President Akufo-Addo has directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate the allegations in the leaked Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) report.
The ruling New Patriotic Party’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, made this known in a tweet.
The said report alleged in many parts direct and indirect complicity on the part of government and party officials in galamsey and in frustrating the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) which the former minister was chairman of.
In a tweet dated April 26, 2023; Ahiagbah slammed a press conference by the main opposition National Democratic Congress demanding a probe by the Special Prosecutor and Parliament into the report which was authored in 2021.
He intimated further that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Adddo had referred the 36-page report to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Police for independent investigation.
“On Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng’s document, as a party, we support the President’s prompt referral of the document to the CID, for an independent investigation. That is the democratic way, and the NDC is fully aware.
“The fight against galamsey is existential, but sadly the NDC has never seen it as such. The NDC sees it first as politics, an avenue to canvass votes either by way of promising galamseyers more galamsey when they ever win power or to do what they did yesterday in the press conference to besmirch the character of the people cited in the document on the weight of simple claims,” his tweet read in part.
The last time the presidency reacted to the report was via a statement over the weekend, alleging that the document was not official and that it contained a catalogue of grievances of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng and could best be described as hearsay.
The Presidency also tagged the document as not being an official report before Cabinet as it was submitted in an informal way.
“At the outset, it must be pointed out that the document being discussed was not an official report formally delivered to the Office of the President. On the contrary, it can only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, intended to respond to some issues he faced as Chairperson of the IMCIM.”
“The document was handed to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President on March 19th 2021, in an informal meeting, where Prof. Frimpong-Boateng complained about public attacks and criticisms made about his tenure as Chairperson of the IMCIM,” the statement read.
GhanaWeb has been unable, so far, to verify the referral of the report to the police CID.
Read Ahiagbah’s full post below:
The pointlessness of the NDC’s press conference yesterday is legendary. The Al Jazeera documentary has been effectively discredited so, I wonder why they were talking spiritedly about it.
On Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng’s document, as a party, we support the President’s prompt referral of the document to the CID, for an independent investigation. That is the democratic way, and the NDC is fully aware.
The fight against galamsey is existential, but sadly the NDC has never seen it as such. The NDC sees it first as politics, an avenue to canvass votes either by way of promising galamseyers more galamsey when they ever win power or to do what they did yesterday in the press conference to besmirch the character of the people cited in the document on the weight of simple claims.
The individuals especially, the Information Minister, has responded to state his innocence, but the NDC simply refused to acknowledge it or be restrained it. Instead, the NDC went full hog to display their pictures as though they have been found culpable of anything.
What would it have cost the NDC to have waited for the CID to complete its investigation and render its report for public scrutiny? Perhaps, the NDC is not aware that President Akufo-Addo has referred Prof. Boateng’s report to the CID.
The NPP, unlike the NDC, is committed to the fight against galamsey, and thus far has made considerable gains. But certainly, there is a lot more that needs to be done and all of us must pinch in. It is my humble appeal to all Ghanaians to get involved by reporting galamsey activities, learn about its dire implications for our very existence, and on that basis speak objectively against galamsey.
The NDC must learn to keep certain things above partisan politics and galamsey is one of such things. We know the NDC’s record on galamsey is criminal, to put it mildly. The fight against galamsey proceeds without fear or favor. Let’s all get involve less the partisanship that often weakens the cooperation we need to triumph.
Please watch the attached NDC galamsey video, and I am sure you conclude with me that the NDC needs to get serious with the fight against galamsey. Their double standard on a matter as serious as galamsey is sickening.
A former representative for Tema East, Titus Glover, stated that all parties involved must work together to combat unlawful small-scale mining (Galamsey).
The government is involved, Chiefs, the media and civil society are all involved, he said while speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 Wednesday April 26.
He further admitted that fighting the menace has been a daunting task however, the President and his government are determined to continue to war against the practice.
The former Deputy Transport Minister further urged the president to sack “all persons who are making his work difficult.”
He indicated the criticisms aroundgalamsey do not go to the people who making the work of the President difficult rather, they go to the President and the Vice President.
Titus Glover said he is not comfortable when the President and the Vice are constantly attacked for the galamsey menace.
A former member of parliament for Tema East, Titus Glover, has advised President Akufo-Addo to sack anyone who has been found to be interfering with the fight against illicit small-scale mining (galamsey).
Mr Titus Glover indicated that criticisms over galamsey issues are directedly blamed on the President and the Vice President whereas some persons have been put in charge of ensuring that the menace is nipped in the bud.
The former Deputy Transport Minister said he feels uncomfortable when the President and the Vice are constantly attacked for the galamsey menace.
He further indicated that the fight is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
The government is involved, Chiefs, the media and civil society are all involved, he said while speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 Wednesday April 26.
He further admitted that fighting the menace has been a daunting task however, the President and his government are determined to continue to war against the practice.
His comments come on the heels of the public brawl involving a former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Chairperson of the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM),Professor Frimpong-Boateng and some government officials over galamsey.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng in his report on the IMCIM cited severalgovernment officials of allegedly involved in galamsey.
However, the Presidency said the report of the IMCIM could only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims by Prof Frimpong-Boateng.
The seat of government said the document was handed to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President on March 19th 2021, in an informal meeting, where Prof. Frimpong-Boateng complained about public attacks and criticisms made about his tenure as Chairperson of the IMCIM. This was after Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s tenure as Minister had not been renewed by the President of the Republic in his second term.
“The document did not have a transmittal or cover letter nor, indeed, an addressee, such as to suggest that it was submitted to the Chief of Staff for action. It is noteworthy that the IMCIM was a creature of Cabinet, and any formal report on its activities would, normally, be submitted to Cabinet through the Cabinet Secretary, or directly to the President of the Republic as Chairperson of Cabinet. Till date, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has done neither,” the statement said.
It added “It is important also to point out that, whilst Prof. Frimpong-Boateng makes serious allegations against some government appointees, as having been involved in, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated.
“Indeed, the allegations contained in the document are at best hearsay. It is instructive that since Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s meeting with the Chief of Staff in March, 2021, he has taken no step nor acted in furtherance of the matters contained in the document.”
It further stated that the President’s commitment to fighting illegal mining is unassailable, and the Office of the President welcomes any information on illegal mining activities which provides a credible basis for investigations to be conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
An aspiring presidential candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has vowed never to pull out of the party’s presidential race.
Addressing delegates of the party in New Juaben North constituency in Eastern Region, Tuesday evening, the Assin Central Member of Parliament assured the delegates to disregard false claims that he will withdraw from the race at the tail end of the contest to declare support for another candidate.
Kennedy Agyapong wants to break the Dankwa-Busia-Dombo tradition of the NPP by adding grassroot tradition to take power away from the elites in the party to the grassroot .
Mr. Kennedy Agyapong took time to recount huge financial and logistical support he has personally sacrificed for the NPP since its formation in 1993.
He accused some government appointees who have not spent a dime on the party but have become rich overnight of arrogance of power.
Mr. Agyapong said he will retire from politics to enjoy his riches if delegates of the party continue to vote for people who take them for granted.
Speaking on Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Kennedy Agyapong stated that he has tamed the investigative Journalist to destroy his evil agenda against NPP and the government but regretted that no NPP man showed him support during his legal tussle against Anas.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reacted to a recent Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) report authored by Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
The leaked report on the activities of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) has been labelled by the NDC as “an obituary of President Akufo-Addo’s monumentally failed fight against illegal mining”.
The party at a press conference on Tuesday, April 25, chronicled various highlights of the report to support its claim that the fight against illegal mining was not a genuine one from the very outset.
Citing the decision by both the Lands Ministry and the Forestry Commission to grant mining and entry permits into Ghana’s forest reserves in 2018 when there was still an active ban on all forms of large and small-scale mining activities in the country, the NDC argued that government’s fight against the illegal mining menace was a ruse to enable some persons in both government and party to appropriate the illicit trade for themselves.
Addressing the press at its ‘Moment of Truth Series’, the National Communication Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, named officials at the seat of government whom he alleges, were cited in the 37-page report to have acted in ways that promoted illegal mining activities in some parts of the country.
Of particular reference were Lord Commey, Director of Operations at the Presidency, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, Special Aide to the Chief of Staff and one Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, a Presidential Staffer, who have been faulted by the report for one wrong or the other.
The party also called out legal practitioner and nephew of President Akufo-Addo, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, for placing a call to former Environment Minister, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng and engaging in what they termed influence peddling, when he sought to defend the work of his client, one Donald Entsuah over the activities of Heritage Imperial Mining Limited in the Diaso, Kobro and Apaprama forest reserves. The party chided the President’s nephew for defending wrong-doing and urged Ghanaians to condemn his conduct.
A recent 37-page leaked report on the activities of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), has placed on the front burner, various issues that have plagued Government’s fight against illegal mining, leading to the eventual dissolution of the Inter-Ministerial Committee. The NDC believes there is some collusion among high-profile government and New Patriotic Party officials who have been complicit in promoting the activities of illegal mining for their own benefit, hence the failed fight.
The party has therefore called on the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Adjabeng and Parliament to activate a full-blown probe into the report into to establish the truth and punish all who are found culpable.
President Akufo-Addo has nominated Gertrude Torkonoo as the new Chief Justice.
She is the President’s third appointee to the office of Chief Justice since he assumed office in January 2017 and is set to replace Justice Anin Yeboah.
A letter signed by the president indicated that it is important that he begins the processes for the replacement of the outgoing CJ now, so as not to create any vacuum.
“Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah is due to retire from the bench on 24th May, 2023, his seventieth birthday. In order to avoid a vacuum and ensure that a new Chief Justice is immediately in office after his retirement, I have decided to begin the process of appointment now. Article 144 (1) of the constitution, which governs the appointment of a Chief Justice, requires that I, first, consult with the Council of State before seeking the approval of Parliament.
“Consequently, I am nominating Justice Gertrude Arada Esaaba Torkornoo, a member of the Supreme Court, as the new Chief Justice,” his letter, addressed to the Council of State, said.
The president also added that he has been satisfied with the work of the nominee after her four years service at the apex court of the land.
He also called on the Council of State to expedite processes to have the nominee approved so he can proceed to the next stage with parliament.
Earlier, GhanaWeb had multiple reported on how either Gertrude Torkornoo, or Yonny Kulendi, both justices of the Supreme Court, had been highly tipped to become the next Chief Justice.
By this letter, it brings a finality to who President Akufo-Addo has considered for the near-vacant position.
Here is a profile of Gertrude Torkornoo:
Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo is a Ghanaian judge and author. Formerly a judge of the Appeals Court, she was nominated Supreme Court Judge in November 2019 and vetted on 10 December 2019.
She was sworn in on 17 December 2019. Aside from law, she has authored books, plays, academic essays, articles, and presentations.
Gertrude Torkornoo hails from Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana. She was born on 11 September 1962 in Cape Coast. She had her secondary education at Wesley Girls’ High School for her ordinary level certificate and Achimota School for her advanced level certificate.
She had her tertiary education at the University of Ghana and completed the Ghana School of Law in 1986.
Prior to joining Fugar & Co., a law firm in Accra as a pupil associate, Torkornoo worked as a volunteer at the FIDA Legal Aid Service and had her internship at Nabarro Nathanson in London. She returned to the firm (Fugar & Co., a law firm) in 1994 to become its director.
In January 1997, she became a Managing Partner at Sozo Law Consult until May 2004 when she was appointed a Justice at the High Court of Ghana. She worked as a High Court judge until October 2012 when she was elevated to the Court of Appeal.
She had been a justice of the Court of Appeal until her nomination for the role of Supreme Court Judge in November 2019. She was sworn into office on 17 December 2019.
Prior to her appointment as Supreme Court justice, Torkornoo has held a number of leadership positions, some of which include; Supervising Judge of Commercial Courts, Chair of the Editorial Committee of Association of Magistrates and Judges, Chief Editor for the development of Judicial Ethics Training Manual, Vice-Chair of the E-Justice Steering/Oversight Committee and Vice-Chair of the Internship and Clerkship Programme for the Judiciary.
She is also a Faculty Member of the Judicial Training Institute and a member of the Governing Board of the Judicial Training Institute.
President Akufo-Addo has granted the Ghana National Gas Company Limited (Ghana Gas) the approval to purchase the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company.
The acquisition of the company will help it acquire the necessary resources to run efficiently.
This was captured in a letter the Presidency wrote to Genevieve Sackey, the Managing Director of the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited and sighted by Citi News.
The letter signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President, on behalf of President Akufo-Addo was dated April 18, 2023.
“With reference to your correspondence dated 24th March 2023, bearing on the above-mentioned subject matter, I write to inform you that the President of the Republic has granted approval for the acquisition of Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited (GCMC) by the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC),” parts of the letter read.
The cylinder manufacturing company which has been in existence for over 30 years has been struggling to run efficiently for years due to alleged mismanagement by previous managers.
The GCMC, which hitherto was incorporated as a Private Limited Liability under the Companies Code, 1963 (ACT 179) in 1998, is currently 100 percent fully owned by the State.
It was established to promote wider usage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a substitute for charcoal and firewood, and thereby curtail some of Ghana’s environmental challenges of degradation, deforestation and desertification caused by excessive use of firewood.
President Akufo-Addo in February 2023 nominated Madam Genevieve Sackey as the new Managing Director of Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited.
This followed the resignation of the former MD of the company, Frances Awurabena Asiam.
TheWorld Trade Organization‘s (WTO) Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will visit Ghana today, Tuesday, April 25.
The purpose of the two-day visit is to meet policymakers, business leaders and civil society representatives while underscoring the WTO’s commitment to reinforcing support to Sub-Saharan Africa.
She is expected to meet Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo, interact with female entrepreneurs and participate in a discussion on the theme: “Making Globalisation Work for Africa”.
The programme will be organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs. She will also hold discussions with the Minister of Trade and Industry. “I am very much looking forward to my visit to Africa. Africa is a vital part of the membership of the WTO,” Dr Okonjo -Iweala, said ahead of her trip, in a press release issued to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra.
“I look forward to strengthening our partnership with countries in the region. African economies, she noted, had taken major steps towards economic integration over the last few years at a time when the global trade landscape was changing rapidly.
“We must make sure we all work together to help our members in Africa take advantage of the opportunities offered by re-globalisation.”
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the seventh Director-General of the WTO, took office on 1 March 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General. She is a global finance expert, an economist and international development professional with over 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America. Dr Okonjo-Iweala was formerly the Board Chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance previously on the Boards of Standard Chartered PLC and Twitter Inc. She was appointed as African Union (AU) Special Envoy to mobilise international financial support for the fight against COVID-19 and WHO Special Envoy for Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator. Previously, Dr Okonjo-Iweala twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions.
She had a 25-year career at the World Bank as a development economist, rising to the second position of Managing Director, Operations. She is renowned as the first female and African candidate to contest for the presidency of the World Bank Group in 2012, backed by Africa and major developing countries in the first truly contestable race for the world’s highest development finance post.
As Managing Director of the World Bank, she had oversight responsibility for the World Bank’s $81 billion operational portfolio in Africa, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala spearheaded several World Bank initiatives to assist low-income countries during the 2008-2009 food crisis and later during the financial crisis. In 2010, she was Chair of the World Bank’s successful drive to raise $49.3 billion in grants and low-interest credit for the poorest countries in the world.
The minority leader in parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has stated that the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining (galamsey), are mocked by the former chairman of the disbanded Inter-ministerial Committee against Illegal Mining, Prof. Frimpong Boateng’s, report.
In a Facebook post, Dr. Forson said the revelation by Prof. Frimpong is strongly indicative that the galamsey fight was nothing but a charade. He plainly describes it as fraudulent.
“Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s report to the President on failed work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, which was set up by President Akufo-Addo to fight the illegal mining menace, confirms that the whole fight was a fraudulent one”, he wrote.
The report authored by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng also a former Minister of Environment in March 2021 and handed over to the Chief of Staff cited a number of top officials in the Akufo-Addo government accused of either being engaged in galamsey or interfered in the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining.
The Presidency in a rejoinder argued that despite the serious allegations Prof. Frimpong-Boateng made against some government appointees, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated.
It insists that the report was based on hearsay. But Dr. Ato Forson says, government’s action so far is a tacit endorsement of its corrupt appointees.
“It was shrouded in a well-calculated ruse to enable key government officials and functionaries at the Presidency to dabble in the very illicit business ofgalamsey.”
Meanwhile, the Minority leader is pushing for a full-scale investigation into the revelations.
“The revealing issues and several others in the damning report call for a national probe”, he added.
President Akufo-Addohas urged African leaders to increase their financial support for education.
According to him, a recent UNESCO and African Union research indicates that millions of children are not attending school.
Speaking at the World Book Capital 2023 launch in Accra, President Akufo-Addo said more has to be done in the educational sector.
“At the primary level, the report suggests that one in five primary-age children are not in the classroom. While six in 10 adolescents are out of school due to several inter-linking factors. Again, 58 percent of upper secondary-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa do not attend school. This is the scenario completely unacceptable.”
The President described the World Book Capital 2023 as a great potential to contribute to education, culture and wealth.
He called on international partners to leverage on the diverse linkages to culture and education to deepen their collective actions in making progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
President Akufo-Addo remarked, “It is with pleasure to join you to launch the UNESCO World Book Capital 2023. Winning the World Book title of Accra is no mean an achievement. It’s a great potential to contribute to education, culture and the wealth of our nation. It’s also an acknowledgement of the giant strides Ghana and Africa are making to develop our book in creative industries as well as scale up the youth through the transformative power of reading for societal development.
“For us in Ghana, the Accra World Book Capital is more than a reading campaign. It’s an opportunity for government and international partners to leverage on the diverse linkages to culture and education to deepen our collective actions to make progress of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals”.
He called on the private sector, and corporate organisations to support financially the 2023 World Book Capital.
“I call on all stakeholders to come on board and support the programme for maximum impact. Further, I call on the private sector, corporate organisations, the UN family, foundations and similar institutions to support financially this exciting initiative that seeks to connect minds for socio-economic progress,” he appealed.
President Akufo-Addo and his wife Rebecca on Sunday, 23rd April 2023, visited the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, at his residence in Fadama, to wish him a happy 104th birthday.
President Akufo-Addo described the Chief Imam’s age as a “blessed and privileged club.”
He described the National Chief Imam’s guidance of the Muslim flock in Ghana as truly exemplary.
“Our country may well be the envy of the rest of the world, when it comes to the question of religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence. His leadership and contribution to this state of affairs have been outstanding,” Nana Akufo-Addo praised and prayed for God’s blessings of wisdom, good health, long life, and prosperity for him.
Biography of Nuhu Sharubutu
Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu was born at Accra cow-lane in April 1919 by reputable parents from a well cultured and knowledgeable House.
His father, Sheikh Imam Nuhu Sharubutu was the Imam-Raatib (regular or residential Imam) of the Accra Central Mosque in the late 1960s to 1982 when he demised.
His mother, Hajja Ayishatu Abbass popularly known as Mma Tasidi, may her soul rest in peace and perfect bliss, also contributed immensely to the moral and psychological development of her son by ensuring that he had the proper home upbringing to go side with Islamic Education.
His mother was the sister of the Greater Accra Regional Imam who also rose to be called the National Imam (from late 1933 to 1960), Sheikh Imam Muhammed Abbas popularly known as Mallam Muhammad Mazawaje.
Young Osmanu started his education at home from his father during the day and with his mother at night.
It was widely reported and confirmed by Sheikh Osmanu himself that his mother was given to the father by his uncle, the late Imam Abbas Mazawaje who saw in his father high degree of fear of Allah and qualities of leadership.
Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, the father of young Osmanu was a prominent student of Sheikh Imam Abbas Mazawaje and became a member of the House.
Young Osmanu grew up to be a truly Islamic Model and a Unique Islamic heavyweight in knowledge and wisdom worthy of emulation.
At any point in time since his childhood till date he has been hammering on the need for all Ghanaians, Muslims and Christians to live in peace, saying that any divisive tendencies could leave room for our enemies to penetrate and defeat us.
His journey to Kumasi
When his father saw his true devotion and love for books and knowledge, he decided to send Osman to a new learning environment.
It was later decided that the Garden City and the Capital of Ashanti Region becomes his new learning destination.
The prominent Islamic Scholar Sheikh Abdullah Dan Tano became his next teacher.
That was where he went through a highly advanced course in Arabic Grammar, Arabic Literature and Texts, the study of Islamic Jurisprudence and Al-Hadiths (practices of the Holy Prophet).
He remained there until he graduated with distinction from Kumasi.
The aftermath of his journey to Kumasi
After his advanced studies in Kumasi, Mallam Osmanu became a completely changed and reformed personality.
This is due to the deep knowledge he acquired outside his original environment and his ability to imbibe the moral teachings from his teachers.
After careful contemplation, he later took a decision of devoting his time to teaching the Muslim youth who are keen in learning to become Islamic scholars, thinkers, teachers and imams in future.
Even as a teacher himself, he continued to have the desire and love for the pursuit of knowledge to the extent that anytime he heard of an Islamic Scholar, he rushed to fall on his feet as a student to seek further knowledge thereby benefiting from that scholar.
Among the illustrious scholars and Sheikhs who taught Mallam Osmanu are Sheikh Alhaji Mohammed, popularly known as Baraw, may he rest in peace.
Sheikh Baraw taught the interpretation of the Holy Quran, Classic Arabic Language, Literature and Texts.
Another famous Sheikh who served as a tutor and instructor to Mallam Osmanu was Sheikh Abubakar Fulaaty Al Kanawy who hailed from Nigeria.
It was this Sheikh who taught him Arabic Culture, Al-Hadith of the Holy Prophet, Arabic Texts and Fundamentals of Sufism.
Meeting Alhaji Sheikh Ibrahima Niass Qutbu Zaman
Mallam Osmanu continued with research on Sufism, by often devoting his leisure time in mosques to listen to the preachers of the Tijjaniyya movement and Sufism.
When his maternal uncle Sheikh Imam Alhadji Mohammed Abbas Mazawaje, who was the Accra Chief Imam saw the devotion, interest and handwork in Osmanu he introduced the Tijjaniya Movement’s Special Meditation to him, which he readily embraced.
He pursued the Tijjaniya Meditation till the arrival of the grand pioneer of the movement, the torchbearer and supreme commander of the Tijjaniya of the 20th century, Grand Sheikh Alhadji Ibrahim Nyass from Kaolack in Sénégal.
Sheikh Ibrahim Niass taught Mallam Osmanu the deeper spiritual aspect of Sufism and rudiments of mysticism and eserotics which smoothly paved the way for Mallam Osmanu to become a true leader in the Tijjaniya Movement in Ghana.
His appointment as National Chief Imam
Interestingly in 1974, after lengthy discussions among the traditional and tribal chiefs, academics, Islamic scholars, and religious personalities, a consensus was reached for Sheikh Osmanu to be appointed as the Deputy Regional Chief Imam of Ghana, deputising his cousin, Sheikh Imam Muhammed Mukhtar Abbas who succeeded his father.
The appointment of Sheikh Osmanu as deputy Greater Accra Region Chief Imam was done in consideration of the unique qualities, Intellectual capacity, dedication to teaching and passion for Islam and exemplary lifestyle in him, but he turned down their offer which was forced on him by the Prominent Muslim Chiefs who persistently asked him to give it a serious thought stressing to him that it could be a divine call to serve God.
Subsequently, when it dawned on Sheikh Osmanu that it was a divine call for him to serve Islam and Muslim communities, he finally accepted the position as the acting Greater Accra Regional Chief Imam until 1993, when he was ceremoniously appointed as the National Chief Imam of Ghana to head the Ghanaian Muslim Communities.
His Islamic activities
Sheikh Osmanu was well known for his exemplary lifestyle and generosity to people who called on him with their personal problems. He has built many Arabic Schools, Islamic Centers and Mosques.
Normally he spends huge sums money in Organising conferences, seminars and symposia on thorny Islamic issues prevailing in the Islamic societies and the country as a whole.
From the amounts given on him, Sheikh Osmanu deserves the award given him by the University of Ghana who bestowed on him an honorary Doctorate Degree.
He deserves more of that from any Islamic University or Higher Institution of learning; also he really deserves the accolade of a great Muslim leader due to his immense contribution and love for maintaining peace and development in Ghana.
He is also contributing to the revival of good values and reform in the Muslim youth, Islamic faith and the Moslem communities.
Sheikh Osmanu also taught Islamic scholars and sheikhs.
Among his students were Muhammad Munir Dan Alpha who is now deputising him and even leading national Islamic prayers on behalf of his teacher(Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu), Sheikh Ustaz Abdul Aziz, Sheikh Yahyal-Ameen, Mallam Adam Attah (late), Mallam Saeed, Alhaji Jibril Madaha, Mallam Ibrahima Nyass, Mallam Mustapha Yaa Jalala, Mallam Habibu Gora, Sheikh Musa Abdul Kadir (late) and Mallam Zurkanain, to mention just a few.
To sum up, Sheikh Osmanu ranks high among the erudite and prominent Islamic Scholars Ghana has ever produced, among his contemporaries are sheikh Kamâludeen who was chosen directly by Sheikh Osmanu to serve as his Deputy National Chief Imam of Ghana and the late Sheikh Alhadji Haroun Rasheed.
Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu is the Grand Khalipha of Sheikh Ibrahim Niass from 1972 to date, a title that he personally considers and cherishes more-than the National Chief Imamship position.
In recent times, to climax his passion for education, smooth and mutual interfaith relations and peaceful coexistence, peacebuilding and unity, he founded two organisations that are making great marks and impacting positive changes in the lives of Ghanaians and the World in general.
The works and activities of the Chief Imam
1. Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Education Trust Fund (SONSETFUND) www.sonsetfundgh.org and the
2. Islamic Peace and Security Council of Ghana (IPASEC) www.ipasecgh.org cannot be overemphasised or overlooked in contemporary Ghana.
Achievements
The accomplishments of Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu at a glance;
1. The establishment of the Office of the National Chief Imam of Ghana in 1992
2. Engineered the realisation and manifestation of two (2) national holidays for Muslims in the official calendar of the Republic of Ghana
3. Establishment of seven Islamic schools; the Answaru-Deen Islamic School Complex, in the Greater Accra region
4. Self-trained, educated, sponsored and empowered over 50 well-disciplined and taught students in Islamic studies and they have become a force to reckon in the Muslim community in Ghana and have excelled in the field of Islamic knowledge and jurisprudence
5. Personally promoted Islamic education and encouraged the establishment of a unique system of education in Ghana, the marriage of traditional Islamic institutions and secular education to promote the acquisition of both.
6. Personally promoted and encouraged mutual understanding, dialogue and peaceful coexistence between religions (Interfaith relations) and interfaith beliefs (sects).
7. Self-sponsored (financially) hundreds of students to attain circular education in Ghana and abroad.
8. The establishment of an educational Trust Fund to support brilliant but needy students; the Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Education Trust Fund (SONSETFUND) www.sonsetfundgh.org
9. The establishment of an organisation that promotes peace, unity and sustainable peace in Ghana and abroad; the Islamic Peace and Security Council of Ghana (IPASEC) www.ipasecgh.org
10. The establishment of an orphanage to look after the education and welfare of homeless Muslim kids in Ghana; the Nuuru Usmaniya Foundation for Humanitarian Services and Development (NUSMA
11. The establishment of a first-class educational complex in Kasoa, Central Region; Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Educational Complex
12. Engineered the attraction of the financier organisation (Hunan Development International Foundation-HUDAI from Turkey) on the ongoing construction of the National Mosque at Kawo Kudi, Kanda, Accra.
13. Personally officiated over 5000 marriages in Ghana alone
14. Led funeral prayers on over 4000 Muslims in Ghana
15. Personally officiated over the naming ceremonies of over 10,000 Muslim children.
16. He was decorated with honours by the premier nation’s university, the University of Ghana, Legon in 2006 with doctorate degree for his works in humanities, teaching, imparting knowledge and peaceful activities.
17. Several other local and foreign universities awarded him with doctorate degrees.
Eminent Foreign Personalities
1. Sheikh Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Ibrahim Niass, Grand Khalipha of Sheikh Alhaji Ibrahim Niass in Madina Kaolakh, Senegal
2. Sheikh Usman Thahiru Bauchi, Prominent Islamic Cleric in Nigeria
3. Sheikh Imam Tijjani Cise, Imam of the Grand Mosque of Sheikh Alhaji Ibrahim Niass in Madina Kaolakh, Senegal
4. Sheikh Alhaji Mudassiru Adeleke Shitu Bulala, the Chairman of Al-Kanz magazine in Nigeria and CEO of a multinational group of companies in Ajay, Lagos
5. Sheikh Hisham Kabani Haqqani, President of the Islamic Supreme Council of America and World Wide Deputy Leader of the Naqshabandiya Sufi order
6. Minister Louis Farakan, Leader of the Nations of Islam in America
7. Minister of the Religion, Dr Khalid Yasin from the United States of America
8. Sheikh Imam Hassan Cisse, Imam of the Grand Mosque of Sheikh Alhaji Ibrahim Niass in Madina Kaolakh, Senegal
Ironically, all the above dignitaries revisited the National Chief Imam several times on their own personal accord on account of his leadership and hospitality.
Official trips
1. Republic of Turkey
2. Islamic Republic of Iran
3. The United Kingdom
4. United States of America
5. Royal Kingdom of Canada
6. Royal Kingdom of Morocco
7. Royal Kingdom of Denmark
8. Royal Kingdom of Finland
9. Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
10. Federal Republic of Nigeria
11. Republic of Senegal
12. Republic of Togo
13. Republic of Benin
Associations
His Eminence Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, as of today, is a member or patron of the following organisations in Ghana and abroad;
1. NATIONAL PEACE COUNCIL (NPC), member
2. TIJJANIYA MUSLIMS MOVEMENT OF GHANA (TMG), Spiritual Leader
3. GHANA CONFERENCE ON RELIGIONS AND PEACE (GCRP), member
4. RELIGIOUS BODIES NETWORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE (RELBONET), member
5. GHANA NATIONAL MEDICAL AWARDS TEAM (1Z GROUP), patron
6. ALFAIDAH INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION (ALIF), patron
7. AFRICAN SUPPORT NETWORK (ASN) GHANA, patron
8. HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FORUM IN GHANA, to mention just a few.
Awards
His Eminence received the following awards among many others that will be mentioned in his comprehensive autobiography Insha Allah;
Honorary Professorial Degree Award by Poltava University, Ukraine 2019.
Muslims Achievers Award by the Ghana Muslims Achievers Awards, 2018.
Ghana Muslim Students’Association Patron Award, (GMSA) 2018.
Martin Luther King Jnr Award for Peace and Justice by the United States Embassy in Accra. 2016.
Muslims Excellence Award by the Yankasa Assoictaion Inc, USA, 2015.
Northern Achievers Award by the Northern Youth for Development, 2015.
Man of the year Award by the Abnaul faida, Lagos, Nigeria, 2014.
Muslims Personality Award by the Ghana Muslims Award, 2013.
Ghana Most Influential Award, 2nd most influential personality of the year, 2012 by the ETV Ghana. 2013.
Yankasa Man of the Year Award by the Yankasa Association Inc. USA, 2013.
Tijjaniya Muslims Movement Highest Man of Personality Award by the Tijjaniya Muslims Movement of Ghana, 2011.
Member of the Star of Volta Award by the Republic of Ghana, 2007.
Member of the Star of Volta Award by the Republic of Ghana, 2006.
Landmarks
1. Brokering of peace between Muslims and indigenes of Hohoe, Volta region in 2012 following a conflict that resulted in the loss of lives and properties.
2. Brokering of peace between Muslims and indigenes of Tafo, Ashanti Region and the Muslim youth of the region in 2016 following a conflict that resulted in the loss of lives and properties.
3. Gracing of programmes of non-Islamic faiths such as his attendance and honouring of invitations of the Catholic Church during their centenary anniversary in Accra.
4. Brokering of peace between Kusasis and Mamprusis in the Upper East Region following a protracted conflict that resulted in the loss of lives and properties.
His Eminence played a key and vital role.
5. Brokering of peace between Muslim youth and the Imams of Nkawkaw, Eastern Region over leadership crisis that resulted in the closure of mosque and the imposition of a curfew by the state security agencies to protect lives and properties.
6. Permission to Pastor Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, to finance the painting of the National Mosque in 2011.
Compiled by; Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osmanu
Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, Executive Secretary of IPASEC and SONSETFUND Grandson of Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu with the assistance of Ustaz Issah Gibriel Abbas.
The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has said Ghana will one day pay for appointing persons believed to be party faithfuls into the Electoral Commission (EC).
He said the consequences of such persons suspected to have ties with the ruling New Patriotic Party as commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC) will one day be felt in the country.
Speaking in an interview on Hello FM, the senior journalist warned that any attempt aimed at changing an election result in Ghana will lead to a bad situation.
According to him, the government’s refusal to consider the opposition to the said appointments will someday spell doom for the country if care is not taken.
“This issue has come up and everyone is complaining about but you are also not listening, Ghana will face the consequences one day if care is not taken,” he noted.
There has been uproar against two of three newly sworn-in commissioners of Ghana’s Electoral Commission by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to the opposition National Democratic Congress, Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani, have deep roots in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and therefore cannot guarantee the neutrality and impartiality of the country’s electoral management body.
According to the NDC, Dr Appiahene has been a patron of the NPP student wing at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) since 2017, and was a member of the party’s 2020 National Research and Data Analysis Team. The NDC expressed concern that his appointment to the EC would hamper public confidence in the institution and undermine the conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections in Ghana.
The NDC also alleges that Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani is an activist of the ruling party, and that her immediate family has deep roots in the NPP. The party contends that her appointment to the Electoral Commission would compromise the neutrality and impartiality required of a member of the institution.
However, pro-government and New Patriotic Party elements have refuted the claims by the NDC.
In their defence, government and officials of the NPP maintain that the two officers have no power to influence election results while others have sought to dissociate the two from the NPP.
But according to Kwesi Pratt, an attempt by any person including EC officials to manipulate election results will have dire consequences on the country.
“I hold the strong belief that whoever attempts to steal an election in Ghana will have the consequences being visited on the entire nation. It will be very dangerous if anyone tries to steal an election in Ghana, something will definitely happen so no one should dare try,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the NDC has petitioned the Council of State to rescind its advice to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the recent appointment of three members to Ghana’s Electoral Commission.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has expressed shock about the constituency youth organizer in Kyebi, the hometown of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, being named among the key players in unlawful small-scale mining in the area.
Sam George was reacting to the report authored by a former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, on galamsey which disclosed that President Akufo-Addo’s yard was partially excavated by the constituency youth organizer who was looking for gold.
“But you know what is very telling, and it is the stuff of Hollywood fiction but in Ghana it is our reality that the president’s own residence in Kyebi, his garden was dug up…Portions of President Akufo-Addo’s garden was dug up in search of gold by the constituency youth organizer,” he said.
In the report, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng listed various powerful individuals from the nation who were complicit in the threat and meddled with the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), of which he served as Chair.
The outspoken MP, appalled by some of the revelations in the report, while speaking on the issue on The Key Point on TV3, questioned the use of security, emphasizing that the president’s home is a security zone thus needed to be guarded at all cost.
“Where was security? The president’s home in his hometown at Kyebi must be a security zone. Where was his security that his garden got dug up by his own youth organizer searching gold and the president didn’t know about it? And then Frimpong-Boateng had to go and get a bulldozer and excavator to go and reclaim the land and revegetate the president’s garden so that the president can come home and have a garden. Jesus Christ!”
The legislator stressed that the report should not be taken on the surface, noting that the issue must be dealt with, with all seriousness.
He also criticised the former head of national security, Captain (rtd) Edmund Kojo Koda, accusing him of being careless and supporting perpetrators when he was supposed to protect the country from the canker.
In his words, “The persons who have been mentioned…and you see Frimpong-Boateng’s report why you cannot take it as a literary piece of work but as something serious. It’s the kinds of names he mentioned. Captain Koda is head of national security. He is literally responsible for the president’s security. Excavators are arrested doing galamsey, doing illegal mining and Captain Koda calls the police station in the Eastern region where the excavators that were seized were sent…and he orders the police to release the excavators because the persons whose excavators it is, is another MP, a sitting MP who is his brother. So familial benefit over national good.”
President Akufo-Addo’s Office has explained why the President did not act on the 37-paged Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) report which was authored by Prof Frimpong-Boateng.
In a press release, the office clarified that the document was not an official document formally submitted to the President to be acted upon. Rather, “it can only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims by Prof Frimpong-Boateng, intended to respond to some issues he faced as Chairperson of IMCIM.
“This was after Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s tenure as Minister had not been renewed by the President of the Republic in his second term. The document did not have a transmittal or cover letter nor, indeed, an addressee, such as to suggest that it was submitted to the Chief of Staff for action.
“It is noteworthy that the IMCIM was a creature of Cabinet, and any formal report on its activities would, normally, be submitted to Cabinet through the Cabinet Secretary, or directly to the President of the Republic as Chairperson of Cabinet. Till date, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has done neither,” the statement said.
Moreover, the Professor did not provide any evidence to substantiate his claims, according to the statement from the President’s Office.
“It is important also to point out that, whilst Prof. Frimpong-Boateng makes serious allegations against some government appointees, as having been involved in, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated,” it added.
The document by the former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Chairperson of the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng imputes wrongdoing on the part of some government appointees in the fight against Galamsey.
Names like Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Former Forestry Commission boss, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie also known as Sir John, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, as either being involved in illegal mining or having interfered with the work of the Committee during his tenure as its chairman.
The claims, however, have been fiercely resisted by the names mentioned in the report.
The Office of the President has also described them as mere “hearsay” since the Professor did not present any substantial evidence to back them.
“It is instructive that since Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s meeting with the Chief of Staff in March, 2021, he has taken no step nor acted in furtherance of the matters contained in the document,” the statement said.
While clarifying matters, the Office of the President declared government’s unwavering commitment to the fight against galamsey.
“The President’s commitment to fighting illegal mining is unassailable, and the Office of the President welcomes any information on illegal mining activities which provides a credible basis for investigations to be conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
“We continue to count on the co-operation of the general public,” it added.
A 2021 report on the work of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), has alleged a concerning cover-up scheme that involved private legal practitioner Gabby Otchere Darko.
The scheme was reportedly aimed at shielding those responsible for harmful mining practices in the Krobo and Apaprama Forest reserves.
The report indicates that President Akufo-Addo was informed about the cover-up scheme and vowed to take action.
However, it is not clear if the President has followed through on his promise to “deal with it”.
This revelation has raised important questions about the government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s natural resources and preserving the environment for future generations.
Lawyer Gabby Otchere is a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and cousin of president Akufo-Addo.
According to the Prof a call from the lawyer insisted that he gave a company the permit to engage in illegal mining.
The former minister stated that Gabby who was supposed to assist the president was rather the one encouraging the illegal activity.
Meanwhile, the lawyer has denied that he had interfered in the work of the IMCIM.
According to Gabby he called the then- minister to inquire about his client, a business that held the necessary permissions to mine in the country.
“We were ready to dislodge Heritage Imperial Limited, a company that was destroying the Krobo and Apaprama Forest Reserves and in the process had also polluted and diverted the course of River Offin as can be seen in the satellite images below. I informed the President about the behaviour of Mr Gabby Asare Otchere Darko and he promised to deal with it.
“Heritage had a mining exploration permit issued in July 2019, aforest entry permit issued in November 2018, and also an EPA permit yet the soldiers went and seized the equipment of Heritage and so I called the soldiers and was told that it was the Minister who had sanctioned them and so I asked the Minister what the issue was with the equipment seizures and the Minister said they were prospecting and not exploring and that was the conversation that we had,” he added.
The 37-page report was prepared in 2021 and handed over to the Chief of Staff.
According to Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, some NPP leaders paid Chinese citizens to participate in galamsey on their behalf.
“Throughout our struggle with illegalities in the small-scale mining sector, what baffled me was the total disregard of the President’s commitment to protect the environment. I can state without any equivocation that many party officials from the National to the unit committee level had their friends, PAs, agents, relatives, financiers or relatives engaged in illegal mining,” the report said.
“Most of them engaged Chinese working for them. I am not referring to party people who had their legitimate concession and were mining sustainably as they were instructed to do. There are appointees in the Jubilee House that are doing or supporting illegal mining or interfering with the fight against the menace,” he added.
The Professor served under President Akufo-Addo in his first tenure in office.
He headed the committee established by President Akufo-Addo in March 2017 to combat unlawful small-scale mining.
Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs, Regional Re-Organisation and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Water and Sanitation, Interior, Defense, and Information are some of the ministries that made up the Committee.
The Committee’s duties included regulating and sanitizing small-scale mining operations in the several mining regions to make sure that miners adhere to the law.
However, the Committee was disbanded soon after the 2020 presidential election.
The search for the next Chief Justice (CJ) to replace Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah is becoming topsy-turvy as an emerging report suggests Akufo-Addo’s former legal partner, Justice Yonny Kulendi, could be the next CJ instead of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Earlier this week, graphic.com.gh reported that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reportedly pencilled in Supreme Court Judge Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as the next Chief Justice of Ghana.
However, a newspaper report by the New Crusading Guide on April 21, 2023, hinted otherwise.
The paper headlined, ‘Search for CJ: Justice Kulendi is the Next Chief Justice…Akufo Addo swerved Gertrude Torkornoo’, is suggesting that the president could go in for his former workmate to be the new CJ of the Supreme Court.
Biography:
Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi is a Ghanaian judge who hails from Issa, a village in the Upper West Region of Ghana. In the formative years of his life, young Kulendi spent almost two years in the Wa prisons on remand, and this incident made him resolve all the more to be a lawyer.
He entered the University of Ghana, where he was awarded his Bachelor of laws degree in 1992. He continued at the Ghana School of Law and became a barrister-at-law in 1994.
He holds a master of arts degree in International Security and Civil-Military Relations from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, United States.
Kulendi had his national service at the Legal Aid Board of Accra. After his service, he joined the Akufo-Addo, Prempeh, and Co. Chambers, where he underwent pupillage.
He later founded his own law firm, Kulendi @ Law, where he worked as the firm’s managing partner until his appointment to the bench.
As a lawyer, his areas of expertise included; Investments, Securities, Commercial Law, Criminal Law, and Litigation.
On 17 March 2020 the president, Nana Akufo-Addo informed the Speaker of Parliament, Mike Oquaye that consultations had been completed for the nomination of Kulendi and three other persons to be made justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Kulendi was vetted together with Justice Joy Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu on Tuesday 12 May 2020. Following his vetting by parliament, Kulendi was approved by parliament on Wednesday 20 May 2020, and sworn into office on Tuesday 26 May 2020.
Kulendi became the first Ghanaian from the Upper West Region to be appointed to serve on Ghana’s highest court of jurisdiction. His appointment also now makes him a part of a small group of persons who were called to the Supreme Court bench directly from the bar.
Speaker Alban Bagbinhas directed all Members of Parliament (MPs) to end their recess and return to the House for an “urgent parliamentary business.”
The urgent parliamentary business is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2, 2023, per the statement from the Office of the Speaker dated April 20, 2023.
“I, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, do hereby direct that Parliament shall notwithstanding anything to the contrary, be recalled from recess to sit on Tuesday, the 2nd day of May 2023, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, at Parliament House, Accra, to consider urgent parliamentary business,” the statement read.
Rt Honourable Alban Bagbin gave the instruction in exercise of the power conferred on the Speaker by order 42(3) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
The said order states that “Mr. Speaker may, if he thinks fit, call a Sitting of the House before the date or time to which it has been adjourned or at any time after the house has been adjourned sine die.”
Meanwhile, the agenda for the urgent parliamentary business is yet to be made public. Parliament went on recess on March 31, 2023, after passing government tax bills which have been assented to by President Akufo-Addo per reports from Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah.
Prior to that, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament recommended that the House pass the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 popularly referred to as the “anti-LGBTQ bill”.
“Pass into law, the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, subject to the amendments proffered by the Committee,” a part of the 18-page document signed by the Committee’s Chairperson, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, read.
Source: The Independent Ghana| Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
President Akufo-Addo and Member of Parliament for the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo, were captured in an amicable postureduring the commissioning of the Kwabenya Police Barracks.
The two were spotted exchanging pleasantries at the commissioning of the facility which took place on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
It was speculated that there was bad blood between the two following a series of events that occurred within the party.
Adwoa Safo had been absent from Parliament for over a year and was not present to vote on crucial policies proposed by the government.
She was allegedly not communicating with her party during her absence and this generated a lot of contention between party members and herself. She was accused of deliberately sabotaging the party because she lost her position as Deputy Majority leader. Some MPs on the Majority side were also calling for her resignation since her long absence from official duties was having a toll on the operations of the Majority Caucus in Parliament.
Despite duly informing the President of her absence and requesting for leave (through a letter) which was granted and later extended (indefinitely) upon her request, she was accused by the Majority Caucus in Parliament of not informing the House of her absence.
She finally appeared on JoyNews explaining the cause of her long absence, attributing it to family issues.
“As you know, my son is unwell and has to transition to school, so I have to ensure that all that is settled before I can resume my duties and that is exactly what I am doing,” she said. Months later, she was dismissed by President Akufo-Addo as Gender Minister. It appears both of them are on good terms after all these events.
At a colourful event to commission for use the newly constructed Dome Kwabenya Police Barracks, the President can be seen holding the hand of the MP in a handshake, with a broad smile. The MP coyly returns the smile.
Meanwhile, Adwoa Safo has pledged her renewed commitment to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. She made this known at a meeting with the leadership of the NPP at the party headquarters.
Samuel Dubik Mahama, the managing director of the Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG), has said that, in the final round of its exercise, the company’s revenue mobilization team will disconnect businesses and houses due the ECG without consideration.
According to him, the public is fully aware of the exercise and that the team will not negotiate with any entity before disconnecting.
Speaking on Citi TV’s Face to Face programme, Mr. Dubik Mahama reiterated that the company has given its debtors enough grace period.
“This is the last week of the exercise, nobody is taking excuses, if you haven’t paid, the conversation has gone on for far too long. Anybody who doesn’t pay will be off the grid. The warnings started on March 20. Before we started, there was a countdown. Does that mean that you don’t take us seriously? The funny thing is when you take them off the grid, they find money to pay. That is when they realise that ECG is actually cheap,” he cautioned.
Mr. Dubik Mahama added that he will not succumb to any pressure from some people in authority to compel him put a stop to the revenue mobilization exercise.
“I have been given a mandate and I’m delivering to its fullest. I have been given the fullest support. Fantastic support from my Minister of Energy [Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh]. Fantastic support from my board, I have to doff my hats out to thePresident Akufo-Addo. My family they love me for what I’m doing. they [family] don’t even have the moral rights to beg on behalf of anybody owing us,” the Managing Director of ECG indicated.
Paul Andoh has been proposed as the new chief executive for the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Assembly in the Western North Region by President Akufo-Addo.
He is set to replace Alfred Amoah, who died in a motor accident in July, last year.
Mr Amoah was returning to his municipality after an official meeting of all metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) at the Jubilee House.
The notice of the nominee was given to the Western North Minister by the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Dan Botwe.
President Akufo-Addo nominated Mr Andoh in accordance with Article 243(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 20(1) of theLocal Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).
“In view of this nomination, a special meeting would soon be held to confirm the nominee,” Western North Region Minister Joojo Rocky Obeng wrote to the Assembly on Tuesday, April 18.
President Akufo-Addo has officially cut sod for the development of DEKs Vaccines Ltd, a group of Ghanaian pharmaceutical enterprises.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the construction of the vaccine manufacturing plant “will help our nation realise the dream of becoming self-sufficient in the production and manufacture of vaccines”.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, 18th April 2023, at Media, in the Ga West Municipality, the President indicated that the vision to manufacture vaccines in Ghana began on 28th February, 2021, in update 24 of what has come to be known as the “Fellow Ghanaians” series of addresses to the nation.
“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,” he said.
To this end, President Akufo-Addo indicated that he established a committee, under the chairmanship of the former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, to formulate a concrete plan of action towards domestic vaccine development and manufacturing.
This plan of action, he explained, culminated in the announcement of the establishment, in July 2021, of the National Vaccine Institute, with seed funding of $25 million from the European Investment Bank.
“Indeed, some two (2) months ago, on 14th February 2023, the National Vaccine Institute Bill 2022 was enacted by Parliament, for which I have given assent, and whose Board of Directors will soon be outdoored,” the President said. President Akufo-Addo cuts sod for vaccine manufacturing plant
He continued, “Its establishment has enabled the National Vaccine Institute work in unison with Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Ghana, to boost our country’s capacity to be self-reliant in the production of vaccines, and bring all of us to this gathering where work on the construction of DEKs Vaccines Ltd will soon begin.”
Whilst appreciating the COVAX, AU and AVATT in COVID-19 vaccine supply initiatives, President Akufo-Addo indicated that Ghana is also venturing into vaccine development and manufacturing with her sister African countries of Rwanda and Senegal, so as to become vaccine manufacturing hubs in sub-Saharan Africa.
“The National Vaccine Institute will co-ordinate and facilitate the capacity of DEKS Vaccines Ltd and other domestic pharmaceutical companies, such as Atlantic LifeSciences, a company operating under Government’s 1-District-1-Factory Programme, which I commissioned in April 2022, to fill, finish and package mRNA COVID-19 and other vaccines such as those against malaria and tuberculosis,” the President said.
He stated that, in the short term of two years, DEKs Vaccines Ltd will fill, finish, and package COVID-19 and the other vaccines for those against malaria and tuberculosis.
“In the medium-term, that is in five (5) years, the target is to continue the establishment of more domestic vaccine manufacturing plants in the country to manufacture vaccines to meet WHO GMP standards, with the long-term target being to produce a candidate vaccine in ten (10) years, using innovative technologies,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo thanked the German Government, its agency GIZ, the Consortium of International Partners, the European Investment Bank, which provided the five-million-euro (€5 million) grant to kickstart the project, and the European Union, which have been assisting Ghana in this endeavour.
He also thanked the chairperson and members of the Presidential Committee on Vaccine Manufacturing “for the excellent work they have done so far in bringing us to this point.”
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has stated that Ghana’s Parliament is not of the view that the size of the Akufo-Addo government is too big.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah argued that the recent approval of six new ministerial nominees by parliament following their vetting by the appointments committee, underscores his position.
Despite the house being a hung parliament, all the six ministerial nominees got majority votes from across the aisle.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah told Accra-based Joy News when asked about the clamour by the opposition and civil society organisations for the downsizing of the government: “The understanding I have is that parliament does not even share that view”.
“You saw what happened in parliament the last time; literally that question was put on the table”, he said in reference to the plenary vote on the six nominees.
The Ofoase Ayirebi MP said: “Despite all the conversations, the last time it was put on the table, you saw the numbers. So, parliament, as a body, does not even share that view”.
According to him, the extra MPs appointed as ministers do not cost the state extra money.
“It doesn’t cost the taxpayer any extra because they are paid as Members of Parliament,” Mr Nkrumah reiterated.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah, however, said the government was ready and open to possible ways of cutting down on expenditure.
“There’s already been action on various levels, and I’ve mentioned that the doors are not closed to further cuts as are being examined. And as we go through and as we examine some more, there are places where some more cuts can be done. It makes sense to make those cuts,” he noted.
Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, a former minister of communications, has petitioned President Akufo-Addo to instruct the Health Ministry to change its “no lift policy.”
Dr Boamah does not see any reason in the directive.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Medical Doctor insisted that the directive would limit access to the Ministry by vulnerable individuals.
He has thus asked President Akufo-Addo to immediately order the Ministry to reverse same.
“No elevator/lift days at the Ministry of Health ‘sɛn’? I mean, how! So, how does your government expect these vulnerable people, including pregnant women and children, to access the affected parts of the building that houses Ghana’s Ministry of Health (MoH) with the no-lift days policy?
“Therefore, I urge you Mr. President to cause the Ministry of Health to immediately reverse the policy of “no elevator/lift…” at theMinistry of Health in the best interest of people living with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women and for that matter children,” he said in a Facebook post.
The Health Ministry in Memorandum instructed its staff not to access the elevators from the 1st to the 3rd floor on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Ministry explained this directive has been necessitated by the government’s debt restructuring and the huge amount of money used in maintaining the elevators.
But the former Communications Minister says the decision is untenable.
A gold merchant uncovered in Al Jazeera’s investigative documentary, Gold Mafia, has claimed that President Akufo-Addo is his friend as well as lawyer.
Al Jazeera’s latest investigation, Gold Mafia, has uncovered a band of criminals driving gold smuggling and money laundering worth billions of dollars in Southern Africa.
However, those involved in this gold smuggling syndicate have business networks that stretch across the continent and operate in many other countries including Ghana.
Alistair Mathias, described by the investigative reporters as a financial architect who builds money laundering schemes for corrupt politicians, was approached by undercover journalists posing as Chinese criminals to help them launder money from China.
Speaking to the undercover reporters while trying to strike a deal, he alleged that Ghana’s president Akufo-Addo, is his friend and was his lawyer too.
Alistair had earlier revealed that he has been smuggling $40 million worth of gold from Ghana monthly, which is $480 million worth of gold annually.
“Ghana’s president is a good friend of mine. In fact, he was my lawyer,” Mathias was recorded saying.
The undercover reporters found one of the companies he had used in Ghana registered as Guldrest Resources, a gold exporter which is documented in the FinCEN Files.
During the FinCEN Files investigations in 2020, the offices of Guldrest Resources could not be traced, even though the company is registered in Ghana and is a member of the Chamber of Bullion Traders Ghana.
Mathias further stated that he knew the presidents of Zambia and the DRC. Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, he said, is his friend, and added that the Zimbabwean president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is his partner.
“But I can’t say that publicly because he is under sanctions,” he said.
Telling undercover reporters how politicians everywhere including in Africa hide their money, he said they don’t keep assets in their own names; they use proxies – “Someone they can trust.”
He further told the reporters; “In Ghana I take tenders, road construction, procurement, supplying different things, oil, this that.”
He said by doing all that, the politicians are taken care of, and he could do all his things freely.
Later when confronted by Al Jazeera journalists about his claims, Mathias denied ever having any relationship with African politicians, or engaging in money laundering. He also denied ever being offered any tender by the Ghanaian government or doing any contracts for the government.
President Akufo-Addo has also told Al Jazeera that he has no recollection of acting as a lawyer for Mathias or his company.
Former president John Dramani Mahama has pokedPresident Akufo-Addo for failing to provide Ghanaians a stable economy despite claiming ‘we have the men’.
According to him, the NPP lacks the credibility to be trusted to turn around the economy.
During the 2012 and 2016 electoral campaigns, the then-presidential candidate Akufo-Addo that his team had the human resource to develop Ghana.
But, speaking to delegates during his visit to Kpone Katamanso on Friday, Mr Mahama stated that the NDC has come to the conclusion that this is not the case.
“In 2016, our colleagues, the NPP told a lot of lies about us. They labeled us as incompetent and they came with a lot of big and sweet promises to the people of Ghana and use that to persuade people that there will be a better government than we were.
“And so the people of Ghana tried them by voting for them. They said they should try them, ‘try me and see’. And that was a mistake the people of Ghana made because we have come to realise that after all, we have the men, we have the men. They were station boys, they don’t know anything,’” Mr Mahama said.
According to former President Mahama, the ministers who served during his administration performed better than the current administration.
Mr Mahama commented on the power purchase agreement, noting that the NDC had been chastised by the NPP for signing too many power purchase agreements.
As a result, he questioned why the government is adding to the power purchase agreement if there are so many.
“Just last week, they signed another power purchase agreements were signed to many power purchase agreements. Why are you signing another one today?”
He went on to say that the government promise of one district, one factory – one village, one dam was a hoax to sway Ghanaians’ votes. This, he explained, is because the factories are currently not operational.
“Recently, I was watching a documentary on Joy and most of those factories are not even working,” he added.
He also described as troubling the findings of a recent US State Department report on human rights violations in Ghana.
“The US Human Rights Report has come out and it makes it very bad reading, human rights abuses, corruption, torture, so many things, discrimination, everything go and read that report.”
According to him, when he assumes office, his government “will set up a governance Advisory Council. And that governance advisory council would include civil society organizations, religious leaders, chiefs, and ordinary grassroots people.
And every year, that council will release a report on the state of human rights corruption and everything in Ghana.”
An economist, Prof. Lord Mensah has said that shifting timelines to secure IMF deal is terrible.
According to him, the market relies on management information, so when management information turns out to be uncertain, it does not help.
“It’s a terrible one,” he said in an interview on Joy FM’S Top Story on Friday.
He said that the Finance Minister and team do not appreciate the complexity of the situation [economic downturn or debt situation].
According to him, the analysis of the situation in an article in Financial Times over the debt situation points out that Ghana won’t get a debt restructuring soon.
He cited a case with Zambia.
“Zambia is an African country. Zambia was in debt restructuring limbo for over two and half years before they even switched to default.”
His comments come after President Akufo-Addo earlier disclosed that the IMF staff will present Ghana’s request for a loan programme to its executive board by the end of March.
Also, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta reiterated that government was hoping to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board approval by March 2023.
“We are currently working to go to the IMF board in March 2023 and possibly secure the Board’s approval for Ghana’s Programme”, he disclosed on PM Express, Business Edition with host, George Wiafe.
However, the March date elapsed and the country has not been able to get a deal.
Meanwhile, addressing Eurobondholders at an Investors Presentation Forum on Thursday, Mr. Ofori-Atta said Ghana should expect an International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board approval for a programme by the close of May 2023.
According to him, Ghana has made significant progress, hence the need for it to get approval as soon as possible.
But reacting to this, Prof Mensah noted that although there may be verbal commitments from the creditors, it has not been documented for which it can be relied on to determine the timeline.
He added that thecountry would not be able to secure an IMF bailout now until the first quarter ends.
Both the rulingNew Patriotic Party(NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are a bunch of thieves, according to Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrews, the founder of the Ghana Union Movement.
He has cautioned the Ghanaian youth not to blindly follow them to give them the urge to continuously milk the state.
Osofo Kyiri Abosom, as he is also known, and Founder and General Overseer of Life Assembly Worship Centre, speaking with Onua TV’s Akua Sarpomaa Wednesday, April 12, 2023, said the NPP and NDC are same wine from the same source, making one not better than the other.
The third force in the 2020 presidential polls opined that, the recent rants from the opposition NDC is nothing Ghanaians should build any hopes on, since they will come and do worse of what the NPP are doing, should they be given the opportunity to rule again.
“The NDC and NPP are two sides of the same coin. All the noise of the NDC is nothing because when they come, they’ll do the same things. What I will tell the Ghanaian youth is that, if we don’t get civilised and blindly follow the orators of the English Language… they’re thieves and they will continue to milk this country,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, the man of God says President Akufo-Addo and his brother the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, should begin investigating themselves over the loans taken on behalf of the state.
The man of God is suspecting the numerous bonds government has been raising on the international market are diverted elsewhere without getting to the country.
“I think Nana Akufo-Addo and Ken Ofori-Atta should begin to investigate themselves. With me I think the loans we take don’t get to Ghana. When they take the money they divert it and print currencies here to run the economy because this does not make sense,” he lamented.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has announced that it is designing a framework to control the storage, process, importation, and marketing of bitumen in the country.
The framework, which will have inputs from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), is to streamline the bitumen supply chain and ensure compliance with quality standards specifications.
The NPA Chief Executive, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and Management members of the Authority made this known on Wednesday, April 12, during an inspection tour of a bitumen storage and production plant at Tema jointly owned by Goil Good Energy and Societe’ Multinationale de Bitimumes (SMB) of Cote d’Ivoire.
The facility with 7,500 metric tonnes installed capacity takes delivery of bitumen from Cote d’Ivoire.
One component of the facility produces polymer-modified bitumen and bitumen emulsions, which are combinations of bitumen and some chemicals.
Operations started in September 2022, and arrangements are underway for the official commissioning of the plant, possibly byPresident Akufo-Addoand his Ivorian counterpart Mr. Alassane Ouattara this year.
Per the law establishing the NPA, it has the mandate to regulate all petroleum products, including bitumen, which is mainly used for road construction.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid affirmed the commitment of the NPA to streamline the bitumen supply chain to ensure compliance with industry standards.
Giving details of the NPA’s actions, the Head of Planning of NPA, Mr. Dominic Aboagye indicated that the NPA constituted a committee a couple of years ago to look at the entire bitumen supply chain to see how to streamline the sector.
Consequently, he said, the Authority engaged players in the bitumen value chain to understand their operations, and it turned out that much of the supply was from Cote d’Ivoire.
With that information, a team from the NPA led by Dr. Abdul-Hamid visited Cote d’Ivoire in 2021 to study the operations of Societe’ Multinationale de Bitimumes (SMB), the main exporter of bitumen to Ghana.
Mr. Aboagye said the NPA committee had been developing the framework, and indicated that the Authority would engage the GHA, the GSA, the Customs Division of GRA, and players in the bitumen supply chain to finalize the framework to regulate the sector.
He said all players in the bitumen supply chain would be licensed by the NPA to streamline their operations.
In their presentations, the Group CEO of Goil Company Limited, Mr. Kwame Osei Prempeh said the plant had been selling the bitumen, polymer-modified bitumen, and bitumen emulsions on demand for road construction.
He welcomed the move by the NPA to regulate the bitumen supply value chain as it would ensure the supply of quality products in the country.
The NPA team that participated in the tour included the Director of Economic Regulation and Planning, Mrs. Alpha Welbeck, and the Director of Policy Coordination, Dr. Sheila Addo, the Head of Quality, Control, Mr. Ubeidalah Kutia Saeed, and the Executive Assistant to the CE, Mr. Faisal Ibrahim Cisse.
The 2023 edition of the Jubilee House Iftar has been held in Accra, with a host of dignitaries from diverse backgrounds and religious backgrounds attending.
Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with Muslim people gathering to break their fast together.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, led the government guest list, which included Ministers of State and senior officials at the Presidency, to welcome the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and the leadership of the Muslim Community.
Also present were MPs, Members of the Council of State, the Diplomatic Corpe and some members of the clergy, who led a fair number of Christians present.
The Iftar is the traditional evening meal to break the Ramadan fast, and it is normally held in groups to bring people, families and communities together.
Many countries around the world, including the United States, organise Iftars at their respective seats of Government during Ramadan. In Ghana, the Jubilee House Iftar was introduced by the Akufo-Addo Government in 2017, and it has since been held every year, except in 2020 due to covid-19 restrictions.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Bawumia said the institution of the Iftar, has enabled the government to further its engagements with religious groups for harmony.
“The historic institution of the Jubilee House Iftar, after we assumed office in 2017, reflects its importance, and the significance our government attaches to our engagements with religious groups, in our quest to promote harmony among our people,” Dr. Bawumia said.
Dr Bawumia added: “The month of Ramadan is a period of devotion, sacrifice and togetherness, and the Iftar, as we all know, is a time during the Ramadan, which defines the essence of unity, as we have all gathered here from diverse backgrounds, including our Christian brothers, for a meal to break the day’s fast and also pray for our nation Ghana.”
A former Chairman of Christ Apostolic Church International, Apostle Dr. Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani, reflected on the beautiful relationship between Muslims and Christians in the country, and commended the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for providing leadership which has greatly contributed to the harmonious relationship.
Both the National Chief Imam and Apostle Dr. Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani said separate prayers for the country.
The president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s job approval rating has plummeted after improving in January 2023, according to a new national survey released by Global InfoAnalytics for the month of April 2023.
According to a brand-new nationwide survey conducted byGlobal InfoAnalytics in April 2023, president Akufo-Addo’s job approval rating dropped after improving in January 2023.
The poll shows 65 per cent of voters disapprove of his performance, up from 59 per cent in January, while 29 per cent approve of his performance, down from 32 per cent.
Fifty-eight percent of the governingNew Patriotic Party(NPP) supporters approve the president’s performance and 38 per cent disapprove.
For the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), 11 per cent approved Nana Akufo-Addo’s job performance whilst 86 per cent disapproved his performance.
Additionally, 15 per cent of floating voters approved of his performance compared to 77 per cent who disapproved his performance.
Also, 71 per cent of voters believe Ghana is headed in the wrong direction, unchanged from January 2023 poll.
Nineteen percent believed it is headed in the right direction and a further 10 per cent did not have opinion.
For the NPP primaries ahead of the 2024 national elections, the poll shows Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong (KOA) surging among general voters but not enough to overtake Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen (AKK) and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (DMB) in the race to lead the NPP into the 2024 elections.
Kennedy Agyapong according to the polls now attracts 23 per cent of votes when voters were asked to indicate their preference for the NPP leadership.
Alan Kyerematen stills leads Dr Bawumia 30 per cent to 29 per cent among all voters. However, among NPP affiliates, Dr Bawumia still has a slender lead over Alan Kyerematen. Dr Bawumia now attracts 39 per cent of NPP votes, Alan Kyerematen attracts 37 per cent while Kennedy Agyapong has 23 per cent.
The formerNew Patriotic Party(NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, has stated that President Akufo-Addo will make the greatest mistake if he refuses to sign the anti-LGBT bill into law.
Speaking in an interview on UTV on Thursday, which was monitored by GhanaWeb, Titus-Glover allayed fears that the president will not assent to the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 (Anti-LGBTQI bill), saying that Akufo-Addo not approving the bill will not be politically prudent for the NPP.
“President Akufo-Addo has femalechildren and recently one of them got married. He is a strong believer of the Anglican faith; he does not support gayism and lesbianism.
“Just like the late former President, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, who said he will not allow the acceptance of gays under his presidency, Akufo-Addo also in an Anglican Church in Mampong said same-sex marriage will never happen under his watch.
“We know the implication of these gay issues in Ghana, as a political party and as a government. And you think that after Parliament has passed the anti-LGBT bill, the president will say he will not assent it. That will be the greatest mistake of President Akufo-Addo,” he said in Twi.
Titus-Glover, a former deputy minister of trade and industry, also said that the response given by President Akufo-Addo on the anti-LGBT bill, during the visit of the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamal Harris, was apt.
He explained that President Akufo-Addo only said that the bill is being considered by Parliament and that when it is passed, it will come to him for approval into law.
What Akufo-Addo said:
At the joint press conference, both President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Kamala Harris were confronted with the issue of the criminalization of LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana.
Responding to the question at Jubilee House, in Accra, on Monday, March 27, President Akufo-Addo refuted the suggestion that Ghana already had an anti-LGBT law.
He said that the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 (Anti-LGBTQI bill), which was championed by “only a hand full of MPs”, is currently being considered by Parliament.
Akufo-Addo added that even if the bill is passed, it will still have to be ratified by him. He also said that the anti-LGBT bill has been modified.
“The legislation was a private members bill; it is not an official legislation of the government but it is one that is being muted by a hand full of private members.
“My understanding from the recent discussion I had with the chairman of the committee is that the substantial elements of the bill have already been modified as a result of the intervention of the Attorney General,” he said.
For about four months now, works on a 500-bed maternity and children’s block project at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has been halted.
This development has been attributed to lack of funding, although a sum of £138, 000, 000 was secured for the project.
The situation has led to discomfort among health workers and the general public who fear the project may be left uncompleted just like the 45-year-old block that was eventually demolished.
On May 2020, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of a new maternity and children’s block of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital after the old one was pulled down for failing structural integrity test.
“The project which is to be carried out within 36 months and whose funding has been fully secured. The finalisation of this project is as very dear to my heart as it would have a positive impact on our country’s drive towards achieving the SDG target under maternal and child health”, President Akufo-Addo stated.
The 138-million Euro project was to be completed in May 2023 but it was later reviewed to be handed over by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Work began in earnest to meet the completion deadline.
But the project has come to a halt since the beginning of 2023.
TV3 sources revealed the about five hundred on-site workers have been laid off due to the unavailability of funds to continue with the project.
The project site now looks empty with no sign of construction activity ongoing.
The project site has now become the home to hawks with no sign of construction activity ongoing.
With less than a year to complete and hand over the project, work is currently 40 percent complete.
“We beg the government to release funds for the completion of this project. We were told the funds are ready before the commencement of work. So, what is delaying its completion? We don’t want what happened to the 44-year-old MBU block to happen to this. Enough of taxpayers’ money has been wasted already by demolishing the old building. This new one needs to be completed without any delays”, a resident in Kumasi, Seth Adu Sarkodie said.
“The completion of this facility will come as a relief to us (health workers) and those who patronize the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Maternal and child health will further improve”, a midwife who spoke on the condition of anonymity noted.
Once completed, the 500-bed maternity and children’s block will come with ten operating theatres and diagnostic rooms, fully equipped with X-Ray, ultrasound, and mammography facilities.
Paediatrics, gynaecology and obstetrics units will be inclusive. It will house an intensive care unit, a high dependency unit, isolation rooms and student lecture halls, with the capacity to provide catering services for staff, patients and students”
Fully equipped with modern medical equipment will mean enhancing on health care delivery towards meeting the SDG 3 target on improving maternal and child health.
Old MBU block demolished
After investing millions of dollars in the construction of the 45-year-old maternity and baby unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the 6-storey building was demolished completely owing to compromised structural integrity.
The structural defects according to contractors was as a result of years of neglect.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has justified the demolition with the explanation that, the old MBU building, due to its exposure to the weather, could not last for the next five to 10 years.
Hence, its maintenance will be more expensive than building a new project to serve the people of Ashanti Region and beyond.
Chairman for the New Patriotic Party(NPP) in the Bono Region, Kwame Baffoe popularly known as Abronye DC has vowed not to ever talk to Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa AKufo-Addo.
He says President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been unfair to him throughout his administration and for that reason, he has decided to sever ties with the President.
What broke the camel’s back according to Abronye was the fact that he applied for the vacant Electoral Commission job but the President failed to give him the appointment with the excuse that he did not want to appoint a known party member.
“There is nowhere in Ghana’s constitution which says people appointed to the Electoral Commission should not be Ghanaians. There is nowhere in the constitution which says people appointed to the Electoral Commission should not be members of the NPP, NDC, CPP. So far as you are a Ghanaian, you are worthy of working at the electoral commission.
The NDC that is up in arms over the recent appointments also did the same when they had power. They appointed Hajia Sadatu Maida who recently retired from the Commission and was the daughter of a known NDC man.
“I realized she will be retiring so I wrote to the President in 2022 to put me there when she leaves but the President told me he cannot do that. He said he will not appoint a known NPP man to the position. I have decided I will never talk to Nana Addo again. I will never talk to him until he leaves power,” Abronye is on record to have said.
Abronye believes that he has all it takes and would have been a great appointment for the Electoral Commission if the President had appointed him for the position that became vacant.
“I could have done the job because I have experience with elections in Ghana. I don’t know the guy he had appointed and I don’t have a problem with that but my fight is that I am saddened by the President’s failure to appoint me and I will never talk to him again,” he said in an interview.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has taken a swipe at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, describing his administration as a bitter pill for Ghanaians.
According to him, the many promises made by the president and his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia prior to the 2016 and 2020 elections convinced many Ghanaians into voting for the NPP government.
Former President Mahama believes the Akufo-Addo administration has taught Ghanaians to be careful of the promises politicians make while seeking political power.
He said Ghanaians are really suffering under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led administration and the lessons learnt after voting based on their supercilious promises is bitter and the hardship unprecedented.
Mr. Mahama said, the “incompetent” tag at his administration now fits the NPP well considering the current state of the economy and the plight of the suffering Ghanaians who voted for them.
“They called me incompetent and I told them they have not come close to the presidency before. Now, what do we see? Ghanaians are suffering,” he bemoaned.
Speaking at Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency, as part of his three-day tour in the Central Region, Former President Mahama, told delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to vote for people with experience during the party’s Parliamentary and Presidential primaries to rescue the country from its knees.
He said, “We currently need people with experience to save our country not experiment,” adding that the Akufo-Addo administration has taught us that “So me hwe” is not for managing a country.
Former President Mahama, hinted, that the next NDC government will present to Ghanaians the very alternative they yearn for.
Former Attorney-General, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, has bemoaned the hardship Ghanaians are going through amidst the economic crisis under the Akufo-Addo-led government.
She stated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disappointed Ghanaians and led the country into a pit.
Betty Mould-Iddrisu, in an interview with Joy News and monitored by GhanaWeb, said Ghanaians have endured so much pain and still are in these difficult times.
When asked by the interviewer that her friend of 70 years [President Akufo-Addo] has steered the affairs of Ghana from 2017 to date, Betty Mould-Iddrisu quickly said “into the pit…every Ghanaian can see that we have been misled and it is a pity that we have to continue even for another year.”
“I think Ghanaians reeled from the shock, they cannot believe what they are in. I must say, I cherish being a Ghanaian even in the most difficult times because I think we are incredible people, we are so generous and we have this innate capacity to absorb so much…we have endured a lot,” she said.
“I think anybody can see we have been bitterly let down by this government…The governance of the country has been abominable and even I, never ever thought could get to this stage,” Ghana’s first female Attorney General said.
Below is what transpired between the interviewer and Betty Mould-Iddrisu
Interviewer: Your friend is leading this government
Betty Mould-Iddrisu: I know and would not say more.
Interviewer: Your friend you have been with for 70 good years has led us from 2017 up to date …
Betty Mould-Iddrisu: Quickly interjects to say into the pit…every Ghanaian can see that we have been misled and it is a pity that we have to continue even for another year.”
She further said government’s attribution of the country’s economic crisis to the outbreak of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine war was false.
Betty Mould-Iddrisu described those comments as misguided beliefs from government.
About 1,200 police personnel have been deployed to Kwahu to provide security before, during and after the Kwahu Easter festivities, sources in the Eastern Regional Police Command have confirmed.
The personnel who have been drawn from the Headquarters in Accra, the Ashanti Regional Command are expected to provide both ground and air support to their counterparts from the Eastern regional command to minimize, reduce and possibly prevent crime during the entire festive season.
The men, both plain and uniformed officers from the Police Form Unit (FPU), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Weapons and Tactical Unit SWAT, CID and MTTD, have been tasked to be of good moral character, uphold service with integrity and add human face while they discharge their duties.
Dozens of police motor riders are expected to complement the efforts of the MTTD to control and manage traffic on the main Kumasi Highway up the mountain.
The service will also deploy drones to increase police presence on the ridge as high-profile dignitaries and diplomats including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are expected to grace functions on the Kwahu ridge.
Citi News understands that about 150 personnel have also been detailed to perform similar duties at Jakiti in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern region where Easter is also busily observed.
Meanwhile, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) is also expected to roll out a road safety campaign at Bunso Junction Friday morning April 7, to help keep motorists in check as a measure of reducing crashes.
France is totally committed to helping Ghana and its neighbors battle terrorism in the area, according to Madam Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, the FrenchMinister of State for Development, Francophonie, and International Partnership.
Speaking at a press conference held to climax her three-day visit to Ghana which is part of the Three Nations African Tour (Benin, Togo and Ghana), she said both Ghana and France have a common determination to promote peace and stability which is a key aspect of democracy in the sub-region.
“Just to speak about the regional situation, we share a common determination to promote peace, stability and democracy and of course dialogue in this region. France is fully committed to supporting Ghana and the neighbour countries in the fight against terrorism,” she said.
She went on to highlight the relationship betweenGhanaand France, describing it as an excellent relationship that needs to be strengthened even more.
“Ghana is a very important partner for France, we have excellent relations and it is a crucial time for your country and it was very important for me to be here and to re-assess the friendship, and my strong commitment” she added
Madam Chrysoula appreciated the efforts of the President Akufo-Addo and Ghanaians for her reception into the country
“I would like to thank President Akufo-Addo and all the Ghanaian people for the welcome. I would like to say that I was impressed by the activity and the vitality and innovation of your country and of course your people. And I saw that there is a profound desire to deepen our relationship with France” she stressed.
The minister’s visit to Ghana comes on the back of the visit of the US Veep, Kamala Harris to Ghana.
The Electoral Commission’s (EC) immediate resignation of Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani has been demanded by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO).
Dr Appiahene and Ahmed Tijani were appointed by President Akufo-Addo to the board of the Electoral Commission in March 2023.
The appointment of the two has courted controversy over their political affiliation with the ruling NPP.
NDC Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams in an earlier interview with Citi News alleged that Dr Appiahene is an NPP activist who was a patron of the Tertiary Education Student Confederacy Network (TESCON) – a university wing of the NPP.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, a leading member of CODEO, Rev. Dr Fred Degbey called for Dr Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani to resign to protect the cross-party trust in the commission.
“We are painfully aware that voluntary and constitutionally grounded revocation of these unfortunate and democratically problematic EC appointments by the President is extremely unlikely. However, nothing stops the affected appointees, namely Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani from voluntarily and honourably resigning from the EC.
“This will be in the supreme interest of our country’s continued democratic progress, election peace and credibility and indeed overall national interest.”
The appointments were in line with Article 43 (1 and 2) of the 1992 constitution which states that “there shall be an Electoral Commission which shall consist of a Chairman, two Deputy Chairmen, and four other members.”
The Electoral Commission is one of the governance institutions provided under the 1992 constitution.
It was established by the Electoral Commission Act (Act 451) of 1992 and set up purposely to manage the conduct of all public elections and Referenda, to handle all matters directly related to the conduct of elections in the country.
The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak has blamed the government for the challenges that have bedeviled the school feeding school.
This comes on the back of scores of caterers on the school feeding programme in the Ashanti region who were left in a shock, when the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah snubbed them, on Monday April 3, 2023.
The aggrieved traders had gone to the Regional Coordinating Council to present a petition.
For weeks now these caterers in Ashanti region have been protesting for the release of payments which is almost a year in arrears, and an upward adjustment of the allocation fee, from 97 pesewas per head to GHc3.
They have attributed the demand for adjustment to hikes in prices of food stuff and other food commodities on market.
Commenting on the development on Morning Starr with Francis Abban Tuesday the lawmaker indicated that statistics available shows that the school feeding program has led not only to increase in enrollment but retention as well.
“It is important to recognize that in many schools the caterers all together stopped cooking meals for the pupils largely because the government has failed to pay them. So clearly if we ought to blame, the blame must be squarely placed at the doorstep of this government.
“What worries me is that year-in and year-out budgetary allocations are made and Parliament approves this budgetary allocation. So it then becomes the question of priority because if allocations are made approved by Parliament and you expect that the caterers will be paid so that they can continue feeding pupils,” the lawmaker stated.
He continued: “But I think that this is another example of a lot of talk and less action. It is clear that the Akufo-Addo led Bawumia NPP government has only been paying lip service to education in general and basic education in particular. We all know the reason why the school feeding program was introduced. First of all it was supposed to offer students who are from less endowed backgrounds a hot meal a day. Intended to prevent them from being hungry.”
The deputy ranking member on the Education Committee in Parliament stated that current challenges with the school feeding program are defeating the purpose it was introduced for.
Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt has condemned President Akufo-Addo for not being forthright with his position on the issue of homosexuality, during a joint press brief with the US Vice President, Kamala Harris.
The President has recently come under massive bashing following his responses to a question on the LGBTQ+ community during his joint press conference with US Vice President Kamala Harris.
When asked about Ghana’s stance on the issue, the President talked about the country’s anti-LGBTQ bill saying “the bill is going through the Parliament. The Attorney General has found it necessary to speak to the committee (the constitutional and legal committee of parliament) about it regarding the constitutionality . . . of several of its provisions. The parliament is dealing with it. At the end of the process, I will come in”.
He stated that the President has addressed the LGBTQ+ brouhaha on three different platforms and on each platform, his statements have been different.
“The President has shared his thought on three ocassions, when you listen to the first one it is different from the second one, when you listen to the third one it is different from the first one, one person you have three different thoughts, why? . . . It is a worry, as President when you talk you need to be firm and plain so we all know your stance . . . ” Kwesi Pratt said.
This, to him, it is a cause for worry, so he advised Nana Addo saying “as a President, you have to firm on your position but for this one, you can’t know where he stands when he talks”.
” . . What worries me is the inconsistencies . . . if you won’t state your position just keep quiet,” Kwesi Pratt told Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” show while addressing the President’s statements on the subject.
A French Minister has called for the protection of the rights of LGBT+ (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, etc) individuals once again.
Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, who is the French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, said during a press conference in Accra that she would continue to advocate for rights for LGBTQ+ society where ever she finds herself.
Zacharopoulou who is on an official visit to Ghana told journalists at the April 3 press conference that protecting the rights of such people is a core value of France and the European Union t large.
“In my country and in the European Union, we promote human rights and of course in my Ministry, we have an ambassador to promote LGBT rights, so what I can say is that this is our values.
“… and wherever I go in Africa, I will continue to say that we have to respect all of us, the LGBT community, this is a question of human rights and I always say that,” she said.
She is the latest visiting politician to make pronouncements on same-sex relations at a time Ghana is nearing the passage of an anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
Last week, US Vice President Kamala Harris made similar comments about LGBTQ+ rights being human rights.
She made the comments at a joint press conference with president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of her three-day official trip that brought her to Ghana and onwards to Tanzania and Zambia.
Currently, over 30 African countries have bans against same-sex relations, with presidents of Kenya and Uganda and other top politicians in both countries stating open opposition to the orientation.
Ghana’s bill if passed into law, the bill would outlaw all forms of support for the LGBTQI+ community and propose jail terms for individuals who engage in same-sex relations.
According to reports, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central and candidate for the NPP’s flagbearer position, plans to resign from his position as board chair of Ghana Gas Company Limited.
The MP is set to tender his resignation letter to President Akufo-Addo, it is clear that the MP would take the decision to enable him properly focus on his presidential ambition.
Hon. Agyapong has indicated that his presidential ambitions are genuine and he is not ready to rescind his decision on leading the NPP in 2024.
He has stated unequivocally that he intends to run in the upcoming NPP presidential primaries.
According to him, “I will go and pick up forms when NPP opens nominations for presidential aspirants”.
Kennedy Agyapong is gradually gaining the support of many NPP members and many Ghanaians, especially the youth. Background
In July 2021,President Akufo-Addoappointed the Assin Central lawmaker as the new Board Chairman of the Ghana Gas Company Limited.
Other members of the nine-member board are Mr. Ben K.D Asante, the Managing Director of the Company; Mr. John Darko, Mrs. Adelaide Mary Benneh; Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli; Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh; Madam Delphine Dogbegah; Nana Owusu Ansah Ababio, and Mr. Stephen Sumani Nayina.
The members of the board are expected to provide direction and leadership in the day-to-day running of the nation’s only gas transmission utility.
The Ghana National Gas Company was established in July 2011 as a limited liability company with the responsibility to build, own and operate natural gas infrastructure required to ensure the role of a transmission utility.
Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, the Catholic Bishop ofKonongo-Mampong, has criticized President Akufo-Addo for his contradictory comments on LGBTQI+ matters.
He rebuked the President in an open letter.
Most. Rev. Osei-Bonsu chronicled the president’s comments starting with his 2017 Aljazeera interview where he indicated that the President said there was no “sufficiently strong coalition” to cause a change in Ghana’s laws regarding LGBTQI issues.
He said the president should have pointed out to the journalist that “homosexuality indeed remains a criminal offence in Ghana, making reference to Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 which criminalises consensual same-sex sexual acts between persons of the same gender.”
Most. Rev. Osei-Bonsu also scolded the president for his recent comments on the topic during the visit of the American Vice President,Kamala Harris.
Kamala Harris pressed on Ghana to respect the rights of homosexuals to which President Akufo-Addo said his government has intervened and modified the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021” bill.
Most. Rev. Osei-Bonsu wrote that the president must be able to point out to those pushing for the recognition of gay rights that “the rights of homosexuals as persons do not include the right of a man to marry a man or of a woman to marry a woman. We need to stress that LGBTQ+ activities are not part of what is described as fundamental human rights and cannot be included in the list of human rights.”
Martin Kpebu, a private attorney, has asserted that he has given up advocating for gays in society since he cannot speak on behalf of the faceless.
According to him, they should come out and speak or fight for themselves for themselves
Mr Kpebu explained that he is aware of big lawyers in thiscountry who are homosexual but are not prepared to come out publicly to defend their actions.
Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, April 1, he said “To be very frank with you I do not intend to go into the merits of the debate on LGBTQ. I have made comments on it in the past, briefly stating that if some people want to fight for it it is within their right to fight for it but the reason I am no longer interested in joining this debate aggressively is that the people who practice LGBTQ, they don’t want to show their faces. So I ask, how am I going to advocate for a faceless person?
“So that is the disconnect. It is a very sensitive matter, I have been crying here Saturday to Saturday that the Ghanaian doesn’t want to fight, this is another of that. Privately, I have seen big lawyers involved, big lawyers who are gays and they can’t fight for themselves and you are saying Kpebu should come and fight, no, you can’t fight everything. There are big lawyers, I am telling you on authority, in this country involved and they don’t want to show their faces. At least they should come out, let’s see them explain their situation.
“I have been telling some of them privately that if we even get fifty of them to snap a picture, and come out to address a press conference when they speak, they will evoke compassion.”
The discussion on the Key Points centered on President Akufo-Addo’s decision to dissociate from the Proper Human Sexual Rights & Ghanaian Family Values Bill also known as the Ant-Gay Bill.
Proposed under a Private Members’ Bill, the anti-gay bill is expected to criminalise some of the activities of homosexuals in Ghana.
Answering a question put to him at the Jubilee House on Monday, March 27 when US Vice President Kamala Harris called on him, President Akufo-Addo confirmed that the bill is currently before Parliament, which will decide on it, but most of its provisions are being fine-tuned.
“It hasn’t been passed, so the statement that there is legislation in Ghana to that effect is not accurate,” he said.
“Parliament is dealing with it and at the end of the process, I will come in,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo welcomed US Vice President Harris to the seat of government as part the latter’s three-day visit to the country.
She stressed how strongly she feels about the importance of supporting and fighting for the cause of human rights including rights of LGBTQs.
“For the American press who are here, you know that a great deal of work in my career has been to address human rights issues, equality issues across the globe including as well as the LGBTQ community and I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting freedom and supporting and fighting for quality among all people.”
A private attorney and member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Kwame Jantuah, has requested that medical professionals inform the public about the risks associated with anal sex.
He says when the public becomes aware of the effect of annual sex on the body, they will resist homosexuality with all their strength.
Speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 Friday, March 31 in relation to the Proper Human Sexual Rights & Ghanaian Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-Gay Bill, Mr. Jantuah said “I don’t know why the medical profession is quiet, we should have them here and let them explain to us what anal sex does to human beings, the kind of damage it does to that part of the body.”
I don’t know why the medical profession is quiet, they should come out to explain to the public the implications of anal sex – Lawyer Kwame Jantuah on LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana#TV3NewDaypic.twitter.com/S5Dq09e0BF
Meanwhile, the Ant-Gay Bill has been laid in Parliament.
Hopefully, the report shall be debated and adopted today Friday, March 31, Ranking Member on the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor said.
This will pave way for the Consideration of the Bill.
“Join us and pray for us,” he tweeted on Friday.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin earlier told the Constitutional, not to be intimidated by anyone regarding the Anti-Gay Bill.
He asked the committee to report back to him if they are encountering any challenges.
“Please, committee members that we referred the Bill to, we want the report, don’t be intimidated by any person,” he said during a breakfast meeting with the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship on Tuesday, March 28.
He added “Please let the report flow, we need to legislate. Our friends just passed their law in Uganda, we may not go the way they have gone, our Constitution is very clear as to the direction we should move and so we should be guided by that because if we pass any law against the Constitution, it is unconstitutional.”
His comments come at a time President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo dissociated from the Anti-Gay Bill.
Proposed under a Private Members’ Bill, the anti-gay bill is expected to criminalise some of the activities of homosexuals in Ghana.
Answering a question put to him at the Jubilee House on Monday, March 27 when US Vice President Kamala Harris called on him,President Akufo-Addo confirmed that the bill is currently before Parliament, which will decide on it, but most of its provisions are being fine-tuned.
“It hasn’t been passed, so the statement that there is legislation in Ghana to that effect is not accurate,” he said.
“Parliament is dealing with it and at the end of the process, I will come in,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo welcomed US Vice President Harris to the seat of government as part the latter’s three-day visit to the country.
She stressed how strongly she feels about the importance of supporting and fighting for the cause of human rights including rights of LGBTQs.
“For the American press who are here, you know that a great deal of work in my career has been to address human rights issues, equality issues across the globe including as well as the LGBTQ community and I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting freedom and supporting and fighting for quality among all people.”
Ranking Member on the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament,Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor has called for support and prayers as the anti-Gay bill has been laid before parliament.
Hopefully, he said, the report shall be debated and adopted today Friday, March 31.
This will pave way for the Consideration of the Bill.
“Join us and pray for us,” the South Dayi Member of Parliament tweeted on Friday.
Earlier, another ranking Member on Committee Bernard Ahiaforassured the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin that the committee would not be intimidated by anyone from doing its work in relation to the Anti-Gay Bill.
Mr Ahiafo said he is a lawyer and is full of indomitable spirits therefore, he cannot be intimidated by anyone.
He told TV3’s Parliamentary correspondent Komla Kluste in an interview on Wednesday, March 29 that the committee is ready to take the second reading of the Bill if it is programmed by the Business Committee.
He said “I can speak for myself, I am a man with an indomitable spirit and I don’t think I can be intimidated in any manner whatsoever by anybody. I am a lawyer, I will look at the law, look at the constitution and look at what needs to be done.
“That is exactly what I am going to do without any fear or favor and so let me assure the Speaker that the committee is made up mostly of lawyers and they cannot be intimidated,
“What the committee is supposed to do, the Committee has done it, and our report is ready. If the Business Committee programmes it today, we can take the second reading of the anti-LGBTOI Bill today, if it is programmed tomorrow we can take the Bill tomorrow.”
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin earlier told the Constitutional, not to be intimidated by anyone regarding the Anti-Gay Bill.
He asked the committee to report back to him if they are encountering any challenges.
“Please, committee members that we referred the Bill to, we want the report, don’t be intimidated by any person,” he said during a breakfast meeting with the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship on Tuesday, March 28.
He added “Please let the report flow, we need to legislate. Our friends just passed their law in Uganda, we may not go the way they have gone, our Constitution is very clear as to the direction we should move and so we should be guided by that because if we pass any law against the Constitution, it is unconstitutional.”
His comments come at a time President Akufo-Addo dissociated from the Anti-Gay Bill.
Proposed under a Private Members’ Bill, the anti-gay bill is expected to criminalise some of the activities of homosexuals in Ghana.
Answering a question put to him at the Jubilee House on Monday, March 27 when US Vice President Kamala Harris called on him, President Akufo-Addo confirmed that the bill is currently before Parliament, which will decide on it, but most of its provisions are being fine-tuned.
“It hasn’t been passed, so the statement that there is legislation in Ghana to that effect is not accurate,” he said.
“Parliament is dealing with it and at the end of the process, I will come in,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo welcomed US Vice President Harris to the seat of government as part the latter’s three-day visit to the country.
She stressed how strongly she feels about the importance of supporting and fighting for the cause of human rights including rights of LGBTQs.
“For the American press who are here, you know that a great deal of work in my career has been to address human rights issues, equality issues across the globe including as well as the LGBTQ community and I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting freedom and supporting and fighting for quality among all people.”
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has refuted the assertion of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 (Anti-LGBTQI bill) has been ‘substantially modified’.
According to him, the final draft of the anti-LGBT bill which has now been laid before Parliament, remains essentially the same as the draft submitted to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on Thursday, monitored by GhanaWeb, the MP added that the only variation is the change in the name of the bill and the reduction in the number of years for offenders to 3 years to match the existing sentencing laws.
“That (the claim the bill has been modified) is a big lie, the president has been misadvised. The Attorney General brought an advice in the form of a memo just like the other 150 persons and CSOs who have sent memos.
“The president says there have been substantial changes, we proposed the bill, if we say “Proper Human Values” and it is changed to “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values” is that significant? That is immaterial.
“We proposed five years as penalty but the existing laws say it should be three… and that is not any drastic change because you will still be imprisoned for engaging in conducts like this,” he said.
The MP went on to list some of the clauses in the final draft anti-LBGT bill, which Parliament is expected to debate and pass today, Friday, March 31, 2023.
“If you go to clause 3, a person commits an offence if the person:”
A. Names or purposes to marry a person who is of the same sex as that person.
B. Knowingly marries or purposes to marry anybody who has undergone gender or a sex reassignment except in the case of a person who has undergone a surgical procedure to correct a biological anomaly including intersex.
C. Marries or purposes to marry any animal or an object.
B. Holds out as a lesbian, a gay, transgender, transsexual, a bisexual, an align, a non-binary and all the categories under the LGBTQI+ concept.
The representative for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has criticised the Minority for increasing the size of government by approving all six of President Akufo-Addo‘s ministerial nominees.
The swipe comes after the Presidency released the report on the number of staffers at the Presidency.
The number of employees has increased from 934 in 2020 to 995 in 2021 and 1048 this year.
The North Tongu legislature believes rejection of the new nominees would have sent a strong signal to the government about the protest to its large size.
“I am sure that if last Friday, March 24, all 136 of us had voted rejecting those new 8 appointees, I don’t think President Nana Addo would have had the courage to do this. In the sense, I’m forced to blame some of my colleagues, the traitors among us who have brought us here”.
“Because we are basically emboldening this President, telling him that he can do his worst because allies within the opposition will continue to cheer you on in secret. We will continue to endorse your callous policies. And I am deeply pained, so horrified and hurt by the treachery of some of our colleagues”.
A document submitted to Parliamentby the Office of the President revealed that 1048 staffers work at the Presidency serving various administrative and domestic roles.
The report submitted to Parliament is in accordance with section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463).
The report covers three key areas, namely the number of Presidential Staff employed at the Office of the President during the period, the ranks and grades of these staff, and employees of other Public Services assigned to the Office of the President.
The report revealed that during the reporting period, there were two (2) Ministers of State and forty-four (44) Senior Presidential Staffers at post. The other Political Appointees at the Office of the President numbered three hundred and fifteen (315).
The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, has condemned some Members of Parliament from the Minority Caucus for recording their votes during the secret voting in Parliament.
He said the MPs took videos and photos of their votes in last Friday’s vote on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ministerial and Supreme Court justice nominees.
The Second Deputy Speaker, who is also an independent MP for the Fomena Constituency, in the Ashanti Region, said the action of the MPs violated the secrecy of votes, which should not be allowed to recur.
In a statement on the floor of Parliament, yesterday, Mr. Amoako said the action was an affront to Article 104 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 10(b) of the Standing Orders of the House.
“The elections were held in secret, but we have read on various social media platforms that some of our members, probably as a matter of proving a point, videoed and took pictures of how they voted.
“I understand and appreciate why they did that, but the fact of the matter is that their actions are an affront to the electoral process,” Mr. Amoako said.
As the bastion of the country’s democracy, Mr. Amoako said MPs should set good examples for the general population to follow.
“We are supposed to be the crème of our democratic dispensation and whatever we do must show that we understand what we are doing.
“I submit that going forward, if we are to vote, in as much as we may want to prove to the caucus leaders, constituents, or the party that indeed this is the way we voted, we should also be reminded that whatever we do here conforms with general rule of voting in the country,” he said.
Mr. Yusif Sulemana, MP for Bole/Bamboi, called for the annulment of the polls if indeed there were evidence that MPs took pictures of their votes and revealed same.
“To the best of my knowledge, the election was conducted in secrecy, but if there is any evidence to suggest that it was not done in secrecy, then the result should be declared null and void.”
Mr. Sulemana said ‘going forward’, there would be the need for the House to adopt standards on how voting should be conducted because the mode kept changing anytime there was a vote.
But the MP for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfrom, Sylvester Tetteh, disagreed with the call for the votes to be annulled.
He urged the House to “purge itself of this unfortunate development,” and said MPs would not have the moral right to educate their constituents if the practice was not stopped.
“I understand and appreciate why they did that, but the fact of the matter is that their actions are an affront to the electoral process,” Mr. Amoako said.
As the bastion of the country’s democracy, Mr. Amoako said MPs should set good examples for the general population to follow.
When the anti-LGBT measure is ultimately passed by Parliament, Most Reverend Matthew Gyamfi, the president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, has encouraged President Akufo-Addo to sign it.
According to him, the President should not give in to pressure from western donors who may threaten to withdraw their support, particularly now that the country is cash strapped, if the anti-LGBT bill is passed.
He said the bill was the wish of the people and the President and his government must ensure that it is passed and implemented to the letter.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he said, “If I were to meet him [the President], I will remind him that he should look at this bill on thisLGBTQ that has come from the people of Ghana, it didn’t come from the executives, it did not generate in parliament.
“The people who have chosen the parliament, the people who have chosen him and they say this is what we want to be done on this issue. Probably one of the few laws generated from outside the executive and then the legislative.
“Christians, Muslims, traditionalists, all of these people publicly they have spoken about this law. So I will tell him to be extraordinarily careful about whatever decision he takes on behalf of Ghana. And if I were him, I will just say he should go for what the people are saying they want to be done and I suggest he doesn’t change it…we all requested it, he asked us to do this and this is what they have done and these are the consequences.”
His comments follow the Catholic Bishop Conference advising the President not to accept a $137 million grant from the government of the United States should it have the acceptance of LGBTQ rights as conditionality.
The group has maintained that LGBT rights are offensive to Ghanaian cultural and religious values and thus must be opposed.
