A brief and marginal relief may soon be on the way as the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) in its latest checks ahead of the second oil pricing window in November is stating that petrol and diesel are projected to see a price decline while the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is expected to be adjusted upwards.
Ahead of the second pricing window which is expected on Wednesday, November 16, COPEC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Duncan Amoah said: “international benchmark for LPG has seen an increase of about $32 from $598.27 to $630.56,” which he said, “could be expected to lead to an increase in retail price on current retail averages of 12.10/kg to a likely retail price of 13.51/kg.”
To this end, what it literally means is, the price of petroleum is likely to move downwards to GH¢16.07 per litre from the current average of GH¢17.42 per litre.
Same goes for diesel, as the expected retail price could decline from the current average of GH¢23.43 per litre to an average of GH¢20.25 per litre.
The biggest gainer and scare will however be liquefied petroleum gas, which is expected to rise from GH¢12.10 per kilogram to a likely retail price of GH¢13.51 per kilogram.
COPEC said the expected decline in the prices of petroleum and diesel is largely due to a “stronger intervention by the Bank Of Ghana with specific emphasis on petroleum import and space through targeted forex auctions.”
The Chamber, once again, reiterated the need to revamp the Tema Oil Refinery to complement the country’s energy demands.
“We entreat the Bank of Ghana to not make this intervention in the forex supply a nine-day wonder but to step up efforts to guarantee the needed forex to particularly the petroleum importation market while reminding our leaders on the urgent need to fix and operationalise the currently idle Tema Oil Refinery to contribute its quota to the much-needed fuel security and stability of the cedi whiles encouraging a rethink of the strategic role originally assigned the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST).”
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has said that it has no knowledge of a directive from the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, asking the Commission and officials of the National Identification Authority (NIA) to appear before him with a briefing over the new Constitutional Instrument seeking to make the Ghana Card the sole document for the registration of voters ID.
According to the Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, the commission does not operate with hearsay.
He added that if indeed the Speaker has issues with the process, he must officially write to the Commission.
Dr. Serebour’s comment comes on the back of a warning from the Alban Bagbin, asking the EC to forget laying the new C.I in parliament if they fail to meet the leadership of the House.
But in the view of the EC, they cannot honour the Speaker’s request when they haven’t been officially invited.
“We’ve not heard anything from the speaker. Officially they have to write to us if they have issues with our C.I. We have no letter from parliament and we don’t work with hearsay. We’ve already met the subsidiary committee and the budget committee but nobody has invited us to come because we can only go to parliament when we have been invited. It’s like going to somebody’s house without invitation,” Dr. Serebuor said in an interview with the host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV’s morning show, Kwesi Parker-Wilson.
Dr. Serebour further explained that the move by the EC to make the Ghana Card the sole document for the registration of voters ID remains unchanged.
He added that NIA officials have so far captured about 17 million Ghanaians into its system.
“We met the NIA officials about 2 weeks ago and per the statistics, they have covered more than 17 million Ghanaians. The backlog now is about 400,000 that is persons who are yet to receive their cards after being registered. I can tell you that some of the district officers are empty now because the NIA officials have registered everyone in the district.”
“People are no more complaining about the issuance of the card and we have two more years to go so we are still standing by our earlier position,” he added.
Defeated Ashanti Region Chairman aspirant, Lawyer Evans Amankwaa, has said he spent huge sums of monies on the entire 1,400 delegates at the just-ended elections but still lost.
According to him, he paid GH¢350 to each delegate for lunch and transportation, at the conference which saw 62 candidates contest for various regional executive positions for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Evans Amakwaa noted in an interview on Akoma FM that the total cost amounted to almost GH¢500,000.
The legal practitioner further said although he was not surprised he lost, he had a glimpse of hope he would win the elections.
“I wasn’t surprised at yesterday’s results though I was confident of winning the election. I was as well aware that anything could have happened so I have spent hugely on the just-ended elections but it was my decision so I never regret my actions.”
Over 1000 delegates from the Ashanti Region NDC took part in the regional executive elections at Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday, November 13.
After the election, incumbent chairman Augustus Nana Akwasi Andrews sailed through with 637 while lawyer Evans Amankwa managed some 572 votes with Yaw Owusu Obimpeh coming third with 137 votes.
An aspiring General Secretary of the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress, has clarified the circumstances that surrounded one of the government initiatives under the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration.
Speaking in an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk with Edward Smith Anamale, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah explained that contrary to the narrative, the NDC government rather came in to restructure the operations of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA).
He explained that upon their attainment of power, the NDC came to the realization that there was a lot of wrong with the institution, a situation that it immediately went to work on remedying.
He described as an ‘irony,’ the fact that people rather blame the John Mahama administration for the rot that happened under the GYEEDA program.
“The president gave me two mandates: qualify us for the World Cup and also restructure the youth front, and that included the National Youth Employment Program (NYEP). Now, the story that has not been told is that it is our government, under the direction of President Mahama, led by me, that streamlined and restructured the GYEEDA program.
“So, it’s an irony when people rather turn to actually lambast the NDC government for GYEEDA. So, we had the NYEP, and when we took office, we found so many issues with the NYEP, starting from when it was established. The problem was the way it was established, the structures and systems that were in place.
“There was no clear-cut mode of financing so the financing was haphazard; when bills accumulated, you’d have to go to the finance ministry and go and lobby and then get paid. We introduced a tax system; money from a source that would be coming regularly. Ways in which contracts were awarded. It was a situation where the service providers would rather bring in the contract; we changed that. We said service providers can no longer bring in contracts. The institution itself would sit down and then source for contracts and then no more sole sourcing,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who was by then the Minister of Youth and Sports, explained that it was rather their efforts that streamlined the institution.
He added that it unfortunately, the bad outcomes from the unstructured administration before he took over was what many people heard about, so much that they exaggerated a lot of things.
“So, we actually restructured it, but by then, the issues were already there, but the focus was on those issues and of course, there were exaggerations; things like guinea fowls flying. There was nothing like that; absolutely nothing like that. Those were some of the exaggerations that occurred,” he explained.
2021 GJA Journalist of the Year Portia Solomon Gabor has been rewarded with a two-bedroom house by her employers, Media General Group.
At a short ceremony onTV3‘s flagship news programme News 360, Board Chairman Kojo Yankah presented her with a bouquet of flowers and announced the surprise package.
Aside the two-bedroom apartment, Portia will also enjoy an all-expense-paid 10-day trip to South Africa, with her family.
Portia Gabor was on Saturday, November 12 crowned the GJA Journalist of the Year at the 26th GJA Awards Night held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.
She also went home as winner for the Best TV News Production and the Journalist of the Year for Health.
TV3’s Juliet Bawuah, Joseph Armstorng Gold-Alorgbey and Godwin Asediba were also award winners on the night.
The Chamber of Telecommunications has bemoaned the costly nature of the sim registration exercise.
According to the Chief Executive of the Ghana Telecommunications Chamber, Ken Ashigbey, telecommunication companies have had to procure more devices and personnel to aid in the SIM registration process.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Mobile Industry Transparency Initiative, 2021 he said: “There are development costs that went into being able to put our systems in place to align with the NCA’s systems to be able to do the verifications, there’s an app we use that we pay for. Before the policy came in place, most of our agents were using feature phones to do registration but now for them to be able to do it, we need smartphones, so it cost a lot of money to be able to do that.”
“Then you have to recruit extra people needed to be able to do the exercise and we had to pay those people that we recruited and that is cost. The collaboration between the NCA and NIA needs to be stronger. We need to collaborate a lot more so that the verification processes will be tighter.”
Ashigbey added that when the NCA and NIA are able to collaborate effectively when anyone is “on the database, I don’t need to hold my card to be able to register.”
He, therefore, called on the NCA, the Ministry of Communications to hasten the process to end the registration and also make room for persons who are yet to register their SIM cards.
Professor Ernest Aryeetey, a former Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, has said Ghana must think beyond the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the quest to stabilise and transform the economy.
He noted that Ghana had always known how to recover from economic hardship with the support of the IMF but had refused to follow the required reforms due to political expediency.
Prof. Aryeetey said this at the 26th GJA Awards in Accra on the theme: “Walking the path towards Ghana’s Economic Recovery – The Role of the Media”.
He said after economic recovery, there must be stabilisation and transformation, which required broad participation and the need to change agriculture, boost trade, stimulate investment and industrialise not to get back to the same situation.
“Today, we are where we are because we failed to develop the right type of politics that will support economic transformation… (We need to) think about the political economy. How we (can) use our institutions to develop the right type of policies,” Prof. Aryeetey said, adding that the country needed to welcome more analysis and debates on the economy.
Prof. Aryeetey asked the media to create space for discussions on the economy towards finding solutions to the challenges, saying without that, it would only be the ideas of a small political group, friends and families.
“Let’s encourage debates on the economy. Let’s create a Ghana where ideas flourish and stop tagging people who share their thoughts on the economy..,” Prof. Aryeetey, who chaired the awards event said.
Madam Florence Oboshie Sai-Coffie, Special Advisor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Media and Strategic Communications, said government was doing its best to bring the economy back on track and tasked the media to amplify voices that could help find solutions to the economic challenges.
She said the media would be prioritised in the search for the solution and said Government was happy journalists were responding positively to the call for all hands to be on deck for economic recovery.
Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, Chairman of National Media Commission, asked the media to sustain national interest in discussions on the economy and not partisan ones.
“There is food in Ghana, but locked up at the farmgate, things are not well,” Mr. Edward Kareweh, General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has revealed.
He said, “things are not done properly. Improper application of laudable policies has created a problem, where food is cheap at the farm, but expensive on the side of the final consumer.”
“Poorly formed relations along most Agricultural value chains in the country were fostering a high degree of predatory behaviour between actors, affecting the sector negatively,” he said.
This predatory, Mr. Kareweh explained, also worsened, and weakened the reinforcing system that limited investments and decreased efficiency and resiliency, preventing competitiveness which overall affected the incomes and willingness of the ordinary farmer to purchase inputs.
Mr. Kareweh was speaking on the theme: “Ghana’s Agricultural Value Chain,” at the 17th Monthly Stakeholders Engagement and Workers’ appreciation day seminar organized by the Ghana News Agency’s Tema Regional Office, which aimed at providing a platform for both state and non-state organizations to address national issues to enhance development.
The event also served as a motivational mechanism to recognize the editorial contribution of reporters toward national development in general, growth, and promotion of the Tema GNA as the industrial news hub.
The GAWU General Secretary argued that government policies must provide specific incentives to agricultural equipment dealers and users to help expand smallholders as key stakeholders.
“So we must not blow our own trumpets that we are working. Let those we are serving judge. We must not praise a project because of its beautiful features, we must do that after seeing results,” he said.
Mr. Kareweh stated that the financial sector was weak and poorly structured to take on capacity-building investments needed to effectively support the agricultural sector in general, specifically the equipment sector, which was hindering the value chain from its massive potential.
He noted that wholesalers had limited interest in building branded retail channels, which passed through to the farmer making it less important as a leverage point for improving broader and more appropriate access for smallholders.
He added that there were larger retailers with multiple outlets that were keenly interested in expanding their distribution networks but were concerned by the risks and cost of setting up new stores because of a failed economic system adding that the country needs a structural bailout.
He stressed that the country currently lacks effective structural policies to optimize the competitiveness of the agricultural value chain.
“Enhancing the competitiveness of the agricultural value chains demands improvement in productivity along the specific value chains for an effective and efficient input supply system,” has stated.
Mr. Kareweh explained that formulating the right policies and allowing them to be championed by competent leaders would improve crop productivity and product quality along the agricultural value chains.
He said there was a need for the government to create an enabling environment to help facilitate linkages between core value chain actors and support services including financial services, technical advisers, and mechanization services to producers.
Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager explained that “we recognize the excellence in stakeholder engagement, which we believe will assist us GNA and our stakeholders to deliver and ensure that society plays an active watchdog role so that institutions perform.”
He said the Agency was strategically placed as a credible news organization that needed to deepen its relations with its stakeholders for mutual benefit and to advance the prospects of the agency and the country.
The Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey has assured of her commitment towards strengthening the existing relationship between Accra and Switzerland.
She made this known when the new Switzerland Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Simone Giger called on her at the Accra City Hall on Tuesday to formally introduce herself to the city administration and explore areas of collaboration.
The purpose of her visit touched on areas such as urban mobility, waste management, climate change, women empowerment and sister-city relationship, among others.
Ambassador Simone Giger in a remark outlined urban mobility and waste management as some areas that needed adept intervention adding that urban mobility is one of the areas where there could be a high impact with financial resources available.
“I think it is certainly one key area that is very striking when you arrive here and that’s urban transport. I feel urban mobility is one of the things where we can have quite a high impact with our limited financial resources that we have available” she said.
The Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey in her welcome address highlighted some areas of collaboration including climate change, women empowerment, and solid waste management among others.
She reiterated the Assembly’s ardent effort to mitigate the issue of solid waste management and cited solid waste separation and the procurement of street sweepers as some actions her outfit had already set in motion to address the canker of filth.
“Recently, there was a take-off in operations concerning solid waste separation to manage the amount of waste that is received by the city to help in proper waste management.”
Concerning that as well, the mayor also said, “hopefully, this month we’ll be launching the Sweepers on the Streets Programme with respect to how to manage Street Sweepers like it is done in Europe” she noted.
On solid waste management, her Excellency Simone Giger lauded the Mayor for her efforts to champion and rid the city of filth.
However according to her, even though a lot has been done so far to tackle the issue of solid waste management, she believes the problem is still prevalent suggesting possible solutions that can be put in place to curb the problem.
She also disclosed that her outfit was ready to assist the Assembly in terms of resources to tackle the issue of urban mobility in Accra citing a possible partnership with heads of transport in the various MMDAs to regulate public transport and improve data collection.
“We have been working together with the cooperation for the Ghana urban mobility and accessibility project. This is a project that wants to assist the heads of transport within the MMDA’s to regulate public transport and of course, also improve data collection. The very good news here is that we have 1 million in grant funding to ease six notoriously congesting junctions and integrate into the Accra region” she added.
The Lady Mayor of Accra, Hon Sackey also proposed a capacity-building program for staff, through exchange programs for individuals of the Assembly to acquire knowledge on climate change and global warming as well as solutions to combat climate risks.
The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Hon Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey expressed appreciation to the Swiss Ambassador, Her Excellency Simone Giger and was looking forward to partnering with her outfit to undertake the aforementioned projects.
Ambassador Simone Giger who leads an all-female management team at the Swiss Embassy was accompanied by Simone Harberli, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation.
Present at the meeting was the Presiding Member of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Hon. Alfred Adjei, Head of Development Planning, Richard Kwame Oduro, Director of Finance for the AMA, Francis Anaba and the Director for Transport, Alex Johnson, among others.
The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and his Deputy John Kumah must also leave office immediately, a member of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) Bernard Mornah has said.
In his view, Mr Ofori-Atta is not the answer to the economic challenges facing Ghanaians.
“Investors don’t have confidence in the economy because of Ofori-Atta,” he said on the Big Issue on TV3 with Berla Mundi on Tuesday November 15.
He added ” John Kumah said they will not go to the IMF but today we are at the IMF.”
He was contributing to a discussion on the sacking of the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry Charles Adu Boahen.
President Akufo-Addo has sacked Mr Adu Boahen.
“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has terminated the appointment of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Charles Adu Boahen, with immediate effect.
“After being made aware of the allegations levelled against the Minister in the exposé, ‘Galamsey Economy’, the President spoke to Mr. Adu Boahen, after which he took the decision to terminate his appointment, and also to refer the matter to the Special Prosecutor for further investigations.
“The President thanked Mr. Adu Boahen for his strong services to his government since his appointment in 2017, and wished him well in his future endeavours,” a statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin said on Monday November 14.
The General Agriculture Worker’s Union (GAWU) is raising some eyebrows about the activities of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in the food distribution chain concerning its Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) pilot market.
According to GAWU, the ministry has no business in the food middlemen business.
The MoFA last Friday, November 11, 2022, piloted the sale of some selected food items at its forecourt in Accra to cushion some Civil and Local Government staff to get affordable food items in the wake of food price hikes in the country.
The General Secretary of GAWU, Edward Kareweh questioned the ministry’s rationale for introducing the programme.
He was of the view that the ministry was usurping the work of the National Buffer Stock Limited while speaking in an interview on the 505 news analysis programme hosted by Valentina Ofori Afriyie on Accra-based Class 91.3 FM on Friday, November 11, 2022.
He was categorical in saying the ministry has no mandate to engage in such exercises when there is a dedicated company for doing so.
He further questioned the ministry’s budget for playing the role of food middleman in the food distribution and supply chain.
”The ministry ought to tell us which budget they are using for the pilot programme when there is the need for the ministry to scale up its supply of fertilizers to farmers among others in the country,” he stressed.
He said since 2021 the ministry has scaled down the supply of fertilisers to farmers across the country.
This should be a source of worry to the minister and the heads of departments at the ministry and not dabbling in the food supply chain.
He said there has been a drastic reduction in subsidies on fertilisers leading to a reduction in the volumes supplied to the farmers.
He added that what is needed to salvage the situation is investments in agriculture and not the ministry drifting to areas it has no mandate.
He said there is a shortage of maize which is a key component in PFJ crops and asked why the ministry is not working to make that available through the PFJ pilot market but rather focusing o plantain which is not part of the PFJ list of crops?
The TDC Development Company is to pay a total of GHC2.4 million as dividends for 2021 to the government, its shareholder.
The TDC has already paid an interim dividend of GHC1.2 million.
Mr Kofi Brako, Board Chairman of the company, announced the dividend at the second Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the TDC, held in Tema.
“Matching the company’s desire to complete its projects on time with the shareholder’s expectations, the Board has resolved to pay an additional GHC1.2 million in dividends to bring the total dividend payment for the year to GHsC.4 million,” Mr Brako said.
Touching on TDC’s financial performance for 2021, the TDC Board Chairman said the company generated an income of GHs116.59 million in 2021, representing a growth of 20 per cent over GHs97.1 million in 2020.
He said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted its operations, the Company was able to grow its profit before tax by 10.9 per cent from GHs37.58 million in 2020 to GHs41.68 million in 2021.
The Board Chairman said TDC assets grew by 22.3 per cent from GHs 380.72 million in 2020 to GHs465.50 million in 2021, adding that shareholder’s fund also increased by 19.84 per cent from GHs270.96 million in 2020 to GHs325.11 million in 2021.
Mr Brako said TDC currently had several ongoing projects being funded from its internally generated funds, adding that in that regard it was important to plough back most of its profit to fund and complete them.
He said the projects were expected to build strong capital adequacy for the company and increase the shareholder’s worth.
Mr Joseph Cudjoe, Minister of Public Enterprises, commended the TDC for its outstanding performance during the year under review and for winning the overall best-performing state-owned enterprise, as well as the overall best-performing specified entity for the year 2020 in the public enterprises league table.
Mr Cudjoe said TDC was working in line with the government’s vision of seeing State Owned Enterprises operating profitably and professionally to support the economy while obeying all laws regarding their operations.
Mr Abdulai Abanga, the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, on his part, charged the TDC to consider expanding its operations outside the Tema acquisition areas to other parts of the country which need affordable houses.
Ms Alice Abena Ofori-Atta, the TDC Managing Director, in a report said long-term construction finance in Ghana remained one of the major constraints to real estate development for property developers and prospective homeowners.
Ms. Ofori-Atta added, however, that funding from private entities, Real Estate Investment Trusts, banks, and other financial institutions, among others, continued to lessen the funding gap though in a modest way.
She expressed optimism that as the real estate sector was expected to bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic, TDC would continue to explore and take advantage of any opportunity that would emerge.
She said to enhance their performance and effectiveness amidst the new dynamics of competition within the sector, TDC was using some strategic initiatives and policy interventions such as the electronic rent collection system, the GCB Bank collection project, enterprise risk management, balanced scorecard, and staff training and development.
Some of the resolutions taken at the AGM were the receiving and adopting of the report of the Directors, Auditors, and Financial Statements for the year ending December 31, 2021.
Declaration of dividends for the year under review, as well as authorising the Directors to determine the remuneration of the Auditors, and to transfer GHC100 million from Retained Earnings Account to Stated Capital.
The eight-member ad hoc committee set up by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to probe embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta will start sitting today, a member of the committee has announced.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, in a social media post revealed that sittings will be public and also broadcast live.
According to him, doing so will ultimately be in the spirit of transparency and accountability.
“The Ken Ofori-Atta Vote of Censure Parliamentary Committee will commence sittings tomorrow 15/11/22 at 11 am.
“It’s an absolute delight to announce that the committee shall sit in public & all proceedings will be broadcast live in the true spirit of transparency & accountability,” his post read.
Speaker sets up ad hoc Committee over Ofori-Atta censure motion
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 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
Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has revealed that undercover footage belonging to investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas was stolen and sold by an unnamed ally in 2018.
He explained in a Facebook comment that the very incident was partly the reason why Anas used 2018 footage to expose corruption on the part of Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, in his latest exposé titled ‘Galamsey Economy.’
Baako said the theft coupled with the death of the lead investigator in 2019, that is Ahmed Hussein Suale, impacted the specific investigation, adding further that it was only after backup files had been accessed that the Tiger Eye PI team decided to go ahead with the latest expose.
Baako wrote about the videos in response to a Facebook comment: “Somebody “stole and sold” it to somebody; thinking the evidence had been deleted forever! The “buyer” went out boasting about his possession for years for whatever reason nobody could tell! Apparently, the real “owners/authors” subsequently discovered an extra copy! Today’s story begins from there. PAY ATTENTION!”
Today’s story from the above quote refers to a publication in the New Crusading GUIDE’s November 14 edition in which Anas – a co-publisher of the paper along with Baako – wrote about the minister’s deeds and misdeeds.
The documentary was subsequently screened twice at the Accra International Conference Center, AICC.
In further explanations on the Facebook wall of a pro-Bawumia activist relative to the alleged footage thief, Kweku Baako explained that it happened to be the same guy (unnamed) who doctored a video of Akufo-Addo allegedly taking bribes in 2016.
“Same guy who fabricated a video of Candidate Akufo-Addo receiving a donation from a lady supporter of the NPP in his Nima residence in 2016 when Akufo-Addo was not President but tried to make it look as if he was the President!” he explained.
Baako is also on record to have stated that the Vice President had not been in any way implicated by the documentary just as president Akufo-Addo was not implicated in the Number 12 documentary in which he was mentioned by former Ghana Football Association, GFA, president, Kwesi Nyantakyi; as someone who could be influenced with money.
Background
Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry was implicated in the ‘Galamsey Economy’ investigative documentary released by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas on November 14.
The now dismissed minister was captured on tape making comments to the effect that access by investors to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia could be facilitated at a cost of US$200,000.
Bawumia has dispelled the allegations and insisted that his integrity remains his most cherished asset in life.
“My most cherished asset in life is my integrity and I will not allow anyone to use my name to engage in corrupt activities,” Bawumia said in a post calling for the minister’s dismissal.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has since terminated Adu Boahen’s appointment and referred the contents of the investigation to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Dr. Gideon Boako, the spokesperson for the Vice President, has indicated that somebody contacted him earlier this year, claiming to be an investor and wanted to enquire about the ‘appearance fee’ to meet his boss, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
According to him, he did not probe further to know the background of the investor “because it was of no interest to me.”
Dr. Gideon Boako while speaking on Asempa FM’s ‘Ekosii Sen’ programme on Monday, November 14 stated that he spoke to the investor on phone.
“The exact day, I may not be able to tell, but they contacted me this year, 2022. I laughed and asked, an appearance fee? Why? is it that Kotoko and Hearts of Oak are going to have a super clash,” he said while laughing.
Dr Gideon Boako further stated that the supposed investor asked whether the ‘appearance fee’ is a norm, to which he replied, “no, that cannot happen. If that was the case, then I am not a poor man. I told them the Vice President as I know him, will never entertain such a thing. If you are his staff and entertain such a thing, you do that at your own risk.
“I told them that well, I do not know that person, but I will say categorically that the person did that on his own behalf and not on behalf of the Vice President because as far as I know the Vice President, it will never happen.
“I said to them that if the Vice President gets to know of that, he will recommend for the person to be questioned by the security agencies. It was only yesterday that Tiger Eye revealed the name of the person they were talking about,” Dr. Boako explained further.
Charles Adu Boahen, the dismissed Minister of State in charge of Finance had earlier alleged that the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will require $200,000 as an appearance fee to meet prospective investors.
This was revealed by Anas Aremeyaw Anas in his latest undercover documentary dubbed “Galamsey Economy”.
The investigative journalist noted that Adu Boahen, in the undercover piece told his Tiger Eye PI team who posed as investors that Dr. Bawumia would also require some positions from the investor for his siblings to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.
But Dr. Bawumia in a statement on Monday, November 14, denied the accusations and called for an investigation into the allegations.
Charles Adu Boahen, the dismissed Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, has opened up about how investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye P.I team in 2018, attempted to entrap him.
According to him, he did not involve himself in the act the journalist is accusing him of in his latest undercover investigation dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy.’
In a statement issued on the morning of November 14, 2022, following the release of a newspaper version of the exposé, Adu Boahen indicated that “It has come to my attention that a documentary to be aired by Tiger Eye PI, and an article published in the Crusading Guide on (14 November 2022) seeks to accuse me of brokering deals for the Vice President of the Republic.
“This follows an attempt to entrap myself and other persons in 2018. Substantively, I have not been involved in this act of which I am being accused.”
He continued: “I do not however wish to be a distraction to Government and the Ministry of Finance at this crucial moment.
“Consequently, I have submitted my resignation to the President of the Republic. I will however look forward to a full investigation which I hope will reveal that I have not committed this act.” The post has since been deleted from his Facebook handle.
Adu Boahen, the dismissed Minister of State was indicted in the latest undercover investigative piece by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Anas in a post on his Facebook timeline barely hours before the premiering of his investigative piece dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy’ noted that the minister made some shocking revelations to his team in a hotel in UAE, when they posed as possible investors to Ghana.
He said, Adu Boahen alleged the vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will require about USD200,000 as an appearance fee from an investor to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.
He said, when his Tiger Eye PI team met Adu Boahen in the UAE, he spoke about Bawumia’s financial demands before agreeing to assist any investor.
“You mean, like appearance fees and stuff? I mean he, himself (the Vice President), if you give him some (USD) 200,000 or something as a token, as thank you, appreciation, that’s fine. He’s not really, he’s not really (like) that. All he needs is to worry about his campaign money in 2020,” Charles Adu Boahen is quoted to have said.
But Dr. Bawumia in a statement on Monday, November 14, denied the accusations and called for an investigation into the allegations.
The message from the dismissed minister has since been deleted.
Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, Executive Assistant & Head of Social Media, Office of the President, has chastised investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas over his latest investigative work dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy‘.
He described the investigative work of the journalist as ‘sheer wickedness and evil’.
The Presidential Staffer noted that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is known for recording people and editing them to suit his narrative, something that the former Ghana Football Association President, Kwesi Nyantakyi suffered in the Number 12 documentary by Tiger Eye PI, Anas’ investigative firm.
He extended his criticism to Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Anas’ boss when he was commenting on the investigative work which triggered the dismissal of Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State in charge of Finance.
“I’m soo soo disappointed in my senior brother and mentor Abdul Malik Kweku Baako. Anas Aremeyaw Anas was my classmate at Secondary School and still a very good friend of mine.
“Recording people and editing the recording with your own voice-over to suit your story is nothing but share (sic) wickedness and evil. He did it to Kwasi Nyantakyi and the country looked on. All I can say is that, we are all in the hands of the Lord,” Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe wrote on his Facebook timeline.
Charles Adu Boahen, the dismissed Minister of State in charge of Finance had earlier alleged that the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will require $200,000 as an appearance fee to meet prospective investors.
This was revealed in Anas’ ‘Galamsey Economy’ investigation.
The investigative journalist noted that Adu Boahen, in the undercover piece told his Tiger Eye PI team members posing as investors that Dr. Bawumia would also require some positions from the investor for his siblings, in orfer to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.
But Dr. Bawumia in a statement on Monday, November 14, denied the accusations and called for an investigation into the allegations.
Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe’s post has since been deleted.
It has emerged that the latest undercover investigation by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI team, was filmed as far back as 2018.
It turns out that the investigative team faced some challenges which delayed the airing of the piece dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy‘.
GhanaWeb sources indicate that after the necessary footage was recorded in 2018, the lead investigator in the person of Ahmed Hussein-Suale was shot and killed on 16th January 2019, by some unknown persons.
Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide commented on a Facebook post by one Kwadwo Yeboah-Gyan, as to why his protégé, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his team used four years to make the investigation public.
He said, what the author of the Facebook post should have done is to “find out what happened within the 4-year period which may have delayed things! Did somebody steal some of the records and sold them to somebody? Did the lead investigator die an unnatural death? And how did these things impact the capacity of the original investigators?”
Baako said, aside from all those challenges, the investigative files were stolen and sold to somebody who went out boasting about having the files of Anas and his team.
Little did the buyer know that the original owners had a backup file which they later retrieved and used to complete the ‘Galamsey Economy’ work.
“Somebody ‘stole and sold’ it to somebody; thinking the evidence had been deleted forever! The ‘buyer’ went out boasting about his possession for years for whatever reason nobody could tell! Apparently, the real ‘owners/author’ subsequently discovered an extra copy! Today’s story begins from there pay attention,” Abdul Malik Kweku Baako stressed.
Charles Adu Boahen, the dismissed Minister of State at the Finance Ministry was exposed in the latest undercover investigative piece which was publicly premiered on November 14.
Anas in a post on his Facebook timeline hours before the showing of the ‘Galamsey Economy’ film noted that the minister made some shocking revelations to his team in a hotel in UAE, when they posed as possible investors to Ghana.
He said, Adu Boahen alleged the vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will require about USD200,000 as an appearance fee from an investor to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.
He said, when his Tiger Eye PI team met with the Minister of State in charge of Finance in UAE, he spoke about Bawumia’s financial demands before agreeing to assist any investor.
“You mean, like appearance fees and stuff? I mean he, himself (the Vice President), if you give him some (USD) 200,000 or something as a token, as thank you, appreciation, that’s fine. He’s not really, he’s not really (like) that. All he needs is to worry about his campaign money in 2020,” Charles Adu Boahen is quoted to have said.
But Dr. Bawumia in a statement on Monday, November 14, denied the accusations and called for an investigation into the allegations.
The eight-member ad hoc committee set up by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to probe embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta will start sitting today, a member of the committee has announced.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, in a social media post revealed that sittings will be public and also broadcast live.
According to him, doing so will ultimately be in the spirit of transparency and accountability.
“The Ken Ofori-Atta Vote of Censure Parliamentary Committee will commence sittings tomorrow 15/11/22 at 11 am.
“It’s an absolute delight to announce that the committee shall sit in public & all proceedings will be broadcast live in the true spirit of transparency & accountability,” his post read.
Speaker sets up ad hoc Committee over Ofori-Atta censure motion
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 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
The Ken Ofori-Atta Vote of Censure Parliamentary Committee will commence sittings tomorrow 15/11/22 at 11am.
It’s an absolute delight to announce that the committee shall sit in public & all proceedings will be broadcast live in the true spirit of transparency & accountability.
Three minority MPs including the minority leader Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak and the Ranking member on the finance committee Dr. Casiel Ato Forson are expected to appear before the ad-hoc committee set to probe the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta in the vote of censure motion.
The three MPs who are pushing for the dismissal of Ken Ofori Atta are convinced the sector has breached the law and is also responsible for the worse economic conditions in the country.
Co-chair of the committee KT Hammond in an interview hinted that the hearing of the committee will be made public to the media.
“We held a meeting [14th November, 2022] to discuss the modalities. We agreed at the meeting that the hearing will be public for all to see what transpires. We are confident we will do a thorough job so tomorrow(15th November 2022) bring your cameras and carry the hearing live,” Hammond told Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV.
A member of the committee also disclosed that the three minority MPs will appear before the committee with their testimony when they are called upon.
The formation of the Ad-hoc committee is to give the Finance Minister, an opportunity to respond to the allegations levelled against him in a vote of censure motion.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin ruled for the formation of the ad hoc committee to allow the minister to appear before it possibly with his lawyer to defend himself.
According to the speaker, a lawyer/counsel for the minister is not allowed to perform his duty on the floor of the house unless at the committee level.
It is based on the outcome of the committee’s report that a decision would be taken.
This was after the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu earlier moved the motion on a vote of censure against the Minister.
The programs Manager at Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mary Addah has lauded the President’s swift action to dismiss Charles Adu Boahen, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.
Mr. Boahen was dismissed after it emerged he allegedly said Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia could be paid $200,000 as an appearance fee for investors.
Speaking in an interview on Eyewitness News, Madam Mary praised the swiftness with which the dismissal letter was issued, saying it is a major tool for fighting speculations which is unhealthy for the fight against corruption.
“The president acting swiftly is critical to fighting corruption because some of these cases usually come up and not much action is taken and this fuels some of the speculation and perception around corruption in Government, so this is swift and expeditious enough, and it is good for the country.”
“Noticing that he is the appointing authority, he also has the power to disappoint, and he has done so, but then he also recognizes that some of the alleged instances and inferences made, could bother on criminality and pure corruption, so he has referred that to the [Office of the] Special Prosecutor whose Act [the Act establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor] gives him the power to investigate issues relating to corruption.”
Madam Addah however said relieving Adu Boahen of his post is not enough, but what is needed at this point to clear the perception of Ghanaians on corruption against the government is to proceed to investigate the allegations levelled against the Vice President.
“The Vice President, in addition to what is put out there, will also serve better if he calls for investigations into those allegations. That has something to do with his personal and professional credibility. It will allow everyone to know that the integrity he is speaking to is one he does not joke with, and he is not just speaking as a mantra, but it is something he lives by and would want everyone to attest to same.”
She also said it is difficult to uphold the Government as one that is committed to fighting corruption because of the various appointees that have been accused at one point or another of corruption but are still actively serving and authoring dismissal letters.
“The person who authored the termination letter was cited by his wife for some domestic infractions, and she made certain allegations about properties he has acquired within the shortest time period and others. In that case, civil society spoke to that issue and thought something should have been done other than the silence that went with it. Today, he is still in Government authoring letters to fire people, but we don’t know how far his own allegations went.”
“This is a President that promised us during his campaign that all you needed to do was to complain or make a complaint or present a case, and the investigation agencies will then take it up. He also promised that he will use Anas’ principle to confirm some of these issues, so it becomes worrying when we do not see that being followed through,” she added.
She also bemoaned the numerous instances of conflicts of interest situations perpetrated by some notable persons appointed by the Government.
Residents of the Dome-Kwabenya constituency feel indifferent about their member of parliament, Adwoa Safo, following her return to parliament.
According to some residents, after abandoning the constituency for about a year, Adwoa Safo‘s return does not mean anything to them.
They mentioned that they feel disrespected by the MP while others stated that they were unaware she is back in the country.
Speaking to www.ghanaweb.com, the residents seemed to have regretted voting for the MP while accusing her of being irresponsible.
One resident said “both Adwoa Safo and other government officials are not acting responsibly; because if this country was their sole property, will they leave the country and return as they please? As if nothing happened? If I talk more, I may say something offensive. She’s doing as she pleases.”
Another resident said “we woke up at dawn and left everything including our businesses to vote for her. A first fool they say is not a fool but the second fool is. If we go and vote for her again it means we are the fools. We voted for her based on her promises but they were all lies.”
The former Minister for Gender, Women, and Children’s Affairs who was living in the USA for almost a year before she finally resumed her parliamentary duties on November 11, 2022.
The MP came under scruntiny from the public for ‘neglecting’ her duties for that long.
In subsequent interviews, she indicated that she was in the US to attend to urgent family issues including taking care of her son.
On July 29, 2022, a day after Parliament adjourned its first decision to determine the fate of the Dome Kwabenya MP, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sacked her as the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, a former Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has recalled some good memories of working together with the first Vice Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi.
Recalling how, together with Prof. Alabi, who was at the time the Campaign Manager of the NDC, they worked at trying to win power for the party, he explained that one of the things that worked for him was knowing his place.
He told GhanaWeb’s Edward Smith Anamale in an interview on Election Desk that although it was clear to many people at the time that he, Elvis, was the one seemingly doing all the work, he did not allow any of that to get to his head.
He said he knew his place and played his part accordingly.
“He was then the Pro-Vice Chancellor of UPSA and so he had to juggle the two and so at certain times, when he was on holidays, then he’ll join the campaign full time but during school time, he wasn’t full time. So, I was virtually running but we had a very solid relationship.
“I reported to him morning, evening every day – morning, evening. And there’s a lesson in that; loyalty, because people were saying now you are in charge and I said No, I was not appointed Campaign Manager,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who is eyeing the position of General Secretary of the NDC in its pending December 17, 2022, congress, reiterated that, unknown to him, it would all pay one day.
He narrated how one day, when he was seeking a job at the UPSA, having been in the good books of Prof Joshua Alabi, it paid off very well for him.
“He is my boss and it paid off because after that election, then in 2005, I contested for and won as the Deputy General Secretary at the Koforidua Congress.
“So, when we came back, I was put in charge of operations, and we were in opposition – we had been in opposition from 2000 and I believe that you must always work; earn your keep, so I applied for a job at the UPSA and on the panel, of course, was Prof. Alabi, who I’d been loyal to.
“Of course, I was qualified, but can you imagine if there had been a frosty relationship and I had been arrogant and disrespectful to him that now I’m in charge, I’m sure I wouldn’t have had that job,” he explained.
A private legal practitioner, Maurice Ampaw, has advised YouTuber Elorm Ababio, a.k.a Ama Governor, to show some remorse for her actions on social media if she intends to be called to the Ghana Bar.
Speaking in a Neat FM monitored by GhanaWeb, lawyer Ampaw said that defenders of Ama Governor should urge her to change her behaviour rather than threatening to demonstrate because their demonstration will change nothing.
He added that Ama Governor should go before the General Legal Council (GLC) with one of the nation’s top lawyers and a clergyman who will plead for the blockade on her call to the Bar to be lifted.
“You can enjoy your life, but you have to enjoy it in the quiet. You can’t be living an I don’t care life because it is your life. Who told you it is your life? Whatever you do affects somebody else.
“Let me advise Ama Governor and all those who are insulting the Council that they are not helping the girl. I also advise the girl to stop social media stuff. The matter is now soft speaking; it is before the Council.
“What she should be doing now is to be looking for an experienced lawyer, who has practised for about 30 to 50 years and a Christian clergy who is respected in the country from the orthodox churches… The man of God will plead on her behalf when they go before the Council… the law should also convince that counsel that s/he will mentor her… that is the only way the Council will lift the ban on her,” he said in Twi.
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”.
The complaint, according to the letter signed by Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo JA, Secretary, General 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.”
The Council, as Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo JA said, had thus decided:
“1. To constitute a three-member Committee to investigate the complaint and advise Council accordingly.
“2. To suspend the decision to call you [Ama Governor] to the Bar pending the outcome of the investigation.
“I have been directed by the Chairperson of the General Legal Council to inform you of this matter and to advise you to expect to be contacted by the Committee in due course.”
“You will be given a fair hearing on the complaint before a decision is arrived at,” Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo JA’s letter dated November 3 concluded.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has cancelled the certificates of 17 political parties who have no regional and national presence and, therefore, are flouting the laws.
The EC in October gave the parties to the end of that month to prove why their registrations should not be cancelled under the Political Parties Act of 2000, Act 574.
After the expiration of the deadline a notice signed and issued by the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa and published today, November 14, 2022, stated “Pursuant to the publication by the Electoral Commission dated 13th & 17th October 2022, the General Public is hereby informed that the Registration Certificates of the under-listed Political Parties have been cancelled in accordance with Section 15 (3) (c) of the Political Parties Law, 2000 (Act 574) effective the 1st day of November, 2022.”
Below are the parties:
Democratic People’s Party (DPP) United Front Party (UFP) United Development System Party (UDSP) Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) Yes People’s Party (YPP) United Ghana Movement (UGM) Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) New Vision Party (NVP) Ghana Democratic Republican Party (GDRP) Ghana National Party (GNP) Power Unity Party (PUP) United Progressive Party (UPP) Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD) People’s Action Party (PAP) United Renaissance Party (URP) National Reform Party (NRP) United Love Party (ULP)
The Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, His excellency, Imane Ouadil has commended the President, Executives, and members of the Ghana Morocco Old students Association(GHAMOSA ) for using their knowledge and expertise to promote and strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Morocco.
Speaking at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Association in Accra on 11th November 2022, she said the old students are one of the important investments of the Moroccan government in Ghana and investment in the future for the two countries and the African continent.
She noted that the 10th anniversary of the Ghana Morocco old students Association celebration which falls in November coincides with the celebration of two important dates for “ us Moroccans a few days ago the 6th of November that celebrates the Green March and pays tribute to the many who devoted their lives to liberate our Sahara. I am happy to celebrate all three events with you all tonight”.
She commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, and the King of Morocco, King Mohammed VI for working together to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. She also commended Ambassador Kwabena Anan former Ghana Ambassador to Morocco and Ambassador Tourougui, Former Morocco Ambassador to Ghana for their unflinching service to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
According to her, there has been an increase in student mobility from African countries as a result of the good cooperation agreements. “Currently, Morocco hosts more than 18,000 students from 47 African countries, enrolled in different Moroccan higher education public institutions such as the faculties of medicine and pharmacy, dentistry, science and technology, engineering sciences, commerce, and management technology, and translation.” She stated.
Ambassador Imane Ouadil noted that the influx of foreign students has been in the order of 4, 000 new students each year where Africans represent 63% of all entrants with the assumption of 95% as scholarship holders of the Moroccan government.
“I, therefore, want to commend the tremendous work done by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation. you all know AMCI and its Director General, Ambassador Mohammed Methqal, who are working to broaden the fields of cooperation between Morocco and its sister African countries towards order to increase the number and type of beneficiaries of international cooperation programmes in number and type . Thanks to these efforts we have managed since 2019 to educate an additional 20 Ghanaian students for vocational training”, she noted.
“To underscore Morocco’s commitment to Africa and its youth, I quote King Mohamed VI ‘S speech from the 29th African Union Summit in 2017 when Morocco re-joined its institutional African Family. His Majesty said “the future of Africa depends on its youth; Africa’s young population underlines the urgency of orienting the demographic dividend towards the emergence of the continent. Africa, therefore, has an unexpected opportunity to benefit from a young, educated, and abundant workforce to fuel its economic growth”.
“Indeed Africa cannot be seen as a mere pool of opportunities. Africa needs to create and seize its own opportunities and generate its own wealth. I commend you, beneficiaries of Morocco government’s scholarship for stepping out of your comfort zone and moving to a new different country for years. While I hope the majority of your experience was enriching and exciting. I imagine there were also challenging days that made you nostalgic for home, for the nice Ghanaian dishes, yet you persevered. And when you returned to Ghana, you applied your experience in your respective fields to give back to your communities to make a difference” she said.
“I want to announce that we are currently processing the admission files of 97 Ghanaian candidates. that I hope will in a few years come back to contribute to the development of Ghana and to swell your ranks “, she added.
The event bought together high-level dignitaries like Honourable Stephen Yakubu, Upper West Regional Minister, Nii Kotey Amon II, Asere Dzaasetse of the Ga State, Hon Aliu Mahama, Member of Parliament for Yendi, representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Kwabena Anan among others, Guineas Ambassador to Ghana
In his presentation, the President of the Ghana Morocco Old Students Association, Peter Panyin Anamang, described the Ghana Morocco Old Students Association as a global coalition of young Ghanaian professionals trained in the Kingdom of Morocco and now integrated into various sectors of the Ghanaian economy and around the world.
He said over the last decade, the Association has undertaken many impactful activities which include Educational Conferences, Business exhibitions and Networking forums, Sports and Networking Festivals, and many others. These activities he said were to further strengthen the already existing bond between Ghana and Morocco.
He commended the king of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who revived the Ghana – Morocco relations and paved the way for Ghanaians to further their education in Morocco.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank His Excellency Ambassador Kobina Annan, Former Ghana Ambassador to Morocco, and Mrs. Ekua Annan. They have shown great commitment and provided guidance, encouragement, and support through every stage of the formation of this Association. On this special day, we say thank you!
We would also like to say special thanks to Ambassador Tourougui, former Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, their deputies, and the staff of the Embassy for their partnership, trust, and respect, and for making the Embassy our home. A very special thanks to CIMAF Ghana and OCP Ghana for the partnership.
The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, has described the uproar around the venue for the premiering of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ latest expose on Galamsey as unfortunate.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas revealed 24 hours to the public showing of its new investigative piece on illegal mining titled ‘Galamsey Economy’, Tiger Eye P.I. that it has been prevented from screening the exposé at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
This was because the AICC which was the scheduled venue has become unavailable to the investigative media firm despite paying the charge which was increased by about 30 percent at the eleventh hour.
But in a rebuttal, the management of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) said the showing of the ‘Galamsey Economy’ documentary by Tiger Eye PI, headed by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, will go on as scheduled at the center.
The management said the matter which resulted in rescheduling of the venue, has been resolved.
Speaking in an interview with host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive, Kaakyire Ofori Ayim, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong said the confusion was unfortunate.
He also debunked the allegation that the earlier development was as a result of political interference.
He reiterated that the initial confusion was due to a scheduling conflict at the level of the AICC staff and not in any way a political decision as is being speculated.
“It’s a bit unfortunate, I mean the confusion between Tiger Eye PI and the AICC. But first and foremost, the issue was not in any way a political decision. The matter has been resolved. We have made contact with the organizers, and the event is expected to go on as scheduled today and tomorrow. “It had nothing to do with politics,” Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong told Kaakyire Ofori Ayim.
Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA), Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey has cautioned food vendors and handlers in Accra to abide by the high standards of food safety and hygiene to protect human health and avoid prosecution.
The Mayor of Accra said this on Friday in an address at the launch of a new branch of Nyonyo Canteen, a food service firm founded by Chichi Yakubu, a former HR professional at TNS, at the premises of the AMA Head Office named NyoNyo Kpatashi.
According to her, practicing good hygiene such as hand-washing, safer food handling, and food preparation methods, as well as keeping the cooking area cleaner would go a long way to protect the community against communicable food-borne diseases.
Th AMA from the beginning of the year had prosecuted over 50 food vendors for selling food under unhygienic conditions without adhering to high standards of hygiene and without health certificates to help reduce the high incidence and consequences of foodborne diseases in the city and ensure the best practices for the production and serving of wholesome food.
Hon Elizabeth KT Sackey disclosed that as part of efforts to ensure that food patronised and consumed in the city was safe, the Public Health Department of the AMA had made conscious efforts to create public awareness on the effects of unsafe food, screened food vendors, embarked on several inspections as well as enforcement exercises to ensure food safety within the Metropolis.
She also noted that the newly opened AMA branch would serve a variety of local dishes to customers in the city adding that customers would have the option to either dine in, take away or order to be delivered.
Founder of Nyonyo, Chichi Yakubu, in a remark expressed commitment to continue living up to standards of excellence and quality service delivery at all levels and promised the best culinary experience.
“For a restaurant to succeed, these five essential elements must be present: Ingredients, menu, atmosphere, Reputation, and service. By expertly fusing these components to create the ultimate eating experience, you can achieve the last one, but it depends on how effectively you execute the others. As a result, we promise you the best culinary experience on behalf of my staff. Although challenging, we’ll do our absolute best to execute it effectively, ” she said.
“To succeed in any industry, it truly needs tenacity and effort. And honestly, with the hikes in prices and cost of doing business, the food and catering industry is now an extreme spot especially if you aim to not only provide great food for your clients but to also give others employment opportunities and contribute to economic growth.
Due to our exceptional service over the years, we have earned the title of people’s “favourite neighbourhood restaurant” because of our reputation for offering soulful meals and top-notch customer service.
“We at Nyonyo don’t take the communities we work in nor the customers we serve for granted because we understand the consequences of that. So, to consistently achieve customer satisfaction, we take care to deliver on our promise to provide excellent catering services wrapped in quality service, professionalism, customer care, and precision in ensuring that all of our customers’ nutritional needs are met under safe and strictly hygienic conditions, ” she added.
The National Labour Commission (NLC) has appealed to labour unions and other well-meaning Ghanaians and organisations to support the commission with funds, fuel and other logistics.
According to the Executive Secretary, Ofosu Asamoah, the NLC has not received its budgetary allocation for 2022 though the year is almost over.
He told Alfred Ocansey on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show that the commission is understaffed with about sixty-nine (69) workers and only one lawyer who handles about one hundred and twenty (120) cases per month nationwide.
Mr. Asamoah also mentioned that if the government is not funding the commission, then it is imperative for labour unions, employers, and Ghanaians as a whole to take it up and fund the NLC just as some are contributing to the funding of the National Cathedral.
“People donate to the police, people contribute to other projects within their communities, why can’t we the workers who are likely to suffer injustices, wrongful dismal, unpaid salary and poor conditions of work contribute to the National Labour Commission?” Ofosu Asamoah quizzed
He admitted that NLC is 100% GOG funded but, however, workers are the ultimate beneficiaries of the work of the commission. They often petition and seek justice hence it is important for workers to ensure the effective running of the commission.
“The government is most of the time the respondent. The cases come from workers who are underpaid, from the media to the fuel pump attendant. Hardly does the government come against the workers, and at the end of the day, it is the individual workers who are the ultimate beneficiaries of our work” Mr. Asamoah noted.
The National Labour Commission is established under Part XVIII of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) to regulate the employment relationship in Ghana. Currently the commission handles an average of 120 labour cases monthly.
Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Gas Company Dr. Ben K.D Asante has disclosed that corporate private sector can only absorb students when the necessary tools are given to them before leaving school.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Gas Company was among the key speakers at the event to advise the youth to choose a career path for their future.
He was lauded for his contribution to the corporate sector and academia, advising students to have the interest in whatsoever they decide to pursue because if the interest is not there, a career path will become difficult.
According to the oil and gas engineer, the corporate private experience is totally different from that of school and authorities at the various universities must as a matter of seriousness adopt the school curriculum to encourage the students to be their own masters before they enter the corporate world.
“Students can get First Class but the corporate world is different. The corporate sector doesn’t have enough spot for everyone so make sure that you look within yourself. Your attributes you have is not intellectual property. So students can be better prepared to meet the industry targets.
“When you have to choose, be very sure you have the interest and your ability. Whatsoever you decide to do, be very sure you have the interest. Let say you decide to be an Uber driver, or a shoeshine person, don’t give up on your interest. Keep always at the back of your mind and keep pushing it to make sure that you get the available resources to be able to get the career of yours,” he emphasized.
He added: “Being on both sides, I see a long gap between industry and academia and that we need to bridge that gap. If industry realizes that you need academia to enhance their bottom-line, if academia also realize that they need the industry, then their need to look at their curriculum, in such a way that will address the needs of the industry.”
He also charged the industrial sector to go back to the schools to make sure that whatever their business plan or anything they do will cultivate enough intellectual blueprint to be able to expand or multiple.
“I sit on both KNUST and UG board and I tell them to try their effort to bring together the industry and academia.”
A coalition of other Eight Executive Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from across all Eighteen (18) constituencies of the Volta region are calling for a united and stonger leadership front ahead of election 2024.
The group at a press briefing during the Volta Regional Delegates Conference of the party in Ho, Saturday, noted that the NDC needs each and everyone now more than ever to wrestle power from the NPP government.
The group christenened as VEM Forum (Volta Executive Members Forum) is thus urging the new crop of the party’s leadership in the Volta region to take steps to reconcile and bring all party folks on board to deliver victory for the party in 2024.
In a statement read by Bright Yaw Sachie on behalf of members, the group said, “regional aspirants must know that we all belong to one family. Therefore, the outcome of the elections today should not bring division but rather uniting together for the rescue mission in 2024.”
The group is also calling on the NDC to involve them more in the party’s activities in ensuring a well coordinated campaign for the elections.
“Other 8 members have been neglected for too long -they only use us for elections as if we are election machines but that must stop.”
“Therefore, we are urging the new regional aspirants that will emerge winners to involve us in the new administration because we have a role to play to rescue power from the clueless NPP government,” the group urged.
According to the group, the country is now at a crossroad amidst unbearable living conditions to which only the NDC can offer a solution.
To ensure electoral success for the party in 2024, VEM Forum has outlined a number of activities including campaign activities in market places, regular press engagements and door-to-door campaign across the Volta region.
The group also placed a further call on youth in the Volta region to join their train to canvass votes for the National Democratic Congress.
Ghanaian environmental activist Gideon Commey has taken the fight against illegal mining, also known as “galamsey”, to the climate change conference (COP27) at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
The founder of Ghana Youth Environmental Movement staged a one-man protest at the ongoing COP27 to draw the attention of the international community on what he describes as the government’s failure to tackle the galamsey menace.
“I staged the one-man protest at #COP27 yesterday as an activist who deeply cares about the climate, and a concerned Ghanaian citizen frustrated and angry at the current state of our water bodies and forests because of galamsey (illegal small-scale mining).
“The attention the video has received and overall support for the campaign has been overwhelming. This shows I spoke the minds of thousands of Ghanaians who are exhausted and feeling hopeless about the lack of conviction, leadership and action from our political leaders,” Commey posted on Facebook.
“This in turn gives me hope about what our youth can do if we rise, speak truth to power and hold leaders accountable. Thank you everyone! I’m also grateful to Collins Gameli Hodoli for providing me with direct support without which I wouldn’t have been successful yesterday,” he added.
Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Lawyer Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, has urged the wife of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Prof Angela Ofori-Atta, to advise her husband to step down from his position.
According to her, Prof Ofori-Atta should advise her husband to resign because everything shows that Ofori-Atta has lost control of Ghana’s economy, and he is now becoming an embarrassment.
Lawyer Serwaa Asamoah added that Ofori-Atta had made enough money that can take care of his generation yet to be born and so he should not be worried about losing his job.
“… he (Ofori-Atta) can’t do the job; none of his actions shows that he can do the job, so why is the president keeping him at post. So, should Ghana collapse because of one person?
“For the past six years, the money you have made can take care of your children, your great-grandchildren and your great, great-grandchildren. So, why all this fuss? What does he (the finance minister) want in addition?
“… he is disgracing his wife and his children. The woman who is the wife of Ofori-Atta is being disgraced too much. You (the Ofori-Atta family) must speak to him so that he will accept that he has to resign,” she said in Twi in an XYZ TV interview monitored by GhanaWeb.
Meanwhile, the over 80 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament who demanded that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo relieve Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta have reiterated their decision.
According to the MPs, they are not in agreement with President Akufo-Addo’s request for Ofori-Atta to read and see the 2023 budget through appropriation.
The MP for Effiduase-Asokore, Nana Ayew Afriyie, who spoke on behalf of the over 80 MPs in Parliament on Thursday (November 10), said that they have decided that Ofori-Atta should not be the one to read the budget or lead the subsequent process.
“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 our position will be very soon for you to see, and we will be positively defiant about that posture until action is taken,” he said.
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader of Parliament, has stated that those who advocate for him to be the next presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are leading him into temptation.
He claimed that, while these people have good intentions, such a suggestion will only lead him into temptation.
He was responding to a suggestion made by some Ghanaians who claim to be Suame members in the United Kingdom for him (Kyei-Mensah) to run in the presidential primaries.
However, the lawmaker told Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm Frontline host Kwabena Agyapong that such a suggestion is a temptation.
The lawmaker stated, “Those who make the suggestion is leading me astray…
“What I will suggest is that we need someone who can resonate and win the NPP victory. There is only one presidential slot available, and we need a candidate who can connect with the people “.
In response to a question about whether he would accept the position of running mate, he stated, “We’re not there yet.” We’ll cross the bridge when we get there.
A former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, has urged members of the National Democratic Congress to ensure that the NDC wins the 2024 elections, otherwise the party will disintegrate.
Speaking at the NDC’s Volta Regional Delegates Conference in Ho on Saturday, the former MP for the Avenor-Ave constituency now Akatsi South, called on party members to sacrifice to ensure the party achieves its target in the next elections.
“We are a social democratic party, we put people at the centre of what we do so please I beg you, colleagues I beg you, we have to win the 2024 elections otherwise NDC will be disintegrated, let’s sacrifice for this party for once,” Mr Doe Adjaho said.
Mr Doe Adjaho also has charged members of the party to be united and remain focused as the current economic crisis is not sufficient to guarantee the party a victory in the 2024 general elections.
“The statement is that we should not be complacent as a party. The mid-term elections in the United States have taught us that hardship alone, inflation and the economy cannot win an election…So let us not be complacent.”
“Hardship is a factor, and cost of living is a factor, but it is not sufficient. We have to work hard, we have to be united and present a united front in this region and in the party,” Doe Adjaho said.
A private legal practitioner and a member of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC), Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo has warned party members to eschew complacency and work hard towards victory in the 2024 elections.
Speaking on Citi TV on Sunday, Mr Kpakpo Samoa Addo said the NDC’s biggest enemy ahead of the 2024 general election is not the New Patriotic Party but complacency.
“I have always said that our biggest enemy for 2024 is complacency,” Mr Samoa Addo said, adding that the party must shun massive rallies and adopt the Jehovah’s Witness’ approach of evangelism to woo new members and convince die-hard NPP supporters to choose the NDC and ditch the NPP in 2024.
Mr Samoa Addo warned that the current economic challenges are not enough to hand victory to the NDC, but hard work, sacrifice and vigilance will ensure that the party is victorious in 2024.
His comments echo that of the former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, who on Saturday charged members of the NDC to be united and remain focused ahead of the next general elections.
Speaking ahead of the NDC’s Volta Regional Delegates Conference in Ho, the former MP for the Avenor-Ave constituency now Akatsi South, urged members of the NDC not to be complacent and work hard towards the elections in 2024.
He also called on members of the party to desist from wooing delegates with money and favours for votes ahead of the general elections in 2024.
“The statement is that we should not be complacent as a party. The mid-term elections in the United States have taught us that hardship alone, inflation and the economy cannot win an election…So let us not be complacent.”
Small-scale farmers from developing countries produce one-third of the world’s food, yet they only receive 1.7% of climate finance even as they are forced to cope with droughts, floods, cyclones and other disasters.
This sentiment echoed through dozens of pavilions and conference rooms in Sharm el-Sheikh on Saturday (12 November) as COP27 turned its attention to the vital issues of adaptation, agriculture and food systems in the context of climate change.
“We need to help rural populations build their resilience to extreme weather events and adapt to a changing climate. If not, we only go from one crisis to the next. Small scale farmers work hard to grow food for us in tough conditions,” Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Goodwill Ambassador for the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said during a press conference.
As a Somali woman, Dhowre Elba said this issue was personal: as COP27 got underway her country had experienced four consecutive failed rainy seasons, a climatic event not seen in 40 years.
“I can’t stand idly by while mothers, families and farmers are suffering across the Horn of Africa as it experiences its most severe drought in recent history,” she explained, urging developed countries to mobilize political will and investments.
“Trillions of dollars were made available to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences. The same is needed for climate change. The same is needed for sustainable agricultural support. It’s crucial to the well-being and the food security of us all,” she added.
Funds for adaptation must be delivered
Dina Saleh, the Regional Director of IFAD, explained that failure to help rural populations to adapt could have dangerous consequences, leading to longer poverty, migrations and conflict.
“This is why today we are calling on world leaders from developed nations to honour their pledge to provide the US$100 billion a year in climate finance to developing nations and to channel half of that to have that amount to climate adaptation,” she underscored.
Thirteen years ago, at COP15 Copenhagen, developed nations made a significant pledge. They promised to channel US$100 billion a year to less wealthy nations by 2020, to help them adapt to climate change and mitigate further rises in temperature. That promise, however, was not kept.
Saleh cautioned that there is a “narrow window” to help rural poor people to survive and protect their communities, and that crop yields could reduce by as much as 50 per cent by the end of the century.
“The choice is between adapting or starving,” she warned, urging COP27 to be about action, credibility and justice for the invisible and the silent.
A new initiative
Precisely to address these issues, the COP27 Egyptian Presidency launched on Friday the new initiative Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation or FAST, to improve the quantity and quality of climate finance contributions to transform agriculture and food systems by 2030.
The cooperation programme will have concrete deliverables for helping countries access climate finance and investment, increase knowledge, and provide policy support and dialogue.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), along with other UN agencies, will be the facilitator of this initiative, which, according to Zitouni Ould-Dada, deputy director of the agency’s Climate and Environment Division, puts agriculture at the heart of efforts to tackle climate change.
“The message really is to recognize that agriculture must be an integral part of the solution to the climate crisis,” he told UN News.
The importance of investing in innovation
At the same time, while the agricultural and food sector is profoundly impacted by climate change, it also contributes around a third of global greenhouse emissions, from production to consumption, Ould-Dada explains, saying that there must be a transformation of the agri-food systems.
“We can’t continue with the current model of producing food and then degrading the soil, declining biodiversity, affecting the environment. No. It must be sustainable,” he notes.
The expert highlights that if the right choices are made, agriculture can be an important part of the solution to fight the climate crisis by sequestering carbon in soil and plants and promoting adaptation and resilience.
“We can’t produce the food to feed and nourish a growing population with the current model, with the threat of climate change. We can’t.”
The first thing the world should be tackling, he says, is addressing food waste, which is responsible for 8 per cent of global gas emissions.
The importance of investing in innovation
At the same time, while the agricultural and food sector is profoundly impacted by climate change, it also contributes around a third of global greenhouse emissions, from production to consumption, Ould-Dada explains, saying that there must be a transformation of the agri-food systems.
“We can’t continue with the current model of producing food and then degrading the soil, declining biodiversity, affecting the environment. No. It must be sustainable,” he notes.
The expert highlights that if the right choices are made, agriculture can be an important part of the solution to fight the climate crisis by sequestering carbon in soil and plants and promoting adaptation and resilience.
“We can’t produce the food to feed and nourish a growing population with the current model, with the threat of climate change. We can’t.”
The first thing the world should be tackling, he says, is addressing food waste, which is responsible for 8% of global gas emissions.
Civil society calls for finance, economy transformation
UN representatives were not the only ones underscoring the need for countries to invest in transformation and deliver their climate finance promise.
A massive protest led by a coalition of environmental, women, indigenous, youth and trade union organizations took over the roads and pathways between the pavilions at COP27.
“Right to territories, rights to resources, human rights, indigenous people rights, loss and damage must be in all the negotiation texts…. 1.5 is not negotiable that is what we are here standing for,” said Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chadian environmentalist and SDG advocate.
The activist stated that her people are dying because of floods, droughts, while some indigenous communities in the Pacific are losing their homelands.
“We want to have justice. Justice for our people, for our economies for loss and damage. We are losing our culture, our identity, our life, and these are not payable, but climate finance needs to be delivered,” she shouted amid hundreds of protesters.
The government has assured media practitioners of the government’s commitment to prioritising press freedom in the management of the country’s democracy.
Reading a speech on behalf of the President as the guest of honour at the 26th GJA Awards held in Accra on November 12, Florence Oboshie Sai-Coffie, says the president wants the media to play its part towards economic recovery as the world faces turbulent economic downturns.
“All agencies of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the principles and objectives of this constitution and shall uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana.”
“We truly believe that in search for solutions for the challenges, the media must be prioritised. Indeed, you are to help with amplifying the vibrant voices of the public and help us to find a pathway that takes us to economic recovery,” she said.
Although Ghana is considered a standard for democratic stability, it ranks 60th in the world for press freedom, dropping from an initial 30th position.
This is Ghana’s lowest-ever ranking in 17 years, after it ranked 66th and 67th in 2005 and 2002 respectively.
The latest report is out of 180 countries assessed, with Ghana recording a decline in its indicative points from 78.67 percent to 67.43 compared to last year.
The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, has qualified for the semi-finals stage of the Tertiary Edition of the Gas Challenge Quiz Competition organised by the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC).
UMaT emerged as winners for the zone three edition of the quiz, which was held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.
UMaT amassed 55 points against 52 points and 51 points for the University of Energy and Natural Resources and Kumasi Technical University KsTU, respectively.
About GNGC Gas Challenge
Speaking to OTEC News Kwame Agyenim Boateng at the sidelines of the event, a Senior Research Officer at GNGC, Harrison Seth Kwabena Ayim, said the Ghana National Gas Company initiated the quiz competition three years ago to create a common platform for relevant industry players and engineering students in Ghanaian tertiary institutions to share important ideas on the gas industry.
“The Gas Challenge “, aims at creating the avenue for capacity building in ensuring that future generations are well thought to take over the gas industry.”
“We as a company are very proud to use this competition as a major tool to educate stakeholders on issues of natural gas commercialisation, its safety, and utilisation”, he said.
The 2022 Edition of the Quiz
Mr. Seth Ayim said the 2022 edition of the competition is being organised under the theme “Embracing the future together: the indispensable role of Gas in Facilitating socio-economic growth and development” has 12 tertiary institutions participating.
The competition, he noted, was divided into four groups, each containing three schools.
The first group has All Nations University, Takoradi Technical University, and the University of Cape Coast.
Group two also has the University of Ghana, Ghana Communication Technology University, and Tamale Technical University.
Group three will see the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology KNUST, Ho Technical University, and Regional Maritime University.
UMAT, Kumasi Technical University, and the University of Energy and Natural Resources competed in the fourth group.
The Grand Finale is expected to take place on Thursday, December 8 2022, in Accra.
Hon. Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh, a defeated Ashanti regional (A/R) Vice-Chairman hopeful of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has attributed his loss to his lack of funds to campaign in the various constituencies in the region, Purefmonline.com reports.
Speaking to Kwame Adinkrah on Kumasi-based Pure FM after yesterday’s NDC regional executives’ elections, the former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ejisu bemoaned the monetisation of the party’s elections.
He told Kwame Adinkrah that the party had sacrificed competence for money.
“Kwame, money has dominated Ghana politics. Today, if you don’t have money forget about capturing a position in a party or government. That is how it goes.
I personally cannot blame the delegates because we are all in crisis, but the politics have turned to vote buying. It is awful.”
“Look at me, Kwame, I don’t have money. Sometimes when I wake up, I barely have any money on me to even go for radio interviews. You know this reality, Kwame, because you have continuously been a pillar. You send me money sometimes. But my lack of funds does not erase my political leadership competence. Here we are, sacrificing competence for money.
I couldn’t visit any constituency to campaign or pay the delegates. I couldn’t! I don’t have money, Kwame, I don’t! But let us not do this to ourselves. It is like politicians are all the same, NDC and NPP.
So without money, forget it! If you don’t have money, don’t venture into politics!” Hon. Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh exclaimed on Kumasi-based Pure FM.
Hon. Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh secured 15 votes out of the total votes cast for the Vice Chairmanship position of the NDC in the Ashanti region. The winner, Captain John Kwame Jabari (Rtd), pulled a total of 584 votes.
The contest for executive positions in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Northern Region was characterized by drama as a twice-defeated Regional Chairman Aspirant was captured in a video screaming out of frustration.
Godfred Apasinaba Sulemana Wumbei, who for the second time came close but lost to one Ali Adolf John with less than 20 votes, was heard shouting and asking, “why why why”.
According to him, he had won the polls, but there had been machinations in collusion with officials of the Electoral Commission to deny him victory.
“I have won the elections, but some people want to deny me the victory”, he shouted as he spoke to pressmen.
But the Electoral Commission maintained that he polled 236 votes coming second to Ali Adolf John, who had 347 votes.
Alhaji Umar Farouk Isshaq had nine votes, whereas Alhaji Hassan Rufai Vellim, who was tipped to win the race, garnered only 93 votes.
Meanwhile, police who were deployed to the venue clashed with party hoodlums who tried disrupting the process after it emerged that their candidate had lost the polls.
Videos available to MyNewsGh.com saw armed police slugging it out with the party thugs who tried snatching the ballot papers as they were sorted and put on the table by officials of the Electoral Commission for counting.
Weeks earlier, a former Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Professor Abdulai Baba Salifu, withdrew from contesting as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Northern Regional Chairman.
It is unclear what triggered his decision to step down on his bid days after the party’s vetting of prospective Regional aspirants for the position that promises to be competitive.
His withdrawal reduced the number of aspirants seeking to succeed the late Alhaji Ibrahim Mobila, who died barely a month ago, to 4.
For an extremely bright student who lost focus in his final year at the university just because he developed a new interest in entrepreneurship but still came up with a First Class, he says he would not advise the same for everyone.
Christian Nana Boakye, Founder and CEO of CEQA Foods and Beverages Ghana Limited – the mother company of Chickenman & Pizzaman, said this is the case because out of ten, perhaps only one person could get so lucky in such a venture.
Sharing his story with TV3’s Berla Bundi on The Day Show, the young Chief Executive Officer explained that it was not enough to be an academically bright student.
He added that he was also challenged to dare himself to do more anytime he saw successful people, and that was how the idea to start a pizza business came to him.
“That was December 27, 2017. We went to a party, and I realized the cars there were big cars, and I felt odd. We went with a car, but I mean, there is a car, and there is a car. So, that evening, I had to think it through, like how did these people make it. The party was around East Legon.
“Mostly, when I come across successful people, that night, I don’t sleep… it’s not pressure, no! That was when I actually got the Pizzaman thing. So, for those in KNUST about five years ago, I used to be the actuarial science president, and before I got in, one of the motivating factors for students attending programs was Item 13.
“My administration changed the face of Item 13. There was a point I could organize a program as a department, and I could fill the auditorium, and the main college will do a program, and the place will not be filled… I felt if I could use food to lure them to come and listen to something sensible, then it’s fine,” he said.
Christian Nana Boakye further explained in the TV3 interview that with time, his interests in academics started realigning towards doing something for himself.
“I remember my final project; I was in a group with three guys: two of them are in the States doing their PhD now, and then one lady and myself. I was the talkative among them, so they did the work, and on the final day, I had to just read through. I was academically good as well, but then in my final year, I wasn’t so much into my academics. So, they do the work, and I do the presentation,” he said.
But like most businesses, the 25-year-old entrepreneur said the business did not all start easy for him.
He explained that he had to be forced to use monies meant for his hostel fees to pre-finance the business, so much so that his friends began to get worried about him.
“Raising capital was one, and then getting the right people to work with. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and you feel like quitting; you get tired of combining the work with academics. I was still in school, in my final year, when I started.
“… not just hostel fees; any other money available that I could chance on. I risked it… I wouldn’t advise it because it wasn’t pleasant… in January 2018, when I started, I had some money on me because I had gone to school fresh. It got to a point things got locked up, so during National Service time, I had to take money for the hostel and use that money to secure a place around campus and then some small small pocket monies I had on me, including my roommate, Ebenezer, we just combined whatever we had and then got some oven. I mean, it was so rough,
“I feel whatever it is you want to do, if you want to do it, you won’t find excuses. Just manage your time well. There were times that I had to skip class and cook and my mates – my classmates, bought into the idea. They were like, Chris, you are too good academically. Why don’t you just do your masters and then probably get a job outside, like how our seniors have been doing? Why are you risking so much?” he added.
The Pizzaman CEO also recalled how the situation was so glaring that one of his lecturers decided to pray for him under the pretext that he must have been under some form of demonic attack.
“At a point, one of my lecturers had to pray for me. He was our patron when I was a department president. He knew how academically good I was, and he was quite surprised. I remember there was one mid-semester exam; third year semester, I didn’t write mid sem, so all my papers were marked over 70, but I still had First Class anyway.
“He was like, what is wrong with Chris? Is it a spiritual attack? He was wondering because I’m the front seater in class, but then after class, I’m done – that’s it… to him, he felt I was under attack or I was losing focus. Well, yeah, I was losing focus in my academics, but I was making money, and it’s addictive,” he said.
But Chris says he has always persisted because “I just want to make sure I have enough to help others.”
Chickenman and Pizzaman is a fully-owned Ghanaian company that has a total of 10 branches in less than 2 years of its existence.
Dr. Gideon Boako, an aide to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, has contradicted claims by the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, that the Vice President will need US$200,000 as an appearance fee from any investor.
According to him, the Vice President is smart and discreet whenever he is dealing with individuals seeking to invest in the economy.
Charles Adu Boahen had allegedly told investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, in an undercover recording that Bawumia required about USD200,000 as an appearance fee from an investor to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.
The celebrated investigative journalist in a November 14, 2022 post on his Facebook timeline stated that when his Tiger Eye PI team met with the Minister of State in charge of Finance in UAE, he spoke about Bawumia’s financial demands before agreeing to assist any investor.
“You mean, like appearance fees and stuff? I mean he, himself (the Vice President), if you give him some (USD) 200,000 or something as a token, as thank you, appreciation, that’s fine. He’s not really, he’s not really (like) that. All he needs is to worry about his campaign money in 2020,” Charles Adu Boahen is quoted to have said
But when the Tiger Eye team got in touch with Dr Gideon Boako, the Economic Advisor and Spokesperson at the Office of the Vice President, he denied that the Vice President has authorized or discussed with anybody to solicit funds for his political ambitions or to accept an appearance fee/token for an investor to meet with him.
“So, on top of my head and having been with him closely, I will say no. I know how discreet he, the Vice President, is and he is smart and he wouldn’t even dare do such a thing,” Dr Boako remarked.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ undercover documentary dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy’ shows at the Accra International Conference Centre at 4.00 PM.
Dr. Gideon Boako, an aide to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, has contradicted claims by the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, that the Vice President will need US$200,000 as an appearance fee from any investor.
According to him, the Vice President is smart and discreet whenever he is dealing with individuals seeking to invest in the economy.
Charles Adu Boahen had allegedly told investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, in an undercover recording that Bawumia required about USD200,000 as an appearance fee from an investor to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.
The celebrated investigative journalist in a November 14, 2022 post on his Facebook timeline stated that when his Tiger Eye PI team met with the Minister of State in charge of Finance in UAE, he spoke about Bawumia’s financial demands before agreeing to assist any investor.
“You mean, like appearance fees and stuff? I mean he, himself (the Vice President), if you give him some (USD) 200,000 or something as a token, as thank you, appreciation, that’s fine. He’s not really, he’s not really (like) that. All he needs is to worry about his campaign money in 2020,” Charles Adu Boahen is quoted to have said
But when the Tiger Eye team got in touch with Dr Gideon Boako, the Economic Advisor and Spokesperson at the Office of the Vice President, he denied that the Vice President has authorized or discussed with anybody to solicit funds for his political ambitions or to accept an appearance fee/token for an investor to meet with him.
“So, on top of my head and having been with him closely, I will say no. I know how discreet he, the Vice President, is and he is smart and he wouldn’t even dare do such a thing,” Dr Boako remarked.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ undercover documentary dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy’ shows at the Accra International Conference Centre at 4.00 PM.
Professor Ernest Aryeetey, a former vice-chancellor, of the University of Ghana, has said Ghana must think beyond the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the quest to stabilise and transform the economy.
He noted that Ghana had always known how to recover from economic hardship with the support of the IMF but had refused to follow the reguired reforms due to political expediency.
Prof. Aryeetey said this at the 26th GJA Awards in Accra on the theme: “Walking the path towards Ghana’s Economic Recovery – The Role of the Media”.
He said after economic recovery, there must be stabilisation and transformation, which required broad participation and the need to change agriculture, boost trade, stimulate investment and industrialise not to get back to the same situation.
“Today, we are where we are because we failed to develop the right type of politics that will support economic transformation… (We need to) think about the political economy. How we (can) use our institutions to develop the right type of policies,” Prof. Aryeetey said, adding that the country needed to welcome more analysis and debates on the economy.
Prof. Aryeetey asked the media to create space for discussions on the economy towards finding solutions to the challenges, saying without that, it would only be the ideas of a small political group, friends and families.
“Let’s encourage debates on the economy. Let’s create a Ghana where ideas flourish and stop tagging people who share their thoughts on the economy..,” Prof. Aryeetey, who chaired the awards event said.
Florence Oboshie Sai-Coffie, special advisor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Media and Strategic Communications, said the government was doing its best to bring the economy back on track and tasked the media to amplify voices that could help find solutions to the economic challenges.
She said the media would be prioritised in the search for the solution and said Government was happy journalists were responding positively to the call for all hands to be on deck for economic recovery.
Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, the chairman of the National Media Commission, asked the media to sustain national interest in discussions on the economy and not partisan ones.
The United States ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer, commended the media for its role in sustaining Ghana’s democracy and socio-economic development and stressed the importance of a free press and the safety of journalists.
She said the embassy would continue to support the capacity building of journalists and commended GJA for the establishment of Journalists Support Fund.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Information, in a speech read on his behalf, said the Government attached great importance to the work of journalists and commended them for the interest in helping bring the economy back to life.
He said the government remained committed to the safety of journalists and asked corporate Ghana to support the GJA Journalists Support Fund.
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, GJA president, said journalists had a great role to play in bringing the economy back to life and said a series of symposiums and lectures would be organised to help find solutions to challenges facing the country.
He said the GJA had engaged some institutions towards the building of the capacity of journalists and called for the support of all.
The GJA president also called for support for the Association’s Support Fund towards the welfare of journalists.
Since 1957 Ghana has entered 17 bailout arrangements with the IMF to restore the health of government finances, having exited the last one in April 2019.
The country is currently with the IMF seeking support to restructure the economy and bring it back on track.
The executive director of PFM Tax Africa, Seth Terkper, will be teaching at Bentley University in the United States as a visiting scholar from January 2023.
Terkper, a former finance minister, will collaborate with outstanding finance professors at the university in research, teach courses on public finance and participate as keynote speaker in seminars that will be opened to the university community and the public.
Bentley University (based in Waltham, Massachusetts), is a prestigious private University focused on business programs. It offers undergraduate, masters, and PhD programmes in business disciplines. Its undergraduate tuition is US$56,500 per year.
It was founded in 1917 as a college of accounting and finance in Boston’s Back Bay Neighborhood.
“We are very delighted to have Hon. Terkper joining our faculty with such a wealth of experience,” says Kartik Raman, George and Louis Kane Professor of Finance and Chair of Finance Department. “We have no doubt that he will make quite an impact with his presence, knowledge and experience.”
Terkper has vast experience in global and national public finance. He previously served as the Minister of Finance under the John Mahama administration, during which he was at some point given additional concurrent responsibilities as Minister of Power.
He previously worked for a decade in the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He is currently on the expert roster for the African Development Bank (AfDB), IMF, World Bank, and other global financial institutions, and serves on several steering committees focused on global policy issues.
“Bentley University has a great track record in training some of the best business and finance professionals I’ve had the privilege of working with,” Terkper said.
“I am therefore honoured by this opportunity to go there as a visiting scholar and contribute to training and research at this great institution with a proud history and a very bright future.”
His expertise is in public financial management (PFM), including taxation, financial and fiscal accounting. He has a keen interest in structural fiscal reforms that will ensure a smooth transition from low-income country (LIC) to middle income country (MIC) status – as the minister who received the official notification from the WB and AFDB on his country’s transition.
Terkper has written several reviews and articles and has published a book on Value Added Tax (VAT). He is the Founder and Executive Director of PFM-TAX Africa (Network) Ltd.
He currently does some part-time teaching at the University of Ghana and has taught occasionally in other universities in Ghana, UK, and US.
Terkper is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), and holds degrees from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government (MPA; Cert. Tax), Strayer University (MBA), and University of Cape Coast (Bachelor of Commerce, and Diploma in Education). He is married with two children.
President Akufo-Addo says Twitter’s decision to fold up its satellite office in Africa is unfortunate.
“We had looked forward to its presence,” he told journalists in the US.
The President added: “It was not too long ago that it was up, but I understand it is part and parcel of a global restructuring of a company that is taking place under the new owner.”
“I think that is very unfortunate that, that should take place. The more organisations like that have local outlets, the better for all of us.”
The tumultuous start to Elon Musk’s reign saw sweeping reductions in the workforce at the social media company.
Musk’s Twitter laid off nearly all the employees in its only African office just four days after it opened in the Ghanaian capital Accra.
reports say that only one employee appears to have been retained in the Ghana office after the global job cuts.
“It’s very insulting,” one former employee said in an interview with CNN. “They didn’t even have the courtesy to address me by name. The email just said ‘see attached’ and yet they used my name when they gave me an offer.”
Musk has fired half of Twitter staff, ushered out most of the top executives, and ordered the remaining staff to stop working from home.
The company has reportedly also made huge reductions in India, one of its biggest markets. It laid off more than 90% of its staff in Asia’s third-largest economy last weekend, according to a Bloomberg report.
The Ghana Education Service(GES) has condemned the “misconduct” of some students of Chiana Senior High School in the Kassena Nankana West District who were seen in a viral video circulating on social media launching scathing attacks on the President.
In a 60 minutes video, the students of the said school were captured spewing insults at the President using vulgar and unprintable words.
A statement issued by the GES said the students in the video have been identified as second-year students of Chiana Senior High School.
It reiterated that management of the school has begun investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding “such unfortunate utterances and gestures,” adding parents of the students have also been invited to assist in the investigations.
“Management of Ghana Education Service (GES) condemns this unfortunate act which is against every educational and moral principle in our society.
“Management of GES wishes to extend our sincerest apology to H.E. the President and the general public on behalf of the students and school.
“We wish to also assure the general public that the outcome of the investigations will be made known as soon as it is concluded.”
The management of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) has said that the showing of the ‘Galamsey Economy’ documentary by Tiger Eye PI, headed by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, will come off at the centre as scheduled.
The management said the matter which resulted in rescheduling of the venue, has been resolved.
“Our attention has been drawn to reports that an advertised event due to take place at the Accra international Conference Centre (AICC) by Tiger Eye PI was being moved from our venue.
“The initial confusion was due to a scheduling conflict at the level of the AICC staff and not in any way a pollical decision as is being speculated.
“The matter has been resolved. We have made contact with the organizers and the event is expected to come off as scheduled.”
Tiger Eye PI earlier said in series of tweets on Sunday November 13 that it “is saddened that barely 48 hours to the public screenings, when invitations have been sent to the diplomatic community and other high-profile individuals in society, and flyers sent out to the public, we have had to look for a new venue.
“We would like to apologise to the public for the inconvenience in change of venue. Our agent is securing another auditorium and we will update the public soon on the new venue.
“All tickets already out are valid for the new venue.”
South Dayi Member of Parliament Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor has said the plan by the government to sell the Saglemi Housing Project to a private person is the most economically depressing piece of policy he has seen from this government.
He questioned whether the Attorney-General aware that the Saglemi Housing Scheme, which is a subject of Criminal Prosecution of the Hon Collins Dauda & others in court is being sold to a private person?
The Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye has announced the government’s intention to explore the sale of the Saglemi Housing project to private sector investors for completion.
This is at no cost to the State and to reinvest the proceeds of the transaction into other affordable housing projects, he said.
Addressing a press conference Accra on Sunday November 13, he said the decision was taken after a painstaking consultation verification and assessment.
The Bantama lawmaker said “After a painstaking period of assessment, verifications and consultations government has decided to explore the possibility of selling the Saglemi Housing project, covering the 1506 housing unit , at the current value to private sector entity to complete and sell at no further cost to the state.
“Proceeds from the sale will come to the state and reinvested into affordable Housing project.
“To facilitate the process a technical working team has been set up, comprising professionals and experts to oversee and spearheads all engagements required for the completion of the project.”
The project was initiated in 2012 for the delivery of 5000 housing units at a total cost of 200,000,000 under and Engineering-Procurement-Contracting (EPC) Agreement with Messrs Construtora OAS Ghana Limited.
By the end of the stipulated completion date the original contract of the project had been amended three times with the project scope reducing from the initial 5000 housing units to 1506housin units although $195,854969.52 representing 98 % of the project funds had been expended, he further stated.
Commenting on this in a tweet, Mr Dafeamekpor said “This is the most economically depressing piece of policy I’ve seen from this Govt. Is the Attorney-General aware that the Saglemi Housing Scheme, which is a subject of Criminal Prosecution of the Hon Collins Dauda & ors in court is being sold to a private person?”
This is the most economically depressing piece of policy I’ve seen from this Govt.
Is the Attorney-General aware that the Saglemi Housing Scheme, which is a subject of Criminal Prosecution of the Hon Collins Dauda & ors in court is being sold to a private person? pic.twitter.com/ZnNKavHPFM
