TIG Post

Tag: Association

  • Reductions in our salaries won’t stop us from striking – CETAG

    Reductions in our salaries won’t stop us from striking – CETAG

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has asserted that they will persist with their strike, even if it results in salary reductions.

    The President of the association, Prince Obeng Himah, anticipates possible salary cuts during the strike but remains undeterred.

    All 46 training colleges’ CETAG members have been striking since August 1. They point to the government’s failure to comply with the National Labour Commission (NLC)’s Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions since May 2, 2023, as the reason.

    Despite notifications to the Ministry of Finance, the agreed negotiations remain unimplemented, perpetuating the deadlock.

    Asked about the potential non-payment for strike duration, Himah replied, “No surprise. We’ve heard whispers of punitive actions. We’re aware of the consequences. How can we not be paid for absent attendance when it wasn’t part of our arrangement?”

    He calls for open dialogue between CETAG and NLC concerning owed salaries.

    “We’re discontented with this situation. We must fight for justice; otherwise, we won’t benefit. Documentation must result in payments. The economy is harsh, and people remain under expired 2021 service conditions. These issues demand attention.”

    Regarding arrears from January 2023 onwards, he urges transparent discussions for a resolution.

    Ofosu Asamoah, NLC’s Executive Secretary, urges the government to penalize CETAG for an unlawful strike.

    “Defying Commission orders is unlawful. Court intervention might be needed to compel them back to classrooms. Employers can also punish them for this illegal action. Two wrongs don’t justify.”

  • Achraf Hakimi unofficially appointed president of Stingy Men Association – Here’s Why

    Achraf Hakimi unofficially appointed president of Stingy Men Association – Here’s Why

    Achraf Hakimi of PSG’s right back has been informally elected as the president of the Stingy Men Association, and a message of congratulations has been sent.

    Achraf Hakimi had previously outsmarted his wife, who had filed for divorce and was attempting to obtain half of his hard-earned wealth.

    But unfortunately for Hakimi’s wife, HIba when they arrived in court, they realized that Achraf Hakimi had nothing.

    Mummy’s Boy Achraf Hakimi had put his entire fortune under his mother’s name a long time ago.

    According to sources, Hiba was informed by the court that her ‘millionaire’ husband owns nothing as all his property is registered under his mother’s name.

    Hakimi receives €1 Million from PSG monthly but 80% of this is deposited in his mother Mrs Fatima’s account.

    He has no property, cars, houses, Jewelry or even clothes in his name. Anytime, he wants anything, he asks his mother who buys it for him.

    This, according to the leadership of the Stingy Men Association is one of the best moves any man could take in order to protect his properties.

    There have been several stories of how some men lose their wealth to divorce suits of their wives and for Hakimi to have thought fast, they owe him big time hence appointing him as their president.

    Another reason that influenced their decision is that the Leadership of The Stingy Men Association wants Hakimi to teach and show other men the way to secure their future as he has done.

  • School Placement for Sale: No GNAT staff was involved

    School Placement for Sale: No GNAT staff was involved

    In order to put the “School Placement for Sale” scandal to rest, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is urging the Education Ministry and GES to release the findings of its probe.

    This follows the disclosure by the Public Relations Officer of the Education Ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng, that janitors and security personnel who were captured as middlemen in the investigative documentary by The Fourth Estate, are not employees of the Education Ministry, but that of the GNAT Hostel.

    He made this revelation while contributing to discussions on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, February 20.

    But reacting to the claim, the General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah, said the allegation by Mr Kwarteng that a staff of the Association was identified as one of the brains behind the unfortunate happening, is inaccurate.

    GNAT insists that no staff of the Association was involved in the scandal.

    “No GNAT staff was involved. Let Kwasi Kwarteng come and tell us, let him come and tell us,” he stressed in an audio aired on Joy FM’s Midday news on Wednesday.

    According to him, the Education Ministry must reprimand Kwasi Kwarteng for peddling falsehood.

    “We demand that the Minister together with the DG must reprimand him, he must be rebuked. It is becoming the hallmark of Kwasi Kwarteng,” he said.

    “And this one, we want to tell the Ghana Education Service that should they keep quiet on this particular one, we as an organisation will give them a response,” he added.

    Itwould be recalled that in January, a Fourth Estate‘s investigative piece uncovered some rot in the placement into senior high schools.

    The investigation discovered that instead of the resolution centre serving as a spot to correct certain anomalies, it was turned into a marketplace where officials linked to the placement executed their trade through a network of intermediaries, mostly security guards and cleaners.

    Even though only two individuals – the Education Minister and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) – were the ones given access and passwords to approve protocol placement into Category A senior high schools, it has not stopped people from defrauding parents

  • Ghana’s cocoa sector under threat, food crisis will soon hit us – Association

    Treasurer for Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association, Nana Yaa Asantewaa, has warned cocoa will soon be scarce in the country

    She also lamented that cocoa farmers are not given fair prices got their cocoa products, and the same applies to other farmers.

    Speaking on NyankontonMu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, she asserted that the major reason why several young people do not want to farm is due to these issues.

    He posited that farmers are not usually not respected or treated fairly.

    “Farmers are not treated with respect. We are not recognised. People determine the kind of prices they want to give us. Cocoa pricing is worse. The government of Ghana do not give us fair pricing.”

    These and other challenges, she added, have prevented several young people from going into farming.

    She said when the youth see how farmers struggle, and unfairly they are treated, they [youth] are discouraged from pursuing a career in farming.

    She warned that “soon, cocoa will no longer be a major commodity. There would also be a scarcity of food in the country. If we fail to address these challenges, farming will no longer be lucrative, and Ghana will face a serious food crisis”.

  • TUTAG declares strike

    The Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has declared an indefinite strike.

    This is due to  concerns about conditions of service.

    “Upon further deliberations by the National and Chapter Executives of TUTAG, we declare an indefinite strike action which takes immediate effect,” a statement said.

    Below is the full statement by TUTAG

    We refer to our letter on the subject “NEW RATE OF FUEL ALLOWANCE FOR MEMBERS OF UTAG AND TUTAG” with reference number TUTAG/GTEC/02 dated 26th September 2022, addressed to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and copied to the Minister of Education, Minister of Finance, Chairman of the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.

    We wish to state that issues raised in the above letter have since not received any attention from the aforementioned government agencies. TUTAG views the inaction by these agencies as an indication that the concerns expressed in our letter have not been treated with the seriousness they deserve.

    We also refer to the NLC’s directive of 2nd September 2022 under the subject “RE: IN THE MATTER OF NOTIFICATION OF INTENDED STRIKE ACTION BY TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (TUTAG)” with reference number NLC/TUTAG/2022/21 which was in relation to TUTAG’s demand for the implementation of the negotiated internally generated fund-related conditions of service.

    The directive reads: “That the Minister of Finance (MOF) is hereby directed to ensure payment in January 2023 and should also ensure that it issues the necessary letters to the various University Councils within a reasonable time to make budgetary provisions in the budget to take care of payments on the effective date.

    Even though January 2023 is less than two months away, and most universities are done with budget preparations for 2023, the Minister of Finance has still not issued the letter as directed by the NLC. It is important to state that a certain letter (electronic version), supposedly written by the FWSC, was shown to the President at NLC, the content of the said letter was in sharp contrast with the negotiations done with the Governing Councils of the various universities. Indeed, our checks from the listed recipients indicate that the said defective letter had not even been received.

    Further, reference is made to issues raised in our letter under the subject “NOTIFICATION OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION” with reference number TUTAG/NLC/02 dated 10th October 2022, some of which have still not been resolved by the government agencies.

    In view of all these, and upon further deliberations by the National and Chapter Executives of TUTAG, we declare an indefinite strike action which takes immediate effect.

  • GBA pushes for virtual court system

    The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) says the country can adopt the use of electronic systems in court proceedings to help ensure speedy justice delivery.

    Lawyer Yaw Acheampong Boafo, however, says this good option can be realized if the country’s judiciary invests in resources and laws to aid in its implementation.

    The GBA President was speaking at 2022 Annual Chief Justice’s Forum currently ongoing in Kumasi.

    The Judicial Service of Ghana instituted the Annual Chief Justice’s Forum as part of measures to enhance its public image, trust and confidence through engagement with stakeholders on issues of access to justice, transparency and accountability.

    The annual event also brings together key stakeholders to deliberate on pertinent issues that affect the administration of justice.

    It also serves as a platform to receive feedback on justice delivery.

    The GBA President pointed out that the traditional modes of justice administration and judicial processes – with their well-known challenges – sometimes breed frustration, result in delays and blockage of cases.

    “Thus, the time is now for a transition face-to-face court proceedings to digital modes of delivering justice by the courts embracing newer and modern technologies that support the various court processes and proceedings. The virtual court hearings during the legal vacation was a welcome innovation.

    “The exigencies and challenges of the time brought about by the pandemic should serve as a catalyst for reform and innovation,” he stated.

    “It is my conviction that it is possible to implement technological or digitization tools that host and drive almost the entire legal processes from the time of filing to serve through discovery, case management, trial and even to delivery of judgments in ways that ensure accessible justice,” he said.

    Lawyer Acheampong Boafo also proposed the publication of key court judgements of the superior court on social media handles to inform the public of its decisions.

    The Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, assured the public that the judiciary will continue to adopt technology in order to expand access to justice delivery.

    He pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic showed the importance of technology, with the judiciary adopting many digital tools in order to serve public.

    “Technology has afforded us an opportunity to cut cost, be more efficient, and avoid unnecessary delays in administering justice. For the first time in the history of the judiciary, this year, vacation courts in Accra, held virtual sittings. This meant that lawyers who were even abroad on vacation could participate remotely, of course, they had to be properly attired with good internet connectivity,” he added.

    The Mamponghene, Dasebre Osei Bonsu, who represented Asantehene, pointed out that Covid-19 disrupted nearly every aspect of our individual and collective lives.

    “Improving access to justice in a pandemic through technology challenges all of us to reflect on how we can use technology to ensure that justice delivery continues unabated, despite what we have been asked to think of as the new normal.”

  • Bissa Sukuma Ashanti 2022 launched in Kumasi as members call for peace in Bawku

    Members of the Ashanti Regional Council of Bissa chiefs and the Bissa Development Association (BDA) together with the National Council have launched Bissa Sukuma Ashanti 2022 in Kumasi.

    Sukuma’, which means gathering or togetherness in the Bissa language, will be the largest gathering of the Bissa Chiefs and the Bissa people in the Ashanti Region. It will also be represented by government and political leaders as well as other tribal leaders, the general public, and other Bissa people across Ghana.

    Alhaji Shaibu Musah Gutare, National President of the Bissa Development Association, speaking to the gathering during the launch said, that Sunday’s program precedes the main event which is scheduled for December 18, 2022, at Jubilee Park.

    The Bissa Sukuma among other events, which largely used to be witnessed in Bawku necessitated an extension into the other regions after the Bawku area had been characterized by the Kusaase – Mamprusi conflict.

    According to the Bissas (Buzanga people) in the Ashanti region, they have for a long time not had the opportunity to showcase their culture and traditions, and this had been the moment they were waiting for.

    The national president speaking on the theme, “Maintaining Our Cultural Identity: The True Path to Unity’, said, the good news was that all the various groups had come to the conclusion that they all pursue one common goal which is promoting Bissa development through Bissa culture and traditions.

    “Development could indeed be achieved through the two popular adages in our great Bissa language that says “Wokakoman Nyisi Girls and Zekula N’Pangna’ hence must be vigorously pursued and applied,” he said.

    He added that the reconnection of the Bissa chiefs and people in the Ashanti region as one big family was to also seek the development of the Bissa communities.

    Touching on how to achieve such goals, he said, there was a need for unity to reign amongst the people so that the dream could be realized with ease. He also pleaded with the people of Bawku to as matter of urgency maintain peace at the expense of the current conflict we are witnessing in the area.

    He further revealed that the Bissa Development Association (BDA) has drawn six(6) strategic goals to help its development agenda. He mentioned that the goals included; Financial upliftment, Renovation of BDA zonal and Regional structures, Provision of Educational support for the Bissa communities, Selling of Bissa Culture through singing and dancing, etc, Improving wealth creation of the Bissa people, and lastly, Raising the political consciousness of the Bissa people where he indicated that the people were going to be made to understand that belonging to different political parties do not make one your enemy.

     

     

  • Import licenses will increase cost of trade unnecessarily – Asaki Awingobit

    The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana says the introduction of an import license policy will only add to the bureaucracy and cost of doing business in Ghana.

    Their concern follows calls by the Private Enterprise Federation (PEF) that such a policy is needed to regulate the imports that come into the country.

    According to the importers and exporters, the requirement of certain licenses are already needed before one can import goods into the country.

    There have been growing calls from various stakeholders on the need to cut down on importation especially amidst the country’s current economic challenges.

    However in an interview with Citi Business News, General Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, Sampson Asaki Awingobit said the introduction of such a license will rather go against the ease of doing business in Ghana.

    “We already have a several importations that you need license to venture into. i.e., when you are bringing in Food into the country you will need permits from FDA, standards authority among others so we go through all these to get permits so I don’t know why they want government to introduce licenses to further entrench the bureaucracies” Mr. Awingobit said.

    He also noted that the existing bureaucracies place Ghana at a disadvantaged position in the global list of countries with high barriers to trade and the introduction of another layer of bureaucracy will only worsen the situation.

  • Labour Ministry to meet striking teachers again over new GES boss

    Leadership of the three striking teacher unions will today, Monday, November 7, 2022, meet the Employment and Labour Ministry to continue deliberations over the appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah as the Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

    The unions declared a strike on Friday, November 4, following their demand for the withdrawal of Dr. Nkansah’s appointment.

    An earlier engagement with the Ministry ended inconclusively.

    Speaking to Citi News, the President of one of the unions, the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu expressed disappointment at the Education Ministry for not addressing their concerns sooner.

    “The invitation to even come and jaw-jaw was not from the Education Ministry. They were rather trying to banter us in the media through press conferences instead of sitting with us to discuss the issues. So we are on strike, expecting that our demands will be met at [today’s] meeting.”

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wereko-Brobby said he is optimistic that the concerns of the teachers will be addressed.

    “This is a matter we can sit and discuss. So I am optimistic that nothing untoward will happen. The issues that they have raised will be looked at and will be resolved by Monday after we meet.”

    The unions had requested time to seek the views of their members. They have argued in favour of a career teacher being made the GES boss.

     

     

  • Colleges of Education staff threaten strike over conditions of service

    The leaders of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG) have expressed their displeasure over the government’s neglect of the welfare of their members in the 46 Colleges of Education over the years.

    The associations in a joint statement accused the Government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) of unfair treatment over the years.

    CETAG in January 2022 called off its weeks of strike action after the Government assured the association of taking stringent measures to resolve the non-implementation of its 2017-2020 conditions of service, but those resolutions are yet to be implemented 10 months on.

    Leadership of the two associations in their statement have therefore given the Ghana Education Service (GES) five crucial working days to address the following outstanding concerns;

    i) Non-finalisation of CETAG’s Conditions of Service (CoS) negotiations which started on 14th August 2021 and have direct implications for CENTSAG’s own CoS.

    ii)Unilateral determination of April 2023 by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) as the effective date for placing First Degree Holders of CENTSAG on 17H on the SSSS.

    iii) Undue delay by the Ministry of Education in responding to our request for payment of compensation for all-year-round work to both teaching and non-teaching staff.

    iv) Deliberate variation of Fuel, Vehicle Maintenance, and Off-Campus allowances of CETAG and CENTSAG members as compared to our counterparts in other analogous institutions in the face of the rising cost of fuel prices in the country.

    v) Unfair retrospective deductions of office holding allowances paid to some members of CENTSAG and CETAG.

    The unions added that if these concerns are not resolved by November 11, 2022, “we shall reactivate our indefinite strike actions which we suspended on January 24 and April 14, 2022, respectively.”

     

  • Ofori-Atta’s exit might not be the panacea of all woes – AGI boss

    Despite the numerous calls for his dismissal by the Majority MPs, Ken Ofori-Atta, the finance minister, seems to get support from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

    Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), had stated that his outfit despite the economic hardships facing Ghanaians supports the minister to tackle it.

    According to him, Ken Ofori-Atta’s hard work is being recognised despite the current economic challenges facing the country.

    Dr. Ayim-Darke speaking during a meeting with the finance minister in Accra on Thursday, November 3, further assured him of a partnership to circumvent the economic difficulties of the country.

    “We appreciate your work, the times can be different, the challenges can be numerous but we at AGI believe in hard work. The real sector has been the hard work and we have been in this space for that long, we will circumvent the situation with you and your team.

    “You can count on our support because we love to do the hard work. We will offer advice and offer suggestions and alternatives,” he said.

    “Our prayer is that by the end of the day the output should be the testament, the ability to circumvent this current position is a test to your agility, it is a test to your agenda that you set up.

    “One thing I have come to realise is that when you make pronunciations, time will be the best test…Hon Minister, I believe strongly that AGI’s view on what is happening in our economic space…is that some are of opinions calling for your exit whilst others are of the opinion of you staying; the president also has an opinion believing that he puts you in such position.

    “We believe that the exit of a minister might not be the panacea of all woes that we have gathered to share with the minister, [but] the performance and ability to circumvent the position we find ourselves in should be our trump card…as challenging as it will be, our support to our government and to our nation is paramount…you have our pledge, you have our support that together we shall navigate this course. We are grateful to engage you,” Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke stressed.

    Calls for Ofori-Atta, Adu Boahen to be axed

    A group of NPP MPs, numbering over 80, on October 25 held a press conference demanding the removal of the Finance Minister and Minister of State at the Ministry, Charles Adu Biahen, over management of the economy and hard times that citizens were facing.

    President Akufo-Addo intervened and got a concession on two grounds, that the Ofori-Atta be allowed to conclude initial talks with the International Monetary Fund and present the 2022 budget and see to the passage of its appropriation.

    The president has also addressed the nation on the economic challenges and how the government intends to tackle them.

    The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has recently stated that the view advanced by the Ken Must Go MPs is now the Majority position.

    Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus is pushing a vote of censure t remove Ofori Atta from office.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Delay in posting physician assistants to health facilities is bad – Physician Assistant Association

    The Ghana Physician Assistant Association says continuous delay in posting physician assistants to health facilities is derailing the country’s effort to achieving universal health coverage by 2030.

    The Association observed whilst some health facilities in hard-to-reach areas that are in dire need of the services of physician assistants, qualified PAs remain home awaiting placement.

    “Delay in getting financial clearance for qualified Physician Assistants is arguably the main reason for the large numbers of unemployed Physician Assistants. I want to use this opportunity to make a passionate appeal to the Ministries of Health and Finance to expedite the processes leading to the issuance of financial clearance and subsequent employment of these qualified healthcare cadres” President of the Association, Emmanuel Yaw Appiah noted.

    He was speaking at the 19th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Physician Assistants Association.

    Most health facilities in the country are manned by physician assistants.

    These cadre of healthcare professionals handle about 70% of the health needs of rural and underserved populations.

    They consult, request for laboratory investigations, prescribe medication, and perform minor surgeries among other responsibilities.

    But the Ghana Physician Assistants Association expressed concern over what they claim to be proper recognition.

    “Although the Physician Assistant remains a key player and actor in the health care delivery machinery especially at the Sub-district level, not much has been done through policy formulation and implementation to capacitate and resource the Physician Assistant to function effectively and efficiently at the Sub-district level, the fulcrum and vehicle for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage for all.

    “it is unfortunate to note that despite the many years of existence of the PA Profession, there has not been any properly established career progression pathway in the
    profession. It is our hope that the current deliberations on-going amongst the officials of the
    Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Medical and Dental Council of Ghana, the Academia and Ghana Physician Assistant Association (GPAA) will bring about the establishment of clear career and academic pathways for the PA profession”

    The Association is also unhappy with what they described as unfavorable policies by their regulator, the Medical and Dental Council (MDC).

    “Most of our members are demanding that we exit the MDC and get a new regulatory body to that will supervise and manage the affairs of physician assistants. The MDC always formulate policies that serve the interest on medical officers at the expense of physician assistants. So there is huge pressure on leadership for a slip because of the kind of things the regulator has done”, Mr Appiah said.

    The 3-day conference which afforded members the opportunity to deliberate on their challenges and way forward into the future was themed “Strengthening and Maximizing the sub district level for effective, efficient and equitable healthcare service delivery: The role of the stakeholder”.

  • Buipewura Jinapor II to chair 2021 Northern GJA awards

    Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II has been chosen by the Northern Region executives of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) to chair the 2021 edition of the Association’s regional awards.

    According to the executives, the decision to settle on him was necessitated by his recognition of the media as a tool for development.

    “Jira, we have monitored your countless engagement with the media over the years and as a partner in development, we couldn’t have settled on a better person than you to chair our awards this year,” regional Chairman of the Association Yakubu Abdul Majeed told him.

    Mr Abdul Majeed eulogized the chief for his commitment to peace not only in the Savannah Region, where he is based, but throughout the three regions of the north.

    “Jira, your commitment to peace which is a panacea for development is overwhelming,” he added.

    For his part, Buipewura Jinapor II accepted to chair the occasion.

    He promised to secure funds for the awards and also made some personal pledge of a bull, rice and an undisclosed amount of money.

    “There are a lot of prominent people in the northern enclave and so settling on me is a privilege which I need to honor.

    “I love the media and what they do because without the media we can’t develop and so any development-oriented ruler will have to by all means work with the media.”

    He admonished the media in the north to use their work and space to project the regions.

    “We are lagging behind in everything and we can only catch up with the south if you concentrate on stories that will project the regions of the north in a positive light to attract investors.

    “We have the human and natural resources but we are unable to turn them around because of the perception people have about us. You can change that to positivity.”

    The 2021 Northern GJA awards is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 in Tamale.

     

  • Govt’s review of Planting for Food and Jobs programme imminent – Peasant Farmers

    The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana says a review of government’s flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) is long overdue.

    The Agric Minister recently revealed that government has so far spent GH¢2.6 billion on the program and touted the success of the program.

    But that claim has been challenged as food inflation continues to soar, while government figures indicate 6.4 million Ghanaians are food insecure.

    Speaking to Citi News, Head of Programmes and Advocacy for the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Charles Nyaba believes the Finance Ministry finds the Planting for Food and Jobs unsustainable hence the need for a review.

    “The intentions the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has for the Planting for Food and Jobs were not implemented by the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry did not release money for them.”

    “Per our conversations with the policymakers in the Ministries, it suggests that the Planting for Food and Jobs is not sustainable, the budget does not support that. So it has to be reviewed in a way that the Ministry of Finance does not pump more money into it. We do not think it is the way to go.”

    “We think there could have been a better way of going about it. We could have considered better ways of improving the implementation of the programme. This is the time we need to invest in the Agricultural sector.”

    Charles Nyaba has also been explaining to Citi News how the current economic situation is affecting farmers.

    “When you take 2021 for instance, we were getting to plough an acre for something between GH¢120 to GH¢150. This year it is going for GH¢250 to GH¢300. These increases have affected us badly.”

     

     

  • World Lottery Authority endorses Ghana’s good causes, war against illegal lottery

    The World Lottery Authority (WLA) has revealed that it will be focusing more on responsible gaming and good causes in the coming years and has asked member countries to promote these values.

    It has also tasked lottery bodies in the world to take a firm stance on illegal lottery activities which according to the Association caused a loss of revenue of a total of 1.8 trillion dollars in 2022 alone.

    At this year’s World Lottery Summit held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the association charged member countries to do more on responsible gaming and good causes.

    Ghana’s National Lottery Authority (NLA) itself has been battling illegal lottery activities for some time now and the Authority has been determined to increase its clamp down with new measures put in place by the current Director-General.

    The NLA has, a little over a year, launched its charity arm, the ‘Good Causes Foundation’, which has the objective to develop, implement and maintain an integrated action plan based on four main pillars – education, health, youth and sports development, and culture

    Ghana is being represented at WLA Summit by the NLA boss, Mr Sammi Awuku and Dr George Gyamfi-Osew the immediate past Director of Operations of the Authority.

    The World Lottery Authority (WLA) holds its meetings every two years but could not hold the 2020 event after the Buenos Aires, Argentina in November 2018 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meetings amongst other things take stock of the various member countries’ programs, Regional reports, suspensions and expulsions from the Association.

    Again, it is also to consider new members who meet the criteria and to promote Responsible Gaming and Good Causes within the various Lottery Bodies.

    This year’s summit was held in Vancouver, British Columbia was attended by over 1,000 delegates drawn from various continents.

    Suspension of Russia and Belarus

    This year, two lottery bodies from Russia and Belarus were suspended by the Organization for their government’s role in the ongoing Russian/Ukraine conflict which has left many dead.

  • Food and Beverage Association joins GUTA’s protest to close down shops

    The Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG) has served notice that its members within the retail sector will close down business effective Wednesday, October 19, 2022.

    The move, according to the association is in line with the Ghana Union of Traders Association’s (GUTA) planned protest to close down shops on Wednesday.

    A statement issued by FABAG’s General Secretary, Samuel Ato Aggrey reiterated that the action has become necessary due to government’s failure to address issues affecting their businesses.

    “From beginning of this year, businesses have accumulated losses through some of government’s unfriendly policies. All efforts to engage government to remedy the situation has proved futile,” the statement said.

    FABAG in its statement berated the economic management team for no meaningful efforts towards remedying the situation in the face of the current economic hardship.

  • GMA threatens to shut down all health facilities nationwide in protest of new tax system by GRA

    The Ghana Medical Association says it will force government to shut down health facilities nationwide in protest of a new tax system by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) that aims at shortchanging them.

    The president of GMA Dr. Frank Serebour disclosed that GRA is introducing a new tax system that will take taxes from the association’s generated funds.

    The Association believes GRA’s move to ask them to pay such taxes is unfair arguing that their members have already paid taxes on the salary they deduct their dues from.

    Dr. Frank Serebour has therefore threatened to lead the association to an unprecedented nationwide protest if GRA fails to rescind the decision to surcharge them.

    Speaking on Pure FM on Saturday, October 15, 2022, Dr. Serebour said this was the first time GRA is calling on the Association to pay such tax since its inception in over six decades.

    “We won’t sit down to allow anybody, whether it is a government agency or the government itself, to collapse the association. That will not happen under my watch.”

    He stressed that there should have been more dialogue on the taxes by the GRA.

    “If anything at all, the first point was engagement. If something like that is going to happen, somebody should be engaging and not write that kind of letter.”

    GMA threatens to shut down all health facilities nationwide protest of new tax system by GRA.

  • Put the interest of people you serve first at all times – CJ to new JUSAG Executives

    The Chief Justice, Kwesi Anin Yeboah has admonished the newly elected executives of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to put the interest of the people they are elected to serve first at all times.

    According to Justice Anin Yeboah, who was adjudged the best labour friendly CJ by the association earlier in August, his office will continue to accord the new leadership of JUSAG all the necessary support they need to ensure that their term in office is a success.

    The CJ made this call during the swearing-in of new JUSAG executives after the two terms of Mr Alex Nartey had come to an end.

    On August 4, this year, members of JUSAG elected their new leadership during the association’s 1st Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference held at the University of Health and Allied Sciences.

    The conference was on the theme: ‘Enhancing rule of law through e-Justice in the digitized economy: The role of the Judicial Service.’

    The six-member executive team led by Samuel Afotey Otu who took over from Alex Nartey were sworn-in by Her Ladyship, Justice Charity Irene Larbi, a Justice of the Court of Appeal.

    New JUSAG Executives

    The new executives of JUSAG for the next four years are Samuel Afotey Otu, president, Samuel Lartey, Vice president, Brother Abdulai Yakubu, General Secretary, Joyce Assan, Deputy General Secretary, Brother Owusu Kankam, Treasurer and sister Hannah Boachie, Women’s Commissioner.

    Legacy

    The outgoing president of JUSAG, Mr Alex Nartey, in his handing-over message, touted some of his administration’s achievement including staff having to pursue higher education without resigning from the service.

    He also indicated that, his two terms from (2014 to 2022) has seen several developments that has led to the improvement of the lot of judicial service workers.

    He said, during his time in office, they negotiated judicial service workers out of the single spin salary structure, got the policy of study leave which was abolished by the service re-instated, leading to about 50 staff of the judicial service going on to study law to become lawyers.

    Open door policy

    The new president of JUSAG, Samuel Afotey Otu, in his statement after the swearing-in ceremony, expressed that, his team are deeply grateful for the confidence reposed in them by the staff of the judicial service.

    He assured that, he will keep an open door policy throughout his period in office.

    “The good of JUSAG depends on every little contribution from each and every one of us. Yes, we are the leaders, but we need everyone’s cooperation to be able to lead well. Every thought, suggestion and experience are all welcome to make JUSAG more resilient and beneficial to all,” Afotey Otu, the JUSAG president said.

  • Judges call on Finance Ministry to fast-track payment of their outstanding allowances

    Judges and Magistrates have lamented the non-payment of their allowances on time, disclosing that their allowances are in arrears for several months.

    According to the President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges, Justice Henry Kwofie, these allowances form an important part of their conditions of services and called on the government to honour this obligation.

    Speaking at an annual conference of Judges and Magistrates, Justice Henry Kwofie explained that at the alarming rate of hike in food prices, it is necessary for their allowances to be paid on time so that it is not devalued.

    “As I speak I am told that the fuel allowances for the first quarter was released only last week to the judicial service…I think that this is very necessary and that the situation where we always have to fight. You will recall My Lords that even this year some previous allowances outstanding from last year were paid and that was because of the instrumentality of the Chief Justice.

    “I think that situation is not acceptable, allowances are part of our remuneration and we are entitled to it and we must be paid and paid promptly especially taking into consideration the recent increases in the price of fuel and petroleum products,” he lamented.

    Justice Henry Kwofie also raised concerns about some courts which are in a deplorable state across the country and called on government to fix them.

    Although he acknowledged government’s effort being made toward the accommodation of Judges, Justice Henry Kwofie said more needs to be done with respect to Judges’ accommodation.

    “We want to draw the attention of the authorities while carrying out this infrastructural development of the very deplorable situation of the Cape Coast court complex. The Association has decided that we will drum home this deplorable condition of the Cape Coast court complex.

    “The Cape Coast court is not fit for the purpose for which it was built and something urgently needs to be done about the Cape Coast court because it is not even safe for the Judges and the staff who work in that building and there is also the issue of an abandon High Court complex in Wa,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah has charged judges to play a role in safeguarding the cyber rights of citizens and treat all who come before them equally under the law.

    “Yours is to dispense justice and to uphold the rule of law irrespective of public clamour,” the Chief Justice urged.

  • CLOGSAG accuse politicians of being behind ghost names on payroll

    Civil and Local Government Staff Association Ghana (CLOGSAG) is accusing political actors of being behind the increasing number of ghost names on the public payroll.

    The Association explains that the interference from political cohorts within government in the running of the Civil Service is one of the major contributory factors to the worrying situation.

    Speaking at the 5th Nathan Annang Quao Lectures on the theme “Abuse of political power in the Ghanaian Civil Service: the bane of National Development,” the Executive Secretary of the Association, Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo called on the government to wean itself from the activities of the service.

    “Our evidence reveals that the so-called ghost names that cannot be identified in the civil service payroll have turned out to be personal assistants of politicians,” Dr. Bampoe said.

    He complained further that “permanent consultancies for key functions of the services have been outsourced to party apparatchiks and consultants.”

    “This has compromised the quality of services provided by most civil servant organisations,” Dr. Bampoe said.

    He also noted that capacity building opportunities have also been “hijacked by politicians”.

    “The ones they are not able to hijack are sabotaged to the disadvantage of the nation.”

     

  • Chamber of Commerce inaugurates Eastern Regional Council

    The Eastern Regional Council of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has been launched and sworn in to help the Association extend its services in the region.

    The Eastern Regional Council of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has been launched and sworn in to help the Association extend its services in the area.

    At a short ceremony held in the Eastern Regional Capital, Koforidua, last Wednesday, the President of GNCCI, Clement Osei-Amoako, swore in three persons as the Eastern Regional Executives and 13 others to form the 16-member GNCCI Eastern Regional Council.

    The Regional Executives sworn in were Stephen Oware, Albert Atuah Amponsah and William Atitso Amankwa as the Eastern Regional Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer, respectively.

    The other members who joined to form the council were Stephen Oware, Albert Atuah Amponsah, William Atitso Amankwa, Henry Okyere Boakye, Kwabena Boakye-Antwi, Kingsley Kyere, Patrick Mensah and Felix Berbiye.

    Others were Joyce Pechi-Anim, Dr Samuel Amoah, Samuel Freeman-Amoah, Kennedy Richard Oduro, Samuel Boateng, Bernice Kafui Akoto, Dr Mark Boadu, and Justice Kwabena Wilson, the Eastern Regional Director of the GNCCI.

    Expansion

    In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the President of GNCCI, Clement Osei-Amoako, indicated that as the Eastern Region contributed significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of the country, there was the need for the expansion of the Chamber of Commerce to the region to harness all private institutions and businesses from diverse sectors.

    He said that the expansion was necessary because the GNCCI was regarded as the leading private chamber and more businesses needed to fall under its umbrella to make their voices stronger on issues of concern to the business community.

    Mr Osei-Amoako said “some of the issues that we are confronted with between now and December have to do with the interest rate and inflation and these are the main macroeconomics we have to look at, but the difficulty is that they are supply driven and not under the mandate of the Central Bank apart from the interest rate”.

    The President of GNCCI urged businesses in the Eastern Region to join the GNCCI to also benefit from the support schemes and have business partners for the growth of their respective businesses.

    In an address read by the Deputy Director Administration at the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, Stella Panwum, on behalf of the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, he charged the Eastern Regional Council of GNCCI to lead the way in identifying the economic potentials across the 33 municipalities and districts in the region and bring them into the mainstream economic and industrial value chain.

    He urged the council to, in its quest to develop businesses in the region, improve on the quality of their products, packaging and other features in the wake of the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Agreement.

    He added that the agreement had enormous opportunities for businesses in Ghana but they should not lose sight of the fact that it was also going to increase competition in goods and services within the continent; hence the need for businesses to prepare adequately.

    Appreciation

    The Eastern Regional Chairman of GNCCI, Mr Oware, thanked the association heads for the trust reposed in him to lead the first council inaugurated in the region.

    He pledged to work hard with his team to achieve the target ahead by selling the association to all businesses in the region to expand their frontiers and help businesses grow in the region and the country at large.

    Source: Graphiconline