TIG Post

Author: Phoebe Martekie Doku

  • Rev. Kusi Boateng swerving his lawsuit against Ablakwa – Kofi Buah

    Rev. Kusi Boateng swerving his lawsuit against Ablakwa – Kofi Buah

    The Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng, is allegedly evading his lawsuit against the North Tongu Member of Parliament, according to Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah.

    His comment comes after the contempt case against Mr Ablakwa was adjourned by the court.

    TV3’s Laud Adu Asare who was in court reported on Tuesday, February 21 that the case has been adjourned “Till the service is done properly.”

    Speaking to journalists after the adjournment, Mr Kofi Buah who is also Lawmaker for Ellembelle said “you should have seen Mr Adu Gyamfi in court but instead, you know who was in court? The man who was fighting for the right thing for Ghana, Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    “The people of Ghana are committed to supporting all the right things he is fighting for. The Minority in Parliament stands strongly behind him. Today, we went to court and it was obvious that the people who took us to court are running away from their own application.

    “This is really a victory for the people of Ghana. We are very clear in our mind, we are going to stand by Okudzeto Ablakwa and fight for the right thing for the people of Ghana.”

    Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng, filed a motion, praying the court to commit Mr Ablakwa to prison for his conduct.

    The opposition lawmaker had kicked a writ meant to be served on him by a court bailiff on Friday, February 3.

    He had given the pretext that he was on his way to Parliament when the bailiff approached him at the forecourt of Accra-based Metro TV to be served Rev Kusi Boateng’s writ.

    The writ was to restrain the lawmaker from further making pronouncements on the clergyman’s case of double identity because the matter was before the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

    The motion is to draw the attention of the court over a possible contempt case against the lawmaker.

    “When the Bailiff of this Honourable Court reminded the Respondent that Parliament was in recess, the Respondent then claimed that he was on his way to a meeting of one of the committees of Parliament, an allegation which has since turned out to be a falsehood told by the Respondent merely to evade service of the court processes on him.

    “I am informed by my Counsel and verily believe same to be true that the immunities available to members of Parliament from being served personally with court processes can only be invoked when that member of Parliament is either on his way to or way from Parliamentary proceedings or activities; an immunity which the Respondent could not have invoked on the 3rd of February 2023 because the Parliament of Ghana was on recess at that time.

    “. . .dissatisfied with the excuses that the Respondent was giving to evade service of Exhibits VKB1 and VKB2, the Court Officer proceeded to discharge his statutory duty of serving court processes personally on the Respondent by leaving the processes as close as possible to the Respondent.”

    It was after this that the MP kicked the documents on the floor and drove off.

    Rev Kusi Boateng, also known as Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, prayed thus: “I am informed by my Counsel and verily believe same to be true that this Honourable Court has the power to commit the Respondent to prison for his conduct to protect the whole administration of justice and serve as a deterrent to other persons.”

  • Some politicians directly benefiting from Bawku crisis – Security Analyst

    Some politicians directly benefiting from Bawku crisis – Security Analyst

    Security expert Adam Bonaa has stated that some politicians are directly profiting from the Bawku turmoil.

    The youth of Nalerigu thronged the palace of the Mamprugu Overlord to fight off attempts by the military to arrest the traditional ruler. This followed a failed military operation to arrest the King who enskinned the Bawku Naba.

    The military forces arrived in Nalerigu at midnight with loaded rifles in four armored vehicles and a pickup truck for the operation following a warrant granted by a High Court in Bolgatanga.

    Commenting on the development on Morning Starr with Francis Abban, Mr. Bonaa indicated that there have been successful moves at Bawku with dialogue but the government failed to continue. 

    “If you continue to push security in Bawku or send all your arsenals to Nalerigu, Garu and all those places you can’t stop it. It is not possible. You have to look for a more multifaceted approach to dealing with Bawku. The security element is one, and also catching the bad guys who are profiting and selling weapons. Some politicians are involved, catching them with evidence.

    “So weeks ago someone smuggled military uniform and some weapons to Bawku and they were intercepted and sent to the Bawku police station. Everybody has been quiet on this. I don’t know the security official to whom this case was confined, we don’t know what is happening,” Mr. Bonaa stated worriedly.   

    The security analyst further stated that if the government allows some serious incidents to be swept under the carpet in Bawku there cannot be peace in the area.

    “People will take the law into their own hands, yes there is a chieftaincy issue there. But the truth is that it becomes fertile ground for people to make ends meet and some politicians to stay in power, if you ask me,” Mr. Bonaa disclosed.

  • I should receive a national honor for selling drill ship – KT Hammond

    I should receive a national honor for selling drill ship – KT Hammond

    The minister-designate for trade and industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has denied any illegality in the sale of a drill ship owned by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation(GNPC) in 2001.

    He found it worrying that most critics continue to hold him responsible for the transaction when he was only assigned the duty of leading the negotiations just three months after becoming Deputy Minister of Energy in charge of Petroleum in the Kufuor administration.

    Speaking during his vetting on Monday, February 20, the Adansi Asokwa Member of Parliament (MP) explained that notwithstanding the circumstances, he was able to convince the creditors in Paris to reduce the debt from $47 million to $19.5 million for which the drill ship was sold.

    He said for that outcome, he should have been conferred with a national award for saving the country over $27 million.

    “They were asking for $47 million. Of the $47 million, following my arrangement and my going around and the compromise which the special commissioner states over there, they decided that instead of the $47 million that we had accumulated, they decided to charge $19.5 million.

    “I think I need a national award for that. $47 million and we managed to get it to $19.5 million.”

    The controversy over the sale of the GNPC drill ship has come up over and over again especially when Mr KT Hammond comes into the fray.

    He appeared before the Apau Commission in 2015 over the issue, particularly on the disbursement of about $900,000 as remainder after GNPC’s debt were defrayed from the drill ship sale.

    But KT Hammond, at the vetting, said he wants to put paid to the matter because no courts found him guilty over the transaction.

    “Mr Chairman, when a report like this is presented to the government, the government comments on the back of the report, and not to make its own findings. That part over there was an addition by the government which had have no reflection in the report presented by Mr. Justice Appau. Actually, it is really unfair,” he said after he was queried by Minority Chief Whip Kwame Governs Agbodza over the $900,000.

  • Security Analyst advises government to use diplomatic means to arrest Nayiri, new Bawku Naba

    Security Analyst advises government to use diplomatic means to arrest Nayiri, new Bawku Naba

    Following an unsuccessful attempt to apprehend the Nayiri and the recently skinned Bawku Naba at Nalerigu, security analyst Adib Sani is urging government to use diplomatic means instead.

    There’s uneasy calm in the area after the youth on Sunday night fiercely resisted moves by soldiers to arrest the two chiefs acting on the warrant issued by a High Court in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

    Adib Sani in an interview with Starr News said the military arrest was dead on arrival and advised the government to resort to diplomacy to avoid an escalation of the already fragile situation in the enclave.

    “…There absolutely no way, either the Nayiri or the enskinned Bawku Naba can be accessed without the use of brute force, and the people are not willing to back down. So what it means is that lives might be lost if they are to indeed access any of these chiefs.

    “We are really in disturbing times but I’m hoping that immediately government engages the two sides. Inasmuch as we sometimes have to use force, for now, the government has run out of options and the only one there is the use of diplomacy so government should use this opportunity to meet the two sides and see how we can amicably come together and address the insecurity that is brewing.”

  • Traders at Agbogloshie call on Jomoro MP to intervene in eviction

    Traders at Agbogloshie call on Jomoro MP to intervene in eviction

    Traders at Western Regional Market and lorry station in Agbogbloshie Market in Accra, have petitioned the Member of Parliament(MP) for Jomoro to intervene in the alleged construction of hostels and toilets for head porters (Kayayei) at their premises.

    As a result, the market’s residents risk losing their sources of income.

    The foundation is currently being dug in more than half of the land in preparation for the start of the project.

    The traders and drivers claim to have lived on that plot of land for over 40 years, only to arrive at work on Monday to discover that their properties on the land had been destroyed.

    Five vehicles stationed on the land at the time of the operation were towed to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s office (AMA).

    The drivers claim they had to pay 5,000 Ghana cedis (GHc5,000) each before they were released.

    They had no choice but to seek assistance from two of their members of parliament, Dorcas Afo Toffey for Jomoro and Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah for Elembelle.

    Madam Afo Toffey explained to traders and drivers in Accra that when she received the call about their ejection without notification, she called the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, who denied knowledge of the ejection.

    She said the Minister told her the location is not under his jurisdiction, but rather that of Accra’s Mayor, Elizabeth Sackey. She assured them that what is happening to them is affecting her as well, and that she will do everything she can to get to the bottom of the problem, and that even if the land is taken, they will be relocated.

    “What the government wants to do by building a hostel and toilet on the land is not a bad idea,” Madam Afo Toffey said in Twi.

    She stated that over 2000 women are trading on that parcel of land, and if such land is taken away from them, they will be unable to provide for their families, as women are the ones who take care of their homes.

    “If the government is doing such things for the Kayayei, then traders and drivers also need a befitting place to do their business and not to push them away”. She promised to meet with the Mayor of Accra to resolve the issue amicably.

    Brigadier-General Nana Adu, a retired Army officer and truck owner who operates at the station, said he does not understand why the government must take such action. He admitted that the government can take land for such development, but taking it by force is not the right way to go about it.

    He said that there should have been a dialogue with the people for peace to reign. Brigadier-General Adu stated that an arrangement should have been made as to where the occupiers would be taken, but for the government to wait until Friday when the area is calm before storming in with police and military to take over is not the right way.

    “We know the army and the police are controlled by the government and so the moment these people came to take over the place for the construction of the project, we are convinced the government has a hand in it”.

    National Secretary for Coconut Oil Dealers Association, J. B. Gbolor, called for an injunction on the project until the determination of the matter.

    He said day in and day, the contractor is bringing construction equipment unto the lord which is not in their interest. The Chairman of the Drivers Union who gave his name as Life explained that the station receives trucks from the Ivory Coast and Nigeria with goods and as such taking over the place would affect such businesses.

    He stated that because of what has occurred, all of the women are stranded, which will have an impact on them. The Chairman stated that those who arrived were armed, but they do not want any violence and preferred an amicable resolution to the issue.

    Some of the traders have petitioned President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia, whose names have been mentioned, to halt the project because the location is vital to their livelihood.

  • More layoffs ahead – Ofosu-Dorte warns

    More layoffs ahead – Ofosu-Dorte warns

    Executive Chairman of AB & David Law Company, David Ofosu-Dorte, has stated that Ghanaians shouldn’t have high expectations for an economic revival this year.

    Furthermore, given the ongoing debt restructuring, citizens should also be measured in their confidence in the financial sector rebound.

    That is not all. For David Ofosu-Dorte, he anticipates more lay-offs and downsizing by cash-strapped organizations.

    “I mean, a lot of organizations who will not have access to money to expand including those in the banking sector who have had the payments of their bonds deferred in the debt exchange will downsize. So expect a lot of lay-offs and tougher times”, he told Bernard Avle on the Point of View on Citi TV on Monday.

    The government exchanged existing bonds for new ones with a more flexible interest payment plan as part of ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary (IMF) Fund to secure $3 billion in economic support for Ghana.

    Following an economic downturn and difficulties in servicing its debt, the government implemented the domestic debt exchange programme to give itself more time to meet its fiscal obligations.

    The programme has faced stiff opposition from groups and individuals since its announcement.

    A staff-level agreement between Ghana and the IMF was achieved in December, opening the door for the $3 billion rescue.

    Before the Bretton Woods institution’s board would evaluate Ghana’s request, one of the requirements is the domestic debt restructuring scheme.

    Without the debt exchange programme, the government warns that the nation’s economy would collapse severely.

    David Ofosu-Dorte however believes the financial industry and the lives of Ghanaians do not seem to look good at the moment.

    “But this time, the tougher times will not be because of IMF conditionalities. It is the reality of the situation. The financial sector will suffer more because people will keep money outside the banks. People will keep money under the bed at home, in forex or in properties like real estate. Now, there is a trend of increasing purchases in safes and the price has even gone up so it means people are keeping their own money”, he stressed.

  • Calm restored at Nalerigu after recent crisis

    Calm restored at Nalerigu after recent crisis

    Calm restored at Nalerigu, in the North East Region after some youth gathered on Monday at the palace of the Mamprugu overlord to await attempts by military authorities to arrest their chief.

    A purported enstoolment of the new Bawku Naba, Alhaji Seidu Abagre, took place on Wednesday, February 15, under the supervision of the Overlord of Mamprugu, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga.

    This move has been condemned by the government and declared null and void.

    The High Court in Bolgatanga subsequently issued a bench warrant to arrest the Mamprugu Overlord and the purported Bawku Naba.

    The security officers were, however, resisted by some youth who had a hint of their intention.

    A journalist with a local radio station, Nobya FM in the region, Jadam Yaw Boakye tells Citi News police officers are currently patrolling the area.

    Citi News contacted Lawyer for the Mamprugu Overlord, Mohammed Tahiru Nambe who said his client is willing to avail himself to the court if invited.

    He, however, condemned the forceful invasion of the Palace to arrest the Paramount Chief of Mamprugu.

  • Ablakwa commends president for saving Ghana GHC6.5m

    Ablakwa commends president for saving Ghana GHC6.5m

    The representative for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has lauded President Akufo-Addo for traveling to Germany and Ethiopia in Ghana’s presidential jet.

    In a tweet shared on Monday, February 20, 2023, the MP said that the president’s decision not to use a luxury private jet for his recent trip has saved the country almost GHC6.5 million.

    He added that if Akufo-Addo had been consistent in using the presidential jet for his travels, he will have saved Ghana a lot of money and possibly averted the current economic crisis in the country.

    “I can confirm from our unimpeachable tracking that for President Akufo-Addo’s latest travel to the Munich Security Conference and AU meetings in Addis Ababa, he used Ghana’s Presidential Jet (Dassault Falcon 900 EX) for the entire 17hr:53min flight time. He returned to Accra at 11:40 pm last night.

    “By this commendable conduct, and having regard for the current luxury VIP private jet market rate, the President has saved the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer some €480,000 (GHC6.5 million) by avoiding his favourite profligate luxury chartered jet.

    “This is the prudent presidential conduct Ghanaians have been demanding for years- a sensitive and frugal leadership which could have saved Ghana over GHC100million and perhaps averted the current economic crisis,” parts of the MPs tweet read.

    Ablakwa added that it is his hope that President Akufo-Addo will continue to use the presidential jet till he leaves office for the sake of the country.

    View the MPs’ tweet below:

    Our unimpeachable tracking of Prez Akufo-Addo’s latest foreign travels to Germany & Ethiopia reveal that he used Ghana’s Presidential Jet for the entire duration.

    His commendable conduct saves the suffering taxpayer some GHS6.5million.

    This is what Ghanaians have been demanding pic.twitter.com/4QgfCrxo18— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) February 20, 2023

  • Ho Municipality gets brighter street lights ahead of Ghana at 66

    Ho Municipality gets brighter street lights ahead of Ghana at 66

    As the municipality gets ready to hold the 66th Ghana Independence Day parade, the Ho Municipal Assembly and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have joined forces to improve the street lighting system in the area.

    The two organizations have strengthened their collaboration to ensure that the streets of Ho are properly lit.

    As a result, over two thousand street lights have been replaced within the Municipality and extended to adjoining roads leading to the Ho township.

    A walk within the Ho Municipality especially in the evening now shows well lit streets which hitherto was not the situation.

    The strengthening of the collaborative efforts between the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ho Municipal Assembly is aimed at providing residents and visitors with a well-lit and safer environment to celebrate the independence day parade which will be held within the Ho Municipality of the region. Its also seeks to enhance the beauty of the city and make it more attractive to tourists, thereby boosting the local economy.

    GBCNEWS learnt that ECG has committed to providing supervisory works on replacing, installing and helping to repair street lights in key areas within the municipality. Over two thousand street lights have therefore been replaced within the Municipality while additional street lights have also been extended to adjoining roads leading to the Municipality.

    A walk within the Municipality especially in the evening now shows well-lit streets which hitherto was not the case. The situation has also resulted in improved security within the municipality and an improvement in night life in Ho.

    In an interview with the Volta Regional Engineer for the ECG, Engineer Michael Buabin, said adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that the Municipality enjoys stable power in the run-up to the event on March 6, 2023.

    “We have spoken to our colleagues the GRIDCO people that before, during and after this all important celebrations they should make sure that there is no outage from their side” he noted.

    “This communication has gotten to our head office and the head office of GRIDCO. Over 2000 street lights have been replaced within the Municipality and even extended to adjoining roads leading to the ho township and it’s environs” he added.

    A co-chairman of the Grounds and Event Committee of the Local Organizing Committee who is also the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Divine Richard Komla Bosson, in an interview with GBCNEWS expressed his excitement at the partnership and emphasized the importance of proper lighting in creating a safe and attractive environment for residents and visitors.

    “I have entered into an MOU with ECG that operation lets lighten all the street lights in town. All these things will add up to the beauty and the development that we are yearning for” he opined.

    It is believed that the collaboration between the Ho Municipal Assembly and ECG is a promising step towards a brighter and safer future for the residents of Ho.

  • NLC orders Ministry of Energy to engage angry NEDCo employees

    NLC orders Ministry of Energy to engage angry NEDCo employees

    In order to resolve the ongoing dispute between the Northern Electricity Distribution Company’s (NEDCo) employees and management over the continued stay of the managing director, the National Labour Commission (NLC) has ordered the Ministry of Energy to consult with both groups.

    Staff groups of NEDCo had been on strike since February 8 but called off the action on February 16 upon a receipt of summon from the NLC.

    The staff has been demanding the removal of the Managing Director of the company, Osmani Aludiba Ayuba for poor financial performance and unsustainability.

    In an interview with Citi News, the Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission, Ofosu Asamoah said the Commission recommended further engagement between the major stakeholders after listening to all the parties.

    He lauded the staff for their demands which he said are largely in the interest of the power distribution company.

    “They [the staff] are not self-seeking but looking for the interest and development of the company and that is a good one.”

    When asked what the Commission makes of the demand for the dismissal of the MD, Mr. Asamoah said that is solely the decision of the staff, but especially when the staff’s resolution is not far from that of the MD, it is only further recommendation proposed.

    “It is their demand and I don’t think that is the way to go because from their resolution and their presentation before the committee, they kept mentioning the management, and we have looked at that, and we have seen that it goes beyond that, and we have asked them to engage the Ministry to find a workable solution especially when the MD is talking about sustainability and the staff are also talking about sustainability.”

  • Northern Region: Over 364, 762 public schools lack desks

    Northern Region: Over 364, 762 public schools lack desks

    Over 364, 762 public schools in the Northern region do not have desks, according to the Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch).

    A report cited by GhanaWeb, Eduwatch, noted that 80% of pupils in kindergarten, making a hundred and four thousand, four hundred and forty-five (104, 445) children, did not have desks per data provided by the Ministry of Education.

    The report further revealed that “70% (213,352) of Primary, and 50% (46, 965) of JHS pupils did not have desks.”

    Eduwatch is therefore calling on the minister of education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and the regional minster, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, to intervene in the disturbing situation.

  • Agbana provides Ketu North with free medical assistance

    Agbana provides Ketu North with free medical assistance

    To provide healthcare to the residents of in the Volta region, several medical professionals and health specialists are on outreach.

    The move championed and sponsored by the Edem Agbana Network.

    The team comprises of physicians, doctors, pharmacists, therapists, and nurses with a wide range of specializations.

    They will be screening and treating beneficiaries for common and complicated health snags.

    Thousands of constituents have so far been treated for hypertension, diabetes, high blood sugar, TB,  and hepatitis B among other conditions in such communities as Dzodze, Penyi, and Ehi in the Ketu North Municipality.

    The team leader of the outreach scheme, Dr Patric Fynn, says chronic malaria has been the most prevalent ailment his team recorded. 

    Dr Fynn has expressed happiness over satisfactory patronage of the activity, and has, however, bemoaned the bad healthcare-seeking behaviour among the patrons.

    He has called for a priority of healthy lives through regular checks on the health of individuals.

    Media liaison for the Edem Agbana Network, Eyram Kingsley Ameshi, in a media briefing said the outreach forms a part of Mr Agbana’s move to impart lives of venerable constituents especially those in the rural and hard-to-reach zones of the Country.

    According to him, the scheme will be extended to other parts of the Ketu North constituency and the Volta region in the coming days.

    He has been doing this exercises aimed at helping the needy since 2015.

    Eric Edem Agbana is among 17 young leaders and changemakers selected from across Africa to benefit from the maiden edition of the Young African Leaders’ fellowship of the European University Institute.

    He is the immediate past Deputy National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, and now aspires for the parliamentary seat for the Ketu North.

  • GMet lacks necessary tools to measure air quality – Chief weather forecaster

    GMet lacks necessary tools to measure air quality – Chief weather forecaster

    The chief weather forecaster at the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), Felicity Ahafianyo, has revealed that the organization is now unable to test the air quality in the environment since the necessary equipment is not available.

    The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) exists to provide efficient and reliable meteorological information by collecting, processing, archiving, and disseminating meteorological information to end-users.

    “Currently we are supposed to be measuring the air quality at the point of GMet but we don’t even have the equipment. I remember we used to have one but I am trying hard to see if we can have access to see if it is still working” Felicity Ahafianyo disclosed on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show.

    According to the chief forecaster, the harmattan condition is going to persist for a while. Thus, it is going to be dry and hazy, with poorer visibility, warm temperatures around 36, 37 for the north and around 34, 35 for the middle sector whereas the coastal strip is going to be around 31, 33 degrees Celsius.

    She noted that the air is polluted and on a normal day, dust is very hazardous to humans because of its solid minute particles which can be easily inhaled into the lungs alongside other toxic substances such as carbon monoxide.

    Felicity also advocates that given the current state of the air within the atmosphere, people should go back to wearing nose masks for self-protection for the time being because it is not yet established if it is acidic or something else.

    “I am advocating that we all go back to the nose mask to protect ourselves for the time being because we don’t even know whether it is acidic, so let’s try our best as much as possible to limit our outdoor activities for now” she appealed

  • Youth in Walewale, Nalerigu protest military’s move to detain new Bawku chief

    Youth in Walewale, Nalerigu protest military’s move to detain new Bawku chief

    The military’s attempts to detain the recently skinned Bawku Naaba by the Nayiri have sparked tension in various areas of the North East Region as youth took to the streets to protest.

    In the Nalerigu and Walewale communities, the youth burnt lorry tyres amidst chanting of war songs to drum home their anger.

    Some New Patriotic Party (NPP) billboards were also destroyed by the youth.

    Sources within the youth groups indicate their disappointment in government and the military for the recent peaceful instability in Bawku and Nalerigu.

    They have warned they will use every available means to protest any attempt to arrest the Nayiri and the rival Bawku chief.

    The King of the Maprugu Traditional area, Naa Bohugu Mahami I, on Wednesday, February 15 reportedly enskinned Alhaji Seidu Abagre as the new chief for Bawku at the Nayiri Palace in Nalerigu.

    But government declared the installation as null and void, ordering the arrest of the new chief.

    Attempts by the military to effect the arrest Sunday evening was met with fierce resistance from the youth.

    On Monday morning, the youth expressed their anger by hitting the streets.

  • OccupyGhana urges government to revoke its response on 2022 Public Officers Bill

    OccupyGhana urges government to revoke its response on 2022 Public Officers Bill

    A pressure group called OccupyGhana has requested the government to retract its response to a question about the status of the planned conduct of Public Officials Bill 2022.

    OccupyGhana maintains that it is being caught by the government’s letter’s secret and confidential labelling.

    OccupyGhana requested an update on the status of the relevant Bill in a letter to the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice in August 2022.

    It used the Right to Information law to request information about the actions being taken by the proper authorities in response to recent claims of conflict of interest “levelled against some government employees.”

    After six months, the government’s reaction to the pressure has been classified as confidential.

    However, OccupyGhana suspects this is a deliberate attempt by the government to trap it and requests that the response be immediately withdrawn.

    “Our request to you in the exercise of our constitutional right to information was not confidential. We were certainly not seeking information that constituted a state secret. We just wanted to know the status of the Draft Bill, since we knew it had been submitted with a Memorandum for Cabinet’s approval. Cabinet’s decision, which would mean the Executive will or will not forward it to Parliament for debate and enactment into law, is not a matter that is confidential or a state secret.”

    “Unfortunately, the ‘trap’ of those markings means that if we disclose this momentous and disappointing decision to the public, we could, arguably, be charged with offences under the State Secrets Act, 1962 (Act 101). Although we think any such prosecution would be wicked and would certainly fail, we do not want to go down that path”, the statement read in parts.

    The draft Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2022 proposes, among others, the removal of the unconstitutional extension of time given to public officers to declare assets and liabilities.

    The draft Bill is  however yet to obtain Cabinet approval for onward consideration and approval by Parliament.

    OccupyGhana has in the past been pushing for the swift passage of the Bill.

    Here is the full statement from OccupyGhana

    RE: RIGHT TO INFORMATION REQUEST ON THE STATUS OF THE DRAFT CONDUCT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS BILL, 2022

    We have received your letter dated 14 February 2023 (your ref: OPCA.3/3/140223), responding to our inquiries on the above-matter. You have finally communicated to us, six months after we first wrote to you, Cabinet’s decision on whether or not it would approve the above-mentioned Draft Memorandum and Bill for submission to Parliament. For the communication of such a momentous decision by the Executive, we are taken aback that your two-page final response to our Right to Information Request is boldly stamped ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ on the first page and marked ‘SECRET’ on the second page.

    Our request to you in the exercise of our constitutional right to information was not confidential. We were certainly not seeking information that constituted a state secret. We just wanted to know the status of the Draft Bill, since we knew it had been submitted with a Memorandum for Cabinet’s approval. Cabinet’s decision, which would mean the Executive will or will not forward it to Parliament for debate and enactment into law, is not a matter that is confidential or a state secret.

    Unfortunately, the ‘trap’ of those markings means that if we disclose this momentous and disappointing decision to the public, we could, arguably, be charged with offences under the State Secrets Act, 1962 (Act 101). Although we think any such prosecution would be wicked and would certainly fail, we do not want to go down that path. It is simply unthinkable and befuddling that Cabinet would take a decision to either approve or refuse approval of a Draft Bill that seeks to regulate the conduct of public officers, declaration of assets, etc, and which is already in the public domain, but would want its decision on the matter and the reasons for it to remain confidential and/or a state secret. We dare Cabinet to be bold and allow us to share your letter with Ghanaians, and not cower behind the State Secrets Act on a matter like this.

    We therefore invite you to communicate to us in writing, your withdrawal of those markings, so that we may inform the people of Ghana of the Government’s interest or otherwise in working to ensure that the Draft Bill becomes law that will regulate the conduct of public officers, for the several reasons you state in that letter.

    Kindly respond at your earliest convenience.

    We will follow your lead and send copies of this letter to all the persons you copied your letter to. But we will also copy all press houses because our letters to you are neither confidential nor a state secret.

    Yours in the service of God and Ghana

    OccupyGhana

    cc. Chief of Staff
    Office of the President
    Jubilee House
    Accra

    Secretary to the President
    Office of the President
    Jubilee House
    Accra

    Attorney-General & Minister for Justice
    Office of the Attorney-General & Minister for Justice
    Accra

    Minister for Information
    Ministry of Information
    Accra

  • UG students detained over violence granted GH¢50k bail

    UG students detained over violence granted GH¢50k bail

    The University of Ghana has granted bail in the sum of GH $50,000 for the 18 students who were detained for allegedly causing disturbances on campus.

    The students were picked up last week by the Ghana Police Service following a clash on the University of Ghana campus on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

    The 18 were among aggrieved past and continuing students who stormed the University premises to protest Management’s new residential policy restricting continuing students from occupying the Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah residential Halls to make way for level 100 and graduate students.

    Subsequently, the students were put before an Accra Circuit Court and remanded into custody for unlawful conduct.

    Appearing before Circuit Court 4 on February 20, the students were granted bail with two common sureties without justification.

    Counsel for 16 of the 18 students, Albert Quashigah speaking after the court proceedings said the defense was only in court today to seek bail for the students which was granted.

    “Our business today was only to apply for bail and the judge was generous and granted us the bail, and we are now taking steps to execute the bail that has been granted to us”.

    Though he was optimistic, he feared the processes of the court may delay the bail execution and have the students released by the end of day today.

    “This administrative process of the court can be a bit delayed, and we are hoping to execute the bail and have the students freed by the close of the day. It can take some time, but I am only hoping that we will be able to execute the bail to free these students, so they can return back to their studies,” Mr. Quashigah added.

  • KT Hammond shares his accomplishments as the Deputy Energy Minister

    KT Hammond shares his accomplishments as the Deputy Energy Minister

    As deputy energy minister from 2001 to 2007, the minister-designate for trade and industry has boasted about one of his greatest accomplishments.

    According to him, his personal work was what led to the discovery of oil in the country by Tullow Oil and Kosmos Energy in the western region of Ghana.

    His response comes after the minority chief whip asked what his achievements were after he served as deputy minister from 2001 to 2007, when he appeared before the committee for vetting.

    “…it was through the administration of J. A. Kufuor under the ministry of energy and myself. My minister at the time was Kan Dapaah. He gave me the portfolio of petroleum. GNPC was literally not in existence, it had collapsed. He gave me that responsibility to make sure GNPC was on its two feet to make sure that they entered into proper exploration and so to develop and make sure we find oil in this country.

    “I was mandated to travel all over the world to look for entrepreneurs, companies and to see if they could make sense of our potential. Mr Speaker it was I, KT Hammond, in May 2004 who signed [an] MOU which eventually led to KOSMOS discovering that oil in Ghana. That was the big achievement,” KT Hammond said.

    Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, February 20, 2023, started vetting ministers and deputy minister-nominees recently announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    The nominees to appear before the committee include Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, K.T. Hammond, the Minister-designate for Trade and Industry and the MP for Nhyiaeso, Stephen Amoah (Sticka) who would be serving as his deputy.

    MP for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong was also nominated as the Minister for Food and Agriculture while Stephen Asamoah Boateng is going to the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ministry as minister.

    Karaga MP, Mohammed Amin Adam, was named by the president as Minister of State at the Finance Ministry while Herbert Krapah was nominated deputy Minister for Energy.

  • Ken Agyapong supports KT Hammond at vetting

    Ken Agyapong supports KT Hammond at vetting

    Assin Central’s representative in parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, was captured among the group that arrived in parliament to support the vetting of the Minister of Trade and Industry-designate, Kobina Tahir Hammond, .

    KT Hammond is before the Appointments Committee of Parliament over his nomination by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the Minister of Trade and Industry-designate.

    His appointment came after Alan Kyerematen resigned to focus on his presidential ambitions, after serving in that capacity from January 2017 to January 2023.

    In photos that GhanaWeb captured during the vetting, the Assin Central MP is seen walking into the hall with the entourage that had come in to support the minister-designate.

    See the photos below:

  • Harmattan may persist throughout the week – Meteorological Agency

    Harmattan may persist throughout the week – Meteorological Agency

    The Harmattan situation in the country is likely to get worse this week, according to a report from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA).

    The agency in a statement noted that meteorological satellites have detected that dust lifted around Chad, Sudan, and Niger have been transported into Ghana.

    “This dust was transported into the country by strong winds at lower levels of the atmosphere. As a result, an intensification of dry and dusty weather conditions was expected to be experienced in Ghana during the week as issued in the GMet weekly and daily forecasts.”

    “Furtherance to the above, this has resulted in dryness and decreased visibility, which may take some time to clear completely. Relative humidity, over the period, has ranged between 15% and 50% with a visibility range of 200 meters to 5,000 meters. These conditions are expected to persist at varying intensities over the next few days.

    It however expects that there will be a relaxation in the intensity during the week and consequently.

    GMA further advised that the general public take some precautions.

    “Keep hydrated, Follow fire safety precautions, Cover foods/water to prevent dust from settling on them, Wash fruits thoroughly before taking them, and people allergic to dust are to wear nose masks to reduce the effect on them.”

  • Accra’s air has reached toxic levels – IQAir’s AirVisual

    Accra’s air has reached toxic levels – IQAir’s AirVisual

    Ghana’s air quality is 49.6 times worse than the yearly WHO guideline value, according to AirVisual, a real-time air quality information platform from IQAir.

    IQAir’s AirVisual attributes this to the high concentration of PM2.5 in Accra’s atmosphere.

    It says the current PM2.5 concentration in Greater Accra is 11 times above the recommended limit given by the WHO 24-hour air quality guidelines value.

    It is believed the high concentration of PM2.5 in the air has been compounded by the resurgence of the Harmattan as a result of regional dust storms pushing into Southern Ghana.

    “Due to the highly damaging effects of pollution exposure on vulnerable members of society, i.e. young children and the elderly, pregnant women, those with heightened sensitivity towards pollution, as well as those with pre-existing illnesses or compromised immune system, the population is advised to wear a mask outdoors, run an air purifier, close windows to avoid dirty outdoor air and avoid outdoor exercise.”

    PM2.5 refers to particles found in the air, including dust, soot, dirt, smoke, and liquid droplets with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less.

    These particles are so small they can get deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream and cause havoc to one’s organs.

    Meanwhile, the Ghana Meteorological Agency has predicted an intensification of dry and dusty weather conditions during the week.

    It attributed the phenomenon to dust lifted around Chad, Sudan, and Niger. This dust was transported into the country by strong winds at lower levels of the atmosphere.

    “These conditions are expected to persist at varying intensities over the next few days. However, it is expected that there will be a relaxation in the intensity during the week and consequently.”

  • KT Hammond expresses disappointment over importation of ‘yemuadie’

    KT Hammond expresses disappointment over importation of ‘yemuadie’

    KT Hammond, the minister of trades and industry nominee, has expressed displeasure over the importation of tripe, also known as “yemuadie” in Ghana.

    Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday, the MP for Adansi-Asokwa suggested that the importation of tripe and other goods into Ghana must cease.

    The lawmaker lamented that millions of dollars are spent on the importation of tripe into the country adding that such importations put pressure on the local currency.

    The MP asked, “why is it that everything you can think about is being imported into the country? These importations have terrible effects on our foreign exchange reserves. I think it’s about time we took a serious look at this particular issue. I’m told a committee was put up by cabinet to deal specifically with this matter”.

    He added, “When I looked at some of the issues that have been raised, I was scandalised. I’m told it’s being decided at that level [cabinet] that we should be looking at about 50 specific areas. I’m scandalised at what appears to be in paragraph 4, is that what we are importing to Ghana? We are importing guts, bladders, stomachs of animals to Ghana to complement our foods. And that alone totalled about one hundred and sixty-four million, five hundred and seventy-five thousand plus some hundreds of dollars[the year under review]. I thought this is a little bit of a scandal. It’s not only this but this is what I find scandalising”.

    He opined that the country produces more than what it imports from other countries hence the government must sanitise the system.

    “There are other things on the list such as rice, and beverage. I happened to find out that we were smuggling rice into the country without disclosing it. Because if you look at how much we produce locally, and how much we consume, and you do the subtraction, there’s a gap of about 500-600 metric tons which we consume that are not accounted for in the system.

    “There are other ones too, second-hand clothing, vehicles, there are quite a lot that government feels should ensure some sanity in the system,” the Trades Minister-designate suggested.

    If he sails through the vetting, the MP will replace Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto who resigned from Ministry to pursue his presidential ambition.

  • Agbodza scolds KT Hammond for making “unnecessary” comments during vetting

    Agbodza scolds KT Hammond for making “unnecessary” comments during vetting

    The Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has been been forced to rebuke the minister-designate for trade and industry, KT Hammond, after he repeatedly interrupt some of the committee members who were attempting to ask him questions.

    MP for Bawku, Mahama Ayariga was the first to raise a concern about the posturing of the nominee, but the Chairman, Joseph Osei-Wusu did not see anything wrong with it.

    Despite the Chairman’s ruling, Agbodza entreated KT Hammond to get serious with the vetting committee because the proceedings are live on TV and people are watching from far and near.

    Realising that the minority side of the committee was not happy about the minister-designate getting too comfortable, Osei-Wusu then pleaded for cool heads to prevail. He accepted responsibility for not insisting on strictness right from the beginning of the proceedings.

  • Ofori-Atta’s incapacity is now legendary – Minority

    Ofori-Atta’s incapacity is now legendary – Minority

    The Minority Caucus in Parliament has again attacked Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in light of the difficulties he is having trying to revive the Ghana’s economy.

    The Minority also reiterated its call for the resignation or removal of the Finance Minister from office.

    “We reiterate our call for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta whose gross incompetence in managing our economy has assumed legendary status. The President must spare Ghanaians the agony of waking up tomorrow to see Ken Ofori-Atta still in charge of the economy,” the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said.

    Mr. Forson took the swipe at Ofori-Atta during a press conference on Monday, February 20, 2023, ahead of the vetting of newly appointed ministerial nominees.

    He made the remark while calling on the president to reduce his government size.

    The Minority Caucus also called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to merge some ministries.

    The Minority Caucus wants the Ministry of Food and Agriculture merged with the Fisheries Ministry and the Chieftaincy Ministry merged with the Tourism Ministry. The Minority is also calling for the Sanitation and the Local Government Ministry to be merged to help reduce the size of the government.

    The caucus also wants the Information and Communication ministries to be merged and the Transport and Railways ministries also merged.

  • ID1F is fundamental towards industrialization – KT Hammond

    ID1F is fundamental towards industrialization – KT Hammond

    Ghana is becoming more industrialized due to Akufo-Addo administration’s One District One Factory (1D1F) strategy, this is according to Kobina Tahir Hammond, the minister designate for trade and industry.

    Answering questions at the Appointment Committee of parliament on Monday, February 20 during his vetting, he indicated that 100 factors are currently operating under the initiative with 150 others at various stages of completion.

    “The ID1F is fundamental towards industrialization,” the Adansi Asokwa Member of Parliament said.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned several of the factories under the initiative.

    For instance, he commissioned a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant at Larkpleku in Ningo Prampram as part of efforts to boost the local manufacture of serum and vaccines.

    The $35 million plant, which has one of the highest production capacities in West Africa.

    The Atlantic life sciences company’s plant is expected to manufacture infusions and anesthetic medicines, serum, vaccines,  ear, eye and nasal drops for the Ghanaian and West African markets.

    President Akufo-Addo said the factory underscored the kind of support given by government to the private sector to take advantage of economic opportunities in the country.

    Mr Akufo-Addo said “I am glad to join all of you here to commission the new factory of Atlantic Life Sciences Limited, the company operating under government’s One District One Factory programme.

    “The establishment of tis factory is a concrete manifestation that the new paradigm of economic developments with this administration is vigorously pursuing or promoting value addition and industrial activities, within a conducive and business-friendly environment can make headway.

    “IDIF seeks to address the challenge of poverty and widespread inequality among rural and peri urban communities through the establishment of an institutional framework that will attract private sector investment in rural economic activity, create jobs and raise income levels.”

    On Friday, 2nd September 2022, he also commissioned two other factories stating that “it is the first time I have done so since becoming President, and it is a day I will not forget.”

    President Akufo-Addo’s first port of call was the APPED Cylinder Factory, which is currently employing some two hundred and fifty (250) people, and is expected to employ some five hundred (500) people at full capacity.

    The company was established in January 2019 to participate in Government’s flagship industrialization programme. Indeed, construction started in 2019 and was completed in the year 2021 with the commencement of commercial production and operations in the month of December the same year.

    APPEB Company is the largest Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders manufacturing in Ghana, in terms of production capacity with an installed capacity of 4,000 to 5,000 (6kg /15kg) gas cylinders per day. The current production capacity is about 2000 cylinders per day due to the current market demand. The company imports mild steal from China as the main raw material for production.

    “We will continue to enhance the existing incentive framework designed to make 1D1F designated companies more competitive and sustainable. The incentives, which include tax holidays, import duty waivers, and interest rate subsidies, are designed to help build the capacities and competitiveness of these enterprises, and to position them for greater productivity and efficiency,” he said.

  • Court orders arrest of Mamprugu Overlord

    Court orders arrest of Mamprugu Overlord

    The Bolgatanga High Court has issued an arrest warrant for the Mamprugu Traditional Area’s paramount chief.

    The order for the arrest of Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, was contained in a court order signed under the name of His Lordship Alexander Graham.

    This follows the installation of Alhaji Seidu Abagre (Kulga II) as the new chief of Bawku in the early hours of Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

    The new chief was enskinned at the Nayiri Palace in Nalerigu, but soon after, his installation was nullified by the government and other authorities.

    Condemning the installation of the new chief for Bawku by the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sherigah II, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, said the government still recognizes Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the Bawku Naba.

    It added that the security apparatus in Bawku have been instructed to arrest anybody who holds himself out as Bawku Naba other than Naba Abugrago Azoka II.

    According to the new order from the High Court, the Mamprugu Chief, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, who installed the new chief, is to be arrested.

    “Upon reading the affidavits of Lieutenant Colonel Ajibadeck Benjamin Baba (Retired) for an Order of Motion Ex-parte for warrant of arrest, and upon hearing Mrs. Joyce Debrah (Principal State Attorney), Priscilla Lartey and Kofi Hayford (Assistant State Attorney) for the Applicant, it is hereby ordered that Warrant of Arrest is issued for he arrest of Alhaji Seidu Abagre (Kulga II) Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga (Paramount Chief of Mamorugu Traditional Area and His King Makers),” the order read.

  • Ghanaians are now reaping benefits of Bawumia’s sacrifices – NPP MP

    Ghanaians are now reaping benefits of Bawumia’s sacrifices – NPP MP

    A Member of Parliament (MP) for the Akim Swedru Constituency, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has made a passionate defense for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to be chosen as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer .

    The lawmaker and former Deputy Minister of Agriculture opined that Dr. Bawumia’s sacrifices and contributions to the party amid attacks and vilification by both the opposition and government are sufficient grounds for him to lead the governing party into the 2024 elections.

    “He led our 2016 campaign and received all the attacks from our opponents and won us power with a historical margin. He is still receiving attacks for the party and government, and you think I should sidestep him? All the current attacks from the opposition parties are being directed at him just because he has decided to sacrifice himself for the party,” he wrote on Facebook.

    Kennedy Osei forcefully stated that there are positions being occupied and enjoyed by government appointees under President Akufo-Addo that are the results of the sacrifices of Dr. Bawumia, whom he further described as the nemesis of the opposition National Democratic Congress.

    “Many are today holding different portfolios and positions in this Government because of the work he did for the party then in opposition in 2016. He singlehandedly took the entire NDC government on, both in opposition and in government, so no wonder they are after his head and would prefer that he not be on the NPP’s ticket. He is the greatest nemesis of the biggest opposition party,” he added.

    This latest endorsement by the Akim Swedru MP adds up to the overwhelming number of NPP parliamentarians who have thrown their weight behind the Vice President ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.

    Though Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has not officially declared his intentions to be president, Dr. Gideon Boako, a spokesperson for the Vice President, has stated that the official announcement will be made if the party opens nominations for the primaries.

  • I made a mistake by purchasing tractors for farmers – Mahama

    I made a mistake by purchasing tractors for farmers – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has acknowledged that his administration erred in its decision to purchase tractors for farmers while he was in power.

    Mr Mahama says that given another chance, he will rather buy the tractors, and put them in a pool for someone with the expertise to manage and provide the tractor services to farmers.

    “I realised some of the things that we did, we made mistakes, we imported tractors and agricultural equipment, and we gave it to farmers. The farmer does not need the tractor, he does not need the agricultural equipment, he needs the services of a tractor,” the former President said in Munich.

    The former President added “so somebody who knows how to maintain that tractor must have a service centre, where he provides the services to the farmer. But we gave the tractors to the farmers, and in a year or two the tractor had broken down because he [farmer] doesn’t know that every six months you must change the engine oil, you must change the filters, you must grease the tractor, he [farmer] doesn’t know that. So we will approach it differently.

    Former President Mahama is in Munich, Germany, attending the 59th Munich Security Conference 2023. The conference provides a platform for high-level debates “on key foreign and security policy challenges.”

    Mr Mahama is the Chairperson of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa. The Tana Forum in collaboration with Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. (BDI) on Saturday, hosted a side event, an MSC Regional Breakfast on “Africa’s Place in a multipolar world: Moving from strategy to action.”

    The session was opened by President Mahama as Chair of the Tana Forum and addressed by the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, and Wolfgang Niedermark of BDI, the Federation of German Industries.

    South Africa’s Minister for Defence, Thandi Modise, delivered the keynote remarks.

  • I built Kumasi Kejetia Market to get attention from Ashanti Region – Kojo Bonsu

    I built Kumasi Kejetia Market to get attention from Ashanti Region – Kojo Bonsu

    A former mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu, has said that the Kumasi market women adore him as a result of the Kumasi Kejetia Market Phase 1 he built for them.

    Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Kojo Bonsu said many people did not believe the construction of the market was possible, but he did it.

    “When I go to the market, the market women praise me; they say ‘you are the one we like’ and they praise me for the Kejetia market,” he told Osei Bonsu OB.

    He explained that many people thought the project was not feasible, and the market women resisted relocation, but he managed to fence the place one night. According to him, the work had started by the time they came.

    Kojo Bonsu has also said that the party can only win the 2024 general elections with him as the lead candidate and win the Ashanti Region.

    He said the NDC’s bane over the years has been the votes from the Ashanti Region and he is the best person to curb that.

    “If I become the flagbearer of the party, the NDC will secure a lot of votes in the Ashanti region. This means I will break the monopoly and split the votes NPP secures in the region. Even today, the market women at Central Market and Kejetia Market are all supporting my presidential bid. The women have said that if I become the leader of the party, they will all vote for me.”

    “Today they see the vision and plan to develop Kumasi that we had,” he said.

    Kumasi Youth Association (KUYA) in 2016 awarded Kojo Bonsu for standing out among all former Mayors of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

    According to the group, the innovation of the former mayor gave birth to the famous Rattray Park, Kejetia Market and renovated Prempeh Assembly Hall among other equally important monumental infrastructural projects in Kumasi.

  • UHAS ranked 1st in 2023 AD Scientific Index Rankings

    UHAS ranked 1st in 2023 AD Scientific Index Rankings

    According to the 2023 AD Scientific Index Rankings, the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in the Volta Region is Ghana’s top-performing tertiary institution overall in terms of research output.

    Prof. Seth Owusu Agyei’s research work in Malaria clinical trials, infectious diseases and epidemiology won the enviable position while Prof. Fred Binka and Prof. John Gyapong all UHAS chalked the 3rd and 4th positions respectively. 

    The UHAS Vice Chancellor, Prof Lydia Aziato, announced this at the matriculation ceremony for the 2022/2023 academic year over the weekend. 

    She entreated the matriculants to emulate the performance of their Professors and undergo mentorships to ensure the high academic standard of the University is maintained. 

    She urged them to make the beliefs of the University, which are excellence, integrity, innovation and care, reflect in their everyday lives, even after graduating in their various programmes. 

    UHAS tops 2023 AD Scientific Index Rankings
    UHAS Vice Chancellor, Prof Lydia Aziato

    She welcomed the students and entreated them to abide by the rules and regulations or face the necessary punishments when found culpable of any offence. 

    Prof. Aziato acknowledged the University’s infrastructure deficit and appealed for an upgrade to make available enough room to accommodate the increasing number of students. 

    She highlighted the bad state of access and inner campus roads of the University community, which was awarded for construction but works had stalled on the stretch.

    She added that management was working with stakeholders to augment the water supply to hostels that were experiencing intermittent supplies. 

    She, however, assured the students of the best training during their stay at the university. 

    “Upon all these deficiencies, UHAS is the University of choice. We as a University assure you that you are at the right place at the right time.

    “We have every confidence that before you finish or in your graduation, you are more than ready to face the world. We assure you that”, she stressed. 

    She acknowledged the Fidelity Bank, Zenith Bank, Ghana Registered and Midwives Association, Latex Foam, and State Insurance Company among others for their donations to support the University, which is at the developing stage. 

    The University of Health and Allied Sciences which is in its 11th year received over 13,000 applications for the 2022/23 academic year. 

    Some 3,396 admissions were offered, out of which 1,775 enrolled for graduate and undergraduate programmes. 

    The students were matriculated into the Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Pharmacy, Sports and Exercise Medicine, and the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health. 

  • Four scriptures Ofori-Atta quoted in parliament when presenting statement on DDEP

    Four scriptures Ofori-Atta quoted in parliament when presenting statement on DDEP

    The Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta on Thursday, February 16, 2023 presented a statement on government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme(DDEP).

    The finance imnister, during his presentation, said all pensioners who failed to tender their old bonds for new ones under the exercise have been exempted from the programme.

    Also present in the house to witness proceedings were members of the Pensioner Bondholders Forum who had been picketing at the finance ministry for the past eight working days, protesting against the inclusion of their investments in the programme.

    As is usual of him, the finance minister, Ken Ofori Atta, began his presentation with a quotation from scripture.

    “Mr speaker I come in peace and as expected, if I look at Psalm 105, it says that let’s give thanks and note that we should rejoice with the lord and make his great deeds known to people,” he said, attracting varied reactions from both sides of the house.

    He then proceeded to make his presentation to the house, explaining why the government had taken some decisions for the DDP.

    After, his presentation, the MPs had time to react to what had been said and during that period, three more scriptures were quoted by some MPs.

    The first to quote from the Bible was the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who was disappointed in the minister’s decision to rejoice in the face of the country’s economic crisis.

    “Mr. Speaker, what is even so obnoxious and irritating is the minister’s opening remarks that this is the time to rejoice in the Lord. Jesus Christ of Nazareth! The minister forgets that in Proverbs 29:2, the Bible says that when the wicked rule, the people mourn, the people groan, there is pain. There is pain and anxiety when the wicked rule.”

    He added that “This is no time to rejoice. If the minister is still rejoicing, then our problems are bigger than I ever imagined. Because it tells us that the president, his vice president, and his finance minister are in a bubble; they are totally out of touch. They are in a world of their own, and they are still in a rejoicing mood.”

    Then came the turn of the MP for Nhyiaso, Stephen Amoah, who is popularly called Sticka.
    Mr Amoah sought to assure the pensioners who were present in the house that the finance minister’s quote did not mean he was happy with the country’s present situation.

    “1 Thessalonians 15: 16-18, the Bible states emphatically without any ambiguity, that in all circumstances we should give thanks to God and that is the will of God for his children. So our fathers and mothers it’s not that finance minister is happy with what is happening but finance minister believes in God, we all believe in God and God says that whether we’re going through pain or pleasure we should give thanks…”

    He was of the view that the minority members were pushing things out of proportion.

    The Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku, refused to be left out of the scripture quoting as he referenced parts of the bible when he had his turn.

    He made reference to a time in the Bible when a king went to the older generation for advice when important decisions needed to be made.

    “Mr Speaker, typical of the finance minister, he began the statement with a quotation from the bible and I’d like to do the same thing. Mr Speaker, 1 Kings 12:6 Solomon [Rehoboam] once sought the expertise of old men who helped him make important decisions about the kingdom of Israel but Mr Speaker, he did not touch the livelihood of these old men. He sought their expertise but never touched the livelihood of these people,” he said.

    The scripture reads “Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.”

    He further expressed his displeasure in the government and by extension, the finance minister’s decision to include pensioners in the domestic debt exchange programme.

    “He wants to fall on the savings of the aged, our mothers and fathers who have contributed their quota to this state and as we speak, they don’t have anything to live on except the little that they have saved. The minister is saying that without the savings of these people Ghana cannot get out of the trouble.”

    For him, the nation would be in a better place if the president reduced the size of his government and collapse some government institutions which are not functional.

    Like other minority MPs before him, Mr Opoku ended his submission by calling on the finance minister to resign stressing that he will not be forgiven for what he has done to the country.

    Reacting to this however, the speaker of parliament told the MP that even though he started his submission with a quote, his ending statement was “not biblical at all.”

    Seeking to respond to this, Eric Opoku said “There is forgiveness but in the judgement day no one will be forgiven.”

  • Enskinment by Nayiri a sign of contemporary colonialism, racism – Lawyer for Bawku Naba

    Enskinment by Nayiri a sign of contemporary colonialism, racism – Lawyer for Bawku Naba

    Maxwell Agbambilla, an attorney for Bawku Naba, has compared the enskinment of a new chief by Nayiri to modern-day slavery.

    The legal practitioner explained that it was unacceptable for a group of people to be forced to accept a ruler who is enskinned by a group with whom they do not speak the same language.

    “Is it his case that today, if the Zebilla … skin is vacant, the Zebilla chief should go to Bawku with an interpreter to be enskinned as a Bawku Naba, and he doesn’t see that that is colonialism or apartheid?

    “…How is it that in this present-day democracy, that I should be forced to go to somebody, whose language I do not speak to be enskinned as a chief and to be controlled and ordered about by him?” he stressed.

    Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, Mr Agbambilla asserted that it was unlawful and an offence for someone to be enskinned as the chief of a town to which they did not belong.

    He emphasised that should the occurrence above occur, there may be a chance for conflict between the two ethnic groups.

    “There’s an offence called breaches of the chiefs. If I get up and go to Kumasi because there’s a Kusasi community in Kumasi, I mass up my people, get people to come to Bawku and say I am going to be the Ashantehene knowing fully well that what I am going to do is likely going to provoke Ashantis to react, is that not criminal”, he said.

    Mr Agbambilla’s statement was in response to the Mamprusi representative on the Bawku Inter-ethnic Peace Committee, Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, who had earlier approved the enskinment of the new Bawku Naba as legitimate.

    Mr Nambe further said that Bawku was a Mamprusis community and that the Nayiri’s enskinning a new chief was simply the Nayiri exercising his authority.

    However, Mr Agbambilla disagreed with the Mamprusi representative’s assertion and contended that Mr Nambe’s tale reflected colonialism and apartheid.

    The lawyer for Bawku Naba, therefore, insisted that “As far as we are concerned as Kusasis, we are not willing to go to anybody with an interpreter to be enskinned.”

  • How a presidential staffer buried her baby on her birthday and received another baby 7 years later

    How a presidential staffer buried her baby on her birthday and received another baby 7 years later

    The account of how Dr. Jemima Elike Nunoo, the Technical Director for Media and Strategic Communications at the Office of the President, was accorded her wish for a child is an intriguing miracle.

    After many years of trying without success, the University of Birmingham-trained Dr. Jemima was left with only her hopes and the prayers she said in an almost giving-up situation.

    Married for so many years but yearning to have a child of her own, she got lucky in 2017 – February 9, which was 5 days to her birthday (February 15), but the icy hands of death robbed her of that blessing.

    In fact, in that year, instead of marking her birthday on the 15th, she rather bid her daughter a final goodbye as that baby was put in the ground.

    It became the beginning of years of sorrows and flashbacks of the unbelievable pains she went through, losing her first child, so much so that her subsequent birthdays were not longer fun.

    But as they say, God surely has a good sense of humour, and He knew what he was about.

    In a narration of how things took a rather beautiful turn for Dr. Jemima Elike Nunoo, and her husband, King Nunoo, the Chief Executive Officer of Cape Coast Vipers Football Club, after 6 years, one of their long-time friends, shared the story.

    Known on Facebook as Marie-Anne Blessings To Nations, this friend – who has known Dr. Jemima since her sister and the presidential staffer were mates at the university, wrote that the day things happened, she was around.

    According to Marie-Anne, she had been in Ghana some time in May 2022 when Dr. Jemima gave her a treat of a lifetime.

    She explained that on her second day, after having had the privilege to go to Ghana’s oldest-living former president, John Agyekum Kufuor, Dr. Jemima had to leave her to go meet her husband; who had just returned from a trip.

    “You see Dr Jemima was born on the 15th of February, and after many years of praying to God for a child, was blessed with a child (a babygirl) 6 days to her birthday on 9th February 2017. Unfortunately, the child died and was buried on her birthday on 15th February 2017.

    “It has been a very hard time for her. Every year on the anniversary of the birth and death, her birthdays were no longer fun but sorrowful. She would talk to my elder sis and I about how she felt and we would try in our small limited human efforts to cheer her up. But what can you say to your sister who is crying with no child to hold when yours are rolling in? And never once was she bitter towards us…

    “So, we prayed and begged God for a child – that by this time next year she would be carrying her child (it was early May 2022). Shortly after I left, she informed my sister & I that she was pregnant. COME AGAIN?!!

    “And guess what? please scroll back up again… remember the day she dropped me after a beautiful day at the mountains? my second day in Ghana? when she dropped me and went home to meet her husband who was returning from a trip? turns out she took in that day after years of trying to no avail!! She JUST TOOK IN!!!! and 3 days later we were still crying to God for a baby! God has a serious sense of humour!!” she wrote.;

    But even better, Marie-Anne wrote that the new baby girl came in as an early birthday gift to her in 2023.

  • Christian Atsu’s remains was discovered in his apartment – Crime Check boss

    Christian Atsu’s remains was discovered in his apartment – Crime Check boss

    According to Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the CEO of the Crime Check Foundation, Christian Atsu‘s body was discovered in his apartment at Hatay.

    Oppong Kwarteng claimed that information available to him indicates that the late Ghanaian winger was found in the debris of the apartment where he resided.

    “The information we have was that his body was found in his apartment. It was found in the rubbles of that building,” he said.

    His latest revelation is a departure from his earlier claim that CCTV cameras in the apartment captured Atsu leaving the building before the earthquake.

    He detailed that videos captured Atsu running out of the building to seek refuge and that the earthquake happened 20 minutes after he left the apartment.

    “I have been briefed by the club that he was not in the building. He run to the parking garage to get his car out and it was during that period that the Renaissance building totally collapsed and that happened 20 minutes after he left the apartment.”

    “Our brother was not in the building, he went out before the building collapsed. But I can’t confirm whether he was able to leave the parking garage with his car or not,” he added in his update on Crime Check’s YouTube page sighted by GhanaWeb.

    Meanwhile, Wisdom Twasam, a brother of Christian Atsu has detailed how information about his brother’s demise was communicated to him.

    “We spoke around 12 and we spoke for one hour. I went to sleep and woke up in the morning to calls by another family member asking if I have seen the new information. I checked online and saw the information,” he said.

    After twelve days of search and rescue efforts, Christian Atsu was confirmed dead with his body apparently being retrieved from the rubble of a building in Hatayar, Turkey.

    The death of Christian Atsu was confirmed by his agent, Nana Sechere who has been in Turkey for over one week.

    “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce to all well-wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning My deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers and support.

    “I ask that whilst we make the necessary arrangements, that everyone would please respect the privacy of the family during this very difficult time,” he tweeted.

    Shortly after, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced plans to fly the remains of Christian Atsu to Ghana.

    “The Embassy is currently making the necessary arrangements with the assistance of the Government of Türkiye to have the body transported to Ghana for burial. The public will be updated on further developments.”

    The body of the footballer is expected to arrive in the country in the late hours of Sunday, February 19, 2023.

    Christian Atsu made 60 appearances for Ghana, scoring 10 goals. He played for Chelsea, Newcastle, Bournemouth and FC Porto

  • Africa’s tertiary education has regressed – Prof Aryeetey

    Africa’s tertiary education has regressed – Prof Aryeetey

    Professor Ernest Aryeetey, a former vice chancellor of the University of Ghana, has raised concern about the deterioration in tertiary education quality on the African continent.

    Prof. Aryeetey, who has over four decades in the tertiary education space bemoaned the lack of attempts to resolve the challenges confronting tertiary education in Africa.

    “We have a long way to go because there has been a lot of retrogression over the years in many of Africa’s universities,” Prof. Aryeetey told the host of Footprints on Citi TV, Samuel Attah-Mensah.

    “There has been a lack of willingness to confront difficult challenges and this is found in universities across the African continent,” he added.

    To confront the challenges, Prof. Aryeetey currently runs the African Research Universities Alliance which is a network of 16 of Africa’s flagship universities aimed at using the resources of universities that are doing well to improve struggling ones.

    “The challenge for us is how to use their [improved universities] resources to improve others through collaboration,” he said.

    Professor Aryeetey made positive and bold impacts at the University of Ghana during his tenure as Vice Chancellor from 2010 to 2016.

    Among the major highlights of his tenure was facilitating the construction of the University of Ghana Medical Center which he describes as his proudest moment as Vice-Chancellor.

  • My mother made Rawlings wash cars and clean windows on his first visit – Nana Konadu

    My mother made Rawlings wash cars and clean windows on his first visit – Nana Konadu

    The wife of Ghana’s first president in the fourth republic, Jerry John Rawlings, has recalled her early affection for him and how her mother once forced him to wash cars and clean windows at their home.

    In the ninth chapter of her book, It Takes A Woman, Dr. Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings spoke about how all of these happened the very first day Jerry Rawlings decided to visit her at home.

    According to her narration, she had returned home from school at Achimota with excitement, hopeful that she would get to enjoy some good rest after what she described as “an arduous term in school.”

    Things didn’t turn out quick as such for her because, “I was soon reminded that the romanticism of home-life was slightly more ethereal than real. In our home, in spite of the holidays, some things never changed. Saturday mornings were always reserved for general house-cleaning: sweeping, washing, gardening, kitchen chores, tidying the dining room, sitting room, and bedrooms.”

    And so, she added, that was what she was all about until there was a ring at the door.

    Dr. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings narrated further that she wanted to get the door but was beaten to it by her mom.

    At the door, noticing it was the young Jerry John Rawlings, she tried to eavesdrop on whatever conversation her mother would have with him.

    The following is the conversation she said her mother had with Rawlings:

    “Good morning, Madam,” he said, greeting Maa with a pleasant smile.

    “Morning,” Maa replied, her expression straight-faced and forbidding.

    “Sorry to disturb you, Madam. My name is Jerry John. I attend Achimota, and I am looking for Nana Konadu. We are friends from school, and I just want to say hello… please.”

    “Young man, Konadu is busy doing her housework. You wouldn’t want to disturb her, would you?”

    “No, no Madam, not at all.”

    “Good. Then I’ll tell her you were here,” she said as she gestured to close the door.

    “Madam… Please… can I wait?”

    “Wait? For what?” she snapped, visibly taken aback by his determination.

    “For her to finish,” he smiled, pleading with his eyes.

    “Young man, in this house, there is no time to chat on Saturday mornings.”

    “Yes Madam,” he replied, and then quickly added, “Madam, I can also help clean around the house.”

    “Young man, what did you say your name was?”

    “Jerry John… Madam.”

    “Remove your cap!” she ordered and walked him outside around the house.

    At this point, Dr. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings recalled what her mother told her that she had told Jerry to do.

    “I told him to clean all my French windows, which he did – and cleaned then beautifully. After he was done, he asked politely for permission to leave, knowing Konadu and her sisters were still working. But he came again.”

    AE/KPE

  • Ibrahim Mahama sponsors birthday celebration of ailing NSMQ genius

    Ibrahim Mahama sponsors birthday celebration of ailing NSMQ genius

    The former National Science and Mathematics Quiz (NSMQ) contestant Ninwie Leonard Lanyeli, who is seeking medical treatment for bipolar disorder, celebrated his birthday on February 7, 2023.

    According to a post by Rafik Mahama, an aide to the Ibrahim Mahama, who is sponsoring the treatment and later education of Leonard, the celebration was put together by a team the camp of Ibrahim, brother of former president John Dramani Mahama.

    He posted on Facebook that the party took place at the East Legon residence of Leonard adding that his trip abroad for medical attention will be in a few days.

    “Whilst awaiting his documentation to finalise in a few days time for him to be flown out for intense medical treatment and care, on behalf of Mr Ibrahim Mahama, we joined Leonard to celebrate his birthday yesterday at his current residence at East Legon.”

    “We were joined by the staff and management of the facility to celebrate this great day. Happy birthday Leonard (Leo). May God grant you all your heart desires and elevate you to the Zenith of your profession. Amen,” the post read.

    Ibrahim Mahama to sponsor Leonard’s education, medicals

    Ibrahim Mahama offered to pay for the treatment of Leonard whose dreams of pursuing medicine was cut short after he suffered from bipolar disorder.

    The decision was announced weeks ago by Rafik.

    “On behalf of Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, I contacted Nurudeeni and the family of Leonard led by Eugene. I contacted them last Saturday and earlier today (February 6).

    “Leonard’ll receive the best of medical treatment. After the treatment, he’ll complete the remaining two years of the six years programme at KNUST and subsequent post graduate studies either in Ghana or abroad. He’ll be given the best of all the support he needs,” Rafik shared in a Facebook post.

    The story of Ningwei Leonard Lanyeli

    Ningwie Leonard Lanyeli attended and completed the Ganaa Memorial Junior High School, emerging as the best-performing student with an aggregate of 8.

    In senior high school – St Francis Xavier Junior High Seminary, Leonard pursued General Science as a course and earned the name; ‘Dr. Ningwie Leonard Lanyeli’ from his open ambition to become a medical doctor.

    With this ambition, he pushed to score 6 As in his WASSCE exams and B2, B3, and B2 in biology, English and social studies respectively, in 2007.

    Not only did his final results show his academic prospects, but his participation in the National Science and Maths Quiz in 2007.

    After senior high school, his dreams to move to the University of Cape Coast to read medicine were crashed when his parents told him about the difficulty in paying what was the school’s high fees at the time.

    Consequently, he joined the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology which had relatively more affordable fees to study as a doctor of optometry.

    “I gained admission to read medicine at the University of Cape Coast at the cost of GHC4,100 a year and my father was a teacher who couldn’t afford to pay the fees, so I opted to read Optometry (Dr.) at KNUST,” he said in an interview with Joynews’ Mahmud Mohammed-Nurudeen.

    There also, he performed incredibly and his feats were recognized by all, in fact, he says, he was the best in his class – at least for the first four years of his course in medicine.

    And then his woes began.

    His 60-year-old mother, Ninwie Gladys told Joynews that Leonard developed a mental disorder after 4 years in school, after a friend at the university took Leo to his hometown.

    His family would only get to know later that the condition of their son was Bipolar Disorder 2 after he took a break from his university studies to seek medical attention at the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital in 2013.

    “There is a certificate hanged in that empty room that shows that I still hold the record as the winner of spelling in Pantang Hospital when I took part in a quiz contest during my stay to get medical health. I tell people I am sensible and can teach a crowd,” Leonard said in a
    Joynews interview.

    Leonard later returned to the university in 2014 after a successful rehabilitation and was performing well but his stay there was brief.

    His mother Gladys says Leonard’s condition worsened when his father died.

    Today, many of his colleagues who are now engineers and doctors talk about how brilliant Leonard was and what his potential could have been if his dreams were fully realized.

    “It is disheartening seeing a young man who is very brilliant and could be very resourceful to Ghana in such a condition,” his colleague Dr. Patrick Seidu told Joynews.

    Sixtus Bayaa, a former biology tutor at St. Francis Xavier Junior Seminary described him as intelligent and could have been one of the best Scientists or Medical Doctors in Ghana if he didn’t suffer the medical condition.

    Leonard today:

    Today, Leonard is 33 years old. His dreams of being a doctor may have been cut short because of his health condition but he still hopes to return to school given another chance, albeit with different dreams – this time, he wants to go into community health nursing or teacher training.

    “If I get another opportunity, I would like to go back to school again but, I just want a simple course – community health nursing or teachers training college so that I can help my colleagues. I really know how to help,” he said.

    He wants, “peace” and hopes things get better.

    “I respect my mother and that is a responsibility, I respect humanity and that is also a responsibility. What I expect from my family is care,” Leo continued while speaking to Joynews.

  • DDEP: I was never threatened to stay away from picketing – Pensioner Bondholders Convener

    DDEP: I was never threatened to stay away from picketing – Pensioner Bondholders Convener

    The convener for the Pensioner Bondholders, Dr. Adu Anane Antwi, has denied reports that he received life-threatening letters as a result of his support for pensioners who want to be spared from the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Program.

    Dr. Antwi in a disclaimer said he had never received a threatening message during his activities and advocacy that led to the exemption of pensioners from the debt restructuring programme.

    “My attention has been drawn to a tweet by one Promise Dumevi on 16th February 2023, circulating on social media attributing the following statement to me: I have received a lot of threat messages warning me to stay away from the ongoing picketing at the finance ministry. But I want to assure them that I cannot be silenced or give-up on my lifelong savings until I die.”

    He added that “I wish to inform the general public that this information is false as I have not received any threat messages, and have not said anywhere that I have received any threat messages that warned me to stay away from the picketing of pensioners at the finance ministry The general public is advised to disregard the information.”

  • Fire razes down seven bedroom apartment at Tafo

    Fire razes down seven bedroom apartment at Tafo

    A seven-bedroom residential apartment in Nkontwima, Tafo Municipality, Ashanti Region, has been destroyed by fire.

    The children and some adults who were in the house when the fire started at about 9 am on February 18 drew the attention of neighbours who came to help contain the situation.

    Fire officers were later called in when the fire became intense and spread to other rooms in the apartment.

    Narrating the incident to Citi News, Bremang Fire Commander, D.O 3 Selase Prosper Avevor blamed the cause of the fire on a deep freezer “which had most of their food items and was connected to an extension board and the socket to which that extension board was connected to had a fault which was being worked on. It resulted in sparks and because there were many materials in the room that was combustible, the sparks triggered and ignited the fire and because there were no gabbles in the house too, the fire quickly spread to other rooms in the house.”

    D.O 3 Selase Avevor also indicated that the fire was able to cause that much damage because the residents in the apartment tried to fight the inferno all by themselves until it was too late to call the Fire Service.

    “They were trying to tackle the fire on their own without drawing our attention. If they had called the Fire Service early, we would have been here to contain the fire.”

    He advised the public to be careful how they handle naked fires and electrical faults and cautioned that high voltage-consuming gadgets shouldn’t be passed through extension boards so as to prevent such fire outbreaks.

  • 1992 Constitution must be reviewed immediately – Sophia Akuffo

    1992 Constitution must be reviewed immediately – Sophia Akuffo

    A former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, stated that while Ghana’s present Constitution has served the nation well, a revision is long required.

    She made the observation in an interview where she expressed her views about the freedoms that the 1992 Constitution gave to citizens.

    “Nobody tells me what to think, except God and nobody can tell me what to do with my time and what to say about anything going on in this country,” he said reacting to her recent decision to join an anti-government picketing event.

    “Thank God we have a constitution, flawed though it might be, but at least the right to say what I want to say and the freedom of conscience, that’s mine and nobody will trample on it however influential they are,” she said.

    She also told host of the Upfront programme on Joy News earlier his week that a constitutional review was long overdue, positing that it should have been implemented incrementally over the years to make it a stronger guiding document.

    In her opinion, the 1992 Constitution and how it was birthed should have given Ghana the perfect grounds to build successive governance architectures but that has not been the case.

    Asked in an interview with Joy News (February 15) whether she was disappointed in the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, the former CJ said: “I have been disappointed with every single government we have had under this (1992) constitution…

    “… because after all that we went through with the military and everything and we centered the constitution as guiding principle, at least constitutionalism should have been what should have been guiding us.

    “But we have eroded so many standards, principles. It is not only the NPP government, a far as I am concerned, every government has failed us,” she emphasized.

    Evolution of Ghana’s Fourth Republic

    President John Agyekum Kufuor completed his second term in office in 2009 having taken office in 2000 from late Jerry John Rawlings. It was Rawlings who kick started the Fourth Republic in 1993, serving two terms till 2001.

    The election to replace Kufuor was a two-horse race between Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and late John Evans Atta-Mills. The latter contesting for the third consecutive time beat Akufo-Addo in a runoff vote.

    Mills died while in office paving the way for his then Vice President John Dramani Mahama to become president. Mahama won the 2012 polls but lost his re-election bid to Akufo-Addo in 2016.

    Akufo-Addo beat him in 2020 with both men seeking re-election, that is their final terms in office.

  • 13 alleged Nat’l Security operatives arrested

    13 alleged Nat’l Security operatives arrested

    At Konongo in the Ashanti Region, 13 National Security operatives have allegedly been detained.

    The syndicate is said to have been illegally operating within the Asiwa enclave, extorting monies from small-scale miners.

    At around 12:00pm on Friday, the main Kumasi-Konongo high street was blocked by a police patrol team to halt a speeding Land Cruiser said to be occupied by the supposed National Security operatives.

    “We had a tip-off that some people from National Security have been operating in some mining communities in the Bosome Freho District,” a source told Media General‘s William Evans-Nkum.

    “We quickly informed our commander who also ordered that we hunt them down.

    “We heard they were driving towards Accra from Bomfa junction, so we quickly mounted a barrier in the main street and arrested them.”

    There was a face-off, however, with six of the men dressed in military uniform which attracted civilians.

    “The soldiers involved initially wanted to resist arrest.

    They even threatened our commander to strip him off his rank because they are reporting to a high authority.”

    A rifle, single bar guns, and and some gold stones were retrieved from them.

    Reports say the , Albert Kan Dapaah, also came around soon before the men were taken to the 4BN in Kumasi.

    A joint police and military statement is expected to be issued on Monday, per reports.

  • As VC, one of my proudest accomplishments was the construction of UGMC – Prof Aryeetey

    As VC, one of my proudest accomplishments was the construction of UGMC – Prof Aryeetey

    According to Professor Ernest Aryeetey, a former vice chancellor of the University of Ghana, the University of Ghana Medical Center’s building was his biggest accomplishment while serving in that position.

    The former administrative head of the University said plans for having a facility on campus to train medical doctors had been in circulation since the 1960s but it was during his tenure that the dream was realized.

    In an interview with Samuel Attah-Mensah, host of Footprints on Citi TV, Prof. Aryeetey disclosed that the construction of the medical centre put smiles on the faces of his predecessors when he took them to the site after a lunch organized for former Vice Chancellors.

    “One of my proudest moments as a Vice Chancellor was when I took the late Professor Alex Kwapong to the University of Ghana Medical Centre and he was in tears when we got to the construction site. He was in tears because it was a dream come true from the 1960s. The University has been talking about having a teaching hospital and finally, the University was now building a teaching hospital.”

    He said Prof. Kwapong applauded him for the bold initiative and encouraged him to keep taking such initiatives to develop the University which he took to heart.

    “He [Professor Kwapong] said I am glad you have made it possible, I am glad you are helping us to live our dreams”

    “Alex Kwapong told me that if I wanted to succeed, I should take a few things and focus on them because the likelihood of doing a lot of things and succeeding was low,” he added.

    The University of Ghana Medical Center is a 650-bed capacity facility that was commissioned in January 2017 but was not in use for several months and was followed by several protests and calls for the operationalization of the Center.

    It was initially scheduled to open in November 2017 but was kept locked from the public due to a tussle between the Minister of Health and the University of Ghana over the management of the $217 million facility.

  • The prisoner who tried to commit suicide in 1958 after losing his beard

    The prisoner who tried to commit suicide in 1958 after losing his beard

    On September 9, 1958, a thief who was being held on remand attempted suicide after losing his beard.

    According to the Daily Graphic edition of that year’s newspaper, Musah Hausah at the time told the Acting Senior Magistrate W. Lyle at an Accra court that he attempted to commit suicide because he was compelled to shave his beard as part of standard practice for prisoners.

    He told the court that the beard, which he took about six years to grow, was an integral part of his life and to maintain his dignity as ‘Mohammedan’.

    Musah Hausah who pleaded guilty to the charge begged the court to give him leniency. He was however sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, in addition to the 20 months’ imprisonment that he was already serving for stealing.

    The prosecution led by Chief Inspector C.A Mortagbe told the court that on September 4, 1958 Musah snatched a knife from one of the inmates and cut his own abdomen with it.

    Mortagbe told the court the knife was used in the basket section of the prisons.

    Acting Senior Magistrate W. Lyle, on his part, advised Musah not to ever attempt suicide in his lifetime.

    ‘Only cowards commit suicide,’ the Magistrate said advising Musah Hausah.

  • Rent Assistance Scheme will be crucial in addressing the housing deficit – Minister of Housing

    Rent Assistance Scheme will be crucial in addressing the housing deficit – Minister of Housing

    Francis Asenso-Boakye (MP), the minister of housing, is optimistic about the rollout of the new National Rent Assistance Scheme (NRAS).

    According to him, the Scheme is designed to support deserving households, especially the youth to access decent rental accommodation and to effectively protect them from undue exploitation from homeowners will go a long way to further reduce the housing deficit which currently stands at 1.8 million housing units.

    The Scheme, the sector Minister noted, was introduced in response to wide public outcry against years of rent advance payment, which has become a major challenge to the majority of Ghanaians, especially those living in urban areas.

    Rent Assistance Scheme will be key reducing housing deficit - Asenso-Boakye

    He urged the need for Ghanaians to join government in sensitising the public about the Scheme, adding that eligible Ghanaians can apply on their website.

    Rent Assistance Scheme will be key reducing housing deficit - Asenso-Boakye

    Delivering the keynote address at the commissioning of phase 1 of the Sucasa O’grantson residential community in Accra, Asenso-Boakye indicated that the current housing deficit requires people-centred interventions and mechanisms to ensure that not only are rental accommodations accessible but also affordable to deserving households.

    He added that this will be pivotal in effectively protecting low-middle income earners from undue exploitation from homeowners while delivering the needed housing infrastructure and services to the citizenry.

    Rent Assistance Scheme will be key reducing housing deficit - Asenso-Boakye

    Explaining other mechanisms being adopted to provide the needed infrastructure to bridge the housing deficit, Asenso-Boakye stated that the Ministry’s adopted strategy is to leverage private sector resources, experiences and expertise while government provide the desired environment to attract private sector investments into the housing sector.

    “The Ministry is in constant engagement with indigenous, as well as foreign partners and developers, on possible collaborations to reduce the housing deficit, create an opportunity to promote continuous growth and development in the construction and housing industry.” The Minister added. 

    Highlighting some of the initiatives being undertaken by the Government to transform the housing industry, Asenso-Boakye stated that one of the focuses of the Ministry is to review and enact legislations that will be able to address institutional gaps and create the appropriate platform for best practices. 

    He cited the intention of the Ministry to establish the Ghana Housing Authority to regulate, plan and manage housing developments in collaboration with private sector developers.

  • Kwaku Kwarteng reprimands colleague legislators over V8s, ex-gratia

    Kwaku Kwarteng reprimands colleague legislators over V8s, ex-gratia

    Kwaku Kwarteng, the member of parliament for Obuasi West, wants parliament to reduce spending as well in order to salvage the faltering national economy.

    Mr. Kwarteng who served as a Deputy Finance Minister under the first term of the Akufo-Addo administration says MPs should stop using V-8s and stop receiving ex-gratia at the end of every term of office. 

    The Chairman of the Finance Committee was contributing to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme discussion on the floor of Parliament, when the Finance Minster, Ken Ofori-Atta appeared before the House to brief them on the DDEP.

    “Mr. Speaker how many times have we not heard the people who elected us into office say that there are issues with the V8s that we use? How many times have we not heard our people complain about the ex-gratia we take?

    “Mr. Speaker I’m making the point that the problem we have on our hands today is not just a debt treatment matter. There is the need to deal with a fundamental weakness that has characterised the management of our economy for decades,” MP for Obuasi West said.

  • University of Ghana implements extensive security measures to maintain order on campus

    University of Ghana implements extensive security measures to maintain order on campus

    Management of the University of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing regulations that will keep the institution secure and comfortable for all students.

    The University has put in place comprehensive measures such as the installation of CCTVs to offers apprehend anyone who wants to flout the directive of the University.

    At a news conference to update the media on newly approved fees and the arrest of 18 persons who forcibly entered the University and attacked the University Security, the Registrar, Emelia Agyei-Mensah, said the new arrangement which offers residential facilities to level 100 students culminating into full in-out-out Policy by 2025/2026 academic year, has led to a number of court cases.

    She said the University will be guided by the legal team to ensure the right thing is done.

    Pro Vice-Chancellor, of Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Gordon Awandare, said accommodation of students has impacted the University for many years.

    He is however optimistic the new approach to accommodation will help spread out the students and curb vandalism.

    Regarding the adjustment in Academic Facility User fees for the 2022/2023 academic year, Prof Awandare, maintained that fees charged are not illegal as being purported by a section of the public.

    He advised those who have challenges in settling their fees to contact the Students Financial Aid Office for assistance.

  • Paying employees shouldn’t seem like a favor to them – Austin Gamey to Gov’t

    Paying employees shouldn’t seem like a favor to them – Austin Gamey to Gov’t

    Austin Gamey, a labor consultant, has argued for a productive compensation administration system that can improve workplace productivity.

    He argued that salaries that appear to be a token of favour from employers do not represent good salary administration.

    His comment comes on the back of a report released by the Ghana Statistical Service(GSS) that indicates that 80% of public sector workers earn less than GHc3000 monthly.

    The report also reveals that although the maximum salary in the sector is 33,000ghc, the top 10% earners in the public sector earn a total of 22% of salaries paid by the government.

    “80% of the public sector workers earn less than 3,000ghc. If you take every 5 employees, 4 out of them are earning less than 3000ghc. On the other hand, if you have the disparities, if your take home is on a minimum of Ghc418 relative to a maximum of 33,000ghc.

    “Look at this rate, minimum 418ghc, maximum about 33,000 and because 80% earn less than 3,000ghc you get an average figure of 2,594ghc. Despite the conversation on earnings in politics, the first basic thing we do is put all of us in the public sector in groups of 10 in ascending order based on our earnings,” Government statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim made this disclosure at the release of the 2022 report of Earnings Inequality in the Public Sector.

    Commenting further on the report, the Labour Expert said the public sector must discard the notches system in salary administration and embrace what he calls the broadband salary structure that is flexible enough to navigate employees through it based on their productivity level.

    “I think that we’re not managing our salary administration very well. In the public sector, we have an old system of salary structure such as notches system. These are old antediluvian type of salary structure. What we need is a broadband salary structure…” he said.

  • Consider E-bed to end no bed syndrome – Health Analyst

    Consider E-bed to end no bed syndrome – Health Analyst

    A public health analyst, Samuel Arthur, has that if the E-bed system is revived, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) can address the problem of unavailable beds at hospitals.

    Speaking on Starr Today with Awusi Dede on Friday, February 17, 2023, Mr. Arthur indicated that the government can solve the no-bed issue that has bedevilled the country for some time now when authorities are held accountable.

    “I know over the years the Ghana Health Service started something that is the E-bed system which virtually was to help to have real-time information about beds that were available in facilities within certain networks. But I don’t know how far we have come with that. That was somewhere in 2017 so we are about seven years now. Where are we with the E-bed? Is it something that was piloted and abandoned? Or is it something that we felt could not help us?” Mr. Arthur asked.

    He continued: “If not, let’s get people to come together and see how we can use technology to deal with this. If not we will have people get to the facility only to be told that there is no bed. And their only option will be to be moving from one facility to another ending up in fatalities in most cases which in most cases we can avoid, so unfortunate.”

    Background

    An eleven (11) year old girl Linda Mirekua dying from kidney disease has reportedly been denied admission at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital over the unavailability of a medical bed.

    Mirekua from Nobi, a farming community in Abuakwa North Municipality has been diagnosed with kidney disease but left to die in the house due to the inability of her physically challenged poor mother to foot the cost of her dialysis.

    Her condition worsened in recent times and was admitted to Akyem Tafo Government Hospital.

    Linda’s situation was posted on a local social media platform where GHC6,000 was mobilized from contributions of philanthropists for dialysis service at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

    However, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Thursday, February 16, 2023, reportedly denied her admission over the unavailability of a bed.

    Management of Akyem Tafo Hospital further contacted the University of Ghana Medical Center (UGMC) to refer Linda Mirekua but UGMC is demanding the patient to pay GHC8,000 medical bill arrears own the facility last year and be prepared for “cash and carry” before she will be admitted for the dialysis service.

    Linda Mirekua is stranded at Akyem Tafo Government hospital as her condition deteriorates.

  • Economic challenges: NDC has nothing to offer – Deputy Communications Director for NPP

    Economic challenges: NDC has nothing to offer – Deputy Communications Director for NPP

    Ernest Owusu Bempah, the NPP’s deputy director of communications, has alleged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of planning to utilize staged negative media to undermine the popularity of the administration.

    He said the main opposition party has no alternative solutions to the challenges current economic facing Ghanaians.

    Speaking to journalists in Accra on Thursday, February 16, he said “All indications depict the fact that they are on a mission to make this government very unpopular. A strategy that is very diabolical,  they are not seeking the interest of Ghanaians.

    “Have you heard the NDC talk about alternative solutions, viable alternative solutions for this country’s economic situation we find ourselves in? No. When NPP was in opposition, by this time we have policy plans like free SHS,  we said we were going to stop dunsor.

    “NDC doesn’t have solutions like that. All that they think about is to sit down and allegedly stoke fire in Bawku enskinment just to make the government unpopular, hide behind people to go about picketing because there’s a bond issue or to hide behind the young youth organizer to come and stoke fire and saying dangerous things which will destroy the fine democracy that Ghana is bequeathed with.

    “The agenda of the new leadership of the NDC is just to set an agenda of hatchet orchestrated plan to make the government unpopular, when Ghanaians become dissatisfied with bad news about this government then it means NDC is an alternative, that is what they are thinking but they got it wrong.

  • Women in public sector earn less salaries than men – GSS report

    Women in public sector earn less salaries than men – GSS report

    Males who work in the public sector are paid more than women who work in the same field.

    This was contained in a report released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) themed “Ghana 2022 earnings: Inequality in the public sector”.

    GSS in the report disclosed that men have a higher average monthly net salary of GH₵2,669 as against women’s salary of GH₵2,504.

    “The difference between the average net salary of men and women is GH₵165. This means that the gender pay gap is 6.0 percent. Men have a higher average monthly net salary, of GH₵2,669, while women have an average of GH₵2,504. The average monthly net salary of women is lower than that of men in all 16 regions,” GSS stated in its report.

    According to the GSS’ report, this situation is prevalent in all 16 regions of the country.

    The GSS in its report further disclosed that the difference is highest in the public sector in the Upper West Region as men earn an average of GH₵348 more than women.

    GSS emphasised, “the difference is highest for employees in the Upper West Region, with men earning on average GH₵348 more than women. This is a gender pay gap of 13 percent”.

    In the Central Region, the GSS in its report added that women earn less than men with a gender pay gap of 5.0 percent.

    “In the Central Region, the difference between men and women is the least, with women earning GH₵124 less than men. This means the gender pay gap of 5.0 percent,” the GSS stated in its report.

    The GSS’ report hinted that the average income for males above 60 is more than four times that of those within the ages of 51 to 60, whereas that of females who fall within that bracket age earn more than five times.

    “For women and men, there is a very similar relation between age and the average monthly net salary, where the average steadily increases with age. Average income steadily increases with age until age is above 60. Average income for males above 60 is more than four times that of those within the ages of 51 to 60. In the case of females, the difference between the two groups is more than five times,” the GSS said in its report.

    Based on the GSS’ report, males in the public sector constitute 54.4 percent of the total number of employees.

  • 2024 elections: Mahama is a big threat to NPP – Subin MP

    2024 elections: Mahama is a big threat to NPP – Subin MP

    A member of parliament representing the Subin Constituency, Eungen Boakye Antwi, has issued a warning to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    According to him, failure for the party to work more in order to recover the faltering economy will make it exceedingly difficult for the party to win the general elections in 2024.

    “Posterity will judge us, we said it and may be the president didn’t listen or we said something but, in the end, the economy was turned around.

    “… but because of how things are going. We’re not in good standing, look at the bond issues and all the things that are going on. We’re not in good standing at all.

    “Should we tell them or blow them? How we’re running the economy, if we continue like that, will it go well for us in 2024? You don’t need Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu or Eugene Boakye to come and talk to you.

    “You’re a Ghanaian, how things are going, if we continue this way, will it help us? No, so if someone is an NPP person and does not understand this philosophy then maybe the person has his/her personal opinion,” he said.