Professor Godfred Bokpin, an economist and lecturer of finance at the University of Ghana, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to immediately scale back his administration.
He contends that the president ought to resign if he believes he will be unable to oversee Ghana’s economy with no more than 40 ministers of state.
According to myjoyonline.com, he also said that some ministers and their ministries should be combined with other ministries because they have grown inactive.
“As a matter of urgency, a reduction in the size of ministers… if our President cannot govern with less than 40 ministers and the other reforms, he should resign and give Ghana a chance.
“.. with the number of ministers and associated calls, State Owned Enterprises, new agencies being created, some of them are actually not doing anything but their lifestyles are loaded on the public purse,” Prof Bokpin is quoted to have said on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday.
The Economist added that the president must also temporarily suspend some emoluments given to political office holders including ex-gratia.
He reiterated that if President Akufo-Addo wants Ghanaians to sacrifice to help the country get out of the current economic situation he must lead by example by cutting the government’s expenditure drastically.
On December 26, 2022, Dr. Asante indicated in an interview with Peace FM that GhanaWeb was listening to that calls for the president to fire his underperforming minister of state were long overdue.
“There is something called political cost. If your mother is dead but you keep saying she is alive, let her resurrect for us to see. The president has been saying that his ministers are performing well but you and I know that, that is far from the truth.
“Because if they were performing well, we will not be in the current situation we find ourselves in… He should close his eyes and sack his ministers who are not performing well and bring in people who can do the job.
“He should put his feet on the ground and sack his ministers who have failed so that he will leave a legacy. So that in the future if the Free SHS is mentioned other achievements will be added to honour his name,” he said in the Twi dialect.
Business people in the Bolgatanga Central Market expressed confidence in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo‘s ability to strengthen the cedi during his second term.
“We typically spend more to obtain foreign currencies, so by the time we import the goods, pay import duties, and other expenses, we are essentially left with nothing,” the woman added.
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initially released by GNA on December 19, 2020
Some of the traders in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga said if the cedi were to appreciate against currencies such as CFA and United States dollar, it would go a long way to boost Ghanaian businesses.
Their expectations from the new government were that the Ghanaian economy would improve with superior quality education and access to healthcare services made easier.
Madam Mariam Aviska, a businesswoman, said the government’s policies in the last four years were commendable but could have been better if the cedi was stable.
She noted that the instability of the local currency led to the collapse of several Ghanaian businesses and called on the government to ensure that the cedi gained stability in the international market.
“We usually pay more to acquire foreign currencies, so by the time we import the things, pay import levies and others, we are basically left with nothing,” she said.
Madam Alice Alana, a Wholesale trader, added that she was expecting the government to reduce import levies and taxes paid by businesses.
That, she said would enable businesses to regain their financial capacities since they suffered many losses due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Madam Ayishatu Akolgo, a Wax Prints Seller, said she expected timely payment of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims to ensure health facilities were stocked with essential medicines and equipment.
She also said there was a need to abolish the double-track senior high school system and provide more infrastructure to absorb all qualified students.
Mr Godwin Dzinake, a dealer in electronics, said he expected the government to award contracts in a free and fair manner without any conflict of interest.
That move would promote quality work among contractors and also safeguard the public purse from exploitation.
He urged government to revamp the Pwalugu Tomato factory and the defunct meat factory in the Upper East Region.
The cedi has made some progress over the last two weeks when compared to other main trading currencies, particularly the US dollar, registering a 63.7 percent increase in mid-December 2022.
President Akufo-Addo stated in a speech marking the centennial commemoration of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana that the government, working with the Bank of Ghana, will guarantee that achievements gained on the cedi are sustained.
Explaining the rationale behind the recent appreciation, he noted that “Cedi liquidity tightening measures, resulting in the offloading of forex, as a store of value, by speculators; the improvement of forex flows from remittances and the mining sector; and the reaching of a staff-level agreement with the IMF for a US$3 billion package.”
“Indeed, in the weeks ahead, the Bank of Ghana will continue with the purchases of forex from the mining and oil sectors to enhance liquidity supply to the market; continue with the single, unified forex forward auction and some modest targeted bilateral support to critical imports; and the implementation of the gold for oil swap transaction, which will significantly remove forex pressures on the cedi,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Despite being optimistic about the gains made thus far, President Akufo-Addo maintained that the country was still ‘not out of the woods yet’ toward restoring the economy.
The agreement is however subject to IMF Management and Executive Board approval and receipt of the necessary financing assurances by Ghana’s partners and creditors.
The improvement of forex flows from remittances and the mining sector, as well as the staff-level agreement with the IMF for a US$3 billion package, are among these measures, according to him. They also include “cedi liquidity tightening measures, resulting in the offloading of forex, as a store of value, by speculators.”
The President made this known on Sunday, 18 December 2022, when he delivered an address at the centenary celebration of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, held at the Black Star Square, Accra.
Addressing the congregation, which included the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, he stated that with appropriate policy, determination and hard work on the part of the government, things are beginning to turn around.
While acknowledging that the country was by no means “out of the woods yet”, he assured that the government will continue to work hard to maintain and sustain the gains made.
“Indeed, in the weeks ahead, the Bank of Ghana will continue with the purchases of forex from the mining and oil sectors to enhance liquidity supply to the market; continue with the single, unified forex forward auction and some modest targeted bilateral support to critical imports; and the implementation of the gold-for-oil swap transaction, which will significantly remove forex pressures on the cedi,” the President said.
It is in view of this that he added his voice to those of GUTA, GRTCC and others to appeal to manufacturers, traders and transport operators who, at the height of the cedi’s recent depreciation, increased prices of goods and services, to reduce their prices now that the cedi is re-gaining much of its strength.
“I believe this is not only a fair request, but also a just one, and I urge all of you to join me in this clarion call so we can all have a more pleasant Christmas,” he added.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as the Cedi strengthened against major trading currencies on Sunday, has urged producers, traders, and transport companies to lower their pricing for goods and services.
“I urge producers, traders, and transportation companies to lower their prices now that the Cedi is regaining a lot of its strength. Their prices were raised during the height of the recent depreciation of the Cedi.
“I think that this is not only a just but also a fair request…
I appeal to each of you to join me in the clarion cry so that, at the absolute least, we can have a better Christmas.
The occasion was on the theme: “Grateful for our Heritage, Forging Ahead in Unity and Faith.”
The President told the gathering that the strengthening of the Cedi “has not happened by Chance,” but through the implementation of deliberate policies by the Government in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana.
“All these have combined to bring the Cedi to an improved position, and I can assure you that the government will continue to work hard to maintain and sustain the gains made,” he said.
The Cedi appreciated 47 percent against the dollar and gained on all other currencies as of Friday’s close.
Noting that the country was not out of the woods, President Akufo-Addo said the government was determined to implement the appropriate policy measures to consolidate and sustain the gains made by the cedi in recent times.
“With appropriate policy, determination and hard work on our part, things are begging to turn around; what seemed impossible yesterday is now becoming possible.
“We are definitely not yet out of the woods, however today, the Cedi is rapidly appreciating against the US dollar and all major currencies, making up for its losses and the price of petroleum products are reducing at the pump.” he said.
The President disclosed the Bank of Ghana, in the weeks ahead, would continue the purchases of forex from the mining and oil sectors to enhance liquidity supply to the market.
The Bank would also continue with the single, unified forex forward auction and some modest targeted bilateral support to critical imports and the implementation of the gold for oil swap transaction to significantly remove forex pressures on the cedi.
President Akufo-Addo assured the gathering that his administration “is determined to bring even further relieve to you” and return the economy to the high rate of growth that characterized the country’s development in the three years before the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.
He, however, insisted that “we can only do so if we forge ahead in unity and in faith, and have the believe that with the Almighty God, the fortunes of Ghana under the presidency of Akufo-Addo will be restored.”
“I will thus appeal to you to bear with Government in this difficult period as we work to chart a path out of the storm. I know times are hard and are affecting all of us, but this government will not shirk its responsibility to the people of Ghana to make the hard decisions that hard times demand, which may be painful just like injections, but we must take them if we are to be well again and get our economy back.
“The policies we are implementing today are meant to address the challenges, and I am sure they will, but in the meantime, I need your active understanding and cooperation …we can make it if all of us work at it,” he emphasized.
The President lauded the contributions of the Presbyterian church to national development and thanked the church for its support towards the construction of the National Cathedral.
He stated that, upon completion, the National Cathedral would serve not only as the country’s collective thanksgiving “to the Almighty for the blessings He has bestowed on our nation, sparing us the ravages of civil war that have bedevilled the histories of virtually all our neighbours, and the outbreak of deadly mass epidemics, but also as a rallying point for the entire Christian Community of Ghana, which represents 70 per cent of the population.”
The President said although there were those who did not share his view in the building of the Cathedral, “I respect their right to differ, but I am confident in my decision and by the vast numbers of enthusiastic supporters of these projects, whose spiritual dimension is limitless.
He thus asked the Ga Presbytery, and all Christians, to continue to pray for Ghana’s peace and unity, so the nation can move forward in unity.
“I ask all of you to continue to pray for God’s peace and unity for Ghana so we can continue to move forward as a united nation.
“I need the support of every Ghanaian together with the prayers of the Church, to help me and my government carry out our mandate successfully…Pray for me so that the Almighty God will continue to give me wisdom, strength, courage, and compassion to enable me to execute my duties as a good leader. With Him all things are possible for the battle is the Lord’s,” he said.
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Rt Rev Professor Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, expressed the appreciation of the Church for government’s effort at restoring economic stability
According to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, deliberate policy changes made by the administration over the past few months are to blame for the cedi’s appreciation versus all major trading currencies.
“The strengthening of the cedi has not happened by happenstance,” claims President Akufo-Addo, “but through the implementation of intentional measures by Government, in partnership with the Bank of Ghana.”
The improvement of forex flows from remittances and the mining sector, as well as the staff level agreement with the IMF for a US$3 billion package, are among these measures, according to him. They also include “cedi liquidity tightening measures, resulting in the offloading of forex as a store of value by speculators”
Addressing the congregation, which included the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, he stated that with appropriate policy, determination and hard work on the part of Government, things are beginning to turn around.
Whilst acknowledging that the country was by no means “out of the woods yet”, he assured that Government will continue to work hard to maintain and sustain the gains made.
“Indeed, in the weeks ahead, the Bank of Ghana will continue with the purchases of forex from the mining and oil sectors to enhance liquidity supply to the market; continue with the single, unified forex forward auction and some modest targeted bilateral support to critical imports; and the implementation of the gold for oil swap transaction, which will significantly remove forex pressures on the cedi,” Akufo-Addo said.
He added his voice to those of GUTA, GRTCC and others to appeal to manufacturers, traders and transport operators who, at the height of the cedi’s recent depreciation, increased prices of goods and services, to reduce their prices now that the cedi is re-gaining much of its strength.
“I believe this is not only a fair request, but also a just one, and I urge all of you to join me in this clarion call, so we can all have a more pleasant Christmas,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo thanked the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for the support it continues to give for the construction of the National Cathedral.
He stated that, upon completion, the National Cathedral will serve not only as the country’s collective thanksgiving “to the Almighty for the blessings He has bestowed on our nation, sparing us the ravages of civil war that have bedeviled the histories of virtually all our neighbours, and the outbreak of deadly mass epidemics, but also as a rallying point for the entire Christian Community of Ghana, which represents seventy plus percent (70+%) of the population.”
The President, therefore, urged the Ga Presbytery, and, indeed, all Christians, to continue to pray for Ghana’s peace and unity, so the nation can move forward in unity.
“I need the support of every Ghanaian, together with the prayers of the Church, to help me and my government carry out our mandate successfully. Pray for me so that Almighty God will continue to give me wisdom, strength, courage and compassion to enable me execute my duties as a good leader. With Him, all things are possible, as the Battle is the Lord’s, for this too shall pass”, President Akufo-Addo said.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at a meeting in Washington, on Thursday, December 15, 2022, stated that Ghana’s security apparatus has noticed the activities of Russian mercenaries along its borders in the northern parts of the country, who have been contracted by the Burkinabe government.
Addressing officials of the US government, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Akufo-Addo said that the Burkinabe government had contracted these mercenaries to help them fight Islamic militants in their country and is paying them with a mining concession.
Akufo-Addo also stated that Ghana was against Russia’s occupation of Ukraine and the use of African countries as training grounds for foreign powers, particularly Russia.
“Apart from not accepting the idea of great powers once again making Africa their theatre of operation, we have a particular position that you know about over the Ukraine war, where we have been very, very vocal and up front about condemning the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” he said.
Reacting to this in a tweet shared on Friday, December 16, 2022, the MP said that Akufo-Addo’s comments against Russia hurts Ghana’s status as a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) – nations that do not align with or are against any of the world powers.
He added that Akufo-Addo revealing a security briefing he had received in public is also not the best.
“As an MP & a Citizen, I’m terribly worried about the laissez-faire manner the Prez revealed what appears to be contents of classified security briefings on Burkina Faso to a foreign power in this video.
“More worried about how Russia will react. Are we still a Non-Aligned Nation?” parts of the MP’s tweet read.
See the MP’s tweet, plus a video of Akufo-Addo’s statement below:
As an MP & a Citizen, I’m terribly worried about the laissez faire manner the Prez revealed what appears to be contents of classified security briefings on Burkina Faso to a foreign power in this video. More worried about how Russia will react. Are we still a Non-Aligned Nation? pic.twitter.com/mTAsTR17Eu
— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) December 16, 2022
The Kotoka Airport’s US$150 COVID-19 test fee is being reviewed.
Investing in the AIB
completion of ongoing projects at airports
Having been declared victorious in the December 7 presidential elections by the Electoral Commission chair, Jean Mensa, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, working through his appointees, must now tackle key issues in the aviation sector if the full benefits of air transport are to be realized in the next four years.
Undoubtedly, the re-setting up of the Ministry of Aviation which had been treated as an appendage of the Ministry of Transport as a stand-alone ministry has served the industry well. That decision and the ensuring appropriate budget allocation to the Ministry, has led to the mainstreaming of the sector.
In 2018, the aviation sector contributed US$ 2.5 billion to the country’s GDP. That notwithstanding, the following are the key issues that beg the attention of the President-elect:
Struggling CAA & Airports Company
The current pandemic has revealed in all it starkness the lack of financial buffer for the Ghana Airports Company Limited. The state-owned limited liability company has had to turn to central government for financial assistance to be able to pay salaries due to the massive drop in its aeronautical revenue—Airport Passenger Service Tax, aircraft parking fees etc.
The COVID-19 induced closure of the Kotoka International Airport for scheduled flights from March to September led to a drop of about 80 percent of GACL’s revenue within the period. Since the re-opening of the airport for international flights on September 1, airlines servicing the KIA have recorded low passenger throughput, with load factor ranging between 50-70 percent. Daily pre-COVID-19 frequencies have now been reduced mostly from 7x per week to 4x per week. It is now clear that the GACL must be assisted to scale up non-aeronautical revenue while the state may possibly look at increasing its working capital.
The aviation sector regulator, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), has also seen its major income source severely impacted by the pandemic. It has also received assistance from central government to help with its overheads. However, the financial challenge it faces now needs to be addressed.
New ‘Ghana Airways
It has been the aspiration of successive governments to re-establish a home-based carrier that would once again fly the Ghanaian flag and give impetus to the aviation hub dream. Initial attempts at partnering some major international airlines did not work out. Currently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with EgyptAir to work with the Cairo-based airline in establishing the new airline. The immediate task at hand is to finalise the various shareholders agreements, approval by Cabinet and submission of the agreement to Parliament for scrutiny and approval before the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic is dissolved in days.
Review of US$150 COVID-19 test charge at Kotoka Airport
Though the antigen test currently carried out on in-bound passengers has helped to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country, it has greatly increased the cost of travel. As we approach the festive season, a lot more Ghanaians living abroad are expected to return home for Christmas. Though the GACL recently waived the cost for children aged 5-12years, there have still been calls for a reduction in the cost. Indeed, organisations such as the Consumer Protection Agency, Ghana Tourism Federation have made several calls for a review to no avail.
A review of the relatively expensive cost of the test should merit attention.
Resourcing the AIB
The work of the Accident Investigation Bureau will be imperative in reducing the annual accident costs attributed to general aviation in Ghana and the West Africa sub-region.
In recent times there have been major initiatives, such as infrastructural projects and systems enhancements, which combined with this legislation are gradually positioning the country at the heart of civil aviation in the sub-region.
The setting up of the bureau is also in readiness for Ghana’s upcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit in 2021. However, the AIB must be well-resourced to efficiently carry out its mandate.
Completion of on-going airport projects
Completion of the Kumasi, Sunyani, Tamale and Cape Coast airports would be keenly awaited by residents, traders and hospitality industry players. Though works on Kumasi and Sunyani airports are nearing completion, it must be completed on time to open up these two main mid-Ghana cities. Tamale and Cape Coast airports should not escape attention.
In his view, there is no amount of talk that can change the African narrative except hard work is put in to change the status quo if Africa is to tell her own story.
He cited the case of China as a perfect example of how a country can earn respect in the comity of nations. “I hear a lot about the need to change the narrative and tell our own good stories. As the saying goes, ‘nothing succeeds as success.’
“If we work at it, if we stop being beggars and spend Africa’s money inside the continent, Africa will not need to ask for respect from anyone. We would get the respect we deserve,” he told a gathering involving some of his peers at the just-ended US-African Leaders’ summit in Washington DC.
He cited how over 30 years ago, an American Ivy League varsity offered Mandarin for years without takers, yet today the course has packed halls. “It is not because of ease but because position of China has changed.
“Thirty years, twenty years ago, China was no where near where it is today, China does not ask anyone for respect now, she does not need it. Let us make our continent the prosperous and joyful place it should be and the respect will follow,” he concluded to applause.
His call for Africa to stop begging the West in the same speech has drawn lot of chatter especially on social media with a group of people calling him out for making such a statement in a week Ghana received bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
According to reports, after taking office 16 months ago, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has not received compensation.
According to a report by myjoyonline.com, all the staff at the Office of the Special Prosecutor except for the Deputy Special Prosecutor have also not been paid all their salaries.
The report also indicated that documents available to JoyNews show that the former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, is also owed arrears.
It added that the lack of payment has left the affected staff becoming agitated.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, according to a JOY FM document said that the situation is very worrying since the lack of payment leaves the affected staff in a vulnerable state, which might derail the fight against corruption.
Kissi Agyebeng, therefore, called on the government to put the necessary measures in place to ensure that his staff are given their compensation.
Kissi Agyebeng officially assumed office on Thursday, August 5, 2021, as the country’s second Special Prosecutor after being sworn into office by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor was established in 2018 by President Akufo-Addo as the gold standard and flagship specialized independent anti-corruption institution in the country.
Its main objective is to prevent, investigate, and prosecute corruption and corruption-related offenses, as well as recover assets that have been stolen from the state.
“The time has come for us also to eschew extreme political partisanship and look into attaining the collective success of the ordinary Ghanaian,” he said.
He indicated that every citizen was accountable for the success or failure of the country, adding that the country needed patriotic citizens now more than ever.
“To be patriotic requires special affection for one’s own country, special concern for the wellbeing of the country, and willingness to sacrifice oneself to promote the country’s growth,” he remarked.
NAFAC, Ghana’s biggest cultural festival is celebrated every two years on rotational basis to provide a platform to showcase the diversity and richness in the country’s ethnic and regional cultures to stimulate peace and unity.
The weeklong festival was opened in colour, glitz and glamour before a durbar of chiefs, politicians, high profiled personalities, students and the public at the Adisadel School Park.
The magnificent expression of the rich Ghanaian culture and heritage in all forms, including music, dance, poems, food, language and dresses, characterised the event which was a sight to behold.
The national event attracted many people from all over the country to represent and sell their culture in a unifying fashion to Ghana and the world.
This year’s event, which marks the 60th anniversary of the festival is on the theme: “Revising Patriotism, Peace and Unity through Cultural Diversity for Sustainable Development.”
President Akufo-Addo stressed that it was the responsibility of patriotic citizens to work collectively to ensure that Ghana developed and achieved peace, progress and prosperity.
“An individual actions can change a life, but collaborative actions have a positive impact on a nation,” he said.
“We must portray how patriotic we are by upholding the nation’s constitution, respecting our country’s symbols, traditions and heritage, acknowledging the sentiments of fellow countrymen and women and contributing constructively to the growth and wellbeing of the nation,” he added.
The President indicated that the foundation of transforming and developing the nation was contingent on the character of the people, which encompassed cultural values such as selflessness, honesty and truthfulness, hard work, decency and dignity.
According to Agyapong, given the minister’s failure to resign, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo should have fired the minister in July 2022, according to an interview with Kweku Sintim Misa on the KSM Show.
On July 1, 2022, the president in a statement issued by the Information Minister ordered Ofori-Atta to start talks with the fund for a programme.
Agyapong, who is gunning to become the governing New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer for the 2024 elections stressed that with his dogged anti-IMF posture, Ofori-Atta became unsuitable for negotiations with the Fund.
“I know how these agencies work and sometimes they want to be very diplomatic. I am sure that they are not happy that he is the one leading it. In their view, they want a stark departure from what happened in the past.
“The first thing I expected was for the president to relieve Ken of his duties, he hasn’t done that, that is his choice but we should expect very tough negotiations going forward and it is not going to be easy,” he told KSM.
Ghana is currently facing economic headwinds with a domestic debt programme facing opposition from stakeholders – largely from institutional bondholders.
Government is hoping to close a deal on debt restructuring at home in order to be able to access an International Monetary Fund (IMF) facility to support the failing economy.
Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta on December 6 announced that government was restructuring bonds held by institutional investors, putting them into four groups stretching 15 years. With interest also spread in four tranches in four years.
The Domestic Debt Exchange programme as it is called has faced some stiff opposition from major professional groups and workers union in the country.
Today, December 7, 2022, the World Lottery Association’s (WLA) Rebecca Paul and General Secretary Lynne Roiter will fly into Ghana for the Seminar on Responsible Gaming.
Director Generals of 15 African nations and several lottery industry experts are expected to attend the seminar, which was the idea of the African Lotteries Association, to discuss ways to expand the gaming sector.
Rebecca Paul is in Ghana to grace the seminar which is viewed as one of the key events on the calendar of the African Lotteries Association.
Whiles in Ghana, Rebecca Paul, and the entire delegation are expected to grace the Grand Durbar of the NLA’s 60th Anniversary.
After stating that there would be no “haircuts” on bonds and investments, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said that individuals who engaged in speculating would be dealt with by the appropriate state institutions.
He declared: “I say to them that the competent state agencies will take action against such persons. Those who make it a practice of disseminating lies, which cause panic in the system.”
Read the full story originally published on November 1, 2022, by peacefmonline
Addressing the nation on measures being taken by the government to rescue the economy, he said: “I also want to assure all Ghanaians that no individual or institutional investor, including pension funds, in Government treasury bills or instruments will lose their money, as a result of our ongoing IMF negotiations.
“There will be no “haircuts”, so I urge all of you to ignore the false rumours, just as, in the banking sector clean-up, Government ensured that the 4.6 million depositors affected by the exercise did not lose their deposits”
Meanwhile, he has cautioned “those who make it a habit of publishing falsehoods, which result in panic in the system, I say to them that the relevant state agencies will act against such persons”.
The Minority Leader in Parliament reportedly questioned why President Akufo-Addo, who led the Kumepreko rally in 1995 to voice his opposition to economic suffering, now imposes more levies on Ghanaians.
He emphasized that the market price of products and services will automatically increase as a result of the 2.5% increase in VAT.
This will cause further suffering for Ghanaians during the current economic downturn, he claimed.
Addressing journalists on Monday, December 5, 2022, Haruna Iddrisu said, ” whilst whittling away the little we have as a country in this intransigent manner, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has decided to pile more hardships on the people of Ghana through the introduction of more taxes in the 2023 Budget presented to Parliament. What moral right does President Akufo-Addo have to increase VAT by 2.5% when he led the “KUMI PREKO” demonstration in 1995 resulting in the loss of five lives?”
“As sure as night follows day, this will worsen the hardship faced by Ghanaians, as the prices of almost all items will increase instantaneously once this tax comes into effect,” he added.
Haruna Iddrisu further said the Minority in Parliament have detected 22 additional tax and revenue measures in the 2023 budget read in parliament by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The additional taxes, he bemoaned, will make life more unbearable for Ghanaians.
“At a time when people are facing the worst economic crisis and hardships in their lifetime, the last thing that is desired is further taxation,” he said.
Government, on Thursday, November 24, 2022, announced an increment in Value Added Tax (VAT) by 2.5 percent for consumers of goods and services.
The move, according to government is expected to improve its domestic revenue measures while seeking to reach an IMF deal to restore macroeconomic stability.
Economic Crisis Ghana Will Need 15 Years To Recover – Ato Forson
The group stated in a news release on December 1, 2022, that the government’s share of the nation’s capital expenditures has been declining year after year.
According to the report, government funding made up 1.8 percent of the 2023 budget while development partners were responsible for 92.22 percent of the overall allocations.
According to the firm’s latest verdict on Ghana from an earlier Caa2 rating to Ca rating which is a further junk territory, it expects that the debt restructuring programme will impact both local and foreign currency holders.
Meanwhile, the finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his handling of the economy.
This occurred on November 24, 2022, roughly a week after he presented the 2023 budget statement to the legislature.
It is anticipated that the government’s projected debt restructuring program’s specifics would be revealed by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
Before the presentation, Moody’s Investor Services issued a warning that the government’s anticipated debt restructuring program is likely to cause private creditors and investors to suffer significant losses on their investments.
According to the firm’s latest verdict on Ghana from an earlier Caa2 rating to Ca rating which is a further junk territory, it expects that the debt restructuring programme will impact both local and foreign currency holders.
Meanwhile, the finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his handling of the economy.
President Akufo-Addo remarked that farmers and citizens must collaborate to battle the galamsey threat during his speech at the 38th National Best Farmer award.
According to the President, if farmers and the general people do not cooperate with the government to eradicate the galamsey threat, the unlawful activity would wreak havoc on the ecosystem.
He was crowned at the 38th National Farmers’ Day Celebration, which was held in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Regional, at Jubilee Park under the direction of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
One million Ghanaian Cedis in cash, a tractor with equipment, a trailer, a Boom sprayer, and other mementos were given to the award recipient.
Nana Sarpong Siriboe has a 900-acre oil palm plantation, 200-acres of maize, over 17, 000 poultry birds, as well as several livestock and acres of cocoa, cassava cashew, mango and cowpea farms, with a total workforce of 145.
Mr. Seth Agyei Fosu, also a mixed farmer based in the Kintampo-North of the Brong-East Region, took the First Runner-Up position, and received a tractor, trailer, Disc Plough and Boom Sprayer.
Professor Akwasi Asabere Ameyaw, a mixed-farmer based in the Techiman-North of the Brong-East Region, emerged as the Second Runner-Up (Overall National Best Farmer), and was given a tractor with implements.
A total of 15 awards were given at this year’s ceremony, held on the theme, “Accelerating Agricultural Development through Value Addition.”
The other categories included the National Best Livestock Farmer, National Best Crop Farmer, Overall National Best Fisher, National Best Marine Fisher, National Best Inland Fisher, National Best Fisher Farmer, and National Best Fish Processor.
They received various souvenirs for distinguishing themselves in their respective fields of agriculture.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, delivering the keynote address, commended Ghanaian farmers for their commitment and resilience to feed the citizenry in the face of the global economic and food crises.
The Government, he said, would continue to support them with the needed incentives and policies for increased productivity.
He announced that his Administration had since 2017 provided more than 2 billion Ghana Cedis in subsidies to enable the farmers acquire fertilizers and improved seeds needed for their work.
The objective, according to him, was to empower the farmers to achieve their targets for food sufficiency.
President Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that agriculture remained a priority of his Administration, therefore, the necessary measures and initiatives were being put in place to foster agro-processing and value addition for the benefit of the Ghanaian farmer.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Food and Agriculture, commended the farmers for their efforts, saying the Ministry would continue to liaise with them, and implement the best of policies in their favour.
On December 2, 2022, the Otto Addo-led team lost a crucial game to Uruguay, 2–0, and as a result, both teams were eliminated from the tournament, with Portugal and South Korea moving on.
People are making fun of a president’s tweet from 2014 that has surfaced again in light of recent events in the nation.
It reads: “No water, no electricity, no petrol, no jobs, no mercy, no World Cup cictory! #Ghana”
The president had urged the team to take revenge on the Uruguayans after a 2010 incident where Luis Suarez, their captain in yesterday’s game thwarted Ghana’s prospect of making history by becoming the first African side to qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Akufo-Addo has yet to comment on the outcome of the match.
In 2014 when his tweet was made, the then Asamoah Gyan-led Black Stars made a disastrous outing in Brazil when they failed to win a single match yet ‘cooked’ a global spectacle that saw dollars being flown to pay their appearance fees for fears of a boycott.
Ghana ended bottom of Group H with Portugal topping whiles South Korea finsihed second ahead of Uruguay on goal difference – both teams finished with four points apiece.
The Black Stars recorded three points from three games – losing to Portugal and Uruguay and beating South Korea. They scored five goals and conceded seven.
Coach Otto Addo has resigned his position in the post-match press conference.
Match Report: Uruguay vs. Ghana
The Black Stars of Ghana had one task going into their final Group H fixture at the 2022 World Cup.
Win at all costs, worse case draw against Uruguay and secure passage into the Round-of-16 stage of the competition.
The match was, however, settled with three major incidents in the first half. A penalty miss by Black Stars skipper Andre Dede Ayew, when the score was goalless.
Then Giorgian de Arrascaeta’s two goals for Uruguay which came in quick sucession, consigned the Black Stars to a second World Cup defeat against the South Americans who broke hearts of Africans in 2010.
Their 2 – 0 victory over the Black Stars was, however, not enough to get them through to the next round of the tournament as South Korea beat Portugal 2-1.
With Uruguay in dire need of a third goal to progress to the next round of the World Cup, Suarez was reduced to tears as efforts to score another goal proved futile.
Portugal and South Korea advanced from Group H as Uruguay and Ghana exited the tournament after finished 3rd and 4th respectively.
“When your fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you. When you were making that statement, the exchange was GH¢4.20p. On Friday, it was GH¢15.00 to a dollar.
“What message do you want to give to Ghanaians again? Let me tell you; I’m telling you this straight; I’m saying all these things because of [something]…from March this year to August this year, through the exchange rate, I lost $12 million,” Kennedy Agyapong said in a viral audio in GhanaWeb’s possession.
Kennedy Agyapong is one of the leading figures gunning to replace president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as leader of the NPP going into the 2024 General Elections.
Others rumoured to be interested in becoming flagbearers include Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen. The primaries are slated for next year.
Ken Agyapong takes on Bawumia over ‘fundamentals are weak’ comment
Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has stated that between March and August 2022, he lost roughly $12 million due to the cedi’s fall against the dollar.
He claims that the vice president has no new message for Ghanaians after criticizing the John Dramani Mahama administration in 2014 and saying that “if the foundations are weak, the exchange rate will expose you.”
Agyapong said that when Dr. Bawumia made those remarks, the exchange rate was GH4.20p to a dollar. He was addressing to select party members as part of his campaign for flagbearership of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In order to restore macroeconomic stability and other issues, Ghana is now negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for an economic support program.
As negotiations draw to a close, Speaker Bagbin stated that the government must do well to make sure that public support its commitment to addressing the present economic issues.
Addressing journalists in Ho-Volta region over the weekend, Alban Bagbin called on the Finance Ministry in particular to demonstrate transparency in all its activities and dealings.
“The absence of openness and transparency can lead to suspicion and a profound sense of despair and hopelessness. It is in this regard that I call on the Minister of Finance to muster the courage to be candid, open and to speak truth to power,” he said.
“Don’t come and repeat what we have been told already, we know it. Give us policy alternatives,” Alban Bagbin added.
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his handling of the economy.
Ghana is however hoping to secure some US$3 billion under an Extended Credit Facility from the IMF once an agreement can be reached.
He claimed that he was astounded by the minister’s ability to find his way and read the budget.
“The fact that Ken Ofori-Atta was reading the budget caught me completely off guard.
I had previously claimed that Ken Ofori-ability Atta’s to understand the budget would rank among the seven wonders of the world.
It is very astounding how he has been able to negotiate his way through, in any jurisdiction, he shouldn’t be the one reading the budget,” he is quoted as saying by 3news.com.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, was in parliament to fulfill his constitutional mandate by presenting the government budget to the House.
The presentation was in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
But the President had asked members of the NPP to allow the Minister to present the 2023 budget and also conclude negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
Government bans the use of V8, V6 vehicles except for cross-country travel.
Pre-budget huddling, according to Speaker of the House Alban Bagbin, is necessary to foster greater understanding, consultation, and compromise among lawmakers (MPs).
The MPs would better understand the topics discussed during the post-budget workshop, according to him, if they spoke with the relevant ministries in advance and were involved in setting the agenda, he claimed. The goal would be to highlight the necessity for the Budget Act’s passage by Parliament.
He said: “This will give MPs notice of underpinnings of the Budget, thus providing a solid foundation during the debate and a better monitoring and evaluation basis of policies and programmes of government.”
Mr Bagbin said this when he addressed MPs at the opening of the 2023 two-day Post-Budget Workshop underway in Ho in the Volta Region.
The annual Post-Budget Workshop has the primary goal of equipping MPs and Senior Officers of the Parliamentary Service with the skills required for scrutinising the Budget and Economic Policy of the Executive arm of government for the 2023 fiscal year.
It also had the objective of offering MPs the opportunity of a deeper appreciation of the 2022 Budget and Economic Policy of the government.
The key expected outcomes would be quality deliberations of the statement on the floor of the House in the ensuing day’s relevant legislation and the ultimate Appropriation Act for the 2023 financial year.
According to Mr Bagbin, in the current global village, trends, data and evidence guided policy and decision-making.
“Honourable Members, when reliable information, analytical tools, and supporting evidence are presented in advance, members will have a better understanding of the issues and debate the budget more competently as representatives of their people.
“Consequently, if a post-budget workshop like this one is critical, then a pre-budget huddling of some sort is also essential for purposes of deeper understanding, consultation and compromise,” he said.
To that end, Mr Bagbin noted that the establishment of the Budget and Fiscal analysis department in Parliament would be essential in supporting MPs in the performance of oversight functions, adding that effective oversight generated momentum towards sustainable development through revised and enhanced legislation policy.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader, bemoaned the freeze on civil and public-sector employment, saying it would worsen the unemployment situation in the country.
He, therefore, asked the government to consider the number of youths that risked the tendency of becoming jobless as against the existing unemployment.
The government in its 2023 Budget and Statement and Economic Policy presentation to Parliament on Thursday, November 24, announced a freeze on hiring into the public and civil service effective January 2023 as part of cabinet directives for expenditure rationalisation.
However, Mr Iddrisu disagreed and described the 2023 Budget as an indication of the highly distressed state of the country.
“Mr Speaker, Ghana’s economy and as I listened to the Honourable Minister of Finance, the 2023 budget statement is replete with evidence that government is simply broke and the economy is in crisis. An economy under life support that needs some resuscitation,” he said.
According to him, some of the interventions the government was seeking to make including the capping of enrollment of nursing and teacher trainees and the reduction of the size of convoys could rather worsen the state of the economy.
On his part, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Leader, said external shocks and the depreciation of the cedi had been major contributing factors to the current economic hardships that the 2023 Budget sought to address.
“These (COVID-19 and Russian-Ukraine war) have created internal and external imbalances in the economic woes; high inflation and unsustainable financing of the current economic deficit and rapid depreciation of the cedi.
“Suddenly, these variables have brought a lot of hardships to the citizenry, particularly the poor and vulnerable,” he said.
He explained that the budget intended to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians through increased spending on social protection.
Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance called for a partnership that would get the economy thriving.
By Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) the Mr Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presented the 2023 Annual Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government to Parliament on Thursday, November 24.
Among other things, the 2023 Budget focused on Government’s strategies to restore and stabilise the macro economy, build resilience and promote inclusive growth and value creation.
It also featured updates on Ghana’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an IMF-supported Programme; year-to-date macro-fiscal performance of the economy; the YouStart initiative under the Ghana CARES Programme; climate action strategies; fiscal measures and debt management strategies to ensure fiscal and debt sustainability and promote growth.
Among the topics discussed by resourced persons at the two-day workshop included Policy Underpinnings of the 2023 budget-General Analysis of the Budget; Overview of the 2023 Budget- Macro Economic and Fiscal Management; What to consider in Analysing the 2023 Sectoral Budgets; Employment Generation and the 2023 Budget; and Revenue Mobilisation and Debt sustainability.
The government would talk with the World Bank about building the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam in the Talensi District and seek funding for it, according to vice president Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, the Vice President informed Mr. Pierre Frank Laporte, Country Director of the World Bank, that “we would be discussing this project further with you, so that we can see to its construction.”
Dr Bawumia was speaking at the launch of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project in the Region’s capital.
The SOCO project is a multi-country US$450 million credit facility from the World Bank to be implemented in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin.
Its objective is to provide support to the Northern parts of the Gulf of Guinea countries which suffer instabilities owing to food insecurity, climate change, conflict and violence.
The project would be implemented in 48 Districts across the Upper East Region, Northern, Upper West, North East, Savannah and Oti Regions with an amount of US$150 million out of the total amount.
Dr Bawumia said, “The Pwalugu Dam is a project that I believe the World Bank should really take a keen interest in, as development partners.”
He said even though the Dam project was dear to the government it faced financial challenges. “We are facing financial challenges as many countries are, at the moment, but we want to make sure this project sees the light of day, and is completed,” he said.
The project, expected to be constructed by a Chinese firm, Power China International and supervised by the Volta River Authority within three years, had not commenced even though there had been several stakeholder engagements and feasibility studies over the years.
It has three key objectives, the capacity to generate 59.6 megawatts (mw) of hydropower, 50mw of solar power, develop irrigation potential for the cultivation of 25,000 hectares of land and flood control.
Naba Yelzoya Kosom Asaga II, the Paramount Chief of the Nangodi Traditional Area, who chaired the launch of the SOCO project, in his address, emphasized the need for the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam.
He said the irrigation component of the project would improve agriculture in the Region, especially during the dry season, as the poor rainfall pattern affected crop production.
Naba Asaga II said the expected hydropower generation would complement the power from the National grid to the Region and possibly reduce the frequent power outages residents experienced.
He said the appeal by the Vice-President was on point, adding, “The Vice President hit the right cord, he just nailed it, and I support the appeal and would want the World Bank to immediately support the project.”
The government raised the VAT by 2.5% in its budget statement on last Thursday, November 24, 2022, raising the threshold for paying VAT to 15%.
Following the presentation of the nation’s economic policy statement to the Legislature by finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Mr. Samuel Okudjeto-Ablakwa, ranking member of the parliamentary select committee on foreign affairs, questioned the president’s honesty in a news conference.
The congressman emphasised that “this is a president who organised ‘Kumepreko, Sieyenkpreko,’ among other protests against the implementation of VAT in the early 1990s.
“Where have principle and integrity run to? I am embarrassed by the legacy the president is leaving behind for the next generation,” he further charged.
“How on earth will this man be increasing VAT at this crucial moment of our times when businesses are folding up because of the high cost of doing business in the country?” he questioned.
“As stated in the Budget Speech by the Honourable Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, the Government of Ghana is contemplating a debt operation aimed at alleviating the pressures on the national budget and restoring debt sustainability. This would also open up financing streams and provide needed balance of payment support from the Fund.
“Details of the different layers of a debt operation, including the terms of principal payments and interest on the public debt, are still being discussed, taking into account principles of debt sustainability and international best practices,” parts of the statement read.
Addressing the nation on measures being taken by the government to rescue the economy on Sunday, October 31, Akufo-Addo said: “I also want to assure all Ghanaians that no individual or institutional investor, including pension funds, in government treasury bills or instruments will lose their money, as a result of our ongoing IMF negotiations.
“There will be no “haircuts”, so I urge all of you to ignore the false rumours, just as, in the banking sector cleanup, government ensured that the 4.6 million depositors affected by the exercise did not lose their deposits.”
He cautioned, “those who make it a habit of publishing falsehoods, which result in panic in the system, I say to them that the relevant state agencies will act against such persons”.
But the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, later came out to explain Akufo-Addo’s assurances that there will be no haircut, cover only principals.
“My understanding is that no principals will be touched. No principals will have a haircut. The debt sustainability strategy is yet to be announced in full.
“When they are done with the rest of the strategy, and they come out and do a full announcement, we will have clarity on the form that the debt restructuring will take,” the information minister said.
The 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy has been referred to as a “ka mp dede budget” by the minority leader in parliament, Haruna Iddrisu.
The popular’sika mp dede’ that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo used in his final speech to the nation inspired the Akan expression, which literally translates to ‘debt does not like noise.’
The Minority Leader criticized the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, for excessive borrowing as he stood up to second the motion on the floor of parliament to adjourn the session.
He explained that, with the details of the budget as presented by the minister, and with his own admission that the country is highly-indebted, then the phrase Ɛka mpɛ dede best describes the budget.
“We have heard the honourable Minister of Finance, before this august House, declare Ghana a high-risk, distress debt country. So, Mr. Speaker, this budget is Ɛka mpɛ dede budget and therefore, he’s put the country on the path to debt restructuring, which he has announced as debt exchange program.
“So, Mr. Speaker, this budget is Ɛka mpɛ dede budget because he has announced debt restructuring in the name of a debt exchange program,” he said.
Haruna Iddrisu also appealed to the minister to ensure that he regularizes the government’s borrowing spree.
“Mr. Speaker, my greatest expectation of the minister is to regularize the borrowing under the amended Bank of Ghana act of 2016.
“You have to come back to this House to seek our mandate and authorization for your excessive borrowing from the Bank of Ghana, that needs to be regularized,” he said.
On November 24, 2022, he announced it while presenting the budget for 2023.
Mr. Speaker, despite the elevated levels of debt, the government is still committed to making sure that debt is reduced to levels that are manageable in the medium to long term.
“To this end, we will implement a debt exchange programme to address the challenges identified in the portfolio in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including the Ghanaian public, the investor community, and development partners,” he said.
The presentation is in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
The minister is presenting the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to parliament in a year that has experienced perhaps, the worst forms of economic downturns in the fourth republic.
Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
On November 24, 2022, he announced it while delivering the 2023 budget.
Mr. Speaker, despite the elevated debt levels, the government is still committed to making sure that debt is reduced to manageable levels in the medium to long term, he said.
“To this end, we will implement a debt exchange programme to address the challenges identified in the portfolio in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including the Ghanaian public, the investor community, and development partners,” he said.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, is in parliament to fulfill his constitutional mandate by presenting the government budget to the House.
The minister is presenting the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to parliament in a year that has experienced perhaps, the worst forms of economic downturns in the fourth republic.
Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
This was announced by the Finance Minster, Ken Ofori-Atta, during the 2023 budget statement read in Parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
The e-levywas formerly at a rate of 1.75% during its proposal stage. It was however, reduced to 1.5% when passed into law.
The GH100 daily threshold, which has been in effect since the tax measure’s adoption in May of this year, will also be eliminated, Mr Ofori-Atta continued.
“Mr. Speaker, we will undertake the following actions, initiatives, and interventions under the seven-point agenda. To aggressively mobilize domestic revenue, we will among others: Increase the VAT rate by 2.5 percent to directly support our roads and digitalization agenda; Fast-track the implementation of the Unified Property Rate Platform programme in 2023; and Review the E-Levy Act and more specifically, reduce the headline rate from 1.5% to one percent (1%) of the transaction value as well as the removal of the daily threshold,” he said.
The implementation of the e-levy commenced in May 2022. Since its presence, government has been unable to rake in the expected revenue due to opposition from some members of the public.
To remedy this challenge, experts called on the government to reduce the rate.
The presentation of the budget is in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
The “Nkabom budget” has been delivered in a year that has experienced what can be called the worst economic downturns in the fourth republic.
Article 179 of the Constitution of 1992 and Section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act of 2016 both apply to the presentation (Act 921).
Of what has been perhaps one of the greatest economic downturns in the fourth republic, the minister is delivering the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to parliament.
Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to him, the development has resulted in credit downgrades, rising cost of living and inabillity to access international capital markets for borrowing, among others.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, is in parliament to fulfil his constitutional mandate by presenting the government budget to the House.
The presentation is in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Despite a petition filed against him by undercover investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Justice Emile Francis Short, a former Commissioner at the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative (CHRAJ), has clarified that the Finance Minister won’t be requested to resign by the commission.
According to him, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the only person who can make such decisions.
On November 22, Short explained to Accra-based TV3 how the investigation into conflicts of interest works.
“I don’t know exactly what the issue is, but basically, when CHRAJ receives a complaint it will send it to the person against whom the complaint is made and that person has to respond within a specified period, normally ten days. The response will be sent back to the complainant, in this case, Anas, for his response.
“CHRAJ will not ask the Finance Minister to stay out of office, that is the matter for the President to determine.”
Joseph Whittal, CHRAJ Commissioner said the Commission received an official complaint from the undercover journalist and is assessing the materials presented to it.
“The allegations are that there is a conflict of interest in terms of their official duties as public officers and the companies in which they have interest in terms of government bonds and so the case is going through the standard process of assessment in order to make sure that it meets the procedural requirement under the Commission’s regulation as well as whether it is really within the mandate of the Commission. Based on that, we will then decide what next steps to take,” Whittal told Accra-based Joy News.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has also commenced investigations into the same corruption allegations levelled against Charles Adu Boahen in the exposé after President Akufo-Addo’s referral of the matter to the Office.
Charles Adu Boahen was dismissed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo after allegations that he received some monies to facilitate a meeting between undercover investigators disguised as investors and Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Per a Tiger Eye PI documentary dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy’, Adu Boahen said Bawumia could be paid $200,000 as an appearance fee for investors. This is in addition to positions offered to the Vice President’s siblings – a claim the dismissed Minister of State has denied.
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta when he appeared before the ad-hoc committee hearing a vote of censure against him denied being embroiled in a conflict of interest as stated in the allegations by the Minority that his company, Databank Limited have been benefitting from transactions on government bond issuance.
Ofori-Atta said the proponents’ allegations do not have “weight for censure”.
Black Star Brokerage, owned by Charles Adu Boahen, has also been named as one of the firms playing the role of financial advisors to government transactions on the international bond market.
In his appeal, Anas urged the Commission to examine into claims that Ghana’s loans and bonds were used to benefit the private firms of both the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the previous Minister of State for the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
In a radio appearance, CHRAJ Commissioner Joseph Whittal stated that the Commission has received a formal complaint from the undercover journalist and is currently reviewing the information provided.
“The allegations are that there is a conflict of interest in terms of their official duties as public officers and the companies in which they have interest in terms of government bonds and so the case is going through the standard process of assessment in order to make sure that it meets procedural requirement under the Commission’s regulation as well as whether it is really within the mandate of the Commission. Based on that, we will then decide what next steps to take,” Whittal told Accra-based Joy News.
Charles Adu Boahen was dismissed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo after allegations that he demanded some monies to facilitate a meeting between undercover investigators disguised as investors and Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Per Tiger Eye PI documentary dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy’, Adu Boahen said Bawumia could be paid $200,000 as an appearance fee for investors. This is in addition to positions offered to the Vice President’s siblings – a claim the dismissed Minister of State has denied.
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta when he appeared before the ad-hoc committee hearing a vote of censure against him denied being embroiled in a conflict of interest given the allegations by the Minority that his company, Databank Limited have been benefitting from transactions on government bond issuance.
Ofori-Atta said the proponents’ allegations do not have “weight for censure”.
Black Star Brokerage, owned by Charles Adu Boahen, has also been named as one of the firms playing the role of financial advisors to government transactions on the international market.
On Sunday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo asked Ghanaians to have faith in the administration to turn around the country’s faltering economy and return it to the road of steady growth.
He said that his administration was moving quickly to reduce economic hardships and turn the economy around to provide relief to Ghanaians.
At the Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s Akyem Abuakwa presbytery’s Centenary Thanksgiving Service and Centenary Complex Dedication in Kyebi, in the Easter region, the President made the appeal.
He noted that although it was a grim time for the nation, the Government was turning every stone to ensure the economy grows and becomes more productive.
President Akufo-Addo was optimistic that the decisions taken by his government would soon translate into positive outcomes for the country and Ghanaians.
“I know times are hard. But whatever we need to do to bring the nation out of the state it is in is being done. We are confident that we will soon come out of it.
“Just keep faith with us and pray with us. All will be well,” he said.
Former Director of Operations of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Joseph Bediako, has berated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the arrest of Salamatu Mohammed, a mother of four, for wishing the president dead.
Speaking in a CTV interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Biadiako said that the arrest of Salamatu Mohammed just because of her comments is a characteristic of dictatorships.
He added that Ghana is a democracy, and if the president wants to be a dictator, he should be one in his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“I read on GhanaWeb that a woman has been arrested. For which reason? So, now Akufo-Addo wants to be a dictator. If he wants to be a dictator, he should be one in the NPP… why was the woman arrested for insulting the president.
“He should be a dictator in his party, where he speaks and no one has an opinion. In this same Ghana, didn’t we see people insulting the late president, Atta Mills?
“Don’t members of the NPP say worse than the comments the woman made? NPP members should blow their heads in shame because when it comes to politics of insults no one tops them,” he said in Twi.
GhanaWeb reported on Wednesday, November 16, that Salamatu Mohammed had been arrested for wishing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo dead in a viral video.
In the said viral video, which was sighted by GhanaWeb, the woman, who was berating the president for the current economic conditions in the country, questioned why witches and ritualists from the northern parts of Ghana have not killed the president yet.
“Akufo-Addo we are begging you in the name of God, we cannot even afford pots to cook our food. Do you want us to use your head to cook?
“Now the price of an aluminium cooking pot has increased from 6 million (GH¢ 600) to 12 million (GH¢1200). Why?
“God will punish you. The witches in Ghana and the ritualist from the north can’t you kill this man… I have four children; do you know the feeding fees I pay? Do you know the feeding fee, I am going to pay today… Idiot,” she said in Twi.
The lawyer of Salamatu Mohammed, Gideon Koku Abotsi, said in an interview with GhanaWeb that his client was released by the police without being charged with any crime.
He confirmed that the police arrested Salamatu Mohammed because of the viral video and that they (the police) said they would be investigating the matter further.
The censure motion brought by the Parliamentary Minority against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, according to James Kwabena Bomfeh, managing editor of the National Forum newspaper, is a ruse to bring down President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his administration.
Cassiel Ato Forson, a former deputy finance minister and current representative for the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam constituency, and Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu were offered as witnesses by the minority to present the case for Mr. Ken Ofori-dismissal. Atta’s
They raised issues bordering on corruption and conflict of interest to support their arguments.
Speaking at the committee sitting, Gabby Otchere-Darko, a private legal practitioner and a leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) said such a probe is the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
“Our issue is that, if you go to Article 284 of the Constitution, it says that, a public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the function of his office.”
“If you combine that with Article 287 which says an allegation which contravenes or not complied with this chapter shall be made to CHRAJ. The relevant part is that, when a public officer is to face a charge or allegation or any ground of conflict of interest, it is CHRAJ that the constitution says must deal with it,” he added.
But Haruna Iddrisu, in defence, stated that, “this Committee is not only to hear [the allegations], it also has the power to do a further inquiry into all government borrowing; who got what, when and how? All the domestic bonds we have done, for instance, the Euro Bond, who got what? We must be interested in whether our inquiry, engendered a conflict of interest or not”.
To James Kwabena Bomfeh, also called ‘Kabila’, the Minority’s aim for the censure motion is not to evict the Finance Minister but rather to embarass the President and have cause to impeach him.
Making his submissions on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, he said; “When I saw the evidence that the Minority had gathered for the censure, I realized the Minister is not their target. The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is their target . . . Any problem you have with any budget is an attack on the President and his cabinet. When you read what they sent, they said he has presented a budget that’s failed to solve the economic problems and challenges. That is the point; so at the hub of this censure is the Minority targeting to bring President Akufo-Addo and his entire Cabinet down.”
He rebuked the Minority saying, “our consistent conduct of duplicity in politics in Ghana will collapse this country. It will kill and destroy this nation and crumble on all of us. If it’s the President you want to impeach, go ahead and do so”.
Kabila warned against the conduct of the Minority, explaining that any accusations that have to do with conflict of interest, embezzlement, corruption and the likes against a Minister is to be referred to CHRAJ or the court, hence they using the ad-hoc Committee to deal with such issues is somehow a constitutional breach.
“It is to cause an embarrassment to the government and the President and his Ministers,” he further scolded about the Minority’s censure motion.
Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta is undoubtedly Ghana’s most talked about politician. The demand for his dismissal increases by the day amid an economic crunch he is accused of presiding over.
Ofori-Atta was nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and was subsequently passed by Parliament after a vetting process. This was his only legal route to the position of Minister.
The way out of that office rests on himself (via resignation), on the president (dismissal) and on Parliament (via a vote of censure).
The first two processes would seem easier but they don’t seem like the easiest way out. Ofori-Atta has refused to resign and the president insists he has done and continues to do a good job of managing the economy hence repelling calls for his dismissal.
Parliament, however, is officially and unofficially piling on the pressure to have Ofori-Atta removed. Per GhanaWeb’s count, over 230 MPs (the entire Minority bloc and an anti-Ofori-Atta bloc in the Majority Group) are currently asking that the Minister be removed from office.
It so happens that the route they are using is different but the end goal is for the embattled minister to exit the Ministry of Finance.
All 137 Members of Parliament from the Minority Caucus signed a vote of censure motion seeking his removal. That motion has birthed an 8-member ad hoc committee that is sitting on the matter.
137 from the Minority Caucus plus the 98 NPP MPs brings the number of lawmakers seeking Ofori-Atta’s exit to 235 out of a House of 275 members.
Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North in the Ashanti Region and leader of the ‘Ken Must Go’ MPs in an interview on November 15, 2022, on the PM Express programme on JoyNews, Appiah-Kubi stated:
“Our position has not changed and we still believe Ken Ofori-Atta must go. We will not do the President’s business through Ken Ofori-Atta. Any other person that comes, we will deal with them.”
The embattled Minister is currently the subject of a vote of censure and is appearing before an ad hoc committee of Parliament to have his say on seven grounds brought against him by the minority Caucus.
“The process through the vote of censure will come back to the President with a prayer that he relieves him of his duties. The onus is on the President to sack him or for the Minister to resign. There is nothing personal in our call for his sack. We are not afraid to be victimized,” he added.
Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a founding member of the New Patriotic Party, has wondered why President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is hesitant to dismiss Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, despite calls from NPP lawmakers.
According to him, this can be interpreted to mean that, the finance minister is sitting on some rot the president trusts that he is the only who can fully protect.
He noted that a new minister might expose what the president and the finance minister are hiding from Ghanaians.
Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM, the former soldier added his voice to the numerous calls for the dismissal of the minister.
He said, after the minister had bragged that Ghana is a sovereign nation and it is capable of managing its own affairs and does not need any external help, he would have resigned the very day Ghana decided to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“So you ask yourself, why is he still there? When a person is in position and the populace says ‘we’ve had enough of you, go away’ and still he wants to be there, the simple thing that should come to the mind of any ordinary Ghanaian is that he is sitting on the rot. When he’s not there, we’ll see how massive that rot is,” Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe explained.
When asked who Ofori-Atta is covering up for, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said, “Who is the appointing authority of this country? And has the President approved of his removal?
“The President should have asked him to go away. Here we have a situation where even an ordinary person in the streets says, ‘Ofori Atta must leave’.”
Relative calm has returned to Kenyasi No. 2 in the Ahafo Region following Tuesday’s disturbances in which the police allegedly shot at some irate youth in the town, resulting in the death of one person and four others injured.
One of the injured persons was still receiving treatment at Donhart Hospital in Kenyasi after the other three were treated and discharged, while the dead had been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary, hospital sources had confirmed.
Several vehicles and property belonging to a multi-national mining company, Newmont Ahafo Mines were damaged in the melee.
The incident, which started as a peaceful protest by youth in the twin town against the company, degenerated into a full-blown confrontation between the youth and the police, leading to the fatality and injuries, burning of lorry tyres, and destruction of property.
The initial cause of the protest could not be authenticated by the Ghanaian Times.
However, snippets gathered in the community indicated that Newmont had been allegedly preventing some of the youth from continuously engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) on the company’s concession in the area and this might have infuriated them.
When the paper visited Kenyasi yesterday morning, the street was empty with only a few shops open, while there was a heavy military-cum-police presence.
The leader of the youth group, Abdul Karim Yeboah, who spoke to the Ghanaian Times, accused Newmont of using the police to molest them whenever they were arrested on their concession.
He said they would stop at nothing if justice was not served to their departed colleague who had been killed by the police.
The youth leader called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to cause an investigation into the matter to bring about lasting peace to the area.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by Newmont Ahafo Mines and signed by Mr. David Ebo Johnson, Director, Communications and External Relations, and copied to the Ghanaian Times confirmed the incident but could not confirm what brought about the disturbances.
The statement indicated that relevant regulatory authorities had been notified of the incident and that the company was cooperating with police investigations.
“The company is also working closely with security personnel who have been deployed to the scene to keep the situation under control,” the statement stated.
The police said they had opened investigations and anybody found culpable would be taken through the due process of the law.
It has now been established that the ‘Galamsey Economy’ documentary by Anas Aremeyaw Anas had footage from 2018 forming the juiciest part, an alleged bust of a Minister of State soliciting bribes for others and and receiving same for himself.
In opening up on the extent of his involvement in the episode that has since gotten him fired by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, embattled Charles Adu Boahen, said his encounter with investigators clothed a business men was on 8 February 2018.
Whereas he accepted a gift of undisclosed amount of dollars, a pro-government radio station, Asaase Radio, is reporting that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta turned out to be the major target of the Tiger Eye PI agents.
Read relevant portions of the Asaase Radio report of November 14 below:
They were to have their chance, they thought, when after several attempts Mr. Ofori-Atta agreed to meet them at the airport in Dubai on transit to Tokyo, Japan.
In the company of his then Personal Assistant (PA), Michael Bediako, Mr. Ofori-Atta met the supposed investors (investigators) at the Dubai terminal hotel (Dubai International Airport) on 5 April 2018 at around 6:30am.
The meeting, per our checks, lasted some five minutes. Ken Ofori-Atta left very irritated when he was offered a “gift”, which he refused to accept, and walked out with his PA who was also offered a gift that was rejected as well.
Background
Charles Adu Boahen, then a deputy Minister of Finance was implicated in the ‘Galamsey Economy’ investigative documentary released by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas on November 14.
The now dismissed minister was captured on tape making comments to the effect that access by investors to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia could be facilitated at a cost of US$200,000.
Bawumia has dispelled the allegations and insisted that his integrity remains his most cherished asset in life.
“My most cherished asset in life is my integrity and I will not allow anyone to use my name to engage in corrupt activities,” Bawumia said in a post calling for the minister’s dismissal.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has since terminated Adu Boahen’s appointment and referred the contents of the investigation to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, has been accused of accepting sizable sums of money from a business tycoon in the United Arab Emirates to assist him in establishing a business in Ghana, according to a report published by Tiger Eye PI ahead of its Galamsey Economy exposé, which will air on November 14 and 15.
Charles Adu Boahen reportedly received large sums of money to help a businessman start a company in Ghana. This is according to Tiger Eye PI.
“We’re going to shop a lot,”
Charles Adu Boahen, a minister of state in the ministry of finance, remarked as he placed the main trading currency in a dark plastic bag.
The Tiger Eye PI team also noted that Mr Adu Boahen promised to rope in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia into this business deal for there to be a smooth running of operations, as well as, make the tycoons influential persons in the country.
“Adu Boahen, after having bundles of US dollars spread on a table in front of him and told to use it for shopping by the supposed business tycoon, promised to introduce the tycoon to the powers that be; the President, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the Vice President, in Ghana. This, according to Adu Boahen, will make them, the supposed entity and tycoon, influential when they are in the country to establish their businesses,” part of Tiger Eye PI’s release read.
“After all is said and done, the excited Minister of State in charge of Finance at the Office of the President, at the sight of bundles of US Dollars on the table for his shopping started spewing a lot of ‘thank you and we will do a lot of shopping’ in appreciation,” he added.
The premiere of the Galamsey Economy exposé will take place at the Accra International Conference Centre on Monday and Tuesday, November 14 and 15, 2022.
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sacked Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.
Ghanaian insurance brokers have urged the government to include measures protecting people’s investments in the insurance business in the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
The request comes as Ghana gets ready to launch a domestic economic plan under an IMF loan support program to boost macroeconomic confidence and decrease the suffering Ghanaians are now experiencing.
Mr Shaibu Ali, the President of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ghana (IBAG), who underscored the contribution of the insurance sector to economic growth and the support it gave to people in times of disasters, asked the Government to make sure that any restructuring did not affect the sector.
He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at a media soirée, which was to deepen the relationship between IBAG and the media fraternity and formed part of activities for this year’s Broker Awareness Month.
Mr Ali said: “We appreciate that there’s a problem and that problem must be fixed heads on, but our investments must be protected by the Government.”
He noted IBAG had started educating students in various Senior High Schools across the country to clarify the myth about insurance and said: “We need to demystify insurance, and we believe we can do this by getting closer to the younger ones still in school”.
“Because we cannot pay for the cost of borrowing, if there is any restructuring, the insurance sector should be isolated, otherwise it’s going to be a disaster for the nation,” Mr Yeboah said.
He added that: “When it comes to the insurance, it is very delicate and the day that people lose hope in the insurance company we are dead, and because we’re already having problems with trust in the public, insurance is our last hope when everything is gone.”
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured that talks with the IMF would not lead to any investor losing money through a reduction in the face value of government bonds (haircut).
Charles Adu Boahen has been accused of corruption, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, to look into the claims.
This comes after the president fired the minister of state for finance after the renowned journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ undercover investigative documentary accused him.
On Monday, November 14, 2022, the Accra International Conference Center (AICC) will host the broadcast of the investigative piece dubbed “Galamsey Economy,” but the Tiger Eye PI team has already provided a preview of what viewers might anticipate.
Included in that release, the investigative team said it met with the Minister of State in charge of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he stated that for the Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to avail himself to them, they would have to pay $200,000 as an appearance fee.
“You mean, like appearance fees and stuff? I mean he, himself (the Vice President), if you give him some (USD) 200,000 or something as a token, as thank you, appreciation, that’s fine. He’s not really, he’s not really (like) that. All he needs is to worry about his campaign money in 2020,” Charles Adu Boahen said when he was asked how an investor can get the attention of the Vice President.
He added that an investor must also consider opportunities for the siblings of the vice president for his full support, apart from the USD200,000 appearance fee token to him.
But following these revelations, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a statement dated Monday, November 14, 2022, sacked the minister.
“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has terminated the appointment of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Charles Adu Boahen, with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Also, the president directed that the Special Prosecutor should take up the case and investigate the minister accordingly.
“After being made aware of the allegations levelled against the Minister in the exposé, ‘Galamsey Economy’, the President spoke to Mr. Adu Boahen, after which he took the decision to terminate his appointment, and also to refer the matter to the Special Prosecutor for further investigations,” the statement added.
According to Prof. Gyimah Boadi, co-founder of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his administration have not dealt with corruption as they need to.
He claims that despite the creation of avenues for solving the issue, the administration has performed poorly.
“I consider each of these to be circumstances in which we may continue and intensify the battle against corruption.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi was quoted on Asaase Radio as saying, “I am, however, unhappy, especially with the current administration for its handling of allegations of corruption against its own members.
Prof Gyimah-Boadi says government has not been proactive in fighting corruption
Kufuor held his appointees accountable – Gyimah-Boadi
Co-founder of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Prof Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, has expressed his disappointment with the commitment of the Nana Addo Dankwa Afufo-Addo-led government to the fight against corruption.
He said that, even though conditions necessary to fight corruption in the country had been created, the government has not properly handled corruption-related issues, particularly those that some government officials have been fingered in, asaaseradio.com reports.
He indicated that the conditions, which include an independent media, the establishment of agencies to fight corruption like the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the passage of the Right to Information Bill, are important to ensuring accountability and transparency, but their impact is not being rightly felt.
“I see all of these as conditions where we can sustain and deepen the fight against corruption. I am, however, disappointed, especially in the current administration for its handling of allegations of corruption against its own members,” Prof Gyimah-Boadi is quoted to have said on Asaase Radio.
He further stated that the government was not proactive in the fight against corruption and was only interested in holding only members of the previous government accountable.
“We have continued with the practice of being more proactive when it comes to accountability for members of the former administration and curdling, protecting and sometimes even rewarding those that are in government today that against whom allegations of corruption have been made. I would like to see in the Akufo-Addo government an example of a Mallam Issah in the Kufuor administration. I would like to see an example of Abuga Pele… I’m yet to see that in the current government, and that disappoints me,” he said.
The General Secretary of the United Front Party (UFP), Listowel Nana Kusi Poku, has praised the major opposition political party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for the successful regional elections it held across the country on Saturday, November 12, 2022.
Speaking in an XYZ TV interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Listowel Kusi-Poku said that the smoothness of the election shows that the NDC is ready for the December 7, 2022 polls and it (the NDC) will win the elections.
He, therefore, urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party government to start preparing their handover notes.
“The success of the elections the NDC held shows that Akufo-Addo and the NPP must start preparing to leave office if they have not started already. He (Akufo-Addo) should also reimburse all the monies he has stolen because we are going to chase him for it.
“So, he should start packing his things out of the Jubilee House,” he said in Twi.
At least 712 candidates contested for various regional executive positions in the NDC in all 16 regions of Ghana except the Bono East, Ahafo, and the Eastern Regions, where the elections were partially suspended.
The positions contested include those of chairman and vice chairman, secretary and deputy secretary, organizer and deputy organizer, treasurer and deputy treasurer.
The remaining positions are Communications Officer and Deputy, Women’s Organiser and Deputy, the Zongo Caucus Coordinator, Youth Organiser and Deputy Youth Organiser.
In the Greater Accra Region, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore beat incumbent regional chairman Ade Coker to become the new chairman of the party.
The party is set to hold its national executive election on Saturday, December 17, 2022.
