TIG Post

Author: Phoebe Martekie Doku

  • CMC cuts sod for 6,000-seater cathedral

    A sod-cutting ceremony has been performed for the construction of a 6,000-seater capacity cathedral at the Cedar Mountain Chapel (CMC) of the Assemblies of God (AG), Ghana in the Greater Accra Region.

    The project also includes the construction of a children’s chapel and an eight-storey administration complex expected to be completed in a year.

    The ceremony was performed by a former President, John Dramani Mahama and witnessed by the General Superintendent of the A-G Ghana, Rev. Dr Stephen Wengam, the First Lady of the CMC, Monica Wengam and other senior officials of both the A-G and CMC.

    It was part of activities to climax the 12-anniversary celebration of the Cedar Mountain Chapel.

    Speaking at the event in Accra on Sunday, October 2, Mr Mahama stated that the project would be one of the greatest edifices in the country to the glory of God.

    He said from a humble beginning, the CMC has grown from a smaller church to a bigger congregation with a 1,000-seater capacity and now a ground breaking ceremony to construct a 6,000-seater cathedral.

    “I was the special guest of honour during the dedication of the foremost chapel at American House and it was a small congregation then now look at the size of CMC.

    “And so, we pray that CMC will grow from glory to glory and I believe that the groundbreaking today will move the church to the next level of glory,” he said.

    Cedar tree

    The former President explained that cedar tree was associated with longevity and for that reason the Cedar Mountain Chapel was a chapel built for longevity.

    “The cedar tree is also a very good wind block and so, it protects people’s houses and for that reason the church will protect people from any adverse events,” he said.

    He underlined the need for Christians to become more Christlike and living to please the Lord.

    Hope

    Rev Wengam who is also the Lead Pastor of CMC, expressed hope that the construction works would be completed within schedule to serve the A-G Ghana.

    “The construction of the cathedral is historic and it will serve the A-G Ghana in the near future.

    “When I took over as the General Superintendent, I was informed that Ghana A-G will be hosting the world’s mission conference in 2024 and that we will need a 5,000-seater capacity cathedral for that conference.

    “And then in 2026, the A-G Ghana will be hosting the World Fellowship of Assemblies of God Conference,” he said.

    He said delegates representing 70 million congregants of the church across the world would converge in Ghana for the two international events.

    He urged members of the church to join forces to help build the cathedral within schedule.

    “Church, as we enter into our new phase in which we are believing in God for the construction of our 6000-seater Cedar Cathedral, Children Chapel and a multi-storey administration complex, I ask that you not to cease praying, nor relent in your support to the church.

    “I also ask that you continue to avail your expertise and technical know-how to the advancement of the kingdom,” he added.

    Thanksgiving service

    Mrs Wengam said the ceremony was a thanksgiving service and climax of the church’s 12th anniversary celebration and the end of 21 days of fasting and praying.

    She said it was an amazing feeling and with utmost gratitude to God after a flashback and reminisced on how quickly a decade plus two years have passed.

    She said more gratifying was how God guided, protected and brought the church to this place – Cedar City.

  • Dollar has broken the 12; where’s your economic wizkid Bawumia? – Sammy Gyamfi jabs government –

    The National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi, has reacted to taunts by New Patriotic Party followers after he was slapped with a GHȼ500,000 damages in a libel suit, by ridiculing the economic prowess of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in the face of the recent sharp depreciation of the Ghana Cedi.

    Followers of the New Patriotic Party, especially fans of Matthew Opoku Prempeh, MP for Manhyia South and Minister for Energy, have been trolling Sammy Gyamfi since Thursday when a court found him guilty of libel and imposed the damage, in addition to a GHȼ50,000 cost.

    In a Facebook post on Friday however, the NDC spokesperson said the legal battle was far from over, and rather asked those taunting him to worry about the national economy instead.

    Sammy Gyamfi asked of the whereabouts of the Veep and head of government’s economic management team, who he said has been paraded by his supporters as an ‘economic wizkid’.

    He said that no amount of distractions would derail him.

    “Knowing your long-standing hatred for me and your determination to see my downfall, I can understand the desperation on display.

    “For your information, I remain focused, unshakable, impregnable and unbreakable. None of these things move me. Know this truth and stop wasting your time and data on me.

    “The dollar has shattered the 8 and broken the 12. Where is your economic wizkid, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia now?”, portions of the post read.

    The comments by Sammy Gyamfi also follow news of the Cedi’s further depreciation against the dollar on Friday.

    The Ghana cedi breached the ¢12 to the dollar mark on Friday, October 14, 2022; selling at ¢12.10 at most forex bureaus or the retail market.

    This development comes within a week after the cedi earlier depreciated against the dollar.

    A visit by Joy Business to some forex bureaus indicates that most of the operators are selling the dollar for more than ¢12. They claim supply of dollars has reduced significantly.

    Again, the cedi is losing grounds quickly against the pound and euro. Whilst a pound is going for about ¢12.70, one euro is selling at ¢11.10.

    Within a week (October 10-October 14), the local currency has lost more than 6% value to the dollar. This means the year-to-date depreciation of the cedi is hovering around 46%.

    By this rate of depreciation, the working capital of businesses, particularly manufacturers that depend on raw materials from overseas, have gone down by about 46% since January 1, 2022.

    Meanwhile, scores of Ghanaians have taken to social media to bemoan the situation; urging government to take urgent steps to address the consistent depreciation of the country’s currency.

  • Kasoa murder: 7 Member jury for trial of teenage suspects

    The Criminal Jurisdiction of the Accra High Court has empanelled a seven-member jury for the trial of two teenagers accused of the murder of a 10-year-old boy in Kasoa for money rituals.

    That was after the court, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, took the pleas of the teenagers, a 15-year-old boy (name withheld) and his alleged accomplice, who is 18 years old.

    The jury is made up of five women and two men.

    The two suspects objected to the inclusion of three persons from the pool of potential jurors before settling on the seven.

    Not guilty

    While the 15-year-old suspect has confessed to their involvement in the murder from the District Court, the 18-year-old suspect has, however, denied his involvement.

    However, taking their pleas on charges of conspiracy and murder before the trial court last Tuesday, the 15-year-old suspect pleaded guilty to the charge or conspiracy but pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.

    The 18-year-old suspect on the other hand pleaded not guilty to both charges.

    The court, however, entered a plea of not guilty for the 15-year-old suspect.

    That was because the offence was conspiracy to murder and as a result, had to be tried by the jury.

    The charges were read to them in their preferred local languages.

    Jury

    The jury is made up of seven ordinary, but educated persons, who, subject to the directions of the judge, decide the guilt or innocence of an accused in a case tried upon indictment.

    After the seven-member jury had been empanelled, they were sworn in and they chose one of their own as a leader (foreman).

    They are expected to arrive at a unanimous verdict which is binding on the court.

    Advise

    The presiding judge advised the jury to be present in court at all times to listen to, see and hear the witnesses that will be called by the prosecution in their quest to establish the guilt of the accused persons.

    “You are not supposed to be influenced by anything you hear or see relating to this matter on social media or in the society.

    “You are only bound by the evidence that you hear or see in this courtroom,” the presiding judge said.

    Justice Marfo also urged them to comport themselves inside and outside of the courtroom diligently.

    “You must not be influenced with money or any other consideration whatsoever.

    “The court expects maximum cooperation from you as far as timing and dates are concerned.

    “The court will not hesitate to apply the necessary legal sanction to any recalcitrant juror,” she added.

    Next sitting

    At the next sitting slated for October 24, 2022, counsel for the accused are expected to address the jury on their expectation in the case while the prosecution addresses the jury on its case after which counsel for the accused persons will be given the chance to respond, paving the way for the trial to officially commence.

    Meanwhile, the investigator in the case is expected to file the report on the investigation of the notice of alibi filed by the 18-year-old suspect through his lawyers.

  • UMB seeks more investment from stakeholders

    The Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) is in discussions with some of its key stakeholders who are willing to invest more in the bank, the Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Nana Dwemoh Benneh, has disclosed.

    He said the investment was to help the bank to build a sustainable banking model hinged on providing quality customer service to its cherished clients, some of whom had been with the bank for over 30 years.

    Mr Benneh said that in an interview with the Daily Graphic to mark the 2022 Customer Service Week celebrations.

    He said although the bank’s third quarter financials saw a dip in profit, the future was very bright as it still boasted of customers who continued to repose their confidence in the bank.

    “Some of these customers are some of the key companies we have in the country and in the economy, so even though we have had challenges, when we look forward to how to make ourselves sustainable, there are enough opportunities that give us the confidence that the future is bright.

    “In these discussions, we are speaking with a number of our stakeholders who are standing in readiness to invest more in the organisation because they know that the returns for investment into the organisation would be good,” he stated.

    Faithful clients

    The CEO said the bank had an anchor of clients who had still remained faithful even in times where it seemed challenging.

    He said that was a demonstration that UMB was offering them something useful and beneficial.

    Capital adequacy

    With regard to the new capital adequacy expectations by the regulator and the threat it poses to indigenous banks, Mr Benneh said the bank had stakeholders that would stand behind the organisation by providing the resources required to ensure that it ran a sustainable business.

    He said being an indigenous bank, UMB was focused on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), often labelled the engine of growth.

    “The SME sector seems to connect better with indigenous banks like ourselves, and so once that aspect of the economy takes a hit, the ripple effect obviously is going to be felt by the bank as well.

    “But we believe in the resilience of the Ghanaian businessman, we believe in the resilience of the local businesses,” he stated.

    He said a number of these local businesses had been able to constantly pull themselves up whenever there had been challenges with the economy, and having been around since 1972 meant that the bank had been walking this path with a number of these businesses.

    Digitisation

    Mr Benneh said the focus of the bank’s customer service had been on how to use digital services to better serve its customers.

    He said the bank recognised that financial services had now been more democratised because of the use of technology and digital services.

    “You can now get basic financial services at a certain standard across the world, which means that barriers of entry in terms of competitiveness are relatively low now because everybody has access to these same systems. So the question is: how do we offer it in a different unique memorable way?

    “We believe that we’ve been serving Ghana since 1972, and so we have quite a sense of how the Ghanaian business person likes to conduct their business and how they will like to access their information and how they will like to be kept abreast of systems and how they will like us to suggest things to them, so we are holding on to that niche,” he said.

    Mr Benneh said the bank looked to digitisation and wanted to position itself as an aggregator of a number of fintechs and players in this area.

  • GRA congratulates Petrosol for tax compliance

    The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has congratulated Petrosol Ghana Ltd, a privately-owned indigenous oil marketing company (OMC), for its tax compliance efforts.

    A letter by Rev. Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, and addressed to the Managing Director of Petrosol indicated that the Revenue Assurance, Compliance and Enforcement committee of the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the GRA, the National Petroleum Authority and the Association of Oil Marketing Companies conducted a reconciliation exercise to confirm petroleum taxes paid by oil marketing companies between January 2015 and July 2020.

    Letter

    After the exercise, the letter indicated, the GRA could certify that Petrosol was not indebted to the GRA in respect of petroleum taxes and levies as it had paid all the taxes and levies amounting to about GH¢476 million.

    The Commissioner-General expressed his satisfaction by urging Petrosol “to continue to play your roles as corporate citizens.

    Accept our congratulations on your compliance”.

    The Managing Director of Petrosol, Michael Bozumbil, expressed delight about the letter, indicating that it would serve as a morale booster for the company to continue on the path of ethical practices.

    He said notwithstanding the challenges in the industry and the economy as a whole, the company had resolved to continue to do what was right so as to contribute to government revenue and economic development.

    He expressed the hope that the state and its agencies would also support Petrosol to grow and do more for the state.
    Petrosol is a triple-ISO certified oil marketing company that has won several awards for its commitment to industry best practices and ethical conduct.

    It operates several fuel stations across the country, and supplies bulk consumers of petroleum products.

  • Constituency Watch: Tamale Central gets fair share of national cake

    Tamale Central is one of the constituencies that have received their fair share of the national cake.

    Without doubt an urban constituency, it has witnessed significant development since its creation in 2004.

    The benefits for Tamale Central, which is our focus for this week, include an interchange, a number of roads, new school blocks and agricultural support.

    With a voter population of about 100,000, per the 2020 general election, the Tamale Central Constituency in the Tamale metropolis is bordered by the Tamale South Constituency to the south, the Tamale North Constituency to the north and the Sagnarigu Constituency to the west.

    Carved out of the then Gukpegu/Sabongida Constituency in 2004, Tamale Central is one of the largest and fastest developing constituencies in the Northern Region.

    Voting pattern

    Since its creation, the constituency, one of the 18 constituencies in the region, has politically become the traditional seat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as it has since been voting for the NDC in both parliamentary and presidential elections.

    Although the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has never won the seat, it made some advances in the 2020 general election, garnering about 44.83 per cent of the total valid votes cast.

    Its current Member of Parliament (MP) is Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who won the seat on the ticket of the NDC in 2020. He is the third MP of the constituency.

    His predecessor, Inusah Fuseini, who was in Parliament for three terms, from 2006, voluntarily bowed out of contesting the seat for the fourth time.

    Alhaji Fuseini became an MP through a by-election in 2006 after the then incumbent, Wayo Seini, defected from the NDC to the NPP.

    Although it is considered a traditional seat of the NDC, the incumbent MP had a tough time slugging it out with the NPP parliamentary candidate, Dr Ibrahim Anyars Imoro, who pulled a surprise by garnering 44.83 per cent of the valid votes, the highest votes polled by an NPP candidate in the history of the constituency.

    Demographics

    The constituency has a mix of both formal and informal workers, made up of traders, teachers, civil and public servants, farmers, nurses, security officers, among others.

    It is also a busy constituency, with fever-pitch economic activities that draw hundreds of people from far and near on a daily basis.

    Prominent markets and business centres in the Tamale metropolis, such as the Aboabo Market, bus terminals and a number of banks can all be found in the constituency.

    Developments in detail

    The constituency is a beneficiary of the Tamale Interchange, the first to be constructed in the northern part of the country.

    The structure, which has been dedicated to the memory of Naa Gbewaa, the Founder of the Mole/Dagbon Kingdom, was constructed to ease traffic congestion and give a facelift to the metropolis.

    The two-tier interchange, which was opened to traffic in March 2022 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, formed part of what the government described as its commitment to address congestion in urban centres and also help improve travel times on major arterial roads.

    The Naa Gbewaa Interchange links the road from the Dakpema Palace through the ‘Point 7’ road, the Central Taxi Rank and the Central Market Intersection to the Sakasaka Road.

    Aayalolo buses

    Just last Monday, the state-owned commercial bus service, popularly known as Aayalolo bus services, was launched in Tamale to boost intra-city transport in the area.

    The bus transport service is set to start operation with five 40-seater buses plying designated routes, much of which can be found in the Tamale Central Constituency.

    The areas include the Interchange to the Tamale Polytechnic, Point 7 to Vittin and the Anbariya Senior High School, P.K. Gombillah to Savelugu, Quality First to the UDS Tamale Campus and Aboabo Commercial Bank to Nyankpala.

    Roads

    A number of road projects have been completed in the constituency, with others at various stages of completion.

    So far, about 40 kilometres (km) of roads have been asphalted within the Tamale Central constituency, out of the 100km earmarked by the government to be constructed in the Tamale metropolis and the Sagnarigu municipality by 2024.

    During a recent tour, the Daily Graphic observed that some road networks and drainage systems in Nyanshegu, Tishegu, Aboabo, Zogbeli, Lamankara Gbewaa and other areas were under construction.

    Challenges/facelift

    In spite of the significant infrastructural development, parts of the constituency, such as the Warizehi and the Agric/Mohiyabihi electoral areas, are still grappling with poor roads, inadequate drains, bridges, perennial flooding and faulty streetlights.

    Other challenges include congestion, insecurity and youth unemployment.

    Some residents who spoke with the Daily Graphic — Adam Hardi, Saani Mustapha and Hamida Salifu – said in spite of the challenges facing the constituency, it had witnessed significant development in the past five years.

    They mentioned the construction of the interchange and a number of link roads, which they noted had given a major facelift to the metropolis.

    The Assembly Member for the Agric/Mohiyabihi Electoral Area, Salifu Mohammed Mutala, said the main challenge was the poor drainage system which contributed to the perennial flooding in the area.

    He said aside from a mechanised borehole and a clinic that had been constructed in the area by the MP, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the area had not benefited from any government intervention for some time now.

    Mr Mutala, therefore, appealed to the authorities to turn their attention to the electoral area and help fix the drainage, roads and other developmental challenges.

    Opinion leaders

    Some opinion leaders — Sumani Alhassan, Yusif Danaba and Ibrahim Adam — commended the government for initiating some projects which were impacting on the lives of the people in the constituency.

    They also urged the government and the assembly to decongest the central business district, which had been taken over by hawkers and people who had erected unauthorised structures.

    Wanton encroachment

    The Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tamale, Sule Salifu, lamented the wanton encroachment on public school lands in the metropolis and said if not checked, the practice could pose a threat to future development projects on school premises.

    He indicated that the assembly was taking stringent measures to reclaim and protect all public school lands that had been encroached upon by some private developers and individuals.

    MP’s intervention

    The MP for the constituency, Alhaji Murtala Mohammed, told the Daily Graphic that when he assumed office, he undertook an assessment to identify the pressing needs of the constituents.

    He mentioned the drilling of 20 mechanised boreholes, the construction of an Astro turf, clinics, payment of fees of about 20 medical students, organising extra classes for students, among others, as some of the projects he had undertaken in the constituency.

    “One of my main focus areas is education, so I have decided to pay the fees for 10 medical students each year. Last year I started with 10 students and this year the same,” he said.

    “I have also been organising extra classes for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates. I started with about 1,200 students and this year about 1,700 students have benefited,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

    Aside from that, the MP indicated that he had supported a number of farmers with farm inputs and funds to improve on their farming activities.
    Alhaji Mohammed, who is a former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, expressed concern about the poor road network and drainage systems in parts of the constituency.

    He pledged to continue to use his influence to lobby the authorities to work on the roads and drains.

    “I have also been embarking on regular visitations to understand the needs and challenges of the people so that I can know how to use my share of the common fund and also lobby for projects for them,” he added.

    Other projects

    Aside from the road infrastructure, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has been installing streetlights in some communities and principal roads, including those in Tamale Central, to improve night visibility and help fight crime in the metropolis.

    Recently, it installed over 400 streetlights in areas such as Aboabo, the central business district, Zogbeli and Lamankara.

    It has also been embarking on a decongestion exercise within the central business district to clear traders who have erected unauthorised structures along the pavements.

    The move forms part of efforts to ensure sanity and the free flow of traffic in the city.

    Poor performance

    While acknowledging some of the infrastructural projects witnessed in the area, the Constituency Communications Officer of the NDC, Umar Abdul-Razak, said the government had performed abysmally in the constituency.

    He said even in opposition, the MP had been able to initiate more life-changing projects than what the government had done in the past six years.

    As Election 2020 approaches, one of the constituencies to watch is Tamale Central.

    This is mainly because of the inroads the NPP made in the last elections, closing the gap from previously landslide victories the NDC chalked up.

    Therefore, any slip on anybody’s part can tilt the outcome. We will keep an eye on happenings in the Tamale Central Constituency.

     

  • EU provides €10 million support for Ghana’s food security

    The European Union (EU) on Friday signed an agreement to provide €10 million support Ghana’s food security and agribusiness value chain sectors.

    The support is part of the € 600 million the EU has allocated to finance humanitarian food aid and food production in Africa.

    The funds will specifically support families in the country to grow crops so that they can generate income and make food readily available and affordable on the local market.

    It is also expected to help promote climate smart (adapting agricultural methods to climate change) and ecological initiatives in a number of agribusiness value chains including soybean, beekeeping and vegetable production in the country particularly in Northern Ghana.

    The funds comes in the wake of global food shortages, hunger and economic shocks being experienced by people across the World due to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

    The EU Charge d’ Affaires, Pieter Smidt Van Gelder accompanied by a six-member EU delegation presented a dummy cheque of €10 million to a Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare who received it on behalf of government at a short ceremony at the Ministry of Finance in Accra.

    The EU delegation were Ambassadors Daniela D’Orlandi of Italy, Jean Claude Galea Mallia of Malta and Jeroen Verheul of the Netherlands.

    The rest were Jose Javier Blanco-Navarette of Spain, Tamas Endre Feher of Hungary and Franziska Jebens, Head of Cooperation of Germany.

    Prior to the presentation, Mr Gelder said the emergency measure was adopted “in record time directly following the outbreak of the war and its negative consequences on global food security”.

    He explained that the EU mobilised its member states to “join forces and fight together against the global food security crisis”.

    He indicated that the new funds comes on top of “our 203 million Euro joint programming support already dedicated to Ghana for 2021-2024″.

    Mr Gelder stated that the intervention will complement government’s efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition especially in vulnerable areas most affected by high prices of food, fertiliser and fuel.

    He said the funds would also strengthen the ongoing €132 million EU-Ghana Agricultural Programme (EU-GAP) which aims at increasing agricultural productivity, protection of natural resources, access to markets, infrastructure and capital for smallholder farmers.

    Mrs Osei-Asare in her response, expressed gratitude to the EU for the support saying “we are grateful to the EU for its continuous support to Ghana’s development agenda since the beginning of our relationship in 1975”.

    She noted that the EU had been a strategic partner of Ghana over the years with support to the country in sectors such as infrastructure development, good governance, agriculture and public financial management among others.

    She recalled vividly the “flexibility” exhibited by the EU in the provision of €86.5 million to the country as Emergency Budget Support during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Debt restructuring: Transparent conversations needed for minimum damage – expert

    Given that government Debt Sustainability Analysis is yet to be known there are lots of concerns – especially from persons and institutions with high exposure to government debt. The Chief Executive Officer of Crescendo Consult Ltd., Doris Ahiati, holds that transparent conversation between both parties is crucial for minimum damage.

    According to the World Bank’s Africa’s Pulse report (October 2022, Volume 26), Ghana’s public debt is set to hit 104.6 percent of GDP by end of the year – automatically putting the economy into the debt-distressed category and further making the debt situation unsustainable; meaning the country will no longer be able to fulfil its debt obligations, even domestically.

     

    Currently, the country’s local and foreign currency ratings have been downgraded from B-/B to CCC+/C with negative outlook from S&P rating agency and ‘CCC’ to ‘CC’ by Fitch, and the  country is now seeking a US$1.5billion assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to shore-up public finances and regain access to credit markets.

    These occurrences have affected the confidence of businesses and the financial sector, and raised concerns of persons and institutions with high exposure to government debt.

    In an interview with the B&FT, Ms. Ahiati said a transparent stakeholder conversation can lessen the impact.

    “There is a need for stakeholder engagements with people that are likely to be impacted because government owes them. A conversation that explains the situation and makes room for the person who has loaned money to government to propose what they can accommodate. Maybe it could be extending the repayment period or renegotiating the interest rate.

    “So, I think the stage should be granted to the people who are investing in government bonds. If they are likely to be impacted, we should not sit on one side and just decide something and hit the market with it. It should be through a negotiation whereby they hear each side of the story and reach an agreement or a compromise that is fair for both parties,” she said.

    She is also of the view that as government take pragmatic measures to lessen the impact of economic challenges experienced widely, it should be mindful of any action which undermines the financial sector’s confidence.

    “I think you are indirectly referencing the rumors about possible a haircut. Personally, my concern is that we do not do anything to undermine the confidence of people in the financial system. That is where we derive our credit ratings and provide for businesses to grow.

    “There is already evidence of lower confidence in the sector; people are keeping monies in their homes, people have bought dollars that they are keeping in their homes and these are not in the banking systems. And in the same way, people begin to look at options that will help them avoid being in the main financial system,” she noted.

    Already, the central bank’s latest business confidence survey in August 2022 – which gauges the level of optimism among business managers – has revealed a slump in business confidence by a greater extent of 15.8 points from 98.4 points recorded in the previous survey of August 2021.

    Mrs. Doris Ahiati is however hopeful that the IMF programme will help salvage the current situation and bring about some levelling.

    “I believe that whatever programme the IMF comes with will be mindful not to hurt investor confidence so badly. But we are at a point where we cannot rule out that there will be painful actions which might be taken in order to address the situation – a quite challenging one.  So either way, I think people are not going to have it easy.

    “We do not know precisely what the government proposals under IMF will be and/or what the IMF will endorse. It might hurt a little bit in the short-term, but eventually it will contribute to our recovery,” she said.

  • UNDP commits 700,000 dollars to SMEs in Ghana

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has committed 700,000 dollars in support of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operations in six assemblies in Ghana.

    These are the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Ketu South, Sefwi- Wiawso, and Jomoro municipal assemblies, and the Sagnarigu and Kassena–Nankana West district assemblies.

    Mr Stephen Kansuk, the Head of Environment and Climate at UNDP, said the funds would help promote business development, service support, energy and resource efficiency to help businesses to save costs.

    “We engaged and audited 15 businesses including, manufacturing MSMEs and hotels across the six assemblies and it showed that businesses employed about 1000 workers, with over 80 per cent youth and about 70 per cent women, he said.

    Areas audited included utility consumption (water and electricity), internet and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), equipment being used, building architecture and maintenance culture.

    Mr Kansuk said this at a training workshop on Energy Efficiency for journalists in Takoradi, organised by the Energy Commission with support from the UNDP to strengthen their capacity to ensure good corporate governance.

    He said the findings on energy consumption showed that almost all facilities had manually operated compound/outside lights kept on for several hours.

    Room appliances such as television sets were mostly on standby mode even when not being used, while air condition facilities had low-efficiency ratings, he said.

    The study recommended that all fluorescent lambs should be replaced with Light Emitting Diode, photo sensors should be installed to control compound lights, and energy-efficient air conditioners with a minimum of the three-star rated inverter must be used to save energy.

    On the use of water, he said most of the facilities used high water-volume water closet systems with high litres cistern capacities.

    He recommended an efficient WC system for example, (a six-litre cistern) and as well as a waste segregation system.

    Mr John Adjei, Senior Manager, Energy Efficiency Regulation, Energy Commission, said gadgets like transformers, chargers including phone and laptop chargers, desk printers, electric water heaters, water dispensers, television sets, sound systems and decoders were “agents of power thefts.”

    He advised participants to turn off unused office equipment including personal computers, and air conditioners, and also close windows and doors tightly when air conditioners were on.

    Mr Kennedy Amankwah, who spoke on Energy Management, suggested the appointment of energy managers, who would coordinate the efficient use of energy resources and ensure cost savings.

    The Ghana Statistical Service and World Bank COVID-19 Business Tracker revealed many businesses, including MSMEs, were affected by the pandemic.

  • Facilitating homeownership in Ghana via the rent-to-own model

    Access to affordable housing remains one of the critical socio-economic challenges facing many developing countries. A huge gap between housing demand and supply of affordable housing units persists, compounded further by ever-increasing home prices beyond the reach of workers’ wages.

    The homeownership journey for many is long, complicated, and sometimes overwhelming with many resulting to unconventional means of securing housing. Land acquisition, finding the right professionals for construction, and obtaining financing often present huge challenges. The myriad of activities involved in the traditional home acquisition process can be confusing and opaque, sometimes leading to financial loss.

    Due to these difficulties, many low- and middle-income earners retire without achieving their homeownership dream.

     Financing Ghana’s Housing Deficit

    Ghana’s 2021 population and housing census puts the national housing deficit at 1.8 million units. Estimates indicate that the annual housing demand is between 70,000 to 120,000 housing units with only about 30% of the annual demand supplied. With average cost of constructing a two-bedroom house in the urban areas estimated at about GHS 267,000, affordability remains at the core of the housing challenge, as majority of working-class Ghanaians would not be able to afford a home due to low-income levels.

    With average interest rates on cedi-denominated mortgages from commercial banks ranging between 19.00% and 31.7%, majority of people within the low- and middle-income bracket would not qualify for a mortgage. This creates a situation where potential homeowners are left with the choice of building their homes incrementally which, in most cases, can take anywhere from 10 to 20 years or, in some cases, one’s entire working life.

    The Ghanaian Worker’s Pathway to Homeownership

    The average Ghanaian worker has three main pathway options in the homeownership journey: self-build, outright purchase, and mortgage acquisition. The homeownership journey for many starts when they receive their first pay cheques. Bank-financed options to achieve homeownership remain limited due to low incomes and high mortgage costs. Mortgages from commercial banks are sometimes priced in US Dollars, completely unaffordable for low- and middle-income workers earning Ghana Cedis. Similarly, houses offered by developers for outright purchase are often priced in US Dollars.

    Therefore, for a segment of workers who cannot afford to access mortgage from the commercial banks, they start saving towards buying land to build their future homes as soon as they start to earn an income. Many prospective homeowners make initial down payments for land and pay the outstanding balance over time, while some secure loans to pay for the land and repay the loan over time. Owing to the challenges associated with land acquisition especially in the urban areas with its attendant litigations and loss of investments, some would-be homeowners are forced to end their homeownership journey when they fail to acquire a piece of land.

    For prospective homeowners who overcome the land acquisition challenges, the remaining journey can extend for many years characterized by difficulties with finding qualified artisans, raising needed financing, loss of building materials to theft, and long exposure of uncompleted buildings to adverse weather conditions resulting in compromised structural integrity, before they finally get to occupy the homes. In many instances, people move into their uncompleted homes after retirement due to reduced income. In the interim, most live in rented accommodation and may pay rent for their entire working Lives.

    A typical homeownership path for a Ghanaian worker

    The Rent-to-Own Model

    In urban areas, data from the Ghana Statistical Service suggests that majority of occupants in residential properties are non-owners and are typically involved in some form of rental arrangement.

    In most instances in Ghana, a first-time tenant is required to pay two- or three-years’ rent in advance, and subsequently one year’s rent advance upon each renewal of tenancy. The huge financial burden that rent payment places on tenants for many years in the traditional rental arrangement does not in any way provide for ownership opportunities, regardless of how long they rent the home.

    A significant shift from the traditional rental arrangement is the concept of rent-to-own. Imagine a rental arrangement where the tenant can eventually own the home at the end of a defined period; a rent-to-own arrangement offers tenants this opportunity. A rent-to-own arrangement allows tenants to rent a home with an option to buy the home at the end of a defined rental period. In the rent-to-own model, the tenant pays an additional deposit with each monthly rent payment which goes towards the purchase price of the home at the end of the rental period.

    Types of Rent-to-Own Schemes

    There are two main types of rent-to-own arrangements: the lease-option and lease-purchase arrangements. In lease-option arrangement, the tenant pays an upfront fee of about 5% of the value of the home. The upfront payment gives the tenant an option to buy the home at the end of the rental period at a value to be agreed on by the buyer and the seller. The upfront fee paid by the tenant is applied to the final cost of the home. The tenant agrees to make monthly payments a little above the market rent rate for the property. The excess payments above market rent goes towards the down payment for the purchase of the property. On the option exercise date, the rent credit serves as down payment to enable the tenant purchase the home. The tenant retains the right to opt out of the agreement if s/he decides not to buy the property.

    On the other hand, the lease-purchase is a type of rent-to-own arrangement where the tenant and property owner agree on the price of the property upfront. The tenant makes monthly payments above market rent rate and the excess goes towards down payment of the home. In a lease-purchase agreement, the tenant is obliged to purchase the home at the end of the lease period and loses the down payment if tenant fails to provide funding to purchase the home. Furthermore, the property owner can sue for breach of contract if the tenant fails to purchase the home at the end of the lease period.

    While the lease-option agreement gives the tenant more flexibility in the home acquisition process, this arrangement presents uncertainty in the final home price as the price is determined at the end of the lease period and may be above the tenant’s budget. The lease-purchase, on the other hand, lacks flexibility for the tenant in cases where tenants decide to change their mind, but the risk of property price increasing above tenant’s income is minimized.

    Home Maintenance and Insurance

    In a rent-to-own arrangement, the prospective homeowner is both a tenant and a buyer. Prospective homeowners therefore have more responsibilities in a rent-to-own scheme than they would in a traditional rental arrangement. Unless the agreement states otherwise, the tenant is responsible for some maintenance works in the home. Some rent-to-own agreements make major maintenance such as changing of roofing and other structural works the responsibility of the seller. However, maintenance works such as house painting, replacement of sinks and landscaping are usually the responsibility of the prospective homeowner under rent-to-own arrangement.

    There are different types of home insurance available to protect residential properties and contents. A renter’s insurance is meant to protect the personal belongings of the tenant; a landlord insurance offers homeowners protection for rented properties; and homeowners’ insurance which is taken by the owner of the property. Since tenants build up equity in a home over a period of time albeit on paper, it is important to ensure that the property has an insurance cover to protect the tenant’s investment under a rent-to-own arrangement. Because the seller owns the property during the rent-to-own tenor, the seller usually carries homeowner’s insurance while the parties agree on how to share the insurance cost. The tenant on the other hand may acquire a renter’s insurance to protect belongings in the home.

     The Ideal Rent-to-Own Candidate

    Rent-to-own arrangements could offer an ideal solution for both tenants and landlords. Rent-to-own is a good choice for tenants who would like to buy a home but do not have the initial down payment or qualify for a mortgage. Tenants get the opportunity to move into a home and start enjoying the benefits of a homeowner while building up equity over time.

    The Benefits

    In addition to giving tenants the opportunity to build equity in the home over a period, tenants have the flexibility to walk away from the arrangement if their financial situations change or if they lose interest in purchasing the home. The rent-to-own arrangements also increase the chances of property owners, who are experiencing difficulties in selling their properties, to find buyers while gaining rental income in the interim. Additionally, property owners enjoy a long-term reliable tenants and lower home maintenance cost.

     Increasing Homeownership Rate Through Rent -to-Own Scheme

    As previously indicated, affordability remains a major hindrance to housing delivery in Ghana as a huge mismatch persists between the cost of houses and mortgages on the one hand, and the income levels of potential homeowners on the other hand.

    Due to the relative flexibility offered, rent-to-own schemes have the potential to move many potential homeowners up the property ladder, thereby increasing the homeownership rate substantially.

    Creating the Enabling Environment for Effective Rent-to-Own Schemes

    A fundamental logic behind rent-to-own is to provide a cheaper, more affordable alternative path to homeownership for persons who cannot afford conventional mortgages from banks.

    However, the high cost of housing units – even those labelled ‘affordable’ – presents a strong challenge to the rollout of rent-to-own schemes, as the property costs impact the rental charges. Higher house prices translate into high monthly rent-to-own payments, pricing out target candidates.

    Currently, at the typical prices of ‘affordable’ houses, the difference between monthly rent-to-own rates and typical monthly mortgage obligations tends to be quite narrow. In effect, many low-income potential homeowners for whom the rent-to-own path should have been beneficial, i.e., a cheaper alternative to mortgages, end up unable to afford this alternative route as well.

    For rent-to-own schemes to achieve the intended purpose of increasing the homeownership rate especially among low- and middle-income earners, a supportive cost and regulatory environment must exist, to underpin affordability and sustainability of house prices. Invariably, government intervention is necessary for the creation of this supportive environment.

    The specific government interventions below are sine qua non to ensure stable, affordable house prices, and by extension, affordable rent-to-own rates:

    1. provision of low-cost land banks, eliminating the excessive costs of private land acquisition and the associated costs of multiple payments for same piece of land, the menace of ‘land guards’, etc.;
    2. provision of communal infrastructure (access roads, drainage, electricity, water), the costs of which are presently borne by private estate developers and thus built into house prices;
    • provision of construction financing at concessionary rates, as the burden of expensive bank loans also adds to the unsustainable cost build-up of even the houses that are intended to be affordable.

    Additionally, rent laws and regulations must be updated to accommodate the rent-to-own concept. This is essential to protect both rent-to-own providers and subscribers. The rights and responsibilities of parties under rent-to-own schemes must be duly covered in the regulations to prevent scheme providers from taking advantage of vulnerable subscribers and vice versa, as well as providing a regulatory framework for transfer of title and dispute resolution.

    Beyond government intervention, estate developers also ought to explore lower cost construction technologies and materials, without compromising quality, of course.

    Conclusion 

    With majority of residents in urban areas engaged in some form of rental arrangement, a scheme that will enable tenants transition into homeowners will have a positive impact on homeownership rates in Ghana.

    The rent-to-own model presents a huge potential not only to increase homeownership but also the delivery of affordable housing to meet increasing demand as the scheme holds the potential to move people who would otherwise not qualify, onto the homeownership ladder. The resultant increased demand for affordable housing will spur developments to satisfy the demand.

    Governments and non-governmental organizations have initiated several interventions to increase the delivery of housing and uptake of same especially among middle- and lower-income earners.  For these interventions to achieve the intended impact, challenges surrounding housing affordability must be addressed critically, especially in the current environment where a huge disparity exists between income levels and home prices.

    Successful implementation of rent-to-own schemes would hinge on supportive inputs of stakeholders, especially government. Government must facilitate the enabling environment through regulation, provision of affordable landbanks, provision of necessary infrastructure as well as funding for research into the use of local materials for development of high-quality low-cost affordable houses. Proper implementation of the rent-to-own model will fill a very critical gap in the housing market, facilitating ownership access for the segment of the market that cannot afford traditional mortgages.

  • GRA revenue for Sept up by 4.6%, rolls out new systems to seal loopholes

    The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu Amoah has revealed that tax revenue performance for September 2022 was GH¢7,457,097 as against a target of GH¢7,128,061.

    This, according to him, shows a positive deviation of 4.6 percent, which represents 29.8 percent of its year-to-date performance.

     

    Speaking during an interaction with the media in Accra, he said Customs revenue also grew nominally by 29.8 percent for the same period.

    “Customs, particularly, for this September did very well and exceeded even the stretch target by GH¢246million,” he disclosed.

    The Commissioner-General said the authority is implementing a number of tax policy initiatives to boost revenue generation this year.

    “We have introduced the GRA Taxpayers portal, which is basically a portal that allows you to log in to see your own tax activity. Again, we have introduced the electronic VAT invoicing, and it connects to the invoicing system of the merchant. And as the merchants trade, we see every invoice and details of purchase. We have introduced a new excise stamp tax authenticator which is also an app that allows you to use your phone to test whether what it is on the bottle is genuine or not.”

    As part of measures to improve revenue for the state, he said the authority will be piloting an e-auction module on the Integrated Customs Management System.

    The GRA boss said: “Our target is that from 15th October, we are loading some of the items available for auction on this system as a pilot phase and every citizen is free to go there to look at the vehicles and decide if they are interested”.

    He said in order to achieve its revenue target for the year 2022, GRA is adopting strategies to ensure that all loopholes are sealed with the roll-out of rigorous enforcement and compliance measures.

  • AZA Finance FX week ahead: Cedi touches new low amid record 37% inflation

    The IMF at its annual meetings in Washington this week indicated increased support for economic recovery in Africa.

    The IMF wants to speed up long-delayed debt restructurings for Zambia and Chad to institute by year-end. In Zambia, a combination of tighter monetary and fiscal policies and the elimination of custom duties have tamed inflation to 9.9% from 21% in the past year.

    The Kwacha has been Africa’s best performing currency, rallying around 18% year to date, after Zambia secured a $1.3bn bailout package from the IMF.

    Prospects remain positive given the debt restructuring plans to be concluded this year in addition to improved global consumption for the copper producing country.

    Debt restructuring should also help spur recovery for Chad amid a pick-up in oil and agricultural output. In other news from the IMF meetings, the Fund is seeking to include clauses in future debt contracts that will allow borrowers to suspend debt servicing commitments in the event of a climate shock.

     

    Meanwhile, Rwanda is set to become the first African country to benefit from a $40bn Resilience and Sustainability trust fund set up by the IMF to help countries deal with the impact of climate change. A $310m staff-level agreement reached with the IMF will enable the Rwandan government to integrate climate-related considerations into its overall fiscal reforms. The Rwandan franc has contracted by about 5% in the past year to RWF 1065 per dollar, against a backdrop of inflation soaring to 23.9% this year amid continued dependence on Russian wheat and fertilizer. A combination of the country’s economic reforms and an agreed IMF climate change related support programme could be a long-term boost for the currency.

    Naira weakens as Nigeria considers debt restructuring
    The Naira continued its slide against the dollar this week, trading at 734 from 722 at last week’s close, as Nigeria’s government said it was considering options to restructure its debt. Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed said the country has appointed a consultant to look at ways to ease its debt burden, such as extending repayment periods, according to Bloomberg.

    Nigeria’s oil output continues to decline amid rising oil theft and vandalism, with the country now Africa’s fourth biggest crude producer behind Angola, Libya and Algeria, having started the year as the continent’s largest. That is piling further pressure on the Naira given that oil revenues are by far the biggest source of FX for the central bank. We expect further depreciation in the unofficial market in the short term as demand pressures continue to weigh heavily on the local currency.

    Cedi touches new low amid record 37% inflation
    The Cedi depreciated against the dollar again this week, trading at 10.58 from 10.45 at last week’s close, having briefly touched a record low of 10.63 on Tuesday. Annual inflation hit a record high 37.2% in September, up from 33.9% in August.

    Ghana’s interest rate is currently at 24.5%, its highest level since 2017 following last week’s 250 basis point hike. Given that inflation is being driven mainly by the supply side, the bank’s rate hikes are not proving as effective in curbing rising prices.

    Fitch Ratings has warned that a sovereign debt default is a real possibility, with any kind of domestic restructuring likely to severely impact the local banking sector. Against that backdrop, we expect the Cedi to continue weakening towards the 11 level in the near term.

    Risk-off drives Rand lower as planned power cuts ease 
    The Rand weakened against the dollar, trading at 18.18 from 18.04 at Friday’s close as risk-on sentiment of last week was snuffed out amid concerns about global growth and an escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine. On the domestic front, planned power cuts are expected to ease this week.

    A workers’ strike at freight company Transnet has seen South African coal exports slow to the lowest level in a year, causing coal prices to jump higher.

    Europe’s increased dependence on South African coal amid the ongoing energy crisis is likely to provide some support to the Rand in the months ahead. For the near term, we expect the Rand to continue trading in line with global risk sentiment.

    Egypt Pound at record low as banks limit FX withdrawals
    The Pound edged to a fresh low against the dollar, trading at 19.69 from 19.66 at last week’s close.

    Egyptian banks have been taking steps in recent days to limit the withdrawal of foreign currency to protect against a scarcity of dollars in the country. The central bank is also considering allowing non-deliverable forwards so companies and investors can hedge exposure to large swings in the Pound.

    Meantime, annual inflation climbed to 15% in September from 14.6% a month earlier, pushed higher by rising food and transportation costs.

    We expect the Pound to weaken further in the coming days, although Egypt’s hosting of next month’s UN climate change conference COP 27 could help drive FX inflows with increased visitors.

    Shilling slides as Kenya reserves hit 7-year low
    The Shilling depreciated against the dollar, trading at 120.80/121.00 from 120.70/120.90 at last week’s close—just shy of a record low—due to increased dollar demand by importers in the oil, energy and manufacturing sectors.

    Economic growth slowed for a fourth consecutive quarter, hitting 5.2% in Q2 of the financial year from 6.8% in the previous three-month period as election-related uncertainty and the worst drought in 40 years weighed on activity. To support the Shilling, the central bank sold an unspecified amount of dollars.

    Kenya’s FX reserves fell to $7.3bn last week from $7.4bn a week earlier—the lowest level in seven years—amid lower foreign funding, faster import growth and a slowdown in remittances. We expect the Shilling to stabilise in the coming week as the central bank continues to dip into reserves to cushion against volatility.

    Ugandan Shilling weakens amid rate hikes
    The Shilling weakened against the dollar, slipping to 3831 from 3817 at last week’s close. Uganda said it was working with China, the US and Russia to find potential investors to help develop East Africa’s first nuclear power plant, which the government hopes to have operational by 2031.

    Meantime, Uganda’s purchasing manager’s index climbed to 51.6 in September from 50.5 in August, the strongest level in five months. The central bank said more rate rises could be on the cards following last week’s 100 basis point hike.

    Uganda’s benchmark interest rate has increased by 350 basis points since June, now at a three-year high of 10%. We expect the Shilling to weaken further in the near term due amid higher import costs.

    Tanzania outlook raised at Moody’s as exports soar
    The Shilling appreciated marginally against the dollar, trading at 2331 from 2332 at last week’s close.

    Moody’s upgraded Tanzania’s credit outlook to positive from stable, affirming its B2 rating, five levels below investment grade, based on lower political risk given the government’s new approach to promoting economic development and engagement with the international community.

    Tanzanian exports hit $1.4bn during the 12-months to August, a 75% increase on the previous 12-month period. We expect the Shilling to continue strengthening modestly against the dollar in the week ahead.

  • Take advantage of AfCFTA – Mahama urges African countries

    Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has urged all African countries to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    He stated that partaking in the free trade area will help develop their economies, as well as, stay competitive on the market; both locally and internationally.

    Speaking at a virtual forum on Thursday, October 13, 2022, John Dramani Mahama said, “We must advantage of AfCFTA, grow our values and get ready for increased international trade.”

    Meanwhile, Ghana, Egpyt, Cameroon, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya are the 7 countries participating in AfCFTA.

    The products traded include ceramic tiles, car batteries, pharmaceuticals, palm kernel oil, coffee, rubber, tea, components for air conditioners, among others.

    AfCFTA was introduced in 2018 with the aim of creating a single market for Africa, as well as, ensuring the free movement of goods and services on the continent.

    This free movement of goods and services will help expand Intra-African trade.

    This implies that goods will be sold at a relatively cheaper price because of the increase in production which will, in turn, create both direct and indirect jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

    The free trade area also provides traders and importers an opportunity to stay competitive.

    Businesses when conducted in a free and safe environment will help reduce poverty in member states as well as create sustainable development.

  • Fuel hikes: We will soon shock the nation – Concerned Drivers Association

    The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana has served notice to shock the nation over hikes in fuel prices.

    There have been projections that fuel prices will increase by 10 per cent on Sunday, October 16, 2022, while transport fares are likely to go up by 40 per cent in the coming weeks.

    A statement issued by the association, co-signed by its National Chairman Paa Willie, National Public Relations Officer (PRO), David Agboado and Deputy Secretary, Nana Owiredu said: “Prices of fuel have been steadily increasing even at a time crude prices was reduced at the world market.”

    “As an association, we are promising the government, if they do not work on stabilising the fuel prices, we’ll not increase fares for the ordinary Ghanaian to suffer but we will shock the entire Nation.”

    It added: “No amount of intimidation can stop us this time around.”

    Speaking on 12Live on Class91.3FM, Friday, October 14, 2022, Deputy Communications Director, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Samuel Amoah explained the current condition of drivers.

    “Now the commercial drivers too are suffering. A driver will go to work, at the close of the day, all the money that the driver will get, he’ll just send it to a filling station, to just go and give it to them and go home, empty-handed.”

    “Likewise, in case you have a problem with your car, you’ll use all the money to go and buy spare parts, so we have come to realise that our businesses are going down and there’s pressure on us.”

    He indicated that transport fares will be adjusted upward by 40 per cent if the government fails to take action.

    “That is why this time around, per our calculation, we say we’re coming out with 40 per cent upward adjustment of transport fares,” he stressed.

  • Specialised intel operation by police leads to arrest of two armed robbers

    The police in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, October 13 arrested two armed robbers after a specialised intelligence operation.

    One other robber attempted to fire at the police but he was overpowered by returned fire, leaving him dead upon arrival at the hospital.

    According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, Grace Ansah-Akrofi,  the deceased, whose name was given as Issaka Muniru, was wanted after jumping bail at the court.

    He had led a gang to rob a pastor of his two gold watches and mobile phones on May 26, 2021.

    “The deceased was granted bail by the court but he jumped the bail and a bench warrant was therefore issued for his arrest,” the police statement said.

    “His accomplices are still attending trial at the court.”

    In another robbery instance, he was arrested among four “but he managed to escape”.

    The three suspects have since been remanded into prison custody.

    The police commended the Ashanti Regional Police Command, especially personnel of the Regional Intelligence and Operations teams, for leading the operation.

    “We would like to assure the public that we will continue to carry out our constitutional mandate of protecting life and property and maintaining law and order even at the peril of our lives.”

     

  • Buy everything you need before October 19, we will close our shops – GUTA

    The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has advised residents in Accra to buy all items they would need for their respective homes before Wednesday, October 19, 2022, since they will shut down all shops in the region.

    President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng, who disclosed this said they are in solidarity with traders in Kumasi, who locked their shops in protest of what they say are exorbitant taxes imposed on businesses by government.

    The traders are also kicking against a decision by the Ghana Revenue Authority to station their officers at each shop to record Value Added Tax (VAT) on products they sell.

    Dr. Obeng said the issues raised by the traders were not limited to that Kumasi traders but nationwide hence traders across the country, are not in good standing at the moment.

    Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he said aside from the killer taxes, the depreciation of the cedi against the dollar is also threatening the expansion and successful operation of Ghanaian businesses.

    “The issues raised by the traders in Kumasi are not only limited to Kumasi. GUTA is in full support of their action. Traders in Tamale, Accra and other regions are also experiencing the same problem. The exorbitant taxes imposed on our businesses are not the best,” Dr Obeng said.

    “We are struggling. The cedi depreciation and other challenges confronting businesses are collapsing our businesses. We have complained, but we have not been given the attention,” he stated.

    “As a result, we are asking Accra residents to go out and buy household items because we will close our shops next week on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. We didn’t know when we’d reopen the shops after closing them. So, please, go out there and buy what you need so that when we close our shops, you won’t have to struggle,” he stated.

     

  • Activities on Accra bourse slows down in September – GSE

    The stock market in the country maintained its bearish position in September 2022 as rising debt and growing inflation continue to bite hard on the economy.

    The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) Composite Index, which tracks the performance of all companies traded on the Accra bourse, and Financial Stock Index (which measures stocks of publicly-listed financial sector companies) posted year-to-date returns of -11.80 per cent and 3.80 per cent respectively.

    The GSE in its summary of September 2022 market activities copied to the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday, said activities on the Accra bourse slowed down in the month of September compared with the previous month.

    It said the top gainers for September were Access Bank which stock rose by 10.47 per cents, SIC 6.45 per cent, Cal 5.26 per cent and BOPP 2.21 per cent.

    The GSE said the volume of shares traded increased to 47,720, 862, representing an increase of 56.91 per cent, while the value of shares rose to GH¢51,992,322.99, representing an increase of 22.65 of shares traded in the same period last year.

    “Cumulative volume of 1,280,374,211 valued at GH¢1, 289,252,215.60 represent an increase of 219.61 per cent and 213.61 per cent over the same period last year. Number of transactions increased by 48.42 per cent when compared to the same period last year,” the GSE, said.

     The GSE said a total market capitalisation also fell by 0.29 per cent in September 2022 to GH¢63, 985.81 from GH¢64,170.83 in August 2022.

    On the Ghana Fixed Income Market (GFIM), the GSE said the market closed the month with a “volume traded of 14.95 billion which is a 6.35 per cent was increase from the 14.06 billion traded same period last year.”

    “The total volume traded between January and September 2022 was 173.89 billion, which was 12.27 per cent higher than the 154.87 billion traded during the same time period in the previous year,” the GSE said.

     

  • GEPA trains exporters to shore up non-traditional export earnings

    The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has stepped up its capacity building for increased export revenues, as it expands its Export School to the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi.

    The five day packed training is strategically positioned to support the authority’s drive to increase Ghana’s non-traditional export earnings to $25billion by the year 2029.

    The participants included exporters; persons with interest in venturing into exports as well as financial institutions prospecting for viable companies for export financing.

    It covered some seventeen (17) broad areas including personal and product branding; marketing; research; trade financing; book keeping; standardization and certification, proper management practices and the opportunities existent in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

    Opening the School; Deputy CEO for the Authority Albert Kassim Diwura pointed out that Ghana’s Nontraditional Exports Development strategy would hinge on capacity building for competitiveness and increased trading volumes.

     “We want to let them be able to now trade more and sell their products more online. We also have courses on Africa Continental Free Trade because we want them to be able to have the knowledge that will enable them trade among their African colleagues.”

    Mr. Kassim Diwura was also positive Ghana’s export earnings would sail at a faster pace if the youth were introduced to explore potentials in export business.

    He noted that the Export Promotion Authority is championing this policy direction under GEPA’s Youth in Export Program currently on roadshows across the country.

    “We all know if we get it right in export in this country, what it means to the development of this country especially the strengthening of our Ghanaian cedi. So we encourage everybody, the youth, please take up this business seriously. If you have completed school and you think that government has no jobs, with export you can create your own job and even employ others,” He admonished.

    Some participants were for the first time introduced to terms like letters of credit and other international trading terms to better handle transactions.

    “We face a lot of problems in export. You can get a customer from outside asking you if the person can pay you with letter of credit, just different aspects that you can’t even answer. We are going to learn how to be in the outside market, how to work hand in hand with the immigration and the associations we have to register under,” a shea butter and smock producer averred.

    A banker with the Agricultural Development Bank told Ultimate News’ Salimatu Hawini, “Sometimes we get clients who are exporters and they present issues we don’t have a lot of knowledge on them, it becomes a little difficult and you need to fall on other people so this platform will actually empower me with the needed knowledge and understanding of how to advise them. It is also a platform for me to network for other business opportunities.”

    The school which runs for five days is expected to be replicated for more entries depending on the response and outcomes of its participants.

     

  • Eastern region tops inflation rate in Ghana with 47.1%

    The Eastern region has maintained its lead as the region with the highest inflation rate among the 16 regions in the country with a percentage of 47.1.

    This was revealed by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in the inflation (year-on-year) of the month of September 2022.

    According to GSS, Ghana’s inflation shot up by 3.3% to 37.2% in the month under review.

    Meanwhile, the country’s inflation rate was 33.9% in August 2022.

    At the regional breakdown, Eastern region’s 47.1% rate put it in the lead as the region with the highest inflation. It is followed by the Greater Accra region and the Central region respectively with 45.3% and 41.9%.

    Savannah Region, Western North region, Bono region, and the Oti region follow in that order with 36.7%, 35.9%, 35.2% and 33.9% respectively.

    The Western, Ashanti, Ahafo, North East, and the Bono East region in that order also its inflation of 31.8%, 31.1%, 31.0%, 30.3%, 28.5%. They are followed by the Upper East, Volta, and the Northern region with 27.7%, 24.0% and 23.9% respectively.

    The chart saw the Upper West Region recording the least rate of inflation at 22.9%.

     

  • Specialised intel operation by police leads to arrest of two armed robbers

    The police in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, October 13 arrested two armed robbers after a specialised intelligence operation.

    One other robber attempted to fire at the police but he was overpowered by returned fire, leaving him dead upon arrival at the hospital.

    According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, Grace Ansah-Akrofi,  the deceased, whose name was given as Issaka Muniru, was wanted after jumping bail at the court.

    He had led a gang to rob a pastor of his two gold watches and mobile phones on May 26, 2021.

    “The deceased was granted bail by the court but he jumped the bail and a bench warrant was therefore issued for his arrest,” the police statement said.

     “His accomplices are still attending trial at the court.”

    In another robbery instance, he was arrested among four “but he managed to escape”.

    The three suspects have since been remanded into prison custody.

    The police commended the Ashanti Regional Police Command, especially personnel of the Regional Intelligence and Operations teams, for leading the operation.

    “We would like to assure the public that we will continue to carry out our constitutional mandate of protecting life and property and maintaining law and order even at the peril of our lives.”

  • Man climbs high-tension pole at Kasoa over hardship in Ghana

    A middle-aged-looking Ghanaian man has reportedly climbed a high-tension pole at Kasoa, a community in the Central Region.

    His decision was to protest the current economic hardship in the country, eyewitness accounts said.

    In a viral video, which was sighted by GhanaWeb, the man was seen quickly climbing the high-tension pole as bystanders made many pleas in attempts to get him down.

    Also in the video, a vehicle of the Ghana Police Service could be seen, creating the impression that the police officers were on the scene to help get the man off the pole before he endangered his life even more.

    A journalist, Kwaku Asante, who shared the video on Twitter, said that the man climbed the pole because he was fed up with life.

    “A man has climbed the high tension poles in Kasoa and, according to eyewitnesses, says he won’t come down despite the police on site. He says he’s tired of life and the economy,” Asante tweeted.

    An onlooker, with a Nigerian accent, was also heard running commentary in the background of the video, saying that a Ghanaian man is had climbed the pole because of the hardships in the country.

    “The police are around to rescue this Ghana man who says he is tired of life. They should let him get to the top,” the man said in Pidgin English.

    The Ghana Police Service has not commented on the incident yet.

    Watch the incident below:

  • ‘Akufo-Addo won power on lies, the economy has exposed them’ – Emmanuel Allotey

    Former Parliamentary Candidate for NDC in Anyaa Sowutuom, Emmanuel Adortey Allotey has faulted the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the worsening economic situation in the country.

    He says the Akufo-Addo administration has failed to turn around the economy as promised in the build-up to the 2016 election because it lied its way into power.

    The fundamental struggles of Ghana’s economy have remained since the NPP took office under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, and the indicators appear to be unfavourable.

    He mentioned that the NPP’s constant attribution of the economic mismanagement to the NDC during its campaign was indicative that it was taking the citizenry for granted.

    Speaking with Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Adwenekasa on Accra-based Original FM 91.9, Mr. Allotey said that, “I think right from the onset, the foundations were established on deception. And when you build something on deception, within a matter of time, it is going to collapse. So basically, they came into office riding on lies. They came into office pretending that somehow they were going to reduce taxation and at the same time increase expenditure. So right from the word go, they were deceiving the people.

    “Right from the beginning, they absolutely lied to the country, especially when they made it look as if the whole of the problem was simply about the question of mismanagement when they knew it was not.”

    Emmanuel Adortey Allotey explained that the financial resources at the disposal of the NPP should reflect in the output of its various flagship programs but, unfortunately, that has not been the case.

  • Operation clean your frontage: AMA arrest woman for allegedly dumping refuse into drain at Chorkor

    AMA officials have arrested a woman for dumping refuse into a drain at Chorkor, a suburb of Accra during yesterday’s downpour.

    The culprit identified as Lydia Gyimah was arrested on Wednesday when the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Elizabeth Kwatsoe Sackey led a joint team of the Operation Clean Your Frontage (OPCYF) Taskforce to embark on an enforcement exercise within the Ablekuma South Sub-Metropolitan District to ensure a clean city.

    Confirming the arrest in an interaction with some residents and children of the area, the first female Mayor of Accra said the AMA was determined to bring to book, persons who violate sanitation laws adding that such indiscipline undermines the efforts of the Assembly and the government to attain a clean city besides causing flooding in parts of the city.”

     She revealed that the Assembly had set up spies in the community to snare such recalcitrant people stressing that those found culpable would not be spared.

    She used the opportunity to admonish children in the area to help their parents keep the environment clean by desisting from dumping refuse into the drains and indiscriminately, reiterating that #BorlaIntoDrainsMustStopNow.

    ” We want Chorkor and its environs to be clean. We must set a good example for our children to emulate so that they do not blame their parents when they grow, ” she said.

    She also urged the public to volunteer information that will lead to the arrest of persons who dispose of rubbish into a drain and in open spaces.

    During the exercise, Environmental Health Officers took swift action by issuing notices and summons against homes and businesses that had failed to keep their frontages and surroundings clean.

  • Galamsey: Place curfew in all mining areas – Jantuah

    A stalwart of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Kwame Jantuah has asked the President to place a curfew in all mining areas as part of the fight against illegal small scale mining (Galamsey).

    He suggested that the army should be deployed to enforce the curfew if it is done.

    Contributing to a discussion on TV3’s New Day show with Roland Walker on Friday October 14, he said “There should be a curfew in galamsey areas, get our army there to enforce the curfew.”

    He further called for a five-year ban to be placed on all mining activities.

    “Ban small scale mining for five years. The people will lose jobs and so they are afraid to do it but you  have to create jobs for them.”

    His comments come at a time the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has said that the fight against galamsey is tough.

    However, he said the government will not relent on its efforts in fighting the menace to protect the environment.

    Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday October 13, the Damongo Lawmaker said “It is going to be a tough fight but the Ghanaian people should be rest assured that we are fully committed to this fight and we are never going to relent in our efforts.

    “I am very confident that if all of us work together in good faith, we take out partisan politics out of it and see this as a national canker or national issue as it truly is, and pull our weight together, we definitely will be able to protect our environment and protect our country, protect our forest, protect our land scape, protect our water bodies for ourselves and our children and future generations.”

    Recently, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also admitted that the fight against Galamsey has not been an easy one.

    He said he has not achieved the results he was looking for in the fight but the government is determined to win the battle against the menace.

    “Since I took office I have made it a central feature of my presidency to lead in the efforts to rid our country of this menace which we all now call galamsey. It has not been popular and we have not got the result that I was looking for,” Mr Akufo-Addo said during a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and the Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Kumasi on Wednesday October 5.

    He further told the National House of Chiefs that the task to protect the lands and the environment from the effect of Galamsey is a joint responsibility between the government and the traditional authorities.

    Mr Akufo-Addo explained that 80 per cent of the lands in Ghana  are in the custody of the chiefs.

    This means they have a role to play in protecting the resource, he said.

    He said “80 per cent of the lands in this country continue to be under your custody, much of it having been acquired through the blood and sacrifices of your ancestors. The reminder of 20 per cent which I hold in trust of the people of Ghana, derived from state acquisition  from you. What this means is that ultimately, the welfare of the state of the lands is our  joint responsibility, although by statute the minerals in the soil belong to the president in trust for the people.”

    The chiefs on their part assured Mr Akufo-Addo that they are solidly behind his administration to apply appropriate measures against all persons involved in Galamsey in the country.

    President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyeb indicated that galamsey is having a negative effect on the environment and also threatens revenue mobilsation in the country hence, their resolve to support the President and government in fighting it.

    He said “your relentless war against forest degradation and illegal mining in Ghana is of great importance to Ghanaians especially we the chiefs.

    “The effects of illegal mining on the environment threaten the survival of water bodies , farmlands, cocoa industry and even encouraging school dropouts, this undermins the revenue mobilsation drive in the country.

    “In view of this development [the Chiefs] are solidly behind your administration to apply the appropriate sanctions against persons who are engaged in the practice illegal mining irrespective of their status.”

  • Akufo-Addo elected Chair of Gulf of Guinea Commission

    President Akufo-Addo has been elected Chairperson of the Gulf of Guinea Commission on Thursday October 13.

    Mr Akufo-Addo announced this in a Facebook post on Thursday.

    The Gulf of Guinea Commission is an organisation established to defend the common interests of Member States, and promote peace and socio-economic development based on the bases of dialogue, consensus, ties of friendship, solidarity and fraternity.

    The President wrote “On Thursday, 13th October 2022, I held bilateral discussions with the President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, which were centered on strengthening the ties of co-operation between our two nations.

    “Earlier in the day, I was elected Chairperson of the Gulf of Guinea Commission, an organisation established to defend the common interests of Member States, and promote peace and socio-economic development based on the bases of dialogue, consensus, ties of friendship, solidarity and fraternity.

    “I also addressed a Session of Asia Society France; and held a meeting with Catherine Colonna, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.”

  • Ghana is not alone in facing economic challenges – UK High Commissioner

    The UK High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson has said Ghana is not alone in facing economic challenges.

    She said in a tweet that there was the need to take the difficult decisions and come together internationally to get through.

    Her tweet comes after the UK’s Minister for Development, Vicky Ford said “Ghana is a great friend of the UK.

    “In my meeting with Hon. Minister Ofori-Atta @MoF_Ghana we discussed the global economic challenges and the support we as the international community can offer Ghana, including a possible new @IMFNews programme.”

    Harriet Thompson tweeted “Ghana is not alone in facing economic challenges. We must be ready to take the difficult decisions & come together internationally to get through. We look forward to welcoming you back to Ghana in your new role@vickyford(& we’re glad to see you love your made-in-Ghana jacket!”

    Ghana is not alone in facing economic challenges. We must be ready to take the difficult decisions & come together internationally to get through 🇬🇭🇬🇧

    We look forward to welcoming you back to 🇬🇭 in your new role @vickyford (& we’re glad to see you ❤️ your made-in-Ghana jacket!). https://t.co/qh9CwLB58p

    — Harriet Thompson (@HCThompson001) October 14, 2022

    Meanwhile, the G7 has asked the World Bank to provide financial support to Ghana and other African countries to enable them deal with the impact of the economic crisis caused by force majeures.

    The decision was taken during a meeting with African Finance Minsters  with the G7 as part of the ongoing World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Meetings in Washington D.C.

    The G7, an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.

    Representatives from Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal were all at the meeting.

    Speaking in an exclusive interview with TV3, Ghana’s Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta described the meeting as historic because this is the first time African Finance Ministers have been invited to for such discussions.

    Mr Ofori-Atta said “It was actually quite a historic meeting because for the first time the G7 has called African Finance Ministers to deliberate on the crisis that they see.

    “The trues that these are exogenous factors that have really, even their own economies put it under serious stress and are therefore, looking for ways in which they can add to the capital needs to make sure that things do not deteriorate. So countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco  were there.”

    He added “The empathy is clear, the need to [introduce] something new and therefore, their interest in encouraging the world Bank to find more resource, tapping into the private sector  so that they will stabilize where things are going.

    “They have reduced growth rate to 2.7 per cent expecting a grim and difficult period, they don’t want to make sure that things deteriorate from liquidly to insolvency to chaos.”

    The meeting brings together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness.

    Also featured are seminars, regional briefings, press conferences, and many other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the world’s financial system.

  • EBID approves US$250 million for Ghana, four others

    The board of directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has approved a total of US$250 million for five member states to boost the oil and gas, energy, road infrastructure and agricultural sectors of West Africa.

    The beneficiary countries are Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

    The approvals are part of the intensified efforts by EBID to invest in key sectors to spur up post-COVID pandemic recovery and mitigate the impact of the Russian – Ukraine war on the member states of ECOWAS.

    This was disclosed by the president and chairman of the board of directors of EBID, Dr George Agyekum Donkor at the just ended 79th session of the board of directors of the bank.

    In his opening statement, Dr Donkor observed that the impact of the COVID pandemic and ongoing Russian – Ukraine war have left many economies in tatters.

    He indicated that the current market conditions have compelled investors to seek premium on investments in sub-Saharan Africa thereby increasing the cost of capital.

    According to the president of EBID, this has resulted in dampening economic growth, wide-spread balance of payments deficits, unfavourable terms of trade, depletion of central bank international reserves, fiscal deficits, and debt distress.

    Therefore, Dr Donkor stressed the need for EBID, as the financial arm of ECOWAS, to deepen its financial intermediation in all the critical sectors of the member states to assist them to recover from the economic challenges.

     Present at the session was the vice-president of the ECOWAS Commission, Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, who lauded the tremendous impact of EBID’s interventions in the sub-region and assured the bank of the commitment of the new administration of the ECOWAS Commission to collaborate and support EBID in its multifarious activities especially in the area of resource mobilisation to transform the ECOWAS Communities.

    ABOUT EBID

    ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) is a leading regional investment and development bank, owned by the fifteen (15) ECOWAS Member States, namely, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

    Based in Lomé, Togo, the bank is committed to financing developmental projects and programs covering diverse initiatives from infrastructure and basic amenities, rural development and environment, industry, and social services sectors, through its private and public sector windows.

    EBID intervenes through long, medium, and short-term loans, equity participation, lines of credit, refinancing, financial engineering operations and related services.

  • Williams Peprah: Ofori-Atta must ask IMF and World Bank for debt relief on existing loans

    A finance expert and an associate professor with Andrews University in Michigan, USA, Prof Williams Kwasi Peprah has said the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta must ask the Bretton Woods institutions for debt relief on existing loans.

    He said the move will automatically help to manage and reduce the country’s ballooning national debt. 

    Speaking with Benjamin Offei-Addo on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday (14 October) Prof Peprah said, “If I were the Finance Minister [Ken Ofori-Atta] even putting my plans [together], my number one strategy that will be on that plan is asking IMF and World Bank to give me debt relief on the loans that they have given to me and then I’ll now talk about the [new] US$3 billion loan.

    “Because if IMF gives us the debt relief, it frees us space; it means that we are not going to pay and straight away our debt will reduce because we’ll write it off our books,” he said.

    The government began discussions with the Washington-based multilateral lender last July, reversing a pledge by President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration not to seek a financial programme from the IMF.

    Ghana has been battling to stabilise a debt pile that increased to 78.3% of gross domestic product at the end of June from 62.5% five years ago.

    However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cooled speculation that Ghana is poised to start talks on restructuring its debt under plans to secure a US$3 billion loan from the Fund.

    According to the Bretton Woods institution, the restructuring of Ghana’s debt will depend on the outcome of an IMF debt sustainability analysis (DSA) report.

    The IMF director of communications, Gerry Rice, who disclosed this at a news conference in Washington, DC, said the DSA report will show if there is a need for debt restructuring in the first place and, if necessary, how it should be carried out, as well as which areas will be affected.

  • Ashanti Region: Police kill suspected robber and arrest two others

    The police have arrested two suspected armed robbers and shot dead another on Thursday (13 October) at Asuofua Asamang in the Ashanti Region.

    The deceased, who was later identified as Issaka Muniru was shot when he attempted to fire at the police in an operation. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

    The police also succeeded in arresting two of his accomplices, Kwaku Boateng alias Form Noede and Kojo Gyamfi.

    “The two are currently in police custody and will be put before the court to face justice,” an official statement said.

    The police retrieved a pistol, which was allegedly used to fire at the officers, and 13 rounds of live ammunition.

    The deceased, Issaka Muniru and his robbery syndicate have been involved in a series of robberies within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs for years, the police said.

    Brush with the law

    Before his demise, Issaka Muniru was standing trial with three other accomplices Ernest Agyei Badu alias gangster, Rider, and MBY at the Nkawie Circuit Court for robbing one Pastor Emmanuel Barfour Awuah of Abuakwa Abakomadi at gun point on 26 May 2021, and making away with his two gold wrist watches, mobile phones and an unspecified amount of money.

    Police say the deceased was granted bail by the court but he jumped the bail and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. His accomplices are still attending trial at the court.

    “In another robbery where Issaka Muniru, now deceased, was named as the gang leader, three other members of his gang, Charles Kojo Fosu, Yaw Anim and Paul Osafo were arrested by the police but he managed to escape. The three suspects have since been remanded into prison custody,” said the statement.

    Meanwhile, the statement commended the Ashanti regional police command, particularly, personnel of the regional intelligence and operations teams who conducted the operation.

    “We would like to assure the public that we will continue to carry out our constitutional mandate of protecting life and property and maintaining law and order even at the peril of our lives,” the statement added.

     

  • ‘I have accepted’ – Kwasi Kwarteng’s emotional statement after his sack

    Kwasi Kwarteng has written to the Prime Minister of the UK, Liz Truss, indicating that he has accepted her decision to sack him.

    The outgoing Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom was at post for only six (6) weeks, making him only second in the history of the country to have served this briefly in the office.

    In an earlier report by the BBC, it said that Kwasi Kwarteng’s sacking was influenced from a mini-budget he presented that has since sparked financial turmoil and revolt from Conservative Members of Parliament.

    In a response to the news, the British-born Ghanaian politician said that even before taking up the job, he knew he could not tow the lines of those before him, thereby the need to adopt more drastic approaches.

    Accepting the decision, he added that he knew the country’s fight against its current difficult economic challenges would be a tough one.

    “You have asked me to stand aside as your Chancellor. I have accepted.

    “When you asked me to serve as your Chancellor, I did so in full knowledge that the situation we faced was incredibly difficult, with rising global interest rates and energy prices. However, your vision of optimism, growth and change was right.

    “As I have said many times in the past weeks, following the status quo was simply not an option,” he wrote in a statement.

    Kwasi Kwarteng also explained that while the challenges exist, he is optimistic in the vision of the Prime Minister, knowing too from many years of friendship with her that she is making the right decision.

    “For too long this country has been dogged by low growth rates and high taxation – that must still change if this country is to succeed.

    “The economic environment has changed rapidly since we set out the Growth Plan on September 23. In response, together with the Bank of England and excellent officials at the Treasury we have responded to those events, and I commend my officials for their dedication.

    “It is important now as we move forward to emphasise your government’s commitment to fiscal discipline. The Medium-Term Fiscal Plan is crucial to this end, and I look forward to supporting you and my successor to achieve that from the backbenches.

    “We have been colleagues and friends for many years. In that time, I have seen your dedication and determination. I believe your vision is the right one. It has been an honour to serve as your first Chancellor,” he wrote.

    Kwasi Kwarteng’s six-week tenure as the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the UK has been dogged with a few major incidences, including the British press calling him out for smiling during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

    Kwasi Kwarteng became the first black person to become UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister) following his appointment by UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, on September 6, 2022.

    Kwarteng was born Akwasi Addo Alfred Kwarteng in Waltham Forest, East London, in May 1975 to Ghanaian parents, Alfred and Charlotte, who had both immigrated to the United Kingdom a decade earlier as students.

    His parents, who went on to become an international economist and a barrister respectively, sent him to an expensive private prep school that produced numerous Cabinet-level politicians. He then attended the famous Eton college – a production line for British leaders including Boris Johnson and David Cameron.

  • MMDCEs to face sanctions over environmental degradation – Dr Kokofu

    Henceforth, any Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive in whose jurisdiction acts of environmental degradation are recorded will be sanctioned, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has warned.

    Noting that Ghana was deteriorating into the worst state of environmental destruction, Dr Kokofu said the time to crack the whip on environmental offenders is now.

    Citing the recent floods and filths that engulfed some parts of the country, he stressed that stringent measures would be taken to punish offenders, irrespective of their position in government in accordance with the law.

    Mr Kokofu who was speaking at a stakeholder engagement with Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs) in Accra yesterday said it was the responsibility of state institutions to rather fish out persons guilty of committing environmental offences instead of looking on for the deterioration to continue.

    He stated that the local government Act 2016 (Act936) placed a huge responsibility on the MMDAs to be responsible for the development, improvement and management of human settlement and the environment in the districts.

    Explaining he said, section four of the Act also mandated the district assemblies to take the steps and measures that were necessary and expedient to execute approved development plans for their various districts.

    Touching on the construction of edifices on waterways, the CEO stated that in the event of floods caused by the presence of such buildings, vulnerable people suffered alone when demolition exercises are carried out leaving authorities at the district assemblies who issued such permits to go scot free.

    This, he said, was unfair, stressing that all persons responsible for playing roles which ended up resulting in any form of disaster must be made to face the law.

    Mr Kokofu urged authorities of all district assemblies across the country to take environmental issues seriously by ensuring they went strictly according to the laws governing their operations.

    “We must remind ourselves of our statutory roles to ensure that the environment in which we live is protected and preserved in order to sustain it,” he stressed.

    Director in charge of environmental assessment and management, EPA, Mr Kwabena Badu-Yeboah, in his presentation indicated that the seeming lack of land use plans and development control, re-zoning issues, springing up of noise making within communities, development within wet lands and mangrove areas and the indiscriminate siting of activities like waste recycling in residential areas were all issues that affected the environment.

    Touching on the negative impact of noise making, he charged residents of noisy areas to take persons and organisations responsible for the noise making, to court, including churches.

    “There must be discipline and tranquility wherever human beings are but it seems impossible for this to happen within some communities in Ghana so I encourage residents to report noise makers to the relevant authorities. Sanity must be restored in the system,” he added.

    He indicated that the EPA identified MMDAs as key stakeholders when it comes to sustainable development.

  • Mahama to present report on peace, security in Africa at Tana Forum

    Former President John Dramani Mahama is in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, for the 10th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa.

    He was received at the Bahur Dar airport by the President of Amhara Region, Dr yilkal kefal Amhara and officials of the Tana Secretariat.

    The three-day Forum is on the theme “Managing security threats: building resilience for the Africa we want”.

    The former Ghanaian leader is the Chairperson of the Tana Forum and will present a report on the State of Peace and Security in Africa for 2021.

    Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is expected to officially open the Forum, with the President of Sudan, the Vice President of Uganda, a number of former presidents and prime ministers and officials of the African Union in attendance.

    Over one hundred participants are attending the Forum in person, with others joining the virtual session.

    In a message to participants, President Mahama said the world is experiencing a host of challenges, adding that, “our continent, Africa, and the world must address ongoing socioeconomic, political, and security challenges head-on.”

    “The African continent is mired by unconstitutional changes of government, intra-state conflict, and terrorism that continue to punctuate our peace and security spheres. Our continent has witnessed six ‘successful’ coups, and two attempted coups in the last two years alone. Authoritarian entrenchment seems almost a hallmark not only in Africa but around the globe”, he added.

    The Tana Forum is an initiative in response to the African Union’s Tripoli Declaration of August 2009 for “African-led solutions” and to peace and security as a collective “intellectual challenge”.

    The annual Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa was initiated by the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) of the Addis Ababa University (AAU) and the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Forum brings African leaders, decision-makers, and stakeholders to engage and explore African-led security solutions.

    Members of the Tana Board are H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Joyce Banda, former President, Republic of Malawi, H.E. Catherine Samba-Panza, former President, Central African Republic Central African Republic, and H.E. Michelle Ndiaye, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

    The others are Amb. Lakhdar Brahimi, former Algerian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Amb. Soad M. Shalaby, Director-General, Egyptian African Centre for Women (EACW), Mr. Alain Foka, Journalist, Radio France International, France and Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, Former Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kenya School of Laws.

  • General Mosquito, Ofosu Ampofo eyeing 2028 NDC flagbearership – Ephson

    Pollster, Ben Ephson says the opposition National Democratic Congress’ Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and current General Secretary Asiedu Nketia are both lacing their boots to lead the NDC as flagbearer in the 2028 election.

    According to him, he has picked intelligence that the NDC will want an Akan to lead the party in 2028 hence Aseidu Nketia’s move to contest Ofosu-Ampofo for the chairmanship.

    “If you are chairman at least you will put in place structures towards 2028 because post-2024, you will be in charge having conducted primaries for potential delegates. And as chairman who have worked within the party at the highest levels, National Executive positions, they will know the way about people they have nurtured along the line to control triggers, which will ensure that people who will support them are in positions to be able to help them,” he explained on Morning Starr with Francis Abban Friday.

     He continued: “If it has not happened doesn’t mean that it cannot happen. When I heard the Intel I kept it in my pocket and for Asiedu to step up means a lot. Because normally you will see Asiedu will want to stay where he is and help the candidate most likely John Mahama or if Duffuor wins.”

    Meanwhile, the General Secretary for the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has officially declared his candidature for the chairmanship position of the NDC.

    “Yes I have the intention of picking up a form to contest the chairmanship position when nominations are opened,” the NDC scribe told Accra Fm Thursday, 13th October 2022.

    According to him, he best fits the position as he’s gained vast experience as a politician to occupy the chairmanship position of the largest opposition NDC.

    “I participated in the struggle against the military dictatorship in this country, after which I came to Parliament. I was there for 12 years and chaired several committees.”

    “I tasted executive positions by being the Deputy Minister in charge of Agriculture. I have served as Board Chairman, among others.”

    “I am confident that with my experience I will be a good leader and example to my party,” he added

  • Hijabs will be searched during BECE – Edu. Director

    The Municipal Education Director of Effia Kwesimintsim Municipality, Mrs Kate Biney says very stringent measures will be ensured to prevent cheating in the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) that is billed to start on Monday , October 17, 2022.

    Speaking on Takoradi-based flagship morning programme Y3nsom with host Kwame Malcolm, on preparedness of the candidates ahead of the examination, the Municipal Education Director hinted of thorough search on the candidates.

    ” …West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has given the needed orientation for supervisors and made it clear what is expected of them. The teachers themselves do not go to the examination centre, then you leave the children to go to the centre and then searched. This time we are going to do thorough searching so if you hear we are frisking their armpits etcetera understand; as males will search males and females attend to females. Due to what happened during WASSCE, WAEC has information on how candidates hide the foreign material as now it is not as open as in their shoes. They now hide it in their panties as menstrual pads, in between their belts, even they wear double nose mask and hide it in between ;under their neck collars and our muslim colleagues, thier hijabs will be searched;” she emphasised.

    Mrs Kate Biney said that they will be searched to their pants.

    “We will search their pants and the women invigilators can notice if one is really menstruating or has hidden a foreign material there. What is happening is unacceptable, the boys can hide it in their scrotum in between their testicles. We will feel the hijabs if it contains any material aside their hair. We know Muslim ladies do not expose their hair so we will not remove it but when we are suspicious we will ask you to remove it and shake it and wear it again and proceed;” she further explained.

    Mrs Kate Biney this is to ensure no cancellation occurs because most candidates are not in to cheat and must not be made to pay for the actions and inactions of a few recalcitrant ones. She further revealed that the invigilators will not be retained in a particular class for the full tenure of the examinations but will be rotated.

    Mrs Kate Biney revealed that the candidates have been well prepared for the examinations ahead.

    “Even when there was a strike, candidates were going to school in mufti and teachers met to teach them and they were doing peer teaching as well.
    In my catchment area, Nana Brempon, Coba Yalley and the Effia area even when the schools were locked the pupils were there being prepared. The problem is the perception of “apor” (leakage) so I conditioned them that the “apor” is the past questions and the more they kept on solving them it leaves them better prepared;” she emphasised.

  • GH¢500,000 damages: Sammy Gyamfi is now repenting – NAPO’s lawyer

    The lawyer of Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Baffour Awuah, has taken a swipe at the National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, after a court in Accra slapped him (Gyamfi) with GH¢500, 000 damages.

    Sammy Gyamfi was ordered to pay GH¢500,000 damages to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO) by the General Jurisdiction High Court (12) on Thursday, October 14.

    This comes after the court, which was presided over by Justice Charles Gyamfi Danquah, ruled in favour of the minister on a defamation suit he filed in 2019 against Sammy Gyamfi.

    Dr. Opoku Prempah, when he was the education minister, sued the NDC communicator for alleging that one of the suspects arrested in connection with the kidnapping of two Canadian girls in Kumasi, Seidu Mba, was his (Dr. Prempah’s) errand boy.

    Speaking on the matter in an Asempa Radio interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Lawyer Baffour Awuah said that the GH¢500,000 damages slapped on Sammy Gyamfi is making him repent.

    He added that the punishment given to Sammy Gyamfi should serve as a lesson to politicians in Ghana who are fond of making unguarded statements against their opponents.

    “Today, I listen to Sammy Gyamfi and from his pronouncement, I sensed that he is changing. Let me commend him. If cases like these continue in our courts, it will make our politicians mindful of their utterances in the public space.

    “The reason why I am saying this is that Sammey Gyamfi always speaks without polishing his words. He always uses harsh words without excuses. They (politicians) to court and say my lord and after coming out of the court, you hear them denigrating the judges.

    “But now I observe that his (Sammy Gyamfi) utterances are changing because GH¢500,000 is not a small amount of money so it will make you change,” he said in Twi

  • Agradaa rushed to court on 6 fresh charges, remanded for 2-weeks

    The woes of the founder and leader of Heaven Way Champion International Ministries, Evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng, alias Mama Pat, seem to be deepening as fresh charges of fraud have been pressed against her.

    The Accra Circuit Court 9, where Agradaa is facing seven (7) counts of fraud charges, on Monday refused her bail application and remanded her in custody.

    The court which was sitting on her case for the second time, scheduled Agradaa’s next appearance for Monday, October 17, 2022.

    However, in the latest twist, Agradaa was put before the Accra Circuit Court 10 in the early hours of Friday, October 14, 2022, where six new counts of fraud were pressed against her.

    According to Angel FM’s court correspondent, Ama Brako Ampofo, Agradaa was brought before the court presided over by Evelyn Asamoah to answer the 6 new charges emanating from the statements of six persons who were victims of her alleged money-doubling scam.

    Agradaa is said to have initially declined to give her plea when the charges were read because of the absence of her lawyer in court.

    She, however, pleaded guilty to all six counts of fraud.

    The presiding judge, therefore, ordered her remand for two weeks and adjourned the case to October 24, 2022.

    Evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng, who is a former fetish priestess, was arrested on Sunday, October 9, 2022, following widespread allegations of fraud.

    Her arrest followed allegations by some members of her church that the former priestess defrauded them of their monies during an all-night church service.

     

  • Ofori-Atta trends on social media after UK fired Kwasi Kwarteng

    The calls for the sacking of Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, have reignited following the sacking of the UK’s Finance Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, early on Friday.

    The UK’s Chancellor of Exchequer was sacked by British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Friday, October 14, 2022, after just six weeks of his appointment.

    His dismissal has largely been attributed to the performance of the British economy over the last few weeks and the failure of his mini-budget to result in a positive impact.

    The announcement of his sacking has seen several Ghanaians take to social media to demand the sacking of Ghana’s finance minister.

    Ken Ofori-Atta has been the subject of some critics calling for the heads of some officials in the current government.

    The calls are largely grounded in the current performance of the Ghanaian economy and the current economic hardship.

    See some social media reactions below:

    Stop bothering yourself, fellow Ghanaians. @NAkufoAddo won’t learn from the UK. Tweaa!! Ken Ofori Atta means more to him, personally, than the good of Ghana & your welfare. Nepotism! Corruption! Clueless! Incompetent!

    — S. Xoese Dogbe (@StanDogbe) October 14, 2022

    Let’s head roll in Ghana…Kwasi Kwarteng didn’t exhibit a quarter of Bawumia and Ken Ofori-Atta incompetence but he’s been sacked…what is @NAkufoAddo waiting for to sack his Finance Minister and @MBawumia as head of EMT??? pic.twitter.com/05wrrTgkmB

    — #FixTheEconomy @Ghana4LIFE (@Ndc4L) October 14, 2022

    Them sack Kwasi Kwarteng in less than 6 weeks but Ofori-Atta is in his 6th year as our Finance Minister.???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/bwgIOkMMKC

    — MR MAÑ (@OmHene) October 14, 2022

    You see difference in Ghana n UK? Kwasi Kwarteng came in and within a month or so of incompetence he’s fired by Liz Truss! Bawumia and Ken Ofori Atta have been incompetent for 6 years now and they are still at post! And you want Ghana to develop? Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo why?

    — Is RAYOE in your playlist?!❤️???? (@GhanaSocialU) October 14, 2022

    Kwasi Kwarteng sacked in less than 7 weeks being appointed as Finance Minister in the UK but Ken Ofori Atta is still the Finance Minister in this economic woes for 6 years?
    Clearly, Ghana’s Presidency doesn’t have serious goals.

    — Yuri (@nana_amprofi) October 14, 2022

    Ken Ofori Atta should be sucked too.

    — Coolest KiD In Africa ????. (@E_MENS_3) October 14, 2022

    In UK Kwesi Kwarteng has been sacked after 40 days as chancellor while in Ghana Ken Ofori Atta still maintains power after almost 6 yrs with more than 120% cedi depreciation.. ???? ????

    Make it make sense

    — NanaKay????️???? (@NKM_Global) October 14, 2022

    The system in UK functions very well and effectively. In other news, Ken Ofori-Atta is still Ghana’s Finance Minister.
    When we say life no balance, this is what we mean pic.twitter.com/Y4hwyy04et

    — Kweku Baako J. (@Baakojeremiahg1) October 14, 2022

    Kwesi Kwarteng has been sacked as chancellor while in Ghana, Ken Ofori-Atta is still at post for sinking our economy. The difference is huge!!!

    — aqcosua* (@aqcosua) October 14, 2022

    Kwasi Kwarteng hasn’t done a fraction of the damage Ken Ofori-Atta has caused the Ghanaian economy but he gets to be sacked and Ken is showered with praises from his family member, President H.E @NAkufoAddo as Ghanaians languish in more pain.

    Sad — no justice in the world. ????????

    — Kwame Gabby Emu Ye ???????? ???????? (@KwameEmuYe) October 14, 2022

    A lady Liz Truss even have the balls sack her chancellor for non performance and we have Akufo Addo always applauding Ken Ofori Atta when the cedi is now 12.10 to a dollar

    — z ε K Ⓐ y-V!bes  (@zekayvibes) October 14, 2022

    The biggest disrespect this Akufo-Addo government has handed to us is still keeping Ken Ofori Atta as Finance Minister after after all this mess. Hmm

    — Mr. Algebra (@musqoo_official) October 14, 2022

    Ken Ofori Atta will go down as the worst finance minister in history of @MoF_Ghana . Such a clueless man pic.twitter.com/nhF2evDAbN

    — JACOB SANKARA ???????? (@jake_ami2) October 14, 2022

    Kwasi Kwarteng should come and replace Ken Ofori-Atta in Ghana ????????

    — Ohemaa????????Yaa Black???????? (@OhemaaYaaBlack) October 14, 2022

  • Reject Ofosu-Ampofo, he lacks the courage to face NPP in 2024 – Asiedu Nketiah

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has charged delegates of the party to vote against the incumbent National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, in the upcoming national delegates conference.

    Asiedu Nketia, who has officially announced his bid to contest Ofosu-Ampofo for the chairmanship slop, argued that the current executive lacks the courage and the skills to face the governing New Patriotic Party in the 2024 elections.

    This, he believes if not changed, could threaten the party’s chances in the upcoming general elections.

    The General Secretary cited the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election as an example where Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo, without any proper consultation, announced the party’s decision to pull out from the election after the shooting incident.

    He added that Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo also asked the party’s polling agents and observers to also leave the various polling stations, a situation that portrayed an act of cowardice.

    “Ofosu-Ampofo called me and I warned him against that decision but he didn’t listen. I was out of the country at the time but the information and facts I had received on the ground showed that we were winning the election, so I was against the decision. He also called John Mahama and the president also asked him not to do that but he also didn’t listen.

    “So, you see, as a leader you need to fight in times of crisis and he (Ofosu-Ampofo) doesn’t have the courage to do so. As for me, everyone knows that when you threaten me, I will threaten you back so I have no fear and I am not timid and that is the kind of leadership you need to face the NPP in the upcoming 2024 elections,” he said.

    Speaking with the host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, Kwesi Parker-Wilson, on Friday, October 14, 2022, and monitored by GhanaWeb, Asiedu Nketiah further stated that the decision did not only cost them the seat, but it also became the basis for the NPP to abuse members of the party during the 2020 elections.

    “You remember the security guys said it’s a dress rehearsal so in 2020 they abused our men and even killed about 8 persons during the general elections. But if we had persisted and stayed through the end of the by-election, NPP wouldn’t have had the courage to do what they did in 2020, including manipulating the outcome of the elections,” he added.

    Asiedu Nketiah however said that none of these things have soiled the cordial working relationship he has with his National Chairman.

    “I still have a very cordial relationship with Ofosu-Ampofo in spite of my decision to contest him. We still go about with our normal duties and my decision to contest the chairmanship position won’t bring about division,” he said.

    The NDC goes to the polls in November 2022 to elect new national executives.

  • Okaikwei North Assembly evicts traders at Achimota overhead, demolishes structures

    The Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly on Friday, October 14, 2022, conducted a decongestion exercise along the Achimota Overhead section of the N1 Highway.

    The exercise saw the removal of several traders and structures along the stretch.

    The exercise was led by the Municipal Chief Executive for Okaikwei North, Boye Laryea, and formed a part of the agenda by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to rid the national capital of filth.

    According to the MCE, the exercise is aimed at decongesting the stretch by removing unauthorised traders and structures contributing to traffic congestion amidst road safety hazards.

    However, some traders who were affected by the exercise expressed disappointment over the removal of their structures, which, according to them, would deprive them of their livelihoods.

    Okaikwei North Assembly evicts traders at Achimota overhead, demolish structures

  • Abu Jinapor’s statement on the role of military in galamsey fight misconstrued – Lands Ministry

    The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has stated that a statement by the sector Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor about the role of the Ghana Armed Forces in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) has been misreported by a section of the media.

    In a statement dated Friday, October 14, 2022, the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ministry said the the statement made by the minister at a press conference on Thursday had been misconstrued in some media reports.

    “The attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been drawn to publications in a section of the media to the effect that the military is to be blamed or held responsible for any failures in the fight against illegal mining. These publications attribute this comment to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, during his Press Update on the fight against illegal mining at the Ministry of Information on Thursday, 13th October, 2022.

    “While the Ministry welcomes and commends the Ghanaian media for their interest and enthusiasm in matters involving illegal mining, for the avoidance of doubt, the Minister did NOT say the military is to be blamed or held responsible for any failures in the fight against illegal mining. What the Minister said was to the effect that the military has been put fully in charge of the operations on the ground. Accordingly, they are to carry out their mission without interference from any person whatsoever. They are to take instructions only from the military high command on matters relating to the ongoing operations, and in accordance with their established command and control structures,” the ministry said.

    “The above comments have, obviously, been misunderstood by a section of the media,” the statement added.

    We will fish out, prosecute galamsey kingpins – Abu Jinapor

    The ministry emphasised its confidence in the Ghana Armed Forces in leading the fight against Galamsey, saying it has “has absolute confidence in the professionalism, Capability and integrity of the Ghana Armed Forces to accomplish this mission.”

    At the press conference on Thursday, the land’s minister outlined various measures by the government to deal with the canker of illegal mining.

    Mr Jinapor told the press that the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo remains resolute in the fight against galamsey, which is threatening several of Ghana’s water and river bodies.

     

  • Reject Ofosu-Ampofo, he lacks the courage to face NPP in 2024 – Asiedu Nketiah

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has charged delegates of the party to vote against the incumbent National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, in the upcoming national delegates conference.

    Asiedu Nketia, who has officially announced his bid to contest Ofosu-Ampofo for the chairmanship slop, argued that the current executive lacks the courage and the skills to face the governing New Patriotic Party in the 2024 elections.

    This, he believes if not changed, could threaten the party’s chances in the upcoming general elections.

    The General Secretary cited the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election as an example where Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo, without any proper consultation, announced the party’s decision to pull out from the election after the shooting incident.

    He added that Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo also asked the party’s polling agents and observers to also leave the various polling stations, a situation that portrayed an act of cowardice.

    “Ofosu-Ampofo called me and I warned him against that decision but he didn’t listen. I was out of the country at the time but the information and facts I had received on the ground showed that we were winning the election, so I was against the decision. He also called John Mahama and the president also asked him not to do that but he also didn’t listen.

    “So, you see, as a leader you need to fight in times of crisis and he (Ofosu-Ampofo) doesn’t have the courage to do so. As for me, everyone knows that when you threaten me, I will threaten you back so I have no fear and I am not timid and that is the kind of leadership you need to face the NPP in the upcoming 2024 elections,” he said.

    Speaking with the host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, Kwesi Parker-Wilson, on Friday, October 14, 2022, and monitored by GhanaWeb, Asiedu Nketiah further stated that the decision did not only cost them the seat, but it also became the basis for the NPP to abuse members of the party during the 2020 elections.

    “You remember the security guys said it’s a dress rehearsal so in 2020 they abused our men and even killed about 8 persons during the general elections. But if we had persisted and stayed through the end of the by-election, NPP wouldn’t have had the courage to do what they did in 2020, including manipulating the outcome of the elections,” he added.

    Asiedu Nketiah however said that none of these things have soiled the cordial working relationship he has with his National Chairman.

    “I still have a very cordial relationship with Ofosu-Ampofo in spite of my decision to contest him. We still go about with our normal duties and my decision to contest the chairmanship position won’t bring about division,” he said.

    The NDC goes to the polls in November 2022 to elect new national executives.

  • I’m not afraid of the ‘powerful forces’ behind ‘galamsey’ – Lands Minister

    The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has said he is not afraid to hold the so-called powerful people behind illegal small-scale mining, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’, accountable.

    According to him, the ongoing trial of alleged ‘galamsey’ kingpin, Aisha Huang, who many have said has connections in high places in government, is a testament to his resolve to curb the menace of illegal small-scale mining.

    Speaking in an Adom FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Jinapor added that the fact that the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Dame, has taken over the case of Aisha Huang shows the seriousness of the government in the fight against ‘galamsey’.

    “With all the sincerity and condor that I can marshal out of my being, I’m totally blind to the so-called powerful people. Who are those powerful people?

    “Take for example, Aisha Huang. When her issue came up, what most people said was that nothing would happen to her, she would not be prosecuted because she is highly connected to the highest level, she has sex tapes and all that. In the end, we took her to court, and we slapped the most punitive charges against her.

    “We are prosecuting her in a very spirited manner. Those of you who understand the country’s laws know that for the Attorney General himself to be prosecuting this matter of Aisha Huang tells you the importance the government places on it,” he said in Twi.

    Samuel Abu Jinapor, who is also the Member of Parliament for Damongo, added that the AG has even secured a remand until the determination of the case of Aisha Huang, which means that the alleged ‘galamsey’ kingpin will be in the custody of the police until the court provides its judgement.

  • Government committed to stopping illegal mining – Abu Jinapor

    The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the fight against illegal small-scale mining.

    He warned that any individual engaged in or funding illegal small-scale mining would face the full rigours of the law.

    The Minister, who was briefing the press in Accra on Thursday on the renewed efforts in the military operations, also known as Operation Halt II, said the government would prosecute all persons engaged in this menace.

    “Under the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995, the punishment for foreigners engaged in illegal mining is 20 years imprisonment, plus a fine of not less than 1.2 million Ghana Cedis, plus deportation after serving the sentence.

    And for Ghanaians, the minimum punishment is 15 years imprisonment and a fine of
    GHC120,000.00,” he stated.

    The Minister indicated that Operation Halt II would continue to support measures put in place to ensure that river bodies and forests are rid of illegal miners such as the continuous declaration of river bodies as red zones for mining, suspensions of reconnaissance and prospecting activities in Forest Reserves and the procurement of speed boats to patrol the river
    bodies.

    Mr Abu Jinapor said he joined the Attorney-General in court for the prosecution of four Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining, including Aisha Huang.
    “The Office of the Attorney-General is working to ensure expeditious trial in these matters and if found culpable, they will be made to face the full rigours of the law,” he stated.

    According to the Minister, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, met with the
    National House of Chiefs and urged them to rally behind the government in this fight.
    “This is because, every galamsey site, falls within the jurisdiction of traditional authority. And if the traditional authorities stand with us and we can come to grips with this matter.

    “The President also met with MMDCEs and has charged them to ensure that they rid their jurisdiction of illegal small-scale mining,” he added.

    He disclosed that the government has rolled out advertisements on television and radio, to educate the general public about the dire consequences of illegal mining.

    “So that people like the 62-year-old man who sold his cocoa farm to galamseyers for GHC30,000.00 will appreciate the consequences of their actions on the nation and future generations,” he emphasized.

  • Lively scenes outside Downing Street ahead of PM press conference

    Liz Truss is due to give a press conference in the Downing Street briefing room in just under half an hour’s time.

    Our political correspondent Tamara Cohen is outside Number 10 and has captured this picture of quite lively scenes outside of the gates.

    It looks like some colourful flares have been set off near the entrance to Downing Street where security and members of the Metropolitan Police are gathered.

  • Chris Philp moved from Treasury to Cabinet Office, Sky News understands

    Mr Philp is understood to have been the pioneer behind the government’s mini-budget plan to scrap the 45p tax rate for highest earners, which was reversed in a spectacular U-turn a few weeks ago.

    He has been moved to a different department, the Cabinet Office, as paymaster general.

    Mr Philp is the second member of Liz Truss‘s Treasury team to be removed from the department today, with her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng having been sacked earlier this afternoon.

    Ed Argar has been promoted into Mr Philp’s former role as chief secretary to the Treasury.

     

  • Mahama explains why NDC could not submit pink sheets in the 2020 election petition

    For the first time, former President John Dramani Mahama has opened up about why he and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) could not provide the needed evidence to make their case in the 2020 election petition.

    On December 30, 2022, the former president dragged the Electoral Commission led by Jean Mensa (1st Respondent) and Akufo-Addo (2nd Respondent) to the apex court over the 2020 presidential elections on an allegation that the results announced by the EC were not the accurate results.

    The petition details “serious violations of the 1992 Constitution by the Electoral Commission and its Chairperson and Returning Officer for the Presidential Election, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa in the conduct of their constitutional and legal responsibility.”

    The petitioner sought, among others, a declaration from the Supreme Court to the effect that “the purported declaration of the results of the 2020 Presidential Election on December 9 2020, is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

    But the seven-member panel of the Supreme Court on March 4, 2021, held that the petition filed by former President John Dramani Mahama was unmeritorious and unanimously dismissed all other applications moved by the petitioner, including two reviews.

    Speaking in a VOA interview monitored by GhanaWeb, John Dramani Mahama intimated that NDC could not make its case because the pink sheets used by the EC to record the election results did not make room for the people to be verified before they could vote.

    “In the last elections, a lot of things went wrong. On the pink sheets that we record the results, they did not make allowance for the number of people biometrically registered.

    “And that is why when we went to court, and they said, why don’t you bring your pink sheet? It would have been useless because you bring the pink sheet, and there is no recording of the number of people verified.

    “It is only when you have that recording which must match up with the number of ballots in the box (that you can make a case). And so, if the Electoral Commission gives you a form that does not make provision for the people verified then what is the need for us to put our figures in the verification machine,” he said.

    The former president further stated that most of the challenges in the 2020 elections have still not been resolved.

    He added that the NDC has taken a cue from what happened in the 2020 election and has decided to go into the next election with its “own referrer”.

     

  • Who could replace Kwarteng?

    After sacking Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor after just 38 days in the job, Liz Truss now has to appoint his successor.

    But who could she choose?

    No announcement has been made yet, but here are a few names emerging as possible front-runners:

    Jeremy Hunt

    The former health secretary could make a return to the front benches for the first time since July 2019.

    Mr Hunt was foreign secretary for a year under Theresa May’s leadership and before this, also held the health secretary and culture secretary briefs under David Cameron.

    Mr Hunt was also one of Rishi Sunak‘s most prominent backers in the leadership contest against Ms Truss.

    If appointed as chancellor, this could be seen as an attempt by Ms Truss to try and win over the critics within her own party and steady the Conservative ship.

    Sajid Javid

    The former chancellor has been publicly criticising the government this week – adding his voice to growing calls that benefits must be raised in line with inflation.

    Could this be an advantage? Maybe the markets will trust someone who went toe-to-toe with Ms Truss in recent days.

    Therese Coffey

    She is currently the deputy prime minister and the health secretary – another close ally of Ms Truss.

    Ms Coffey last month defended the PM from criticism that she has appointed a “cabinet of chums”.

     

    Simon Clarke

    The new levelling up secretary is a close ally of Ms Truss, and was present at the meetings to put together the much-maligned mini-budget.

    He has reportedly written to the PM with a set of proposals intended to boost house-building and economic growth.

    Nadhim Zahawi

    The current Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has sought to quell disquiet in Tory ranks, warning: “Delay is our biggest enemy.”

    He has said colleagues must “focus” on delivering for the country, as any “dither” will “end in defeat” for the party.

    Mr Zahawi was promoted to chancellor by Boris Johnson on 5 July 2022 following the resignation of Rishi Sunak earlier that day in the dying days of Ms Truss’s predecessor’s government.

    The following day, he and other members of Mr Johnson’s cabinet gathered in Number 10 calling on the PM to resign.

    Mr Kwarteng replaced him as chancellor in Ms Truss’s cabinet.

    PM press conference to be held at 2.30pm

    The prime minister’s press conference will be held at 2.30pm in the Downing Street briefing room, Number 10 has said.

    ‘Changing the chancellor doesn’t undo the damage that’s been done’ – Reeves

    Labour MP Rachel Reeves has spoken out since the news that Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked by Liz Truss as chancellor.

    Ms Reeves says that the country doesn’t just need a change in chancellor, “we need a change in government”.

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    Javid and Zahawi among names mentioned inside Number 10 as PM looks to replace chancellor

    Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby has said she expects the PM to announce her new chancellor at this afternoon’s press conference.

    Rigby says the names Sajid Javid and Nadhim Zahawi have both been discussed inside Number 10 today.

    “There are other names that could come up. Simon Clarke, the Level Up Secretary, though he is also very much signed up to the growth of gender equality.

    “There are other names that are swimming around such as Jeremy Hunt.”

    Rigby adds that some Tory MPs would certainly be ready to accept a more broadly based cabinet, bringing in people from different wings of the party rather than the tight coterie around Liz Truss.

    “They would like to see this,” she says. “Just talking to more and consulting with them more. And it’s possible that she would she would gain the support enough of her of her party to survive for a while if she changes completely and takes that sort of line.”

    Kwarteng ousted from Number 11 less than 24 hours after saying he was ‘not going anywhere’

    Kwasi Kwarteng has left Number 11 Downing Street after being sacked by Liz Truss.

    The former chancellor left the building via the front door and smiled at the cameras as he entered a government vehicle.

    Just yesterday afternoon Mr Kwarteng told reporters in Washington DC he was “not going anywhere.”

    Here’s the clip:

    Kwarteng confirms sacking in letter to prime minister

    Kwasi Kwarteng has confirmed he has today been sacked as chancellor after just 38 days in the role.

    Publishing a letter he has written to Prime Minister Liz Truss on Twitter, Mr Kwarteng said it had been “an honour” to serve as her first chancellor.

    Describing the “incredibly difficult” situation Ms Truss’s government inherited, Mr Kwarteng’s letter adds: “However, your vision of optimism, growth and change was right.

    “As I have said many times in the past weeks, following the status quo was simply not an option.

    “For too long this country has been dogged by low growth rates and high taxation – that must still change if this country is to succeed.”

    Despite growing calls for further U-turns over the government’s controversial mini-budget, Mr Kwarteng describes his Medium-Term Fiscal Plan – due to be unveiled on 31 October – as “crucial”.

    He says he believes the PM’s “vision is the right one”, adding that he looks forward “to supporting you and my successor” from the back benches.

    Mr Kwarteng’s letter concludes: “Your success is this country’s success and I wish you well.”

    Kwasi Kwarteng’s rise and fall, from Eton scholar to chancellor

    Kwasi Kwarteng’s stint as chancellor was perhaps as short as his rise to the top of politics was swift.

    Mr Kwarteng was promoted to chancellor by Liz Truss on 6 September from his previous post as business secretary under Boris Johnson.

    Within 38 days he had been sacked, his downfall set in motion by the economic turmoil unleashed by his mini-budget.

    He insisted his tax-cutting mini-budget was the best way to encourage growth, saying the turmoil in the UK economy was part of global pressures caused by the Ukraine war and the pandemic recovery.

    But after open revolt among Tory MPs and a surge in the polls for Labour forced U-turns on two of his major policies, the prime minister decided it was time for him to go.

    Mr Kwarteng is not used to failure, rising up the political ranks fairly quickly after becoming an MP in 2010 – although that did take a few attempts.

    In the eyes of many MPs, Truss is as much to blame as Kwarteng

    Although there’s still no official confirmation, it now appears that Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked as chancellor.

    We await to hear Liz Truss’s reasoning for this, but it looks like part of an economic reset in government and a signal to MP and markets that a new approach is being adopted.

    So will it work?

    Remember, Liz Truss promised most of these tax cuts during her leadership campaign.

    In the eyes of many MPs, she is as much to blame as the chancellor.

    One former cabinet minister told Sky News the prime minister would eventually have to leave office as well.

    “She is as guilty as Kwasi Kwarteng and I don’t think it is good enough that she throws him under the bus and can then expect to proceed as if the problem is sorted”, said the senior Tory.

    Lib Dems call for general election after chancellor sacked

    Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for a general election in response to Kwasi Kwarteng being sacked as chancellor.

    Sir Ed has accused Liz Truss of having “broken our economy” and said it is “time for the people to have their say”.

    “This mustn’t just be the end of Kwarteng’s disastrous chancellorship, it should be the death knell of the Conservatives’ reckless mismanagement of our economy,” he said in a statement.

    “It didn’t suddenly start with Kwarteng, but it must end now.

    “People are angry, fed up and worried about the future.

    “Most of all they are furious that Conservative MPs seem to think this is an acceptable way to conduct the government of our country in these difficult times.

    “Enough is enough.

    “It started with Boris Johnson failing our country, and now Liz Truss has broken our economy, it is time for the people to have their say in a general election.”

    Kwasi Kwarteng sacked as chancellor by Liz Truss, Sky News understands

    Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked as chancellor after just over a month in the role, Sky News understands.

    Two sources informed our deputy political editor Sam Coates of the update – though it has not been officially confirmed.

    Mr Kwarteng was appointed on 6 September after Liz Truss took office as prime minister and has served just 38 days in the role.

    Yesterday, Mr Kwarteng had told reporters in Washington DC that he was “not going anywhere” despite growing calls for him to resign over his controversial tax-cutting mini-budget which saw the pound slump to a record low.

    It means he is the second shortest-serving UK chancellor on record.

    Conservative Iain Macleod is the shortest-serving chancellor after dying of a heart attack 30 days after taking the job in 1970.

    The country has had four chancellors in the last three years since 2019 – Mr Kwarteng, Nadhim Zahawi, Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid.

    The next chancellor will be the seventh Conservative chancellor in 12 years.

    ‘It’s a matter of survival for her now’ – would ousting her chancellor be enough to save Truss?

    Discussion is happening at all levels in the Conservative party about whether the prime minister can survive – even if she replaces her chancellor.

    As one senior minister in her government put it to me this morning before reports that Kwarteng would be sacked: “I honestly don’t think either of them, Liz or Kwasi have a clue, I don’t think they know what they’re doing.”

    “They’ve got one shot to satisfy the markets,” the minister said – with a full U-turn on the corporation tax freeze and perhaps more: “The worst possible thing, now the markets have priced in a U-turn on corporation tax would be mealy mouthed partial U-turn.”

    “But my instinct is she won’t survive. She’s introduced herself to the country in the worst way imaginable, and people’s views of her are quite settled now.

    “Even if she stays, you can’t have a chancellor who has lost the confidence of the markets, that’s never happened before that I can remember”. The minister said the prime minister might need a complete reboot of the Treasury team to restore confidence, but having jettisoned key parts of her economic programme, “she is a husk.”

    This minister and others point out that her controversial supply-side reforms are likely to be opposed in parliament – as are spending cuts on the scale that may be needed to pay for her measures.

    Other MPs also say she will need a humiliating change of direction to survive. One long-serving MP said: “It’s unfair for Kwasi to go in the sense that it was all her idea, but politics isn’t fair. It’s a matter of survival for her now, there are discussions going on but it’s not organised yet.”

    Former cabinet minister says Truss ‘has to go’

    A former Conservative cabinet minister has told Sky News that Prime Minister Liz Truss “has to go” as there is “nothing she can do to retrieve her position”.

    Discussing the potential corporation tax U-turn, they said: “It was the centrepiece of her campaign, the bit that distinguished her from Rishi.

    “She is as guilty as Kwasi Kwarteng and I don’t think it is good enough that she throws him under the bus and can then expect to proceed as if the problem is sorted.

    “Crucially, she has damaged the Tory brand when we could say the economy was safe in our hands. We can’t now.

    “She has to go. There is nothing she can do to retrieve her position.”

    PM doing news conference alone doesn’t bode well for Kwasi Kwarteng

    Back from Washington and now inside Downing Street, it may not be long before we learn what Kwasi Kwarteng’s fate will be.

    One possible indication of where we’re going may be lurking in who is due to attend the press conference this afternoon.

    Given we expect a major announcement on the government’s plan for the economy, you would expect the chancellor to be involved – not least to reassure the markets that Liz Truss still had faith in her man in the Treasury.

    But asked directly if the chancellor would be at this afternoon’s press conference, a Downing Street source replied simply saying “PM presser”.

    That suggests the prime minister will be doing this alone, and it doesn’t bode well for Kwasi Kwarteng.

    Cabinet ministers have ‘no idea what’s going on’

    Our political editor Beth Rigby has been speaking to cabinet ministers this morning amid reports that Liz Truss could be set to dismantle parts of her controversial mini-budget later today.

    The senior ministers she has spoken to have said they “have no idea what’s going on – either about the chancellor’s position or the possible decision to raise corporation tax from 19% to 25% in April after all”.

    Chancellor arrives back in Downing Street ahead of expected U-turn

    Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has arrived in Downing Street after returning from the US amid expectations he will scrap parts of his mini-budget to reassure markets.

    If Truss is to reset her administration and junk tax cuts – should she do it with someone like Sajid Javid?

    As they often do at times like this, rumours are swirling about who could replace Kwasi Kwarteng if he is to leave his post as chancellor.

    One name frequently linked to vacant cabinet posts is Sajid Javid, and today is no different.

    But if the former chancellor is to re-enter the Treasury, it’s worth remembering his recent history of pledging his own unfunded tax cuts.

    During his relatively brief campaign to become prime minister in the summer, Mr Javid pledged tax cuts broader in scope than the ones Liz Truss was promising at the time.

    In his pitch for the top job, there were plans to shelve the corporation tax rise that is about to be U-turned on; as well as to scrap the national insurance rise; and bring forward the cut to the basic rate of income tax.

    If Liz Truss is to reset her administration and junk tax cuts in a bid to reassure the markets, can she do it with someone like Sajid Javid who is so closely linked to a similar prospectus for government?

    A humiliating U-turn is necessary, but the real damage is done – Reeves

    Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is the latest MP to comment on speculation of a major U-turn on Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget.

    She said: “A humiliating U-turn is necessary – but the real damage has already been done to millions of ordinary people now paying much higher mortgages and struggling to make ends meet.

    “This is a Tory crisis made in Downing Street. They have plunged our economy into chaos and crisis with Truss’s discredited trickle down approach. It won’t be forgiven or forgotten.

    “Only a Labour government has the credibility, authority and plan to fix things.”

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    Who could be the next chancellor if Kwarteng is sacked?

    Sky’s deputy political editor Sam Coates is weighing in on this question.

    He says it is uncertain whether Kwasi Kwarteng will retain his job as chancellor.

    “Could it be Simon Clarke?” Coates asks.

    Mr Clarke is currently serving as Secretary of State for Levelling Up. He served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2021 to 2022.

    “Well, he’s an ideological bedfellow of Liz Truss. He was in the meetings to put together the mini-budget.

    “But will the markets trust him if they think that he also shares the trust of economic values that have taken this to this point?”

    He adds: “Could it be Theresa Coffey? She’s currently the deputy prime minister and the health secretary’s very close ally.

    “She’s been in some, but not all of the economic meetings.”

    Government is set to U-turn on keeping corporation tax low, Sky News understands

    The government is set to raise corporation tax despite promising not to do so in the mini-budget, Sky News understands.

    The prime minister had vowed to scrap the planned tax rise from 19% to 25% next April, a key policy of her pro-business growth plan, during the Conservative leadership campaign.

    The change in direction is the second major tax cut U-turn after the government confirmed it would not go ahead with a plan to scrap the 45p top rate of tax.

    Kwarteng being sacked is ‘inevitable’, Sky News told

    Sky’s political and business correspondent Mhari Aurora reports that a former cabinet minister has told her that Kwasi Kwarteng being sacked is “inevitable”.

    According to the Reuters news agency, a government spokesperson has refused to comment on speculation that Mr Kwarteng has been sacked.

    It follows a report by the Times newspaper in the last half an hour which has suggested the chancellor has already been dismissed.

    We will of course bring you more on this as we get it.

  • GSS launches 7th round of GDHC at Winneba

    The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) yesterday launched the 7th round of the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) at Winneba.

    The launch paves way for field officers to begin data collection for the 2022 GDHS, (7th round) estimated to cost $4.2 million.

    This followed five weeks (32 days) of training for about 220 field officers recruited for the exercise.

    Data collection for the field exercise would begin on October 17, 2022 and end on January 20, 2023.

    The GDHS which is a population-based survey to collect demographic, health and socio-economic data for planning and monitoring of policies, started in 1988.

    The exercise is done at least every five years and the last one was done in 2014.

    Speaking at the launch here, the Government Statistician, Professor Samuel K. Annim, said the GDHS is an international exercise, which Ghana uses to collect demographic, socio-economic and health data for national planning.

    He said the survey, which would take 90 days to complete would collect data on issues including fertility rate, contraceptive use, child and maternal mortality, nutritional status of women and children, child marriage, toilet facilities, water and breastfeeding.

    “The survey exercise will also create awareness on HIV/AIDS, malaria and incidence of malaria in the country,” Prof. Annim, stated.

    He said the survey would cover 18,540 households across the country and about 23,577 women between the ages of 15 and 49; and 5,812 men between 15 and 59 would be interviewed.

    He said the data collected would be analysed in comparison with the data on the Population and Housing Census and the Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey.

    The government statistician said the data collected would help the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service in their policy planning, formulation and monitoring.

    Prof. Annim said the objective of the exercise was to update the data of the previous GDHS.

    He said for the first time GSS did district analysis of the data to help provide interventions for the local people “to leave no one behind.”

    Prof. Annim said the analysis and dissemination of the GDHS would be done in real time as GSS had deployed electronic data collection tools for that.

    He commended the government, its donors and development partners for sponsoring the programme.

    The Director of Family Health Division of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Kofi Issah, who chaired the programme, said the exercise was an important one.

    He said the data that would be collected would help in policy planning and monitoring.

    Dr Issah commended the GSS for its continuous development of the GDHS.

    The Programme Director, Dr Kerzia Malm, for her part, said she was excited malaria was one of the component of the 2022 GDHS.

    Dr  Peter Takyi Peprah, the Project Coordinator the 2022 GDHS, said the survey would help to collate up-to-date data on  health and socio-economic data, stressing GDHS was a powerful tool to measure so many health indicators.

  • NSMQ2022: Schools that qualified for one-eighth stage

    On Thursday, October 13, the final contests of the 2022 National Science and Maths Quiz preliminary stage came off.

    On day four of the prelims, two schools tied for the highest points of the day. University Practice SHS and Abetifi Presby SHS both won their contest with 79 points.

    They both also tied as the schools with the second-highest points in the preliminary contests. St Thomas Aquinas leads with 85 points.

    University Practice SHS competed with Presby SHS, Suhum and EPC Mawuko Girls’ SHS. Presby SHS left with 37 points and Mawuko Girls’ 14.

    NSMQ2022: Schools that qualified for one-eighth stage

    They also won GHC800 in the Goil Riddle Bonanza after answering three riddles correctly.

    Meanwhile, Abetifi Presby SHS contested with Acherensua SHS and Kalpohin SHS.

    The losing schools finished with 37 and 14 points respectively.

    NSMQ2022: Schools that qualified for one-eighth stage

    Aburi Presby SHS also put up an impressive fight in their contest. They secured a slot at the one-eighth stage with 64 points.

    They competed with Nungua SHS and Atebubu SHS.

    NSMQ2022: Schools that qualified for one-eighth stage

    Mawuli School bagged a spot at the one-eighth. They competed against Fijai SHS and Boaamponsem SHS.

    The Volta Region based school won the contest with 39 points. Fijai SHS followed closely with 35 points.

    NSMQ2022: Schools that qualified for one-eighth stage

    Winning their contest with 41 points, Krobo Girls is through to the next stage of the NSMQ competition.

    They beat St Mary’s Girls’ SHS, who finished with 27 points and Bueman SHS, who finished with 8 points, to win the competition.

    NSMQ2022: Schools that qualified for one-eighth stage

    The girls also won GHC800 in the Goil Riddle Bonanza and GHC2000 for the Prudential Life NSMQ star award.

    Also, competing at the one-eighth stage of the NSMQ competition is Tarkwa SHS.

    They beat Effiduase Senior High Comm School and Sekondi College with 31 points.

    NSMQ2022: Schools that qualified for one-eighth stage

    Adventist SHS sailed through the preliminary stage to the one-eighth stage with 64 points.

    They faced Kpando SHS and Al-Azhariya SHS in the contest. The two schools lost with 15 and 13 points respectively.

    NSMQ2022: Schools that qualified for one-eighth stage

    After failing to go further in the competition last year, Mfantsipim School returned to the NSMQ with hopes of beating the 2021 records.

    For their first contest, the boys qualified for the one-eighth stage with 61 points. Their competitors West Africa SHS finished with 43 points while Sandema SHS only got 12 points.

    NSMQ2022: Schools that qualified for one-eighth stage

    Mfantispim in addition to their win, took home GHC800 for winning the Goil Riddle Bonanza.

    For some of these schools who lost today’s contest and those who lost in the previous days, the prelims may not be the last NSMQ competition for them this year.

    About 18 schools who had high marks but did not win, after a tally, will gain a chance to compete in the one-eighth stage.

    The 2022 National Science and Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and sponsored by the Ghana Education Service in partnership with Absa Ghana. It is supported by GOIL, Prudential Life Insurance, AirtelTigo, Dano Milk, Newmont, Accra College of Medicine, Academic City University College and YFM.

    The broadcast of the National Science & Maths Quiz on JoyNews is supported by Virtual Infosec Africa, Virtual Security Africa, Vita Milk, Cowbell, Alumni by Enterprise Life, Faytex Toilet Roll, Ace Medical Insurance, Azar Group, Kings Group Limited, Family Health Medical School, DBS, KORBA and Lumetrust from Pharmatrust.

  • BREAKING: Ghana’s Kwasi Kwarteng fired as UK finance minister

    Kwasi Kwarteng of Ghanaian descent has been relieved of his duties as the Finance Minister of the United Kingdom.

    He was appointed on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 by newly sworn-in Prime Minister Liz Truss.

    Mr Kwarteng was the first black person to assume such a position in the United Kingdom.

    His dismissal comes amid speculation that Prime Minister Truss will today, October 14, announce a U-turn on parts of the mini-budget.

    Mr Kwasi Kwarteng, serving for 39 days, becomes the second shortest-serving UK chancellor on record.

    The shortest serving chancellor, Iain Macleod, died of a heart attack 30 days after taking the job in 1970.

    Since 2019, the UK has had four chancellors, including Nadhim Zahawi who served the third shortest tenure with 63 days during a short-lived reshuffle under Boris Johnson, and Sajid Javid who served 204 days – the fourth shortest tenure on record.

    Kwasi Kwarteng reacts

    In a letter to the Prime Minister, Kwarteng said he took on the job “in full knowledge that the situation we faced was incredibly difficult”.

    He wished Prime Minister Liz Truss well with her plans for the economy, noting that “we’ve been colleagues and friends for many years”.

    He also promised  to support Truss from the backbenches.