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Tag: President Akufo-Addo

  • Restoring economic stability dominates government’s fruitful discussions with groups – Oppong-Nkrumah

    Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has stated that President Akufo-Addo’s engagement with identifiable economic groups and institutions in the country has been fruitful and smooth and the deliberations has largely focused on the need to restore economic stability.

    He said this when he addressed the press at the Jubilee House on 26 October 2022, at the end of two days of broad consultations between the President and multiple groups and stakeholders in the country’s economic space.

    Amongst the groups the President held meetings with are; Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Association of Bankers, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and Transport Operators.

    The rest are Forex Bureau Association of Ghana, Forex Bureau, Market Women, Ghana Employers Association, Private Enterprise Federation, and the leaders of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

    In his interaction with the identifiable bodies, President Akufo-Addo, according to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, briefed them on the state of negotiations between his government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the implications of a possible programme with the fund on the country’s economy in the coming weeks and in the long term.

    “Cost of living has been big on the agenda, the currency is being big on the agenda but item number one has been stability, restoring economic stability and then on the back of that, looking to how we can bring back so growth and expansion on the Ghana economy. These discussions have gone very smoothly” Oppong Nkrumah said.

    “Our expectation is that all of these will form a part of what the President and cabinet will be considering over the weekend prior to making some decision and then on Sunday, he [President Akufo-Addo] will have the opportunity to address the nation and we take the steps from there” he added.

    President Akufo-Addo’s engagement with economic groupings in the country and the upcoming Cabinet retreat follows the challenging state of the country’s economy as a result of the hit it has suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the geo-political war ongoing between Russia and Ukraine.

    The entire global economy according to financial expects is slipping into recession as the World Bank warns that it will take all the countries of the world several decades to pay off the debts they have accumulated over COVID-19 spending in the last two years alone.

     

  • Black currency market must stop – Akufo-Addo

    On Wednesday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo voiced concern about the operations of the illicit currency market, which have severely weakened the Cedi relative to other trading currencies.

    He argued that it was unacceptable for the parallel market to control the supply and rate of foreign exchange transactions and that all efforts should be made to do so in order to stop the currency crisis affecting Cedi.

    When the President met with the Forex Bureau Association of Ghana‘s top brass at the Jubilee House in Accra, he expressed his concern.

    The meeting, called at the insistence of the President, forms part of the government’s wider consultation with key economic players to find solutions to the current economic challenges.

    President Akufo-Addo told the association that it must lend support to every action that the government would be adopting to tame currency speculators who have contributed to driving down the value of the Cedi.

    He was emphatic that the black market must be eliminated from the financial space to arrest the pace at which the cedi loses its value against major foreign currencies.

    “The initial impulse for the creation of Forex Bureaus in Ghana was that at the time when our economy was opening and liberalizing there was the need to find a mechanism for putting an end to black market operations on the country’s currency.”

    “That was the initial impulse, so we will have these forex bureaus regulated by the Bank of Ghana to make access to foreign exchange in a regulated and controlled manner easier.”

    “Unfortunately, somehow, this initial motivation for the creation of the forex bureaus has still not materialized…

    “As you hear public commentators and commentators of the Bank of Ghana itself say, it is still the black market that is driving both the supply as well as the rate of our foreign exchange transactions.

    “That for me is completely unacceptable and we have to find a way to work together to drive the black market out of business,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

    The Cedi has since the beginning of the year witnessed a steep fall in value, depreciating against major currencies due to several factors including the rebound of the strength of the US Dollar, investor reaction to credits ratings downgrade of Ghana’s economy, the non-rollover of maturing bonds by non-resident investors, high crude oil prices, loss of access to the external market for borrowing, as well as speculation.

    Mr K.T Dadzie, President of the Forex Bureau Association of Ghana, told President Akufo-Addo that the past three months had not been easy for operators of Forex bureaus, as well as their customers.

    He said the association did not have control on the forex market beyond what the regulator, the bank of Ghana, determined.

    “We have been in this business since 1988. We have had turbulences, but this is a bit tough for all of us. We have gone through all that happened, but we tried, and we survived, and I know this too shall pass.

    “With the announcement that we were even meeting yesterday, the rate started coming down. It means it is not natural, this has all been done by people’s speculation and trying to make windfall out of the situation that we are in” he said.

    The meeting went into a closed-door session.

  • World economic order has changed and requires bold decisions – Bawumia

    According to Vice President Bawumia, the global economic system has undergone significant upheaval in recent years. As a result, Africa, particularly Ghana, must make courageous, challenging, and resolute decisions in order to weather the global economic storm.

    On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Dr. Bawumia said, “The combined effects of Covid, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and major disruptions in global supply chains have brought untold economic damage across the world, and require new thinking and positioning, especially as the world eases into the Fourth Industrial revolution.” The two-day Standard Chartered Bank Digital Banking, Innovation and Fintech Festival was taking place in Accra at the time.

    “In Ghana, for example, if you look at between and 2019 and today we’ve seen about a fivefold increase in the rate of inflation. Go to next door Togo, we’ve seen about a 16 fold increase in the rate of inflation, Cote d’Ivoire has seen about a sevenfold increase in the rate of inflation, and the UK has seen an eightfold increase in the rate of inflation. And this has also been accompanied by a very strong dollar which has seen currencies really fall in value. Yesterday I was told that the Chinese Yuan is at its lowest level since 2007. The new British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, was basically described the UK’s economic situation as a profound economic crisis.

    “So what we are seeing globally, of course, with the disruption of global supply chains, post COVID, is a major change in what was the status quo before COVID. The global economy as we know it, as it existed, pre-COVID today does not really exist anymore. Emerging market access to the capital markets has been very restricted and may continue to be restricted for the foreseeable future. And more and more we are seeing economies rethinking economic strategies. But there is a clear move towards more self-reliance in economic policy.

    “And at the same time this global economic environment is transitioning into the Fourth Industrial Revolution where the digital economy is taking center stage. So as we try to deal with the economic crisis globally, economies also have to re-position themselves to partake in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he noted.

    Commenting on the recent turmoil in the Ghanaian economy, Vice President Bawumia said Government was considering a number of measures to tackle the challenges and ensure fiscal discipline. President Akufo-Addo would be addressing the nation in the coming days on such measures, he indicated.

    “In Ghana specifically, we are dealing with an economic crisis that we have to address in different dimensions. The first and most important, which affects the confidence that we have in the economic system, is to make sure that we have fiscal and debt sustainability. This has been one of the areas where we are having discussions and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund about restoring fiscal and debt sustainability.

    “No doubt it is not going to be easy. It will require very bold, difficult, but firm decisions. And I think these are part of the discussions that we’re having with the IMF. And I’m sure once those are concluded, it will be clear that it will not be and it should not be business-as-usual because we have to adjust to the new global and domestic realities,” he added.

  • Details of Akufo-Addo’s meeting with NPP executives over demands for Ofori-Atta’s sack – Report

    President Akufo-Addo reportedly met with the top hierarchy of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the demands by some of the party’s Members of Parliament for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

    According to a report by Asempa FM, the president met with the Chairman of the NPP, Stephen Ayensu Ntim; the General Secretary of the party, Justin Frimpong Koduah, the National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye and other national executives of the party.

    Also, present at the meeting were at least three regional chairmen of the party, whose members are allegedly pushing for the sack of Ofori-Atta, including the Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako, a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi; the Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, a.k.a. Abronye DC; and the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Divine Otoo Agorhom.

    The report indicated that the officials met the president on the fourth floor of the Flag Staff House in the late afternoon on Tuesday, October 25.

    Officials of the government, privy to the details of the meeting, who spoke to Asempa FM on the condition of anonymity, told their presidential correspondent, Elton John Brobbey, that the president could not make a decision because there was no petition before him.

    Elton Brobbey said that the officials indicated that news of the demand of the NPP MPs came as a surprise to the presidency.

    He added that the officials had told him that the president was only going to make a decision on the matter if the petition signed by the NPPs who are calling for the sack of Ofori-Atta is presented to him.

    “One issue that run out through all the conversations I had with the officials was that there was no petition before the president communicating the decision of the 80 MPs for the president to sack Ofori-Atta,” he said in Twi

    He reiterated that even though there has been meeting and press conferences, no official petition has been sent to President Akufo-Addo.

  • This is not the right time to sack Ofori-Atta, says Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

    Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader in Parliament, has appealed to the Majority Caucus to halt discussions on the sacking of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta until negotiations with the IMF have concluded.

    Some members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament are mounting pressure on President Akufo-Addo to sack Ofori-Atta, and the minister of state at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, to restore public confidence in the Ghanaian economy.

    Speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (26 October), he said, “My advise after hearing them was that, if they were talking about this matter two or three months ago, that would have been different.”

    According to the Suame MP, “even the first phase [of negotiation with the IMF] has not been concluded. Those conclusions will be factored into the budget.”

    “They [IMF team] have come here on two occasions, the minister has led a team to Washington to follow up for the discussions, they are coming here again next week. And soon after, the conclusions we will derive will be captured into the budget that we are expecting not later than 15 November.

    “We are pleading with them that looking at where we are, I am not too sure this is the appropriate time to be talking about this. So, I was pleading to let their feet pause the accelerator pedal for a while, maybe after the budget we could resurrect it. Now is not the best time,” Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said.

    The International Monetary Fund is already in talks with Ghana over a US$3 billion deal for budgetary support, aimed at reviving the economy and restoring investor confidence.

    Demands of the MPs

    Addressing the media in Parliament on Tuesday (25 October 2022), the spokesman for the caucus and MP for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, said the move will help save the economy from further collapse.

    “We have had occasion to defend allegations of conflict of interest, lack of confidence and trust against leadership of our Finance Ministry. The recent developments within our economy are of great concern to the greater majority of members of our caucus and our constituents,” Appiah-Kubi said.

    “We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president change the Minister [for] Finance and the minister of state in the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope into the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of our economy.

    “The summary of our concern leads to the plea that the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the minister of state at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, should be removed from office.

    “Meanwhile, we want to serve notice that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority Caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any business of government by or for the president or by any other minister. If our request is not responded to positively, we’ll not be present for the Budget hearing, neither would we participate in the debate,” Appiah-Kubi told the media.

    The International Monetary Fund has launched talks with Ghana over a US$3 billion deal for budgetary support, aimed at reviving the economy and restoring investor confidence.

     

     

     

  • President Akufo-Addo congratulates the new British PM

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has congratulated the newly-appointed British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

    In a tweet on Tuesday, President applauded the 42-year-old premier on “becoming the 57th British prime Minister in this difficult period of his country’s and the world’s fortunes”

    “I am hopeful that his tenure of office will strengthen and deepen even further the ties of cooperation, collaboration and friendship between Ghana and Great Britain, and provide us with the platform to create progress and prosperity for our respective peoples,” he wrote.

    Sunak, a member of the Conservative Party, officially took over from Liz Truss on Tuesday.

    He became the United Kingdom’s third prime minister this year and the first non-white person to hold the job.

    Source: GNA

  • Thank you, God bless you – Kpebu tells NPP MPs who want Ofori-Atta, Adu Boahen out

    A private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has said he was pleasantly surprised by the press conference held by some Members of Parliament on the side of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) who called on President Akufo-Addo to sack his Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry Charles Adu Boahen.

    He said this is an indication that the lawmakers are listening to concerns being raised by Ghanaians.

    Mr Kpebu who earlier called for the impeachment of the President following the economic challenges, while speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday October 23, told Eric Mawuena Egbeta on the Mid day news on 3FM Tuesday October 25 that, “I was pleasantly surprised, that also means that they are listening.

    “You see how on Saturday we spoke truth to power on Key Points  and it resounded with Ghanaians, of course other people had made this  call over and over, it means the Parliamentarians are listening , God bless them. That is the honour we were referring to on the Key Points.”

    The Majority caucus in Parliament have threatened to boycott the presentation and debate on the 2023 budget statement if President Akufo-Addo does not remove Mr Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen.

    The NPP MPs believe that the prevailing economic situation in the country does not make it right for the two gentlemen to remain in office hence the President must ask them to go.

    Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, a lawmaker for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah Kubi said “We are unhappy with the developments in the country, we consulted our constituents who also expressed same sentients.

    “We want the President to remove Ken Ofori and Chares Adu Boahen.

    “We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry without further delay.

    “We want to serve notice, and notice is hereby served that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority Caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any business of Government by or, for the president by any other Minster.

    “We hope that those of us in the back bench and members of the Majority caucus will abide by this prayer.

    “We are saying that if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing neither will we participate in the debate.

  • Ofori-Atta’s name is now the definition of ‘failure, incompetence’ – AFAG tells Akufo-Addo

    According to the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), Ken Ofori- Atta’s has come to represent failure and incompetence.

    On Monday, October 24, 2022, Mr. Arnold Boateng, general secretary of the pro-government organization, stated that “obviously, it looks like the Finance Ministry and the administration have lost the ball on the economy.”

    In an interview with Citi FM in Accra, he stated, “Reassign the Finance Minister and Adu-Boahen because they have been there for a long time and their activities have generated the mess we are in now.

    In Mr Boateng’s view, Mr Ofori-Atta’s “posture does not augur well” for the country’s economic circumstances, adding: “He has lost the trust of the nation.”

    “The name Ken Ofori-Atta has become synonymous with failure; synonymous with incompetence and any adjective you can call.”

    AFAG also said President Akufo-Addo must tackle the economy “not just by giving a speech but by taking concrete actions which will strengthen the cedi.”

    “What is worrying AFAG is there is no concrete assurance either from the President or from the BOG on these issues,” Mr. Boateng said.

    “People dropping the ball has led us here and if we do not take the necessary actions, we will have a time bomb on our hands, and we cannot address that.”

  • ‘It’s time for a mean and lean government’ – OccupyGhana to Akufo-Addo

    OccupyGhana, a pressure group in Ghana, is mounting pressure on President Akufo-Addo to immediately reduce the size of his government.

    In a statement dated Tuesday, October 25, the group said the current economic difficulties the country faces do not support the large size of the government.

    According to the group, the hard times Ghanaians are going through are enough evidence that “there is no better time than now to reduce the size of government.”

    “This is therefore a demand for an immediate and drastic reduction in size, not limited to ministers alone, but all of the President’s non-ministerial appointees. If for nothing at all, the symbolism in the Government also taking a hit, just like the rest of us, is very strong,” an excerpt of the statement read.

    Read full statement below:

    MR PRESIDENT, IT IS TIME FOR A ‘LEAN AND MEAN’ GOVERNMENT

     

    There is no time better than now, to reduce the size of the Government.

    Times are hard. Things are hard. Very hard. Every Ghanaian is feeling the pinch and pain. To survive, citizens are forced to cut back on some essential things in life. The Government, which is largely to blame for the economic mess, must also cut back and more.

    When in early 2017, the sheer size of the Government was revealed, we were not convinced that that was what Ghana required. In our press statement dated March 17, 2017, we criticised the President for that, stating that while ‘a government bureaucracy must be big enough to achieve the aims of the government,’ it must be ‘lean enough not to waste the resources of the state.’

    We also pointed out that the ‘considerable amount of money in salaries, allowances and benefits… (in addition to enjoying a range of ex-gratia benefits when they leave office) does not sound to us like a diligent attempt to protect the public purse.’

    However, in one of several responses to this criticism and others like ours, the President said to some new ministers that ‘as you know there are some who say my government is too big and there are too many of you. I am a firm believer in the adage that the proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ Another time, the President called the size of his Government a ‘necessary investment’ and assured Ghanaians that ‘it is not going to be a holiday’ for the ministers.

    Time has tested both ‘the investment’ and ‘the pudding,’ and they have not aged well and have been found wanting. The combined return, two years to the end of the President’s second term, is this debilitating economic crisis. Unless the President’s new and unacceptable argument would be that we would be in a much worse situation but for his still large coterie of ministers, it is time to get ‘lean and mean’. If as citizens, we are compelled to cut down on our private expenses, then it is time for the Government to do the same to protect the public purse.

    This is therefore a demand for an immediate and drastic reduction in size, not limited to ministers alone, but all of the President’s non-ministerial appointees. If for nothing at all, the symbolism in the Government also taking a hit, just like the rest of us, is very strong.

    These are not normal times and ‘business as usual’ won’t cut it. The excuses for having and paying a large batch of ministers and other appointees to produce the results we see now, to the extent that they have ever been justified (which we deny), wear perilously thin in these times.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Who is Prof George Yaw Gyan Baffour, the man tipped to take over Ofori-Atta’s job?

    Although he has not clearly stated it, President Akufo-Addo has, however, given a roadmap on the possibility of taking action on a demand made on him by some Members of Parliament.

    The call by the 80 New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, was for the president to sack the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

    As surprising as the news has been, particularly since the minister is a member of their party and this is the first time any such thing has happened in the country, it has already brought up suggestions on who could take over as the country’s finance minister.

    In an earlier GhanaWeb story, three names have come up for the job: Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah, Professor Gyan Baffour, and Kwame Pianim.

    GhanaWeb further places the spotlight on these individuals to understand what they bring to the job, in the instance that they get it.

    Below is a profile of Professor Gyan Baffour:

    Prof George Yaw Gyan Baffour is currently the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission and Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Finance.

    He is a former Member of Parliament who represented the Wenchi Constituency from 2005 to 2021. He was a professor at Howard University in Washington DC from 1993 to 2021.

    He is an economist, a banker and an insurer.

    Being an economist, Professor George Gyan Baffour has mainly sat on parliamentary committees that relate to his field, which include the Special Budget Committee, the Education Committee, and the Poverty Reduction Committee, and he was once the Acting Chair of the Special Budget Committee.

    The ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor appointed Prof George Gyan Baffour as the Director General of the National Development Planning Commission in 2002. It was during his time that he established the first system for overseeing and assessing the rate of national development.

    He oversaw the development of the coordinated program for the Economic and Social Development of Ghana.

    Prof George Gyan Baffour is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana. He was a member of various boards, including the Bank of Ghana (2005-2008), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) from 2003 to 2005.

    He has a PhD in Industrial Relations from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a post-Doctorate Diploma from Harvard University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Bsc (Hons) in Economics from the University.

    Prof George Gyan Baffour is currently a Senior Policy Advisor to the Finance Minister, focusing mainly on Sustainable Development Goals and climate change mitigation financing.

    He is the UN Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data Ambassador in the UN’s SUN movement focal person for Ghana and Executive Committee Excom Member representing Central and Eastern Africa.

    He was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of Ghana in March 2005. As a Minister For Planning, he was the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on SDGs.

  • #KenMustGo: This is unprecedented; listen to the MPs – Obiri Boahen advises Akufo-Addo

    Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has advised President Akufo-Addo to listen to the call by some NPP members of parliament to dismiss Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

    According to him, if the concerns of these people are ignored, it could affect the democratic stability of the country.

    Speaking on Ade Akye Abia on Okay FM, he said he must consider the call of the NPP MPs as this has never happened in the history of Ghana politics.

    “Mr president, we have learnt history; we know history. But, Mr President, in the supreme interest of our tradition, multiparty democracy, please listen to the MPs. You are in a country you don’t take chances when issues of politics are popping up.

    “We are in a continent where a small issue can escalate. This is not NPP and NDC issue. This is a national issue which goes down to the stability of western democracy. This has never happened in the country’s history,” he said.

    Some Members of Parliament in the majority have threatened to boycott the 2023 budget presentation and debate if the finance minister is not relieved of his post.

    The MPs explained that their position follows several concerns over the poor management of the economy, which has forced the government to seek IMF assistance.

    “We have had occasions to defend allegations of conflicts of interest, lack of confidence, and trust against the leadership of the Finance ministry. The recent development within our economy is of great concern to the greater majority of members of our caucus and our constituents.

    “We have made our great concern to the president through our parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response. We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of state in the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope in our financial sector and reverse the downwards trend in the growth of the economy,” Andy Appiah Kubi, MP for Asante Akyem North, who spoke on behalf of the MPs said at a press conference.

     

  • Bawumia-led Economic Management Team must be disbanded – Kwakye Ofosu demands

    Former President John Dramani Mahama’s assistant Felix Kwakye Ofosu has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove the Vice President from his position as chairman of the Economic Management Team (EMT).

    He claimed that there were insufficient requests for the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta, the finance minister, and his staff.

    In a Facebook post on October 25, he stated that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia should also be asked to resign from his position as the head of EMT.

    Kwakye Ofosu believes Bawumia has been ‘useless’ at the post thus he and other members of the EMT should be dismissed.

    The former deputy minister stated that the dismissals were the only way President Akufo-Addo can demonstrate seriousness in addressing the “horrific economic crisis” that the country is being confronted with.

    “It is not enough for Ken Ofori Atta and his team to go. Bawumia, who has been utterly useless as Head of the Economic Management Team, must be dismissed from that position together with all its members. That is the only way the President can demonstrate any level of seriousness at tackling the horrific economic crisis we are facing,” Kwakye Ofosu wrote on his page.

    Ghana’s economy has been facing a downturn in recent months with economists pointing to record-high inflation rates, fuel prices hikes and the fast depreciation of the Cedi as signs of the crisis.

    Under the present economic challenges, President Akufo-Addo and his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia together with Ken Ofori-Atta (Finance Minister) have come under heavy criticism over their handling of the economy.

    But the president has on a number of occasions kept faith with his appointees and shot down a ministerial reshuffle. He insists that his ministers are performing well.

    On Ken Ofori-Atta, President Akufo-Addo touted his achievements stating that he was the one who turned the economy into one of the fastest growing economies in world in his first term and thus possessed the required skills to steer the country out the current crisis.

    On Tuesday, October 25 however, over eighty (80) MPs from the New Patriotic Party demanded the sacking of Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen.

    The minority caucus also filed a motion of censure to dismiss Ken Ofori-Atta from his role. The NPP MPs have threatened that they will boycott the 2023 budget debate if President Akufo-Addo fails to sack Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen.

  • Things are hard but don’t take advantage to sell your goods at unreasonable prices – Traders told

    Chartered Economist Emmanuel Amoah Darkwa contends that even if the Ghanaian market is unregulated and driven by supply and demand, the government shouldn’t permit some entrepreneurs to unfairly profit from the current financial situation by charging extravagant rates for their goods.

    He claimed that some merchants are exploiting the circumstance by boosting their prices.

    He claimed that he had seen some of these occurrences firsthand and that commodity prices were rising rapidly.

    He told Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that some traders sell Frytol for GHC 25, while others sell the same bottle for GHC 45. This occurred as a result of a call from the wholesaler informing them that the price of the product had risen and that they should raise it.

    Mr. Amoah Darkwah stressed when that happens, there would be a lot of panic, and the traders take advantage of the system and fleece Ghanaians.

    He recounted how the late Rawlings used the Military to crack down on such activities but quickly added,” I am not asking anyone to use the Military to deal with the problem. However, we have to deal with the challenge., We should do the right thing and protect the consumers”.

    President Akufo-Addo must show leadership. He needs to assure Ghanaians that the challenges would be resolved,” he said.

    He appealed to the traders not to take advantage of the system and sell their commodities at outrageous prices.

  • Songo opens fire on Akufo-Addo, Bawumia, ‘lazy’ Ghanaian youth over hardships

    Radio host Patrick Osei Agyemang, better known by his stage as Country Man Songo, has urged President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to find a quick fix for the problems the Ghanaian economy is now facing.

    Songo, like many Ghanaians, is suffering the effects of the economic crisis and wants action taken to lessen the load on the country’s citizens.

    Therefore, Songo demands that the president, vice president, ministers, and lawmakers forego their salaries in order to stimulate the economy.

    He believes that such extreme and drastic measures could in the short term improve the situation and help Ghanaians.

    Songo believes that the country is in the current mess due to corruption and mismanagement of public funds.

    The Fire for Fire host quizzed the government on how it expended the monies the country got from international agencies during the COVID time.

    He also wants the government to explain to Ghanaians how it intends to use the monies that will arrive from the latest IMF bailout.

    Songo however believes the situation has been worsened by the lazy attitude of Ghanaian youth who he says are unwilling to work.

    “The lazy people are too many in the system. They won’t find some job and work their arse off. Even when you give them a job, they will complain and resign. When they are done, they will call and ask for help. There’s too much laziness in the system. Our leaders should stop the corruption and invest money in the economy and help the youth get employment.

    “President Akufo-Addo, you are the president, wherever you will find money to invest in the economy, do it. You have to sacrifice for us and show that you are a good leader. Bawumia must also do the same. You must all sacrifice and push your own money into the economy. The Minister, DCEs, and MPs must all dedicate their funds to the country.

    “Our leaders are stealing our money. When you say it, they harass you but you need to listen to the prophet of God. Where is the money IMF gave us in 2020? In 2022, you are crying for $ 3 billion. What are you going to use it for? Are they going to use it to help the country or chop it? They are all greedy and selfish. Until you tell them the truth, we’ll continue to suffer,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo in August this year conceded the tough times in the country but promised that his government will turn things around for the country.

    “Things are not at all where we would like to be as far as the economy is concerned, and I’m fully aware that these are difficult times for us,” he said.

    “However, with the appropriate policies, hard work, and determination of the people of Ghana, I have no doubt we will soon come out stronger.”

    Watch the latest edition of GhanaWeb Mundial, Sports Debate and Sports Check below

    Sports Debate: What is the cause of Hearts of Oak’s problem?

    On this episode of the GhanaWeb Sports Debate, Joel Eshun interacted with Accra Hearts of Oak fans on the street to engage them about the problems in their team and how best they can be solved.

  • The name Ofori-Atta is now the definition of ‘failure, incompetence’ – AFAG tells Akufo-Addo

    The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has said the name of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, has become the meaning of failure and incompetence.

    The pro-government group’s General Secretary, Mr Arnold Boateng, said on Monday, 24 October 2022 that “clearly, it looks like the Finance Ministry and the government have dropped the ball on the economy.”

    “Reassign the Finance Minister and Adu-Boahen because they have been there for a long time and their activities have caused the mess we are in now”, he demanded in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM.

    In Mr Boateng’s view, Mr Ofori-Atta’s “posture does not augur well” for the country’s economic circumstances, adding: “He has lost the trust of the nation.”

    “The name Ken Ofori-Atta has become synonymous with failure; synonymous with incompetence and any adjective you can call.”

    AFAG also said President Akufo-Addo must tackle the economy “not just by giving a speech but by taking concrete actions which will strengthen the cedi.”

    “What is worrying AFAG is there is no concrete assurance either from the President or from the BOG on these issues,” Mr. Boateng said.

    “People dropping the ball has led us here and if we do not take the necessary actions, we will have a time bomb on our hands, and we cannot address that.”

  • Economic crisis: ‘Mahama’s call for national dialogue apt’- Amon Kotei

    Issaka Amon Kotei, a local government specialist, has urged President Akufo-Addo to adopt the previous president John Dramani Mahama‘s offer for a national conversation.

    This comes after John Dramani Mahama, a former president, alleged that Ken Ofori-Atta, the minister of finance, had been concealing his activities behind Ghana’s dire economic state the entire time.

    The Akufo-Addo administration has been urged by Mahama to be transparent and to consult with the “best minds” among Ghana’s decent citizens.

    “The government should come clean and tell us, ‘What is the state of the economy?’ You must put everything on the table…That is why I called for a national dialogue. I said bring the best brains together. I have been president before, it served me well. I called the Senchi Forum, it didn’t reduce my stature as President,” Mahama added.

    Read Also: Ensure all journalists operate without oppression- Mahama tasks GJA

    Speaking on Atinka FM’s AM Drive with host Kaakyire Ofori Ayim, Local governance expert, Issaka Amon Kotei asked Akufo-Addo to take Mahama’s suggestion in good faith and speak to stakeholders.

    Issaka Amon Kotei has called on government to consult the major stakeholders who are key players within the economy in a forum.

    According to the governance expert, these stakeholders will calm the masses so nobody is taken by surprise.

    “When it comes to trade,, GUTA is a stakeholder. When it comes to the salaries of workers, TUC is a major stakeholder. When it comes to the welfare of teachers, GNAT and NAGRAT are major stakeholders. Even students are major stakeholders. “It will be better for them to come clean and tell us the exact state of the economy,” he added.

  • Sack Ofori-Atta, Adu-Boahen or we boycott budget, gov’t business in parliament – Majority caucus warns Akufo-Addo

    The majority caucus of parliament has given President Akufo-Addo an ultimatum: remove Finance Minister Ken OFori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Mr Charles Adu-Boahen, from office, or they will boycott the budget hearing and other government businesses on the floor of parliament.

    The caucus, led by spokesperson Andy Appiah Kubi, MP for Asante Akyem North, issued the ultimatum within the precincts of parliament on Tuesday, 25 October 2022 when the house resumed sitting after a long recess.

    He told the parliamentary press corps: “We are members of the majority caucus of the parliament of Ghana and we, here so, present; represent a greater number of the said caucus”.

    “My name is Andy Appiah Kubi and I am only here as the spokesperson for the majority group – without more”, he caveated.

    Mr Appiah-Kubi continued: “We have had occasions to defend allegations of conflict of interest, lack of confidence [and] trust against the leadership of our finance ministry”, however, “the recent developments within our economy are of great concern to the greater majority of the members of our caucus and our constituents”.

    “We have made our grave concerns [known] to the president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response”, he revealed.

    “We are, by this medium, communicating our strong desire that the president change the minister of finance and the minister of state at the finance ministry, without further delay, in order to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy”, the group demanded.

    “The summary of our concerns lead to a plea that the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken OfoRI-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Charles Adu-Boahen, be removed from office. We pray that this prayer would be carried to the presidency”.

    The caucus then threatened: “Meanwhile, we want to serve notice, and notice is hereby served that until such persons, as aforementioned, are made to resign or removed from office, we, members of the majority caucus here in parliament, will not participate in any business of the government by or for the president by any other minister”.

    “We hope that those of us at the backbench and members of the majority caucus will abide by this prayer”, the group added.

    “We are saying that if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing nor will we participate in the debate”, Mr Appiah-Kubi stressed.

     

  • NPP MPs demand removal of Ken Ofori-Atta, Adu Boahen

    In order to restore public trust in the economy, the majority caucus in parliament has petitioned President Akufo Addo to dismiss Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta and Minister of State at the finance ministry, Adu Boahen.

    On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, their spokesperson, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North, made the announcement during a briefing for the media.

    They claim that the action is in response to earlier complaints that were made to the government but received no satisfactory responses.

    Andy Appiah Kubi stated, “We have had opportunity to defend against claims of conflicts of interest, lack of confidence, and trust.

    Soon, more…

  • Akufo-Addo to meet transport unions over plans to adjust fares

    President Akufo-Addo will today, October 25, 2022, meet the leadership of the transport unions over plans to adjust transport fares.

    The Unions are looking at between a 30 and 40 percent increase which they say has been necessitated by the soaring prices of petroleum products at the fuel pumps.

    The Unions have been in a series of meetings with the Transport Ministry since last week over the fare adjustment.

    Though there has not been any concrete decision yet, some other Unions, like VIP, have already adjusted their prices.

    Speaking on News and Current Affairs Programme “Behind the News”, General Secretary of the Roads Transport Coordinating Council, Emmanuel Ohene-Yeboah, said the meeting with the president would decide on the percentage of the fares.

    Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Concerned Drivers Association, Mark Agboado, says they are not ready to back down on the 30 percent increase.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • We are talking down those who caused cedi downfall – Mahama’s aide replies Gabby

    Former president John Dramani Mahama’s assistant Joyce Bawah Mogtari expressed regret about the state of the Ghana cedi a few weeks after Bloomberg named it the currency with the worst performance against the US dollar.

    According to her, bringing up that situation amounted to criticizing those whose poor economic decisions had caused the cedi to depreciate against the dollar.

    She expressed her opinions in a tweet that said, in part: “The world’s worst performing currency at the moment is the Ghanaian Cedi.

    Since the Cedi is not a person, how can we speak down to it? By speaking up for the leaders whose poor economic management brought the Cedi to ruin!
    I’m grateful.”

    The issues about talking down the cedi replies a recent admonition by New Patriotic Party, NPP, member, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, about how the media’s coverage of the currency could lead to speculation and further worsening the status of the cedi.

    Gabby holds that whenever journalists report negatively on the cedi, they become accessories to fueling speculation about the currency and thus become complicit in its depreciation.

    He wrote in a Facebook post of October 20 thus: “Journalists can report and influence. But where the default mode is to influence negatively, such media houses run the risk of becoming partners in speculation.

    “It is not the job of journalists and analysts to fix the cedi; but fixing it is not helped if they make it more their job to fuel speculations.

    “The cedi may be worth 60% less now than what it was to the US dollar last year. But it is not worthless! My sympathies go to the many, many businesses and consumers out there who simply do not know to where to turn,” the post added.

    Bawah Mogtari, in another tweet acknowledged that President Akufo-Addo will be addressing the nation on the economy, whiles expressing the hope that Vice President Bawumia will also be invited to answer some pressing questions.

    “Hopefully after the President Akufo Addo’s presentation, he will invite his Vice President Bawumia to respond as succinctly and as loquaciously as he did in 2016 to the 170 questions he set for our late VP Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur! Thank you,” her tweet read.

  • Release cash from sold scrap to save Railways Company from collapsing – Workers

    The Railway Workers Union has called on President Akufo-Addo to immediately direct the Railways Ministry to release some GH¢6 million realized from the auctioning of scrap metals of Ghana Railways Company Limited.

    This, they say, will help purchase fuel and finance other operational costs to save the Railways company from collapsing.

    Speaking to Citi News in Takoradi, the General Secretary of the Railway Workers Union, Godwill Ntarmah, said the Railway company is “on the verge of collapse and unable to buy fuel to run its manganese haulage lines as well as pay workers their two months’ salaries in arrears.”

    They are therefore appealing to government to release the funds to ensure the company survives.

     

  • A big chief like you should not speak like this in public – Obiri Boahene to Okyenhene

    A Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Obiri Boahene, has berated the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, for insulting persons who have been criticising President Akufo-Addo over happenings in the county.

    The Okyenhene said that persons who have been criticising the president over the current economic hardship are uncivilized villagers, witches, and wizards who have no sense of appreciation.

    “We must appreciate the feat of the President and show him appreciation for what he has done for Ghana. We must defend and protect him.

    “Those insulting the President are children of villagers. They are uncivilized. No well-nurtured person will insult an elderly. If you were raised in the Church, you will not insult an elder. If you are not a villager, then you may be a witch or wizard.

    “Not all will like you. Even Jesus Christ was crucified. It won’t bother me if they speak with sincerity but when you speak with hate, witchcraft, and envy, you must be careful because one day, one day! one day! one day! One day! The truth will overcome evil lies and envy,” the chief said.

    Reacting to this, Nana Obiri Boahene intimated that Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin’s comments were unfortunate.

    The former NPP deputy general secretary added that the chief, rather than insulting the critics of the president, should have urged Akufo-Addo to listen to those with genuine concerns.

    “Let me be very honest. Such a comment coming from a big chief is not in good taste. You are not some small chief, you are a big chief and you were not talking to your friend, you were talking in public and you uttered such words, it is not good.

    “You don’t have to support the NDC or the NPP to make such comments. It was an opportunity for him to urge the president to listen to the cries of Ghanaians. You don’t just call people witches and wizards. It is not good,” he said in Twi in a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb.

     

  • Stop ‘unnecessary’ regional tours and address Ghanaians – Prof. Gyampo calls out Akufo-Addo

    Political scientist, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has urged President Akufo-Addo to end his tour of the 16 regions in the country.

    According to him, President Akufo-Addo cannot be on tour amidst the current economic crisis.

    He argued that the President should address Ghanaians to take away the anxiety of many in the country.

    In an open letter on Facebook, the lecturer explained that due to the dire economic conditions, Ghanaians have become less receptive to him and therefore the need to publicly address the populace.

    “At the moment, Sir, there is a cocktail of challenges brewing even in these times of hardships; namely, galloping and mentally retarded inflation, wanton depreciation of our currency, high transport fares, labour union strike action, GUTA action, banks’ daily liquidity challenges etc.

    “These are matters that raise serious national security concerns. Instead of coming into our homes to address us on what we must do as a people in rallying behind your government to sail us through the hardships, you are indulged in unnecessary opulent tour of the regions with too many V8 Land-cruisers”, Professor Gyampo noted in his letter on Monday.

    In his letter, he also called on the President to embrace fresh ideas across the political divide to help rescue the ailing economy.

    “Also, end the regional tours NOW and come and address the nation on what you are doing to address the current economic hardships as well as what all Ghanaians must do.

    “Furthermore, please rethink the managers of our economy beyond your intransigent choice of loyalty over competence/national interest.

    “Finally, kindly tone down your practice of winner-knows-all politics and bring on board others from your own party and experts outside your party to help navigate us through the hardships. For clearly, your government doesn’t know it all”, he concluded.

    The advice from the political scientist comes in the face of the increasing hardship in the country and calls for the President to address citizens.

    At the moment, Ghana’s currency is consistently depreciating against the US dollar and other major trading currencies across the globe.

    This has led to what some have described as a galloping inflation; a situation consumers and traders say is having an adverse effect.

    The President has therefore been urged to adopt a more sober posture in resolving these challenges.

    Meanwhile, government says it is on the verge of finalising a deal with the IMF to lessen the hardship in the system and make the economy more viable.

    If concluded, the agreement will help place the economy on a better footing, government communicators have repeatedly assured.

  • Okyenhene trends #1 on Twitter following ‘villagers’ and ‘witches’ comments

    The Okyenhene, Amoatia Ofori Panin II is first on Ghana Twitter trends following his comments and descriptions of people criticizing President Akufo-Addo as ‘villagers’ and ‘witches.’

    Speaking at the inauguration of Archeaconry Service held at the St. Martin Anglican Church in Kyebi in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region on Sunday, October 23, 2022, the traditional leader called on Ghanaians to appreciate the significant contribution of the president to the development of the country.

    He explained that the numerous policies of the government, such as the Free Senior High School, are reasons Ghanaians should be grateful to the government.

    “We must appreciate the feat of the president and show him appreciation for what he has done for Ghana. We must defend and protect him.

    “… those insulting the president are children of villagers. They are uncivilized. No well-nurtured person will insult an elderly. If you were raised in the church, you will not insult an elder. If you are not a villager then you may be a witch or wizard,” he said without mincing words.

    Following that, a number of online users have flooded Twitter to share their sentiments about the chief’s comments.

    One user, Abena Nsia Nyarko, stated that it appears it is because of the direct benefits the Okyehene receives from the continuous stay of the president in office that he is speaking this way.

    “This is why the Okyenhene is calling us villagers, witches & wizards. Because, so long as Nana Akufo-Addo stays in office he continues to benefit hugely from the state. Hence the insult for demanding our Constitutional Right against the economic quagmire we’re facing today,” she tweeted.

     

  • NPP allegedly suspends ‘Mahama forgive me’ Manhyia North Polling Station organiser

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reportedly suspended its polling station organizer in the Manhyia North Constituency of the Ashanti Region, named Andy, who begged former President John Dramani Mahama’s forgiveness for voting against him.

    In a viral video sighted by GhanaWeb on October 20, Andy berated President Akufo-Addo for his poor handling of Ghana’s economy while expressing regret for his decision to vote against former President John Dramani Mahama.

    “Honourable Mahama, please forgive me. Mahama, forgive me. I did not know that things were going to be like this. If I knew that this was what was going to happen, I would not have voted against you. Mahama, please forgive me.

    “… As for you, Akufo-Addo, I am not going to say anything against you. After all these (difficulties), you are also insulting us by telling us that nobody held our hands to vote. 2024 will be here soon and you will see your stance.

    “A dollar is almost GH¢15 and you’re telling us it is because of the Russia-Ukraine war. A gallon of petrol is now GH¢70. We can no longer buy cement. We have all packed our cars. Mahama please forgive, please forgive,” he said in Twi.

    In another video sighted by GhanaWeb, Andy, who disclosed his suspension from the NPP, said that he has no regret for the comments he made.

    He added that his suspension will not affect him in any way since the NPP has done nothing for him for the 12 years he has been serving the party.

    “Yesterday, the dollar was GH¢14 plus. Today it is GH¢15, why? You have suspended me for speaking the truth.

    “It has never been my intention to contest for a position in the NPP; it has never been my intention. Also, the NPP has never gotten me a job. I have been a member of the NPP for 12 years and you have not gotten me a job. And so, what is the essence of your suspension?

    “… I will continue to seek Mahama’s forgiveness because I did not know this was how things were going to be. I have supported the NPP with my resources. I have used my money for posters, banners and other things. I don’t want to hold any position in the NPP and I will continue to beg Mahama for his forgiveness,” he said in Twi.

     

     

  • IMF deal will reduce hardship – President

    President Akufo-Addo says he is  hopeful the outcome of the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) negotiations would tackle the high cost of living in the country.

    He admitted the cost of living was high but was optimistic that the package of measures which would accompany the IMF programme would address the economic issues successfully and reduce the hardship on Ghanaians.

    “Yes we are going through difficulties but at the same time we trying to do well in other areas, the fundamentals of government policy is working. We have about 120 One District, One Factory completed and 300 of them in the pipeline,” he said.

    President,  Akufo- Addo made these statements at  Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region on Friday when he spoke to the media as part of  his three-day tour of the Eastern Region.

    Speaking on concerns made by some persons to review the free Senior High School (SHS) policy, the President said he was a bit skeptical about it.

    He argued “I have to confess my attitude when I hear the word review I hesitate because, first people who spoke about the review are people who opposed the policy in the first place and so if someone who did not want the policy comes to tell us that we should review it then my understanding is that he is to review the policy to reverse it.”

    According to the President, the two fundamental thrust of the policy which was to expand access that has been dramatically achieved.

    “The other was to include quality outcomes of education and I must say The outcomes of the free SHS graduates are a major improvement on the free SHS data that we have whether it is mathematics or integrated science, english across the board.”

    President Akufo-Addo  added that each  of these areas of study has seen a significant increase in the results of the students.

    President Akufo-Addo said reviewing these two thrusst of the policy and the improvement made will somehow be compromised, adding the country cannot tamper with the two fundamentals.

    He said “as a country, we have ensured that nobody in the country, no matter their social origin and financial background should be denied access to good quality secondary education and added that for the past five years, the implementation of the policy has been established.”

    He indicated that so far, his government have been able to financially sustain the free SHS policy and would continue to sustain it.

    The President later attended an official opening of the NPP National Executives and directors Training and Orientation Conference at Rock City in the Abetifi Constituency.

    He then proceeded to Nkawkaw to inspect the construction of the Nkawkaw-Abirem- Ofoase -Akim Oda road Project.

    President Akufo Addo later paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Ofoase, inspected the construction of the Ofoase-Ayirebi Agenda 111 hospital project and departed to Akyem Asuboa in the Asene Manso Akroso constituency to inspect a similar project.

     

  • ‘Akufo-Addo has become more prouder than NDC and Mahama’ – Prophet Kofi Oduro

    Prophet Kofi Oduro, General Overseer, Alabaster International Ministry, has indicated that President Akufo-Addo has become prouder than the opposition NDC and its 2020 flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

    The man of God in a viral video sighted by GhanaWeb said the President needs to repent from his arrogance if he wants to see a solution and have a remedy to the current economic hardships facing Ghanaians.

    He said the President, who was favoured by God for his meekness has become prouder and his pride will take him down without any remedy.

    He noted that without repentance, a proud Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government will go down in the history of Ghana as the worse.

    Prophet Kofi Oduro said, “they spoke carelessly without any remembrance and in the humility of your heart, God favoured you but your excellency you have become more prouder than the NDC and their Mahama.

    “I stand here with a heavy heart to respectfully say this to you, sir, the Lord is telling me pride takes everybody down and if you continue to be proud, you will go down without remedy.”

    He continued: “your government will be the worse in the history of this country. Your excellency, if you continue in the arrogance of speech and the pride of your life, you will never see solution and you will never see remedy.

    “I stand here as a man of God and as a prophet of God of not needing anything from you except your repentance and your humility; if not Ghana is going into destruction. It is only the fool that thinks that we are going in the right direction.”

     

  • The dollar has whipped Bawumia, Ken Ofori-Atta – Sally Frimpong Mann

    Sally Frimpong Mann, a Ghanaian entertainment critic, has weighed in on the discussion of Ghana’s present economic crisis.

    She claims she is astounded by how the entire executive branch of government, headed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been unable to solve the continuous depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against other currencies, particularly the US Dollar.

    “Check out the dollar in US. Ken Ofori-Atta, you had support from the public. The way the dollar has beaten Bawumia, Ofori-Atta amazes me.
    They don’t even understand what is going on, she said.

    The entertainment pundit added that recent comments by President Akufo-Addo had not shown any level of empathy towards the plight of Ghanaians despite the crumbling state of affairs.

    “Some of the utterances of the President are very annoying. A president talking at sensitive times like this, you would have to sympathize with us. Because some of you (politicians), you don’t buy fuel, do not pay for electricity bill and water bill. Everything has been dumped on us (citizens)”, Sally explained.

    Sally stressed that none of the politicians is currently in the position to salvage the country’s economic woes and thus called on Ghanaians to put their trust in God in these difficult times.

    Speaking on Matter dey with Doreen Avio on Hitz FM, Sally said, “I know that Nana Addo, Dramani, they can’t do anything for us. I know when I say this, a lot of people will go like I am NPP. I have never voted. But I believe in the Bible.”

  • Economic Hardship: Ghana needs national consensus on solutions

    Two former presidential aspirants and a private legal practitioner have called for a national consultative dialogue to find lasting solutions to the country’s economic challenges.

    The Government, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, have attributed Ghana’s economic hardship mainly to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

    Dr Abu Sakara Foster, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) Presidential Candidate in the 2012 elections, Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah, an Independent Presidential Candidate in the 2020 elections, and Mr Martin Kpebu, a private legal Practitioner, in a discussion on a local television station on Saturday said the country needed a consensus to surmount the challenges.

    Dr Abu Sakara, who is the Founder of the National Interest Movement – a non-partisan civil society platform, said Ghana had reached a point where the ideas of political parties alone could not solve its challenges.

    He said: “Drastic situation requires drastic measures, and we need to call for a national meeting to build consensus on, which way to go. We must accept and admit that no one group of people in Ghana can solve the problems.”

    “We have a crisis, and we must first contain it by accepting that it’s a collective work to solve the situation. We must come together, build consensus, face reality and come up with long term plan,” Dr Abu Sakara, emphasised.

    He called for a fundamental reform to the constitution to bind Governments to go by the country’s long-term national development plan for inclusive and sustainable growth.

    On governance, he called for a shift from the attitude of “borrowing to spend” to having a prudent and fiscally disciplined economy that invested in agriculture and manufacturing.

    “We must grow the economy through agriculture and manufacturing and adjust trade and investment policies into these areas. There must be an underlying conveyor belt to transition small-scale farms and agribusinesses into medium-scale and large-scale in the long term,” the Agronomist said.

    Also speaking on reforms, Mr Yeboah said the time had come for Ghana to make changes to the 1992 constitution, which he noted had some defects that Government in power exploited to their advantage.

    “We need to change the constitution, until the constitution is changed, we can’t develop. The NDC (National Democratic Congress) and the NPP (New Patriotic Party) are benefiting from the defects in the Constitution,” he said.

    Mr Kpebu called for a constitutional process to remove both President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, from office, stressing that they had failed to fulfil the Article 36 requirement of the constitution.

    Article 36 (1) states that: “The State shall take all necessary action to ensure that the national economy is managed in such a manner as to maximize the rate of economic development and to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every person in Ghana and to provide adequate means of livelihood and suitable employment and public assistance to the needy.”

    Mr Kpebu said: “The President and the Vice President should go, and there should be a buffer of experts constituted to support the Speaker of Parliament who will then take over as President because he is from the other side of the political divide.”


    “We need a Kumepreko demonstration and then Parliament takes up from there. One third of MPs (Member of Parliament), let’s make the efforts to remove Akufo-Addo from office otherwise it will be an indictment on all of us,” the private legal practitioner said.

    The Government has admitted to the economic hardship and confident that measures taken and the ongoing negotiations with the IMF for a loan support programme would help alleviate the sufferings of Ghanaians in the shortest time possible.

    Source: GNA

  • President Akufo-Addo commissions inmates reformation camp at Nsawam Prisons

    President Akufo-Addo has commissioned the Nsawam Skills Acquisition, Vocational and Reformation Camp at the Nsawam Prisons in the Eastern Region for use.

    This happened on Saturday, October 22, 2022.

    The edifice comprises fully furnished 320-capacity dormitory blocks for the inmates, a skills training centre in carpentry, tailoring, a state-of-the- art ICT Lab, Administration block, and a Chapel that would also serve as classroom.

    Included in the facility is a Kitchen, a dining hall, laundry, inmates’ washrooms, seven sentry posts, two mechanized boreholes, offices, an infirmary, a visitors’ lounge, a shop, CCTV Installations, and other ancillary and recreational facilities.

    Constructed by the Church of Pentecost, in furtherance of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) detailing the respective roles of the Ghana Prisons Service and The Church of Pentecost, the facility is the second to be commissioned, after the maiden one at Ejura was handed over to the Ghana Prisons Service a year ago.

    At the ceremony, part of his three-day tour of the Estern Region that began last friday, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that “this is an example of the collaboration between the Church of Pentecost and the government.

    “We saw it during the height of the COVID crisis, when the church made available its facilities in the Gomoa Fetteh area, and also organized food for the needy at the time. It shows the commitment of this church towards contributing to resolving the socio-economic problems of our nation. All Ghanaians should therefore join me in saying a big ‘ayekoo’ to them.”

    The President said the church of Pentecost, by the act, had demonstrated exceptional leadership in its desire to maintain and grow a partnership with the state to address the problems of the country.

    “I can say with confidence that this ceremony is the highlight of my 3-day working visit to the region. I say so because we’re witnessing today, a very important example of the collaboration that we seek in this country, between the government and several stakeholders in our nation, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and independent institutions in our nation.”

    “Apostle, (Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of pentecost) your leadership of the church has already been commended by the General secretary, I want to add my voice to that commendation, about the sterling work that you’re doing in the name of Christ and the Christian community in our country, it’s exceptional and we must recognise it,” he stated.

    The Camp is the second of such facilities that are being constructed by the Church of Pentecost. The church has indicated that three others were in the offing, two of which are expected to be commissioned by the end of the year.

    Apostle Nyamekye said the Ejura Prison camp project constructed last year was already yielding some dividends.

    He said that the vision of the Church “is hinged on a three-pronged approach, one of which is partnering with the Government for the socio- economic development of the nation.

    “As a church, we believe that we have not only been called to worship God but to also serve God’s purpose within the society. It is from such a conviction that we are gathered here to commission this prison camp project,” he added.

    Currently, 36 inmates are being trained in different trades including tailoring, kente weaving, leatherworks, carpentry, and metalworks. A good number of the inmates have already been trained at the workshop and have since been discharged.

    Apostle Nyamekye noted that prison overcrowding was a key contributory factor to poor prison conditions around the world, and was also arguably the biggest single problem facing prison systems.

    “Such overcrowding and associated challenges prevent prisons from fulfilling their proper functions,” he noted.


    Apostle Nyamekye indicated that the Ghana Prisons Service was experiencing acute overcrowding in its holding facilities across the country. “Available statistics at the time of crafting our vision 2023 strategic document in 2018, indicated an overcrowding rate of 50.43% (i.e., 50.43% beyond the normal capacity).”

    “As of last Thursday, October 20, 2022, there were a total of 14,957 inmates in our prisons, as against the maximum capacity of 9,850. Using the Nsawam medium security prisons as a case in point, Mr. President, this holding facility was built to hold a total of 850 prisoners, but currently, the facility is holding 3,187 prisoners. This represents over 275% above the required capacity,” he stated.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghana Railway collapsing – Workers

    The Railway Workers Union has urged the government to save the Ghana Railway Company as soon as possible.

    According to the workers, the company is on the verge of failing.

    The Union stated in a statement issued and signed by its General Secretary, Godwill Ntarmah, that the company is currently unable to purchase fuel to run its manganese freight and passenger trains.

    The Ghana Railway Company is saddled with a mountain of debt, including unpaid salaries and SSNIT and credit union contributions.

    The Ghana Railway Workers Union is therefore urging President Akufo-Addo to direct the immediate release of revenue from scrap metal auctions and to intervene to “save the company from total collapse”.

    Read the full statement below

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Ghana must work again – Samini tells Akufo-Addo

    Musician Samini has bemoaned the country’s dire economic situation, criticising President Akufo-Addo for the difficulties.

    Samini in a Facebook post said that because he believed in the President’s message of change, he supported him to win power in the 2020 elections.

    Registering his disappointment with the turn of events, the ‘My Own’ hit maker stated that his soul bleeds.

    “Our investments wash away daily as the dollar openly whips our cedi. We cannot pretend all is well. But if God has blessed Ghana with anything, it is our ability to stare difficulty right in the face and say, it will #bealright,” Samini lamented.

    “Ghana must work again! Where is the Nana Addo who begged us for the mandate,” he added

    Samini’s lamentations follow a sharp depreciation of the cedi in the past month with a dollar now selling for GH¢14.7.

    Inflation is in excess of 40% and fuel prices skyrocket with transport unions saying fares will go up from Monday, October 24, 2022.

    Government spokespersons insist external factors are responsible for the economic decline while sector experts including the World Bank and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) blame poor economic decisions for the challenges.

    Meanwhile, Samini has urged Ghanaians to keep faith and pray for a better Ghana.

    “The indiscipline in high and low places of government must be checked. We go keep hope alive and continue to soldier on. What’s a man without hope? We can only continue to pray for a better tomorrow. To all my high graders out there, I say it again, we will #bealright!!!”

    Source:myjoyonline.com

  • Meet the 5 strong, beautiful women manning Ghana’s Supreme Court

    They are bold and beautiful and are currently making strides as justices of Ghana’s Supreme Court, having been appointed at different periods by the President Akufo-Addo.

    Out of some 14 Justices of the Supreme Court, these 5 women are making a name not only for themselves in legal history but on behalf of all Ghanaian women.

    We take a look at their profiles and achievements.

    Agnes Mercy Abla Dordzie

    Agnes Mercy Abla Dordzie was born in Taviefe-Deme in the Volta Region. After her basic and secondary education in various schools including the Ola Girls Secondary School in the Volta Region, she proceeded to the University of Ghana to study Law and Political Science from 1974 to 1977.

    Dordzie worked as a national service personnel at the National Council on Women and Development at Koforidua from 1977 to 1978.

    She then enrolled at the Ghana School of Law in 1979 and graduated in November 1980 with a Barrister-at-law degree. Justice Dordzie was called to the bar that same year.
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    She joined the Attorney General’s Department as an assistant state attorney until January 1983. A month later, she moved to Nigeria on a contract appointment to work with the Minister of Justice at Calabar, Cross River State as a state council.

    She later returned to Ghana to begin private legal practice at Adzoe Gbadegbe and Company.

    She remained in private legal practice until May 1987 when she appointed magistrate at Somanya. In November 1991 she was elevated to a Circuit Judge, working in Accra.

    She served as a High Court judge in Accra from November 1995 to November 2003.

    From December 2003 to November 2005, she was the supervising High Court judge of the Ashanti Region.

    Justice Dordzie was appointed by the Commonwealth Secretariat on the secondment of the Judiciary of Ghana to serve as a High Court judge in The Gambia and was later elevated to the Court of Appeal in July 2010.

    In 2007 she pursued a master’s degree program in International Relations at the Commonwealth Open University, British Virgin Islands, United Kingdom, graduating in 2010.

    She also enrolled at the Institute of Theological Studies to study a six-month diploma course in Christian Counselling in 2014.

    Agnes Mercy Abla Dordzie was one of four Supreme Court Justices nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on July 3, 2018.

    Her nomination followed the retirement of some justices of the Supreme Court and the need to replace them.

     

  • IDIF cutting foreign goods dependence – Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has backed the One-District, One-Factory initiative under the broader industrialisation agenda of the government, as a basis for developing a home-grown infrastructure that is capable of withstanding the uncertainties of exogenous shocks to the Ghanaian economy.

    In this regard, the president pointed out that the Eastern Region, alone, has completed 1D1F enterprises, with another 16 at various stages of completion and soon to be inaugurated, as well as another four at the project conception stage.

    The performance and success of the completed 1D1F projects across the country, with regards to minimising unemployment and shoring local production, has thus far, been a clear indication of President Akufo-Addo’s long-held belief that Ghana’s path towards self-reliance is largely premised on the country’s determination to industrialise.

    According to the President, who began a three-day tour of the Eastern Region on Friday, 21 October 2021, “the whole purpose of the policy means having factories and enterprises here in Ghana, which will substitute the ones that are coming from abroad. That is the whole purpose of the policy. Instead of importing XYZ, you’re going to have them made here.”

    He added: “When we said we wanted to implement 1D1F and certain strategic industrial policies, we were told it couldn’t be done, but today, everyone is talking about how important it is for the Ghanaian economy to lessen its dependence on foreign goods and foreign services.”

    “Now, people are beginning to understand that, indeed, we had the foresight, we knew exactly what we needed to do to bring substantial progress, real progress not intermittent progress, but substantial progress, which is going to be strong and resilient. That is what I’ve noticed is ongoing,” he added.

    President Akufo-Addo indicated further: “By the time we are through, then the commitment of a 1D1F would have been established. And we can only strengthen the industrial development of the country, which is very important to note that foreign import dependence will not inure to our growth. We have the panacea, the solution, and the government is working towards it”.

    President Akufo-Addo’s 1D1F initiative is meant to change the nature of Ghana’s economy from one which is dependent on the import and export of raw materials to one which is focused on manufacturing, value addition and export of processed goods from raw materials that are largely found in the districts across the country.

    Thus far, the One-District-One-Factory initiative, which has seen the ongoing construction of 296 factories across the country, of which 125 have been completed, is part of the foundation on which the Akufo-Addo government is we are building a comprehensive industrialisation programme, inspired by the development of strategic anchor industries, such as the emerging automotive industry and the co-ordinated exploitation for the entire domestic value addition of our bauxite and iron ore resources.

    “I am hopeful that, by the end of my term, the full complement 296 factories will be in operation to help provide quality domestic alternatives to the consumption needs of Ghanaians and reduce substantially our dependence on imports. We do not only account for the youth as labour in the 1D1F programme, but also as managers and owners. Indeed, 58 of these factories are wholly owned by young people who have received direct government support”, he added.

  • Nana Addo commissions inmate skills acquisition and reformation center at Nsawam

    President Akufo-Addo has commissioned an inmate skills acquisition and reformation center at Nsawam to begin day two of his 3-day working tour of the Eastern Region.

    The 320-bed capacity facility constructed and donated by the Church of Pentecost is the second of the 5 model prison camp, which forms part of the 5-year strategic vision of the church to decongest the country’s prisons.

    Speaking at a durbar to commission the facility, the Director of Prison Services Isaac Kofi Egyiri who commended the Church for the collaboration indicated that the service will expand prison agriculture to obtain food security at the prison.

    President Akufo-Addo who also lauded the exemplary efforts of the Church of Pentecost in tackling issues of congestion at the prisons indicated that government will provide the necessary support to the service to realize the vision of attaining food security.

  • Public figures calling for the resignation of Ken Ofori-Atta

    Calls for the dismissal of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Ken Ofori-Atta, have heightened in the last couple of weeks following the wobblign state of the economy.

    In spite of the fact that netizens have taken to social media to whine and call for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, President Akufo-Addo has disregarded their solicitations.

    In some way or another, this got a few well-known individuals to pound on the Minister’s renunciation since the economic slump has forced government to seek a financial rescue programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    President Akufo-Addo on August 8, while talking in an exclusive interview on Tamale-based North Star radio, during an official tour to the region shielded his ministers.

    He noted that they have been working hard while expressing their outputs have been extensive.

    GhanaWeb in this article puts together a list of some public figures pushing for the resignation of the Finance Minister.

    Nana Oye Bampoh Addo

    Former Gender Minister, Nana Oye Bampoh Addo, joined calls for Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to resign.

    She believes as the main gatekeeper of the national economy, the Minister must take responsibility for the economic downturn the country is experiencing.

    Nana Oye pointed out that the approach that the National Democratic Congress government in 2015 used to secure a programme from the International Monetary Fund was different from that of this government.

    Kwabena Agyei Agyapong

    Former General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, has also hammered on the resignation of Ken Ofori-Atta.

    According to Mr Agyapong, the main reason for his call was the decision of the government to seek an economic rescue programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – a position that the Minister had vehemently opposed publicly and vowed will not be taken.

    Mr Agyapong added that the Minister must on his own volition tender his resignation because of his anti-IMF statements and having “got it wrong.”

    Lydia Forson

    Entertainment personality, Lydia Forson, following the resignation of the UK’s Prime Minster, Liz Truss, questioned the rationale behind Ken Ofori-Atta’s decision to stay in office as the Minister of Finance.

    According to her, Ghanaians have lost confidence in Ken Ofori-Atta as the Minister of Finance due to the economic downturn currently being faced by Ghanaians.

    In a tweet sighted by GhanaWeb, she said, “It makes absolutely no sense that Ken Ofori-Atta is still the finance minister, how? He’s lost the confidence of the people!”

    Nana Aba Anamoah

    Lydia’s views were not different from media personality, Nana Aba Anamoah, who has also pushed for the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to save himself the disgrace and step down.

    According to her, Ken Ofori-Atta has failed in the management of the local economy.

    Nana Aba Anamoah attributed the frequent fall of the local currency, high inflation rate, and increase in petroleum prices, among other factors leading to the country’s economic crisis to the incompetence of the Finance Minister.

    She asserted that the current harsh economic condition was due to government’s “imprudent borrowing taste and wasteful use of those flammable funds.”

    Kweku Sintim Misa (KSM)

    Known for not shelving his thoughts on governmental issues, Ghanaian playwright and actor, Kweku Sintim Misa (KSM), in a recent post advised Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Ken Ofori Atta, to resign from his position.

    He didn’t mince words when he shared a post on Twitter on October 22, 2022, stating that since President Akufo-Addo has resolved not to sack him, Ken Ofori-Atta, he should take the initiative and step down from the position.

    Dr Theo Acheampong

    Political risk analyst and economist, Dr Theo Acheampong reiterated calls for the Finance Minister to resign from his post.

    Speaking on Newsfile on JoyNews, he said that the calls for the minister’s resignation are not because he is not liked but because he has made serious policy mistakes which have impacted the livelihoods of many.

    Dr Acheampong, listing some of the minister’s faults, said that “one is the E-Levy, number two on the fact that philosophically he doesn’t support us going to the IMF.”

     

  • Galamsey fight: Chanfang manufacturing, distribution, sale now illegal – Akufo-Addo

    It is now illegal to manufacture, distribute or sell chanfangs (the machines used on river bodies for illegal mining), President Akufo-Addo has said.

    In an interview during his recent 3-day tour of the Eastern Region, the president noted that the move is part of his government’s anti-galamsey measures.

    He also said: “We have increased significantly, the level of sanctions against people who engage in galamsey.”

    “Today, Ghanaians who get involve will get a 15-year minimum sentence if convicted and foreigners will get as long as a 25-year imprisonment if convicted,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

    He noted that “in a democratic dispensation if you want a change, the first thing to do is advocacy to change public opinion.”

    Also, he said the anti-galamsey team, ‘Operation Halt’, has been given a boost to undertake its task.

    “The problem was that we disengaged too quickly, once the first plot has gone through, this year we have decided to use the whole year to maintain Operation Halt, especially, the fight on our river bodies,” he said.

    “Surveyors have taken charge of impactful machines, excavators and chanfang and they are being destroyed because it is our major problem in our mining.”

     

     

  • 4 Ghanaian celebrities who have hit at government this week

    Government has come under criticism from a cross-section of the public due to the current economic crisis.

    In the wake of this, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been at the receiving end from almost all and sundry.

    While the “ordinary citizens” have been agitating on and off social media, Ghanaian celebrities have also not held back from expressing their dissatisfaction against government.

    In the past week, some Ghanaian celebrities have called on President Akufo-Addo and the Minister of Finance to sit up and address the economic crisis fraught the country.

    Below are some celebrities who have waded into the national conversation

    Prince David Osei

    The Ghanaian actor is one of the familiar supporters of the ruling government. He, alongside other celebrities like Kalybos was seen to be involved heavily clothed in NPP paraphernalia campaigning for the then Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    However, the movie star has openly displayed his disappointment in the government. In a tweet sighted by GhanaWeb, Prince called on government to seek help.

    “Can we all put aside politics, humble ourselves and seek help from whoever has the ideas or in-depth knowledge on how to stop the further depreciation of our currency and stabilize our economy,” he tweeted.

    Yvonne Nelson

    The movie producer and actress is another popular figure who has not held back from bashing the government and calling for urgent steps to change the current tides.

    In 2015, Yvonne Nelson led a demonstration against power cuts in Ghana, popularly known as “Dumsor”. Being a citizen and not a spectator as President Akufo-Addo implored Ghanaians, the model has this time taken to Twitter to quiz the President over his governance.

    “Are you still the President? Are you still in this country? Are you this heartless? Do you hear people crying? Are you this heartless? No more campaign ahead so you are unbothered. You obviously feel nothing for Ghanaians. Such a disappointment”, she lamented.

    Lydia Forson

    The Ghanaian actress and social critic have also been vociferous over the state of affairs. She has opined that the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, needs to resign.

    According to her, the minister has performed woefully and thus is unfit to continue occupying his position.

    Furthermore, she has asked the government to take a cue from Britain, whose Prime Minister has resigned her inability to lead.

    “I really wish Gabby Otchere Darko’s obsession & admiration for the UK parliament included taking pointers as well on resignations and firing. It makes absolutely no sense that Ken Ofori Attah is still the finance minister; how? He’s lost the confidence of the people! She said in a tweet.

    Nana Aba-Anamoah

    The Ghanaian media personality and General Manager of GHOne TV and Starr FM has penned a long letter to Ken Ofori Atta.

    The TV host in the letter discusses how the minister has failed in his capacity and needs him to resign. She called the minister an absolute failure in managing the economy and driving it into an abyss.

    A portion of the letter reads, “Hmm. Maybe a part of you wants to leave and your cousin (President Akufo Addo-Addo) is backing you to the hilt on the altar of loyalty. But for God’s, spare the entire nation this prolonged spectacle of failure and let go of the burning rod.”

     

  • It’s obvious Akufo-Addo won’t fire you, just resign – KSM to Ofori-Atta

    Television show host, Kwaku Sintim-Misa, popularly known as KSM has urged Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to as a matter of urgency resign for another financial manager to take over the affairs of the economy.

    He averred that President Akufo-Addo has refused to sack Ofori-Atta despite calls by a section of Ghanaians for him to be fired.

    KSM in a tweet sighted by GhanaWeb opined that it’s about time a competent financial manager takes charge to stabilize the wobbling economy.

    “Advice to Ken Ofori-Atta. Bra Ken, it is obvious the President cannot and will not fire you. Please do him and GH a favour and respectfully resign for a competent financial manager to take charge. I am sure that the financial markets will react positively to the news,” his tweet read.

    It would be recalled that Bloomberg on Thursday, October 20, 2022, reported that Ghana’s local currency – the cedi – depreciated in value by 9.6%.

    This, the news portal said, makes the total loss of the cedi in 2022 almost 52%, the highest recorded in 22 years.

    The free fall of the cedi now places the currency at the 148 position of worst-performing currencies in the world.

    Meanwhile, Ghana is targeting an amount of $3 billion over a three-year period from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) once an agreement on a programme is reached.

    The new amount requested as a loan is double the government’s initial target of $1.5 billion.

    The IMF programme is aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and safeguarding debt sustainability among many others.

    Read KSM’s tweet below;

    Advice to Ken Ofori-Atta.

    Bra Ken, it is OBVIOUS the President CANNOT and WILL NOT fire you. PLEASE do him and GH a favor and respectfully resign for a COMPETENT FINANCIAL MANGER to take charge. I am sure that the financial markets will react POSITIVELY to the news. ????????

    — Kwaku Sintim-Misa (@KSM_Kwaku_Misa) October 22, 2022

  • Resign for a competent financial manager to take over – KSM ‘begs’ Ken Ofori-Atta

    Ghanaian playwright and actor, Kweku Sintim Misa (KSM), has advised Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Ken Ofori Atta, to resign from his position.

    In a post he shared on Twitter on October 22, 2022, he stated that since President Akufo-Addo has resolved not to sack him, Ken Ofori-Atta should take the initiative and step down from the position.

    “Advice to Ken Ofori-Atta. Bra Ken, it is OBVIOUS the President CAN NOT and WILL NOT fire you.

    “PLEASE do him and GH a favour and respectfully resign for a COMPETENT FINANCIAL MANAGER to take charge. I am sure that the financial markets will react POSITIVELY to the news,” he pleaded.

    Since the beginning of the year, Ghana plunged into what many describe as ‘the worst time in our economic history’, as the dollar has reached ¢15.65.

    In a previous post shared by KSM expressing disappointment in the country’s leaders, he stated that Ghana is self-programmed to land in disarray.

    In a tweet dated October 3, 2022, a new crop of Ghanaians are rising and will fight for the confusion in the country to end.

    “GHANA is SELF-PROGRAMMED to land in CHAOS. Out of these CHAOS, a NEW GENERATION WILL RISE.

    “This Generation will insist that THIS NONSENSE MUST STOP. The REAL MENTAL REVOLUTION will then BEGIN. GHANA WILL THEN REGAIN HER LOST GLORY,” he posted.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Watch CCTV footage of how alleged NIB informant ‘invaded’ TV3 premise to cause Captain Smart’s arrest

    Godsbrain Captain Smart, the breakfast show host of Onua FM was arrested by operatives of the National Investigations Bureau on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.

    Narrating events leading to his arrest, Captain Smart in a 3FM interview alleged that there were spies of the NIB on the premise of his media house who relayed information about his movements to the office.

    The media house has released a CCTV footage of an alleged NIB informants whom it claim was feeding intelligence about Captain Smart and other staff of the station to the operatives who eventually arrested him.

    A video making the waves on social media captures Alfred Ocansey, a staff of TV3 running commentary over a video in which he claims a woman made his way to their premise and carried out her informant activities.

    Why Captain Smart was arrested

    The Ministry of Information earlier this week accused the journalist of impugning the character of President Akufo-Addo.

    The statement was on the back of a broadcast by Captain Smart on October 17, 2022, in which he accused the president of being actively involved in illegal mining also known as galamsey activities.

    Describing the claims by Captain Smart as false and malicious, the ministry further accused the journalist of engaging in unethical and irresponsible journalism.

    The government in the statement said it was referring the matter to the National Media Commission for review and adjudication.

    Despite the statement by government in which a threat of legal action was issued, Captain Smart in a subsequent edition of his programme reiterated his allegations against the president.

    According to him, the allegation was on the basis of some of the government’s actions and inactions relative to the fight against illegal mining.

    “These are the reasons why Nana is a galamsey kingpin. Osafo Maafo is a Senior Advisor to the President but asked us to allow Aisha Huang to go because of $2 billion when she was arrested. Is the $2 billion more important than our lands?

    “Secondly, Chairman Wontumi is doing galamsey but still at post. Meanwhile, Kwabena Agyapong, Sammy Crabbe and Paul Afoko were suspended for doing things against party. They didn’t do anything to the state but the party. But Wontumi is doing something that is against the country. Is the party more important than the country?

    “Also, the Minerals Commission boss has said Wontumi had no license to enter the Tano Nimiri forest. But the only thing government was able to do was to ask some small boys to put some old equipment there for them to burn them to suggest they have taken any action. If you’re not a kingpin, sack Wontumi,” he said.

     

  • ‘We’ll find a solution to all economic challenges’ – Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has expressed optimism over the ability of his government to remedy recent economic headwinds the country is facing.

    In an interview on Republic 97.5 FM, the president said the solutions being sought will fix the fundamentals of the economy and by so doing justify the government’s aspirations.

    “I am confident that where our economy is now, we will find a solution to it and with that, the whole world will see that the fundamentals of the Ghanaian economy, the things we set out t do, we were right in identifying those things.”

    He identified specifically the areas of food security and industrial development and expansion as major planks of the new economy being built.

    On the causes of the current crisis, Akufo-Addo, who is currently touring the Eastern Region, put it down to the inability this year to raise funds on the capital markets.

    “One of the most fundamental is our capacity to raise money on the international capital markets, this year that has been compromised. Largely as a result of issues in the global economy, which meant that all budgets of countries have been thrown out of gear,” he stated.

    The economy is facing major headwinds that have been characterized by galloping inflation, consistent depreciation of the cedi and general high cost of living and of doing business.

    The government is hoping to reach a deal with the International Monetary Fund, IMF, for an economic support programme aimed at shoring up the economy and easing the burden on ordinary Ghanaians.

     

  • Akufo-Addo lauds GFA for convincing European born players to join Black Stars

    President Akufo-Addo has commended the Ghana Football Association led by Kurt Okraku for working hard to secure the services of exceptionally talented Ghanaians born in the diaspora to switch nationality to play for the Black Stars.

    His comments follow the recent nationality switch of Inaki Williams, Tariq Lamptey, Stephan Ambrosius, and Ransford Yeboah. Before that, Alexander Djiku, Tariq Fosu, Joseph Wollacott, Denis Odoi, Elisha Owusu, Daniel Kofi Kyereh, and Antoine Semenyo, among others have within the last couple of years switched nationality to play for Ghana.

    “I have a lot of confidence in the players that are being selected and I am happy that many of our Ghanaian players in the diaspora under your leadership are being brought in to play for the Black Stars,” President Nana Akufo Addo said in a meeting with the GFA Executive Council on Thursday.

    “I think you have done very well to go out there to convince them to come and play for us and it couldn’t have been any better so as Politicians, football administrators, let’s help them to settle and enjoy their trade.

    “Our bid is to create the right conditions for them to excel, that is what we have to do because undoubtedly Ghana football is among the best in the World,” he added.

    Source: Football Ghana

  • NPP’s ‘breaking the 8’ agenda is possible by deeds not words – Dr. Amoako Baah

    Dr. Richard Amoako Baah, a Political Scientist and a member of the governing NPP, is of the view that the governing New Patriotic Party‘s (NPP) ‘break the 8’ agenda is mere rhetoric.

    According to him, it will be difficult for the governing party to achieve that aim because going beyond the eight-year cycle as has been the case since 1992 can only be possible by deeds or performance and not words.

    “When people are saying that you cannot break the 8, that is what they are saying, you cannot. What are you going to do to break the 8 anyway? It is your performance that breaks whatever you want to break not you yourself saying it…it is others who are going to vote to look at your performance and they thought that they will break it for you. So, we see these things because there is a lack of performance,” Dr. Amoako Baah said on Joy FM, Friday, October 21.

    The political scientist was reacting to the Global InfoAnalytics survey report which revealed that 70% of eligible voters doubt the ability of the New Patriotic Party to win the 2024 general elections.

    To him, the survey is not scientific although it gives an idea of where the country is heading.

    He noted that the unpopularity of President Akufo-Addo is a clear testimony of the position of the NPP in the 2024 elections.

    “The party in power and especially when the leader, the President becomes this unpopular it is very easy to decide where this is going. You will know the outcome beforehand but this research is unscientific that is all it is.”

    Global InfoAnalytics survey in its October 2022 report stated that the majority of the voters have ruled out the possibility of the NPP ‘breaking the eight’.

    “On the question of whether the NPP can ‘Break the Eight’, approximately 70% of voters do not believe the NPP can win the 2024 election, whilst 19% believe so and 10% have no opinion”, a summary of the survey disclosed.

    The survey also revealed that former President John Dramani Mahama, if given the mandate as the NDC flagbearer, will beat any of the two frontrunners of the governing NPP in the 2024 elections.

    The report noted that Ghanaians are likely to vote for John Dramani Mahama as the next president over Dr Mahamudu Bawumia or Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.

    “In the general elections, the poll shows Mahama (JDM) continues to lead his potential rivals from the NPP, Bawumia (DMB) and Alan Kyeremanten (AKK) by a significant margin if the elections were held today.

    “The poll shows further that among voters who are likely to vote in the 2024 elections, JDM leads DMB 62% to 33%, representing a 29% lead. 6% of voters prefer to vote for someone else (SO). In the race between JDM and AKK, JDM leads AKK 60% to 36%, representing a 24% lead. 5% prefer to vote for SO”, excerpts of the survey read.

    Global InfoAnalytics

    Global InfoAnalytics Ltd, is a research company based in Accra. The company describes itself as “the trusted foundation for decision making; we earn that trust through the application of sophisticated methodologies to the real-world problems of companies, political organisations and policy and strategic decision-makers.”

    Global InfoAnalytics has uniquely addressed the market demand for big data analytics solutions and services and provide clients with cost-effective and result-oriented service offerings that enable them to gain a competitive edge.

  • Economic hardships: Suspend your regional tours immediately – Ablakwa to Akufo-Addo

    The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on President Akufo-Addo to suspend his regional tours immediately.

    The MP, in a tweet on Thursday, October 20, 2022, stated that the president cannot travel around the country as the citizens’ hardships continue to worsen.

    The MP, who was particularly worried about the current rapid rate of depreciation of the Ghana Cedi, said the cedi’s performance should be treated as a national security threat.

    He added that Akufo-Addo should, as a matter of urgency, fire his finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and start consultative engagement with all stakeholders across the political divide to help find solutions to the difficulties Ghanaians are going through.

    “The total crash of the Cedi must be seen as a major national security threat.

    “Prez Akufo-Addo should immediately suspend his regional booing tours, sack his Finance Minister, dissolve his failed EMT & convene a non-partisan emergency economic rescue forum to harvest fresh ideas,” the tweet the MP shared read.

    On Friday, October 21, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo began a three-day tour to the Eastern Region to commission completed projects, inspect ongoing ones and interact with traditional authorities of the area.

    The Eastern Region tour comes days after the president’s tour of the Ashanti Region, which made news headlines after Akufo-Addo was hooted at by some factions in the party’s stronghold over the economic hardship in the country.

    President Akufo-Addo and his government have come under heavy scrutiny for failing to address the current economic challenges in the country.

    The prices of goods and services have been continuously rising all year round, with inflation currently hovering over 37 per cent.

    The Ghana cedi has been ranked the worst currency in the world among 148 currencies tracked by Bloomberg, overtaking Sri Lanka’s rupee, having depreciated by nearly 50 per cent so far in 2022.

  • Akufo-Addo begins 3-day tour of Eastern Region today

    President Akufo-Addo will begin a three-day working visit to the Eastern Region today to commission completed projects, inspect ongoing ones and interact with traditional authorities of the area.

    President Akufo-Addo will attend the official opening of the NPP National Executives and Directors Training and Orientation Conference at Rock City in the Abetifi constituency and hold an interview session on Rock City Radio.

    He will then proceed to Nkawkaw to inspect the construction of the Nkawkaw-Abirem-Ofoase-Akim Oda road project.

    President Akufo-Addo will later pay a courtesy call on the Chief of Ofoase, inspect the construction of the Ofoase-Ayirebi Agenda 111 Hospital Project and depart to Akyem Asuboa in the Asene Manso Akroso constituency to inspect a similar project there.

    Day two of the tour will begin with the commissioning of a 1D1F Beverage Factory, a 24-Unit Classroom Block at St. Martins SHS, as well as an accommodation complex inside the Nsawam Camp Prison, all in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri constituency.

    He will proceed to Kwabeng to inspect work on the Agenda 111 hospital project and the Buntaa Farms, followed by the commissioning of the Model STEM Senior High School and the Abomosu bridge, and well as an inspection of the Abomosu Polyclinic in Atiwa West.

    The final day of the President’s tour will begin in the Abuakwa South constituency with the inauguration of the Archdeaconry at St. Mark Anglican church in Kyebi.

    He will proceed to the Yiadom Hwedie Palace in Koforidua to pay a courtesy call on the Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, and commission a 24-Unit Classroom Block at Pentecost Senior High School.

    He will commission the newly constructed New Juaben South Municipal Assembly in Koforidua to end the tour of the region.

     

  • Akufo-Addo didn’t call the bluff of the people of Kwabre – Presidency

    The Director of Communication at the Jubilee House has said comments made by President Akufo-Addo with regards to the people of Kwabre were taken out of context.

    According to Eugene Arhin, the president did not call the bluff of the people but rather stated that he is focused on fulfilling his promises.

    “I don’t think the President was calling anybody’s bluff. The host asked him a particular question and the response the President gave was to what the host was saying.

    “Indeed, if you look at the package of road construction that is currently going on in the Kwabre and the Manso areas, I mean, what the President stated in his response was that I don’t think anybody threatening that, ‘I will not vote for him’ should be something that he should be worried about,” Eugene Arhin is said to have stated during a presser at the Jubilee House.

    President Akufo-Addo, during an interview said he is unmoved by threats to vote out the new Patriotic Party.

    According to the president, threats of voting against him or the NPP due to unfulfilled promises or lack of development under his tenure, especially, is a personal decision which he cannot be bothered about.

    The president was reacting to a message sent into the radio programme by a listener who stated that residents of Kwabre and Manso would vote against the NPP if President Akufo-Addo’s government failed to construct their roads.

    The message, as read by the host of the programme, Captain Koda, stated that the residents of the area, being a stronghold of the NPP, voted massively for President Akufo-Addo.

    “Our plea through you (roads minister) to the Mr President is that when you look at the voting pattern, residents of Kwabre voted massively for Nana. They said I should tell the president that they will be pained if you don’t construct their roads for them in 2024; they will vote against the NPP,” the host, sending the message through the Minister for Roads and Transport, Kwasi Amoako Atta, who was in the studio with the president, said.

    However, after several backlashes from Ghanaians with regards to the president’s response, Eugene Arhin said the president meant that he has no control over who a citizen decides to vote for even though he is focused on fulfilling his promises.

    “At the end of the day, his focus is to make sure that he delivers. Once he delivers and the road infrastructure is there and you still decide to go and vote for another party, that is your problem,” Eugene noted.

    He continued, “What he did indicate in that interview was that, work is ongoing in all parts of the country. There is no way we can construct all roads at the same time. It is not possible, looking at the national purse. So, if people, as per what the host was saying, will not be patient and wait for their time, that is fine, but he did not call anybody’s bluff,” the chronicle quoted Eugene Arhin as having said.

  • We didn’t hear anything – Arhin downplays booing of Akufo-Addo during Ashanti Regional tour

    The Director of Communications at the Jubilee House, Eugene Arhin, has said neither himself nor President Akufo-Addo heard Ghanaians booing at them during their tour in the Ashanti Region this week.

    According to him, the presidency was surprised when they saw the report in the media suggesting that some traders hooted and booed at the president.

    “I didn’t hear anything. Even the president himself [didn’t hear anything too]. Some of us were a little bit taken aback [when we saw that in the media],” citinewsroom quoted Eugene Arhin.

    On October 18, 2022, some traders at Adum reportedly hooted and booed at Akufo-Addo’s convoy as it made its way through the Central Business District of Kumasi during his tour in the region.

    As seen in videos shared via social media, some traders lined up along the stretch of the road booed away as the president and his convoy passed through the Adum Market to inspect the progress of work on the Kejetia/Central Market Project Phase II.

    The booing of the president’s convoy has largely been attributed to the current state of the Ghanaian economy and the general economic hardship in the country.

    Some three weeks ago, the president, in a similar fashion, was booed at a public event held at Independence Square.

    The president, who had mounted a podium to deliver an address during a Global Citizens Festival held in Ghana, was welcomed with wild boos.

    Reacting to this, Eugene Arhin said just like what happened at the Global Citizens Festival; they also heard no boos are was reported.

    “It is just like, probably, what happened during the Global Citizen festival. A group of people standing somewhere doing their own thing, and they record… but meanwhile, once you are in front there, you literally don’t hear anything,” he added.

     

  • Akufo-Addo must be ousted via protests or impeachment not coup – Barker-Vormawor

    A convener of the #FixTheCountry movement, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, believes President Akufo-Addo must be forced out of office with two clear years to the end of his mandate.

    But Barker-Vormawor, who is facing trial over a treason felony charge related to a coup d’etat comment early this year, holds that a military takeover will not be needed to oust the president.

    He believes that street protests and or impeachment were the available means that could be used to oust Akufo-Addo because in his opinion, Akufo-Addo is not worth the price of a coup, that is terminating the current democratic dispensation.

    In an October 19, 2022 Facebook post reacting to the arrest of Onua FM/TV’s Captain Smart over defamation charges, the lawyer by training stated:

    “Captain Smart arrested violently by National Security over broadcast pointing the finger at the President for his involvement in and indulgence of Galamsey. This short man is just begging to be overthrown at this point.”

    He authored a follow-up post to clarify the initial one, it read: “Because this issue keeps coming up every now and then, I want to be as clear as possible. I have no desire for Akufo-Addo to be kicked out through a coup d’etat! That will be ending our makeshift democracy. He is not worth the price.

    “But he doesn’t deserve to end his term too. So What I want is for him to either be forced to resign through street protests and agitations; or impeached by Parliament.

    “These are things that affirm our democracy not destroy it. Democracy is important to me! And it will be a huge coup to force him out of office that way,” he added.

    Barker-Vormawor is currently before the courts over a post claiming he will stage a coup if the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) was passed.

    Meanwhile, Captain Smart has been released by the NIB, his employers confirmed early Thursday morning.

    It is alleged that he was arrested for claiming that President Akufo-Addo was involved in galamsey – a statement the Ministry of Information has debunked.

    He appeared on his Onua Maakye show to reiterate the said allegations for which he was arrested, questioned and granted bail.

  • GUTA strike suspended after ‘goodwill’ from Akufo-Addo and Ga Mantse

    The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has suspended its strike action, according to a statement signed by its General Secretary, Alpha A. Shaban.

    The decision, according to the release comes on the back of a meeting with the King of the Ga State, Mantse Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II who has promised to take the matter up to the appropriate authorities for an urgent solution.

    The leadership of GUTA later met with President Akufo-Addo to lay down their grievances and recommendations.

    “He [the President] then called for setting up of a working committee made up of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, National Security and GUTA, to swiftly come out with pragmatic measures to solve the challenges,” parts of the statement read.

    The statement added that shops are expected to open today, Friday, October 21, 2022.

    “In view of all this goodwill from these great personalities, we wish to appeal to our teaming members and the entire trading community who participated in this strike action to reopen their shops from October 21, 2022, as we continue to pursue the process for immediate solution,” the statement concluded.