TIG Post

Author: Phoebe Martekie Doku

  • My responsibility is to provide the Auditor-General with legal counsel – AG to CDD-Ghana

    My responsibility is to provide the Auditor-General with legal counsel – AG to CDD-Ghana

    Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame has refuted accusations that his counsel to the Auditor General interferes with the institution’s independence.

    Mr Dame had earlier urged the Auditor General to unpublish his audit findings into the use of Covid-19 funds.

    He pointed out the report ought not to be published till Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee probes the matter.

    Pressure group Occupy Ghana, the think tank Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana and the opposition NDC have all questioned the AG’s concern, describing it as contrary to law.

    Mr Dame argues his advice is consistent with law.

    Read the full statement below;

    RE: CDD-GHANA statement titled “The Akuffo Addo Government must cease its continuous assault on the Office of the Auditor-General”

    The attention of the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice has been drawn to a press statement issued by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) dated February 10, 2023, and entitled “The Akuffo Addo (sic) Government must cease its continuous assault on the Office of the Auditor-General”. In the said press statement, CDD-Ghana takes issue with an opinion by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice regarding the publication on the website of the Auditor Service of an audit into the Government’s Covid-19 transactions before the said audit report has been debated by Parliament and referred to an appropriate committee of Parliament in accordance with article 187(6) of the Constitution.

    In addition to various wrong propositions of law, CDD-Ghana characterises the opinion of the Attorney-General as part of “a domineering superior posture that the Akuffo-Addo (sic) administration has adopted in dealing with the constitutionally independent office of the Auditor-General”. CDD-Ghana perceives the Attorney-General’s letter as an effort to “undermine the independence of the office of the Auditor-General and other independent constitutional bodies”. Quite bizarrely and in tune with the fundamentally incorrect constitutional theories bandied about by CDD-Ghana, a Vice-chair of the Board of CDD-Ghana stated on a radio programme, “Newsfile” on Joy FM, that, the Auditor-General is not part of the Audit Service of Ghana but a separate creation.

    The Attorney-General considers it imperative to correct the palpable errors contained in and implied by the press release of CDD-Ghana, as same distort the relationship between the Attorney-General and the Auditor-General in the constitutional architecture of the Republic and have far-reaching implications for Ghana’s record in rooting out corruption.

    1. Contrary to the strange view of CDD-Ghana, the letter and spirit of laws governing the work of the Auditor-General make him part of the Audit Service of Ghana and, therefore, a regular member of the public services of Ghana to whom the Attorney-General can give advice pursuant to his mandate under article 88 of the Constitution. Article 189(2) of the Constitution provides a clue when it stipulates thus “The appointment of officers and other employees in the Audit Service, other than the Auditor-General, shall be made by the Audit Service Board, acting in consultation with the Public Services Commission”. This provision deals with the appointment of officers and all employees in the Audit Service, including the Auditor-General, and clearly provides that, with the exception of the Auditor-General, all have to be appointed by the Audit Service Board acting in consultation with the Public Services Commission. With the clear cue provided by Article 189(2), a contention that the Auditor-General is not part of the Audit Service or a member of the Public Services is pointless and absurd.

    2. Section 2 of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584) lays the issue to rest when it lists the Auditor-General as the first member of the Audit Service in these terms: “The members of the Audit Service are (a) the Auditor-General, and (b) the other persons employed in the Service.”

    It is thus clear that the propositions of CDD-Ghana and its board members can only result from an inadequate reading of the laws of Ghana, including the Constitution and the Audit Service Act.

    Can the Attorney-General advise a member of the Public Services of Ghana, including the Auditor-General?

    3. It is astonishing that CDD-Ghana disputes the propriety of the Attorney-General rendering legal advice to the Auditor-General, and construes same as “an interference with the independence of the Auditor-General”. A proper reading of the Constitution, especially the provisions on the Public Services of Ghana, leads to the inescapable conclusion that the Attorney-General is fully vested with the constitutional function of giving legal advice to all the Public Services specifically listed in article 190(1) of the Constitution, including the Audit Service, and such other public services as will be established by law. Article 295 indicates that the public services listed in article 190 and other public services established by Parliament pursuant to its legislative powers, are part of the civil offices of Government. In the face of the explicit constitutional mandate of the Attorney-General under article 88 of the Constitution as principal legal adviser to the Government, it is incomprehensible and rather illogical how an assertion may be made that the Attorney-General has no capacity to render legal advice to the Auditor-General. Such an assertion can only be as a result of a simplistic and limited view of relevant provisions of the Constitution of Ghana.

    Does rendering legal advice amount to interference with the independence of the Auditor-General?

    4. It ought to be pointed out that the functional independence of the Auditor-General under Article 187(7)(a) of the Constitution does not confer immunity from legal advice. Legal advice to a constitutional body cannot under any circumstance be construed to amount to interference with the performance of its constitutional functions. A view to the contrary implies that an “independent constitutional body” has absolute freedom to act in any manner it desires, except when a court of law has ordered, even when its legal adviser (whether public or private) is of the opinion that its actions are in conflict with the law. This sounds like absurdity and is the product of unbridled sensationalism.

    5. The imputation conveyed by the third paragraph of CDD-Ghana’s press release that Parliament has no power to deliberate on findings contained in the Auditor-General’s reports and that such an effort “offends the general principle of auditing”, does violence to the letter and spirit of Article 187(6) of the Constitution, which provides that “Parliament shall debate the report of the Auditor-General and appoint where necessary, in the public interest, a committee to deal with any matters arising from it”. Implicit in the constitutional duty of Parliament to debate the Auditor-General’s reports and appoint a committee to deal with any matters arising from it is the duty to deliberate and probe the reports. This constitutional function of Parliament cannot be wished away by a narrow, simplistic and erroneous reading of the Constitution by CDD-Ghana or any civil society organisation.

    6. The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice implores civil society organisations to carefully examine the position of Ghana law on a relevant matter before raising unjustified public alarm over a violation by the Attorney-General or any public institution at all. The default in doing so affects the image of the nation in the eyes of the international community, particularly its anti-corruption ratings.   

  • Yeji residents have been without water for more than 15 years – Kwabena Donkor reveals

    Yeji residents have been without water for more than 15 years – Kwabena Donkor reveals

    The Pru East member of parliament, Kwabena Donkor has bemoaned the shortage of water in Yeji.

    According to him, the people have been denied water for over 15 years due to disrupted water supply.

    Kwabena Donkor raised this concern when he asked the sanitation minister when the broken-down water systems in Yeji and Parambo-Sawaba will be restored.

    In response to this the Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, stated that the Yeji water system got flooded in 2010 resulting in damage.

    “Mr. Speaker, the Yeji water system was constructed in 2006, taking its raw water source from the Volta River. The system provided the water needs of the community under the management of a private operator, Messrs. TBL Resources Limited.

    “In 2010, the water intake point for the system got flooded, resulting in damage to the pump house, surface pumps and treatment plant, all located at Yeji.

    She added the Government of Ghana, through the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, has awarded a contract for the rehabilitation and expansion of the system, at a total cost of Five Million and Forty-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Ghana Cedis, Fifty-Nine Pesewas (GH$5,045,390.59).

    This project she says, has been completed and final inspection and taking over by CWSA is underway.

    “…Water supply to the community was disrupted and since the private operator could not make adequate investments to undertake major repairs and maintenance, it has affected the operational efficiency of the system making it economically not viable to the operator who consequently abandoned the management of the water system in 2011.

    “Mr Speaker, as part of efforts to ensure efficient provision and management of water systems, the CWSA took over the management of the system in 2018, and sought to rehabilitate and improve its operational efficiency.

    “Currently, the contractor has completed all works and final inspection and taking over by CWSA is underway. Mr Speaker, in the case of the Parambo-Sawaba water system which was constructed in 2008, it was also affected by floods resulting in disruption of water supply to the community. The private operator, Messrs. ABCO Limited could not repair the damaged system and so, abandoned the facility in 2011,” she added.

    Cecilia Dapaah added that the government, through Community Water and Sanitation Agency, has carried out a valuation of water system.

    “As part of the drive towards efficient management of water systems in the country, the CWSA carried out an assessment of the water system in 2022 with the aim of reconstructing it. The assessment indicated that the intake and pump control room were damaged and required complete replacement. The treatment plant was also partially damaged and so required rehabilitation,” she added.

  • MP for WA appointed Climate Envoy

    MP for WA appointed Climate Envoy

    The Clover Climate Alliance has elected Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, a member of parliament for Wa Central, as its climate envoy for Africa.

    According to a statement by Clover Climate Alliance, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, who is one of the longest-serving members of parliament will see the execution of the Alliance’s mission to mobilise, incentivise and empower 100 million Gen ‘Z’ and Millennials (worldwide) to be Carbon Neutral by 2030.

    In a citinewsroom.com report, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo will be working on several initiatives to raise awareness and build an army of youth from Africa for climate as the global community prepares for the upcoming COP28 Summit in Dubai.

    At a press conference in COP27, Clover Climate Alliance announced the launch of the pilot US$100 million Clover Climate Fund; a climate investment fund to be domiciled in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM).

    Dr. Rashid Pelpuo is currently President of the African Parliamentarians Forum on Population and Development (2022-2025).

    Since 2005, Dr Pelpuo has been a Member of Parliament and had served as the Deputy Leader of the Parliament of Ghana and an elected Member of Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament in South Africa.

    He was appointed Minister for Youth and Sports in Ghana and also served as Minister for Private Sector Development. He is also a Member of the Government Economic Management Team.

    For over 20 years, Dr. Pelpuo has been working for the growth and development of young people in Africa.

  • DDEP: Individual bondholders to protest at Independence Square on Feb. 20

    DDEP: Individual bondholders to protest at Independence Square on Feb. 20

    Individual bondholders in Ghana are intensifying pressure on the government to exempt them from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) with a planned protest from 20th to 24th February 2023, to be held at Independence Square. 

    According to the bondholders, the government has yet to pay them over GH¢4 billion in interest and principal on which the Finance Ministry defaulted. 

    In a letter to the ministry, they demanded payment of outstanding bonds that matured on February 6. 

    The government has assured that all coupon payments and maturing principals will be honoured in line with government fiscal commitments, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on 14th February. 

    “The Government would like to reassure all individual bondholders who elected not to participate that your coupon payments and maturing principals, like all government bonds, will be honoured in line with government fiscal commitments,” part of the statement read.

    However, until this promise is fulfilled, the bondholders’ association has said it will continue with its protest plans.

    A convener of the Association, Dr. Joel Akwetey, said: “If they [government] do [pays], this picketing will actually not come on. So we’re doing this in phases we expect between this week and next week – the 20th February, I would hear something favourable from the ministry, then we all rest easy.”

    While some members picket at the Independence Square, a group of about 30 or 50 individual bondholders will be escorted to the Finance Ministry to present a petition.

    Currently, the Pensioner Bondholders Forum is picketing at the Finance Ministry.

    The Forum has urged the government to release a notice that confirms that pensioners’ funds will be excluded from the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).

    Also, Individual bondholders want to be exempted from the DDEP.

    The government’s invitation to its Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP), which closed on Friday, 10th February 2023, has received over 80% participation of eligible bonds, the Finance Ministry said.

    Government insists on the implementation of the programme despite the concerns, and according to the ministry, this must be done “to help protect the economy and enhance our capacity to service our public debts effectively” in order to receive a credit facility worth $3 billion from the International Monetary Fund.

    “The alternative of not executing the DDEP would have brought grave disorder in the servicing of our national debt and exacerbated the current economic crisis. The Government is, therefore, grateful for the overwhelming participation of all bondholders,” the ministry noted.

  • Akufo-Addo’s administration is full of corrupt officials – Mahama

    A former president of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has characterized members of the Akufo-Addo-led government as complicit in the corruption in the nation.

    According to him, a letter from the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame, to the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah-Asiedu, after a recently released report on COVID-19 expenditure in the country, is an attempt to gag the latter.

    “The Attorney General’s letter to the Auditor General is clearly meant to silence him and create a conducive atmosphere for corruption to thrive,” he wrote.

    John Dramani Mahama further stated that this action by Godfred Dame is an indication that the Nana Akufo-Addo government is a collaborator in corruption.

    “President @NAkufoAddo’s administration is not only indifferent in the fight against corruption – they are collaborators!” he added.

    Background:

    After the Auditor-General released a damning Special Audit Report on its findings on the government’s expenditure of COVID-19 expenditures in the country since the deadly pandemic was recorded in Ghana, the Attorney General wrote a letter to the A-G.

    In the letter, Godfred Dame asked Johnson Akuamoah-Asiedu to stop the publication of the report on the Special Audit of COVID-19 expenditures.

    He further stated in the letter, based on Article 187(5) of the constitution, that the Auditor-General is rather mandated to submit his report to parliament, and in that report, draw attention to any irregularities in the accounts audited which is often concurrently published with the submission.

    The Attorney General added that it was only after satisfying the constitutional requirement of submitting the Auditor-General’s report to parliament that the report might be considered final and relevant action might be taken thereon.

  • Government criticizes enskinment of new Bawku Naba

    Government criticizes enskinment of new Bawku Naba

    The enskinment of a new Bawku Naba at Nalerigu has been deemed illegal by the government.

    “The Government condemns developments in Nalerigu today February 15, 2023, concerning the purported enskinment of a new Bawku Naba as illegal and a threat to National Security,” the government said in a statement issued by the Ministry of Information.

    “Government further re-iterates that Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II is the Bawku Naba, duly gazetted and a member of the National and Upper East Regional Houses of Chiefs.”

    “The Security agencies have therefore been directed to arrest and prosecute any other person who holds himself out as a Bawku Naba. Further, any developments that have the potential to undermine the peace of Bawku will also be dealt with swiftly and in accordance with law.”

  • Punish protesting UG students – Gyampo

    Punish protesting UG students – Gyampo

    Ransford Gyampo, a professor at the University of Ghana, has denounced the violent behavior of the university students who engaged in violence on Tuesday, February 14.

    Prof Gyampo said on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Tuesday, February 14 that the students cannot be allowed to continue their lawless act.

    “Some are saying the court has given an injunction so they are going to implement it, it is an act of lawlessness,” he said.

    Following the disturbances, the Police said that security has been deepened on the University of Ghana campus for academic activities to continue without any hindrance.

    Some University of Ghana students clash with the police in an attempt to reoccupy their hall of residence after court ruling.#3NewsGH pic.twitter.com/zrUPTh7uEg

    — #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) February 14, 2023

    Earlier, an Accra High court injuncted the residential policy decision by the University of after some frustrated students of the Commonwealth Hall on Friday January 6, 2023, filed a lawsuit against the university for directing residing students to seek accommodation outside the campus.

    Some students on Tuesday February 14 clashed with the police in an attempt to reoccupy their hall of residence after the court ruling.

    The Police arrested 18 of them for the disturbances.

    The 18 suspects were together with about 200 others believed to be former members of the Commonwealth Hall of the university.

    The Police have been able to contain the situation and calm has since been restored.

    All 18 suspects are in Police custody and will be put before the court to face justice.

    Security has since been deepened on the campus for academic activities to continue without any hindrance.

    “We would like to give the assurance that all other persons involved in the disturbances will be arrested and brought to face justice,” the Police said in a statement.

  • Akufo-Addo has made unprecedented investments in sports facilities – Minister for Youth and Sports

    Akufo-Addo has made unprecedented investments in sports facilities – Minister for Youth and Sports

    Contrary to assertions made by some people that the government has not done enough, Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth and Sports, asserts that President Akufo-Addo’s administration has made unprecedented investments in the development of sports facilities.

    Addressing the media in Ho and Koforidua after inspecting on-going construction works on the Ho and Koforidua multi-purpose sports centres, Mustapha Ussif provided data on a number of renovation works and new sports facilities the Akufo-Addo government has invested in,to buttress his point of unrivalled investment by the government, running into millions of US Dollars.

    “There has been recent talk of lack of Government’s commitment to developing sports infrastructure in the country, but the data and incontrovertible evidence on the ground rather points to the contrary, especially under the Government of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,” Mustapha Ussif told the media.

    “Until the Government of Nana Akufo-Addo assumed office, our national stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Essipong were deteriorating, as they had not received any serious attention for some time. However, in the past six years under this government, these facilities have undergone major renovation works, which are continuing, to bring these facilities up to standard.

    “Also, this Government has invested massively in community sports infrastructure by building close to 100 astro-turfs across the country. Before the Government of President Akufo-Addo, there were only two public astro turfs in the country. To have close to 100 astro turfs, fairly distributed across communities in the country, is a remarkable feat never seen before, which demonstrates a government committed to developing sports infrastructure.”

    The Sports Minister continued: “In addition to this, the government has also embarked on the unprecedented nationwide development of multipurpose facilities across the country – that is the 10 National Youth Centres. This audacious, national scale sports infrastructure development has never been witnessed in our country before.”

    Concerns have been raised over the slow pace of work for the completion of the 10 multi-purpose sports centres, but the Minister reiterated government’s commitment to completing a project it conceived, beginning with six, which he said are on Phase 2.

    “Even though the project (10 multi-purpose stadia) is behind schedule due to several factors, government’s commitment to completing it is never in doubt,” Mustapha Ussif assured.

    “We have focused on completing six of the youth centres as soon as possible and work is progressing steadily, as the Ho Stadium shows. Indeed, no one can be more committed to seeing the completion of these projects than the very government which conceived the idea and started it.”

    The Sports Minister added that in addition to the on-going renovation of the national stadia, the community astro turfs and the 10 multi-purpose sports centres, government is also investing heavily in sports infrastructure at the University of Ghana and Borteyman, in readiness to host the African Games.

    “Government also decided to bid and host the African Games in Accra, in order to offer the country an opportunity to develop more sports infrastructure. Currently, construction works are ongoing at the Borteyman Stadium as well as at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra. For these projects alone, Government has committed over $200 million.

    “This is unprecedented in our nation’s history, and this is a clear demonstration of our government’s commitment to developing sports infrastructure.”

    The Minister added that government’s investment on sports infrastructure he has outlined, excludes the government’s collosal funding of national sports teams, especially football, which runs into millions of US Dollars.

  • Despite obstacles, NPP has managed Ghana properly – Bempah

    Despite obstacles, NPP has managed Ghana properly – Bempah

    According to Ernest Owusu Bempah, the NPP’s deputy communications officer, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has handled the economy successfully despite the difficulties.

    He said the party will win the 2024 general elections after assuring that the Akufo-Addo administration will tackle the economic challenges that have arisen as a result of external factors including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Covid-19.

    Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, February 15, he said “During the Mahama administration, Ghana’s economy was running at a 3 percent growth rate. Under the NPP before Covid it was doing 8 percent, that tells you how we managed the economy better than the NDC.”

    He added “NPP has been able to captain the country through the storm even though there are challenges. One can imagine if Mahama and his NDC were leading this country Ghanaians by now will be wallowing in abject poverty, people wouldn’t be able to afford three square meals a day.

    “There will be total darkness because of dumsor, joblessness will be the order of the day, the youth will be perplexed if Mahama had been the leader of this country at this time.

    “Despite all the challenges now, school children are going to school for free, and road networks are being built across the country.

    “If it happened during the Mahama era you wouldn’t see all of these, they will blame it on the challenge. But we believe that as a political party before the 2024 elections, these challenges shall pass and NPP will come out united with leadership to win the elections and break the 8.

    “The NDC, John Mahama as an alternative is empty, they have been therefore when there were no crisis, we saw what they did and they have nothing.”

  • Your ongoing protests against DDEP are unreasonable – Ofori-Atta to pensioners

    Your ongoing protests against DDEP are unreasonable – Ofori-Atta to pensioners

    The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has deemed the continuous protests against government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) by pensioners bondholders at the Finance Minstry as inappropriate.

    He maintains that the voluntary exercise has concluded and that the government will honour its obligations to bondholders, including retirees who voluntarily opted not to participate in the programme.

    For the past eight days, the group has been picketing at the Finance Ministry, demanding that the government excludes them from the domestic debt swap.

    Addressing pensioners on Wednesday, February 15, the Finance Minister stated that the picketing is now unnecessary.

    “Really, there is no reason for us to be sitting here because that assurance has been given on paper. I want to know what it is that you are afraid of or that you think will not happen. My issue is that now you have very little of the old bonds existing. This means that, in the event of a crisis, your ability to trade your papers is diminished. But that is the choice you made,” Mr Ofori-Atta said.

    Meanwhile, chaos erupted as Mr Ofori-Atta was addressing the pensioner bondholders who picketed at the premises.

    His engagement was interrupted by Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a convener for pressure group #FixTheCountry who had come to lend support to the picketers accusing the Minister of untrustworthiness.

    This interruption infuriated the Minister who was subsequently whisked away by his security.

    “It is important because our conversation has been about building a protest culture. A culture where persons affected by public policy decisions by political officers do not sit aside but raise their voice and match that voice  with the determination to show up when it matters.”

    “When these things are happening, it is also important that persons are inspired by this in the spirit of resilience. So with what these pensioners have shown, it is important that we the young ones also show up for them by mobilizing people to carry forward the message of resistance expressed even with their age”, Barker-Vormawor emphasized.

  • National Council of PTA urges government to avoid politicizing education

    National Council of PTA urges government to avoid politicizing education

    The National Council of Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) is urging the government to stop politicizing education in the nation.

    The association contends that the over-politicization of the free Senior High School policy can largely be blamed for the many challenges bedevilling the policy.

    Stakeholders in the education sector have raised concerns about the many challenges associated with the free SHS policy including non-availability of infrastructure for teaching and learning, shortage of food items among others. 

    Speaking to Citi News, Public Relations Officer of the Association, Madam Irene Sam, called on parents to support government efforts in the education sector. 

    “If you want to play politics with the policy [free SHS], this is where we are going to be. We are not going to progress and make ends meet. We need to address the challenges, we shouldn’t play politics with it. Education is education, when we say politics, it means that what is not there, they say it’s there.”

    “But we are looking at the issues on the ground, when you go to the schools now, our wards are not in good shape, and we cannot sit down and watch them like that. We have to come out, we know that government has tried too much, the budget for education is huge,” Madam Irene stated.

    Reacting to the reopening date for SHS one students, which has been slated for February 20, 2023, Madam Irene, called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to come out with a new date. 

    “We want to add our voices to the general public’s sentiments concerning Ghanaian parents who are now going to gather resources before their wards go to school. So we are looking at the state of time which is going to be an inconvenient time for our parents.”

    “On our part, we are looking at the fact that the GES should come again, and see how best we can give them at least ample time for them to prepare and go through the admission process before they resume,” the Public Relations Officer of the Association appealed.

  • Vormawor interrupts Ofori-Atta’s address to pensioners

    Vormawor interrupts Ofori-Atta’s address to pensioners

    Today, Wednesday, February, 15, the minister of finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, was interrupted by the convener for pressure group, Oliver Barker-Vormawor when addressing pensioner bondholders at the Finance Ministry.

    The Minister was seeking to understand the concerns of the picketers but was interrupted by Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a convener for pressure group #FixTheCountry who had come to lend support to the picketers accusing the minister of untrustworthiness.

    This interruption infuriated the Minister who was whisked away by security.

    The Minister told the pensioners that following the closure of the programme and the attainment of the successful participation rate, the continuous picketing by the pensioners was unnecessary.

    “Really, there is no reason for us to be sitting here because that assurance has been given on paper. I want to know what it is that you are afraid of or that you think will not happen. My issue is that, that, now you have very little of the old bonds existing. This means that, in the event of a crisis, your ability to trade your papers is diminished. But that is the choice you made.”

  • Military, police sent to Damongo prior to ruling on chieftaincy dispute

    Military, police sent to Damongo prior to ruling on chieftaincy dispute

    To avert any unrest prior to the decision of the three-member Committee on the Damongo Chieftaincy dispute, the Savannah Regional Security Council (REGSEC) is sending armed police and military men to Damongo, the regional capital.

    Two gates are claiming ownership of the Damongo skin which has left it vacant for years. 

    Savannah Regional Minister, Saed Jibeal said the law will deal with anyone who attempts to foment trouble. 

    “In this particular case, what we are saying is that if the ruling doesn’t go in your favour, that doesn’t mean you will resort to violence. No, I have said it over and over again, and the third-day funeral, I made it clear, that no individual or group of people should undermine the security that we have put in place.

    “And so we are not going to spare any individual or group of people who will want to misbehave,” the Savannah Regional Minister cautioned.

  • We’ll oust the NDC from the Navrongo Central seat to honour late Kofi Adda – NPP

    We’ll oust the NDC from the Navrongo Central seat to honour late Kofi Adda – NPP

    The New Patriotic Party(NPP) officials in the Navrongo Central district have stated that they will work tirelessly to reclaim the parliamentary seat from the National Democratic Congress in the general elections of 2024 to honor of late local MP Kofi Adda, of blessed memory.

    Marking the one-year anniversary of the passing of the former Aviation Minister, the NPP executives in the constituency say the soul of Kofi Adda would not rest well if they do not honour him by winning the Navrongo Central seat for the NPP.

    Kofi Adda died at the Legon Hospital on October 14, 2021, after a short illness and was buried in his hometown of Pungu in the Upper East Region.

    The remembrance day was marked by a procession to his tomb, the laying of wreath and a special lecture at the C.K Tedam University of Technology and Applied Science.

    Wife of the late Kofi Adda, Victoria Acheampong Adda remembered her husband as a loving and hard-working man that has contributed immensely to the Navrongo Central and must be honoured by peaceful elections in the NPP.

    “So I say to the NPP, let peace reign within your ranks and I pray for successful elections and God knows the heart of man and I pray for the best.”

    The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu also called for unity among the executives and the supporters of the party in the constituency to win back the seat from the NDC.

    “His wish before he died was to see everybody and that is what we have started doing so that we can all come together to win back the seat from the NDC.”

    Joseph Adongo who is the Municipal Chief Executive for the Kassena-Nankana East District also declared his intentions to contest the primaries to lead the party in the constituency in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

  • Ghanaian medical students in Cuba bemoan stipend arrears of more than seven months

    Ghanaian medical students in Cuba bemoan stipend arrears of more than seven months

    Ghanaian medical students studying in Cuba on government scholarships are complaining that their stipends for the past seven months have not been paid.

    The students lament that the situation is making life difficult for them as they live on the benevolence of colleagues and friends.

    They explain that the Scholarship Secretariat has on various occasions assured that monies would be released but nothing is yet to hit their accounts.

    Speaking on Eyewitness News on condition of anonymity, one of the students said he can only hope that some monies would be released soon. 

    “We are still hopeful that the government or our sponsors– that is the Ghana scholarship secretariat– will get us some amount of money for some months so that things can be easy for us so that living in Cuba will be free for us, and we can focus o our studies,” One of the students bemoaned over the non-payment of the stipends.

    He added, “we know things are very hard in Ghana, we all heard the news of happenings in Ghana, but we are still pleading with them to work and get us some amount of money because the situation in Cuba is worse, I know they bear witnesses to that. There are no other means, we don’t work, and the only means to get money is the stipends. Getting money from Ghana is difficult, and it has to come from your parents. Please we are pleading with the officials, our sponsors, we know they do care about us, they should work out something for our survival”.

  • MP for Pru East to drag Highways Authority to court over poor road

    MP for Pru East to drag Highways Authority to court over poor road

    Due to the terrible condition of the Ejura-Yeji highway, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, the member of parliament for Pru East, has vowed to sue the Ghana Highways Authority.

    The lawmaker contends that the stretch is riddled with deep potholes threatening the lives of commuters and creating discomfort due to the long hours spent on the stretch.

    Speaking to journalists, Dr. Kwabena Donkor said the government must fix the deplorable highway as soon as possible.

    “The highway between Yeji and Ejura has been allowed to deteriorate so much that we no longer have potholes, but we have craters. The Ghana Highways Authority and Ministry for Roads are endangering the lives of the people on that corridor. It takes four to five hours to travel on that stretch because of the craters, the people can no longer tolerate this.

    “We will consider going to court to compel Highway Authority to do what the law has set them up to do. The people have a right to safety,” Member of Parliament for Pru East said.

  • Electricity debt in Kpando reason for Ghana Card registration delay – MP for Kpando

    Electricity debt in Kpando reason for Ghana Card registration delay – MP for Kpando

    A representative for the Kpando Constituency, Della Sowah, has expressed worry about the Ghana Card registration process’s stagnation in her district.

    According to her, the workers in charge of the registration process are unable to register Ghana Cards due to their inability to pay the electricity bill in the sum of Five thousand Ghana cedis, at the registration center.

    She called on the government to put in efforts to ensure that the production daily is increased from 10 to the number feasible to meet the SIM registration deadline.

    “…Ghana Card registration in my constituency has stalled due to the inability to pay the electricity bill. They haven’t worked for the past five months, so no registration is going on because they owe a bill of GHC 5000.”

    Meanwhile, Minister for Communication, Ursula Ekuful Owusu, has revealed that there are a total of 42,451,296 SIMs including newly registered ones in Ghana’s system.

    However, as of February 9, 2023, only 33,793,132 have completed stage 1 of the registration while 8,68,164 are yet to link their Ghana Cards to their SIMs.

  • IMF names a resident adviser to the Bank of Ghana

    IMF names a resident adviser to the Bank of Ghana

    A resident adviser in charge of overseeing the financial sector has been appointed to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    According to the BoG, the Resident Adviser, Leonard Chumo, was appointed after its request and will be paid by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

    In a statement issued on February 14, 2023, the central bank added that Chumo will provide technical assistance to it and also help build its capacity for its banking supervision function.

    “At the request of Bank of Ghana and fully funded by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has assigned a Resident Adviser in financial sector supervision to the Bank of Ghana to provide technical assistance and help build the capacity of the banking supervision function.

    “The appointed Adviser, Mr. Leonard Chumo, brings first-hand knowledge of supervisory work from leading central banks as well as previous technical assistance experience in the Western Africa region. Mr. Chumo started his assignment in the Bank of Ghana on 6th February 2023 and is expected to stay for three years. Among others, he will support the implementation of Pillar 2 and 3 of the Basel II/ III capital frameworks, as well as strengthen the Risk-Based Supervisory framework at the Bank of Ghana,” parts of the statement read.

    The BoG added that the appointment of the Resident Advisor is nothing new and it forms part of an agreement it has had with the IMF and SECO since 2015.

    “Achievements from the past collaborative efforts include the passage of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930), the development and issuance of the Corporate Governance Directive 2018, and the Capital Requirement Directive 2018,” the BoG added.

    Read the full statement of the BoG below:

  • Ato Forson’s case postponed to March 30

    Ato Forson’s case postponed to March 30

    The prosecution’s case against Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and two other defendants has been closed.

    The trial which has been ongoing since 2022 has seen the state call five witnesses including Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, officers from the Finance Ministry, Health Ministry, Ambulance Service, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office to make its case.

    Ato Forson and two others are on trial for allegedly causing financial loss in the purchase of some ambulances during his time as Deputy Finance Minister.

    After discharging the last witness of the prosecution, the court adjourned the case to March 30 to rule on whether or not the state has proved a prima facie case for the accused persons to answer.

    The court has however given the parties up to March 16 to submit arguments on whether or not a prima facie case has been made.

  • Prof. Ato Duncan receives Peace Ambassador award

    Prof. Ato Duncan receives Peace Ambassador award

    CEO of COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited, Prof. Samuel Ato Dunan, has earned the international humanitarian peace award.

    The award which aims to honour outstanding personalities for their contributions to peace and conflicts resolution as well as poverty eradication was given by the united international peace and governance council of Africa.

    Prof. Ato Duncan who is also the president general for the center of awareness global peace mission was recognized for his immense contributions to world peace.

    The renowned businessman, philanthropist and researcher has been holding series of lectures on peace and effective leadership to check poverty.

    He allocated $2 million towards a global peace campaign and missions last year in a five-year strategic plan to promote world peace.

    The impact of the initiative was to end world violence, by targeting the campaign through traditional leaders, youth groups, and thought leaders in society with much focus on the political class.

    The International Peace and Governance Council Incorporation, organisers of the award was established for Diplomatic Missions to contribute to the acceleration of Peace, Good Governance and Poverty Eradication across the globe.

    The organization is in partnership with various United Nations organs and Associations for project implementation.

    It aims to consolidate and strengthen efforts of organizations and individuals around the world to handle Civil and ethnic conflicts,

  • Police and UG students clash at Commonwealth Hall

    Police and UG students clash at Commonwealth Hall

    On Tuesday, University of Ghana students clashed with some heavily armed police officers outside Commonwealth Hall.

    The security personnel at the forecourt of the Commonwealth Hall prevented aggrieved former occupants as they tried to make entry into the hall.

    After stiff resistance from the police, the students claimed they have secured an interlocutory injunction to reside in the hall.

    The latest stand-off comes on the back of the university management’s new residential policy indicating that continuing students are supposed to occupy other halls apart from the Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah halls to make way for level 100 and graduate students.

    In an interview with Citi News, a member of the Academic Communication Team of the university, Professor Ransford Gyampo described the attitude of the students as lawless and urged them to use the appropriate channels to meet their grievances since the matter is still in court.

    “It is this kind of lawlessness that vindicates the position that position the university has taken. There is a ban on processions on campus…some groups feel they don’t like the decision that the University has taken, and so they have taken the university to court.

    “Before the substance of the matter is heard, they ask for an injunction. Merely asking for an injunction or even if a court grants an injunction, does not preclude those who have been injuncted from asking for a stay of execution and appealing against the decision. So it is lawless for someone to say that the court has granted an injuncted, so we are going to enforce the injunction ourselves.”

  • National Rental Assistance Scheme is not solely for NPP supporters

    National Rental Assistance Scheme is not solely for NPP supporters

    The Secretary-General of the National Tenant Union of Ghana, Frederick Opoku, has refuted claims that the National Rental Assistance Scheme of the government will solely benefit supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Speaking in an interview on ‘The Lowdown’ programme on GhanaWeb TV, Frederick Opoku said that the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who has been championing the scheme, has assured that every Ghanaian, no matter their political affiliation, benefits from the programme.

    “The government involving the private sector and the Tenant Union of Ghana to be fully involved and also monitor, evaluate and comment is enough for us to believe that nothing is going to be hidden.

    “On the day that they were launching this (scheme), at the foul glare of the vice president, I was very categorical that, Mr Vice President, Madam Chief of Staff, we know that people don’t trust whatever the government brings and that we fear that everything must be transparent, credible so that people will have trust in the system and the scheme.

    “And we were given the assurance even when the vice president had the stage. And in fact, from there we realise that they meant business. And this time round we don’t foresee it becoming like others or the usual,” he said.

    The secretary-general, who made the remarks while answering a question on the politicization of the scheme by GhanaWeb’s Daniel Oduro, added that the only thing needed by Ghanaians from both the private sector and the public sector, who want to benefit from the scheme, is that proof that they can repay the assistance given to them on a monthly basis.

    About National Rental Assistance Scheme:

    Government through the Ministry of Works and Housing on January 31, 2023, launched the National Rental Assistance Scheme with a GH¢30 million commitment under a pilot phase.

    The pilot phase will cover the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern, Bono East, and Northern regions.

    Under the scheme, rent payment advances will be made for applicants who are either in the process of renewing, renting a room/apartment or a complete house.

    Government adds that the scheme will provide low-interest loans to eligible Ghanaians to enable them to pay rent advances, which will be repaid on a monthly basis to match the tenure of the rent.

    GhanaWeb Business examines the simple steps and requirements for enrolling in the NRAS.

    How to qualify:

    To qualify for the scheme, an applicant must show proof of employment covering 3 months of payslips, proof of income (3 months of official bank statements or mobile money statements), or an audited financial statement (for business owners).

    Other requirments:

    • Applicants must be Ghanaian

    • Possess a valid Ghana Card

    • Must be an adult of eighteen (18) years and above

    • Verifiable employment and earned income

    • Rent payable must not exceed 30 percent of the household income

    Application process and how to apply

    • The qualified person is expected to identify a property of their preference and notify the NRAS of same through a formal online application. (https://www.nras.gov.gh)

    • An applicant must also complete an online or paper application form or submit two forms of national identification. They will also pay an application processing fee of 100 cedis.

    • If an application is approved, National Rental Assistance Scheme will arrange with your chosen landlord and pay the rent advance directly and sign all required tenancy documentation.

    • It will take about 5 to 10 business days for the NRAS to evaluate your affordability for the rent amount being sought and notify you of your application’s acceptance or denial.

    • Once this process is complete, the tenant takes possession of the rental property thereafter and rent payment is always due on the first of each month to the NRAS.

  • Consider unconventional approaches – Lebanese Ambassador tells UniMAC-GIJ students

    Consider unconventional approaches – Lebanese Ambassador tells UniMAC-GIJ students

    The ambassador of Lebanon to Ghana, Maher Kheir, has urged UniMAC-GIJ students to think creatively and aspire to academic excellence in order to make the most of their education.

    The Lebanese diplomat said the evolving challenges confronting of today’s world require expert knowledge to offer solutions.

    He, therefore, urged the students to look beyond just passing their academic examinations and sharpening their problem-solving skills to make meaningful contributions to society.

    He was speaking at a ceremony where the Lebanese Community in Ghana awarded scholarships to 15 students at the GIJ campus of the University of Media, Arts and Communications (UniMAC-GIJ).

    Ambassador Kheir urged the university in its new phase to continue to churn out graduates who will be relevant in the marketplace.

    “The world is evolving very fast and so are the challenges of men. Many countries including Lebanon, are experiencing desperate times which call for desperate measures. Hence it is necessary for institutions of higher learning like UniMAC to innovate and provide education that offers practical solutions to current problems” he said.

    He intimated that communication and arts are bridges that link people and nations together thereby playing a critical role in national development.

    “Media, arts and communication are very powerful tools that can shape any country’s growth” added.

    In pursuit of stronger educational cooperation between Lebanon and Ghana, H.E Maher Kheir stressed that his outfit will work to promote greater collaboration between Ghanaian and Lebanese schools.

    “Lebanon is a leader in the Middle East region in Media and arts. I am confident that we will see a deeper co-operation between Lebanese and Ghanaian schools towards a bright future” he said.

    The Ambassador also congratulated the school on a successful transition from GIJ to UniMAC.Professor Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo Vice Chancellor of UniMAC, lauded the huge investment by the community in journalism students at the university.

    However, following the addition of two other schools, he called for an expansion in the scheme to cover students in the other constituents of UniMAC.

    “It is easy to take this kind gesture for granted because it happens every year. But I would like to assure you that we don’t take it for granted. I would also like to make a request for the scholarship to be extended to our other constituents” he added.

    Professor Eric Opoku Mensah, acting Rector of UniMAC-GIJ praised the Community for being committed to the scheme over the past decade.

    He urged the students to strive for professionalism in their chosen fields and endeavour to challenge yellow journalism.

    Millicent Tiborimor, a beneficiary, thanked the donors for their support. She stated that the beneficiaries remain committed to working hard to make the investment in them count.

    A member of the Lebanese Community Mr. Hishan expressed excitement at the fruits that the scholarship scheme has produced over the years since its inception.

    He noted that the Community sees Ghanaians as family and will therefore continue to contribute to the success of Ghanaian students across many fields.

    In 2013, the Lebanese Community Scholarship Programme was instituted to assist brilliant Ghanaian students to access education at the tertiary level.

    The programme has significantly deepened educational cooperation efforts between both countries.

    Over the past ten years, the programme has produced a number of professionals including practising lawyers, journalists, and public relations officers among others.

    The scheme which began with just four schools, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Ghana School of Law, has now blossomed to include the School of Languages and School of Performing Arts.

    The expansion which happened in 2020, formed part of Ambassador Kheir and the Community’s vision to reach many more Ghanaian students and help them access higher education.

    So far, the scheme has supported more than 350 Ghanaian students.

    The main event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the scholarship programme has been slated for mid-2023.

  • Double track system will not phase out soon – Eduwatch

    Double track system will not phase out soon – Eduwatch

    The double-track system used in Senior High Schools will not be aborted this year, this is according to the executive director of the education think tank Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare.

    Speaking in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Asare explained that the Senior High School infrastructure projects started by government in a bid to end the system have been affected by the country’s liquidity situation.

    “When the double-track system was announced in 2018, government said that it was going to run for five years. Unfortunately, efforts to end the double track have brought financial stress. Ending the double track means putting up more infrastructure. Government went for a loan, the cedi equivalent of 1.5 billion dollars, and later converted it into a bond. 3 years into the loan, only about 3.2 million dollars has been disbursed.”

    “Last year, about another 1.2 billion dollars was supposed to be raised from the bond. But then two things happened last year, the first was high levels of inflation, especially in the construction sector, coupled with the low demand for bonds. This means that financing undoing infrastructure projects across SHSs will be difficult. This means that the double-track system may go on for some time until we see an improvement in the liquidity situation.”

  • Rent Control Department is active – PRO

    Rent Control Department is active – PRO

    The Rent Control Department (RCD) has debunked claims that it is powerless to prevent landlords from taking advantage of tenants.

    Speaking in an interview on GhanaWeb’s ‘The Lowdown’ programme, the Public Relations Officer of the RCD, Emmanuel Hovey Kporsu, said that even though the department has limited resources, it is performing its duty of regulating the rental sector of Ghana.

    He added that most tenants are exploited because they do not seek the services of the Rent Control Department.

    “Despite the fact that we are lacking some physical items to perform our duties to the extreme, I didn’t want to take the opinion out there (that the department is toothless).

    “We get our mandate from the Rent Act, Act 220, and specifically Section 5 (of the Act) lays out the function of the Rent Control Department,” Hovey Kporsu said.

    He said that the department is basically mandated by law to determine the cost of facilities being rented through established assessment criteria and resolve issues between tenants and their landlords.

    According to him, the department provides certificates on the rental cost of facilities to both tenants and landlords, and these certificates can even be requested by tenants at the offices of the RCD so that they are not cheated.

    “Because of our ignorance of the Act, we just capitulate to the landlords’ rents,” he added.

    The PRO, therefore, urged Ghanaians to report landlords who are exploiting them to the department without fear that they will be evicted.

    “…the landlord has no right to evict you… until your tenancy expires. The law says that if you have not contravened any of the provisions in the Act, the landlord has no right to evict you,” he said.

  • I’ll make sure investors have faith in Ghana – Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku

    I’ll make sure investors have faith in Ghana – Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku

    A former member of parliament for the Offinso North Constituency and former minister of trade and regional cooperation, Kofi Konadu Apraku, under President Kufuor Agyekum’s administration, has stated that one of his main goals if elected to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Ghana, respectively, is to restore investor confidence in the nation.

    Kofi Konadu Apraku, also a former chairman of the ECOWAS council of ministers, has joined Alan Kyerematen, Kennedy Agyapong, Kwabena Agyepong, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Mr. Addai-Nimoh in the race for the presidential candidature of the ruling New Patriotic Party.

    According to him, the most important thing to do when he becomes president is to stabilise the economic nature of the country through programs and policies that will rake in the confidence that the current economic mismanagement has driven away from both domestic and foreign investors.

    He said the plans and programs being proposed by his party colleagues, who are also vying for the presidential nomination, are not the necessary ones needed now, looking at where the country has gotten to.

    He added that the best thing to do is to consolidate what the country has at the moment and make good use of it to stabilise the economy. He added that as part of his plans to stabilise the economy, he will first look at restructuring the government to facilitate cutting down expenses. This, he said, will help build an efficient, robust, and aggressive economy, which will create opportunities.

    Apraku touted himself as the best candidate to lead the NPP to victory in 2024 owing to the fact that he has garnered all the experience and built great relationships with the rank and file of the elephant party.

  • We appreciate your patience and assistance – Government to Ghanaians

    We appreciate your patience and assistance – Government to Ghanaians

    Government has expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for their patience and support shown to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which ended on Friday, February 10, 2023, with more than 80% of eligible bonds participating.

    The Finance Ministry in a press release dated Tuesday 14 February 2023 and entitled “Participation in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme”, noted that government is extremely impressed with and grateful for the high patronage the voluntary programme has received.

    “The Government wants to thank the people of Ghana for their forbearance and support throughout these very difficult times” the press release signed by the finance minister; Ken Ofori-Atta read.

    “The DDEP is being done to help protect the economy and enhance our capacity to service our public debts effectively. The alternative of not executing the DDEP would have brought grave disorder in the servicing of our national debt and exacerbated the current economic crisis.

    “The Government is, therefore, grateful for the overwhelming participation of all bondholders. Your support and contributions have gotten your country much closer to securing the IMF programme” the finance minister’s statement further read.

    Burden-sharing
    The finance minister in his statement further noted that even though the DDEP was a voluntary exercise, under the prevailing economic circumstances in the country and in the globally space, Government had to make “a strong but humble appeal to bondholders to participate in the DDEP;

    “Seeing it as a very critical act of burden-sharing in the ongoing national effort to tackle the economic crisis, bring back macroeconomic stability and guarantee sustainable growth and prosperity for the people of Ghana”.

    “Government in addition, offered alternatives to encourage individual bondholders and retirees to tender for the new bonds which will have wider secondary market circulation.

    “The Government is grateful to those who took part in the advocacy in securing an improved offer for participants” the press release by Ken Ofori-Atta noted.

  • Meet the married Anglican clergyman who was once a catholic priest

    Meet the married Anglican clergyman who was once a catholic priest

    The now married Anglican clergyman, Rev Canon Charles Amankwah, was a catholic priest for 17 years.

    Rev Canon Amankwah said he was mentored by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast Charles Palmer- Buckle prior to his formative period as a catholic priest.

    Education

    He holds a Master’s Degree in Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry from the Catholic University College of Ghana, Sunyani, Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast and Diploma in Theology from the University of Ghana, Legon.

    Rev Canon Amankwah has so far written quite a number of books including “God has not finished with you yet”. His 15th book will be launched later this February.

    Ministry

    Prior to becoming an Anglican clergyman, he was an assistant parish priest at the Holy Trinity Parish at Agormanya in the Eastern Region. He was later appointed parish priest of the St Barbara Parish at Akosombo in the Eastern Region.

    Rev Canon Amankwah is currently the diocesan evangelism director and also the director for the choir

    Report suggests he left the Catholic church because of his decision to establish a prayer ministry which resulted in some activities that went contrary to the rules of the Catholic Church.

    He subsequently sought permission to take a leave and went to Kristo Buase Monastery in the Bono Region for 50 days to reflect on his live. Upon his return, Rev Canon Amankwah was counselled by Archbishop Palmer-Buckle before taking the decision to leave the Catholic church.

    He will be celebrating 26 years in the ministry later this year.

    Marriage

    Rev. Canon Amankwah got married to Ruth Amankwah, a teacher who came into the union with three kids.

    According to him, it was very difficult proposing to Ruth, so he had to let his father do it on his behalf.

    “Proposal was difficult,” he said. “I couldn’t propose to my wife, it was my father who proposed to Ruth for me.”

    He said he had wanted to marry someone who knew his story as a catholic priest. Rev Canon Amankwah has been married for the past nine years.

    Sexuality 

    “My first night as a married man was not easy,” the religious leader recalled. “I just couldn’t imagine going naked before my wife. I had to pray to muster courage to have canal knowledge of my wife. And since then, anytime we’re going to have an affair, I pray before the act.”

    He said there was no sexual intimacy between him and Ruth prior to their union.

    Rev Canon Amankwah and Ruth recently appeared on The StandPoint show with Oheneyere Gifty Anti where he shared his story and some nuggets on marriage:

  • Check out Ablakwa’s funding for his Philanthropies

    Check out Ablakwa’s funding for his Philanthropies

    Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the North Tongu representative to parliament, has disclosed three sources of funding for his work as an MP.

    Several persons have criticized the MP over his source of wealth. They say the work output and his earnings as a lawmaker don’t match.

    The MP has however disclosed three places he makes his money to support the philanthropy he undertakes.

    According to Okudzeto Ablakwa, his first source of funding is MP’s Common Fund.

    The Second is his own personal contribution and the third is what he described as a network of donors who periodically assist the MP.

    The NDC MP was forced to make the disclosure after the receiver of a philanthropic gesture, Dr. Kofi Effah, questioned the MP how he came by his resources to purchase an SUV for him as a gift.

    Dr Kofi Effah who is the head of the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre (CCPTC) of the Catholic Hospital in Battor, Volta Region found the answers by the MP as unsatisfactory. The Medical Doctor hencw requested to consult his family before taking a decision.

    The Medical Doctor’s probing question allegedly infuriated Mr. Ablakwa who withdrew the offer.

    MyNewsGh.com chronicles 3 times questions about the source of wealth of the MP has caused controversy.

    Last year, late presidential Staffer Abugri Emmanuel posed a public question to the North Tongu MP to explain how he managed to amass wealth from using a rickety old Golf that had to be pushed to work.

    The Presidential staffer said Hon. Ablakwa now has 3 speedboats in his 6 bedroom Juapong residence alone after entering politics with the green Golf that required pushing.

    READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo gives good speeches but never practises anything he preaches – A Plus
    “The politics of a graduate without any working experience who now has 3 speed boats packed in his 6 bedroom mansion in Juapong because he is an MP, telling a man who started sitting in airplanes before he (Ablakwa) was born as someone who is insensitive?” Abugri asked.

    Ablakwa, we remember your green Golf 2 paaa. We used to push it for you.” He added.

    Salary or Common Fund

    Another Activist of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on social media is alleged that he suspects the North Tongu MP is corrupt judging from the initiatives he is rolling out in his constituency which is far above his salary or Common Fund allocation.

    The NPP’s Kabenlah Muah was reacting to the launch of the furniture and footwear bank by the NDC MP who has twice been voted MP of the year by a local radio station for his various initiatives outside government funding.

    But Mr. Muah who is suspicious of the MP says Mr. Ablakwa is a perfect definition of a “corrupt” politician because the NDC lawmaker has not “worked” publicly or privately before joining politics asking the MP to disclose his source of money.

    “Where did he get the money from? He has not worked publicly or privately before joining politics. This defines who a corrupt politician is.”

    Overnight achievers

    Controversial Lawyer, Maurice Ampaw also said some ‘babies in diapers’ have in a short period become ‘millionaires’ – something they would have struggled to achieve if they did not venture into politics.

    According to him, politics in Ghana has become the fastest way for just any ordinary person to become rich.

    READ ALSO: Kennedy Agyapong not facing judge he “insulted” is some progress – Prof Azar
    Lawyer Ampaw argued that the acquisition of wealth among some young politicians in the country is alarming – he, however, called on the office of the Special Prosecutor (SP) to investigate them to save the public purse.

    “We know them, you don’t need lawyer Ampaw to mention names. Their quest to be MPs and acquisition of properties is mind-blowing. They are overnight achievers; they have not suffered enough.”

    we saw the lavish wedding by Okudzeto Ablakwa in this country. Where did he get the money from as a university graduate with no working experience?”

    “I have known Okudzeto Ablakwa from years back. He couldn’t even afford to pay for his car maintenance. He was nobody but when he entered politics, things changed drastically. As I speak, his new mansion in his hometown is more than a palace,” he claimed.

  • Delay in SHS placement due to ongoing investigations into CSSPS scandal – Carbonu

    Delay in SHS placement due to ongoing investigations into CSSPS scandal – Carbonu

    According to Angel Carbonu, the president of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the scandal involving the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) is the reason for the delay in the delivery of school placements for qualifying SHS students.

    BECE graduates who have qualified for Senior High School are yet to be placed despite the Ghana Education Service setting a deadline of February 20, for all new students to start school.

    Some parents have raised concerns that parents will be financially stressed should the government decide to go ahead with such a short reporting notice for freshers considering that the GES is yet to release the school placements for the 2022 BECE graduates.

    An investigation by the Fourth Estate, a private Media firm, has revealed that some parents paid between GH₵10, 000 to GH₵20,000 to get their children into Grade A schools in 2022.

    Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, February 14, Mr Carbonu said there is a likelihood that the Ministry of Education wants to streamline the entire placement system to prevent the corrupt activities that allegedly bogged the placement in 2022.

    “You recall that there is an investigation on a report about the placement in what happened last year, and it has really shaken the foundations of certain people in authority, and they would want to put in measures to ensure that we don’t revert to that same thing.

    “Placement in school, why should somebody pay GH₵10,000 or GH₵20,000 to get your daughter to Wesley Girls, I am sure some of these are the things being streamlined hence the delay in placements.”

    Mr Carbonu also questioned the relevance of the free SHS secretariat and also urged the GES to take over the placements of SHS students.

    “Placement to school should be within the ambit of the Ghana Education Service not the Ministry of Education. There is a certain secretariat and I wonder the relevance or importance of that secretariat, the Free Senior High School Secretariat. I wonder why we still have that secretariat because they are not teachers, they are political appointees and they are running the free senior high school but I don’t know what they do and I have a difficulty in why they are found operating in every sphere of education.”

  • Wife of Archbishop of Canterbury visits Rebecca Akufo-Addo

    Wife of Archbishop of Canterbury visits Rebecca Akufo-Addo

    The Wife of Archbishop of Canterbury, Mrs. Caroline Welby and her entourage today paid a visit to the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, H. E Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

    Addressing the gathering about her purpose of visit, Mrs Welby said, she has heard so much wonderful works the First Lady and her Rebecca Foundation is doing to help women and children in the country.

    According to her, she understands the challenges the Rebecca Foundation is facing but urged her to keep using her position to impact lives positively.

    ” I am very grateful to be here and I must confirm that, I have really enjoyed my stay here in Ghana. I hope to come back in future. I understand the plight the Rebecca Foundation is going through in line with helping women and children. I wish the First Lady well in all her future endeavours and I encourage her to keep impacting lives positively “, she said.

    Meanwhile, H.E Mrs. Rebecca Akufo- Addo expressed gratitude to Mrs. Caroline Welby for here visit to Ghana and how the presidency and the citizens are grateful about her coming.

    She added that, she will continue to support the less privileged especially women and children as the Rebecca Foundation started since 2017 .

    ” On behalf of the President of Ghana, H.E Nana Akufo- Addo and it’s citizens, we are extremely glad for your warm visit to our loving country. We hope this visit will strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Canterbury. Once again, we are happy you choose Ghana”, She said.

  • Parliament’s Education Committee urges GES to extend reporting date for SHS 1 students

    Parliament’s Education Committee urges GES to extend reporting date for SHS 1 students

    The ranking member of the Parliament’s education committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, has urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to postpone the February 20 reporting deadline for freshmen entering Senior High Schools.

    The Akatsi North lawmaker argued that parents will be financially stressed should the government decide to go ahead with such a short reporting notice for freshers considering that the GES is yet to release the school placements for the 2022 BECE graduates.

    Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe said the February 20 date is further going to disrupt the already stressed academic calendar which the GES is trying to rectify by bringing it back to the usual September to July period from the current January to December.

    “It is going to affect the calendar because even February 20 is not feasible, and I am of the view that the reopening date should be on March 1.”

    He said the prospectus of students varies with respective schools and so ample time should be given to enable parents the time to raise the necessary funds to buy them.

    “What you will buy and need to take to the school depends on the school the student will be attending, and I will advise that time should be given to give parents some relief.”

    He also urged the government to take measures to resolve the accommodation challenges confronting senior high schools across the country so the double-track system can be abolished.

    “Every year, numbers increase, so it should be the priority of authorities to plan ahead and complete all projects on our various school campuses. We should give GETFund enough funds to complete all these uncompleted projects to eliminate the double-track system.”

    Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe was commenting on the decision of the Ghana Education Service to return to the old academic calendar which was adjusted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • Births and Deaths Registry launches community population register

    Births and Deaths Registry launches community population register

    The Births and Deaths Registry has started developing plans for the community population registry.

    This initiative is in accordance with Section 12 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act of 2020, (Act 1027).

    The implementation of the community population register allows people to record all members of their community on the register, as well as all birth and death events that occur in the community.

    These registers are intended to be community assets and will only serve as reference documents for officers of the births and deaths registry when registering birth and death events.

    Sponsored by the Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA), a full implementation of the community population register would ensure that the collection of civil registration statistics on the ground would be seamless and credible, as the data would be produced by community members.

    Against this backdrop, Henrietta Lamptey, the Ag. Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry is spearheading the implementation of this initiative.

    Officers from the Births and Deaths Registry were sent to the Eastern, Bono East, and Ahafo regions to lay the groundwork for the community population register’s implementation by engaging Chiefs, members of municipal and district assemblies, and general members of communities in hard-to-reach areas.

    The officers educated and demonstrated to the public how to use the community population register.

    The following are the communities visited:

    Ankaase, Ada Subriso, Abuom, Tetekwah, Siso, Fianko, Kwarpretey, and Awewoho are all villages in the Ahafo region.

    Lala, Dadetoklo, Kabonya, Dromankese, Senya, Tailorkrom, Appesika, and Agyina in the Bono East region.

    Avukope, Galelia, Manchare, Akakom, Abrenya, Akortekrom, Oforikrom, Hwewohoden, and Agoaze located in the eastern region.

    The full implementation of this project is expected to propel the Births and Deaths Registry closer to its ultimate goal of universal registration of birth and death events in Ghana.

  • Honor unpaid bond obligations – Bondholders to Ofori-Atta

    Honor unpaid bond obligations – Bondholders to Ofori-Atta

    The government has been urged by the Individual Bondholders’ Forum to honor all coupon and principal payments owing to bondholders of bonds not tendered into the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP).

    In a statement, Convener Senyo Hosi reminded the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, that payment of coupons and principal for bonds that matured since the 6th of February to date (herein referred to as ‘Due Bonds’) remain outstanding.

    Mr Ofori Atta had earlier promised individual bondholders who refused to tender their bonds into the domestic debt exchange programme will have their existing coupons honoured when the date is due for payment.

    Several pensioner Bondholders have also been picketing at the Finance Ministry for six days now to demand the government completely exclude their bonds from the domestic debt exchange programme.

    In the letter, the individual bondholders stated that honouring payments on due bonds will re-engineer public and investor confidence and trust in the activities of the Finance Ministry.

    Below is the full letter to the Finance Minister

    REQUEST FOR OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS ON DUE BONDS

    We refer to your affirmation of the Government’s commitment to honour all coupon and principal payments due to individuals with holdings of bonds not tendered into the Domestic Debt Exchange programme (DDE).

    We wish to remind you that payment of coupons and principal for bonds that matured since the 6th of February to date (herein referred to as ‘Due Bonds’) remain outstanding. With the DDE deadline of 10th of February over, we trust that Government will be in a clear position to ascertain the total bonds due for payment after the completion of the DDE settlement scheduled for 14th February 2023.

    We hereby request your advice of the date for coupon and principal payments due under the ‘Due Bonds’. It is our expectation that Government will seize this opportunity to re-engineer public and investor confidence and trust, by making the payments not later than Friday, 17th February 2023.

    We count on your cooperation.
    Sincerely,
    Senyo K. Hosi
    Convener

  • Man beaten to death after stealing plantains

    Man beaten to death after stealing plantains

    In the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District, Central Region, a 40-year-old man has been beaten to death for stealing plantains from a farm near Ajumako Bisease.

    The suspect, Kwame Essel, said to be a notorious plantain thief, was caught in the act with his accomplice who bolted after seeing the owner of the plantain approaching.

    Information gathered by Kasapa News’ Yaw Boagyan indicates that the suspect, early Sunday morning February 12, 2023, went to the farm and stole the foodstuff to sell to a buyer.

    But the prospective buyer rejected them after the suspect failed to tell where he got the plantains from.

    He then sold it to some strangers who had come to the town for a funeral.

    Around 4:30 pm the same day, he went to the same farm to steal again but unfortunately, this time round, he was caught.

    He was then made to carry the plantains on his head and paraded through the principal street of Ajumako Bisease while being beaten.

  • Ghana Advertisers Association inaugurates new council members

    Ghana Advertisers Association inaugurates new council members

    At its 8th Investiture ceremony in Accra, the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) inaugurated new council members.

    The colourful ceremony which attracted key industry players saw the induction of Mr. Andrew Ackah as its new president. He takes over from Mansa Amoa-Awuah.

    Speaking at the 8th Investiture Ceremony of the Advertising Association of Ghana, new president, Andrew Ackah called on government to speedily pass the advertising bill to help mitigate the instance of the clutter.

    “In Ghana, all the laws governing advertisements are in the Food and Drugs Authority Act, but we need an Act that would look at the entire marketing communication industry and the new digital explosion,” he said.

    He also urged players within the advertising and marketing space to leverage on technology to standardize consumer data to ensure the growth of the industry.

    “With real-time changes in consumer attitudes, behaviour and media engagement, the correct data is more critical than ever. Robust accurate data must be the marketers’ North Star for understanding the consumer and for measurements and attributions that enables the highest returns on the advertising Investment,” he added.

    Other new council members of the Association who were sworn in along with the new president include Clarence Amoatey, Vice president; Russel Eni, Treasurer; Akua Owusu-Nartey, Alhaji Mukaila Ahmed Akuamoah, Orlando Baeta, Bright Ladzekpo, Nash Fenuku, Kwaku Tweneboa Danso-Misa, Grace Adjo Andoh, Abdul-Aziz Amankwa Joseph Andoh and Sharon Naa Odarley Mills.

    The event also provided the platform to reaffirm the oath of the Executive Director, Francis Dadzie.

    Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah assured of government support to pass the advertising bill.

    “The much talked about advertising bill needs to, as a matter of urgency, be passed to be the necessary regulatory backing, standards and framework for the quick advancement of this Industry. I do know how much work you have done already in the preparatory stages and I like to assure you that when all is ready, my doors at the Ministry of Information are opened to help you see the draft bill passed into law,” he said.

  • GJA calls for the passage of Broadcasting Bill

    GJA calls for the passage of Broadcasting Bill

    To purify the Ghanaian airwaves, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is urging Parliament to swiftly enact the Broadcasting Bill.

    GJA underscored the importance and role radio plays in peace and conflict resolution and asked that regulations, specifically, the Broadcasting Bill be urgently passed to prevent using radio as a tool for fomenting trouble.

    As part of activities to commemorate 2023’s World Radio Day, GJA called on broadcasters to be deliberate in their broadcasts to promote peace rather than violence.

    In a presser to commemorate the Day, GJA wrote, “on this occasion, the GJA also wishes to encourage radio broadcasters to be conscious of their obligation towards peace, especially as the 2024 electioneering gathers momentum. The high stakes at the intra-party and inter-party levels of politics, as well as the high-voltage anxiety, tension, and frustration emanating from the country’s current economic challenges, provide good seeds of disorder, chaos, and violence. But under no circumstance must radio provide the fertile ground for the sowing and germination of such destructive seeds. Rather, radio owners, managers and broadcasters must use their platforms for peace-building and conflict prevention.”

    The presser added that “the GJA believes one critical step needed to be taken to sanitize the airwaves is the passage of the Broadcasting Bill which has been going in and out of Parliament for many years. We urge the Executive and Legislature to give maximum attention to the bill and get it passed immediately. In fact, the Executive and Parliament cannot absolve themselves of blame as far as the current state of radio broadcasting in Ghana is concerned, and until they work in concert to pass the Broadcasting Bill immediately, they cannot raise any clean hands against the ills of radio broadcasting in Ghana.”

    Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD).

    This year’s Day is celebrated under the theme “Radio and Peace.”

  • Bawku residents warned against using violence to settle disputes

    Bawku residents warned against using violence to settle disputes

    The excessive politicization of the Bawku conflict has been criticized by Emmanuel Bombande, a former executive director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding and a specialist in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

    He said the lack of political will to resolve the conflict is a worrying development, stating that the rule of law must be enforced to protect human lives.

    Speaking on GBC’s Current Affairs programme ‘Talking Point’ which discussed the Bawku conflict, Mr. Bombande said a life lost in the conflict is one too many.

    He cautioned aggrieved persons, especially the youth against resorting to violence to resolve their grievances.

    Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, disclosed that about five thousand military personnel will be deployed to Bawku and its environs to beef up security in the area.

    He said the government is committed to ensuring that peace is restored to the area. Mr. Boakye-Danquah also encouraged the people to appreciate peace and avoid tendencies that could trigger violence.

  • Schools in Nyankpala remain shut due to gunshots

    Schools in Nyankpala remain shut due to gunshots

    Following two gunshot incidents perpetrated by unidentified individuals over an alleged chieftaincy feud, basic schools in Nyankpala, in the Tolon region of the Northern Region, are still shuttered.

    The gunshots started on Thursday, February 9 before the situation was brought under control.

    However, there was more gunfire in the community on Sunday leaving residents worried.

    The identity of the shooters and their motives are unknown, but some residents believe the incidents are connected to the enskinment of a new chief in the community.

    Some teachers who spoke off record said, the schools are closed due to the insecurity situation in the area.

  • Sammy Gyamfi calls for prosecution of BoG Governor

    Sammy Gyamfi calls for prosecution of BoG Governor

    The National Communication Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has demanded that Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, be charged with fraudulently printing more than GH45 billion for the government.

    In a tweet shared on February 9, 2023, Sammy Gyamfi said that the Bank of Ghana has violated the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918) by printing money above the allowed threshold without the approval of parliament.

    He added that, that action by the central bank is criminal, as such, Dr. Ernest Addison and another individual who is involved in the illegality should be dealt with by the law.

    “This statement from the BoG is an admission of criminality and can suffice as a confession statement. The governor of the BoG and all those culpable are candidates for criminal prosecution under section 67 of the ACT 612 for violating section 30 of ACT 612 as amended by ACT 918,” parts of the tweet read.

    The NDC national communications officer was reacting to a justification by the central bank on its decision to print over GH¢40 billion for the government to finance the 2022 budget which is above the required threshold and needs the approval of parliament.

    According to the BoG, it was left with no option but to support the government because it’s (the government’s) access to International Capital Market was closed and the domestic market was also struggling.

    In a statement issued on Thursday, February 9, 2023, the central bank posited that its action was not wrong since the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 which was suspended by the Parliament of Ghana, had not been reinstated.

    The statement by the BoG comes after it was heavily criticized by some Ghanaians after a Bloomberg report indicated that it printed GH¢41.9 billion for the government in 2022.

    Broadcaster, Dr. Randy Abbey, who was reacting to the Bloomberg report, said that the BoG, which is supposed to be regulating the country’s financial sector, appears to be breaking all the rules in the sector.

    “The level of seeming recklessness and lawlessness, and irresponsibility when it comes to the operation of the central bank and the lack of transparency is getting worrying,” he said.

  • Pensioners should be exempted from DDEP – CPP to govt

    Pensioners should be exempted from DDEP – CPP to govt

    The political affairs chairman of the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP), Kwame Jantuah is urging the government to halt the present Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP) and come up with alternate solutions to the ongoing economic crisis.

    According to them, it is insensitive for the government to burden investors, while government refuses to make any fiscal adjustments.

    Ghana’s total public debt stock shot up to GH¢575.7 billion at the end of November 2022, according to new data released by the Bank of Ghana.

    The new debt figure brings Ghana’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio to 93.5% from 75.9% in September 2022.

     Government is embarking on a debt restructuring programme in order to enable it access a $3 billion dollar package from the IMF to end the country’s ongoing economic woes. 

    Speaking to Citi News,the president must exempt the pensioners from the DDE.

    “All the political parties stand against it, even the NPP they are not talking about it, it’s only Ken Ofori-Atta and the President, Nana Akufo-Add talking about it. It seems everybody is scared. Those within their partycan’t even say much, why is it only one-sided? Why is the economic management team silent on the subject?

    “I would wish the President would say look, let’s exempt the pensioner bondholders from the DDEP and let’s find an alternative. Parliament should take over and find out which projects should be cut off or suspended,” Mr. Jantuah stated.

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Alhaji Frimpong noted that the government must be transparent about what the loans were used for.

    “What is happening in our national discourse over DDEP is as a result of what I would say the people being kept in the dark over a lot of issues in governance. Bondholders are agitating because the sender-messenger relationship is not properly done, people don’t know so much about what is going on,” Alhaji Frimpong indicated.

  • West Hills Mall incident: Shadrach’s money missing when police returned bag

    West Hills Mall incident: Shadrach’s money missing when police returned bag

    The family of the late Shadrach Arloo, has said that the police handed their late son’s bag without his money.

    According to the family, the police lied in their narration about the events that led to Shadrach’s death and are protecting the people who murdered him.

    Speaking in a CTV interview which was monitored by GhanaWeb, an uncle of the Shadrach Arloo, Tawia Nkrumah Hemans, said that his nephew was attacked by the police because of the money he had in his bag which he was using to shop for his sister living abroad.

    He added that the police ceased the bag with the money and gave it back empty to a relation who was in the company of the deceased during the incident.

    “Our brother was not the only person who went to the mall… could you believe that after killing the young man, the bag that was supposed to be the evidence because there was something illegal in it was given to his friend who was in his company when the incident transpired. The friend was arrested by the police and when he was released they give an empty bag to him which he brought to us.

    “He was shopping at the mall for his sister, who had sent him money from abroad. So, he was in constant communication with his sister describing the things he was buying to her. So one of the policemen stopped him and checked his bag and saw a lot of money in it.

    “That was when the attacks started. The police started asking him how he got the money and he kept insisting that it was his. That was when the police started beating him up,” he said in Twi.

    Background

    Perpetual Didier, a gospel musician, alleged that some police officers murdered her brother at the West Hills Mall in Accra, on January 30, 2022.

    She explained that her 32-year-old brother was brutally assaulted by the uniformed policemen, leading to his untimely death, and for this reason, she wanted the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to act.

    “Someone should tag the IGP. I need justice for my brother. Tell him that this is a crime one of his men has done to my family by killing my brother. We are all Ghanaians with equal rights and freedom. Why will you use your position to take someone’s life?” she said in her Facebook Live video, amidst tears.

    The police, after their investigation on the death of Shadrach Arloo, released a detailed statement which said that their findings showed that the policeman in question, did no wrong.

    The statement, dated February 7, 2023, said that the late brother of gospel musician Perpetual Didier resisted arrest by a police officer on duty who was being assisted by private security guards at the scene.

    The statement furthered that the deceased, after swallowing the package, became unconscious and was taken to the Sonotech Clinic for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival.

    It added that per a post-mortem examination conducted on the deceased and in the presence of as many witnesses from the deceased’s family and other officials, including MP Dorcas Affo-Toffey, it was confirmed that the cause of death was Asphyxiation and Obstruction of the airway by a foreign body.

  • Ato Duncan receives Peace Ambassador Award

    Ato Duncan receives Peace Ambassador Award

    Prof. Samuel AtoDunan, CEO of COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited, has been selected for the worldwide humanitarian peace award.

    The award which aims to honour outstanding personalities for their contributions to peace and conflicts resolution as well as poverty eradication is being given by the united international peace and governance council of Africa.

    Prof. Ato Duncan who is also the president general for the center of awareness global peace mission was recognized for his immense contributions to world peace.

    The renowned businessman, philanthropist and researcher has been holding series of lectures on peace and effective leadership to check poverty.

    He allocated $2 million towards a global peace campaign and missions last year in a five-year strategic plan to promote world peace.

    The impact of the initiative was to end world violence, by targeting the campaign through traditional leaders, youth groups, and thought leaders in society with much focus on the political class.

    The International Peace and Governance Council Incorporation, organisers of the award was established for Diplomatic Missions to contribute to the acceleration of Peace, Good Governance and Poverty Eradication across the globe.

    The organization is in partnership with various United Nations organs and Associations for project implementation.

    It aims to consolidate and strengthen efforts of organizations and individuals around the world to handle Civil and ethnic conflicts, inter-state wars, terrorism, poverty eradication among others.

  • Ambulance Service refutes allegations that it neglected a sick boy in Kpetoe

    Ambulance Service refutes allegations that it neglected a sick boy in Kpetoe

    The Ghana National Ambulance Service has rejected claims that it neglected a call to help a sick boy being transported by a public vehicle from Kpetoe to Ho.

    A journalist who bears the name, Gati Promise has said the ambulance service in the region failed to come to the aid of a sick boy despite several calls.

    According to him, the actions of the ambulance service could have adversely affected the sick child.

    But commenting on the allegation on Morning Starr with Francis Abban, spokesperson for the National Ambulance Service, Simon Yussif Kewura says that the journalist’s claims are untrue. 

    “If he calls himself a journalist he should have checked the information before putting up this story. When you need an ambulance, we have two types of requests for an ambulance. First one is dialing 112 that is going to the center. If you are in Greater Accra when you dial 112 it will go to our center in Accra and if you are in the Volta region it will go to Volta Region.

    “The news that he had called an ambulance wasn’t true. He hasn’t called an ambulance per our records we have. There is no record because we have a book that when you call the dispatch center people will record it and then dispatch an ambulance,” Mr. Kewura explained.

    “The purpose of calling the dispatch center is that sometimes you may see an ambulance at a location close to you but this ambulance may not be working. It may either not be having fuel or having a mechanical problem so we have to dispatch an ambulance close to you that is in good condition.”

  • Chief Justice suspends Court of Appeal sittings in four regional capitals

    Chief Justice suspends Court of Appeal sittings in four regional capitals

    The Court of Appeal’s sessions in four regional capitals have been suspended, according to the Judicial Service.

    Tamale, Cape Coast, Ho, and Koforidua are the affected cities.

    As contained in the Public Notice, all appeals from the Northern Sector of the country including the Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, Savannah, Bono East, Ahafo, Western North and Ashanti regions would be heard in Kumasi while all appeals in the Southern sector including the Western, Central, Eastern, Oti, Volta, and Greater Accra Region will be heard in Accra.

    “In view of this, all pending appeals in the Court of Appeal listed above are accordingly transferred to Kumasi and Accra respectively”.

    However, in a Twitter post, Minority Chief Whip and MP for Adaklu constituency, Governs Kwame Agbodza has questioned the reason for the closure of the Court of Appeal.

    According to him, it is surprising that such a decision has been taken at a time when there is advocacy for the construction of more courts and the training of more lawyers and judges to bring justice closer to the people.

  • I would sack Ofori-Atta if I were in Akufo-Addo’s shoes – Konadu Apraku

    I would sack Ofori-Atta if I were in Akufo-Addo’s shoes – Konadu Apraku

    Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, one of the leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta would have resigned if he was the current president.

    According to him, it is enough that there are many disgruntled members of the party, mainly their Members of Parliament, who have expressed their no-confidence in the performance of the Minister of Finance.

    He added that were he in the shoes of President Akufo-Addo, what he would have done was to give into their demands and get the finance minister off the job, a report by citinewsroom.com has said.

    “If I were the president [Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo], I would have listened to the MPs and sacked Ofori-Atta,” he is quoted to have said in an interview with GTV.

    It will be recalled that there were over 80 MPs on the Majority side of parliament who recently addressed the press, announcing their disaffection with the Minister of Finance.

    The MPs then called on the president to sack Ken Ofori-Atta or risk having them no longer participate in any government business that would be brought before parliament.

    Although this is yet to happen, as President Akufo-Addo has severally indicated that he finds nothing wrong with the work of his appointee, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku has said that there is the need for the president to examine the sentiments of the MPs and those of the general public.

    “In politics, you have to be sensitive to public opinion. Sometimes, it may not be the truth, but that is the sentiments, and the sentiments of the people need to be examined, and acted upon if it is possible. It’s a great deal for the NPP MPs to come out there to say they don’t want our finance minister, their own Finance Minister that they have worked with in the past.

    “In democracy, we have to be sensitive to the people. Lack of action exacerbates the problem, so you cut it off and cut your losses and I would have cut my losses and said please you have done enough, the environment is hostile to you so go. I would have changed him,” he is quoted to have said.

    The race for the top-spot of the NPP party elections is yet to be officially opened but so far, a number of names have popped up, indicating that they are also interested in the spot.

    Some of the names that come up have been Alan Kyerematen, the immediate-past Minister of Trade and Industry; Dr Akoto Owusu Afriyie, the former Minister of Food and Agriculture; Francis Addai-Nimoh, a former MP for Ashanti Mampong; and the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

  • The conduction of presidential and legislative primaries will determine NPP’s victory in 2024 – NPP National Chairman

    The conduction of presidential and legislative primaries will determine NPP’s victory in 2024 – NPP National Chairman

    The success of the presidential and parliamentary primaries will determine whether the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will win the 2024 elections, according to National Chairman of the party, Stephen Ntim.

    According to him, the two elections that will elect the party’s Flagbearer and Members of Parliament will largely impact the electoral fortunes of the party, hence the need for the party to conduct itself properly during and after the primaries.

    Speaking at a brainstorming session by the Council of Elders of the Greater Accra Region at Peduase in Aburi, Chairman Ntim on that account made a passionate appeal to all prospective aspirants, their supporters, party members, and all stakeholders of the Party to respect the rules of engagement.

    “We should always be guided by the supreme interest of the party and eschew all acts that have the tendency of dividing our ranks. We cannot have an effective and well-organized party to break the eight if we do not prioritize the party’s interest. Our victory in 2024 will largely depend on how we conduct ourselves in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries.

    “It is in view of the importance of these primaries on our electoral fortunes that the National Council of the Party formulated a Code of Conduct to regulate our conduct during the period preceding the opening of nominations for these primaries. It is also worth reminding all party members that the Code of Conduct is still in force, and as national officers, we will continue to monitor its implementation to ensure maximum conformity. This is crucial to help us close our ranks going into the 2024 general elections and to be able to break the eight,” Chairman Ntim stated.

  • NAGRAT urges government to halt DDEP

    NAGRAT urges government to halt DDEP

    The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) is demanding that government be scraps off the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).

    Since securing a staff-level agreement with the IMF, the government has been working with stakeholders to get them to subscribe to the debt exchange programme.

    Some groups have fiercely kicked against the DDEP arguing that it will affect their livelihoods.

    Speaking to Citi News, NAGRAT President, Angel Carbonu urged government to halt the domestic debt exchange programme and explore alternative means of solving the country’s economic challenges

    “The DDEP shouldn’t have started at all, it’s a non-starter programme, the government should have looked for other innovative means to make up for its own balances. This DDEP thing is strange to our economic lexicon, now look at what is happening. Elderly citizens of this country who have sacrificed their lives are today those who are picketing at the Ministry of Finance. We will call on the government to abort the DDEP all together,” Mr. Carbonu appealed.

    The Finance Minister is scheduled to appear before Parliament on Thursday, February 16, 2023, to brief the House on the DDEP.

  • We’ll successfully deal with Ghana’s challenges – Akufo-Addo

    We’ll successfully deal with Ghana’s challenges – Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has said that the government is committed to finding a successful solution to the problems the country is now facing.

    Speaking at the 18th Consultative Council Meeting of the Anglican Church on Sunday, 12th February 2023, President Akufo-Addo indicated that he was aware that these are difficult times in Ghana, just as they are for most people in the world.

    “However, with the help of Almighty God, and backed by a sense of determination, hard work, and collective sacrifices on our part, I am confident that we will successfully confront the difficulties, bring relief to the Ghanaian people, and return the economy back to the high rates of growth that characterised the management of our economy in the three (3) years preceding the COVID outbreak in 2020 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

    Government, according to the President, “is implementing a number of policy measures to this end, and, sooner rather than later, we shall overcome.”

    Anglican Consultative Council

    Welcoming the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt. Hon. Justin Portal Welby, and the Anglican Consultative Council, to Ghana, the President told the gathering at the Anglican Church has been a good example of what it means to love one another and give cheerfully to those in need, and it continues to play a significant role in the growth and development of the nation.

    “All Anglicans are extremely indebted to the Primate and Metropolitan Archbishop and his team for the dynamism that we are experiencing in the Anglican Communion in Ghana presently. I have been involved, as well as following up with activities, of which I am proud as an Anglican,” he said.

    Addressing the financial sustainability strategy of the Anglican Church in Ghana, which seeks to move the Church to a position of self-reliance, President applauded the decision by the Church to establish an insurance brokerage.

    “I also wish to congratulate the Bishop, Rt Rev Dr. Daniel Torto, and the entire membership of my Diocese, the Diocese of Accra, for its substantial investment in the area of agriculture, through the cultivation of its one thousand (1,000) acre rubber plantation, the largest, private-owned rubber plantation in the country,” he stressed.

    The President continued, “These and other projects being embarked on by various Dioceses are contributing positively towards Ghana’s economic growth and the creation of jobs in various communities. Government stands ready to partner and support the various initiatives of the Church, especially those in line with the directive principles of state policy, to help develop a progressive and prosperous Ghana.”

  • Driver dead after accident at Apemanim

    Driver dead after accident at Apemanim

    On February 11, 2023, at Apemanim in the Ahanta West Municipality Region, a Toyota car driver died in an accident after colliding with a trailer.

    The Toyota driver with registration number 3040-12, who was the only occupant, clashed with the trailer with registration number AJ 2710, which was moving to Ivory Coast.

    The Toyota vehicle was, however, moving in the opposite direction from the Ellembelle area to Takoradi.

    According to a dailyguide newspaper report, the trailer driver said the Toyota driver ran into his car while he was at top speed.

    An eyewitness also added that they heard someone cry for help, and together with the help of some journalists they managed to overturn the vehicle and find the lifeless body of the driver.

     The body has since been deposited at the mortuary.