Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi and former Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticized the Mahama government for not reducing its spending, despite saying it would.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, he argued that instead of cutting costs, the NDC government actually increased its expenditure from GHC 250 billion to GHC 291 billion.
“There has been no cut in the budget. When you look at the numbers, you’ll see that the government is spending more, not less.” he said.
He went on to explain that under the NPP, the government spent GHC 327 million for 8 agencies, but now, the NDC is allocating GHC 2.7 billion to compensation in its budget.
“This money can even be used to build Agenda 111 hospitals and banks. But instead, it’s being used for something else,” he said.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah further criticized the allocation of GHC 50 million just for research under the Office of Government Machinery.
“They claim they have cut costs, but they need to show us where the cuts are. Just saying it won’t work. They need to be transparent,” he added.
The MP also raised concerns about the reduction in the number of agencies under the government machinery.
“When they were in power, we had 8 agencies. Now, they are left with only 4, and they want to explain this as a cut?” he questioned.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah also responded to claims that NDC members were still seeking government jobs. He stated that the government had no intention of rehiring them but had significantly increased compensation at the Jubilee House from GHC 300 million to GHC 2.7 billion.
Meanwhile, the government has set a target of 4.4% GDP growth for 2025, adjusted for inflation.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced this while presenting the 2025 Budget. He highlighted the government’s renewed commitment to controlling spending and implementing structural reforms.
Ghana’s Minister for Works and Housing and Vice Chairman of the NPP Manifesto Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah,has responded to questions about the timing of various infrastructure projects being inaugurated close to the 2024 elections.
In an interview on The Citiuation Room on Channel One TV, Nkrumah defended the government’s infrastructure initiatives, emphasising that they are part of the administration’s ongoing commitment to national development, not a political strategy to sway voters.
He reassured the public that these projects are key elements of the government’s long-term vision for the country’s growth and dismissed accusations that they were rushed for electoral purposes.
“The commissions are part of a bigger track record. If your track record on infrastructure speaks well for you, then the commissioning will just help with the icing on the cake. If your track record on infrastructure does not speak well for you, then it will be an exercise in futility. So for us, we believe that, for example, today about 80 new schools were commissioned.
“It is not the case that these are the only schools we have built since 2017. In my constituency, you will see school blocks, dormitories, etc. So the people have seen what has been done over the years, and now they are seeing what is going on in the final stretch.
“So, it is not about what you do in the last two or three weeks; it is about what you have done over the period for the public to access and make a determination,” he stated.
Since November 19, 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been at the forefront of launching several significant infrastructure initiatives, highlighting Ghana’s ongoing progress.
On November 19, the president inaugurated the Bridge Power Project, aimed at enhancing the country’s energy production capabilities. In addition, the Flower Pot Interchange, a new development designed to ease traffic congestion in urban areas, was also opened.
The following day, on November 20,the Bank of Ghana’s new headquarters,Bank Square, was officially unveiled. This modern facility will now serve as the central hub for the bank’s operations.
In the coming days, the president is scheduled to launch the Tema-Mpakadan railway project, a major transportation network that will connect Tema to the Volta Region, significantly improving regional mobility and contributing to the nation’s economic development.
Originally launched by the previous NDC government, the $200 million project was halted after a value-for-money audit disclosed that only 1,506 housing units had been completed out of the planned 5,000.
However, after receiving new directives from the cabinet, Minister Oppong Nkrumah stated that discussions are currently taking place with two shortlisted companies to facilitate the government’s public-private partnership, enabling work to resume next month.
“Negotiations are currently ongoing, and we expect that in early November, work will resume after the new developer is signed up to go the site,” he said.
He made these comments at a ministerial press briefing on September 30.
The Minister stressed that the new arrangements do not mean the housing project is being sold. “We reiterate that we are not selling these projects. We are working in the PPP [Public Private Partnership] framework to complete these projects.
The fact that the government of Ghana does not have money in the Treasury to advance for us to finish does not mean these projects should remain stalled,” he said.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah emphasised the urgency of completing the projects, noting that without action, the state’s significant investments would deteriorate.
To address this issue, he mentioned that the ministry has turned to a public-private Partnership, which is expected to facilitate the continuation of the projects.
“We can’t afford to wait for the government to allocate funds, and we certainly don’t want to see these projects fall into further disrepair. Collaborating with the private sector to secure funding is the most effective approach,” he explained.
He further added that the financing provided by private companies would be reimbursed once the projects are completed and operational.
Ten international and local companies have shown interest in completing the Saglemi Housing Project, the Minister of Works and Housing according to Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah.
He mentioned that these companies had visited the project site to inspect the existing work and they are currently preparing their proposals, which are expected to be submitted by July 8, based on the Ministry’s work plans.
The Minister made the disclosure during a press conference at the Parliament House in Accra, on June June 20, 2024 .
Once the proposals are received by the Ministry an independent evaluation entity would be put in charge to scrutinise and present reports based on which the government would award the mandate to a befitting bidder to complete and operationalise the project;
He explained that the government initially borrowed around $200 million to construct 5,000 housing units, of which only 1,506 are partially finished and can be seen at the Saglemi site.
He pointed out that the project is missing three essential components: water supply, electrical infrastructure, and sewage systems.
An evaluation by the Ghana Institute of Surveyors estimates that an additional $100 million is needed to complete these 1,506 units.
Due to financial limitations, Mr. Oppong-Nkrumah emphasised that it is difficult for the government to secure an extra $100 million after having already invested $200 million in the project.
The Minister went on to explain that given the current financial challenges, it became necessary that “Cabinet took a decision that we should select a private developer or a consortium of private developers and let them invest in it so that we can operationalise it”.
However, the evaluation reports that will be presented by the independent entity that would scrutinse the bids would be published for transparency, the Minister said .
“We are committed to every single bid that we are receiving, eventually we will publish every single bid, we will also publish the evaluation report so that you see for yourselves how the various bids were evaluated.”
“So, everything is being done above board, so everybody can have confidence that it will stand the test of time,” he noted.
The leadership of the Public Services Workers Union of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)has announced an indefinite strike starting Friday, May 3, 2024.
This action comes as a protest against what they perceive as an attempt to evict the executive director of the EPA, Dr. Kingsly Krugu, from his official residence by the new Interior Minister, Henry Quartey.
Chairman of the union, Godsway Daniels, addressed union members and directed all staff to cease work on Friday.
Daniels stated that the workers will march to the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Innovation to deliver a petition. They plan to subsequently occupy the disputed bungalow to prevent the interior ministry from ejecting their boss.
He cautioned the Minister of Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah,to refrain from involvement with the bungalow, as the EPA lacks the financial means to renovate a new residence for their director.
Daniels also raised questions about the status of the bungalow traditionally occupied by interior ministers, querying whether it has been sold and to whom.
He aims to prioritise rural housing, drainage systems, and the Saglemi project, in line with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s objectives.
In a significant ministerial reshuffle on Wednesday, February 14, President Akufo-Addo relieved Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta of his duties.
The reshuffle affected a total of 13 ministers of state, including 10 cabinet ministers and two regional ministers.
Speaking on expectations when he assumes office, the outgoing Information Minister told Umaru Sanda Amadu in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Wednesday that “the president’s priorities for this new era include, in particular, giving more attention to rural housing associated with the Agenda 111 project.”
“He also wants some attention on the drainage system that has the potential to occasion flooding in some of the major parts of the country.
The Minister of Information, Oppong-Nkrumah, has emphasized the importance of technology adoption for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to ensure resilience and global competitiveness.
He highlighted the necessity of innovation and adaptability in the current competitive and technologically evolving business landscape.
The Minister shared these insights during the closing ceremony of the “ACP Digi project in Ghana,” themed “Our Journey to Building the Digital Capacity of MSMEs In Ghana Post COVID.”
Nkrumah stressed that MSMEs are integral to Ghana’s business landscape and must be a priority for efficiency and sustainable development.
“It is gladdening to note that MSMEs have embraced the idea and are now using technology in their businesses and are beginning to adopt measures and strategies to cope with the new normal,” he added.
He commended the increasing adoption of technology by MSMEs, urging them to utilize digital platforms for creating market avenues, enhancing sales, and improving productivity.
During the event, CEO of Suku Technologies Limited, Mr. Tsonam Akpeloo, emphasized the potential of digital innovation to fortify MSMEs by introducing efficiencies.
He highlighted the pivotal role SMEs play in economic growth and job creation, especially amid challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Akpeloo encouraged businesses to embrace digital transformation, utilizing virtual solutions, e-commerce, electronic transactions, and security systems to scale up their operations.
The training conducted as part of the project equipped over 1,071 business owners with tools to sell products through online portals, payment applications, and social media.
He also urged MSMEs to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement for expanded trade across African countries.
Additionally, he called on stakeholders to invest in digital media technology training for youth to foster job creation and contribute to local economic improvement.
He underscored the significance of steering clear of excessive partisanship and encouraged all stakeholders to fulfil their responsibilities in order to attain the outlined objectives.
“…this economic policy is sensible and pragmatic; the budget is healthy and sensible. We all have a responsibility and we must live up to it so that we to achieve objectives. Let us avoid excessive partisanship,” he said.
On Tuesday, November 21, 2023, Parliament initiated discussions on the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. To foster broad participation in the debate, specific time allocations have been proposed: 20 minutes for the seconder and Ranking Members of the Finance Committee, 15 minutes for other committee members, and 10 minutes for all other Members of Parliament (MPs).
The debate is structured around various sectors, including governance, security, public safety, finance, economy, energy, infrastructure, social sectors, local governance, youth, sports, tourism, and culture.
According to the proposed timetable, discussions on finance, agriculture, trade, and industry are slated for Tuesday.
Thursday’s agenda includes education, health, employment, youth and sports, tourism, culture, and chieftaincy.
On Friday, the debate will pivot to governance, covering local government, the judiciary, defence, the interior, the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civil Education, and the Commission on Human Rights and Administration of Justice.
Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has called upon the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to ensure alignment between the party’s stance and the positions held by its officials regarding the recent assault on UTV by certain party members.
During an interview on Peace FM, the minister emphasised the need for the party’s leadership to take corrective measures against officials who have expressed support for the attack, despite the party’s official condemnation of it.
“If the party is punishing people for behaviour inconsistent with the laws of the party or the nation and a member of the party expresses support for such behaviour, I believe it is something that the leadership should also look at.
“Because there must be consistency in the party’s approach. Just as there is consistency in the approach of the party and government in condemning the incident, it is the same way I believe the party leadership should also make sure that there is consistency between those positions and the views expressed by the members of the party,” he stated.
The minister underscored that although party members are entitled to hold varying perspectives on the issue, it is the responsibility of party officials to uphold the party’s official stance on matters. Those who fail to do so should face appropriate consequences.
Background
A group of NPP members stormed the studios of UTV during the broadcast of United Showbiz on Saturday, October 7, 2023, demanding the regular pundit of the show, Kwame Asare Obeng alias A Plus.
The group, said to be unhappy with A Plus shredding a letter by the leadership of the NPP to the management of UTV calling for a reform of United Showbiz, is said to have assaulted some staff of the media company before making their way into the studios.
Subsequently, the police disclosed the apprehension of 16 individuals linked to the assault. This event has garnered broad condemnation from political activists and diverse critics who have characterised it as a direct assault on both media freedom and freedom of speech.
In a statement by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as issued by its Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, the party has unequivocally denounced the incident. It emphatically stressed that the party neither authorised nor supported the attack on UTV.
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, expressed worry over the steep expenses faced by renal patients in Ghana. He proposed that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) should alleviate some of the financial burden on kidney patients undergoing dialysis.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Nkrumah emphasized the necessity for the government to support certain facets of this costly treatment, which is straining the finances of individuals with kidney ailments. Consequently, he highlighted the significance of adequately funding the NHIS Fund.
“The government is waiting on the management of Korle Bu to complete its internal work and come forward with what its position is. The conversation has been going on, and I personally suggested that whatever the amount comes to, it is a matter that the NHIS Fund should be able to pick up. To achieve that, we need to take a lot more seriously the financing of the NHIS Fund to take up incidents like this. The amount is not something an individual will be able to cater for considering the number of dialyses one has to go through in a month, without draining their finances extensively.”
The MP representing Ofoase-Ayiribi expressed concern over the absence of contributions to the NHIS Fund since its inception during the tenure of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Additionally, he recommended automating the collection of funds on behalf of the NHIS Fund to prevent potential loopholes and enhance its efficiency.
“Today, the non-Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributor is paying GHC28 as an annual premium, and the SSNIT contributor is paying GHC8, as an annual premium, this is woefully inadequate. The NHIS levy that is collected on behalf of the NHIS Fund is not automatically remitted to the NHIS Fund. I believe that is something we also have a look at. We have never remitted 100% to the Fund since its introduction by former President Kufuor. I don’t think it’s honestly proper for us to collect monies in the name of the Fund and not remit those monies to the Fund. And it’s something both the National Democratic Congress and New Patriotic Party have been doing since the days of former President Kufuor. We need to bring some automaticity to the amount of monies we collect on behalf of the Fund. If you do it this way, we can have money from the Fund that can take care of these costs,” he opined.
The Renal Patients Association has reported that 14 outpatients of the renal unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital passed away after the unit was closed to them in May 2023.
According to the Association’s spokesperson, Michael Asante, these deaths resulted from the patients’ inability to access dialysis treatment at private dialysis centers, which are more expensive than the hospital’s services.
Patients suffering from kidney failure, who regularly visited the Renal Unit at the hospital for dialysis sessions, were faced with a new fee of GH¢765, a significant increase from the initial fee of GH¢385.
In response to public outcry, the Ministry of Health summoned the management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to explain the introduction of the new fee without following the due process.
The hospital has faced strong criticism following reports of the revision of its dialysis charges, raising concerns about the accessibility of essential healthcare services for kidney patients.
Ghana’s Minister of Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, stressed the urgent need for a strategic transformation of Ghana’s structures during a speech at the International Advertising Association’s (IAA) 6th Africa Rising Conference. This was done to guarantee that the country was prepared for a promising future.
The Information Minister emphasized the critical need for Ghana to adopt creative and adaptive structures in his speech on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
He drew comparisons between the development of the country and the tactics used by business brands to survive a continually shifting environment.
Under the theme “Building Future-Ready Brands,” the Minister stressed that just as corporate brands must define their purpose, Ghana as a nation must articulate its overarching purpose. This process, he explained, requires the courage to confront challenging questions and make bold decisions, all for the greater benefit of the country.
“Just as we are asking corporate brands to introspect and answer these critical questions to shape their purpose and be future-ready, we as a nation must do the same,” the Information Minister stated. He emphasised that, whether corporate or national brands, both must face difficult considerations.
In order to prepare Ghana for the future, he advised the people to be unafraid of letting go of outdated customs.
“We must take the tough decisions to take new paths without regard to whose ox is gored so that we stand a better chance of being ready for the future rather than champions of the past,” he asserted.
In order to become a “Brand Ghana” prepared for the future, Mr. Oppong-Nkrumah emphasized the significance of prioritizing forward-thinking above clinging to the past. He emphasized that this required guts and a willingness to confront the current quo, regardless of who may be harmed.
“We work for Brand Ghana, not political parties, religious groups, or ethnic divisions,” the Minister noted. He further emphasised the necessity of defining a unified purpose for Brand Ghana that resonates with all citizens, not just a select few.
“We must do better at setting out and upholding a set of norms that all of us, not some, will live by,” the Information Minister urged. He stressed values such as community, integrity, responsibility, and entrepreneurship, calling for a collective commitment to these principles.
Sasan Saeidi, Chairman and World President of the IAA, Andrew Ackah, President of the Advertising Association of Ghana, Steve Babaeko, CEO of X3M IDEAS, Andrew Takyi-Appiah, Co-founder and MD of Zeepay, were among the speakers at the conference.
The Africa Rising conference has been a key event on the MarCom calendar on the continent ever since it started in 2015. With more than 400 attendees each year, it has continuously drawn powerful marketing communications professionals from Africa and other parts of the world. Africa Rising has been crucial in fostering a vibrant MarCom sector throughout the continent while furthering the IAA’s mission there.
As of now, 88 hospitals are being built as part of the government’s “Agenda 111,” according to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the information minister.
On August 17, 2021, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo initiated the construction of the facilities by breaking ground, pledging to accomplish the project within a span of 18 months.
The plan to construct the hospitals was first announced in the 8th COVID-19 national address, on April 26, 2020, by the President months after the Coronavirus pandemic hit Ghana.
It was initially “Agenda 88” but government later revised it to “Agenda 111.” The 23 additional facilities included, 13 more district hospitals bringing the total figure to 111.
The standard 100-bed facilities which will be in districts without hospitals will also have accommodation for staff.
Beneficiary regions and respective breakdown are Ashanti, 10, Volta, nine, Eastern, eight, Greater Accra, seven, Upper East, seven, Oti, five, Upper West, five, Bono, five, Western North, five, Savanna, three, Bono East, two, North East, two.
The remaining are six regional hospitals in the newly created regions, two specialised hospitals in the middle and northern belts, as well as a regional hospital in the Western Region and renovation of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
Each unit is supposed to have facilities such as outpatient services, including consultation for medical and surgical cases, ophthalmology, dental and physiotherapy and imaging services.
At a press briefing yesterday at Trede, where the sod-cutting ceremony was held, the Information Minister said “the brief I have is that 88 are currently under construction and it is grouped into eight zones and in those eight zones, you will find 54 projects. We have visited 33 sites so far and we thought that coming to Trede, where it all began, it is important to showcase from Trede all that has gone on so far.”
He noted that some districts had faced challenges in acquiring land for construction, leading to doubts about the government’s commitment to the projects.
“However, the government remains confident that all the hospitals will be completed before the end of President Akufo-Addo’s second term,” he assured.
Mr Nkrumah stated that some of the hospitals which were behind schedule had been terminated.
“We have provided you with the reports of the sites that we have visited so far, the majority of them that are doing well, the few of them that are behind schedule. We have also updated you on the ones that we have had to terminate because they are behind schedule,” he indicated.
Contributing, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, the Presidential advisor on Health, assured that there was sufficient funding available for the completion of the projects.
Additionally, he said upon completion, the hospitals would create employment opportunities for nurses and contribute to the overall economic growth of the country.
The government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s minister for information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has indicated that he does not receive any additional compensation for his position.
According to him, ministers who are also Members of Parliament do not receive a separate salary or allowance from the government.
Addressing concerns regarding the size of the government, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah clarified that the public’s focus should not be solely on the compensation budget but should also consider the division of funds between political appointees and non-political government workers.
He highlighted that the compensation budget encompasses both categories, with a significant portion allocated to non-political appointees such as rotational nurses and police personnel.
“If you talk about the size of the government…I believe you are talking about the size of the compensation budget, more especially the money which is used to pay government workers. That is divided into two parts, one part has to do with those who are not political appointees, like those I have been mentioning this morning, the rotational nurses, police, and others, when you talk about the compensation budget, there is part of it…but I believe that the one people are talking about has to do with political appointees.
“It is true that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo explained why he choose a certain number of ministers but there was a clause he added in which he explained that the majority of ministers he has appointed are Members of Parliament, and because they are members of parliament, they don’t take anything extra, it doesn’t cost the taxpayer anything extra on the compensation side.
“For me, that I am talking to you… they don’t pay me one cedi as Minister of State, because Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s policy is that, if you are a Member of Parliament and he gives you a minister or deputy minister, it is not even up to you to make a choice that you want this or not, you get paid on your MP salary. So, when people make this argument about the size of the government, the reality is that the majority of ministers who are Members of Parliament, don’t get paid extra,” he said.
Speaking in an interview with Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on May 19, 2023, he further emphasized that President Akufo-Addo’s policy stipulates that if an MP is chosen to serve as a minister or deputy minister, they continue to be paid based on their existing MP salary and as a result, no extra burden is placed on taxpayers.
Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a former Minister of Science, Environment, Technology and Innovation (IMCIM), has defended himself against allegations made by Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
Frimpong-Boateng stated that he did not do anything wrong regarding the accusations leveled against him.
In March 2021, Frimpong-Boateng submitted a report to the Chief of Staff, claiming that Oppong Nkrumah had gathered a group of journalists to plot against him during his tenure as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), which has since been dissolved.
“On Saturday the 8th of February 2020, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister for information assembled a group of journalists from both NDC and NPP affiliated media houses at the Forest Hotel in Dodowa to discuss a strategy to bring me Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng down,” Prof. Frimpong-Boateng alleged in his report.
This was however debunked by the Information Minister, insisting that the claims were false.
But in response, Prof Frimpong Boateng said: “I have good advice for you, though. When I was part of the government, we were colleagues and I related to you as such. Now I will advise you as my son, just as I do my children.
After all you are the same age as my 4th-born son. When I returned to Ghana from Germany to start the cardiothoracic project you were just 6 years old as my 4th child. I will not lie to you or insult you or be harsh on you.”
“My advice is, always remember that political power is both short-lived and effervescent. In about 2 years’ time you may no longer be in government, and you may experience the real world as former high-profile political power holders do.
I will urge you to do your work diligently and avoid the coded and evil tactics Mr. Paul Adom-Otchere boastfully and unashamedly told the world on ‘Good Evening Ghana’ that you employ to deal with your real and perceived enemies,” he added.
Speaking further on the issue on UTV, Friday, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said, “I know exactly why I did that”.
According to him, “I did no wrong. I know exactly why I did that. Someone else could’ve done worst but I did the minimum so let’s take it like that”.
Meanwhile, Prof Frimpong Boateng has denied slandering persons in his report.
“The report was more than 100 pages but I considered a lot of things so I had to summarize it into 36 pages.
I’m not maligning anyone; I’m just speaking the truth. those I spoke about are my friends but I had to be brutally honest with the President. if he has put his presidency on the line, you have to be honest with him” he added.
Minister of information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has denied claims made in a 37-page report on illicit mining that he engineered a plot to assassinate Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former minister for science, environment, technology, and innovation.
According to the report written by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah organised a meeting of NPP and NDC journalists in Dodowa on February 8, 2020, to discuss a plan to assassinate Prof. Boateng.
According to Frimpong-Boateng, the outcome of the meeting led to subsequent negative media reports about him.
But in a response, Mr Oppong Nkrumah described the claims as completely false.
According to him, he only attended a PRINPAG (Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana) event, jointly organised with the Bank of Ghana on financial reporting and never held any meeting to oust anybody from the government.
“Indeed, the facts are that it was Prof Frimpong-Boateng himself who wrote to the Ghana Police Service in January 2020 reporting the loss of some excavators and calling for an investigation.
It was Prof. Frimpong-Boateng himself who in subsequent media interviews mentioned that the number of excavators missing was about 500.
Again on or around February 20, 2020, it was Prof Frimpong-Boateng himself who at Parliament House (During interviews on the SONA) engaged in exchanges with the media about the said excavators and promised that they will be recovered”.
“For the record, these are the matters that occasioned the media reports about Prof Frimpong-Boateng and the said excavators. Further, it was Prof. Frimpong-Boateng himself who was later to be seen in a video making comments about the anti-galamsey fight and the release of excavators.
“I Kojo Oppong Nkrumah was not responsible for his initial police report, his subsequent interviews, or any of the claims he made.
To be clear, it was Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s own reports, interviews and videos that generated his media challenges around the time. I am thus disappointed that he would, in this document, seek to blame me for the media reports.”
“Over the years, I had nothing but great admiration for Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s public-spirited works and as an inspirational citizen.
I feel gravely offended over the false claims he has made and the hurtful conclusions he has sought to exact about me precisely because of the great esteem in which I have held him.
“I trust that in the coming months and years, he will reflect deeply upon his own actions and comments which have led to his challenges. He should kindly leave me out of his personal fights. I am utterly disappointed but I forgive him.”
Former Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has claimed that Ghana’s efforts to address illegal mining activities popularly known as “galamsey” came to naught due to actions of some personalities.
According to him, individuals and institutions mandated by the law to protect the environment failed to do so and rather worsened the situation when he was minister.
From 2017 to 2020, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng said institutions such as the Lands Ministry, Minerals Commission and Forestry Commission neglected their responsibilities.
In his report, he revealed some individuals who allegedly caused mayhem to the environment through direct or indirect means.
Below is the list of personalities who are allegedly behind the current state of the country’s environment:
Gabby Otchere-Darko
Mr Otchere-Darko who is a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is alleged to have phoned Professor Frimpong-Boateng to defend a company that was actively destroying the environment, especially the forests and River Offin in the Apaprama and Kobro Forests.
This claim has been rejected by Mr Otchere-Darko, who says he engaged the professor to seek information on his client (Heritage) – a company that had permits to mine.
The late Sir John (Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie)
Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said, was actively giving out timber concessions, even in forests reserves for logging.
He also “gave forestry entry permits to mining companies, both large and small scale, including those of foreign nationals for prospecting activities at a time when the President had put a ban on that activity.”
According to him, he referred to Sir John as the greatest danger to the forests in Ghana in the presence of the president.
Charles Owusu
Mr Charles Owusu, referred to as the Director of Operations at the Forestry Commission in the report allegedly helped Sir John acquire Chinese gangs to mine. He was also mining a forest reserve without any permit and destroying forests, farm lands, water bodies and the entire biodiversity.
All members of the IMCIM (except Joseph Kofi Adda and Akwasi Oppong Fosu)
The Inter Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) which was rolled out by President Akufo-Addo in 2017 to fight illegal mining was allegedly abandoned by a number of its members.
According to Prof Frimpong Boateng, the following names contributed to its collapse: Peter Amewu, then Lands and Natural Resources Minister (MLNR); Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, former Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs Minister; Dan Botwe, who was the then Regional Re-Organisation and Development Minister; Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, the previous Monitoring and Evaluation Minister; former Lands Minister, John Peter Amewu; Ambrose Dery, the Interior Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, the Defense Minister and Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah.
Joseph Albert Quarm
Joseph Albert Quarm, the former MP for Manso Nkwanta, allegedly used his position as a member of the Minerals Commission to acquire several dozens of large scale concessions in his district, ostensibly for community mining purposes.
“He ended up selling these concessions to private individuals, including party member for two hundred thousand Cedis per concession,” the report added.
Laud Commey, Charles Nii Teiko and Frank Asiedu Bekoe
The trio, said to be appointees at the Jubilee House, are accused of supporting illegal mining activities by interfering with investigations.
Isaac Adjei Mensah
According to Professor Frimpong Boateng, the former Wassa East MP, has been actively mining in the Subri forest for years.
Mr S.K. Boafo
The former Chairman of the Minerals Commission Board is said to have helped sabotage community mining which was conceptualized by the Inter Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). He reportedly called the MCE of Asante Akim Central to block the commissioning of a community mining site.
Donald Entsuah
Donald Entsuah co-owned the mining company C&J Alyeska, with a Canadian national, Simon Ayman. It is said that his company prevented communities from getting access to forest reserves to proceed to their farms.
Kweku Baako
The journalist is said to have sided with C&J and published unsavory things about Prof Frimpong-Boateng with regards to his work meant to end illegal mining.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Mr. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has been accused of assembling a group of journalists from both NDC and NPP-affiliated media houses at the Forest Hotel in Dodowa to discuss a strategy to bring down Professor Frimpong-Boateng.
The Information Minister has however denied the claims.
“Over the years, I had nothing but great admiration for Prof Boateng’s public spirited works and as an inspirational citizen. I feel gravely offended over the false claims he has made and the hurtful conclusions he has sought to exact about me precisely because of the great esteem in which I have held him,” he is quoted to have said by Ghanaweb.
Yaw Osafo Marfo
The then Senior Minister is accused of shielding one Seth Mantey who was apprehended for unlawful excavator sale.
John Ofori-Atta and Ekow Ewusi
Mr John Ofori-Atta, a former Nation Al Security Coordinator for the Central Region and Mr Ewusi are said to have contracted Seth Mantey, to use his Bank account at the National Investment Bank for what was alleged used for money laundering.
The development of consensus between the government and stakeholders is essential for the economic development of the nation, according to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the minister of information.
According to him, such regular engagements are necessary for finding common grounds on issues of concern to citizens.
He made the comments when the Pentecostal and Charismatic Council presented a communiqué to the government in Accra on Monday 6th February 2023 following its recent National Conference.
Mr Nkrumah commended the group for not only concentrating on the church and spiritual matters but also paying attention to contemporary social and economic issues which impact livelihoods.
“The need for constant engagement and consensus building between Government and stakeholders within the economy cannot be over-emphasized. Among other things, we need Consensus for economic progress. Different stakeholders have different interests and objectives. And if each stakeholder sticks to an unyielding position we can hardly make progress.
“It is important that we engage regularly to find common ground on these things that matter most to us collectively,” he said.
He assured the council that matters raised in the communiqué are of keen interest to any administration and his Ministry will do well to ensure that the attention of central government is brought to these matters, some keener attention is paid to them and middle ground found on as many of them as possible
The President of the Council Apostle Eric Nyamekye who led the delegation to present the document to the Minister for Information said the church was always ready to play its role in nation-building by sharing feedback and using its platforms to educate and create awareness on national issues.
He appealed to the government to critically look at issues raised in the communique and addressed them in these crucial times, especially in the economy.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, has said that the president Akufo-Addo cannot single-handedly solve the challenges facing the country.
It is for this reason he believes all Ghanaians must get on board, performing their individual respective roles to ensure that together, the nation’s problems are resolved.
Speaking on Peace FM in an interview, the information minister sought to put the speech of the President to the nation on Sunday, October 30 in perspective.
Although he assured that pragmatic measures including the 12 major ones outlined by the President in his speech are being taken to ensure a turnaround in the economy, he noted that it’ll take a joint effort on the part of the President, government, stakeholders and the entire Ghanaian populace to achieve this.
“The problems we have, not only one person can solve them. If everybody leaves everything to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to handle, it will not work.
‘If everybody leaves things to government alone to handle, we all need to come on board.
… Whatever we do, if people sell and add a 100% profit to it, it won’t change much. We can’t use police to chase these traders. So we have to find a way to work together to bring some of these things under control,” he said.
According to Oppong-Nkrumah, there are arrangements for meetings between the president and some local producers, to ensure that local production is boosted and exports are reduced.
“The president will engage with local producers within the next week or two to bridge the bottlenecks that exist that are their products from getting on to the market,” he added.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has warned Ghanaians of a possible war between China and Taiwan which he said has the possibility of having disastrous consequences on Ghana’s economy.
According to him, Ghanaians are not talking about the implication of this ensuing conflict but will say it is not affecting Ghana’s economy once it happens like some are doing for the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
“There is a 3rd problem coming, and if we fail to pay attention to it, it hits us, and people will deny it is one of the reasons for the challenges in the country.
“Do you know that China has extended the tenure of office for Xi Jinping by an extra five years? Read Xi Jipin’s inaugural speech. Somethings we fail to pay attention to these things. Xi Jinping said that he would not rule out taking over Taiwan.
“The issues between China and Taiwan are no different from the issues of Russia and Ukraine – where one country thinks the other country is part of his territory and attempt to use false to annex it. If China attacks Taiwan can you imagine the consequences, especially at this time that crude oil costs $94 per barrel and is set to rise again due to OPEC cutting supply,” he said in Twi.
Oppong Nkrumah, who made these remarks in an Asempa interview monitored by GhanaWeb, said that the media in other countries are seriously discussing the implication of the potential war, but the media in Ghana are silent about it.
“If indeed China attacks Taiwan, what will be the implications? So, if we are not seeing the implication of the Russia-Ukraine war on our economy, what are we saying about the implication of a potential war between China and Ukraine?
“If you turn in to other (foreign) media houses, they are discussing the implications of this issue, but we are not, and if it hits us, we will be saying it is not affecting our economy,” he reiterated.
The information minister made these remarks while answering a question on calls by some Ghanaians for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to apologise to Ghanaians about the current hardships in the country.
He indicated that the president admitted that the country is facing an economic crisis, and calls for him to apologise for it are immaterial.
The Founder and the General Overseer of Triumphant Revival Ministries International, Prophet Kofi Anim has made it clear when he was interviewed on Sharp FM in Takoradi that the Member of Parliament for Ofoase/Ayirebi constituency who’s also the Minister of Information, Honorable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and the controversial Member of Parliament for Assin Central constituency Honorable Kennedy Agyapong will lose their seats in the upcoming election.
According to the man of God, the two MP’s results will shock everyone in the country before most Ghanaians feels the two are untouchable. He spoke to Kwamena Amponsah Amponsah on Sharp FM during their drive time yesterday.
“God has revealed to me that Honorable Kennedy Agyapong and Honorable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah will lose their seats in the 2020 election. Yes, I had a dream and I saw it clear boldly written that they will lose. Their various opponents will shock them because Ghanaians don’t expect him to lose. – Prophet Kofi Anim mentioned.
The presenter asked the man of God what the two New Patriotic Party’s members of Parliament should do overturned this prophecy he said, ” It God’s statement and they have nothing to do with this prophecy. God has spoken. – The Founder and General Overseer Prophet Kofi Anim added.
The Circuit Court in Accra presided over by His Honour Emmanuel Essandoh has granted bail in the sum of GHC12,000 to a Nigerian woman who impersonated some ministers of state to defraud victims of over GHC10,000.
The accused person Vivian Sajida Imran, a trader who pleaded not guilty to all the charges in addition to her bail sum is to produce two sureties, one of whom must be a public servant earning not less than GHC1,200.
The 31-year-old trader was granted bail after his lawyer had prayed the court for her to be admitted to bail.
The case has been adjourned to June 3, 2020.
Sajida, 31, together with her husband Prince Joel, currently at large have been charged with eight counts of falsely pretending to be a public officer and defrauding by false pretence.
Brief facts
The brief facts of the case as presented to the court by Detective Frederick Sarpong were that complainant is an operative of the National Security.
The First Accused person (A1) is a trader while A2 currently at large is the husband of A1.
According to the prosecutor, the victims in the case live across the country.
He said during the month of April A1 and A2 used the names of Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Foreign Affairs Minister and Henry Quartey, the deputy national security minister to create multiple Facebook accounts and pretend to be ministers.
According to him, A1 and A2 in their online chats and phone calls with the victims informed them that they could secure them each with employment at the Tema Oil refinery, Ghana Gas or Cocobod.
Detective Sarpong said, A1 and 2 further requested the victims to pay various amounts to MTN mobile money accounts for the application forms and interviews.
“The monies amounting to GHc10, 277.00 were paid to MTN mobile 0242774965 and 0551047196 and later transferred into A1s mobile money number 0248024471.
“The honourable minister who later had a wind informed the National security and A1 and A2 were tracked to their house at Ashaiman Jericho where A1 was arrested but A2 managed to escape.
The prosecutor told the court that, a search conducted in the room of A1 and A2 revealed six mobile phones including the three mobile money numbers used to receive the monies from their victims.
He explained that “an order of the court was sought and a forensic examination was carried out on the retained mobile phones. One of the retained mobile phones was found to contain MTN SIM number 0248024471 registered in the name of A1.
The same number was found to be the final destination where the booty obtained from the victims were transferred to and later withdrawn.
According to him, “in the investigation caution statement of A1, she admitted being the owner of number 0248024471. The victims were later contacted and they narrated their ordeal.”
“Intensive efforts are being made to track A2 who is still at large. After investigation A1 was charged with the offence as stated on the charge sheet,†he told the court.
Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has questioned the locus of Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, who is urging the public not to discredit the work of medical experts leading the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The NDC accused the government of massaging figures of the number of people infected with COVID-19.
Asiedu Nketia is convinced the figures being put out by the Ghana Health Service are not the true reflection on the ground.
But Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has quashed media reports that the government is massaging figures of the number of people infected with COVID-19.
He said these experts, including professors; virologists, epidemiologists, laboratory technicians, clinicians, among others, deserve encouragement and support instead of condemnation.
However, Asiedu Nketia said the Ghana Health Service and Information Minister are “hiding” the truth from Ghanaians due to the government’s “poor” measures to fight the spread of the virus adding that Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah leading the communication of a specialised medical team is problematic.
“Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah telling us not to discredit medical experts; Are you [Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah] a surgeon?” he asked.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has advised Ghanaians to show patriotism and a nationalistic spirit in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
Speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ program Monday, Oppong Nkrumah bemoaned the unpatriotic character of some Ghanaians, who despite the closure of borders, have decided to assist foreigners to use illegitimate means to enter the country.
He noted that the Police intercepted and arrested some people who passed through the forest with the help of some Ghanaians to gain entry into the country.
Oppong Nkrumah, revealing that those foreigners apprehended by the Police tested positive for the virus, issued a stern warning to unscrupulous Ghanaians to stop putting the nation at risk.
“Some of our citizens are nation wreckers. Despite the battle we are fighting, we have some unscrupulous people who because of financial gains or their cruelty or greed for money help foreigners to secretly enter the country through the forest. This fight is our fight and we should all unite to win this battle. Let us stop dishonest behaviour for it won’t help us,” he warned.
President’s Warning
“This is the time for sacrifice, so that we do not have to bear a greater cost in the future. Unhappily, there continues to be the worrying news of a few Ghanaians aiding some West African nationals to enter our country illegally, despite the closure of our borders. Even more disturbing is the fact that several of the West Africans, who have been arrested, have later tested positive for the virus.
“These are unpatriotic acts, and must stop. We cannot continue to allow a few persons, who are motivated by their own selfish, money-making interests, to endanger the lives of the rest of the population. Not only will persons who enter our country illegally be strictly dealt with, but so will Ghanaians who facilitate their entry. As I have said before, being a Ghanaian must mean that we look out for each other,” the President said during his 8th address to the nation on Sunday, April 26.
Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has debunked claims that donations made to Ghana by some philanthropic entities and other foreign nationals to assist health workers and the country might have been deliberately compromised to cause harm.
Founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma through his Foundation made available thousands of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to Ghana.
The United States and Chinese government have also donated test kits to help Ghana combat the spread of the disease.
But there are a few skeptics who have raised issues about the donations with some believing in conspiracy theories.
Addressing the issue in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, the Information Minister cleared the air stating emphatically that none of the items received by the government poses a threat to life.
According to him, the Food and Drugs Authority checks every donation before the government utilizes them and so allayed fears of them being tampered with.
”There is nothing that we got and distributed to the hospitals without necessary checks. We ensure the FDA and Ghana Standards Authority tests everything we acquire to make sure we are comfortable with it before we make them available for our system to utilize”, he assured.
Coronavirus is not a “death sentence”, Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has sought to demystify misconceptions about the virus.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, April 16, 2020, Hon. Oppong Nkrumah feared that the stigma and misconceptions associated with the COVID-19 by some Ghanaians could have dire consequences on the efforts by government to curtail the transmission of the virus from individuals and at the community level.
Ghana’s COVID-19 case count currently stands at 641 out of 50,719 samples collected and tested for coronavirus (COVID-19).
This is part of government’s enhanced measures aimed at fighting the novel COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The threat of Coronavirus, otherwise called COVID-19, has instilled fear in people and as a result victims of the virus infection are sometimes looked down on by some suspcious Ghanaians.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah explained that the virus can be treated by health professionals as eighty-three (83) people have already fully recovered and been discharged from the various health facilities to join their families, and 17 more have also tested negative on first testing and awaiting their second test to ensure they also have fully recovered.
He was worried that the morbid fear associated with the virus may potentially result in people with infections or exposed through contact with infected persons going into hiding.
In an attempt to allay the fears, the Information Minister stated emphatically that “this disease is not a death sentence. Unfortunately, we have had eight (8) persons who had underlying conditions who have passed on but it’s not a death sentence. People can be assisted with treatment and can recover”.
Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has advised Ghanaians not to embark on ‘free water challenge’ after President Akufo-Addo announced that government will absorb water bill for April, May and June.
President Akufo-Addo yesterday announced that the government will absorb the water bills of all Ghanaians for the next 3 months.
This means that citizens will not pay water bills for April, May and June.
“The Ghana Water Company Ltd and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. In addition, there will be no disconnection of supply. Furthermore, Government will absorb the water bills for all Ghanaians for the next three months, i.e. April, May and June. All water tankers, publicly and privately-owned, are also going to be mobilised to ensure the supply of water to all vulnerable communities.”
The announcement was well-received by many Ghanaians as some on social media have indicated how often they will now use water for their daily activities.
Some have also raised concerns about the frequent flow of water before the said announcement.
One of the key issues raised is the government’s indebtedness to the Ghana Water Company which will affect the new policy directive.
But responding to the debt concerns, Oppong Nkrumah said the three months will be ring-fenced and handle in a manner that won’t affect the operations of the company.
“The 400 million cedis you are talking about is a liability that spans a certain period, beyond these three months that we are envisaging for the private citizen, the estimate of what the private citizen consumes is known to the system and has been factored into these calculations out of all these state interventions, 100 million dollars we are talking about so ordinarily, it should be possible to ring-fenced this one and deal with it separately without further burdening the legacy challenges that they have.”
He further advised Ghanaians not to abuse the policy to embark on free water challenges.
“May I also say that this is not the time for people to be embarking on free water challenges and beginning to abuse what is available but within the basket of what has been budgeted for looking at trends…”
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has advised patients seeking medical care to desist from withholding relevant information from doctors and nurses.
The Minister indicated that a refusal to divulge relevant information in the process of seeking medical care could put health workers at risk of contracting COVID-19.
Mr. Nkrumah cited a situation where about 15 health workers had been put under self- isolation after a patient refused to offer relevant details.
“We had recorded incidents where persons who eventually test positive, initially withhold relevant information from doctors and nurses. Take note; it puts our health workers at unnecessary risk. We have instances where about 15 or 16 workers have to be put in self-isolation.â€
“What that means is that they are first of all at risk and secondly you are reducing the number of health workers that we have to attend to so please you have no reason or basis to withhold relevant information,†he pleaded.
Ghana has confirmed 152 COVID-19 cases so far with five deaths.
Regions affected
Cases have also been confirmed in the Ashanti Region, Northern Region and the Upper West Region.
Upper West region 1 case
Ashanti Region 8 cases
Northern Region 10 cases
Greater Accra Region 133 cases (including 79 people mandatory quarantine)
Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says emotions and fear should not lead the debate as to whether the government should announce a lockdown or not.
There have been calls from several bodies including the Ghana Medical Association to announce a lockdown of the entire country.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah speaking on the Joy Super Morning show today said the decision concerning a lockdown should not be taken out of emotions and panic but rather from the situation the country finds itself in.
“The decision to lock down or not do not have to be taken out of emotion or panic but from country-specific situation. The thousands of the poor who do not have options to store food are the most vulnerable and the President is concerned about that.”
Ghana has now recorded 132 cases of the deadly Covid-19 with 3 deaths and one recovery.
President Akufo-Addo commented on the lockdown debate when he met members of the TUC at the Jubilee House.
He said, a responsible government is required to look at the implications of the decision to lockdown a country in such a time, before it takes a firm decision.
“it is important for us to take into account the circumstances and conditions. When we lockdown Accra, what are the consequences?†he quizzed.
President Akufo-Addo indicated that currently, his administration is looking at all the possible options available before he communicates it to Ghanaians.
“I am hoping that much sooner than later, we will come to an agreement on what those measures are and the Ghanaian people will be informed,†he stressed.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has observed that the common enemy Ghanaians are fighting at the moment is the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19).
“We are clear in our minds that this is a national battle; the common enemy we are fighting is COVID-19 and not even amongst ourselves or interest groups that may exist,†he stated.
The Minister made this known in his opening remarks at a sensitization workshop organized by government for political parties on covid-19.
He expressed the belief that it is important to have all stakeholders together to focus on the common enemy.
He pointed out the crucial role of political parties in mobilizing people and educating them.
He bemoaned that Ghana was in a midst of a national challenge that it was dealing with.
According to him, the covid-19 is a global challenge which has a Ghanaian dynamic.
One of the key pillars of global pandemics like covid-19 is risk communications and social mobilization, he said.
Parties
The parties attending the workshop are NPP, NDC, CPP, NDP and LPG.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Information says government may resort to restrictions in some parts of Ghana, all in the bid to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
He disclosed that the government is open to all measures to help curb the spread of the pandemic and restrictions in some parts of the country could be part of those measures.
Parliament last week passed the Imposition of Restrictions law and that could give the government a new way of ensuring the spread of the disease is halted.
“So far, every step of the way, the government has been very proactive with coming up with measures to contain the situation. Those final rafts of measures now that the law has been put in place may include some restrictions in some parts of the country but whatever will be done will be with the objective of ensuring that we totally negate the potential for community spread,†he said on Citi News.
Ghana has so far recorded 68 cases of COVID-19 including three deaths.
The GMA in a statement released yesterday showed concerns about the spread of Covid-19 and asked the government to immediately consider a lockdown of the entire nation.
According to the Association, the lockdown though not a comfortable decision for leadership of the country and citizens is a proven alternative that will be in the best interest of the populace.
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says health experts have told government officials that the next two weeks will be critical in Ghana’s fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Ghana has so far recorded seven positive cases of the disease and even though no deaths have been recorded in those cases, the Information Minister says the government while hoping for the best, is also preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday afternoon, Oppong Nkrumah said” the health experts tell us that the next two weeks are going to be critical in determining whether or not we are going to get significant community spread. They tell us that the general theory pandemic management is that often it is likely the numbers go up a bit before it curves or the situation gets better. Therefore, they are bracing for the possibility of some limited recordings of more cases in the medium term but they continue to assure us that the systems they are putting together and continue to ramp-up are such that we will be able to contain it and hold this virus in check.”
Mr Oppong Nkrumah affirmed the government’s commitment in ensuring the safety of every citizen by ensuring that all the measures put in place to stop the spread of the virus are adhered to.
At the briefing, it was revealed that the travel ban imposed on person’s coming from countries that have recorded more than 200 cases of the disease is in full force.
This ban has led to several persons returned to their places of embarkation upon arrival in Ghana.
Bureau of Public Safety says the information released by the government about the two coronavirus cases that have been confirmed is insufficient. Executive Director of the Bureau, Nana Yaw Akwada said the government needs to provide the information to help educate people.
He also commends the swift announcement of the confirmed cases by the government.
” The speed with which they broke the news is commendable, but the level of information that they released alongside breaking the news is what we find problematic because there are more questions that we think that it will be ideal and critical for the two Ministries to have spoken to which they did not, and we think the absence of this information may affect the confidence in the established system, so we are urging the state without delay to make that information available.”
Nana Yaw Akwada explained that the inability of the government to provide answers to the questions will allow people to go with fabricated stories which will cause chaos in the country.
Ghanaians in state of ‘panic’ as first two cases of coronavirus is confirmed
The Ministry of Health has announced that two cases of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Ghana.
The cases, according to the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, were confirmed on Thursday, March 12, 2020.
Mr Agyeman-Manu explained that laboratory results from the two cases were received at the same time from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR).
Both individuals involved in the case returned to Ghana, one from Norway and the other from Turkey signifying that they were imported cases of COVID-19 into Ghana.
The Minister said both patients are being kept in isolation and processes have been initiated for contact tracing.
Ghanaians on social media have expressed fear, some have chastised the government for not doing much to prevent the virus from entering Ghana.’
The government of Ghana will by the close of today, March 13 issue travel advice to Ghanaians after two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed. According to the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the travel advice will be for both Ghanaians and persons already with visas and permit to come into the country from the epic centers of the virus.
“Before mid-day today after this morning’s meetings some travel advice will be issued in connection with travel by even Ghanaians and persons with already visa and permit into the jurisdiction from the epic centers,” he said in an interview with Citi FM.
He also disclosed that the two persons who tested positive for coronavirus in Ghana have been in the country for about a week.
“One is a Ghanaian and the other is a foreigner. The Ghanaian is based abroad and came to visit. The foreigner has the permit to reside in the jurisdiction. We are informed that they have been in town for about a week.â€
Ghanaians in state of ‘panic’ as the first two cases of coronavirus is confirmed
The Ministry of Health has announced that two cases of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Ghana.
The cases, according to the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, were confirmed on Thursday, March 12, 2020.
Mr Agyeman-Manu explained that laboratory results from the two cases were received at the same time from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR).
Both individuals involved in the case returned to Ghana, one from Norway and the other from Turkey signifying that they were imported cases of COVID-19 into Ghana.
The Minister said both patients are being kept in isolation and processes have been initiated for contact tracing.
Ghanaians on social media have expressed fear, some have chastised the government for not doing much to prevent the virus from entering Ghana
One of the two persons confirmed as having contracted the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a Ghanaian, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has revealed.
According to him, one of the two males who entered Ghana through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) works abroad and returned to Ghana for a visit with the disease.
The other person is a Norwegian citizen.
He confirmed that the two started showing symptoms on Thursday and reported to a health facility.
The Minister also indicated in an interview on Accra-based Peace FM Friday morning, that the affected persons have been in Ghana for at least a week.
Ghana confirmed two cases of COVID-19 on March 12, 2020, being the first cases to be reported in the country.
According to the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, the two cases were confirmed at the same time from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
The Ministry, however, noted that both patients are currently under isolation and are stable.
The two individuals returned to Ghana from Norway and Turkey. So they are imported cases of COVID-19, the statement said.
“Government of Ghana together with all Health Partners will continue to work assiduously to ensure the situation is contained…†parts of a statement from the Health Ministry said.
The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has charged media stakeholders to support the fight against misinformation to preserve confidence in democracy and public institutions.
He made these comments at the launch of Dubawa Ghana, a local chapter for independent verification and fact-checking in public discourse and journalism.
Speaking on the theme “stemming misinformation to advance democracy and good governance in Ghana†Mr. Oppong Nkrumah stated that “if consistently you keep reading or hearing whether it is fake news or false narratives about our body politic, about our institutions and about our democracy over a period, citizens begin to lose confidence in the democracy, in public institutions and in the governance systemsâ€.
Misinformation has been on the rise in the country in recent times. The increasing spate of it has caused institutions particularly public institutions to be at the mercy of false or inaccurate information deliberately churned out to deceive sections of the public.
This Mr. Oppong Nkrumah emphasized that “if you clearly monitor what is happening in some part of the world, extremism may be not necessarily violent extremism but political extremism is beginning to gain hold because of all of these false narratives of blatantly fake materials that is been churned out into eco chambers that now begin to make people take some very intransigent positions on matters that we could have hitherto easily agreed uponâ€.
The Minister also indicated that Dubawa as a fact-checking platform came at the right time since the country is heading to the polls.
He acknowledged that the presence of a platform that can readily verify fact from politicians and public office holders will help the country a great deal. “The stakes are a bit higher in the 2020 elections and it is, therefore, heartwarming that it is at this time that Dubawa is being rolled out to help us combat this threat of misinformation†he added.
In a concluding remark, Hon. Oppong Nkrumah took the opportunity to encourage the media and the general public to lead the fight against misinformation.
He challenged the traditional media to “amplify truth and not necessarily add to the challenges in the statuesque†citing an example of a recent happening in Northern Ghana where security officers were grappling with a security situation as a result of misinformation peddled by some unknown people meant to destabilize the situation further.
Dubawa is a non-partisan institution that is bent on fostering a culture of truth and verification in public discourse and journalism through strategic partnerships between the media, government, civil society organizations, technology giants and the public.
As a fact checking institution, Dubawa upholds the values of accuracy, balance, transparency, verification, independence and accountability in its operations which is in line with the five principles of the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN).
The Ministry of Information and the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council will, on Tuesday, November 12, jointly organise the Ashanti Regional Town Hall meeting to inform the citizenry about government programmes and policies.
The event would also feature presentations on taxes, infrastructure and mining, as well as other flagship initiatives of the government and solicit feedback from the people.
The meeting would be under the patronage of Ashantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu II, and would be chaired by Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI, Bantamahene at the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi, at 0900 hours on Tuesday, November 12.
A statement issued and signed by Mr Pius Edam Hadzide, a Deputy Minister of Information, in Accra, said there would be evidenced-based presentations on key developmental projects by all the 43 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the region.
The Information Services Department would also mount a photo exhibition of the several flagship projects embarked upon by the government since assuming the reins of government in 2017.
Government, through the Ministry of Information, has dismissed allegations it cooked up fraud to terminate the Power Distribution Services (PDS) concession agreement.
According to the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the motive of government in the concession had been to ensure efficiency.
“Government has not been up to any machination; the intent has been to ensure efficiency in the Electricity Company of Ghana turnaround programme and the performance of the broader compact all along.â€
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday to set records straight on the PDS concession saga, Mr Nkrumah maintained that the concessionaire failed to meet the material and fundamental terms of the concession agreement.
“Is there something wrong with switching from 80/20 to 49/51 absolutely not, the government holds the view that in transactions of this nature Ghana and Ghanaians should be given an opportunity to get a deep hand the stake as much as possible,†he said.
Minister for Information, Kojo Opong Nkrumah has indicated that the government is set to employ and train six hundred (600) people to oversee the information units in Public Institutions as part of the implementation of the Right To Information Act, ABC News can report.
The Minister made this known during the first level training for Chief Directors from all the ministries on the Right to Information Act. The Chief Directors were being trained in data mapping services in relation to the Right to Information Act. This training will improve the skills and knowledge of these directors as they will lead the data mapping services. In addition, they will also be exposed to the Data Protection Act.
Oppong Nkrumah in his interactions with the Chief Directors noted that the implementation of the Act requires the creation of information desks in all Public Institutions. These information desks require well-trained people to steer this information desks or information units. In view of this, the government has resolved to employ 600 people who will be trained and then deployed to manage these information units nationwide.
He added that the government is committed to providing these officers with the needed logistics that will ensure the effective delivery of their work.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah also announced that all budgetary allocation for the roadmap has been given to the Ministry of Finance for approval. He said once the Ministry approves the budget, it will be made known to the public.
The Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee in Parliament, Ben Abdallah Banda who was at the training session added that the RTI law required Government pro-actively provide strategic information to the public without necessarily waiting for someone to apply for it.
President Akufo-Addo earlier this year gave assent to the Right to Information Act which was passed by Parliament. The government is hopeful to ensure that the Act sees a smooth take-off next year.
