an economic policy. These are the things I am expecting to hear in the budget statement.”

    Meanwhile, he has described the decision to use our Ghana card numbers as TIN numbers as brilliant.

    The approach he said will formalise the economy and make people pay the right taxes.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Meghan reportedly complained to ITV about Piers Morgan’s comments

    Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, made a formal complaint to British broadcaster ITV relating to Piers Morgan’s comments about her mental health, CNN has learned.

    ITV announced on Tuesday that Morgan would leave the program he hosted, “Good Morning Britain,” after he cast doubt on whether Meghan had suicidal thoughts, a major revelation from her blockbuster interview with Oprah Winfrey.

    “Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain,” ITV said on Tuesday. “ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”

    CNN understands that Meghan’s complaint to ITV concerned the impact Morgan’s comments could have on others and how it could degrade the seriousness of mental health issues. The complaint did not relate to the personal nature of Morgan’s attacks.

    On Monday’s edition of “Good Morning Britain,” Morgan questioned whether the Duchess was being truthful about having suicidal thoughts. His comments sparked a huge controversy in Britain, and he was rebuked by mental health charity Mind.

    UK media regulator Ofcom said it had received over 41,000 complaints about Monday’s edition of “Good Morning Britain,” and had launched an investigation under its “harm and offence rules.”

    On Wednesday, Morgan said that he “still” does not believe Meghan.
    “I’ve had time to reflect on this opinion, and I still don’t [believe her],” Morgan tweeted. “If you did, OK. Freedom of speech is a hill I’m happy to die on. Thanks for all the love, and hate. I’m off to spend more time with my opinions.”

    Source: edition.cnn.com

  • Niger government to bar appointees who refuse vaccination from meetings

    The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello has flagged off the COVID-19 vaccination in the state after taking delivery of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

    According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mary Noel-Berje, Bello was administered a jab by his physician, Dr Shehu Ahmed, at the Government House, Minna the state capital.

    Noel-Berje who issued a statement on Wednesday also revealed that members of the state executive council were vaccinated during the flag-off.

    According to the statement, “The Governor directed that any council member that refuses to get vaccinated should be barred from council meetings subsequently.”

    The Governor said it is necessary to get vaccinated even though some concerns have been raised by some persons in the public, adding the state government was doing everything possible to fight the COVID19 pandemic.

    “We all need it, once it is done, we will be able to convince Nigerlites that it is safe,” he said.

    He applauded the State Primary Healthcare for standing up to the occasion especially in the fight against the deadly virus.

    Source: punchng.com

  • Focus on how Ghana will benefit from Akufo-Addos presidency Oppong-Nkrumah to MPs

    Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, has urged Members of Parliament to discuss the state of the nation address delivered by the president thoroughly and find out how the nation can benefit from the Akufo-Addo presidency.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo delivered his first state of the nation address in his second term in office on Tuesday March 9.

    Mr Oppong Nkrumah who is the lawmaker for Ofoase Ayirebi said in series of tweets that “The House has begun unpacking the content of the State of the Nation delivered by President @NAkufoAddo.”

    He added “I believe MPs will use the opportunity to highlight how the nation stands to benefit from an Akufo-Addo led presidency, as we recover from the Covid-19 induced setback. Keep safe folks!”

    Mr Akufo-Addo told the nation that his government has so far proven that they are the better managers of the economy.

    “My government found the resources to cushion the impact of the pandemic because we are good managers of the economy and we are good protectors of the public purse,” he said.

    He added that “I want to urge members of the house to lend their voices to the ongoing campaign with regards to the vaccination. “If we are to see the rebirth of our economy, our people must be healthy and not succumb to COVID-19.

    “The vaccination campaign is currently ongoing. The target is to vaccinate 20 million and the government is working hard towards that.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Two old men caught on camera stealing phones at Tip Toe Lane

    Luck eluded 64-year-old Emmanuel Noi and 49-year-old accomplice Christopher Nii William Offei when they were arrested at a mobile phone shop at Circle tiptoe lane in an attempt to steal a phone after undertaking similar operations at Spintex.

    Christopher William Nii Offei engaged the shop attendant in a conversation to distract him whilst the other suspect attempted to steal an iPhone but luck eluded them when the shop owner Collins Dwamena suddenly appeared and they were arrested. He took them to the Tesano Police station.

    The complainant stated that he was able to identify them from CCTV footage which was circulated sometime ago which captured the suspects using same modus operandi to steal a laptop from a shop at Spintex.

    Upon their arrest, one Theresah Afful manager of Franco Trading Osu branch came to the station and reported that in the month of September 2020, the same men were captured on their CCTV footage stealing an HP laptop computer valued Gh2,700. The two suspects are in police custody assisting with investigations.

    They will be processed for court as soon as investigation is done.

    Source: My News GH

  • I will definitely return to Kotoko before I retire – Agyeman Badu

    Former Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyeman Badu has reiterated that he will play for Kumasi Asante Kotoko before he retires. He also dismissed the speculation about signing for a Ghana Premier League club in the ongoing transfer period.

    The former Udinese midfielder has been unattached after parting ways with the Serie A side Hellas Verona.

    ”I have said many times that I will definitely return to Kotoko before I finally retire from football but the truth is that for now, I am not ready to make a return to the Ghana Premier League”, he told Hello FM.

    ”I am currently waiting for some deals and hopefully soon I will be back in Europe to continue my career,” he ended.

    After making 78 appearances for Ghana and scoring eleven goals in the process, Agyeman Badu announced his retirement from the Black Stars this year.

    Source: Football Ghana

  • 2 boys survive in Apam drowning incident

    2 out of scores of children survived a drowning incident that happened at the Apam beach on Sunday, March 6, 2021.

    Godfred Apretse, 14 years and Simon Dadze, 15 years, both from Apam, were the only two, confirmed at the time of writing this story as survivors of the unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of many of their friends.

    The teenagers, numbering over 13, reportedly went missing after they had gone swimming on the said day, many of them drowning.

    Confirming the incident and detailing the numbers as far as deceased persons and survivors are concerned, the spokesperson of the Apam Fishermen Association, Kow Panyin, told GhanaWeb that 11 of the teenagers who drowned have been identified.

    Of the deceased persons, 2 were females and 10 of them males.

    Gilbert Assandoh, Isaac Affisah, Adwoa Vi, Joshua Hammond, Prince Peprah, John Arthur, Christopher Ewusi, Ebenezer Forson, Benjamin Narh, Kweku Atta, King Beri Addison, and one other girl (unidentified), who had come to visit her friend were named as the deceased persons.

    9 of these teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16 are from the Apam Community, 2 are from Ankamu (Apam Junction) and 1 girl from Cape Coast.

    Investigations are still ongoing, but the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, meanwhile has extended financial support to the families of these victims, following the incident.

    Representing the President, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, made the donations of GHC1,000 each to the families of the surviving teenagers.

    The bereaved families received GHC20,000 altogether, with GHC6,000 out of that to cater for mortuary services.

    Traditional leaders of the community also were given GHC 10,000 by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for customary rituals.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Teacher unions bare teeth at government over Free SHS concerns

    The three major teacher unions in Ghana have given government up to Friday, March 19 to provide a “favourable” response to their concerns about food supplies and funds to senior high schools as part of the Free SHS Policy.

    According to the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers-Ghana (CCT-G), for the past eight weeks since schools re-opened for the 2020/2021 academic year, food supplies by the Buffer Stock Company has stopped.

    They also claim the Ministry of Education has failed to transfer the needed funds for the smooth running of schools.

    Addressing journalists in Accra on Wednesday, March 10, General Secretary of GNAT Thomas Musah Tanko said the situation has brought the senior high schools to their knees.

    He admitted that the introduction of the free school feeding as part of the Free SHS Policy in September, 2017 increased enrolment and improved the nutritional status of students.

    “It is unfortunate, heartbreaking and disturbing that the schools have to look for funds elsewhere to cater for the SHS students until funds are disbursed from the Ministry of Education.

    “We reiterate that further delay will impact negatively on the smooth running of the Free SHS Policy.”

    The unions, at the joint press conference, called on government to save the “precarious and difficult situation.”

    They said by next week if the favourable response is not received, they will have no option than to close down schools.

    Source: 3 News

  • Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers hails ‘great guy’ Daniel Amartey

    Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed the impact and dedication of “great guy” Daniel Amartey after his match-winner against Brighton at the weekend.

    The 26-year-old grabbed a sensational winner for the Foxes as they came from behind to defeat their opponents at the Amex Stadium to boost their Champions League qualification hopes.

    The Ghana international, who has been knocked back by recurrent ankle and hamstring injuries since joining the side, scored his first goal for the side since December 2016.

    And Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has heaped praise on the versatile Ghanaian.

    “He’s such a great guy, very honest to the game, been out for a long, long time and had a couple of setbacks along the way,” said Rodgers.

    “But he gives you everything, wherever you play him, he’s played in some big performances for us this year.

    “I am not sure how much he knew about it but it hit him and it went in, so we’re all happy for him.

    “(He’s a) good guy, trains hard, very honest and never ever lets you down when he plays.”

    Amartey, playing on the right of a back three, nodded home Marc Albrighton’s corner three minutes from time to make amends for gifting Brighton possession ahead of Adam Lallana’s early opener.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Internet fraud on the rise amid coronavirus

    The COVID-19 pandemic has led people to use the Internet on a high scale. Be it for studies, work or entertainment, individuals and organizations are adapting themselves to take the online mode at a greater length and in the process, their activities are subjected to widespread exposure.

    Alarmingly, the increase in internet usage is grabbing the attention of fraudsters which is leading to online intrusions and security breaches.

    Owing to the pandemic, unemployment is rampant and a lot of people have lost their jobs. This has made those with a sly intent, reeling under financial stress to generate income aggressively. Bad elements are exploiting the crisis situation and extracting money and vital, confidential information of vulnerable internet users.

    Cyber thieves are silently keeping track of information shared online.

    Impersonation of Health Organizations such as WHO and sending emails, SMS and WhatsApp messages to seek donations are getting increasingly common.

    The pandemic has created a high demand for essential products such as masks, hand gels and immunity boosters and drugs that are being purported to cure COVID-19 are seen on the online platform. Fraudsters are even creating websites to market “products” with luring promos, products which never arrive when ordered for.

    Most organizations and the government are taking steps to curb cyber-crimes which are likely to intensify after the pandemic is over.

    Business Houses and the government are likely to run awareness campaigns that appeal to people to stay safe from internet fraudsters. Studies and research are being conducted to manage internet crimes and cap loopholes that lead to financial and privacy losses.

    The long and short of it is that one must not impulsively fall for products marketed in the guise of attractive packaging with a low-price tag that screams for attention.

    Stay alert constantly and refrain from sharing personal or finance-related data and information on the internet. Citizens, in their own interests, must be extra vigilant to stay away from tricksters.

    Source: Goldstreet Business

  • SoNA 2021: Government began full absorption of WASSCE registration fees in 2020 Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disclosed that his government has begun absorbing registration fees for candidates writing the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in public schools across the country.

    According to the President, the absorption of WASSCE registration fees forms part of several interventions by his government at the Senior High School level.

    Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) in Parliament on Tuesday, 9 March 2021, President Akufo-Addo said: “Government is facilitating the acquisition of 280,000 laptops for members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Association.”

    He further disclosed that the Minister for education will soon “detail an action plan for the implementation of the National Teacher Policy.”

    President Akufo-Addo added that: “Government has also introduced several interventions at the High School level, some of these are the GHS198 million academic intervention programme dedicated for extra classes for students in SHS.

    “Implementation of free internet connectivity for secondary schools, full absorption of BECE registration fee for all for students in public junior high school from 2017 till date, and full absorption of WASSCE registration fees for students, which started last year.”

    Meanwhile, the President has also revealed that government through the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will introduce new measures to curb examination malpractice among examination candidates in the country.

    “A key objective of our effort to improve quality education and ensure that our students become globally competitive is to maintain the integrity of our examinations and assessment.

    “In connection with this, government, working through WAEC, will introduce new measures to curb examination leakages and malpractices,” Nana Akufo-Addo stated.

    Source: Class FM

  • Mass burial on Thursday for 13 teenagers who drowned at Apam

    The Gomoa West Security Council in the Central Region has in consultation with families of the 13 teenagers who drowned in the sea at Apam on Sunday has set Thursday, March 11, 2021, for the mass burial of the deceased.

    The decision was taken at an emergency meeting held yesterday.

    Meanwhile, the Police Marine Department has joined efforts to retrieve at least 8 more bodies of teenagers who drowned.

    Twelve bodies have so far been recovered.

    The Apam District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Moses Osakonor giving an account of how the incident occurred said it happened at about 5 pm.

    According to a police report, while the children were swimming, a heavy tide rose and they could not control themselves so they were taken away by the sea.

    The timely intervention of a Good Samaritan saved the lives of two of them as they were rescued and sent to the St. Luke Hospital to be attended to.

    The search party immediately jumped into the sea in an attempt to retrieve the bodies throughout the night but it was unsuccessful as they did not find other bodies either dead or alive.

    However, on Monday morning (7 am) the dead bodies of four of the teens were retrieved.

    Three hours later, the search team again retrieved three bodies. The total number of bodies retrieved as of Tuesday morning is 12 with two females and 10 males.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Resolving Ghanas housing deficit long overdue – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says his administration is still committed to embarking on its affordable housing projects.

    In his State of the Nation Address delivered on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, the President said his intension is to place emphasis on resolving the housing deficit in the country.

    According to him, tackling the issue was long overdue, stressing, “Mr. Speaker, it is my intention to place special emphasis on resolving the problems of the housing sector in the country because tackling the housing deficit is long overdue”.

    He said: ”Under housing, the Government of Ghana Affordable Housing Programme, which seeks to increase access to safe, secure, adequate and affordable housing units across the country, is continuing in earnest. Thus far, one thousand, four hundred and sixty-four housing units in Borteyman, one thousand, and twenty-seven (1,027) in Asokore Mampong, and three hundred and twelve (312) housing projects have been completed in Kpone. The Koforidua, Tamale and Wa Housing Projects have been handed over to the State Housing Company Ltd for completion.”

    On Railway Development he said: “Mr. Speaker, one of the ministries created in my first term as President was the Ministry of Railways Development, and the benefits of its creation are showing. Government is mobilising some two billion dollars (US$2 billion) towards the development of railway infrastructure and services.

    He continued: “To this end, Government has rehabilitated a section of the narrow-gauge Western line from Kojokrom to Tarkwa through Nsuta to facilitate the haulage of manganese from Nsuta to the Takoradi Port, and also to provide a passenger rail service along the corridor. Construction of a new standard gauge line from Kojokrom through Eshiem to Manso is ongoing.

    “A five hundred-million-euro (€500 million) contract has been signed for the construction of a standard gauge railway line from Manso to Huni Valley, a contract which includes the conversion of the narrow-gauge tracks between Takoradi and Sekondi to standard gauge, and the development of standard gauge tracks from the Takoradi station to the Takoradi Port for efficient and effective access for cargo handling. The development of the project will result in the construction of one hundred and two (102km) kilometres of rail tracks between the Port of Takoradi and Huni Valley.

    “Contracts for standard gauge railway lines from Kumasi to Kaase, Kaase to Eduadin, Eduadin to Obuasi, Eduadin to Ejisu with a linkage to the Boankra Inland Port, Manso to Dunkwa, have all been signed. The Tema to Mpakadan rail project is currently about eighty percent (80%) complete, with the rehabilitation of the Railway Training School and two (2) location workshops being completed.

    “The Ghana School of Railways and Infrastructure Development, a school under the George Grant University of Mines and Technology, has matriculated its first batch of students, and will begin awarding certificates and diplomas in engineering and other related courses,” he concluded.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • SoNA: Akufo-Addo showed great maturity in his comment on Bagbin Koku Anyidoho

    Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has sent a word of caution to the newly appointed ministers.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sworn in the first batch of 28 ministers of his second term last Friday.

    The President urged them to deliver on their mandate because “that is why we are here and that is why the Ghanaian people voted for us”.

    The ministers included the National Security Minister, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah; Trade and Industry, Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen; Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul; Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery; Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; Justice and Attorney General, Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, and Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Daniel Botwe, Ministers of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu; Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Owusu Ekuful; Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto; Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh; Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu; Works and Housing, Mr Francis Kwame Asenso-Boakye; Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor; Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako Atta; Transport; Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, and Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson.

    The rest are the Ministers of Railway Development, Mr John-Peter Amewu; Sanitation and Water Resources; Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah; Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal; Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo; The rest are the Ministers of Railway Development, Mr John-Peter Amewu; Sanitation and Water Resources; Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah; Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal; Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo; Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Youth and Sports, Mr Mustapha Ussif, Public Enterprises, Mr Joseph Cudjoe, and works and Housing (Minister of State), Ms Freda Prempeh.

    Speaking on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” programme, Kwesi Pratt Jnr cautioned the Ministers not to lord themselves over the people they are to serve and misbehave in their various offices.

    He reminded them of their service to Ghanaians and requested that they think themselves not wiser than Ghanaians.

    Mr. Pratt advised the Ministers to put the interest of Ghana first and execute their duties effectively.

    “Don’t think because we have made you ministers, you’ve become tarzan today. Nobody is tarzan. They shouldn’t think they are wiser than all Ghanaians, for there are many intelligent Ghanaians who are not Ministers and some who won’t even accept ministerial appointment. So, they should work hard to bring about development; they must do a good work to leave a good legacy,” he stated.

    Source: 3 News

  • Election Petition: Supreme Courts verdict well-reasoned, excellent Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the verdict given by the seven-member justices of the Supreme Court on the election petition filed by Former President John Dramani Mahama, as well-reasoned and excellent.

    Delivering his first State of the Nation Address in his second term on Tuesday, March 9, Mr Akufo-Addo said the judgment was “Well reason and excellent of the Supreme Court presided over by the Chief Justice on 4 March.”

    The highest court of the land by a unanimous decision dismissed the election petition brought before it by the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 elections.

    The seven-member panel led by Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah dismissed the petition on Thursday, March 4, saying it was without merit.

    “The petitioner has not produced any evidence to rebut the presumptions created by the publication of CI 135. We are therefore of no reason to order a rerun. We accordingly dismiss the petition,” the Chief Justice said in the judgment.

    The justices of the apex court further told witnesses of the petitioner, Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo and Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte to blame themselves for abandoning their duties in the strong room during the final collation of the election results if their claims are to be believed.

    During proceedings, the two witnesses told the court that they were sent by the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) to Mr Mahama at the time of the collation of the final results in the strong room. In their absence, the results were then announced.

    Delivering the judgment on Thursday, March 4 the court said “…Notwithstanding all these allegations of misunderstandings with the chair of the 1st respondent in the strong room and the fact that they were absent during the declaration, they did not give any indication as to how these happenings in their absence affected the final results announced by the 1st Respondent.

    “Having signed or certified these forms, the witnesses, particularly PW 3 cannot turn round to talk about irregularities in the forms.

    “The testimonies would have carried some little weight if the purpose of the petition was to change entries made on the collation forms or summary sheets but that is not the case.

    “Their testimonies were therefore of no relevance to the said issues set out for determination and so we find them unworthy for consideration whatsoever.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Anger over profane billboard near National Mosque at Kanda

    A section of Muslims in Ghana have taken an exception to a sexually provocative billboard close to the 15,000 seater-capacity Ghana National Mosque complex at Kanda in Accra.

    The billboard that has partially naked skinny ladies in Bikinis with Ghanaian hip-hop and Afrobeat musician, entrepreneur Desmond Kwesi Blackmore, known by his stage name D-Black was used in advertising an event dubbed Fiesta Tropical.

    According to checks by MyNewsGh.com, the four-day event was held between January 4 and 8, 2021 was held at the Maha Beach Resort near Axim in the Western Region with various sponsors.

    Few months after the event, the attention of the Muslim Community has been drawn to it with sections describing it as very offensive to the customs and beliefs.

    A Facebook user who could not comprehend why organisers specifically decided to site the billboard on that part of the road wrote “Can someone inform this company that the position of their advert on this billboard near our Central Mosque at Kanda is an insult to Islam and our values. Pls remove it”

    After support from colleagues, the billboard later vanished from the location though it is not known if it was taken off by the advertising company or the organisers of the event.


    Source: My News GH

  • The Court has spoken, lets move on – Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo says it was time the country unite and move forward after the Supreme Court validated his election as President.

    The President believes it is important for Ghanaians to unite and contribute to the development of the country.

    The President delivering the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Tuesday, March 9 2021, maintained that institutions under his watch are working, and that reflected in the ruling of the court.

    ”Indeed, the institutions of our nation, whether the Executive, Legislature or Judiciary, are working.

    The Supreme Court, for example, last week determined the challenge to the validity of the 2020 presidential election and affirmed its validity in a unanimous decision. The Court has spoken. It is time for all of us to move on, and, in a united manner, confront the problems of post-COVID Ghana,” he admonished.

    He further described the ruling as ”well reasoned and excellent”.

    ”It is always good to be back in Parliament and to discharge the duty, in accordance with Article 67 of the Constitution, of delivering to the House a Message on the State of the Nation. I am particularly delighted as this Message is the first of my 2nd term, the validity of which was unanimously upheld last week in a well-reasoned and excellent ruling by a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by the Chief Justice, on 4th March 2021,” he added.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • SONA: Government to establish 14 medical waste centres

    The Government Tuesday announced plans to establish 14 treatment sites to ensure the proper management and disposal of medical.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who announced, this in Accra, when he delivered the State-of-the- Nation- Address (SONA), said those infrastructural projects would be pursued through public – private sector collaboration.

    Some waste materials to be treated at the centres are needles, syringes and personal protective equipment.

    Ahead of the mass COVID-19 vaccination exercise, Zoompak Ghana Limited, a subsidiary company of Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), expressed its readiness to handle medical waste that would be generated from the mass vaccination exercise.

    President Akufo-Addo stated that the ‘Agenda 111’- the construction of 100-bed district hospitals in districts without health facilities – was the biggest healthcare investment in the history of the country and expressed his government’s readiness to fulfill that promise.

    That, he said, would make Ghana the centre of medical excellence and medical tourism in the subregion.

    The President assured of his readiness to recruit more health professionals in his second term, following the employment of 100,000 health workers in the first term of his administration.

    That, he said, would improve the delivery of healthcare services in every nook and cranny of the country.

    President Akufo-Addo said that the Upper West, Upper East and Bono regions would soon go live on the e-health system to enhance delivery of healthcare.

    He reiterated his commitment to have 20 million Ghanaians vaccinated against COVID-19 during the mass vaccination programme to help create herd immunity for the population.

    The mass vaccination programme started on Tuesday, March 2, after the President, the Vice President and other high level public officials had taken their shots a day earlier.

    Source: GNA