Some principal streets in Accra have been taken over by filth shortly after the three-day Christmas holidays, the Ghana News Agency observed during a tour of some streets of the capital on Tuesday.
However, the sanitation situation was better on some streets around the Ministries, Independence Square, areas near the Accra Psychiatric Hospital and Holy spirit Cathedral, and Osu Oxford Street.
Though measures have been put in place to ensure proper sanitation in the city during the festive season in line with the Government’s vision of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa, filth continues to remain a challenge in the capital.
Madam Akosua Oteng, a street vendor around the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, attributed the garbage heaps on the streets to pedestrians, who litter indiscriminately and evening traders who dump their garbage during the night.
“Those who dump here are often passers-by and some traders. When you confront them, they tell you that Zoomlion will come and sweep,” she said.
She further stated how the various Assemblies had refused to do their jobs hence causing the practice to be perpetuated with impunity. She said this was a bad attitude that needed to change.
Adwoa Amankwa Boadi, a food vendor at the Kaneshie market, attributed the delay in emptying rubbish bins at the market as one of the causes for poor sanitation and the habit of littering, which she said had increased during the festive season.
Madam Boadi was more concerned with the choked underground drains that had not been desilted for a long time, which she said could end causing flooding and disease outbreak with the slightest rain.
“The pile of rubbish since we hit December has increased because a lot of people have flocked to town to trade and shop. Though rubbish bins have been provided, they are usually not emptied on time so there is always a spillage which end up in the underground drain which is already choked. What I am afraid now is flooding when it rains and a cholera outbreak”, She said.
Evans Boakye, a coconut seller at the Tema Station, was not surprised at the level of filth that had engulfed the surroundings, as according to him, this had always been the trend and increases during the yuletide.
For him, the solution to the problem is for traders, passengers, and drivers to cease the habit of littering and for the Assemblies to enforce the byelaws on sanitation.
Festus, a driver nearby, agreed with him that an attitude change was a prerequisite for cleanliness but, more stringent actions such as the arrest and prosecution of sanitation offenders needed to be applied.
Poor sanitation, according to a 2012 desk study carried out by the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) and published by the World Bank costs Ghana more than US$290 million each year, an equivalent of US$12 per person in Ghana per year or 1.6 per cent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In 2017, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo pledged to make Accra the neatest and best city in Africa by the end of his first term of office.
However, for more than two years into his second administration, the issue of Sanitation continues to remain a challenge in the country, particularly in Cosmopolitan areas such as Accra, Kumasi among other urban areas with huge populations.
The first photo library in Africa has been commissioned for use in Accra.
This is an ultra modern photo library and exhibition centre which is expected to boost photography and visual story telling that target at harnessing imagery resources across the continent has been commissioned at South La neighborhood in Accra.
Known as Dikan Centre, the multi million dollar project which is an initiative of the Ghanaian-American trained documentary photographer, Paul Ninson has in stock over 30,000 photo books.
It will offer a golden opportunity to facilitate photographic talent hunt and also be used as reference centre for the African photography industry.
Apart from the library, the Dikan Centre has an art gallery, photo studio and editing department where editing of films and other productions take place.
In his welcome address at the commissioning, the Founder and CEO of the Dikan Centre, Mr Paul Ampofo Ninson paid a glowing tribute to Mr Brandon Stanton, CEO of Creator of Humans of the United State of America for making his dream come to fruition .
He said the centre is poised to mobilise efforts to sharpen the identity of the African creative arts industry that has been left untapped, undeveloped and unattended to for centuries, adding that the centre is gathering power and momentum to use the tools of visual education to bring into richness the continent’s creative –visual-arts industry into fine form and commercial viability.
“We are determined never to leave behind any person, idea, history, culture, concept and facility necessary in re-imagining and firming the place of visual education in building a modernised African economy – If you know and have knowledge, see and/or hear, you are a storyteller Dikan will find you” said Mr Paul Ninson.
The centre offers refresher courses and professional training programmes expected to attract photography students and visual story tellers from around the world.
The centre teaches leadership skills, critical thinking and innovation as a complement to its interdisciplinary programme with a strong foundation crafted around the African context.
He said for centuries, African history, culture and society lacked the central ingredients for transforming its potential into a commercially viable creative-visual-arts workforce.
The Dikan journey pivots the very essence of the emerging African dream.
Mr Ninson expressed worry that the African continent is crippled by the enormous confrontations that undermine dreams of people while it is desperate to participate in the opportunities of this world.
The ideas, fortitude, talent and skillsets of the bulk of this continent never gets materialised or amplified.
According to him, the failure of private enterprises and the weaknesses of our institutions of government have fed into global terrorism and migration crisis.
“Millions on the continent are surviving below the poverty line and our youth are desperate for new opportunities.
“We cannot fail them,” he said.
The Dikan Centre frameworks the urgency to accelerate the new African dream of providing real opportunities.
The library started with Paul’s private collection during his studies in New York. He invested his income and savings in books on photography and filmmaking, hoping to bridge the gap between both the unavailability and inaccessibility of such books in Africa. Others were donated by institutions such as the International Center of Photography and the Howard Greenberg Gallery.
After years of investing and collecting books in New York and other libraries across the world, Paul returned to Ghana in 2021 to start Dikan, a home to photographers and other creatives that tell impactful stories.
In the short-term Paul hopes to secure and make other visual instructional materials accessible both online and offline by securing iPads, and laptops at the Dikan library.
One of Dikan’s marquee project is the Black book room, a space with resources documenting black visuals spanning generations. This project is to foster accessibility of books and other resources dedicated to Africans.
The collection is envisioned to advance learning, teaching, research and support educational programme.
Parts of the capital Accra have experienced another earth tremor six days after two mild tremors struck some areas in the region.
People took to social media to post about the incident, with most asking other users for confirmation if they felt it too because they were a bit sceptical and doubtful an earth tremor will occur a few days after a confirmed shake.
Of particular mention is persons residing in Kasoa, most of whom say they felt a shake around 7:30 pm on Saturday, December 17.
When the first two tremors struck on Monday, December 12, 2022, the Ghana Geological Survey Authority confirmed the incident and assured the public that investigations would be launched to ascertain the magnitude and epicentre of the shake, but that is yet to happen and Ghanaians are reported experiencing a third occurrence in less than a week
Another earth tremor just a minute ago, tell me it’s a lie coz maybe I felt it alone #EarthTremor#earthquake
Some may not be surprised at this current shake after the Principal Seismologist at the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA), Nicholas Opoku warned residents of Accra to be prepared for more earth tremors in the future after the December 12 tremor.
Mr. Opoku said the country has been recording some occasional shakes except that their magnitude wasn’t high enough to be felt.
“This is not a new thing. We have been experiencing this from time to time…even the most recent ones were in 2018, 2019, and 2020. What we have been saying all this while is that Accra and its environs are situated in the earthquake-prone zones so from time to time, we will be experiencing these minor earthquakes until such a time that a major one will occur.”
Mr. Opoku said there was a “shake that occurred on December 16 at about 5:45 am and a major one occurred at 6:03 am at a 2.7 magnitude.”
The police have shot and killed two armed robbers over the weekend after a gunfight.
According to the police, the shootout followed its intelligence operations regarding the attack and robbery on a woman at Caprice in Accra on Friday, December 9.
“Sustained police intelligence operations since 9th December 2022, took the fight to the robbery gang at their hideout (name of location withheld for now),” the police said in a press release on Sunday, December 11.
“The robbers engaged the police in a shoot-out and in the process two were shot dead and one was arrested.
“One police officer sustained gunshot injury to his thigh and is receiving medical attention.”
The statement said the rest of the gang are being pursued.
A Labour Consultant Mr Austin Akufo Gamey has said that hiring freeze must be discriminatory.
He stated that no matter how difficult the situation is, the application cannot be total.
Speaking on the Ghana Tonight show with Alfred Oansey on TV3 Monday November 28, Mr Gamey said “It is obvious that no matter how hard the situation is they cannot do it flat-footed, they will have to do it in selective application.
“Teaching is teaching, you necessarily must have teachers in the classroom, nursing and all other health service providers and some emergency type of public service, first respondent if there is a disaster you have no choice therefore they have to be selectively.”
The Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Dr Yaw Baah has also said that net freeze on employment into the public sector is better than total embargo.
He explained that net freeze is when retirees are replaced when they exit. This, he said, allows productivity and efficiency to go on.
Total freeze on the other hand, he added, is when the retirees are not replaced neither are new employees recruited. That will be detrimental to productivity hence, they do not want that to happen.
Speaking in an interview with TV3’s Daniel Opoku on the sidelines of a post budget analyses forum held by the TUC in Accra on Monday November 28, Dr Yaw Baah said “we still don’t have the details of the IMF conditionality but you will not be wrong if you think this is part of IMF conditions. Since 1965 when Ghana Government started going to IMF, employment freeze has always been part, in the last one that ended, employment freeze was one but in that case it was net.
“Net meant that if somebody retires you can replace the person. So the net freeze is what we need. But this one, we don’t know the details, whether it is the net freeze or total freeze.
“If it is a net freeze then it is like the previous one but if it is a total freeze it is another ball game all together. There are 644,000 people on the single spine. Let us assume without admitting that about 5 per cent of them retire yearly.
“If only five percent retire every year, we are talking now about over 30,000 people retiring and if the 30,000 people retire and they don’t replace them it will affect service delivery. If you reduce numbers by over 30,000 and they are not replaced then your effectiveness in service delivery will be affected.”
The Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta announced in the 2023 budget a freeze on employment into the civil and public service.
He also said there shall be no new government agencies established in 2023. He said these while presenting the budget in Parliament on Thursday November 23.
Mr Ofori-Atta said as a first step toward expenditure rationalisation, government has approved a number of directives which takes effect from January, 2023.
These are “All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and State-Owned-Enterprises (SOEs) are directed to reduce fuel allocations to Political Appointees and heads of MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs by 50%. This directive applies to all methods of fuel allocation including coupons, electronic cards, chit system, and fuel depots. Accordingly, 50% of the previous years (2022) budget allocation for fuel shall be earmarked for official business pertaining to MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs;
“A ban on the use of V8s/V6s or its equivalent except for cross country travel. All
government vehicles would be registered with GV green number plates from
January 2023; Limited budgetary allocation for the purchase of vehicles. For the avoidance of doubt, purchase of new vehicles shall be restricted to locally assembled vehicles;
“Only essential official foreign travel across government including SOEs shall be
allowed. No official foreign travel shall be allowed for board members.”
The Finance Minister added “Accordingly, all government institutions should submit a travel plan for the year 2023 by mid-December of all expected travels to the Chief of Staff; As far as possible, meetings and workshops should be done within the official environment or government facilities; Government sponsored external training and Staff Development activities at the Office of the President, Ministries and SOEs must be put on hold for the 2023 financial year; Reduction of expenditure on appointments including salary freezes together with suspension of certain allowances like housing, utilities and clothing, etc.;
“A freeze on new tax waivers for foreign companies and review of tax exemptions for free zone, mining, oil and gas companies; A hiring freeze for civil and public servants, No new government agencies shall be established in 2023; There shall be no hampers for 2022; There shall be no printing of diaries, notepads, calendars and other promotional, merchandise by MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs for 2024; All non-critical project must be suspended for 2023 Financial year.”
Parts of the Kantamanto market in Accra have been destroyed by fire.
The incident on Tuesday morning destroyed many goods and shops worth thousands of cedis. It is not clear yet what started the inferno.
The fire has already engulfed more than 200 shops in the area.
Eyewitnesses say initial efforts by the Ghana National Fire Service to douse it did not yield the desired results as they ran out of water in the process.
Some personnel are still at the scene doing their best to halt the blaze.
Over seven fire tenders are said to have been dispatched with two more expected to join soon.
Other vendors stood by helpless as their wares burned on, waiting for the appropriate time to count their losses.
Hopeson Adorye of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has questioned the realistic nature of a recent budgetary directive to the effect that the use of V8 within Accra has been banned.
He questions whether or not those with V8 cars will be given new saloon cars in order for them to quit the usage of the V8s.
“With the issue of V8s, I am wondering how it will be done. Are we going to buy new saloon cars for Ministers or what? Because most of them use V8s already,” he submitted on Oman FM’s Boiling Point programme, November 24.
He also questioned the issue of fuel cuts of 50% for appointees: “Even this government fuel that has been slashed, how do we want the appointees to work? As for that one, I disagree, so what should they do?
“Some of these things must be tackled realistically. Imagine a Minister with a fuel coupon of 2,000 cedis, now having 1000 cedis but his full tank costs 1,800, so if their car runs out of fuel after three days, what do I do?” he quizzed.
What Ofori-Atta said about V8s and fuel allocations
Under the section of the budget on “Implementation of the Cabinet directives on expenditure measures,” the Minister said:
Mr. Speaker, as the first step toward expenditure rationalisation, the Government has approved the following directives which take effect from January, 2023:
● All MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs are directed to reduce fuel allocations to Political Appointees and heads of MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs by 50%. This directive applies to all methods of fuel allocation including coupons, electronic cards, chit systems, and fuel depots. Accordingly, 50% of the previous year’s (2022) budget allocation for fuel shall be earmarked for official business pertaining to MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs;
● A ban on the use of V8s/V6s or its equivalent except for cross-country travel. All government vehicles would be registered with GV green number plates from January 2023;
● Limited budgetary allocation for the purchase of vehicles. For the avoidance of doubt, the purchase of new vehicles shall be restricted to locally assembled vehicles;
● Only essential official foreign travel across government including SOEs shall be allowed. No official foreign travel shall be allowed for board members. Accordingly, all government institutions should submit a travel plan for the year 2023 by mid-December of all expected travels to the Chief of Staff.
The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ayensu Ntim, on Tuesday, 22nd November 2022, inaugurated the various Standing and Ad-hoc Committees of the party’s National Council.
The said solemn event came off at the party headquarters, Asylum Down, Accra.
Having taken the relevant oaths which were administered by the National Chairman, members of the various committees are expected, under the party constitution, other applicable laws and regulations, to assist the National Executive body in administering the party.
In his brief remarks, Chairman Stephen Ayensu Ntim congratulated the members of the committees, whom he said, were all carefully chosen by the National Council on the basis of their proven experience, competence, and expertise in the various committees they have been appointed to serve on. He thus, implored them to work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Party.
The General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong, also congratulated the members of the various committees on their deserving appointments and took the opportunity to remind them of their responsibilities and the huge expectations of the Party. He noted that the committees are expected to meet regularly and present a report to the National Council as required by the party’s constitution.
Speaking on behalf of the committees, Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah, Chairman of the Research Committee, thanked the party Leadership for the confidence reposed in them. He said it was an honour for them to be chosen among the many qualified persons in the party, and therefore, gave a firm assurance that they would not disappoint the party.
The Standing Committees that were inaugurated in accordance with Article 10(3) of the Party Constitution were: the National Disciplinary Committee, Finance Committee, Organization Committee, Research Committee, and Constitutional and Legal Committee. The Ad-hoc Committees that were inaugurated included the Welfare and Communications Committees.
Find below the composition of the various committees:
NATIONAL DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
1. Hon Kwasi Amoako Atta (Chairman)
2. Dr. Gladys Norley Ashitey
3. Mabel Sarpong
4. Robert Kutin Jnr.
5. Ing. Akwasi Abeasi
6. Hon. Patrick Boamah
7. Hon. Sheila Bartels
8. Mr. Kwaku Osei Asare
FINANCE COMMITTEE
1. Mr. Abankwa Sekyere (Chairman)
2. H.E Amb. Edward Boateng
3. Dr. Charles Dwamena
4. Madam Adelaid Ahwireng
5. Nana Adwoa Dokua
6. Madam Janet Ananse
7. Mr. Ernest Akore
1. Lord Oblitey Commey (Chairman)
2. Henry Nana Boakye
3. Mr. Samuel Awuku
4. Hon. Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh
5. Hon. Ali Maiga Halidu
6. Hon. Catherine Afeku
7. Ali Suraj
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
1. Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah (Chairman)
2. Dr. Antoinette Tsibu Darko
3. Laurette Korkor Asante Otchere Esq
4. Dr. Nyame Baafi
5. Mr. Ernest Kumi
6. Mr. Matthew Kyeremeh
7. Dr. Owusu Mensah
8. Dr. Tina Abrefa
9. Amma Frimpongmaa
10. Mr. Peter Oteng Darko
11. Dr. Kingsley Agyeman
12. Mohammed Tahiru
13. Ayisha Salifu
14. Evans Nimako
15. Sharika A. Isahaku
16. Hajia Rukaya Ahmed
17. Albert Bediako
18. Nelson Owusu Ansah
COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE
1. Nana Akomea (Chairman)
2. Madam Oboshie Sai Coffie
3. Dr. Kabiru Mahama
4. Yaw Adomako Baafi
5. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah
6. Hon. Davis Opoku Ansah
7. Richard Ahiagba
8. Dennis Aboagye
9. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
10. Kwabena Sarpong
11. Hon. Ben Ayeh
12. Mr. Akwasi Afriyie
13. Hon. Titus Glover
14. Mr. Yofi Grant
15. Hon. Dr. Stephen Amoah
16. Mr. Kwabena Kwakye
17. Frances Essiam
18. Maame Afia Akoto
WELFARE COMMITTEE
1. Madam Rita Asobayire (Chairperson)
2. Dr. Charles Dwamena
3. Mr. William Yamoah
4. Madam Vida Dugbartey
5. Mr. Samuel Yeboah
6. Madam Kate Gyamfua
7. Madam Mary Porsch Oduro
8. Mr. Kwabena Frimpong
9. Bella Ofori
10. Madam Afua Gyekyewaa
Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of National Security, has warned that terrorists may take advantage of the galamsey activities in the country.
This is because the revenue generated from galamsey activities will be able to fund the criminal activities of these terrorists.
According to Kan-Dapaah, terrorists in countries like Burkina Faso and Mali, have been attracted to gold mining areas but he assured that his Ministry has taken cognizance of the development and working hard to avert the consequences.
He noted, the Accra Initiative, which aims to prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel and to address transnational organized crime and violent extremism in ECOWAS member countries’ border areas.
“In Mali, in Burkina Faso, the terrorists have always been attracted to gold mining areas. Clearly, they try to make money from gold mining activities to undertake the criminal activities that they do. The criminals may want to take advantage of galamsey activities in our country to raise money to do what they do in other countries and what they may plan to do in our country.
“We are aware of this. We are studying it. We do know what has to be done in this area, and we work hard to make sure we are not overtaken by events. But clearly, one way that you can make cheap money to go and undertake some of these criminal activities is galamsey, so it’s of interest,” Albert Kan-Dapaah explained at a press briefing in Accra.
The West African sub-region has been confronted with terrorist threats, as Ghana’s neighbours Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso have suffered attacks from terror groups in recent times.
The development has compelled the government to launch the “See Something, Say Something” campaign, which is aimed at encouraging citizens to report any suspicious activity.
Eight people have been granted GH¢100,000 bail with two sureties each by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly engaging in illegal currency trade on the ‘black market’.
One of the sureties must be justified by land documents or any property equivalent to GH¢100,000.
The accused were also ordered to report to the police twice a month.
They have been charged with engaging in the business of dealing in foreign exchange without licence.
They all pleaded not guilty.
The court presided over by Mrs. Adelaide Abui-Keddey set December 12 for the next hearing.
Arguing for bail, counsel for the accused, Victor Kojogah Adawudu, told the court that his clients were engaged in decent work such as trading, security work, and commercial dispatch ‘Okada‘ riding at Tudu.
He added that it was unfortunate that the accused were at the wrong place when the police conducted a swoop to arrest people engaged in illegal currency trade at the location.
He added that his clients had a fixed place of abode, posed no flight risk, and had family and friends ready to stand in as sureties.
In opposition, Chief Inspector Isaac Babayi expressed concern that granting the accused bail may interfere with their investigations as they were on the hunt for other culprits, whose accused may tip off when released.
He added that the accused also posed a flight risk and pointed to defense counsel’s submission that one of the accused Barkisu Yakubu was travelling to Nigeria for business when she was nabbed.
The facts led by Chief Insp Babayi were that the accused were Mohammed Ali, Barkisu Yakubu, Shaibu Suleman Issah, and Baryl Ali.
The others were Bashiru Saadu, Saadu Hamidu, Mumudu Shamsudeen and Karim Yahaya.
Chief Insp. Babayi said on November 10, 2022, a team of police personnel in collaboration with officials of the Bank of Ghana embarked on an intelligence-led operation to clamp down on illegal activities of forex trade business in Ghana.
That operation, he said, led them to Tudu in Accra where they arrested the accused who was transacting the business of exchanging currencies.
He added that investigations later disclosed that the accused were engaged in foreign exchange business without a license.
Chief Insp. Babayi told the court that a search conducted on the accused revealed thousands of Ghana Cedis and other foreign currencies on some of them.
He said others succeeded in passing monies on to their accomplices who fled with it.
“These monies were retrieved from the accused as indicated against their names; Mohammed Ali GH¢2,300 and $87 USD, Barikisu Yakubu
GH¢10,010 and ₦6,002 Naira, Shaibu Suleman Issah GH¢3,850 and CFA65, 000, Baryi Ali GH¢ 848, CFA 80,000 and USD $70.
“Bashiru Saadu GH¢ 52.00 and ₦25 Naira, Saadu Hamidu GH¢ 361 and Karim Yahaya GH¢42,” he told the court.
The Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey has assured of her commitment towards strengthening the existing relationship between Accra and Switzerland.
She made this known when the new Switzerland Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Simone Giger called on her at the Accra City Hall on Tuesday to formally introduce herself to the city administration and explore areas of collaboration.
The purpose of her visit touched on areas such as urban mobility, waste management, climate change, women empowerment and sister-city relationship, among others.
Ambassador Simone Giger in a remark outlined urban mobility and waste management as some areas that needed adept intervention adding that urban mobility is one of the areas where there could be a high impact with financial resources available.
“I think it is certainly one key area that is very striking when you arrive here and that’s urban transport. I feel urban mobility is one of the things where we can have quite a high impact with our limited financial resources that we have available” she said.
The Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey in her welcome address highlighted some areas of collaboration including climate change, women empowerment, and solid waste management among others.
She reiterated the Assembly’s ardent effort to mitigate the issue of solid waste management and cited solid waste separation and the procurement of street sweepers as some actions her outfit had already set in motion to address the canker of filth.
“Recently, there was a take-off in operations concerning solid waste separation to manage the amount of waste that is received by the city to help in proper waste management.”
Concerning that as well, the mayor also said, “hopefully, this month we’ll be launching the Sweepers on the Streets Programme with respect to how to manage Street Sweepers like it is done in Europe” she noted.
On solid waste management, her Excellency Simone Giger lauded the Mayor for her efforts to champion and rid the city of filth.
However according to her, even though a lot has been done so far to tackle the issue of solid waste management, she believes the problem is still prevalent suggesting possible solutions that can be put in place to curb the problem.
She also disclosed that her outfit was ready to assist the Assembly in terms of resources to tackle the issue of urban mobility in Accra citing a possible partnership with heads of transport in the various MMDAs to regulate public transport and improve data collection.
“We have been working together with the cooperation for the Ghana urban mobility and accessibility project. This is a project that wants to assist the heads of transport within the MMDA’s to regulate public transport and of course, also improve data collection. The very good news here is that we have 1 million in grant funding to ease six notoriously congesting junctions and integrate into the Accra region” she added.
The Lady Mayor of Accra, Hon Sackey also proposed a capacity-building program for staff, through exchange programs for individuals of the Assembly to acquire knowledge on climate change and global warming as well as solutions to combat climate risks.
The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Hon Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey expressed appreciation to the Swiss Ambassador, Her Excellency Simone Giger and was looking forward to partnering with her outfit to undertake the aforementioned projects.
Ambassador Simone Giger who leads an all-female management team at the Swiss Embassy was accompanied by Simone Harberli, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation.
Present at the meeting was the Presiding Member of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Hon. Alfred Adjei, Head of Development Planning, Richard Kwame Oduro, Director of Finance for the AMA, Francis Anaba and the Director for Transport, Alex Johnson, among others.
The Interbank forex rates from the Bank of Ghana today, November 14, 2022, have shown that the Ghana Cedi is trading against the dollar at a buying price of 13.0694 and a selling price of 13.0824.
As compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 13.0694 and a selling price of 13.0824. At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is being bought at a rate of 14.20 and sold at a rate of 14.80.
Against the Pound Sterling, the Cedi is trading at a buying price of 15.4179 and a selling price of 15.4347 as compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 15.2572 and a selling price of 15.2751.
At a forex bureau in Accra, the pound sterling is being bought at a rate of 15.90 and sold at a rate of 16.70.
The Euro is trading at a buying price of 13.5079 and a selling price of 13.5214 as compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 13.2983 and a selling price of 13.3104.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Euro is being bought at a rate of 13.80 and sold at a rate of 14.70.
The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.7563 and a selling price of 0.7570 compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 0.7490 and a selling price of 0.7498.
At a forex bureau in Accra, South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.65 and sold at a rate of 1.10.
The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 33.8799 and a selling price of 33.9839 as compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 33.8835 and a selling price of 34.0337.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 16.00 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 21.00.
For the CFA, it is trading at a buying price of 48.5125 and a selling price of 48.5610. At a forex bureau in Accra, CFA is being bought at a rate of 19.30 CFA for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 23.50 CFA for every 1 Cedi.
Our forex bureau rates are provided by Afriswap Bureau De Change in Osu, Accra.
On the Interbank forex rates from the Bank of Ghana as of November 11, 2022, the Ghana Cedi is trading against the dollar at a buying price of 13.0694 and a selling price of 13.0824.
As compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 13.0494 and a selling price of 13.0624. At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is being bought at a rate of 14.30 and sold at a rate of 14.90.
Against the Pound Sterling, the Cedi is trading at a buying price of 15.2572 and a selling price of 15.2751 as compared to yesterday’s trading at a buying price of 15.0890 and a selling price of 15.0890.
At a forex bureau in Accra, the pound sterling is being bought at a rate of 15.90 and sold at a rate of 16.75.
The Euro is trading at a buying price of 13.2983 and a selling price of 13.3104 as compared to yesterday’s trading at a buying price of 13.0850 and a selling price of 13.0993.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Euro is being bought at a rate of 13.90 and sold at a rate of 14.90.
The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.7490 and a selling price of 0.7498 compared to yesterday’s trading at a buying price of 0.7348 and a selling price of 0.7355.
At a forex bureau in Accra, South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.65 and sold at a rate of 1.10.
The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 33.8835 and a selling price of 34.0337 as compared to yesterday’s trading at a buying price of 33.8835 and a selling price of 34.0337.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 13.50 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 17.50.
It was all joy and applause when Hon Joe Ghartey stated at a meeting of the Expanded Regional Executive Committee of the Western Region of the New Patriotic Party that as long as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, God willing, “I will definitely contest for the Flagbearer position for the New Patriotic Party.”
Addressing the gathering at a meeting held in Sekondi-Takoradi on Monday, 7th November 2022, Joe Ghartey stated that it had come to his attention that some Presidential Aspirants had already come into the Region to meet some delegates. He said that he would also meet them soon, but he was serving notice that he would definitely contest the Presidential Primaries.
Joe Ghartey recollected that about five days before the 2020 general elections, he was interviewed on Radio 360, a radio station in Takoradi. The host asked him whether he would run for Parliament in 2024.
Joe Ghartey, who has been an MP since 2004, said he would not. Pressed further whether he would aspire to be president, Joe Ghartey said he responded yes.
He said he told the presenter that he had contested in 2012, and he placed third after the President and Alan Kyeremanteng, and he would contest again, God willing.
Hon Ghartey told the gathering that after that, Asaase Radio flew a team from Accra to Takoradi to interview him a few days before the election.
The host, Kojo Mensah, asked him the same question about whether he would contest for the presidential slot in 2024, and he answered yes.
Joe Ghartey told the gathering that after the election, the president addressing MPs elect, said he would exclude from his Government anyone who had declared that he would contest for presidential Primaries.
Joe Ghartey said he was told by a senior member of the party that he should have said he was now thinking about it when he was asked the question. Joe Ghartey told the gathering that he was not in the business of lying or waffling, and he spoke the truth, and the truth set him free.
He had thought about it already, and that is why he answered that way. He assured the Region that he would definitely come around soon.
Hon. Ghartey is a former Attorney General Minister of Justice and former Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu constituency, Ras Mubarak, has abandoned his luxury lifestyle due to the current economic hardship and increasing cost of living in Ghana.
He joined public transport, popularly called ‘trotro’, over the weekend due to fuel hikes.
The former National Democratic Congress MP was part of the ‘Ku Me Preko’ demonstration in Accra to pile pressure on President Nana Akufo-Addo to resign for his inability to manage the Ghanaian economy.
Ras Mubarak took to Facebook to share his frustration.
Programmes Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Dr Charles Nyaaba has expressed doubt that food prices will go down in December.
This is due to the challenges farmers are going through including high cost of doing business, he said.
Dr Nyaaba told TV3’s Roland Walker on the Big Issue, Friday November 4 that “depending on the commodities, food prices will not come down, it is going to be extremely difficult for prices to come.”
This comes at a time the Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie assured that the Ministry is introducing an initiative to sell food at cheaper prices in Accra.
Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie said at a meeting with farmers in Sefwi Wiaso in the Western North Region, that “the ministry itself is going to take its own initiative.”
He added “We are going to link up with the farm gate so that we make all the arrangements to ensure that we put up kiosks on our compounds at the ministry, specifically for food from Sefwi Wiaso and we are going to give it a lot of publicity.”
Calls for President Akufo-Addo to resign as Ghana’s president have become intense as hundreds of protestors thronged the streets of Accra.
The aggrieved citizens clad in red and black attires are demonstrating against the country’s current economic state.
The cedi had lost more than 30% of its purchasing power against the US dollar as of September, partly pushing inflation rate to 37.2 per cent, the highest in almost two decades.
The local currency is selling at about GHS13.7182 against the dollar on the forex.
Currently, a litre of petrol is going for about GHS18, and that for diesel, close to GHS24, as such, transport operators have increased transport fares.
Meanwhile Ghanaians are demanding that government should relief the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta as well as the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen of their duties.
The Kaneshie District Court has imposed a GH¢6,000 fine on Francis Awusi, an evangelist, for making false and offensive statements about Prophet Gabriel Akwesi Sarpong, General Overseer of Cross of Miracles International, Accra.
Awusi, who is also a YouTube host, would in default serve one-year imprisonment.
The said publications indicated that Prophet Sarpong (the complainant) was an occult pastor and a murderer, who had killed his wife for occultism to run his church.
The court ordered Awusi to go to Peace FM, a private radio station, Daily Graphic Newspaper, and use his YouTube channel where he had defamed the complainant and render an apology.
Awusi who was charged with offensive conduct and publication of false news earlier pleaded not guilty.
However, when sitting resumed, Awusi, who was represented by a lawyer, informed the court that he wanted to change his plea.
The prosecution had called three witnesses and played three videos at the ongoing trial.
The court presided over by Ms. Ama Adomako Kwakye convicted Awusi on his own plea.
His counsel, prayed the court to have mercy on him, saying he was a first offender, married with children, and was a man of God with a huge congregation.
Prosecuting, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Amoahsaid the complainant was Prophet AkwesiSarpong.
The court said the convict was also a host of a YouTube channel programme, known as “Hell and Heaven”, whiles Isaac Gyasi, the second accused, aka K2 Temple, was at large.
Chief Insp Amoah said Prophet Sarpong said the complainant reported to the police that in August 2020, Gyasi whose face was covered with a veil, made certain false and offensive statements about the complainant during a live YouTube TV programme, hosted by Awusi.
Prosecution said Gyasi alleged among other things that the complainant, Prophet Sarpong, was an occult pastor and a murderer, who had killed his wife for occultism powers to run his church.
Chief Insp Amoah said Awusi, who was hosting the live TV programme, also published the pictures and videos of some church activities of the complainant on the screen and had warned the public to stay away from his church.
The prosecution said Awusi was arrested and during investigations, it was established that Awusi hosted the programme with Gyasi as his guest.
Chief Insp Amoah said Awusi also supported the allegations made against the complainant by showing pictures and videos of the complainant on the YouTube channel on the internet.
The prosecution said Awusi admitted the offence and explained that he only interviewed Gyasi, who was invited to participate in his programme by his producer and that he did not know Gyasi personally.
The Minority in Parliament is asking the government to use part of the over GH¢8 billion revenue accrued from petroleum products to cushion petroleum consumers against the current price hikes.
The Minority says the government has received over GH¢8 billion from petroleum resources
in less than 3 months, as against its GH¢6 billion projection for the year.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, the Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, John Jinapor urged the government to act in halting the escalation of fuel prices which he bemoans has seen over 300 percent increase in less than a year.
“In less than three months, the government has received over GH¢8 billion from our petroleum resources. So in three months, the government has received more than it projected for the whole year, so government is making supernormal profits. In fact, even the Price Stabilization and Recovery Levy which are supposed to subsidize fuel, government projected that in the first two quarters, it will receive GH¢269 million and as we speak, from the Ministry of Finance’s own record, the Government has received GH¢800 million. And so this notion that Government is not making any money is a fallacy”.
“Government is making so much money from our petroleum resources, I, therefore, call on President Akufo-Addo and the outgoing Minister of Finance that they should do something about this pricing increment. They should sit up and think outside the box and apply these supernormal profits to cushion the ordinary Ghanaians.”
Mr. Jinapor indicated that the economic crisis worsens by the day as he receives calls every day from some of his constituents seeking diverse assistance to enable them to stay afloat.
“I receive calls every day from members in the Constituency from people who cannot even afford one square meal a day, people who cannot even send their kids to school because of the exorbitant fuel prices which are having a cascading effect on food prices, and general cost of living.”
“We hold the view that Government can do something about the fuel price increment, Government must sit up, Government must do something and the Government must cushion the ordinary Ghanaians.”
Ghana’s Competitive African Rice Platform (CARP) has been launched officially in Accra to boost the country’s rice sector.
The platform seeks to offer a voice and space for national rice stakeholders in Ghana to scale their local impact on sustainability and competitiveness. Overall, the CARP seeks to reduce the overdependence on imported rice and strengthen public-private dialogue.
The platform is supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), AGRA (formerly Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (The platform seeks to offer a voice and space for national rice stakeholders in Ghana).
Under the initiative, small farmers across West Africa are being supported in boosting their rice harvests, improving product quality, and raising their incomes. Mr. Yaw Adu Poku, Board Chair for CARP Ghana, said: “We are honoured to have been selected to host the CARP, as Ghana’s first national rice chapter, and we see this as a great opportunity to collaborate with the government, international organizations, researchers and farmers to drive a transformation in Ghana’s rice sector.”
Following the launch in Accra on Tuesday, a secretariat to run the CARP will be set up to drive its operationalisation. A statement issued by Rebecca Weaver of AGRA explained that at a previous stakeholders meeting, the CARP’s governance structure was formalized, board members and executives appointed, and technical committees set up.
Based on field research and recommendations from public and private sector partners across ECOWAS member states, a regional “ECOWAS Rice Observatory” (ERO) had been previously created by the ECOWAS Commission and its partners. The ERO aims to coordinate rice sector-related programs, public/private investments, and policy recommendations for key decision-makers.
At the same time, national rice platforms, such as the CARP in Ghana, are being established across West Africa. The platform comprises primarily of private sector stakeholders across the value chain, as well as representation from research, government, and civil society, to coordinate country-specific investments and policies.
“Rice is a very important product for Ghana, accounting for nearly 15% of the country’s GDP. The CARP’s launch is, therefore, very timely as it will help different stakeholders to coordinate their investments in driving the transformation needed to boost the growth of the sub-sector for the benefit of local producers and the country at large,” said the Executive Secretary of ERO, Dr. Boladale Adebowale Abiola.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) will on Monday (31 October) close down its special service centre at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra.
“Applicants requesting update and card replacement services should visit the nearest NIA district or regional office,” the NIA announced on Friday.
“All applicants yet to pick up their cards having successfully undergone an update or card replacement process before the closure should do so at the NIA Greater Accra regional office, located at PWD, Kinbu.
“Applicants requesting the card verification service should visit the NIA head office at Shiashie, Accra. For further information and assistance, kindly call 0302 999 306.”
The NIA on 28 March this year moved the update of personal records, verification and replacement of cards to the El-Wak Stadium. That move came a few days after a stampede at the premises of the National Identification Authority headquarters in Accra led to one person being rushed to the hospital, reports the Daily Graphic.
The Ghana Card is the primary and sole identity card for sim re-registration and for other official requirements in state and some private institutions.
The Dental and Medical Council has called on Health professionals not to seek greener pastures abroad as the country is losing health professionals.
This call was made at the induction of newly qualified Medical and Dental practitioners.
Speaking as the chairperson of the induction ceremony, Member of the Dental and Medical Council, Dr. Constance Addo-Yobo, who acknowledged this phenomenon, pleaded with the newly inducted health professionals not to seek greener pastures abroad to the detriment of the health sector in the country.
Dr. Addo-Yobo also urged doctors to make sacrifices within the country too.
“Please accept postings to the regions and the districts outside Accra and Kumasi. You will learn a lot there,” she said.
“Also, do not be tempted to look for greener pastures in places like the UK and other countries, like some of your colleagues are already doing.”
“Let us halt this brain drain. It has taken the taxpayer a lot to invest in your education,” Dr. Addo-Yobo implored.
Private legal private practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has berated President Akufo-Addo for failing to transform the economy from a Guggisberg state within eighteen months as he promised while in opposition.
According to him, the situation was painful to the extent that it compelled citizens like himself to discharge a constitutional obligation by ‘speaking truth to power’.
Reacting to Akufo-Addo’s state of the economy address on Accra-based Joy News on Sunday, October 30, the lawyer said President Akufo-Addo’s speech was full of sloganeering stressing that nothing was going to change in terms of the prices of goods and services.
Although he said some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are not happy with the state of the economy, they expect persons like himself to applaud the president.
Kpebu, who admits to being a staunch supporter of Akufo-Addo in the 2016 and 2020 elections, emphasized he cannot applaud the president since he has done nothing new in his administration to deserve it.
He was reacting to a question on whether or not assurances from the president to move the economy from being largely import-dependent to becoming export-oriented was enough.
“… that’s the one I made the point over and over. That’s what he [president Akufo-Addo] refers to as the Guggisberg economy that we are not adding much value, and so when he came, 18 months…now we have done six years…I have seen some of the comments on social media. It’s painful. Sometimes it’s difficult for me to comment this way, but there is nothing else we have to do.
“The constitution says that citizens must also play their roles, and part of the role-playing is that we speak truth to power because sometimes when I look at some of the comments on the platforms, the one from NPP sympathizers, you can see they are not happy. They expect that we should applaud the president, but there’s nothing new. You heard what GPRTU said,” Kpebu stated.
“Bottom line, the price from Accra to Kasoa is staying the same tomorrow. The price of kenkey is staying the same as GH₵3; Koko, that has increased from GH₵1 to GH₵3 tomorrow morning, will still be GHC3. Kufuor gallon that’s the oil that was GH₵500 has now gotten to GH₵1200. Tomorrow Kufuor gallon oil will still be GH₵1200. Nido, which about two weeks ago GH₵45 and was increased top GH₵60 a few days ago, tomorrow will still be GH₵60.
“I have been checking prices over the past two weeks, and so the prices that increase from about two weeks ago, tomorrow when we go to the market will still be the same. So in such a case, it’s difficult to applaud the president,” he added.
Martin Kpebu used the opportunity to further rally support for his upcoming ‘kume preko’ demonstration slated for November 5.
Akufo-Addo, in his October 30 address on the economy, admitted that the country was in crisis while rallying support for various government interventions to stem the tide.
“We are in a crisis; I do not exaggerate when I say so. I cannot find an example in history when so many malevolent forces have come together at the same time.
“But, as we have shown in other circumstances, we shall turn this crisis into an opportunity to resolve not just the short-term, urgent problems but the long-term structural problems that have bedevilled our economy,” he said.
But like before, President Akufo-Addo blamed the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war as causative factors for the economic woes.
A Kumasi High Court has adjourned the alleged bribery case, involving Alexander Sarfo Kantanka, the ex-nominee for the position of Chief Executive for the Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti region.
Kantanka was alleged to have paid monies to some assembly members to influence them to confirm his nomination by President Akufo-Addo.
The case was adjourned to 27 February 2023, after the court granted a request by the prosecution to hear the case omnibus.
“The prosecution had pleaded with the court to fix the trial for a week to help reduce the risk and cost of travelling from Accra to Kumasi for the trials and that request was granted.
The judge also fixed 28 February, 1 March and 2 March for the hearing”, reported Asaase News’ Jonathan Ofori.
Meanwhile, a second prosecution witness Prince Opong Kyekyeku an assembly member for Bomfa Ahenbronum electoral area mounted the box and was cross-examined by the counsel for the accused person, Denis Osei Antwi.
Oppong Kyekyeku has also denied receiving a bribe from the accused person.
He, however, recalled that he received an amount of GHC1000 from a personal assistant of the accused person to take a mentally challenged person to the hospital.
Amadu Emmanuel Basintale, who represented the Office of the Special Prosecutor, told journalists after the proceedings at the court that the prosecution intended to call five witnesses for the trial.
They would include three assembly members, a police officer, and an officer from the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Former President John Dramani Mahama will address the nation this evening (October 27) about issues related to the economic crisis the nation is now experiencing.
The event is set to begin at 7 pm in the auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
It is free and open to the public with the topic “Building the Ghana we want.”
Mahama is anticipated to discuss topics like the rate of inflation, the devaluation of the Cedi, the government’s IMF program, as well as take aim at calls to fire Ken Ofori-Atta as finance minister and give solutions to the country’s economic problems.
“John Mahama speaks on Ghana’s collapsed economy and the unprecedented hardships sweeping across the land and the way forward on Thursday 27th October 2022,” Mahama’s aide Joyce Bawah Mogtari wrote on Facebook.
He is on record to have stressed that with the passing of each day, Ghana’s economic situation was getting worse.
“Distressing! Every passing day makes our economic situation worse. Gov’t must work with greater alacrity to lock in a programme with the Fund in order to create a more predictable economic outlook,” John Mahama tweeted on October 4.
The former president also in an October 19 tweet said the economic hardship confronting the country is the worst in thirty years.
He made the remark while reacting to news that a man had died by electrocution on a high-tension pylon near Kasoa.
“I returned from a trip to the sad news of Kakra who electrocuted himself. Levels of hardship in Ghana are dire; the worst in 3 decades. But suicide is never an answer. Even in the darkest night, there’ll come dawn. The sun will rise again. Let’s be each other’s keeper & keep hope alive,” Mahama tweeted.
The anticipated address by John Mahama will be his second major presentation on the economy in recent times. On May 2, the former president engage with Ghanaians on the topic “Ghana at a Crossroads.”
38-year-old sex worker, Ama Serwaa, has disclosed that out of 24 friends who travelled to Accra to work, only three are still alive.
In a chat on Ghetto Life Story on SVTV Africa, Ama Serwaa mentioned that she came to the capital 22 years ago as a 16-year-old but only engaged in sex work two years ago.
She revealed that 23 other females who came from her hometown to work in Accra are now deceased. Speaking on the dangers of working as a prostitute, Ama Serwaa disclosed that life in the ghetto itself is a risk.
“Some offer Ghs500 to Ghs1000 and you would go because you need the money but it may be dirty money. I won’t go because 21 of us have died.
“Twenty-four of us came to work here and only three of us are left. Some were prostitutes; they had infections and died. Some were thieves, and others smoked and died from hunger,” she said.
The 38-year-old mother of one added that she left her uncle’s house due to mistreatment and has been on the streets for the past 17 years. According to Serwaa, she was knocked down by a car while selling in traffic for a few years.
“I sold pure water and worked as a bus conductor until I started sex work two years ago. My boss sacked me. I was jobless for three years until a friend introduced me to it, but I want to stop because it’s not helping,” she told DJ Nyaami.
Ama advised the youth to be cautious of friends because they can be their downfall or their salvation.
Dr Joel Agorinya, a psychiatrist at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, has advised the public to normalise seeking help for mental health issues.
He said there were a lot of people walking on the streets who had mental health issues but were shy to seek help even though there is help.
“There are patients who will invite you to their homes in Ghana to attend to them or those who would like to come to the hospital early in the morning around 5AM because they do not want to be seen entering the psychiatric hospital,” he said.
Dr Agorinya gave the advice when he trained selected member of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) and some Social welfare officials on mental health issues.
The training organised by Basic Needs Ghana, an NGO with a focus on mental health issues was supported by Ghana Somubie Dwumadie, a disability focused programme on mental health and the UK Aid.
The training is expected to enhance participants’ knowledge on mental health and to help them understand persons with mental health issues.
Dr Agoriyna said there was a need to desist from stigmatising persons with mental health issues and encourage them to seek help.
“Elsewhere, there is nothing shameful about seeking help for one’s mental health issues, you see some celebrities take to social media to announce that they have depression or they are taking a break to enable them go through rehabilitation,”
There is nothing shameful about mental health, it is also a kind of illness that can happen to anyone but in Ghana people tend to hide or sneak into the Psychiatric hospital whenever they need help,” Dr Agoriyna said.
He said that now psychiatry care has been decentralized and every health facility in Ghana, even the CHPS compound has someone who is a trained mental health care professional.
Dr Agoriyna said mental health care if not well handled could cost the country billions of dollars because people with mental health issues tend to be non-productive at work.
Estimating the cost of mental healthcare in Ghana, Dr Agorinya who had an interest in global mental health issues, said it could cost a family about GHS4000 monthly to provide care for their loved one with mental health issues.
He urged Ghanaians to stop stigmatising and abusing persons with mental health conditions, saying, “There is never any justification for abusing any person with mental illness.
Former Gender Minister, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo (formerly Nana Oye Lithur) says the circumstances that led to the 1948 riots in Accra are currently looming in Ghana.
According to the past NDC appointee, the triggers that led to the historic protest can be seen across the country.
On the 24th of February 1948, three unarmed ex-servicemen were shot during a protest. This infuriated other citizens who took to the streets to call out the colonial regime for its bad leadership and mismanagement.
Speaking in an interview on the AM Show on Thursday, the gender advocate said the same anger that fueled the 1948 protests is lurking, hence the need for government to urgently address the prevailing economic crisis.
“If you remember the 1948 riots, it seems like we are just seeing it being replayed. Where the traders were up in arms about the high cost of living and shops were closed. Then it led to Sergeant Adjetey and co., marching on to the seat of the colonial government.
[With] the ramifications of what happened; over a hundred people dying and how the riots [was] all over Ghana because of the economic situation. And you see it playing, right? History is actually repeating itself”, she said.
She also added that the recent incidents of booing the President at public functions are a worrying development which reflects the displeasure of the populace.
Madam Oye Addo’s comments add to the repeated calls for the President to invest more efforts in bettering the economy to prevent any untoward events.
Currently, Ghana is in a dire economic situation with citizens feeling the brunt of the hardship.
The economic crisis is evident in the constant depreciation of the local currency, in addition to the rising rate of inflation.
These developments have become very topical, with stakeholders constantly bemoaning the situation.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the widespread public agitations about the state of the economy, government maintains that it is working tirelessly around the clock to put the smiles back on the faces of Ghanaians.
According to the government, the economic situation has been exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has advised residents in Accra to buy all items they would need for their respective homes before Wednesday, October 19, 2022, since they will shut down all shops in the region.
President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng, who disclosed this said they are in solidarity with traders in Kumasi, who locked their shops in protest of what they say are exorbitant taxes imposed on businesses by government.
The traders are also kicking against a decision by the Ghana Revenue Authority to station their officers at each shop to record Value Added Tax (VAT) on products they sell.
Dr. Obeng said the issues raised by the traders were not limited to that Kumasi traders but nationwide hence traders across the country, are not in good standing at the moment.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he said aside from the killer taxes, the depreciation of the cedi against the dollar is also threatening the expansion and successful operation of Ghanaian businesses.
“The issues raised by the traders in Kumasi are not only limited to Kumasi. GUTA is in full support of their action. Traders in Tamale, Accra and other regions are also experiencing the same problem. The exorbitant taxes imposed on our businesses are not the best,” Dr Obeng said.
“We are struggling. The cedi depreciation and other challenges confronting businesses are collapsing our businesses. We have complained, but we have not been given the attention,” he stated.
“As a result, we are asking Accra residents to go out and buy household items because we will close our shops next week on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. We didn’t know when we’d reopen the shops after closing them. So, please, go out there and buy what you need so that when we close our shops, you won’t have to struggle,” he stated.
Workers of Metro Mass Transit Limited are embarking on a sit down strike over their two months unpaid salaries.
The workers also say that the nationwide strike action is as a result of five years of incompetent administration by the management of the company.
They want the immediate removal of the management team.
Anthony Secretary to the Senior Staff division of the Union, Anthony Appiah spoke to Citi News saying, “everything of ours is not working. If you have been given room for five years as executives and for the first time in the history of this company, there are three managing directors and we are not seeing anything from them in terms of growth, workers’ welfare and service to the nation, we have to embark on a sit-down strike.”
In Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, both senior and junior workers at the depot of the company joined in the nationwide sit-down strike over their conditions of service.
According to them, aside from not receiving salaries for months, several other pertinent concerns that have been raised over the years have not been addressed.
A visit to the Metro Mass terminal in Kumasi by Citi News‘ Middle Belt Bureau Chief, Edward Oppong Marfo showed that indeed the drivers have refused to work as all vehicles have been parked.
Management members at the terminal have also laid down their tools, saying the failure to resolve their concerns has made life unbearable for them.
“For about three months now, about 90 percent of workers have not been paid, and they haven’t given us any tangible reason. It’s pathetic”, one of the management members spoke toCiti News on condition of anonymity.
Retail trade in the country could grind to a halt by the close of work on Wednesday as the Greater Accra Regional branch of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) joins their counterparts in Kumasi to close down their shops.
This is in protest of what they describe as the unfair implementation of tax measures by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The shutdown of shops is in its third day in Kumasi and the traders have vowed to sustain the action until the GRA withdraws their personnel stationed at shops, restaurants, and other businesses to record sales of products for tax purposes.
The National President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng, in this regard urged its members nationwide to close their shops, accusing the GRA of unfairness and high handedness in the implementation of the policy.
“You have a system that does not ensure fairness, you have a system that does not ensure equity, you have a system that runs trade concurrently in the same market that we have the standard rate that one pays 90.25 percent and then we have VAT rate of four percent and then we have those who do not pay the VAT at all and they are all legitimate. What system is this?” he questioned GRA.
The Authority has already shut down major trading franchises including the China Mall, Palace Mall and the Regal Chinese Restaurant in Osu for failing to list.
The officials of the GRA are on the move again saying there are more companies that will suffer closure if they ignore the caution.
Mr. Phillip Acquah, the Assistant Commissioner, VAT Administration, at the GRA urged businesses to cooperate with the Authority to ensure that their systems are onboard the platform.
Meanwhile, an executive member of the Adum Traders Association in Ghana, Charles Appiah Kubi said that until the challenges are resolved, they will remain closed indefinitely.
According to him, as businesses, they are not against the payment of taxes, however the structure of the VAT system is hindering the payment.
“We have not said that we don’t want to pay taxes … our market is so unique that you do not impose taxes that do not sit with the dynamics within the market ..so when you introduce VAT into our system, you have few businesses that have registered for VAT if they have to add the six percent levy on it, their prices go so high that customers do not to buy from them and rather buy from those not registered for VAT with cheaper prices,” he said.
An Accra High Court on Thursday, October 13, 2022, will begin hearing the case involving #FixTheCountry Convenor Oliver Barker-Vormawor.
This comes after the Ashaiman District Court on Monday, August 1, 2022, committed the activist to stand trial at the High Court on a charge of treason felony.
The High Court trial was scheduled to commence on September 1, 2022, after the circuit court concluded the committal proceedings with a bill of indictment indicating the state’s readiness to prosecute the activist.
Meanwhile, the #FixTheCountry convener, through his lawyers, has filed an application to quash the circuit court’s committal proceedings and also to strike out the charge against him.
“Last week, Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s lawyers filed two motions at the High Court in respect of the Treason Felony charges that the Ghana Government has brought against him.
“The first motion is for an order of certiorari to quash the committal proceedings of the Ashaiman District Magistrate Court on the grounds that the Magistrate breached the committal procedure.
“The second motion is a prayer for an order to strike out the charges in the bill of indictment on the grounds that they offend the rule against duplicity and the rule against multiplicity,” a statement by #FixTheCountry noted.
According to the statement, the applications will be heard by the Criminal Division 3 of the Accra High Court on Thursday, October 9, 2022.
Barker-Vormawor was arrested in February this year for allegedly threatening to stage a coup after the government passed the controversial Electronic Transfers Levy (E-Levy).
A Tema High Court in April granted him bail pending the outcome of his trial.
President Akufo-Addo has disclosed that Ghana’s capital town, Accra, has been named the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world book capital for 2023.
In a series of tweets shared on October 10, the president said that this honour is an acknowledgement of the country’s progress in its development process.
He added that it also means that Accra is now part of prestigious cities in the world which have been UNESCO world book Capital
“I am happy to inform you that Accra has been named the UNESCO world book capital for 2023, making our vibrant city part of the prestigious world book capital cities network.
“This is an acknowledgment of the giant strides that Ghana and Africa are making in developing our book and creative art industry and we thank you for your diverse contribution that made this possible,” he said.
According to UNESCO, the World Book Capital programme is used to acknowledge cities’ commitment t promoting books and fostering reading
It added that cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to carry out activities to encourage a culture of reading and diffuse “its values in all ages and population groups in and out of the national borders”.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo, while addressing the 215th Meeting of the Executive Board of UNESCO, on Monday, October 10, 2021, charged member states of UNESCO to ensure that education remains a priority in the common development agenda of countries.
“At this moment, we cannot pick and choose between funding guns and education. We cannot pick and choose between the interests of the present generation and the future of our girls and boys.
“We cannot choose geopolitical concerns over preserving our cherished cultural heritages, lest we perish universally,” he said.
Read the President’s tweets below:
This is an acknowledgement of the giant strides that Ghana and Africa are making in developing our book and creative art industry and we thank you for your diverse contribution that made this possible.
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.
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.
British actress Michaela Coelhas taken her American Vogue cover to the streets of Accra.
Coel, who has been cast in Marvel’s blockbuster Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is Vogue’s November cover star – and she chose to have the photo shoot in her ancestral home, Ghana, alongside her father, Derek Kwesi Coel, and grandmother Jemima Andam.
She was photographed by Senegalese-Italian model Malick Bodian.
“They asked me where I’d like to shoot it and I thought to myself ‘shoot for the stars aim for the moon’, and I said ‘Ghana’, and they were like ‘sure’.”
Speaking to Vogue about a previous visit to Ghana in 2018, Coel said: “I’d been to Africa before – Kenya and Uganda – but when I came here, I was really seeing people who looked like me.”
“I remember looking at all the kids playing, and it hit me, like, Wow, this could’ve been me and I think I would have really enjoyed that,” she continued.
“Yes, there are a lot of sad things, poverty, unemployment, struggle. There’s also a lot of peace and friendliness. There’s a lack of anxiety.”
In her Vogue interview, Coel also spoke about her upcoming rolein Black Panther where her character falls in love with her warrior colleague, played by Florence Kasumba.
“That sold me on the role, the fact that my character’s queer,” Coel said. “I thought: I like that, I want to show that to Ghana.”
Coel was born and raised in East London after her parents emigrated from Ghana. She is most famous for writing, directing, and starring in the comedy-drama series I May Destroy You.
About eight cold stores within the Tema cold store enclave at a place known as Takyi Yard in Community 1, have absconded upon receiving hints that the Ghana Revenue Authority’s VAT invigilation taskforce was in the area to check if their businesses are tax compliant.
The eight have not erected any signpost of their business names, and some buyers who were around at the time of the visit confirmed not being issued VAT receipts.
The Area Enforcement Manager of GRA in charge of Accra Central, Mr Joseph Annan who led the taskforce during the operations, told the B&FT that the shops would remain closed until the right thing is done.
“We will come back again to effect arrest since they have all run away” Mr Annan said.
He said it was important for these cold stores to register and honour their tax obligations to government, a phenomenon that would enable them to be regarded as legal and responsible businesses.
Meanwhile, the Underbridge Event Centre at East Legon, have also been closed by the GRA for non-registration for VAT.
Others, including, Perez Frozen Foods, Isaac Glavi Trading Enterprise, Wanmafe Company Ltd, Josh Nartey Enterprise were also closed down and arrested for various infractions including non-registration, non-issuance among others.
The various infractions contravene the VAT Act 2013, Act 870.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has announced that it rescued over 100 residents of Weija and its environs who were stranded due to the spillage of excess water from the Weija Dam.
According to the army, the residents were rescued in some five communities by its officers from the 48 Engineers on October 4, 2022.
“Personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) conducted rescue operations in the general areas of Tetegu and New Weija following the floods that ensued from the opening of the Weija Dam spill gates.
“The Tuesday 4 October 2022 exercise was conducted as part of OP BOAFO with about 40 GAF personnel partaking in rescue efforts around Tetegu, Sampa Valley, New Weija, White Rose and Top Down. Personnel were able to rescue over 100 stranded residents.
“The Ghana Armed Forces continues to support citizens in these emergency situations as part of its civic duty to help mitigate destruction of property and loss of life,” parts of a Facebook post shared by GFA on October 6, 2022 read.
Like the floods of Accra that have become a perennial occurrence, residents of Weija have once again had to wake up to the devastating effects of the spillage of the Weija Dam by the Ghana Water Company Limited.
The annual spillage of the dam is meant to release excess water from the dam.
The maximum level of water the dam is built to hold is about 46 feet, but the level came up to 48 feet, thereby threatening its safety, hence the decision to spill.
Residents have been forced to move around in canoes, as many houses have been completely submerged under the water.
The actress has currently ventured into real estate construction.
In a video shared by blogger, Ronnie, the singer who recently graduated from UPSA with a master’s degree introduces her new estate for the first time.
Becca revealed that the yet-to-be-completed shown in the video is located in East Legon, Accra.
The private estate consists of several sets of 5-bedroom houses with hotel-quality fixtures and fittings for occupants.
The estate also includes a penthouse with a luxurious walk-in closet, separate boy’s quarters, and individual security posts.
It will be recalled that the singer stepped down from active music after over a decade of thrilling music lovers with her craft after the release of her last album in 2020.
According to Becca, she has other things which will engage her after her last album. “My husband and I are doing so much, we into real estate as well. I have a logistics company as well,” she said.
The ‘No One’ singer says she is not going to entirely quit music but she is not going to be doing it actively “Music is always going to be there, don’t get it wrong. I am always going to be doing music, however, I am not going to be actively recording in the studio at 5 am and all that,” she told Arit during an episode of CNN’s African Voices
Becca, is a Ghanaian singer, songwriter, and actress. She first gained recognition as a contestant on the second season of TV3’s annual singing competition Mentor.
Her debut studio album Sugar was released in 2007; it earned her five nominations at the 2008 Ghana Music Awards.
Like the floods of Accra that have become a perennial occurrence, residents of Weija have once again had to wake up to the devastating effects of the spillage of the Weija Dam by the Ghana Water Company Limited.
The annual spillage of the dam is meant to release excess water from the dam.
The maximum level of water the dam is built to hold is about 46 feet, but the level came up to 48 feet, thereby threatening its safety, hence the decision to spill.
Residents have been forced to move around in canoes, as many houses have been completely submerged under the water.
GhanaWeb has been to the area and has captured videos of the extent of damage caused after the spillage of the dam on Monday, October 3, 2022.
Meanwhile, the management of the GWCL has assured the public that despite the challenges, it is in control and has put in measures to ameliorate the situation to minimize the impact on consumers.
The management explained further, “the Weija dam is currently at a level of 49.5ft as against the maximum operating level of 48ft. Spillage normally begins when the level gets to 46.5ft. As a result, four (4) spill gates have been opened to safeguard the integrity of the dam, save the dam from collapse, and save lives and properties.”
Watch the latest episode of The Lowdown below:
The Lowdown: Role of the diaspora in the development of Africa
CEO of the Aaron Manvel Foundation Millie Lorene Tucker and Gary Hope, the CEO of FLCC – Bring Back Hope Foundation underscore the need for the African diaspora to help develop the continent in this episode of The Lowdown on GhanaWeb TV. According to the women trying to make and create a change in Ghana, our forefathers were sold away and made to develop strange lands. Thus, coming back home and developing their home country is the best thing to do especially when resources are available.
The Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), Dr Eric Oduro Osae, has tasked internal auditors to monitor the accounting systems used to prepare financial statements of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to ensure accuracy.
According to him, the government had been questioning the amount of money paid by most SOEs as dividends over the suspicion that some SOEs might not be paying the precise dividends.
“Internal Auditors, you are within these institutions, you are expected to ensure that accurate profits are declared and dividends declared are duly paid to the government,” he said.
Dr Osae was speaking in Accra yesterday when he opened a two day training for internal auditors on the preparation of the 2023 Risk-Based Internal Audit (RBIA).
RBIA is an audit methodology that links internal audit to an institution’s overall risk management framework with focus on the institution’s limited resources, high risk and high probability of weak controls.
The Public Finance Management Act, 2016(Act921) mandates Internal Audit Units of covered entities to, within 30 days after the beginning of the financial year, submit an annual audit work plan to the principals spending officer and the audit committee of the entities as well as the IAA.
The workshop, held three months ahead of the next due date( January 30, 2023) for the submission of the plan, is aimed at equipping participants with the requisite skills and tools to enable them prepare and submit their RBIA work plans and reports as well as appreciate contemporary practices.
Dr Osae said amongst other key mandatory areas internal auditors should focus on its 2023 risk assessments as a follow up of recommendations from the Auditor-General Report.
He said they should also mainstream and conduct performance audits of operations of their institutions to get value for money, while they audit borrowing, outstanding recoverables and debts.
That, he said, was important because the Auditor-General had made several comments on that issue and it was critical for the internal auditors to get the exact figures before the Auditor-General’s next report.
Dr Osae said the participants would be guided to prepare their RBIA plans on areas such as protection of public assets, titling of assets, and ownership because the asset ownership of many institutions were questionable.
“We need you, internal auditors, to plan and make sure that you guide and support these institutions to be able to report on a fair basis. Let us work together to provide the advisory and assurance services our institutions need,” he said.
Weekends are the best times to tour and explore and also release the stress from a long working week and thankfully Accra is a world of its own when it comes to capital cities in Africa exotic, bustling, hot, and very much alive.
The coastal capital can boast of spectacular attractions that range from the national history museums and Makola Marketto the endless Atlantic beaches, including the famous Labadi Beach, one of the most romantic places in Ghana.
From browsing local markets to top attractions, these are the best things to do in Accra on weekends.
Enjoy a stroll in the nature
Morning and evening walk, anyone? Stroll around Accra’s local neighborhoods, wander around its recreational parks for a picnic or simply relax and admire the first blooms in one of the many beautiful gardens found in the city.
Nature lovers should indulge in canopy walkways at any of the Botanical Gardens in the city. Take a treetop walk and immerse yourself in Accra’s most beautiful sceneries.
The Accra office of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has mentioned difficulty in reading and understanding test items as some of the challenges faced by hearing-impaired candidates in WAEC examinations.
It said such candidates were also affected by the lack of or inadequate sign language interpreters during examinations, and mixing them with hearing candidates in the examination hall.
These, it said, had left them with unencouraging performances at WAEC examinations.
It said while such candidates performed better in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), they did not do well in West African Senior Schools Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), especially in English and Mathematics.
An assessment test accommodations conducted by the Accra Section of WAEC from 2016 to 2021 revealed that with the exception of 2019 and 2020 that hearing-impaired candidates did well in their examinations, their performance over the years, especially in English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science in WASSCE had not been encouraging.
Seminar
The acting Head of the Accra Section of the Research Department of WAEC, Kwaku Dankwa, who made the disclosure at a virtual seminar to deliver the findings of the assessment, said from the test assessment, the reasons identified for the poor performance of the candidates in their examinations included unsuitable questions, language barrier, limited vocabulary, absence of learning outside the classroom, poor language and poor spelling.
He said the hearing-impaired saw English Language as a barrier because they were taught in sign language although they were examined in English Language.
Furthermore, he said, the hearing-impaired had limited vocabulary because in the sign language, they did not sign every word for which reason they were not familiar with some of the words they met during examination, hence they did not understand them to enable them to answer the questions properly.
“The kind of incidental learning that the hearing child have an advantage of, they don’t have that. At any point in time, somebody has to be with them trying to explain things to them using sign language because that is the mode of learning they are used to,” he added.
Stats
Mr Dankwa said WAEC, as the examining body, would engage stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education to reduce the challenges hearing-impaired candidates faced in their examinations in order that they were not left behind.
In 2016 for instance when 158 hearing-impaired candidates sat for the WASSCE, male hearing-impaired candidates who had between grades A1 to C6 in English Language were 11.4 per cent, while the females were 8.1 per cent.
That of Mathematics for the same grades were 9.4 per cent for males and 4.8 per cent for females, while for Integrated Science in the same year, 4.8 per cent females scored grades A1 to C6 and the males had 9.4 per cent.
Mr Dankwa said the respondents suggested that WAEC should make available sign language interpreters during examinations; recruit special education practitioners and sign language experts to mark scripts of hearing-impaired candidates; modify questions for hearing-impaired candidates as alternative papers, and examine sign language as a core subject as an alternative to English Language.
On the way forward, the assessment called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to train and post more special education experts and teachers who understand sign language to the special and inclusive schools to help hearing-impaired students to build the needed vocabulary.
It further called for WAEC to explore the use of alternative assessment test formats which focused on standard sign language and objective responses such as fill-ins.
Discussion
During the open discussion segment, some hearing-impaired students said when announcements were made during examinations, there were usually no sign language interpreters to interprete to them, causing them to make mistakes.
The Chairman for the programme, Prof. Samuel Kweku Hayford, of the Department of Special Education, University of Education, Winneba, remarked that sign language was being seriously taken care of in the education review policy.
He called for efforts to develop sign language so that right from kindergarten, children would be introduced to it.
The assessment
The study population included all hearing-impaired students and their teachers in the 15 public schools for the deaf in Ghana; heads of schools for the deaf; special education coordinators from GES, WAEC officers, special education lecturers, hearing-impaired university undergraduates in Ghana and officials of the Ghana National Association for the Deaf.
Filming and voicing out his frustration in the dark, a livid Derrick Kobina Bonney (DKB) was concerned about the technical challenge that has affected prepaid metering systems making it impossible for customers to top up.
The situation has led to some customers sleeping in darkness as the purchase of electricity credit for prepaid metres has sadly been interrupted.
“Prepaid network down, can’t buy lights, darkness everywhere! But I have to wait on NDC before I’ll know if I’m in darkness! Pure rubbish and nonsense!” the comedian fumed in a tweet, Thursday.
In the video clip that had the aforementioned caption, DKB could not fathom why genuine concerns are diluted for political expediency. He noted that whenever concerns are raised, there is a swift attempt by a section of the public to politicize the matter, a posture he condemned without equivocation.
“In this country, if there is a socio-economic problem bothering you and you complain about it, they’ll tell you you’re manipulated by the opposition,” he said.
“Since morning that we’ve not had prepaid to buy and our lights are off, me as a human being, as a Ghanaian, I can’t see that I don’t have light so I need to wait for NDC to tell me that I don’t have light so that I’ll complain about it and it will unpopularize NDC.”
Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghanahas in a statement assured the general public of its resolve to surmount the challenge.
“Affected customers should please note that our ICT team is working assiduously to correct the anomaly and restore the system to normalcy. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this technical challenge,” parts of the statement read.
Some customers in Volta, Kumasi, Accra, Takoradi, Tema, Cape Coast, Kasoa, Winneba, Swedru, Koforidua, Nkawkaw, and Tafo have been affected by the hiccup.
Recreation is important for physical and psychological health, building inclusive communities, and ensuring general life satisfaction.
Nightlife in Accra has promised and delivered delirium for close to 100 years. It is lost on many people that this cherished aspect of living in Ghana’s capital would not have happened at all or at least at its current effervescence if the capital of the Gold Coasthad remained Cape Coast. Becoming the center of political power brought Accra unassailable preeminence in spheres of multicultural and economics. But while Accra’s glory may have been orchestrated in colonialism, its nocturnal gaiety has been anything but controlled.
If the African entertainment listicles online and my well-traveled non-Ghanaian friends are to be believed, Accra presents one of the continent’s premium options in nightlife. My Twitter feed agrees and so do most of my friends in Ghana. In the course of the last few years, I have barely indulged in the thrill, probably because it has also gotten costlier.
But the nightly buzz is not simply taking our money; it may be taking our minds as well. While recreation is a necessary part of psychological growth, I have often wondered what we are hiding from when we constantly turn up where the music is loudest, the drugs drag you higher and the alcohol overflows. Of course, all recreation is not equal and my concerns are a result of what is more popular as a choice for young Ghanaians who wish to celebrate their leisure. One can find in the city centre – an area with a roughly 1,200-metre radius – a saturation of pubs, nightclubs, and other such places. Interestingly, this area also contains Accra’s central business district, a situation that gives some credence to the counsel “work hard, play hard”.
However, most commercial capitals across the world are no different. In these major cities, there tends to be a mutually-sustaining relationship between producers and consumers in the nightlife entertainment industry. The free market is most prominent in the entertainment industry where the symbiosis between producers and consumers shapes each party’s destinies and desires.
The interaction goes on ad nauseam and the general public can lose sight of the adverse effects it creates. For instance, a 2010 experts’ report that analysed and suggested recommendations for tourism and nightlife culture in the European Union submitted that overseers of clubs and pubs often have very little sympathy for the health of consumers and the sanity of entertainment culture. In these spots, alcohol is sold and alcohol is bought. Music is played and the dance floor is occupied.
Whoever is reeling under the effects of alcoholism or has a health condition triggered by the magnitude of activity can only count on themselves or their immediate company.
Two of the recommendations made by the report were for nightclubstaff to be trained in administering first aid and to significantly enforce “restrictions on opening hours for discotheques, and especially for after-hours parties”. I am willing to believe there are set times proposed by local governments for the operation of nightclubs in Ghana but if this will be enforced, along with the training for club employees, your guess is as good as mine.
Apart from the unwanted emergent spurred by alcohol and drugs, women would have to look out for themselves in these spaces where sexual misbehaviour is almost certain to be unleashed by men.
But that’s exactly what frustrates me about the nightlife and recreation in Accra for young people. We place so much emphasis on the young person’s individual responsibility even though the options and conditions of recreation are, to put it kindly, poisonous. Healthieroutdoor recreational options in the city are next to non-existent. Also, you are not guaranteed a lot of protection – as the EU report recommended to European countries – when you check yourself into any of the more popular options we have in Accra.
My friend Earl who lives in the inner-city of Accra Central often expresses fears about the future of young people’s relationship with alcohol and drugs as a result of the above. But if there is little protection for young people who frequent higher-end joints in agreeable parts of the city, there is even less for their counterparts in the inner city. And when you add the fact poorer youth have virtually no space or means to seek therapy and rehabilitation, we face the risk of recreating Victorian England where the instruments of the state placed the vicious cycles of poverty on some deficiency in the moral characters of poor people. This is even more intriguing when you consider the fact that the popular drug-peddling inner-city spot, Ayaata Corner, in the Ashiedu-Keteke sub-metro area, receives nearly as many orders from (upper)-middle-class Accra dwellers as it receives from struggling youth.
Recreation is important for physical and psychological health, building inclusive communities, and ensuring general life satisfaction. Nothing should diminish the centrality of recreation in molding a well-adjusted society. In a way, my case could have been made about the basic poverty of recreational options in the city. But reviewing the principal fundament which is nightlife will translate into attention for everything else. Outdoor recreation for young adults in Accra is ostensibly nightlife.
I am statistics-shy of confidently claiming that we are building the momentum for catastrophe. Nightlife has become synonymous with unfettered exposure to alcohol, drugs, and noise pollution, and all that they bring. A researcher at the University of Ghana 2016 indicated that alcohol consumption on the university’s Legon Campus was nearly 60% among undergraduate students with most students drinking as part of recreation at parties and on outings. To add to that, I personally know a few women and have read the accounts of many more who have to go out in groups due to fear of sexual assault and harassment. For some of them, the precaution they take is so that they do not become repeat victims.
In April of 2021, a nonprofit called Heal and Chill Foundation partnered with more than five of the biggest night entertainment providers including the famous Bloombar and Zen Gardens for awareness creation on sexual consent. This was effectively a non-governmental organization’s intervention in the conversation on sex and gender-based violence, specifically identifying the arena of Ghanaian life that happens to be grounds for so much of such violence.
If there is any scintilla of puritanism in the case I’m making, that is unintended but I sincerely do not even care. Mine is an argument towards prudence – what burdens can we shoulder as a society where some 7 in every 10 Ghanaians are under the age of 40? More than 35% of Ghanaians to are under 15. To put both of these into better context, about 70% of Ghanaians today were not alive or barely remember when the coup of 1981 was made and about 4 out of 10 Ghanaians today were not alive when we redenominated the cedi in 2007.
That is a frighteningly young population for us to throw caution to the wind and maintain a permanent withdrawal of public protections. If we do not reconsider how we urge young people to spend recreation, repercussions for doing nothing will be sternly felt in health, security, employment, and other aspects of our economy.
In many countries where policymaking is chiefly driven by corporate interests, mentioning a dent in the economy often prompts a spirited political response. That is where, if you are lucky, other businesses are given the carte blanche to raise healthieravenues of recreation to compete with the existing ones. Or businesses suffer some kind of ‘sin tax’ to alleviate the disaster they serve the public. Human needs are necessitated and negotiated through the grips of the free market and all society’s problems are seen as economic opportunities. Each rational actor to themselves, the market for us all.
Nevertheless, I am not too sure neoliberalism is entirely at home in Ghana as it is in many other countries. Make no mistake, it is noticeable but over here, neoliberalism is yet premature. Political party considerations – and not business interests – are still the major controllers of institutions, laws, and policies even if you speak of state capture through businesses owned by partisans.
Still, as Ghanaians, we have been trained to see the boom in nightlife adventures as an outgrowth of a steadily growing middle-class.
Classically, a boom in the services sector is read as a sign that a lot of money is going around. So in this case, more hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, event centers (they say there’s even a ‘wedding industry’ in Ghana) etc. spring up and all people can think about is that folks got money to spend. I guess it’s because the services sector is largely viewed through the spectacle of consumption. We do not even ask why people spend money so much on the nightlife. That is the sort of close-mindedness that blinds us to the population abuse committed through Ghana’s nightlife attractions.
Another publication by a researcher at the University of Ghana in 2020 strongly connected depressive states to alcohol use among working Ghanaians. So, are young Ghanaians reaching for the bottle anywhere they can find it because they cannot find other means of dealing with fragile mental health? What if, instead of simply perceiving the dizzying lights of the night, we also spare some concern for dreary lives? Are we forcing young people to drink, dance and drug away a mental health crisis? These are not exaggerated queries.
Many people with whom I have conversed happen to understand the gentrification and economic challenge to locals that come with President Akufo-Addo’s campaign to make Ghana the tourism capital of the Global Black Experience. All I have been saying is that the boon of the nightlife scene has also come with a bane, and there is no way to dodge it.
I know how attractive the retort to my argument is – that I could let people live as they please. Or that people are responsible for their own safety. The invalidity of such thinking lies in the fact that the state constitutionally owes protection to individuals. The Ghana Non-Communicable Disease Alliance already tells us Ghana is averaging above the WHO Africa Region figure for alcohol dependence. The dangers of sexual kind posed to women have never gone out of fashion and we do not seem ready to have a good-faith conversation about drugs in Ghana. But lives are at stake.
Hopefully, we can come to generate the perspectives and sympathies to prioritise young people.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
According to Bullgod who was guesting on Accra-based Hitz FM on Monday, 26 September, 2022, the booing the Ghanaian President received some time during his address at Saturday night’s Global Citizen Festival was an ample indicator.
“Look, what happened that day, if we were going to the ballot box that day he would lose. Trust,” he declared.
Earlier, he opined the Ghanaian leader was at the wrong place when he came to address the audience and thus was booed.
“That environment is not for him,” had shared before giving the impression Mr Akufo-Addo has failed his people and not shown empathy for their hardship.
“If you are leading a people, you need to listen to them. You need to feel what they feel. You need to make their lives better. That’s why we elect leaders,” he said.
“So if you’re in leadership and your followership is not in the right space, the right frame of mind, conditions are harsh, chale, what do you expect them to do? This is the only way [they could register their displeasure],” he stressed.
Bullgod, an entertainment pundit, also opined about 90 per cent of the crowd present at the event booed Akufo-Addo.
The Daybreak Hitz team led by Andy Dosty challenged him on this but he maintained his stance and added “This is the youth and not even a political crowd. So if these youth are seeing this, or they are doing this, you should know where the country is going.”
In its tenth year, the Global Citizen Festivalheld a simultaneous event in Central Park, New York City, New York, USA and at the Black Star Square, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana on Saturday, 24 September, 2022.
The Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA) has stated that it intends to crack down even harder on companies that are refusing to pay taxes.
A posh event and trading center called “De Icon” in East Legon, Accra, had its facilities locked up by authority representatives on Friday, September 16, 2022, for not paying their taxes to the government.
The goal of the GRA’s intervention is to make sure that all tax payments owed to the state are obtained from culpable companies.
The team locked up the facility to restrain the owners and customers from doing business until the tax registration process is concluded.
Chief Revenue Officer at the office of the Commissioner General, Nathaniel Tetteh told Journalists that the company will be made to comply with the law and pay penalties before it can resume operations.
“We have information that this facility has been operating since December 2021 without the necessary tax requirements. So our assignment here is to lock the place until the right thing is done”.
“We also need some tax documents from the administration, so we can use it to track the business they have done and apply the charges” he told Joy Business.
Friday September 16, 2022 operations was part of an ongoing nationwide Valued Added Tax Invigilation exercise by the authority to retrieve some taxes due the state.
The GRA as part of the nationwide invigilation will continue to embark on mystery shopping exercises across the country to apprehend culprits evading tax.
Meanwhile, all efforts to get the managers or the directors of ‘De Icon’ to speak to the media was not successful.
The ECG has ordered the management of the night club to appear before its project office inAccra.
The action by the ECG comes after it discovered that a hostel connected to the nightclub was using roughly 25 air conditioners, refrigerators, and other electrical appliances through manipulated ECG meters.
The hostel, owned by the night club, is occupied by Nigerians.
The illegality was detected by the ECG revenue mobilisation task force as part of efforts to check metre conditions in the country.
The managers of the night club admitted to the illegality, blaming it on the complex nature of dealing with the power distributing company.
This follows complaints from some motorists concerning the lack of petroleumproducts at some pumps in particular areas in Accra.
In a Citi News interview, Head of Research at COPEC,Benjamin Nsiah noted that NPA must sanction the fuel stations that create artificial fuel shortages.
“COPEC has already been mentioning this particular event to the authorities, specifically NPA to ensure that when prices are about to change, they visit some of these retail outlets to check their tanks and ensure that there are products available. If any retail outlet comes to say there are no products, it means it is an intention to create a shortage.â€
Mr. Nsiah further allayed all fears of fuel shortage, adding that there was enough stock in the system to last a month.
“We believe that there is not going to be fuel shortage in the coming month. What we know is that there is enough fuel to serve the market.â€
The Central Business District (CBD) of Accra was empty with pockets of traders conducting business in front of closed shops and pavement on Tuesday.
The Ghana News Agency monitoring team, during a tour of the CBD on Monday to assess the impact of the elections on sales, showed that most shops at Makola, Rawlings Park, and Tudu were closed.
The usually busy streets were empty while commercial drivers struggled to get passengers.
Speaking to the GNA at Tudu, Emmanuel Arhin, who trades in ladies dresses said sales had generally been slow, and that, he was among the early voters at Santa Maria and decided to come down to the market to do business.
He said because of low sales, he would be leaving the market for home.
Ama Achaa, who deals in men under wear said she came to Tudu about 05:30 hours but but sales has been bad due to the ongoing polls.
Achaa said she would be voting at Kinbu Senior High School later on, saying that; “I will only walk to the place and cast my ballot.
Ruth Quaicoe a roasted plantain seller at the Rawlings Park said she arrived at the Rawlings Park at about 09:00 hours to sell for the few people around who may need food to eat.
Ruth said she was yet to cast her ballot at Dansoman, adding that, due to the low traffic, she hopes to get to Dansoman early to cast her vote by 15:00 hours.
A middle aged woman who only gave her name as Erica said she travelled from Osu to purchase some items but the shops were closed.
According to her on previous holidays, she gets whatever she wants to buy but this time around almost all the shops were closed.
Belinda Mensah, a resident of Kasoa, who was at the CBD to sell pepper and onions has not made enough sales because a few people were around.
Belinda said “sales has been slow. I will soon pack my items and go home to cast my ballot”.
Another trader, Anita Sammy, who sells nose masks said she thought people would need nose masks for the election but the Makola market area was virtually empty.
According to Anita she would be casting her vote at Kwashieman but was waiting to see if some customers would show up to buy before leaving.
