President Akufo-Addo will meet the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament who want the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta be relieved of his duties.
The meeting will take place this evening, Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 6:30 pm.
The NPP MPs argued that their attempts to get the administration take steps to assist their constituents in light of the failing economy had been ineffective.
Thus, on Tuesday, October 2022, the NPP organized a news conference to express their unhappiness and demand the resignation of Charles Adu Boahen the Minister of State for Finance, and Ken Ofori-Atta.
Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim North Constituency and spokesperson for the disgruntled Majority group, told the media on Tuesday that sacking Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen will help restore confidence in Ghana’s economy.
“The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concern known to our president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response.”
“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy,” he added.
Several Ghanaians had mounted pressure on President Akufo-Addo to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta from office in light of the country’s current economic predicament, which has compelled government to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
On Tuesday, October 25, about 80 Members of Parliament within the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP)were reported to have signed a petition demanding the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as finance minister.
The group, through a press conference, also demanded the removal of Charles Adu Boahen, who serves as a Minister of State at the finance ministry; a close ally of Ken Ofori-Atta.
The MPs explained that their position follows several concerns over the poor management of the economy, which has forced the government to seek IMF assistance.
The group added that should the president fail to heed to their call, they will no longer do business with the government nor support the 2023 budget.
The MP for Asante-Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who introduced himself as the spokesperson for the Majority Caucus, said that several concerns raised on economic management have been sent to government, but are all yet to yield the intended results.
In the wake of the development, some Ghanaians on social media have lauded the confidence of the majority MPs.
Although President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has on numerous occasions backed down against calls to change his finance minister, the pressure now appears to be mounting from within his own party.
Some citizens have also already concluded that the president would likely not dismiss Ken Ofori-Atta, basing their assumption on the close family ties Akufo-Ado has with the finance minister.
While this is yet to come to fruition, GhanaWeb Business has compiled a list of potential candidates who are likely to be the best replacements if Ken Ofori-Atta is taken off the job at the Ministry of Finance.
Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah
Dr Assibey-Yeboah is a former Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament. During his tenure as chair, he led many engagements toward sound economic indicators of government.
He has also earned himself a reputation for being an economic guru among his peers.
Prior to Ghana returning to the IMF, Dr Assibey-Yeboah warned of harsh economic conditions and therefore called on the government to resort to the Fund at an earlier time ahead of its July 1, 2022 decision.
He also cast doubts on the government’s ability to raise the projected GH¢6.9 billion revenue target from the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), insisting they would not be able to realise the intended target – a prediction which came to be.
Dr. Assibey-Yeboah holds a BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Economics degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also holds an MS (Agricultural and Resource Economics) from the University of Delaware, USA.
He has earned an MA and a Ph.D. both in Economics from the University of Tennessee, USA specializing in International Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics and Econometrics.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah has worked in various capacities, locally and abroad. He has served as lecturer at the University of Tennessee, USA and worked in a similar capacity as an Adjunct Faculty at Milligan College, Tennessee-USA.
The former lawmaker has also served as a senior economist at the Bank of Ghana and has been a lecturer at the Ghana Telecom Technology University College and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Professor Gyan-Baffour
Prof. George Yaw Gyan-Baffour is a Ghanaian development economist. He was in charge of the former Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
He is credited for the introduction of Ghana’s first Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism which was used for assessing the progress of national development and dubbed the ‘Annual Progress Report’.
Despite the ministry no longer being in existence, the mechanism continues to be used in the monitoring and evaluation tool of Ghana’s development agenda.
He also supervised the preparation of the Coordinated Program for the Economic and Social Development of Ghana (2002-2012), which is a constitutional requirement for the President of the Republic of Ghana.
Prof. Gyan Baffour is also credited for leading the team that prepared Ghana’s first compact under the Millennium Challenge Account.
Prior to leaving for the USA to further his education, Prof. Baffour worked at the Ministry of Industrial Science and Technology from 1974 to 1984.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana and has served on various boards of institutions, including the Bank of Ghana.
He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in Industrial Relations; a Post Doctorate diploma from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; an MA in economic policy from University of Wisconsin, Madison; a BSc. (Hons) degree in Economics from the University of Ghana.
Kwame Pianim
Kwame Pianim is not a stranger when it comes to finance and economic management in Ghana.
The renowned economist is a management and investment consultant who has served in various capacities in government and the private sector.
He served as an Economic Research Officer of the United Nations-USA, from 1964 to 1970.
He was the Acting Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning from 1970 to 1972 and served as Deputy Managing Director of Ghana Aluminum Products Limited, Tema. He was also Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board from 1978 – 1979.
The veteran economist also served as the Chairman of Ghana Financial Services Limited at Bayport Financial Services Limited and was the Chairman of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC).
Kwame Pianim attended Achimota Secondary School and holds a B.A. Double Honors in Economics and Political Science from the University of New Brunswick, Canada (1963) and M.A. in Economics from Yale University (1964).
With additional files from the Chamber of Independent Power Producers
Dr. Ernest Addison
Dr. Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison is an economist and the 15th Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
He attended the Methodist College and the Mfantsipim School for his primary and secondary education. Dr. Addison then proceeded to the University of Ghana and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from 1982 to 1986.
From 1987 to 1989, he obtained an M.Phil in Economics and Politics from the University of Cambridge in England and later a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from McGill University in Canada.
Before he was appointed Governor of the BoG, Dr. Addison served as the former Director of Research at the Bank of Ghana from 2003 to 2011, as well as an Economist at the African Development Bank.
He specializes in financial policy and economic management.
One person has been injured and at least one vehicle has been set on fire following a dispute over a piece of land in Central Dzorwulu, Accra.
The police in a Facebook post on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 , indicated that the burnt car belonged to two men who hired some thugs to destroy a four-bedroom flat.
“The Police responded to the scene to restore calm. Police later had information that one of the vehicles belonging to the suspects, Nana Owusu Banahene and James Quainoo, run into a ditch and was attacked by a mob who pelted them with stones, injured one of the suspects, James Quainoo, and set his car ablaze,” the police added.
The thugs in an attempt to flee from the police whilst executing the assigned task entered into a ditch.
Information gathered by the police shows that before the demolishing began, the perpetrators attacked the occupants of the house.
On Monday, October 24, 2022, a video which saw a middle-aged man driver bleeding profusely in the middle of the streets went viral on Twitter.
A voice was heard from the video stating that someone had been shot.
However, the police have thus far established that nobody was shot during the incident as per what has been circulated.
The law enforcement body, have also stated that the two culprits are in police custody.
In the meantime, while efforts are being made to apprehend all of the other culprits, the injured suspect is receiving medical care at the hospital.
Also, the police has asked the public to maintain calm adding that it is in control of the situation and would update the public on any development.
“The Police are in control of the situation and calm has since been restored. We, therefore, wish to urge the public to remain calm. Further developments will be shared in due course,” the police added.
Lawyer of Aisha Huang, Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, has said his client is engaged in the sale of spare parts contrary to claims that she is engaged in illegal mining (galamsey).
According to him, under no circumstance did his client engage in any activities which involved digging the ground for gold.
He adds that it’s sad that many have tagged her as ‘galamsey kingpin’ among other names.
He said he hopes the court vindicates his client despite the Attorney General’s claim that he has documents and evidence to prove otherwise.
“Aisha Huang is not involved in Galamsey; she sells spare parts for excavators. Aisha Huang has never stood on the lands of Bekwai or anywhere in the Ashanti Region to say she is digging gold. All she does is sell spare parts, but people have called her names, including galamsey kingpin. So let’s see what God will do since the matter is in court. I pray the law will be in the best interest of my client,” he said on Atinka radio during an interview monitored by GhanaWeb.
Speaking on the refusal of the court to grant his client bail, he said if the court fails to grant her continuously, he will go to a higher court for bail.
The Accra Court denied Aisha Huang’s request for bail through her lawyer.
According to the court, she will be in police custody until the case is determined due to the nature of the case and also her being a flight risk.
One of the main contenders in the main opposition race for the 2020 National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) flagbearership race is urging his supporters to rally behind former president John Dramani Mahama for the position of flagbearer for the 2024 general elections to wrestle power from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to Prof Joshua Alabi, former president John Dramani Mahama is the toast of the people hence the need to support him to wrestle power from the governing New Patriotic Party.
Prof Alabi, a former rector of the University of Professional Studies in Accra came second in the last NDC flagbearer race and subsequently became the campaign manager for the NDC in the 2020 general elections.
Mr Alabi announced his decision not to contest the former president in an interview on Accra 100.5 FM’s evening news programme on Monday, October 24, 2022.
He said there is a need for the rank and file of the party to rally behind the former president to come and save the country from the current economic doldrums that the NPP has imposed on Ghanaians.
He explained that the NDC has a track record of economic recovery adding that in the defunct Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era, the government that birthed NDC, all efforts were made to regain economic recovery which is what the NPP has come to power to throw away.
He added that from the look of things Ghanaians will not forgive the NDC if it fails to wrestle power from the NPP come the 2024 general elections.
He admitted that the signs are clear on the wall but the NDC as a party needs to work hard to ensure victory.
He noted that the only candidate who can ensure the NDC’s victory is the former president who is tried and tested.
He was of the view that the former president stands tall when it comes to the management of the economy stemming as he decried the way the NPP’s economic management team has woefully failed in the management of the economy.
He also charged that the NPP’s failure to manage the economy has led to the economic challenges many Ghanaians are facing today.
The Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak, says challenges with food supplies to Senior High Schools are a result of corruption and fraud that have plagued the National Buffer Food Stock Company.
He says the running of the National Buffer Food Stock Company has become inefficient, thereby questioning its usefulness.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Clement Apaak cited instances of under-invoicing, the distribution of expired and non-certified food items as some of the fraudulent activities being carried out by the Company.
“Some of the Buffer Food suppliers are simply corrupt and fraudulent. There are instances of under-invoicing; where quantities of supplies to the schools are drastically reduced. Expired food items are supplied to schools.”
“Sometimes, heads are compelled by orders from above to sign for quantities of foods they have not received. We sometimes have suppliers dumping items in excess capacity to schools. There were even instances where schools were supplied with products that had not been certified by the Food and Drugs Authority”.
Dr. Clement Apaak was worried that these acts are compounding the problems of the Free SHS Programme.
“All of these things are captured in the Auditor General’s report, so clearly the Buffer Food Stock Company and the role it is playing is contributing to the challenges of the Free SHS policy.”
Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah is currently topping trends on social media platform; Twitter, after he broke the silence on the cedi depreciation.
This comes after many Ghanaians took to social media to react to the high cost of living and the lack of government effort to curb the cedi depreciation.
On the Interbank forex rates from the Bank of Ghana on October 24, 2022, the Ghana Cedi is trading against the dollar at a buying price of 12.5244 and a selling price of 12.5370.
However, on October 24, the information minister revealed that the government is engaged is in a series of consultations with relevant stakeholders in the financial sector to solve the issue of the cedi depreciation.
Aside from that, the Economic Management Team, chaired by Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, will also hold a series of meetings with other stakeholders, Asaaseradio.com adds.
This consultation will end with a cabinet retreat, after which the president will address the nation with steps taken to solve the current economic hardship.
Following these revelations, the information minister has topped Twitter trends as many have expressed mixed reactions to this development.
Pharuk FK posted “I’m certain that Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in his private moments will have regrets being the minister of information now. The most difficult job in Ghana now is attempting to defend this government.”
Another user said “The hardest job on earth today is being an information minister to Akufo Addo’s government. Man will say shit then they’ll ask you to come and clarify. I pity Oppong Nkrumah. His credibility gone all in the name of being a minister.”
Here are some of the tweets:
Oppong Nkrumah and the NPP are waiting for cocoa Syndicate loan to stabilise the cedi for 2 weeks max! This loan is a great canker! Oppong Nkrumah is gradually becoming a clown in the face of Ghanaians. He will realise it when he is out of power! @NAkufoAddo
The hardest job on earth today is being an information minister to Akufo Addo’s government. Man will say shit then they’ll ask you to come and clarify. I pity Oppong Nkrumah. His credibility gone all in the name of being a minister.
So wait ooh, Does this mean Ghana as a country don’t have any gold reserve? Other countries that don’t even produce gold do have reserves. If we had a reserve,I think it would have helped us a lot as a country in times like this. ???????? The NPP NDC Len Ofori Atta Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
I can’t believe this. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Joy FM, rattled like a Parrot on the deficiencies of the NDC/JDM. It was bcs he said he cld defend the incompetence of Akufo Addo, that was why Hamid was removed & he given the position. How can he be tired now? What a shame. https://t.co/S61kW6X9Sp
The Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Dr John Ofori Tenkorang, has urged employers to view their contributions to the scheme as an investment and not a mandatory tax.
Dr Tenkorang made the comments during a breakfast meeting with employers held in Takoradi.
The one-day meeting was held to sensitise employers to the activities of SSNIT and their new policy direction.
According to the SSNIT Director-General, the future of workers is of significant importance, therefore, employers should be interested in securing their employees’ future.
“We are here to let you know how important you are to us and the need to contribute for the future of not only your workers but for you, as well,” Dr Tenkorang explained.
He urged employers to invest in the future of their employees.
“It is not my interest to send any employer to court; that should be clear, but there should be a conscious effort for you to invest in your company and your workers.”
He also introduced an app, which will give employers easy access to pay the contributions of their companies and employees.
He stressed that the country’s best insurance company is SSNIT and implored them to be actively involved in their contributions to the scheme.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, before the recess, had deferred ruling on the future of the Dome-Kwabenya MP in the House.
The Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic will resume sitting today, Tuesday, 25 October 2022, after it went on recess in July.
The House is also expected to determine the fate of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, during today’s sitting.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, before the recess, had deferred ruling on the future of the Dome-Kwabenya MP in the House following her inability to appear before the Privileges Committee over her absence from Parliament.
It is also expected that the Appointments Committee will present its report on the nominees of the Supreme Court who were vetted while the House was on recess.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will also be expected to present before the house, the government’s 2023 budget statement during this session.
Some eleven bills including the Anti-LGBTQ+Bill will also be considered during this session of the House.
The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has said the name of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, has become the meaning of failure and incompetence.
The pro-government group’s General Secretary, Mr Arnold Boateng, said on Monday, 24 October 2022 that “clearly, it looks like the Finance Ministry and the government have dropped the ball on the economy.”
“Reassign the Finance Minister and Adu-Boahen because they have been there for a long time and their activities have caused the mess we are in now”, he demanded in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM.
In Mr Boateng’s view, Mr Ofori-Atta’s “posture does not augur well” for the country’s economic circumstances, adding: “He has lost the trust of the nation.”
“The name Ken Ofori-Atta has become synonymous with failure; synonymous with incompetence and any adjective you can call.”
AFAG also said President Akufo-Addo must tackle the economy “not just by giving a speech but by taking concrete actions which will strengthen the cedi.”
“What is worrying AFAG is there is no concrete assurance either from the President or from the BOG on these issues,” Mr. Boateng said.
“People dropping the ball has led us here and if we do not take the necessary actions, we will have a time bomb on our hands, and we cannot address that.”
The majority caucus of parliament has given President Akufo-Addo an ultimatum: remove Finance Minister Ken OFori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Mr Charles Adu-Boahen, from office, or they will boycott the budget hearing and other government businesses on the floor of parliament.
The caucus, led by spokesperson Andy Appiah Kubi, MP for Asante Akyem North, issued the ultimatum within the precincts of parliament on Tuesday, 25 October 2022 when the house resumed sitting after a long recess.
He told the parliamentary press corps: “We are members of the majority caucus of the parliament of Ghana and we, here so, present; represent a greater number of the said caucus”.
“My name is Andy Appiah Kubi and I am only here as the spokesperson for the majority group – without more”, he caveated.
Mr Appiah-Kubi continued: “We have had occasions to defend allegations of conflict of interest, lack of confidence [and] trust against the leadership of our finance ministry”, however, “the recent developments within our economy are of great concern to the greater majority of the members of our caucus and our constituents”.
“We have made our grave concerns [known] to the president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response”, he revealed.
“We are, by this medium, communicating our strong desire that the president change the minister of finance and the minister of state at the finance ministry, without further delay, in order to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy”, the group demanded.
“The summary of our concerns lead to a plea that the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken OfoRI-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Charles Adu-Boahen, be removed from office. We pray that this prayer would be carried to the presidency”.
The caucus then threatened: “Meanwhile, we want to serve notice, and notice is hereby served that until such persons, as aforementioned, are made to resign or removed from office, we, members of the majority caucus here in parliament, will not participate in any business of the government by or for the president by any other minister”.
“We hope that those of us at the backbench and members of the majority caucus will abide by this prayer”, the group added.
“We are saying that if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing nor will we participate in the debate”, Mr Appiah-Kubi stressed.
Abraham Odoom, a former deputy local government minister has said the country needs to depoliticise food production.
Odoom said the country will suffer greatly if it messes up its food economy.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (25 October) he said, “For me, if there is one thing that should be depoliticised, it is food production … we mess up our food economy, we will all suffer for it.“
He added, “Food security for me has an essential basis in producing what you eat and eating that which you produce. If we can ensure this, it will benefit us for generations.”
“Ghana must start doing something unusual if we want to kick start a renaissance in terms of our taste for foreign goods adding that “Nigeria is a typical example … They eat their rice above all else”.
He said the country needs to be innovative and revisit the School Feeding Programme.
“School Feeding is something that we need to revisit … We can use the School Feeding Programme to re-engineer the local economy for our farmers. The biggest issue we face is a lack of innovation.”
“Change our mindset”
The former deputy minister said the current global challenges present a good opportunity for Ghanaians to appreciate and consume local food products.
“The mind is the greatest asset that we have … When the mindset of the people towards their own products changes then drastic gains will be made.”
“We talk about [changing our] taste on end to no avail. But this current global crisis has brought to the fore the need to have a national conversation on changing our taste to conform with what we have,” he added.
Odoom said policymakers need to take every opportunity they are proffered with to focus on local food production.
“This crisis presents an opportunity for Ghanaians to change our taste in the face of global food inflation,” he said.
Some eighty Members of Parliament (MP) belonging to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called for the sacking of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
They also want the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, removed from post.
According to the legislators, the aforementioned members of the Executive have proven to be incapable of handling the Ghanaian economy which is currently in tatters.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, October 15, 2022, Asante-Akim North MP, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi said “we are communicating our strong desire that the President should change the Minister of Finance and the Minister without further delay in order to restore hope into the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy.”
He noted that push has come to shove as the concerns of the Majority Group which were tabled before its leadership to the President, have yielded no positive results.
The Majority Group now adds their voice to the many Ghanaians calling for Mr Ofori-Attato be replaced by a more competent individual.
Pressure now mounts on President Akufo-Addo, who has indicated that he has no plans of sacking the current Finance Minister.
The President has explained that Mr Ofori-Atta has proven himself worthy of managing the economy. He cited Ghana’s growth in 2017 to argue that he finds no basis to replace the Finance Minister.
“I came to office in 2017 under a stringent IMF programme. This same man was able to manage the affairs of our economy in such a way that in my first term, we were one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. An average growth rate of 7% which allowed us to initiate programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs,” he said.
“So somebody who has been able to do that. The current difficulties are not his fault. So how do I do it (sack him)? What will be the basis? What will be the rationale,” he further interrogated.
Ghana is currently battling a high inflation rate of 37.2% as of September, 2022. Also, the local currency continues to lose its value against major trading currencies.
A dollar is trading at about GH15. All these have happened under the watch of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Meanwhile, Mr Ofori-Atta has encouraged Ghanaians to remain calm as the country engages the International Monetary Fund for an economic recovery programme.
He expects that the local currency will begin to appreciate once a deal is agreed upon.
The police have arrested two individuals in connection with the disturbances at Dzorwulu in Accra over a disputed land.
The suspects, Nana Owusu Banahene and James Quainoo, allegedly organised thugs with an excavator to demolish a four-bedroom apartment building at Dzorwulu on Monday (24 October 2022).
The police said before the demolition, the suspects and their accomplices attacked the occupants of the house.
“The police responded to the scene to restore calm,” the statement said. “The perpetrators upon seeing the police abandoned the excavator and escaped from the scene.”
“Police later had information that one of the vehicles belonging to the suspects had run into a ditch and was attacked by a mob who pelted them with stones, injured one of the suspects, James Quainoo and set his car ablaze.”
The injured suspect is at the hospital receiving medical attention, the statement added. Investigation has so far revealed that no one was shot during the incident.
“Investigation continues and all available footages on the incident are being reviewed as part of the investigation process. Efforts are underway to arrest all other perpetrators to face justice,” the police said.
Residents in Tema in the Greater Accra Region are expected to stay indoors on Wednesday, October 26 for the funeral activities for the late Tema chief, OsonnaaNii Adjei Kraku II, to begin.
As part of the activities, there will be a total blackout from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am to honour the dead chief.
Based on this development, the Tema General Hospital have asked its staff to report to work earlier to enable those on the night shift to report to work before the blackout.
In a memo shared by 3news.com, it urged staff on the night shift to report early for handing over so their colleagues could leave on time before the curfew time.
“In view of that, Management is urging all staff scheduled for the night shift on Wednesday 26th October 2022 to report to work by 5:00 pm,” a memorandum issued by the Medical Director of the Hospital to all department heads on Monday said.
“This is to enable the staff who will be handing over and those taking up perform such activities in good time to enable their colleagues return home before the total blackout.”
The Railway Workers Union has called on President Akufo-Addo to immediately direct the Railways Ministry to release some GH¢6 million realized from the auctioning of scrap metals of Ghana Railways Company Limited.
This, they say, will help purchase fuel and finance other operational costs to save the Railways company from collapsing.
Speaking to Citi News in Takoradi, the General Secretary of the Railway Workers Union, Godwill Ntarmah, said the Railway company is “on the verge of collapse and unable to buy fuel to run its manganese haulage lines as well as pay workers their two months’ salaries in arrears.”
They are therefore appealing to government to release the funds to ensure the company survives.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly banned nationals of Ghana and 19 other African countries from entering its capital city, Dubai.
Even though the reason for the ban was not stated, it was expected to start on Monday, October 24, 2022, according to DW Africa.
“The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a visa ban on nationalities from 20 African countries seeking to visit Dubai.
“Countries affected include Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, and Comoros. The ban takes immediate effect,” parts of a Facebook post shared by DW Africa on Monday read.
This is not the first time Ghana and other African countries have been barred from travelling to Dubai.
Emirates Airline announced on December 28, 2021, that eight African countries will not be accepted to travel to or through Dubai until further notice due to the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
The countries included: Ghana Angola, Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire and Ethiopia.
A Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Obiri Boahene, has berated the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, for insulting persons who have been criticising President Akufo-Addo over happenings in the county.
The Okyenhene said that persons who have been criticising the president over the current economic hardship are uncivilized villagers, witches, and wizards who have no sense of appreciation.
“We must appreciate the feat of the President and show him appreciation for what he has done for Ghana. We must defend and protect him.
“Those insulting the President are children of villagers. They are uncivilized. No well-nurtured person will insult an elderly. If you were raised in the Church, you will not insult an elder. If you are not a villager, then you may be a witch or wizard.
“Not all will like you. Even Jesus Christ was crucified. It won’t bother me if they speak with sincerity but when you speak with hate, witchcraft, and envy, you must be careful because one day, one day! one day! one day! One day! The truth will overcome evil lies and envy,” the chief said.
Reacting to this, Nana Obiri Boahene intimated that Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin’s comments were unfortunate.
The former NPP deputy general secretary added that the chief, rather than insulting the critics of the president, should have urged Akufo-Addo to listen to those with genuine concerns.
“Let me be very honest. Such a comment coming from a big chief is not in good taste. You are not some small chief, you are a big chief and you were not talking to your friend, you were talking in public and you uttered such words, it is not good.
“You don’t have to support the NDC or the NPP to make such comments. It was an opportunity for him to urge the president to listen to the cries of Ghanaians. You don’t just call people witches and wizards. It is not good,” he said in Twi in a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb.
The National Cathedral of Ghana has established a call centre for the ongoing project.
The centre, according to Dr. Joyce Aryee, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, is to deepen the relationship between the public and the National Cathedral Secretariat.
“As you already know, the project is ongoing and the call centre has become necessary as a way of deepening our relationship with the public. The ultra-modern centre is readily available to assist with information to the public on issues concerning the Cathedral, especially information on those willing to contribute towards the completion of the project,” she said.
She added that there is the need for Ghanaians to support the national project because it will bring great relevance to the country.
“The Cathedral is a historic project with great relevance for all of us as a nation and as many of us as are willing must come together to build this magnificent edifice for God and country,” she added.
The National Cathedral will be a sacred space and infrastructure for formal religious activities of the nation, such as state funerals and presidential inaugural services.
The Member of Parliament Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has backed teacher unions opposing the appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah as Director-General of the Ghana Education Service.
Speaking at a Press conference, Dr. Apaak, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, said the president should have considered the views of the stakeholders before making the appointment.
The unions have argued that the new Director General of the GES is not a professional teacher and is not a good fit for the role.
Dr. Apaak said, “they are right. There are reasons why we have different professionals… Every profession tries to grow their own to eventually become the person at the apex.”
“So when you bring somebody who doesn’t have that requisite background or doesn’t meet their standard, it also affects morale.”
Dr. Apaak also said the appointment of Dr. Nkansah would also breed more friction between the unions and the government.
“It creates problems in terms of policy implementation because whether the President likes it or not, the director general would have to work with the teacher unions.”
“I have sided with the teacher unions because I believe they are in the theatre and I always give them the benefit of the doubt, believing full well that their request, in this case, is not outrageous,” Dr. Apaak added.
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana says a review of government’s flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) is long overdue.
The Agric Minister recently revealed that government has so far spent GH¢2.6 billion on the program and touted the success of the program.
But that claim has been challenged as food inflation continues to soar, while government figures indicate 6.4 million Ghanaians are food insecure.
Speaking to Citi News, Head of Programmes and Advocacy for the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Charles Nyaba believes the Finance Ministry finds the Planting for Food and Jobs unsustainable hence the need for a review.
“The intentions the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has for the Planting for Food and Jobs were not implemented by the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry did not release money for them.”
“Per our conversations with the policymakers in the Ministries, it suggests that the Planting for Food and Jobs is not sustainable, the budget does not support that. So it has to be reviewed in a way that the Ministry of Finance does not pump more money into it. We do not think it is the way to go.”
“We think there could have been a better way of going about it. We could have considered better ways of improving the implementation of the programme. This is the time we need to invest in the Agricultural sector.”
Charles Nyaba has also been explaining to Citi News how the current economic situation is affecting farmers.
“When you take 2021 for instance, we were getting to plough an acre for something between GH¢120 to GH¢150. This year it is going for GH¢250 to GH¢300. These increases have affected us badly.”
The government has given up till November 2, 2022, for all excavators in the country to be registered with the relevant local government authorities.
Any excavator that is not registered in line with this directive shall be seized and confiscated by the State.
“An owner, operator and/or user of an excavator shall, at the time of registration, specify the purpose for which the excavator is being used or to be used and the area where the excavator is being used or will be used,” a statement from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources said.
As part of the registration Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assemblies are to record the name and particulars of the owner of the excavator, the date the excavator was brought into the country, the registration number, the chassis number, the purposes for which the excavator was brought into the country, the area where the excavator is expected to be used and the name and particulars of the current operator and user of the excavator.
The MMDAs are also encouraged to record other particulars they may deem necessary.
This government directive is in line with the fight against illegal mining.
Excavators used in illegal mining have quickened the rate of deforestation and increased the scale of illegal small-scale mining operations.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources assured that “it will continue to take the necessary measures to protect our natural environment, particularly, water bodies, forests and lands, in a transparent and sustainable manner, anchored on integrity.”
About eight trader groups and importers in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region are threatening to close their shops and stop imports for two weeks to protest the continuous free fall of the cedi against major trading currencies.
The traders who import and sell clothes and wares say the unstable nature of the exchange rate is collapsing their business and also eroding their capital.
The Deputy Secretary of the importers Association in Kumasi, Nana Yaw Agyeman, said the leadership of the various groups is mobilizing members to begin the strike next week.
“At this moment, we are running at a loss. All our capitals are in a ditch,” Mr. Agyeman said to Citi News.
“The inflation is killing us. It is collapsing all our finances, collapsing all our capital, and we cannot sit down for our capital to drain like that,” he added.
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) went on strike last week over similar concerns.
The strike lasted two days because the government came out with some interventions to appease the importers.
Among interventions and concessions the government has made to GUTA, a Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Michael Okyere Baafi, said a fixed exchange rate will be maintained at the ports for the next three months to cushion traders who import goods.
The Deputy Minister also said the government will suspend the ongoing invigilation by the Ghana Revenue Authority that has resulted in protests and the closure of businesses, specifically in Adum, Kumasi.
The Head Pastor and Founder of Glorious Wave Church International Prophet, Emmanuel Kobi Badu, has prophesied that a popular woman in Ghana who is currently being prosecuted will not be found guilty of any crime.
During a sermon in his church, Prophet Badu Kobi said that the state’s prosecution of the woman has no future.
He suggested that the enemies of the said woman should be well prepared because they would be haunted after her release.
“There is a certain woman in Ghana here, people are talking about her for the past few weeks. Whatever is happening to her, it has no future.
“Nothing will ever happen to her. Nothing, she will walk free. And when she walks free, enemies must stand well.
“What will happen after, what happened to her, it will turn and follow enemies. And it will not be easy for her enemies,” he said in a video shared by Kofi Radio, which was sighted by GhanaWeb.
Even though, Prophet Badu Kobi did not mention any name, social media users have claimed, the prophecy is about Evangelist Mama Pat, founder of Heavenway Champion International Ministry, Evangelist Mama Pat.
Evangelist Mama Pat, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, is currently being prosecuted for allegedly defrauding some of her church members.
An Accra circuit court has granted bail to the founder of Heaven Way Champion International Ministry, Patricia Asiedua, a.k.a. Nana Agradaa, in the sum of GH¢150,000 with three sureties.
Nana Agradaa is facing 7 charges, including defrauding her church members by false pretence in court.
She has, however, pleaded not guilty to her charges.
As part of the bail conditions, she is expected to provide three sureties, of whom one must be justified with a title deed.
She is also required to deposit her passport at the court registry.
Prior to this, Nana Agradaa was granted bail in the amount of GHC50,000 with three sureties in her first case.
As part of her bail conditions, Agradaa is supposed to report to police every Wednesday.
Background:
The Ghana Police Service arrested repented fetish priestess, Nana Agradaa, now known as Evangelist Mama Pat, on Sunday, October 9, 2022.
“The Police have arrested Patricia Asiedua alias Nana Agradaa following allegations of money-doubling scam levelled against her by some members of the public. The suspect is currently assisting police investigation,” a statement from the police said.
Nana Agradaa’s arrest comes on the back of allegations made by scores of her church members, who claimed that she had scammed them after an all-night service.
The former fetish priestess had advertised in a viral video that she was going to give out monies to people who would attend her all-night church service on Friday, October 7, 2022.
Things, however, did not go as planned for many of the people who attended the service as many of them cried foul that they had given out monies to her but she failed to keep to her side of the agreement.
She is eventually reported to have sent the people away from the church, prompting the alarms they raised online.
The police have since called on all persons who were affected by the supposed scam to report to the Accra Regional Police Command to help with the investigations.
The Minister of information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has indicated that the government has taken steps to curb the rapid depreciation of the Ghana cedi.
According to him, the government, in a series of consultations with relevant stakeholders in the financial sector, solved the issue of the cedi depreciation. Aside from that, the Economic Management Team, chaired by Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, will also hold a series of meetings with other stakeholders, Asaaseradio.com adds.
This consultation will end with a cabinet retreat, after which the president will address the nation with steps taken to solve the current economic hardship.
On the Interbank forex rates from the Bank of Ghana on October 24, 2022, the Ghana Cedi is trading against the dollar at a buying price of 12.5244 and a selling price of 12.5370.
This is compared to Saturday’s trading of a buying price of 12.5823 and a selling price of 12.5949.
At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is bought at a rate of 15.05 and sold at a rate of 15.65.
Ghanaians have taken to social media to complain about the high cost of living due to the effect of the dollar.
To curb the above, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah’s consultations began today (Monday October 24, 2022) with the Bank of Ghana meeting with heads of banking institutions and forex bureau operators.
Police on Friday, October 21, 2022, shot and killed an armed robber at Suame in the Ashanti region.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 22, 2022, the police explained that the operation was occasioned through intelligence gathered by its men.
“On Friday, October 21, 2022, following intelligence that an armed robbery gang was planning an attack on the cluster of banks in the Suame Magazine and Maakro enclave in Kumasi, the Police launched a special anti-robbery operation in which one of the armed robbers was shot.
“The armed robber and his accomplice who were on motorbikes attacked a customer who had stepped out of the Fidelity bank, Maakro branch, carrying a brown envelope,” the Police explained in a statement.
According to the Police, the robbers attacked the customer of the bank and snatched the envelope amidst the firing of guns.
“The rear windscreen and the left door glass of a Daewoo Matiz saloon car which was parked on the bank premises was hit during the shooting.
“The Police, who had mounted surveillance in the area, responded to the situation by firing at the armed robbers and succeeded in hitting the pillion rider who fell off the motorbike. However, the rider who also sustained gunshot wounds, managed to escape,” the statement further added.
The Ghana Police indicated that one of the police officers was shot by the armed robbers during the exchange of fire and “sustained a gunshot wound to his right hip.”
“Both the injured officer and the suspect were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for medical attention. The suspect was, however, pronounced dead on arrival.
The body of the deceased suspect has been deposited at the morgue for preservation, identification, and autopsy, police said.
The Police administration stated that efforts are underway to get his accomplice arrested to face justice.
“We wish to appeal to the public especially those who run health facilities within the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs to report any person seeking medical attention with a gunshot wound, for prompt Police action.
“We would like to commend all the officers who took part in the operation and also wish our injured colleague a speedy recovery.”
A popular traditional priest, Okomfuo Kyei (real name, Nana Yaw Kyei), has been elected as the new Chairman of the National Democratic Congress in the Adansi Asokwa constituency of the Ashanti Region.
According to a report by the Ghana News Agency, the new chairman unseated the incumbent chairman, Godwin Anumley Dogodzi, with a vote tally of 436 to 285.
The report added that after he was confirmed, Nana Kyei pledged to work hard to win the constituency seat for the NDC in the 2024 general elections.
He further called on all members of the party to unite towards the task ahead, adding that it would take unity and determination to recapture power from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Other executives elected were Joseph Ankomah as vice chairman, Lawrence Osei Adarkwa as secretary, Amidu Raman Razark as assistant secretary, and Kwabena Ebo as organiser.
The rest were Moses Appenteng, treasurer; Isaac Semirika, youth organizer; Madam Mavis Adjei, women organizer; and Julius Dzekpey Mawuli, communication officer.
The NDC held its constituency elections across the country on Saturday, October 22, 2022.
There were, however, over 15 constituencies that did not hold their elections due to some unresolved election details, including incomplete voter registers.
The Okyenhene, Amoatia Ofori Panin II is first on Ghana Twitter trends following his comments and descriptions of people criticizing President Akufo-Addo as ‘villagers’ and ‘witches.’
Speaking at the inauguration of Archeaconry Service held at the St. Martin Anglican Church in Kyebi in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region on Sunday, October 23, 2022, the traditional leader called on Ghanaians to appreciate the significant contribution of the president to the development of the country.
He explained that the numerous policies of the government, such as the Free Senior High School, are reasons Ghanaians should be grateful to the government.
“We must appreciate the feat of the president and show him appreciation for what he has done for Ghana. We must defend and protect him.
“… those insulting the president are children of villagers. They are uncivilized. No well-nurtured person will insult an elderly. If you were raised in the church, you will not insult an elder. If you are not a villager then you may be a witch or wizard,” he said without mincing words.
Following that, a number of online users have flooded Twitter to share their sentiments about the chief’s comments.
One user, Abena Nsia Nyarko, stated that it appears it is because of the direct benefits the Okyehene receives from the continuous stay of the president in office that he is speaking this way.
“This is why the Okyenhene is calling us villagers, witches & wizards. Because, so long as Nana Akufo-Addo stays in office he continues to benefit hugely from the state. Hence the insult for demanding our Constitutional Right against the economic quagmire we’re facing today,” she tweeted.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) delegates in the Ablekuma South constituency gave their incumbent chairman, Geoffrey Atakli Banini, a shock when they voted against him in the recently held constituency elections.
With a new favourite for the slot, the delegates gave their votes to Wisdom Nii Amoo Dodoo, a man believed to be a favourite of the Member of Parliament for the area, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije.
After hours of waiting, due to several recounts of some of the results, the Electoral Commission representative pronounced Wisdom Dodoo the winner with a vote tally of 983, as against Banini’s 635.
Speaking to GhanaWeb right after the declaration, the newly-elected chairman said he would use his unifying personality to foster unity in the party.
He also called on all persons who had lost their various bids for election to focus on helping the NDC wrestle power in 2024.
“I’ll say better luck next time, but just so you know, I am a unifier and so I will bring all of them on board so we work towards 2024,” he stated.
On how he feels about his victory, Wisdom Dodoo said it is a great feeling, and he hopes to capitalise on it to help the NDC win the national election of 2024.
He added that the NDC intends to save Ghanaians from the poor governance of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) with a target of 25,000 more votes.
“I feel great about this victory, and I thank everyone. You know that the NPP has not been performing so we will work towards 2024 to ensure victory in Ablekuma South and the whole of Ghana.
“We are targeting about 25,000 more votes than the ones we had the last time,” he stated.
Speaking to GhanaWeb, the Ablekuma South MP, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, explained that what happened in the elections in his constituency is a confirmation of the mandate of the people.
“In the 2020 elections, the people of Ablekuma South spoke eloquently, giving Okoe Vanderpuije 61% victory. And so, when the people speak, and you’re a member of the executive and you don’t listen, they will show you the exit. That is simple and short.
“So, we have members of the executive who, of late, have not been working with the MP. So, the delegates and the people of the grassroots made a decision, and the decision is that they love their MP, and they want their MP to continue to work for them, and they want a team that will work with the MP.
“This election is not only a foretaste, but a mandate that will go out for anybody who wants to stand in the way of the NDC; we are ready,” he stated.
Below is the full list of results from the Ablekuma South elections:
Chairman
Geoffrey Atakli Banini 635
Wisdom Nii Amoro Dodoo 983
Vice Chairman
Theophilus Allottei Myers 719
Paul Ardey Codzoe 889
Secretary
Robert Quaye 805
Peter Agbeli 814
Deputy Secretary
Benedict Nii Yao Crabbe 710
Eugene Kwaku Wiafe 914
Organiser
Alfred Addotey Allotey 1013
Albert Pangbot 510
Deputy Organiser
Rochester Botchwey 708
King Archiemore Rockson 118
Treasurer
Richard Tagoe 653
Robertson Nii Kpakpo Mensah
Deputy Treasurer
Rahinatu Issifu 735
Paul Kwame Mensah 875
Youth Organiser
Daniel Kwaku Ofori 80
Theophilus Isaac Quaye 102
Kibi Circuit court in the Eastern region presided over by His Honour Peter Oppong-Boahen has sentenced two members of a notorious car-snatching syndicate to a total of 90 years imprisonment.
The convicts; Yaw Gershon,40, a driver, and Ali Suleiman,38, a trader were sentenced to 45 years respectively for the offence of Conspiracy to commit crime to wit robbery, and robbery contrary to sections 23(1) and 149 of the criminal offences Act 1960(Act 29).
The facts of the case investigated and prepared by Detective Amadu Abdul-Rauf are that the complainant -Sackitey Joseph is a commercial driver in charge of a Toyota Hiace vehicle with registration number GT 5913-21 and lives at Nuaso near Odumase Krobo, while the first accused person Yaw Gershon is a driver and lives at Asiakwa, the second accused Ali Suleiman, is a trader who lives at Akyem Osino.
On February 28, 2022, at about 9:30 am, the complainant went to the spraying shop with a witness in the case Moses Tetteh to take a nap before resuming work.
Whilst there, Tettey told the driver that someone called him on phone to get him a commercial driver to pick up a family from Bunso to Somanya to attend a wedding ceremony.
The driver negotiated with the caller on phone which he made part payment of Ghc250 to buy fuel then directed him to pick him up at Bunso.
On reaching Bunso at about 9:30 pm the same day, a certain man approached the complainant and identified himself as the person he spoke to on phone.
He boarded the vehicle and directed the driver to a place around the dumping site at Asiakwa where his accomplices had laid ambush.
The accused onboard the Vehicle pointed a pistol at him and ordered him to stop the vehicle, which he obliged.
Five men armed with guns and cutlasses wearing face masks also emerged from the bush to attack and subject the driver to severe beatings and tied him with a rope.
They snatched the Toyota Hiace Vehicle, stole two mobile phones and cash of Ghc1,200 from the driver, and bolted.
After the rescue, the driver reported the case to Police for investigation.
On March 5, 2022, at about 2:30 am, Yaw Gershon and Ali Suleiman were arrested at Buipe Police checkpoint in the Savannah Region for robbing a driver of his vehicle at Teacher Mante near Nsawam in the Eastern region using same modus Operandi.
Kibi police upon hearing the arrest went for the accused persons for further interrogation which established they were part of the syndicate that robbed and snatched vehicle from the driver.
They were charged and arraigned before Kibi Circuit court but pleaded not guilty to all counts. The case went for full trial for six months which the court found them guilty hence the sentence.
The case involving Chinese illegal miner, Aisha Huang, has been adjourned to November 2, 2022, for case management.
In court today, October 24, 2022, Deputy Attorney General, Diana Asona Dapaah said her outfit has not been able to file all disclosures in the case.
She however said it is being worked on at the registry.
She requested, from the court, some time to file the processes.
The judge denied the appeal for bail requested by lawyers of Aisha Huang and said until there is an unreasonable delay in the case, he hasn’t changed his mind about the bail decision.
He said he was reliably informed that the Chinese interpreter has travelled out of Ghana and an arrangement was being made for another one.
The judge directed that the Registrar should ensure that a Chinese interpreter is made available at the next sitting and subsequent ones.
He again asked the prosecution to file their second batch of witness statements and serve same on the defence four clear days before the next date.
A member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral project, Rev. Joyce Aryee, is optimistic Ghana’s economic crisis will not stop donations to the project.
At a press conference to announce a call centre for Ghanaians to seek answers on the project such as how to make donations, a member of the board of trustees, Rev. Aryee, said she did not expect the economic hardship to persist in the long term.
“Human beings are so resilient. I am 76. I have lived through worse economic times in our country, therefore, I know economic times are as transient as the seasons of life.”
“God has a way of touching our lives in ways that sometimes we don’t understand. We are still going to church, aren’t we? And we are still making donations, aren’t we? But times are difficult and that’s what gives me hope that, never mind how difficult times are, some people will willingly support,” she added.
She further indicated that the call centre is expected to improve the relationship between the public and the cathedral.
Construction work on the National Cathedral was suspended because of a lack of funds.
The $450 million project was envisioned by the government in March 2017 as a physical embodiment of national unity, harmony, and spirituality.
It remains unclear how much has been pumped into the project from donations and government support.
As of June 2022, various church denominations had contributed GH¢2.21 million towards the construction.
Award-winning Ghanaian singer, Bertha Bridget Kankam, popularly known as Yaa Yaa, has graduated from the University of Waterloo, Canada with Masters of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology.
Yaa Yaa posted a picture in her graduation gown with a caption expressing how overwhelmed she is by the achievement.
“See what the Lord has done! Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program, done and dusted! I am overwhelmed with emotions right now. I’ll come back later with my speech but for now, help me thank the Lord ,” she said.
The “Kae” hitmaker prior to this feat completed a four-year degree programme at the University of Ghana.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reportedly suspended its polling station organizer in the Manhyia North Constituency of the Ashanti Region, named Andy, who begged former President John Dramani Mahama’s forgiveness for voting against him.
In a viral video sighted by GhanaWeb on October 20, Andy berated President Akufo-Addo for his poor handling of Ghana’s economy while expressing regret for his decision to vote against former President John Dramani Mahama.
“Honourable Mahama, please forgive me. Mahama, forgive me. I did not know that things were going to be like this. If I knew that this was what was going to happen, I would not have voted against you. Mahama, please forgive me.
“… As for you, Akufo-Addo, I am not going to say anything against you. After all these (difficulties), you are also insulting us by telling us that nobody held our hands to vote. 2024 will be here soon and you will see your stance.
“A dollar is almost GH¢15 and you’re telling us it is because of the Russia-Ukraine war. A gallon of petrol is now GH¢70. We can no longer buy cement. We have all packed our cars. Mahama please forgive, please forgive,” he said in Twi.
In another video sighted by GhanaWeb, Andy, who disclosed his suspension from the NPP, said that he has no regret for the comments he made.
He added that his suspension will not affect him in any way since the NPP has done nothing for him for the 12 years he has been serving the party.
“Yesterday, the dollar was GH¢14 plus. Today it is GH¢15, why? You have suspended me for speaking the truth.
“It has never been my intention to contest for a position in the NPP; it has never been my intention. Also, the NPP has never gotten me a job. I have been a member of the NPP for 12 years and you have not gotten me a job. And so, what is the essence of your suspension?
“… I will continue to seek Mahama’s forgiveness because I did not know this was how things were going to be. I have supported the NPP with my resources. I have used my money for posters, banners and other things. I don’t want to hold any position in the NPP and I will continue to beg Mahama for his forgiveness,” he said in Twi.
The Accra High Court, presided by Justice Lydia Marfo, has asked the Attorney General to file its witness statement and serve the accusers in Aisha Huang’s case.
This comes after the Deputy Attorney General told the court he had prepared its witness statement and other relevant documents, which are being filed at the court registry.
Chinese national, Aisha Huang, is in court for her involvement in illegal mining activities (galamsey) in Ghana at the Accra High Court.
At today’s sitting, the Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, asked for an adjournment as all their witness statements and documents were being filed at the court registry.
The judge then asked the attorney to ensure it is filed and the accusers are served to enable case management and pre-trial conference to occur.
The case was therefore adjourned to November 2, 2022.
Meanwhile, Deputy AG Alfred Tuah Yeboah, who spoke to the press after today’s sitting, said the delay was to ensure the right documents are presented.
“We have complied but it wasn’t within time. As we speak, it has been done. Prosecuting a case like what we have at the moment, you need to dot the “I’s” cross the T’s. At the next adjourned date we will definitely be ready to move on,“ he said.
An Accra circuit court has granted bail to the founder of Heaven Way Champion International Ministry, Patricia Asiedua, a.k.a. Nana Agradaa, in the sum of GH¢150,000 with three sureties by an Accra Circuit Court.
Nana Agradaa is facing 7 charges, including defrauding her church members by false pretence in court.
She has, however, pleaded not guilty to her charges.
As part of the bail conditions, she is expected to provide three sureties, of whom one must be justified with a title deed.
She is also required to deposit her passport at the court registry.
Prior to this, Nana Agradaa was granted bail in the amount of GHC50,000 with three sureties in her first case.
As part of her bail conditions, Agradaa is supposed to report to police every Wednesday.
Background:
The Ghana Police Service arrested repented fetish priestess, Nana Agradaa, now known as Evangelist Mama Pat, on Sunday, October 9, 2022.
“The Police have arrested Patricia Asiedua alias Nana Agradaa following allegations of money-doubling scam levelled against her by some members of the public. The suspect is currently assisting police investigation,” a statement from the police said.
Nana Agradaa’s arrest comes on the back of allegations made by scores of her church members, who claimed that she had scammed them after an all-night service.
The former fetish priestess had advertised in a viral video that she was going to give out monies to people who would attend her all-night church service on Friday, October 7, 2022.
Things, however, did not go as planned for many of the people who attended the service as many of them cried foul that they had given out monies to her but she failed to keep to her side of the agreement.
She is eventually reported to have sent the people away from the church, prompting the alarms they raised online.
The police have since called on all persons who were affected by the supposed scam to report to the Accra Regional Police Command to help with the investigations.
“Anyone who is a victim of the alleged money doubling scam should report to the Accra Regional Police Command for further action to assist the investigation,” it added.
A Ghanaian businessman, Dr Karl Nii Ayi kai Laryea, has received ” Gratis Agit Laureate” from the government of the Czech Republic for his roles in enhancing activities of the country globally.
Dr Laryea who is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Knights a.s., a global technology transfer Company also doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of the Kumasi Shoe Factory.
He is the first African to be honoured by the Czech government at this year’s event held at the Prague Castle in the Czech Republic.
The citation eulogised him for his relentless and continuous contribution in promoting trade facilitation between Czech Republic, Ghana and the West African sub-region.
Dr Laryea was also applauded for his long-term and persistent work that had helped to deepen Czech-Ghana relations not only at the economic but also political level.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Czech Republic, Mr Jan Lipavský, who presented the awards, expressed delight at the contribution of the eight awardees to the growth of the Czech Republic.
In Dr Laryea‘s citation, Mr Jan Lipavsky said ” since 1997, when he founded the company Knights a.s., Dr. Laryea has been promoting the good name of the Czech Republic in West Africa, especially in the field of economic diplomacy”
He explained that, Dr Laryea had initiated many important business activities, especially in the field of infrastructure and agriculture.
“One of the most notable projects is the construction of 50 steel bridges of lengths ranging from 20 metres to 50 metres, manufactured in the Czech Republic, with the prospect of supplying 150 more”
“These bridges are crucial to Ghana’s infrastructure and economy since they provide connections to commercial centres and enable access to schools, hospitals and jobs for people in the remoter areas,” he said.
Mr Jan Lipavský also mentioned Dr Laryea’s instrumental role in upcoming activities that would see the preparation of a pilot project for a tramway system in Kumasi, the construction of which should involve a consortium of seven Czech companies, including the Czech Technical University.
“This project could become a model for other West African countries. The Joint Venture Company with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana is another interesting project, where Knights a.s. has supplied Czech technology for pressing tropical fruits and juice production” he said.
He said from 1996 to 2008, Dr Laryea was the unofficial Counsellor for Economic Projects and Cooperation at the Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Prague.
“One of his major projects during this period was the re-establishment of the Bata shoe factory in Kumasi, which employs over a hundred young Ghanaians,” he said.
Receiving the Award, Dr Laryea expressed gratitude to Czech Republic for the recognition and pledged to continue to contribute to Czech-Ghanaian cooperation and facilitates the implementation of projects in both the economic and development fields.
Dr Laryea did Electrical Engineering in Czech Republic and later pursued his Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate Degrees in the same country.
He later established KNIGHTS a.s., in the year 1997 in the Czech Republic. KNIGHTS a.s. is a company that specialises in transferring innovative technologies, technical customisation & Development and Project Financing.
President Akufo-Addo says he is hopeful the outcome of the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) negotiations would tackle the high cost of living in the country.
He admitted the cost of living was high but was optimistic that the package of measures which would accompany the IMF programme would address the economic issues successfully and reduce the hardship on Ghanaians.
“Yes we are going through difficulties but at the same time we trying to do well in other areas, the fundamentals of government policy is working. We have about 120 One District, One Factory completed and 300 of them in the pipeline,” he said.
President, Akufo- Addo made these statements at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region on Friday when he spoke to the media as part of his three-day tour of the Eastern Region.
Speaking on concerns made by some persons to review the free Senior High School (SHS) policy, the President said he was a bit skeptical about it.
He argued “I have to confess my attitude when I hear the word review I hesitate because, first people who spoke about the review are people who opposed the policy in the first place and so if someone who did not want the policy comes to tell us that we should review it then my understanding is that he is to review the policy to reverse it.”
According to the President, the two fundamental thrust of the policy which was to expand access that has been dramatically achieved.
“The other was to include quality outcomes of education and I must say The outcomes of the free SHS graduates are a major improvement on the free SHS data that we have whether it is mathematics or integrated science, english across the board.”
President Akufo-Addo added that each of these areas of study has seen a significant increase in the results of the students.
President Akufo-Addo said reviewing these two thrusst of the policy and the improvement made will somehow be compromised, adding the country cannot tamper with the two fundamentals.
He said “as a country, we have ensured that nobody in the country, no matter their social origin and financial background should be denied access to good quality secondary education and added that for the past five years, the implementation of the policy has been established.”
He indicated that so far, his government have been able to financially sustain the free SHS policy and would continue to sustain it.
The President later attended an official opening of the NPP National Executives and directors Training and Orientation Conference at Rock City in the Abetifi Constituency.
He then proceeded to Nkawkaw to inspect the construction of the Nkawkaw-Abirem- Ofoase -Akim Oda road Project.
President Akufo Addo later paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Ofoase, inspected the construction of the Ofoase-Ayirebi Agenda 111 hospital project and departed to Akyem Asuboa in the Asene Manso Akroso constituency to inspect a similar project.
The company behind the “Remember Me” political advertisement of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2020, which has become a subject of recent conversations, has come out to refute claims that they deceived and paid their actors only GH₵300.
According to Riverblade Intuition, there appears to be an intentional plot by one of the models, Nicholas Teye, a former beneficiary of the Nation Builders Corps (NABCo), to misrepresent the facts of the matter.
He claimed that Nicholas and 31 others, most of whom were not lucky enough to have had their pictures selected, each received GH₵500 as well as transportation of GH₵50 each.
He added that the total amount paid to all of them came to GH₵17,050.
He also refuted the claim that the actors had not been given the full details of what they were in for.
“First of all, a simulated design of the billboard adverts was shown to him repeatedly during the photoshoot to get his expression and acting. Also, the intended purpose for his photos was expressly stated in the release form he signed before the shoot began,” Roman Boakye Gyinae, the Creative Chief and Director of Strategy at Riverblade Intuition, said, a report by mynewsgh.com stated.
Earlier, GhanaWeb reported that Nicholas Teye had claimed that he was only paid GH₵300 for the photos he took.
He added that his life is currently under threat because his face was splashed on the billboards without his knowledge.
Speaking to TV3 in an interview, Nicholas stated that people blame him for the current economic hardship facing Ghanaians, as they believe that he also campaigned for the governing party.
The SHS teacher stated that he has had to even disguise himself by wearing a nose mask and a cap whenever he wants to go out of his home, for fear of being noticed and attacked.
“My major challenge is the threat. So, any time I have to go out, I have to put on a nose mask and sometimes a cap.
“Sometimes, I will be in the room, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday without going out because I am afraid if I step out, I don’t know what will happen to me. The moment they see you [sic] they are angry and they want to beat you because you are part of the reasons why they are suffering. Sometimes they will call you and threaten you.
“Sometimes my wife will tell me where I am going, if I have the money, I should take Uber,” Teye narrated.
Riverblade Intuition also explained that the advertisements under the “Remember Me” campaign for the NPP had more than 85million impaction online, influencing voter decisions through the use of emotive themes.
A materials engineer, Abdulai Mahama, has raised an alarm about the low structural integrity of most buildings in the country.
According to him, many of the buildings in the country are only standing by the grace of God, and not because they have been professionally constructed.
“A lot of our storey buildings are standing by grace, not by engineering. The structural integrities of a lot of buildings in this country is questionable,” he stated in an earlier Facebook post.
Providing further explanations to all that he said in his earlier video, Abdulai Mahama made another post on Twitter to elaborate.
He explained that from his studies of many years, he is yet to find any building that passes the test for structural integrity in the country.
“Doctors have told us that before you get proper treatment, you have to be diagnosed so that you are given the right medication but sadly, when it comes to construction, almost all professionals: bankers, doctors, nurses, soldiers, police officers, financial bankrollers, businessmen, whatever, they all fall on the quack professionals like the masons, the artisans to do the designs and constructions for them.
“Meanwhile, this is where you’re sinking a lot of your money and then when there are problems at the end of the construction, then they now look for we the professionals to come and remedy the situation for them.
“I’ve done a lot of structural integrity in Ghana and so far, none of them has actually passed. And it’s sad that you’re spending so much money and you’re not getting value for money construction for your buildings,” he clarified.
Gold is considered one of Ghana’s most priced minerals which in recent times is being exploited by many even through illegal means.
In the case of Addaekrom, an island community in the Eastern Region of Ghana, their gold is a most unimaginable basic need: good drinking water.
Sad as it sounds, that appears to be a major worry for the people of the small community.
Speaking with youtuber; Nana Tea Was Here Some, one of the teachers in the community who are revolutionalising education, Godfred Nyarko, explained that students, for instance, only use sachet water when they are unwell.
“The river is where we fetch water from but as for us the teachers, we buy bags of pure water when the boat is going to Tokor, Kpando… water is not a problem but if they can get us a pipe, that will be fine.
“Sometimes when they are sick, that’s when they come to us for pure water. So, pure water here is like gold. When they are sick, the nurses will tell them to take the medicine with pure water and so they’ll come to us for pure water,” he said.
The Addaekrom community of a little over 1000 inhabitants, has only one school that is riddled with many challenges.
Godfred Nyarko explained that whenever it rains, school activities automatically have to come to a halt.
The Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibriil has blamed the flooding in some communities in the Central Gonja District including Buipe, the capital, on the spillage of the Bui Dam.
The minister who was speaking after visiting the affected area in Buipe assured the victims of government’s plan to support them with relief.
About 297 households in 4 communities have been affected, displacing over 1,200 residents by the flood in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region.
Public and private properties including electricity poles and cables and school buildings have been submerged by the flood.
As a result, two schools have been forced to shut down and victims seeking shelter with relations and friends.
The Savannah Regional Minister attributed the flood to spillage of the Bui Dam by the Bui Power Authority.
He made the comments during a visit to the affected areas.
“The waters started rising as a result of the spillage of the Bui Dam, and we asked the resident NADMO officials and various security agencies to start monitoring the situation. But as it is now, the water has risen so high that about 219 households have been affected. Per my count, the number of people occupying the households should be over 1,200.”
Mr. Saeed assured the victims of government’s plan to cushion them and assured that pupils from the affected schools will from Tuesday be put in other schools until their schools can be reopened.
“There are two schools that have been affected by this flooding. So I am going to be in touch with the District Chief Executive and the District Education Officer to see how the various schools within the catchment area, particularly Buipe, the epicentre of this flood, to see how they can absorb these children into the other schools so that they will not be losing a lot.”
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Kintampo North, Joseph Kwame Kumah who also has the Black Volta as its boundary wants government to extend relief to victims on his side of the river.
Mr. Kumah who also visited affected areas in Benkrom says government must turn its attention to the area.
Mr. Kumah also called on authorities of the Bui Dam to take more responsibility for the disaster.
“Bui dam, I know they have a patrol boat. If they don’t, they have a means by which they can know what is happening along the Bui Dam settlements so that they can come to the aid of the people and maybe if there are any technical advice they should give, they should let us all know as members of Parliament so that we can also talk to the chiefs and people of the area and see how we can have a lasting solution to it.”
The Police Commander for the Ashaiman Municipality, Superintendent Osman Alhassan has told Citi News that crime rate in Ashaiman has reduced drastically.
This he attributes to hard work on the part of police officers.
He noted with certainty that, the negative tag on Ashaiman as a haven for criminals will become a thing of the past.
According to him, the police will leave no security-related issues unattended.
“There is no problem in Ashaiman because we do not have serious and other violent crimes in the community. The police have been able to control the crime rate in Ashaiman even to the surprise of residents.”
His comments come on the back of a successful conduct of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency election at Ashaiman where there was no incident recorded despite the tense atmosphere.
Prophet Kofi Oduro, General Overseer, Alabaster International Ministry, has indicated that President Akufo-Addo has become prouder than the opposition NDC and its 2020 flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.
The man of God in a viral video sighted by GhanaWeb said the President needs to repent from his arrogance if he wants to see a solution and have a remedy to the current economic hardships facing Ghanaians.
He said the President, who was favoured by God for his meekness has become prouder and his pride will take him down without any remedy.
He noted that without repentance, a proud Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government will go down in the history of Ghana as the worse.
Prophet Kofi Oduro said, “they spoke carelessly without any remembrance and in the humility of your heart, God favoured you but your excellency you have become more prouder than the NDC and their Mahama.
“I stand here with a heavy heart to respectfully say this to you, sir, the Lord is telling me pride takes everybody down and if you continue to be proud, you will go down without remedy.”
He continued: “your government will be the worse in the history of this country. Your excellency, if you continue in the arrogance of speech and the pride of your life, you will never see solution and you will never see remedy.
“I stand here as a man of God and as a prophet of God of not needing anything from you except your repentance and your humility; if not Ghana is going into destruction. It is only the fool that thinks that we are going in the right direction.”
Customers adversely affected by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)’s prepayment system vending failure will today begin processing claims forms to be submitted to the ECG District Offices for compensation.
This follows an engagement between the PURC and ECG regarding the compensation of clients affected by ECG’s Prepayment System in the Volta Region, Accra, Central Region, Western Region, Ashanti Region, and Eastern Region, among others.
Dr. Ishmael Ackah, Executive Secretary, PURC, in a statement signed and issued and copied to the paper in Accra on Friday, said the ECG, under PURC’s regulatory oversight, shall investigate and analyse the information contained in submitted forms and compensate affected customers accordingly.
“Only customers whose electricity supply was interrupted due to the vending failure will be considered for compensation,” he added.
Dr. Ackah used the opportunity to assure all stakeholders that the Commission was committed to protecting the interests of both utilities and consumers.
Meanwhile, ECG, at a presser recently in Accra, said it could not undertake a wholesale compensation payment to all customers of the company as directed by the PURC for the recent power crisis.
Instead, the company noted, it was prepared to abide by the laid down procedure to pay compensation to affected customers on a case-by-case basis.
Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, said his outfit was preparing to engage the PURC on the need to alter the directive to make case by case the basis of payment of compensation.
Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong is a candidate vying to occupy the Offinso paramount seat following the demise of Paramount Chief, Nana Awiafe Akenten III in 2021.
But his nomination has been shrouded in controversies with some factions within the Offinso area questioning his legitimacy.
While some say he is not a royal and has no lineage that qualifies him for the Offinso seat considering he hails from Beposo in the Bosomtwe district of the Ashanti Region, others say he has a lineage and is a qualified candidate.
What tradition demands:
According to the Benkumhene of Offinso, Nana Osei Boateng Yentumi Pimapim, after the passing and burial of a chief, the floor is opened for candidates hoping to occupy the stool to present their interests, by writing their names and indicating their intentions led by their family heads.
After this, the queen mother is to decide with family heads and other appointed chiefs after which the chosen candidates are presented to the Gyaasehene then the kingmakers and so on.
Benkumhene narrates what happened in the case of K.K Sarpong:
Speaking in an interview with Kessben TV, the Benkumhene said “After Nana Akenten passed away, the queen mother; Nana Hemaa Ama Serwaa Nyarko gave an opportunity for people who may want to occupy the seat.
“After this, some 18 people presented their interests, made up of people from Ashirem, others from Akonkodiase, who are all from the Asona Clan in Offinso. They make up the two gates from which the paramount chief is chosen.
“During this process, Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong also had the chance to present his interest and traditionally, it is the queen mother that chooses candidates for the stool through the family heads.
“After this, he is presented to the Gyaasehene, and after they are done deciding, they present before the kingmakers – the Krontihene, Benkumhene and Nifahene for us to investigate him.
“After this, we accepted,” he added.
What the concerns are:
Some members of one of the gates, Ashirem, held a press conference in May 2022 to voice out their displeasure with the nomination process of Dr. K. K Sarpong.
According to the family head, Kontonmmra Aboagye who addressed media persons, they are of the view that the queen mother is sidelining the family and using unqualified means to nominate the said candidate.
According to them, he has been rejected by both the Akonkodiase gate and the Ashirem gate.
“Akonkodiase people didn’t accept him. Then he came here. We don’t accept him He is from Beposo. No family of his is from here.
“After the passing of the chief, the way was paved for anyone who wanted to contest for the stool to bring their names. We had candidates following traditions and presenting their pleas with subchiefs but even after that, when the selection process started, they didn’t hear of it.
“They skipped processes and went to present him to Manhyia but that didn’t work. The queen mother connived with a few chiefs to present K.K Sarpong, putting the family aside. He should bring his family tree,” he said.
But the Benkumhene has maintained that all due process had been followed in nominating Dr. K.K Sarpong.
According to him, although Dr. Sarpong is from Beposo, his lineage can be traced to Offinso and therefore he is qualified.
He also defended the queen mother Nanahemaa Ama Serwaa Nyarko, indicating that she had followed due process.
“I think some people want the stool to remain with the Akonkodiase. Dr. K.K Sarpong is from Offinso, I only believe it is circumstances or marriage that traces some part of his lineage to Beposo.
“I will disagree with anyone who will suggest that the queen mother is breaking protocol. She is going according to tradition and it’s all clear. It’s not the family that makes kings, it is the family heads that select. When K.K Sarpong was being selected, family head representatives from both the Ashirem and Akonkodiase lines were present,” he said.
What Otumfuo said:
The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II openly rejected the nomination of Dr. K.K Sarpong, Former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) as was captured in a video that made rounds on Friday, October 21, 2022.
In the said video, the Ashanti King clearly indicated his displeasure about how the nomination process for Dr. K.K Sarpong was done.
“Kofi Kodua Sarpong has lived a good life, he has achieved a lot in life. If he is the person, you the elders of Offinso want, you should have come to me and told me that you want him to be your chief if I accept him. Is that not what you should have done? And now that you have gone your own way and you are having difficulties you are coming to me for what?
“I have cancelled all the pleas of the family head (Atta Kwabena). Mother, I have cancelled the pleas he (the family head) brought to you because the family head himself does not have the right to come close to the stool and for that matter bring you pleas. There is a curse on him that he was to take off.
“That is why I was asking the elders why they will let someone with a curse on him lead their plea. That is the issue I have. I have cancelled the nomination process.
“I know that Kofi Konadu Sarpong is the person you want as chief if that is true come and tell me about it. I know that you have sat with him and have come to an agreement. But the person leading your plea does not have the right to do so now,” the Asantehene said in Twi at the Manhyia Palace in a video shared by Opemsuo Radio which was sighted by GhanaWeb.
They are bold and beautiful and are currently making strides as justices of Ghana’s Supreme Court, having been appointed at different periods by the President Akufo-Addo.
Out of some 14 Justices of the Supreme Court, these 5 women are making a name not only for themselves in legal history but on behalf of all Ghanaian women.
We take a look at their profiles and achievements.
Agnes Mercy Abla Dordzie
Agnes Mercy Abla Dordzie was born in Taviefe-Deme in the Volta Region. After her basic and secondary education in various schools including the Ola Girls Secondary School in the Volta Region, she proceeded to the University of Ghana to study Law and Political Science from 1974 to 1977.
Dordzie worked as a national service personnel at the National Council on Women and Development at Koforidua from 1977 to 1978.
She then enrolled at the Ghana School of Law in 1979 and graduated in November 1980 with a Barrister-at-law degree. Justice Dordzie was called to the bar that same year. text
She joined the Attorney General’s Department as an assistant state attorney until January 1983. A month later, she moved to Nigeria on a contract appointment to work with the Minister of Justice at Calabar, Cross River State as a state council.
She later returned to Ghana to begin private legal practice at Adzoe Gbadegbe and Company.
She remained in private legal practice until May 1987 when she appointed magistrate at Somanya. In November 1991 she was elevated to a Circuit Judge, working in Accra.
She served as a High Court judge in Accra from November 1995 to November 2003.
From December 2003 to November 2005, she was the supervising High Court judge of the Ashanti Region.
Justice Dordzie was appointed by the Commonwealth Secretariat on the secondment of the Judiciary of Ghana to serve as a High Court judge in The Gambia and was later elevated to the Court of Appeal in July 2010.
In 2007 she pursued a master’s degree program in International Relations at the Commonwealth Open University, British Virgin Islands, United Kingdom, graduating in 2010.
She also enrolled at the Institute of Theological Studies to study a six-month diploma course in Christian Counselling in 2014.
Agnes Mercy Abla Dordzie was one of four Supreme Court Justices nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on July 3, 2018.
Her nomination followed the retirement of some justices of the Supreme Court and the need to replace them.
Prempeh College will have a chance to defend the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) trophy in the grand finale after their victory in the first semifinal contest.
The Kumasi-based giants defeated Cape Coast’s Mfantsipim School in a close contest on Sunday.
They now stand a chance of equalling two records set by Presec Legon; that is winning the trophy back-to-back and winning it for the sixth time.
The scores at the end of five rounds stood at Prempeh College with 49 points, Abetifi Presby came second with 43 points and Mfantsipim School came last with 41 points.
Meanwhile, St James Sem, Kumasi High School and Presec Legon will compete for a slot in the finale at 12 pm.
The 2022 National Science & Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and sponsored by the Ghana Education Service in partnership with Absa Ghana and supported by GOIL, Prudential Life Insurance, AirtelTigo, Dano Milk, Newmont, GNPC, Accra College of Medicine, Academic City University College and Y FM.
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, Fay Toilet Roll, Ace Medical Insurance, Azar Group, Kings Group Limited, Family Health Medical School, DBS, ZnZ, The Barstow School, KORBA and Pharmatrust Limited.
Ivory Coast and Ghana will not be attending the World Cocoa Foundation Partnership meeting scheduled to be held in Brussels from October 26-27.
The meeting which is the leading global conference on cocoa sustainability will miss the world’s two largest cocoa-producing countries due to pricing issues, Reuters reported.
Both Ghana Cocoa Board, COCOBOD, and Ivory Coast’s Coffee and Cocoa Council, CCC, have cited multinational chocolate companies resisting measures that aim to improve farmers’ income as the reason for their boycott.
According to the Head of Public Affairs for Cocobod, Fiifi Boafo, “The major chocolate brands have resisted and tried to find means to circumvent payment of the LID”.
Therefore, “the Chief Executive [Joseph Boahen Aidoo] is not attending the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) meeting in Belgium and none of the executives at Cocobod will be there,” he affirmed.
Boafo accused the multinational chocolate companies of waging a silent war against a farmers’ premium, the Living Income Differential, as a direct rejection will give them bad publicity.
Adding his voice, the Director General of Ivory Coast’s Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC), Yves Brahima Kone, also said he will not be in attending this or any other industry meetings.
He further stated that sustainability programmes launched since 2008 and aimed at tackling issues such as child labour have also benefited companies more than farmers.
Two premiums paid on Ghana and Ivory Coast cocoa beans to help alleviate farmer poverty have in recent years suffered massive discounts by chocolate companies, eroding the intended purpose.
The origin differential, an additional premium paid for the quality and reliability of cocoa beans and the Living Income Differential is a fixed amount of $400 agreed on for every tonne of cocoa sold by Ivory Coast and Ghana.
In July both regulators said they would no longer sell cocoa with a negative origin differential, fixing it at zero for Ivory Coast and at +20 pounds sterling ($22) per tonne for Ghana.
COCOBOD and CCC explained that some of the world’s major chocolate makers and cocoa traders are pushing for origin differentials as low as negative 200 pounds sterling per tonne.
“We are considering new ways to address this issue with the industry, including banning access to our cocoa farms for their sustainability programs,” The Director General of CCC said.
The World Cocoa Foundation Partnership meeting will be held from October 26-27 at The Hotel in Brussels, Belgium.
President Akufo-Addo has backed the One-District, One-Factory initiative under the broader industrialisation agenda of the government, as a basis for developing a home-grown infrastructure that is capable of withstanding the uncertainties of exogenous shocks to the Ghanaian economy.
In this regard, the president pointed out that the Eastern Region, alone, has completed 1D1F enterprises, with another 16 at various stages of completion and soon to be inaugurated, as well as another four at the project conception stage.
The performance and success of the completed 1D1F projects across the country, with regards to minimising unemployment and shoring local production, has thus far, been a clear indication of President Akufo-Addo’s long-held belief that Ghana’s path towards self-reliance is largely premised on the country’s determination to industrialise.
According to the President, who began a three-day tour of the Eastern Region on Friday, 21 October 2021, “the whole purpose of the policy means having factories and enterprises here in Ghana, which will substitute the ones that are coming from abroad. That is the whole purpose of the policy. Instead of importing XYZ, you’re going to have them made here.”
He added: “When we said we wanted to implement 1D1F and certain strategic industrial policies, we were told it couldn’t be done, but today, everyone is talking about how important it is for the Ghanaian economy to lessen its dependence on foreign goods and foreign services.”
“Now, people are beginning to understand that, indeed, we had the foresight, we knew exactly what we needed to do to bring substantial progress, real progress not intermittent progress, but substantial progress, which is going to be strong and resilient. That is what I’ve noticed is ongoing,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo indicated further: “By the time we are through, then the commitment of a 1D1F would have been established. And we can only strengthen the industrial development of the country, which is very important to note that foreign import dependence will not inure to our growth. We have the panacea, the solution, and the government is working towards it”.
President Akufo-Addo’s 1D1F initiative is meant to change the nature of Ghana’s economy from one which is dependent on the import and export of raw materials to one which is focused on manufacturing, value addition and export of processed goods from raw materials that are largely found in the districts across the country.
Thus far, the One-District-One-Factory initiative, which has seen the ongoing construction of 296 factories across the country, of which 125 have been completed, is part of the foundation on which the Akufo-Addo government is we are building a comprehensive industrialisation programme, inspired by the development of strategic anchor industries, such as the emerging automotive industry and the co-ordinated exploitation for the entire domestic value addition of our bauxite and iron ore resources.
“I am hopeful that, by the end of my term, the full complement 296 factories will be in operation to help provide quality domestic alternatives to the consumption needs of Ghanaians and reduce substantially our dependence on imports. We do not only account for the youth as labour in the 1D1F programme, but also as managers and owners. Indeed, 58 of these factories are wholly owned by young people who have received direct government support”, he added.
Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has said persons who are eying the presidency and are labeling President Akufo Addo as incompetent have nothing to offer Ghanaians.
According to him, the critics have not provided any alternatives to salvage the current economic crisis to prove their competence.
Addressing a durbar at Ofoase in the Eastern Region, Osafo-Maafo said, “Those who are seeking to govern this country, I don’t understand them. They aren’t providing any alternative. They actually don’t have anything to offer.”
His comment comes at the back of backlashes from Ghanaians and key industry players for the country’s economic woes.
Osafo-Maafo noted that he was optimistic the economy will bounce back despite its wobbling state.
“We all know the economy is not in good shape,” he is quoted by 3news.com to have said in vernacular.
“The economic challenge is not from Ghana. If something is not from you, you have to take your time to strategically resolve it. It won’t keep long and we will work on the economic challenge,” he added.
The former Finance Minister added that voting for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is not the alternative to solving the economic woes as some Ghanaians have suggested, 3news.com reported.
Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program, done and dusted! 
I am overwhelmed with emotions right now. I’ll come back later with my speech but for now, help me thank the Lord 
,” she said.
