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Tag: President Akufo-Addo

  • Domelevo speaks on why he will not take further actions against Akufo-Addo after SC ruling

    Domelevo speaks on why he will not take further actions against Akufo-Addo after SC ruling

    Former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo, has firmly rejected demands to pursue compensation for the unconstitutional “leave” he was forced to take in 2020 under the directive of the presidency.

    Despite facing widespread public outcry and legal experts highlighting the violation of constitutional provisions, Domelevo has chosen not to seek damages for the unjust treatment he endured during his forced absence from office.

    This decision by the respected former Auditor-General reflects his commitment to prioritizing the integrity of the office he once held, rather than engaging in protracted legal battles. As the issue continues to garner attention, it raises important questions about accountability, constitutional adherence, and the protection of public officials who strive to uphold transparency and good governance.

    The Supreme Court after three years ruled that the forced leave was ‘unconstitutional and null and void.’

    In an interview with Citi FM hours after the May 31 ruling was handed down, Domelevo said even though he felt vindicated, he was not going to push further because the person who caused his predicament was not a taxpayer.

    “Many people made such suggestions, but I jokingly tell them why would I take redress to get compensation from the taxpayers who did nothing to me. The president doesn’t pay tax, so I’m not interested in taking any further action,” he said.

    About his ouster, he submitted further: “It’s a position and not a possession, so I have moved on… I think the verdict is the most important thing.”

    Civil Society Organizations filed a lawsuit arguing that the president’s directive that Domelevo takes 169-day accumulated leave ahead of his retirement undermined the independence of the Auditor-General’s office, adding that it smugged of attempts to hinder anti-corruption efforts.

    On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the suit, declaring the president’s directive as “unconstitutional and null and void,” thus putting an end to two years of legal disputes after the president rejected appeals to rescind the directive.

    In an interview on Accra-based JoyNews’ Upfront show on Wednesday, May 31, Mr. Domelevo expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that he felt vindicated.

    “I was not jumping around, but I felt vindicated when the decision came. If you remember, when I wrote to the office of the president to draw the attention of the president to the unconstitutionality of the directive from the president, I was told it’s because I am not a lawyer, I don’t appreciate the law, and I am happy that those in whose bosom reside the interpretation of the constitution and the laws have affirmed my position,” he said.

    He added, “I am ultimately happy because those who come after me will not have to go through this again.”

    Mr. Domelevo believed that the verdict would discourage similar unlawful acts against his successors and expressed his hope for caution to be exercised in order to avoid a recurrence of such a situation in the future.

  • Leaked memo reveals Presidency’s demand for CVs of EC Directors

    Leaked memo reveals Presidency’s demand for CVs of EC Directors

    A supposed internal memo of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC), which indicated the Office of the President, had requested the Curriculum Vitae (CV) of senior officials of the Commission, has been leaked on social media.

    In the said memo, which is dated May 29, 2023, the director of human resources at the Commission stated that the CVs were to be submitted via email following a request by the presidency directed at senior management of state agencies.

    “This comes to inform you that the Office of the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has requested for the Curriculum Vitae of Senior Management of State Agencies from Director and above.

    “You are therefore requested to submit your CV by noon today. May 29 2023 through mailto:ec.hrdirectorate@gmail.com for the attention of the Commission,” parts of the memo reads.

    The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who shared the Memo on Twitter, said that the action of the presidency is an affront to the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

    According to him, the action of the presidency constitutes a violation of the independence of the EC.

    “Art 46 says: ‘Except as provided in this Constitution or in any other law not inconsistent with this Constitution, in the performance of its functions, the EC, shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority’.

    “So why this Demand Memo by OOP on the EC?” parts of the MP’s tweet which was shared on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, reads.

  • Akufo-Addo charges Tourism Ministry to hit two million tourism arrivals by 2025

    Akufo-Addo charges Tourism Ministry to hit two million tourism arrivals by 2025

    President Akufo-Addo has tasked the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to ramp up promotional activities to achieve the target of two million international arrivals by 2025.  

    That, he noted, would result in corresponding earnings of some $4 billion to the national economy, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of jobs that would be created in the tourism value chain.  

    Speaking at the opening of the Presidential Summit on Tourism at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, President Akufo-Addo said that the government had placed tourism at the forefront of national development.  

    He said the tourism sector is a major driver of economic growth, enterprise development and job creation, thus players must pull efforts and resources to develop “sustainable tourism to ensure that benefits reach every corner of the country.”  

    The two-day summit is on the theme, “Rethinking Tourism for Economic Growth and Job Creation.” It is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ghana Tourism Authority.  

    Some 400 participants are taking part in the event. The summit aims to encourage critical thinking about tourism’s future and its impact on national development.  

    The gathering also seeks to create a platform to explore novel approaches to tourism and prioritise sustainability, and community involvement, and facilitate dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders in the industry.  

    With the tourism sector demanding partnerships in all approaches, the President called on all stakeholders to unite efforts, share knowledge and pull resources to create a comprehensive framework that facilitates dialogue.  

    He suggested that players in the industry must adopt a four-fold approach- Preservation, Promotion, Policy Leadership and Partnership- to make the tourism sector a driving force for national development.  

    President Akufo-Addo indicated that the government and all stakeholders in the tourism sector “must preserve what we have as a country. We are the guardians of Ghana’s natural wonders, and it is our responsibility to safeguard them for future generations.”  

    “We must amplify Ghana’s unique tourism appeal on the global stage through strategic marketing campaigns, enhanced digital presence, and targeted investments in infrastructure,” he said, adding, “Through this effort, we can showcase the diverse attractions the nation has to offer.”   

    The President urged the private sector to show policy leadership in creating the right climate and platform for investments to grow in the tourism sector.  

    He stressed the need for a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders to unlock the economic potential of the tourism industry.  

    “Let us unite our efforts, share knowledge, and pull resources. Let us create a comprehensive framework that facilitates dialogue, cooperation, and innovation.  

    “Together, we can develop sustainable tourism models, empower domestic entrepreneurs, and ensure that the benefits of tourism reach every corner of our beloved country.  

    “We are building a thriving tourism economy with many tourism sites currently undergoing improvements. We are determined to build a tourism economy where hospitality, arts and culture are used as tools to spur economic development,” President Akufo-Addo said.  

    Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture noted that the tourism industry has started showing signs of recovery and growth after the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic exacted on the sector.  

    He called on sector players to support the efforts the government was making to position Ghana as the tourism destination on the African continent.  

    “The first quarter of this year (2023) tourism numbers grew 47 per cent from 170,000 last year at this time to 247,000 arrivals. If each tourist spends $3,000.00 dollars, you can imagine how much that is.  

    “Our destination Ghana project is on course, and I want to assure all stakeholders that we are not resting. We want you to give us your support, partner us and we will make Ghana the choice for tourists,” he said.  

    Dr Awal disclosed that Ghana had overtaken the Gambia and Senegal as the most desired tourism destination in West Africa.  

    “Ghana is now the most attractive tourism destination in West Africa. Just two years ago, it was Gambia and Senegal, today we are number one. It was projected that this achievement will be done in 2026, however, under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership, today, Ghana is the most sought-after place for tourists. We will continue to do our best,” he said.  

    Data shows that tourism is gaining ground again following the lull caused by COVID-19.  

    International arrivals saw an 81 per cent growth in 2022, whilst domestic tourism also grew from 600,000 in 2021 to almost a million in 2022.

  • Law imposing Covid-19 restrictions struck out by Supreme Court

    Law imposing Covid-19 restrictions struck out by Supreme Court

    The statute that permitted President Akufo-Addo to impose limitations as part of the effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.

    The government at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused the Legislation of the Imposition of the Restriction Act which gave powers to the President to restrict human activities for the purpose of fighting the pandemic.

    Law Professor and Human Rights advocate, Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua along with eight others dragged the government to the Supreme Court.

    The applicants sued the Attorney General claiming that directives pursuant to the act such as the closure of schools, and restriction of movements, were unconstitutional.

    They claimed that it unlawfully empowered the President to unilaterally suspend fundamental human rights and freedoms in the whole or a part of Ghana, excluding the special role of the Chief Justice and the Superior Court of Judicature in managing or regulating the suspension of fundamental human rights and freedoms in the whole or a part of Ghana; and excluding the role of Parliament in managing or regulating the suspension of fundamental human rights and freedoms in the whole or a part of Ghana.

    The apex court in delivering its ruling described the Act as null and void.

  • Domelovo’s forced leave by Akufo-Addo unconstitutional – Supreme Court rules

    Domelovo’s forced leave by Akufo-Addo unconstitutional – Supreme Court rules

    President Akufo-Addo‘s directive forcing former, Auditor General, Daniel Domelovo to take a leave of absence been deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court.

    In 2020, Domelovo was compelled by the presidency to take 169 working days of accumulated leave.

    The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and eight other Civil Society Organizations who described the move as an affront to the independence of the office applied to the Supreme Court for a declaration that the action by the President was unconstitutional and null and void.

    The suit filed in October 2020 was necessitated by the failure of the president to rescind the directive after several appeals.

    After a two-year hearing, the apex court delivered its judgment, upholding the plea of the applicants.

  • SEND Ghana asks govt to replace COVID-19 levy with public health emergency fund

    SEND Ghana asks govt to replace COVID-19 levy with public health emergency fund

    SEND Ghana has called on the government of Ghana to convert the COVID-19 levy into a public health emergency fund.

    This comes on the back of President Akufo-Addo announcing that there will be no scrapping of the 1% COVID-19 levy during his 29th address to the nation on Covid-related activities and declaring an end to it as a health emergency.

    The Deputy Country Director of SEND Ghana, Emmanuel Ayifah, speaking on Starr Today on Starr FM, said that the NGO and other CSOs are looking forward to and pushing to see the COVID-19 health levy changed to a health emergency fund to assist with unforeseen health crises instead of disbanding it.

    “The government should not disband COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy but try to convert it into a public health emergency fund and also let Ghanaians see how much was left in the Trust Fund so that we can all rally around to establish the Fund. So that in the event of any future eventuality which is bound to happen, the issue is that once that happens, it is going to help us we don’t have to run helter-skelter looking for money because the Fund will be critical in helping to increase resilience in Ghana’s health system and also prepare for us to respond in times of public health emergency. Once we do that, I think that it will rather help us as a country.”

    In 2022, SEND Ghana and many other CSOs in the country urged the government to establish a health emergency fund. This, they believe will save and stabilize the economy should there be any unplanned calamity concerning health.

  • 38-year-old IMF ‘boy’ now telling us what to do – KKD damns Akufo-Addo gov’t 

    Renowned broadcaster, Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (KKD), known for his outspoken nature, has taken a swipe at the government for returning to the IMF despite initially vowing not to return to the fund.

    Speaking on Monday, May 29, 2023, the former broadcast journalist expressed his utmost disgust at the government’s shameful return to the Bretton Woods Institution to salvage the economy. 

    He believes the government has made a mockery of itself by returning to the IMF regardless of rigorous resistance against such claims. What baffled him most was criticisms by this government (when it was in opposition) against the current opposition when the latter decided to seek support from the IMF. 

    “Right now, our hope is in the IMF. I don’t know what the 38-year-old boy from the IMF is going to tell us what to do, but my point is, who leaves his house at Ridge to go to somebody’s house at Kaneshie and says, ‘Charley, things are not going well in my home, so come and manage my home for me for the next three to five years. Who does that and still says we are brilliant? “ he said. 

    He made the remarks during a JoyNews interview on the state of affairs of the economy and other matters including Ghana’s IMF bailout. 

    During the interview, he described the current administration  as the worst in the history of the country, accusing it of plunging the country into bankruptcy. 

    “We are broke,” he said, adding that: “Sometimes when I listen to my brothers in the NPP, they act like a team that goes to get a draw with another team and they say: ‘We have won.’ 0:0. How did you win with 0:0?,” he questioned. 

    “And even worse, you get Gabby writing things like “The alternative is scary. The alternative? Dude, you are the worst!” he lashed out at the government. 

    “If anybody can’t say it, this is not about NPP, NDC, CPP or whatever. This is the worst government we have ever had.”

    Ghana has received the first tranche of the US $ 3 billion financial support it was seeking from the IMF.  The country has so far received $US 600 million.

    In order to attain the next tranche, President Akufo-Addo has disclosed that the government is undertaking rigorous expenditure rationalisation and prudent spending to meet conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Speaking at the ongoing Qatar-Africa Economic Forum in Doha, President Akufo-Addo said his government is very much aware of its obligations and will live up to them.

  • Hug your children, shake their hands – Akufo-Addo reviews COVID safety protocols

    Hug your children, shake their hands – Akufo-Addo reviews COVID safety protocols

    President Akufo-Addo has stated that Ghanaians can now embrace and shake hands with one other in public with ease.

    The review of COVID-19 safety measures comes at a time when the World Health Organisation has stated that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency.

    The president revealed the ease with COVID restrictions when he addressed the country on Sunday, May 28, 2023, in his last update on the country’s preparedness towards the fight against COVID-19.

    “That culturally defining Ghanaian symbol, the handshake, was prohibited and frowned upon and we were advised not to hug our children and our loved ones…

    “… Fellow Ghanaians, throughout these trying times, I kept urging all of you to believe that this, too, shall pass. Dare I say that this too has passed? The emergency is over, and we can safely lift many of the oppressive restrictions we have had to endure, we can shake hands, we can hug, we can visit, and we no longer have to wear masks,” he said.

    The president, however, urged that such practices as the “regular hand washing and other personal hygiene measures” be maintained “so they become entrenched national habits.”

    In 2020, Ghana sternly enforced safety protocol measures such as social distancing, no public gatherings, use of sanitizer and washing of hands regularly with soap.

  • Be sensitive, scrap COVID-19 levy and E-Levy – Ablakwa tells Akufo-Addo

    Be sensitive, scrap COVID-19 levy and E-Levy – Ablakwa tells Akufo-Addo

    The North Tongu constituency lawmaker, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has appealed to President Akufo-Addo to sympathize with the struggles faced by Ghanaians.

    This was in reaction to the president’s address to the nation on Sunday, May 28, 2023, where he lifted all COVID-19 restrictions and proclaimed an end to the disease as a health emergency.

    But the lawmaker has expressed worry that throughout the 37-minutes-long address of Akufo-Addo, there was no hint of scrapping the burdening COVID-19 levy and the E-levy, due to the IMF bailout.

    In a Facebook post, the MP stated that “Ghanaians expected President Akufo-Addo to have announced the scrapping of the unjustifiable COVID-19 levy as he lifts all covid restrictions.

    “Ghanaians also expected the awful E-Levy to be abolished since his government has opted for an IMF bailout.”

    Ablakwa also pleaded with President Akufo-Addo to be sincere and sensitive to the sufferings of Ghanaians in these hard times.

    “President Akufo-Addo must be sincere and sensitive to the plight of suffering Ghanaians,” he stated.

    The MP for North Tongu also emphasized the need for lawmakers to unite to remove the COVID-19 and E-levies to address the plights of Ghanaians.

    “I hope all parliamentarians will come together in the national interest, and take advantage of the mid-year budget review to expunge those two obsolete taxes.

    “As President Akufo-Addo continues to let Ghanaians down, Parliament cannot afford to fail. May we be the people’s saving grace,” he added.

  • Prof. Gyampo ‘feeds’ Akufo-Addo with what Gabby ‘cooked’ 8yrs ago

    Prof. Gyampo ‘feeds’ Akufo-Addo with what Gabby ‘cooked’ 8yrs ago

    A prominent figure in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and brother to the President, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has been criticised by a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo over a 2015 tweet.

    According to Prof. Gyampo, even though Ghana is presiding over abundant resources which shouldn’t have bankrupted the state, the deeds of the government justifies Akufo-Addo’s own “Yɛte sika so nanso ɛkɔm de yɛn” to wit we are in distress in the midst of abundance.

    The lecturer said making certain utterances when in opposition does more harm than good to citizens of the country, referencing to Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko’s September 15, 2015 tweet.

    His comment stems from President Akufo-Addo’s quest to return to the international capital market soon following Ghana’s bailout from the Bretton Wood Institution.

    “If running an economy was all about borrowing your way into an unsustainable debt hole, then any halfwit can be president. Do you know who a halfwit is, a stupid or a foolish person. So I was a bit worried when the President just hinted that we may go to the capital market.

    Buying into Dr. Theo Acheampong’s assertion that going to the capital market was something that shouldn’t be on the table now, Prof. Gyampo wondered “if we have all the resources here, why do we think about quickly going to the capital market?
    It’s the president who said ‘yɛte sika so nanso ɛkɔm de yɛn.’ It means we have all the resources here and in fact if we are truly going to go by some of the things the IMF is telling us to do and if we ourselves are going to look beyond some of the things that the IMF is telling us to do, then truly we’ll see that we are really presiding on resources where there would be no need for us to think about going to the capital market to be talking about borrowing.”

    The former Director of the Centre for European Studies was explicit that “government of a developing country is too serious a business to be reduced to just borrowing and that if running an economy is all about borrowing your way into an unsustainable debt hole, then Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko says any stupid or foolish person can become a President.”

  • IMF bailout won’t resolve Ghana’s challenges instantly – Akufo-Addo

    IMF bailout won’t resolve Ghana’s challenges instantly – Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has emphasized that the bailout obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not an immediate remedy for the country’s challenges.

    He believes it will, nonetheless, play a crucial role in restoring confidence and reopening opportunities that have been limited in recent years.

    During a national address on Sunday, the President acknowledged that the approval represents a positive step toward putting the country back on track.

    “Access to the IMF facility will not spell the immediate end of the difficulties we are in presently, but the fact that we have been able to negotiate such a deal sends a positive message to our trading partners, creditors and investors,” President Akufo-Addo stated during his May 28 address.

    Akufo-Addo further highlighted that the IMF agreement would aid in restoring confidence in the Ghanaian economy, which has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

    “It should lead to the restoration of confidence and the reopening of opportunities that have been closed to us this past year and a half,” Akufo-Addo explained, emphasizing that it would also result in the resumption of stalled infrastructure projects.

    The President reiterated that the successful implementation of the necessary reforms to make the deal effective would require the support of the Ghanaian people.

    “We must all collaborate to ensure the success of this program,” Akufo-Addo urged. “Together, we must work towards building a brighter future for Ghana.”

  • National Cathedral: Board of Trustees declares how much it has received so far

    National Cathedral: Board of Trustees declares how much it has received so far

    Dr Joyce Aryee, a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, has denied assertions that the government has sponsored the cathedral project with over $100 million.

    According to her, the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government has, till date, supported the construction of the cathedral with only GH¢339 million and this amount was approved by the Parliament of Ghana.

    Speaking in an interview on Neat FM, on Thursday, May 25, 2023, Dr Joyce Aryee added that the amount the government has supported the cathedral project with from part of the seed money it promised.

    “The government said it will help the board with a secretarial because we had nothing. And it also pledged to support us with seed money but didn’t state the quantum of money it will be giving us.

    “So far, the money we have received as seed money from the government is GH¢339 million and this money was channelled through parliament,” she said in Twi.

  • Gertrude Torkornoo to appear before Appointments Committee today

    Gertrude Torkornoo to appear before Appointments Committee today

    The nomination for Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, will be vetted by Parliament’s Appointments Committee today, May 26.

    She was nominated by President Akufo-Addo in April 2023.

    According to the President, her nomination was to avoid any vacuum that would occur following the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, on May 24.

    Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who hails from Winneba in the Central Region, if approved, will become the third female Chief Justice in the history of Ghana, after Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo.

    Fast-track Torkornoo’s approval as CJ – Akufo-Addo to Bagbin

    President Akufo-Addo had earlier urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to quickly facilitate the approval of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for the position of Chief Justice.

    In a letter to the Speaker, the President reiterated that this is to avoid a vacuum in the office of the Chief Justice following the retirement of Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah as the outgoing head of the judiciary.

    “It is my respectful hope that the approval by Parliament of Justice Torkornoo can proceed expeditiously to enable her assume office as soon as practicable following the retirement of Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah,” parts of the letter read.

  • Akufo-Addo pledges govt’s compliance for release of second tranche of $3bn IMF Bailout

    Akufo-Addo pledges govt’s compliance for release of second tranche of $3bn IMF Bailout

    President Akufo-Addo says government is undertaking rigorous expenditure rationalisation and prudent spending to meet conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    This he said is in order to access the second tranche of the $3 billion bailout in six months.

    The IMF board last week approved Ghana’s request for a $3 billion bailout resulting in the release of the first 600 million dollars to the Bank of Ghana.

    But subsequent releases will be hinged on Ghana meeting certain conditionalities set by the Fund which includes improvement in domestic revenue mobilisation.

    Speaking at the ongoing Qatar-Africa Economic Forum in Doha, President Akufo-Addo said his government is very much aware of its obligations and will live up to them.

    “The global situation has not been kind to incumbent governments all over the world and I think our situation will be no different but at the same time, I believe we have enough time.

    “We have eighteen months, I am to leave office in January 2025, so 19 months from now to be able with a very disciplined approach, implement the IMF programme and reposition our economy to be able to bring some growth back and some relief back to the population.

    “…to also be able to convince them that yes, it is worth continuing the journey that my party started.”

    Touching on the benefits of the IMF bailout, President Nana Akufo-Addo said Ghana will soon return to the International Capital Market.

    Mr Akufo-Addo said this will enable his government to get the needed funding to execute its mandate. 

    According to him, the shutting of the capital market to the country has been of great worry to him and his government. 

    “We have positioned ourselves to be able to go back into the International market which had been a source of funding for us during the first three or four years of our government,” he said on Tuesday, May 23.

    Meanwhile, government says it is taking the necessary steps to review all existing flagship programmes as part of its objectives to strengthen the fiscal policy.

    This was contained in the IMF’s May 2023 country report on Ghana.

    Already, one of the flagship programmes, Free SHS has been described by the Fund as being poorly targeted, with the country’s education system producing poor learning outcomes.

  • Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah concludes distinguished Judicial career today as he retires

    Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Kwasi Anin-Yeboah is set to retire today, May 24.

    The 70-year-old served for three years since taking over from retired Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo in 2020.

    Earlier this month, President Akufo-Addo informed Parliament of his decision to appoint Justice Gertrude Torkonoo as Chief Justice as Justice Anin’s replacement.

    In a letter to Parliament, President Akufo-Addo called for her speedy approval. 

    President Akufo-Addo in an earlier letter to the Council of State said Justice Torkonoo’s appointment is to avoid any vacuum that would occur following the retirement of Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah.

    Justice Mrs Torkornoo per this nomination, will be vetted by Parliament and approve her nomination or otherwise.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has described outgoing Justice Anin-Yeboah, as an exceptional leader of the Judiciary at a farewell dinner organized by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) in his honour.

    The President said the tenure of Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah has seen laudable achievements worth emulating by his successor.

    “Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah has been an exceptional leader to the judiciary. He has guarded jealously the judiciary and his conduct has brought honour to the judiciary and to our country. Not only has he continued with the modernisation of activities of the judiciary, but his tenure of office has also seen arguably the largest infrastructural development undertaken in the history of the judiciary,” he said.

    Justice Yeboah on his part thanked the President and the Ghana Bar Association for their support.

    Background on Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah

    Justice Anin Yeboah is the fourth longest-serving Justice of the Supreme Court.

    A graduate of the Ghana School of Law in 1981, he was appointed to the Supreme Court by former President John Agyekum Kufuor in June 2008.

    Prior to that, he served as a Justice of the High Court from 2002 to 2003 and a Justice of the Court of Appeal from 2003 to 2008.

    Apart from being a Supreme Court Justice, Justice Anin-Yeboah is also a part-time lecturer in Civil Procedure and the Ghana Legal System at the Ghana School of Law.

    Justice Anin Yeboah’s name is also associated with football. In May 2017, he was appointed the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).

    He also served as the Chairman of the Appeal Committee of the Ghana Football Association from 2004 to 2008.

  • I have spoken to Akufo-Addo and he’s not going to sack me – Freddie Blay tells CSOs

    I have spoken to Akufo-Addo and he’s not going to sack me – Freddie Blay tells CSOs

    Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Freddie Blay, has responded to a group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) demanding that President Akufo-Addo urgently replaces him.

    Blay, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) chairman in an interview said he would rather be fired by the appointing authority than to resign.

    He also confirmed having held talks with president Akufo-Addo over a May 16 stinging letter Minister of Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh wrote in respect of a planned sale of 50% shares of government’s stake in an oil field to South African firm, Petro SA.

    “Possibly, I could be fired, but I don’t see any reason why they are saying I should resign about this issue. I have done nothing wrong. I have observed my conscience and I thought I was protecting the interest of the country, and I am convinced about it and if others think otherwise and if those who appointed me are saying otherwise, then so be it.

    “I have spoken to the president about it, and we haven’t gotten to where he will ask for his job back. It is not about convincing the president, the law will speak for itself and the law will talk and there are few documents on the agreement.”

    Concern of CSOs

    A group of 29 CSOs on Extractive Governance on May 23, 2023 called for the immediate dismissal of Freddie Blay and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah.

    The calls came on the back of recent reports and documents indicating GNPC’s intention to sell 50% stake in Jubilee Holdings Limited (JOHL) in a deal with a South African oil company, PetroSA despite significant revenue potential this interest holds for the state.

    Coordinator for the Economic Governance Platform, Abdul Karim Mohammed told the press that the persistent involvement of such persons associated with such deals pose significant risk to Ghana’s stake and interest in the petroleum sector.

    “We demand the immediate removal of GNPC’s CEO, Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah and the Board Chairman, Freddie W. Blay from their respective positions as they have become a threat to Ghana’s interest in the petroleum sector”, he said.

    Abdul Mohammed further noted that Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has vehemently opposed the decision by the GNPC Board Chairman [Freddie Blay] in offering interest in Ghana’s stake to PetroSA which is based in South Africa.

    “It is a viable field, and it is giving us a lot of money if we allow this to go forward. What it means is that PetroSA will be entitled to 50 percent of the earnings from the field, whereas they have not had any role in developing the field to the point where it is now viable,” he explained.

    “The information we have is that the Minister for Energy has objected to this transaction but the Chairman of GNPC Board is pushing this transaction to the extent that the Minister of Energy had written to the Jubilee House over this transaction,” the Coordinator added.

    Meanwhile, documents in the media have suggested that Freddie Blay in his capacity as the GNPC Board Chairman is said to have written to PetroSA offering it an equal split in the interest held by GNPC’s subsidiary, Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited.

    The move has since resulted in backlash from the CSOs made up of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC), Imani Centre for Policy and Education and 25 others.

  • NPP MPs to intensify calls for Ofori-Atta’s dismissal

    NPP MPs to intensify calls for Ofori-Atta’s dismissal

    Members of Parliament belonging to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are set to convene this week to renew their call for the resignation of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

    The MPs numbering about 80 say the Finance Minister must leave following the successful negotiation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. 

    Ghana on Friday, May 19, received the first tranche of $600 million of the IMF’s $3 billion three-year extended credit support.

    One of the MPs, Eugene Boakye Antwi (MP for Subin) says President Akufo-Addo must go by his promise to let Ken Ofori-Atta go. 

    “My job is to expose the failings I think are happening at the Ministry of Finance… Principle and conviction alone should make you resign,” Eugene Antwi said.

    Background

    The Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim-North, Andy Appiah Kubi and other New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs in 2022 called for the removal of the Finance Minister over the country’s economic woes and threatened to boycott the 2023 budget presentation.

    The MPs later softened their stance after meeting President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the matter.

    They kowtowed to the President’s pleas to have the Minister stay in office to seal Ghana’s bailout deal with the Bretton Woods institution.

    Vote of censure: NPP MPs stage walkout as Parliament decides Ofori-Atta’s fate

    Members of the Majority caucus of Parliament on December 8, 2022, staged a walkout when Parliament voted to decide the fate of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta after the debate on the report of the censure motion.

    The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who led the walkout said they cannot be part of a process that was baseless and politically motivated.

  • Those who have eyes to see can see our good works – Akufo-Addo

    Those who have eyes to see can see our good works – Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has expressed sympathy for those who claim they cannot see the fruits of his administration’s efforts.

    According to him, “We have done the work already and those who have eyes to see can see our positive works. But those who cannot see our good works, I am sorry, I cannot help them”.

    The president made the comments during the New Partiotic Party’s (NPP) final rally ahead of the highly-anticipated by-election in the Kumawu Constituency of the Ashanti Region.

    He told party faithful that he will hand over power to a successor from his party when his tenure expires in January 2025 citing the work that the administration has put in since 2017.

    “We shall hand over to NPP presidential candidate in 2024,” the president stressed to cheers from the teeming crowd.

    The pro-government Daily Guide’s reporter at the rally said in his May 22 report that the presiddent also compared the reasons his government went to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout as against why the NDC wnet to the global lender in 2015.

    He said whiles external shocks of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war forced his government to the IMF, the NDC government went to the IMF because of gross mismanagement in political office.

    The Kumawu by-election

    Voters will choose a replacement for their Member of Parliament, Philip Atta Basoah, who died on 27th March this year while still serving his 3rd consecutive term.

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is represented by Ernest Yaw Anim, whiles Kwasi Amankwaa is the NDC candidate. There are two independent candidates with the name Kwaku Duah also in the race.

    Kumawu has been a beehive of political activity in the last week with big wigs from the NDC and NPP holding rallies in the constituency to canvass for votes for the vacant seat.

    The EC has issued a notice that it is ready for the vote on Tuesday.

  • Communities in Kumawu have been abandoned by Akufo-Addo – Mustapha Gbande

    Communities in Kumawu have been abandoned by Akufo-Addo – Mustapha Gbande

    Communities in Kumawu in the Ashanti region have been abandoned by President Akufo-Addo, according to the National Democratic Congress'(NDC) Deputy General Secretary in charge of Operations, Mustapha Gbande.

    According to him, for President Akufo-Addo to resort to campaigning even under the funeral of the late MP means the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has lost touch with their stronghold.

    The Kumawu by-election follows the death of the MP for the constituency who was buried on Saturday.

    The leadership of the NDC and NPP have been in the constituency supporting and campaigning for their various candidates. 

    Speaking to the media, Mr. Gbande stated that Ghanaians will see either a victory of the NDC or an overwhelming appreciation and unprecedented votes from the Kumawu by-election.

    “They have taken the people for granted though it is their stronghold and the NDC went into that constituency with a clear cut message of good will. We have been loyal to them. HE. John Mahama was here briefly within four hours and left. My national chairman and general secretary of the party have left the campaign since and our message has been very simple.

    “The track record of this government is so poor when it comes to projects. We showed them an example of the projects at Sir John’s village that after the people went on demonstration to call on the government to do their roads before they come for Sir John’s funeral. They move the machines there right after the funeral, they move the machines back. The same scheme is what they are planning to execute here,” Mr. Gbande stated

    He continued: “So clearly our expectations in this election have been met partially, that one the government has lost popularity, two the government has lost touch with its own people, three even in their stronghold Nana Addo has abandoned these communities. These people voted massively for them and it is a good thing for the NDC going into 2024.”

  • Photos: Akufo-Addo, Duffuor and others at Philip Basoah’s funeral

    Photos: Akufo-Addo, Duffuor and others at Philip Basoah’s funeral

    President Akufo-Addo on Saturday, 20 May 2023 bid farewell to the late New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Kumawu, Philip Basoah.

    Basoah died on Monday (27 March 2023) while receiving treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

    A host of dignitaries, including Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Second Lady Samira Bawumia, as well as the former trade minister Alan Kyerematen, Dr Kwabena Duffuor and MPs attended the funeral.

    Below are some pictures from the funeral:

  • Akufo-Addo ‘grilled’ on Twitter after praising Buhari

    Akufo-Addo ‘grilled’ on Twitter after praising Buhari

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been criticized by Nigerians for praising his Nigerian Counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, May 19, 2023.

    The Ghanaian President while delivering a speech as the guest of honour to launch two biographies of Buhari noted that Africa and the world at large will miss his leadership. 

    He further said posterity will be kind to Muhammadu Buhari. 

    “As leaders, we all have our high and low moments, but I have no doubt that posterity will be kind to Muhammadu Buhari,” President Akufo-Addo said. 

    “President Buhari, we will miss you. West Africa, Africa, and indeed, the world will miss your leadership. The leadership of a military ruler turned consummate democrat who was extremely solicitous of Nigeria’s and Africa’s interests and who sought principles in all decisions which he took,” he added. 

    These words did not sit well with some Nigerians as they have taken to the micro-blogging site – Twitter – to pour scorn on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s comments.

    While some stated categorically that they will not miss Buhari as he exits office as President of Nigeria, others, described Ghana’s President as a hypocrite. 

    A user by the name Ambassador of Hope said, “Thunda faya Nana. Is this how you led your country Ghana?” 

    “This Ghana man get something wey dey worry am! I thought he was good,” A tweep called I STAND FOR TRUTH wrote. 

    “Ghana can have him. We won’t miss him a second.” 

    Another tweep named Royalty Stevens said, “He must be a hypocrite. In Ghana there is stable power supply, in Nigeria Buhari and his men stole all the energy budgets. If life must be kind to Buhari then no one deserves an unkind life.

  • Akufo-Addo eulogises Buhari over sterling leadership

    Akufo-Addo eulogises Buhari over sterling leadership

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo hs eulogized his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari who exists office in a little over a week.

    Akufo-Addo was a guest of honour at the May 19, 2023 launch of two biographies by the former military ruler turned elected democratic president of Africa’s most populous nation.

    In comments made at the launch, local media captured Akufo-Addo as saying: “As leaders, we all have our high and low moments, but I have no doubt that posterity will be kind to Muhammadu Buhari,” Akufo-Addo said.

    “President Buhari, we will miss you. West Africa, Africa, and indeed, the world will miss your leadership. The leadership of a military ruler turned consummate democrat who was extremely solicitous of Nigeria’s and Africa’s interests and who sought principles in all decisions which he took.

    “I’m yet to have a book written about me, let alone author one myself. I have some 19 months to leave office, and I guess I have to take a cue from my senior and hope the books will give about me.”

    The two books about Buhari

    The books are titled: “State of Repair: How Muhammadu Buhari tried to transform Nigeria for the better” and “The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari.”

    They were authored by Anthony Goldman, a former journalist and ex-Africa editor of the Financial Times of London; and Abu Ibrahim, former federal lawmaker from his native Katsina State respetively.

  • Kumasi residents express frustration over state of Suame Interchange Project

    Kumasi residents express frustration over state of Suame Interchange Project

    Some Kumasi residents are frustrated over the state of the Suame Interchange project after government cut sod for work to start in October last year. 

    During the sod-cutting ceremony, President Akufo-Addo assured residents of his commitment to complete the 4-tier interchange project. 

    But residents claim the project site has now turned into a hideout for hooligans.    

    Kumasi residents bemoan state of Suame Interchange project

    The interchange project has suffered months of setbacks after appearing in the national budget thrice.  

    President Akufo-Addo on October 18, 2022, cut sod for construction works to begin on the project.  

    KMA Boss, Samuel Pyan, in an interview with JoyNews, said the government had already secured funding for the project.  

    He claims the contractors are on site. 

    Kumasi residents bemoan state of Suame Interchange project

    “We have the contractor on site as we speak. They are working on some other roads that will be linked to the interchange but not the roundabout itself. There’s money for the project so we shouldn’t worry at all” he said. 

    But in an interview with a Kumasi-based radio station, Member of Parliament for Suame, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said the government was yet to secure a loan for the project after IMF negotiations. 

    “We are done with everything. The problem now is that this project isn’t sponsored by the government of Ghana, we are seeking a loan for it from abroad but the IMF is keeping the project on hold. We are sure we will get the money by August” he indicated.  

    Residents who had high hopes for the project were astonished.  

    There are concerns the project site has turned into a hideout for hooligans.  

    They want the government to fulfil its promise of completing the project before the 2024 General Election.   

  • President inaugurates board for Public Services Commission

    President inaugurates board for Public Services Commission

    President Akufo-Addo has inaugrated the Public Services Commission board at Jubilee House, charging them with working relentlessly to help Ghanaians achieve growth and prosperity.

    He said it was expected that the members who were experienced in their fields of endeavour would bring their expertise to ensure that there was a resilient public service that provided efficient service.

    The board, which is chaired by Professor Victor Kwame Agyemang, has Dr Agyemang Frimpong, Dr Prince Edward Darah, Professor Kwame Boafo Arthur, Pauline Adobea Dadzawa and Cynthia Asare Bediako as members.

    Constitution

    President Akufo-Addo said the commission was a direct creation of the constitution provided for under articles 194 to 199 which specified that the membership and functions of the commission, with the commission being the foremost body responsible for advising the government ON the criteria for appointment to public officers.

    He said it was also charged with promoting efficiency, accountability and integrity and undertaking planning of the manpower requirements of public services as well as improving recruitment policies and techniques.

    He described the commission as an important national institution, which demanded that persons who had been appointed into positions in its very top echelons were those proven to be tried, tested and with a sense of mission.

    “I am confident that the affairs of the commission are in safe hands,” the President said, adding that their predecessors distinguished themselves creditably in that position and that the public expected nothing less than excellence on their part.

    Ghanaians

    He gave the assurance that the government would support them and reminded them that they were not subject to the direction and control of any person’s authority in the performance of their function.

    “The task ahead of you is a challenging one. It is my hope that you will be up to it.

    You have my full support and that of my government to undertake all the measures and reforms required to enable you to succeed,” he assured.

    Speaking on behalf of the members, the Chairman assured the President that the board would work diligently to ensure that they achieved their mandate and work closely with the government to shape the public service and make it efficient.

  • Akufo-Addo engages Ghanaian peacekeeping troops in Guinea-Bissau

    Akufo-Addo engages Ghanaian peacekeeping troops in Guinea-Bissau

    President Akufo-Addo has paid a visit to Ghanaian troops operating on peacekeeping duty in Guinea-Bissau in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

    The president was accompanied by the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo. President Akufo-Addo visited the Ghana Company (GHANCOY 1), which is part of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB).

    The visit took place on Monday, May 15, 2023, as part of President Akufo-Addo’s official two-day state visit to Guinea-Bissau, following an invitation from President Embalo.

    The primary purpose of the visit was for the Commander-in-Chief to meet with the ESSMGB-GHANCOY 1 and personally assess the well-being of the troops and their effectiveness in carrying out their mission since their deployment to the operational area in June 2022.

    During the visit, several activities were conducted, including a guard of honour, a parade display by GHANCOY 1, and the mounting of a special Presidential Quarter Guard in honor of President Akufo-Addo.

    The President also toured the camp, interacted with Ghanaian troops, and commissioned a project undertaken by GHANCOY.

    Welcoming the Presidents, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) David Korsah, the Combat Team Commander of ESSMGB GHANCOY 1, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the entire Ghanaian Contingent. Lt Col. Korsah described the visit as historic and memorable for three reasons.

    Firstly, he highlighted that the visit demonstrated President Akufo-Addo’s unwavering commitment to constitutional democracy in Africa, as evidenced by his track record.

    Secondly, he added that it showcased the President’s confidence in the GAF hierarchy and personnel.

    Lastly, he maintained that it marked the first time in approximately 28 years that a Ghanaian President has visited GAF troops engaged in an external operation.

    Lt Col. Korsah assured President Akufo-Addo that he and his troops would continue to proudly represent Ghana, enhance the country’s image, and serve as worthy ambassadors.

    President Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, commended the contingent for their discipline and professionalism, assuring them of his full support. At the conclusion of his speech, the President made a donation to the contingent.

    The president also commissioned a newly constructed accommodation and office building named after the Chief of Defence Staff Seth Amoama “AMOAMA BLOCK” in honor of the Vice Admiral, who played a crucial role in securing funds for the project.

    Notable attendees at the visit included Professor Hamidou Boly, Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission (SRPC), Brigadier General AM Grema, ESSMGB Force Commander, and Colonel ATM Kore, Deputy Force Commander.

    The visit underscored President Akufo-Addo’s support for the troops and his dedication to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

  • Govt must be transparent about ongoing ‘dumsor’ – Minority

    Govt must be transparent about ongoing ‘dumsor’ – Minority

    Government must come clear on the current on-going load shedding for Ghanaians, according to minority in parliament.

    According to the Minority, they have observed with serious concern, the recent persistent power outages also known as ‘dumsor’ being witnessed across the country, particularly during peak hours.

    “This appears to be worsening with many parts of the country experiencing long hours of darkness without prior notice to consumers.

    “While most Ghanaians have been witnessing intermittent power outages, others have been experiencing low currents and occasional high voltage leading to damages of their electrical gadgets and equipment in some cases,” the Ranking Member on Mines and Energy Committee, John Abdulai Jinapor stated in press release .

    He continued: “It is a well known fact especially, amongst energy sector players that the current outages the country is experiencing is due to gas shortages coupled with serious challenges with the procurement of alternative fuels due the precarious financial state of the Energy sector SOEs.

    “Most of the Energy sector SOEs have continued to witness worsening financial positions since the assumption of office of President Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia, despite their administration receiving over 20 billion cedis in ESLA revenues and about 40 billion cedis in petroleum revenues.

    He stated that more disturbing is the deliberate decision by Government communicators and Energy Sector SOEs to keep mute whilst the ordinary Ghanaian is made to experience this avoidable state of load shedding.

    “We therefore call on Government and responsible government agencies to come clean on the current state of power outages as a matter of urgency and provide a schedule if need be to enable the ordinary consumer and industry to plan and avoid damages of their electrical equipment.”

  • Man remanded for insulting Akufo-Addo

    An Accra Circuit Court has remanded into police custody a 40-year-old tile setter for insulting President Nana Akufo-Addo.

    Raphael Okoe Ankrah, also known as Okoe Killer was arrested after police saw a video posted to social showing the accused using very unsavoury words on the President.

    He has since pleaded not guilty to offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace.

    The Court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah, ordered that Ankrah be brought back on May 30, 2023.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maxwell Oppong told the Court that Ankrah lived in Jamestown.

    He said on May 15, 2023, the Police saw a viral video in which the Ankrah was seen insulting the President.

    ASP Oppong said the police had to arrest Ankrah because the video was not only vile but had annoyed and agitated the public.

    The Police’s Intelligence Directorate tracked Ankrah and arrested him at his hideout at James Town in Accra.

    The prosecution said Ankrah admitted the offence in his investigation cautioned statement and was accordingly charged.

    Mr Yaw Dankwa, Ankrah’s Defense Counsel who prayed for bail for the accused, said the charge did not support the facts, which he said was political, because his client denied the offence upon his arrest.

    He suggested that the said video could have been manipulated and until it was presented and scrutinised in court, his client was innocent of the charges.

    Mr Dankwa said Ankrah, a “responsible father” with a wife who had a two-week baby, was not a flight risk. 

    He said Ankrah had “people of substance” ready to stand surety for him.

    The prosecution, opposing the bail, pleaded with the Court to send the accused to the psychiatric hospital as he told police he was not in his right frame of mind.

    ASP Oppong said that based on Ankrah’s utterances in the video, he would be safer in police custody because his life was in danger in his community.

    On him not being a flight risk, the prosecution said Ankrah was a squatter living in an uncompleted building with no fixed place of abode, but his lawyer said there were no uncompleted buildings in James Town.

  • Akufo-Addo visits Guinea-Bissau

    Akufo-Addo visits Guinea-Bissau

    On Sunday, May 14, 2023, President Akufo-Addo accompanied a Ghanaian delegation on a State Visit to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

    The visit is to honor an invitation from its President, His Excellency, Umaru Sissoco Embalo, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

    Also, the visit will help deepen the already strong relations that exist between the two countries, as well as explore other areas of co-operation to their mutual benefit.

    Whilst in Guinea-Bissau, the President will hold bilateral talks with President Embalo; he will receive the Amilcar Cabral Medal, the highest national honour of Guinea-Bissau; deliver a lecture at the Law Faculty of the University of Amilcar Cabral; and interact with the contingent of Ghanaian soldiers stationed in Bissau, who are part of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission.

    The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, and officials from the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.

    The President will return to Ghana on Tuesday, 16th May 2018, and in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.

  • Akufo-Addo conquered by corruption – Mahama

    Akufo-Addo conquered by corruption – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has slammed President Akufo-Addo for failing to combat corruption throughout his six-year tenure in office.

    Mr Mahama told supporters of his party on Monday, May 15 that President Akufo-Addo has failed in his fight against corruption.

    For him, the 5th President of the Fourth Republic no longer makes ‘corruption’ his pep topic in his public utterances.

    “[This is] because corruption has defeated him hands down.”

    Mr Mahama was speaking at the University of Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, Northern Region a day after he was overwhelmingly re-elected Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    The former President polled a whopping 98.9 percent to beat Kojo Bonsu and Dr Kwabena Duffuor, who withdrew his candidature a day before the polls.

    Mr Mahama said his fight against corruption will see him look further into the Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng report on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) if elected in 2024.

    He said the report of the respected heart surgeon has opened a can of worms.

    The potential four-time Presidential Candidate of the NDC suspects the current government will sweep the report under the carpet as Mr Akufo-Addo usually does.

    He called him a “clearing agent”.

    “We shall pursue this matter further and make sure justice is done,” he stressed on the IMCIM report penned on Friday, March 19, 2021.

  • Akufo-Addo praises nurses for sacrifices, hard work

    Akufo-Addo praises nurses for sacrifices, hard work

    President Akufo-Addo has praised nurses for their dedication and sacrifices in improving healthcare in Ghana.

    He said nurses were critical for the building of a robust healthcare system and national development, and as such they needed to be commended.

    Launching this year’s International Nurses Day in Accra Friday, May 12, the Chief of Staff,  Akosua Frema Osei-Opare,  said the President was particularly impressed by the sacrificial spirit they displayed nationwide, putting themselves up as frontline workers in the fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Indeed, you deserve the presidential honour for distinguished service given to all health workers nationwide as part of the country’s 66th Independence Day celebration,” she said.

    Day

    The global theme for the commemoration is “Our nurses, our future” while the local commemoration was held on the theme “our nurses and midwives our future.”

    Marked around the world every May 12, the day is to celebrate and honour nurses for their immense service to humanity while reflecting on their challenges for redress.

    It is also to celebrate the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

    Mrs Osei-Opare said indeed a healthy population drove productivity, and that commemoration was an opportunity to reflect on the roles and needs of nurses and midwives.

    She said research showed that the global nursing shortage was declining, however, WHO data showed that in the case of Ghana, more nurses and midwives were needed due to the high attrition rate, mostly caused by the search for greener pastures, among others.

    “In line with this worrying trend, a more strategic approach towards training and maintaining nurses would help to prepare adequately for any potential pandemic. 

    “I therefore task the association to urgently sensitise and re-orient it members to the need to remain committed to serving  Ghanaians. 

    “It is an established fact that the wealth of a nation is dependent on the health of its citizens, government is therefore, committed to expanding healthcare infrastructure locally and also to providing the needed resources for the needed output,” she said.

    Challenges 

    The President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, said in celebrating nurses and midwives, their challenges should also be looked at urgently.

    She said logistical challenge was a major challenge to delivering quality healthcare services.

    She said, locally, nurses lacked modern equipment to care for patients  adequately, adding that the continuous use of obsolete equipment and limited supply of medicines and other consumables put the lives of patients at risk.

    Mrs Ofori-Ampofo mentioned other challenges to include poor working conditions for nurses, low salaries, allowances in arrears and unemployed newly qualified nurses as the other challenges.

    She said two and half years on, the book and research allowances of nurse educators had not been implemented.

    She appealed to the ministry to fastrack the implementation because the association had presented a detailed data on nurse educators who qualified for that allowance.

    She also mentioned that nurses had challenges with study leave and promotion.

    Nurses

    “For example, the post-basic nurses who have specialised in ophthalmic nursing; ear, nose and throat (ENT) and others have complained over the period about their inability to progress because of the excuse that there needed to be vacancies before they could be promoted and so on.

    “I think that at any point in time, there can be only one head of nursing services but they can still receive that promotion to facilitate an improvement in their conditions of service to make life easier for professionals.

    The Chairperson for the occasion, the Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsia, said  nurses played a tremendous role in the lives of humans, and that every true nurse was not daunted by challenges.

    In a speech read on his behalf, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, applauded nurses and midwives for their role in helping to abate COVID-19 locally and globally.

    That is an indication that their challenges need to be looked at critically.

  • Goverment to halt exportation of iron ore, bauxite ‘in their raw state’

    Goverment to halt exportation of iron ore, bauxite ‘in their raw state’

    President Akufo-Addo has announced intentions to cease the exportation of bauxite and iron ore ‘in their raw state’.

    The move, according to him is aimed at protecting the country’s limited natural resources and learning from the mistake of gold exportation.

    Speaking at the opening of a natural resource stakeholders dialogue in Accra, the President said the government will soon initiate laws to ban the wholesale exportation of bauxite and iron.

    “We cannot forget lithium and the other green minerals which have been described as the minerals of the future due to the importance of the green energy transition. Fortunately, we have discovered lithium in commercial quantities in occurrence with cobalt, nickel, copper, lead, and zinc in the country.

    “We should not do with these minerals what we have done with our gold resources over the years. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources under the leadership of Abu Jinapor is finalizing a policy document for the exploitation and utilization and management of these crucial minerals for the consideration of Cabinet in the next few years.

    “By section 28 of GIDEC law, in section 30 of the GIFTECH law, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources is empowered to make regulations to ensure that no bauxite or iron ore in their raw state is exported out of the country after five years of coming into force of these laws.”

    Ghana accounts for 0.29% of global production, with the other largest producers being Australia (28%), the Republic of Guinea (24%), China (18%), and Brazil (8%).

    Exports of bauxite from Ghana increased by 31% to 61kt in 2022 over 2021. Ghana’s bauxite exports are expected to grow at a CAGR of 1% between 2022 and 2026, to 64kt by 2026.

  • Omanhen of Effutu Traditional Area becomes chancellor of UEW

    Omanhen of Effutu Traditional Area becomes chancellor of UEW

    The University of Education Winneba (UEW) has elected Omanhen of the Effutu Traditional Area in the Central Region, Neenyi Ghartey VII as its chancellor.

    Neenyi Ghartey becomes the second Chancellor after Alhaji Asuma Banda who was appointed in 2010 and ended his tenure in 2015.

    At an impressive investiture ceremony fused with academic veneration and culture and graced by the President Akufo-Addo, Neenyi Ghartey was robed as chancellor by the Chairman of the university’s Governing council,Nana Ofori Ansah, the vice chancellor, Prof Mawutor Avoke and assisted by the President.

    He was then placed on the seat as chancellor.

    Excitement and cheers

    The Creative Arts Department of the university brought the assembly to excitement and cheers when they presented the robes for the chancellor in a “deer” in a creative enactment of the famous deer hunt festival of the people of Winneba.

    The President Nana Akufo Addo in his remarks said he was certain that Neenyi Ghartey, an outstanding traditional ruler would work to ensure UEW stayed with its core mandate to produce professional educators to spearhead a new national vision of education aimed at redirecting Ghana’s efforts along the path of rapid economic and social development.

    He said he was optimistic the university which he described as one of Ghana’s best would continue to produce graduates who were prepared to take on opportunities and possibilities for higher achievement through innovation and creativity in today’s science and technology and knowledge driven economic and champion prosperity for the mass of Ghanaians.

    President Akufo-Addo observed that Neenyi Ghartey was taking over from one of Ghana’s notable sons, Alhaji Asuma Banda who for his selfless service to the university helped it be adjudged the third best university in the country in 2016 and the most sustainable university last year.

    Worthy chancellor

    He indicated that the university could not have picked a worthy successor saying he was hopeful that Neenyi Ghartey, a firm believer in academic freedom would employ his wealth of experience to ensure a seamless transition and further propel the university to greater heights.

    Touching on the youth and development, he said he had a guiding principle that leaders had the responsibility to bring up a generation that fulfilled the dreams of the great patriots of the country and who would bring to bear the full meaning of freedom and justice, a generation who would live a new Ghanaian civilization equal to any on the face of the planet and the urged the nation’s youth to work to to embrace the greatness that beckons.

    He further gave the assurance that government was steadfast to the commitment of continued support to UEW and all other universities in the country.

    Neenyi Ghartey for his part thanked thanked the president and the governing council and management of the university for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to execute the role to the best of his abilities.

    Concerted efforts needed

    He said the challenging times that contend educational institutions and the global constraints amidst fierce competition from among Ghanaian universities for students necessitated concerted efforts from all stakeholders to achieve the university’s mandate.

    He said the opportunity to lead the university filled him with great zeal dedication and commitment and pledged to work to make the university the best teacher education university in West Africa.

    Close working relationship

    Neenyi Ghartey said he had had close working relationship with the management of the university since it was a college of education saying he would work propel the university to higher heights using all his experience saying it was a university with promise for the government and people of Ghana.

    He said he would work with management to put the past behind and reorient the workforce to work to uplift the university, its campuses and the Winneba community.

    He thanked the President the management of the university and his predecessor for the successes chalked so far and pledged to build on it.

    Nana Ofori Ansah

    Nana Ofori Ansah for his part described Neenyi Ghartey as a friend of the university who had made remarkable contributions to the development of the university as a member of the university’s Governing council from 2017-2021.

    He pledged the council’s support for the chancellor to ensure he his stewardship successful.

    Background

    Neenyi Ghartey had his Ordinary and Advanced level certificates from Accra Academy and Winneba Secondary School and then to the University of Ghana where he was he gained a bachelor of science in Agriculture.

    He earned a commonwealth scholarship to study in India where he obtained advanced knowledge poultry nutrition and feeding and also undertook further studies in Israel.

    He has worked an agricultural officer extensively supporting the farmer development.

    He also holds a Master of Philosophy from the University of Cape Coast.

    He was enstooled as Omahen of the Effutu Traditional Area in 1996.

  • Akufo-Addo reiterates Ghana’s desire to manufacture vaccines

    Akufo-Addo reiterates Ghana’s desire to manufacture vaccines

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the country remains focused on the agenda to develop and manufacture vaccines locally.

    “At the height of COVID-19, I declared to the Ghanaian people my determination to help manufacture vaccines here in Ghana,” the President recalled while commissioning the National Vaccine Institute Secretariat in Accra, on Wednesday and reiterated commitment to the agenda.

    The Secretariat is designed to facilitate the work of the Institute.

    The Institute is expected to coordinate and facilitate the capacity of domestic pharmaceutical companies to fill, finish and package messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), COVID-19, malaria and tuberculosis vaccines, and, ultimately, to manufacture them here in Ghana.

    “The vaccine nationalism that was played out by the developed world, with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, meant that we had to take urgent, critical steps towards making sure that never again would we be victims or pawns of the international vaccine order.

    “It was imperative that we took our destiny into our own hands,” President Nana Akufo-Addo said.

    Prior to commissioning the Secretariat, he inaugurated the Governing Board of the Institute, which is chaired by Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah.

    The other members are Prof. William Ampofo, Dr. Baffuor Awuah, Mr. Mustapha Tawiah Kumah, Dr. Daniel Gyingiri Achel, Ms Frederica Sala Illiasu, Dr. Delese Darko, Prof. Alex Dodoo, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Mr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku, Prof. Kofi Opoku Nti, Prof. Gordon A. Awandare, and Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo, set-up, on 28th February 2021, the Vaccine Manufacturing Committee, which, by Act of Parliament, has now been transformed into the National Vaccine Institute.

    The move was necessitated by the Government’s determination to see the country building its own capacity to develop and manufacture vaccines locally, following the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the inadequacies developing nations faced in their healthcare delivery systems.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that less than one per cent of all vaccines used on the continent are produced locally.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo pointed out the need for Africa to work assiduously to overcome the region’s intense vulnerability and overdependence on foreign medical supplies.

    The commissioning of the National Vaccine Institute Secretariat comes in the wake of the recent ground-breaking ceremony for work to commence on the DEK Vaccine Manufacturing Factory, at Medie-Kotoku, in the Greater Accra Region,

    The project, being spearheaded by the DEK Vaccines Limited, a private sector-led consortium of Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies, on completion, will build the country’s capacity to manufacture 600 million doses of vaccines annually.

  • GAVI to cease supplying free vaccine to Ghana – Agyemang-Manu

    GAVI to cease supplying free vaccine to Ghana – Agyemang-Manu

    The Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has revealed that Ghana will be taken from the list of beneficiaries of the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) to cease supplying free vaccine to Ghana – Agyemang-Manu in the coming days.

    According to Mr. Agyemang-Manu, the GAVI initiative will not supply Ghana with free vaccines following its attainment of lower middle-income status.

    Gavi, or the Vaccine Alliance, is an independent public-private partnership and multilateral finance structure that aims at increasing worldwide access to the use of vaccines, particularly among vulnerable children.

    Speaking at the commissioning of a new office complex of the Ghana Vaccine Institute in Accra, Mr. Agyemang-Manu said Ghana needs to be self-sufficient in the production of vaccines.

    “While the GAVI alliance support is about 80 percent of Ghana’s vaccine, our attainment of a lower middle-income status means we will have to transition from GAVI support by the year 2027.”

    Mr Agyemang-Manu added that the government has since developed the national vaccine policy to translate President Akufo-Addo’s vision of making Ghana a vaccine manufacturing hub into a reality.

  • Help limit Ghana’s dependency on imported vaccines – Akufo-Addo to National Vaccine Board

    Help limit Ghana’s dependency on imported vaccines – Akufo-Addo to National Vaccine Board

    President Akufo-Addo has tasked the newly inaugurated Board of the National Vaccine Institute to help prioritize Ghana’s self-sufficiency and reducing the nation’s dependency on external sources for critical vaccinations.

    The esteemed Board, chaired by the highly regarded Dr. Anarfi Asamoah Baah, Head of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, was sworn in during a ceremony held in Accra.

    In his address, the President emphasized the need for the Institute to accelerate the country’s capacity to manufacture its own vaccines.

    President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the critical need for vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, and stressed that the nation’s over-reliance on foreign entities for vaccine procurement is not a sustainable long-term solution.

    He urged the Board to collaborate with other vaccine-producing institutions to ensure the delivery of vaccines with impeccable quality and efficacy.

    “Develop a roadmap for vaccine development and manufacturing in Ghana. Support the upgrade of laboratory facility for the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to achieve World Health Organisation (WHO) maturity level. Collaborate with international institutions in Senegal, Rwanda,” he noted.

  • Akufo-Addo does not listen to my advise – Mahama

    Akufo-Addo does not listen to my advise – Mahama

    The former president and flagbearer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has described President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo as a leader who doesn’t listen to advice.

    According to him, he [John Mahama] has offered good advice to the president on projects and policies, but he refuses to take it.

    “I always advise the current president to forge a consensus behind whatever you are doing. When he introduced the free SHS, I said, hold a stakeholder consultation so that you can implement it properly because there are challenges, and since then, they’ve refused. Today, free SHS is not working properly. When NDC was in office, our children all used to go to school at the same time. Today, when they come back after four weeks, you have to get a teacher and pay the teacher to continue to teach them so they don’t forget what they learned in school. And this has all become a challenge,” he said.

    Mahama added that he told the president to hold a consensus forum to find answers to the country’s current economic challenges, but that too, hasn’t been heeded.

    “Look at the current economic crises we are going through, life has become so hard, and when things were not going well, I advised this president to hold a consensus forum as we did at the Senchi Conference and bring everybody together to have them contribute their little quota so that you will have a fair idea on which way forward you have to go and also to carry the nation along with you. They have since refused to do it,” he added.

    To him, the NDC is a party that governs by consensus.

    “We will govern by consensus to bring all Ghanaians on board with whatever we do. At any one time, we will tell Ghanaians the truth. If Ghanaians know what the truth is, they will understand the challenges the government faces, and they are willing to cooperate. But if you continue to deceive them, things are not going well; instead of telling Ghanaians the truth, they keep blaming Mahama,” he reiterated.

    The former president has been on a nationwide campaign, meeting with the party’s officials and delegates ahead of the upcoming NDC primaries slated for May 13, 2023.

  • Akufo-Addo, other dignitaries grace Otumfuo’s 73rd birthday in London

    Akufo-Addo, other dignitaries grace Otumfuo’s 73rd birthday in London

    Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu’s 73rd birthday party which was held in London was attended by high profile personalities including President Akufo-Addo.

    Also, former president John Agyekum Kufuor was in attendance at the birthday party organized for Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

    The party was held at a plush location in London, United Kingdom; where the Asantehene has been for the past few days attending the coronation of King Charles II.

    Videos sighted by GhanaWeb showed president Akufo-Addo eulogizing the Asantehene for his role especially in promoting peace and stability in Ghana before proposing a toast in his name.

    The Asantehene and his wife Lady Julia are also captured in another video dancing to Amakye Dede’s Iron Boy surrounded by invited guests on the dance floor.

    Otumfuo and his wife arrived in the UK last week and met King Charles at a private meeting before joining the coronation events on May 6 clad in Kente.

    Akufo-Addo attended the coronation in his capacity as president of Ghana along with First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

    Nana Asantehene is the 16th Asantehene, enstooled on 26 April 1999. He was born on May 6, 1950 making him 73 years this year.

    His stool name, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is in direct succession to the 17th-century founder of the Ashanti Empire, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I.

    He is currently the Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and one of the most revered traditional authorities in the country.

  • Akufo-Addo calls on Otumfuo to help him resolve Bawku crisis

    Akufo-Addo calls on Otumfuo to help him resolve Bawku crisis

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has underscored the giant contributions of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in the political governance of Ghana.

    The president described the revered monarch as ‘an invaluable partner in the governance of Ghana,’ at a birthday dinner held for the Asantehene in London on May 6.

    Akufo-Addo cited the specific instance of the Otumfuo’s contributions to securing peace especially in the Dagbon crisis, where he was a mediator, and expressed hope that the Asantehene will extend a similar hand in resolving the raging Bawku crisis.

    He tasked birthday attendees to “make merry and remember the contributions of Asantehene to national lives, not the least to the stability of our country.

    “Remember the role he played in bringing a settlement to the crisis in Dagbon and I am confident he is going to repeat that for me in the Bawku crisis,” he stressed.

    The Bawku crisis has experienced a resurgence in recent months with factions engaging in deadly hostilities. The government recently announced that soldiers will be deployed to the situation.

    Otumfuo and Akufo-Addo are in the UK with their spouses for the May 6 coronation of King Charles III.

    The 73rd birthday bash of the Asantehene took place after they had attended the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

  • Gold Mafia Docu: Akufo-Addo should sue Al Jazeera if he is serious about retraction – Lawyer

    Gold Mafia Docu: Akufo-Addo should sue Al Jazeera if he is serious about retraction – Lawyer

    Private legal practitioner, Samson Lardy Anyenini, Jubilee House’s sole alternative now is to sue Al Jazeera for failing to withdraw and apologize for statements against President Akufo-Addo in its Gold Mafia documentary.

    The presidency had issued a seven-day ultimatum to Al Jazeera to retract and apologise for alleged misrepresentation of the President in the documentary which exposes corruption, gold smuggling and money laundering on the continent of Africa.

    Al Jazeera has responded it is unable to grant the wishes of the presidency, because it has done no wrong.

    Speaking on Top Story on Joy FM, Samson Lardy Anyenini explained that because the president did not question the ethics of Al Jazeera but rather called them out for intending to malign the President’s name, a commission will not be the forum to go to.

    Mr Anyenini said that the court becomes the place to prove the media house intended to slander the president “once you couch the complaint in the manner of defamation. In this case, they actually say it’s malicious defamation, which means there was clear intent and malice, to do what they did. They knew it was wrong and untrue but proceeded to publish.”

    Mr Anyenini added that “Now the judicial authorities are very clear that when it comes to the online or the cyberspace, the law is that where the publication takes place and for the purposes of a defamation claim, where the relevant words are heard or read, so it doesn’t matter if you’re in Ghana or not once your publication was read in Ghana, a party that is affected has a right at law to take you on.”

    A letter signed by Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante on April 25, stated; “I am instructed by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to demand formally that Al Jazeera Media Network (Al Jazeera”) retract immediately and apologise for airing an inaccurate and unfair documentary that contained spurious and unsubstantiated allegations against the President and the Government of Ghana.”

    However, Al Jazeera, in its reply on Thursday, May 4 to JoyNews’ Kwaku Asante’s email requesting a response to the demands by the presidency, said it does not owe the president nor his office any apology since it did not allege the issues raised in the letter from Jubilee House demanding the retraction and apology.

    Meanwhile, Mr Anyenini noted that although there is a law in Ghana hindering people from suing the President while he is in power, there may not be any that stops him from taking the legal route, especially in this defamation case.

    “The President can take up the suit in any part of the world but more conveniently in Ghana and when he wins, the question remains how do you enforce the judgment? We have a way of enforcing a foreign judgement, as long as there is what we call the reciprocity kind of agreement,” Mr Anyenini said.

    He explained that “You are allowed to register that judgment and enforce it. I suppose that where Al Jazeera is physically located, it will be the case that the same rules will be invoked and applicable to enforce a judgment against them.”


    Background: How Ghana appeared in Al Jazeera’s ‘Gold Mafia’ documentary

    Early on in April, Ghana popped up in a damning investigative documentary conducted into some of Zimbabwe’s gold smuggling and money laundering syndicates.

    In the concluding episode, undercover journalists posing as Chinese gangsters interact with one of the key players, Alistair Mathias to help clean a supposed dirty money.

    ‘Gold Mafia’: We have responded to Akufo-Addo’s letter – Al Jazeera

    Mr Alistair who is described in the piece as a Financial Architect told the reporters posing as criminals that he had a track record of successfully orchestrating such syndicates.

    Essentially, he is said to be instrumental in designing money laundering schemes for many corrupt politicians in Africa.

    Alistair named Ghana as one of the countries where he had executed similar schemes, alleging associations also with the President.

    Mr Mathias added that he used to be the biggest smuggler in Ghana at one point, raking out about $40 million to $60 million worth of gold a month from the West African country.

    During the documentary, Alistair outlined his modus operandi to the undercover journalists suggesting that the most important credential of his operations in Africa comes from the trust that some dubious politicians have in him to keep their siphoned resources safely tucked away.

    He revealed that in doing this, the politicians involved do not keep assets in their own names, but rely on proxies.

    Citing government infrastructure as an example, he indicated that he is able to take huge contracts on behalf of Ghanaian politicians, inflate the cost and subsequently split the profit afterwards.

    “In Ghana, I take tenders, road construction, procurement, supplying different things, oil, this that. There, all the politicians get taken care of, indirectly because it allows me to do all my other stuff freely.”
    ‘Gold Mafia’: We have responded to Akufo-Addo’s letter – Al Jazeera

    He explains further in the documentary;

    “For example, Ghana government, Mathias Holdings, I get the contract. I subcontract it to you, $100 million contract. Ghana government pays me $100 million. I give it to you and you say it’s $80 million” he told the investigative reporters who secretly recorded the interaction.

    In this scenario, the outstanding $20 million out of the inflated $100 million is shared per an arrangement reached between Alistair and the said politician.
    ‘Gold Mafia’: We have responded to Akufo-Addo’s letter – Al Jazeera

    “I’ll have an arrangement with them and they get 15… I’ll probably get 5 million,” he added.

    “I keep all of it in Dubai. Whenever they want it, they just tell me and I send it.”

  • What’s wrong with improving FSHS policy? – Apaak to Akufo-Addo

    What’s wrong with improving FSHS policy? – Apaak to Akufo-Addo

    Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has raised concern over President Akufo-Addo’s refusal to examine the Free Senior High School Education (FSHS) policy.

    This comes on the back of the Methodist Church of Ghana calling on the government to review one of its flagship policies, the FSHS.

    According to the Methodist Church, irrespective of how the policy has been welcomed by Ghanaians there is the need to revise it.

    Commenting on the call by the Methodist Church, Dr. Clement Apaak indicated that President Akufo-Addo must listen to the many calls for the policy to be relooked at.

    “Stakeholders in education, the clergy, unions, parents and well-meaning Ghanaians have all called for and/or supported the call for a review of the FSHS policy, except Akufo-Addo and his NPP government. What is wrong with reviewing a policy to make it better, I don’t get it!” the lawmaker stated in a tweet.

    Meanwhile, the Methodist Church of Ghana has also disclosed that the FSHS policy has been saddled with challenges the government must accept and embark on a review.  

  • Media has played significant role in nat’l dev’t – Govt

    Media has played significant role in nat’l dev’t – Govt

    Government has expressed sincere gratitude for the media’s substantial contributions to the country’s growth.

    The government in a statement issued by Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday May 3 called for stronger emphasis on economic rights, considering the recent global challenges.

    This year’s World Press Freedom Day is on the theme ‘Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a driver for all other human rights.”

    “The media has been instrumental over the years, in highlighting various rights that require attention for full enjoyment.

    “The work of the media also in highlighting instances of abuse of some rights by sections of society has led to redress in many instances. We urge the media to remain resolute on this path.

    “The quest to have all citizens fully access their economic rights is yet to achieve full effect especially as the world faces dim economic forecasts following recent global challenges.”

    “While urging the Media in Ghana to keep the spotlight on all human rights, we encourage an even sharper focus on efforts to ensure that the economic rights of citizens are fully actualized,” the statement said.

    Meanwhile, a former Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) president, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, has urged the media to prioritise the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, given the devastating impact the canker is having on the environment. 

    The Veteran Broadcaster made the call at an event held in commemoration of the International Press Freedom Day held on May 3, 2023, at the Ghana International Press Centre (GiPC) in Accra. 

    During her speech, she called on all media houses to join in the fight and ensure the menace is significantly brought to a halt.

    “I believe all media houses should continually highlight the challenges until the menace is brought to a minimum,” she said. 

    This comes on the back of recent revelations about how Ghana’s mining sector is being exploited.

    First, was a documentary aired by Al Jazeera dubbed “Gold Mafia.” It was revealed in this piece that gold worth $40 million is smuggled out of the country annually.

    Second is the leaked Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) report authored by Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng that exposed a number of government officials as either being involved in galamsey or interfered in the galamsey fight during his tenure as chairman of the defunct Committee. 

    Madam Afenyi-Dadzie during the gathering acknowledged the media’s important role in highlighting the dangers. She, however, bemoaned how the fight has become tough due to ‘powerful’ figures engaged in the menace. That notwithstanding, she urged the media not to give up the fight. 

    “The media played and is still playing its role in raising concern about the dangers of galamsey which threatens our existence as a people. Subsequent developments have shown that the beneficiaries of galamsey are very powerful and will not easily give up irrespective of the danger to our water bodies and environment.

    “On this occasion, it is relevant to remind ourselves that based on the happenings we know now, the agenda to stop galamsey should be treated as a major existential threat that should go beyond the coalition that first highlighted the menace,” she added. 

    Galamsey’s impact on the environment

    Illegal Mining also known as galamsey over the years has had a devastating impact on communities where such activities go on. It is also destroying the country’s virgin forests and water bodies.  

    At a press briefing held at the Information Ministry on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, John M. Allotey, stated that thirty-four (34) of the country’s forest reserves are under threat to illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

    Majority of these reserves under threat, he said, were in the Ashanti region.

    He noted that out of the 16 regions of the country, seven have been experiencing some form of illegal mining.

  • Govt to roll out Asset Based Vehicle Financing Scheme – Akufo-Addo

    Govt to roll out Asset Based Vehicle Financing Scheme – Akufo-Addo

    As part of its efforts to boost demand for the purchase and support of locally produced vehicles in the nation, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that the government will soon launch an Asset Based Vehicle Financing Scheme.

    The scheme, according to him, will afford Ghanaians the opportunity to purchase locally manufactured and assembled vehicles under the Ghana Automotive Development Policy.

    Speaking at the commissioning of the Rana Motors KIA vehicle assembly plant in Accra on May 2, President Akufo-Addo was optimistic that the scheme will improve demand for vehicles and gain traction for components and kits produced domestically.

    “Government will continue to engage in discussions that will lead to the expansion of the market for domestically assembled vehicles at the regional and continental level to drive demand and create the necessary traction for assemblers to transition into complete knockdown assembly which will be supported by components and kits produced domestically to feed into the supply chain”

    President Akufo-Addo said government has thus far shown committed through the implementation of the zero-rating of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the sale of domestically assembled vehicles.

    “This means that there is no VAT on the sale of domestically assembled vehicles even to the end-user as part of efforts to make domestically assembled vehicles affordable”

    He further lauded the efforts of Rana Motors Limited who is believes has significantly contributed towards Ghana’s private sector and government’s industrialization agenda even in the wake of the current economic challenges.

    President Akufo-Addo however said the state-of-the-art facility has the capacity to produce some 30,000 vehicles annually with the opportunity to further increase.

    The Rana Motors KIA vehicle assembly plant is located at Amasaman in the Ga West Municipality of Greater Accra.

    The plant is a landmark achievement that marks the roll out of the first generation of KIA vehicles assembled under the Ghana Automotive Development Policy of the government.

    Meanwhile, the vehicle assembly plant currently employs about 50 workers and offers indirect employment to about 300 persons.

    Asset-Based Vehicle Financing Scheme is a financing program that enables individuals or businesses to purchase vehicles through a loan that is secured against the vehicle itself. The scheme is designed to make vehicle ownership more affordable and accessible for those who may not have the financial means to purchase a vehicle outright.

    Under this scheme, the lender provides financing to the borrower to purchase a vehicle, and the vehicle itself is used as collateral for the loan. This means that if the borrower defaults on the loan, the lender can repossess the vehicle to recover their investment.

    The Asset-Based Vehicle Financing Scheme can be used to purchase a variety of vehicles, including cars, vans, trucks, and buses. The financing terms typically range from one to five years, depending on the type of vehicle and the borrower’s creditworthiness.

    The benefits of this scheme include lower interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and the ability to own a vehicle without having to pay the full cost upfront. This makes it an attractive financing option for individuals and businesses who need vehicles for personal or commercial use.

    However, it is important to note that taking out a loan to purchase a vehicle also comes with risks. Borrowers should ensure that they can afford the monthly payments and that the vehicle they are purchasing is a sound investment. It is also important to choose a reputable lender and carefully review the terms and conditions of the financing agreement before signing on the dotted line.

    The main advantage of ABVFS is that it allows individuals and businesses to purchase vehicles without having to provide any other form of collateral. This makes it easier for people who may not have other assets to secure a loan. In addition, the interest rates on ABVFS loans are generally lower than those on unsecured loans, since the lender has some security in the form of the vehicle.

    Another advantage of ABVFS is that it allows individuals and businesses to purchase vehicles that may be too expensive to buy outright. Instead of having to save up for years to purchase a vehicle, individuals and businesses can finance the purchase and pay for the vehicle over time.

  • Akufo-Addo ‘begs’ Japan’s PM to help Ghana obtain $3bn IMF deal

    Akufo-Addo ‘begs’ Japan’s PM to help Ghana obtain $3bn IMF deal

    In order to assist Ghana in reaching a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board for the 3 billion dollar balance of payment support, President Akufo-Addo has solicited the backing of Japan.

    According to Akufo-Addo, Japan which is a member of the Paris Club has a major role to play in Ghana securing the IMF deal.

    Speaking at a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida who made a stopover at the Jubilee House Tuesday evening, Mr Akufo-Addo said Ghana will repay Japan’s support.

    “Ghana is also counting on the support of Japan in reaching a favourable agreement with the International Monetary Fund which will pave the way for the robust recovery of Ghana’s economy,” President Akufo-Addo said.

    In July 2022, Ghana requested for a three-year, US$3bn extended credit facility (ECF) from the IMF. An arrangement was agreed with the IMF in December 2022, with the aim of restoring credibility among investors, building reserve buffers and improving fiscal and debt sustainability.

    However, debt restructuring needs to be agreed upon with Ghana’s external creditors before the IMF’s Executive Board can sign off on the ECF.

    Meanwhile, Ghana’s hope of securing an IMF board approval is expected to delay owing to prolonged external debt-restructuring negotiations, and the involvement of numerous stakeholders in the process, according to the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU).

    The EIU in its 2023 Country Report on Ghana, stated that it anticipates Ghana to secure restructuring agreements on its public external debt during 2023-24, involving official and private creditors alike.

    It however, notes that, given the country’s pressing macroeconomic crisis, “the conclusion of a domestic debt-swap operation in February and increasing international attention on speeding up external debt restructurings, our core forecast remains that the IMF programme will be approved by mid-2023.”

    “We expect Ghana to secure restructuring agreements on its public external debt during 2023-24, involving official and private creditors alike. This will include a combination of write-offs, maturity extensions and reductions in interest rates. We expect official creditors to agree to a deal in 2023, and this, combined with the domestic debt restructuring that has already been secured, should provide enough reassurance to reduce Ghana’s risk of debt distress and allow the IMF to approve the agreed programme”.

    “However, there is a material risk that IMF board approval will be delayed owing to prolonged external debt-restructuring negotiations, given the involvement of multiple stakeholders in the process,” it noted.

  • Japanese Prime Minister in Ghana

    Japanese Prime Minister in Ghana

    The prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, is in Ghana for a two-day state visit.

    The Japanese Prime Minister is expected to hold a bilateral talks with President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.

    The Asian country seeks to deepen her strong economic ties and further promote business and investment relations in Ghana, being one of the leading economic centres in West Africa.

    Japan has been supporting Ghana’s infrastructure development, especially roads, to improve the country’s transport connectivity.

    The Asian country has high hopes for Ghana, which hosts the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to play a critical role in promoting regional integration and trade facilitation.

    The development of the bilateral relations cannot be discussed without acknowledging the achievements of Dr Hideyo Noguchi, a Japanese who had played a vital role in the healthcare sector of both countries.

    Japan is contributing to the health and medical fields in Ghana and the West African sub- region through the establishment of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and technical cooperation.

    The country has also supported Africa’s efforts to achieve peace and stability under the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA).

    The Japanese Prime Minister’s visit will provide an opportunity for the two countries to discuss ways to maintain peace and stability in the Sub-region.

    As the country holding the G7 Presidency, Japan is also committed to carefully listening to the voices of African countries.

  • I didn’t know Sarkodie’s ‘Happy Day’ has a political agenda – Kuami Eugene

    I didn’t know Sarkodie’s ‘Happy Day’ has a political agenda – Kuami Eugene

    Kuami Eugene has disclosed that when rapper Sarkodie contacted him for a feature on his song “Happy Day,” he led the latter to believe that it was a song intended to thank God, only for him to learn on set that the project had political motivations.

    With barely a month into the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana, Sarkodie released ‘Happy Day’ where he indirectly endorsed President Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party with the lyric ‘Nana Toaso’.

    Kuami Eugene, after the release of the viral tune, declared that he had no idea what he had gotten himself into, as it wasn’t his intention to be on a campaign song that could affect his brand.

    “I had no idea that was the direction it was going to. Sarkodie will bear witness to the fact that he sent me the song with the first rap ‘It is a beautiful brand new day’. That was all I had and so I was supposed to create a hook that matches that. His idea was like giving praise to God, and so I wrote a chorus that was giving praise to God, and so I had no idea that it was going to turn into something controversial in the media,” he disclosed in an interview on the Delay Show in April 2023.

    A section of Ghanaians have always maintained that Kuami played victim to escape backlash. He has however denied the claim and proven his innocence.

    “It was on set when I heard the second verse, I was taken by surprise, I turned to my manager and we both laughed. It is not my conversation to have, it should be my label and Sarkodie’s label…he didn’t send me the ‘Nana Toaso’ part, I could have given him a call,” he noted.

    The mother of the 2020 VGMA Artiste of the Year was among the many who felt disappointed in Kuami Eugene for allegedly getting himself into politics at the peak of his career.

    “My mum phoned me and questioned why I was getting myself involved in politics because I had just started. She told me that Sarkodie had spent 10 years in the game already and I was just getting started. I told her that I had no idea.”

    Sarkodie, on the other hand, has not confirmed that his popular song ‘Happy Day’ was truly an endorsement of the NPP’s presidential candidate, despite the speculations.

  • Gold Mafia Docu: Retract and apologise in 7 days or else .. – Akufo-Addo warns Aljazeera

    Gold Mafia Docu: Retract and apologise in 7 days or else .. – Akufo-Addo warns Aljazeera

    Jubilee House is requesting a sincere apology from the international media outlet, Al Jazeera, for dragging President Akufo-Addo’s name in the mud in its latest documentary, Gold Mafia.

    Al Jazeera has seven days within which to oblige the seat of government, according to a notice issued by Jubilee House on April 25, 2023.

    A letter signed by Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante stated that; “I am instructed by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to demand formally that Al Jazeera Media Network (Al Jazeera”) retract immediately and apologise for airing an inaccurate and unfair documentary that contained spurious and unsubstantiated allegations against the President and the Government of Ghana.”

    Earlier this month, Ghana popped up in a damning investigative documentary conducted into some of Zimbabwe’s gold smuggling and money laundering syndicates.

    In the concluding episode, undercover journalists posing as Chinese gangsters interact with one of the key parties, Alistair Mathias to help clean their dirty money.

    Mr Alistair who is described in the piece as a Financial Architect told the reporters posing as criminals that he had a track record of successfully orchestrating such syndicates.

    Essentially, he is said to be instrumental in designing money laundering schemes for many corrupt politicians in Africa.

    Alistair named Ghana as one of the countries where he had executed similar schemes adding that he is good friends with its President who he also claims used to be his lawyer.

    “Ghana’s President is a good friend of mine, in fact, he was my lawyer,” he told the undercover reporters.

    Mr Mathias added that he used to be the biggest smuggler in Ghana at one point, raking out about $40 million to $60 million worth of gold a month from the West African country.

    But the Presidency says some “parts of the documentary are malicious, defamatory, and a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the President and Government of Ghana.”

    During the documentary, Alistair outlined his modus operandi to the undercover journalists suggesting that the most important credential of his operations in Africa comes from the trust that some dubious politicians have in him to keep their siphoned resources safely tucked away.

    'Gold Mafia': Al Jazeera must retract and apologise to Akufo-Addo - Jubilee House
    'Gold Mafia': Al Jazeera must retract and apologise to Akufo-Addo - Jubilee House

    He revealed that in doing this, the politicians involved do not keep assets in their own names, but rely on proxies.

    Citing government infrastructure as an example, he indicated that he is able to take huge contracts on behalf of Ghanaian politicians, inflate the cost and subsequently split the profit afterwards.

    “In Ghana, I take tenders, road construction, procurement, supplying different things, oil, this that. There, all the politicians get taken care of, indirectly because it allows me to do all my other stuff freely.

    He explains further in the documentary;

    “For example, Ghana government, Mathias Holdings, I get the contract. I subcontract it to you, $100 million contract. Ghana government pays me $100 million. I give it to you and you say it’s $80 million” he told the investigative reporters who secretly recorded the interaction.

    In this scenario, the outstanding $20 million out of the inflated $100 million is shared per an arrangement reached between Alistair and the said politician.

    “I’ll have an arrangement with them and they get 15… I’ll probably get 5 million,” he added.

    “I keep all of it in Dubai. Whenever they want it, they just tell me and I send it.”

    Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo responded to Aljazeera on these claims saying had no recollection of acting as a lawyer for Alistair Mathias or his company.

    Mr Mathias has also denied ever being awarded any tender by the Ghanaian government or entering into any government contracts in any African country.

    Ghana’s food production projected to dip

  • Vision and mission statements are insufficient to boost productivity at workplace – Justice Torkornoo

    Vision and mission statements are insufficient to boost productivity at workplace – Justice Torkornoo

    The Supreme Court Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has said that the vision and purpose statements of an organization are not sufficient to ensure productivity at work.

    Delivering a lecture at the University of Professional Studies in Accra (UPSA), attended by fellow judges, academicians, industry players and students, Justice Torkornoo highlighted effective communication, enforcement of Law, Technology and Ethical values are some of the key strategies that implemented properly can lead to higher productivity at the workplace.

    Speaking on the topic, ‘Harnessing Good work ethics for Higher productivity’, the newly nominated Chief Justice said workers must find the right balance and coordinate properly between these strategies to help organisations achieve higher productivity among workers.

    “For workplaces to be distinctively productive, a crisp and discernible element in the vision of any organisation must be reiterated consistently and clearly for all teams and kept at the foreview of all stakeholders. Mission and Vision statements must go beyond being documents that are assumed to be read.

    “Communication increases understanding and understanding increases cooperation and collaboration. Communication increases learning and learning increases the capacity to achieve. It does not matter that communication is with regard to the most technical subject so long as it is presented in a clear, simple manner no technical subject need be considered as complicated for any member of a team in an institution.”

    Justice Torkornoo was on Wednesday, April 26, nominated by President Akufo-Addo as the next Chief Justice of Ghana.

    Justice Torkornoo will replace Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, who retires as Chief Justice on May 24, this year, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 for justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

    She will become the third female Chief Justice in history, following the footsteps of Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo.

  • 2023 Green Ghana Day to be launched by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

    2023 Green Ghana Day to be launched by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

    This year’s Green Ghana Day will be launched by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

    The event will be held at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Friday, June 9, and on the theme: “Our Forests, Our Health“.

    The Government has approved a budget of GHȼ2.5 million for this year’s exercise.

    The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor who announced this at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, April 26 said it intended to plant 10 million seedlings across the country.

    The Green Ghana Project was launched by President Akufo-Addo in 2021 as part of the government’s aggressive afforestation and re-afforestation programme to restore the degraded landscape.

    So far, about 31 million seedlings have been planted nationwide with an average survival rate of 81 and 72 per cent in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

    “This year, we have revised our target downwards to 10 million trees. This will give us space to devote some resources and attention to the trees planted over the last two years, while not losing momentum on our quest to restore our degraded landscape,” Mr Jinapor said.

    He expressed the hope that it would receive the usual massive support from the public to build upon the successes achieved in 2021 and 2022.

    He urged the media to carry the message across and mobilise support toward the success of the project.

    The Lands Minister appealed to all well-meaning Ghanaians, including chiefs and queen-mothers, religious and faith-based organisations, civil and public servants and students, to support the Ministry to make this year’s Green Ghana Day a success.

    “As we did last year, we have compartments for adoption by private institutions, and we will brand these compartments with their names and logos,” he said.
    Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to launch 2023 Green Ghana Day

    Seedlings will be made available at the Ministry, District Offices of the Forestry Commission, and at various designated locations for collection on the Day.

    The Minister said details of the seedling distribution and pick-up points will be published in due course.

    “Trees play a crucial role in our survival and the survival of planet earth…When the last tree dies, the last man dies,” he added.

    A Deputy Minister of Lands, in charge of Forestry, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio told the media that it had so far secured 7.5 million seedlings and expected to receive the remaining 2.5 million from donors.

    The Forestry Commission provided three million seedlings, the Mineral Commission supplied three million, while Plantation Fund Board and Rotary clubs and churches have supplied 500,000 and one million seedlings, respectively, he said.

  • Akufo-Addo in South Africa for DUA forum

    Akufo-Addo in South Africa for DUA forum

    On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, President Akufo-Addo, traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa for the Democrat Union of Africa (DUA) Annual Forum.

    President Akufo-Addo will deliver the keynote address at the Forum, which is scheduled to be held from the 26th to 30th April 2023, in Johannesburg.

    He was accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Kwaku Ampratwum, Member of Parliament for Mampong; and officials from the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.

    President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Sunday, 30th April 2023, and, in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60 (8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.

  • Akufo-Addo ‘begs’ World Bank, IMF to revive Ghana’s economy

    Akufo-Addo ‘begs’ World Bank, IMF to revive Ghana’s economy

    Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has made a passionate request to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for concessionary loans to help the country’s struggling economy.

    According to him, the loan facility is critical to the private sector which has been negatively impacted by the current economic challenges.

    Making remarks following a visit from the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to Ghana, president Akufo-Addo said the concessionary loans could be granted on more favourable terms compared to what the borrower could obtain in the marketplace.

    He explained that the terms could also be based on a lower interest rate or deferred repayments.

    President Akufo-Addo on his part shared that the current challenges in the economy have made it difficult for Ghana to gain access to the international capital markets for borrowing hence the decision to seek IMF assistance.

    Meanwhile, the WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in remarks noted that struggling countries in Africa for instance, must begin to readjust their economic infrastructure to address their challenges.

    “But we are also urging at the WTO that we do something we call re-globalisation, that we use this opportunity, if we want to build resilience in certain global supply chains to look at others, other developing countries as possible places where manufacturing can also take place,” Dr Okonjo-Iweala said.

    “I think these are some of the things that Ghana should consider, Ghana is a much-loved country and I think that your ability to attract investment should be something very important for you to talk to several of these global supply chains to see if they can also consider Ghana as a possible destination,” the WTO boss advised.