Author: Phoebe Martekie Doku

The Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) has demonstrated its commitment to maximize revenue to facilitate more developmental projects for the people of Obuasi.

The Chief Executive of the Assembly, Elijah Adansi-Bonah on Monday, September 18, 2023 led the management of the Assembly to unveil a 15-seater brand new Toyota Hiace to improve revenue collection.

Speaking at a short ceremony to outdoor the bus, MCE Adansi-Bonah, who was in the company of management of the Assembly, said the Assembly takes cognisance of the importance of maximising revenue to boost the Assembly’s developmental drive hence the need to purchase the bus to facilitate the process.

“The Assembly for decades now has not bought any brand new vehicle but we know the essence of having a mini-bus which will help in mobilizing revenue and aid short travels by staff from the Assembly.”

Purchased at a cost of GH¢760,000 sourced from the Assembly’s Internally Generated Fund, the bus is part of the robust measures put in place to boost development.

The MCE said just as the Assembly has measures to safeguard its fleet of vehicles, it will employ the same measures to maintain the bus.
Call for the public to pay their levies

The Obuasi MCE further appealed to the general public to pay their levies promptly.

He said the Assembly has demonstrated judicious use of its Internally Generated Fund within the period.

“We have always made it a point to be accountable to the people through our various town hall meetings. What we have seen today is an indication that we have been using public funds judiciously. The people of Obuasi can help us do more by paying their levies promptly.”

He commended president Akufo-Addo for putting in place measures to boost the District Assemblies’ revenue drive, stressing that Obuasi has benefited from such policies putting the Assembly in a pole position to collect more revenues.

The Obuasi Municipal Assembly’s office has seen significant improvement in recent times.

This, the Mr Adansi-Bonah alluded to, is part of his resolve to leave a legacy as an MCE.

He said since he assumed office, he has made it a point to give a facelift to the office by commencing the renovation of the Assembly block.

He said the Assembly’s car park which had become a death trap due to its deplorable nature has been fixed whiles the forecourt will witness major upgrading soon.

He called for the support of residents for the Assembly to deliver quality services to them.

The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly has refunded a sum of GH₵283,000 originally designated for administrative expenses from the Assembly’s Common Fund.

During a hearing by the Public Accounts Committee in Ho, Sandra Owusu Ahinkorah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ayawaso West Municipality, justified the expenditure of GH₵751,000 from the Assembly’s Common Fund.

It was revealed that the intended expenditure was GH₵197,000 for a rental property instead of the actual amount spent, GH₵751,000.

“We are still in the process of renting the Assembly block, and the excess amount has been reimbursed to the District Assembly Common Fund account as advised,” she explained.

Additionally, the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly clarified that it indeed utilized its COVID-19 fund to educate 15 schools within the municipality.

This clarification was made in response to the committee’s assertion of the Assembly’s non-utilization of the COVID-19 fund.

“It has been utilised, in fact, payments have been made to the Ghana Health Service, it was used for sensitization in all the basic schools. We did 12 to 15 basic schools sensitising them on COVID-19,” Sandra Owusu Ahinkorah stated.

Former presidential aspirant of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has expressed deep concern about the state of leadership in the country and its role in hindering development, despite decades of stability since independence.

The distinguished heart surgeon and founder of the National Cardiothoracic Center lamented the absence of transformational leaders in Ghana since the first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

In an interview with the media, the former Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, who had a falling-out with the Akufo-Addo administration due to controversies surrounding his role as Chairman of the government’s anti-illegal mining task-force, emphasized that Ghana has had no excuse for its current challenges, considering the long period of stability it has enjoyed.

“If after twenty or forty years, we are not making any headway though we haven’t had any civil war, drought, or any natural catastrophe and we are in this state, there must be something wrong and it can only be a lack of transformational leadership.”

“We haven’t had any transformational leadership since Kwame Nkrumah,” Prof. Frimpong-Boateng stated.

He argued that the consequences of corruption, incompetence, and mismanagement could not be concealed indefinitely by political leaders. He asserted that these consequences would eventually come to light and have an impact on the nation.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s concerns were reinforced by data from the Bank of Ghana in July 2023, which revealed that Ghana’s public debt had risen significantly by ¢96.1 billion in the first four months of 2023, reaching ¢569.3 billion in April 2023, equivalent to approximately 71.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or $52 billion.

“We cannot hide the consequences of corruption, incompetence, and mismanagement, you can hide them but they will appear” he noted.

This increase was primarily attributed to the depreciation of the cedi during the period and a modest increase in domestic debt of ¢15.6 billion in the first four months of the year.

The renowned heart surgeon urged the country to seek internal solutions to reduce its reliance on external borrowing, stating that external assistance should not become a permanent feature of the Ghanaian system.

He also stressed the importance of preserving the legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, particularly his establishment of scientific institutions, which were disrupted during subsequent regimes.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng highlighted the need to build on the foundations laid by Nkrumah to promote scientific and technological advancement in Ghana.

“We should be able to organise ourselves in such a way that we are able to take care of ourselves. We sometimes need external help but it should not be a permanent feature of our lives.”

“We can overthrow him [Dr. Kwame Nkrumah] but don’t destroy some of the things that he did. Nkrumah set up the Academy of Sciences which became the CSIR and other scientific institutions. These institutions Nkrumah set up were going to do things and the NLC came and destroyed everything and cancelled everything.”

Legal documents from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) have revealed that the former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, utilized aliases to conceal transactions related to undisclosed real estate business.

“The OSP’s criminal intelligence further suggested that the first respondent, as a Minister of State, was engaged in an undisclosed and undeclared real estate business in which she obscured and concealed the transactions by employing the use of aliases to avoid detection of the actual ownership of the business and properties, while cleverly receiving the proceeds of the transactions in her bank accounts and investments.”

Per reports the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) also uncovered information suggesting that Cecilia Dapaah, the former Sanitation Minister, had substantial amounts of unexplained cash concealed within her residence.

These amounts far exceeded what would be expected from her income as a Minister of State. Additionally, it was alleged that her domestic staff had reportedly pilfered a portion of these funds through theft.

This revelation marks the most recent initiative by the Office of the Special Prosecutor aimed at validating the confiscation of suspected ill-gotten properties linked to Cecilia Dapaah.

“There are no financial records and traces of the origin(s) of the money reportedly stolen from the residence of the respondents and the money discovered by the OSP at said residence. Further, there is no evidence of the amounts of money having been derived from any legitimate businesses, profession or vocation, and no evidence of said amounts having been lawfully declared and subjected to any statutory payments.

“During the search conducted in her presence, the first respondent disavowed and claimed no knowledge of the presence of the said cash sums in the residence. The conduct of the first respondent, being a public officer, heightened the suspicion of the authorised officers of the OSP that the cash sums were tainted property.”

These events unfolded in the aftermath of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) taking action on Monday, September 11, by filing a motion in the High Court to seek confirmation of the seizure and freezing orders concerning the financial assets of the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.

A hearing for this matter is scheduled for October 18, 2023.

Initially, the OSP had frozen both the Cedi and Dollar bank accounts owned by the former minister on August 9. However, the decision was subsequently overturned by the High Court in Accra on August 31. The court ruled that the funds seized from Cecilia Dapaah should be returned to her within seven days, and it directed the OSP to unfreeze her accounts.

In response, the OSP exercised its legal authority to regain custody of the funds, a move made shortly after the High Court’s directive to return the seized money.

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has reiterated that the government has an outstanding debt of approximately $80 million owed to the Authority for the production of Ghana Cards.

According to Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, the Executive Secretary of the Authority, the government has not fully settled these outstanding payments.

Earlier this year, some partners of NIA, including Identity Management Systems, held back over 3.5 million cards due to the government’s failure to clear its debts.

While a payment of 100 million cedis by the Finance Minister led to the release of these cards, the accumulation of debt, including interest over the past six months, is now posing a threat to the registration process.

Prof. Attafuah emphasized, “the government of Ghana owes us approximately $80 million, and this is still in USD, so it’s a significant sum of money that the government needs to pay.”

He also noted that the debt had initially been around $90 million and had increased due to additional arrears, which were part of a government support agreement.

“Government of Ghana was so convinced about the viability of this project and it is still extremely viable that it undertook to basically underwrite any revenues that should have gone to the private partner for any given month if the project doesn’t generate revenue,” he said.

He further explained that the government was confident in the project’s viability and had undertaken to underwrite any revenues that should have gone to the private partner in case the project didn’t generate revenue.

In light of the upcoming 2024 general election, the Electoral Commission (EC) is planning a mass voter registration exercise for next year. A proposed Constitutional Instrument (C.I) is seeking to rely solely on the Ghana Card as the primary means of identification.

Prof. Attafuah stated that the NIA possesses reliable data that can aid the EC in conducting a credible registration exercise. He highlighted that the NIA can readily provide the required data to the EC, ensuring a seamless collaboration.

Furthermore, the Executive Secretary of NIA revealed that the Authority, in partnership with the Births and Deaths Registry, would begin issuing Ghana Cards to newborn babies following a successful pilot program.

Babies will be assigned a unique serial number at birth by the Births and Deaths Registry, linking their birth certificate to the Ghana Card. This initiative aims to eliminate controversies surrounding citizenship, age, and identity management issues in Ghana, providing a reliable and comprehensive system for managing citizen data.

“This is an internal contest to elect our flagbearer, so why should I attack my opponents or say something against our party?

“I am running a very decent campaign. I am selling my ideas to delegates and I do that with decorum, with humility, with respect and without mentioning anybody’s name,” he added.
He also revealed that he has instructed his campaign team and spokesperson not to engage in attacks or insults, even if he is subjected to such treatment by other aspirants. He emphasized the importance of conducting the contest based on ideas and not resorting to personal attacks, emphasizing his commitment to unity within the party.

Vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stated that he has no intention of engaging in attacks against his contenders for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership position.

He emphasized that such attacks would be detrimental to the party.

Dr. Bawumia stressed that instead of attacking his opponents, his focus is on sharing his ideas and highlighting the achievements of the government.

Speaking at an event with NPP stakeholders in Goaso in the Ahafo Region, he underscored the importance of maintaining a positive and respectful tone within the party.

He expressed his belief that attacking fellow party members in an internal contest would be counterproductive when the primary goal of all NPP members is to secure victory for the party in the 2024 elections against the opposition National Democratic Congress.

“I don’t believe in attacking my opponents and I won’t do that because it will be toxic and won’t be good for our party,” Dr. Bawumia said.

“This is an internal contest to elect our flagbearer, so why should I attack my opponents or say something against our party?

“I am running a very decent campaign. I am selling my ideas to delegates and I do that with decorum, with humility, with respect and without mentioning anybody’s name,” he added.

He also revealed that he has instructed his campaign team and spokesperson not to engage in attacks or insults, even if he is subjected to such treatment by other aspirants.

He emphasized the importance of conducting the contest based on ideas and not resorting to personal attacks, emphasizing his commitment to unity within the party.

The Ghana National Gas Company held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the initiation of construction on a 200-bed hospital at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).

The hospital project aims to cater to the healthcare needs of students, staff, and the broader Sunyani community.

The construction will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase focusing on 80 beds to relocate the UENR Clinic within the school campus. The entire project is slated for completion within a 24-month timeframe.

Upon completion, the hospital will feature specialized facilities including a dental block, eye clinic, outpatient department (OPD), separate medical blocks for male and female patients, a pediatric ward, pharmacy and laboratory units, a main theater, surgical blocks, consulting rooms, and specialized units for internal medicine, child health, maternal health, and emergencies.

Additionally, an administration block will house the health service directorate.Prof. Nsiah Gyabaah, the Chair of the University Council, expressed gratitude for the gas company’s initiative, emphasizing the significance of healthcare facilities for the community.

He welcomed attendees and expressed hope that the hospital would enhance healthcare provision for students and the broader community.

Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, the Vice Chancellor of the University, stressed the importance of the hospital project in addressing the inadequacies of the current clinic and contributing to the development of the university and its community.

He envisioned the hospital becoming a center for medical research and training, providing essential healthcare services to both the campus and the local community.

The Vice Chancellor commended the Ghana National Gas Company and its CEO, Dr. Ben Asante, for their support and commitment to the university and the community.

Anyimah Edomgbole, the Manager at Ghana Gas in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility, assured attendees of the company’s dedication to providing quality healthcare and supporting education, water and sanitation, and sports in the country.

The sod-cutting ceremony was attended by representatives from the Ghana Health Service, UENR, the community, faculty deans, lecturers, and students.

The Chairperson for the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, has announced plans for another voter’s registration exercise in 2024.

She clarified that this registration process would be continuous, spanning an extended duration and conducted at the EC’s district offices.

Addressing concerns during a press conference in Accra on Monday, September 18, 2023, Jean Mensa also disclosed that, alongside the continuous voter’s registration, there would be a limited voter’s registration exercise in specific electoral areas in preparation for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

“In the lead up to the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, we will roll out a continuous registration of voters for several months at District Offices. Additionally, we will undertake a limited mop-up registration exercise in selected electoral areas,” she said.

Jean Mensa addressed criticisms regarding her previous stance against holding registration at district offices during her tenure as Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in 2016.

She clarified that the circumstances were distinct, as the 2016 registration occurred during an election year, unlike the upcoming 2024 registration.

Furthermore, she emphasized that the 2024 voter registration process would differ from the ongoing limited voter’s registration and the one conducted in 2016.

Kennedy Agyapong, a presidential hopeful representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed his concern about the party’s performance in its stronghold, the Ashanti Region.

During an interview with the media on September 18, 2023, Mr Agyapong asserted that the Ashanti people had valid reasons to be dissatisfied with the government’s efforts because the development initiatives introduced by NPP administrations in the region were significantly inadequate.

He emphasized that individuals in the Ashanti Region who played a pivotal role in bringing the Akufo-Addo government to power felt neglected.

“They (Ashantis) can complain. I am going to speak the truth because there is time to salvage the situation. The policy of the NPP has been ‘help your neighbour and hate yourself’.

“Let me give you an example, there are some businessmen in the Ashanti Region who helped the NPP, since we came to power, we have ignored them completely… The Ashanti Region is the stronghold of the NPP but look at the kind of development here, I’m afraid,” he said in Twi.

Illustrating his point further, he cited instances of Ashanti Region-based businessmen who had supported the NPP but had not received due attention since the party assumed power.

Mr Agyapong lamented the current state of development in the Ashanti Region, given its pivotal role as the NPP’s stronghold.

Mr Agyapong, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, criticized ministers from the Ashanti Region in the Akufo-Addo government for their failure to spearhead significant developmental projects in the region.

He expressed disappointment in their performance and vowed to remain steadfast in speaking the truth without fear of reprisal.

A video has surfaced online featuring Sarah Adwoa Safo, the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, serving individuals at a public gathering believed to be within her constituency.

The video was shared on Twitter (now known as X), capturing the MP personally distributing snacks to people gathered beneath a canopy. Carrying a tray and assisted by some women in her vicinity, Sarah Adwoa Safo handed out frozen ice-creams to those seated nearby.

While the specific occasion is not clearly identified, it’s important to note that the Electoral Commission of Ghana has commenced a Limited Voter Registration exercise aimed at enrolling individuals who reached the age of 18 after the previous registration event.

On her Facebook page, the Dome-Kwabenya MP promoted this initiative with a flyer, encouraging all eligible residents in her constituency to participate.

The registration drive, which commenced on September 12, is scheduled to conclude on October 2, 2023.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Okaikwei North, Boye Laryea, has revealed plans to conduct an emergency Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) meeting today in response to the reported attack by masked individuals at the Electoral Commission (EC) district office.

This development follows reports of an assault by masked individuals on Ghanaians waiting to register for their Voter ID Cards at the Okaikwei North District office of the EC in Achimota on Sunday morning.

Mr. Laryea, in an interview with the media, stated that precautionary measures are being implemented to ensure a smooth and incident-free voter registration process.

“If you go there now, you will realise that we have provided some barricades. And what necessitated these arrangements was the fact that according to the NPP initially, the NDC guys came and erected a canopy and provided seats so they don’t allow any other person if they don’t know you.

“So they were bringing in their people and were not allowing the NPP people to occupy the seats. So that is what brought the confusion. And so what I did was to report to the EC madam to provide canopies and seats for the people so they can move the NDC canopies and chairs…these barricades are also helping to make sure that people don’t cross when it is not their turn.”

“We should also know that the place is a security area because we have the court, we have both magistrate court and district court. And so we are putting all these measures in place to ensure that it doesn’t disrupt the courts’ activities.

“This afternoon we are having a meeting to analyse the whole situation to see what we can put in place to make sure that what happened will never reoccur,” he stated.

The residents and business proprietors affected by the CMB fire incident have declined the proposal from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to relocate to an alternative site for assistance.

NADMO reports that about 800 people have been impacted by the incident. However, persuading them to move from the area has been unsuccessful as they are anxious about being forcibly evacuated.

In an interview with the media Daniel Odei-Appiah, the Korley Klottey Municipal Coordinator of NADMO, said, “Individuals involved are about 805 now on our records. We need to do auditing on that and also the structure that has been destroyed by the fire.”

“We need to know the number of structures completely destroyed and items that were in the structures. A disaster like this, we don’t need you here, we need to move you to a safe place and provide you with those things, but you say you are not going. I should provide you with the things here which is against the protocols,”

Frederick Quansah, the Assembly Member for the area, mentioned that they have lost faith in NADMO’s attempts to offer support due to past failures in similar circumstances. He stated, “Whenever NADMO officials come, they just take names, and they don’t provide us with anything. We haven’t received anything from them in the four consecutive fire incidents we have experienced, which is why I don’t want to engage with them.”

The fire, starting around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, engulfed hundreds of homes and shops, leaving numerous residents stranded. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) dispatched firefighters to the scene, but the fire had already spread extensively.

ADO1 Alex Nartey, a Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, reported the discovery of several flammable objects at the fire scene. Many shops were completely destroyed by the time the fire was extinguished, frustrating and disappointing the affected traders who had lost everything.

The Electoral Commission (EC) office in the Tamale Metropolis has expressed deep concern regarding what it describes as attempts by political parties to include ineligible voters in the registration process.

The Tamale Metro Director of the Commission, Bismark Nteh, expressed dismay that despite numerous discussions with political parties to discourage this unlawful practice, their efforts have proven ineffective.

Mr. Nteh is apprehensive that this misconduct may have future repercussions for the individuals involved when their falsified ages come back to haunt them. Consequently, he urged parents to dissuade their children from engaging in such activities.

“I would like to implore parents not to allow political parties to deceive them into thinking that by inflating the number of registrants, they will achieve their desired goals. These children will face consequences in the future. There will come a time when they will need their actual ages for something, and it will negatively impact them,” stated the Tamale Metro Director of the Electoral Commission in the Northern Region.

In a related development, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has squarely blamed the Electoral Commission for disruptions during the ongoing limited voter registration process.

This accusation follows an alleged attack on citizens who had gathered to register for their Voter ID Cards at the Okaikwei North District office of the Electoral Commission in Achimota on Sunday morning.

NDC Constituency Chairman for Okaikwei North, Gregory Quarshie, emphasized the critical importance of well-prepared and efficient electoral processes to maintain a secure and smooth environment for citizens to exercise their democratic rights.

“This is an issue artificially created by the EC because people arrive early, but they are not registered on time. The entire EC must take responsibility,” remarked the NDC Constituency Chairman for Okaikwei North.

However, the Greater Accra Regional Branch of the NDC has decided to provide transportation for individuals who may find it challenging to access registration centers.

According to Regional Chairman Emmanuel Nii Ashie-Moore, this step is necessary to ensure that many party members who have reached the age of 18 and above are registered.

This decision comes in response to calls from some political parties for the EC to increase the number of registration centers for the exercise scheduled from September 12 to October 2, 2023.

These parties argued that the 268 EC district offices designated for the exercise were insufficient to meet the demand.

In relation to the alleged rape and murder of an 18-year-old apprentice in Anwiankwanta within the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region, two individuals have been apprehended.

Bekwai’s Municipal Chief Executive, Kwaku Kyei Baffour, made this revelation following a municipal security meeting addressing the distressing incident.

These suspects were reported to have interacted with the victim shortly before her tragic demise.

Expressing confidence in the ongoing investigation by the Ghana Police Service, the Municipal Chief Executive emphasized their determination to ensure the culprits face justice, asserting that despite attempts to evade authorities, they would ultimately be held accountable.

The lifeless body of the victim, Georgina Agyemang, was discovered in an unfinished building near her residence. Eyewitnesses noted that her body was found partially unclothed, bearing visible injuries, raising concerns of potential rape and murder.

Acknowledging the escalating fear and tension within the community, Frank Awuah, the assembly member for the area, stressed the urgent need for implementing enhanced security measures to protect the residents.

He pointed out a prior incident three months ago involving the killing of a three-month-old baby, a mother, and another individual, emphasizing the critical need to find lasting solutions to such recurring tragic events.

Highlighting the importance of supporting security services, he urged citizens to actively contribute by volunteering and advocating for improved security measures in the country to meet international standards.

The Western Regional Police Command has initiated legal proceedings against three youths from Diabene in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis suspected to be affiliated with Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.

The arrests ensued from a public gathering organized by the youths, where they openly displayed and wore flags representing Wagner and Russia.

The individuals apprehended have been identified as Evans, 25 years old, Michael Asiedu, 23 years old, and Ernest Asiedu, 26 years old.

Allegedly supported by a sponsor from Australia, these three individuals mobilized approximately 20 youths to establish a military group in the Diabene community park. Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested them to forestall their plans.

Ramatu Ibrahim, the Assemblywoman of Fijai overseeing Diabene, verified the incident and expressed astonishment, urging for their prosecution.

She revealed that the boys claimed they were conducting a demonstration for freedom, practicing how to engage in conflict against the government. They were seen hoisting various flags representing different countries and playing national anthems.

According to her, the influential leader of the group is based abroad, and the leader in Ghana is 25 years old. Upon police interrogation, the youths apparently realized the gravity of their actions. It was reported that they were promised financial incentives if their planned action achieved success.

Mensah Promise, also known as “The Spinner,” was arrested alongside the suspects for providing music during the gathering. He mentioned they have already appeared in court twice at the Takoradi Circuit Court and are presently out on bail.

The Western Regional Police Command confirmed the incident and assured that further details would be provided soon.

In the second quarter of 2023, Ghana upheld its position as Africa’s foremost debtor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as its debt to the organization surged by 35.3%.

As of July 31, 2023, Ghana’s outstanding loans to the IMF, as per the Fund’s Quarterly Finances report for July 2023, stood at Special Drawing Rights (SDR) 1.689 billion, equivalent to $2.227 billion.

This marked a $451 million increase compared to the $1.246 billion recorded on April 30, 2023.

In June 2023, Ghana received a $600 million bailout package from the IMF to resuscitate its economy, which was grappling with fiscal challenges.

According to the report, Ghana’s outstanding loan to the IMF accounts for 9.55% of Africa’s total of SDR 17.68 billion. Notably, Ghana had also repaid $10.55 million (equivalent to SDR 8 million) to the IMF.

Ghana’s exposure to the Bretton Woods institution is categorized as concessional lending, featuring low-interest financing. Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya retained their positions as the second and third most indebted countries to the IMF in Africa as of July 31, 2023.

DR Congo owed the IMF SDR 1.142 billion, while Kenya’s debt to the Fund amounted to SDR 1.008 billion. Both countries also received disbursements of SDR 153 million and SDR 77 million, respectively, to bolster their balance of payments.

Sudan and Uganda maintained their fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with their exposure to the Fund estimated at SDR 992 million and SDR 812 million.

Uganda also received a disbursement of SDR 91 million to support its fiscal economy. The remainder of African countries collectively owed the IMF a total of SDR 11.32 billion.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has refuted allegations suggesting that it intends to deprive voters of their rights in the ongoing limited voter registration initiative.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had accused the commission of deliberately complicating the registration process for first-time voters in their strongholds by dispatching faulty registration equipment to those regions.

Furthermore, the NDC leveled accusations of collusion between the EC and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in an attempt to disenfranchise eligible voters.

Contrary to these claims, the EC has dismissed them, clarifying that the issue of malfunctioning devices was a challenge faced uniformly across all 16 regions, except Savannah.

During a press conference, Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the EC, acknowledged the existence of challenges but firmly refuted the allegations, assuring the public that the registration process was proceeding smoothly.

She stated, “As a Commission, we are working tirelessly to ensure that every eligible voter can register with ease. We have heard accusations from various quarters about the Commission disenfranchising eligible voters, which is untrue.”

Mensa emphasized the Commission’s commitment to upholding international best practices in maintaining a credible voter register. She also addressed criticism concerning the decision to utilize the 268 district offices as registration centers, clarifying that the current exercise aimed to update the existing register and that a comprehensive registration took place in over 33,000 polling stations in 2020.

Additionally, the Commission clarified that restricting registration to its district offices would not result in voter disenfranchisement. They planned to conduct ongoing registration at district offices and conduct mop-up exercises in remote areas before the 2024 elections.

Mensa concluded by assuring, “It is important to note that this will not be the only registration exercise we will have before the 2024 elections.”

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has taken an individual into custody in connection with the tragic death of 18-year-old Georgina Agyemang in Anwiankwantah, within the Bekwai Municipality.

The lifeless body of the victim was discovered partially unclothed on a Saturday afternoon, inside an unfinished building just a short distance from her sister’s residence. The unsettling condition in which her body was found has raised suspicions of strangulation and sexual assault.

In an interview with the media, Nana Kwarteng Amoaninn III, an uncle of the deceased, firmly asserted that the young lady met her demise at a different location before being transported to the aforementioned building.

The family has reported the incident to the police and anticipates a thorough investigation.

He emphasized, “After that, the Police must communicate its findings to the family.” Additionally, the family discovered some of the victim’s personal items at the scene, including her phone charger, a purse containing GHS150, adhesive, and an umbrella.

Meanwhile, Frank Akowuah, the Assembly member for the Anwiankwantah Electoral Area, has called for increased security measures in the vicinity. He noted that residents are living in fear, with some even relocating due to a series of unsolved killings in the area.

He urged the security services to collaborate with community members to ensure the safety of citizens, suggesting the establishment of community volunteers to support the police in their efforts. Akowuah stressed that citizen involvement is crucial in augmenting the capabilities of law enforcement agencies.

“About three months ago the same incident happened where a three-month-old baby was killed and we have a town around Anwiankwanta called Behinase, the same incident happened over there. A mother and her baby were both killed. So it has been occurring, this is something that we have to find a solution to.

“Since yesterday, people have started moving from the area to the main town because of what has happened. They are in fear that it will happen again. Those who have rented rooms over here are moving.”

He is therefore asking the security services to work with community members to protect the lives of citizens.

“For the security services, I have told them that in Ghana we don’t meet the world standard so they alone cannot protect the citizens, we have to help them. We need to establish community volunteers that will support the police than giving all our security to the police. So what the police is doing is ok, but we the citizens must help them so that the volunteers will protect the citizens.”

Residents near the Nungua-Baatsona Filling Station area were met with a horrific scene as they woke up to the aftermath of a fatal car crash that claimed the lives of two individuals.

According to an eyewitness report, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, September 18, 2023, at approximately 3:00 am.

A speeding Mercedes Benz, carrying four occupants, collided with a stationary KIA truck that had been parked by the side of the road in the vicinity.

The eyewitness further explained that the KIA truck had been left in front of the Shell Filling Station on the Nungua-Baatsonaa stretch since Friday, September 15, due to a malfunctioning front tire.

The driver had used a jack to support the vehicle and left it in that location.

In a video capturing the accident scene, the eyewitness mentioned that the occupants of the Mercedes Benz were known for frequently using the road at high speeds, and this tragic collision had fatal consequences.

Additionally, the eyewitness noted that among the victims of the accident were two Ghanaians and two Nigerians who had nearly collided with him earlier while driving recklessly.

“The truck you are seeing over here was packed there three days ago. So, I just heard a loud bang around 3-5 a.m. this morning. When I came out, the Benz was coming from the Ecobank direction and these people; they are two male Nigerians and two female Ghanaians; they usually drive on top speed on this road after drinking. They almost knocked me down three days ago when I was going to Dansoman.

“It happens that they didn’t know about the spoilt truck so when the driver of the Benz realised it, he sharply swerved but crashed into the truck with passenger side and that killed a man and woman. The driver and one other lady, however, survived but in a critical condition,” the eyewitness narrated.

Kennedy Agyapong, a hopeful for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer position, has unveiled his vision to transform the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) into a technological and engineering innovation hub if he becomes the President of Ghana.

He made this announcement during a meeting with KNUST lecturers in Kumasi on September 18, 2023.

Agyapong emphasized that, if elected as President, one of his primary objectives will be to reorient KNUST’s focus towards technology and engineering to align with the university’s name and vision.

“Under my leadership as President of Ghana, KNUST will lead in everything engineering and technology. It will be the IT hub of Ghana just like Silicon Valley is to the US”, he said.

“You have the Suame Magazine here but what has been the linkage between the University and the Magazine?… Under my leadership as President of Ghana, KNUST and Suame Magazine will manufacture and assemble automobiles right here in Kumasi”.

“I will give our educated young ones reasons to stay in Ghana. We can do it and KNUST can lead in the charge of industrial and engineering innovation. We have all that it takes to make it work and I am the leader that has the willpower to materialize this dream”, he added.

He further expressed his intent to foster collaboration between KNUST and the Suame Magazine, a hub for automobile repair and manufacturing, to enable the assembly and production of automobiles in Kumasi.

Mr Agyapong’s goal is to provide educated youth with compelling reasons to remain in Ghana and contribute to the nation’s technological and industrial advancement.

“I will build my Presidency on the three pillars you’ve already heard me talk about. I am coming in strong on Patriotism, Honesty, and Discipline (PHD) and developing Ghana based on the Agric, Technology, and Tourism sectors.

“We can do it and make it happen here. The Asian miracle is there for us to follow and that is what I will be using so I am asking all here to help me in this course”

“Write articles, tell your clientele about my vision, and encourage all to come on board to make Ghana work again. Ghana first it shall be for us all”, Kennedy Agyapong told the lecturers.

Agyapong called on the KNUST lecturers for their support in his bid to become the NPP’s flagbearer, outlining his key principles of “Patriotism, Honesty, and Discipline (PHD)” and his vision to develop Ghana’s agriculture, technology, and tourism sectors. He urged them to write articles and share his vision with their networks, emphasizing the importance of unity for the betterment of Ghana.

Addressing concerns about his suitability for the presidency, Mr Agyapong highlighted the substantial support he enjoys from university professors, lecturers, and professionals who believe in his message and view him as the candidate who can lead the NPP to victory in the 2024 elections, aiming to “break the 8” years of opposition rule.

Commissioner of Police George Alex Mensah has revealed his intention to run for the Asante Bekwai parliamentary seat in the Ashanti Region.

This announcement coincides with his official retirement from the Ghana Police Service, marking the culmination of his 31-year career in law enforcement.

During an interview with Angel FM in Accra, COP George Alex Mensah expressed his strong determination to run for political office and represent the Bekwai Constituency in Parliament.

He stated, “I have thought about it and I will run as MP, I have been thinking about it for a long time and I have taken a decision, so I will contest. I am from Asante Bekwai and I will contest for the seat,” he added.

Notably, COP Alex Mensah has recently been embroiled in a controversy related to a leaked tape in which he was reportedly involved in discussions about the removal of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

He has appeared before the Parliamentary Committee tasked with investigating this matter.Undeterred by the controversy, COP George Alex Mensah has affirmed his decision to enter the political arena and vie for a parliamentary seat to represent the Bekwai Constituency.

Although Commissioner of Police George Alex Mensah did not specify which political party’s ticket he intends to contest on, he had previously disclosed his sympathies for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the ad-hoc committee’s hearing.

In response to questions posed by Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku, regarding statements he made in the leaked audio tape that indicated his affiliation with the NPP, COP George Alex Mensah acknowledged that his entire family has a longstanding commitment to the United Party (UP) tradition, from which the NPP emerged. This statement strongly suggests his alignment with the NPP, although he did not explicitly confirm his candidacy on their ticket.

“Mr. Chairman, my family has been with the UP tradition ever since I was born, and we’ve remained there till now,” he said.

He later added, “I am a sympathizer of the NPP.”

Eric Opoku: “So you’re not a member, you’re a sympathiser is that what you’re saying to this committee?”

COP Mensah: “Yes. Mr. Chairman. I’ve said it already.”

The Minister of Trade and Industry, KT Hammond at the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition 2023 on September 18, revealed that the government’s One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) policy has 126 operational projects at present.

He further disclosed that approximately 300 established companies are currently in various stages of development and completion, actively participating in the supply chain.

KT Hammond highlighted the substantial impact of the 1D1F initiative on job creation, emphasizing that over 160,000 direct and indirect jobs have been generated as a result of this significant push for investment and industrialization.

He pointed out that more than 60% of the companies operating under this initiative fall under his ministry and are implementing similar programs, contributing significantly to employment generation.

“Over 60% of the companies under the One-District-One Factory initiative operating under my ministry, are developing all, implementing similar programmes, which account for the bulk of their employment creation impact. As a result of this massive push for investment, and industrialisation, so far, about 300 1D1F projects are at various stages of implementation and over 160,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created.

He specifically noted that 58 of the 1D1F projects are fully owned by youth groups in the country. These projects, located in 58 respective districts, are involved in various agro-based processing activities, including rice, maize, ginger, bamboo, cassava, and mushroom processing.

“Out of about 143 1D1F projects in various stages of construction and plant acquisition, 58 are fully owned by the youth groups who have been mobilised to establish agro-based processing factories in the 58 respective districts. They are involved amongst other rice, maize, ginger, bamboo, cassava, mushroom processing chain,” he stated.

Through the ongoing implementation of the 1D1F program, the government aims to stimulate industrialization, bolster local production, and enhance Ghana’s overall economic landscape.

The Minority Chief Whip, Governs Agbodza, has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of intentionally creating difficulties in the limited voter registration exercise held at its district offices.

Agbodza claims that the EC is collaborating with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to facilitate the introduction of a Constitutional Instrument (CI) in Parliament. This CI would authorize the use of the Ghana Card as the exclusive registration document for the 2024 general elections.

The EC has faced widespread backlash from various political parties, civil society organizations, and the public for insisting on conducting the limited voter registration exercise solely at its district offices.

Speaking to the media, Mr Agbodza emphasized that the EC’s decision is in line with their objective to establish the Ghana Card as the sole prerequisite for participating in the upcoming general elections.

“We cannot wish the democracy we have to work for all of us but everybody in this country knows the reason the EC is doing this is to create a situation where it is difficult for ordinary people to register so they can come back and say they are using the Ghana Card as the only source document for registration and it is quite clear the Electoral Commissioner who is supposed to be a fair player is in cahoot with the New Patriotic Party,” Agbodza said.

“You will notice that the NPP is not even bothered about the exercise that much simply because they know they have a plan…so don’t be surprised that they will come back to Parliament pretending that they are bringing a CI to make the Ghana Card the only source document when they know it is difficult to get the Ghana Card.”

Concerned residents of Kutukrom, located in the Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira constituency of the Western Region, have voiced their disappointment with the Akufo-Addo-led government for neglecting their community.

They conveyed their grievances in an interview with the media.

The Kutukrom to Prestea road has been in a state of disrepair for many years, with no commercial vehicles traversing it for over four months.

The only means of transportation to Kutukrom is by motorbike, commonly referred to as “okada.”

In 2020, president Akufo-Addo and his roads minister visited the area to symbolically commence the reconstruction of the road network from Kutukrom to Prestea.

However, according to report, no progress has been made on the road.

The residents of Kutukrom, have expressed their frustrations, stating, “We are suffering here, and today, you’ve been drenched by the rain. It seems like we are not part of Ghana; they don’t care about us at all.”

“We were here in 2020 when President Akufo-Addo and his team came to cut the sod for the road construction to Prestea.

“President Akufo-Addo and his government have neglected us. Look at our road; we are calling on President Akufo-Addo to visit again and experience our terrible road network. They should consider us as human beings because we are suffering,” they emphasized.

In response, Kofi Arko Nokoe, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, revealed that he has been consistently reminding the government to fulfill its 2020 pledge.

He expressed his disappointment in President Akufo-Addo for abandoning the road network from Kutukrom to Prestea.

Mr Nokoe said, “It’s a shame that President Akufo-Addo has taken the good people of Kutukrom for granted. Due to the current state of the roads, no car can reach Kutukrom, and my constituents rely on motorbikes, known as Okada, for their daily activities. It’s very unfortunate. I recall summoning the roads minister to Parliament over the poor roads in the Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira constituency, and his assurances were not accepted by my constituents.”

He also pointed out that, “since president Akufo-Addo assumed office, not a single kilometer of road network in the Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira constituency has been paved, despite the significant cocoa production in my constituency.”

Nokoe pledged to work with the residents of Kutukrom to address the deplorable Kutukrom to Prestea road.

Kutukrom, the largest and most populated community in the northern part of the Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira constituency, is known for its abundant resources, including cocoa, rubber, cassava, plantain, and yam, among others.