The Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has announced the release of PIN Codes for 142,381 final year students from 125 accredited tertiary institutions in the country.
These students are set to undertake their mandatory national service during the 2023/2024 service year.
Please note that this count does not include individual defaulters who have applied for enrollment into this year’s national service.
In an official statement signed by Ambrose Entsiwah Jnr, the Ag. Director of Corporate Affairs of NSS, eligible final year Ghanaian students are advised to visit the Scheme’s website at www.nss.gov.gh.
There, they can access their PIN Codes using their respective school Index Numbers and Date of Birth.
To complete the enrollment process, students must make a payment of GH¢40.00 at any branch of ADB Bank Ltd. Alternatively, they can use the MTN MoMo platform and pay GH¢41.00.
“The next step is to proceed to any branch of ADB Bank Ltd. to make payment of GH¢40.00; or alternatively, through MTN MoMo platform for GH¢41.00, to activate the enrollment process,” he added.
“Management urges accredited tertiary institutions that are yet to submit their supplementary final year lists, to do so as soon as possible, to enable the Scheme process them also for enrolment for the 2023/2024 national service. All eligible final-year Ghanaian students are advised to ensure that they personally complete the enrollment process to avoid errors that may subsequently affect processing for their deployment,” he added.
The registration deadline is set for Saturday, August 19, 2023. Management encourages accredited tertiary institutions that have not yet submitted their supplementary final year lists to do so promptly.
This will enable the Scheme to process their students for enrollment in the 2023/2024 national service.
Furthermore, all eligible final-year Ghanaian students are strongly advised to personally complete the enrollment process to avoid potential errors that could affect the processing of their deployment.
President Akufo-Addo has justified the government’s decision to initiate a new housing project instead of continuing with the Saglemi Housing project, which was started during the previous John Mahama administration.
The Saglemi Housing Project, launched in 2016, faced delays and stagnation as the government deemed it not in the best interest of Ghanaians.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony in Accra for the National Affordable Housing Project, which aims to construct 8,000 units with private sector support, President Akufo-Addo explained that proceeding with the Saglemi project would have incurred additional debt.
He acknowledged the challenges and setbacks encountered during the Saglemi project’s execution, and certain matters regarding scope of work and expenditures have been referred to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Ghana Police Service for investigation and subsequent criminal judicial proceedings.
“We are aware of the delays and setbacks encountered during the execution of this project. The issues about the scope of work and the money expended on the Saglemi project have been taken to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Ghana Police Service for investigation which has resulted in criminal judicial proceedings.
“However, in the meantime, to forestall the project from deteriorating the Minister of Works and Government has actively engaged government, cabinet, the Ministry of Finance and the office of the Attorney General on the completion of the project.”
“It has been established that in addition to the $198 million already expended on the project, the government has to raise additional funding to the tune of $ 46 million to complete the infrastructural works. That is water, electricity, and drains to mitigate flooding.
“Further, $68million is required to complete the buildings and other essential onsite infrastructure works like the waste holding bay, sewage treatment plants and the development of socioeconomic and civic infrastructure such as basic school, clinic and shops,” he stated.
While those investigations are underway, the Minister of Works and Government has actively engaged with the government, cabinet, Ministry of Finance, and the Attorney General’s office to address the completion of the Saglemi project.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted that beyond the $198 million already spent on the project, an additional $46 million is required to complete infrastructural elements such as water, electricity, and drainage to prevent flooding.
Moreover, an extra $68 million is needed to finish the buildings and other essential on-site infrastructure, including waste holding bay, sewage treatment plants, and the development of socio-economic and civic facilities like schools, clinics, and shops.
Considering various assessments and project location, the cabinet instructed the Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, to explore the possibility of involving the private sector to complete the Saglemi housing project at its current value without further cost to the government.
The National Labour Commission (NLC) has given Sunon Asogli Power Limited a deadline of Wednesday, August 2, to reach a final decision regarding the demand for the reinstatement of three dismissed union executives from the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Sunon Asogli’s refusal to reinstate the union leaders has disappointed the TUC, as they believe the terminations were wrongful. In response, the National Labour Commission has intervened and demanded a prompt resolution to the matter by Wednesday, August 2.
On July 10, 2023, the union initiated a strike, but it was later called off after the Council of State intervened, requesting more time to engage stakeholders and resolve the issue amicably.
During the National Executive Council Meeting of the Ghana Mineworkers Union of TUC, Joshua Ansah, the Deputy Secretary-General of TUC, emphasized that the outcome of the meeting would determine their next course of action.
He reassured everyone that the strike was suspended, not abandoned, and could be reactivated at any time. The demand remains that the three dismissed union executives must be reinstated.
“The strike was suspended and not abandoned, anything that has been suspended can be reactivated at any time. Don’t get sad that we have suspended it, we want to assure you that our demand is that our three brothers will have to be reinstated. Last Wednesday, myself, the deputy, secretary general, met with the National Labour Commission, upon invitation. And they have given the management of Sunon Asogli tomorrow August 2 to make a decision,” he said.
Joshua Ansah also mentioned a recent meeting with the National Labour Commission, during which they granted Sunon Asogli until August 2 to make a decision.
Meanwhile, Abdul Moomin Gbana, the General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union of TUC, urged the Council of State to promptly address their concerns and work towards a resolution.
“In the interest of peace and harmony, we would like to remind the Council of State and by extension the government about the commitments made to Organized Labour, to peacefully resolve the matter. And therefore, urge them to prioritise the resolution of the matter without any delay,” Abdul Moomin Gbana stated.
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the peaceful resolution of the matter without any delays, in the interest of peace and harmony.
At least 10 tricycle operators have been arrested after clashing with city guards as the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) began the implementation of a ban on tricycle movement in the Central Business District (CBD).
Heavy police and military presence has been deployed in the marked-out areas to enforce the ban.
The KMA announced the directive to restrict tricycles from operating within the CBD to address congestion issues in the metropolis.
Tricycle riders opposed the decision, but the head of the transport department at KMA, Randy Wilson, emphasized the assembly’s commitment to the directive.
Wilson cited that tricycles were not legally allowed for commercial purposes according to traffic regulations and added that the city needed to take steps to limit certain activities due to congestion concerns.
“KMA is supposed to plan and regulate public transport within its area of jurisdiction,” Wilson said, adding, “On April 29, 2023, at a general assembly meeting, it was resolved that the transport reorganization that has been planned should ensure that we have the unstrung stations, the normal union stations that are operating from terminals, the cargo vehicles, and then we also added the tricycles as providers of public transport services.”
“We started engagements with the tricycle operators,” Wilson continued, “Legally, from the traffic regulations 2180, tricycles are not supposed to be used for commercial purposes. So from the national level, it is an illegality.
The KMA had initially planned to implement the ban on June 15, 2023, but it deferred the date to allow for ongoing sensitization activities.
The assembly’s Public Relations Officer, Henrietta Afia Konadu Aboagye, clarified that the directive was a restriction rather than a complete ban, and the assembly would enforce it with checkpoints and vehicle impoundments for those who defy the ban.
“The directive is not a ban, but a restriction on their movement in the CBD. So we met with their executives on May 9 to let them know that the move was to reduce congestion in the CBD. They asked for some time to speak with their members.”
“We realized that the education took a bit longer, so the directive which was scheduled to take effect on the 15th, cannot take effect. We are still in the process of sensitization,” she said.
“The recalcitrant ones who will force their way into the CBD will have their vehicles impounded and taken to the Central Police Station or the assembly’s towing site, where they will be fined,” she added.
The former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akwatia in the Eastern Region, Mercy Adu-Gyamfi, popularly known as Ama Sey, is determined to reclaim the Akwatia seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general election.
Despite losing in her re-election bid during the party’s parliamentary primary to Ernest Kumi, who subsequently lost the seat to the NDC in the 2020 election, Ama Sey is determined to make a comeback.
A group of NPP polling station executive members presented the party’s parliamentary nomination forms to Ama Sey, expressing their unwavering support for her candidacy in the 2024 elections.
Ama Sey emphasized that her desire to return to Parliament is driven by her commitment to serving the people of Akwatia and bringing development to the area.
She has engaged in consultations with key personalities within and outside the NPP regarding her intention to contest for the parliamentary seat once again on the NPP ticket.
The party has opened nominations in the 137 constituencies where it has no sitting MPs, known as orphan constituencies, starting from July 11, 2023, until August 10, 2023.
Elections in these orphan constituencies to elect parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general election will take place between September 2023 and December 2, 2023.
The Akwatia parliamentary seat is currently held by the NDC, with Henry Yiadom Boakye as the MP. In the 2020 general election, Boakye won the seat with 19,899 votes (51.5%), defeating Ernest Kumi of the NPP, who received 18,742 votes (48.5%). Ama Sey is determined to reclaim the seat for the NPP in the upcoming elections.
The Governing Council of Ho Technical University (HTU) has approved the re-appointment of Professor Ben Q. Honyenuga as Vice-Chancellor for another four-year term.
Professor Honyenuga assumed office as the first substantive Vice-Chancellor on July 1, 2019, and completed his first term on June 30, 2023, after initially acting as Vice-Chancellor from October 2018 to June 2019.
In a recent media engagement in Ho, Professor Honyenuga expressed his commitment to further transforming HTU into a renowned technical university both nationally and internationally.
“It would also ensure that graduates from HTU compared favourably with their counterparts worldwide,” the Vice-Chancellor added.
His agenda includes fostering an excellent academic environment where faculty, staff, and students work together as a team to elevate HTU’s reputation.
During his first term, the university achieved significant progress.
The academic programmes expanded to include at least 20 bachelor’s degree programmes, and the Precision Quality Training programme was implemented.
The university also invested in facilities, boreholes, sanitation improvements, and infrastructure like the Agordoe footbridge.Regarding research, a Directorate of Research and Innovation was established, and partnerships with various organizations were secured, including the Ghana Navy, Lucas Nulle Company in Germany, Woosong University in South Korea, Kosmos Innovation Centre, Japan Motors, and the Design Technology Institute.
In his second term, Professor Honyenuga pledged to introduce at least 10 additional innovative bachelor’s degree programmes across faculties, aligning with the mandate of the Technical Universities Act.
Additionally, the Graduate School will expand its program offerings from four to ten demand-driven courses.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has conducted a two-day capacity-building workshop for all Constituency Organisers, their deputies, and Zongo Caucus Coordinators in preparation for the 2024 elections.
The workshop aimed to empower participants to help the party regain political power from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and bring positive change to the Volta Region.
Joseph Yamin, the National Organiser of the NDC, emphasized the crucial importance of the 2024 elections for the party’s prospects and urged the attendees to be dedicated, passionate, and committed to winning the elections.
He highlighted that victory in the upcoming elections would depend on adequate preparations, making the workshop timely and relevant.
The Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mawutor Agbavitor, reiterated the region’s determination to contribute significantly to the party’s efforts to regain political power.
The Hohoe Constituency Chairman, Newton Darkey, expressed the constituency’s support for the workshop and its readiness to work hard to regain the parliamentary seat. He emphasized the crucial role of the participants in the party’s success and encouraged them to utilize the investments made in their capacity-building effectively.
The Hohoe Constituency Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC, Worlany Tsekpo, pledged the participants’ commitment to work diligently to regain the seat and urged them to make the most of the knowledge gained during the workshop.
James Gunu, the Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC, mentioned various initiatives undertaken by the party, such as inviting election losers to collaborate and equipping regional executives through decentralised meetings. The party also aimed to eliminate “skirt and blouse” voting in endemic constituencies and was implementing a strategic organization and visibility program.
Siki Abibu, the NDC Volta Regional Organiser, explained that the workshop covered redefining the duties of Zongo Caucus Coordinators and properly assigning the “Other Eight” members who were part of the various constituency executives.
Additionally, the workshop aimed to devise strategies to ensure the party’s complete control of various assemblies in the forthcoming District Assembly Elections and foster closer collaboration between Constituency Election Directors and Constituency Organisers.
Ghana has become a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) Executive Council.
The UNWTO is responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism, while also driving economic growth, inclusive development, and a sustainable environment through tourism.
Five other countries, namely Nigeria, Rwanda, Namibia, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, were also selected to serve on the council during the 66th UNWTO Commission for Africa meeting in Mauritius.
The council’s role includes consulting with the Secretary-General to implement decisions that will enhance global tourism.
The official unveiling of the council will take place at the next UNWTO General Assembly meeting scheduled for October in Uzbekistan.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, expressed Ghana’s commitment to prioritize travel and tourism on the global development agenda.
He also called on African tourism ministers to focus on sustainable practices to protect the environment and ensure that local communities benefit from tourism.
Dr. Awal further emphasized the need for investments in tourism infrastructure and capacity-building for operators along the tourism value chain to enhance Africa’s competitiveness in the sector.
President Akufo-Addo has given directives for the implementation of innovative strategies to maximize the contributions of tourism, arts, and culture to national development.
He aims to achieve two million international tourist arrivals and annual receipts of $6 billion by 2025.
On Monday 31st July, 2023, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor, MP, partnered with the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, James Cleverly, has launched the UK-Ghana Gold Mining Programme.
This new initiative aims to support Ghana in its efforts to combat illegal mining activities.
The UK-Ghana Gold Mining Programme focuses on eliminating illegalities associated with the small-scale mining sector by enhancing community resilience, promoting regulatory reforms, and providing support to law enforcement agencies.
The program will be implemented in the Ashanti, Savannah, and Western Regions of Ghana.
During the launch ceremony held at the Kotoka International Airport, Minister Jinapor highlighted the historic relationship between Ghana and the United Kingdom.
He emphasized that both countries have collaborated on various socio-economic policies and initiatives that have greatly benefited their citizens.
The gold mining program is yet another joint effort to address a pressing issue.
Minister Jinapor emphasized the importance of the small-scale mining sector in Ghana’s economic development.
He acknowledged that several interventions have been undertaken by the government to address the challenges in the sector and promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
He praised the UK Government for its support, describing the initiative as a significant boost to the government’s ongoing fight against illegal mining.
He assured the UK team of his ministry’s full cooperation and commitment to achieving the program’s objectives.
The UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs commended the Ghanaian government’s efforts in cracking down on illegal mining. He recognized the fight as a bold step to protect Ghanaians from the negative environmental impacts caused by illegal mining.
The three-year illegal gold-mining program will see the UK government contribute £3.9 million to complement Ghana’s efforts in the Western, Ashanti, and Savannah Regions.
Experts and officials from the UK government will collaborate with a technical team from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to ensure the effectiveness and success of the program.
Senior midwives at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) have advised women to seek help from health personnel to monitor their cycles for six months before considering the use of natural family planning methods.
Some women have reported getting pregnant despite using methods like the menstrual calendar and withdrawal.
Ms. Millicent Asante and Ms. Rosemary Fosuaa, both senior midwives at IMaH, shared this advice while speaking to the media.
The initiative aims to promote health-related communication and provide a platform for health information dissemination to enhance health literacy and personal health choices.
Ms. Asante, speaking on “Family Planning and Ante-Natal Care,” emphasized the importance of accurately understanding one’s cycle before relying on natural methods to avoid failures and unplanned pregnancies.
She explained that some women might have irregular menstrual cycles, making natural family planning methods unsuitable for them. Some women’s cycles could vary from 28 to 31 days or even up to 35 days.
Ms. Fosuaa added that miscalculations in natural birth control methods could lead to fertilization, as couples might not be aware of their accurate cycle information. The calendar method, based on the average menstrual cycle of 28 days, may not be applicable to everyone, especially the approximately one percent of women with a 31-day cycle. Using this method without proper monitoring could result in unintended pregnancies.
Furthermore, Ms. Fosuaa cautioned that the withdrawal method, involving pulling out before ejaculation, might also fail due to errors or excitement. Healthy sperm can reach and fertilize an egg within 90 seconds of discharge, making this method less reliable.
In light of these potential issues, she encouraged individuals who cannot depend on natural methods to consult their healthcare providers. Health care providers can guide them in choosing suitable family planning contraception methods to meet their specific needs.
The first English slave fort in Africa appears to be located in Ghana, according to the BBC.
Per BBC’s report, Archaeologist Christopher DeCorse from Syracuse University is leading the excavation and proudly displaying rare artifacts on a makeshift table near the dig site.
Among the artifacts are a gunflint, tobacco pipes, broken pottery, and the jawbone of a goat, all of which provide valuable insights into the past.
According to DeCorse, these findings suggest the existence of “the first English outpost established anywhere in Africa.”
“Any archaeologist who says they are not excited when they find something are not being entirely truthful,” the professor from Syracuse University in the US says with a broad smile.
The site of the dig, under the blue canopy, is inside Fort Amsterdam built by the Dutch
The excavation takes place in the ruins of Fort Amsterdam, on Ghana’s coastline, where the remains of an older fort named Kormantine are believed to be buried.
The team carefully combs through layers of soil, using soft-bristle brushes and trowels, and sieves the disturbed soil removed from the trenches.
Ancient maps referred to a Fort Kormantine in the area, and the name of the nearby town, Kormantse, is closely related. The fort’s discovery may shed light on the lives of early traders, enslaved people, and their impact on the local community.
Fort Kormantine, built by the English in 1631, played a pivotal role in the early stages of the slave trade.
It started as a trading post for gold and ivory but later became a warehouse for goods used to buy slaves.
Additionally, it served as a holding point for those kidnapped in various parts of West Africa before being transported to the Caribbean for plantation work.
The exact location of Fort Kormantine had been a matter of speculation, but initial digs in 2019 near Fort Amsterdam provided clues.
Nigerian Omokolade Omigbule says it was “mind-blowing” to see the remains of the English fort
Recently, during further excavations, the team uncovered a six-meter-long wall, a door post, foundations, and a drainage system made of red brick, indicating an English presence predating the Dutch fort.
The artifacts found at the site, including a rusty gunflint and tobacco pipes with small bowls, align with the early 17th Century timeframe.
“It was mind-blowing, seeing first-hand the remnants, the footprints of an actual building subsumed under a new fort,” says the student from the University of Virginia.
“Seeing the imprints of these external forces in Africa first-hand and being a part of such a dig takes me back a few hundred years, it feels like I was there.”
These bowls of tobacco pipes were among the artefacts found at the site
The presence of a goat jawbone suggests that the English may have domesticated local animals as an additional protein source despite being near abundant fishing grounds.
The work of archaeologists will continue for the next three years, focusing on unraveling Fort Kormantine’s architecture, appearance, and significance to gain a deeper understanding of this historical landmark.
France is making preparations to evacuate its citizens from Niger, a West African nation, due to rising anti-French sentiment following a recent coup.
In addition to assisting its own citizens, France has also announced its intention to help other European nationals leave the country.
The coup has triggered protests against France, the former colonial power, with even the French embassy coming under attack.
This development coincides with warnings from the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso and Mali.
The juntas in these countries have cautioned that any attempt to forcefully reinstate the ousted president in Niger would be considered a declaration of war.
Burkina Faso and Mali, both former French colonies, have moved away from France and aligned themselves with Russia after experiencing their own coups.
This situation adds complexity to an already volatile region grappling with an Islamist militant insurgency.
Niger, being rich in uranium, has been a vital ally for Western nations, including France and the US, in their efforts to combat jihadist extremism in the Sahel.
France had previously shifted its counter-terror operations to Niger following Mali’s partnership with Russian Wagner mercenaries in 2021.
Protests outside the French embassy in Niamey, Niger’s capital, saw demonstrators expressing support for Russia and President Putin while expressing disdain for France. They also set fire to the embassy compound walls.
Due to the closure of Niger’s airspace, French citizens were unable to leave the country independently, leading to the decision to conduct evacuations starting on Tuesday. Italy’s foreign minister also confirmed that Italian citizens were being offered special flights to leave Niamey for Italy.
Earlier, France had welcomed an ultimatum from the West African bloc Ecowas, which demanded that Niger’s junta reinstate the elected President Mohamed Bazoum within a week.
Chad’s President Mahamat Idris Déby mediated efforts on behalf of Ecowas and was pictured with Mr. Bazoum.
Burkina Faso and Mali responded to the possibility of Ecowas military intervention by threatening to withdraw from the bloc and defend their eastern neighbor.
They believe such intervention would be disastrous and destabilizing. These countries are already suspended from Ecowas due to previous coups.
Niger’s junta has not yet commented on the demand from Ecowas but asserted its commitment to defending the country from any aggression by regional or Western powers, accusing France of planning military intervention.
However, the French Foreign Minister refuted this allegation.
The situation in Niamey appears calm as preparations for evacuations begin, and a crisis meeting is underway at the French foreign ministry in coordination with the embassy in Niamey.
Despite the evacuations, French nuclear fuel company Orano’s operations in Niger are not expected to be significantly affected, as most of its staff consists of Nigerien nationals.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has provided an update on the progress of the Anomabo Fisheries College, indicating that significant strides have been made, and enrollment is about to commence.
Back in 2019, President Akufo-Addo laid the foundation for the phase I component of the project in Axim and Moree.
The government’s overarching vision was to develop a thriving fishing and aquaculture industry supported by essential infrastructure such as landing sites, hatcheries, fish health laboratories, and training centers.
Former Fisheries Minister, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, expressed optimism in September 2020 that the project would be operational during the 2020/2021 academic year. However, that timeline was not met.
During his Mid-year budget review statement in Parliament on July 31, 2023, the Finance Minister confirmed that the civil works for Phase 1 of the project have been completed. As a result, student enrollment and training will begin by the end of the year.
The Anomabo Fisheries College is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, as well as implementing partners such as the University of Cape Coast and Mfantseman Municipal Assembly.
Once operational, the facilities are expected to play a crucial role in reducing fish post-harvest losses in the beneficiary communities.
An 18-year-old, Maxwell Afful, has been found guilty by the Achimota District Court for stealing and possessing stolen meters belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
He has been sentenced to pay a fine of 40 penalty units. In case of default, as he pleaded guilty to illegal possession of stolen property and intentionally interfering with the supplier’s distribution system, meters, and equipment, he will serve a four-month jail term.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution presented the facts of the case before His Worship Prince Osei Owusu, who presided over the court.
According to the prosecution, Afful was apprehended by the Achimota Mile 7 Police Patrol team at dawn, and he was carrying a backpack containing tools and six stolen meters from ECG customers’ premises.
Afful, now a convict, confessed in his statement that he removed meters installed in households and sold them to other customers at various locations.
Dr. Mark Owusu Ansah, the Revenue Protection Manager of ECG, Accra West Region, expressed concern over the alarming trend and the impact it has on the Company’s ability to provide quality service.
He explained that the stolen meters were geo-tagged, which allowed ECG monitoring teams to track their movements.
“Our installed meters are geo-tagged to indicate their exact locations. This helps our teams monitor the state of our meter installations regularly,” Dr. Ansah stated. He further emphasized that the theft, resale, and relocation of installed meters affected the Company’s revenue generation since some clients used electricity without paying due to the illegal activities.
Mr. Emmanuel Akinie, the General Manager of ECG, Accra West Region, issued a warning to criminals involved in meter theft and sales, urging them to cease such actions. He informed that the Company was implementing technology to identify stolen and re-installed meters.
“All our installed meters are geo-tagged to indicate their exact locations. This helps our teams to monitor the state of our meter installations regularly,” he said, adding that, however, stealing, reselling and changing the original location of installed meters was affecting the revenue generation of the Company because some clients used power without paying due to the illegality.
The Accra West Region, comprising eight operational districts—Ablekuma, Achimota, Amasaman, Bortianor, Dansoman, Kaneshie, Korlebu, and Nsawam—has already reported approximately 600-meter theft cases in four of the eight operational districts since the beginning of the year.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, during the Mid-year budget review in Parliament, disclosed that the government is actively engaging with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to tackle the issue of debt relief in the energy sector.
He emphasized the significance of resolving the challenge posed by IPP power payments, which has been affecting the economy.
To address the impact of excess capacity on the economy, the government is working in collaboration with IPPs.
One of the measures taken is restructuring the accrued outstanding balances and clearing arrears in the sector.
Moreover, efforts have been made to reduce excess capacity commitments by renegotiating the Gas Sales Agreement between the Volta River Authority (VRA) and N-Gas.
In the realm of alternative energy, the government is making progress towards establishing Ghana’s first nuclear power plant.
Vendor companies and countries have been shortlisted for this development, and the goal is to identify an economically resilient nuclear power technology that will serve as a clean energy source for the nation.
To alleviate the financial burden on the energy sector and ensure sustainable revenue collection, Mr. Ofori-Atta called for a collective effort to assist the Electricity Company of Ghana in its revenue collection exercise.
The implementation of the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) and Natural Gas clearing has contributed to the equitable distribution of revenues in the sector.
Looking ahead, the Minister emphasized the ongoing reforms of the CWM to ensure mandatory compliance, which will facilitate consistent cash flow to the IPPs and promote the stability of the energy sector.
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, has expressed his concern about the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government, stating that it has exacerbated the challenges faced by Ghanaians rather than alleviating them.
Addressing the Parliament after the presentation of the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review by Finance Minister Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Dr. Forson disputed the Finance Minister’s claim that the nation’s economic performance indicated a positive turnaround.
He argued that the available evidence and data indicate a worsening of the country’s problems.
“Mr Speaker, the Finance Minister says the economic performance of the nation shows that we have turned the corner (recovering from the difficult situation. However, the evidence and the numbers before us show that our woes have rather deepened…,” he said.
One of the major issues Dr. Forson highlighted was the declining economic growth rate, which he attributed to the Finance Minister’s decision to borrow heavily from the Treasury Bill Market. The increase in borrowing has contributed to a contraction in the economy.
Dr. Forson emphasized that the continuous borrowing by the Government is a significant factor behind the high inflation rate.
He also pointed out that the Central Bank has been forced to raise Monetary Policy rates due to the rising lending rates caused by the Government’s over-borrowing and over-expenditure.
“The Finance Minister has said to us today that he is reversing economic growth from 2.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) to 1.50 of GDP… This clearly shows that the economy is contracting and declining,” he said.
“Mr Speaker, I say this because he (the Finance Minister) said to us here and now that he had borrowed GHC5.5 billion from January to June from the Treasury Bill Market.”
”Mr Speaker, not long ago, the Minister had informed us that he would not borrow at all in the year 2023… However, the Minister says going into the remaining part of the year he was going to borrow another GHC41.00 billion.”
The Minority Leader expressed concern about the escalating lending rates, with Treasury Bill rates rising from about 14 percent to approximately 23 to 25 percent, with the possibility of further increases in the future.
“Let our Minister not say anywhere that he has turned the corner, he has rather deepened our woes,” he said.
Regarding the stability of the Ghana Cedi, Dr. Forson mentioned that it had only stabilized due to the country’s failure to service its external debts, particularly those owed to Eurobond and countries like China, Saudi Arabia, India, the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, France, and the Czech Republic. However, he warned that the situation could worsen in the future when the country starts servicing these debts in January 2024, leading to potential depreciation of the cedi.
In conclusion, Dr. Forson urged the Finance Minister not to claim that the country has turned the corner economically, as he believes that the 2023 Budget has, in fact, deepened the challenges faced by Ghanaians. He emphasized the negative consequences of continuous borrowing and urged for measures to reduce lending rates and stabilize the currency.
“Looking into the Budget, by this time Ghana should have serviced its external debts, approximately 11 million Ghana Cedis.
“As early as January 2024, we will start serving these debts, and if we are to start servicing these debts, don’t be surprised that our currency, the cedi, will start depreciating once again,” he said.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta, has stated that the government has successfully constructed 37 automated premix fuel vending machines out of the targeted 50.
These machines have been strategically placed at various landing beaches, including Elmina, Chorkor, and Nungua, in an effort to curb the diversion and hoarding of fuel, which has been causing severe shortages.
During his presentation of the 2023 Mid-Year Budget Statement and Policy Review to Parliament, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta revealed the government’s plan to install 13 more machines at different landing beaches across the country before the year’s end.
Additionally, the government is actively experimenting with electronic monitoring systems on trawlers to combat illegal, unreported, and uncontrolled fishing activities, showcasing its commitment to addressing environmental concerns and promoting sustainable fishing practices.
Furthermore, Mr. Ofori Atta shared that the first phase of the Anomabo Fisheries College project has been completed, marking a significant milestone.
As a part of the government’s vision to foster a thriving fishing and aquaculture industry, the college was established in 2011, incorporating essential infrastructure such as hatcheries, fish health laboratories, and training facilities.
The minister expects student enrollment and training to commence by the conclusion of 2023, aiming to empower individuals within the fishing sector with the necessary skills and knowledge for a prosperous future.
The Communications Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Stanley Martey, has refuted claims that the company has disconnected water to schools within its Tema region.
The allegations suggested that several Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Eastern Region and Accra, falling under the GWCL’s Tema region, including Ada SHS and Chemu SHS, had been disconnected by the GWCL.
In an interview with the media on Monday, Mr. Martey clarified that the company had not disconnected any schools thus far.
Instead, they had taken steps to demand payment for the outstanding amounts owed to them by the schools.
Mr. Martey emphasized that the GWCL does not typically disconnect schools as they are considered essential service providers.
However, if any SHS demonstrates a lack of cooperation in settling their bills, the company may resort to disconnection as a last resort.
He further explained that there were instances where the GWCL received communication from the secretariat handling the Free SHS program, instructing them to approach certain schools for payment, possibly indicating that the funds had been released to those schools.
In such cases, they would go to demand the outstanding amounts owed.
In summary, Mr. Martey clarified that the GWCL had not disconnected any schools in the region but had been actively pursuing the collection of outstanding dues from them.
The company’s policy is not to disconnect schools, but they may take such action if the schools persistently neglect their payment responsibilities.
“Per our standard operating procedures, we do not disconnect schools. Schools are classified as essential service providers, so we do not disconnect them. We only disconnect them when they have been recalcitrant in the payment of their bills or when they have deliberately refused to settle their bills.”
“Sometimes, we receive a communication from the secretariat that handles the Free SHS program, stating that we should go and disconnect some of the schools. This is perhaps because they have released some of the funds to them, so we go there to demand the money,” he stated.
In a move to promote sub-regional integration and decentralized governance, Winneba has been chosen for the second time to host the Extraordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in September 2023.
The decision was driven by the Ghanaian delegation, led by Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, who advocated for hosting such events outside the capital city to provide members with the opportunity to engage with different parts of the country.
Afenyo-Markin emphasized that bringing governance and international conferences to the regions serves to connect with the people and foster positive development opportunities.
Speaking in Monrovia, Liberia, after a joint delocalized meeting, he expressed optimism about the potential benefits of hosting the ECOWAS Parliament in Winneba, including growth, development, and tourism, as well as the upgrading of facilities for the region’s long-term benefit.
The success of previous events in Winneba has set a precedent, and the Ghanaian government is committed to ensuring all necessary protocols, security arrangements, and facilities are in place to ensure the comfort and convenience of all participants.
Afenyo-Markin encourages other member states to consider hosting international conferences in various regions, spreading opportunities beyond capital cities.
The Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, has labelled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta‘s comments about Ghana’s improving economy “false and misleading.”
During the 2023 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on July 31, Mr. Ofori-Atta asserted that Ghana was making modest gains in turning the economy around after facing severe economic hardships in 2022.
He highlighted the positive results of the government’s plans and programs and called on the nation to recognize the achievements of the past three years.
In response, Dr. Ato Forson contested the Finance Minister’s statements and presented evidence to the contrary.
He expressed concerns about the current state of the economy, citing a downward revision of economic growth from 2.8% of GDP to 1.5% of GDP, indicating a slower recovery than expected.
Additionally, he criticized the government for borrowing significant amounts from the T-Bill market, despite earlier assurances of not borrowing in 2023. He also attributed the depreciation of the Cedi to defaults in the payment of external interest and principal.
Dr. Ato Forson argued that, contrary to the Finance Minister’s claims, the situation has worsened under the Akufo-Addo government.
“The performance so far shows that we have turned the corner. Unfortunately, the evidence and the numbers before us, show us that he has rather deepened our woes,” Cassiel Ato Forson said.
“I say this because he has said to us today that he’s revising economic growth from 2.8% of GDP to 1.5% of GDP. Again, he said to us here and now that he has borrowed 5.5 billion Ghana cedis from January to June, from the T-Bill market. Mr Speaker, not long ago, this same Minister informed us that he will not borrow at all in the year 2023. And that going into the remaining parts of the year, he is going to borrow another 41 billion Ghana cedis.”
“Aside from that, the Cedi depreciation we are seeing so far, it’s largely because we have defaulted in the payment of external interest and principal. That is why the cedi has depreciated.”
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has assured Ghanaians that the government is fully committed to implementing a strong growth strategy within the country’s limited fiscal space.
This strategy includes a fiscal consolidation program aimed at fostering economic prosperity.
Mr. Ofori-Atta emphasized that achieving this goal will involve attracting both domestic and foreign private sector investments and promoting the expansion of production.
“This will be done by attracting domestic and foreign private sector investments and expanding production, which will be encouraged and stimulated by government policies and agencies,” he added.
The government will actively encourage and stimulate such investments through favorable policies and the support of relevant agencies.
The Minister presented these assurances during the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana in Parliament, held in Accra on Monday.
He further highlighted the importance of the government’s Mutual Prosperity Dialogue with the private sector, which aims to improve the ease of doing business in the country. By creating a conducive environment, the government aims to attract more private domestic and foreign investments.
In addition to economic matters, Mr. Ofori-Atta acknowledged the growing number of West African nationals seeking refuge in Ghana due to various factors, including regional instability and terrorist attacks.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritize national security and mentioned that a review of security expenditures within the limited fiscal space has become necessary to address these challenges.
In summary, the Minister’s address underscored the government’s determination to foster economic growth through strategic investments and policies while maintaining a focus on national security in the face of evolving regional challenges.
“Security continues to be a priority of Government. The United Nations recently reported that over 1,800 terrorist attacks, resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths, were recorded in our region – West Africa in the first six months of this year. Due to this instability among others, increasing numbers of West African nationals are seeking refuge in our country. This has required a review of our security expenditures within our limited fiscal space,” he stated.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, during the 2023 Mid-Year Budget review held on Monday, July 31, made some significant announcements regarding the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) and social protection programs.
Mr. Ofori-Atta stated that the government has successfully cleared all outstanding arrears owed to caterers under the GSFP.
This development brings financial relief and stability to the caterers involved in the program.
Furthermore, he emphasized the government’s commitment to sustaining social protection programs to provide support and assistance to the underprivileged and vulnerable segments of society.
Specifically, under the LEAP (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty) program, the government has disbursed a total of GH¢169.95 million as of June 2023 to 346,019 households, benefiting approximately 1,533,748 individuals.
Notably, the monthly grant for beneficiary households has been increased to GH¢64.00 for one-member households and GH¢76.00 for two-member households, up from the previous amounts of GH¢32.00 and GH¢38.00, respectively.
The program aims to reach around 2.5 million people, approximately 8 percent of the population.
The GSFP has also made significant strides in increasing its coverage.
From 1,671,777 beneficiaries in 2016, it has expanded to cater to 3,801,491 beneficiaries as of June 2023.
“Under the LEAP programme, Government disbursed a total of GH¢169.95 million as at June 2023 to 346,019 households comprising 1,533,748 individuals. This includes the increase of the monthly grant to beneficiary households from GH¢32.00 to GH¢64.00 for one-member household and GH¢38.00 to GH¢76.00 form two-member households. Our target under this programme period is to reach about 8 percent of the population, that is 2.5 million people.
“Under the Ghana School Feeding Programme, coverage increased considerably from 1,671,777 beneficiaries in 2016 to 3,801,491 beneficiaries by June 2023. The feeding grants cost per meal, per child, per day increased from GH¢1.00 to GH¢1.20 for the 2023 academic year. We have also settled all arrears owed to caterers under the programme for the second and third terms of the 2022 academic year; and the first term of 2023.
“The Capitation Grant contributed to increased enrolment in public basic schools from 6,048,897 pupils for the 2021/2022 academic year to 6,114,302 pupils for the 2022/2023 academic year,” he added.
Additionally, to ensure the program’s effectiveness, the feeding grants cost per meal, per child, per day has been adjusted from GH¢1.00 to GH¢1.20 for the 2023 academic year.
Furthermore, the government’s support extends to education, where the Capitation Grant has played a vital role in increasing enrolment in public basic schools.
The number of pupils enrolled has risen from 6,048,897 for the 2021/2022 academic year to 6,114,302 for the 2022/2023 academic year.
Overall, these initiatives demonstrate the government’s dedication to uplifting its citizens, ensuring the well-being of vulnerable groups, and improving access to education for the younger generation.
In a recent statement, former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has accused his successor, Kissi Agyebeng, of violating the constitutional rights of the former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
Amidu expressed his concern over the public announcement of the arrest and subsequent search of the former Minister’s residence, stating that it eroded her presumption of innocence and fueled perceptions of guilt without proper investigation into specified corruption charges.
Amidu highlighted that law enforcement should not be influenced by public hysteria and emotions before establishing prima facie evidence through a thorough investigation.
“Populism has no place in law enforcement. Law enforcement is a serious and impartial business as it deals with upholding the constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens suspected of the commission of crime during investigation.
“Firstly, it is unethical to deploy law enforcement in aid of public hysteria and emotions before the establishment of prima facie evidence pursuant to an investigation.
“Secondly, there is no offence known under Section 79 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) as corruption and corruption-related offences,” he stressed.
He further emphasized that the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act does not recognize any offence named “corruption and corruption-related offences” under Section 79.
“The integrity of the OSP is clearly at stake if the presumption of innocence guaranteed the citizen is to be protected,“ he added.
The controversy arose from a press release issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, stating that the former Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, had been arrested in connection with corruption and corruption-related offences.
Martin Amidu criticized this move as populist and unethical, asserting that it contributed to the public perception of the Minister’s unexplained wealth.
Amidu advised Madam Cecilia Dapaah’s legal team to closely examine and challenge the authority of the Special Prosecutor to conduct arrests, interrogations, and searches of residences.
He also called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate the alleged leakage of information from the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which could be a breach of confidentiality under Section 74 of Act 959.
“The Ghana Police Service should as a matter of urgency and fairness investigate the sources of the alleged leakages as mandated by Section 74 of Act 959 as the Special Prosecutor will have to be the subject of this investigation himself to establish which authorized officers committed the offences. The Police cybersecurity department is capable of tracing the sources of the video and other publications on social media.
“It is important that the OSP, which I had the distinguished honour to establish and operationalise, does not leak like a sieve during investigations – whether lawful or unlawful investigations. It was for these reasons that I questioned the unconstitutional appointments of known politically partisan friends of the Special Prosecutor to the OSP these unconstitutional appointments have not been redressed by the Government that is now reaping the distasteful results.
The case in question involves two house helps of Cecilia Dapaah and her husband facing charges for allegedly stealing money and valuable items worth millions of cedis from their residence.
Additional individuals, including boyfriends and the father of one of the accused, are also facing charges for dishonestly receiving stolen property.
The situation has drawn significant attention and debate, prompting Martin Amidu to emphasize the importance of upholding the presumption of innocence and protecting citizens’ fundamental rights during investigations.
Today, Monday, July 31, 2023, marks the opening of the highly anticipated annual conference of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Greater Works 2023, in Accra.
This five-day conference serves as the culmination of the church’s 40 days of Power, a period dedicated to fasting and prayer. Starting from Monday, July 31st, the conference will run throughout the week until Friday, August 4, 2023.
The conference will feature both morning and evening sessions, taking place at the church’s campus located at Christ Temple East in Teshie.
Since its inception in 1987 at the Baiden Powell Hall, the Greater Works conference has experienced remarkable growth in attendance and has profoundly impacted the lives of people from all corners of the world. Tens of thousands of participants eagerly gather each year, making it a truly momentous event.
Attendees can expect a dynamic blend of music, prayer, and word ministrations, creating a spiritually uplifting and transformative experience.
This year’s Greater Works Conference is honored to host esteemed speakers, including Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Center (KICC) from London, Bishop Tudor Bismark of Jabula New Life Covenant Church in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) in Lagos, Nigeria. The conference will also be graced by the presence of Pastor Mensa Otabil, the Conference Host and General Overseer of ICGC.
Each speaker will deliver messages of encouragement, divine direction, and empowerment to the attendees present in person, as well as those joining virtually from various nations around the globe.
Music will play a significant role in this year’s Greater Works, with uplifting performances by CT Praise, Lumina, and several ICGC Genre Choirs.
The conference will commence tonight with a thematic message and Communion Service led by Pastor Mensa Otabil.
The grand finale of Greater Works 2023 will be held on Friday, August 4, 2023, and will feature an anointing service, empowering all participants to go forth and fulfill the conference’s profound theme of achieving greater works.
The Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) 2022 annual report, indicates that the currency in circulation saw substantial growth, with a total of ¢35.584 billion in notes and ¢494.173 million in coins.
The 200 cedi note dominated the currency landscape, with about ¢9.8 billion in circulation during 2022, a notable increase from the ¢6.55 billion in 2021.
The 100 cedi note also experienced a surge, reaching ¢8.69 billion in circulation, compared to ¢4.31 billion in 2021.
Similarly, the 50 cedi note witnessed significant growth, totaling ¢7.70 billion in 2022, compared to ¢4.89 billion the previous year.
As for the 20 and 10 cedi notes, there were ¢5.13 billion and ¢2.69 billion respectively in circulation during 2021, showing a slight increase from ¢4.89 billion and ¢2.44 billion in the preceding year.
Regarding lower denominations, the 5, 2, and 1 cedi notes amounted to ¢1.32 billion, ¢7.6 million, and ¢141 million respectively.
In the coin category, the total amount in circulation was ¢494.17 million during 2022, representing a rise from the ¢365.11 million recorded in 2021.
The 50 Ghana pesewa coin led the way with the highest circulation at ¢199.81 million, closely followed by the 20 Ghana pesewa coin at ¢119.85 million.
The considerable growth in the currency during 2022 indicates that the government increased money printing during the year under review.
A Brand Director and Consummate Marketer, Regina Ofori, has advised content creators seeking sponsorship to refrain from using duplicated proposals for different companies.
She pointed out that many content creators tend to create one proposal and merely change the names and addresses before submitting it to multiple companies for sponsorship.
However, this approach leads to sponsors noticing gaps in the proposals, which reduces the chances of securing sponsorships.
Regina Ofori made these remarks when speaking to media.
She emphasized that content creators should focus on properly representing sponsors’ brands and demonstrate their capability to effectively market the product or service on behalf of the sponsors. This will increase the likelihood of consideration from managers.
“The same platform can deliver different products in different ways. So, we still have a lot of content creators on the same platform; let’s say you’re taking this to a water company, a soap company, and a telecommunications company with the same content. All that change is just to delete and replace the name. So, it’s the same layout, and that’s the reason why sometimes they’ll make a mistake, and when you’re reading, instead of the soap, you see water in the body of the Email,” she said.
Furthermore, Regina Ofori stressed the importance of presenting reciprocal benefits in the sponsorship proposals, ensuring that both the content creators and sponsors gain equal advantages from the collaboration.
Regarding the format of presenting proposals, she stated that it depends on the content being showcased. For experiential proposals, visual representations may be necessary, while for other cases, a well-crafted word document is sufficient.
Regina Ofori highlighted the significance of aligning proposals with the sponsor’s objectives to ensure a seamless fit into the planning process.
She encouraged all content creators to view their proposals as their curriculum vitae (CV) when approaching potential sponsors and to be clear about their goals for each year.
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has expressed optimism about the country’s economic recovery after facing recent challenges.
He reported that the Ghanaian economy has shown positive signs over the past six months, and the government will not be seeking a supplementary budget.
During the 2023 Mid-Year Budget Review presented in Parliament on July 31, Ken Ofori-Atta stated, “For the first six months of the year, we continue making progress to exceed our non-oil revenue targets for the year. We have seen improvements in non-oil tax revenue collection despite some noticeable shortfalls in VAT.”
However, the Minister also acknowledged that oil revenues have fallen below expectations due to changes in global prices. As a result, the Finance Ministry will conduct a downward review of these targets and corresponding expenditures, particularly affecting the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA).
“However, oil revenues have fallen short of expectations due to changes in global prices.”
“We will, therefore, undertake a downward review of the oil-related revenue as well as the corresponding expenditures to align with the under-performance of some of our revenue handles. Specifically, this will impact the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA),” he added.
Despite the challenges faced, Ken Ofori-Atta urged Ghanaians to support the government’s efforts to restore the country’s economy and improve the living conditions of citizens. The government remains determined to address the economic hardships promptly.
The Finance Minister described 2022 as his toughest year in office, during which he had to make difficult yet necessary decisions to facilitate Ghana’s economic recovery.
One significant decision was seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to implement the Post-COVID-19 Programme of Economic Growth (PC-PEG).
At that time, the country was going through a period of economic uncertainties and despondency.
A total of 26,626 persons nationwide have received business advisory support services thanks to the YouStart programme, according to the Finance Minister.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta made the disclosure while presenting the 2023 Mid Year Budget Review in Parliament on Monday, July 31, 2023.
“We will continue to work with participating Financial Institutions, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) and Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) to provide soft loans and managerial skills for the setting-up of youth-led enterprises, ” the Minister assured.
YouStart is a vehicle through which Government intends to provide funding and technical support to youth and youth-led businesses who fall within this category to assist them start, build and grow their own businesses.
The YouStart Programme was launched in November 2022.
Through the programme, the government intends to commit about GHc 10 billion in three years towards the creation of at least a million jobs. And It is being implemented by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), the National Entrepreneurship Innovation Programme (NEIP), with support from the World Bank.
It is a vehicle through which the government intends to provide fund and technical support to the youth between the ages of 18 and 40 years and youth-led businesses to assist them start, and grow their businesses.
The initiative is being rolled out in three phases, comprising a district model where beneficiaries will be selected through special help desks in the 216 districts across the country; a commercial model with banks on board, and the faith model which would work with faith-based organisations to identify qualified candidates.
Nigeria’s national women’s team, Super Falcons, has achieved a historic milestone in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, becoming the first African team to advance to the knockout phase.
Securing their place in the Round of 16, they achieved this feat after playing a goalless draw against their Group B rivals, the Republic of Ireland, at the Brisbane Stadium.
Finishing in second place in Group B with 5 points, the Super Falcons earned their ticket to the Round of 16. In their match against Ireland, they displayed impressive performance, particularly in the first half, with Barcelona striker Oshoala finally breaking the deadlock and creating the best opportunity.
During the early minutes of the second half, the former African champions maintained dominance and came close to scoring, with Kanu’s header brilliantly saved by the Irish goalkeeper, followed by a rebound chance for Oshoala.
The draw secured Nigeria’s second position in Group B, leading them to qualify for the Round of 16 as runners-up, with the host country Australia topping the group after a resounding 4-0 victory against Canada, recovering from their previous defeat against Nigeria.
Looking ahead to the Round of 16, the Super Falcons will face the winners of Group D, where England appears to be their likely opponent. The team’s exceptional performance has not only made history but also raised hopes for a promising journey in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Data from the Ministry of Finance indicates that the depreciation of the local currency against the dollar has worsened.
Presenting the 2023 Mid Year Budget Review Statement to Parliament on Monday, July 31, 2023, the sector Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta indicated that cumulatively, the Ghana cedi depreciated by 22.1 percent against the US Dollar in the year to July 17, 2023.
This is in comparison to 21.1 percent depreciation recorded in the same period in 2022. Statements from the Finance Minister indicates that in January 2023 alone, the cedi depreciated by 20 per cent.
However, from February to July this year, the local currency has depreciated by “an impressive 1.84%”.
Inflation According to the Finance Minister, headline inflation eased in the first half of 2023.
From the peak at 54.1 percent in December 2022, headline inflation gradually trended downwards from 53.6 percent in January 2023 to 42.5 percent in June 2023.
The moderation in inflation was largely supported by monetary policy tightening, relative stability in the exchange rate and lower and stable ex-pump petroleum prices.
In the 2022 Auditor-General’s report, both the Controller and Accountant General, along with his director of pensions unit, have been accused of persistently paying pensions to 59 deceased pensioners during the audit of public accounts of ministries, departments, and agencies.
According to the report, these deceased pensioners passed away between 2013 and 2019, yet they have been receiving undeserved pension payments, amounting to a total of GH¢393,315.06 up to now.
Surprisingly, these payments continued despite the existence of Regulation 92 in the Public Financial Management Regulations of 2019, which explicitly instructs the principal spending officer of a covered entity to promptly cease salary payments to public servants upon their death, conviction, dismissal, or when they go on leave without pay.
The report highlighted that a review of pensioners’ files revealed that the Controller and Accountant General failed to halt payments to the 59 deceased pensioners in the FAAB system, leading to the disbursement of unearned pension funds amounting to GH¢393,315.06.
Consequently, the Auditor-General made a recommendation that the Controller and Accountant General take necessary measures to ensure that the Director of Pensions Unit recovers the amount from the beneficiaries of the deceased pensioners.
The report further stipulated that once recovered, the money should be deposited into the Auditor-General’s Recoveries Account at the Bank of Ghana. In the event that recovery from the beneficiaries does not materialize, the amount should be reclaimed from the Director of Pensions Unit.
List of the 59 deceased pensioners receiving nonstop pension attached below
The Ministry of Finance has clarified that the Mid-Year Budget Review does not not involve any new financial demands.
Instead, the focus is on reprioritizing various programs and optimizing efficiencies to achieve sustainable economic growth.
This review aligns with the Post COVID-19 Program for Economic Growth (PC-PEG), supported by a three-year Extended Credit Facility arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
As part of the reallocation, additional resources will be allocated to social intervention programs such as Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), Capitation Grant, and the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) initiative.
Half-year figures to be presented in the Mid-Year Budget indicate an increase in the number of beneficiaries in key programs like LEAP, school feeding, Free SHS, and the capitation grant for basic school enrollment.
To ensure that the commitments are fulfilled, a task force has been established to target and enhance the impact of social spending. The government aims to channel at least GH¢2.03 billion into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), LEAP, Capitation Grant, and School Feeding Program as half-year releases. Additionally, GH¢3.05 billion is planned to be allocated to these social protection programs by September 2023 and GH¢4.07 billion by December 2023.
To prevent inflation from eroding the value of LEAP benefits, an indexation mechanism will be implemented.
The Ministry of Finance also emphasized that the Mid-Year Budget Review will outline measures taken by the government to restore macroeconomic stability and stimulate economic growth. It will cover structural reforms in expenditure commitment control, arrears clearance, debt management, financial stability, and other pertinent issues.
The Mid-Year Budget Review is mandated by Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), requiring the Minister of Finance to submit a mid-year fiscal policy review to Parliament by July 31st each financial year.
The review will encompass an overview of recent macroeconomic developments, updated macroeconomic forecasts, and an analysis of total revenue, expenditure, and financing performance for the first six months of the financial year.
In other news, a report from the Auditor-General has highlighted lapses in management concerning financial controls, security of vital documents, compliance with procedures stipulated in the Public Financial Management Act, and poor accounting systems.
Recommendations have been made to strengthen supervisory controls, authentication of payment vouchers, prompt payment, and retirement of accountable imprest.
The report also addresses payroll irregularities, unearned salaries, and statutory deductions related to social security contributions in various institutions.
In a letter addressed to President Akufo-Addo, dated Monday, July 10, 2023, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Dan Botwe, expressed strong concerns about the lack of cooperation from the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey.
The Minister highlighted that this lack of collaboration hindered the equitable disbursement of District Common Funds in a manner that would best serve the government’s interests.
Mr. Botwe emphasized that during his tenure of two years and three months in the Ministry, efforts to align with the Office of the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund in strategically determining the beneficiary Districts for fund allocations had not yielded positive results.
“It is instructive for His Excellency to note that this Ministry has not had the expected level of cooperation from the Office of the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
“In the past two years and three months since I have been in the Ministry, efforts to get the Office of the Administrator of District Assemblies Common Fund to align with the Ministry in the strategic determination of the beneficiary Districts of such allocations have not been successful,” an unhappy Minister Botwe, noted in his letter to the President, dated Monday, July 10, 2023.
He continued: “Even more worrying is the fact that as the Ministry responsible for the MMDAs we are not involved, engaged or consulted in any form by the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund in the development of the formula proposed to Parliament.
“We are of the view that, government would be more efficient in the utilization of such resources if we align the decision making process with all relevant stakeholders,” he added.
He conveyed his dissatisfaction in the letter, stating that the Ministry responsible for the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) was not involved, engaged, or consulted in any way in the development of the proposed formula submitted to Parliament.
According to Mr. Botwe, by law, his Ministry has the mandate to provide a coordinating and supervisory role over the activities of the MMDAs and to guide their development initiatives.
Therefore, he argued that the authority to determine which Districts receive financial support and special attention should rest with the Ministry to ensure alignment with the broader government strategy.
The Minister firmly believed that the distribution trigger should be initiated by the Ministry on behalf of the government to ensure it aligns well with the overall government objectives.
Currently, the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund proposes the formula for distribution annually to the Parliament of Ghana. Once the approval is granted, the Administrator has the responsibility under section 129 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) to administer and distribute the funds among the District Assemblies based on the approved formula.
In conclusion, the Minister’s letter conveyed the urgency of addressing the lack of cooperation and ensuring the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry, to enhance the efficient utilization of resources for the benefit of the government and the country.
Former Black Stars midfielder, Sulley Ali Muntari, has opened up about the challenges he faced during his childhood, including the struggle with bedwetting.
Muntari revealed that he used to suffer from involuntary urination, commonly known as bedwetting, which occurred during his sleep at night and even during afternoon naps.
Recalling his childhood experiences, Muntari shared that the bedwetting problem was quite severe, causing him emotional distress.
He recounted an incident when he visited his aunt in Kumasi at around the age of 11 or 12 years old. During his stay, he unexpectedly wet the mat he slept on, which deeply affected him emotionally.
“My mom took me to my aunt at Abuabo in Kumasi. I was around 11, 12 years old, but then I was wetting the bed a lot.
“My aunty sent me back to Konongo; I was really hurt. It was sometime later that my mom took me back, and that’s why I returned,” Muntari shared in an interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah.
Muntari shares childhood bedwetting experience#INDViral Black Stars | R2bees | Victor Osimhen | Code Micky | Kylian Mbappe | Ken Ofori | come to ghana pic.twitter.com/WpUoZmo71Z
It happened unknowingly at any time. We could just sleep in the afternoon, not in the evening, then I would just wet the mat; it wasn’t even a bed,” Muntari shared with Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV.
The situation became embarrassing and frustrating for young Muntari, and it had a significant impact on his self-esteem. Unable to cope with the situation, his aunt eventually sent him back to his hometown of Konongo, a rejection that deeply hurt him.
Despite the challenges he faced, Muntari found his breakthrough in football during his formative years. With time, his bedwetting eventually ceased, and he went on to become a successful footballer, leaving those childhood struggles behind him.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed deep concern about the governance of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, stating that it poses a significant threat to Ghana’s democracy.
Taking to Facebook on Monday, July 31, Mr. Mahama urged Ghanaians to vote out the current administration in the upcoming 2024 election to save the nation from further challenges.
“Transparent and accountable governance in which opportunities are open to all and not just a few is the greatest guarantor of our democracy.
“The almost seven years of Akufo Addo and Bawumia’s maladministration is the biggest threat to the survival of our constitutional democracy. Only a CHANGE in this inept NPP government can ensure the sustainability of our democracy.
“The next NDC administration will work to restore hope to Ghanaians quickly. The business-as-usual approach to governance, lies and propaganda will not work. We cannot and must avoid repeating the mistakes of the NPP.”
He firmly believes that the nearly seven years of the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administrations have put Ghana’s constitutional democracy at risk.
According to him, the only way to ensure the sustainability of democracy and restore hope to the people is through a change of leadership.
He emphasized the need to replace the current inept NPP government with the NDC administration.
Mr. Mahama stressed that transparent and accountable governance, where opportunities are accessible to all, not just a privileged few, is crucial for upholding democracy in the country.
He further warned against the business-as-usual approach to governance, lies, and propaganda, and pledged that the next NDC administration would work diligently to address the challenges and restore hope to the Ghanaian people.
In addition, John Dramani Mahama criticized President Akufo-Addo’s appointees for their conduct and actions, which he believes are in stark contrast to the president’s previous advice about seeking personal enrichment in the private sector, rather than in politics.
Mahama expressed his disappointment that the current behavior of President Akufo-Addo’s appointees deviates significantly from the president’s wise words spoken more than six years ago.
These remarks were made during his address to the graduating class of 2023 at the Academic City University College.
“Some of you who will find yourself in politics, I wish to sound a note of caution, as President Akufo-Addo said if your goal into office is to enrich yourself, then don’t come, go to the private sector.
“Very profound words were spoken by the President, more than 6 and a half years ago. With what is happening today, I’m sure the President himself does not remember he spoke these very wise words.”
A child-centered organization, Child Rights International (CRI), has expressed deep concern over the recent data from the Ghana Health Service (GHS), revealing that 50,000 infants lose their lives annually due to birth asphyxia.
Describing this figure as disturbing, CRI called for a thorough investigation into the root causes of these deaths to inform appropriate policy decisions and actions.
In a statement released by Executive Director Bright Appiah in Accra, CRI emphasized the importance of introducing a parliamentary bill that addresses the appropriate procedures and care for newborns during birth in the country.
They highlighted that such a bill could be initiated by a Member of Parliament through a private member’s bill.
“This process can also be initiated by a Member of Parliament by way of a private member’s bill,” the statement added.
Birth asphyxia occurs when a baby’s brain and other organs are deprived of sufficient oxygen and nutrients before, during, or immediately after birth.
This can happen in the womb, leading to stillbirths, or during prolonged labor. According to Dr. Edward Antwi, the Programme Manager for Newborn and Child Health at GHS, approximately one million babies are born each year, with a neonatal mortality rate of 17 per 1,000 live births.
This means that out of one million births, approximately 170,000 babies die, and 30% of these deaths are attributed to birth asphyxia.
On a daily basis, about 136 children lose their lives due to this condition, putting a strain on the healthcare system and negatively affecting the nation’s health sector.
In response to this distressing revelation, CRI urged the government and relevant stakeholders to take immediate and decisive action. They recommended the establishment of a national policy that outlines the expected standard of care in all health facilities providing child delivery services. This policy should include specific responsibilities for stakeholders, including mothers and health personnel, and clearly define the consequences for those found responsible for causing the death of a baby. Additionally, CRI called for the provision of mandatory psychological services to families who experience the loss of a baby at birth.
To tackle this issue at its roots, CRI also urged the government to implement a policy that ensures all pregnant women visit health facilities for early diagnosis of asphyxia.
As a child-centered organization, CRI emphasized the need for collective efforts and resources from the government, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders to significantly reduce these statistics in line with SDG Goal Three.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation and Newmont Africa will launch GH¢1.7 million education projects focusing on ICT training for less-resourced communities.
The initiatives aim to improve reading culture and enhance ICT interest and capacity among pupils.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two entities outlines plans to remodel and furnish six 50-person capacity containers in selected schools, along with setting up mobile training camps equipped with computers for ICT training.
David Thornton, Regional Senior Vice-President of Newmont Africa, expressed the company’s commitment to extend positive social impacts beyond its host communities, addressing critical educational infrastructure gaps, especially in ICT.
Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, Chairman of the Otumfuo Foundation, acknowledged Newmont Africa’s long-standing support, amounting to over GH¢1 million in the past decade for various foundation programs and projects.
The MOU reflects the dedication of both entities to meaningful interventions for disadvantaged communities and individuals.
Newmont Africa, Ghana’s leading gold producer, operates the Ahafo Mine in the Ahafo Region and the Akyem Mine in the Eastern Region, with the Ahafo North Project in progress. The company has approximately 6,700 employees and contractors.
In collaboration with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDCEs), the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has initiated the evacuation of large dumping sites in the Central Region to address sanitation issues.
The waste management company responsible for the evacuation, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, stated that the nationwide exercise targets unauthorized dumping sites where refuse has been illegally disposed.
The company’s actions align with the current government’s clean Ghana agenda, aiming to resolve sanitation challenges across the country.
The evacuation included a 25-year-old refuse site at Essikafo Amba Nntem in Mankessim, resulting in a cleaner environment.
Zoomlion Ghana Ltd demonstrated preparedness, deploying trucks, excavators, and technical expertise to transport the rubbish to the final dumping site in Awoyaa municipality.
The Mfantseman Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Eric Pizzass Mensah, revealed that the illegality was mainly perpetrated by natives of the community who chose to create their dumping sites instead of using authorized ones.
He assured the public that the assembly had acquired a dumping site to manage and control waste in the municipality.
The residents expressed satisfaction as the major cause of discomfort in the community was addressed.
Former Deputy Attorney General and ex-MP for Tempani, Joseph Kpemka, has urged the public to desist from criticizing the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, before the commencement of her trial.
Concerns have been raised about the source and intended use of funds, including large sums of money stolen from the minister’s house.
Kpemka emphasizes that the stolen funds may be legitimately earned income belonging to the former minister.
He cautioned against making hasty judgments, as it could impact the ongoing investigation. The former MP suggests that legislation could be introduced to criminalize hoarding large sums of money in people’s homes to address similar occurrences in the future.
“I urge all of us in our commentary not to hang the person [Cecilia Dapaah] before she’s heard. Let the processes go through. In the end, if guilt is established, we can better comment on the person’s character and integrity. It can prejudice the process, let’s allow due process to run. We should be cautious and careful in putting her in public court. She has not committed any offence by keeping money in her house.
“For now, it can be a legitimately earned income. We heard the story that she’s a hotelier, she’s a deputy minister under former president J.A. Kufuor, and she has been a minister under this government on two occasions, she does other businesses and all that. Let’s wait to hear what will come out of the investigations,” Mr Kpemka suggested.
He called for caution and carefulness in public commentary and advocates for a fair and unbiased trial process for Cecilia Dapaah.
Mr Kpemka emphasized that keeping money in one’s house is not an offense, and people should wait for the investigation’s outcome before passing judgment.
“When the issue came up and people started talking about it, I said the mere fact that you are keeping trillions of dollars on your house, will not constitute an offence. Because there’s no law in our books that would have been flouted. As a people, if we think that those occurrences are becoming one too many, and a conduit through which people perpetrate crime…then that means there’s a lacuna in our law.
“If we are discovering cash in quantities in people’s houses that are frightening, and we don’t want that to happen, legislation is the way to go. Go to parliament and legislate that if huge sums of money are found, the person is liable,” he recommended.
The Coalition of Aggrieved Customers of Menzgold is urging government to arrest Nana Appiah Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the defunct gold dealership company, also known as NAM1.
The group compares him to internet fraudsters and advises its members not to engage in any payment terms with him.
Their concerns arise after Menzgold’s management issued a statement claiming to have completed the transaction validation process and assuring customers of imminent payments.
“Nobody should engage him and that is what we are saying because of that document he brought out. What we want the government to do is to arrest him. What is contained in that document is simply the language of scammers, and we will want the government to arrest him.”
However, the group vehemently rejects the statement, deeming it as the language of scammers.
Speaking to the media, the spokesperson of the aggrieved customers, Fredrick Forson, called on the government to take swift action against Nana Appiah Mensah, demanding his arrest.
“Following the gold trading transactions claims supporting documents collection and vetting exercise initiated; we are happy to announce that validation has successfully been completed,” Menzgold said in its statement.
The customers remain skeptical of any promises made by the defunct gold trading company and continue to seek resolution and justice.
A Kumasi-based club, Nations FC, making their debut appearance in the Ghana Premier League, has promised to deliver an exciting and beautiful style of football to fans during the upcoming campaign.
Having secured promotion from Ghana’s Division One League in Zone Two, the club is determined to make a positive impact in the top flight.
Kasim Ocansey Mingle, a highly-rated coach who recently departed Bechem United after three years, has joined Nations FC to lead the team in the 2023/24 season.
Confident in his abilities, Mingle expresses his commitment to showcase entertaining football that Ghanaian fans will enjoy.
“We are new entrance in the Premiership but we are going to make an impact in the league. we are going to see some good football and Ghanaian fans will enjoy it, I’m capable of doing it and I will do it at Nations FC” he said.
In the wake of Mingle’s departure, Nations FC has appointed Kobi Mensah as the new coach to replace him. Under Mingle’s guidance, the club finished in third place in the GPL last season and aims to build on that success with their beautiful brand of football in the upcoming campaign.
Black Stars defender, Tariq Lamptey, has made a remarkable comeback after a lengthy injury spell in Brighton and Hove Albion’s Premier League Summer Series match against Newcastle United.
The 22-year-old right-back had not played since March due to his injury sustained during a game against West Ham.
However, after undergoing an intense recovery and training program, Lamptey finally returned to the field.
Despite Brighton’s 2-1 pre-season defeat to Newcastle United, Lamptey’s return brought optimism to the team.
The elated defender took to social media to express his gratitude, saying, “Thank God always! Enjoyed being back out there, now time to push on.”
His comeback is a significant boost for Brighton and Hove, especially with their busy season ahead following their qualification to Europe.
Despite speculations about a potential move to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, it seems that Lamptey remains an essential part of Roberto De Zerbi’s plans.
Moreover, his return is good news for the Black Stars as they prepare for the AFCON qualifier against the Central African Republic in September.
In the match, Danny Welbeck scored the first goal for Brighton, but Newcastle came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory.
Kyrgyz Top Liga club, FC Dordoi Bishkek, has announced the signing of Ghanaian international, Sadick Sulley on Sunday, July 30.
The young striker has inked a one-year deal, which will last until the end of the 2023/24 Kyrgyz Top Liga season.
In a statement on Facebook, FC Dordoi warmly welcomed Sadick Sulley to the club.
The 22-year-old expressed his delight after joining and vowed to give his best to lead the club to success.
“Welcome Sadick Sulley. The 22-year-old striker Sadiq Sulley became a player of “Dordoya”. The agreement is provided until the end of the season,” the club said.
If Sulley impresses during his tenure with FC Dordoi, there is a possibility of a contract extension deal being offered to him.
Controversial entertainment pundit, Mr. Logic, has demanded that Cruise People Limited ensures that fast-rising singer Black Sherif faces legal consequences as a deterrent for other artists.
On July 19, 2023, Black Sherif was arrested by the Ghana Police Service at Kotoka International Airport for breaching a contract regarding a July 4 show in Greece, which he failed to attend.
Reportedly, Black Sherif was scheduled to perform on a cruise ship in Greece and charged US$40,000 for the performance. He received half of the payment but did not fulfill his part of the contract.
Mr. Logic believes that such unprofessional behavior hampers the growth of the creative arts industry.
To foster a serious and thriving creative space, he emphasizes the need for accountability and responsibility among artists.
He calls for Black Sherif’s prosecution to set an example and caution other artists against similar actions.
Speaking on the United Showbiz show, Mr. Logic stated that artists should learn from this situation and face the consequences in court, stressing the importance of using the law to create a more professional environment within the industry.
“Artists should take a cue from this challenge, we are in a professional space and the law should take effect. let them go defend themselves in court so lessons can be learned”, he said while speaking on the United Showbiz show.
He added, “We are not making use of the court, and we take certain things likely in the creative space, the industry is known for unseriousness, and its high time the narrative change should we want a better professional environment”.
The Volta regional organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Korsi Bodja, has submitted a petition to the party’s national executives on July 3, urging the suspension of the NPP Volta Regional Secretary, Pope Yevu.
The petition alleges that Pope Yevu diverted campaign materials, including hair dryers, cutlasses, Wellington boots, head pans, fertilizers, and sewing machines, intended for distribution in Ewe communities during the recent Assin North by-election.
In the petition, Korsi Bodja invoked Article 3(7) of the party’s constitution, accusing Pope Yevu of gross misconduct as an elected officer and contravening various clauses of the party’s constitution related to the recent by-election campaign activities in Assin North Constituency.
The petition highlights that the campaign materials were meant to enhance the party’s electoral fortunes in Ewe communities.
However, it claims that Pope Yevu chose to retain these items in his hotel facility for personal interests instead of distributing them as intended.
According to Korsi Bodja, there is video evidence showing Pope Yevu secretly packing the hoarded campaign materials into his car on the morning of June 28, 2023, with the assistance of the Deputy Volta Regional Organizer, who also provided a pickup vehicle for transporting the items to the region.
Read below the petition by the NPP Volta regional organiser to the General Secretary:
REGIONAL ORGANIZER,
NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY,
VOLTA REGIONAL OFFICE,
HO – V/R.
3RD JULY, 2023.
THE GENERAL SECRETARY
NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
ACCRA
Dear Sir,
PETITION TO SUSPEND THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY VOLTA REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR DIVERSION OF CAMPAIGN MATERIALS FOR PRIVATE USE.
I write to invoke Article 3(7) of the party’s constitution for the suspension of the New Patriotic Party’s Volta Regional Secretary, Mr. Pope Yevu for gross misconduct against the party as an elected officer, contravening Article 3 Clauses 1,3,4,5 and 6 of the party’s constitution, in the recent by-election campaign activities held at Assin North Constituency where the Volta Regional Secretary was caught diverting campaign material meant for the said by-election.
In the said by-election, the New Patriotic Party Volta Regional Executives and other constituency executives were expected to enhance the party’s electoral fortunes by intensifying the campaign in the Ewe communities within the Assin North Constituency. As a result, campaign materials including hairdryers, cutlasses, Wellington boots, head pans, Fertilizers and sewing machines were handed over to the region to help meet the demand of the electorate in the Ewe communities during the campaign. However, it turned out that, while there was indeed, high demand for the said campaign materials within communities where we campaigned, the Volta Regional Secretary decided to keep such items in his hotel facility and diverted the same for his parochial interest.
From the video footage available for your view, the Volta Regional Secretary is visibly seen at the dawn of 28th June 2023, at about 3: 58am, a day after the by-election in Assin North, secretly packing out the hoarded items for the campaign into his car with the support of the Deputy Volta Regional Organizer who had also brought a pickup vehicle for the conveyance of same items to their region.
It must be stated that this act of irresponsible conduct and disloyalty to the party’s collective cause for which we went to Assin North to canvass for vote for the party’s victory in the by-election was a major factor in the apathy that reared its ugly head in the Ewe communities in Assin North Constituency. In fact, the conduct of the Volta Regional Secretary also contravenes Article 3 Clause 6 of the party’s constitution, which calls for members to participate fully in the activities of the party and ensure that the local organs of the party work effectively and accountably.
It indeed beggars belief that the Volta Regional Secretary of our party could be that mean and act in ways that do not promote the good name of the party, as the act was orchestrated before the right-thinking members of the hotel community, subjecting the New Patriotic Party to open mockery and negative branding.
If the Volta Regional Secretary is able to oversee the stealing of campaign materials far away Assin North to his home region, what will he not do if he gets hold of the same materials in his home region?
It is sad to note that even on the day of voting, persons who were promised such campaign materials called our team for the same to be brought to them, but to no avail. This indeed lowered the integrity of my team, which went around canvassing for vote in the Ewe communities. The Regional Secretary should be explaining what benefit there is to get from hoarding campaign materials meant for the electorate and losing by-elections in communities that were in one way or the other avoidable.
As a regional secretary, he owes it a duty to effectively and selflessly rally members of the party around a collective cause and sole objective of winning elections in any given contest and not engage in activities that would negatively affect the party’s chances in any election, whether in his home region or elsewhere. This conduct of his, therefore, makes him not fit for the position and I foresee disaster in the greater task of the election 2024 where the party has an agenda of breaking the eight-year cycle of governance in our country.
I therefore wish to crave your indulgence to as a matter of urgency treat this petition with the seriousness it deserves to save our party from any looming danger in the not-distant future.
President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has lauded the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, for her sacrifice in resigning amid the stolen money scandal, stating that she safeguarded the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from potential embarrassment.
Concerns have been raised by various groups regarding the origin and intended use of the US$1 million, €300,000, and unspecified amounts of Ghanaian cedis allegedly stolen from Ms. Dapaah’s residence.
Reports circulated about two house helps facing court charges for supposedly stealing significant sums of money and personal belongings from the former minister and her husband.
As a result of the incident, Madam Dapaah chose to step down from her ministerial position and was later arrested by the Special Prosecutor.
Her two residential properties were searched before she was granted bail.
During an interview with the media, Mr. Cudjoe expressed his belief that her decision to resign was not only in her own interest but also a sacrifice for the entire party.
He empathized with the potential damage she could have faced due to the circulating information, emphasizing the human aspect of such situations, especially if she had not committed any wrongdoing.
Mr. Cudjoe commended the former minister for her honorable resignation and acknowledged that external pressures might have influenced her decision.
He recognized her efforts to preserve a sense of sanity amidst ongoing investigations, concluding that her resignation was well-received, and he holds no fault against her for making that choice.
“When matters of this kind happen, the damage you are likely to suffer due to the information that is out there, if you don’t take care, you could break down. We are humans, especially if it’s really the case that you haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Maybe some pressures made her resign. Ultimately, she made the decision that she could save some sanity, for now, while investigations continue. Her decision to resign was welcomed. I don’t fault her.”
The former president and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has pledged that the next NDC government will allocate billions of dollars to foster the development and progress of the country through technology infrastructure investments.
Addressing the graduation ceremony of Academic City University College, Mahama emphasized the paramount importance of technology in shaping the economies of today’s world.
He highlighted the urgency of revolutionizing the country’s education system to meet the demands of the 21st century, where innovation and originality are key driving forces of progress.
Mahama stressed the need to equip the next generation with critical thinking skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities to navigate this digital era successfully.
To achieve their vision for Ghana’s future, the NDC aims to collaborate with the private sector, directing substantial investments towards an integrated ICT infrastructure system, which includes both onshore and offshore super highways and electronic applications.
Moreover, the planned investment will harness the power of 5G technology, boosting communication, commerce, civil liberties, individual expressions, and supporting other national priorities, as outlined by Mr. Mahama.
“The 21st century thrives on the digital revolution in which innovation and originality are the propelling forces of progress and to thrive in this era, our educational system must evolve to equip the next generation with critical thinking skills, creativity, and innovation to solve problems and this is why the NDC in her quest to build the Ghana we want, seeks to partner with the private sector to invest billions of dollars on an integrated ICT infrastructure system including onshore and offshore super highways and electronic applications.”
“The investment will leverage 5G technology to propel communication, commerce, civil liberties and individual expressions while supporting other national priorities,” Mr. Mahama added.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken action against one of its members in the Abuakwa North Constituency, Edgar Asamoah Boateng.
The party’s decision to suspend Mr. Boateng stems from his move to seek a court injunction preventing the party from conducting both the Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries, not only in Abuakwa North constituency but in all the 275 constituencies.
Mr. Boateng had filed for a high court injunction against the NDC’s May 13 presidential and parliamentary primaries, citing the lack of a voters’ register provided to his fellow aspirants.
In a letter signed by the General Secretary of the party, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the NDC informed Mr. Boateng that his actions were in violation of Article 49 (1) (d) of the Party’s constitution, leading to his suspension.
Read the full letter below:
Mr. Edgar Asamoah Boateng
Abuakwa North Constituency
Eastern Region
Dear Sir,
SUSPENSION OF MR. EDGAR ASAMOAH BOATENG AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS
At its meeting on Tuesday 25th July 2023, the Functional Executive Committee reviewed the challenges that prevented the party from holding the parliamentary primaries in 17 constituencies across the country.
In the case of Abuakwa North Constituency, FEC took a serious view of your conduct in seeking a court injunction to prevent the Party from holding both the Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries, not only in Abuakwa North but in all the 275 constituencies in Ghana.
This conduct of yours is in breach of Article 49 (1) (d) which provides as follows: “for the avoidance of doubt, any party member who commences legal proceedings against the party for whatever reason without exhausting the complaints procedure and reliefs available under this constitution shall be subject to Party discipline under clause 8 of article 48”.
At the end of its deliberations, the following decisions were taken in accordance with articles 46 and 48 of the Party’s constitution.
i. That with immediate effect your membership of the NDC be suspended
ii. That the matter be referred to the Party’s National Disciplinary Committee for further action
You are therefore by this letter to take note, and notice is hereby given, that your membership of the NDC is suspended pending the hearing and final determination of the matter.
We hope to count on your utmost cooperation for the expeditious disposal of this case.
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has foreseen a slight upswing in petroleum prices during the first pricing window of August 2023.
It is anticipated that both petrol and diesel pump prices may increase by approximately 9 percent from the current nationwide average price of GHS 11.90 per litre.
Furthermore, the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is expected to undergo a significant increase of 20 percent.
These projected price hikes by COPEC are attributed to the rise in international market prices for petroleum products, with crude oil registering a 10.53 percent increase, moving from the mean price of $75.85 per barrel to $83.84 per barrel.
Based on these factors, COPEC has provided the following estimated retail figures for petroleum products in the upcoming pricing window:
Petrol: GH¢13.27 per litre Diesel: GH¢13.93 per litre Mean price for Petrol and Diesel: GH¢13.33 per litre LPG: GH¢11.79 per kilogram
The 2022 Auditor-General‘s (AG) report has revealed irregularities totaling more than GH¢15.1 billion in the operations of public boards, corporations, and statutory institutions.
This amount marks a decrease of GH¢2.4 billion (13.86%) from the previous year’s figure of GH¢17.48 billion.
It is noteworthy that the irregularities for the last year were composed of over GH¢15 billion that can be recovered (recoverable amount) and an administrative infraction of GH¢47.28 million.
The recoverable amount constitutes 99.69% of the total, while the administrative portion accounts for 0.31%, representing an amount that cannot be recovered due to procurement and other irregularities.
The Auditor-General emphasizes the strict implementation of its recommendations to ensure financial discipline in managing public resources.
The irregularities primarily occurred in areas such as outstanding debts, loans, amounts recoverable, cash, payroll, procurement, tax, stores, and contracts.
Over the period from 2018 to 2022, irregularities have been a recurrent issue in public boards and corporations, amounting to more than GH¢53.87 billion.
The numbers gradually increased from GH¢3 billion in 2018 to GH¢17.5 billion in 2021, but it decreased to GH¢15.1 billion in 2022.
The report highlights that most irregularity categories decreased in 2022 compared to 2021, even though 113 institutions were audited last year, slightly more than the 101 institutions audited in 2021.
The administrative irregularities mainly comprised procurement irregularities and other procedural infractions and lapses in public financial management.
However, it is important to note that these administrative irregularities did not lead to a loss of funds.
The recoverable amount consisted of inter-governmental agency debts, other overdue receivables, locked up investments, unpaid taxes, unretired impress and advances, and loans given to employees of various institutions, as stated in the report.
On the other hand, the administrative irregularities represented infractions arising from procurement, overdue payables, and the payment of penalties due to delayed payments to suppliers.
These irregularities include inter-governmental agencies’ debts, trade debtors, staff debtors, outstanding loans, and cash locked up in non-performing investments.
For instance, the report highlighted that Ghana National Gas Limited Company is owed $741.93 million, with $515.20 million owed by the Bui Power Authority, $215.78 million by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and GH¢1.40 million by the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The irregularities were, in part, attributed to the absence of effective debt collection policies, the lack of credit controls for debt recovery, and management’s indifferent approach to loan recovery, according to the Auditor-General’s report.
Furthermore, improper maintenance of records on debtors, the absence of debtors’ aging analyses, undocumented loan agreements specifying terms and conditions, failure to ensure loan repayments, and non-compliance with rules and regulations by management were identified as contributing factors to the irregularities.
Recommendation
“We recommended that management of public boards, corporations, and other statutory institutions should strictly adhere to rules and regulations with regard to debts management,” the report stressed.
“They should also put in place proper policies for the management of loans and other receivables as well as ensuring that loans and debts are repaid on due dates to avoid or minimise the occurrence of bad debts,” the report further stated.
