TIG Post

Author: Phoebe Martekie Doku

  • National cathedral controversies: Professor Opoku Nyinah should resign – Group

    National cathedral controversies: Professor Opoku Nyinah should resign – Group

    A group of Pentecostals is calling for the immediate resignation of the chairman of the board of trustees of the National Cathedral Professor Opoku Nyinah.

    According to the group, the continuous stay of Professor Opoku Nyinah as the board chairman amidst controversies ridicules the Church of Pentecost as he is the immediate past chairman.

    In a press release, the convener Timothy Atayaa added that it is an open secret many Ghanaians, including Pentecostals, are not happy with this project and as such, are not happy with any person involved in this project, not excluding our Professor Opoku Onyinah.

    “We wish to express disappointment over the involvement of our immediate past chairman, Professor Opoku Onyinah, in the controversial National Cathedral project, as he is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

    “The National Cathedral project, which came about as the fulfilment of a personal pledge by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is one of the most criticized projects in Ghana today, having been shrouded in a lot of shady dealings, the unconstitutional and illegal use of public resources, and all of kinds controversies surrounding the project.

    “We are not against the building of a cathedral, but considering the manner in which this particular project was conceived and how it is being executed, coupled with the time at which it is being executed, there are a lot of question marks about this project, the statement added

    Below is the press release:

    19/01/2023

    PROFESSOR OPOKU NYINAH SHOULD RESIGN AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OVER THE CONTROVERSIAL NATIONAL CATHEDRAL PROJECT

    We wish to express disappointment over the involvement of our immediate past chairman, Professor Opoku Onyinah, in the controversial National Cathedral project, as he is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

    The National Cathedral project, which came about as the fulfilment of a personal pledge by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is one of the most criticized projects in Ghana today, having been shrouded in a lot of shady dealings, the unconstitutional and illegal use of public resources, and all of kinds controversies surrounding the project.

    We are not against the building of a cathedral, but considering the manner in which this particular project was conceived and how it is being executed, coupled with the time at which it is being executed, there are a lot of question marks about this project.

    The president initially told Ghanaians that the project was not going to cost the taxpayer even a cedi, but what we see today is that a lot of public and private buildings have been pulled down at the expense of the taxpayer. Also, state resources are being illegally and dubiously channelled into this project in these excruciatingly hard times, with people being paid with the taxpayer’s money for no work done on this project, among many others.

    There are numerous places in Ghana where we can converge to seek the face of God so why still insist on carrying out this project even at a time the economy is critically seeking life support from the IMF? At a time when Ghanaian children are still studying under trees, some having to lie on their stomachs to learn in school, and with no textbooks, and even schools without chalks for teaching, not to even talk about computers? We are also in a period where SHSs across the country have no food to feed our children, our health insurance is almost collapsed, hospitals are without beds and it is the very time the president wants to build a cathedral. Are we serious as a country?

    The Church of Pentecost recently handed over a prison facility to the state, and even though it is part of our social responsibility, this is first the primary responsibility of the government. At the time, the current Chairman of the church, Prophet Opoku Onyinah, did not envisage the need for a national cathedral.

    Also, the open secret is that many Ghanaians, including Pentecostals, are not happy with this project and as such, are not happy with any person involved in this project, not excluding our very own Professor Opoku Onyinah.

    We, therefore, call for the resignation of Professor Opoku Onyinah, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, as his continuous involvement ridicules the Church of Pentecost.

    Convener Concerned Pentecostals Timothy Ataaya The Church of Pentecost

  • National Cathedral is an ill-conceived project with respectable people as its face – Kufuor Foundation Boss

    National Cathedral is an ill-conceived project with respectable people as its face – Kufuor Foundation Boss

    The Chief Executive Officer of the J.A. Kufuor Foundation, Prof. Baffuor Agyemang Duah, has described the scandals that have befallen the construction of the National Cathedral of Ghana as a tragedy.

    Speaking in an interview on XYZ TV, which was monitored by GhanaWeb, Prof. Agyamang Duah said that the cathedral project was supposed to be spearheaded by the clergy, but it appears some individuals are making the decisions for them.

    “The whole project was ill-conceived… initially my thinking was that this was a private initiative, which means that funds would be mobilised privately. And I think they attempted that; because I understand that they engaged somebody, a fundraiser, to do that, and perhaps because the private fundraising did not go well, that is why they decided to use state money for what they call seed money.

    “The fact is that the controversies about the cathedral reflect a very flawed national project, badly conceived and badly executed. And the government succeeded in lining up some respectable individuals to be the face of the project,” he said.

    “And from what we are hearing from members who have resigned, major decisions concerning the project were not even taken by the Board of Trustees. It seemed like there were some private individuals behind it who were making all the decisions… so mixing private sentiments and desires with public resources and topping it with religious faces is what has caused this tragedy,” he added.

    Prof. Agyemang Duah, a governance expert, noted that the modus operandi of the stakeholders involved in the construction of the cathedral was not in consonance with good governance practices.

    He also said that he is not surprised about the scandals that are now meeting the construction of the cathedral.

    Prof. Agyeman Duah made these remarks while reacting to the latest corruption exposé on the National Cathedral by MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, portions of which suggested impropriety on the part of the secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng.

    On January 16, 2023, the MP made some allegations against Rev. Kusi Boateng, who is the secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana.

    In an earlier revelation about the National Cathedral, Okudzeto Ablakwa said a whopping GHC 2.6 million was dished out to a company named JNS Talent Centre Limited.

    Further investigations into the alleged payment led to the discovery of one Kwabena Adu Gyamfi as a director of JNS Talent Centre.

    Having confirmed the identities of two out of the three directors of the centre, Ablakwa dug deeper in a bid to discover the identity of the third director, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.

    According to his findings, citing a number of documents, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi was the same as Reverend Kusi Boateng, who had allegedly been operating under the pseudonym Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.

    But Kusi Boateng, in a statement sighted by GhanaWeb, said that the allegations made against him by Ablakwa are mere fabrications.

    He said that the accusations the MP made against him were for political purposes, adding that he has not engaged in any criminal activity in his dealings with the National Cathedral project.

    Rev. Kusi Boateng also said that he is waiting on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which has been petitioned by Ablakwa, to investigate him.

    He added that he will explore the legal options available to him against the MP for deliberately defaming him.

  • PAC criticises Foreign Affairs ministry for spending $2.8m on rent

    PAC criticises Foreign Affairs ministry for spending $2.8m on rent

    The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has faulted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for spending $2.8 million and €1.79 million for the payment of rent for home-based staff of 21 missions.

    The Auditor General in its 2020 report described the payment of these rents as uneconomic and recommended the use of mortgage systems to curtail the situation.

    But appearing before the committee, the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, said the proposed mortgage system of accommodation for missions has been a challenge.

    He said the government’s policy is to acquire properties for all its missions abroad but securing finance has been a major challenge to the Ministry.

    “The government’s policy is to acquire properties for the missions, residency and chancery but the reality on the ground is that it is not easy for Foreign Missions to get mortgages in these foreign countries. So far we haven’t succeeded. We are exploring a whole range of avenues to try and raise the needed funds.

    “We have made some progress, and we are hopeful that we will get there.”

    The Committee also raised concerns about the Ministry’s payment of GH₵7.9 million for a project which cost GH₵1.4 million to start in 2007.

    The project according to the Ministry was abandoned by the contractor in 2008 but had the contract reviewed in 2017 to GH₵7.9 million despite the initial payment of about 90 percent of the amount.

  • Debt Exchange: Pray for God’s wisdom for Ofori-Atta – Christian Council

    Debt Exchange: Pray for God’s wisdom for Ofori-Atta – Christian Council

    The leadership of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCC) has called for prayers for Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to gain God’s wisdom and direction regarding the Domestic Debt Exchange programme. 

    A statement issued by the Council on Thursday, January 19 asking the Finance Minister to suspend the debt exchange programme for further engagement, said “The leadership of the Christian Council of Ghana will continue to pray for the managers of our economy, especially the finance minister, for God’s wisdom and direction in this matter, and we urge all churches to do same.

    “We strongly believe that God will see us through this difficult situation. Let us keep our hopes alive.”

    The Council further stated that it has examined the concerns of the Individual Bondholders Association of Ghana (IBHAG), the Pensioner Bondholders Forum, church members and the general public and has identified lapses in the debt restructuring programme, a major one being lack of consultation with affected individuals and institutions.

    “With the current economic hardships in the country and the agitations among the general public, it is in the nation’s interest for the Finance Ministry to suspend the 31 st January deadline given to individuals to sign on to the program and rather propose a road map for dialogue to make the process participatory such that the outcome would be acceptable to all.

    “The Council believes that thorough engagements with stakeholders would help the government to appreciate the concerns of the Ghanaian people and put measures in place to address some of the challenges of the programme.

    “The CCG also wants to encourage the media to be diligent with reportage on the debt restructuring program and ensure that they speak to professionals on the matter to avoid false information that would further heighten the already situation of fear and panic in the country,” a statement issued by the Council on Thursday, January 19  said.

    It added “The leadership of the Christian Council of Ghana will continue to pray for the managers of our economy, especially the finance minister, for God’s wisdom and direction in this matter, and we urge all churches to do same. We strongly believe that God will see us through this difficult situation. Let us keep our hopes alive.”

  • Two Nat’l Security operatives arrested for alleged galamsey

    Two Nat’l Security operatives arrested for alleged galamsey

    Police at Axim in the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality of the Western Region have arrested two suspects who allegedly contracted nine Ghanaians and a Chinese to embark on illegal mining activities on the Okoben Mining Company Limited gold concession at Dominase.

    The two suspects are the Chief of Ablebo, Nana Miensah, and one Ramsey, who is alleged to be a National Security officer.

    The names of these leaders who employed the ten suspected illegal ‘galamseyers’ including a Chinese national, came up after the ten were arrested by the joint team of police, National Investigations Bureau (NIB) and National Security personnel at Axim.

    The illegal miners arrested at Dominase

    The names of Ghanaians who are Paul Aboagye, Asamoah Gyan, John Yembiri, Richard Sackey, Boris Laari, Kofi Bakaro, Boti Kofana Kwame Owusu and the Chinese national, Wei Yunzhao.

    Upon their arrest on Wednesday, January 18 on the Okoben Mining Company Limited’s gold concession at Dominase, the suspects mentioned the Chief of Ablebo, Nana Miensah, one Ramsey, a national security officer and one Kumah of Kedadwen, as those who brought them to the concession of the company.

    Surprisingly, two of the Ghanaian suspected illegal miners told the Axim Police that they were National Security operatives.

    Seven Ghanaians, including one Chinese, were arrested at Dominase for invading gold mining concession of the Ghanaian-owned mining company.

    The nine male miners were among hundreds of Ghanaian illegal miners, including loads of foreign nationals who managed to invade the legally acquired gold mining concession of Okobeng Mining Company Limited in Dominase.

    These unlicensed miners used heavy-mining equipment to engage in large-scale illegal mining activities on the concession of Okoben Mining Company Limited on the blind side of the state mining regulatory institutions in Ghana, including Minerals Commission and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    These illegal miners who did not even have environmental permits or licenses from the government of Ghana managed to engage in large-scale gold mining activities before the owner of the concession, Nana Okoben Amponsah, got hints and quickly reported the matter to Axim Divisional Police Command.

    Following the official report Nana Okoben Amponsah lodged with the police, a joint team of police, National Investigations Bureau (NIB) and National Security personnel from Axim in the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality moved to the site to effect the arrest of total of nine illegal Ghanaian miners and a Chinese national.

    The swoop, conducted by the Ghana Police Service in collaboration with the NIB and National Security, formed part of the government’s renewed fight against illegal mining.

    Information available indicates that the illegal miners who invaded the concession were more than ten but some, predominantly the foreign nationals, managed to run way at the time the National Security officers stormed the site to affect the arrest.

    The miners managed to indiscriminately mine gold in the concession without the knowledge of the owner of the company, Nana Okoben Amponsah.

    They had also managed to clear large tracts of arable cocoa farmlands in a forest at site of the company and tributaries of the Ankobra River had also been heavily polluted by their activities.

    The team confiscated some excavators and many other heavy mining items.

    These illegal miners are currently in custody of the Axim Divisional Police Command assisting the police in their investigations.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Okoben Mining Company Limited, Nana Okoben Amponsah expressed worry that despite the ban on illegal mining activities by the central government some “unpatriotic” Ghanaians are aiding foreigners to mine and destroy his gold mining concession at Dominase he lawfully and legally secured for the past 24 years ago.

    “How is it possible that despite the number of caution and announcements, people still have the effrontery to be engaging in illegal mining? What worries me the most is how our own people find it convenient to collaborate with foreigners on this destruction spree?”

    He said: “It is very sad. But I make a solemn promise that we will not rest. If it means going after them every day, than that it exactly what we will do.”

  • Free tablets: How will you fund this project? – Forson asks Bawumia

    Free tablets: How will you fund this project? – Forson asks Bawumia

    The effort to provide free tablets to all Senior High School (SHS) pupils has been challenged by Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

    The vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been asked to explain how government plans to finance it.

    In a tweet, which was retweeted by Former President John Dramani Mahama, Dr Ato Forson said “Dr Bawumia, your frivolous promises are largely responsible for Ghana;’s bankruptcy! Basic schools in the North East Region don’t have tables and chairs yet you are promising 1 student 1 tablet! How will you fund this? Borrow more? Where lies your priorities Mr. Veep?”

    Dr Bawumia promised that all SHS students are going to be given free laptops this year.

    These tables, he said are loaded with textbooks on them for their studies.

    This is a game-changing development, he said.

    “This year, we are on course to provide all Senior High School students in Ghana with tablets that are loaded with textbooks on them for their studies.

    “That’s a very game-changing development. We will have past questions preloaded on these tablets that will be distributed,” he said while speaking at this year’s New Year School at the University of Ghana, Legon on Tuesday, January 17.

  • 71% of citizens believe Ghana is on the wrong path – Survey

    71% of citizens believe Ghana is on the wrong path – Survey

    A new survey conducted by Global Info Analytics, a polling company in Ghana, has revealed that 71% of citizens are of the view that, Ghana is headed in the wrong direction.

    The poll also revealed that 60% of New Patriotic Party (NPP) affiliates disapprove of the path the country is headed while 81% of affiliates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) also say the party is on the wrong path.

    On the question of whether the NPP can “break the eight”, 24% of voters believe the party can “break-the-eight” whilst 59% said they can’t and 17% had no opinion.

    The poll shows the president’s job approval rating has made a significant recovery from 26% in October, leaping to 32% in January 2023, whilst his disapproval declined sharply from 69% in October to 59% in January 2023.

    The vice president enjoys 32% approval and 58% disapproval. In the case of Alan Kyerematen, 35% of voters approved of his performance as Trade and Industry minister whilst 45% disapprove of his performance.

    The poll used a sample size of 5,844. The sample size was allocated to all the regions based on the total number of voters in each of the regions as per the Electoral Commission’s 2020 register.

    A random selection of 30% of constituencies from each region was then selected and allocated the regional quota based on the total voters in each of those constituencies.

    Respondents were selected randomly in the streets, homes and workplaces.

    In the race to lead the NPP for the 2024 elections, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen are tied with no clear favourite.

    The poll conducted between 31st December 2022 and 15th January 2023, shows the race to lead the NPP is a dead heat among NPP voters as Dr Bawumia has lost the slender lead he enjoyed in October 2022 over Mr Kyeremanten.

    The poll now shows Dr Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen are level at 40% apiece among NPP voters.

    However, among general voters, Mr Kyerematen’s lead over Dr Bawumia has been cut from 41% to 32% compared to 44% to 31% in October 2022. New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, is in third place with 14% of the votes.

    The NPP is yet to set a date for its presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer for the 2024 elections.

    Mr Kyerematen who resigned from his post is likely to face off with the former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former Railways Minister Joe Ghartey who has also declared his intention to contest for the slot.

  • Bedridden Appiatse victim needs GH¢65k to reconstruct broken leg

    Bedridden Appiatse victim needs GH¢65k to reconstruct broken leg

    One of the seriously injured victims of the Appiatse disaster, Joseph Arhin Junior, is seeking an amount of GH¢65,000 to fix his broken leg after the explosion in January last year.

    The 45-year-old victim, who was the head of Physical Planning at the Amenfi East Municipality until the sad incident, told Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson, the host of Connect FM’s Omanbapa morning show that he was returning from work when the accident happened.

    “I was returning from Wassa Akropong to see my family in Takoradi. A few meters to Appiatse, we realized there was heavy traffic and a tanker vehicle was on fire so our driver alerted us and returned.

    “We were looking for another vehicle when the tanker exploded and all of a sudden I heard people screaming for help. I decided to go and assist those who were badly injured and that is when I realized my left leg has been affected.”

    According to him, it was a Good Samaritan who came to his rescue.

    “I started screaming for help and a man came, he wanted to help me but there was no vehicle. He managed to get a tricycle but there was no fuel. He dropped me and another person whose intestines were already out into the bucket of the tricycle and pushed us to a nearby filling station where we were fortunate to have a vehicle to the Wassa Akropong Government Hospital. At a point, I wanted to chop off the leg because there was no hope,” he indicated.

    Mr. Joseph Arhin Junior has spent the past year seeking medical attention for his leg to be reconstructed.

    ”I’m now a prisoner in my own house. I spent my life savings to get my leg to where it is now but I need more. I later had information that the government was paying all the bills so I sent them my receipts but I was not given all the amount spent. Now my fears and worries are that if I’m not able to go through the reconstruction process, I will not be able to walk and take care of my family again. I’m not blaming anyone, I’m only pleading for assistance to get my leg reconstructed. Any individual or organization that can help should reach out to Connect FM in Takoradi,” he indicated.

    The Appiatse Disaster Relief Committee has marked the first anniversary of the deadly explosion that claimed many lives in January last year.

    Sixteen persons were recorded to have lost their lives with many more victims receiving treatment.

  • Savelugu Election Petition: Court affirms NDC win

    Savelugu Election Petition: Court affirms NDC win

    A Tamale High Court has affirmed the election of Abdulai Jacob Iddriss as Member of Parliament for Savelugu Constituency.

    Mr Jacob Iddriss’s election in 2020 was challenged by the Parliamentary Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Muhamed Abdul-Samed Gunu.

    According to the petition, the election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP was invalid owing to widespread malpractices and irregularities which he maintains affected the outcome of the impugned elections.

    The NDC candidate polled 19,577 votes to beat the petitioner, who polled 19,478.

    Giving his ruling on Friday, January 20, Justice Daniel Obeng awarded GH¢40,000 in damages to the NDC.

    The victory was affirmed for Abdulai Jacob Iddriss to continue to serve as MP for Savelugu.

    Meanwhile, the court also affirmed the victory of NPP’s John Bennam Jabaah for Zabzugu Constituency.

    His election was also challenged at the same court.

  • I pray you are wrong about Reverend Kusi Boateng – Adom-Otchere to Okudzeto Ablakwa

    I pray you are wrong about Reverend Kusi Boateng – Adom-Otchere to Okudzeto Ablakwa

    Paul Adom-Otchere, the board chairman of the Ghana Airport Company Limited says he is praying to God to ensure that Reverend Kusi Boateng, the secretary of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral is exonerated of the charges levelled against him by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu.

    The host of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV says much as he believes in the credibility of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, he is hopeful that Reverend Kusi Boateng will be cleared of the allegations for which he has been hauled to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

    He commended Reverend Kusi Boateng for indicating his readiness to collaborate with CHRAJ and said that posture fills him with confidence that the embattled clergyman is innocent of the allegations.

    “The matter is before CHRAJ and I’m happy that in his response Reverend Kusi Boateng welcomed the challenge that Okudzeto is sending him to CHRAJ. It tells all of us that he will be able to establish his innocence. I pray to God and I sincerely hope Okudzeto is wrong on this matter even though I take him seriously,” he said.

    Okudzeto Ablakwa on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 petitioned CHRAJ to investigate Reverend Kusi Boateng over the alleged payment of GH₵2.6 million paid him by the National Cathedral secretariat.

    The petition was the actionable move of an explosive set of allegations he made against Reverend Kusi Boateng which among other things include double identity claims.

    In an explosive set of allegations which he described as the Tsar Bomba of all scandals, Ablakwa claimed that Reverend Kusi Boateng holds multiple passports and identification cards with some bearing the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.

    “You will recall that in my earlier exposé of the scandalous GHC2.6million cash transfer from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited, I pointed out that incorporation documents reveal that the three directors of JNS Talent Centre Limited are Johannes Eshun, Sheila Eshun and Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.

    “I also later revealed that Rev. Johannes Eshun is a branch pastor of National Cathedral Executive Council Member/Director, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng’s Power Chapel Worldwide.

    “Hitherto, the third director—Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi has remained a mystery figure.

    “I am now able to reveal the true identity of this mystery director of JNS, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.

    “Definitely, the code has finally been cracked and it shocks to the marrow!

    “Unimpeachable and incontrovertible evidence confirms that Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is the famous Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng who still serves on the National Cathedral Board as an Executive Council Member/Director.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no distinct Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is a criminal creation of Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng. The two are therefore one and the same.

    “Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi thought he had outwitted every Ghanaian, particularly our authorities whom he dribbled for many years; but the day of reckoning is finally here.

    “From unassailable and irreproachable documents in my possession, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi uses multiple passports and multiple identification cards with different names and different dates of birth as his special modus operandi,” he wrote on Facebook.

  • It’s abominable, I’m seriously anti-gay – Attorney General

    It’s abominable, I’m seriously anti-gay – Attorney General

    Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has his stance on same-sex relationships, a subject that has recently gained attention.

    Dame said based on his religious, moral and cultural viewpoints, he was totally against anything that promoted same-sex ideology.

    “I am seriously anti-gay, that’s a point. 100%. I had the opportunity to express it in a programme that I did in 2006,” he told Paul Adom-Otchere on the January 17 edition of Good Evening Ghana programme.

    “I think that it is abominable, that is my view, Christian, moral, cultural, however you want to term it,” he added.

    Asked how he would handle a relation who subscribes to the ideology, he responded: “I will actually make a conscious effort to rid the person of such a situation.”

    Dame was responding to questions on the anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) bill, a private members’ initiative, that is currently before Parliament.

    He is due to appear before the parliamentary committee sitting publicly to receive views on the bill which has split public opinion, between hardliners who are in full support of the bill and the human rights advocates who argue that the bill in its current form is repressive and dangerous.

    Dame observed that the bill in its current form needed some amount of reworking in parts citing the fact that it imposes a financial burden on the state and also contains sections that are repetitions of existing laws.

    The bill, officially known as ‘The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill’ was laid before the House last year and referred to the Committee for among others, public consultation.

    It was sponsored by eight MPs, seven from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and one from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

  • Alan, Bawumia tied in NPP flagbearership race – New poll reveals

    Alan, Bawumia tied in NPP flagbearership race – New poll reveals

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen are tied for the party leadership position ahead of the 2024 elections, according to a recent nationwide poll conducted by Global InfoAnalytics.

    The polls conducted between 31st December 2022 and 15th January 2023, show the race to lead the NPP is a dead heat among NPP voters as Dr Bawumia has lost the slender lead he enjoyed in October 2022 over Mr Kyeremanten.

    The poll now shows Dr Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen are level at 40% apiece among NPP voters.

    However, among general voters, Mr Kyerematen’s lead over Dr Bawumia has been cut from 41% to 32% compared to 44% to 31% in October 2022.

    New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, is in third place with 14% of the votes.

    The NPP is yet to set a date for its presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer for the 2024 elections.

    Mr Kyerematen who resigned from his post is likely to face off with the former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former Railways Minister Joe Ghartey who has also declared his intention to contest for the slot.

    The poll shows the president’s job approval rating making a significant recovery from 26% in October, leaping to 32% in January 2023, whilst his disapproval declined sharply from 69% in October to 59% in January 2023.

  • We don’t know govt’s total seed money for National Cathedral – Joyce Aryee

    We don’t know govt’s total seed money for National Cathedral – Joyce Aryee

    A member of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, Rev. Joyce Aryee, says the trustees are not privy to the total seed money government is committing to the project.

    “I’m still looking for it, I think that’s the question we need to go and ask–Since the state said it will give us seed money, what percentage is it giving? …No, we were not told, we were just told seed money, and we have relied on the seed money the government will find from time to time. We have not been told the exact amount the seed money is,” she told Umaru Sanda Amadu in an interview on Eyewitness News on Thursday.

    When asked how the board of trustees was operating without the knowledge of government’s commitment, she noted that in such instances, they assume that they are supposed to raise the total budget and consider “the other one [government’s seed money] as a gift. It will be wonderful when the other person [government] brings his gift, otherwise, I’m building [the project without it]”.

    She stated that the Articles of Incorporation make the board of trustees the project owners.

    “Actually the Articles of Incorporation make us the project owners [board of trustees]. It will be a national monument,” she stressed.

    The member of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees stated that they were assigned to raise funds while the government will also support them with other stuff.

    “The project was never meant to be fully financed by the state and when we were called, that is what we were told. The state will do certain things and we the members of the board were to make sure that we raise the money to build the Cathedral. It was never meant to be fully financed by the state,” Rev. Joyce Aryee clarified.

    She stated that the board members were not building blindly because the seed money is not the whole money for the construction of the National Cathedral.

    “We are not building blindly because the seed money is not the entire money for the project,” She underscored.

    The National Cathedral has always been in the news for the wrong reasons with the recent one being a GH¢2.6 million scandal currently being probed by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

    Background of National Cathedral

    The National Cathedral is a promise President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made to God ahead of the 2016 general elections.

    Nana Akufo-Addo said he promised to build a national cathedral for God if he became president and pushed for the project after he was sworn into office in 2017.

    He described the project as a “priority among priorities” but however said it will be funded by the Christian community.

    Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta in 2018 explained that: “The state is facilitating this process by providing the land, the Secretariat, and seed money for the preparatory phase. This National Cathedral partnership framework operationalizes, and indeed is a practical expression of the social partnership envisaged to foster participatory development of the country as our collective goal.”

    Although the initial budget was pegged at $100 million, the amount has over the years ballooned to almost $400 million.

    Gov’t releases GH¢25m seed money

    Government in June 2022 granted the release of GH¢25 million to the National Cathedral Secretariat as additional seed money for the construction of the project.

    A letter, signed by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to the Controller and Accountant’s General, directed that the money be credited to Ribade Limited, for part payment of outstanding claims.

    “Authority is hereby granted to you to release the sum [of] GH¢25, 000,000.00 as additional seed money to the National Cathedral Secretariat for the construction of the National Cathedral for part payment of outstanding claims from RIBADE Limited,” the letter added.

    Government has also released several amounts of money towards the project which is currently at the ground level.

  • Severe Harmattan fertile grounds for fire outbreaks – Bono Regional Minister

    Severe Harmattan fertile grounds for fire outbreaks – Bono Regional Minister

    To lessen the likelihood of fire outbreaks, particularly during this harmattan season, Justina Owusu Banahene, the regional minister for Bono, has urged the public to exercise caution when handling objects that easily catch fire.

    The minister urged people in the region to handle naked fire in cigarettes, firewood, cooking stoves, among other sources with utmost care in order to reduce the incidents of fire outbreaks

    According to Justina Owusu Banahene, there is a need to protect lives and property during the harmattan season.

    The minister who sounded this note of warning during an interactive section with some pressmen in her office in Sunyani stated that this warning became necessary in order to avoid disasters in the region this season.

    According to her, “as our environment becomes dusty and hazy with dryness to everything including trees, wooden items, leaves and furniture, we urge residents to be extremely careful with fire so as to prevent outbreaks because fire is nobody’s friend.

    “Citizens will notice that there has been a change in the weather condition and as a result, the citizens ought to take serious precautionary measures by making sure that they install fire extinguishers in homes and offices,” she reiterated

    She stated that motorists should ensure that they have fire extinguishers in their vehicles, maintain speed limits and observe road signs

    She warned citizens to avoid bush and solid waste burning during this period as this might lead to fire outbreaks.

    She again advised Ghanaians against the storage of petrol and other inflammable materials at homes, offices, shops and markets as their storage could aid in fire outbreaks, especially during this harmattan period when virtually all objects in the environment are dry and combustible.

    Justina Owusu Banahene further urged residents of the region to always switch off electrical appliances in their offices at the close of work and at home when leaving for work or other endeavours as a way of preventing fire disasters which were often rampant during the harmattan period.

    Justina Owusu Banahene further urged drivers to beware of the hazy weather condition which had reduced visibility to less than 10m, stressing that motorists should ensure that all parts of their vehicles are in good condition before embarking on any journey.

    This is a season when objects of various sorts become very dry and so easily combustible with the least contact with fire. The statistics of fire around this time every year is high – a reason we should be careful lest we spark avoidable fires and cause harm and even fatalities.

    The Regional Minister, acknowledge efforts the Ghana National Fire service (GNFS) is making to educate citizens on the place of safety when using LPG and other inflammable stuff, however, sustaining this education would go a long way in creating the needed awareness in handling domestic gas stoves to avoid fires.

    She noted that Taking things for granted should be avoided in our relationships with the environment. We have treaded on this tangent for far too long, the fallouts too glaring to be ignored. The lives which have been lost through such fires and even infernos are many.

    She affirms that Fire outbreaks have caused much anguish in homes because breadwinners have been killed and properties destroyed beyond recovery.

    Mad, Justina Owusu Banahene caked on the Ghana National Fire Service should join hands with the various municipal and district assemblies within the region and even NADMO in educating the people about fires, how they are started and response mechanisms.

    “That is the way to go. Education is very important in matters of safety. Schools at all levels should benefit from education, including, market places. With the rising statistics of LPG use in the country, especially in rural areas, the importance of education cannot be overemphasized,” she concluded

  • Offinso-Techiman Highway accident: Two crushed to death

    Offinso-Techiman Highway accident: Two crushed to death

    According to reports, two people have died after a speeding car collided with a stationary truck on the Offinso-Kodie route in the Ashanti Region.

    The accident occurred Friday dawn when a Yutong bus with registration number AW-621-17 rammed into a DAF cargo truck with registration number AS-1756-X which had broken down along the road at Denase.

    The driver’s mate, and a male passenger according to reports died on the spot. The Yutong bus was travelling from Zebila when the accident occurred.

    Police from Kodie in the Afigya-Kwabre South district rushed to the scene to control traffic.

    The injured victims have been rushed to hospital for medical attention.

  • Fire Service struggles to douse burning car

    Fire Service struggles to douse burning car

    A video which captures some Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) personnel struggling to salvage a burning car is making rounds on social media.

    In the video, which has also been shared by GhOne TV on Twitter, the firefighters are seen frantically trying to get their fire tender to shoot out water towards a car that was nearly fully up in flames, just on the other side of the road.

    One of the personnel of the GNFS is then seen trying to manually start a generator, so as to get the fire tender working.

    All the while, bystanders are heard in the background, expressing how disappointed they are, while others try to explain what led to the car catching fire.

    The GNFS is yet to officially respond to the video, as well as confirm whether this is actually a recent video or not.

  • NPP Primaries: You don’t need anyone tell you that it’s Alan’s time – Sylvester Tetteh

    NPP Primaries: You don’t need anyone tell you that it’s Alan’s time – Sylvester Tetteh

    Sylvester Tetteh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfro, has publicly endorsed Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the former Minister of Trade and Industry, in the NPP flagbearer campaign.

    According to Sylvester Tetteh, he is ready to offer his support to the former minister to ‘break the eight’ for the party.

    Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Original FM, Sylvester Tetteh added that, per the party’s historical facts, Alan Kyerematen is next in line for the presidency on the ticket of the party.

    “No one will inform you that it is now Alan’s turn, if you are a member of the NPP, want to enjoy the party, and are aware of its rules and policies. I am willing to assist Chief Alan in his grassroots efforts to break the eight.”

    Sylvester Tetteh said that Alan Kyerematen has contributed immensely to the development of the country as the trade and industry minister.

    Touching on part of Alan’s achievement, he asserted that a record of over 67 business resource centers have been established around the nation under the leadership of Alan Kyerematen.

    “A record 67 business resource centers have been established around the nation, with 37 of them being staffed and fully functioning, and the remaining 30 having been finished but not yet put into use, thanks to the inspirational leadership of Alan Cash, the outgoing Trade and Industry Minister,” he said.

    The former minister officially declared his intention to run for president in 2024 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on January 10, 2023.

    Addressing the nation on January 10, 2023, days after resigning from the government, Alan Kyerematen thanked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and announced that he would run for the position of flagbearer when the NPP officially opens nominations.

  • Woman arrested for preparing shito with food waste, rotten items

    Woman arrested for preparing shito with food waste, rotten items

    Elizabeth Arthur, 58, has been detained by the authorities in Koforidua for preparing shito with rotten ingredients.

    The woman, popularly-known as Naana, who trades in the business of selling shito in the city, was found out by some millers where she frequents to have her ingredients grinded.

    This, according to a UTV reporter, Michael Akrofi, had been going on for a while until one of the millers decided to give a tip-off to the police to follow up on it.

    The reporter explained that some of the items Naana uses for her shito are the peels of onions that are disposed off at ‘chop bars’.

    “A miller was the first to notice this activity by the woman called Elizabeth Arthur, who is popularly known as Naana in Koforidua. She is 58 years. The millers realised that anytime she brings things to be milled, they were all rotten and unwanted things.

    “The millers also know the work the woman does; she sells shito, so they were convinced that what she comes to grind is for the shito. To confirm this, the millers started observing her and truly confirmed that she was using those things to prepare her shito.

    “Some of the things she sends to them are the wasted parts of onions. She does that by going there to sweep the waste with the pretext that she is going to dispose of them. When she returns home, she doesn’t even sort out the waste. She only adds some pepper to what she has, plus some ginger peels she also picks from the chop bars and then she goes to have them milled. When she is done, she prepares the shito and goes to sit by kenkey sellers to sell it.

    “One of the millers eventually reported the suspicion to the police and thankfully, the police followed up on it and found her right in the act. She has since been sent to the Central Police Station,” he narrated.

    The UTV reporter further explained that the middle-aged woman has since been granted bail but the police have also called on the Food and Drugs Authority, as well as well as the Standards Authority and environmental health experts to come in to help them ensure that the woman is prosecuted.

    He added that the woman has been in the trade of selling shito for a very long time, supplying her product to a lot of kenkey sellers in Koforidua.

    “The woman has grandchildren who she sends around to sell the shito for her,” he added.

  • Victims of Appiate explosion to be remembered a year on

    Victims of Appiate explosion to be remembered a year on

    Today, Friday, January 20, 2023, the Appiate Disaster Relief Committee will host a number of events to commemorate the victims of the mining explosion and honor the one-year milestone since it occurred.

    Public Relations Officer of the Appiate Disaster Relief Committee, Thywill Quarshie, says a one-minute silence and prayers will be observed at midday today at the site of the Appiate Explosive Disaster.

    Speaking to Citi News on the line-up of activities in memory of the 16 souls lost and surviving victims of the disaster, Thywill Quarshie, said the remembrance activities will begin with memorial prayers and a wreath-laying ceremony.

    “At 9am today, we will move to the explosion scene where we will have experts in the mining industry, police, fire service, NADMO for lectures on safety”, he added.

    The explosion occurred on January 20, 2022, after a truck carrying explosives owned by Maxam Limited got involved in an accident resulting in the explosion.

    The Appiate disaster was one that destroyed a whole community. 14 persons lost their lives while hundreds sustained varying degrees of injury.

    A committee was inaugurated to probe the disaster. It has subsequently presented its report to the government.

    The government has fined Maxam company, which was responsible for transporting the explosives through its subcontractors $6 million.

    The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, directed that $5 million of the amount be used in the rebuilding of the community.

    The National Disaster Management Organisation with support from well-meaning Ghanaians, companies and organisations, has been taking care of the people by providing them with relief items and a temporary shelter.

    Victims have over time been appealing for more relief items to cater for their needs.

    Currently, the rebuilding of the community is ongoing.

    The Appiate Support Fund, which was set up to mobilise adequate funds to rebuild the community destroyed by the fatal explosion, has received millions in donations so far.

  • Policeman in connection with CFA190,000 scandal missing – Dampare

    Policeman in connection with CFA190,000 scandal missing – Dampare

    The police officer at the center of a CFA190,000 controversy, according to Inspector General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, cannot be located.

    The issue of the missing monies came to light in a 2020 report by the Auditor-General. The Auditor-General ordered that the monies be recovered.

    The report stated that “the Divisional CID, Tarkwa, disclosed that cash exhibits of US$8,100.00 and CFA 40,000.00 retrieved from suspects in 2016 in the case of The Republic versus Nana Akakpo and three others were not available for our audit verification.”

    The audit report also recommended that “the Divisional CID in charge to immediately produce the exhibit for our inspection, failing which the total sum should be recovered from him and disciplinary action also taken against him.”

    Dr Akuffo Dampare who took his turn at the sittings of the Public Account Committee on Thursday, January 19, 2022 disclosed that the investigations by the police led to the discovery that the initial amount was underdeclared by CFA150,000. In essence the total amount of money was CFA190,000.

    He said the police however managed to retrieve the money and sent it to Ivory Coast for verification of the authenticity of the notes. He said “the checks were done and the results with accompanying appendix indicate that they were all fake.

    “When they were done, they were sent back to the CID office in Tarkwa. But honourable chair, there has been confusion as to who received it and the whereabouts of the money. Unfortunately, one of the three officers who were involved resigned from the Service and we’re making efforts to look for him to be held accountable.”

    He revealed two of the three officers involved have however been interdicted and are subject of investigations by the Police Professional Standard Bureau.

    Dr Dampare also disclosed that the US$8,100.00 which was part of the seized notes and sent to the United States of America for authentication is also missing.

    He said that all efforts to retrieve the money which was sent through the US Embassy in Ghana have proven futile.

  • Reverend Eastwood Anaba willingly pays his tax, including gift tax – Dr Adongo reveals

    Reverend Eastwood Anaba willingly pays his tax, including gift tax – Dr Adongo reveals

    Reverend Joseph Eastwood Anaba, Founder and President of the Eastwood Anaba Ministries has been eulogized for his integrity and adherence to laws of the state.

    Though the revered preacher has over the years been recognized and appreciated for his positive impact on the development of the Upper East Region and social impact on the lives of thousands of people in the region, some more good discoveries are emerging about him.

    Rev. Eastwood Anaba is said to be conscious of his duties to the state and in a fashion many have deemed unusual, declares gifts he receives to and pays gift tax to the Ghana Revenue Authority.

    This was disclosed by Development Economist and Senior Lecturer at the University for Development Studies Dr. Michael Ayamga Adongo.

    “I know a man who walks to the GRA, declares the gifts he has received and pays the taxes required. I mean he pays gift tax. That is the man Rev. Eastwood Anaba,” Dr Adongo wrote in a social media post.

    Rev. Joseph Eastwood Anaba was born on the 10 May 1961 to a Ghanaian mother and Ghanaian father in Bolgatanga, Ghana.

    He had his secondary education at Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School before proceeding to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Ghana, where he was trained as a pharmacist. Pastor Eastwood left the pharmacy profession to go into full time ministry of the Lord in 1988.

    He met his wife Rosemond who was at the time a biological science student at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. After a period of courtship, they married in 1988 and have been married for more than 26 years with four children.

  • Nothing can stop Bawumia from becoming NPP flagbearer – NDC’s Fuseini Donkor

    Nothing can stop Bawumia from becoming NPP flagbearer – NDC’s Fuseini Donkor

    Former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sekyere Afram Plains and a staunch member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Fuseini Donkor has envisaged that nothing can stop Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia from becoming the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)

    He disclosed that over the period, Dr Bawumia has become popular at the grassroots level in the party and that is easy to be manifested during the polls.

    According to him, current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is aware the party does not like it when a sitting president imposes a presidential candidate on them the reason, he is very tactical in openly supporting his popular Vice President.

    According to him, Former President Kufuor tried to impose John Alan Kyeremanten on the party in 2008 but failed because the party members did buy into that idea.

    Speaking on Nhyira Fm monitored by MyNewsGh.com in Kumasi, Fuseini Donkor revealed that, “Kufuor felt Ghana would be safe in the hands of Alan than Nana Addo but the party also said they knew him (Akufo-Addo) long ago so the party defied President Kufuor”.

    He further explained that, because the NPP party does not want Presidents to choose a leader for them, “that is why they (Akufo-Addo and co) were smart enough to lay the foundation on the grounds for Bawumia. So on the grounds, they’ve already built everything for Bawumia”

  • I won’t leave bank till I get my bond returns – Sick 77-year-old retiree vows

    I won’t leave bank till I get my bond returns – Sick 77-year-old retiree vows

    A sick 77-year-old retiree, Peter Kojo Nyasepe, has vowed to stay at his bank’s premises until he receives his interest on his bonds at the end of the month.

    Peter, who is a bondholder says he buys medications to survive from the returns on his bonds and therefore the returns cannot be withheld.

    I won't leave bank till I get my bond returns - Sick 77-year-old retiree vows

    Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoyNews’ Joojo Cobbinah, the aggrieved septuagenarian said he opted for government bonds due to his painful ordeal with a ponzi scheme in the past.

    But according to him, he is now living in anxiety due to the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange programme which will deny him the returns for this year.

    “I gave the money to the Ghana Commercial Bank so they’ll give me the money before I come. I’m going to stay there.

    “If they say the money is not there, I’m going to stay there. I’m going to stay there until they carry me wherever they want to carry me because I cannot walk myself so they’ll carry me.

    “Wherever they want to carry me they have to carry me and go. That’s the only thing I can do. I cannot fight them also”, the distraught retiree said.

    Mr Nyasepe’s sentiments come on the back of government’s proposed debt exchange programme.

    I won't leave bank till I get my bond returns - Sick 77-year-old retiree vows

    In a bid to rescue the economy and secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), government has proposed that all bondholders will not receive any interest on their bonds for the 2023 financial year.

    The payment of dividends, according to government is likely to begin next year, 2024 at a discounted rate of 5%.

    In relation to this, bondholders who may want to transfer their bonds will not be able to get the full principal they initially invested as bonds.

    I won't leave bank till I get my bond returns - Sick 77-year-old retiree vows

    This proposal, since its announcement, has been rejected by many bondholders who have expressed frustration about the development.

    In their view, if the proposal is implemented, they will suffer a great deal of loss, with many of them stating that their investments may even become unprofitable.

    Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, who is an avowed critic of the policy has described the programme as a ‘weapon of mass destruction’.

    Speaking on Joy FM’s midday bulletin on Wednesday, the maverick lawyer reiterated his resistance.

    According to him, he and other concerned citizens will continue to mount pressure on government to suspend the programme which they say will worsen the lives of individual bondholders.

    “We’re still standing by the ‘no-no-no-no’. So we’re asking government to respectfully exempt individual bondholders from this exchange.

    “As I’ve stated over and over, the programme, that’s the domestic debt exchange programme is proven to a weapon of mass destruction”, he stated.

    Mr Kpebu continued, “It [debt exchange programme] is going to kill more citizens, it’s going to destroy more businesses. It’s going to destroy more schools and livelihoods and so on and so forth”.

    Following the public agitations, government is currently in talks with individual bondholders to reach an amicable agreement.

    The government, however, insists that despite the agitations, it will not back on the programme since its a vital steps in helping salvage the ailing economy.

    According to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, his outfit may modify some of the terms instead of an outright suspension which has been advocated by a section of the general public as well as the Minority in Parliament.

    Addressing a press conference on Monday, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, said the programme as currently structured will worsen the plight of Ghanaians, hence the need for the President to put it on hold and consult some more.

    “We in the NDC, the Minority group call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to immediately suspend the ongoing debt exchange programme. It is already failing”, he stressed.

  • SIM re-registration has helped in dealing with cybercrime – IGP

    SIM re-registration has helped in dealing with cybercrime – IGP

    The government’s SIM re-registration initiative, according to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare, has aided in efforts to combat cybercrime in the nation.

    The IGP said the blocking of the unregistered SIMs has helped in defining the space to identify such fraudsters for their subsequent arrest.

    Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee hearings, the IGP assured of efforts to deal with scammers within the cyberspace.

    “The challenge used to be the case where we had people walking to any service provider and getting a SIM card registered. With the registration of the numbers and the blocking of all the numbers which are unregistered, there is a difficulty for these people [scammers] to continue with their operations. So the registration has helped us in defining the space to get these people arrested.”

    The government said the re-registration of SIM cards is to aid in the monitoring and tracking of persons who use mobile phones for criminal activities. 

    The move is also to check the increasing rate of cybercrime activities in the country. 

  • Price of premix fuel increased from GH¢10 to GH¢25 per gallon

    Price of premix fuel increased from GH¢10 to GH¢25 per gallon

    Premix fuel is likely to be sold at GH25 per gallon on all of the country’s landing beaches after the initial GH10 price was raised by GH15.

    The increase according to the government has been necessitated by the increases in the price of crude on the international market.

    Nana Abrokwa Asare who is the administrator of the National Premix Secretariat said the government can simply no longer continue to bear the huge subsidies it gives to fishermen and other users of the product across the country.

    Speaking in an interview with Citi News, Mr. Asare said the decision to increase the price was reached after consultations with the leadership of the fisherfolk and the NPA in collaboration with the Energy Ministry.

    “Premix fuel as we know is highly subsidized by the government and the subsidy is as huge as 85 percent, so the government in recent times also experienced the challenges of having to catch up with the ever-rising cost of fuel on the international market, so we engaged the leadership of the fisherfolk to discuss the modalities that can help us improve the supply of premix fuel and one of the things that came up strongly were we considering a marginal increase in the price of premix fuel.”

    Mr. Asare argued that the current increase will bring respite to the government and also improve the delivery of the product.

    “It reduces the burden on the government. For the record, a gallon was being sold for GH¢10 when a gallon should have been sold for GH¢80 and so the government was incurring a debt of GH¢70 per gallon. And so, after sitting down and deliberating with the fisherfolks, we agreed that a gallon of premix should be sold for about GH¢30 but putting everything together in consultation with NPA and the Ministry of Energy, we came to a consensus that a gallon must be sold for GH¢25.”

  • PURC replies IES; says utility tariff increment is justified

    PURC replies IES; says utility tariff increment is justified

    The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has justified the recent increment in utility prices.

    This comes after the Institute of Energy Security (IES), described as baseless factors accounting for the recent notice by the Public Utility Regulatory Commission for an increase in utility tariffs.   

    There is an impending increase in electricity and water tariffs by 30 and 8.3 percent respectively, effective February 1.

    The Commission, while citing inflation as a factor, indicated that the cost of the electricity generation mix has also seen an increase taking into account the depreciation of the cedi. 

    Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Ishmael Ackah noted that IES’ assumptions are miscalculated. 

    “In Ghana, about 60 percent of our generation comes from thermal and about 40 percent from hydro. But with the hydro, we have the legacy hydro, Akosombo, Kpong and Bui. Where we come in is the legacy. Now, there is also a law that established the electricity market oversight panel. So not all the hydro comes to what we call the regulated market.”

    “They [IES] say, the hydro will be 38 percent and out of this, we want to give five percent to Ghana water. Then VRA also has other commitments to export. Out of the export, we are also giving five percent. Then we also have the deregulated market. When we take all these components out, all that I have mentioned contributed about 33 percent.”

    “So the component of the 38 percent that came to the regulated market, the 67 percent that we used, that is what we shared between ECG, NEDCo and Enclave Power and when you do the calculations, you get the 26 percent. So maybe, they didn’t take notice of this”, he explained on Eyewitness News.

    What did IES say? 

    The IES asked PURC to reconsider the energy mix assumption used in the tariff adjustment.

    It anticipated a marginal increase in tariff if more hydroelectric power is produced from the generation mix.

    “The IES however considers the assumption used by the PURC on the electricity generation mix of 26.11% hydro and 73.89% thermal as baseless. That assumption amounts to giving priority to thermal power generation over hydro, given that water elevation for Bui and Akosombo generating stations (GS) have improved waterhead levels, and capable of producing over 35% of power in 2023, in IES’ estimation,” IES said in a statement.

    “IES therefore calls on the PURC to reconsider the energy mix assumption used in the tariff adjustment (to reflect improved water-head levels) as that has an impact on the Weighted Average Cost of Gas, which has been reviewed to $6.0952/MMBtu from $5.9060MMBtu. This, the IES believe will bring some relief to already burdened citizens, and in the face of the current economic crisis.”

  • WAEC to release 2022 BECE results on January 25

    WAEC to release 2022 BECE results on January 25

    The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has announced that the results of the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be released on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

    The council in a press statement dated January 19, 2023, said that investigations are ongoing into examination irregularity cases detected during and after the conduct of the examination.

    “Having successfully conducted the examination at 2,023 centres and completed coordination and marking exercises, the council is far advanced with post-examination activities.

    “Investigations are ongoing into examination irregularity cases detected during and after the conduct of the examination. For a quick resolution of malpractice cases, the council appeals to affected school authorities and candidates to respond with dispatch to its invitation. Candidates are informed that their refusal to honour such invitation shall not impede the council from making a final determination on the cases in question…

    “The target date for the release of results for the BECE for both school and private candidates, 2022 is Wednesday, 25th January 2023,” part of the statement read.

    The statement added that parents and candidates should remain calm as the council works towards the release of the results.

    Read the full statement below;

  • Everything you need to know about the upcoming NDC elections

    Everything you need to know about the upcoming NDC elections

    The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is actively gearing up for a busy 2023 ahead of crucial 2024 General Elections as they look to wrestle power from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    It will be the first major test for the newly-elected batch of executives led by National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who until December 2022 had served for 17 years as the party’s General Secretary.

    Asiedu Nketiah, along with his successor Fifi Fiavi Kwetey and members of the National Executive body are gunning for early victory by way of leading the NDC into the Jubilee House after eight years in opposition.

    The party on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 released detailed guidelines on how its presidential and parliamentary primaries will be conducted later this year.

    GhanaWeb looks at the major highlights contained in both processes.

    Major modalities for the presidential primary

    Date and venues:

    The election of the Presidential Candidate shall be held on Saturday, 13th May, 2023 at Voting Centers in all 276 Constituencies of the NDC which includes the SALL/Guan catchment area.

    The National Headquarters of the NDC shall constitute an additional voting center for all delegates from external branches of the party.

    Nomination process and completing forms:

    Nominations shall be opened between 22nd and 24th March, 2023

    A candidate must be proposed by a party member in good standing and endorsed by five others in each constituency in each region across the country.

    Candidates shall be subjected to a vetting process which is expected to take place at the party Headquarters on a specified date.

    Cost of forms and submission:

    Nomination forms shall be made available in the office of the General Secretary for purchase at a non-refundable fee of Thirty thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢30,000.00) paid by bankers’ draft.

    The completed forms (Nomination and endorsement forms) are to be returned to the General Secretary of the Party with evidence of the payment of a non-refundable filing fee of Five hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢500,000.00) via bankers’ draft.

    Female candidates and Persons with Disabilities shall pay fifty percent (50%) of the filing fees

    Election Day:

    The presidential primary will take place concurrently with the parliamentary primary with the party’s national headquarters serving as the collation center.

    A candidate will require 50% plus one to win a first-round victory.

    Major modalities for the parliamentary primary

    Date and place:

    It shall be held on same day as the presidential primary (May 13, 2023). The election shall be held at a venue within the Constituency as determined by the Constituency Executive Committee in consultation with the Regional Executive Committee (REC) of the respective region.

    Nomination forms

    Forms shall be made available online for download on www.ghanandc.com and a non-refundable fee of Five thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢5,000.00) paid online via the stipulated momo or bank card.

    The completed forms (nomination and endorsement) shall be completed and submiited to the Elections Directorate of the constituency after the payment of a non-refundable filing fee of Forty thousand Ghana cedis (Gh¢40,000.00) via Bank Card on www.ghanandc.com.

    Completing forms:

    Each contestant must be proposed by one person and seconded by three (3) persons all of whom must be members of good standing of the party in different branches of the constituency.

    Each prospective candidate shall be endorsed by at least one branch executive member of the party from 50 percent of the total branches in the constituency.

    Day of voting:

    All rules as applies in national elections shall be applicable along with any other rules as communicated by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    Candidates can appoint agents to monitor the process. Ballots shall be counted and collated immediately after the process and winner shall be declared on the basis of first past the post – aspirant with highest number of votes.

    Key timelines for the process:

    OPENING OF NOMINATIONS MONDAY 22ND – 24TH FEBRUARY, 2023

    SUBMISSION OF FORMS/ FILING OF NOMINATION MONDAY 20TH – 22ND MARCH 2023

    VETTING MONDAY 27th – 29th MARCH, 2023

    APPEAL 30TH MARCH – 6TH APRIL, 2023

    ELECTIONS SATURDAY, 13TH MAY, 202

  • Savannah RCC PRO recalled over Buipe disturbances

    Savannah RCC PRO recalled over Buipe disturbances

    The Public Relations Officer of the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), Habibu Muftawu has been recalled by the Information Services Department.

    Citi News sources at the Regional Coordinating Council say the recall is with immediate effect.

    Though the reason for the recall is not stated, it is believed it was a result of his alleged involvement in the disturbances at the Damongo police station on Monday that led to the shooting of one person.

    Mr. Muftawu who also doubles as the PRO of the Gonja Land Youth association was seen at the police station when some youth besieged the station to demand the release of eight persons arrested in connection with some disturbances in Buipe.

    The Gonja Land Youth Association has been at loggerheads with the Gonja traditional council over some issues for some time.

  • National Cathedral Board of Trustees respond to Heward-Mills’ ‘leaked’ resignation letter

    National Cathedral Board of Trustees respond to Heward-Mills’ ‘leaked’ resignation letter

    The Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral has responded to contents of the resignation letter of one of its members, portions of which have been published in the media this week.

    The August 2022 resignation letter of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills found its way into the media with some of the reasons he gave for leaving generating lots of commentary around the project which has recently been at the center of some controversies.

    Heward-Mills resigns as a trustee

    Heward-Mills’ August 2022 resignation letter as a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral contained a number of reasons why he was opting out.

    Chief amongst them are issues of corporate governance breaches, government unilaterally acting on major decisions without recourse to the trustees and public uproar over accountability in respect of the use of public funds for the project.

    Chairman of Board of Trustees responds

    In an official release signed by the Chairman of the board, Apostle Prof Opoku Onyinah, the Board said some of the issues Heward-Mills raised in his letter had been addressed in the October 15 reply to his resignation as well as a visit to his office.

    In clarifying a number of issues, the release emphasized that the Cathedral project was a partnership between the state and the church and that each party knew their exact roles from the outset.

    “The National Cathedral is a partnership between the State and Church, and the roles of the state have been clearly specified in the partnership: appointment of the Architect, the Land, the Secretariat and Seed Money for the preparatory phase of the work,” the release read.

    The architect for the project was selected by the president even before the trustees were appointed and that the contractors were also selected through a transparent international procurement process which the Board of Trustees approved.

    Concluding remarks on work of trustees

    In its conclusion, it addressed how the Board of Trustees worked and related despite coming from different churches.

    “One of the key strengths of the National Cathedral Project is the Board of Trustees, made up of some of the key, pioneering leaders of the church in Ghana, and whose work on the project is contributing to improved inter-church relations in the country. These church leaders, the Board of Trustees, have pioneered and/or lead vibrant churches with global reach and impact.

    “These churches and their leaders not only have deep-seated theological differences, but also different understandings and approaches to the development of the National Cathedral. The challenge of such a group is that individual leaders, with a history of implementing their own organizational /denominational programs and vision, have to be part of a collective decision-making process where their preferences might not always prevail. Specifically, this means that no one leader can have all their preferences, methods, and approaches accepted. In this changed and unfamiliar context, some would prefer to leave the Trusteeship.

    “This notwithstanding, we are grateful that all the Trustees — including Bishop Dag Heward-Mills who voluntarily left the Trusteeship — still remain committed to the vision of the National Cathedral and want to see it completed to God’s glory,” the statement concluded.

  • Govt seeking to control oil value chain with gold-for-oil policy – Ben Boakye

    Govt seeking to control oil value chain with gold-for-oil policy – Ben Boakye

    The Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Benjamin Boakye believes government’s proposed gold-for-oil policy is nothing but a recipe to take total control of the petroleum value chain.

    He said the arguments advanced in favour of the policy are distorted and shredded in parochial interests.

    Mr. Boakye argued that it isn’t true that forex shortage is largely to blame for the nation’s energy shortfalls.

    “That assumption that gold proceeds don’t come to Ghana and therefore the government doesn’t have control over the revenues from the export of gold is flawed. The government understands this industry more than some of us because there is no way a gold business can operate without the proceeds coming into the country. If you check the Chamber of Mines report and the reports of the mining companies, the monies needed to keep the mines running and to be able to pay their taxes to the government is about 75 percent of the total export of the gold.”

    Speaking on the Point of View on Citi TV, the energy analyst said the government’s insinuations that forex shortage is a worrying trend affecting the country’s energy needs is outlandish and preposterous.

    “Gold has a dollar value and if you track the gold and the dollar in the last decade, you will realize that there is no currency in the world that has been stronger than the dollar. So the government is just trying to control the value chain and there is nothing more than what they are trying to do.

    “Those who are doing the gold export and purchases, ask them, most of them rely on their partners in foreign countries who bring in the dollar for them to finance their operations to be able to buy the gold and export to them.”

  • Local rice firm yet to pay GH¢127k debt to Agric Ministry 10 years on

    Local rice firm yet to pay GH¢127k debt to Agric Ministry 10 years on

    The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has revealed that a rice processing firm in the Central Region, Tedman Company Limited is indebted to the Ministry to the tune of GH¢127,177.

    The company was offered a rice mill to boost its local rice production activities in 2012 but has since not made payment to the Crop Services Department of the Ministry.

    No tangible efforts have been made by the company after a decade of its indebtedness to the state.

    During its hearings, the Public Accounts Committee announced plans to invite the firm over the matter.

    Audited documents revealed that the recommendations of the auditors were that the company be made to pay the amount at the Bank of Ghana’s prevailing interest rate, but no commitments have been made since 2012.

    The Agric Ministry’s representative indicated that efforts made to retrieve the amount have not been fruitful and has resolved to refer the matter to the Attorney General for advice.

    “We have still not been able to recover the remaining amount and there have been a series of letters to the company and our next line of action is to refer the matter to the Attorney General for advice on the matter.

    “The company has only paid GH¢4,000, and we are saying that after all these series of communication, they have still not paid and being a transaction that is of commercial nature, it is the Attorney General that will be in the best place to advise us.”

  • I won’t put a specific date on when the Tema Motorway will be reconstructed – Road minister

    I won’t put a specific date on when the Tema Motorway will be reconstructed – Road minister

    The Minister for Road and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Atta has said that despite the fact the Tema-Motorway, has gone beyond its designed life, the government cannot put a specific date to when work will begin.

    According to him, progress has been made with procedures leading to the start of work and that work will soon commence.

    The Minister for Roads and Transport made this known when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee to consider the 2020 Auditor General report and was questioned on when the Tema Motorway will be reconstructed.

    “…the Tema Motorway has gone beyond its designed life, you know that the motorway was constructed in the mid-60s and it was supposed to have a design life of 50 years, so they are planning to reconstruct the motorway.

    “…As much as the government plans to reconstruct that road, there are a few challenges and I believe very soon we shall go over those challenges and start work. But I wouldn’t put any specific date on it but we’ve gone very far and it may not be long at all from now, work on the motorway will start and comes under the project name of the reconstruction of Motorway,” Kwasi Amoako Atta said.

    The finance minister in November revealed government is seeking to secure funds from Ghana Infrastructure Investment (GIIF) for a 27.7 km of the Accra-Tema Motorway and extension project.

    According to him, the project, when approved, will provide the Tema-Motorway with five lanes on each side of the stretch.

    Speaking in parliament, he indicated that aside the Tema-Motorway lanes, the government will remodel the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and there will be a reconstruction of the Apenkwa interchange and a new interchange at the Fiesta Royale crossroads and Neoplan area.

  • Nana Agradaa’s lawyer charged for assaulting police

    Nana Agradaa’s lawyer charged for assaulting police

    Theophilus Donkor, lawyer for the self-styled evangelist Patricia Asideua, also known as Nana Agradaa has been detained and accused of attacking some police officers.

    Citi News gathers that on January 16, 2023, Nana Agradaa was rearrested on the premises of the Accra Circuit Court for a yet-to-be-known crime.

    The lawyer, Theophilus Donkor resisted the arrest of his client and in the process used abusive words against the police officers and obstructed them.

    He has been charged with counts of abuse of public officer, contrary to Section 205 (c) of the Criminal Offences Act and Offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace contrary to section 207 of the criminal Offences Act.

    His plea is yet to be taken.

    The lawyer is said to have filed an injunction against the police officers that they do not have any jurisdiction to effect the arrest and charge him accordingly.

    He makes the point that he was invited by the Cantonments police which is outside the jurisdiction of where the incident occurred alleging that this arrest is an attempt by the police to tarnish his popularity and tamper with his current handling of cases involving Nana Agradaa over charlatanic advertisements.

  • Suspend debt restructuring, engage stakeholders – Christian Council to government

    Suspend debt restructuring, engage stakeholders – Christian Council to government

    The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has asked the government to suspend its Domestic Debt Exchange programme (DDE) and pursue wider engagement with stakeholders.

    The CCG in a January 19, 2023 statement signed by Rt. Rev. Prof. J.O.Y Mante said it had arrived at that position after keenly following public debates and talking to some affected parties.

    Their call for engagement, the statement noted, was because they had “identified lapses in the debt restructuring programme, a major one being lack of consultation with affected individuals and institutions.”

    The statement continued: “With the current economic hardships in the country and the agitations among the general public, it is in the nation’s interest for the Finance Ministry to suspend the 31st January deadline given to individuals to sign on to the program and rather propose a road map for dialogue to make the process participatory such that the outcome would be acceptable to all.”

    The government has failed to secure a debt restructuring deal with domestic lenders, postponing a deadline for the DDE thrice, the latest deadline being January 31, 2023.

    The DDE is seen as a crucial requirement to secure a programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following a torrid 2022 in which the economy suffered from rising inflation, massive depreciation of the Ghana cedi and the rising cost of living.

    The government has repeatedly blamed the crisis partly on the aftershocks of the COVID pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war but has promised to turn around the economic fortunes of the country after sealing a Staff-Level Agreement with the IMF late last year, with hopes that funds from the US$3 billion facility will be released early this year.

    The government is hamstrung by hurdles as it attempts to secure a debt restructuring programme at home. Processes are underway to restructure external debts too, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta disclosed to Accra-based Joy FM on January 18.

    Organized labour successfully fought off plans to include pensions in the DDE; now individual bondholders are also rejecting plans to include them with talks ongoing on a mutually acceptable way forward.

    Find the full statement below:

  • La General Hospital: We had good intentions to pull down structure – MCE

    La General Hospital: We had good intentions to pull down structure – MCE

    The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for La-Dadekotopn Municipal Assembly (LaDMA), Solomon Quartey, has appealed to the chiefs and people of La in the Greater Accra Region to be measured in their demands for the reconstruction of the collapsed La General Hospital.

    He called on the people to exercise some patience as the government takes steps to have the hospital reconstructed to serve them better.

    He explained that the government demolished the hospital with good intentions; to redevelop the hospital into a better facility that would better serve the people of the area in no time.

    He added that the decision to demolish the hospital was because the hospital had over the years failed the structural integrity test.

    “We had good intentions for demolishing the dangerous five-storey La General Hospital structure,” the MCE said.

    He called for calm while trying to address the issues that have accounted for the delays in reconstructing the collapsed hospital while speaking in an interview on the Ghana Yensom morning show hosted by Odehyeeba Kofi Essuman on Accra 100.5 FM on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

    He quickly added that had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic that hit China, the donor partner funding of the La General Hospital redevelopment project, the project would have been completed by now.

    He said the donor partner had to pull out of the project because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    He assured the people of La that work will begin on the project by the end of the first quarter of the year as the Ministry of Health has indicated that it has been able to secure some funding for the completion of the project.

    According to him, members of the La Youth Association have been duly informed about the decision for work to begin in the first quarter of this year.

    In July 2020, the La General Hospital facility was demolished after the hospital’s administration in 2015 reported severe structural problems.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on August 10, 2020, cut the sod for the commencement of construction of the La General Hospital Redevelopment Project.

    The delay in constructing the project has outraged residents, the Member of Parliament for La-Dadekotpon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, and the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

  • I will be like Donald Trump – Ken Agyapong to build a long wall along the Odaw river

    I will be like Donald Trump – Ken Agyapong to build a long wall along the Odaw river

    Member of Parliament for the Assin Central,Kennedy Agyapong, has disclosed plans to increase tourism in the nation if he wins the presidency in 2024.

    He outlined his tourism plans in an interview with cross section of journalists during his recent tour of the Central Region where his constituency is located.

    Talking about potential of tourism

    The Ken City Media owner addressed how he will tackle the perennial issue of dealing with the pollution of the Odaw river located in Accra.

    The river canal which connects to the sea has become a major headache when it rains heavily, triggering flooding in the center of the city.

    Agyapong lamented that whiles other places in the world benefit from the sea, Ghana is yet to fully tap into that area. He cited Dubai, South Africa’s Cape Town, Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, Bahamas, Antigua, Trinidad and Tobago, as places making money from the sea.

    Dealing with the Odaw River the Trump way

    On the matter of the Odaw, he said: “Look at the Odaw River, the amount of dirt seeping into the sea, I will be like Donald Trump, I will build a long wall on both sides, so that nobody from his home will throw refuse into the Odaw which will end up in the sea.

    “We will prevent it and clean the whole Odaw River and put boats on it, so that people will ride from Circle all the way to the sea, Jamestown,” he stressed.

    He also spoke about plans for other tourist sites like Cape Coast and Elmina Castles.

    Exit Parliament, presidential plans

    Agyapong has through his campaign for the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stressed that tourism and mechanized agriculture are the two main levers he will leverage to transform the economy.

    He has been MP for Assin Central for over 20 years and has stated that he will not be seeking reelection.

    His presidential ambition is barely a year old but his candidature is deemed to be one of the most popular along with that of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen.

  • National Cathedral will cost over a billion dollars – Ablakwa projects

    National Cathedral will cost over a billion dollars – Ablakwa projects

    The National Cathedral project is estimated to cost at least a billion dollars when completed, according to North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    Ablakwa has since last year waged a dogged campaign for accountability on the construction of the facility which is currently officially estimated to cost US$350 million.

    He is concerned particularly by the amount of public funds dedicated to the project despite earlier government communication that it will be funded by the Christian community.

    “My analysis is that this project is more than a billion dollars, it is more than a billion dollars by the time we are done paying for the recklessness of president Akufo-Addo,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Radio Gold (January 18).

    Meanwhile, Ablakwa has praised Bishop Dag Heward-Mills for his candour in addressing issues related to the project in his leaked resignation letter of August 2022 as a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral.

    The lawmaker added that even if there was a national consensus on the need to build the facility, “will the wisest thing to do be not to look for a greenfield, an unencumbered land?” he asked lamenting how public and private structures were demolished to make way for the project.

  • Kejetia market traders shut shops over GH₵5m ECG debt

    Kejetia market traders shut shops over GH₵5m ECG debt

    Some traders within the Kejetia market in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region have begun closing down their shops over what they describe as exorbitant electricity bills.

    The traders have on several occasions clashed with the management of the Kejetia market over the decision to use one bulk meter for the over seven thousand (7000) shops in the market.

    Traders over the years complained that they pay exorbitant electricity bills due to the failure of the management of the facility to provide separate meters for shops within the market.

    It appears the situation is not likely to be resolved anytime soon as the leadership of the traders has blamed the management of the facility for the closure of their shops.

    President of the Federation of Kumasi traders, Nana Akwasi Prempeh, said some traders have been forced to close down their shops since they are not able to pay the huge electricity bills.

    Nana Akwasi Prempeh also blamed the management of the facility for the delay in providing individual meters to shops.

    Meanwhile, the management of ECG has revealed that the facility owes over five million Ghana cedis in arrears.

    ECG is thus insisting that the failure of the facility to pay its arrears is what has caused the delay in providing the individual meters.

  • Godfred Dame lists the achievements of the Akufo-Addo government under his ministry

    Godfred Dame lists the achievements of the Akufo-Addo government under his ministry

    The Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Dame, had said that the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has brought unparalleled improvement to the justice delivery system of Ghana.

    According to him, not only has the government brought a much-needed improvement in the human capacity of his ministry and its agencies, but it has also equipped them with the tools to ensure effective justice delivery.

    The minister, who made these remarks in a Good Evening Ghana interview monitored by GhanaWeb, went on to list some of the New Patriotic Party government’s achievements in his ministry.

    Human Capacity:

    Godfred said that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government has boosted the human resource capacity of his ministry by recruiting about 200 attorneys since 2017.

    “Last year, 70 attorneys were recruited, the year before 2021, another 70 were recruited. During Madame Gloria Akuffo’s time, another 60 or 70 were recruited… and this year I have applied for financial clearance to recruit about 50 or 60 more,” he said.

    He added that the government has also been offering regular training to state attorneys both locally and internationally, with about 5 of them currently undergoing training abroad.

    Infrastructure:

    The attorney general also said the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government will soon complete the Law House, which has been under construction since 2003.

    He stated that the Law House would be completed within a year and used as office space for the minister and its agencies.

    “When I came, I ensured that there was an earnest construction of the project, and I am sure that in about six months or so the Law House will be done… from a state where it was 35 percent complete when I assumed office,” he said.

    Equipment:

    In the area of tools and equipment, he said that some of his agencies did not even have vehicles to run their operations, but between 2017 and 2023, the government procured a lot of vehicles for these agencies.

    “My predecessor Madame Gloria Akuffo, believed there were 27 vehicles. Last year, in 2022, on account of the support of the minister of finance and the president’s decision at cabinet, I delivered 91 vehicles.

    “The Law Reform Commission had only one vehicle, which was way back in 1997; Legal Aid had only about three or four vehicles… I doubled the stock of vehicles available to each agency and each regional office,” he said.

  • NPA sanctions four OMCs for illicit third-party trading

    NPA sanctions four OMCs for illicit third-party trading

    The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has sanctioned four Oil Marketing Companies (0MCs) for engaging in illicit third-party trading of petroleum products.

    The affected oil marketing companies are Finest Oil, Petro XP, Glasark Oil, and Lilygold Resources Ltd.

    A statement by the NPA said “Finest Oil will pay a fine of GHS160, 000.00 comprising of GHS10, 000.00 for engaging in Third Party Supplies for the first time and GHS150,000.00 for the unlawful lifting of petroleum products. Failure to comply will attract an additional one (1) month’s suspension of its operations.

    “That Petro XP will also pay a fine of GHS340,000.00 comprising GHS10, 000.00 for engaging in Third Party Supplies for the first time and GHS330,000.00 for the unlawful lifting of Petroleum products. Failure to comply will attract an additional one (1) month’s suspension of its operations.

    According to the statement, “Glasark Oil will pay a fine of GHS95,000.00 comprising GHS10,000.00 for engaging in Third Party Supplies for the first time and GHS85,000.00 for the unlawful lifting of Petroleum products. Failure to comply will attract an additional one (1) month’s suspension of its operations.

    “That Lilygold Resources Ltd will pay a fine not exceeding five (5) times the License/Permit fee for breaking the Authority’s seals and failure to pay will result in the suspension of its operating license in addition to paying the Penalties meted out to it.”

  • NDC has been a better manager of the economy – Mahama

    NDC has been a better manager of the economy – Mahama

    Former president John Dramani Mahama has described the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party as the better manager of Ghana’s economy, as the state is in near collapse under the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

    According to him, poverty has worsened due to extreme inflation and price volatility.

    These deteriorations were discovered during his visits to the Savanna, Northern, and Upper West Regions.

    In a Facebook post, he said the country is near collapse.

    “I am back to Accra from a trip to the Savanna, Northern, and Upper West Regions – and poverty has worsened due to extreme inflation & price volatility. The economy is in a near state of collapse; clearly, the NDC has been a better manager of the economy!” he said

    Below is his post

    https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJDMahama%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02Vh7sTpJcDbCR5ErYzgBrZvQDCAdziHhpc1NhsMBzvobdZCdcj8mNYaAcXtkCCSgzl&show_text=true&width=500

  • Ashanti region NPP chairmen call for early congress

    Ashanti region NPP chairmen call for early congress

    The Ashanti Region New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Chairmen Association has requested that the party hold its flagbearer election immediately.

    According to the association, if the election is conducted early, it will give them enough time to prepare and market the party’s flagbearer before the 2024 elections.

    In a press release, the group also indicated that another reason they want an early congress is to afford the party enough time to resolve outstanding conflicts and challenges resulting from the elections.

    They added that a formal petition will be presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC)for consideration.

    Read the full statement below:

    ASHANTI NPP CONSTITUENCY CHAIRMEN ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR EARLY CONGRESS

    WE THE Ashanti Regional Constituency Chairmen Association would like to add our voices to the call for the party to organise early congress to elect the flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.

    There is no doubt that the 2024 elections will be a crucial one which will require comprehensive processes and preparations.

    Our decision to support this call for early congress is therefore based on a number of valid and genuine considerations.

    Some of these include:

    1. An early congress will afford the party enough time to prepare and market the eventual winner and flagbearer ahead of the elections. This will help ensure that we do not repeat the 2008 experience which gravely affected the party leading to its eventual defeat.

    2. As expected in any democratic electoral process across the world, elections like these have the potential to foment internal rifts and troubles amongst supporters of opposing candidates, therefore an early congress will afford the party the opportunity to address some of these fallout and build united front to achieve victory.

    3. We also believe that an early congress will afford the party enough time resolve outstanding conflicts and challenges resulting out of the elections.

    4. An early congress will also give government and the sitting President the peace of mind to implement its policies and programmes, whilst carrying the entire party machinery along.

    In conclusion, we members of the Ashanti Regional NPP Constituency Chairmen Association will present a formal petition to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for consideration in the upcoming meeting slated for January 31.

    Signed

    Mr. Dominic Bosompim
    0244258138

    Chairman, Odotobri Constituency

    Dean, Constituency Chairmen Association Ashanti Region

  • I will seek redress against Ablakwa’s defamatory statements – Rev. Kusi Boateng

    I will seek redress against Ablakwa’s defamatory statements – Rev. Kusi Boateng

    Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, has hinted that he will take action with respect to deliberate defamation targeted at his person by a lawmaker.

    Rev. Kusi Boateng said he was currently committed to responding to a formal enquiry in respect of allegations made against him by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    The MP mentioned the clergyman in his ‘Mother of all scandals’ publication on January 16, 2023, alleging principally that Kusi Boateng was using two different identities on official documents.

    He had earlier on alleged that an amount of GH¢2.6 million was ‘irregularly’ paid out from the chest of the National Cathedral to JNS Talent Centre, a company closely associated to Kusi Boateng.

    In his response to the accusations, the clergyman stayed away from directly addressing the identity issue but said he welcomed the enquiry by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), following the lodging of an official petition by Ablakwa.

    Kusi Boateng’s statement of January 16, 2023 added: “When all is done, I will seek redress against Mr. Ablakwa for his deliberate defamatory statements against me.

    “I will continue to contribute my quota to the National Cathedral project and offer my services to the country to the best of my ability,” the statement concluded.

    Read the full statement by Kusi Boateng below:

  • Former Moderator resigned from Nat’l Cathedral board due to ill-health – Presby Church

    Former Moderator resigned from Nat’l Cathedral board due to ill-health – Presby Church

    The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has said the latest reports about the resignation of the immediate past moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Professor Cephas Omenyo from the National Cathedral Board of Trustees is misleading.

    Speaking to Starr News with Naa Dedei Tettey, the spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church, Rev. George Larbi explained that the former Moderator resigned long ago due to ill-health.

    “When he was elected, per his position as a moderator of the church, he was appointed a trustee of the National Cathedral. So, when he fell sick and could not function again and later on a new moderator was elected. In fact, he refused to be a member of the trustee.

    “So, I remember I drew the attention of the public relations officer of the National Cathedral, that in this case they should take away Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo’s photo. Because, one of our former moderators, in the person of Very Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey already sits on the trustee. So, the current moderator is not even a member of the trustee because we already have Very. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey there,” Mr. Larbi added.

    The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had claimed that the National Cathedral Secretariat was misleading the Ghanaian public and the world that all the published trustees are registered as directors.

    “Contrary to the information provided in the said press statement (see page 5) and on the Nicodemusly updated national cathedral website (after we exposed the Pastor Otabil deception), to the effect that all the Board of Trustees has been registered as Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana; we note surprisingly, that the venerable Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Group of Churches and the esteemed Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo, Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church were not registered as directors on the incorporation date of 18th July, 2019.

    “The two revered clergymen have at all material times been clearly left out, and substituted with the following names: Samuel Antwi and Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah.

    After about five months down the line, the founder of the LightHouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills’ reasons for exiting the Board has been revealed.

    In a letter available to Accra-based Citi TV, the seasoned Man of God noted that his unresolved concerns about the cost of the National Cathedral and other pertinent issues triggered his exit.

    But in the case of the former moderator of the Presby church, the leadership of the Presby Church of Ghana responded that all this confusion about Rev. Prof Omenyo and his resignation keeps resurfacing because people are using him to score their cheap political points.

    Nonetheless, spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church, Rev. George Larbi has called on the board of the National Cathedral Secretariat to sit up and clear its name on the number of allegations levelled against them.

    Rev. George Larbi expressed worry about the developments that have characterized the construction of the National Cathedral.

    “I read them, I hear them in the news. If what those who are raising the allegations are saying is true, then I will urge the board to sit up. If what they are saying also is for political gains or some personal gains then they should be careful. And sometimes at least they should go to the right place to seek proper information.

    “If you don’t understand something, approach them, go to them. This is what I have received, this is what I have seen, this is what I have heard, and please what the truth in it is? For people to explain to you rather than everyday counter allegations. After all, whether it is state money, individual’s money, the church’s money, at the end of the day it is money. We have to ensure that whatever money is given to them, they account it judiciously to the people,” Mr. Larbi advised.

  • I lost the woman I intended to marry because of NPP – Kennedy Agyapong

    I lost the woman I intended to marry because of NPP – Kennedy Agyapong

    A potential flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party(NPP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, asserted that his dedication to the party once caused him to lose a woman he had planned to marry.

    According to Kennedy Agyapong, the said woman left him after he returned from the United States of America to support the party in the 1992 elections.

    “In 1992, I was in a relationship with Madam Stella. I also had another girlfriend back here in Ghana that I intended to marry. But when it comes to women some are good and some are bad.

    “In 1992 I returned home one day to meet the one back here in Ghana holding my ticket and trying to find out if I could go back, because Adu Boahen had lost and NPP had also lost.,” the Assin Central MP said during an interview on his Net2 TV.

    “The other woman left me because I had gone broke, she saw the amount of money I brought at that age and spent everything on the NPP. Right after losing the election, she said by their fruits you will know them; she left,” he added.

    Ultimately he said, he had to go back to the U.S where he was accepted by his first girlfriend – Stella who forgave him and accepted him back.

    “I stayed in Ghana for 8 months, and when I went back my office had been repossessed. I went back to driving a taxi.

    “Stella remained. She forgave me and I had no option because her friends back here were calling her to that a lady is driving your man’s car. But she forgave me. All because of NPP, I lost the woman, I lost the office,” she added.

    Kennedy Agyapong was responding to Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, who in a recent interview with JoyNews, questioned his competence and devotion as a prospective flagbearer of the NPP.

    According to Kennedy Agyapong who is regarded as a financier of the NPP, he has a track record assisting the party in various moments of financial need.

    This is corroborated by the former Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen.

    Obiri Boahen in an interview with Wontumi radio while calling out Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said, “I said what! What is Nyaho Tamakloe trying to say? In 2016 alone, Kennedy Agypong and Kutin bought almost a hundred pickups. He paid a debt of $3 million for the NPP and that was even in the 90s,” Obiri Boahen said.

    “Tell me which of the 275 constituencies in Ghana have not felt the impact of Kennedy Agyapong? I am with Bawumia, I am campaigning for Bawumia but it doesn’t mean I should sit aloof if someone says something about Bawumia’s competitor and I have details about it,” he added.

  • Health Minister Agyeman-Manu admits NHIS is in four months arrears to providers

    Health Minister Agyeman-Manu admits NHIS is in four months arrears to providers

    The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, says the NHIS has only four months of outstanding debt to clear with healthcare providers across the country. He said this when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee.

    His submission triggered the Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams to enquire about the law and regulation that guide the payment of funds to providers.

    According to Mr. Agyeman-Manu, the payment process takes three months, but the Deputy CEO of the NHIS, Francis Owusu was unable to confirm this.

    This necessitated the Minister to withdraw his earlier submission promising to look again at the payment policy.

    The sitting revealed several unearned salaries in many health facilities including Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

    Officials of the hospital told the Committee that it was working to recover those monies, but the Chairman, James Klutse Avedzie did not accept their explanation, saying that the Management of Korle Bu must pay the money.

    Mr. Avedzie said the numerous procurement breaches that occurred at the Ministry call for prosecution and referred the same to the Attorney General’s Department.

    But the Health Minister pleaded with the Chairman to temper justice with mercy.

  • IGP relocates police from Apromase barracks after officer’s death in fire outbreak

    IGP relocates police from Apromase barracks after officer’s death in fire outbreak

    Inspector General of Police(IGP), Dr George Akufo Dampare has ordered the immediate transfer of police officers and families residing in a housing facility at Apromase to another area.

    The move by the IGP is necessitated by a fire that swept away a 35-year-old Sergeant Owusu Asante Baafi with the Anti-Robbery Unit, his wife, and a three-month old child on January 16, 2023.


    The fire, which began around 11:30p.m., allegedly razed down the entire five-bedroom self-contained flat in which the deceased family was living.

    The Ghana National Fire Service and the police have launched a collaborative probe into the incident. According to the Ghana National Fire Service, late detection and a call for help led to the destruction of five out of the 15 apartments housing some police officers and their families.

    In his address to the victims, the IGP stated that the facility would be confined to a complete, accurate structural and technical evaluation as part of the inquiry.

    Following the incident, other police officers and their families living in the affected housing facility have been traumatized and forced to relocate.

    However, the IGP was joined by some senior officers from the police administration to express condolences to the victims and assured that psychosocial support
    and clinical psychologists will be given to the victims.

    The IGP “We are in this together, we feel your pain, and that’s the reason why I had to travel all the way from Accra to see you in person.

    “Let me assure you that, there will be a joint investigation between the police and GNFS to bring finality to this matter and see how best we can assist you.
    “Just as you are shattered about this incident, we are shocked too, and the best way to express our feelings is to come and console you,” he said.

  • Minority to undertake nationwide roadshowson DDE

    Minority to undertake nationwide roadshowson DDE

    The Minority in Parliament is set to embark on a series of meetings with investors and individual bondholders across the country over the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange (DDE) programme.

    Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu announced the nationwide roadshows to look at the poor qualities of the DDE programme while interacting with the press on Monday.

    “We wish to take this opportunity to indicate our intention to embark on nationwide roadshows to foster a deeper understanding of this matter and rally Ghanaians to demand a more favorable resolution of the economic crisis,” he said.

    The Minority’s stance on the programme is gloom-ridden as they believe that the government’s initiative “will leave affected persons, mainly the middle class, improvised while worsening the plight of the poor.”

    “The inclusion of individual bondholders in the Domestic Debt Exchange is the biggest transfer of funds from the pockets of Ghanaians to the government,” Mr Iddrisu further lamented.

    The Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, which is a voluntary exercise, seeks to classify domestic bonds into 12 categories. Government has increased the new bonds offered by adding eight new instruments to the composition of the new bonds, for a total of 12 new bonds, one maturing each year starting January 2027 and ending January 2038.

    It is offering accrued and unpaid interest on eligible bonds, and a cash tender fee payment to holders of eligible bonds maturing in 2023.

    “The Exchange Consideration Ratio applicable to eligible bonds maturing in 2023 will be different from other eligible bonds,” the government has stated.

    The government has extended the expiration date of the Domestic Debt Exchange programme from Monday, 16th January 2023 to Tuesday, 31st January 2023.

    According to the Ministry of Finance, the period before the expiration date of the programme will be used to further engage stakeholders especially individual bondholders to mitigate any adverse impacts they may face.

    Already, the Ministry noted that important discussions are ongoing with financial institutions, notably in relation to forbearance measures, accounting treatment, as well as the structure and parameters of the Ghana Financial Stability Fund (GFSF).

  • Alan Kyerematen hands over Trade Ministry to caretaker minister Samuel Jinapor

    Alan Kyerematen hands over Trade Ministry to caretaker minister Samuel Jinapor

    The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, handed over the trade ministry to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Abu Jinapor, as caretaker minister pending the appointment of a substantive replacement.

    Alan Kyeremanteng, who has long eyed the presidential seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), tendered in his resignation letter on Thursday, January 5
    2023, to pursue his presidential ambition.

    However, his resignation took effect on January 16, 2023, as announced earlier by the outgoing minister. The politician who served as Minister for Trade and Industry from 2017 to 2023 briefed Mr Jinapor on the operations and administrations of the ministry and presented his handing over notes during a brief handover ceremony at the at the trade ministry.

    In his tweet, he noted that “I had a successful handover to the caretaker minister, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, who has been tasked by His Excellency the President to assume responsibility for the Ministry of Trade and Industry pending the appointment of a substantive replacement.”

    Mr. Jinapor, in response, pledged to work with stakeholders and partners in the sector to see the vision of the president come to fruition. He said, “I pledged my commitment to work with all stakeholders and partners to steer the affairs of this ministry until a substantive minister is appointed,” Jinapor, who is the substantive minister for lands and natural resources,tweeted after the event.

    The president, Akufo-Addo, in a statement, announced the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, as caretaker of the Ministry of Trade and Industry following the resignation of Alan Kyeremanten.

    Several critics were quick to criticize the minister, complaining that he was already overwhelmed by the challenges in his ministry at the time.

    However, Mr. Jinapor was later announced as Mr Ofori-Atta’s replacement. “The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has tasked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, MP, to assume responsibility for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, with effect from Monday, January 16, 2023, pending the appointment of a substantive replacement for the outgoing Minister, Mr. Alan Kyerematen,” the statement read.