The finance minister has revealed that the 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.
“Mr. Speaker, Government is pursuing the strategic decision to procure the 27.7km of the Accra-Tema Motorway and Extensions Project through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF). A PPP Concession Agreement backed by an appropriate toll arrangement will be presented to Parliament for approval to facilitate its execution. Provision has also been made in the 2023 and the Medium-Term Budget for the Equity and Viability Gap Funding required by a GIIF Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to enable the project to start in earnest in 2023. The project will be delivered in phases.
“Mr. Speaker, the iconic nature of the project is such that when completed, there will be five lanes each on both sides of the main Accra-Tema Motorway stretch, and six lanes each on the Tetteh Quarshie – Apenkwa stretch of the road. The project will include the remodeling of Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, the reconstruction of the Apenkwa Interchange and the construction of new interchanges at the Fiesta Royale cross roads and Neoplan area,” he said.
The Minister of Finance was in parliament to fulfil his constitutional mandate by presenting the government budget to the House.
The presentation is in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
The minister presentedax the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to parliament in a year that has experienced perhaps, the worst forms of economic downturns in the fourth republic.
Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed bewilderment over the government’s decision to increase Value Added Tax (VAT).
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, in his presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2022, announced an increment in VAT rate for the upcoming year.
But reacting to the announcement in a Facebook post, the opposition MP wondered how the current event is occurring under the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who led a protest against VAT when it was introduced in 1995.
“Who could ever have imagined or predicted that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who led the fatal 1995 Kumepreko demonstration against the introduction of VAT under President Rawlings which tragically claimed the lives of Ahunu Ahonga & 5 others would today be increasing VAT by 2.5%,” he wondered.
According to the minister for finance, the increment in VAT will allow the government to raise funds to finance projects such as road construction.
“Mr. Speaker, the demand for roads has become the cry of many communities in the country. Unfortunately, with the current economic difficulties and the absence of dedicated source of funding for road construction, it is difficult to meet these demands. In that regard we are proposing the implementation of new revenue measures. The major one is an increase in the VAT rate by 2.5 percentage points,” the minister said.
In 1995, Nana Akufo-Addo and other members of the New Patriotic Party led what is described as Ghana’s largest demonstration in history.
Five protesters were killed during a protest against the then-government of Jerry John Rawlings’ decision to introduce VAT. Unidentified assailants fired into the crowd of protestors.
Ms. Indira Apronti, the Ahafo Regional Head, National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has expressed the region’s commitment to a reduction in road crashes, injuries and deaths.
This, she said, could be achieved through specific and proven interventions as well as coordinated enforcement with Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to ensure the safety of road users.
Ms Apronti was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Goaso in the Asunafo North Municipality of Ahafo Region about measures to prevent loss of lives through road crashes.
She said the regional office had intensified road safety education on the radio to engage road users through phone-ins, mass education at lorry terminals, schools, churches, mosques, communities, and markets as well as identifying and working with key stakeholders.
Ms Apronti said the regional office, together with stakeholders, had deployed personnel to assist pedestrians to access public roads safely, especially during peak hours as a measure to tackle the issue of non-signalized junctions.
Touching on the region’s statistics, she said some of the interventions had yielded results because the region recorded 145 road crashes from January to July 2021 as against 104 crashes in the same period of 2022, representing a 28 percent reduction.
Ms Apronti said 243 injuries were recorded from January to July 2021 as against 162 injuries during that time in 2022, signifying a decrease of 33 percent.
Highlighting some challenges in the region, Ms. Apronti said the use of tricycles, which has become the commonest means of local transport, had brought problems such as underage riders, unapproved manoeuvres, and stops.
She said some motorcycle riders too had been identified as riding without license and most not wearing helmets while timber trucks exceeded load limits.
Ms Apronti expressed worry about non-signalized intersections and the absence of road markings in the region, saying Goaso, the regional capital, was dominated by many wide intersections and inadequate road markings without traffic lights.
The government has frozen the hiring of public and civil servants for the 2023 financial year.
According to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, this is part of expenditure cut measures being adopted by government to address the current economic challenges.
“A hiring freeze for civil and public servants. No new government agencies shall be established in 2023,” Ken Ofori-Atta said.
Ken Ofori-Atta made this known while presenting the 2023 budget before parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
The presentation of the budget in parliament is in pursuance of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
This allows the Finance Minister to review the budget statement and economic policy of the government and supplementary estimates for the 2023 financial year.
Broadcaster Bridget Otoo has bemoaned the move by the government to remove the daily limits to electronic money transfers that will attract the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy).
The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has announced a proposal to review the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) from its current rate of 1.5 per cent to 1.0 percent.
In addition to the reduction of the rate, Ofori-Atta also proposed the removal of limits on transfers that will attract the levy.
“Review the E-Levy Act and more specifically, reduce the headline rate from 1.5% to one percent (1%) of the transaction value as well as the removal of the daily threshold,” he said.
Reacting to this in a series of tweets on Thursday, November 24, Bright Otto said that the government, after promising that the poor would not be affected by the levy, now wants to charge all transactions.
She berated persons who supported the government’s implementation of the level when questions were raised about how it would affect the poor.
“All the town hall meetings about e-levy protecting the poor were just a waste of public funds to feed lies to an already impoverished people.
“When we called gov’t out on its 100 cedi threshold lies, fool soldiers were up on their key boards defending. Here we are!
“So, the footsoldiers I hope you heard him? E levy was already being charged on 5 cedis. Now 1 pesewa sef, it would be charged,” parts of her tweet read.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has described the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy as a Ɛka mpɛ dede budget.
The Akan phrase, teased from the popular ‘sika mpɛ dede’ that was used by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his last address to the nation, literally means that ‘debt does not like noise.’
Getting up to second the motion on the floor of parliament for the adjournment of sitting after the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, presented the budget, the Minority Leader called out the minister for excessive borrowing.
He explained that, with the details of the budget as presented by the minister, and with his own admission that the country is highly-indebted, then the phrase Ɛka mpɛ dede best describes the budget.
“We have heard the honourable Minister of Finance, before this august House, declare Ghana a high-risk, distress debt country. So, Mr. Speaker, this budget is Ɛka mpɛ dede budget and therefore, he’s put the country on the path to debt restructuring, which he has announced as debt exchange program.
“So, Mr. Speaker, this budget is Ɛka mpɛ dede budget because he has announced debt restructuring in the name of a debt exchange program,” he said.
Haruna Iddrisu also appealed to the minister to ensure that he regularizes the government’s borrowing spree.
“Mr. Speaker, my greatest expectation of the minister is to regularize the borrowing under the amended Bank of Ghana act of 2016.
“You have to come back to this House to seek our mandate and authorization for your excessive borrowing from the Bank of Ghana, that needs to be regularized,” he said.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, presented the ‘Nkabom’ budget to parliament as part of his constitutional mandate on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged heads of public and private institutions to explore and implement innovative ways to complement Government’s job creation efforts across the country.
Speaking at Goaso in the Ahafo Region on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2022 Dr Bawumia said the youth make up a large proportion of Ghana’s population, and it is important that conscious efforts are made to meet their employment aspirations.
The Vice President made the call at the launch of the first region-led skills development and employment creation intervention, the Ahafo Youth Skills Development and Job Creation Initiative, designed and implemented by the Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council led by Hon George Yaw Boakye, Regional Minister, in collaboration with the private sector.
The programme is designed to train 1,200 youth drawn from all six districts in the region in trades such as Welding, Vulcanizing, General Spraying, ICT, Fashion Designing, Building Construction, Auto Mechanics (Fitting), General Electrical (Auto and Civil), Carpentry and Joinery, Hairdressing, Painting and Decoration.
In addition, each Municipal/District Coordinating Council received a cheque of Ghs25,000 to cater for the training of the youth, with a monitoring team constituted to ensure the trainees go through the appropriate training.
Handing over welding machines, hair dryers, sewing machines, Aluminium ovens, sets of tools (auto mechanics, carpentry, electricals, pedicure, barbering etc), trowels, mallets and other tools to the various Assemblies, Vice President Bawumia noted that Ghana’s youth as a proportion of the total population is growing at a rapid pace.
“The recent census conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service pegs our current youth population at 38.2%. On the positive side it means Ghana has an abundance of human resource necessary to drive our economic growth and that we are not in danger of facing shortage of skilled labour.
“This however means we are under immense pressure to ensure that sustainable employment opportunities are created for the youth in order to keep them productive and mitigate the possible security threats posed by an idle youth population.
“It is for this reason that I am excited to join you this afternoon as we launch the Ahafo Youth Skills Development and Employment creation initiative.
“If I am not mistaken, Nana Chair, this is the first regional-led skills development and employment creation intervention and I convey my heartfelt congratulations to the RCC, participating MMDAs and to especially our private sector partners such as Newmont Ghana Gold Company Limited, Golden Team Mining Company and Supremo Wood Processing Company Limited, who have been great collaborators.”
Dr Bawumia urged the programme implementers to “inculcate entrepreneurship and soft skills training into the curriculum since trainees will be given the much needed start-up capital to set up their enterprises. Efforts must also be made to connect the beneficiaries to the market to encourage patronage of their services.”
Nana Kwasi Bosomprah I, President and Omanhene of the Goaso Traditional Council who was Chairman for the occasion, urged the trainees and the Assemblies to imbibe the culture of maintenance, pointing out that the outcome of this first cohort will largely determine the future of the programme.
“If you take your training seriously, and you maintain these nice, brand new equipment that you are getting today, the Minister and the people who support him and the RCC will help to train your younger brothers and sisters in future,” he added.
Some 14 suspects have been arrested by a joint police-military team in connection with the killing of the Borae Ahenfie Chief, Nana Meebo, and two others in the Krachi Nchumuru District in the Oti Region.
The arrested persons are currently in police custody at Kete Krachi, the capital of the Krachi West Municipality.
They were expected to appear before a court yesterday.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Nkrumah Kwasi Ogyile, who is the Chairman of the District Security Committee (DISEC), confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
According to report, he said, the three were shot dead by unknown assailants whilst they worked on the contentious land on Saturday.
He said the late chief had a misunderstanding with some factions in the community over a piece of land; a case he won at the Krachi West District Court.
Mr Ogyile noted that the late chief later presented the judgement from the court to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Charles Dormaban, the Oti Regional Police Commander, where the factions were advised to stick to the court order.
The Police Administration has also deployed more personnel to the area to beef up security.
He stated that a District Security Committee meeting had been held to, among others, discuss how to prevent possible counterattacks.
“The police are patrolling the district and they are pursuing the rest of the criminals who committed this act on Nana and his subjects.
The security authorities are putting in place additional measures to ensure that those who have fled from the community to neighbouring communities, we will share intelligence with the neighbouring communities to enable them to pick them up and make them face the law,” he added.
According to the DCE, the three persons who litigated the land to the Chief were on the run and were being pursued by the police.
The Finance Ministry has revealed that an amount of ¢339,003,064.86 has been released for the construction of the National Cathedral so far.
The Ministry also added that a total amount of ¢113,040,654.86 has been paid to the consulting firm for the construction of the Cathedral, Messers Sir David Adjaye and Associates.
This was contained in a document from the Ministry to the parliamentary Adhoc Committee based on a request for the total amount spent by the Government on the National Cathedral.
According to the Ministry, the latest amount spent was ¢25million in March 2022, which was the Government of Ghana’s contribution to the construction of the Cathedral.
The Committee also demanded that Mr Ken Ofori-Atta provides the total amount paid to the consulting firm, Messers Sir David Adjaye and Associates, a clarification of the total energy sector payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and the total debt accumulated prior to 2020.
In relation to amounts paid to IPPs, the Ministry said a total amount of ¢17.31 billion was paid.
The IPPs which received these payments include; Karpower, Cenpower, Amandi Energy, Sunon Asogli, Ameri Energy and AKSA.
Out of the amount, ¢10.01 billion was paid as a shortfall in capacity and ¢4.99 billion was used as excess capacity payments while the remaining ¢7.31 billion was used for payments to fuel suppliers for the period mentioned.
An aspirant for the General Secretary position of the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has cautioned his party members not to think that the general elections of 2024 will be just a walk in the park.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah explained that if people are of the view that the NDC will come by an easy win in the next general elections, then they have failed to understand who their main opponent, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are made of.
Speaking to GhanaWeb’s Edward Smith Anamale on Election Desk, the former Director of Elections of the NDC indicated that it would be a great deceit for people to think his party would easily win the general polls of 2024.
“I have a vision, I have a track-record, I have experience. The 2024 elections is not going to be that easy the way people are making it look like we’ve won already (sic), no. I know the NPP and if you don’t know the NPP then you’d be deceiving yourself; I know them very well,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who is also a former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, further put himself forward as the right candidate to help the party go head-to-head with the NPP and win.
This, he said, is because he understands the dynamics of their game better and can therefore, bring his experiences to bear, ensuring that the NDC gets a deserved win.
“And so, you’d need somebody who is tough, who is seasoned, who understands them, who has been at the battle front before and who has done it with the track-record and that is where I come in. And that’s my message to the delegates,” he said.
The aspirant also spoke about a number of other issues, including his assessments of the performance of the incumbent NPP government as compared to what the erstwhile NDC government did.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has begun investigation into the killing of a nursing mother allegedly by some military personnel at Manso Datano in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.
The deceased, Felicia Donkor, sustained gunshot wounds after being hit by a stray bullet.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Arhin Kwasi Annor, Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, on Monday, visited the crime scene and commiserated with the deceased’s family.
A police source at the Regional Command which disclosed this to the Ghanaian Times said investigation into the incident had started.
The incident, it was gathered, took place on Saturday during the funeral of one Kwasi Nkrumah, also known as Simon, who died after falling into a mining pit some three months ago.
Simon was said to have been chased by some security personnel protecting some mining companies in the area.
In the process, he was said to have been hit with club and he fell into a mining pit.
During the funeral on Saturday, the youth in the town were said to have mounted a barrier in the middle of the road leading to the cemetery.
When the military got there, there was a misunderstanding between them and the youth which saw the military firing warning shots and the nursing mother being hit.
The Assemblyman for the area, Kwame Amponsah, corroborated saying, “we were having a burial service for a young man who died three months ago.
“There was a military patrol at a nearby village, upon reaching my community, they saw the people in the community jubilating and singing.”
Former President, John Agyekum Kufour, wants the Council of State scrapped.
He believes, the Council has lost its relevance over the years and must be abolished. Instead, he wants it to be turned into a second chamber.
The former President said this at a forum organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in Accra.
“Perhaps the time has come for us to move to a second house. It might cost a bit more, but we want quality to serve the ends of good governance and the people at large more, then I would say, the days of Council of State are over.”
The forum formed part of a series of engagements the Institute undertook to solicit input towards a possible review of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The former President proposed that, instead of the Council of State, the country should set up a second chamber to play the advisory role to the government.
“I have had a chance to express my views on the Council of State, a very honourable distinguished institution, well-meaning. But, I can say I don’t think it is fit for purpose given the state of development of our country and given the fact that the nation is committed to practising democratic governance.”
In recent times, the relevance of the Council of State, has been questioned with some political commentators, academia and civil society organisations suggesting that the body had outlived its usefulness and should be abolished.
Former President Kufuor explained that though the framers of the Constitution thought it wise to set up such a body to advise the President, the Council was no longer useful.
He said: “…We limit the uses of Council of State to advising just the President,” and that often, the President decided whether or not to take the advice.
“So, I have gone through all these periods and I have come to a conclusion, perhaps, what our Constitution should have to temper the extremes of democracy is not a Council of State but a second chamber, a second chamber well composed not on the basis of democracy so much. Democracy should always be implied in there though but not entirely democratically but more on proof and experience, prove in public spiritedness, prudence, maturity, care for the nation, inclusive.”
“If we do that, and allow this second chamber to operate openly, in the full glare of publicity, then the wisdom that would be issued from their deliberations would impact not only the President,” he added
The former President added that the term of the second chamber must not be tied to the tenure of any government to ensure that there was continuity in the provision of development for the people.
On limiting the appointing powers of the President, the former President said the country must practice the checks and balances in its pure form, especially among the lead organs of State.
He called for the amendment of sections of the Constitution that empowered presidents to appoint about 50 percent of Ministers from Parliament.
“The legislature should be apart, people being elected there should be encouraged to professionalize themselves as legislators, so they will play the guard dogs or watchdogs on the executive,” he said.
The former President also urged that political parties were allowed to participate in elections at the local level.
The Minority in Parliament has said it will resist any policy in the 2023 budget it feels are “draconian”.
In a statement, it reiterated the need for “drastic cuts in non-essential Government expenditures and more prudent use of scarce national resources.”
“We have also demanded greater transparency and accountability in public financial management,” the statement added.
The Minority said it expects its proposals to “find expression in the budget and signal a change in course by the failed Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government.”
“We wish to assure the Ghanaian people that we stand with them in these difficult times, and we will not relent in our efforts to hold the managers of the economy to account,” the statement added.
The Minority also allayed fears that it could boycott the budget because of protests against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Both sides of the Parliament have called for the Finance Minister to be removed amid Ghana’s economic crisis.
The budget comes as the government tries to secure a deal from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for economic support.
The Finance Ministry has said the 2023 Budget will focus on Government’s strategies to restore and stabilize the macroeconomy, build resilience, and promote inclusive growth and value creation.
The ministry also said it will feature updates on Ghana’s engagement with the IMF for an IMF-supported Programme; year-to-date macro-fiscal performance of the economy; the YouStart initiative under the Ghana CARES Programme; climate action strategies; fiscal measures and debt management strategies to ensure fiscal and debt sustainability and promote growth.
A 14-year old girl who was allegedly defiled by a police officer at Ave-Xevi in the Akatsi North District of the Volta says she has been subjected to mockery and harassment from other adults in the community.
The victim, was allegedly defiled by Sergeant Emmanuel Duah, popularly known as Bob Marley -a police officer who was deployed to a police barrier situated at Ave-Xevi on the Ho-Aflao road in September, 2021.
The victim, according to reports was lured into a yet to be commissioned police post by the suspect and was defiled twice.
But following the incident, the victim in a recent interview says she has become a subject of mockery from her peers at school.
She said, “When I go to school, my colleagues call me names like Bob Marley’s wife. I get angry and want to fight them, sometimes too, I feel like not going back to school.
“But the teachers have made announcement to them to stop calling me that name and so they are now scared,” the victim told Starr News’ Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu.
This claim has also been corroborated by the school authorities who have had to issue a caution statement to the pupils against such behaviour.
The 14-year old victim -an orphan, who stays with her aunt, also told the reporter that she has been exposed to paedophiles who harass her constantly around town.
“Sometimes, when I go to town, some people [mostly adults] also call me Bob Marley’s wife. Some also approach me and say things like since Bob Marley did it, I should allow them to do it too.”
“These things get me scared -I hear people say Bob Marley has been coming to the town and so when I’m sent to town in the night, I refuse to go.”
The victim’s Aunt, expressed worry over the delay in commencement of prosecution of the case.
She said, “This issue happened since September last year. The last time we heard from the police was when we were invited to Sogakope, somewhere October, 2021. Since that time till now, we have not heard anything from the police.”
“We are poor people but the state must stand up to protect all of us. This issue has dragged on for too long and I’m not happy but I’m helpless. My daughter deserves justice but I’m so helpless and don’t know what to do,” she added in her local Ewe dialect.
But a year on, the police in a response to an RTI request submitted to the Volta Regional Police Command by Starr News’ Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu, on 13th October, 2022 say the suspect has been charged with the offence of defilement.
The letter dated 15 November, 2022 also indicated that the original case docket has since been returned to the office of the Attorney General, Volta for further action.
The letter from the Regional Command also confirmed that the suspect, Sergeant Emmanuel Duah was interdicted on October 15, 2021.
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) says it anticipates a surge in the number of shopping scams such as fake online shops and malware attacks as the Christmas shopping season draws near as has, thus, warned the public to be on the lookout.
These online fraudsters according to the CSA create online profiles to promote and sell non-existing goods at very affordable prices.
“They ask potential buyers to make upfront payments to mobile money wallets with names not related to the shop or even the seller. After receiving payment, they don’t deliver the goods, and they subsequently block the buyer from communicating with them,” the CSA explained in a statement.
The CSA added that these fraudsters scam people through Phishing.
Phishing, the Authority explained, is a tactic that malicious actors use to deceive people into disclosing their personal information e.g. debit/credit card number or account password by getting them to click on malicious links cloaked in official-looking emails, attachments, and logos that lead to impersonated websites of popular brands like Amazon or Alibaba.
The authority has, thus, recommended the following:
• Be on the lookout for fake online shops and hyped adverts, especially on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram.
• Do due diligence on any shopping site before purchasing items online.
• As much as possible only shop from reputable and well-known online stores and stay away from websites you have never heard about.
• Do payments on delivery rather than making payments with the assurance that the goods purchased will be delivered.
• Be cautious of proposals and deals including those shared by email, that seem too good to be true no matter how appealing they appear.
Under fire Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta will today, November 24, 2022, present the government’s 2023 Annual Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament.
This is a constitutional exercise to be carried out by the Finance Minister on behalf of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“In accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) the Minister for Finance will, on behalf of the President, lay before Parliament the 2023 Annual Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government on Thursday, 24th November 2022,” a statement from the Finance Ministry announced.
The budget according to the Ministry of Finance will focus on government’s strategies to restore and stabilize the macro economy, build resilience and promote inclusive growth and value creation.
The Ministry also said it will feature updates on Ghana’s engagement with the IMF for an IMF-supported Programme; year-to-date macro-fiscal performance of the economy; the YouStart initiative under the Ghana CARES Programme; climate action strategies; fiscal measures and debt management strategies to ensure fiscal and debt sustainability and promote growth.
Mr. Ofori -Atta’s continued clinging to the Finance Ministry has sparked massive disaffection in recent times, with some 95 New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament asking for his dismissal.
He is currently also going through a vote of censure probe by an 8-member ad-hoc Committee probing some 7 alleged financial malfeasance against him.
The Minority Caucus has also accused him of financial dishonesty and pitched him against a missing $100 million crude oil revenue, which has been corroborated by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).
Following threats by some Majority MPs to boycott the budget reading, the leadership of the New Patriotic Party subsequently stepped in to resolve the impasse.
Ghana is currently seeking a $3 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund due to the current economic crisis. Negotiations are yet to be concluded.
The People’s National Convention (PNC) has said it is worried that the country’s revered Religious Leaders are quiet in this economic challenging times the country is going through.
The PNC said Ghana is regarded as a very religious nation and as such, the Religious Leaders should intercede with God on behalf of the country.
The 2021 Population and Housing Census reported that, about 99% of all Ghanaians are made up of Christians, Muslims, Traditional believers and other Godly religion.
These religious bodies all believe in the existence of one Omnipotent and Omnipresent Being called the Almighty God, the PNC said.
For a country which has 99% of it’s population being religious should lean more on God and called for divine intervention when faced with difficulties and challenges, it added.
“The PNC is therefore calling on the government and the various religious bodies , such as the Christian Council of Ghana, the Muslim Council and the Traditional Council to collaborate and set a day as a National Day of Repentance for Ghanaians to seek forgiveness and to implore God to heal the country. It is only true repentance that will help change the attitude of Ghanaians.
“This can be organized on yearly bases. In the Bible, the book of 2 nd Chronicles 7:14 states, ‘If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land’.
“The Holy Quran instructs in chapter 11:3 ‘Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him
and He Will let you enjoy a good provision’ The PNC having recommended solution to the country’s economic challenges via a Press statement released on the 10th of this month, believe the religious bodies in the country, have a special role to play by leading a National Day of Repentance to help revamp our economy.
“So far, government and other stakeholders of our economy have done and are still working out humanly solutions which must be supported by a strong spiritual barking from all religious groups in the country. Lets not wish to be in this difficulties till the next elections. It would not benefit any one.”
The Minority in Parliament has cast doubts on the ability to complete the 33.4 kilometer Ofankor-Nsawam rehabilitation project within the 24-month target.
The 341 million cedis road project consisting of 3 interchanges is progressing steadily by contractors messrs Maripoma enterprise.
On an inspection of the project on Wednesday November 23, ranking member on the roads and transport committee Kwame Governs Agbodza said the 24-month period is mere political talk.
Meanwhile , the chairman of the committee has praised government for the giving the contract to a local contractor.
“For the deadline, it is aimed at achieving a political objective before 2024.
“We should not push for an early completion to meet a certain deadline.
“They must do a proper job and I believe that it is going to be difficult to complete the the project one hundred percent within the 24 months.”
An unemployed man who shared nude pictures of his ex-wife has been sentenced to one year imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.
Samuel Baah is said to have sent his ex- wife’s nude images through WhatsApp to a female friend of the complainant.
Baah was charged with threat of death, non-consensual sharing of intimate image, threat to distribute prohibited image and publication of obscene material.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and the court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah convicted him on his own plea.
The case of the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Isaac Anquandah was that the complainant, name withheld, was a businesswoman while the accused, a resident of Ablekuma in Accra.
The prosecution said the accused, now convict, had been married to the complainant for two years.
It said in August this year, Baah, and the complainant had a misunderstanding and separated.
The prosecution said on September 2, this year, Baah sent series of threatening voice notes through WhatsApp to the complainant and describing her as a prostitute.
It said Baah in the voice note indicated that he would disgrace the complainant in the community.
He also threatened the complainant that if she divorced him, he would kill her and himself.
On September 12, this year, the prosecution said at about 8:30 am, the complainant received a phone call from her friend known as Afia who informed her that, she had received pictures and messages from a cell phone number with the complainant’s nude pictures.
The prosecution said the Director General of Criminal Investigations Department was petitioned over the issue and the matter was referred to the Cyber crime Unit for further investigations.
It said the complainant’s friend was invited to assist in investigations and Baah was discovered as the one who took the naked pictures of the complainant without her consent and sent to the complainant’s friends.
The prosecution said the accused was then picked up and during investigations, he admitted the offences.
The new lawyers representing Aisha Huang in the ongoing illegal small-scale mining, galamsey, trial have identified that the third witness from the State as part of his witness made some inaccurate comments.
Nana Sarfo Prempeh, the witness had already told the court that Aisha Huang had encroached on the concession of his company, Volta Resources Ltd, to illegally mine submitting a witness statement as well as documents and receipts to that effect.
But during cross-examination, Lead Counsel for the controversial Chinese, Miracle Atta-Chey established that the witness in his earlier statement attempted to cover his operations after presenting an exhibit which indicated that the company of the witness was being investigated for mining without a license by the authorities.
Nana Sarfo Prempeh denied and explained that the situation has been misconstrued.
“The investigators were misconstrued until they met me in person to hear my version. I was called into this case because the accused was being investigated for illegal mining and I was able to assist with evidence against the accused whereby Volta Resources had been a victim of Aisha Huang’s illegal mining,” Prempeh told the Court.
When asked if he had met Aisha Huang before, the witness hesitated before answering that he had met her through her mining activities.
He further explained that after his outfit reported the Chinese national’s illegal mining operations to the IGP, officials were dispatched on different occasions to seize her equipment from the mining concessions.
Find below some of the exchanges between Aisha Huang’s legal team and the State’s witness, as published by Accra-based TV3.
Lawyer: Have you met the accused in person before?
Witness: I’ve met her through her activities. One in October 2017, 4 of her excavators were seized by law enforcement agencies and deposited at the 4th battalion infantry in Kumasi.
In Feb 2016, VR made a complaint to the IGP against illegal activities of Aisha Huang and a team of officers were dispatched all the way from Accra to the concession and seized 2 of her machines.
In Aug 2016, the Ashanti Regional Security (Regsec) undertook an operation and seized her machines. In Jan 2017, the Bekwai district police undertook an operation at the concession of VRL and two of her machines were seized.
Lawyer: I put it to you that the accused person does not own any excavator or mining equipment as alleged by you.
Witness: the accused person has always made an appearance claiming ownership of the seized equipment. Unless the accused can show receipts or evidence to show who ahhe was renting the equipment to use got the illegal mining on the concession.
Because in every instance that VRL caused machines were being used for illegal mining it’s the accused that Media report covering a demonstration by residents at Gyaaman and Bepotenten whereby Ms Aisha Huang is being accused of mining and destroying the farms and drinking water of those residents. And that demonstration was covered by the media.
Lawyer: Have you been present in person all the incidents that you have narrated to this court regarding the alleged seizure of equipment?
Witness: in some instances yes, in others, no. May the court note that VR is a company so the director need not always be there but I myself have been there.
The trial hearing continues on Tuesday, November 29.
Nana Boakye Darkwa, the Benkumhene of Asamang-Tamfoe in the Eastern Region who was reportedly dismissed by the Okyeman Judicial Council headed by the Okyenhene has refuted the charge of illegal small-scale mining over which he was reportedly removed.
He stated in an interview on Citi FM (November 23) that it was rather his strong stance against galamsey that had resulted in people around the Okyenhene scheming to have him removed so that they can pursue their parochial agenda.
“I am not a galamseyer and I have never been involved in any galamsey and he knows. You (Judicial Council) invite me and the agenda is to come and speak about galamsey and siphoning the community’s money.
“When I get there, you throw all these things to the jargon and ask me why did I do the press conference. Those who came to the town firing indiscriminately like Boko Haram, where are they, have they been cautioned? Where are those people?” Nana Boakye Darkwa questioned.
The press conference in question is one that he held weeks back after members of the Okyeman anti-galamsey task force who has ostensibly gone to his jurisdiction to combat the scourge clashed with some indigenes.
He accused members of the task force of heavy-handedness yet sought to scapegoat him. “They have been shielded so they are looking for a scapegoat, that is me. They have failed.
“They think they can disgrace me, they are disgracing themselves…. They are looking for land here to mine and I have resisted it so they are looking for my removal so that they can get the chance to come and mine here and I will never allow them to come and mine here,” he stressed.
“I have said it time and time again. I have been a thorn in their flesh, so they are looking for a way to take me out so that they can get a chance to come and mine. That is it, period.”
He also mentioned two allies of the Okyenhene, who he claimed were into galamsey activities. “One man called Dabehene of Kyebi and his cousin called Owuraku. I have mentioned their names several times… I am not afraid of them, I have mentioned their names all over.”
The embattled chief also insists he remains at post despite reports that he had been destooled on the orders of the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
“I have not been destooled. It is a false propaganda by the State Secretary and Okyeman and the Okyenhene himself,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM.
He explained further that his position on the purported dismissal was anchored on the fact that he did not swear an oath before the OKyenhene and thus, his removal did not lie with the Okyenhene but rather his boss, Osabarima Kwame Ko II, who happens to be a sub-chief of the Okyenhene.
“I don’t swear an oath to the Okyenhene, I swore the oath to my chief, Osabarima Kwame Ko, and the tradition is like ‘who hires, who fires.’ I didn’t swear an oath or any undertaking to the Okyenhene’s palace, I swore an oath to my chief,” he added.
The Minority is predicting that the yet-to-be-read 2023 budget of the government will exacerbate the suffering of Ghanaians.
According to them, this is because the government intends to introduce a number of taxes.
The 2023 Budget is expected to be presented in Parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the presentation, a Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Thomas Ampem Nyarko alleged that government will increase the VAT rate to 20 percent from the current 17.5 percent.
“In fact, what we are hearing is that government intends to increase VAT by 2.5 percent,” he said.
He also claimed that there are rumours that income taxes will be increased, adding that exemptions on Mobile Money will also be removed.
“We will not accept this 2.5 percent increase in VAT because that will be killing. We are not saying no tax at all, because government programmes must run. However, all this when introduced is just going to kill Ghanaians,” Thomas Ampem Nyarko explained.
The NDC MP noted that the government ought to present a clear expenditure cut in the 2023 Budget, considering the hardship a section of the population is facing.
Traditional medicine practitioners have indicated that government should refocus its attention on their operations because it can earn the country billions of cedis to deal with the current economic crisis.
According to them, the herbal medicine sector can fetch Ghana more than 30 billion cedis in revenue if government refocuses its attention on the area.
Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, the newly elected president of the association describes the initiative as the ‘green gold agenda’.
At a recent ceremony to swear in new members of the Ghana federation of traditional medicine practitioners, Prof. Duncan urged the government to pay critical attention to the sector to reap the benefits.
‘We will pursue the green gold agenda. If gold and cocoa have failed in turning the economic fortunes of the country, then we must turn to green gold. When I say green gold, what I mean is, we have traditional medicine that we can package properly and sell for deprived exchange to benefit our country,” he said on November 23.
“I will help find solutions to the challenges confronting the country. This is practical, not just talking. We are ready to help redeem the crisis, Ghana is facing,” Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan added.
The President of the Ghana federation of traditional medicine practitioners noted that herbal medicines in Ghana are being rebranded to ensure packaging and quality of the products meet global standards.
Dr. Richard Amoako Baah, a Political Science Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has indicated that the majority of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentarians have lost their credibility.
His accusation relates to a recent U-turn on the part of the lawmakers who had on two occasions in the last month demanded the immediate dismissal of Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta over economic hardship.
Speaking to Accra-based Joy FM, the lecturer questioned why the MPs did not rescind their decision earlier and wondered further why the party executives did not approach the MPs early on when they decided to boycott the 2023 Budget reading should the Finance Minister present it.
“What is it that made them disagree before and how did they come back to this decision? They have brought party politics into the government … If you were going to change your mind, then you should do this earlier and why didn’t the party elders talk to them at an earlier time instead of this last minute?” Dr. Amoako Baah asked.
He noted that the latest decision taken by the anti-Ofori-Atta NPP MPs has also destroyed the credibility of the party.
“They [NPP MPs] have destroyed NPP’s credibility, they have separated the supporters, grassroots people of the party from themselves. Now it is very difficult for people to even see anything they say possible,” he observed.
Dr. Amoako Baah’s sentiment comes after some 98 NPP MPs rescinded their decision to boycott the 2023 budget presentation.
GhanaWeb earlier gathered that the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, risked meeting an empty Parliament when he appears before the House to present the budget.
According to our sources, both Caucuses were likely to be absent themselves, which would have made it impossible for the minister to present the budget because there will be a lack of quorum as required by the Constitution.
The MPs made this U-turn after meeting with the national leadership of the party, who urged them to hold off on their demand until the 2023 Budget statement was read and appropriated.
But Dr. Amoako Baah is of the view that the Parliamentarian’s action is not a good thing.
He explained that this is because the MPs represent the party more than the executives and therefore could have maintained their stance.
Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh, has urged the general public not to doubt the resolve of the majority caucus to get Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta removed from office.
According to him, the entire caucus has now decided that the minister will be removed after he has completed the initial stage of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), presented the 2023 budget, and seen to the completion of the appropriation bill for the budget as the president has requested.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana, monitored by GhanaWeb, Sylvester Tetteh added that Ofori-Atta, by his public pronouncements, has shown that he is not willing to step down, but the caucus will ensure that he is removed after he completes these three things.
“So, people should not be so much worried about the position and integrity of the majority caucus calling for Ken Ofori-Atta (to be sacked). Of course, there are two players in this, the president asking him to leave or he, himself, voluntarily resigning.
“His public posturing and everything suggests that he will not resign. He has clearly indicated he won’t go anywhere. He has not even heard the cry of the majority Members of Parliament, to say the least.
“I’m a Member of Parliament here today, and we don’t even have a budget brief to make an input. So, I’m going to sit in the chamber and open the budget for the first time,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has expressed disappointment over the decision of the majority not to support the minority in the impeachment of the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to him, even though the majority failed to support them, the minority will not abandon the censorship motion.
Speaking to the media in parliament, he said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also indicated that Akufo-Addo does not respect public opinion.
“…President Akufo-Addo will go down in history under the fourth republic as the president who most disrespected public opinion because as far as we are concerned public opinion is not supportive and favourable to the continuous stay in office of Ken Ofori-Atta. We feel led down and we feel betrayed by the majority caucus who have shown no wits in supporting us with our impeachment process within the letter and spirit of Article 82 of the 1992 constitution we are not abandoning our censorship motion,” he said.
Austria-based Ghanaian, Richard Owusu, has stated that he has no hope that Ghana can develop in the future because the leaders and the people do not love each other enough to want the best for them.
In an interview on Daily Hustle Worldwide, Richard Owusu indicated that the opportunities available for Europeans cannot be compared to Ghana despite the current global economic crisis.
He disclosed that Austria is also experiencing price hikes, but the prices don’t go up as often as in Ghana. Moreover, he mentioned some of the benefits Austrian citizens enjoy now.
“I bought fresh tomatoes after work today, and it was 3 Euros, 50 cents. If you don’t work here, you won’t eat. Even if someone gives you bread today, you can’t go back for more tomorrow. You have to pay bills and all. But you can always find a job here with whatever qualification you have, so people are well off,”
Speaking on the economic situation in Ghana, Richard noted that he has no hope when it comes to the development of Ghana and that the country will continue to wallow in poverty because there is no love among Ghanaians.
“It is not the same in Ghana, and it is a big problem. There are no manufacturing companies for skilled workers to do. I’m sorry, but we have allowed a lot to go, so we can’t compare ourselves to the whites. I have no hope for Ghana to develop. What we are going through now will continue forever because we don’t have love,” he told DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa.
After changing her legal team, new counsel for Chinese National standing trial for illegal mining in some parts of the country made no haste in putting the State’s third witness to the sword on the 6th day of Aisha Huang’s trial.
Prosecution’s third witness, Nana Sarfo Prempeh had told the court Aisha Huang had encroached on the concession of his company, Volta Resources Ltd to undertake her illegal mining operations and submitted a witness statement as well as documents and receipts to that effect.
But cross-examining Nana Sarfo, Lead Counsel for Aisha, Miracle Atta-Chey put it to the witness that he was attempting to cover his own operations after presenting an exhibit which indicated that the company of the witness was being investigated for mining without license by the authorities.
The State’s witness vehemently denied and noted that the situation was misconstrued and resolved after he explained to the investigating team.
“The investigators were misconstrued until they met me in person to hear my version. I was called into this case because the accused was being investigated for illegal mining and I was able to assist with evidence against the accused whereby Volta Resources had been a victim of Aisha Huang’s illegal mining,” Nana Sarfo told the Court.
When asked if he had met Aisha Huang before, the witness hesitated before answering that he had met her through her mining activities.
He further explained that after his outfit reported the Chinese National’s illegal mining operations to the IGP, officials were dispatched on different occasions to seize her equipment from the mining concessions.
He noted that each time, Aisha Huang would show up at the Bekwai District Police claiming ownership of the said excavators.
At this point, however, Aisha Huang took off her face mask and waved her finger in disagreement to the witness’ account.
“Have you met the accused in person before?
Ans: I’ve met her through her activities. One in October 2017, 4 of her excavators were seized by the law enforcement agencies and deposited at the 4th battalion infantry in Kumasi.
In Feb 2016, VR made a complaint to the IGP against illegal activities of Aisha Huang and a team of officers were dispatched all the way from Accra to the concession and seized 2 of her machines.
In Aug 2016, the Ashanti Regional Security (Regsec) undertook an operation and seized her machines. In Jan 2017, the Bekwai district police undertook an operation at the concession of VRL and two of her machines were seized.
I put it to you that the accused person does not own any excavator or mining equipment as alleged by you.
Ans: the accused person has always made an appearance claiming ownership of the seized equipment. Unless the accused can show receipts or evidence to show who ahhe was renting the equipment to use got the illegal mining on the concession.
Because in every instance that VRL caused machines were being used for illegal mining it’s the accused that Media report covering demonstration by residents at Gyaaman and Bepotenten whereby Ms Aisha Huang is being accused of mining and destroying the farms and drinking water of those residents. And that demonstration was covered by the media.
Have you been present in person all the incidents that you have narrated to this court regarding the alleged seizure of equipment?
Ans: in some instances yes, in others, no. May the court note that VR is a company so the director need not always be there but I myself have been there.
The trial hearing continues on Tuesday, November 29.
A US court has reportedly adjourned the case of fraud and money laundering against the son of the former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini.
According to a report by AsaaseRadio.com, the case has been adjourned until December this year.
Meanwhile, Abdul Inusah, who faces a possible prison term of up to 50 years, says he is yet to receive information about the actual date of adjournment from his attorney.
“The case has been adjourned to a later date in December and the actually day is yet to be confirmed. I’m yet to meet my attorney for clarification on that,” Inusah said.
In August this year, when news about the case against Inusah was reported by the media, the son of the MP said he was very expectant of being discharged.
“My utmost worry right now is not fighting my case or proving my innocence to the Ghanaian public,” Inusah said. “My very utmost problem right now will be my family and friends who have been affected by these half truth publications, with utmost respect because I don’t want to discredit anybody’s work.
“But these are half-truths, and people’s lives in Ghana are being affected, especially my family and love ones, and I would like to apologise to them that they should take heart and keep having faith that their brother and son is innocent and will soon be a free man and we will rejoice and jubilate with the people of Ghana,” an optimistic Inusah said in an interview on Thursday, August 25, 2022.
His father, speaking about the case in another interview, said it was a case of conspiracy as his son’s documents were used by some individuals to perpetrate crime, leading to the charges against him.
“As a father, my son told me that one of his colleague students wanted a car and he has documents that allows him to auction vehicles, and it turns out the colleague student was involved in a romance fraud,” the former MP said.
Labour consultant Austin Gamey has asked the government to be more open and transparent with the labour unions, who are currently asking for a 60% increment in their salaries.
According to him, this will enable the unions to have a perfect understanding and appreciation of the dynamics of the current economic challenges; and thus agree to a realistic increment.
“Let the employer be extremely very open and let them know of the truth, this is what we have, if we pay this, this will be the consequence and if we pay that, this will be the consequence. So let them (government) make a humble appeal to them (labour) and give them (labour) the assurance that come from next year going the right things will have to be done” Mr. Gamey explained.
Labour unions in Ghana are currently in negotiations with the government for a 60% increase in their salaries citing harsh economic conditions but the government has since proposed a 12% increase.
But speaking to Alfred Ocansey, host of the Ghana Tonight show on TV3, Austin Gamey stressed that “what they are demanding may be too much but it thus appear we’re not transparent and open enough for them (labour) to appreciate where we are, let them (government) open up and let them (labour) appreciate the dynamics of the situation in which we find ourselves and let’s agree that we’ll pay them very well and put in place systems to cheek it”.
He also urged the government to begin to develop a system that will help track the productivity of public sector workers, to enable the government to compensate them (lobour) appropriately.
He explained that “let us agree for once as a nation to develop a salary structure that is reasonable, that the national purse can accommodate and it can, except that the people will have to work for it and they do know that organized labour is not against productivity, the employer appears to be the one that is not taking the proper steps in accordance with the law”.
He indicated that a proper salary structure that will ensure workers are well paid will also set targets for the workers and that will improve productivity in the country.
Mr. Gamey also stated that the government should be able to develop a proper salary structure for the Ghanaian public sector workers before 2025 to avert further labour agitations.
The Ejura Sekyedumase Municipal Security Council is seeking the intervention of the Ghana Army to curb the increasing spate of violent crimes in the area.
The murder of a man in his 30s last Wednesday has informed this decision. The decapitated body of the male adult was discovered by police and community members of Kyeredieso near Sekyedumase in the Ashanti Region.
This brings the total number of people gruesomely murdered by unknown assailants to three.
A police incident report intercepted by asaaseradio.com indicated that the two other victims were attacked when some gun-wielding men ordered them to surrender their items during the robbery operation at about 18:30 GMT on Monday, 31 October.
A surviving victim Masawudu Sumaila had told the police that, “one of the armed men asked the father to surrender all the money on him but refused and rather rushed on the armed man who shot him twice in the neck.”
“The robbers took away an unspecified amount and some mobile phones belonging to the victims”, the police report read.
A family member also confirmed the death of another victim who sustained gunshot wounds during the attack. Awudu Braimah who has been narrating the incident gave the name of the deceased as Ibrahim Iddrisu, 40.
“Ibrahim also died at the St. Luke Hospital at Kasei. He also sustained life-threatening wounds. This is a big blow to the family and we pray that the police work hard to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The police also gunned down a suspected robber on the Ejura-Atebubu stretch when an O.A bus came under attack on 11 October.
“On reaching a section of the road between Ejura and Dromankuma curve bumped into four armed men robbing passengers. In an attempt to rob their bus shot and killed one of the robbers. Ejura Police proceeded to the scene and found a male Fulani aged about 21 with gun wounds on his left knee, thigh, and stomach lying dead.
A knife, stick, a bag containing SQ mobile phone, cash of GHC260, and Arabic inscription on white papers [were retrieved]”, a police statement had indicated.
But it appears the development has caught the attention of the municipal chief executive and chairman of the Municipal Security Council, Dr Kingsley Osei. He said his outfit is taking steps to address the security challenge.
“I am yet to get additional information from the security department on the Sekyedumase case…But in all situations, these crimes are perpetrated by Fulanis and so strategies have been marshalled by the security agencies. We are going to beef up the patrol team and make sure we nip this in the bud.
“We are also preparing a place for the military to come down and settle permanently. And we are praying that when they come their presence will prevent such crimes, the MCE said.
The minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has expressed disappointment over the decision of the majority not to support the minority in the impeachment of the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to him, despite the fact that the majority failed to support them, the minority will not abandon the censorship motion.
Speaking to the media in parliament, he said President Akufo-Addo also indicated that Akufo-Addo does not respect public opinion.
“…President Akufo-Addo will go down in history under the fourth republic as the president who most disrespected public opinion because as far as we are concerned public opinion is not supportive and favourable to the continuous stay in office of Ken Ofori-Atta. We feel led down and we feel betrayed by the majority caucus who have shown no wits in supporting us with our impeachment process within the letter and spirit of Article 82 of the 1992 constitution we are not abandoning our censorship motion.”
The Majority Caucus in Parliament has rescinded their decision to boycott the 2023 Budget Statement by embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
This comes after a meeting between the lawmakers and leaders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) which was held on November 23.
A statement co-signed by Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong read in part: “At a meeting this evening, the 22 of November 2022, involving the Majority Caucus, the Leadership of the Party and the Council of Elders, it has been agreed by all to refocus and recline to the earlier position requested by the President.”
Naa Mankwa Salifu Baba, the chief of Dabozesi in the Mamprugu Moaduri District has said going forward the traditional council will not allow anyone to put up a new building without a toilet facility.
The chief, who was enskinned in 2021, has charged all landlords in the community without toilet facilities in their homes to consider having one and to also ensure that the Dabozesi community is open defecation free.
“I want my community to be open defecation free,” Baba told Asaase News on the sidelines of a sanitation durbar in the community organised by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
“So, if you intend to build a new house in this community and you are not ready to add a toilet facility, I will not allow you to build the house. I don’t want my community to look dirty. I don’t want sanitation-related diseases in this community,” the chief said.
Baba expressed gratitude to his elders for their support in getting all households to have a toilet facility.
“If you intend to do something with people, the first thing you need to do is to have that kind of patience and tolerance in you. When I first started the sanitation campaign in the Dabozesi community, they didn’t want to take it but I pursue them with patience. I will continue to push to ensure that children don’t get sick anyhow,” he added.
The Dabozesi community was adjudged the cleanest community in the Mamprugu Moaduri District by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in collaboration with the environmental health and sanitation agency in the North East Region.
Ghana’s Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr has been discharged from hospital after undergoing a heart-related surgery in Rome.
On 18 November 2022, the Cardinal was discharged from Agostino Gemelli University Hospital where he had been on admission since 15 October 2022.
The Cardinal is now staying at the Generalate of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in Rome.
Richard Cardinal Kuuia Baawobr, Bishop of Wa, Ghana is said to be suffering from a heart-related condition that may require surgery.
“..Richard Cardinal Kuuia Baawobr who since his arrival in Rome fell ill and has been hospitalized with problems of the heart and it seems he may need to have surgery. Let’s remember him as well,” Pope Francis said.
Private legal practitioner and a member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko says the current economic crisis could worsen should the 2023 Budget not be passed on time.
According to Gabby the budget to be presented on Thursday, November 24, cannot suffer the fate of the previous one, referring to the 2022 Budget that saw a long debate and a protracted procedure.
According to him, failure to pass the budget could derail the progress made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.
Thursday’s 2022 budget is crucial. It can’t suffer a fate similar to the 2022 budget and its revenue measures. It could completely derail negotiations with the Fund if not passed. Critical to this are its revenue generation measures. We plead the NDC joins NPP in this for Ghana.
In a tweet on Wednesday, the founder of the Danquah Institute think tank pleaded with parliamentarians belonging to the opposition National Democratic Congress to help get the budget passed.
The outspoken politician added that revenue generation measures in the proposed budget are critical to solving the economic quagmire the country faces currently.
“Thursday’s 2023 budget is crucial. It can’t suffer a fate similar to the 2022 budget and its revenue measures.
“It could completely derail negotiations with the Fund if not passed.
“Critical to this are its revenue generation measures. We plead the NDC joins NPP in this for Ghana,” he tweeted.
Embattled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is expected to present the budget despite agitations within Majority MPs for him not to do so.
The MPs have threatened to boycott the reading should he insist on presenting it, however, on Tuesday, November 22, the Council of Elders of the NPP and the national leadership of the party held a crunch meeting with the aggrieved MPs to reconsider their decision.
Per JoyNews sources say the meeting was able to whip the non-conformist MPs in line, however it is unclear if the Minority who have filed a censure motion against the minister, will be present for the budget reading.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor says it is time Ghana abolished the Council of State concept in its governance structure.
He said the Council has outlived its usefulness in the current democratic dispensation.
“I have had a chance to express my views on the Council of State, very honourable distinguished institution, well-meaning. But, I can say I don’t think it is fit for purpose given the state of development of our country and given the fact that the nation is committed to practicing democratic governance.”
The former President said this at a seminar organised by the Professor Mike Oquaye Centre for Constitutional Studies at the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA), in Aburi, Eastern Region, on Tuesday.
The seminar formed part of a series of engagements the Institute is undertaking to solicit input toward a possible review of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The former President proposed that, instead of the Council of State, the country should set up a second chamber of Parliament to play the advisory role to the government.
In recent times, the relevance of the Council of State has been questioned with some political commentators, academia and civil society organisations suggesting that the body has outlived its usefulness, thus should be abolished.
Former President Kufuor explained that though the framers of the Constitution thought it wise to set up such a body to advise the President, the Council is no longer useful.
He said: “… We limit the uses of Council of State to advising just the President,” and that often, the President decided whether or not to take the advice.
“So, I have gone through all these periods and I have come to a conclusion, perhaps, what our Constitution should have to temper the extremes of democracy is not a Council of State, but a second chamber. A second chamber well composed not on basis of democracy so much. Democracy should always be implied in there though, but not entirely democratically but more on experience, prove in public spiritedness, prudence, maturity, care for the nation, inclusive.
“If we do that, and allow this second chamber to operate openly, in the full glare of publicity, then the wisdom that would be issued from their deliberations would impact not only the President… ,” he added.
The former President added that the term of the second chamber must not be tied to the tenure of any government to ensure that there is continuity in the provision of development for the people.
On limiting the appointing powers of the President, the former President said the country must practice the checks and balances in its pure form, especially among the lead organs of State.
He called for the amendment of sections of the Constitution that empowered presidents to appoint about 50 percent of Ministers from Parliament.
“The legislature should be apart, people being elected there should be encouraged to professionalise themselves as legislators so they will play the guard dogs or watchdogs on the executive,” he said.
The former President also urged that political parties should be allowed to participate in elections at the local level.
The West Gonja municipal commander of the Ghana Police Service Supt Johnson Hessey has advised traditional leaders to stop interfering in criminal cases against their subjects.
Hessey called on the chiefs to stop settling criminal cases such as rape, kidnapping and robbery at their palaces.
The commander made this appeal days after Ghana’s chief justice, Anin Yeboah commissioned a new circuit court complex in Damongo of the Savannah region.
“I will plead with the traditional authorities that criminal cases cannot be settled at the chief palace. When a criminal case is sent to court and a chief is interfering, it is preventing the laws of Ghana to work,” Supt Hessey said.
“Courts make people to be aware of certain things, they will not be ignorant,” he added.
The new circuit will bring justice delivery closer to the people of Damongo. The police used to travel about 98 kilometres to Bole or Tamale for court hearings.
Chartered Institute of Bankers Ghana continues to support the banking industry’s sustainability through human capital development. As part of delivering on its mandate to promote banking education and regulate the practice of banking in Ghana, the Institute has graduated 620 chartered bankers in the last three years.
This was disclosed by the Chief Executive of the Institute, Robert Dzato, during the 13th induction and graduation ceremony held in Accra for the newly Chartered Bankers. These Chartered Bankers have completed the Institute’s requirements of examination and practical experience as well as orientation.
The 2022 ceremony was held under the theme ‘Future of Banking in Ghana: Ethics, Professionalism, and ESG Imperatives. In his keynote address, John Kofi Adomako, the Managing Director of GCB Bank, congratulated the Institute and its newly qualified bankers.
He indicated that, to stay in the competition, the banking industry needs human capital in the areas of data analytics, AI, digital leadership, customer centricity, ESG amongst others. Commenting on the theme, he said banks should adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies and to have mechanisms in place to assess the impact on their businesses.
Mr. Adomako said: “The role of banks and bankers is increasingly going beyond the regulatory compliance and value creation for stakeholders. There is a firm conviction by banks to advance to environmental, social and governance both within their organizations and with their customers, regulators and broader stakeholders. How banks embed ESG concepts in their governance fabric and culture are things we should be thinking about.”
He also stated that the banking sector is facing a combination of disruptions and the necessity for banks to respond strategically. “Data-driven fintechs and telcos are leading the charge in deploying data-driven insights to build profitable businesses that provide solutions based on customer journeys. To respond effectively, banks will have to reinvent the ecosystems, platforms and data assets that allow them to monetize data and pursue intelligent selling and cross-selling of products and services.
On his part, The President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) Ghana, Benjamin Amenumey applauded the newly graduated students and inductees for their tenacity, diligence, and perseverance in getting this far. “I congratulate our inductees and graduands for this great achievement. I commend the great efforts of our Institute, facilitators, lecturers, examiners, our external teaching centres and staff of the Institute for their contribution,” he said.
He urged the new inductees to keep learning to stay current with the latest financial industry trends. “Be alert to new trends and keep learning new skills, acquire new knowledge to solve problems and remain relevant. The day you stop learning new stuff, that is the day you start dying,” he said.
The Chief Executive of CIB Ghana, Robert Dzato, admonished the newly inducted Chartered Bankers to do more than just banking. He advised them to leverage their chartered banker status to take advantage of the related banking services as stipulated in the Institute’s Act, 2016 (Act 991). To transform the perception of bankers, he advised the freshly graduated students and inductees to strive for and thrive on ethics and professionalism.
“You are graduating at a time when ethics is important. If you look at the Bank of Ghana report for 2021, GH¢61 million was lost due to fraud. Alarmingly, 53 per cent of the fraud involved staff of banks. So, you are going out there as the voice of conscience and the voice of professionalism. We have a responsibility to re-professionalize banking,” he added.
He also indicated that the Institute is currently reviewing its syllabus to address skills gap and equip bankers with competencies in data and analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital and ESG; but ethics will remain fundamental to the CIB Ghana qualification.
Six (6) prizes were given out by the Institute to some inductees who demonstrated exceptional performance by doing well in their respective courses. Kwabena Owusu Asante from GCB Bank won the Strategic Marketing Management Award of the Year; Benjamin Owusu from GCB Bank won both International Trade Finance and Banking Operations- Regulation, Market Practice, and Treasury Management of the Year; Korkor Ngobi Azina-Nartey from Ecobank PLC won Corporate Governance of the Year Award; Christabel Naa Ayorkor Armah of Access Bank PLC won Risk Management Award of the Year, and Michael Agbetepey of Agave Rural Bank PLC won Microfinance and Rural Banking Award of the Year.
Princess Jemimah Cato from the Bank of Ghana emerged as the valedictorian of the year winning the most promising inductee among her colleagues. Expressing her profound excitement, she reminisced about the long and often arduous journey which had brought them to their graduation day and on behalf of the graduation class thanked the administrators and staff of the institute as well as their families of the graduating class for their support. She further urged her colleagues to uphold the name of the institutes in high esteem by upholding the ethics, expertise, exposure and education.
“We must uphold our ethics, honesty, and professionalism in a field like ours so that they can’t be minimized. And regarding education, I suggested that all bankers go through CIB Ghana to gain the professionalism required in the market. The world is heading toward green financing, so I counsel banking management to do the same. Finally, they should know their respective fields to succeed,” she said.
Some key dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Immediate Past President of CIB Ghana, Rt. Rev. Patricia Sappor; Managing Director for GCB Bank PLC, John Kofi Adomakoh; Council Members, Fellows, ACIBs, representatives of other professional bodies and other invited guests.
COVID-19 has left a generation scarred in its wake. From the lingering economic effects, such as the disruptions to supply chains across the world to the apprehension whenever an unmasked person sneezes, especially, in an enclosed space, the impact is undeniable.
Ghana’s response to COVID-19 was heralded globally for being swift and comprehensive, and in many ways, it was.
Restrictions on movement in the earliest days, which were characterized by gross uncertainty, the mandatory wearing of masks in public spaces and support for business were all enforced fairly well.
These measures, in part, kept the total number of positive cases to approximately 171,000 – 0.54 percent of the population, using the 2021 Housing and Population Census – and a mortality rate of 0.85 percent (1,460). This compares favourably, for instance, with the 4.03 million cases recorded among South Africa’s 60 million, where, unfortunately, 102,000 persons died from the illness as of August 2022.
Vaccines injection
The most important component of the fight against the virus is undoubtedly the vaccines, which one study found that between December 2020, and December 2021, saved an additional 14.4 to 19.8 million deaths in 185 countries.
Acutely aware that successful deployment could, among other things, improve the mental and emotional well-being of the citizenry, decrease morbidity and mortality, and minimize disruptions to social and economic functions, managers of the pandemic response developed a National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP).
This was executed by applying the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE’s) framework for the allocation and prioritization of vaccination.
Under this framework, the government had to ensure the provision of cold chain equipment (CCEs) across health centres in the country. In addition, vaccination safety protocols, such as infection prevention and waste disposal were adhered to, even as vaccines were administered in phases; targeting the most vulnerable and the most exposed.
On this front, Ghana was again at the fore of its peers, when in February 2021, it made history by becoming the recipient of the first batch of AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines under the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility.
The initiative bore fruit as the nation has recorded a modest vaccination rate despite instances of hesitancy, mostly spurred by conspiracy theories. Official data indicates that some 14.9 million doses of the vaccines have been administered, meaning, 65 percent of eligible persons have had at least one shot, with 27.6 percent, being fully vaccinated.
SEND Ghana leading social accountability
Considering the far-reaching impact of COVID-19, and how indispensable vaccines are to curbing its spread, there is a need for objective, data-driven monitoring and accountability to ensure satisfactory delivery. SEND Ghana has applied a social accountability framework to ensure this.
With funding support from the Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF), SEND Ghana through a survey “monitored the compliance for Ghana’s NDVP and citizens’ COVID-19 vaccination experience, with the view to promote equity, transparency and accountability of the COVID-19 NDVP and to inform future vaccination service delivery.” The study surveyed more than 1,000 citizens, health workers and teachers in 25 vaccination centres across eight districts in urban and peri-urban areas equally chosen from Accra and Kumasi, which were characterized by high incidents of COVID-19.
This was done to ascertain the level of uptake, thoughts and experiences around vaccination on the part of the target group and assess the distribution of cold chain equipment (CCEs) and vaccine logistics, among similar themes. An apparent theme of the exercise was the desire of the majority of respondents (52 percent) to get vaccinated with the goal of protecting not only themselves but persons with whom they come on in regular, close contact.
Logistics are required for the successful implementation of any mass inoculation drive and the survey discovered that the distribution of CCEs was “somewhat fair.” The available refrigerator models were considered “quite adequate” and their distribution across health centres in the districts “equitable.”
Gaps with other models, cold boxes and vaccine carriers drew calls for “the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to adopt steps to increase the availability of vaccine logistics across districts within the country.” This comes to suggest that government needs to adopt necessary measures to ensure the supply of required capacity and the number of CCE and related accessories in districts with gaps.
The health facilities, it noted, observed strict adherence to safety and hygiene protocols, a phenomenon largely attributed to the operators’ deeper understanding of the risks, coupled with, in some instances, first-hand experience of the horrors of being infected. Most vaccination facilities offered discrete waiting spaces for vaccine recipients to rest and be monitored for any immediate negative effects. Hand hygiene amenities like alcohol-based sanitizers were also readily available.
Teachers and health professionals were given priority by the NDVP for the immunization exercise because of their susceptibility to contracting the virus. Despite this high vaccination rate, 1 in 10 medical professionals and 13.5 percent of teachers who had not received the immunizations stated concerns about side effects, a lack of knowledge about the safety and adverse effects of the vaccines, and doubts about their efficacy as justifications.
On account of the above, SEND recommended that the Ghana Health Service organize NDVP refresher training for its employees. Inasmuch as monitoring results indicate compliance was generally good, such a move would improve the NDVP guideline compliance rate. Health Directorates are encouraged to sustain the vaccine promotion efforts/campaigns to contribute to the attainment of the country’s herd immunity target with an emphasis on assuaging concerns over possible side effects and safety, which featured prominently.
Furthermore, building on the concern of respondents for the well-being of their close associates, it was recommended that the COVID-19 vaccination communication messages “should focus on the protection of family members and friends from the disease and possible deaths and less on mandates restricting access to services and employment reasons.” Ultimately, the GHS was urged to commend its staff for exhibiting top-rate professionalism during the vaccination exercise.
Going forward
Whilst it might seem that there is no imminent danger of a full-blown resurgence of the pandemic, there remains the possibility of mutation. Already, two subvariants of the omicron’s BA.5 strand – BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 – which emerged recently have both been described as “dangerous” and “qualities or characteristics that could evade some of the existing interventions,” according to a top US health official, as reported by its media.
Furthermore, the adoption of these recommendations would prove useful in the event of the outbreak of other illnesses. The threat of Ebola, Lassa fever, Marburg, and other severe respiratory diseases hangs over local healthcare systems almost in perpetuity. With the possible socioeconomic disruptions that a resurgence of COVID-19 or a similar pandemic would pose, the guidance provided in SEND GHANA and PTF’s survey must be implemented as a matter of urgency.
The Minority in Parliament has expressed disappointment at the Majority Caucus in failing to support the censure motion against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The Minority filed a censure motion against the Finance Minister over allegations of conflict of interest, financial recklessness leading to the collapse of the Ghana Cedi and gross mismanagement of the economy among others.
Some New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament also called on the President to dismiss the Finance Minister due to the current economic hardships. They had threatened to boycott the 2023 Budget presentation scheduled for Thursday, November 24.
But national executives and the Council of Elders of the NPP on Tuesday stepped in to resolve the impasse between the NPP members of the Majority Caucus and the President over the demands for the sacking of the Finance Minister.
A statement jointly signed by the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Koduah as a resolution to the ongoing impasse, urged the Majority MPs to put their demands on ice until negotiations for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bail-out are completed.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu said the Majority caucus has failed the public by not supporting the censure.
“President Akufo-Addo will go down in history as the President who mostly disrespected public appeal because as far as we are concerned public opinion is not supportive and favourable to the continuous stay in office of this failing, beleaguered lame-duck Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta.”
“We feel let down, and we feel betrayed by the Majority caucus, who have shown no wits in supporting us with our impeachment process…We are not abandoning our censorship motion, and we are in it for the long haul,” the Minority Leader told Journalists on Wednesday.
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana has called for more incentives for farmers in the 2023 budget statement.
In an interview with Citi Business News, the Head of programs and Advocacy at the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Charles Nyaaba said the country will greatly benefit if adequate provision for the agricultural sector is made in the budget which is expected to be presented to Parliament on Thursday, November, 24.
The National Association of Poultry Farmers in the last year have been agitating and demanding a reduction in the prices of maize, soya beans, and other medicines needed for their stock.
Charles Nyaaba also bemoaned the post-harvest losses, which he said is another major problem hindering the overall production of his members.
“A lot of farmers have grown their rice, and they couldn’t harvest it because they couldn’t afford combined harvesters. So we expect to see, in the budget, provisions made for an increased supply of mechanization services. If I talk of mechanization services, I am referring to tractors, combined harvesters, and a rice mill to ensure that we increase our rice production.”
“Most poultry farmers have closed down their farms because they cannot afford maize. The reason why maize supply has gone down and prices have gone high is because of the high price of fertilizer and other inputs for production.”
He further advised that in order to prevent the current situation next year, allocations must be made to the maize farmers to reduce their cost of production and increase their farm size.
“We expect to see budget allocation for people who produce maize to be able to produce with low cost, and increase their farm size so that next year by this time, the prices of maize will go down so that poultry farmers can buy.”
National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nana Ofori Owusu, has questioned why Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is so adamant about leaving office, even though he claims to be working for free.
Nana Owusu said that he was one of the first people to commend the finance minister for working for the country for free but he does not understand why he is refusing to vacate his position despite calls by many Ghanaians for him to step down.
“When I heard the finance minister does not take a salary, I applauded him because of his willingness to sacrifice his time and leave all his businesses to work for Ghana for free.
“Now, I don’t understand why the minister for finance, who says is not paid GH¢1 … who gets nothing from the public sector, is fighting so hard to keep a position his own people, including majority of MPs of his party, are urging him to relinquish.
“You are serving us for free and we are saying that we are grateful for the service but you should step aside and you are saying no I will continue serving,” he said in Twi in a Peace FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb.
The PPP national chairman added that the refusal of the finance minister to resign feeds into the conflict-of-interest allegation against him.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Joseph Whittal, has said that CHRAJ has received a petition from Tiger Eye PI, the outfit of Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, to investigate Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to Whittal, Ana’s outfit wants CHRAJ to investigate Ofori-Atta for the conflict of interest allegation levelled against him for the involvement of his bank, Data Bank, in loans the government of Ghana contracts.
He added that the commission is currently examining the petition as to whether it has merits.
The managing editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has bemoaned the instance of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta staying at post despite the many calls for him to step down.
Speaking in an interview on Peace FM, monitored by GhanaWeb, Pratt wondered why the minister who claimed he resigned from the Data Bank on health grounds is healthy enough to be a minister of state.
He added that Ofori-Atta should resign because the position in the finance ministry is not his personal business.
“If I were Ofori-Atta, I would have resigned long ago. He said he works for free but he is refusing to resign. He said he resigned from Data Bank because of his health.
“And so if you cannot do the work at Data Bank because of your health, how is it that you are healthy enough to be the finance minister of the whole of Ghana,” he said in Twi.
The veteran journalist further stated that he still holds the view that sacking Ofori-Atta will not make any significate difference but it is time for him (the finance minister) to go.
“The minister can choose not to resign but he must know that his decision must meet the demands of Ghanaians because he is not running a private business,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government has indicated that it will present the 2023 budget in Parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2024. However, the person who presents the budget has become an issue.
This is because 98 MPs of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have indicated that they will boycott the reading of the budget if Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is the one to present it.
Also, an ad hoc committee of Parliament set up to investigate a vote of censure motion against Ofori-Atta by National Democratic Congress MPs is expected to present its report to the house on Tuesday, November 22.
The Ghana Water Company Limited has shut down its Kyebi Treatment Plant due to high turbidity as a result of the continuous pollution of river Birim by illegal miners, popularly known as galamseyers.
This was made known by the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, during a courtesy call on him by the Association of Small-Scale Miners.
The Okyehene called for the immediate arrest of illegal miners operating in Kyebi and its environs.
The Overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa State added that the recklessness of illegal miners who are mining day and night in the Birim river is posing a health risk to all residents in the enclave.
He described the illegal miners as criminals who must be arrested by the IGP and the Ghana Police Service to face prosecution.
Okyehene who bemoaned the lack of supervision of water bodies over the years in the fight against galamsey called for the retooling of the inspectorates division of the Minerals Commission and other responsible agencies in both human and logistical capacities to help achieve the needed results.
The Member of Parliament for Abaklu, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has explained why he is not going to resign as a Member of Parliament after promising to do so on live TV.
On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, during a panel discussion, on Good Morning Ghana programme, Governs Agbodza said that Vice President Bawumia, after telling Ghanaians that the government of former President John Dramani Mahama was constructing hospitals at an inflated cost, is now constructing hospitals at a cost far greater than that of Mahama.
Dr. Kabiru Mahama retorted, saying that Agbodza’s statement was not true because hospitals were being constructed at a far lesser cost under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo/Mahamudu Bawumia government.
He went on to cite an example of a 150-bed unit at Ofankor District Hospital, which was constructed at a cost of not more than $1.5 million.
But the NDC MP said that the example given by Bawumia’s aide cannot be true and went on to promise that he will resign as an MP if he can prove that a 150-bed unit was constructed at a cost less than $1.5 million.
Dr. Mahama then pulled a story from GhanaWeb proving that a 150-bed unit at Ofankor District Hospital was built for less than $1.5 million.
Exactly a week later, on November 22, 2022, the MP on “Good Morning Ghana,” as he usually is on Tuesdays, explained why he was not going to resign despite the ‘evidence’ given by Bawumia’s advisor.
He said that pronouncements made by Vice President Bawumia and Dr. Kabiru Mahama about the said health facility were false because the facility at Ofankor was not a district hospital but a health centre.
He also stated that the African Development Bank (ADB), which provided funding for the health facility, classified it as a health center rather than a hospital.
“The question is has ADB built a 150 bed unit hospital (at Ofankor)? … that is a calculated lie. If you go to the ADB website, you will see every project they have done in this country.
He went on to read a document by the government that listed some projects that had been completed and it indicated “a health centre at Ofankor not a district hospital at Ofankor”.
“So, where exactly did the vice president get this idea about a 150-bed district hospital,” he added.
The Ministerial Session of the Accra Initiative (AI) ended in Accra yesterday after further deliberations on the need for joint actions by Member States to address cross-border security issues.
The conference brought together Ministers of Security and Defence of Member States of the AI, which are Benin, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, and Niger.
Other participants were some representatives of the United Nations (UN) and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS).
The AI was established in September 2017 as a mechanism to enhance intelligence and security cooperation between the security agencies of member states.
Its formation was necessitated by the urgent need to address the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel region and curb the southward drift of the threat of terrorism to Coastal West African States.
Opening the session, Minister for National Security, Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, said with strong collaboration between African countries, winning the fight against terrorism in the sub-region could be possible.
He stated that the seemingly deteriorating security situation in some African countries did not mean efforts of leaders of the affected countries to combat violent extremism were in vain.
Rather, the minister stressed that the situation could have even been worst without some interventions like intelligence sharing and capacity building, put in place to monitor situations and avert further misfortunes.
He commended the AI for its dedication to ensuring that terrorists and extremists do not take refuge in its member states.
Commissioner, of Political Affairs, peace and security of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, in his remarks bemoaned that terrorism was steadily gaining a foothold in the region, especially in the Sahel with the onslaught of Boko Haram in Nigeria and the southward movement towards the coastal member states especially in Benin, Togo, and Cote d’Ivoire.
He noted that the incremental gains of a combination of determined efforts by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), counterterrorism operations across the Lake Chad Basin as well as inter terrorist conflicts which had to some extent degraded the capacities of terrorist groups such as the Boko Haram.
According to Dr. Musah, the worrisome incursion of terror acts in Benin and Togo in recent times and the attacks in Cote D’Ivoire in 2016 confirmed the spread of the terrorist menace toward coastal member states.
Over the years, various counterterrorism mechanisms, he said had emerged to respond to the terrorist threat, “Which are often uncoordinated and independent of ECOWAS.”
“It is worthy to note that the three areas of effort of the AI namely, information exchange between intelligence services and security forces, training of intelligence services and security forces, and the joint military operations at the borders of member states correspond very well for the eradication of terrorism in the ECOWAS region,” he added.
In her remarks, a representative of the UN, Ms Giovanni Biha indicated that cross border cooperation and joint military operations to address the terrorist threat had been largely possible by virtue of the commitment of member countries of the AI.
She assured of her outfit’s readiness to continually support the AI in achieving its objectives.
The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Ghana, Mr. Irchad Razaaly, stressed that thinking outside the box to find innovative solutions to counter terrorism in the sub-region was very necessary.
The Minister for Communications and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West Constituency, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has urged the minority in parliament to reconsider their decision not to approve any further loans by government.
According to her, the country may face a more difficult financial situation if these loans are disapproved.
She explained that one of the loans which have to do with her ministry will be funding for entrepreneurial skills, development training and start-up capital to start the innovation ecosystem and also provide jobs in the country.
She added that there is a need for parliament to approve these loans as digital technology provides us opportunities in these difficult times.
“This loan facility that the world bank board has already approved and are willing and eager to give this money to us but we cannot contract any loans without parliamentary approval. This loan for the Ghana Digital acceleration project will provide funding for entrepreneurial skills, development training and start-up capital to stare up the innovation ecosystem of our country.
“If we didn’t learn anything form the pandemic; it is that one lesson we all must have learnt is that without digital technology it is impossible for any country to grow its economy to communicate in the rapidly unfolding environment in which we live.
“Yes, we are having economic challenges but the Digital technology provides us with the ladder to climb out if the difficulties we currently face and so even though the minority has already taken the stand that they will not approve any further loans. I urge upon them that they should take another look at their position and reconsider because if we don’t take the right decision today, our country will be in probably even more difficult circumstances tomorrow,” she told journalists in parliament.
The minority side in parliament has vowed that it will not approve any further loan agreement by the government of Ghana in Parliament.
According to the minority, the approval of further loans will worsen the debt situation of the country.
Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency Thomas Nyarko Ampem said in an interview that “Government of Ghana has brought a loan agreement for us to approve and three different loans agreement. One for two hundred million dollars and two each for one hundred and fifty million dollars. We have taken a very simple decision that looking at our debt situation we are unable to support further approvals for further loans because believe that if you are in a hole you don’t continue to dig further.”
It is based on this the Minister of Communication has asked the minority to reconsider their decision.
The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ayensu Ntim, on Tuesday, 22nd November 2022, inaugurated the various Standing and Ad-hoc Committees of the party’s National Council.
The said solemn event came off at the party headquarters, Asylum Down, Accra.
Having taken the relevant oaths which were administered by the National Chairman, members of the various committees are expected, under the party constitution, other applicable laws and regulations, to assist the National Executive body in administering the party.
In his brief remarks, Chairman Stephen Ayensu Ntim congratulated the members of the committees, whom he said, were all carefully chosen by the National Council on the basis of their proven experience, competence, and expertise in the various committees they have been appointed to serve on. He thus, implored them to work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Party.
The General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong, also congratulated the members of the various committees on their deserving appointments and took the opportunity to remind them of their responsibilities and the huge expectations of the Party. He noted that the committees are expected to meet regularly and present a report to the National Council as required by the party’s constitution.
Speaking on behalf of the committees, Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah, Chairman of the Research Committee, thanked the party Leadership for the confidence reposed in them. He said it was an honour for them to be chosen among the many qualified persons in the party, and therefore, gave a firm assurance that they would not disappoint the party.
The Standing Committees that were inaugurated in accordance with Article 10(3) of the Party Constitution were: the National Disciplinary Committee, Finance Committee, Organization Committee, Research Committee, and Constitutional and Legal Committee. The Ad-hoc Committees that were inaugurated included the Welfare and Communications Committees.
Find below the composition of the various committees:
NATIONAL DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
1. Hon Kwasi Amoako Atta (Chairman)
2. Dr. Gladys Norley Ashitey
3. Mabel Sarpong
4. Robert Kutin Jnr.
5. Ing. Akwasi Abeasi
6. Hon. Patrick Boamah
7. Hon. Sheila Bartels
8. Mr. Kwaku Osei Asare
FINANCE COMMITTEE
1. Mr. Abankwa Sekyere (Chairman)
2. H.E Amb. Edward Boateng
3. Dr. Charles Dwamena
4. Madam Adelaid Ahwireng
5. Nana Adwoa Dokua
6. Madam Janet Ananse
7. Mr. Ernest Akore
1. Lord Oblitey Commey (Chairman)
2. Henry Nana Boakye
3. Mr. Samuel Awuku
4. Hon. Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh
5. Hon. Ali Maiga Halidu
6. Hon. Catherine Afeku
7. Ali Suraj
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
1. Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah (Chairman)
2. Dr. Antoinette Tsibu Darko
3. Laurette Korkor Asante Otchere Esq
4. Dr. Nyame Baafi
5. Mr. Ernest Kumi
6. Mr. Matthew Kyeremeh
7. Dr. Owusu Mensah
8. Dr. Tina Abrefa
9. Amma Frimpongmaa
10. Mr. Peter Oteng Darko
11. Dr. Kingsley Agyeman
12. Mohammed Tahiru
13. Ayisha Salifu
14. Evans Nimako
15. Sharika A. Isahaku
16. Hajia Rukaya Ahmed
17. Albert Bediako
18. Nelson Owusu Ansah
COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE
1. Nana Akomea (Chairman)
2. Madam Oboshie Sai Coffie
3. Dr. Kabiru Mahama
4. Yaw Adomako Baafi
5. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah
6. Hon. Davis Opoku Ansah
7. Richard Ahiagba
8. Dennis Aboagye
9. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
10. Kwabena Sarpong
11. Hon. Ben Ayeh
12. Mr. Akwasi Afriyie
13. Hon. Titus Glover
14. Mr. Yofi Grant
15. Hon. Dr. Stephen Amoah
16. Mr. Kwabena Kwakye
17. Frances Essiam
18. Maame Afia Akoto
WELFARE COMMITTEE
1. Madam Rita Asobayire (Chairperson)
2. Dr. Charles Dwamena
3. Mr. William Yamoah
4. Madam Vida Dugbartey
5. Mr. Samuel Yeboah
6. Madam Kate Gyamfua
7. Madam Mary Porsch Oduro
8. Mr. Kwabena Frimpong
9. Bella Ofori
10. Madam Afua Gyekyewaa
The minority has reintroduced a motion to kick out the health minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu over his involvement in the Sputnik-V vaccines procurement scandal.
The private members on the motion, according to the Parliament’s Order Paper, are James Avedzi, Mubarak Muntaka, Ahmed Ibrahim, and others.
The motion was filed against the minister on the following conduct;
1. Undertaking International Business or Economic Transaction (procurement and supply of vaccines) as Minister for Health with the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum without prior approval of Parliament contrary to article 181 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
2. Signing Procurement Agreement with the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and S.L. Global Ltd without prior approval of the Board of the Public Procurement Authority under sections 40 and 41 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended by Act 914 which constitutes Criminal Offence under the law;
3. Dishonest Procurement of Sputnik-V vaccines from the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and S.L. Global Ltd at the cost of US$ 19.00 and US$18.5 respectively when the ex-factory price of the Sputnik-V vaccine generally announced was US$10 confirmed by the Minister to the Committee responsible for Health.
4. Knowingly procuring Sputnik-V vaccine from the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and S.L. Global Ltd at the cost of US$19.00 and US$18.5 respectively per dose. Nevertheless, informs the Committee responsible for Health that the ex-factory price of the Sputnik- V does not exceed US$10.00 per dose;
5.Causing payment in the sum of US$2,850,000.00 (Cedi the equivalent of GH$16,331,640.00) to the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum under void agreement with the Private Office of His Highness Sheik
Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, yet fibbed and misrepresented to the Ad Hoc Committee on Oath that no payment was made under the Agreement to the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and thereby committing a crime, to wit perjury; and
6.The above conduct, being in direct breach of the Constitution and Laws passed by this Honourable House, the Minister for Health be removed from office as Minister by a Vote of Censure passed in accordance with article 82 of the 1992 Constitution.
Attah Aryee and his colleagues at the Ankaful Maximum Prison have received three television sets to enable them to watch the ongoing World Cup.
The Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng presented 43 inches television sets to the inmates in fulfillment of a promise to Attah Aryee’s request for the electronic appliances.
Apart from the TVs, Mr. Kwarteng also presented two desktop computers and a 4-horse power mower to the inmates.
The appliances were donated by the Chief Executive Officer of Agyare Real Estates, Stephen Agyare Jnr. to mark his birthday.
Mr. Kwarteng whiles handing over the items to prison officers, urged the public to show love to the inmates as has been done by Mr. Agyare.
He appealed to corporate entities, religious organizations, and individuals to support the prisons to help give them a facelift.
“Not everybody in prison committed a crime. Freedom is priceless so when you are out there enjoying remember those in prison. The prison is not a place to live because your freedom would be curtailed. So let’s come to the aid of the inmates to show them affection,” he said.
Mr. Agyare Jr. feeling blessed by his move, reiterated the plea for the general public to support CCF’s cause to improve prison conditions.
“I am blessed to sponsor the donation and I want you to feel the same. I am pleading with corporate Ghana to support CCF to improve the conditions of the inmates. Let’s come together to help,” he charged.
The Officer-In-Charge of the Ankaful Main Camp Prison, DDP Robbin Asamoah Fenning thanked CCF and Mr. Agyare Jnr. for honouring the demand of the inmates.
“We thank CCF and Mr. Agyare Jnr. for these appliances. Many regard us as outcasts but you have shown love through this donation. CCF’s immense contribution to the welfare of inmates cannot be discounted and we urge other corporate entities and individuals to emulate the gesture,” he said.
Ataa Aryee appealed to CCF for the appliances to enable them to watch the World Cup and also ease their difficulty in weeding the prison compound.
He is serving a 160-year jail term; the longest-serving prisoner at the moment.
Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah is urging the Majority and Minority sides of Parliament to work in close collaboration to get a feasible budget program that will propel the Ghanaian economy onto the path of recovery.
In a tweet, the Minister hinted that government’s economic blueprint for next year which will be presented to Parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2022, will focus on prudent economic policies that will help reboot the economy, hence, needs the collaboration of both sides of the house.
“The 2023 budget is supposed to be the foundation of our recovery. Majority and Minority will have to work together in the national interest to arrive at a feasible budget program,” he tweeted.
Hinting on some key pillars of the budget, the Minister said it will focus on restoring macroeconomic stability, arresting the escalating cost of living, achieving moderate growth and completing ongoing government projects across the country.
This, he said the budget statement is a prerequisite for securing an IMF deal and therefore must be carefully crafted in order to get the buy-in of all segments of society.
