TIG Post

Author: Phoebe Martekie Doku

  • 80,000 including illegal miners gain direct, indirect jobs under NAELP – Coordinator

    More than 80,000 people, including illegal miners, have gained direct and indirect jobs under the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) since its rollout a year ago.

    Of the beneficiaries mainly from mining communities, 16,920 were engaged in Akotom in Western Region; 27,280, Adinkra in Ashanti; 16,002, Techire in Ahafo; 18,869, Akwatiakwaso in Eastern and 500 in Fufuo, Ashanti.

    The remaining 500 were employed at Hohoe in the Volta Region as an intervention for residents of the region and Oti who were found to have moved to the mining areas to work.

    The NAELP Coordinator, Dr Louise Carol Serwaa Donkor told the Ghanaian Times on Friday, that they worked at five main seedling sites and a satellite site at Hohoe to raise 20 million seedlings to support massive reafforestation efforts anchored on the 2022 Green Ghana tree planting exercise.

    She said permanent staff members were about 400; casual workers, 1,199 while the rest were food /water suppliers, drivers, labourers, machine operators, seed suppliers/loaders/off loaders/planters and others in charge of soil.

    She disclosed this in an interview on the progress of work under the programme and the impact being made in the alternative livelihood agenda in the mining sector ahead of its first anniversary in a couple of weeks.

    Launched by President Akufo-Addo on October 25, last year, the NAELP, aims to provide alternative employment and livelihood to illegal miners(galamaseyers), potential ‘galamaseyers’ and related workers in the industry impacted by the government’s clampdown of illegal mining.

    It also seeks to reclaim degraded lands in mining communities to restore the country’s water bodies, enhance livelihoods as well as ensure responsible small-scale mining, with the five focus regions Ashanti, Eastern, Central, Western North and Western.

    Under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the programme is hinged on six modules including Agriculture and Agro-processing; Land Reclamation and Re-Afforestation and Mine Support Services.

    The others are Responsible, Viable and Sustainable Small Scale Mining, Apprenticeship, Skills Training and Entrepreneurship and Community enhancement Projects.

    Apart from small scale miners other targeted beneficiaries are their small scale mining sponsors, fuel suppliers, hoteliers, metal fabricators, transport operators, food caterers, traders and farmers.

    Dr Donkor said the jobs created meant a lot to the miners and to the government because many of the beneficiaries were displaced as a result of the sanitation of the mining industry, to wit, anti-illegal mining operation by the government.

    “So it was important for the government to come up with how to integrate them better through employment opportunities,” she said.

    Dr Donkor said the permanent workers were paid G¢ 700 after tax deductions; their social security was paid in addition to breakfast and lunch and other end of year benefits.

    For casual workers, she said, they were paid a daily wage of about GH¢100, or GH¢ 2000 a month depending on the work they did because their wages were calculated based on their output.

    “The main thing is to target areas where there is mining, where galamsey is endemic because we want to be able to use them as labour. In those communities if you keep them (idle) they will keep doing the things we don’t want them doing. So we went through the chiefs to engage them,” she said.

    She explained that at the moment, pending the next funding stage, the programme is yet to nurse the next set of seedlings to keep the people continuously engaged for another massive reafforestation drive to restore the country’s forest cover.

    “Ghana has lost 1.41 million hectares of tree cover from 2001 to 2021 equivalent to a 20 per cent decrease in forest cover and it is for our sustenance on earth to reforest,” she said.

    Apart from the job creation, DrDonkor said the programme was reclaiming 1,000 hectares of degraded lands BibianiAnwiaso and  BekwaiJuaboso of Western North; BosomeFreho District in Ashanti and Abuakwa South and Atiwa West of Eastern.

    “Under the Land Reclamation and Re-Afforestation module, we are working on the degraded land, bringing them to the right chemical balance for vegetation again, extracting all the harmful chemicals and redirecting streams from polluted areas,” she said.

    Under the other modules, Dr Donkor said, artisanal and Small-Scale Miners will soon be receiving capacity building and skills enhancement training for sustainable and responsible mining.

    She said the mining related skills development training modules would be rolled out along with large scale miners for a more efficient and widespread impact.

    “The government is not against mining, but it is against the illegal and unsustainable ways of mining which compromise the environment,” she said and called for support for the programme.

  • Trade Ministry to roll out textile tax stamp from Nov 1

    The implementation of the textiles tax stamps policy aimed at tackling the influx of pirated and fake textiles in the country as well as other challenges in the industry is slated to commence on November 1 this year.

    Implementation modalities of the policy, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen would include having textiles stamps affixed on all textile prints traded in Ghana.

    Speaking at an engagement forum with textiles wholesalers and retailers on the policy in Accra on Friday, he said, the textiles tax stamp policy was one of six measures aimed at finding lasting solutions to the challenges and also strengthen the textiles sector to create jobs for Ghanaians.

    Mr Kyerematen (second from left) interacting with the traders during the engagement forum

    The forum was to sensitise and educate the public, particularly dealers in the industry on the introduction of the textiles tax stamps as part of the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges of the textiles industry as well as developing the sector to harness the significant gains the sector stands to offer.

    Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ghana Revenue Authority-Domestic Tax Revenue Division, Intellectual Property Office and Ghana Standards Authority.

    The other measures, he noted include, Import management systems; Introduction of Designated Entry Corridors (Tema Port and Aflao Border for textile imports); Provision of Incentive Packages for local manufacturers to make them competitive; attract foreign textile manufacturers to set up or relocate their plants in Ghana; and reconstitute the Task Force to embark on effective market monitoring and surveillance.

    Mr Kyerematen revealed that the local demand for African prints was about 120 million yards per annum, of which the local supply is just about 35 per cent (42million yards), with the remaining 65 per cent imported.

    He recalled that the local textiles industry used to be vibrant in the last three decades, but that the influx of pirated designs and gross infringements on trademarks of local textile manufacturers have been identified as two of the key areas which have adversely affected the textiles industry in the country.

    The government, he said, we convinced that the policy measures would lead to the development of the local textile firms to reduce the import of pirated textiles by promoting local manufacturing.

    Mr Kyerematen assured the stakeholders that, despite the introduction of the measures, importation of textiles was still allowed since the country does not currently have the local manufacturing capacity to meet the total national demand of over 120 million yards per annum.

    He expressed the hope that the policies were going to help streamline the imports of textiles and further ensure that all the players involved in the textiles industry benefit.

  • GRA drags 48 businesses to court over tax evasion

    About 48 businesses are currently undergoing prosecution for evading taxes and failing to issue Value Added Tax (VAT) invoices on purchase of goods and services.

    According to the Commissioner-General of GRA, Rev. Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the businesses were put before the Tax Courts for acting in contravention to Section 80 of the Revenue Administration Act 2016 (Act 915).

    Mr Owusu-Amoah (left) interacting with a participant

    He explained that, the prosecution of tax defaulting businesses was one of the strategies adopted by the Authority to promote tax compliance and enforcement.

    He was speaking on Friday during a meeting with editors of the various media organisations in Accra.

    As at the end of September this year, Mr Owusu-Amoah said the GRA had collected GH¢51.6 billion as against a target of GH¢52 billion.

    “We fell short of the target by GH¢466 million. The performance represents nominal growth rate of 29.0 per cent over same period compared to last year’s collection of 26 per cent. Domestic revenue grew nominally by 28.6 per cent while Customs revenue grew nominally by 29.8 per cent,” he added.

    The Authority, he said, was implementing a number of tax policy initiatives including Taxpayers Portal, Electronic VAT Invoicing, Electronic Auction, and Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate to boost revenue generation this year.

    He stated that Taxpayers portal was an online self-service system which allows taxpayers to file returns, initiate payments and access other tax related services such as Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs), apply for tax reliefs, withholding tax exemptions, refunds and update of taxpayer information.

    The Commissioner-General noted that the Electronic VAT invoicing was introduced to eliminate invoice cloning, carding and non-issuance of invoices and other irregularities which were affecting domestic tax performance.

    “The E-VAT invoicing implementation will be done in phases starting October 1, 2022 and this will help the GRA to monitor the issuance of invoices by taxpayers by certifying all invoices issued for the purpose of accounting and filing of VAT returns,” he stated.

    He said a new Excise Tax Stamp Authenticator had also been developed and would soon be used for scanning stamps on excisable products to ascertain whether the stamps were genuine or not.

    Starting October 15, Mr Owusu-Amoah said the Electronic Auction platform would be piloted to deal with corruption associated with the auction of confiscated goods at the port and simplify the auction process.

    He said the Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate was geared towards automating the process of obtaining Tax Clearance Certificates(TCCs) via the Taxpayers’ portal.

    Additionally, the Authority, he noted, had instituted an Informant Award Scheme to award individuals, entities or organisations who offer confidential information to the GRA leading to the recovery of tax adding that an informant was recently paid GH¢130,000 for helping the Authority to recover tax.

    “We encourage persons or individuals who have such information to call GRA. The information one provides will be treated with utmost confidentiality and where the information leads to the recovery of taxes, the informant will receive cash amounts in line with our Informant Policy,” the Commissioner-General stated.

    Also, to improve the culture and professionalism of staff of GRA, he noted that a new Code of Ethics that defines the expected staff behaviour in line with GRA’s values of integrity had been published.

  • Why MPs refused a pay cut to support Ghana’s development plans in 1959

    Citizens of any country are usually encouraged to participate in the day-to-day developments of their nations, but even more, the bigger expectation mostly rests on the shoulders of the people in political office.

    Much as this is the ideal situation, something very interesting happened in the Parliament of Ghana in August 1959.

    Teased out of a newspaper report by Ghana Times, with the headline, ‘No sacrifice by U.P. M.Ps,’ the story captured the reasons behind the refusal of Members of Parliament of the opposition party at the time, United Party, to take a pay cut.

    The pay cut was intended to support the government of Kwame Nkrumah’s of the successful implementation of the Second Development Plan.

    “Member of the Ghana Parliamentary Opposition yesterday demonstrated in the National Assembly that they were not prepared to sacrifice a penny of their allowance to the nation towards the successful implementation of the Second Development Plan.

    “This happened during a debate on a motion moved by Mr. K. A. Gbedemah, Minister of Finance, asking both sides of the House to approve the Development Fund (Members Contributions) B111 which sought to cut the salaries of the Speaker, Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and the allowance of Members of Parliament.

    “There was uproar in the House on several occasions, and the Speaker, Mr. A. M. Akiwumi, had to call members to order,” the Saturday, August 1, 1959, report stated.

    Explaining their reasons for rejecting the progressive motion in the House, the UP MPs claimed that it was something that was being forced on them.

    The other side of the House – the incumbent MPs, also tried to convince their colleagues but when their attempts failed, they tagged the MPs “enemies of the nation.”

    “During debate, the opposition claimed that they government was using a means of forcing them to accept a bill which they did not support, while government backbenchers contended that they agreed that ‘as real patriots’ there should be cut in salaries and allowances.

    “They called members of the opposition names and described them as ‘enemies of the nation,’” it added.

    The Minister of Finance, K. A. Gbedemah however still tried to argue the decision of his government, making reference to the example of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and his commitment to the course, but that was still not convincing enough.

    You can read the full report in the photo snippets, exclusive to GhanaWeb, below:

  • Ghana’s debt stock skyrockets from ¢9 billion to ¢402.4bn – BoG

    The October 2022 Bank of Ghana (BoG) Summary of Economic and Financial Data has revealed that Ghana’s public debt stock went from ¢9 billion ¢402.4 billion as of July 2022.

    This, according to the central bank, is equivalent to 68% of the Gross Domestic Product and is in sharp contrast to the projected 104.6% of debt to GDP ratio in 2022 by the World Bank.

    In dollar terms, the country’s debt dropped marginally to $53.2 billion in July 2022, from $54.4 billion in June 2022.

    Based on the data, the nation did not borrow fresh funds from the international market during the period. However, the debt level will go up going forward, following the $750 million Afrieximbank loan that came in August 2022.

    According to the data, the external debt remained largely unchanged at $28 billion, equivalent to 35.8% of GDP.

    The domestic debt however has been going up since January 2022 because of the significant borrowing by the government in the domestic financial market.

    The domestic debt stood at ¢190.3 billion in July 2022, from ¢190.1 billion in June 2022.

    Data available shows that the domestic debt began the year at ¢181.9 billion in January 2022 and then went up to ¢185.4 billion in February 2022 and ¢190.1 billion in March 2022. It subsequently shot up to ¢189.2 in April 2022 and ¢188.5 billion in May 2022.

    On the other hand, the financial sector resolution bond fell by ¢100 million to ¢14.4 billion in July 2022. This is equivalent to 2.4% of GDP.

    The total public debt stock of the country dropped to ¢388.1 billion in April 2022, from ¢392.1 billion in March 2022. It later went up marginally to ¢389.2 billion in May 2022 and subsequently to ¢393.4 billion in June 2022.

    Meanwhile, the World Bank in its latest Africa Pulse Report classified Ghana as a high debt distress country as it projects the nation’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 104.6% by the end of 2022.

    According to the report, debt is expected to jump significantly, from 76.6% a year earlier, amid a widened government deficit, massive weakening of the cedi, and rising debt service costs.

  • Good government protects citizens from scammers like Agradaa – Dr. Amoah

    Renowned economist and businessman, Dr. Kofi Amoah, has berated the government for failing to regulate the activities of religious organisations in Ghana.

    In a tweet shared on Saturday, October 9, Dr. Amoah intimated that the government’s failure to regularize religious activities has led to the influx of phoney entities who end up scamming Ghanaians.

    He questioned why the government looks unperturbed as Ghanaians are continuously scammed by fake religious leaders like Agradaa as countries such as Rwanda crack down on this menace.

    “People are continuously robbed of their savings thru deceptions n promises of fake pastors. Good govts protect citizens from such scams.

    “Rwanda closed down 700 fake churches n 200 mosques over nite. Why do our political leaders look on unconcerned? WHY?” parts of the tweet read.

    Dr. Amoah made these remarks while reacting to a report by GhanaWeb that scores of people who went to the church of one-time fetish priestess, Nana Agradaa, now known as Evangelist Mama Pat, are crying foul in what they described as a scam by the repented woman.

    In several short video clips that have since gone viral in the last few hours, a number of the victims are seen running away from the church building of Evangelist Mama Pat, even as many raised alarms about the fact that they had been deceived and scammed.

    GhanaWeb’s further checks showed that the people were at the church in their numbers on the day because the repented priestess had earlier advertised through her television channel that she was going to give out monies to people.

    She is also said to have advertised that she would double monies that are brought to her church, Heavenway Champion International Ministry, on the day.

    However, as has been typical of her, particularly from the days when she was a fetish priestess, it seems the evangelist only played on the gullibility of the scores of people who appeared at her church to extort monies from them.

    When she was done, as has been shared in a number of the videos available to GhanaWeb, she booted them out of the building, aided by her well-built bodyguards.

    A number of the affected people are also heard ranting and calling her out.

    “This is Agradaa’s church, Heavenway, and she advertised on her TV station that she was going to share monies to everyone only for us to get here, and she rather collects monies from people. She told people to bring ten million (GHc10,000) and come for two billion (GHc200,000) after which she asked people to leave the church. Things immediately turned chaotic here,” a lady giving voice commentary in one of the videos said.

    People are continuously robbed of their savings thru deceptions n promises of fake pastors

    Good govts protect citizens from such scams

    Rwanda closed down 700 fake churches n 200 mosques over nite

    Why do our political leaders look on unconcerned? WHY? ???????? https://t.co/s2IpLN74XI

    — CitizenKofi (@amoah_citizen) October 8, 2022

  • Davido to marry Chioma in 2023

    Nigerian singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has hinted at plans to marry his girlfriend cum baby mama, Chioma Rowlands, in 2023.

    In a video making rounds on the internet, a UK-based Nigerian pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, hosted the couple in his apartment in London where the ‘Jowo’ hitmaker was making such revelations.

    Tobi Adegboya was heard referring to Chioma as ‘Our wife, Our real wife’ and Davido interrupted while disclosing his intentions to marry Chioma in 2023, ‘Hundred percent, going down, 2023.’

    On the other hand, Chioma was seen blushing while running into the arms of his lover.

    Davido and Chioma’s rollercoaster relationship

    It can be recalled that sometime in 2019, the 30 BG boss held an introduction with Chioma’s family.

    Shortly after that particular event, fans anticipated an imminent wedding ceremony, which never took place.

    Rather their relationship took a turbulent turn, and the two were rumoured to have broken up after they welcomed a baby boy, Ifeanyi.

    Although they never confirmed their break up, Davido, at that time, seemed to have moved on as he was severally captured with different women.

    There were reports that Davido welcomed another baby with a London-based makeup artiste, Larissa Yasmin Lorenco.

    Earlier in 2021, Davido opened up about how he was under pressure to marry the mother of his son and how that affected his sanity.

  • Mark Okraku-Mantey hit with another allegation

    Tic Tac is the latest artiste to publicly accuse Deputy Tourism and Creative Arts Minister, Mark Okraku-Mantey, of sabotage.

    This comes after dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale, raised similar claims during an interview with MetroTV’s Good Evening Ghana.

    Shortly after Shatta’s submissions against Mark, Tic took to social media to side with him.

    He labelled the deputy minister a “bad spot” in the entertainment industry in an earlier tweet.

    “The man called Mark Okraku-Mantey is a very bad spot in our Ghanaian entertainment space. Now occupying the Deputy Minister’s seat for the creatives makes it even worse for our motherland????????,” he wrote.

    But stressing his point during a phone-in conversation with United Showbiz, Tic painfully narrated several instances where he had either been belittled or sidelined by Mark.

    “When I activated the Tik brand, I organized a show in Bukom area. The next day on Hitz FM, they were discussing the programs that happened over the weekend, and Mark said he doesn’t know why I even organized my event. As a gatekeeper, it is dangerous for him to pass such a remark. As a musician of my calibre, this stage in my career is very difficult, so it took a lot of sweat and resources to do what I did.

    “I confronted him in his office about why he made such statements and he did not even apologize. He was saying things that did not make sense to me. Fast forward, this person is now our deputy minister. Do you think that if something good is coming my way through him, he will allow it? Obviously, he will sideline and sabotage me.

    “There was going to be a big show in Ghana, and the organizers contacted me for the gig. We negotiated but they couldn’t afford the price, so they went to Mark and informed him about the situation. Mark told them that I am just being pompous because I am even unable to realize such an amount at my own events,” Tic bitterly narrated.

    He also disclosed his first hurtful encounter with Mark.

    “Some time ago, I approached him to produce me, but perhaps he didn’t consider my talent worth producing.”

  • KiDi apologizes to fans for walking off stage

    Dennis Nana Dwamena, a Ghanaian singer popularly known as KiDi, has apologized to his many fans for walking off stage at the just-ended Student Representative Council’s (SRC) week celebration at the University of Cape Coast.

    The singer was billed to perform at the climax of the SRC week, which was scheduled for Saturday, October 9, but he had to walk off the stage due to some technical challenges.

    This move, although understandable, was not welcomed by his fans as they expressed disappointment in the SRC executives for putting up a shambolic show.

    Reacting to the turnout of events, KiDi explained that he waited for over three hours for the organizers of the event to fix all technical and sound issues so he could perform, but unfortunately, the problem persisted and he was compelled to walk off the stage.

    “Sorry UCC, I waited 3 hours for the problem to be resolved. I really wanted to give you guys a show… but I couldn’t do that with a dysfunctional sound system…thank you for the love still,” KiDi wrote on his Instagram story.

    KiDi was recently in the news after some negative posts he published on social media in the past resurfaced on the internet.

    His posts largely attacked some notable faces in the country.

    KiDi apologized for his past mistakes and stated that he is a transformed person.

     

  • What is your vision? I’ll school you when I become president – Odike to Ashanti chiefs

    The founder and leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Akwasi Addai Odike, has accused traditional authorities in Ghana, particularly chiefs in the Ashanti Region, of ruling their subjects without a vision.

    According to him, most of the chiefs are only interested in the pride and pageantry that comes with being chiefs and do not have any plans to improve the livelihood of their subjects.

    Odike accused the chiefs of selling off all the lands that have been entrusted to them to illegal miners whose activities are now endangering the lives of their subjects.

    “The lives of your subjects are not important to you (the chiefs). You are only interested in selling our lands to enrich yourself. Akufo-Addo has only two years of his term as president left. He will not be president forever. But you, the chief, will be chief till you die, and all the destruction you are causing in the environment with the help of Akufo-Addo will be your burden.

    “…When I become president, I will school you on leadership. You people (the chiefs) do not understand leadership. We don’t rule people by oppressing them. We rule with a vision. What is your vision? Tell us the vision you have for the Ashanti land.

    “How can you call yourself leaders? People travel abroad and make money to come and bid to be chiefs. As they are bidding to become chiefs, all they think about is how they are going to sell lands to enrich themselves. Their mindset is to only sell land; they don’t think about what is going to happen to their grandchildren,” he said in Twi in an Onua TV interview monitored by GhanaWeb.

    He added that should he become president, he will review the country’s land tenure so that chiefs will not have 100 percent ownership of lands under their jurisdiction.

    The Kumasi Traditional Council, in August 2022, performed rituals to banish Odike for accusing Ashanti chiefs of condoning illegal mining.

    According to the Kumasi Traditional Council, the businessman turned politician made inciteful statements that the Council deemed to be distasteful, unsubstantiated, and meant to dent the image of Manhyia.

    Odike, in an interview on Oyerepa Radio, berated the chiefs for failing to help end the ‘galamsey’ menace.

    He went ahead to urge the youth to rise and demonstrate against the chiefs if the traditional rulers fail to come clean on their roles in or stance against illegal mining.

  • Tween Talk with Eugenia Tachie-Menson: The Gift that keeps opening

    Reading was not something I loved to do when I was a tweenager!

    And I know that may come to you as a surprise considering my line of work, but that’s the truth. I mean, we were made to read books in our time. “Go to the naughty corner (or your room) and read your book!” – a parent would say to a recalcitrant tweenager.

    “Go to the library and read a book; and think about what you did wrong”, my teacher would say to me for being disruptive in class. What? You didn’t think I gave my teachers stress, like some of you are doing now? LoL!!

    The Gilded Ones

    And when that happened, I would refuse to read a book. Within moments, I would realise I was bored and wanted something to do in my confined space. Then I would reach for a book to just flip through the pages, and I found myself reading. Then, next thing I knew, I was either bursting out laughing or tearing up because I was moved by the story, and “Your time is up; you can go back to class”, the librarian would announce to me.

    And this was how my love for reading was nurtured. I loved to read because it took me to some place instead of the current place I found myself, especially if I didn’t like it there. Through reading, I had travelled to many different countries around the world before actually setting foot there.

    The places I enjoyed the most, mainly because they tugged at the African in me (read as relatable), were Senegal, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and somewhere in the deep south of America (a predominantly African American community).

    When I was in secondary school, by which time my love for reading was firmly established, I read books by African authors. Again, not by choice, but this time I’d say it was curated…deliberately chosen to have a certain effect on our thinking, maybe? Or not?

    I will admit that these books exposed me to the cultures of some settings in Africa. I found out that Senegal is a West African country that has a 95 percent Muslim population and considered begging for alms a part of their culture. Soweto in South Africa, when I read about it, was a place where African children had to live with the reality and harsh effects of Apartheid; Kenya’s Mau Mau revolution to reclaim their land and freedom from the colonisers. When I read Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, I was taken in by how very verbose and colourful Nigerians were with language – and the intrusion of Western missionaries and colonial governments among the Igbos.

    What all these books did for me was to prepare me for my later travels to these countries. I was knowledgeable (albeit a tad) about these countries to the point where I could hold conversations with their citizens when we met. Remember, in our time, we didn’t have the Internet, which now allows you to read up on anything and anywhere under the sun before you venture there.

    I love my African-authored books, especially those that dwell on their culture and societal structures or challenges. I have noticed, though, that many of you do not have such books in your collection nor have you read any (or should that be, enough?)  To be fair, finding such books – targetted at you, tweenagers – is quite the task, so I’m not blaming you. However, I would love to introduce you to a few of these books; read them before you finish secondary school, and you will notice how your perspective in and about life will shape up

    1. Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe (Penguin Modern Classics edition): the struggle between change and tradition is explored through the life of a young Nigerian man, Okonkwo.
    2. Purple Hibiscus – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: explores the themes of religious hypocrisy, finding one’s voice, and the persistence of love through the story of a young Nigerian woman struggling to find her way in a world beset with conflict and strife.
    3. The Marriage of Anansewaa – Ama Ata Aidoo: tells of a father, Ananse, who submits his daughter’s suitors to test to find out which one of them can display financial strength and also seek the welfare of his daughter.
    4. The Gilded Ones – Namina Forna: an action-packed new fantasy series following the story of a young female, named Deka, who lives in the West-African-inspired society of Otera, where women live to be of service to men, and their roles in everyday life are grounded in misogyny.

  • Y Leaderboard Series: Film genius Juliet Yaa Asantewa talks film & guides to originality

    Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, one of Ghana’s finest creative directors and film producers, shares her journey through life on another impactful episode of the Y Leaderboard Series on Y107.9FM.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Film Authority of Ghana, hosted by Rev. Erskine, rolled out her life through childhood, life experiences and some guides to quality filming, among other things, to inspire the younger generation. Reliving her childhood memories, she reflects on how people identified her as a core Ashanti, bearing the prominent name, ‘Yaa Asantewa’.

     

     

    For most Ghanaians, particularly Ashantis, the name ‘Yaa Asantewa’ brings back memories of the past. In the early days of Gold Coast, she was a brave and revered woman who inspired an entire ethnic group to reclaim victory over their oppressors in the early beginnings of Gold Coast (Ghana).

    However, the Founding President of the Black Star International Film Institute, organiser of the Black Star International Film Festival, disclosed she is originally from Akwamu in the Eastern region.

    As a young child, she only knew little about the name she carried as her parents moved to Liberia. “Growing up, I didn’t know all that about the legend Yaa Asantewa. Here was I a little girl in Liberia. Everywhere I moved people just knew me as Juliet because of the popular novel Romeo and Juliet.

    “I didn’t know much about Yaa Asantewa but everyone in my family only called me Yaa. So it was in later years that I realised a great deal about her. That didn’t come from the impact of the name on me but actually came from appreciating my Africaness and saying to myself that I wish I had moved forward with my African name which really is my soul name because I was born on a Thursday. So that was what drove me to that realisation. I do appreciate the historical figure, especially coming to know that we were born on the same day. I mean that was interesting,” she shared.

    She also advised parents to allow their children to chart their course with their guidance. For her, creating expectations only limits the potential of children.

    Yaa Asantewa indicated that she has only been able to benefit from such grooming as her parents made room for her to make their own decisions. “I was lucky my parents, my dad especially, gave me the room to make my own decisions. My dad always told me he would support my choices – which he did. He didn’t create expectations for me.”

    Although she desired her parents to be more demanding of her and her siblings, they would always choose to offer their guidance to their wards.

    Sharing her experiences in film and acting, Yaa Asantewa described creatives as some of the most brilliant professionals in the country. However, they are barely recognised as such.

    According to her, the acting profession is one of the most challenging fields in the world, with professionals having to lose themselves playing the roles of other characters. She urged professionals to adopt coping strategies, such as self-care practices and back-up plans to assist them in distinguishing themselves from the personas they play.

    “Good actors are able to take care of themselves; that is do lots of self-care, a lot of grounding and you need lots of fall back routines that you can use. You have to go through the work of understanding how to separate that character from your true self. Sometimes, you have to play characters you don’t like, yet you’re supposed to play that character well,” she said.

    Yaa Asantewa also admonished filmmakers to build rich and strong characters.

    Sharing details of a recent filmmaking workshop she spoke at, the Founding President of the Black Star International Film Institute, stated: “Just a couple of days back, I did a workshop at the Black Star International Film Festival where I spoke to these young filmmakers on building characters that have depth”.

    She asserts that contemporary filmmakers do not typically use rich characters, and depth cannot be attained if a director does not comprehend fundamental concepts like character business and character creation through non-dialogue.

    She suggested that character development should follow the five-second rule.

    Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante further hinted that festivals are perfect grounds for content and inspiration for filmmakers. She advised filmmakers to make it a point to attend various festivals in Ghana. According to her, a lot of the things she’s currently pursuing, especially the major ones, all came out of festivals she attended.

    Programmes Manager of YFM, Eddy Blay, expressed after the interview that the time with Yaa Asantewa Asante has been one of the most insightful sessions on the radio. “Every youth who aspires to be creative and listened to Yaa Asantewa today will definitely have a different approach to life as a Ghanaian. It is a great feeling to have accomplished personalities speak to the youth from the heart.”

  • From losing a parliamentary election to becoming a Chief of Staff in just 2 years – The story of Julius Debrah

    The former Chief of Staff of Ghana, Julius Debrah, has narrated the circumstances that led to him becoming the Chief of Staff of former President John Dramani Mahama.

    Speaking in an interview with Kwahu Ambassador, which was monitored by GhanaWeb, Julius Debrah said that he never expected in his wildest dream to become the Chief of Staff of Ghana just months after losing a parliamentary election.

    According to him, after losing his bid to become the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Suhum Constituency in the 2012 Election, he surprisingly got his first appointment under President John Dramani Mahama as the Eastern Regional Minister in 2013.

    After serving as Eastern Regional Minister for just one month, he was appointed Greater Accra Regional Minister, a position he held for less than a month. After serving as the Greater Accra Regional Minister, he was once again appointed the Eastern Regional Minister, which he held for less than a month.

    Julius Debrah added that because of his hard work, ex-President Mahama had come to love him and he (Mahama) appointed him Local Government and Rural Minister in June 2014.

    He said that the greatest shock of his life was when President Mahama appointed him as his Chief of Staff while he was on an official government assignment abroad.

    “The president one day sent me on an official assignment in Kenya; I was leading a delegation there. So, I went to the president a day before leaving for the assignment to appreciate better what he needed me to do, so I will not go and waste the state’s money. So, the president told me what he needed from me when I went to the programme.

    “The surprising thing is that the president never told me that he wanted me to be his Chief of Staff. After I had arrived in Kenya and was resting, I received a call from Ras Mubarak, who started congratulating me. So, I asked him why he was doing that. And he told me to stop pretending.

    “I asked him what he was talking about and he said I was the new Chief of Staff. I could not believe him. I was asking myself whether this could be true because I was just with the president just the day before and he did not tell me anything but the calls kept coming and people were congratulating me,” he narrated in Twi

    “I cannot explain how this happened. In less than two years, I was a minister for two regions, a cabinet minister and a chief of staff,” he told the host.

    Brief profile

    Mr Debrah studied at Mpraeso Secondary School and then moved to Achimota Secondary School for A-Levels from 1987 to 1989.

    Following this, he gained admission to the University of Ghana where he obtained a BA in Archaeology and Sociology.

    Debrah spent 18 years of his working life in the Real Estate Agriculture sector.

    A native of Obomeng Kwahu, Debrah is married with two children.

     

  • Dollar breaks ¢11 mark; forex bureaus sell a dollar for ¢11.2

    The dollar has hit the ¢11 to $1 mark as some forex bureaus in parts of Accra are selling a dollar at an average of ¢11.2 on Saturday, October 8, 2022.

    Checks by Joy Business indicate that the demand for the dollar keeps surging, as there is very little dollars in circulation.

    Some forex bureau operators who spoke to Joy Business on condition of anonymity said the recent action by the Bank of Ghana has yielded little return.

    According to them, there are no dollars in circulation.

    But, they hope the inflows from the $1.13 billion cocoa syndicated loan will help improve supply and slow down the rate of depreciation of the currency. The first tranche is expected by the end of this month.

    On the interbank market, the Bank of Ghana quoted the dollar at 9.63 (selling) on Friday, October 7, 2022.

    Meanwhile, the cedi is also not faring well against the Pound and Euro.

    It is going for ¢12.5 to the Pound and ¢10.57 to the Euro respectively.

    Analysts say the local unit continues to post heavy losses on the interbank market as unrelenting foreign exchange demand continued to weigh down the cedi against the dollar.

    Demand exceeded supply by last BoG Forex Forward Auctioning

    The last Forex Forward by the Bank of Ghana indicated that demand exceeded supply by $75.25 million in the latest auction.

    This is compared with the $82.75 million recorded a month ago.

    Cedi loses 40% in value to the dollar – Bloomberg

    Bloomberg quotation had earlier put the depreciation of the Ghana cedi at 40.05% in value to the US dollar in nine months of 2022.

    This ranked it as the second worst-performing currency in the world in the 147th position, according to Bloomberg.

    Also, this decline in the local currency against the American currency is the worst in over three decades.

    Cedi loses 37.5% in value to a dollar as of September 30, 2022 – BoG

    However, the Bank of Ghana said the Ghana cedi depreciated by 37.5% to the US dollar as of the end of September 2022.

    At the same time, the cedi had depreciated by 24.1%, and 27.5% against the Pound, and Euro.

  • Make Dyslexia training for teachers mandatory

    Once again, the month of October is here with us. This month is Dyslexia Awareness month and we, the team at Africa Dyslexia Organisation (ADO), wish to bring the attention of the general Ghanaian populace that dyslexia is a common learning disorder of concern, and it is worth the attention of all.

    This condition called dyslexia is a learning disability characterised by difficulty in processing, producing and using language. Thus, it is a language-based learning disorder that makes it extremely hard for its sufferers to express their language skills as others easily do.

    Some of the most common problems dyslexics experience is the inability to read, write, spell and speak.

    In Ghana, it is estimated that about 10-15 percent of the Ghanaian population is suffering from dyslexia. According to a report by Dyslexia Ghana, 4 percent of Ghanaians have severe forms of dyslexia. Sadly, many Ghanaians, including parents and teachers are not aware of this learning condition or disability; hence, are unable to offer any form of support to dyslexics where necessary.

    As a result of this, dyslexic children of school-going age are faced with the challenge of not receiving the needed attention and assistance to do well in their learning. These dyslexic children, therefore, often go through emotional and mental health challenges in class as they are labelled by teachers and classmates as dumb and lazy learners.

    According to International Dyslexia Association’s Dyslexia Fact Sheet (2008), dyslexia is essentially a disorder of phoneme processing: feasibly in visual and hearing. The condition predisposes dyslexics to see and hear things differently. Dyslexics, therefore, only process information and learn things differently, hence, being dyslexic is not synonymous to being unintelligent.

    Dyslexics do not lack intelligence or the desire to learn, they are only differently intelligent and learn differently as well. When dyslexics are taught by teachers using the appropriate learning methods, they will enjoy and experience learning successfully.

    There is, therefore, the need for teachers, especially those at the basic levels in our educational system, to receive the needed training to equip and empower them to help pupils who are dyslexic or have other forms of learning disabilities.

    Given that over 10 percent of the Ghanaian population has dyslexia, we are calling on the Government of Ghana to make it mandatory for Teacher Training Colleges to incorporate dyslexia training in their curriculum. There is no doubt that this will equip the trainee teachers to be well-educated and empowered to support all students with varying learning needs.

    A recent research study by two Ghanaian researchers have revealed that a greater percentage of Ghanaian teachers have average knowledge and awareness on dyslexia, as well as any form of available support services for children with learning difficulties (Abraham, 2014; Akyeampong et al., 2019). The findings of these studies show that Ghanaian teachers need to get proper professional training on learning disorders, especially dyslexia.

    When teachers get trained properly, it will go a long way to support dyslexic students while boosting the confidence of teachers in their various classrooms. Every teacher needs to have some basic knowledge and training on how to handle children with various forms of learning disabilities.

    In this month of Dyslexia Awareness, we deem it important to let Ghanaians know that there are a group of learners in every class who are unable to read, write or spell because of dyslexia; and these learners deserve some attention too. We cannot have an inclusive educational system where some learners are neglected due to a condition they have no control over. It is only fair that we give each learner a fair chance to advance in their learning, regardless of their condition.

    Besides teachers not being adequately educated and knowledgeable on the subject of dyslexia, there is also the challenge of large class sizes, making identification of dyslexic students difficult; hence, a teacher cannot pay particular attention to learners with dyslexia. This also makes it challenging for the teacher to make time to prepare and develop instructions tailored to meet the needs of dyslexic learners.

    At the national level, we currently have only one training centre in the country’s capital city, Accra. And it is unfortunate to know that this centre is in a deplorable state, needing some retooling and resourcing. It is about time the Government of Ghana took interest in this, and channelled resources into creating a befitting centre for learners in all sixteen regions of the country. The establishment of such learning centres will help in the screening and identification of students with dyslexia. It will also help in getting such students the needed available support services, so they get to make the most of their learning experiences.

    We, at ADO, believe that it is time to set up a task force on special education needs, and one specifically for children with dyslexia, so that they get support when needed. We are, therefore, calling on all stakeholders in the Ghanaian Educational sector to ensure that we get a well-resourced facility for such interventions.

    To deal with the issues raised, we are advocating for a mandatory dyslexia training for teachers in Ghana, especially those assigned to learners at the primary and secondary levels of our educational system. Some other interventions we would like to recommend in order to enhance the teaching and learning experience of dyslexic students in our schools are:

    • Schools, especially the public schools, should carefully plan and reduce class sizes to enable teachers pay attention to all learners in each class.
    • Ghana Education Service should consider revising the Education Curriculum in order to incorporate the needs of learners with learning disabilities.
    • The government should invest more into inclusive education, and make it more accessible for all, especially children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.
    • The government should also establish Dyslexia Assessment Centres in all regions in Ghana; and if possible, have screening centres at the district levels as well where students screened are set up with individual learning plans for their personal studies.

    We can do more for Ghanaian learners, especially those with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. The Government of Ghana should commit to investing in our learners as we create awareness of dyslexia this month. Teacher training on dyslexia must be made mandatory. It should be a core element of their training. Every learner deserves the best, and our teachers should be in a good place to give them just that. Let’s do more for today’s learners because they are our tomorrow’s leaders!

  • This week on Miss Malaika: The concept, the pitch, the business

    14 ladies, 7 groups, 7 novel business ideas all on “The EmeraldSeason”.

    The delegates have one task; to develop an Online Business and demonstrate how to recoup invested capital within a year. They are required to use Vodafone’s newly introduced digital service platform called “Your Business Online”. The platform aims at driving SME business growth and is thus idealfor the delegates’ New business.

    Becoming an entrepreneur is nurturing a commercially viable idea, creating the business, bearing the risks and solving a problem or providing a need and subsequently enjoying rewards(profits).

    However, the journey between the first and final step can be long and rough especially for a “Gen Z”. In view of these challenges the “Big Pitch’ has successful business executives serving as judges and potential investors.

    Let’s watch who is prepared enough to grab the opportunitieslined up. Here is the future as props lay in one hand and business ideas on the other, elegantly styled with GTP, the delegates are all set for the Big Pitch.

    Our Business Gurus are; Kweku Darteh Anane –Appiah – Marketing Communications Strategist, Edwin Kwasi Seglah – SME Regional Sales Manager – Vodafone and Trudy Boateng, Owner of Studio 7 Beauty Lounge and 2nd Runner up Miss Malaika 2015.

    “I really believe these ladies are really on to something great. As young people it is easy to get ‘lost’ in youthful shenanigans and lose focus on the big picture. I am extremely encouraged for a brighter future for the youth through platforms like Miss Malaika who offer young ladies the opportunity to learn and build themselves to become better in society” – Kweku Darteh, one of the judges.

    Do you have a business idea? Are you an entrepreneur or hope to be one? This episode is specially designed for you and yours. Prepare to learn, adjust an idea, be encouraged to do and be more on this episode. Grab a pen and a notepad!

    Catch this educational episode TONIGHT on GHOne TV and Mx24 at 9pm and streaming live on all Miss Malaika socials.

    To vote your favorite to ensure their continuous stay in the competition and subsequently becoming the next Miss Malaika Queen, simply dial *711*80# and enter the delegates code as provided above to vote. Visit Miss Malaika Ghana official pages on all socials for more.

    Miss Malaika Ghana is a Charterhouse production and is proudly sponsored by GTP, Club Shandy, and Vodafone with support from Lux, Pepsodent, Vaseline, Tasty Tom and Garnier.

  • Two things that could make a difference in Ghana’s economic situation before end of 2022

    Ghana’s economic situation is expected to see marginal improvements in the coming days as the country continues to discuss financial assistance with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    An economist, Dr. Patrick Asuming, has stated that before the end of the year, there are two things that can make a difference in the trajectory of macroeconomic indicators.

    The Economist indicated that being able to secure funding from the IMF before the year ends could make a difference in Ghana’s situation because this will improve investor confidence in the economy.

    Also, he added that the commitment that will be proven by the government in the 2023 budget will also go a long way to show that it is making efforts to ensure that the economy rebounds.

    “There are two news items that we are expecting before the end of the year which could make a difference. One is if the IMF deal goes through and the other is what the finance minister will say during the reading of the 2023 budget. If there is the indication from the budget that the government is showing commitment by way of fiscal policy measures, we might see some improvement.

    “If also there is the indication that the IMF deal has been agreed and we will make progress quickly, that might change investor sentiments and thereby improve what will happen after that,” he is quoted by citibusinessnews.com.

    As of August 2022, the country’s inflation has stood at 33.9%.

    The Ghana cedi has also depreciated by almost 40% against other major trading currencies, ranking as the second worst-performing currency in the world.

  • I was one of the youngest entrepreneurs at Kingsway in the 1990s – Julius Debrah

    Former Chief of Staff to the former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has opened up about his second love, aside from politics.

    Speaking about how he made it well in life in the early 1990s, he said he chose to be a businessman over education, because as a Kwahu indigene, a man was then measured by the strength of his money.

    Mr Debrah disclosed this in an interview with vlogger Kwahu Ambassador, sighted by GhanaWeb.

    Having abandoned the idea of going to university after completing senior secondary school, Mr. Debrah mentioned that he was one of the finest young entrepreneurs in Okaishie, Accra, in the early 1990s.

    As a young man, he owned a car, had enough money, and had built a house from his hard work at that time.

    However, when his friends updated him about their lives – some being Managing Director in some companies – he felt the need to go back to school, despite having enough money then.

    “In the 1990s, majority of the people thought the strength of a man then was solely money and not school. So I didn’t want to go the university. I stayed at Okaishie to work for sometime…At a point, you meet your friends and they tell you, I’m the managing director in some of the big companies.

    “Even though I had built my house, bought a car and had money, I was not feeling enough. So I had to go back to the university. Until I came into politics, I was not known.

    “I was only interested in business as a Kwahu indigene. At that point in time, in the early 1990s, I was one of the youngest entrepreneurs at Kinsway. At the time, Heritage Towers was not built. That place was then called Swanzy Arcade in Accra,” he told the vlogger.

    The former Chief of Staff added that successful people like Sakyi Amankwaah, Kan Dapaah all started as entrepreneurs at Okaishie.

    “We had people like Sakyi Amankwah, Kan Dapaah, A foreign affairs minister during former President Kuffour’s era ….Then I met late President Mills, the rest is history,” he reiterated.

     

  • The period in 1975 where fuel was banned for private cars on weekends in Ghana

    The usually bustling streets of Accra during the weekends became a thing of the past as the increase in oil prices compelled then-General Ignatius Kutu (I.K) Acheampong’s government to ban the use of petrol by private vehicles on weekends.

    The ban on October 22, 1975, was from 6.00 pm on Fridays to 6.00 pm on Sundays.

    The rationale behind the ban on the use of petrol by private vehicles on weekends was to help conserve fuel following a 10 per cent increase in oil prices announced recently by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (O.P.E.C.).

    This was also a way for I.K. Acheampong’s government to cut down on petrol consumption which would assist Ghana’s balance of payments.

    The government in a statement explaining why the ban had been imposed said: “it was not going to pass on the total price increase, estimated at between five and six million pounds sterling.”

    Effects of an increment in oil products

    An increment in oil or petroleum products usually affects inflation and reduces economic growth. In terms of inflation, oil prices directly affect the prices of goods made with petroleum products. It also affects costs such as transportation and manufacturing.

    The increase in these costs in turn affects the prices of a variety of goods and services, as producers may pass production costs on to consumers. The extent to which oil price increases lead to consumption price increases depends on how important oil is for the production of a given type of good or service.

    Oil price increases can also stifle the growth of the economy through their effect on the supply and demand for goods other than oil. Increases in oil prices can depress the supply of other goods because they increase the costs of producing them.

  • Our involvement in galamsey fight was very successful – Ghana Armed Forces

    The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has said its involvement in the fight against illegal mining in the country was a very successful one and something that Ghanaians would not believe really happened.

    The military also described their role in the fight against the menace as massive and unbelievable.

    “There is a lot of success being achieved and I think that is not what comes out most of the time because in terms of the operations that we conduct, ideally, it shouldn’t be something that we report on an everyday basis that will come up with certain situations and report to Ghana”. Director Public Relations Ghana Armed Forces, Naval Captain Michael Addo Larbi said this in an interview with Citi TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

    “In terms of the roles of the armed forces and the number of seizure of excavators that we do, some that have been immobilized or destroyed and the number of equipment in terms of structures are massive. It is not something that you would even believe that this is what was going on”, Naval Captain Michael Addo Larbi added.

    The statement comes from the military comes a few days after the President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressed the House of Chiefs in Kumasi on the fight against illegal mining and the way out.

    Naval Captain Michael Addo Larbi further noted that, there is more to be done as a country in the fight against illegal mining adding that, there should be a collaborative effort by all stakeholders.

    “But there is a lot of success being achieved. There is more to be done but a collaborative effort is what is needed at this material time”., he urged.

  • The funny 1959 story of how a thief unsuccessfully wanted two slaps in order to be released

    Even before his case was heard in court, a thief by the name of Daniel Laryea, tried a more unconventional attempt with the woman he had stolen from, hoping it could have been the perfect getaway for him: two slaps and I go scot-free.

    This, however, was rejected and he had his day in court, getting twelve months in jail imprisonment from a magistrate of an Accra court in April 1959.

    According to the Wednesday, April 1, 1959, edition of the Ghana Times newspaper in GhanaWeb’s possession, with the title, “’Mad’ thief asked for two slaps,” it details the rather intriguing court case of how Daniel Laryea wanted to get easily for his crime.

    The man, an unemployed resident of Accra, was in court for stealing seven yards of a white drill from a market woman at the Makola No. 1 market, Madam Florence Quaye.

    According to the report, Laryea made more than one attempt at getting off the hook even before the case was heard in court.

    “Madam Florence Quaye, whose white drill was stolen, told the court that later after Daniel Laryea was asserted, he went to ask her privately to see the police to dismiss the case. Thomas Kwesi Hammond, who arrested the accused at the market told the court that Laryea pleaded to be freed.

    “’He asked me to give him two slaps and set him free.’ Of course, the police did not slap him, he took Laryea to the station and charged him with the offence,” portions of the newspaper report stated.

    The report added that on the day of the judgment, the thief acted very absentminded and stubbornly, refusing to answer questions asked him.

    It was when the Magistrate, E. A. Bannerman, interjected that Daniel Laryea left perhaps, his last dose of theatrics, although it wasn’t enough to save him.

    “Then the Senior Magistrate, who must have been a spectator to many of such tricks, told Laryea in a cool advising voice: ‘I have seen this several times, have you anything to tell me?’

    “Then Laryea, struggling with the police in the dock, tried the last trick: ‘Your Worship, I am hungry, I can’t do anything,” it added.

    The Ghana Times report concluded by providing a criminal history of the thief.

    “According to his record, Laryea had six previous convictions of stealing,” it concluded.

  • CHRAJ urges human rights institutions to comply with UN Paris Principles

    The Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has entreated the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) to comply with the United Nations Paris Principles in the implementation and protection of the rights and freedoms of all persons.

    Mr Joseph Whittal, CHRAJ Commissioner, also urged NHRIs to hold governments accountable for their human rights obligations.

    Mr Whittal made the call during an experience sharing visit of a three-member high level delegation from the National Human Rights Commission of Mali (Commission National des Driots de l’Homme) (CNDH).

    The CHRAJ Commissioner, who also doubles as the President of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA), said international human rights performance standards such as the Paris Principles would ensure independence, competence, credibility, and accountability of NHRIs, and empower them to be effective in their work.

    Mr Whittal recalled a study of a comparative analysis of African NHRIs and whether their legal frameworks met the effectiveness criteria of the Paris Principles.

    He said the study analyzed the independence, competencies, responsibilities, funding, and financial autonomy of NHRIs, and discovered some limitations in their legal framework, as well as their operational, financial, and appointment autonomy.

    He observed that restrictive mandates imposed by enabling legislation, including poorly written legislation, inadequate protection within the enabling legislation regarding the security of tenure, and ambiguous laws on the powers and functions of these institutions were pointed out as major threats to the legal autonomy of NHRIs.

    The CHRAJ Commissioner disclosed that the report revealed the inadequate ability of some NHRIs to execute their mandates without external interferences, controls, influence or obstruction from any branch of the government, private bodies, and other powerful individuals.

    He noted that withholding of finances by the State to exert controls and inconsistencies in the appointment or removal of Commissioners along with harassment, arbitrary arrests, and murder of human rights defenders, threatened the independence and effectiveness of NHRIs.

    Mr Whittal emphasized that African Governments ought to be conscious of human rights and adopt transparency in the appointment of Commissioners to guarantee the designation of people with integrity, skill, qualification, and competence to head the NHRIs.

    He said a substantive level of political will was required to promote and protect human rights by guaranteeing NHRIs a secure and conducive operating environment.

    He, therefore, urged the delegation from CNDH to resist interference in their operations and to continuously work at implementing the Paris Principles, coupled with adhering to the recommendations of GANHRIs Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) which are aimed at strengthening NHRIs.

    The President of the Mali CNDH and head of the delegation, Mr Aguibou Bouare, also stated that the visit to CHRAJ was critical in the light of the new challenges facing Mali under its Military Regime to draw inspiration from the experience of the Commission, which has maintained its ‘A’ status since 1996.

    He said CHRAJ was a relevant institution beyond Ghana, which inspires a lot of African NHRIs, and so was excited to learn and benefit from its rich experiences to enable them “maintain and consolidate their ‘A’ status”.

    Mr Bouare assured CHRAJ that they would spare no effort in discharging their duty to promote a human rights culture, and adopt the knowledge gained from CHRAJ, as well as implement the SCA’s recommendations in Mali.

    The Paris Principles are a set of standards that frame and guide the work of NHRIs which were drafted at an international NHRIs workshop in Paris in 1991 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution 48/134 of 1993.

    The criteria of these Paris Principles require NHRIs to be independent in law, membership, operations, policy and control of resources.

    They also require that NHRIs have broad mandates, pluralism in membership, broad functions, adequate powers, adequate resources, cooperative methods, and engagement with international bodies to be credible and independent.

  • Akufo-Addo’s government deserves commendation for YouStart programme – Nii Ashitey Ollenu

    Aspiring New Patriotic Party Parliamentary Candidate for Ledzokuku Constituency. Nii Ashitey Ollenu has commended the government of President Akufo-Addo for introducing policies to empower the Ghanaian youth.

    Speaking on Top FM’s Final Point programme, the philanthropist and youth activist noted the need for deliberate actions aimed at empowering the youth of Ghana.

    “My focus is on youth empowerment, unfortunately, some people have boxed up the youth with unfulfilled promises. So all the time the youth are living in disappointment. So it is about time the youth get empowered to bring out the giants in them,” he told the host of the programme, Kwabena Owusu Agyemang.

    He however lauded the government for introducing the YouStart programme which aims at providing funding and technical guidance to youth of Ghana to go into entrepreneurship.

    “One thing I believe the government of President Akufo-Addo deserves commendation for is the introduction of the YouStart programme. It is a youth-focused programme and if it is administered as it had been planned the youth will be relieved

    “My doors are always opened and I am also glad that the Ghana Enterprises agency which is formally the National Board for Small Scale Industries is the agency behind the policy,” he added.

  • Zaporizhzhia attack: Russian shelling in ‘annexed’ city kills 17

    At least 17 people have been killed by Russian missile strikes on the south-eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, the Ukraine defence ministry has said.

    Dozens more were wounded, and several residential buildings destroyed.

    The city is under Ukrainian control, but it is part of a region that Russia claimed it annexed last month.

    Zaporizhzhia has been hit repeatedly in recent weeks, as Russia hits back at urban areas after suffering defeats in the south and north-east of Ukraine.

    Parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, including its nuclear power plant – which is around 30 miles (52km) from the city – have been under Russian control since early in the invasion.

    The Ukrainian regional governor in Zaporizhzhia, Oleksandr Starukh, said 12 Russian missiles partially destroyed a nine-storey building, and levelled five other residential buildings.

    “There may be more people under the rubble. A rescue operation is under way at the scene. Eight people have already been rescued,” he said on Telegram.

    Ukrainian President Zelensky called the shelling “merciless strikes on peaceful people again”.

    “Absolute meanness,” he said. “Absolute evil. Savages and terrorists. From the one who gave this order to everyone who fulfilled this order. They will bear responsibility. For sure. Before the law and before people.”

    At the plant itself, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said on Saturday the security situation had deteriorated further after overnight shelling the previous night cut all external power.

    The plant now relies on diesel generators for the electricity it needs for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety, Mr Grossi said.

    The IAEA is pushing for a protection zone to prevent further damage to the site. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the shelling.

    Map showing the four regions Russia is annexing. Updated 3 October
    A map showing the four areas of Ukraine that Russia claimed it annexed last month, plus Crimea, which it has occupied since 2014

    Meanwhile, Russian divers are beginning a fuller examination of the damage done by Saturday’s explosion on the road and rail bridge linking occupied Crimea with Russia.

    Though limited traffic has resumed along one lane, a section of the bridge was brought down by the blast.

    Security has been tightened and Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a full investigation.

  • Energy use advice campaign pulled as No10 objects

    The government has decided not to launch a public information campaign on reducing energy use this winter after the prime minister’s office raised objections, the BBC has been told.

    A source said there was a “reasonably well-developed plan” to encourage household energy-saving.

    But Climate Minister Graham Stuart denied a Times report that a campaign had been blocked by Downing Street.

    He said UK energy was secure despite a National Grid warning of blackouts.

    Its message about possible power cuts was based on a worst-case scenario of gas shortages if the energy crisis in Europe escalates.

    The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was considering plans to encourage households to switch off their appliances and heating to conserve energy whenever possible during winter.

    However, the BBC was told the department was stopped from taking the plan forward because of objections from the prime minister’s office and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

    DHSC sources said they did not believe they had played any specific role in any decision, but indicated there might be broad “concern about the elderly being afraid to turn on their heating”.

    The Times newspaper reported that Downing Street’s intervention came on Thursday when National Grid issued its warning.

    The UK is heavily reliant on gas to produce electricity, with gas-fired power stations generating more than 40% of the country’s electricity.

    In the “unlikely” event that gas supplies ran extremely low, homes and businesses in the UK could face three-hour planned blackouts, National Grid said.

    The government says National Grid has drawn up plans to launch a voluntary service to reward users who reduce demand at peak times.

    Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Stuart said he was “confident the government has done everything in its power” to make sure energy rationing would not be necessary this winter.

    But he added: “We make plans for all scenarios.”

    During the Conservative leadership campaign, Prime Minister Liz Truss pledged there would be no energy rationing this winter.

    On Thursday, when asked if she could guarantee there would be no blackouts, Ms Truss said: “We do have a good supply of energy in the UK.”

    Electricity generated by fuel type in 2021
    In a statement, BEIS said: “There are no plans for the government to tell the public to reduce usage for the sake of our energy supplies.

    “The UK has a secure and diverse energy system and we are confident that the steps we are taking will protect security of electricity and gas supplies.”

    When asked to comment, Mr Stuart indicated there had been discussions within BEIS, but confirmed there would not be a government-led effort to get people to reduce usage, saying “it has been decided that there will not be a campaign”.

    Mr Stuart also denied that a well-developed campaign had been prepared and then blocked by the prime minister’s team.

    How will the demand flexibility system work?

    National Grid wants to be able to reduce British energy demand at peak times if there is going to be a shortage.

    This winter, starting in November, it is going to have 12 trial days where it asks customers who have signed up via their energy suppliers to reduce the amount of energy they are using at particular times of day.

    They would be given a day’s notice that they would be asked to do this.

    In return, they would be paid for using less energy. National Grid has not yet decided how this will work but has suggested that for the trial days customers might be able to make back £10 a day.

    Expect National Grid to announce more details later this month with customers being able to sign up from 1 November as long as their energy suppliers are participating in the scheme.

    The Times newspaper had reported that the prime minister had rejected plans for a £15m public information campaign, which was signed off by Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg.

    It suggested Ms Truss was “ideologically opposed” to the campaign amid concerns it would be too interventionist.

    In her speech to the Conservative Party conference on Wednesday, the prime minister said her conservatism was about “freedom”.

    “I’m not going to tell you what to do, or what to think or how to live your life,” she said.

    Some question whether a campaign is needed at a time when many people are already changing their behaviour and saving energy where they can.

    But those with knowledge of a campaign say they don’t understand the logic of blocking it. “Slightly mystifying,” they say.

    In a tweet, Conservative MP Guy Opperman said he would he “fully behind” an energy-saving campaign that would help people and the taxpayer save money.

    “This is not Nanny state,” he wrote, arguing it was about “preserving supply, saving money for everyone, and encouraging localism”.

    Stew Horne, head of policy at not-for-profit organisation Energy Saving Trust, said the government needed to consider how to reduce demand this winter to increase energy security.

    He said the European Commission had recently announced plans to reduce peak demand by 5% across EU member states. In Italy, central heating use will be reduced and households have been asked to turn down their thermostats to reduce energy demand.

    Mr Horne said he “would welcome consideration of similar measures to improve energy security”.

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused turmoil and volatility in the energy markets, sending fuel bills rocketing, and tightening supplies of oil and gas globally.

    Ahead of winter, countries across Europe are scrambling to shore up supplies, as gas flows from Russia are restricted.

    Since taking office Ms Truss’s government has been seeking to boost energy security, with a ban on fracking for shale gas in England lifted last month, and a new oil and gas exploration licensing round launched on Friday.

    This comes after government stepped in with an energy support package to help people with soaring bills.

     

  • US jobs growth slows as policymakers fight inflation

    Jobs growth in the US has slowed for a second month, in a sign that the labour market in the world’s largest economy may be starting to cool.

    US employers added 263,000 new jobs in September, the fewest since April 2021.

    Despite the lower figure, analysts said the US central bank will need to do more to slow the economy if it wants to rein in rapidly rising prices.

    The dollar strengthened following the report, as investors expect interest rates to continue to rise.

    This strengthening pushed the pound down to $1.11, having been above $1.12 before the jobs figures were released.

    The labour market in the US is being closely watched, as the US central bank raises borrowing costs sharply.

    Officials hope the higher interest rates will cool demand for big-ticket items such as homes and cars, and ease the pressures that are pushing up prices at the fastest pace since the 1980s.

    They have warned that the slowdown in activity is likely to lead to some job loss, but say they hope to avoid a sharp economic downturn.

    Analysts said that Friday’s report from the US Labor Department showed the jobs market remains relatively tight, as a backlog of unfilled positions pushes companies to continue to hire despite fears of wider economic slowdown.

    Restaurants, bars and health care firms led the job gains last month, while the unemployment rate fell from 3.7% in August to 3.5%, returning to a 50-year low.

    The average hourly wage in September was also 5% higher than a year earlier.

    While that lags the inflation rate, analysts said the gains still put upward pressure on prices, especially as the pool of workers with jobs or looking for work has remained stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels.

    “Although this month’s jobs report is weaker than the figures recorded last month, the labour market remains relatively strong,” said Richard Flynn, managing director at Charles Schwab UK.

    “The Fed has been increasingly clear that substantial weakness in the economy may be the expense for a return to lower inflation. As rate hikes feed through to the real economy in the months ahead, the labour market may weaken further, reflecting investors’ recessionary concerns.”

    Consumer spending – the main driver of the US economy – has held up in recent months, despite the spike in prices eroding purchasing power.

    But anecdotal reports of job losses are rising, as firms announce job cuts or hiring freezes, especially those in the housing and tech sector. Peloton this week announced its fourth round of job cuts this year, shedding another 500 positions – or roughly 12% of its workforce.

    Some retailers have also scaled back hiring plans. Walmart, for example, has said it is hiring 40,000 workers for the holiday season, after taking on 150,000 last year.

  • US ramps up curbs on chip sales to China

    The US is introducing further measures to restrict sales of computer chip technology to China in a bid to hobble the country’s military advances.

    Under new rules, the US said it would bar US firms from selling certain chips used for supercomputing and artificial intelligence to Chinese companies.

    The restrictions also target sales from foreign firms that use US equipment.

    The US is engaged in an arms race with China over control of the supply of semiconductors.

    The sweeping new measures will make it harder for China to obtain advanced chips for cutting-edge technologies.

    Alan Estevez, undersecretary at the US Commerce Department announced the rules, saying his intention was to ensure the US was doing everything it could to prevent “sensitive technologies with military applications” from being acquired by China.

    “The threat environment is always changing and we are updating our policies today to make sure we’re addressing the challenges,” he said.

    As news of the plans for new restrictions emerged in recent weeks, Beijing criticised the measures and said the US should stop treating Chinese firms unfairly.

    The US has previously barred sales of technology to specific Chinese companies, such as Huawei, on national security grounds. But these measures go much further, with many of the measures aimed at preventing foreign firms from selling advanced semiconductors to China, or providing China with the tools to make advanced chips.

    Jim Lewis, a technology and cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in Washington DC said the measures would “set the Chinese back years”.

    US officials said they hoped that other governments would join them in making similar restrictions, conceding that the controls would lose effectiveness and could hurt US companies’ standing in the market without international collaboration.

    The Semiconductor Industry Association, which represents chipmakers, said it was studying the regulations. It urged the United States to implement the rules “in a targeted way” and called for collaboration internationally to “help level the playing field”.

    The measures come as the US pours billions of dollars into its domestic chip industry, moves aimed at boosting US competitiveness.

  • Auctioning of vehicles go online October 21, see the website here

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will from Friday, October 21, 2022, begin the auctioning of vehicles on an online platform.

    The platform known as the E-Auction module on the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) will be piloted with the auction of selected vehicles.

    All interested persons can log onto http://auction.icums.gov.gh to view the advertised vehicles.

    A screenshot of the platform

    The online platform is expected to eliminate corruption associated with auctioning of goods at the ports.

    Speaking at a ceremony to launch the GRA Service Charter last week, Commissioner-General of the GRA, Rev Amisshadai Owusu Amoah said prospective vehicle buyers will go online to make bid bids without appearing physically.

    He said is outfit was working to implement the new initiative as part of efforts to prevent revenue losses that emanates from the auctioning process.

    “We’re working to improve our services through various online and technology platforms such as that customers will feel comfortable dealing with us,” the Commissioner-General said.

    “We have the E-VAT, E-invoicing and other innovative means which customers are able to pay taxes and avoid some alleged corruption in our various offices. Another initiative is that by the end of October, we want to begin an E-Auction at the ports so that if you want to buy a car, just be home and click to search the kind of car you want without coming to the port”.

    Rev. Amoah further disclosed that customers will make payments immediately after their bids are electronically approved.

    Auctioning returns after halt

    Last month, the Office of the Special Prosecutor said the Customs Division of the GRA could commence the auction of vehicles and other goods after a halt during a corruption investigation.

    The OSP is investigating suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of auction sales of vehicles and other goods by the Customs Division between July 1, 2016, and August 15, 2022.

    On August 19, 2022, the Special Prosecutor directed the Commissioner of Customs Division to halt and discontinue all auction sales in aid of facilitating an investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of auction sales of vehicles and other goods between July 1, 2016, and August 15, 2022.

    A statement dated September 12, 2022, and issued by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng said the directive had been reviewed:

    “The Customs Division may commence auction sales of vehicles and other goods from Monday 12 September 2022.

    “The auction sales should be conducted strictly in accordance with legal requirements, especially the provisions of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891).

    “The Customs Division should cooperate and work closely with authorised officers of the Office of the Special Prosecutor in respect of the investigation and the conduct of auction sales.

    “The Office of the Special Prosecutor reminds all officers of the Customs Division and prospective bidders at the subsequent auctions that the investigation is still active and ongoing.”

  • Photos: See the 4 cough syrups the WHO has warned about after 66 deaths in Gambia

    A global alert has been issued over four cough syrups after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned they could be linked to the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia.

    The syrups have been “potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children”, it said.

    The products were manufactured by an Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, which had failed to provide guarantees about their safety, the WHO added.

    The firm has not yet commented.

    The BBC has contacted Maiden Pharmaceuticals for comment.

    Indian officials say they have asked the WHO to share evidence of the link between the syrups and the deaths.

    The WHO identified the medicines as Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.

    The four products had been identified in The Gambia, but “may have been distributed, through informal markets, to other countries or regions”, the WHO added, in the alert published on its website.

    It warned that their use may result in serious injury or death, especially among children.

    The WHO’s intervention came after medical authorities in The Gambia – a popular tourist destination – detected an increase in cases of acute kidney injury among children under the age of five in late July.

    The Gambia’s government has since suspended the use of all paracetamol syrups and has urged people to use tablets instead.

    The number of deaths has declined since the ban but two more have been recorded in the past two weeks, Gambia health services director Mustapha Bittay told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme.

    He said that The Gambia did not currently have a laboratory capable of testing whether medicines were safe and so they had to be sent abroad for checking. Mr Bittay added that The Gambia was in discussions with the World Bank to get funding for a quality-control laboratory.

    The WHO said that laboratory analysis of samples of the products “confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants”.

    The substances were toxic, and their effects “can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death,” it added.

    Mr Bittay also said that traces had also been found of E.Coli, a bacteria which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

    The Gambia’s health officials said last month that dozens of children had died, without giving an exact number.

    Speaking in Geneva on Wednesday, WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “The loss of these young lives is beyond heart-breaking for their families.”

    The WHO said that India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation indicated that the manufacturer may have only supplied the contaminated medications to The Gambia, AFP news agency reports, quoting an email from the UN health agency.

    But the WHO said that “global exposure” was possible as the “manufacturer may have used the same contaminated material in other products and distributed them locally or exported” them, the agency reports.

    See the four cough syrups below;

  • How Kwame Nkrumah vacated his official residence for Queen Elizabeth II for 17 days

    The Ghana Times reported on Thursday, April 2, 1959, about the itinerary that Queen Elizabeth II was to use during her visit to Ghana in November of that year.

    With the headline, “Itinerary of Queen’s visit out,” the report detailed all the things the monarch was to do in the country.

    One of those activities was for her to participate in the State Opening of Parliament in the morning of November 13, but the most intriguing aspect of this report was on how Ghana’s president, Kwame Nkrumah, would vacate his official residence at Government House (the Christiansborg Castle) for the queen.

    This was announced by Kojo Botsio, Chairman of the Planning Committee and Minister of External Affairs when he met the press.

    “Disclosing this at a press conference at the Ministerial Conference Room…, Mr. Kojo Botsio, Chairman of Planning Committee and Minister of External Affairs, said that the Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will be in Ghana from Thursday, November 12 to Saturday, November 28.

    “Mr. Botsio said the Prime Minister, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is personally in charge of the whole arrangement for the Queen’s visit. He said that the Queen had informed the Government that the expenditure in connection with her visit should not be too expensive.

    “During Her Majesty’s 17-day visit, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah will take up residence at Flagstaff House, while the Queen occupies Government House, Osu,” the newspaper report said.

  • Members of Nana Agradaa’s church cry foul; accuse her of money doubling scam

    Some members of the Heaven Way Church in Weija have accused their leader, Evangelist Mama Pat, popularly known as ‘Nana Agradaa’, of cleverly deceiving them and running away with their monies.

    According to the aggrieved congregants, Nana Agradaa had earlier promised to double their monies through her special spiritual endowments.

    Based on this assurance, the affected worshippers said they were convinced to give her various sums, in expectation of multiplied outcomes.

    But in a series of viral videos on social media on Saturday, the church members who reposed confidence in the recently converted fetish priestess said their monies have not been doubled, with no trace of Nana Agradaa.

    In their view, this smacks of a well-orchestrated scheme by the preacher to trick them out of their sweat.

    The angry and betrayed congregants, therefore, trooped to the church premises on Saturday in search of answers from Evangelist Mama Pat.

    Some of them who were spotted in the viral videos intimated that they had given huge sums to Nana Agradaa, ranging from GHS1,000 to GHS20,000.

    But amidst the brouhaha, some social media users have criticised the affected church members for being too gullible and vulnerable.

    According to the critics, ‘Nana Agradaa’, as she is popularly called has gained notoriety for swindling her unsuspecting clientele, and therefore her congregants should have known better in dealing with her.

    Others have however laid the blame at the doorstep of the Police for failing to keep the former spiritualist in check after claiming she had repented and become a minister of the gospel.

    Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service says it has begun investigations into an alleged money doubling scam that was perpetrated by Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as ‘Nana Agradaa’.

    In a Facebook post on Saturday, the Police said the suspect, who is the leader of the Heaven Way Church at Weija, reportedly committed the crime against some members of her congregation.

    According to the Police, the aggrieved members launched a series of reports which have subsequently compelled the Police to probe the matter.

    In its social media post, the Police, therefore, urged members of the general public to assist with investigations, while remaining calm.

    “The investigation was initiated following reports that have come to the attention of the Police on the matter.

    We would like to urge anyone with information that can assist the investigation to report to the Accra Regional Police Command at Accra Central close to the COCOBOD building. While investigation continues, we urge everyone, especially those who might have been affected to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands” the statement emphasised.

  • Police begin investigations into alleged money doubling scam by ‘Nana Agradaa’

    The Ghana Police Service says it has begun investigations into an alleged money doubling scam which was perpetrated by Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as ‘Nana Agradaa’.

    In a Facebook post on Saturday, the Police said the suspect, who is the leader of the Heaven Way Church at Weija, reportedly committed the crime against some members of her congregation.

    According to the Police, the aggrieved members launched a series of reports which have subsequently compelled the Police to probe the matter.

    In its social media post, the Police, therefore, urged members of the general public to assist with investigations, while remaining calm.

    “The investigation was initiated following reports that have come to the attention of the Police on the matter.

    We would like to urge anyone with information that can assist the investigation to report to the Accra Regional Police Command at Accra Central close to the COCOBOD building. While investigation continues, we urge everyone, especially those who might have been affected to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands” the statement emphasised.

    On Saturday, social media was awash with videos of aggrieved church members of ‘Nana Agradaa’, accusing their leader of swindling them.

    In a spree of comments monitored by JoyNews, the betrayed congregants said they took her for her words and gave out various sums of money with the hopes of receiving multiple folds as she had promised.

    Some of the victims of the supposed scam said they have traveled from very long distances to meet Nana Agrada to collect their money after her promises failed.

    Meanwhile, scores of social media users have criticised the affected church members for being too gullible and vulnerable.

    According to them, ‘Nana Agradaa’, as she is popularly called has gained notoriety for swindling her unsuspecting clientele, and therefore her congregants should have known better in dealing with her.

    Others have however laid the blame at the doorstep of the Police, for failing to keep the former spiritualist in check, after claiming she had repented and had now become a minister of the gospel.

  • Strong and robust logistics support fundamental to successful implementation of AfCFTA – Alan Kyerematen

    The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, has called on governments of African countries to put in place the needed institutional and logistical support frameworks to ensure that they collectively reap the full benefits from the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

    Speaking at the launch of the Africa Guided Trade Initiative in Accra, the minister stressed that “at our national levels, we should have institutional structures and a programme of action for boosting intra African trade to enable entrepreneurs to produce to take advantage of the huge market provided by the agreement.

    “We must ensure that we have the logistics support to ensure that we are able to move the goods from one country to another.”

    According to the minister, the launch “symbolizes that AfCFTA is not just on paper but a reality. And we are moving from talk and negotiations to action. It also symbolizes that governments in Africa who have been involved in the negotiations are now giving way to the private sector to make it a reality.”

    The guided trade initiative was launched for seven member countries.

    These seven countries which have signaled their readiness to start trading under AfCFTA were Tanzania, Mauritania, Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Ghana.

    Speaking at the same event, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene said at least 96 different products from the seven countries could be freely traded under the rules of AfCFTA.

    Products approved to trade under AfCFTA include horticultural products, pharmaceuticals, rubber, aluminum kitchenware, sugar, steel, and wooden products. These products originating from Africa will enjoy duty-free and quota-free trading among the partnering countries.

    “This is the moment the founding mothers and fathers of the Organization of African Unity have longed (for). We have finally honored and made reality the vision of those who liberated our continent.

    “We are connecting East Africa to West Africa, North Africa to Southern Africa. Trade will be the driver of inclusivity, creating opportunities for young Africans. So we have taken the first journey today, and I hope in 15 years, we will have succeeded in lifting millions and millions of Africans out of poverty,” Mene said.

  • GI-KACE Holds AI series forum on music and creative arts

    The Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) has organised an Artificial Intelligence (AI) knowledge series forum on music, entertainment, culture and the creative arts.

    The event, which took place at the auditorium of the centre on Thursday, September 29, brought together several students, innovators, stakeholders and industry practitioners.

    Some of the dignitaries who were present include Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) President, Bessa Simons; renowned Ghanaian poet, Rhyme Sonny; Host of Peace FM’s Entertainment Review show, Kwesi Aboagye; Director of Communications and Special Projects at MUSIGA, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, popularly known as ‘Daddy Bosco’, among others.

     

    Director-General for GI-KACE, Dr Collins Yeboah-Afari

    Speaking at the event, the Director-General for GI-KACE, Dr Collins Yeboah-Afari, stated that the session’s relevance was to help create awareness about the opportunities available in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the music, entertainment, culture, and Creative Arts industry.

    He also stated that with the right application of AI in the Creative Arts industry, several jobs would be created in that space which will also increase revenue and impact Ghana’s Gross domestic product (GDP).

    “The adoption of AI technologies in the music, entertainment, culture, and Creative Arts industry will promote professionalism, and enhance the quality of output churned out by the various players in the industry. This will also help showcase our talents to the rest of the world while in turn increasing the tourism value of Ghana,” Dr Yeboah-Afari said.

    He noted that the event forms part of GI-KACE’s mandate to grow the ICT ecosystem in the ECOWAS sub-region and contribute to youth development, while the centre tries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Kobby ‘Spiky’ Nkrumah, Host of Joy Geek Squad

    Presenting on how AI is transforming the music industry globally, Kobby ‘Spiky’ Nkrumah, Host of Joy Geek Squad – Multimedia Group, disclosed that AI is striking a chord in the music industry with many artists employing artificial intelligence in their music-making process.

    He added that some AIs had been developed so well that they could even analyse the style of musicians and create songs based on the data collected, which will sound exactly like the musicians themselves.

    “There are a few AI-powered music production platforms like JUKE Box, iZotope, among others, that can create and master music once all the right elements like genre and lyrics are provided. Some of these platforms can even continue the beat production for you if you want them to,” Mr. Nkrumah noted.

    He also added that digital music streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify and the like are AI-powered, and they analyse what you listen to regularly and send music recommendations to keep you updated on new trending songs based on your taste in music.

    On her part, Winifred Kotin, Co-founder of CDD Super Fluids Labs, mentioned that: “We can also use AI in tourism through Virtual and Augmented realities powered by Virtual assistants which deliver immersive experiences. There are also a lot of opportunities in AI in tourism through AI-Power Chatbots on Digital Kiosks. Digital Kiosk can have AI Chatbots installed and placed at vantage places like the airports.”

    Eyram Tawia, Chief Executive of Leti Arts, noted that AI plays an essential role in the development of Video Games, especially for him, as he is a Ghanaian game developer.

    The AI Knowledge Series was organised by GI-KACE in partnership with the Institute of ICT Professionals GH, AI Association Ghana, Runmila AI Institute and GIZ.

  • Fashion industry can be a game-changer for the economy – Rocky Dawuni

    Ghanaian singer, songwriter, and two-time Grammy-nominated musician, Rocky Dawuni, has stated that the country’s fashion industry has great potential to generate big revenue and become a game-changer for the economy with the right support.

    Speaking on the sideline of the 10th anniversary launch of ‘Rhythms on Da Runway’, he mentioned that Ghana’s fashion industry has proven to be unique, innovative and resilient over the past year, and a small push would enable key players to expand production capacity, improve on quality, and offer better export opportunities that will earn the country more revenue in foreign exchange.

    While commending the organising team, Nineteen57, for an initiative such as the Rhythms on Da Runway, which has generated revenue for several players in the arts and fashion, tourism, and entertainment sector, he urged key stakeholders to collaborate, build synergy and share ideas to grow the industry if help is not coming from the government.

    Rocky Dawuni’s remarks corroborate the statement made by the Managing Director of Vlisco Ghana, Fatoumata Doro, recently that Ghana’s fashion industry is quite young and full of growth potential; hence, the need to invest in the industry, and the need for both government and corporate entities to help develop it to full potential.

    “E-commerce, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and digital printing are some of the fashion-enabling tools that will shape the future of the fashion industry in Africa, and this requires some investment from both government and corporate entities to build a robust ecosystem for players to thrive in the space,” she said.

    The 10th edition of Rhythms On Da Runway was officially launched under the theme: ‘The Green Edition’.

    According to Nineteen57, this year’s edition is intended to draw attention to sustainable solutions for development.

    Notable personalities who graced the ceremony at the premises of The Lotte, Cantonments, include real estate mogul, Nana Kwame Bediako (Cheddar); CEO of Free Zones Authority (GFZA), Michael Oquaye Jnr.; multiple award-winning artiste, Edem; dancehall artiste, Episode; among many other movie, fashion and media personalities.

    The main event will take place on Sunday, November 20 at ‘The Dome’ of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

     

  • Ghana re-elected to ITU Council

    Ghana has been re-elected as a council member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to continue contributing its quota to the United Nation’s specialized agency that oversees global telecommunication operations.

    The election for the Council membership, which was held on Monday, was the high point of the ongoing ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 in Bucharest, Romania.

    Ghana secured 145 votes and ranked 2nd among the 13 countries elected to the
    Council from Region D in Africa, which is the highest number of votes that Ghana has secured at an ITU Council election.

    The ITU Council acts as the Union’s governing body in the interval between
    Plenipotentiary Conferences, held every four years.

    Its role is to consider broad telecommunication policy issues to ensure that the Union’s activities, policies, and strategies fully respond to today’s dynamic, rapidly changing telecommunications environment.

    The Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who led Ghana’s electoral campaign pledged that Ghana would continue to make a valuable contribution to the ITU council while making sure that it provides its service to telecommunication in a resourceful, open, and futuristic way.

    She explained that the government has already done a lot through initiatives such as the innovative Rural Telephony Project and Sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTS) to secure cyberspace amongst others.

    In a related development, Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, the Acting Director of Engineering at the National Communications Authority (NCA) was elected to ITU’s Radio Regulations Board (RRB) for the 2023-2026 term.

    In total, forty-eight ITU Member States were elected to the Council ITU Radio Regulations Board (RRB).

  • AfCFTA: Have institutional structures to support entrepreneurs – Alan Kyerematen to Africa

    Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen, has entreated African governments to put in place industrial structures to support entrepreneurs under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    According to him, the industrial structures will help entrepreneurs produce more goods and remain competitive in the market.

    He added that air logistics must also be made available to ensure the free movement of goods across the continent.

    Speaking at the launch of AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative in Accra on Friday, October 7, 2022, Alan Kyerematen said the above-mentioned; industrial structures and air logistics were necessary to facilitate trade in Africa.

    The Trade Minister said, “We have to make sure that full things occur [under AfCFTA]. At our national level, we should have institutional structures and the programme of action to support our entrepreneurs is to be able to produce.”

    “We must ensure that we have the logistics support to be able to move the goods from one country to the other. Without sea freight, air cargo, this is not going to work,” he stated.

    Alan Kyerematen, at the launch of the Guided Trade Initiative, disclosed that the Chief Executive Officer of McDan Group, Daniel McKorley, has signed an agreement to invest cargo planes and sea freight vessels under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

    He called on other entrepreneurs across the continent to start looking at investing in transport logistic services.

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

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

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

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

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

     

  • McDan invests cargo planes, sea freight vessel under AfCFTA – Trade Minister announces

    Chief Executive Officer of McDan Group, Daniel McKorley on Friday, October 7, 2022, signed an agreement to invest cargo planes and sea freight vessels to support trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    Announcing this at the launch of AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative in Accra, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, noted that the move by the Ghanaian entrepreneur was laudable.

    He said the availability of cargo planes and sea freight vessels will help in the free movement of goods from one African country to the other.

    He called on entrepreneurs to invest in transport logistic services for the smooth running of goods and services under AfCFTA.

    Alan Kyerematen said, “Without sea freight, air cargo, this is not going to work and that’s why I want to end on this note for us to celebrate one entrepreneur in Ghana, McDan who is now signing an agreement with the AfCFTA investing in cargo plane and sea freight vessel, specifically to support the trading under AfCFTA.”

    “I think this should be a call to other entrepreneurs across the continent to start looking at investing in this transport logistic services,” he added.

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

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

     

  • Stay execution of National House of Chiefs’ judgement – Kadehene to Supreme Court

    The Chief of Kade, Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II, has filed a motion at the Supreme Court to Stay Execution of the National House of Chiefs’ recent judgement against him.

    The applicant in his motion on notice filed on October 5 is seeking the Apex Court to set aside the judgement of the National House of Chiefs delivered on September 29.

    He is also asking the court to restore the decision of the judicial committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

    The Regional House of Chiefs had ordered for a retrial of the case at the Akim Abuakwa Traditional Council.

    But that decision of the retrial, in the case titled Ohemaa Ekua Fosua, II, and four others vs Osabarima Agyare Tenadu, II, was appealed (by the 5 applicants) and same upheld by the National House of Chiefs.

    Dissatisfied with the judgement, the Kadehene has filed a motion at the Supreme Court to Stay Execution of the decision.

    In his Affidavit in support of the motion said “the Akim Abuakwa Traditional Council Judicial Committee actually set up measures to begin a retrial of the case.”

    “Strangely, the Respondents went for extension of time before the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to appeal to the National House of Chiefs which was granted,” the Kadehene contended.

    “To my total shock and surprise, the judicial committee of the National House of Chiefs has given Judgment saying that they have allowed the appeal.

    “I pray for leave to file an appeal to the Supreme Court because I feel terribly aggrieved by the Judgment.

    “That, I will be ready to state my full grounds for the appeal to the Supreme Court when I get a certified copy of the Judgment, yet to be given on 10th November 2022.

    The Kadehene noted that “for now all I can say is that I do not understand why in the face of gross irregularities which took place at the Judicial Committee of the Akim

    “Abuakwa Traditional Council which had the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs ordering them to retry the case can be upheld here and affirmed by the National House of Chiefs as if endorsing irregularities,” he noted in his statement of case.

  • ‘Every bomb, every bullet’ statement at UN – Ukraine thanks Akufo-Addo for support

    The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has expressed his country’s gratitude to Ghana for standing by them amid the Russian invasion that started in February this year.

    Kuleba arrived in Accra on Wednesday, October 6 and departed on the 7th, with Ghana being the third stop of his African tour. He had earlier been to Senegal and Ivory Coast.

    While in Ghana, he delivered a message from President Volodymyr Zelensky to his counterpart Akufo-Addo and also held talks with Foreign Affairs minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

    It was during this meeting he revealed that Ukraine was grateful for Ghana’s support through the current crisis, citing specifically a statement at the 77th United Nations General Assembly in Akufo-Addo’s address in September.

    He said Akufo-Addo’s: “Every bullet and every bomb fired at Ukraine is felt in Africa,” statement was the clearest and the most eloquent statement, which reflected the global repercussions of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

    “We have to stop this war, we will be winning it, because we defend the right cause, the principle of sovereignty, the principle of territorial integrity of the nation,” he is quoted to have said in a Ghana News Agency report.

    Kuleba also disclosed that aside from boosting bilateral and especially trade relations between Accra and Kyiv, Ukraine would soon be opening a full diplomatic mission in Accra.

     

  • Bawumia is a strong tree, he’ll stand through every storm – Kofi Bentil

    Kofi Bentil, Vice President of Imani Africa, has eulogised Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on the occasion of his 59th birthday.

    Bentil, who has been a strong critic of the Vice President and the government at large, described the second gentleman of the land as a strong tree that will stand through every storm.

    He noted in a Facebook post with a photo of the Vice President that he [Dr Bawumia] is made of the right stuff.

    “The strongest trees are those that bend in the storm but don’t break. You are a strong tree. You will stand through every storm.

    “When it’s all done you will wave your leaves and branches in victory when the calm comes after the storm.

    “I will be there clapping. I won’t be surprised. I know you’re made of the right stuff.

    “Happy Birthday champ. You are blessed. It is clear,” Kofi Bentil‘s October 7 post concluded.

  • Popular man in ‘Go and ask your grandfather video’ to contest NDC position

    Many people who recognize his face from a 2017 interview GhanaWeb had with him, would remember those words of his that became an almost household catchphrase, “go and ask your grandfather.”

    This was after a reporter asked him for clarification to a proverb he used in the interview, to which he furiously retorted with those words.

    It has now emerged that the man, Noah Dogah, is vying for a top position in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ada Constituency of the Greater Accra Region.

    In a poster that has been sighted online by GhanaWeb, Noah, who is running on the motto, Common Sense, wants to become the Chairman of the NDC in the constituency.

    In 2017, GhanaWeb posted the video of Noah Dogah where he made the comments on the back of a chaotic election for the District Chief Executive position in the Ada constituency.

    Furious about some of the things that happened on the day, including accusations that they had been sabotaged, Noah Dogah, an assemblyman in the area at the time, explained that he was also brutalized.

    “I will face them one by one, and they will see what will happen. I’m a traditionalist; I’m not a Christian so I’m also going to pray because they butchered me, they twisted my neck. They seized my phone, my money, my constitutional book is lost.

    “You were there. We were telling you that let the people get out of the room because we know the plans that the people set. We told you from the beginning but you took it for granted. Now, you saw it with your naked eyes. They came into the room first in their suits and we suspected that they are not National Security. We walked them out and before we were counting, they disconnected all the power.

    “You saw it, don’t let me be bias. They are totally failures. The officers in that room, they connived with the criminals to rob us so we are telling them that Sarah is not the DCE and she can never be DCE for Ada. Look, when you pluck a fruit, wait till it is ripe before you eat; don’t eat unripe fruits,” he said.

    Asked what the meaning of those last words were, Noah Dogah retorted that the reporter should go and ask his grandfather.

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) goes to the polls later this year to election executives for all its regional and district offices across the country.

  • The ‘unwelcomed intrusion’ that pushed Anas from working with CID on galamsey investigation

    Undercover investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has revealed details on why he backed down on an earlier decision to involve the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in his galamsey investigation.

    This was contained in a statement by the celebrated journalist, who is also the owner of Tiger Eye PI, over his 2019 documentary dubbed “Galamsey Fraud part 1.”

    The investigation, which looked at the rot in the galamsey menace and how some top government officials were involved in it, also implicated a former secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue.

    According to the statement, any claim that runs contrary to what the company said was without merit as Charles Bissue was caught engaged in bribery and corruption.

    In a statement dated October 7, the owner of Tiger Eye PI said the documentary which was carried out on “truth, facts and audio-evidence,” was sent to the CID as a way of getting their blessing on it before it was aired.

    However, the statement added, something fishy happened along the way that got the team to back out from seeking the help of the police investigators.

    “While investigations were ongoing under the OSP, we noticed a parallel investigation (an unwelcomed intrusion) was opened by the Tiwaah Addo Danquah-led CID on the back of a so-called complaint from the Chairman of the IMCIM, Prof. Frimpong Boateng, which generated enormous public opprobrium

    “Tiger Eye, sensing a fishy move had been designed to undermine the investigations of the OSP, took a decision not to collaborate with the CID since the same would have amounted to duplication of effort and a waste of precious resources, especially so when we suspected the whole CID intrusion was a smokescreen. Therefore, the so-called CID report which Mr. Bissue always hurriedly likes to bask in had no inputs from Tiger Eve who were the sole authors of the Galamsey Fraud investigations, and so, Tiger Eye considers the said report as a white-washing antic with no credibility,” the statement said.

    Also in the statement, Tiger Eye PI’s Anas Aremeyaw Anas insisted that its 2019 documentary was nothing but the true representation of what transpired.

    It added that any claim that runs contrary to what the company said was without merit as Charles Bissue was caught engaged in bribery and corruption.

    “Tiger Eye’s position, conduct and approach to all investigations are based on truth, facts and audio-visual evidence. Tiger Eye affirms and maintains its investigations and conclusion on the Galamsey Fraud documentary about Mr. Charles Bissue and other staff at the dissolved IMCIM. Any claims or allegations to the contrary are false and without merit.

    “Mr. Charles Bissue engaged in bribery and corruption and Tiger Eye uncovered this in the form of audio-visual evidence when undercover journalists posed as owners of an abandoned mining company,” a part of the statement read.

    Anas further refuted Charles Bissue’s claim that agents of Tiger Eye P.I demanded payment of monies in order not to air the documentary.

    He maintained that it was a “figment of his imagination” for him to think that monies would be collected to sweep the documentary under the carpet to avoid his disgrace when it has already been advertised.

    Read the full statement from Anas Aremeyaw Anas below:

     

  • All about the Damba Festival in Dagbang Kingdom

    Damba is one of the festivals that is largely celebrated by the people of Northern Ghana.

    The festival is celebrated by the Dagombas, the Nanumbas, the Mampurisis, the Gonjas, the Waalas, and the Kusasis.

    The festival is celebrated to mark the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Hence during this celebration in Dagbang, the Islamic Religious Leaders have vital a role play for it to take off smoothly.

    Damba is a festival with the greatest gathering of people from far and near, that is celebrated by the Dagombas and it is the second festival after the Fire festival (Bugum).

    The festival is celebrated across the length and breadth of Dagbang among the sons and daughters of Naa Gbewaa, The Lion King.

    Damba festival is a platform that makes it possible for families to meet and socialize. Apart from socialization, it also attracts tourist across the globe and boost economic activities in the area. The month of Damba is gradually assuming the ‘month of smock’ as the nickname. Smock weavers cash in a lot during the month.

    In Dagbang, the festival is celebrated in two folds – Somo Damba and Naa Damba. Upon the sighting of the crescent of Rabi-ul-Awwal (the third month of the Hijr Calendar) a musket is fired once to signify the sighting of the Damba Crescent (damba Goli) and the talking drum would also be played to inform the King of the sighting of the crescent.

    The following day, the wives of the King of Dagbang, Ndan Ya-Na and Gongong beaters (Lungsi) would start gathering at night at the forecourt of the Gbewaa Palace to rehearse dance and songs of the festival for the next few days, popularly known in Dagbang as “Damba Binchera”. This practice would go on for the next ten (10) days at the Gbewaa Palace.

    On the eleventh day, the Somo Damba (Dan’tooni) celebration starts. This Somo Damba is led by a chief called Yidana Somo and that is why the first Damba is referred to as Somo Damba. The Somo Damba celebration processes starts in the morning at the forecourt of the Gbewaa Palace in the presence of distinguished chiefs including Yidana Somo, Yidana Zemoli, Yidana Chim, Zohe Naa, Kuga Naa, Kum-lana, Nba Dugu, Nba Malli etc. Also present at the gathering will be Islamic Clerics (Afa Nima), Gongong beaters (Lunsi), Goonginima, and the general public.

    The activities in the morning include the Picking of Rice (Shinkaafa Gahimbu), Slautering of Cow (Nahu gilibu), Recitation of some verses of the Quran and Drumming and dancing accompanied with firing of the muskets. These activities take place in the morning until midday.

    Later in the evening, all the chiefs return to the Gbewaa palace for the continuation of the Somo Damba celebration. The Ya-Na is led out by some of his sub-chiefs to sit and observe the celebration. The first person to be invited to perform a dance is the Yidana Somo; he dances to signify the official opening of the dance floor. After him, the drummers then invite other chiefs and other well-meaning Dagombas ( Asanzanima) to also come on board to display their dance skills. The drumming and dancing continues until night falls whence Ya-Na dances finally to signify the end of the first fold (Somo Damba).

    A week later, that is exactly on the 17th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal (Damba Goli), all the chiefs gather again in the morning and all the activities that took place in the morning of the somo Damba are repeated to commence the Naa Damba. It is referred to as Naa Damba or Napag-ba Damba because its belongs to King himself.

    Later in the evening, the people come back to the palace to continue with the celebration.The Naa damba is the most attended celebration among the two folds. The Yaa-Naa is led out again by the chiefs and elders of the palace for the evening celebration to continue. The dancing and firing of the muskets continue into the night of the day. Also, varied organized dance forms come later in the night and this goes on till the early morning of the 18th day regarded as Farewell Day or Biɛlieli Kulsi Dali in the Dagbani Language.

    The 18th day is the final day of the damba celebration known as Biɛli Kulisi (Farewell). In the evening, some the chiefs gather at the palace again to escort some distinguished chiefs and sub-chiefs to their various palaces in town. The period is also used as an avenue for thanksgiving to the various Chiefs and the people. The first chief to be paid homage to is the Zohe Naa and the Balo-Naa is the last to be paid the homage to. This thanksgiving is done while the dancing, firing of musket and singing continues. The song that is sung during the Beli Kulisi is “Damba Kuliya Kulan-labina Nagi- la Yuuni.” to wit ‘Damba is returned not to come back until after a year’.

    All in all, the festival is celebrated by all Dagombas across the globe every year. This instills the culture and traditions in the youth, and promotes peace and development.

    May God bless Dagbang Kindom and make us continue to propagate our culture for there is a saying that, take the culture away from the people and they would be left with no identity.

  • Family in Nkoranza living in fear after surviving two separate robbery attacks

    A family based in the Nkoranza South Municipality of the Bono East Region is living in fear following two separate robbery attacks on his life.

    Their fears are premised on the fact that they have already survived two separate robbery attacks in September 2021 and August 2022.

    Narrating the ordeals, Alhaji Adam Mamudu, a cattle dealer indicated that although they have survived the attacks, he believes he and his family have become endangered species at the hands of criminals and are no longer safe.

    Showing evidence of the first attack, Alhaji Adam Mamudu disclosed that he was trailed and allegedly shot by two individuals, Thunder and Iddrisu, around 8:00 pm by the roadside but the suspects are walking freely in the community after they were arrested and arraigned before court.

    “I had gone to visit the sick son of my herdsman when I was trailed by some individuals on a motorbike and shot at the back but thankfully I survived. The sad reality is that even though I saw and reported the suspects to the police, they are walking freely after their arrest and subsequent bail by the court”.
    He added that the second attack occurred at a village called Dinkra closer to Dromankese where he was robbed of an amount of GHC8,000 and his son who was with him kidnapped for a ransom which he paid before his release.

    “I was attacked again two months ago at Dinkra. They robbed me of all the GHC8,000 on me, kidnapped my son and demanded an amount of GHC100, 000 as ransom”.

    He stressed that there is no doubt that the criminals live in the community with them due to the nature of the attacks and their modus operandi which has heightened his fears.

    “I am living in fear and not just me but my family members due to the nature of the attacks and the persons behind the attacks. I am convinced that the criminals are with us in the community and they monitor all our activities”.

    Kidnap account by son

    Haruna Mamudu, the son of Alhaji Adam Mamudu who was allegedly kidnapped by the robbers has confirmed the incident and the subsequent request for a ransom.

    According to him, he was taken deep into the bush awaiting payment of the ransom by his father before he was released by his captors.

    “When I was kidnapped, they took me deep into the bush, an area I don’t know and waited for the payment of a ramson by my father. They only released me after the ramson had been paid”.

    Call for intense security by police

    The family is calling on the police to intensify security in the area to cramp down on the activities of criminals in Nkoranza and its environs.

  • Kweku Baako narrates how Major Mahama was allegedly killed by galamseyers

    Veteran Journalist Kweku Baako Jnr has alleged that the lynching of Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama (Major Mahama) by residents of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region in 2017 was orchestrated by illegal small-scale miners (galamseyers).

    According to him, the lynching of Major Mahama was not because he was mistaken for a thief as being asserted but was planned.

    In a Peace FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Kweku Baako said that the galamseyers arranged the murder of Major Mahama because they saw him as an impediment to their activities in Denkyria-Obuasi

    “This is a tragedy so I have to be careful so that I don’t hurt feelings and emotions. Do you know that the late Major Mahama was a victim of galamseyers?

    “The galamseyers thought he symbolized protection of a certain mining interest there. They (the galamseyers) gingered up the thing (the incident) and got that man killed,” he narrated.

    He intimated that even though no one has been found guilty of Major Mahama’s death he is confident that the perpetrators will be brought to book.

    “They have not finished the court case … but it is progressing,” he said.

    On May 29, 2017, residents of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region lynched an army officer, Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama to death after mistaking him for an armed thief.

    The mob attacked and beat him to death with stones, building blocks and sticks, after which they set him on fire. The horrific act which was captured on video was greatly condemned. Investigations into the murder of the army officer led to the arrest of some town folks.

    President Akufo-Addo condemned the lynching as a “heinous crime,” and promised justice.

    “No one involved in his murder will go free,” he said.

    But up to date, no has one been found guilty of any crime.

  • A significant proportion of Ghanaians are food-insecure – Legon lecturer

    An Associate Professor at the University of Ghana’s School of Public Health, Richmond Aryeetey, has admitted that a significant proportion of the Ghanaian populace is food-insecure.

    According to him, this is happening despite the government’s flagship programme Planting for Foods and Jobs (PFJ).

    He said there is a difference between food supply and food security, explaining that food supply is a component of food security.

    Prof Aryeetey stressed that the government’s PFJ forms part of the food supply chain.

    He explained that this is an indication that people may not be eating right.

    The nutritionist said 20 to 40 per cent of the Ghanaian population is food-insecure.

    In his view, food inflation is making it difficult for people to consume quality food in recent times.

    These have health implications for the country, he warned.

    For instance, he pointed out that as a consequence, many Ghanaians are taking risks regarding eating right.

    “People make difficult decisions on how many times they will eat in a day,” he lamented.

    The Associate Professor made these comments while reacting to the World Bank’s report that one-third of Ghana’s population skips a meal a day.

    He spoke on the 505 news hosted by Korku Lumor on Class 91.3 FM on Thursday, October 6, 2022.

    He noted that not eating right could make people not think right

  • BoG missed the timing of policy rate hike – Prof. Bokpin

    A senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Godfred Alufar Bokpin, has stated that even though the Bank of Ghana’s efforts to address the rising inflation rates by increasing the monetary policy, the timing for its recent hike is wrong.

    The Bank of Ghana increased the monetary policy rate by 250 basis points to 24.5% on October 6, 2022.

    Prof. Bokpin explained that what the Bank of Ghana currently lacks is the right positioning of the policy rate to effectively deal with the current economic crisis.

    “We have said that where we are, the triggers are much more from the fiscal side and therefore there is a limit to how far you can deploy monetary policy largely of course to eliminate the demand-related inflationary pressures but where I disagree with the Bank of Ghana is the timing of their policy rate adjustment that seems to lack in terms of positioning it to anchor inflationary expectation, I think we missed it,” he is quoted by myjoyonline.com.

    Ghana’s current inflation currently stands at 33.9% as of August 2022, the highest it has been in 21 years.

    However, the economist identified that Ghana’s problem has to do largely with the fiscal side of the economy.

    Therefore, the Bank of Ghana should not be blamed entirely.

    “We may be missing the point if we blame the Bank of Ghana so much and leave out the big elephant in the room which is the fiscal side where the political economy is dominant and where politicians and managers of the fiscal side are to be blamed for the current mess that we are in.

    “If you look at Bank of Ghana’s statement for the past year, you will see a certain posture of Bank of Ghana that suggests that they are unhappy with the way the fiscal side is being managed,” he explained.

  • Cedi sells at GH¢11 to 1 dollar at bureaus, BoG at GH¢9.63 as of October 8

    On the Interbank forex rates from the Bank of Ghana on, October 7, 2022, the Ghana Cedi is trading against the dollar at a buying price of 9.6302 and a selling price of 9.6398.

    As compared to Thursday’s trading of a buying price of 9.6302 and a selling price of 9.6398. At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is being bought at a rate of 10.82 and sold at a rate of 11.00.

    Against the Pound Sterling, the Cedi is trading at a buying price of 10.7742 and a selling price of 10.7860 as compared to Thursday’s trading of a buying price of 10.8513 and a selling price of 10.8641.

    At a forex bureau in Accra, the pound sterling is being bought at a rate of 11.95 and sold at a rate of 12.25.

    The Euro is trading at a buying price of 9.4677 and a selling price of 9.4772 as compared to Thursday’s trading of a buying price of 9.4978 and a selling price of 9.5082.

    At a forex bureau in Accra, Euro is being bought at a rate of 10.45 and sold at a rate of 10.72.

    The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.5380 and a selling price of 0.5387 compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 0.5401 and a selling price of 0.5404.

    At a forex bureau in Accra, South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.45 and sold at a rate of 0.80.

    The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 45.2257 and a selling price of 45.2382 as compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 45.2776 and a selling price of 45.3679.

    At a forex bureau in Accra, Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 13.00 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 15.50.

  • Let’s work hard to break stereotypes of women in tourism – GTA CEO

    The Chief Executive Officer, of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyeman, has urged women in tourism to work hand in hand to break the stereotypes that hold women down.

    He said, “we need more of our women to rise to positions  of authority that will enable them to influence policies, especially those that will affect the fortunes of other women.”

    Agyeman made the observation at the just-ended biennial congress of the GTA Ladies Club.

    The congress brought members across the regions to discuss ways to help the organization achieve its goals, empower each other, and exchange views and ideas aimed at improving the welfare of female staff.

    He congratulated the Club for the commitment and efforts towards the successful operations of the GTA and urged them not to relent in their efforts to create a more formidable force of Authority.

    Mrs. Doreen Fianko, Founder of the Club, said there were many conscious and unconscious biases around women, which hindered their progressive forward movement.

    “This is the reason why women need to be empowered and allowed to redefine their gender roles and to make strategic life choices which will allow them more freedom to pursue their desired goals.”

    Mrs. Emma Rachael Akua Oduro, Outgoing President of the Club, urged women in the Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Hospitality industry in Ghana, to mentor and coach one another through support groups to meet up with the growing demands within the industry.

    She said the club was formed over two decades ago to, among other things, improve the welfare of the female staff through the exchange of ideas, promote the image and advancement of members as well as assist the management to achieve the basic objectives of the Authority and offer constructive suggestions and criticisms.

    The Ladies’ Club has a membership of about 200 drawn from all 16 regions of Ghana.

    Some activities that took place during the congress included a leadership training programme, an empowerment summit, a donation exercise, an election and swearing-in of new executives, a tour, and a picnic.

    The newly sworn-in executives include  Madam Francesca Quansah, President, Ms Abigail Kwayisi, Vice President, Madam Selase Tettevi, Organizer, Nana Yaa Boadu, Assistant Organizers, Madam Millicent Nweada, Public Relations Officer, Madam Ellen Gyeambea, Secretary, and Madam Dela Melchidek, Financial Secretary.