A former Director of the Minerals Commission, Richard Kofi Afenu, says he disagrees with calls for the government to ban small-scale mining in the country.
According to him, banning small-scale mining is not the answer to illegal mining otherwise known as galamsey.
“I do not think a ban on small-scale mining would yield the desired result of fighting illegal mining. In 2017, a ban was imposed on mining. The question is, were are we able to root out illegal mining?”
He argues that the astronomical increase in gold production when a ban on mining was imposed in 2018, was enough evidence that a new ban will not yield the required results but will only make room for illegal mining to prevail.
Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Afenu wants the government to provide lasting solutions, including the stringent enforcement of laws that govern mining in the country.
“We need to look at the drivers, and what is causing illegal mining in the country. Let’s tackle the root cause. Let us see the powers that are backing the illegal miners”.
Already, analysts have warned Ghana risks being food and water insecure as the activities of illegal miners continue to destroy water bodies and ravage farmlands.
Religious groups, Civil Society Groups such as Green Advocate Ghana among others have called on the government to ban small-scale mining in the country.
These groups posit that both illegal and legal small-scale mining had destroyed biodiversity, hence the need for its restoration.
The family of former President John Dramani Mahama has categorically refuted claims of having preferred candidates in the upcoming internal elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
A statement signed by Rafik Mahama, Secretary to the family, said “no member of the family is aligned and supports any of the candidates as being alleged.”
He urged the general public and members of the NDC to disregard reports of the former President supporting some preferred candidates.
“JohnMahamaFamily has no preferred candidatesinthe upcomingNDCInternalElections. ReportsreachingthefamilyofH.E.JohnMahamaindicatesomepersonsassociatingtheirnames withcertaincandidatesintheupcominginternalelectionsoftheNationalDemocraticCongress (NDC).”
The NDC will from Friday, November 11, 2022, begin its regional election conferences nationwide.
The exercise will end on Sunday, November 13, 2022. The party wants delegates to fully abide by all laid down rules outlined.
NDC delegates in the Greater Accra Region will vote for the positions of youth organizer and women organizer at the Du Bois Memorial Center today.
The elections will continue on Sunday at the Tema Sports complex where delegates will elect a new Chairman, Secretary, and Organizer among others for the Greater Accra Region.
The Ministry for Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has announced plans to replicate its sale of cheaper foodstuff to the public at the Efua Sutherland Park to incorporate more local food products.
The Agric Ministry on Friday, November 11, 2022, began the retailing of food items at its premises to civil and local government workers only.
According to the Ministry, the move forms part of efforts to cushion Ghanaians and mitigate the impact of rising food prices on the market.
Citi FM’s Caleb Kudah reported from the premises that the first truckload of plantain arrived around 8 am on Friday.
He added that some patrons expressed their happiness over the low prices of the products.
The Public Relations Officer at the Agric Ministry, Bagbara Tanko, told Kudah that the plan to expand the Planting for and Jobs market to the Efua Sutherland Park will enable it to cater for more Ghanaians.
“I can even say that we are extending this to the Efua Sutherland Park, where we are going to have the Ghanaian rice and the Plantain and other things available,” Mr Tanko said.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, had earlier said data gathered by the Ministry showed massive disparities between prices at the production areas and urban centres due to the costs within the value chain, hence the need for the initiative.
Though the move has been criticized by a section of the public and other stakeholders, the pilot exercise has taken off at the ministry.
A former Deputy Finance Minister, Mona Quartey in an earlier interview said the plan to retail farm produce at the Agric Ministry is unsustainable.
Also, a former Research Scientist with the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Professor Roger Kanton, downplayed the feasibility of carting food products from rural areas to sell at the Ministry in Accra.
The regional elections of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), will begin today, Friday, November 11.
The exercise is expected to end on Sunday, November 13.
Ahead of this, the party’s Elections Committee has urged all delegates to fully abide by all directives.
In the Greater Accra Region, the delegates are scheduled to vote for the positions of youth organiser and women organiser today at the Du Bois Memorial Centre.
The exercise will then continue on Sunday at the Tema Sports Complex.
At the venue, the delegates will elect a new Chairman, Secretary, and Organizer among others for the Greater Accra Region.
The incumbent Regional Chairman, Ade Coker is being challenged by three others.
The three are a former Member of Parliament for Adentan, Nii Ashie Moore, a former parliamentary aspirant for Ningo Prampram, Michael Kwetey Tetteh and Greater Accra Regional Youth Organiser Thomas Mustapha Ashong.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has donated GH¢1,953,000 to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The donation is to aid the party in its internal elections with the regional elections commencing today, Friday, November 11.
This was announced by the National Communications Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi in a press statement issued today.
According to the said statement, GH¢853,000 is for the conduct of the regional elections and the balance for a debt owed to the Electoral Commission (EC) for the conduct of the party’s constituency elections.
“The NDC’s flag-bearer for the 2020 general elections has donated an amount totalling ¢1,953,000 to support the conduct of the party’s constituency and regional internal elections.
The donation is made up of an amount of ¢853,000 to the national party leadership for the organization of regional election conferences across the country and an amount of ¢1,100,000 to the Electoral Commission to clear the debt owed them by the party in respect to the just-ended constituency elections of the party,” the release said.
The release concluded that “the party is most grateful to His Excellency and his generous sponsors for coming to the assistance of the party at this crucial time.”
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has cautioned against the deliberate disinformation concerning the health of the economy that is fuelling panic withdrawals and capital flights.
This situation, he said, is what is worsening the country’s fiscal problems and not government’s actions.
He stated that some persons have taken to spreading falsehoods about the economy on social media in order to create a fiscal atmosphere that would serve their parochial interests better.
“But this is a time in which you have high levels of social media activity, you have a high level of misinformation and actually you have people who are interested in disinformation, which is very different from misinformation where people put out information that is not correct, and I’ll cite you examples.
“This is the era where you have people going on social media recording voices literally scaring the market. So it’s not about the communication per se, it’s about what people are doing to deliberately juice our market in a particular way.
“You’ll notice that currently some people are on trial, have been arrested because the investigation showed how they fabricated stories on websites, then putting them on WhatsApp platforms and pushing them through to scare the market,” he said on JoyNews’ PM Express Business Edition.
He noted that while preliminary efforts had been made including blocking their malicious websites, they had gone ahead to create new ones to further their agenda.
This he says demonstrates the deliberate attempt to create an environment of uncertainty that will cause investors and the international community from regaining confidence in Ghana’s fiscal space.
“These are matters of public record, and even when those websites were shut down, they set it up on new domain platforms anew to pursue the same objective. Two people are on trial currently. So there’s a new dynamic in the marketplace which is a certain deliberate effort to disinform the public.”
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah advised that when people come across such alarmist messages, investors and the general public’s confidence in the economy should not waver as this government has time and time again proven it can revive the economy.
“But you’d also have to be careful how you respond, that that disinformation does not cause you to run ahead of yourself and start saying things that you haven’t reached a point of conclusion on.
For the ones you’ve reached a point of conclusion on, for example, no principal haircuts you’re able to say so and also make the point that this is the administration that has been working to protect people’s deposits.
“Let’s calm down, let’s have some confidence in this same market. And if we all choose to have confidence, we will not necessarily be pushing for more answers to be provided when we have not reached those points,” he said.
En Huang, aka Aisha Huang, a Chinese alleged galamsey kingpin, on Wednesday broke down when an Accra High Court turned down her application for bail once again.
Aisha Huang’s lawyer, Captain Retired Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, re-applied for her bail, explaining that Aisha was on bail during her trial in 2017.
The defence counsel said: “I am not saying you should leave her. I am only asking that as the case continues, please allow her liberty in terms of movement, subject to the condition that the court would indicate.
“Five years ago, while my client was on trial on similar charges, she never absented herself from any of the court sitting dates.”
The Counsel explained that Aisha was broken because she had been denied bail repeatedly.
“Being in prison or custody is not an easy thing you know. I have been through it and I know how it feels,” he added.
The Court, presided over by Mrs Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, however, refused the application, saying the trial had commenced and was moving at a faster pace.
“The accused is a foreigner and she has no social or other ties in the jurisdiction, and she is, therefore, a flight risk,” the court stated.
When the trial began, Mrs Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, the Director of Public Prosecutions, led Superintendent of Immigration, Reuben Ransford Aborabora, in evidence.
On May 5, 2017, he led six other officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to check on the validity of the permits of foreign nationals in the country as part of his duties, the first prosecution witness explained.
The officers, attached to the Enforcement Unit of GIS, went to Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region.
Supt. Aborabora said their aim of going to Bepotenten was to verify information “our office had received to the effect that some Chinese nationals and others were engaged in illegal mining at Bepotenten despite the government’s ban on illegal mining activities.”
On reaching Bepotenten, the first prosecution witness said a road, which run through the site had a container with machine parts in it.
There were also barrels containing fuel, while mining activities had generated freshly dugout heaps of sand.
There was a cocoa farm close to the site and part of the cocoa farm had been cleared, while dug out pits, had some water in them, he added
Supt. Aborabora said: “At the site, I heard the sound of excavators in use and the sound of generators. In total, I saw six excavators out of which four were in use.”
At Bepotenten, Supt. Aborabora said the team arrested four Chinese nationals, including one Gao Jin Cheng, who informed them that they were there to mine for one Aisha.
He said when he asked the four for their passports, they told the team that they were with Aisha.
He, consequently, recorded the mining activities at Bepotenten on his mobile phone and transferred it to a Compact Disc and later to a pen drive.
The video recording was thus played in court, as evidence.
Answering questions under cross-examination by Capt. Effah Dartey, the officer maintained that Aisha was not at Bepotenten when his team visited.
The officer also said personally, he had no direct information against Aisha for mining illegally.
However, it was Gao who told him that they were at the mine site for Aisha, who also their passports.
Defence Counsel (DC): “If Gao Jin Chen gave you wrong information, then your source is wrong.”
Witness: “Yes, my Lord, I only reported on what Gao Jin Cheng told me and I forwarded same in my report to the GIS Enforcement Unit in Kumasi for further investigations.”
DC: “You and your men carried out regular operations at Bepotenten.”
Witness: “Not exactly, we go there as and when my senior officer in charge directs.”
DC: “Are you aware that some of your men were constantly being compromised?”
Witness: “No, my Lord, I have no personal information to that effect.”
Aisha is being held for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities at Bepotenten in the Ashanti Region in the year 2017.
She is facing charges of undertaking mining operations without a license and facilitating the participation of persons engaged in mining.
Aisha is also facing an additional charge of illegal employment of foreign nationals and entering Ghana while she had been prohibited from re-entry.
The move, the Ministry noted, is to sell foodstuff directly from the farmers in the rural areas to persons in the urban areas at a much cheaper rate.
However, some civil servants who partook in the sales have expressed their disappointment with the prices of the items.
On sale today was fresh plantains, which sold for between 10, 15 and 20 cedis per bunch.
The buyers said there was no difference between what is sold in the market.
Speaking to JoyNews at the Agric Ministry where the exercise was held, a civil servant who works at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources said: “To me, it’s a good initiative but since I heard it was a pilot, we are expecting that the next bunch that will come, the price will really go down a bit. Last week I bought one bunch for 15 in the market. It was reasonable, looking at the size. So I can’t see any big difference between what is here and what is in the market.”
She added: “My view is that maybe if you are coming from Amasaman, Pokuase to come to the Ministry, transportation is like 10 15 cedis, so I don’t see the point.”
Another noted that: I wanted some perishable goods but unfortunately they are saying they are not going to bring anything of that sort. It’s a very good exercise but with the plantain I saw, I was expecting the price to be down, I did some comparisons and I realized that the prices here are a bit high, so if they can bring it down a bit for us.”
The PFJ market is sponsored by the Ministry and is purposed to cushion persons from the increasing cost of food commodities in the capital.
Speaking at a meeting with farmers in Sefwi Wiaso in the Western North Region, last week sector Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said; “the ministry itself is going to take its own initiative.”
“We are going to link up with the farm gate so that we make all the arrangements to ensure that we put up kiosks on our compounds at the ministry, specifically for food from here [Sefwi Wiaso] and we are going to give it a lot of publicity,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Ghana is recognized as the nation with the biggest increases in food prices by the World Bank.
With a 122% increase in food prices, the nation has achieved the toughest achievement in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Chancellor of Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, has reacted to calls for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Responding to a question that sought his views on demands for Mr Ofori-Atta’s removal from Office, Cardinal Turkson said: “One of the ways we have for responding to those type of things are when the time comes for us to exercise our rights, then we either elect or do not elect, approve or do not approve, continue or do not continue.”
The question was posed by a journalist after he had delivered the 4th University of Professional Studies’ (UPSA) Leadership Lecture Series in Accra on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.
The Lecture was on the theme: “The tragedy of the commons: Leadership for the common good.”
Cardinal Turkson said electorates exercising their right to vote “is statutory pathway in making our demands heard.”
He said there was a relationship between the electorate and the elected and the respect of that relationship constituted justice.
“The President respecting the demands of the electorate will be his act of justice. The electorate obeying or heeding to the directive of the leadership part that the President establishes for them would also be their justice,” he said.
A group of Members of the Majority in Parliament earlier called for the removal of the Finance Minister, saying the move would help to restore hope in the financial sector and reverse the downward trend of the economy.
The group however ‘rescinded’ their call after meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the matter.
The Minority in Parliament has also filed a motion for the impeachment of Mr Ofori-Atta, citing poor economic management, non-performance among the basis for the move.
Responding to other national issues, Cardinal Turkson expressed concern over the destruction of the country’s water bodies and environment by illegal mining activities.
He said the country “should not be carried away by short-term gains” in the quest to make wealth from its natural resources.
Cardinal Turkson said failure on the part of the country to manage its “endowment” well could lead to a curse.
“If we want to embrace long-term vision, let’s embrace that and see how we make short term vision flow into the long term vision but not pursue short term vision to the detriment of long term vision,” he said.
Cardinal Turkson urged leaders to understand the realities of the people they are working with, saying: “you cannot exercise true leadership if you do not understand the dignity of the people.”
“The goods of the earth is not destined for the benefit of one and the exclusion of the other,” he added.
SIM cards that have been linked to Ghana Cards but not done the second phase of registration will be blocked from accessing data services on November 20 and completely deactivated on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
The Communications and Digitalisation Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, announced this in a statement issued on Friday, November 11.
She said an announcement will be made on measures to accommodate persons who do not have Ghana Cards to register their SIM cards.
This is expected to take place after ongoing consultations have been completed, she noted.
Currently, a total of 30,011,082 SIM cards have been linked to Ghana Cards, thereby completing the first phase of the registration process.
As of November 9, 20,892,970 subscribers had completed both the linkage and capture of their biometric data.
“One key reason why some of those who have linked phone numbers to Ghana Cards have been unable to complete the bio capture of stage two is because they used other people’s cards to link their numbers. This includes vendors who used the cards of others without the knowledge or consent of the card owners,” the statement said.
“Their inability to complete phase two attests to the robustness of the authentication process designed into the SIM registration architecture. It will flush out all fakes. You cannot use someone else’s Ghana Card to register your SIM,” the Minister outlined.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful asked subscribers facing challenges in registering their SIM cards to contact the National Communications Authority (NCA) or their respective network operators for necessary assistance.
According to her, the priority of the Communications Ministry is to ensure digital inclusion and to provide a secure environment for Ghanaians to access digital services.
“The Ministry has been working tirelessly on the development and implementation of policies to this effect. We can all attest to the fact that there has been a noticeable decline in SIM-related fraud since the commencement of the registration exercise.”
“Despite the ample opportunity afforded all to complete the registration of their SIM cards, some who have the Ghana Cards and have begun the process have failed to complete the registration. That is their choice and we cannot begrudge them,” the Minister added.
The largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to begin its regional election conferences nationwide beginning today, Friday, November 11, 2022.
The party has asked delegates to play by the rules outlined.
Delegates in the Greater Accra Region will vote for the positions of youth organizer and women organizer at the Du Bois Memorial Center today.
At least 712 candidates will be contesting the various positions that are up for grabs.
This includes Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Deputy Secretary, Organiser and Deputy Organiser, Treasurer and Deputy treasurer.
Others are Communications Officer and Deputy, Women’s Organiser and Deputy, the Zongo Caucus Coordinator, Youth Organiser and Deputy.
Elections have been suspended in the Bono East and Ahafo, while, in the Eastern Region, only the women and youth organiser elections will come off as scheduled.
Upper West Region
The election in the region will have a delegate list of 407 to make the decision.
Some key executives such as Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Organizer, Zongo Caucus, and communications officer positions are asking to be retained in their positions come Saturday while other incumbent executives have sought to seek other positions.
All Constituency executives are expected to participate in the elections but for Nandom where five Coptic members are not expected to vote.
Greater Accra
In the Greater Accra Region, the incumbent chairman, Kobina Ade Coker, who is seeking re-election, is being challenged by four other candidates.
They are a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Adentan, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore; Thomas Ashong; Kojo Obeng Berkoh and Michael Tetteh Kwetey.
A statement signed by the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections, Daniel Amartey, said all is set, in terms of security arrangements, logistics and venues, for the regional contests.
The exercise will end on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
The Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) on Thursday, November 10, 2022, held a seminar for its Senior Command and Staff Course on illegal mining and its implications on security.
Forty-four officers drawn from Ghana, Benin, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Togo participated in the academic and capacity building exercise.
In a presentation, themed “Illegal Mining (Galamsey) and the Socio-economic Impact on Communities, Optimising Gains and Mitigating the Wider Security Implications “, the Deputy Minister responsible for Mines, George Mireku Duker who spoke on behalf of the sector Minister focused on the Small-Scale mining in Ghana, its socio-economic impact on communities, interventions made so far by government, optimising gains, and mitigating security implications.
On the economic impact of small-scale mining, he said the sector contributes significantly to poverty reduction and stimulates economic growth in the local communities whiles serving as a precursor to the large scale exploration Companies.
Mr Duker detailed that the small-scale mining sector has provided direct and indirect employment to thousands of Ghanaians.
Notwithstanding these enormous benefits, the Deputy Minister lamented the challenges stifling the growth of the sector and threatening sustainability of the mining economy as well as the country’s security.
Whiles admitting the challenges confronting the country, he espoused certain measures rolled out by government to tackle the challenges.
He noted that these policies among others include the introduction of the Community Mining Scheme, purchasing of mercury-free mining equipment, strengthening the inspectorate department of the Minerals Commission, training of river guards and procurement of speedboats are already yielding positive results with the turbidity levels of polluted water bodies reducing now.
He emphasized that these measures will not only end illegal mining activities but also provide employment opportunities which will reduce possible security threats.
He assured that government will not relent on its effort and will continue to roll out interventions that will end galamsey.
He said government will continue to sensitize the public with the Nationwide Community Sensitisation program.
He said the authorisation of traditional rulers will now be sought before licenses are granted.
Present at the seminar were Col. Battor Bannah Director in charge of operations at the National Security who represented his sector Minister, Dr. Ken Ashigbey the Covener of Media Coalition against Galamsey, the Advisor on Mines to the Minister at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and other service Chiefs.
Efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are on course as the World Bank is set to release up to fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to Ghana to fight carbon dioxide emissions.
Speaking at an event on Ghana’s Forest Solutions to Climate Change, Climate Change Manager of the World Bank, Mr. Erwin DeNys, noted that the payment is in
exchange for a six million hectare area of the West African Guinean Forest being predicted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about ten million tonnes by 2024.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources at the ongoing twenty- seventh session of Conference of Parties (COP27) of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.
The gesture is to commend Ghana for being an important and active member of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility since its establishment in 2008.
Ghana is one of the first countries to transition to emission reduction programmes and results-based payments, according to Mr De Nys.
According to Mr. De Nys, the nation will soon receive US$4.8 million for over 970,000 tons of confirmed and documented emission reductions between June and December 2019.
He mentioned that the payment will be used to reward stakeholders in emission reduction, and boost confidence in Ghana’s REDD+ process.
In order to further cut emissions and achieve social inclusion, Mr. De Nys added that Ghana will also profit from the World Bank’s Enabling Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions (EnABLE) programme.
On his part, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, urged strategic cooperation to close the financing gap for climate change.
He emphasised that the current financial sources are insufficient to address the scale of the issue, and because the $100 billion climate finance pledge made in
Copenhagen was not met, there is an urgent need for stakeholders to collaborate in order to close the gap between ambition and action.
Mr. Jinapor called on governments and all actors to deliver action beyond pledges and declarations. “We are at a stage in the climate struggle where mere talk, commitments, declarations, and/or pledges are not enough.
Consistent with the clarion call of COP27, this is the time the world must “walk the talk” and get on with action and implementation of the many years of unfulfilled climate action promises,” the Minister said.
He said Ghana was committed to forest and nature-based solutions to climate change, which is evidenced by the over 547,000 hectares of degraded forests cultivated between 2017 and 2021, and the over thirty million trees planted under the Green Ghana Project, as well as the verified and validated emission reductionunder the Ghana REDD+ Strategy.
He expressed his confidence in COP27, which has been termed action and implementation COP, to deliver real action towards limiting global warming to the one point five degrees Celsius (1.5oC) target set out in the Paris Agreement.
The UNDP’s Principal Advisor on Climate and Forests, Tim Claris, who also spoke at the event, commended Ghana for its forest solutions to climate change and said the country deserves to be rewarded for actions being taken
in the forestry sector.
Telecom giant MTN has announced an increase in the price of data bundles, which takes effect on Monday, November 14, 2022.
In a widely circulated SMS text from MTN, it read, “dear Valued Customer, kindly be informed that effective November 14,
2022, data bundle prices will be revised upwards.”
The company, however, did not state the exact percentage of the price increase. Nonetheless, MTN stated that its 4G users would still enjoy a 50%
bonus for bundle purchases via the MTN app.
Currently, with GHC0.5, a customer can get 24.5 MB. With an amount of GHC 1 and GHC 3, MTN subscribers can enjoy a data package of 48.10 MB and 471.70 MB, respectively.
MTN’s upward review on the cost of data services, comes at a time when prices of goods and services continue to increase, pushing Ghana’s inflation rate
to 40.4%.
The new rates by MTN have been met with negative reactions from Ghanaians, especially on social media.
One Paa Kofi Tinagyei said, “I’m sure MTN Ghana sits around and asks, how else can we make the lives of Ghanaian Internet users harder. Otherwise, Eiiiii” Whereas Paul DestinyAmenuveve, Sepenyatso asked the rationale behind the new increment.
Unable to fathom the new increment he said, “MTN Ghana na here we reach? You can’t do this for sheege reasons. The data bundle nu edey use petrol?”
A US$150 million Indian Exim Bank facility is being arranged by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to support farmers across the country.
Answering questions on the floor of parliament, the sector minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie, noted that the money to be given out to these farmers is intended to establish Agriculture Mechanisation Services Centres (AMSEC) in every district.
This initiative, he says, will improve access to affordable agricultural equipment and mechanised services in the country.
“Mr. Speaker, this is intended to promote the establishment of private sector-owned mechanisation centres to support farmers,” the minister said.
The AMSEC initiative is to assist in providing mechanisation services to smallholder farmers.
According to the Agric Minister, this will not be the first time the AMSEC initiative will be implemented by the MoFA.
He said the ministry, since 2018, has imported various agricultural machinery and equipment from Brazil for sale to interested farmers at subsidized rates across
the country.
Dr Afriyie Akoto stated that farmers will have the services of mechanisation at subsidized rates.
Ghana’s consumer inflation has gone up by 40.4% between October last year and October this year, the Ghana Statistical Service has announced.
Presenting the highlights and headline figures for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and rate of inflation for October 2022, Government Statistician, Samuel Kobina Annim, noted that “Consumer Price Index for October 2022 stood at 144.4 relative to the 102.9 that was recorded for the same period 2021.”
“Using these two indices, the prices of goods and services for the month of October 2022 went up by 40.4 percent. This literally means that between October 2021 and October 2022, general price levels went up by 40.4 percent over the one-year period,” he added.
This comes amidst the fall of the cedi and the astronomical hike in the price of fuel, among others. The current inflation rate is likely to increase the amount of pressure on the central bank to keep raising borrowing costs, which are already at an all-time high.
Meanwhile, the Ghana cedi experienced one of its worst months on record in October, and by 2022, it will be worth about half as much against the dollar.
The World Bank has described it as the worst performing currency on the continent. Prior to the release of the October figure, the inflation rate in Ghana
for the month of September was 37.2%, suggesting the country’s economy, battered by currency depreciation and fiscal challenges, is not going away any time soon.
On a month-over-month basis, the inflation rate was 2.7% for the month under review, compared to 2% in September 2022. Compared to the previous month,
food inflation for the reviewed month increased by 43.7% on an annual basis.
A brief examination of the statistics also suggests that the cost of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels is rising more rapidly in Ghana.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, the government statistician debunked assertions that his outfit is underreporting inflation figures.
This follows concerns that the current 40.4% rate put out by the statistical service could be hovering around 50 percent instead.
Moments after the announcement, Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, said the Service excluded the unofficial rates.
“Even though GSS says inflation is 40.4%, I feel inflation is in the middle of 100 because it doesn’t add up,” he stated.
Reacting to this, the Head of Price Statistics at the Service, Foster Adjaho, insisted the figures are accurate.
“We cannot take opinions away from people, but the reality is that the rate is 40.4%.”
“Completing inflation takes into consideration averages. So you might have a particular item that you have in mind which has gone up by 50% but then the official range is 40.4%”
Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, John Nkaw, has urged wealthy polluter nations to shoulder financial responsibility for the harm that climate change
causes to the most vulnerable and underdeveloped nations.
Addressing attendees at the National Climate Change Seminar in Accra, Mr Nkaw stated that the startling shifts in the climate are
having a toll on scores of farmers in vulnerable nations like Ghana, thus the need for developed countries to support vulnerable countries.
“These sad realities demand our collective action to prevent a further increase in the wealth gap. We must continue our campaign for the establishment of an
international financing facility to help vulnerable countries recover and rebuild in the aftermath of climate disasters,” he indicated.
However, he added that regular and diverse climate change research is critical to improving stakeholders’ understanding of adaptation. Engaging in such research, he said, will also influence private and public activities to attract investors to vulnerable communities.
“The net effect of ongoing climate change is affecting agricultural production. These changes have impacted negatively on people
already living in poverty, who have become vulnerable to prolonged droughts, floods among other climate-induced impacts,” he added.
The seminar helped to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on farm households, facilitate interaction with government agencies, and publish research findings on Ghana’s climate change situation.
Climate change, which impacts both developed and developing countries, remains one of the world’s greatest threats. Despite contributing the least
to existing global climate action interventions, Africa is one of the continents most vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
According to the most recent study from the UN’s climate panel, the harmful effects of climate change are intensifying faster than scientists predicted less than ten years ago.
It stated that while many effects are unavoidable and will disproportionately affect the world’s most vulnerable populations, governments working together to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and prepare communities for climate change could still prevent the worst outcomes.
According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the impact of climate change on agriculture and the environment was estimated at US$6.3 billion in 2017.
The African Development Bank has disclosed that the continent will require approximately $3trillion for climate adaptation programs by 2030 in order for
African economies to enact national commitments.
On the other hand, the World Bank report on Ghana’s climate risk profile predicts that the country’s average temperature will rise by 1°C to 3°C by mid-century and 2.3°C to 5.3°C by the end of the century.
It added that the country’s northern and inland areas are likely to be warm on a regular basis. Meanwhile, the World Bank has offered Ghana a $3 million grant to shield local communities from the impacts of climate change.
This was announced by President Akufo-Addo when giving a speech at Ghana’s pavilion at the ongoing 27th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27), on Wednesday, November 10, 2022.
People present at the conference were Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor; Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, other state officials and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr Kwaku Afriyie.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has, once, again called for the reform of the Security Council of the United Nations, describing the current structure as an injustice against African countries.
Speaking at an event organised by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, on Wednesday, 10th November 2022, in New York, President Akufo-Addo noted that the Security Council is constrained by its anachronistic structure and methods, which undermine efforts to tackle contemporary challenges in the most effective manner.
“The conversations around reforms, which have been going on for three decades without an end in sight, must, therefore, yield real changes to the structures of the Council to make it innovative in its approach,” he said.
According to the President, the current structure of the UN Security Council represents a long-standing injustice toward the countries of Africa, and the time is long overdue in addressing it.
“It is obvious that the contemporary world has moved on significantly from the post-1945 world, which gave rise to the birth of the United Nations and the structure of the Security Council. The world of 2022, and even less that of 2050, is not the world of 1945. The crisis of the multilateral financial institutions and the United Nations system, which were born from the rubble of the Second World War, is a deep crisis,” President Akufo-Addo said.
He continued, “It will continue until a fair system is put in place; a system that reflects the new balances, no longer based on who lost or won the Second World War, but on the major contemporary and future balances. These balances must take into account new realities such as demographic dynamics or access to resources, in a context of scarcity.”
In its current state, the President noted that the Security Council is finding it increasingly difficult to propagate the rule of law and democratic principles.
“The use of the veto as an instrument of great power and interest is denuding the Security Council of a great deal of legitimacy as the principal instrument for the maintenance of international peace and security. The African Common Position on UN Reform, based on the Ezulwini Consensus, is of even greater relevance today than it has ever been. It is essential that it be brought back to the centre of global discourse,” he stressed.
President Akufo-Addo was confident that it will only be through the reforms that are suggested in the African Common Position that will enable the Security Council to be effective in addressing the challenges of our time.
“And it is only through its effectiveness at maintaining international peace and security that the Council can remain credible, legitimate and relevant,” he added.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has appealed to the Bank of Ghana to take necessary steps to stabilize the forex market.
In a speech read on his behalf at the 19th Ashanti Business Excellence Awards by Sewuahene, Nana Kwaku Sarkodie, the Asantehene expressed worry over the depreciation of the local currency against other foreign trading currencies.
He urged the central bank to implement measures to bring predictability to Ghana`s export and import trade, as well as other international financial transactions.
“I will like to make reference to the unsettling turbulence which has characterized Ghana’s foreign currency market, Since the beginning of the year, there has been an astronomical depreciation of the cedi against Ghana’s major foreign currencies, particularly the US Dollar.
I have no doubt that the Bank of Ghana is doing its best to remedy the situation, but the central bank is doing its best to remedy the situation, but I must urge the central bank to urgently take all the requisite steps within its competence to return the foreign market to stability, in order to bring predictability to Ghana`s export and import trade, as well as other international financial transactions”, he said.
The cedi ended last week with a marginal appreciation, but the cedi has depreciated again to GH¢14.20 to one dollar which is the average quote by the forex bureaus.
According to the Bank of Ghana, however, the local currency is selling at GH¢13.014 on the interbank market. The cedi is also going for ¢15.60 and GH¢13.60 to one pound and one euro respectively.
The free fall of the cedi coupled with the recent economic crisis in the country has triggered calls for immediate measures to be implemented by the government to resolve the situation.
President Akufo Addo in his address on Sunday, October 30, announced some measures the government intends to put in place to address the fall of the cedi and the current economic crisis.
Thousands of lotto writers have expressed their displeasure about the National Lottery Authority’s (NLA) directive for a new 20 per cent commission to be enforced.
The angry lotto writers are wondering how the commission could be reduced especially at this time of economic hardship.
They expressed their frustration during a stakeholders’ meeting with the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) and the Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana (CLAAG).
The emergency meeting was on sensitisation and the mode of enforcement for the 20 per cent commission for Writers as directed by the NLA.
Some of the lotto writers were clad in red and holding placards that read: “We don’t want any 20% but 40% instead; Sammy Awuku must go; Leave Banker to Banker alone; 20% of what? We no go gre; Chop chop money keke, Sammy Awuku,” among others.
Some chanted “We want 40%,” and added that, “if you can’t increase the commission then nobody should reduce it.”
The Executive Secretary of the Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana, Mr Tawiah Duah, reading a statement said: “It has become necessary to convene a meeting between Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA), Private Lotto Operators (PLO), Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana (CLAAG) and Lotto Writers because about a week ago, an announcement was made by GLOA and PLO in the media that effective that day [31 October, 2022], commissions paid to lotto writers were reduced from 30 per cent to 20 per cent. That meant a whopping 10 per cent reduction in their income levels.
“This announcement was implemented and was met by agitated writers given the already existing hardship in the economy.
“This situation has therefore resulted in several incidence of near altercations between lotto writers and their respective agents.
“This coupled with numerous outpouring of angered Writers expressing themselves through voice calls, WhatsApp and SMS messages to our offices and Executive Officers demanding for sustained nationwide demonstrations against the reduction until such a time that it will be reversed.
GLOA, PLO and CLAAG have therefore convened this important meeting to calm the nerves of Lotto Writers as CLAAG has already written to the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to register its grievances [concerning] the reduction in commissions.
“It is our hope to seek [an] amicable solution to the problem at hand, of course with the active participation of GLOA.
“If, however, by Friday, 11 November 2022, the matter has not been resolved, CLAAG will again invite its members to reconvene and decide on its next line of action.”
All the members of the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) were present to listen to the concerns of the Lotto Agents and the Lotto Writers.
The Chairman of GLOA, Noah Afonope assured the lotto agents and operators to rest assured and believe that something good will come out of their meeting with the NLA.
The leader of the Minority Caucus of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has refuted assertions that the Russia-Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic are the cause of the hardships in the country.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, the only cause of Ghana’s economic challenges is Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta whose unbridled borrowing has led the country to this economic crisis.
“We are told that he did well and that we are told that we should blame COVID and Ukraine. Did we borrow to support Ukraine? You didn’t borrow to support Ukraine.
“And you want us to accept your reckless and irresponsible borrowing which has led us to where we are,” he said on the floor of Parliament while moving a vote of censure motion for the removal of Ofori-Atta.
Haruna Iddrisu, who is the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, said that the finance minister has borrowed so much that the country must restructure its debts in order to survive.
He intimated that Ghanaians should ignore the assurance given to them by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that they will not lose parts of their investment in government bonds and other investment portfolios because of the ongoing economic crisis.
“You are in a ditch. Mr. Speaker the Ghanaian economy is a ditch. Accept it or not, we may have to restructure our debt in order to sustain this economy in the next two, three years.
“I heard the president, Mr. Speaker, in the address to the nation say that there will be no haircut. There will be and there will be a barber of a sort, that barber may be ‘sika mpɛ dede’,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has referred a vote of censure motion filed by the Minority for the removal of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to an 8-member ad hoc committee
The committee is expected to make a determination on the removal of Ofori-Atta within 7 days.
The speaker announced that the committee will be chaired by Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahir (K.T.) Hammond and the MP for Bolgatanga Dominic Akuritinga Ayine.
Alban Bagbin added that the determination of Ofori-Atta’s removal will be made in consultation with the leadership of the House.
The other Members of the committee from the minority caucus include the MP for North Tongu; Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; MP for Korle Klottey, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings; and MP for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor.
The committee members from the majority caucus are MP for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah; MP for Asante-Akim Central, Michael Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi; and MP for Sekondi, Andrew Kofi Agyapa Mercer.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Thursday, November 10 announced an ad hoc committee to probe allegations in a vote of censure motion against the embattled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The 8-member ad hoc committee was constituted with Members of Parliament elected by the leadership of both sides of the House.
Their main task is to probe the seven allegations contained in the censure motion filed late last month by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, which motion is seeking the removal of Ofori-Atta from office.
The committee is expected to submit a report within 7 days.
The composition of the committee is as follows:
It will be chaired by Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahir (K.T.) Hammond and the MP for Bolgatanga Dominic Akuritinga Ayine.
The three members from the Minority side are:
MP for North Tongu; Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa;
MP for Korle Klottey, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings; and
MP for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor.
From the Majority caucus, the members include:
MP for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah;
MP for Asante-Akim Central, Michael Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi; and
MP for Sekondi, Andrew Kofi Agyapa Mercer.
How motion of censure against Ofori-Atta was argued
The Minority Leader filed a motion of censure late last month against Minister for Finance Ken Ofori-Atta.
The motion was duly admitted by Speaker Alban Bagbin and on November 10, the motion was moved by Haruna Iddrisu to trigger debate and a vote on the same.
Speaker Bagbin, however, in his interpretation of the rules the Minority relied on referred the issue to an 8-member ad hoc committee formed to probe the Minority’s claims against the Finance Minister.
The committee co-chaired by Dominic Ayine (NDC) and KT Hammond (NPP) is expected to present their report in seven days, following which the House will proceed with the censure process or otherwise.
Below are the seven points for which the Minority want Ofori-Atta censured:
a. Despicable conflict of interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages, particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang
b. Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution, supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral.
c. Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts, in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution.
d. Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament
e. Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi which is currently the worst-performing currency in the world
f. Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis
g. Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy which has occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin and the Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka clashed in Parliament on Thursday, November 10, 2022, when a motion of censure against Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta was moved by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu.
After a preliminary objection was raised by Deputy Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and shot down; the speaker delivered a ruling in which he directed that the vote of censure be referred to a committee.
But the Minority through Muntaka sought to explain why there was no need for a referral to a committee but instead why there was the need to proceed to a vote on the matter citing wording in the relevant rules.
Muntaka’s submission appeared to have veered into an area where the Speaker robustly stepped in, charging the MP of attacking his ruling.
He ordered Muntaka to retract and apologize, which order Muntaka expressly refused to heed neither did he listen to orders to resume his seat.
The Speaker subsequently ordered all he said when he had been asked to sit to be expunged from the Hansard – i.e. the official records of the House.
Below is a transcript of the Bagbin vs. Muntaka banter:
Muntaka: Mr. Speaker, with all respect and humility to you, in this text, nowhere did it say Mr. Speaker will refer the matter to any ad hoc committee. It says that the House will take a decision and decisions in this House Mr. Speaker is taken by vote.
So, if any member can move a motion… Mr. Speaker, it is for the decision of this House, that is what Order 106 is saying.
Bagbin: Hon, you are completely, completely out of order. Hon. Member, I don’t take my rulings lightly, please. You are attacking my ruling and I think you don’t have that authority to do so. If you want to attack my ruling, come by a substantive motion.
Your understanding of ‘during the debate,’…. debate of matters before the House is not only during the plenary session. At the committee level, what you do there is to debate. That is why when you agree at the committee level and you come and put the matter here, you don’t waste time to debate again.
Bagbin proceeded to explain that plenary rules applied to the committee level, explaining further that the decision is taken by the House not the speaker but also that the rules say motion for censure “will be made by a member and referred to a committee, that is exactly what I said I am going to do.”
Muntaka: The House is defined in this Standing Orders as Parliament and Mr. Speaker, Parliament is this Chamber with 275 members.
Bagbin: Hon. Member please, the House cannot be constituted without a speaker. You must understand that. It is when a Speaker is presiding that it becomes a House. You can’t have this room with 275 Members seated here and call yourself a House.
Move away from the understanding that you are the makers of everything here, I have been listening to you, don’t give me that temptation.
Muntaka sought permission to continue his submission and was granted, Bagbin, however, added: “but I think that you have to withdraw what you said. Hon. Member, you have to withdraw it and apologize.”
Muntaka: I’m happy you’ve given me permission to speak, one of the cardinals of democracy is to listen to each other even when we disagree with each other, stressing that ruling was wrong and cannot be right.
Bagbin: Hon. Member resume your seat, resume your seat.
Muntaka: Mr. Speaker, I come to second the motion with the clear indication that any attempt to move this matter to a committee will be a travesty of justice done to the chamber of this House.
Bagbin: Hon. Members, I direct that all what the Minority Chief Whip has said after I have told him to withdraw and apologize, be expunged from the records. I so direct. Hansard expunge everything from the record.
Minority Chief Whip, you’ll have a difficulty in catching my eye again.
How motion of censure against Ofori-Atta was argued
The Minority Leader filed a motion of censure late last month against Minister for Finance Ken Ofori-Atta.
The motion was duly admitted by Speaker Alban Bagbin and on November 10, the motion was moved by Haruna Iddrisu to trigger debate and a vote on the same.
Speaker Bagbin, however, in his interpretation of the rules the Minority relied on referred the issue to an 8-member ad hoc committee formed to probe the Minority’s claims against the Finance Minister.
The committee co-chaired by Dominic Ayine (NDC) and KT Hammond (NPP) is expected to present their report in seven days, following which the House will proceed with the censure process or otherwise.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin defended a ruling he handed down in the matter of a vote of censure filed against Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta by the Minority Caucus.
In doing so, he also schooled Minority Chief Whip Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, who Bagbin accused of attacking the ruling he gave despite not having the authority so to do.
It started when Muntaka rose to second the motion of censure vote as moved by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, he started off by quoting Order 106 of the Standing Orders which Bagbin relied on to rule that the censure motion be referred to a committee before it comes back to the plenary.
Muntaka in disagreeing made comments the Speaker deemed an attack on his ruling.
Bagbin interjected the Asawaase MP’s submission stating: “Hon, you are completely, completely out of order. Hon. Member, I don’t take my rulings lightly, please. You are attacking my ruling and I think you don’t have that authority to do so. If you want to attack my ruling, come by a substantive motion.
“Your understanding of ‘during the debate,’… debate of matters before the House is not only during the plenary session. At the committee level, what you do there is to debate. That is why when you agree at the committee level and you come and put the matter here, you don’t waste time to debate again,” he stressed.
Muntaka proceeded to seek to drum home his point that it was solely the decision of 275 MPs to decide on the issue but Bagbin explained that a House cannot be properly constituted without a Speaker.
“Move away from the understanding that you are the makers of everything here, I have been listening to you, don’t give me that temptation,” he said before demanding a withdrawal and apology for Muntaka’s pronouncements.
The MP’s refusal forced Bagbin to order that the latter part of his submissions be expunged from the Hansard.
“Hon. Members, I direct that all what the Minority Chief Whip has said after I have told him to withdraw and apologize, be expunged from the records. I so direct. Hansard expunge everything from the record.
“Minority Chief Whip, you’ll have a difficulty in catching my eye again,” Bagbin warned.
How motion of censure against Ofori-Atta was argued
The Minority Leader filed a motion of censure late last month against Minister for Finance Ken Ofori-Atta.
The motion was duly admitted by Speaker Alban Bagbin and on November 10, the motion was moved by Haruna Iddrisu to trigger debate and a vote on the same.
Speaker Bagbin, however, in his interpretation of the rules the Minority relied on referred the issue to an 8-member ad hoc committee formed to probe the Minority’s claims against the Finance Minister.
The committee co-chaired by Dominic Ayine (NDC) and KT Hammond (NPP) is expected to present their report in seven days, following which the House will proceed with the censure process or otherwise.
Ningo Prampram, lawmaker Samuel Nartey George has called for the process to investigate the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta by the 8-member committee formed by the Speaker, to be transmited by live television.
Sam George called for this to be live on television given the huge public interest in this matter.
“Mr Speaker, I will like to call for the sittings to be televised live given the nature of the matter.”
The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin on Thursday November 10 set a committee to investigate the allegations made against Mr Ofori-Atta by the Minority in Parliament for which they filed a motion to get him removed from office.
The 8-member committee, co-chaired by Dr Dominic Ayine and KT Hammond, lawmakers for Bolgatanga East and Adansi-Asokwa respectively, has within seven working days to complete its work and submit the report
The Speaker’s ruling came after the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin challenged the motion of the Minority on the basis that the Finance Minister will suffer injustice if the House goes ahead with the application.
Mr Afenyo-Markin indicated that the claims by the Minority were criminal in nature upon a proper scrutiny.
To that end, he called for a fair hearing for the Minister.
The Minority accused Mr Ofori-Atta of, among other things, personally benefitting from every loan that the government takes.
But the Effutu Member of Parliament said “these matters, upon a proper scrutiny, are criminal in nature. The Minister should be given a fair hearing.”
“If we go ahead with the application we will be doing a lot of injustice to our colleague. If this application is allowed it will be injustice and unfairness, the Minister wouldn’t have been given adequate time to prepare for his defense,” he stressed.
Justifying the motion to get the Finance Minister removed, the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said President Akufo-Addo was not ready to sack the Minister.
Therefore, he appealed the Majority Members of Parliament to support the move to get him removed.
In his ruling on this matter, Speaker Bagbin said after announcing the formation of the committee that “The evidence will be placed before the committee. The Minister will have the opportunity to defend himself.
“A report will be presented to the House, and we will debate that report.”
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has referred a vote of censure motion filed by the minority cause of Parliament for the removal of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to an 8-member ad hoc committee.
The committee is expected to make a determination on removal of Ofori-Atta within 7 days.
The speaker announced that the committee will be chaired by Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahir (K.T.) Hammond and the MP for Bolgatanga Dominic Akuritinga Ayine.
An attempt by the majority in parliament to raise a preliminary objection against the motion for a vote of censure brought by the minority against Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been rejected.
The minority, led by Haruna Iddrisu, moved the motion on Thursday, November 10, 2022, seeking to pass a vote of censure against the under-fire minister for finance.
Arguing against the motion after it was moved by the minority leader, Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said admitting the motion in the house would amount to injustice being dealt against the minister for finance.
“As it stands now, if this motion is allowed to proceed, it would amount to injustice in a sense that the minister wouldn’t be given enough time to prepare a defence,” the deputy majority leader said.
The majority, among other things, argued that the minister would be denied a fair trial and that the house would be overstepping its remit if it decided to go ahead and admit the motion.
However, ruling on the objection by the majority, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin said the minister will duly be granted an opportunity to defend himself as part of the process in dealing with the motion.
The speaker further hinted that the motion will be referred to a committee of the house, upon whose recommendation the house will act.
The minority is asking, among other things, for the removal of the minister of finance over what they say is his mismanagement of the economy, leading to high cost of living, and inflation.
Lawyers for Patricia Asiedu popularly known as Nana Agradaa have asked the Accra Circuit court 10 to vary the bail conditions given to the self-styled evangelist.
She was granted a GH¢150,000 bail with three sureties, one of whom must be justified with landed property.
She was further directed to deposit her passport at the court registry.
In court on Thursday however, her lawyer, Paul Asibi Abariga prayed the court to vary the conditions.
He told the court that it’s been difficult getting civil servants to stand as sureties for the television personality.
The lawyer thus prayed the court to vary the condition to allow any “ordinary Ghanaian “to stand as surety for her.”
The lawyer also accused the Police of frustrating the bail execution process, as documents submitted two weeks ago have still not been attended to.
Prosecution led by DSP Slyvester Asare, however, opposed the application.
He told the court that Nana Agradaa had submitted the payslip of the sureties, which were being verified by the Controller and Accountant General.
He wondered who an ordinary Ghanaian would be in the prayer of Nana Agradaa’s lawyers, and prayed the court not to vary the terms.
The case is adjourned to Friday, November 11, 2022, to determine bail variation.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has ruled that an ad-hoc committee will be set up to probe the allegations for the motion of censure raised by the Minority Caucus against the embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to the Speaker, setting up a committee will provide an opportunity for the Finance Minister to respond to issues of conflict of interest raised by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu.
“The evidence will be placed before the committee. The Minister will have the opportunity to defend himself. A report will be presented to the House, and we will debate that report,” the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin said.
Bagbin made the ruling after the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, moved the motion for the vote of censure against Mr Ofori-Atta on the Floor of the House on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, the record inflation rate, the depreciation of the cedi, the excessive borrowing and the reckless spending and the failure to control fuel prices are clear indications that the Finance Minister is not fit to continue in his role.
The Tamale South MP added that “Ghana’s economy is currently in a ditch” and called on the Majority side of the House to join the motion to remove the Finance Minister to regain the confidence of investors and save the economy from total collapse.
But the call by the Minority Leader was turned down by the Majority side, with the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin stating the call by the Minority Leader is in bad faith and not procedural.
According to him, issues raised by the Minority Leader border on criminality. He said Parliament cannot arrogate to itself judicial powers to try the Finance Minister, and called on the Speaker to allow Mr Ofori-Atta to defend before any decision is made.
The Majority MPs had earlier indicated their unwillingness to back the Minority’s vote of censure against the Finance Minister.
At a press conference held Thursday morning, the Majority group led by the MP for Effiduase/Asokore, Nana Ayew Afriyie said despite the fact that they still stand by their decision for the Finance Minister to be removed, they refuse to support the motion by the Minority.
“We are not going to support the course of the NDC this morning. The course of the NDC is premised on falsehood, propaganda and reasons which are not justifiable. Their position might look like ours, but ours is different,” Ayew Afriyie said.
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has been spotted in parliament as the house considers a motion by the Members of Parliament on the opposition side for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as the Minister of Finance.
The National Democratic Congress MPs filed a motion in parliament on October 25, 2022, to be debated and voted on 14 days after its receipt by the Speaker of Parliament.
Upon the maturity of the period, the house is considering the motion moved by the NDC MPs, and they have hoped that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs would support their call.
This expectation is based on the fact that some weeks ago, some 80 NPP MPs took a historic stance when they called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to immediately sack Ken Ofori-Atta over his poor performance.
The MPs stated in their press conference that should the president fail to do this, they would begin boycotting government business in the house, including the reading of the 2023 budget statement and economic policy.
This call has since been placed on hold after the president met with the NPP MPs and urged them to give the Minister of Finance time to complete some pressing government business, including his IMF request.
But ahead of the hearing of the motion for a vote of censure against Ken Ofori-Atta, the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, wrote a letter to its MPs, directing them to stay away from the vote.
In the statement dated November 9, 2022, the national leadership said that “While the National Executive body acknowledges the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country and the need for urgent remedial interventions, it is our utmost position that the demand of the NDC-led Minority Caucus is ill-intended and aimed at derailing government’s efforts at resolving current socio-economic upheavals.
“The leadership acknowledges that the Minister for Finance is the leader of government’s negotiation team with the International Monetary Fund. Considering that negotiation with the IMF is nearly completed, the National Executive body of the Party strongly believes that the removal of the lead person spearheading the negotiation may adversely impact the progress made thus far.”
On the day of the vote of censure, the NPP MPs, led by the MP for Effiduase-Asokore, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, stated in an interview that while they are bent on getting Ken Ofori-Atta out, they would not support the motion of the NDC MPs for a vote of censure against the minister.
“We are here to reiterate that, however much you heard us speaking that based on the intervention of the president, we will have to see the minister of finance do his work, read budget, see through appropriation and then the president will act.
“Over the days, we have heard the finance minister speaking and his speaking has influenced majority of us in the caucus, not only to state that we are back to the original position that we took, and that position is that the minister of finance must not be the one to read the budget, and must not be the one that would do the appropriation.
“We are here to tell you this morning that this will be very soon for you to see, the position of us and we are going to be positively defiant about that posture until that action is taken. However, we are not going to support the cause of the NDC in the chamber this morning.
Businessman Dr Kofi Amoah, affectionately called Citizen Kofi has bemoaned the decision of the microblogging platform Twitter to close down its Ghana and Africa offices.
The decision to close down the Ghana and Africa office of Twitter comes after the platform was acquired by billionaire Elon Musk.
Earlier this month, Twitter fired nearly all its staff in Ghana, which was home to its only office in Africa.
The layoffs according to sources close to the business were part of a global staff cull introduced by new boss Elon Musk.
Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk, has been laying off staff worldwide. He said he had “no choice” but to slash the company’s workforce as the firm was losing more than $4m (£3.5m) a day.
Last year, Twitter opened its Ghana office amidst some fanfare with the Ghana president Nana Akufo Addo touting its immense benefits.
Twitter in a statement after arriving in Africa said it was motivated by the desire to “be more immersed in the rich and vibrant communities that drive the conversations taking place every day across the African continent.”
News of the closure of the Ghana and Africa office was shocking and saddening to many but Dr Kofi Amoah says while it is a painful reality, he wants the episode to spur young African techies to create their own platform.
In a Twitter post on Thursday, 10 November 2022, Dr Amoah wrote, “Yes, the strength of a continent lies in her people. Can the story of Twitter closing its African office end more beautifully: A group of techie young Africans, Nigeria/Kenya/Ghana, have announced the formation of Twitter-Africa named AKASANOMA, funded by the AfDB.”
Dr Amoah has in recent years been leading a charge for Africa to have its own homegrown solutions to the many problems that bedevil the continent.
The minority in parliament has officially moved a motion for a vote of censure to be passed on the minister for finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, sought to object to the motion when the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, moved it a few minutes to 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2022.
The motion hinged on Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution and, according to the minority, is influenced by issues such as the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy by the minister.
Midway through the minority leader’s presentation, the deputy majority leader asked the speaker for permission to raise a preliminary objection to the motion.
However, his attempt was met with heckling from members on the minority side who shouted at the Deputy Majority Leader to “sit down.”
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, intervened immediately and caused the members of the house to take into consideration the importance of the exercise being undertaken.
The speaker implored the MPs to exercise decorum in the discharge of their mandate.
The speaker, however, refused the objection request by the deputy majority leader and granted the minority leader the opportunity to go ahead and move the motion.
Ace broadcaster and student of the Ghana School of Law, Richard Delay Sky, has denied being behind a purported document on social media linking him to a petition demanding that the General Legal Council reprimands Ama Governor Ababio, a fellow student.
The document which has gone viral on social media is said to have been written by one Hajia Siduri, a concerned citizen.
Although the contact on the letter is said to be that of Richard Dela Sky, the ace broadcaster, in a statement insisted that he did not author the document in question.
“To avoid doubt, the number displayed is my number, but I did not author the document in question. Also, I am not connected to anyone involved with the said document.”
“I have since drawn the attention of the relevant authorities to the issue for the appropriate redress,” Dela Sky added.
Ama Governor is due to be called to the Bar on Friday, but her call has been put on hold pending investigations into a complaint received the by the school concerning her character.
Although she successfully completed the professional law program, the letter from the concerned citizen alleged that she “lacks good character.”
Below is Dela Sky’s full disclaimer
My attention has been drawn to a document in circulation in which the author has asked the General Legal Council to investigate a person said to be a student of the Ghana School of Law.
To avoid doubt, the number displayed is my number, but I DID NOT AUTHOR THE DOCUMENT IN QUESTION. ALSO, I AM NOT CONNECTED TO ANYONE INVOLVED WITH THE SAID DOCUMENT.
I have since drawn the attention of the relevant authorities to the issue for the appropriate redress.
A 31-year-old man, Quashie Edem has been shot dead while six others sustained cutlass and gunshot injuries in a land dispute at Gomoa Akraman in the Gomoa East District.
Three of the injured are from Gomoa Akraman while the three others are from Awutu Bereku.
The faction from Bereku were said to be grading a parcel of land when the group from Akraman stormed the site claiming ownership of the land.
One of the victims from Gomoa Akraman said they had gone there to halt any developmental activity by the faction from Awutu Bereku.
Alhaji Dawood, a member of the Bereku faction speaking to the media, debunked the claims that the land was not for the people of Awutu Bereku.
He said they were grading their own land when the Akraman faction attacked them, shot one of them and injured three others.
The Central East Regional Police Command had, however, arrested four persons who are assisting with investigations while the dead body had been deposited at the Police hospital morgue for preservation.
The victims are receiving treatment at the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital and Akraman CHPS Compound.
Musician Sarkodie is not going back on his word regarding his stance on certain national issues.
The award-winning artiste has been at the receiving end of criticisms that his creative expression of sentiment against political ills has reduced.
Some songs such as ‘Inflation’, ‘Masses’ and others addressed political leaders and their role in economic mismanagement.
But his latest commentary which came on Kuami Eugene’s ‘Happy Day’ song, raised eyebrows.
On that 2021 collaboration, Michael Owusu Addo as he is known outside music circles, trumpeted the benefits of the NPP government’s flagship Free Senior High School programme.
Since this line, the economy has taken a downward turn, the cost of living has skyrocketed and the Finance Ministry is currently negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.
Some music lovers were hoping to get another epistle as characteristic of ‘The Highest’ which has never seen the light of day.
According to the 37-year-old, his conviction during ‘Happy Day’, for example, came from a need that the specific government policy had satisfied among his close relations.
Explaining his ‘Nana Toaso’ line on 3 Music, he said “I think I benefitted from Free SHS directly and I have the right to say I endorse that. This is directly.”
“My mum has these girls that she supports. At first, she calls me [about their school fees]. I’m not saying it’s much but just the fact that you’re not getting that call anymore… It came from that place and I was specific about what I was endorsing.”
He says he knew the verse would be controversial but still stands by his word and won’t apologise for it.
The musician also said that compelling him to do so may conflict with his creative process.
“You might think you’re doing a good thing trying to get me to do it, but you are actually interfering in [my] creative feel,” he said on Thursday.
He however conceded that the country was experiencing a very difficult time adding that the conditions highlighted in his previous politically-inclined songs, remain unchanged.
“The country is worse… people are really suffering,” the VGMA Artiste of the Decade concluded.
All is set in parliament for the house to vote on a censure motion tabled against the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The house is yet to officially commence sitting for the day however the minority side which filed the motion seeking to remove the minister from office have filled their side of the chamber.
The majority side on the other hand have a handful of their members in the chamber while others have been seen within the precents of the house.
Ahead of the commencement of sitting, members of the minority group have been captured in a meeting which took place on the floor of the chamber.
The minority members briefly stopped their chit-chat as they gathered around their leader, Haruna Iddrisu.
The minority leader in the brief meeting was seen ostensibly outlining the caucus’ strategy to the members who listened with rapt attention.
Meanwhile, the majority group in an earlier press conference have hinted of their plans to boycott the voting process.
According to the majority, even though they support the call for the minister’s resignation, the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta should be on their terms.
“We are here to reiterate that, however much you heard us speaking that based on the intervention of the president, we will have to see the minister of finance do his work, read budget, see through appropriation and then the president will act.
“Over the days, we have heard the finance minister speaking and his speaking has influenced majority of us in the caucus, not only to state that we are back to the original position that we took, and that position is that the minister of finance must not be the one to read the budget, and must not be the one that would do the appropriation.
“We are here to tell you this morning that this will be very soon for you to see, the position of us and we are going to be positively defiant about that posture until that action is taken. However, we are not going to support the cause of the NDC in the chamber this morning.
“The cause of the NDC is premised on falsehood, propaganda and reasons that are not justifiable. Their position might look like ours but is not the same.”
This comes following a decision by some 80 MPs to call for the sacking of the Finance Minister.
The group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament petitioned president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during a presser on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, to sack the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the finance ministry, Adu Boahen, to restore public confidence in the economy.”
The group said it will not do business with government nor support the 2023 Budget if the president fails to heed their calls.
According to them, the move follows previous concerns sent to the government that have not yielded any positive results.
Akufo-Addo’s meeting with NPP MPs and Vote of censure:
A meeting with the president following the demands by the NPP MPs meant that they had to stand down their request on two conditions.
The conditions included that Ofori-Atta is allowed to conclude the current phase of financial support negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and also to present the 2023 budget and see to the passage of the appropriation bill before their removal request will be acted upon.
It was on the same day that the Minority Caucus filed a censure. Their leader, Haruna Iddrisu assured the House days ago that the Minority Caucus he leads in Parliament will fully pursue a censure vote initiated against Ofori-Atta.
Speaking on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 1, 2022; Haruna reiterated having issued a nine-line whip for members of his caucus when the day of voting comes, affirming that he will move the motion before November 10.
Haruna Iddrisu, after confirming that the motion will be filed also called on MPs in the Majority to join them to remove Ofori-Atta.
“I will move the motion for the censure of the Minister for Finance, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta. Those like-minded persons who will dance with us, Mr. Speaker, they will be welcomed in the secret ballots,” Haruna stressed.
Voting today:
Parliament will require a vote with 2/3rd of MPs to decide the fate of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
With the current stance of the group from the Majority Caucus, it remains unclear what the outcome of this vote of censure will be.
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, has berated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the current hardship in the country.
According to him, Ghana’s economy is in this state because the president refuses to listen to sound advice.
Dr Wereko Brobby, who made these remarks in a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, added that Akufo-Addo and his appointees are doing the same things he (Akufo-Addo) criticised the NDC government for when he was in opposition.
“(The country) is in this current state because of stubbornness. Because from the beginning, we at Alliance for Change used to criticise the NDC for the size of their government, accusing them of squandering the country’s resources with the number of ministers they had appointed.
“Now, this my brother (Akufo-Addo) comes to power, and the 85 ministers of Mahama we were complaining was too much, [he] increased it to 125. So, is this progress?
“When we spoke about it, he said that the number of his ministers is insignificant but what matters is their output. This means that we criticised the NDC only to come and do worse than they did. This is why we are where we are today… If you decide not to take the advice on things we have spoken about, this is what happens. Today, inflation is over 40 percent, and it will be worse,” he said.
Dr Wereko-Brobby added that the failure of the government to stabilise the nation’s currency and the prices of petroleum products is the cause of the hardships in the country.
The Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu, Alhassan Bashir Fuseini, has called out what he described as the cowardice of his colleagues on the majority side of parliament in their decision not to support their vote of censure motion against the Minister of Finance.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews and monitored by GhanaWeb, the outspoken National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP expressed shock at the MPs’ decision not to support their vote.
He explained that it amazes him that the MPs, who had earlier called for the minister to be sacked, would in turn throw away an easy opportunity to get their request granted.
“The man is a walking disaster, and once they themselves have come to the conclusion that Ken Ofori-Atta is a disaster, this is an excellent opportunity for them to walk the talk when they told us Ken Ofori-Atta was a disaster and must go.
“If you have been parasitising and they call for free food, it’s like your wife has just cooked, so, why is it that now that they have free food – the opportunity that the censure is moved, and now they’re running away.
“So, it is abundantly clear that they will be reneging on their responsibility,” he sad.
Alhassan Bahir Fuseini, also known as A.B.A. Fuseini, further stated that regardless of the position of the NPP MPs, they in the NDC will prove to Ghanaians that they are the ones concerned about their concerns and their well-being.
“I now say that today is a historic day in parliament, that the people will see who is truly beholding to the national interest of this country; who is truly standing up for the oppressed masses; who is truly standing up for the excruciating hardships that our people are suffering,” he said.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has proposed a vote of censure in Parliament.
Should it pass, it would make the appointment of Ken Ofori-Atta as Minister of Finance invalid in the eyes of parliament, forcing the president to officially sack him.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has urged his colleague MPs of the majority caucus to support a vote of censure against the finance minister filed by his side, the minority.
Sam George’s call comes after the national leadership of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) directed all their MPs to abstain from a scheduled vote of censure targeted at embattled Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
The party has thus ordered the Majority Whips to ensure that no member of the Caucus participates in the exercise expected to take place today, Thursday, November 10, 2022.
The directive was contained in a November 9, press statement signed by General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong.
Reacting to this, the Ningo-Prampram MP said the vote of censure against the finance minister will be a test of honour for the NPP MPs.
He added that the action the majority caucus MPs will take will determine whether they are truly honourable men and women, myjoyonline.com reports.
“Today, it is a matter of honour. It is a matter of the title we so fight for. So, they (NPP MPs) must earn their title, today.
“This is a call to the 137 on the majority side. Earn your title. Else we will not call you honourable members of the rest of the term.
“We will refer to you by your regular names because you are going to show Ghanaians that you lack honour,” he is quoted to have said in an interview with Metro TV on Thursday.
“Ghana is at the crossroads today. Today Parliament has the opportunity to distinguish itself and ensure that we are masters of our own craft and ensure that we care about the people we represent,” the MP added.
It was all joy and applause when Hon Joe Ghartey stated at a meeting of the Expanded Regional Executive Committee of the Western Region of the New Patriotic Party that as long as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, God willing, “I will definitely contest for the Flagbearer position for the New Patriotic Party.”
Addressing the gathering at a meeting held in Sekondi-Takoradi on Monday, 7th November 2022, Joe Ghartey stated that it had come to his attention that some Presidential Aspirants had already come into the Region to meet some delegates. He said that he would also meet them soon, but he was serving notice that he would definitely contest the Presidential Primaries.
Joe Ghartey recollected that about five days before the 2020 general elections, he was interviewed on Radio 360, a radio station in Takoradi. The host asked him whether he would run for Parliament in 2024.
Joe Ghartey, who has been an MP since 2004, said he would not. Pressed further whether he would aspire to be president, Joe Ghartey said he responded yes.
He said he told the presenter that he had contested in 2012, and he placed third after the President and Alan Kyeremanteng, and he would contest again, God willing.
Hon Ghartey told the gathering that after that, Asaase Radio flew a team from Accra to Takoradi to interview him a few days before the election.
The host, Kojo Mensah, asked him the same question about whether he would contest for the presidential slot in 2024, and he answered yes.
Joe Ghartey told the gathering that after the election, the president addressing MPs elect, said he would exclude from his Government anyone who had declared that he would contest for presidential Primaries.
Joe Ghartey said he was told by a senior member of the party that he should have said he was now thinking about it when he was asked the question. Joe Ghartey told the gathering that he was not in the business of lying or waffling, and he spoke the truth, and the truth set him free.
He had thought about it already, and that is why he answered that way. He assured the Region that he would definitely come around soon.
Hon. Ghartey is a former Attorney General Minister of Justice and former Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, could not hold his frustration when he came across cocoa beans being dried on a road during his maiden tour of roads in Atwima Mponua, a suburb of his region.
A viral video sighted by GhanaWeb showed the minister ordering some men, purportedly the farmers who dried the cocoa beans, to remove them from the road.
The order of the minister did not sit well with one of the farmers, who said they had done nothing wrong and suggested that the minister should rather focus on fighting the menace of galamsey.
This infuriated Simon Osei-Mensah, who then threatened to arrest the farmer.
“You think Ghana belongs to you, right, Hurry up and remove these cocoa beans from the road. When have you seen people drying cocoa on the roads?
“You’re telling me that this is not galamsey. If you’re not careful, I will order your arrest,” he said in Twi.
The farmer retorted: “If you arrest me, I will be released soon”.
This further infuriated the minister, who ordered the arrest of the farmer despite several pleas by onlookers.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned its members not to exhibit signs of complacency ahead of the 2024 elections.
The party contends that all and sundry must contribute as the NDC aims at winning the next polls.
Speaking to Citi News after launching his campaign to contest the General Secretary position, Director of Elections for the NDC, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah urged his supporters to stay focused.
“The governing party will be very desperate in trying to deploy other means so for me, if genuine elections are held today, the NPP will struggle to get 40 percent, but we know they won’t do genuine elections. That is why the NDC must not be complacent and say that we have won already. I don’t want to hear that. We must fight to the finish. We want to win an overwhelming victory that nobody can do anything about it.”
The Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo wants delegates to retain him as the chairman of the party.
He argues the party requires a formidable team to rescue the country from the current government.
“I respectfully urge and entreat all delegates to vote for me come December 17. Be assured that, a vote for me is a vote for unity, a stronger party, inclusiveness, hard work and ultimately, it is a vote for victory in 2024. I am the people’s chairman and I have an unfinished agenda. Vote for me for victory for the NDC in 2024 and form the next government.”
Captain Nkrebeah Effah Dartey (retired), the lawyer for embattled illegal mining kingpin Aisha Huang, has expressed disappointment in the presiding judge of an Accra High Court for refusing his client bail once again.
The criminal trial of Aisha Huang, who is facing charges of engaging in illegal mining and the sale of minerals without a license, commenced at the Criminal Court 5 of the Accra High Court on Wednesday, September 9, 2022.
The court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, before adjourning the trial, refused a bail application by the lawyer for the accused.
According to the judge, who was rejecting the application for the third time, her reasons remain that the accused person is a flight risk as she is a foreigner with no social ties to Ghana.
Justice Marfo added that the trial is expected to conclude without delay due to the pace of the proceedings.
But reacting to the judge’s decision in an interview with the press, Mr Effah Dartey described the decision as unfortunate.
“Once again, unfortunately, my application for bail was turned down, and I feel very embarrassed. But it’s one of the nuances of the game,” he said.
Asked if he intended to repeat his application again, the lawyer for the accused said he does not see the court granting such a request looking at the demeanour of the judge.
“The law gives us the opportunity to repeat applications as often as possible except that looking at the demeanour of the judge it might not be a useful exercise,” he added.
The prosecution on Wednesday called its first witness, Supt. Ransford Aborabora of the Ghana Immigration Service.
The witness, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, told the court that he led a team of officers to raid an illegal mining site at Bepotenteng in the Ashanti Region on May 6, 2017.
The raid, which was part of an enforcement exercise by the Immigration Service, according to the witness, saw the arrest of four Chinese nationals.
One of the Chinese nationals, Gao Gin, according to the witness, informed him that they were at the mining site working on behalf of Aisha Huang, who had their passports in her custody.
The officer added that he took a video and pictures of the site, which was tendered into evidence and played in court.
During cross-examination by the defence counsel, the witness admitted that he had no direct evidence to confirm that the accused person was engaged in illegal mining.
The case has been adjourned to Monday, November 14, 2022, where the prosecution is expected to call its second witness.
Ms. Huang, in 2017 was charged for undertaking small-scale mining operations contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
She was also charged with providing mine support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission, contrary to Sections 59 and 99 (2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, and also charged with illegal employment of foreign nationals (in breach of section 24 of the Immigration Act and regulation 18 of the Immigration Regulations).
Her case was, however, discontinued, and she was deported. Her deportation meant the state discontinued the trial against her.
She, however, found her way back into the country, leading to her recent arrest. An Accra Circuit court last week remanded Aisha Huang and three other Chinese nationals into custody to reappear on charges of illegal gold mining and trading.
Her recent arrest is on the same issue of illegal mining.
Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, founder of Action Chapel International has taken the woes of the Ghana cedi into prayer.
The local currency has become a major victim of an economic downturn that has been epitomized by massive depreciation against the United States dollar, galloping inflation (currently at over 40%) and the general rise in the cost of living.
The ‘Papa’ as he is known, however, believes that prayer was a good means of arresting and stabilizing the depreciating currency aside from economic and political interventions.
In a November 7, 2022 video posted on his official Twitter handle, Duncan-Williams implores his congregation to open their mouths and pray for the stability of the cedi.
“All things are possible to him that believes, I said all things are possible to him that believes. We speak to the cedi. We prophesy to the cedi, let the cedi stabilize.
“Open your mouth, put your hands together, prophesy, speak to the cedi… open your mouth, speak to the cedi, prophesy, arrest the cedi, stabilize it in prayer. In the name of Jesus,” he added.
Second Lady Samira Bawumia on November 9, 2022, demanded an apology from Despite Group of Companies on the allegations that a full V8 had been dedicated to carrying make-up and an artist whenever she travelled within the country.
The allegation was made on Neat FM, a subsidiary of the Despite Media Group, by the Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Sammy Gyamfi.
According to a letter from the Second Lady’s lawyers, Sarkodie Baffuor Awuah and Associates addressed to the Manager of Neat FM, the allegation made on November 7, 2022, on the ‘Me Man Nti,’ programme was untrue.
The letter said that Sammy Gyamfi was allowed to peddle the allegation and that with the host’s failure to rein him in, Mrs Bawumia was cast “in the minds of right thinking members of the society, as a person who is insensitive, wasteful and unreasonable.”
The twin demands made were that Sammy Gyamfi is made to retract the allegations on the same show and an unqualified apology be rendered to the Second Lady by the host of the programme.
What did Sammy Gyamfi say?
Sammy Gyamfi on the abovementioned date alleged that Samira Bawumia in these hard times transports her makeup artiste and makeup kit in a brand new Landcruiser.
He questioned why the Second lady will be insensitive in these hard times to transport her makeup artiste and kit in a Landcruiser everywhere she goes.
“…there is another person; Samira Bawumia, do you know her convoy includes a brand new Landcruiser carrying makeup; makeup artiste; it follows her everywhere. Who is paying for that, the taxpayer,” he alleged.
Prof Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has advised the General Legal Council, GLC, not to embarrass itself following a directive demanding the social media handles of law students as part of disciplinary measures.
According to him, the body that regulates the legal profession in Ghana should also desist from embarrassing the entire profession, and the country at large, with its actions.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, November 9, the lawyer and educationalist stated that the GCL can do things right without resorting to was he calls “nonsense.”
“The General Legal Council should stop embarrassing itself, the entire legal profession, and the country. We can do without such nonsense at this time,” H Kwasi Prempeh wrote.
Meanwhile, Elorm Ababio, a student who just completed the Ghana School of Law (GSL) will not be called to the Ghana Bar due to a petition filed against her by a “concerned citizen”.
Known popularly on YouTube as Ama Governor, the complaint, according to a letter signed by Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo JA, Secretary, Ghana Legal Council (GLC), stated that Ama Governor is seen in widely circulated videos engaging in what it describes as “conduct unbecoming of an applicant to be called to the Bar”.
The Complainant, the GLC Secretary indicated, also submitted a flash drive [pen drive] which contains selected video files and hyperlinks of Ama Governor to relevant website publications.
Ama Governor’s conduct is said to violate Regulation 21(c) of the Legal Profession (Professional and Post-call Law Course) Regulations, 2018 L.I. 2355.
The said Regulation states: “A student of the school qualifies to be called to the Bar, if that student has […] (c) satisfied the Council that the student is of good character.”
Also, The school mandated to train legal practitioners on Wednesday, November 9, 2020, directed students to submit their social media handles for monitoring to ensure that they maintain a character befitting the legal profession.
Yaw Oppong, Director of the School who is also a member of the GLC, speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of the School of Law Students’ Representative Council (SRC) executives explained that the request for social media handles will help many students willing to be called to the bar to maintain a good character.
“Everybody will have to provide their social media handles. We are going to look at it and you will be monitored in terms of conduct. We are required by law to make recommendations. We don’t want to stampede you.
“You are going to reapply beyond the pass and submit yourselves for all legitimate checks,” he said.
When the first prosecution witness [PW1] in the Aisha Huang trial was called before the High Court, Criminal Court 5 division, he narrated how the notorious Chinese galamsey kingpin was arrested.
According to Reuben Ransford Aboraborah, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, his outfit got information from some Chinese nationals that led to the arrest of Aisha Huang.
The witness stated during cross-examination that he had no personal independent information verified by him against Aisha Huang.
“On 5th May 2017, I led six junior officers of Ghana Immigration Service attached to the Enforcement Unit of the Obuasi Command to Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti region.
“Our aim in going to Bepotenten was to verify information our office had received that some Chinese nationals and others were engaged in illegal mining at Bepotenten in spite of the government ban on mining activities,” Reuben Ransford Aboraborah said in his witness statement.
“…upon arresting the four Chinese nationals, I interacted with them before we set off to Obuasi. I asked them of their mission at the site and Gao Jin Cheng said that they were there to mine for one Aisha,” the statement added.
The Chinese illegal miner is facing concurrent charges including running mining operations without a license, re-entering Ghana while under prohibition and employing foreigners without a permit.
The case has been adjourned to November 14 for the second prosecution witness to appear.
The State had earlier announced that it has lined up 11 witnesses in the High Court case.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakorah Obuobisa, has also hinted at a range of audio-visual evidence to be submitted by the witnesses.
According to popular comedian and musician Kwadwo Nkansah also known as “LilWin,” he is the highest-paid football player in Ghana.
He stated that he receives the highest pay among all football players that play professionally in Ghanaian football leagues in an interview with Andy Dosty on the Daybreak Hitz.
“The whole of Ghana, I’m the highest-paid footballer. I’m not talking about those playing internationally, I’m talking about those who are playing in the Ghana Premier League”, LilWin told Andy Dosty.
The popular comedian joined Division One League team New Edubiase United at the age of 34. He displayed his skills in one of the club’s training sessions after signing.
LilWin signed a two-year deal with New Edubiase United, an outfit aiming for promotion to the Ghana Premier League.
He also serves as an ambassador for the Division One team. On Friday, October 14, 2022, Kwadwo Nkansah was introduced as one of the six new players that would be joining the squad ahead of the new season.
Some Ghanaians on social media have launched an online petition targeted at the General Legal Council (GLC).
The move is in protest of the suspension of the call to the Ghana Bar of Elorm Ababio, popularly known as Ama Governor on social media.
The lawyer-in-waiting, who is also a YouTuber, is being denied the Car call despite her successful completion of the professional law program, that is passing her exams and scaling the interview session as well.
The petition dubbed ‘Justice for Ama Governor’ has been published to gather signatures.
Ama Governor reportedly received a letter dated November 3, from the Secretary to the General Legal Council, Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo JA, informing her of the suspension because a complaint filed by a “concerned citizen”.
The GLC indicated that the complaint by this “concerned citizen” alleged that Ama Governor is seen in widely circulated videos engaging in what it describes as “conduct unbecoming of an applicant to be called to the Bar”.
The Complainant, the GLC Secretary indicated, also submitted a flash drive [pen drive] which contains selected video files and hyperlinks of Ama Governor to relevant website publications.
Ama Governor’s conduct is said to violate Regulation 21 (c) of the Legal Profession (Professional and Post-call Law Course) Regulations, 2018 L.I. 2355.
The said Regulation states: “A student of the school qualifies to be called to the Bar, if that student has […] (c) satisfied the Council that the student is of good character.”
Barely a few days after the suspension was communicated, an online petition circulating on various social media platforms has already generated 8,982 signatures out of the 9,000 targeted.
No offence to anyone please ,but if Ama governor was promoting LGBTQ on her channel then I think it’s the law that has got to her,LGBTQ is illegal in Ghana and promoting it isn’t something you should be doing if you want to get a job that’s mainly about the law .
Can someone please clearly outline what happened? And if it’s shareable, please let us know the reasons the GLC have given for refusing to call Ama to the bar even though she has met all requirements.https://t.co/QGh6h9wSIK
Daughter of former United States (US) president, Donald Trump, and her fiancé, Michael Boulos, are reportedly set to tie the knot on November 12, 2022.
The bride-to-be, Tiffany Trump, and her Nigerian-bred fiancé, Michael Boulos, according to reports, will hold their lavish wedding at Donald Trump’s palm beach in Florida with an expected 500 guests.
“There has been a lot of planning and a lot of staging. This is Tiffany’s big moment, and it will be lavish. It is going to be a huge and beautiful affair,” the source said.
The couple got engaged on January 19, 2021, at the White House rose garden a few hours to the end of Trump’s tenure as US president.
Boulos was said to have engaged Tiffany with a 13-carat emerald-cut diamond from Dubai, worth $1.2 million.
Michael Boulos’ background
Boulos was raised in Lagos although he is of Lebanese and French descent.
Per reports, he moved to Nigeria at a young age where his family’s business is based and while in Nigeria, he studied at the American International School of Lagos.
He is the son of Massad, the Chief Executive Officer of SCOA Nigeria, and his mother, Sarah, is the founder of the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria.
According to a ‘Page Six’ report, Boulos was studying project management at City University of London when he met Tiffany, a law student at Georgetown, while she was on vacation in Mykonos, Greece, with Lindsay Lohan in 2018.
