After what was supposed to be a merger that should benefit all the institutions of higher learning involved in it, there is already an intense agitation by the largest of these three bodies.
The University of Media, Arts, and Communications (UniMAC), the first public university established by an Act of Parliament (Act 1059), is a merger of three specialised institutions: the Ghana Institute of Journalism, the Ghana Institute of Languages, and the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI).
However, the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) has stated that it is dissatisfied with management issues following the UniMAC merger and has threatened to withdraw from the merger.
GhanaWeb sources indicate that lecturers appear to be unhappy with the management of UniMAC.
“We are convinced that the merger cannot proceed without the statute, hence, we resolve to mount pressure on the interim council to attach much more seriousness to the enactment of the statute, to forestall the impending confusion and anxiety on our campuses, as a result of the excesses of the UniMAC management.
“Failure to act swiftly on the statutes will give us no option than to protest for GIJ’s withdrawal from the merger,” the source said.
The source also added that UTAG-GIJ members are of the view that the merger is needless because it involves three unequal institutions.
He explained that among the institutions involved in the merger, only GIJ is a fully-fledged university, and it would have been thought that the government would allow GIJ to absorb GIL and NAFTI.
“That did not happen. We suspect the merger is a move by government to silence GIJ and make it easier for government to control the university. For this reason, we are saying that for the merger to be operational, the government should amend the Act that establishes UniMAC, and make GIJ acquire the other two institutions. GIJ commands more resources than the other two combined. If this request is not granted, we will withdraw and be on our own,” he stated.
In the meantime, the lecturers at GIJ have resolved to wear red armbands from Monday, January 30, 2023, through Friday, February 3, 2023, as a way of pressing home their demands.
Broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere has alleged that some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) want the former minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, to rejoin the party.
According to him, the NPP supporters are not happy with the treatment of Haruna Iddrisu, the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, by the leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He added that the NPP supporters argue that Haruna was an NPP member before he was snatched by a leading member of the NDC, Mohammed Ibn Chambers, and he is welcome if he wants to return to the party.
“Some NPP supporters called me as I was coming into the studio and guess what they said. They said “Haruna Iddrisu has been removed as minority leader, tell him to come back to us.
“They said “Paul didn’t you know that Haruna Iddrisu was with the NDC before he joined the NPP? He was with the NPP before Mohammed Chambers took him to the NDC,” Adom Otchere said during his Good Evening Ghana programme, which was monitored by GhanaWeb.
The broadcaster went on to play the hit song Lucky Mensah, Old School Girl, which was requested by the NPP supporters.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. He replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority Leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, he will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
Some MPs of the party have petitioned the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to suspend the appointment of the new leadership of the party in Parliament.
The NDC MPs calling for the suspension, including Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP for Asawase), Dominic Ayine (MP for Bolgatanga East) and Cletus Avoka (MP for Zebilla), argue that the appointment was not made by any of the party’s decision-making structures but was imposed by just a few people.
The Member of Parliament for Yendi, Farouk Aliu-Mahama, has said that Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia should be the flagbearer of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Being a presidential or parliamentary candidate of a party, he believes, should not be based on the number of years one has been a member of the party.
He said that people saying it is the turn of Alan Kyerematen to be the flagbearer of the NPP are wrong because there were people on the scene before him, including Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, who contested with ex-President John Agyekum Kufour.
Aliu-Mahama, who made these remarks in a JoyNews interview monitored by GhanaWeb on Sunday, added that the vice president over the past few years has proven that he has the capacity and the competence to transform Ghana.
“My support for Dr. Bawumia is not because my late father wanted to see him at some point. I have seen the vice president, within the shortest possible time, become a force to reckon with in this country.
“He has moved the country as a vice president; he has done a lot. He has the vision to do more with the support of the president and has carried himself to the admiration of everybody; he is very competent.
“The vice president at least can lead Ghana to the promise land… Dr. Bawumia is somebody who stands tall, in the last 16 years, everything is about Bawumia. Even those who don’t like Bawumia are speaking about him,” he said.
He warned the party to be careful with how it handles the upcoming presidential primaries to ensure that it does not divide the party as it did in 2008, which led to the party losing the election.
He added that even though all the persons who have expressed interest in contesting in the party’s flagbearership race are competent, only one person can emerge as the winner.
Meanwhile, the vice president has been projected to be the flagbearer of the NPP in a recent study co-conducted by Outcomes International Ghana and the Centre for Sustainable African Development Initiatives (C-SADI) UK.
According to the survey, the most popular candidate for the New Patriotic Party flagbearer position in all 16 regions of Ghana is the vice president.
In all, the survey got responses from around 197,000 NPP polling station executives (PSEs) in all the regions.
“Data was obtained mainly through computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) technology between 15th November 2022 and 15th December 2022. Based on 95% confidence level and 2% margin of error a sample size of 6000 PSEs was used. However, 5641 PSEs were successfully interviewed (response rate of 94%) from all 96 constituencies.
“Greater Accra region had the highest number of PSEs interviewed with 1142 PSEs followed by the Ashanti region with 869 PSEs corresponding to 20.2% and 15.4% respectively. More than half of PSE’s who participated in the survey were Akan (54% [n=3056 PSEs]), and 46% (n=2585 PSEs) were non-Akan. In terms of religious distribution, 78% of the PSEs were Christian whilst 20.6% were Muslim,” the report stated.
The chief of Kweiman, Nii Anang Amartey, has raised concerns over what he says is the massive encroachment of Kweiman lands by the Chiefs of Oyarifa, Amanfrom and Danfa.
According to him, some individuals including the NPP Greater Accra Regional youth organiser, Moses Abor, have taken over the land in the area as the land is no longer serving its initial purpose which was cattle rearing.
Nii Anang Amartey said several petitions to the government have proven futile they are therefore calling of the Inspector General of Police and the Greater Accra Regional Minister to intervene to prevent landguards and security personnel from encroaching further.
Narrating the incident from the past, he said that somewhere in 1970, the government acquired the land from Kweiman Danfa and Amrahia.
The government then named it ‘Kweiman-Amrahia daily farm’ to rear cattle, but as time went on, the government did not use the land again so, they decided to take back our land.
Danfa and Amrahia were compensated but those at Kweiman had issues between the families involved and who the amount involved in the compensation should go to.
They therefore decided to go to court to settle it so they know who government should give the compensation to.
The chief said they won the case in 1992 and have since sent petitions and letters to government.
In 2019, they however noticed that some people have encroached on the land, so they started calling on government to draw their attention to it.
“…We found out that there was going to be a demolition, so the government sent one Clement Dzato to us.
“He came and said the government said he should embark on the demolishing. Since 2019 to now he has sold more than 80 per cent of our land. 80 acres and he is there today with his land guards and boys.
“We applied to the then NPP chairman Freddie Blay to help us. He introduced us to Ben, Ben brought Moses Abor – they are national security personnel and are helping us. We came with his team and said they are helping us, but right now as I am speaking, Moses Abor’s own is worse. So, we don’t know what to do hence the reason we want the government to intervene,” he said in an interview with GhanaWeb.
Husband of the Oyibi food vendor, at the centre of the food poisoning scandal, Yellow Sisi Special Waakye, has said there is no way his wife would intentionally harm her customers by poisoning the food she sells.
According to him, his wife, child and a sales lady ate some of the food they sold hence the reason they believe the food poisoning cannot be intentional.
Speaking in an interview with citinewsroom.com, the husband who spoke on condition of anonymity said; “My wife can’t do anything bad to her family nor her customers because we eat the same food anytime it’s prepared.
“My wife, one of her sales ladies and my daughter also reported to the hospital for treatment after eating the food. There is no way she will do anything to harm her customers,” citinews.com added.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) confirmed in a statement that only one person died from the incident contrary to the earlier report that five people had died. They added that about 53 persons were hospitalized as a result.
According to citinews, the deceased man was the landlord of the parcel of land where the waakye joint is located at a place called Bush Canteen.
The wife of the deceased told Citi FM: “my husband ate the food on Friday [January 20, 2023] and was subsequently rushed to the hospital a day after when he was pronounced dead after a short while.”
The husband of the waakye seller also revealed that he had tried to get the landlord to seek medical attention to no avail.
“All attempts by my wife to convince the landlord to seek medical attention immediately after the situation happened were not heeded.
“It is very sad that the landlord passed. My wife did all she could to convince him to visit the hospital, but he declined. His death has left my wife and I disturbed but all we can say is sorry,” he added.
A Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho believes that the latest comments by the National Chairman of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia on why the changes to the Minority Leadership, is implicating the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin for being the brain behind the action.
Mr Asiedu Nketia has stated that the NDC cannot accept a situation where New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament cooperate with Speaker Alban Bagbin when NDC lawmakers are not doing same even though Mr Bagbin is from the NDC.
Addressing the NDC UK/Ireland Chapter during a visit to London after accompanying former president John Dramani Mahama for a public lecture engagement at Chatham House, Mr Nketia said “My priority in Parliament is to see our parliamentary caucus working together and also cooperating with the Speaker of Parliament. Why did we struggle to get an NDC person elected as a Speaker of Parliament?
“There are certainly some advantages and those advantages can be tapped into when your leadership is cooperating with the speaker. So we cannot have a situation where NPP is cooperating with the speaker and our NDC leadership has challenges with the speaker and if you are given a party whose leadership in Parliament is not working together, what will you do? You make the changes or you resign and I am not about to resign.”
Earlier, Mr Asiedu Nketia explained the decision to make the changes saying, that the key topics that come up for debates lately centre on the economy, energy and infrastructure.
To that end, he said the party felt it necessary to get their best men who are on top of these issues forward.
He told said on Tuesday, January 24 that “The debates and the other discussions will focus on the economy so you need to put your best man in the economy forward, that is what we have done.
“We also looked at energy. These petroleum and electricity challenges and so we needed to settle on Kofi Armah Buah, our former Energy Minister to be the deputy minority leader and then the other area is infrastructure, Kwame Agbodza being our man in infrastructure should play a key role. So that generally is what informed the changes.”
Commenting on this, Mr Anyidoho tweeted that “listen to Asiedu-Nketiah making a complete nuisance of himself in London, as he tries without success to disengage from the mess he has sunk himself in.
“He is implicating Speaker Bagbin – as being the brain behind the silly attempt to forcefully remove Haruna and co. He is hot.”
Mr Anyidoho added “What level of co-operation is he talking about? We know Bagbin put Mosquito on the Parliamentary Services Board (PSB). Is it because Haruna and co are refusing to ‘co-operate’ for dirty deals to be done that’s why they want to change and bring more pliant people to manipulate?”
According to the Ministry, the majority of the passports have been produced, with around 30,000 yet to be collected.
It said applicants have been notified via text messages but claims have been unsuccessful.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration wishes to inform the general public, particularly passport applicants about the urgent need for them to collect their printed passports from the various Passport Application Centres (PAC).
“The Ministry is concerned that even though applicants have been informed through text messages that their passports have been printed and sent to the various Passport Application Centres, most of them are yet to be collected. Accra and Kumasi Passport Application Centres alone have about thirty thousand (30,000) uncollected passports.
“In view of the above, the Ministry is calling on passport applicants who are yet to collect their passports to visit their respective Passport Application Centres to do so, as they would be required for future renewal.”
“Thanking the general public for their cooperation on this important matter, the Ministry takes the opportunity to assure that the Passport Office remains committed to its mandate of delivering enhanced service to the general public,” the official communique released by the Ministry on Monday, January 30, 2023 stated.
A private legal practitioner and leading member of pressure group, OccupyGhana, Ace Anan Ankomah has been recounting his life story.
Ace Ankomah in an interview on Foot Prints on Citi TV hosted by Samuel Attah-Mensah, said his advocacy work and social change campaigns are because he’s always irritated by issues affecting the country.
“I have always stated my views, I have neither been shy to say what I think. I’m no shrinking violet, I don’t pull punches, and I don’t suffer foolishness gladly. I see a country that has so much, yet so little. It’s a painful thing to look at Ghana.”
“Ghana irritates me very much. Every day, I give up on Ghana and the next day, I’m back still trying to see if we can make Ghana well. Every day I say let’s just give up, but sometimes I feel like let’s just forget it. It happens to me and I will say today I won’t bother myself with Ghana, in two hours I’m back writing something about Ghana, because this is Ghana”.
The outspoken lawyer who is also the Managing Partner at Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa and Ankomah law firm, explained that he’s now toned down on expressing his views on the happenings in the country as a way of disciplining himself.
Even with that, he said he still does his advocacy work via OccupyGhana.
“I can understand those who do not want to speak, it comes at a cost because everybody out there thinks they can insult you because you speak your mind. People say why don’t you speak too much of late? I said I grew up and decided to discipline myself. You know me I can pick a fight in an empty room, I don’t fear engaging in a fight with anyone. I can’t pull punches, so the best way to discipline myself is not to get involved at the human advocacy level. But I will do what l can through OccupyGhana,” he noted.
Ace Ankomah said the group has been able to make some impact on governments’ decisions despite the many threats its members encounter.
“OccupyGhana has never organised a demonstration. We rather join other groups’ demonstrations. The beginning of OccupyGhana was very rough. In one day, two members had acid on their car tires. People said you guys if you go on the streets, we will teach you a lesson. They said they will do a Morgan Tsvangirai out of you [us]–The Zimbabwean opposition leader who was beaten,” he underscored.
He said the group members lately do a lot of writing on issues that need change, and they are never tired.
“After the demonstrations what next? So we decided to carry the battle to an intellectual level and that has evolved. We realised that we don’t have to be on the streets, organise press conferences, speak to radio stations to make an impact anymore.”
“We decided to write, I do a lot of writing, and I’m never tired. I spend two hours every day doing OccupyGhana work. I tell my friends in government, I can follow you like a demon, I follow them and we harass them. Sometimes we sit back, and we are amazed at the things we have achieved by just writing letters,” Ankomah emphasised.
A joint task force of police and Ghana Revenue Authority( GRA) employees has detained the manager of the Spintex China Mall for failing to pay taxes.
It is immediately not known how much tax the company owes the GRA but Citi News’ Kennedy Twumasi reported that the manager was picked up Monday morning by a taskforce from the country’s revenue authority.
The manager of Sneda Mall on the Spintex Road was also arrested by the taskforce for the non-payment of taxes.
In October 2022, the GRA shut down some branches of China Mall over non-compliance with Ghana’s electronic VAT system.
GRA has embarked on a special operation to clamp down on companies defaulting on their tax commitments.
According to the GRA, a number of taxpayers have failed to file their returns through the authority’s certified invoicing system thus dwindling the revenue collection for the state.
Speaking ahead of an exercise to arrest business owners who have defaulted in the payments of their VAT, the Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) of the authority Edward Appenteng Gyamerah said they will continually embark on such swoops to ensure that companies do the needful.
The death of Isaac Dokyi, a National Service member working at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) in Tafo in the Abuakwa North Municipality, is being investigated by police in the Eastern Region.
According to eyewitnesses the deceased who was riding his bicycle to church last Saturday was crushed to death by a speeding private vehicle at the Opass Junction on the main Koforidua Bunso stretch.
Health professionals at the Akyem Tafo government hospital, however, pronounced him dead on arrival after he was rushed to the facility.
The Akyem Tafo police who have launched investigations into the cause of the accident have one suspect driver, a native of the town in custody to help with investigations after he reported himself to the police.
A visually impaired supporter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said that he is unable to retrieve his GHc50,000 investment with Data Bank as a result of government’s ongoing Domestic Debt Exchange Program.
Speaking in an interview on Akoma FM, Agya Bray, who sells medical products, said that he went to the bank to withdraw his investment, which had matured, only to be told that there were no funds available.
He added that the bank told him that if he insists on getting his money back, he will have to lose GHc16,000 of his investment.
“I did not invest in a government bond. In 2007, I invested ¢500,000,000 (GHc50,000) in products of Ofori-Atta’s Bank (Data Bank), called the M-Fund and F-Fund. I went there for my money this past Tuesday, and they said that they don’t have any money for me.
“They told me that they can’t give me any money, and they were saying some things about haircuts and the IMF bailout the government was seeking. And I asked them why the government should be using my money to borrow from the IMF.
“Then they told me that if I wanted my money, they would let someone pay me, but I am going to lose ¢160,000,000 (GH¢16,000),” he said in Twi.
The NPP supporter said that he has always voted for the party, but if people like him lose their money due to the government’s debt exchange programme, they will abstain from voting in the upcoming 2024 elections.
A 48-year-old man’s family has filed a lawsuit against the 37 Military Hospital, a doctor, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the government.
The plaintiff is also demanding GH¢2 million damages for medical negligence leading to the deceased’s death.
The family contends that the death of Solomon Asare Kumah at the hospital in October 2019 was due to a breach of contract and negligence by the hospital and the doctor, Col. Dr Gao Appiah who took care of him.
Per the writ filed in 2021, the family argues that, “the hospital and its employees failed to exercise due care when they wrongly inserted Solomon’s breathing tube under his skin thereby denying oxygen for a considerable amount of time and as such causing stain on his heart and other organs and thus causing his death.”
The particulars of the negligence complaint were that, the 3rd defendant (Hospital) and its employees responsible for Solomon’s care, particularly the 4th defendant, (doctor) failed to exercise due care when they wrongly inserted Solomon’s breathing tube under his skin thereby denying him oxygen for a considerable amount of time and as such causing a strain on his heart and other organs and causing his death;
“The 3rd defendant and its employees failed to provide the appropriate standard of care when they failed to notice within reasonable time that Solomon’s tube had been wrongly inserted until he (Solomon) became extremely bloated;
“The 3rd defendant and its employees responsible for Solomon’s care, particularly the 4th defendant, failed to exercise due care when they failed to ensure on 16th September, 2019, that the drill required for Solomon’s surgery was in good working condition before cutting open Solomon’s skull, thereby exposing his body and organs to considerable strain and clotting in the vein, a condition which required an expensive procedure costing Solomon and his family the Ghana Cedi equivalent of five thousand five hundred United States Dollars (US$5,500.00) plus other expenses to treat;
“The 3rd defendant and its employees failed in their duty of care to Solomon when they failed to notice that Solomon had developed symptoms of clotting in the vein; and the 3rd defendant failed in its duty as a referral hospital to ensure that it had the requisite tools and equipment to treat Solomon’s condition before admitting him,” the writ stated.
Reliefs being sought
The family per the writ issued in 2021 is seeking the following reliefs…
a. A Damages of two million eight thousand two hundred and fifty-nine Ghana Cedis and fifty-seven pesewas (GH¢2,008,259.57) for negligently causing the death of Solomon Asare-Kumah;
b. Compensation to the widow and family members for mental distress, which eventually led to the death of Solomon’s father;
C. General damages for breach the contract between Solomon and the dr3 defendant;
d. An order for the recovery of special damages for breach of contract and for negligence resulting in the following losses;
The sum of twenty thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢20,000.00) being funeral and other expenses incurred; the sum of thirty-six thousand two hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢36,200.00) being the sums of money collected from Solomon and or his family by 4th defendant through deceit, and unconscionable contract; the sum of ten thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢10,000.00) being the expenses incurred by family during Solomon’s 60-day stay at the 3rd defendant’s facility; and sum of the Ghana Cedi equivalent of five thousand five hundred United States Dollars (US$5,500.00) being expenses incurred for the IVC filter procedure at the National Cardio Centre, Korle-Bu;
e. Any other reliefs the Honourable Court deems fit;
f. Costs including solicitor’s fees of forty thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢40,000.00).
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reports that the High Court in Accra is expected to rule on an application from the family seeking the Chief of Defence Staff and the Hospital to release the report of its investigation on the matter pending the determination of the substantive matter.
Parties
The Plaintiff is the customary successor, and the administrator of the estate of Solomon Asare-Kumah (deceased) and brings this action in the capacities indorsed on the writ.
The Attorney General – 1st Defendant is the principal legal adviser to the government of Ghana and the constitutionally designated defendant for all suits against the State.
The Chief of Defence Staff – 2nd defendant is the head of the Ghana Armed Forces, and has oversight responsibility for the operations of the 3rd defendant herein.
37 Military Hospital- 3rd defendant is a state-owned referral hospital located in Accra, and was at all times material to the facts giving rise to the instant action, the employer of the 4th defendant.
Col. Dr Gao Appiah (doctor)- The 4th defendant is an employee of the 3rd defendant and the consultant surgeon in charge of the care of Solomon Asare-Kumah during his stay at the facility of the 3rd defendant.
In the upcoming pricing window of February, the Institute of Energy Studies (IES) predicts that gasoline would sell for roughly Gh15 per litre.
This according to the institute is due to the about 10% depreciation of the cedi against the U.S. Dollar coupled with the price of Gasoline and Gasoil increasing by approximately 14% and 7.6%, respectively on the global market.
This is despite the government’s introduction and receipt of about 40,000 metric tonnes of fuel under the gold for oil policy which seeks to source cheaper fuel in exchange for gold.
This is part of the government’s efforts at addressing the high cost of fuel at the pumps which have partly contributed to the hike in inflation in the country currently hovering around the 50 per cent mark.
Presently, the national average price per litre of Gasoline increased to Gh¢13.58 from Gh¢12.54, and Gasoil from Gh¢14.40 to Gh¢15.36 during the second pricing window in January.
To stop illicit cash flows out of the continent, President Akufo-Addo has urged for the adoption of tax policies among other things.
The president said illicit financial flows cost Africa close to 100 billion dollars which denies the continent the needed resources to facilitate growth and development.
Speaking during the closing session of the maiden African Prosperity Dialogues dubbed, ‘the Kwahu Summit’, the president said African states can only stop illicit financial flows out of the continent if they collectively institute measures.
“We need to pay serious attention to and arrest illicit financial flow out of the continent which is estimated at $88 billion annually depriving Africa of significant resources which could be used to support the continent’s development agenda.
“We must urgently and collectively institute comprehensive and unambiguous tax policies to combat tax-motivated illicit financial flows, strengthen legal and law enforcement systems and bring together national agencies to stem such flows.”
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has urged African countries to take inter-trade seriously to enable the continent to resist future shocks.
President Akufo-Addo said the decision by some 44 countries to sign up for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) is a clear indication that the continent is ready to trade among itself.
He further promised to engage the remaining 10 African States to ensure the full participation of all African States.
“It is encouraging to note that as of November 2022, 44 members states have ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA), this is strong evidence of the growing political will and commitment of the leadership of the continent to achieve market integration in Africa, and it’s our duty to engage to ensure the full participation of all members states.”
In order to strengthen the continent’s ability to withstand future shocks, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged African nations to take inter-trade seriously.
Closing the three-day Africa Prosperity Dialogues, President Akufo-Addo said the decision by some 44 countries to sign up for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a clear indication that the continent is ready to trade among itself.
Mr Akufo-Addo promised that he will engage the remaining 10 African States to ensure the full participation of all African States.
“It is encouraging to note that as of November 2022, 44 members states have ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA), this is strong evidence of the growing political will and commitment of the leadership of the continent to achieve market integration in Africa, and it’s our duty to engage to ensure the full participation of all members states.”
Meanwhile, Vice president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed that Africa will need between US$130 billion and US$170 billion annually to propel a sustainable growth of 5 per cent in order to bridge the infrastructural shortfalls of the continent.
Addressing a high-level conference in Accra of African Ministers of State, diplomats, policymakers, and business executives, who are discussing ways of fast-tracking the implementation of the AfCFTA, Dr Bawumia said even though the AfCFTA has set the stage for the transformation of Africa, its full prospects can only be realised through decisive steps by key African stakeholders, and a focus on some key broad areas he proposed.
Mr. Bawumia intimated that the continent should make conscious efforts to address the infrastructural deficit needed to facilitate the implementation of the AfCFTA which will likely come at a cost not less than US$130 billion a year.
“Africa needs between US$130 billion and US$ 170 billion annually to bridge its infrastructure gap and generate sustainable growth at 5% per annum or more. This presents immense opportunities for the private sector investment,” he noted.
The Telecel group’s management has assured Vodafone employees that there won’t be any layoffs as it takes over the business.
This follows the National Communications Authority’s approval for the transfer of the 70 per cent majority shares in Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Vodafone Ghana) held by Vodafone International Holdings B.V. to Telecel Group.
There has been uneasy calm amongst the staff of Vodafone over their job security since the news of the takeover was approved.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Citi Business News, the co-founder and Director of the Board of Telecel Group, Nicolas Bourg, stated that there is no cause for concern.
“Not at all, we don’t have any plans to lay off anybody. That’s not the way we operate in Telecel. We proved it with different organisations that we have in different sectors.”
“Our plan is to keep every employee of Vodafone.” He stressed.
Last year, Vodafone Ghana applied to the NCA to transfer 70 per cent of its majority shares to Telecel but this did not pull through after it failed to meet regulatory requirements.
The Authority indicated earlier this year that the clearance was conditional on both sides making concessions and was issued in response to the assessment of the Telecel Group’s revised proposal.
The statement added that “Following the NCA’s decision, the buyer resubmitted a revised financial and technical proposal in December 2022 which demonstrated the needed capital investment to extend the deployment of 4G and launch innovative Fintech solutions,” the statement read in part.
“The NCA found that the revised proposal provided more clarity and certainty in terms of the funding required for the acquisition and commitments from both the Seller and buyer. In addition, the buyer has strengthened the overall governance and management team, and made firm commitments toward meeting the regulatory requirements of the NCA,” it further indicated.
Based on this, the NCA determined that the Purchaser’s revised plan now satisfies regulatory requirements, and as a result, it gave conditional approval for the transfer of shares to the buyer, subject to the filing of a staff retention strategy.
Mr Bourg expressed delight at the progress made.
“We’re very happy about it. It’s been a year of talking with them (NCA) for us to fit their needs and today we are in a very constructive state of mind with them.”
A national chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has pressed opponents to explain the strategy utilized by the national leadership when replacing the leader of the Minority Caucus in Parliament.
A number of the critics and opponents of the manner in which the change was effected, said even though the party has the right to ring changes, there was a problem with the lack of consultation and engagements.
One of opponents is Mohammed Muntaka-Mubarak, Member of Parliament for Asawase and immediate-past Minority Chief Whip, said the decision was taken by a few personalities instead of going through the National Executive (NEC) and Functional Executive Committees (FEC).
“I have heard also some people are questioning the method, and I ask them, let them tell me the method which we have flouted. Such decisions have never been taken at National Executive Committee meetings or Functional Executive Committee meetings.
“There are consultative processes that get the list and the list is announced. So, if anybody is asking for the minutes or NEC or FEC that approved that decision, let them produce the minutes of NEC or FEC that approved their own appointment, so we can them produce the minutes of the NEC or FEC that endorsed their removal.
“So, the decisions have been taken and these are the decisions of the NDC,” he stressed.
NDC rings changes in parliamentary leadership
The NDC, through its General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to announce the replacement of three members: the Minority Leader, the deputy Minority Leader, and the Minority Chief Whip.
The NDC picked Ato Forson to replace Haruna Iddrisu as leader of the Minority Caucus.
Other changes included Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembele, who is the new deputy Minority Chief Whip.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is also retained as second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The National Cathedral Secretariat’s claim that they borrowed money from the Board of Trustees secretary, Reverend Kusi Boateng, has been contested by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu.
The GH¢2.6 million loaned amount has been contested by the MP who insists it was an irregular payment for no work done.
Ablakwa revealed on the January 27, 2023 edition of the Good Morning Ghana programme that it turns out that JNS Talent Center, a company Kusi Member is connected to, had received monies from COVID-19 funds, out of which they allegedly loaned a portion to the cathedral.
“This claim that he did us a favour and he gave the Cathedral Secretariat a loan …even though the Cathedral bank statement I have secured, at the time they said they were in distress and needed GH¢2.6 million desperately, they had GHC6 million sitting in their account.
“The bank statement of the National Cathedral at ADB, they had six million sitting in that account, so that story doesn’t add up,” he stressed.
He continued: “We now know that they (Kusi Boateng and JNS Talent Center) did their country no favour. It was our own money GH¢3.5 million COVID cash which he received for supplying tissue paper.”
He also tasked the Auditor-General to review their current report on COVID funds and capture the said transaction because there were doubts as to whether the tissue paper supplies were even honoured.
Abla Dzifa Gomashie, who represents Ketu South in parliament, has bemoaned the lack of freedom of movement within the continent, notably in the ECOWAS sub-region.
According to the former broadcaster, it was time for African leaders to actualize free movement within the region and between countries because that used to be the case before colonialism came to partition different countries.
In a video shared by influential African Wode Maya, the MP said: “We have to tell the story of who we are. That we can continue blaming colonialists for all we want but they have been gone for so long and we need to wake up and smell the coffee.
“We need to wake up, all these seemingly hen coop thing we are doing business in, against ourselves is depressing, truly truly depressing. I am willing to break a few protocols speaking the way I am,” he added alluding to her role as a member of the regional commission on Ewe.
“The excuses are too much, when they go and sit on our behalf, I expected them to do better than they are doing… you owe it to us as citizens and we are demanding that you do better by us,” he added.
Wode Maya had gotten into violent exchanges with immigration officials at the Ghana – Togo border as he tried to have his passport stamped.
“This is me fighting to save my camera at the Togolese border because I refused to pay a bribe of CFA 2000 in order for my passport to stamped,” he captioned a tweet that showed him in a confrontation with supposed border officials.
Struggles on our African borders are truly depressing……… pic.twitter.com/kUBrZ8J1LM— Wode Maya (@wode_maya) January 28, 2023
This is me fighting to save my camera at the Togolese border because I refused to pay a bribe of CFA 2000 in order for my passport to stamped???? https://t.co/Emhhqsl5Ey pic.twitter.com/NnmZyNnyvz— Wode Maya (@wode_maya) January 27, 2023.
The Ministry of Education has advised against the payment of money to individuals who guarantee the placing of students in Senior High Schools.
Preparations are underway to release Senior High School placement for the 2023/2024 academic year after the West African Examination Council (WAEC) released the results of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) last week.
The spokesperson for the Ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng said the selection to Senior High and Technical and Vocational Education and training schools is purely merit-based.
“The Ministry has received some complaints that we have some unscrupulous individuals that are exploiting prospective students and unsuspecting parents, so we feel it is the right time to let parents know that the CSSPS process is merit-based and at no point should they pay money to any person. If they have any challenges they should walk to the Ministry or the CSSPS secretariat, and it will be resolved,” Mr Kwarteng said.
In a separate statement, the Ghana Education Service (GES) said it is committed to ensuring a smooth merit-based placement process.
The statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Cassandra Twum Ampofo urged the general public to report persons who demand money for school placement to the Police.
As the favorite choice among delegates, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is expected to prevail in the New Patriotic Party‘s presidential primary and represent the party in the 2024 presidential elections.
This was contained in a delegates-based survey conducted by Outcomes International Ghana and Centre for Sustainable African Development Initiatives (C-SADI) UK.
The two firms jointly conducted the month-long survey between 15th November 2022 and 15th December 2022.
The survey also revealed that nearly 90% of the delegates believe that a candidate’s religious affiliation does not matter to them when electing a flagbearer. The study was done in all 16 regions of the country using an estimated 197,000 NPP polling station executives (PSEs) as the target population
Below is the FullResearch Ghana is an emerging democratic country seen as a good example for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. There are several political parties in the country but the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are the two dominant parties.
In spite of the current economic challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and precipitated by the Russian-Ukraine war, the governing NPP remains a major political force in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
One major political issue dominating the media landscape of Ghana in recent times is the question of who leads the NPP into the next general election. The key people to elect the next presidential candidate of the NPP are party delegates, made up of polling station executives, electoral area coordinators, constituency executives, regional executives, national executives and Members of Parliament among others.
The person who emerges as the presidential candidate is crucial as they are key in determining the direction and developmental agenda for the country when they subsequently become the president. A number of potential candidates have so far been identified.
They include Hon. Alan Kyerematen, a former Trade Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Agriculture minister, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the current vice president, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, a businessman and member of parliament, Hon. Boakye Agyarko, a former energy minister, and Mr Kwabena Agyapong, a former General Secretary of the NPP.
Other potential candidates include Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, a former member of parliament and minister of state, Mr. Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku, energy expert, Hon Joe Gartey, a member of parliament and former minister of state, and Hon, Francis Addai Nimo, a former member of parliament.
Given the importance of the NPP presidential candidate election, Outcomes International Ghana and Centre for Sustainable African Development Initiatives (C-SADI) UK jointly conducted a survey to determine who is likely to win the presidential candidate of the NPP. The study also looked into other socio-demographic factors that are likely to influence the outcome of the NPP’s presidential candidate election.
For example, how ethnicity/geography and religion affect the chances of viable candidates, as well as the basis on which delegates assess the suitability of a candidate.
The study was done in all 16 regions of the country using an estimated 197,000 NPP polling station executives (PSEs) as the target population. PSEs form the most important constituency as they make up more than 90% of the total delegates who will elect the NPP presidential candidate. Participants were selected using multistage probability proportional to size sampling (PPS) with implicit stratification.
Subsamples were taken in three steps: the constituencies in a region were the primary sampling units (PSUs), the electoral areas in the selected constituencies were the second-stage sampling units, and the NPP Polling Station Executives were the final sampling units.
Data was obtained mainly through computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) technology between 15th November 2022 and 15th December 2022. Based on 95% confidence level and 2% margin of error a sample size of 6000 PSEs was used.
However, 5641 PSEs were successfully interviewed (response rate of 94%) from all 96 constituencies. Greater Accra region had the highest number of PSEs interviewed with 1142 PSEs followed by the Ashanti region with 869 PSEs corresponding to 20.2% and 15.4% respectively. More than half of PSE’s who participated in the survey were Akan (54% [n=3056 PSEs]), and 46% (n=2585 PSEs) were non-Akan. In terms of religious distribution, 78% of the PSEs were Christian whilst 20.6% were Muslim.
Figure 1 shows the results obtained for the question on which candidate PSE’s would vote for if elections were held today.
The most preferred candidate for the NPP’s flagbearer position among PSEs is Dr Mahamudu Bawumia leading in all 16 regions as shown in figure 1. The closest contenders to Dr Bawumia are Mr Alan Kyeremanten and Mr Kennedy Agyapong respectively. It is worth noting that some PSEs (12.3%) indicated they have not yet decided on whom to vote for, but that does not significantly change the outcome.
Ethnic/geographic or religious background of the candidate did not appear to have a significant effect on PSEs voting preferences. Indeed, 9 out of 10 (86.4%) PSEs believe that a candidate’s religious affiliation does not matter to them when electing a flagbearer (see figure 2).
The main basis for assessing candidates’ suitability for flagbearer by PSEs include the vision of the candidate for the party (58.89% picked this as first or second choice), the vision of the candidate for the country (40.49% picked this as first or second choice) and the loyalty of the candidate for the party (32.51% picked this as first or second choice). Other prominent basis for assessing candidates were the perceived competence, humility, marketability, commitment, personality and the candidate’s contribution to the party.
This research is jointly published by The Outcomes International Ghana and Centre for Sustainable African Development Initiatives (C-SADI) UK. Further details can be obtained from Outcomes International Ghana or C-SADI.
On Saturday dawn, the driver of a Benz G-Wagon with the license plate ODUMA 1 – 21 crashed into the fence wall of a home in Batsona, Accra, damaging a parked car nearby.
According to eyewitnesses, the man is suspected to be a foreigner who was driving under the influence of alcohol.
He drove into the wall at about 1:30 am on Saturday after leaving a drinking spot in the area at Batsona.
Videos available to Citi News showed the broken wall and a smashed Opel car with the front part of the black G-Wagon in the broken wall.
Eyewitnesses say that personnel from the Ghana police patrol team were called in to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, the vehicle of the alleged drunk driver has been towed to the Klagon police station, but residents say the police are dragging their feet with investigations.
Owner of the property Daniel Asare told Citi News that the driver has promised to replace the damaged Opel car, and other damaged items in the garage, and also fix the broken wall.
Despite the promise, Mr Asare said there must be a proper arrangement in the presence of the police which he looks forward to on Monday, January 30.
Over the weekend, a section of the Muslim population in Asawase Constituency Ashanti Region offered special intercessory prayers for Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka, the district’s member of parliament.
The prayers were led by an Imam who gave a brief sermon for the purpose of the gathering. It is not known whether the MP asked for the prayers but he was not in attendance per our monitoring.
In a Facebook LIVE video shared by Asawase Lens portal, the Imam is heard speaking extensively about the importance of such prayers.
The post was captioned: “AL QUNUT PRAYER AGAINST EVIL MACHINATIONS DIRECTED AT HON. MOHAMMED MUBARAK MUNTAKA – MP FOR ASAWASE.”
Speaking in Hausa, he prayed elaborately for the Member of Parliament and against all his perceived enemies, be they human beings or other creatures.
“Allah in your own ways, by virtue of your all Knowing, all Seeing, all Hearing attributes; we submit before you all detractors of the Hon. MP, deal with them as you deem fit.”
The session, known as Qunut, involved a two-unit prayer after the sermon. It typically involves lengthy prayers said for a specific purpose or intervention.
Muntaka has been in the news recently after it emerged that he had been removed from the Minority Chief Whip position he has occupied for the past years.
He is among a bloc of MPs who are protesting the leadership changes citing the lack of engagement and consultation in arriving at the decision.
NDC rings changes in parliamentary leadership
The NDC, through its General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to announce the replacement of three members: the Minority Leader, the deputy Minority Leader, and the Minority Chief Whip.
The NDC picked Ato Forson to replace Haruna Iddrisu as leader of the Minority Caucus.
Other changes included Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembele, who is the new deputy Minority Chief Whip.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is also retained as second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The husband of a food vendor,Yellow Sisi Special Waakye at Oyibi, has bemoaned how his wife’s business will be affected by the recent food poisoning incidence.
The unnamed man speaking on condition of anonymity with Accra-based Citi News said the incident has left his wife traumatized and that he is unsure that the business will bounce back again despite being a major source of livelihood for his family.
His wife, he said, haboured no ill intentions and would never had deliberately put people in harm’s way: “My wife can’t do anything bad to her family nor her customers because we eat the same food anytime it’s prepared.
“My wife, one of her sales ladies and my daughter also reported to the hospital for treatment after eating the food. There is no way she will do anything to harm her customers,” he stated.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) confirmed in a statement that only one person died from the incident contrary to the earlier report that five people had died. They added that about 53 persons were hospitalized as a result.
According to Citi News, the deceased man was the landlord of the parcel of land where the waakye joint is located at a place called Bush Canteen.
The wife of the deceased told Citi FM: “my husband ate the food on Friday [January 20, 2023] and was subsequently rushed to the hospital a day after when he was pronounced dead after a short while.”
The husband of the waakye seller also revealed that he had tried to get the landlord to seek medical attention to no avail.
“All attempts by my wife to convince the landlord to seek medical attention immediately after the situation happened were not heeded.
“It is very sad that the landlord passed. My wife did all she could to convince him to visit the hospital, but he declined. His death has left my wife and I disturbed but all we can say is sorry,” he added.
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, provided a second explanation for the party’s decision to change the composition of its parliamentary leadership.
Having earlier defended the decision to ring the changes amid the backlash from some Members of Parliament, the former party General Secretary revealed at a party gathering in London that a key reason was lack of cooperation between the outgone leadership and Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament.
He explained that there was no need to fight to elect a Speaker from the party yet turn round and be giving the Speaker problems at a time even the Majority Caucus maintained a cordial relationship with him.
What Asiedu Nketiah said:
“My priorities in Parliament, is to see our parliamentary caucus working together and also cooperating with the Speaker of Parliament.
“Why did we struggle to get an NDC person elected as the Speaker of Parliament? There are certainly some advantages and those advantages can be tapped into when your leadership is cooperating with the Speaker,” the National Chairman stated.
He continued: “So we cannot have a situation where the NPP leadership is cooperating with the Speaker while our leadership the NDC have challenges in cooperating with the Speaker.
“If you are given a party whose leadership in Parliament is not working together what will you do? You make the changes or you resign and I am not ready to resign.”
Asiedu Nketiah was addressing the NDC UK/Ireland Chapter during a visit to London where he accompanied former president John Dramani Mahama for a public lecture engagement at Chatham House.
General Mosquito as he is referred to, also stated that the party held consultations contrary to the view out there, but that it was the national executives who eventually took the decision because they are clothed with the capacity so to do.
Bagbin appoints Asiedu Nketiah to PSB
Asiedu Nketiah is a member of the Parliamentary Service Board (PSB), a position that he assumed when Bagbin became speaker.
Speaker Bagbin has routinely gotten into heated exchanges especially with Member of Parliament for Asawase Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka, who incidentally was very influential in the processes that led to the election of Bagbin into office on the morning of January 7, 2021.
Bagbin had cause to ‘threaten’ Muntaka in November 2022 when they clashed over the procedure Bagbin wanted to adopt in a Censorship Motion brought by the Minority against Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Muntaka during proceedings on November 11 vehemently disagreed with Bagbin’s decision to refer the censorship motion to a committee, interrupting him a number of times much to Bagbin’s chagrin
“Mr. Speaker, I come to second the motion with the clear indication that any attempt to move this matter to a committee will be a travesty of justice done to the chamber of this House.
Then the Speaker retorted again: “Hon. Members, I direct that all that the Minority Chief Whip has said after I have told him to withdraw and apologize, be expunged from the records. I so direct. Hansard expunge everything from the record.
“Minority Chief Whip, you’ll have a difficulty in catching my eye again,” reference to getting to speak again during the session.
The newly appointed leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, at his home at Oyarifa, a suburb of Accra, on Thursday, January 26, 2023.
According to the new executive, their visit to the Speaker forms part of engagements they have been having since their appointment.
Addressing the press after their visit, the new deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembele, said that they were resoundingly advised by Alban Bagbin.
“We have been having engagements the whole day and as part of these engagements, we visited the Speaker’s residence. I have to say that we were warmly received. We benefited from his wise counsel. And so, we are very encouraged by it,” he said.
The deputy Majority Leader also said that the main focus of the leadership of the minority caucus is to unite the caucus.
“Our priority right now is to make sure that we unite our caucus, that is our number one priority and that is so important to us.
“You cannot lead when you people are not united and that is our singular focus and we are confident we will do that,” he said.
Meanwhile, some MPs of the party have petitioned the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to suspend the appointment of the new leadership of the party in Parliament.
The NDC MPs calling for the suspension, including Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP for Asawase), Dominic Ayine (MP for Bolgatanga East) and Cletus Avoka (MP for Zebilla), argue that the appointment was not made by any of the party’s decision-making structures but was imposed by just a few people.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic who replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress dated January 23, 2023.
The Sunyani Municipal Education Directorate of the Ghana Education Service says it has placed under investigation the headmistress of Nyamaa Basic School for allegedly charging GH¢1,000 as admission fees from students.
According to a report by Dailyguidenetwork.com, the Sunyani Municipal Director of Education, Mark Godfred Domah, has confirmed the development.
According to Mr Domah, a report on the headmistress has been forwarded to the headquarters on the direction of the Ghana Education Service, while a three-member committee has been instituted to investigate the matter.
The members of the committee include the Public Relations Officer of the directorate, the Community Participation Director and the Basic Education Director of the Directorate.
The terms of reference of the committee include to establish and confirm otherwise of the allegation, to establish to what extent the practice has been going on at the Nyamaa Basic School and other basic schools in the municipality, and how many schools are involved in the practice and range of money charged from the students or parents.
The committee is also mandated to establish other relevant information that will help stop the canker going forward as well as make recommendations.
The municipal director noted that the directorate has in the interim met with the various school heads in the municipality including, regional unit heads, Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Islamic, SDA among others to advise them to strictly follow laid down regulations of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education as enshrined in policy document and code of ethics.
Participants of the meeting also included representatives from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the Municipal Chief Executive of Sunyani and a representative from the regional directorate of the GES. “We are really on our guard. I always advise the heads that under no circumstances should they attempt to run public schools like a private school. We are implementors of national approved policy and anything beyond that is unacceptable and retards progress,” he cautioned.
Mr Domah further noted that there had already been some allegations of heads selling textbooks.
He emphasised that his outfit has started an investigation to establish whether the allegations were true, and to take appropriate action.
“We have code of conduct and we are going to follow due process and apply appropriate sanctions if the allegation is found out to be true. The MCE is mad about it. Nobody is happy about it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the three-member committee is expected to submit its report including recommendations within the week for further action.
The Constitution of Ghana under what is known as the Free, Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) policy mandates the government to provide basic education at no cost.
Despite its inception in 1995, the policy was implemented in 2005 under the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufour.
The policy, among other things, is aimed at expanding and promoting quality basic education.
Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, who founded and serves as the head pastor of the Perez Chapel International, has revealed that the country’s present financial crisis has negatively impacted his investment.
According to him, he’s unable to retrieve his GH¢106,000 investment due to the debt exchange programme introduced by government because of the country’s economic crisis.
The revered man of God disclosed this to his congregants.
According to him, his bankers said they could only pay him GH¢1000 every week till the total amount is settled.
“I’m going to say something, don’t make it political, I’m not talking politics, I’m talking Ghana, I’m talking about we being in a time like that where our monies have been failing if it has not already failed. Our banks cannot even pay people’s bonds, bonds which were risk-free.”
“I’m going to give you my personal testimony. I have an instrument with a certain financial institution– a bank. I have been saving for a very long time, and now it’s [accrued to] about GH¢106,000. I told my bank I was taking my money, they said they are going to pay me GH¢1,000 every week. That means that the GH¢106,000 will take me 106 weeks to get all my money back,” Archbishop Agyinasare recounted.
He said the managers of his bank bluntly told him that they are offering him that payment plan because of his status in the country.
“And when I said they should do something about it, they said they are trying because it’s me, Archbishop. Because some people come to our bank and they weep. With the restructuring [DDEP] that we are doing, some monies will take 30 years to be paid. And so I’m not talking politics I’m talking about reality,” Archbishop Agyinasare said.
The outspoken preacher anticipated that most companies in the country will soon be laying off staff because their monies will be locked up in the banks.
“When money failed in Egypt, they came to Joseph… So you and I are going to the Lord in prayer. With what is happening, very soon people are going to lose their jobs because companies who have monies and cannot withdraw their monies from the banks, will not be able to pay their workers. So think about Ghana first and not politics,” he said.
Archbishop Agyinasare thus led his congregation to intercede for the country in prayers.
Background
Following the country’s economic crisis as well as efforts to secure a $3 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), government introduced the domestic debt exchange programme to help make its debt a bit bearable.
The debt exchange programme affects bonds and other financial instruments, a situation widely rejected by different groups.
A group known as the Individual Bondholders Forum has been pressing on the government to completely exclude its members from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, stating that their inclusion will destroy household confidence in Ghana’s financial system and securities market.
Banks, Insurance firms and other identifiable institutions billed to receive haircuts as a result of the debt exchange programme have publicly raised concerns.
Four Teacher Unions are accusing government of defaulting in the payment of contributions to the Ghana Education Service (GES) Occupational Pension Scheme (Tier 2).
The unions include the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers, the Coalition of Concerned Teachers and the Teachers’ and Educational Workers Union (TEWU).
The unions say although government deducts these contributions every month from their salaries, it is in arrears of over GH¢400 million as payment has not been made since the last payment in March 2022.
The General Secretary of TEWU, Mark Dankyira Korankye, speaking to Citi News on behalf of the four unions, complained that, “We have written several letters to the regulator, that they should ensure that the employer pays the contributions as soon as it’s deducted. Unfortunately, the regulator appears helpless, that is why we have to quickly issue this statement.”
“If the regulator is failing to do its work, then as a first step, we are saying their allowances or fee due them must also not be paid. If they are not being paid their fee, then I think they will be compelled to tell government to pay the ordinary employee their due pensions”.
A former deputy secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has encouraged former president Mahama to defend himself against the charge that he was partially responsible for the change in Minority Caucus leadership.
The largest opposition party has made changes to its leadership in Parliament with the appointment of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Minority Leader.
The party has also appointed MP for Ellembele, Kofi Armah as Deputy Minority Leader and Adaklu MP, Governs Kwame Agbodza as the new Minority Chief Whip, respectively.
But the party’s latest appointment is clearly very unpopular among the NDC faithful, especially the Minority Caucus, with many of the MPs claiming they are shocked by the move as they were not consulted. Some have proceeded to file a petition asking the party to rescind the decision.
The National Chairman, Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey and ex-President John Mahama have been accused of being behind the shakeup, an exercise some have described as a coup that will cause huge disunity among NDC MPs and could also affect the party’s electoral fortunes.
Commenting on the issue in an interview on Ghana Kasa show on Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV Friday, Koku Anyidoho urged the former president not to remain silent over the allegation leveled against him.
“What will bring finality to this matter is that the ex-President must speak, he ought to clear his name. He shouldn’t put out a statement on Facebook or Twitter. Ex-President Mahama, we want to hear your voice on this matter which portends a disaster for the party. What is happening within the NDC is apocalyptic chaos, cataclysmic and the ex-president has been accused of being partly responsible, hence he must certainly speak.
“Ex-President Mahama is a member of the Council of Elders of the NDC and his name together with that of Asiedu Nketia and Fifi Kwetey has been mentioned specifically in relation to this matter. He cannot remain silent. The two are talking, they won’t change their mind and the chaos in the party is escalating. The ex-President is the only one who has not spoken, he ought to make his voice heard. It is very important that he speaks to clear his name.”
The body of a Tanzanian national who was killed in Ukraine fighting with Russian forces returned to his home country on Friday.
Nemes Tarimo, 37, died three months ago after agreeing to sign up with the Russian mercenary group Wagner.
His body was received by his family at the main airport in Dar es Salaam with burial scheduled for Saturday in his home village in the southern highlands of country.
Mr Tarimo had been in Moscow as a business informatics master’s student at the Russian Technological University. But he was then imprisoned some time after January 2021 for what were described as drugs-related offences.
Last year, he was enticed with a deal: sign up with the Russian mercenary group Wagner and be pardoned or stay in prison.
The High Court in Accra has ordered the former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and a former Deputy Communications Officer, Anthony Kweku Boahen, to open their defence to charges.
The two were charged in 2019 with conspiracy to cause harm following a leaked audio tape in which they were alleged to have plotted to harm the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and the Chairman of the Peace Council.
Both are also separately facing a charge of assault on a public officer, but have pleaded not guilty and been granted bail.
In the course of the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses to give evidence towards the proof of their various charges. But, after the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons through their lawyers, each filed a submission of no case to answer on November 24, last year.
They contend that the prosecution’s witnesses were unable to prove the charges against them, so the court should acquit and discharge them.
Ruling on the submission of no case on Thursday, January 26, Justice Samuel Asiedu, now a Justice of the Supreme Court sitting as an additional High Court judge, said a prima facie case has been established against them by the prosecution.
According to the judge, there is evidence on the record in respect of the charges brought up against them, and the court is satisfied that, given the evidence before it, it is fit and proper that the accused persons are called upon to open their defence.
By Court
“The court has examined the evidence which has been placed before it by the prosecution vis-à-vis the charges which the accused persons are facing and the court has come to a conclusion that there is evidence on record in respect of the charges brought up against the accused persons.
“This is not the stage for the court to review the evidence and make pronouncements as to the guilt or innocence of the accused persons. The court is satisfied that given the evidence before it, it is fit and proper that the accused persons be called to enter upon their defence.
“In this regard, the court adopts the statement of the law espoused in Asamoah and Another vs. The Republic (supra) to the effect that: ‘There is no rule of law or procedure which gives an accused person the automatic right to make a submission of no case to answer at the close of the prosecution’s case in a criminal trial.
“In a summary trial, it is at the discretion of the Judge to determine whether or not a prima facie case has been made out against the accused persons, having regard to the evidence adduced.
“Where there is cogent evidence against the accused a trial Judge did not have to waste time inviting counsel for the accused to make a submission of no case…An appellate court only has to ascertain whether, at the close of evidence in support of the charge, a case was made out against the accused sufficiently to require him to open his defence.
“Furthermore, the standard of proof the prosecution bears at the stage of the trial before the appellants open their defence is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. See Tsatsu Tsikata v The Republic [2003-2004] SCGLR 1068.”
“For the above reasons, the court said, “the submission of no case to answer is hereby overruled. The accused persons shall open their defence accordingly.”
Charges
The accused persons have been charged with the offence of conspiracy to cause harm contrary to sections 23(1) and 69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, (Act 29), as amended. This charge appears in count one of the charge sheet.
The 1st accused has also been charged, in count two, with the offence of assault on a public officer contrary to section 205(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, (Act 29). Likewise, the 2nd accused has also been charged.
The Catholic Diocese of Jasikan, the Regional Minister, and the management of the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) held a joint meeting on the 13th of December 2029 at the secretariat of the Catholic Diocese of Jasikan.
This comes on the heels of a recent statement issued by the Bishop, Clergy, and Lay Faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Jasikan on the government’s intention to start Iron Ore activities in the Oti Region.
The following conclusions were reached;
1. That, the Lord Bishop is not against the Exploration of the Region’s natural resources for development but rather, his concern is focused on giving alternative livelihoods to the citizens, for example, agriculture.
2. That, GIISDEC will broaden the stakeholder engagements across the entire region.
3. That, the Regional Minister and GIISDEC will ensure that the Mineral Resource Estimation (MRE) activities in the region are conducted in accordance with the relevant environmental laws and procedures.
4. That, GIISDEC will undertake extensive public education on Iron Ore exploration and related matters through the mass media and other channels of communication.
5. That, GIISDEC will continuously foster dialogue and discussion with stakeholders.
6. That, the Lord Bishop will use his good offices to sensitize the public about the mandate of GIISDEC in representing the interests of Government of Ghana regarding Iron Ore exploration in the Region.
7. That all the Parties have agreed to the above in good faith in the anticipation that this will strengthen the collective bond of the parties in promoting the development of effective and sustainable Iron Ore exploration in the Region in the best interests of stakeholders.
Some students on the Government of Ghana scholarship under the “Ghana Scholarship Secretariat” are said to be stranded in the United Kingdom (UK) over the delay in releasing their fees and stipends.
Some of the students are said to have been dismissed while others are being chased by their schools and landlords to pay their rent.
According to sources, some of the students have not received over 8 months’ stipend, thus worsening their situation.
Others have had to overstay because they cannot get money to return to Ghana. Some are also said to have been sued by their landlords for refusing to pay rent.
The students are calling on the government to immediately rescue them from the predicament.
Some Ghanaians have already started an online petition to gather signatories to force the Government of Ghana to come to their aid.
“The Government of Ghana should act immediately to rescue these stranded citizens and to save the nation from disgrace,” a write-up on the online platform captured.
The recent announcement of leadership changes among the Minority Caucus in Parliament has triggered backlash, less on the front of its legality and more on the front of propriety and due process.
The Caucus is currently split with the outgoing Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu’s bloc questioning the manner in which the change was effected whereas the Cassiel Ato Forson bloc insists that the National Executives had the locus to ring the changes.
There is consensus that the election of leaders for the caucus is not contained in the party’s constitution but that consultation and engagement has over the years become the convention.
Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams, who has publicly backed the National Executives for the latest changes has explained that even though the party is mute on the issue, Parliament’s Standing Orders settles the matter.
He explained that per the Standing Orders, the responsibility of appointing leadership of the Minority or Majority Caucus rested with the party on whose ticket the person was elected.
“If you look at Article 110 of the Constitution, it recognizes that Parliament itself will have Standing Orders… 110 (1) says subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may by Standing Orders regulate its own procedure,” he said on Citi FM (January 25, 2023).
He cited the Standing Orders of 2000, specifically Order 7, which deals with interpretation of words and terms as used in Parliament.
“The Standing Order interprets who (in this case) a Minority Leader is: “Minority Leader means a Member of Parliament designated by the party and or parties and or members forming the Minority as their recognized leader.
“Our own Standing Orders recognize that it is the party or the parties if they are in alliance, they designate. It is only when they fail or they don’t act, it is only then that the members who form the Minority can now recognize somebody,” he explained.
A copy of the November 2000 Standing Order available to GhanaWeb reads: “Minority Leader” means a Member of Parliament designated by the Party having the largest numerical strength in Parliament other than the Party that has formed the Government, as the recognised Leader of all the Minority groups in the House.”
Meanwhile, new Minority Leader Ato Forson held a press conference this morning to accept the role and call for unity, later in the day, pro-Haruna MPs also held a press conference protesting the process involved in the new changes.
The Vice President, in charge of research at IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Bright Simons, has alleged that Jubilee House officials and members of the Economic Management Team (EMT) are against the inclusion of individual bondholders in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
In a series of tweets on Thursday, the Founder and President of mPedigree also alleged that the Ministry of Finance is lacking the support of even Cabinet in its decision to include individual bondholders in the Debt Exchange Programme.
His tweets come after the Individual Bondholders Forum insisted on the complete exclusion of its members from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, stating that their inclusion will destroy household confidence in Ghana’s financial system and securities market.
How long can Finance Ministry hold out against sentiment in Ghana’s Economic Management Team that individuals must be formally exempted from the debt exchange program? And now reports of Jubilee House also moving in that direction. Ministry insists 5% in 2023 is last offer.
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry is pretty isolated at Cabinet this afternoon. Will be interesting to see whether their nerves will hold as the rest of the government begins to buckle under pressure.
The Individual Bondholders Forum on Thursday petitioned Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, to help them get an exemption from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
Addressing the former President of the National House of Chiefs on Thursday, the Convener of the Individual Bondholders Forum, Senyo Hosi said: “Togbe the matter is an eye red matter and for someone who has led the capital market and being one of the players who birthed the capital market, besides your royal place as the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, you are a pioneer in this industry, I do not want to believe this is your voice and the destination you assured us when your voice was heard back then.
“So we are here to petition your office, to petition you as an individual and the state of Asogli not to sit by and watch the lives of 6.5 million people devastated and subjected to shackles of penury. So our plea here is very simple, the steps being taken by the government are unsustainable and very unnecessary.”
The Individual Bondholders Forum led by Senyo Hosi has recommended to the government to divest loss-making, defunct and troubled 17 State–own enterprises.
The Individual bondholders also suggested that the government review the Free SHS Programme to make it more efficient through effective targeting and allowing parents who can pay to do so.
According to the group, “beneficiaries should be students that patronize Senior High Schools in their communities whilst other students should pay for boarding. However, the government can pay for students who do not have Senior Secondary schools in their communities.”
The group stated that divesting the 17 non-performing SOEs and reviewing the free SHS alone will provide the government with two billion cedis.
The group also urged the government to maintain the 2022 capital expenditure level by reducing the non–ABFA MDA and foreign finance Capex provisions by 50% which they claim will provide the 10.7 billion Ghana Cedis.
Cletus Avoka, the spokesperson of the Minority Members of Parliament opposed to the installation of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and four others as new leaders of the NDC caucus in Parliament has apologized to Dr Cassiel Ato Forson after he used a denigrating word on him.
The Member of Parliament for Zebilla, in his protest of the decision by the National Executive Council of the NDC to reshuffle the leadership team in parliament, fumed that the timing for the move was wrong as the party was looking to make a hero out of a nonentity.
“This is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is the time to galvanize all of us to fight the NPP so that we can win elections, not to make heroes out of nonentities, this is not the time,” Mr Avoka said on Tuesday.
But in an interview with Citi FM on Thursday, January 27, 2022, Cletus Avoka admitted that his comment was distasteful.
He conceded that his statement was disrespectful of Ato Forson and that never sought to impugn his reputation in any way.
“I will be the last person to say that and if I said that then it was an error. What I wanted to say was that this is not the time to drop somebody and elevate another. This is what I was trying to say and if in the process I said something different, I must apologise and I am very sorry. I cannot denigrate any of my colleagues.”
General Secretary of the NDC on January 23 sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin disclosing some changes in its leadership in parliament.
A former deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader, as a replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip. Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the first deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The announcement has highlighted the deep cracks in the minority with MPs adopting entrenched positions for and against the move by the National Executive Council.
It is believed that over 70 MPs have petitioned the party to reverse it decision whereas a host of others have declared their support for the party’s decision.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer for the Kumasi Assembly, Samuel Pyne, has announced his intent to contest for the Suame parliamentary seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.
Speaking in an interview with Wontum Radio, Mr Pyne, who is a former Ashanti Regional Secretary of the party, said his decision hinges on whether the current MP for the area, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, will seek re-election or not.
“Definitely, if Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says he won’t contest again, I will contest for the Suame seat,” he said.
Eulogising the current MP, the KMA boss described Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as an asset who has duly served Ghana as an experienced member of the legislature.
Meanwhile, the national leadership of the NPP is expected to hold a meeting on Tuesday, January 31, 2022.
The meeting is expected to help the party arrive at some major decisions, including the date for conducting its presidential and parliamentary primaries as well as the modalities that will guide the exercise.
National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah on Thursday delivered a special message from President Akufo-Addo to Mali’s Interim President, Colonel Assimï Goita, in Bamako.
He led a delegation from Accra, which held extensive discussions behind closed doors with Col. Goita on security in West Africa and the Sahel.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Mr Kan-Dapaah said Ghana has had long historical and bilateral relations with Mali dating back to the early post-colonial years and was, therefore, interested in the welfare and progress of the Malian people.
“We did talk about how we can be of help to each other because a fire in your neighbour’s house has to be of concern to you,” he said.
Col. Goita, he said, extended “warm greetings” to President Akufo-Addo, adding that Ghana looked forward to further engagements with Mali.
Members of the delegation included Maj. Gen Adu-Amanfoh, Ambassador Kwabena Osei-Danquah, Special Adviser to the Foreign Ministry, Benedict Dere, Executive Secretary of the Accra Initiative, and Napoleon Abdulai, Ghana’s Ambassador in Mali.
Taking his turn on the Effective Living Series on Citi FM and Citi TV, an entrepreneur, Yaw Benneh-Amponsah, advised Ghanaians to make better decisions by investing towards their future as the world battles economic upheaval.
Commenting on the topic, “Where do I invest my money now” Yaw Benneh-Amponsah, outlined some four areas Ghanaians can invest their monies.
Investing in businesses: People should invest in businesses. Investing in businesses will create value for you in this economic crisis. In terms of investment, this is the best time to look out for opportunities where potential partners are likely to bring some skills that will boost your business.
Investing in yourself: Try to acquire a new skill, either in entrepreneurship or by schooling so that by the time the economy bounces back, you stand the chance of being ahead of your colleagues. Continuous learning is important for everybody, invest in yourself first by seeking higher education.
Have risk appetite: Hold your money in forex, and try to invest in USD. Control your money to yield a positive return. If it’s possible, buy FX [forex] and keep it to reap the benefits in future. More than 50% of Ghanaians’ problems will be solved if they ditch cedis for dollars. Try to invest in dollars to protect the value you have created through your sweat. Patriotism on an empty stomach is nothing. Don’t hesitate to trade in dollars to get some returns when the opportunity avails itself.
Real estate: It’s a good area to invest in, though it’s not as lucrative as generally people think. But you stand a chance of gaining more benefits in the future. Demand has gone down, so you build slower and not in a rush to save your money because those who buy from you may be paying in bits and your money will be locked up in debt. Buy construction materials in bits to save you from the burden of high prices in goods and services.
The National Chairman and leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah is leading a delegation to the United Kingdom to attend a lecture to be addressed by former President John Dramani Mahama.
The event is billed to take place at the Chatham House, United Kingdom, on Friday, 27th January 2023.
Other members of the delegation include the Director of International Affairs of the NDC, Comrade Alex Segbefia, Deputy National Women Organizer, Comrade Abigail Elorm Akwambea, and the Deputy Treasurer of the party, Comrade Vida Addae.
A statement issued by the party said, “The lecture, which will be under the theme: ‘Africa’s strategic priorities and global role’, will among other things discuss the prospects for economic recovery and growth on the African continent in light of recent debt crisis that has compelled African countries including Ghana to seek debt treatment under the G20 Common Framework”.
Mr. Mahama, the statement said, will share with his audience his ideas and insights on the key economic and governance reforms required for economic stability and prosperity across Africa.
“The Former President and distinguished statesman shall be sharing with his audience his ideas and insights on the key economic and governance reforms required for economic stability and prosperity across Africa. He will also discuss priorities for regional integration and Africa’s role and responsibilities in global economic governance,” the NDC added in the statement.
The party noted that as part of the visit, the team together with the former President will hold a meeting with the UK/Ireland Chapter of the NDC.
“The team together with the Former President shall hold a meeting with the UK/Ireland Chapter of the NDC as part of this visit,” the NDC added in the statement.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by the leadership of the minority caucus in Parliament, says it will on February 7, 2023, embark on a public hearing followed by a roadshow to sensitise Ghanaians on the government’s expenditure on COVID-19 and the current economic crisis.
According to the party, it will engage both the finance and health committees on the public hearing to explain the implications of the COVID-19 expenditure.
The move comes on the back of some infractions cited in the Auditor General’s report on the government’s COVID-19 expenditure.
This was disclosed by the newly appointed minority leader in Parliament, Dr. Ato Forson, when he addressed the press on January 26, 2023.
“We wish to assure the people of Ghana that as part of our engagements with the finance and health committees, we have agreed to do a public hearing on the audit of the COVID-19 expenditure beginning on the 7th of February 2023.”
“At that point, we will pay due diligence to the duties given to us as the people of Ghana. Finally, we will also embark on a roadshow, where we will galvanise the people of Ghana, and educate them on the meaning of what this economic crisis is going to take us through,” Ato Forson noted.
The Auditor General’s report stated that over GH¢21 billion was mobilized for the fight against COVID-19 but only GH¢5.5 billion was used on health.
The balance was however utilized on budget line items such as government programmes on Free SHS and LEAP, among others.
In addition, some of the funds were spent on unapproved expenditure or purchases that are yet to be delivered.
The report by the Auditor General thus recommended that such amounts are recovered to the state.
Ace broadcaster, Afia Pokuaa popularly known as Vim Lady has run the rule on the two lawmakers at the centre of the leadership saga that has rocked the Minority caucus in Parliament.
Afia Pokuaa, in a social media post expressed admiration for the intellect and competence of Dr Cassiel Ato Forson who is the MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam and the pick by the National Executive Council of the National Democratic Congress for the minority leader position.
She, however, believes that Haruna Iddrisu who has been ousted is the more experienced, astute and shrewd legislator of the two.
In a social media post she said “I like Dr Forson. He is a sharp and humble guy but he is not a match from Haruna Iddrisu. From 1995 till today. Read his history,” she tweeted.
General Secretary of the NDC on January 23 sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in which he disclosed some changes in their leadership in parliament.
A former deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader, as replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip. Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the first deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The announcement has highlighted deep cracks in the minority with entrenched position for and against the move by the National Executive Council.
Meanwhile leading member of the party, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has defended the decision by NEC not to consult the MPs.
“I’ve been the Vice Chairman of the party before, and I’ve been the Communications Director of the party at different times in the past, so I understand what’s taking place. People can ask for more consultations. In the past, we were not consulted anyways. Consultations are desirable but are not mandatory or necessary,” he said.
Former Member of Parliament for Kunbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has stated that the NDC’s national executive board’s recent shuffle of the leadership of the minority in parliament demonstrates how they vary from the NPP.
Ras Mubarak asserted that nobody was consulted prior to the appointment of the minority leader in the 7th Parliament and that he shudder to understand the criticism that the application of the same principle has generated this time around.
“In the 7th Parliament, some people wanted Mahama Ayariga to be Minority Leader. Others wanted Muntaka Mubarak while others rooted for Haruna Iddrisu. Who consulted us in the 7th Parliament when that decision was taken? In the end, the party’s wisdom was respected. And the leaders got the very maximum support,” he said.
In a Facebook post, he stressed the need for party members to respect and accept the judgment of the National Executive Council led by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.
“In a time like this, what we require is maturity and not emotions and tantrums. We elected Chairman ASIEDU Nketia believing that he and the team would take some good but tough decisions. They may be doing just that.
“It is important to give him and the rest of the team the benefit of the doubt, respecting the soundness of their judgment.
“The signal the National Chairman and his team are sending is that the NDC is different from the NPP. The NPP is the only party where non-performance is rewarded. Have we not had cause to complain about the soundness of the decisions of the previous leaders and a need for changes ahead of 2024?”
The former Kunbungu member of parliament further questioned the motives of individuals who are opposing the new development.
“For those who are up in arms against the reshuffle, what moral authority would they have to question the continued stay in office of the likes of Ken Ofori-Atta who’s run the country to the ground through his wrong-headed economic policies, goaded by the President and the economic management team,” he asked.
He continued by saying that all agitations must be put on hold in order for the party to accept Ato Forson as their new minority leader.
“We need power. Asking for the decision to be reversed is bizarre. Such flip-flopping would be more fatal, with disastrous consequences to the tenure of the ASIEDU Nketia led Executives. It’s bait to get them to start on a catastrophic note.
“If we truly want power, we must put this behind us and rally behind the Ato Forson-led Minority group.
“The NDC is bigger than any individual in the party. We can’t have on our hands a situation where hell breaks loose when seemingly untouchables are reshuffled. It would be disastrous for a future NDC government. We can weather this storm together. Let people come to terms with the fact that the ship has sailed, and use their energies towards kicking out the NPP, whose tenure has been nothing but a calamitous failure,” he added.
The NDC in a statement signed by the General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey announced that it has made changes to the leadership of the minority in parliament.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Kofi Armah Buah is also the Deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The tweet, which was made when he was still seeking to become president, was on the subject of corruption.
In addressing what is believed to have been the situation with respect to corruption at the time when the lateAkufo-Addo, was president, candidate Nana Akufo-Addo said that should he be president, he would institute stronger measures to curb the menace.
He also used an analogy where he said his measures would be more expensive for criminals than it would be for someone who steals, for instance, a goat.
“I will introduce stiffer punishments for corruption to make the theft of state funds more expensive for the criminal than stealing a goat,” his tweet from June 8, 2012, said.
Since his assumption of office as President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government has been labelled with a lot of major corruption claims and allegations, many of which have been unresolved.
In a number of such cases, the president has not, in the estimation of many Ghanaians, cracked the whip as is required.
One such instance is the recent allegations of corruption and conflict of interest leveled against Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana.
The allegations, mostly being spearheaded by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, include such claims that he has multiple identities and that a company linked to him, JNS Talent, received an amount of $2.6 million from the government for no work done.
Rev. Kusi Boateng has since denied the claims.
President Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, has yet to issue any directives or statements on the raging issue.
See the 2012 below:
I will introduce stiffer punishments for corruption to make the theft of state funds more expensive for the criminal than stealing a goat.— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) June 8, 2012
A former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio Garbrah, has criticized some NDC supporters for what he regards as their misguided sense of entitlement.
Spio Garbrah is particularly unhappy with the reaction of some members of the party in Tamale over the removal of Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader.
The leading member of the NDC says that the conduct of those members of the party is fuelled by the misconception that they enjoy some special benefits when they have someone from their town or region in position.
He reminded them that whereas they may be excited that their own has been appointed, members of the party may be unhappy with the decision but that does not mean they go out on the street and protest.
He said that at any point in time, it is the interest of the party that reigns supreme and not the parochial interest of a selected few.
He likened the situation with Haruna Iddrisu to that of former captain Asamoah Gyan, warning that just as Gyan despite decades of service to the country was removed, Haruna was always going to be removed at some point.
“Some of them believe that when their MP is in a position it inures to their advantage but they need to think about the future of the party. The people from the North will claim that they’ve lost some position but our flagbearer for the past ten years is from the north. The Voltarians have not complained about it. There have been no complaints from the Western and Ashanti caucus so they need to understand that it’s just time.
“The Council of Elders chairman is from the North as well, so they are well represented. Losing one person doesn’t change anything. He is still in Parliament so we can use his experience.
“Asamoah Gyan does not play football any longer. He is no longer team captain, does it mean someone has done him something wrong. There comes at a time when there need to be changes in position. If you are in a team and the coach rings changes, it doesn’t mean the manager is against you. It just means the manager wants the progress of the team,” he told Sompa FM.
General Secretary of the NDC on January 23 sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in which he disclosed some changes in its leadership in parliament.
A former deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader, as replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip. Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the first deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The announcement has highlighted the deep cracks in the minority with entrenched position for and against the move by the National Executive Council.
The National Peace Council expresses optimism that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will rejoin the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
The NDC has consistently been absent from meetings of IPAC due to what it describes as the hostile attitude of the Electoral Commission (EC).
But the Chairperson of the Conflict Resolution Committee of the National Peace Council Joana Adzoa Opare says the council is continually engaging the party to return.
“The National Peace Council seeks to promote the collectiveness in addressing any unforeseen or foreseen challenges that will enable full participation of all political parties in the Inter Party Advisory Committee meetings, particularly for the NDC to work towards return to IPAC. And we all know how very important this is,” the Chairperson of the Conflict Resolution Committee of the National Peace Council urged the NDC during a meeting with leaders of various political parties on January 26, 2023.
Madam Joana assured that the National Peace Council will continue to create a platform of engagements between the various political parties towards sustainable peace in the country.
“It is the conviction that the National Peace Council will create a platform for fraternising continuous engagements and discuss objectively strategic means of strengthening relationships among the political parties towards sustainable peace of Ghana,” Chairperson of the Conflict Resolution Committee of the National Peace Council said.
Jones Sarfo Anyamesema, a former NABCO coordinator has stated that Haruna Iddrisu’s removal from a leadership role in Parliament on the side of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a punishment.
The former NABCO coordinator claims that his refusal to throw his support behind Johnson Asiedu Nketiah’s candidature in the party’s National election is what has landed him in trouble.
He was speaking on Kumasi-based Ultimate Fm monitored by MyNewsGh.com
“You see, I don’t belong to NDC but any politician will like Haruna in their party. He knows his trade and has acquitted himself with his team. He has created history in Ghana by together with his group creating a hung parliament”
“How do you remove such a person and replace him with losers who we don’t know track record in the house? Haruna is just being punished for not openly supporting Asiedu Nketia period”, he claimed.
The NDC has changed its leadership in Parliament replacing Haruna Iddrisu with Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as the Minority leader.
The changes have been met with some opposition from grassroots members whereas some leading members believe it was unnecessary.
For the first time since his party, the National Democratic Congress(NDC), replaced him as Minority Leader, the outgoing Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has made a statement.
Haruna Iddrisu, on the other hand, has not addressed issues concerning the appointment of new minority caucus leaders.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, in his first pronouncement, was reacting to alleged statements he made on social media about his removal.
In a side social media post, Haruna Iddrisu was lashing out over his removal, saying that his spirit can never be tamed.
But in a statement that he issued on Thursday, January 26, 2023, Haruna Iddrisu said that he has never been on social media and hence did not share the post.
He said that the posts were created by persons who wanted to sow division in the NDC.
“I, therefore, entreat the general public, particularly the rank and file of our great NDC Party, to ignore the posts with the contempt they deserve.
“The creation of the (social media) accounts and the posts therein are mere attempts by detractors to sow seeds of discontent within the hierarchy of the Party and to smear my person but they shall definitely FAIL. I have no doubt that the truth will always prevail,” parts of the statement read.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic who replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, he will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress, dated January 23, 2023.
The family of a 44-year-old woman who was allegedly physically assaulted by her husband, a National Security operative, is calling on the Inspector General of Police to come to their aid to ensure that the man is prosecuted.
The woman, Habiba Halid, who is now seeking refuge in her family house at Ablekuma Oduman, explained in an interview with GhOne TV that her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, alias Figo, beat her up because she was chatting with an online friend.
She explained that on the day she was assaulted (January 20, 2023), the man walked in on her having a chat on her phone with the said friend on Facebook.
Confronted, she told him that the person she was chatting with was only a friend she knows on the microblogging site and that he was not even in the country.
She continued that he actually followed up to chat with the person to confirm but he returned not convinced by the answers he received.
Habiba, a mother of 4, added that her husband then threatened her life.
“I’m feeling pains all over my body and my head. My teeth; I can’t chew food properly. I have never cheated on him since we got married; I have never. He was even asking, who is that friend and where did I meet him? I said I just met him on Facebook. And he asked me where is the friend living and I said the friend is not even in Ghana; he’s just a friend.
“And he confronted the guy and the guy told him that we are just friends. He used a knife to threaten me too, so, he said I should pack my things if I don’t want to be dead in his house,” she narrated.
According to Habiba, who currently has blood clots in both eyes and on her left shoulder following the severe punching her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, gave her, the assault started long before their marriage 10 years ago.
She also accused him of insecurity and non-communication, adding that this compelled her to fall on friends on social media for companionship.
“Men used to approach me and so he got jealous and then he started doing those things. Even before this one happened, he used to beat me… when people wanted to help me, he scared them away,” she added.
On the part of her family, where she is currently seeking refuge at, they want the law to take its course.
They appealed that the police will come in and ensure that they get justice for their sister and relative.
“Right now, we are only pleading with the IGP; we want him to intervene for us because we don’t know what is going to happen,” one of her relatives told GhOne TV.
The matter has since been reported to the Amasaman branch of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service for legal action.
