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Africas youth can revolutionize our approach to climate challenges Samira Bawumia

Speaking at the AFRIWOCC Pre-COP Youth Climate Dialogue and Innovation Exhibition on Tuesday, November 21 on the theme, “Youth in Climate Action”.Mrs Bawumia said, “The youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow but the architects of today's transformative actions.” Addressing the gathering at the West Africa Center for Crop Improvement (Wacci) at the University of Ghana, the Second Lady said she was “thrilled to see so many young leaders gathered here today to discuss climate change, sustainable development, and gender-related issues affecting women and children in the African context as well as showcase innovative climate solutions developed by young Africans.” The Afriwocc conference The Afriwocc conference Pulse Ghana AFRIWOCC is convened as a platform to discuss the issues affecting women, youth, and children in Africa and to coordinate a network of organizations focused on women, and children in Africa. In August this year, AFRIWOCC organised its maiden conference which brought to the fore the urgency of amplifying the voices of women and children in the face of the climate crisis. This groundbreaking initiative, borne out of a collective commitment to address the pressing issues faced by women and children, serves as a testament to the power of global collaboration and the unwavering dedication to a sustainable future. She said they’re committed to building upon that momentum by focusing on the critical role of the youth in climate action while recognizing the unique energy, creativity, and determination young people bring to the global climate movement. She noted that the world is at a critical juncture, facing environmental challenges that demand innovative ideas and solutions. The recent climate-related disasters across the globe are stark reminders of the urgency of our actions. Afriwocc conference Afriwocc conference Pulse Ghana The youth, as change-makers and advocates, have a unique role to play in changing the discourse and shaping policies and actions that will redefine the trajectory of our planet” she added. The AFRIWOCC conference underscored the importance of moving beyond rhetoric and translating commitments into tangible actions. She, therefore, said this Pre-COP Youth Climate Dialogue and Innovation Exhibition presents an opportunity to harness the creativity, passion, and determination of the youth in addressing climate change. “Our discussions will focus on practical steps, innovative solutions, and collaborative efforts to ensure that the youth are not just part of the conversation but are actively shaping the future. While acknowledging that the African continent was blessed with a vibrant youth and rich cultural diversity, she also mentioned that it is one of the region’s most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. “Our youth have a unique perspective and an unparalleled ability to embrace change. It is time to leverage this power for the benefit of our planet. From sustainable energy solutions to eco-friendly innovations, Africa’s youth have the potential to revolutionize the way we approach climate challenges. I look forward to the inspirational conversations and engagements we are going to have today". She reiterated that the goal of the event was to provide a platform for African youth to voice their perspectives, and concerns, share innovative ideas, and collaboratively address climate change, sustainable development, and gender-related issues affecting women and children in Africa. “We need to elevate the voices of the African youth, advocate for the financial backing that youth-led climate initiatives deserve, and support the youth leaders amongst us who inspire and ensure that our solutions and stories drive our climate agenda. She challenged the young participants not “to view this event as a mere conference but as a commitment to lead the charge in climate action. You are not here to merely discuss; you are here to be the visionaries, the solution architects, and the ambassadors of change. We look forward to shaping outcomes from this forum at COP 28 in Dubai.” The Chair and Convener of the Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC), commended the sponsors of the event comprising the National Petroleum Authority, Energy Commission, and Fidelity Bank Ghana, and said their commitment to empowering the youth in climate action is pivotal, and will inspire meaningful change. “Following our deliberations today, we must carry on the passion, determination, and hope that have filled these halls. Together, we can reshape the destiny of Africa, by protecting our planet, and building the Africa we all dream of. Together we can ensure climate justice for Africa; with women and girls leading the way” the Second Lady concluded. Second lady Samira Bawumia Samira Bawumia Pulse Ghana

Pulse Mix

RADP / Pulse Ghana

November 22, 2023 6:36 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/africas-youth-can-revolutionize-our-approach-to-climate-challenges-samira-bawumia/1wqrb22

Meet the top 10 finalists! Miss Malaika Ghana 2023

And after a series of audition processes, 20 ladies were selected to begin this life changing journey. Weeks have gone by, weeks of intense training, laughter, tears, highs, lows and of course, evictions which have dropped the numbers down from 20 to the big 10 finalists.And now we are ready for a showdown, the prestigious Miss Malaika Ghana 2023 Grand Finale, and it's happening on Friday, the 24th of November at the Grand Arena (AICC), 8pm prompt. Meet the Final 10 Delegates. Pristine Adzo Agbozo is a 23-year-old graduate of KNUST(voting code 43). Glover is a 24-year-old graduate of the Koforidua Technical University (code 19). Comfort Amoah, AKA Reina, is a 23-year-old graduate of Action Progressive Institute (code 31). Fareeda Habib is a 23-year-old graduate of KNUST (code 33). Fortune Akua Agyeman is a 23-year-oldgraduate of KNUST (21). Christiana Bervelyn Anim is a 22-year-old graduate of UPSA (code 14). Lady Nana Yaa Nyarko is a 22-year-old graduate of KNUST (code 2). Kimberly Akornortey is a 23-year-old student of University of Ghana (code 6). Charlotte Mawusi Gokah is a 25-year-old graduate of Adonten (code 1). Enyam Dzandu is a 21-year-old student ofUniversity of Ghana (45). Get ready to witness a night where fashion meets glitz and glamor, as the beautiful and smart finalists take the stage in an ultimate spectacle of elegance. This is the crowning moment of the bloom season queen. Who gets the enviable right as the next Queen? Who wins the Crown, the Car, and the Cash. Tickets for this extraordinary evening are selling for GHc100at Charterhouse or dial *713*33*24# and follow the prompts. For more information, call 0501288520. Performing Live are artistes of the new school; Mr Drew, Sefa, Olive the Boy, Loli X Lola, Maya Blu and Banzy Banero. Get more on-the-go information on Miss Malaika Ghana socials; Instagram & Twitter: @missmalaikagh and Facebook: Miss Malaika Ghana. Watch each episode on CharterhouseLive on YouTube. Miss Malaika Ghana is a Charterhouse production and isproudly brought to you by GTP, Shandy Bosoe and Pepsodent. With support from Vaseline, Atlas Rent-A-Car, Geisha, BVS Butchery, Ecogel, Locus Estates, Special Ice, Tasty Tom, Best Wester n Plus Beach Hotel, Tigon Creative Studios and Media partners.

Pulse Mix

Lifestyle

November 22, 2023 6:01 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/lifestyle/events/meet-the-top-10-finalists-miss-malaika-ghana-2023/5v0x6n9

I was too spiritual but I have seen the light now and I slay for Christ- Diana Asamoah

She attributed the change to being influenced by a fellow man of God who, in her opinion, had a misguided understanding of the Bible.In a recent interview with Berla Mundi, Diana Asamoah explained that her choice of fashionable clothes, expensive wigs, and stylish shoes is intentional. She aims to present God and the gospel in a way that challenges the misconception that they are uninteresting. Diana Asamoah Pulse Ghana The gospel singer acknowledged that her previous stance on certain clothing choices, such as trousers, was influenced by a limited understanding, and she is now working to correct the perceptions she may have inadvertently created. Asamoah emphasized that her transformation reflects spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a Christian. She now recognizes that being godly is more about one's actions than outward appearances. Diana Asamoah Pulse Ghana "It is about growth in Christ Jesus. We condemned makeup and other things we thought were worldly, but now we have seen the light and realized that being godly is more about your deeds and not about your looks. I’m correcting the wrong impressions and perceptions about being a Christian I planted into people with my current fashion sense," she explained. Diana further revealed that a lot of Christian women are losing their husbands because they have refused to improve on the fashion sense. She explained that these women dress stylishly when they are in search of a husband, but as soon as God answers their prayers, they start to dress anyhow.

Dorcas Agambila

Entertainment

November 22, 2023 4:46 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/entertainment/celebrities/rebranded-diana-asamoah-says-she-was-too-spiritual-then-but-now-slays-for-christ/t9s8thk

Godwin Adukpo: The errand boy who became a marathon icon

In 2005, the Accra Milo Marathon would see one of its keenest climaxes ever. The final laps were all kinds of competitive and paradoxical: veteran versus rookie, legend against prodigy, master contra apprentice… Then-three-time winner David Zigah head-to-head with 18-year-old Godwin Adukpo.The marathon would go down to the wire and a fairytale triumph would be birthed when the rookie beat the master to the finish line. But more than just an underdog story, it would also signal a paradigm shift on the local scene; the transfer of the torch from one torchbearer to another. Adukpo had adored and idolised Zigah for many years. As a boy growing up in the village in the Volta Region, he wanted to be the next Zigah. So to be in the same race with his idol was a dream come true. “When the marathon started, I was only looking for Zigah,” Adupko recalls in an exclusive interview with Pulse.com.gh. Thousands usually compete for the Accra Milo Marathon Pulse Ghana And so having trailed Zigah for large spells, the youngster couldn’t believe his luck when he finally spotted his mentor with 15 kilometres left. “When I finally saw him, I started following him. Wherever he went, I tagged along,” recounts Adukpo. “I followed him till Korle-Bu, where a random guy on a bicycle whispered to me that Zigah was tired and that that was my chance to overtake him. “I watched Zigah’s face but nothing showed he was tired. I didn’t believe he was tiring. In my mind, he was invincible. But as we raced shoulder by shoulder, everybody we encountered on the way was signalling to me that Zigah was tired. I decided to heed them and make my move. “I dashed forward in anticipation that he’d match my pace. But he didn’t. So I increased the pace. He still wasn’t closing in, so I left him behind and sped off. For the first time I felt I had it in my hands. And I went on to win the race.” Adukpo became the youngest winner in the senior category of the Accra Milo Marathon, completing the 42.2km race with a time of 2:29.29. Zigah would ultimately finish third after being overtaken by Victor Ashiagbor, with just a minute separating the two. --- Adukpo, now 36 and retired, was born in Dzita, a fishing community in the Volta Region of Ghana, where children tend to fish rather than go to school. Adukpo himself didn’t have the luxury of attending elementary school after losing his parents at a very young age. This left him, and his twin sister, fending for themselves as they lived with their grandmother, who equally had many mouths to feed since she was taking care of other children. As a way of making some extra money, Adukpo divided his time between trawling on the sea and running errands for elders in the community. Godwin Adukpo when he won the Accra Milo Marathon Pulse Ghana The reward for those errands? On good days, he would receive money and other gifts from his benefactors. On not-so-good days, however, leftovers were all he could lay hands on. “Growing up was tough because we lost our parents at a young age,” said Adukpo. “When people send me to buy something for them, I run as fast as I can. The trick was that whenever I returned early, the person was likely to ask me to keep the change. “Or if it was food, they’d eat and leave some for me to eat. So I tried to impress whenever anyone sent me on an errand by going fast and returning early. That's how we were surviving.” Despite the lush sceneries in Dzita, the town is often in the news for being ravaged by tidal waves, which leaves many residents displaced and properties destroyed yearly. For kids, this sort of repeated turbulence denies them any form of stability in their growth. As if having to contend with all that, as well as missing the presence and tenderness of his parents, wasn’t difficult enough, Adukpo would also be separated from his twin sister, who needed to leave the village to preserve her own future. “My twin sister had to be sent to Akosombo [in Eastern Ghana] because over here [in Dzita], when you grow up to a certain level and you are not going to school, they force you to do certain jobs.” Running errands became a coping mechanism for young Adukpo and, in doing that, he would develop a passion for sprinting. For free spirits, though, passion can be a euphemism for boundless energy and Adukpo began feeling the power that comes with focusing on what excites him. The more he ran, the more he got better at it and built up his stamina, albeit in oblivion. “I was more of an errand boy, and they [used to] send us a lot at the beach,” says Adukpo, a memory that makes him grin. --- Even with no proper training, running around made Adukpo peppy and vibrant. He was confident too, and his self-belief would lead him to challenge some students of Dzita LA Basic School who were having an outdoor PE lesson to a race during one of his random errands. An audacious Adukpo approached the PE teacher and told him he could do better than his students. “He was initially reluctant because I wasn’t a student of the school, but I was daring and I told him if he gave me a chance, I’d disgrace the other students in a running contest,” he said. Luckily for Adukpo, his bluff caught the attention of the PE teacher, who invited him to join the next session, where he competed in the 100m, 200m, 800m and 1500m and excelled in all the races. “When I went, I was instructed to run the 100m race, but I wanted to do the long distance,” Adukpo said. “At my first attempt, I came second in the 100m, then I was asked to do 200m. Then they allowed me to join the 800m race – the pitch was quite small so we went round the park four times – and I finished first. I competed in the 1500m next and I won that one too. That was how I proved myself.” That was how Adukpo officially got introduced to athletics and, in the years that followed, he would carve a career that saw him become one of the best marathoners from Ghana. Godwin Adukpo in the Accra Milo Marathon Pulse Ghana For over a decade, he dominated the local scene, going on to win the Accra Milo Marathon four times – just one shy of his mentor Zigah, who holds the record as the competition's greatest athlete with five winners’ medals – but it all started with bluffing his way into a race. It is, however, one thing to run errands at a fast pace and entirely another to compete in races. Adukpo’s success story on the PE grounds, however, piqued his interest and he started nursing the idea of becoming a professional athlete. With every race he won, his name began spreading like wildfire in the community. He had identified his niche as a long-distance runner and he was excelling there. Such was Adukpo’s level of competitiveness that the teachers begged his grandmother to allow him to spend more time with the school’s athletics team, rather than on the fishing boats. She would reluctantly agree to their plea and Adukpo quickly went from merely training with students of the school to representing the school in competitions despite officially not being a registered student. He was winning too. “I represented them in several inter-school competitions, winning the 800m and 1500m contests,” he recalls. “I proceeded to inter-area competitions and won there too. Then I represented them in inter-zonals and even at the district level. “When I returned, they asked me to officially join the school. So I started schooling, but I had to divide my time between class and fishing, since I needed to make some money for my survival.” --- Long before Adukpo’s keen rivalry with Zigah was birthed at the national level, his first taste of a marathon adversary came while he was still fledgling in the village of Dzita. At the time, his longest distance was 1500m but he had outgrown his competitors, having won the inter-regional competition in Kumasi while setting a new record in the process. Even though he was just 15, his talent excited many in his community and it wasn’t long before he was encouraged to take on his older colleagues in the 5000m and cross country. A young Godwin Adukpo Pulse Ghana But there was already a champion in the aforementioned categories and his name was Joseph Yandall. Yandall was already a household name in the Volta Region, where Adukpo hails from, and was clearly the better athlete at the time. He had also won the U-15 category of the Milo Marathon in 2002 and was the region’s brightest prospect due to his impeccable record in competitions. The rivalry was on, and not many were backing Adukpo to handle the step-up well, let alone usurp the region’s marathon champion. But that is exactly what he would do. “When I started running the 5000m and cross country, I usually finished second to Joseph Yandall until 2004 when I was finally able to overtake him and I also dominated from there,” effuses Adukpo, who can’t hide his pride as he speaks. One regret Adukpo has from his amateur years was that, unlike Yandall, he never got the opportunity to compete in the U-15 category of the Milo Marathon. Despite being an adolescent boy, the years of working at sea had taken its toll. He looked older than his actual age, which always led to his disqualification from the junior marathon, which was reserved for adolescent kids and early teenagers. “Some of us, they would just look at our faces and say you are old, so they disqualify us. They say under 15, but they don't ask us of our age,” Adukpo recounts. “They were doing that to me continuously, so in 2003 when they disqualified me, I said I wasn’t going to accept it. So I joined the senior Milo Marathon. In my first attempt, I finished 30th. And I realised the distance was longer than in the junior contest. In the junior contest, we trained for just 15 km, but the senior contest was almost 42km. “I stopped on the way several times before I got to the finishing point but, even by finishing 30th, I was given a lot of products from the sponsors so that motivated me. After that, I started training hard towards the next year’s race.” Those disqualifications from the junior marathon annoyed Adukpo and, although he made the decision to start competing in the senior category, he wasn’t quite ready yet. Finishing 30th, though, was a sign that he could do it if only he trained harder. So that was exactly what Adukpo did. Buoyed by an innate will and determination to win the Accra Milo Marathon, he moved to Akatsi to train day and night on the mountains. “Sometimes, I ran from my village to Akatsi and back,” he said. “Other times, I can run from my village to Aflao and come back. These distances weren’t easy but I was doing that just to build myself towards the following year’s marathon. So the following year, in 2004, I finished eighth.” Godwin Adukpo won the Accra Milo Marathon four times Pulse Ghana Adukpo continued to train hard and his hard work would eventually pay off when he beat Zigah to win the Accra Milo Marathon for the first time in 2005. That year’s race was the archetypal David vs. Goliath contest. Here was Zigah, then winner of the marathon three consecutive times in 2001, 2002 and 2003, against Adukpo, whose highest finish in the national competition was then eighth. In fact, when the duo first met two years prior, Adukpo was left star-struck after sighting his mentor. “I was hearing of David Zigah, but 2003 was when I really saw him,” he narrates. “I was actually tailing him during the race but at a point he left us and went ahead to finish first. Later, I looked for him and began asking for tips on how to win the marathon. “Initially, he wasn’t really forthcoming but I kept disturbing him. Anywhere I saw him, I’d go closer to him and ask ‘How do you do it? I want to be like you’. So he told me his secret was training hard. “I started varying my training. I started running on hills, running at the beach. I was desperate to win the marathon. Fortunately, I completed Junior High School that year, so I decided to dedicate all my time towards training. I was not doing anything else. I was just training every day. At a point I was sleeping at the Ho Sports Stadium alone.” For a boy who had to overcome adversity all through his childhood, fate would have it that he went through one more hurdle en route to becoming a national champion. Giving his all in training made him so confident ahead of the 2005 marathon but even his trainers didn’t foresee him getting a podium finish. “They all doubted me,” Adukpo smiles as he harks back to those moments. Godwin Adukpo Pulse Ghana But the real distress came in the hours leading to the marathon. When Adukpo made the journey from the Volta Region to Accra to compete, he knew nobody in the capital and so had nowhere to sleep. He arrived a day before the race, late in the night, and went around begging people in a bid to find a place to rest. He didn’t find any. Refuge eventually came, albeit belatedly, and he would spend that night in the unlikeliest of places – on a shaky bench with his eyes open until sunrise. “No one was ready to help so I made my way to the starting point of the race and I met a guy who was looking after the place. I engaged him in a chat and told him I was going to win the race. I was doing that to convince him to allow me to sleep at the starting point, although that wasn’t allowed,” Adukpo recounts. “So I waited and when everyone left, I put some benches together and laid on them. I couldn’t sleep that night until morning.” He couldn’t sleep but once he was at the starting point, Adukpo knew there was no turning back. He applied everything he learned during his training; he made a fast start to the marathon, slowed down midway to catch his breath and when he finally caught up with Zigah, he never let him out of his sight. --- Beating Zigah to win the Milo Marathon in 2005 was the moment Adukpo etched his name in the hearts and minds of Ghanaian marathon lovers. And although he went on to win the marathon three more times, his first triumph was what gave him street credibility. The reception back home and across the country was special too. “I was received like a king,” says Adukpo, who is almost blushing as he relives that victorious moment. “Aside from the prizes and cash after winning the Marathon in 2005, a lot of people also gave me money. Several big people, chiefs hosted me in their palaces, and I visited the Regional Minister too.” Godwin Adukpo used to train on the mountains Pulse Ghana With that came along a scholarship to attend Anlo Secondary School, where Adukpo continued to compete in several marathons. He’d, however, have to wait for three years to become a national marathon champion for the second time. He had near misses in 2006 and 2007, but returned strongly to win the marathon three consecutive times in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He may have matched Zigah’s three-peat, but rues his failure to beat his rival’s five overall titles. Part of that was due to an injury he suffered on the eve of the marathon in 2009. Adukpo was travelling when he got involved in a car accident. His knee was rocked from the crash but, as defending champion of the Milo Marathon, he decided to compete despite the injury. He went on to win the race that year but aggravated the injury and it would prove costly in the following years and would ultimately force him into an early retirement in 2017. “I wanted to break Zigah’s record of five wins in the marathon. Unfortunately, I had a car accident in 2009 which affected my knee. I was advised not to participate in the marathon that year but I still did and I won. Nobody knew I was injured,” he said. “When I went back to the hospital, the doctor was afraid that I could lose my leg, but he treated me and I returned to win the marathon again in 2010. But after that the pain returned. Till now, whenever I run long distances, my knee locks at some point.” In his prime, Adukpo was a beast but the injuries just wouldn’t allow him to reach his full potential. He was also a bit stubborn and overconfident, and his ego sometimes got in the way. And for that, his career overall remains in the ‘what could’ve been’ category. Godwin Adukpo has been training young athletes since retiring Pulse Ghana For instance, even when he was outgrowing his comfort zone, he refused to work under professional coaches. He believed in himself so much – and, perhaps, he was too loyal to those he began with – that he felt his childhood trainers and PE teachers were best placed to take him to the zenith of his career. How wrong he was. “I was not under any professional coach before I won the marathon and a lot of people were saying I would do better if I worked with a coach,” Adukpo owns up. “At a point, I was asked to join Zigah’s coach but I rejected it. I was still relying on my secondary school PE teachers and those who brought me up for training.” Even at that, he represented Ghana in several international marathons in Mali, Malaysia and the Netherlands, and realised his childhood dream of competing against marathon legends like Haile Gebrselassie, Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele in his prime. --- Athletics in Ghana has seen very little development in recent years. And while the country has produced some promising athletes in 100m, 200m and 800m, long-distance runners remain in short supply. The Accra Milo Marathon, which used to be the most prestigious marathon in the country and served as a warm-up for athletes preparing for international contests, has been halted since 2016. Even worse, facilities where athletes can train are in short supply, especially in the capital, after the tartan tracks at the Accra Sports Stadium were removed as part of renovation works towards Ghana hosting the 2008 AFCON. Adukpo believes that singular act killed athletics in the country. “Athletics in Ghana died in 2008 when the country was preparing to host the AFCON,” he articulates. “The Accra Sports Stadium used to have tartan tracks but they were removed while renovating the stadium for the tournament. That rendered Accra trackless because El-Wak is for the military and it’s not standard. So athletes in Accra have to struggle to get a place to train. It’s why athletes in Kumasi started doing better than those in Accra because Kumasi has the tartan tracks. “The government has to take a look at the management of the sport if we want to produce better long-distance runners. There should be a plan on how to bring up young runners. As we speak, in the whole year, they have just two competitions and that is not good enough.” These days Adukpo is into public service. He may not have risen to international acclaim, but he ruled the streets in his prime and his name is the stuff of legend among locals who keenly follow athletics. He remains an icon to a whole generation of Ghanaians; those who were born in the mid-to-late-1990s and early 2000s. For they saw him come from nothing and do it all by upsetting the odds and endearing himself to them. In his own rendition of a victory dance, Adukpo had his own famous victory sidesteps. Each time he won the marathon, he would run a few more metres beyond the finish line – a message to his rivals that he still had more fuel in his tank. Anytime he did it, a crescendo of applause greeted him as he took in all the glory. After retiring, he became a Customs Officer, where he currently holds the rank of Revenue Assistant Grade 1, and is in charge of training new recruits. But athletics remains in his blood. When he has time on his hands, he works as an athletics coach and physical training instructor; nurturing persons who want to carve careers in the sport and follow in his footsteps. Adukpo’s advice to young ones who want to dominate the athletics scene, though, is simple: “If you want to succeed in whatever field, be it long distance or short distance, you have to be ready to sacrifice a lot. You don’t wait to hear about a competition before you start training. A good athlete trains all the time.”

Kwame Boakye

Sports

November 2, 2023 8:10 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/other-sports/godwin-adukpo-the-errand-boy-who-became-a-marathon-icon/enbh2h1

Mission Volta: Nora Hauptles Black Queens juggernaut ready for next step after 9 straight wins

Nora Hauptle stood on the touchlines barking out orders for almost the entirety of the game. Even for a coach whose side had won the first leg 3-0, she looked the part of a gaffer who wanted more.Finally, she nodded – a seal of approval – when Evelyn Badu put Ghana in front with a smart finish in the 65th minute. The Black Queens would go on to beat Benin 2-0 in the 2024 Olympic Games qualifier, completing an emphatic 5-0 aggregate victory over their opponents in the process. The Black Queens had struggled to get going in the first half as fans inside the Accra Sports Stadium eagerly waited for something to cheer about. Their build-up was sloppy, the passing wasn’t great and they weren’t finding the spaces as easily as they did in their previous matches. Such was the lethargy in their play that Benin nearly stunned them twice in the opening 10 minutes; first testing goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan before hitting the post after Ghana failed to clear the ball from an out-swinging cross. However, the Black Queens upped the ante in the second half and began to play their normal game. Two substitutions and a few tactical tweaks from the dugout ultimately did the trick. “In the first half we put ourselves in some difficulties,” Hauptle admitted in a post-match press conference. “I told the team during the half-time break that we need to do the simple things. “So the tactical execution, the passes, first touches and crosses were not good and that can happen in football. We didn’t have the best game in the beginning but we fared better in the second half.” Under Nora Hauptle, the Black Queens have often blown teams away with cheeky ease. It’s now been nine wins out of nine games. The team has also scored 31 goals and conceded none. Photo by: Rahel Osterwalder Pulse Ghana The Swiss coach has created a team that’s fast becoming a winning machine; a juggernaut that keeps on grinding and an army that has mastered the art of battering its competitors. And the refreshing thing is that they don’t need to be at their best to blitz their opponents. However, it’s the first time under Hauptle that Ghana have struggled in the first halves of successive matches. Against Benin in the first leg, the Black Queens laboured for large spells in the opening 45 minutes and needed a better second half to triumph. The story was no different in Accra on Tuesday, with the team only coming alive after the half-time break. Hauptle, though, does not believe complacency got the better of her side. “I did not have the feeling that we were flying too high in the final trainings,” she said. “Also, in our meetings and talks with the players, it was not that we were over-confident. “No excuses for the poor performance in the first half, we faced some challenges. But this is football, it’s more about how we reacted and I think in the second half, we showed this attitude.” There’s been effusive praise for the Swiss coach and her backroom staff for transforming the fortunes of the Black Queens. In less than a year, the team has gone from being fragile and spineless to one of the most consistent and ruthless on the continent. That much has been down to a conscious effort to get every player on the same page. It’s not just about training properly and playing for each other on the pitch, but also the intentionality of the approach, fused with data-driven analysis, that has led the team to its recent successes. “It’s about mentality,” Hauptle outlines. “Are you willing to run for each other, run into spaces? We’ve broken a lot of details there [via] video analysis and it may be key against our next opponent.” Photo by: Rahel Osterwalder Pulse Ghana It’s easy to overly focus on the positives when a team is flying as high as the Black Queens currently are. For some coaches, criticism in such moments is seen as cynical and misanthropic. Hautple, though, is not getting carried away by her side’s winning run. She was the first to admit during the post-match press conference that Ghana’s tactical executions against Benin were not good enough. While owning up, the 40-year-old also assured that those mistakes have already been identified and will be fixed before the team’s next assignment. Black Queens boss Nora Hauptle at press conferene (Photo by Rahel Osterwalder) Pulse Ghana “I think today we got in good positions to cross but tactical executions were not good,” she said. “The decisions have been good, the play was wonderful and there was a lot of space in the second half, which we overloaded. “But the tactical delivery was bad, so we need to work on the final pass. Also, in Benin, we trained on an artificial turf and that’s another kind of pitch. So it’s rather a bit technical and then we need to really point out what went wrong and tighten the screws very well.” Ghana failed to qualify for the last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and the Women’s World Cup. With Hauptle’s appointment, however, the goal is to return the Black Queens to the pinnacle of football, hence Mission Volta. Photo by: Rahel Osterwalder Pulse Ghana “Volta” is a play on the river that flows through Akosombo but it also means “Turn” in Portuguese. Hauptle and her team, therefore, coined the term ‘Mission Volta’ to remind themselves of the work that lies ahead as they aim to turn around the fortunes of the national team. The Black Queens continue to rack up victories in friendlies and in qualification games and, for Hauptle, the agenda now is to take the next step. She enjoys coaching this team and she wants to take them all the way… from the Olympics to WAFCON to the World Cup. Black Queens boss Nora Hauptle at press conferene (Photo by Rahel Osterwalder) Pulse Ghana “The next step in the Mission Volta is the WAFCON. We have the second qualifying round against Namibia, then we can qualify and get back to the WAFCON,” she said. “The last time we didn’t qualify, so this is one big point in our Mission Volta. Then in February, we face Zambia in the third round of the Olympic qualifiers. “We have a good development in our performance, so we need to make sure that our players are ready over the window. We need to make sure we are best prepared for Zambia, who were at the World Cup and are a top team, but I think we will be ready for them.” Mission Volta is up and running!

Emmanuel Ayamga

Sports

November 1, 2023 7:32 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/mission-volta-nora-hauptles-black-queens-juggernaut-ready-for-next-step/q9efdd2

For Nora Hauptle, every game is a must-win for the Black Queens

Nora Hauptle closed Monday’s press conference by welcoming some surprise guests. She wasn’t aware they were there, but a French-Swiss family had come to see her and they were blended in the journalists.Question after question, they watched on in awe as she delivered her answers in her usual compelling style. It was a group of five, and the youngest looked completely star-struck. “It’s nice to meet you,” she would say to them after press officer Matilda Dimedo had made the introduction. She went on to take pictures with them before sharing some advice with the youngest kid, who seemed to be very interested in football. Black Queens boss Nora Hauptle at press conferene (Photo by Rahel Osterwalder) Pulse Ghana It’s a tiny detail but it’s beautiful watching Hauptle operate in her pomp. Whether it’s in the pressroom or on the training ground, she has this aura that endears her to people, including journalists and her players. And it’s part of why she’s managed to transform the fortunes of Ghana’s women’s national team within nine months. Beyond her strong tactical nous, she’s a great communicator too. Eight wins from eight matches, 29 goals scored and zero conceded – it doesn’t come any better than that. But as the Black Queens prepare to take on Benin in a 2024 Olympic Games second-leg qualifier in Accra, the Swiss tactician is leaving no stone unturned. Ghana won the first leg 3-0 following goals from Doris Boaduwaa and Gifty Assifuah (double). Hauptle, however, does not believe the game is a done deal yet. Rather, she’s bent on making sure her side neutralises the threat posed by Benin’s talented players, who she’s already thoroughly scouted. “They have like seven, eight players playing abroad in France, Morocco,” says Hauptle, adding that “they have a good squad and they’re in a good shape.” Hauptle’s tenure has been rosy so far. Not only have the Black Queens been playing swashbuckling football, but they’ve also been very ruthless in front of goal. There’s also a renewed fighting spirit and character that is growing within this group. They train with a smile and play with a twinkle. This newfound mentality and approach to games, though, has been wrought by Hauptle, who has no room for complacency despite the team’s impressive winning streak. For the 40-year-old, every game is a must-win and that piece of information has been passed down to every player. In her words, those who start must “maintain focus” while those who don’t must “never be happy with sitting on the bench.” “It’s the second leg of the Olympic qualifiers and we strive to be in the third round in February, so we take this game with the full seriousness,” Hauptle alerts. “We analysed the first game, so we also set our training, tactic-wise, to find better solutions. We will show the answer on the pitch.” When Benin’s coach Frederic Hounkponou addressed the media earlier, he said “Ghana was beatable” and that the 3-0 defeat his side suffered in the first leg was not a fair reflection of the game. In his view, “mistakes cost us but we were in the game before that.” Hauptle admits the Black Queens made a slow start to the game in Cotonou, but was quick to add that they created several chances and would’ve been out of sight way earlier if they had been a bit more clinical in the final third. Her immediate goal, however, is to ensure that her side keeps the momentum going by finishing the job on Tuesday against Benin. More than just qualification to the next round of the Olympic Games qualifiers, Hauptle is desperate to repay the support shown by the Ghanaian supporters since she took charge. The Swiss coach has taken notice of the large numbers that cheer the Black Queens on and highlighted the support the team enjoys even when they play away from home. This, she said, must be repaid with another impressive performance at the Accra Sports Stadium. “To play in front of our home fans is special, so we also want to bring them joy on the pitch. The spectators have been travelling with us to a lot of countries,” says Hauptle. “They were in Benin, we appreciate it, and we’ll always try to give the energy back with our 150% performance.” The Black Queens will host Benin in the second leg of the Olympic Games qualifiers on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

Emmanuel Ayamga

Sports

October 31, 2023 9:06 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/for-nora-hauptle-every-game-is-a-must-win-for-ghanas-black-queens/tgmpzw6

Forget Nigeria, use TikTok to promote your songs Bullgod to Ghana artistes

Bullgod' s remarks come in response to Nigerian entertainment blogger and media personality Adesope Olajide, who suggested in an exclusive interview on Hitz FM, that Ghanaian artists should regularly visit Nigeria to promote their songs on Nigerian media outlets.Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bullgod Pulse Ghana However, Bullgod, speaking in a recent interview with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz, emphasized that the internet has provided creatives worldwide with the opportunity to showcase their work to different markets globally. He expressed a preference for promoting songs at TikTok’s office rather than in Nigeria. “When you release a song in Accra, the next city you should go to is TikTok. If I have money for promotion, I will go and find a TikTok office and pay them for my promo,” he stated. Bullgod continued to emphasize that it would be more effective for Ghanaian musicians to leverage TikTok and other social media platforms for promoting their music. Bullgod Pulse Ghana “If the sun in Ghana is hot, the sun in Nigeria is also hot. Everything is digital. Even on this show, we don’t have to be here. If we say we want to do this show, we don’t even have to come here. All of us. Your channel can run normally; we can be in our bedrooms and be online, and people will still listen to us. Corona taught us that. There is no need to go to Lagos; we do not have the time. We should rather go to the office of TikTok and market our songs there,” he added. Bullgod's comments join the heated debate about the state of the music industry in Ghana and how it can be improved. about the state of the entertainment sector in Ghana.

Dorcas Agambila

Entertainment

November 22, 2023 4:03 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/entertainment/celebrities/forget-nigeria-use-tiktok-to-promote-your-songs-bullgod-to-ghana-artistes/84rmp0v

Hanks Anuku admits to being depressed; says 'That's why I drink'

According to Hanks Anuku, he is doing fine, emphasizing that the rumours are not true. However, he shared that he engages in alcohol consumption as a means of dealing with the challenges of his ongoing battle with depression.The actor, who has been in the media spotlight due to the viral reports and videos expressing his concerns about his mental well-being, addressed the issue in a widely circulated Instagram video. Hanks Anuku ece-auto-gen In the video, Hanks admitted to his reliance on alcohol, linking it to the difficulties of being unemployed for an extended period and the constant anxiety about his children's well-being. The actor said: “Yes, depression makes me drink but I never take hard drugs, I don’t take hard drugs at all. “Out of depression, I did not have a job for years, I was thinking about my children, their school fees and their welfare among other things and you know what it is like when it gets to that point. “I call it a breaking point, I was broken to pieces and I had to go drinking and that is it”, the 63-year-old said.

Selorm Tali

Entertainment

November 22, 2023 12:29 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/entertainment/celebrities/hanks-anuku-admits-to-being-depressed-says-thats-why-i-drink/ys4h0bm

3 ways to get rid of the peppery taste and smell in your blender

Here are three effective ways to clean your blender and eliminate the peppery residue:Baking soda and vinegar method: Disassemble the blender and remove any visible residue. Fill the blender halfway with warm water. Add 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda. Pour in a cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture fizz and sit for about 15-20 minutes. Blend the solution for a few seconds. Rinse the blender thoroughly with warm water. Citrus solution: Cut a lemon or lime into quarters. Squeeze the juice into the blender. Drop the citrus peels into the blender as well. Add a tablespoon of salt. Fill the blender halfway with warm water. Blend the mixture for about 30 seconds. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes. Dish soap and hot water: Disassemble the blender and rinse off any visible residue. Fill the blender with hot water. Add a few drops of dish soap. Reassemble the blender and blend the soapy water for about 30 seconds. Let the soapy water sit in the blender for 10-15 minutes. Disassemble the blender and scrub any remaining residue with a brush. Rinse the blender thoroughly with hot water. Remember to check the blender's user manual to ensure that all parts are safe to wash in the hot water. Additionally, it's a good practice to clean your blender after each use to prevent odors and residue buildup. A clean blender can help you enjoy your smoothies and your favorite fruit juice or puree without having the peppery taste and smell in them.

Stella Takyiwaa Okyere

RADP / Pulse Ghana

November 22, 2023 3:07 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/lifestyle/how-to-thoroughly-clean-your-blender/t9syxd0

8 fruits that can help you with your mood swings

Aside from the health benefits these fruits provide for your body, certain fruits contain nutrients that may contribute to overall mental well-being.Here are some fruits that are rich in vitamins and minerals that could potentially have a positive impact on mood: 1. Bananas: High in potassium and vitamin B6, bananas can help regulate blood sugar levels and support the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being. 2. Berries: Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, berries may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which are linked to mood disorders. 3. Oranges: Packed with vitamin C, oranges can boost the immune system and may have mood-enhancing effects. 4. Avocado: Avocados are a good source of healthy fats and vitamin E, which are important for brain health. 5. Kiwi: High in vitamin C and rich in other antioxidants, kiwi may help combat stress and promote a positive mood. 6. Pineapple: Contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can contribute to overall health and well-being. 7. Cherries: Rich in antioxidants and natural melatonin, cherries may have a calming effect on the body. 8. Apples: High in fiber and various antioxidants, apples can contribute to stable blood sugar levels, which may help regulate mood. It's important to note that while these fruits contain beneficial nutrients, a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats is crucial for overall mental and physical health.

Stella Takyiwaa Okyere

Lifestyle

November 22, 2023 2:22 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/lifestyle/beauty-health/fruits-that-can-help-you-with-your-mood-swings/d129dl4

Maguire now a key player for Man United while Bawumia is still roaming at IMF Adongo

The legislator, therefore, rendered an apology to the Manchester United defender for comparing his performance to that of Bawumia’s handling of Ghana’s economy.Speaking on the floor of parliament, Adongo said Maguire has turned things around and is now a key player for Erik ten Hag’s side. Taking another dig at the vice president, however, the MP said Bawumia continues to roam at the IMF to beg for loans. "I must express my sincere apologies to Harry Maguire for hastily comparing my esteemed colleague Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to him,” Adongo said. “Today, Maguire has undergone a transformative journey in football, emerging as a key player for Manchester United. In contrast, our 'Maguire' is currently navigating the corridors of the IMF with a cup in hand.” It will be recalled that last year, Adongo’s speech in Parliament went viral in the international media after he ridiculed Maguire and compared his performances to Dr Bawumia. Harry Maguire heads a ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B soccer match between England and Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on November 21, 2022. AFP "Harry Maguire, he's a defender. He was tackling everybody and throwing his body everywhere. He was seen as the best defender in the world. Manchester United went and bought him,” the MP said in 2022. “He became the biggest threat at the centre of the Manchester United defence, tackling Manchester players and giving assists to opponents "Mr. Speaker, you remember in this country we also have an economic Maguire. We're clapping saying this man is the best in managing foreign terms. Mr Speaker why we gave this Maguire the opportunity to be at the centre of our defence? He became the rest of our own goals. Our economic Maguire is taking control of the fundamentals of our economy and destroying all of them." Meanwhile, Maguire is back in favour at Manchester United after regaining his form and is now one of the first names in the team’s starting line-up.

Emmanuel Ayamga

Sports

November 22, 2023 4:08 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/maguire-now-key-player-for-man-united-while-bawumia-is-still-roaming-at-imf-adongo/xwjvhst

Youre the pride of the people Comoros president reacts to win against Ghana

President Assoumani said the players of the national team were the pride of the Comorian people after making them proud.The Black Stars suffered a setback in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign when they were beaten 1-0 in Moroni. A brilliant first-half strike from Myziane Maolida was enough to see the Comoros pull an upset over Ghana on home soil. The win saw Comoros chalk a second successive victory over the Black Stars after beating Ghana in the last AFCON. The Coelacanths have also moved to the top of Group I of the World Cup qualifiers with six points, ahead of both Mali and Ghana. Reacting to this, President Assoumani congratulated the team for their impressive performance in the World Cup qualifiers. “Congratulations to #Coelacanthes – brilliant and victorious against the Black Stars of Ghana. Two matches, two victories to take the lead in ‘Group I’ in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. You are the pride of the Comorian people. #Veripiya,” he said. Meanwhile, Ghana coach Chris Hughton believes his side was better over 90 minutes despite suffering defeat at the hands of Comoros. Addressing journalists at a post-match press conference, Hughton defended the performance of the Black Stars. The former Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest boss said his side was better overall but did not make their chances count. “In my opinion, over the 90 minutes, we were the better team. Ghana were the better team. We conceded what we regard as a poor goal to concede. “We were not able to capitalize on the chances that we had, so this was not a game where Comoros won this game comfortably,” Hughton said.

Emmanuel Ayamga

Football

November 22, 2023 3:02 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/black-stars/azali-assoumani-comoros-president-reacts-to-win-against-ghanas-black-stars/6hb2rep

I bleached because I wanted to be very handsome Bukom Banku

The former WBO Africa Light Heavyweight champion, however, said he was advised to stop bleaching by some big men in the country.In 2021, the pugilist came under intense criticism from a section of the public after photos of his bleached skin went viral. Bleached Bukom Banku Pulse Ghana He, however, defended his choices, saying it was part of his brand and asked his critics to stop telling him how to live his life. Two years on, and Bukom Banku has now admitted that bleaching his skin wasn’t right, adding that he has put a stop to it. “I wanted to be very handsome so I bleached my skin but I’ve stopped,” he said on Accra FM’s Ayekoo Ayekoo. “I was advised by the big men in the building to stop bleaching. So that bleaching you will not see it again. I’ve stopped. Bleaching is not good. It can lead to all kinds of cancer. I’ve stopped.” Boxer Bukom Banku Pulse Ghana Bukom Banku has lost just once in his boxing career – a defeat that came against Bastie Samir six years ago. The 43-year-old went on to win his first international fight after recording a knockout victory over Hungarian opponent, Ferenc Albert in 2019. However, he hasn’t faced anyone since that time despite recently signing a lucrative contract with local promotional giant Box Office Promotions.

Emmanuel Ayamga

Sports

November 22, 2023 11:02 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/boxing/bukom-banku-i-bleached-because-i-wanted-to-be-very-handsome/bx0j3b8

Court rules in favour of GRA in MTN tax liability case

The case pertained to the period from January 2014 to December 2017, during which GRA imposed tax liability on MTN Ghana.Scancom had contested the imposition, alleging errors and arbitrary actions by the GRA. The court, however, sided with the GRA, deeming the imposition lawful and not arbitrary. Despite MTN Ghana's efforts to reverse the tax liability order, the court upheld the GRA's decision. The judgment referred to provisions of the Value Added Tax Act, 2013 (Act 870), highlighting that Value Added Tax would not apply only if imported services were used in making taxable supplies, such as in telecommunication business. However, Value Added Tax would apply if the services were used in making exempt supplies, like in mobile money business. The court emphasized that the GRA correctly applied the definition in section 65 of the Value Added Tax Act to determine the total cost of imported services and apportioned them between exempt and taxable supplies based on their contribution to total revenue. Consequently, the imposition of Value Added Tax liability on MTN Ghana for the specified period was deemed justified due to its status as a partial exempt trader. Regarding the second ground of appeal, the court clarified that the National Health Insurance (Amendment) Act, 2018 (Act 971) and the Ghana Education Trust Fund Act, 2018 (Act 972) were separate from the Value Added Tax Act 2018 (Act 870). These laws imposed a tax on the import of services not subject to input tax deduction, irrespective of the purpose of the imported services during the relevant period in 2018. In conclusion, the court ruled that the GRA did not err in imposing the National Health Insurance Levy and Ghana Education Trust Fund Levy, along with interest and penalties, on MTN Ghana for imported services from August 2018 to December 2018, regardless of their application to taxable or exempt services. The tax appeal by MTN Ghana was deemed unsuccessful, and no costs were awarded to either party.

Evans Effah

RADP / Pulse Ghana

November 22, 2023 10:45 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/business/court-rules-in-favour-of-gra-in-mtn-tax-liability-case/pgvfeyb

12th edition of Tech in Ghana set to kick off the festive season in Accra

Since its inception in 2017, Tech in Ghana has played a pivotal role in championing the country’s cutting-edge entrepreneurs and founders; whilst fostering global collaboration, knowledge exchange, and networking among industry leaders, decision-makers, investors, and startups.Scheduled just ahead of the festive season, on Tuesday 28th November and Wednesday 29th November, the platform’s upcoming event will feature a custom-built stage and exhibition at the Accra Digital Centre, providing a dynamic space for an exceptional gathering of guests; united by a shared passion for driving Ghana's technological advancement. ‘Tech in Ghana has always been at the forefront of the industry's cutting-edge talent and conversations,’ says founder Akosua Annobil. ‘We’re relentlessly committed to providing delegates with an experience of the highest quality, ensuring they receive insights into the latest trends and developments shaping the future of Ghana's tech landscape.’ Organized twice annually in London and Accra, Tech in Ghana has been known to attract a dynamic mix of multinational corporations, startups, tech companies and government representatives. The upcoming edition boasts an impressive lineup of speakers, including representatives from the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization, International Trade Centre, Farmerline, British High Commission Accra, US Embassy, Telecel Group, Taptap Send, MTN, GSMA, ECG, Tony Blair Institute, Yellowcard, Blu Penguin, Global Forum on Cyber Expertise, Konzoom, Kola Market, Cointelegraph, Menufinder Africa, Pulse, Google Developers Group, Nubian VR, and many more. TIG Virtual Reality Pulse Ghana Investment and funding will take center stage with insights from leading investors such as Norrsken22, Injaro Investments, Enzo Capital, and Blackstar Group exploring options in the current African market. Another highlight will be a Kumasi Takeover, showcasing founders from the Ashanti Region who’ve built companies including Dext Technology, Incas Diagnostics, DefCanTalk, and Farmerline. Students and representatives from the African Science Academy, Bluecrest University College, and the University of Energy and Natural Resources are set to deliver presentations, demonstrating the vibrant pool of young talent emerging from Ghana's educational institutions. Startups will also benefit from breakout masterclasses, while roundtables hosted by the International Trade Centre and the Tony Blair Institute will delve into How to Scale as an Agritech in Africa and Ghana’s Digital Economy Policy, respectively. ‘Tech in Ghana has been a driving force in propelling the country’s tech landscape forward,’ Akosua adds. ‘As we enter our 12th edition, we are proud to continue empowering Ghanaian tech leaders, educators, ecosystem supporters and entrepreneurs, providing them with a global platform to learn, collaborate, and showcase their work.’ In addition to the main plenary sessions, delegates can expect immersive VR experiences from Relu Interactives and gaming tournaments led by the eSports Association and Gamers Association Ghana. Tech in Ghana is an unmissable event for anyone interested in the future of technology in Ghana and Africa. For more information and to register, please visit www.techinghanaconference.com. Tech in Ghana Logo Pulse Ghana About Tech in Ghana Tech in Ghana is a prominent platform dedicated to building and strengthening Ghana’s tech ecosystem since 2017. The conference, organized twice annually in London and Accra, provides a valuable avenue for industry leaders to come together, engage in global knowledge exchange, meaningful networking with industry peers, and showcase innovation. Tech in Ghana empowers the country’s entrepreneurs to highlight their work on a global stage, giving them access to international markets. For more information, visit www.techinghanaconference.com.

Pulse Mix

RADP / Pulse Ghana

November 22, 2023 10:37 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/business/12th-edition-of-tech-in-ghana-set-to-kick-off-the-festive-season-in-accra/mylmc4d

QUIZ: How crypto-savvy are Ghanaians?

Pulse Mix

RADP / Pulse Ghana

November 21, 2023 10:45 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/business/quiz-how-crypto-savvy-are-ghanaians/zyc3pkd

Bank of Ghana fines and suspends forex licence of Zeepay Ghana

The specific violation pertains to the failure of the settlement bank to adhere to the prescribed average interbank exchange rate outlined in clause 7.3(a).The clause mandates the use of the average interbank exchange rate published by the Ghana Association of Banks on the day the transfer is received, or as specified by the Central Bank for converting settlement funds into the local currency. In response to this breach, the Bank of Ghana has not only imposed a fine but also suspended the forex licence of Zeepay Ghana Limited. The suspension is effective from November 27, 2023, to December 8, 2023, and is a result of the company's violation of sections 3(1) and 15(3) of the Foreign Exchange Act, 2006 (Act 723). This notice, according to the central bank, serves as a stern warning to all forex market participants, including banks, forex bureaus, forex brokers, Dedicated Electronic Money Issuers (DEMIs), Enhanced Payment Service Providers (EPSPs), and Money Transfer Operators (MTOs). They are reminded to strictly adhere to applicable forex market regulations and guidelines.

Emmanuel Tornyi

business

November 20, 2023 10:35 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/business/domestic/bank-of-ghana-fines-and-suspends-forex-licence-of-zeepay-ghana/ld6y309

True or false? A man's brain is larger than a woman's [Quiz]

Miriam Mwende

RADP / Pulse Ghana

November 20, 2023 9:12 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/quizzes/international-mens-day-quiz-are-mens-brains-larger-than-womens-brains/6hg37c2

This quiz will predict what will end your current relationship

Miriam Mwende

RADP / Pulse Ghana

November 14, 2023 11:27 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/quizzes/this-quiz-will-predict-what-will-end-your-current-relationship/z6p0y2m

QUIZ: Only genuises can score 10/10 on this quiz

Ayoola Adetayo

RADP / Pulse Ghana

February 17, 2023 12:00 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/quizzes/quiz-only-genuises-can-score-1010-on-this-quiz/w3t3gxd

Quiz: Who's the longest serving African leader

In this quiz, you'll see some of those leaders and how long they have been in power for.

Andreas Kamasah

RADP / Pulse Ghana

November 21, 2022 4:26 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/quizzes/quiz-whos-the-longest-serving-african-leader/b713tbn

Captain Smart hasnt resigned - Onua TV denies earlier reports

Monday, November 20 edition of the programme shows Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart announcing to his audience, apparently jokingly that he was leaving. His pronouncements were mistaken for an announcement of resignation.However, Onua TV took to its Facebook page to describe the reports as false. Captain Smart hasn’t resigned - Onua TV denies earlier reports Pulse Ghana Meanwhile, last week, the National Media Commission (NMC) issued a final warning to him and Onua radio/TV over an inciteful broadcast aired by the station recently. In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, the regulator described the broadcast in question as dangerous and unprofessional. The statement addressed how Captain Smart directly insulted the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and other commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) by referring to them as “beasts.” In addition, Captain Smart made claims that the officers embezzled money meant for soldiers on peacekeeping operations, yet failed to provide any evidence to support these allegations. The NMC expressed concern over the station’s persistence in promoting violence against the state, despite previous warnings. In December 2022, the NMC alerted Onua Radio/TV of their use of the station to propagate violence and their management’s inability to address the issue. The NMC’s statement emphasised the need for the station to implement measures to sanitise its broadcast and improve its capacity for regulatory compliance. The NMC also demanded an apology from Onua Radio/TV to the CDS and his commanders for the insults and further apologise to the Ghanaian public for the use of vulgar language. The NMC gave Onua Radio/TV up to November 19, 2023, to undertake the recommended actions and provide evidence of their compliance or face consequences.

Andreas Kamasah

news

November 21, 2023 9:20 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/filla/captain-smart-hasnt-resigned-onua-tv-denies-earlier-reports/9qyxzml

Inaki Williams, Semenyo start together as Ghana names starting line-up vs Madagascar

Ghana coach Chris Hughton has named a strong line-up for the important clash, which will take place at the Baba Yara Stadium at 4pm.Richard Ofori surprisingly returns to the starting line-up, having been picked ahead of hitherto first-choice goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi. The back four consists of Alidu Seidu, Gideon Mensah, Daniel Amartey and Nicholas Opoku, while Baba Iddrisu and Abdul Salis Samed will man the midfield. Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew have been deployed as the players to provide width, while Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo lead the attack. See Ghana’s starting XI against Madagascar below: Richard Ofori Alidu Seidu Gideon Mensah Daniel Amartey Nicholas Opoku Baba Iddrisu Abdul Salis Samed Mohammed Kudus Jordan Ayew Inaki Williams Antoine Semenyo

Emmanuel Ayamga

Football

November 17, 2023 3:33 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/black-stars/ghana-vs-madagascar-starting-xi-inaki-williams-and-semenyo-start-together/4323pf5

Comoros 1-0 Ghana: Black Stars suffer shocking setback in World Cup qualifiers

A brilliant first-half strike from Myziane Maolida was enough to see the Southern African side pull an upset over the Black Stars on home soil.Ghana coach Chris Hughton made three changes to the side that started in the opening World Cup qualifying game against Madagascar last Friday. Daniel Amartey, Alidu Seidu and Mohammed Kudus were replaced by Kassim Nuhu Adams, Denis Odoi and Andre Ayew, respectively, in the starting XI for the game against Comoros. Kudus was left on the bench after missing the team’s last training session due to a back injury. Hughton, however, decided to stick with Richard Ofori in the post. Gideon Mensah and Nicholas Opoku completed the back four, with Abdul Salis Samed and Baba Iddrisu once again trusted in the middle of the park. Jordan Ayew also kept his position on the left flank, with the match-winner against Madagascar Inaki Williams operating from the right. Captain Andre Ayew returned to the starting line-up for the first time in months and occupied the no.10 role in the absence of the injured Kudus. Antoine Semenyo led the line as the team’s main striker, as the Black Stars aimed to make it two wins from two World Cup qualifying matches. Comoros made the brighter start to the game by enjoying the larger share of possession but it was Ghana who carved the first real opening after six minutes. Williams played Semenyo through on goal but the Bournemouth striker failed to make the one-on-one chance count, firing his shot into the side net. Four minutes later, Comoros made their first dangerous incursion into Ghana’s half, with Youssouf attempting a strike from long range that flew way off target. Ofori was called into action a couple of times in the first half, saving Selemani’s shot before tipping Bourhane’s goal-bound effort out for a corner. Ghana would squander one more chance to score the opener when Williams found Jordan Ayew with a pin-point cross but the Crystal Palace forward couldn’t direct his header towards goal. The Black Stars were ultimately punished for their poor defending three minutes before half-time when Maolida weaved his way past Ghana’s backline to score – against the run of play. Hughton brought on Kudus in place of Andre Ayew at the start of the second half, and Ernest Nuamah and Majeed Ashimeru would later join the fray but Ghana continued to struggle to create clear-cut chances. Nuamah, though, was unlucky not to have grabbed the equaliser when his was goal ruled out by the referee although he appeared to have cleanly won an aerial challenge against the Comoros goalkeeper. Despite pushing more men forward in the final 15 minutes, Comoros held on for a famous victory – their second successive win over the Black Stars after beating Ghana in the last AFCON. Meanwhile, the Coelacanths have now moved to the top of Group I of the Africa World Cup qualifiers with six points, with Ghana dropping to fourth place after Tuesday’s disappointing defeat.

Emmanuel Ayamga

Football

November 21, 2023 6:01 PM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/black-stars/comoros-1-0-ghana-black-stars-suffer-shocking-setback-in-world-cup-qualifiers/rfxgr27

Nigeria in talks with Elon Musk's Starlink to create jobs in Nigeria

Nigeria has initiated discussions with Elon Musk's Starlink on setting up programs that will create jobs in Nigeria through local maintenance and production of its hardware.  The discussions happened on the sideline of the ongoing International Telecommunication Union-World Radio Communication (ITU-WRC) Conference in Dubai. In October, Starlink Nigeria reduced its hardware prices by 21% in its efforts to capture a larger portion of the Nigerian Internet Service Provider (ISP) market. The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated discussions with Elon Musk's Starlink on setting up programs that will create jobs in Nigeria through local maintenance and production of its hardware.The discussions happened on the sideline of the ongoing International Telecommunication Union-World Radio Communication (ITU-WRC) Conference in Dubai, with the Senior Director of Global Licensing and activation of SpaceX, Ryan Goodnight. Read also: Three African countries where Elon Musk's Starlink is illegal The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Sunday through his verified X handle. The conversation focused on the possibility of Starlink creating a program to certify local installers and maintenance personnel in Nigeria, and contracts with hardware startups in the country to produce Starlink's repeater boxes locally. What the minister said: “Excellent conversation with Ryan Goodnight, Snr. Director, Global Licensing & Activation of @SpaceX on the sidelines of ITU-WRC 23, who shared that Nigeria is their biggest market in Africa. As demand for @Starlink continues to grow in Nigeria, we discussed connecting unserved and underserved Nigerians,” he stated. Read also: Starlink ‘fastest for broadband’ in Nigeria and Rwanda, according to survey “I also mentioned the possibility of creating thousands of new jobs in Nigeria through initiatives like a certified installer/maintenance programme for Starlink and working with hardware startups to produce repeater boxes locally. “We intend to encourage every tech company to invest and deepen our tech ecosystem,” the Minister added. The standard model of SpaceX's Starlink dish measures 11.9 inches by 20.2 inches.SpaceX Business Insider USA When Elon Musk’s Starlink made its debut in Nigeria in January 2023, the next-gen satellite internet service provider promised to usher in a new era of high-speed internet connectivity in Africa's most populous nation. It also promised low-latency internet to areas where it is either unreliable or inaccessible. Read also: Elon Musk's Starlink partners with Jumia to boost fast-speed internet in Africa In October, Starlink Nigeria reduced its hardware prices by 21% in its efforts to capture a larger portion of the Nigerian Internet Service Provider (ISP) market. Following this reduction, Starlink's hardware is now priced at N299,500, down from its previous rate of N378,000. However, the monthly subscription fee of N38,000 has not changed.

Adekunle Agbetiloye

RADP / Pulse Ghana

November 20, 2023 9:13 AM

https://www.pulse.com.gh/business/nigeria-in-talks-with-elon-musks-starlink-to-create-jobs-in-nigeria/hk7gklw

2022 in review: Fire Service addresses misconceptions, myths and support for its work

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has been working tirelessly over the last year to fight fires across the country. As a way of looking back on the performance, shortfalls, and general overview of the service, GhanaWebs Etsey Atisu sat down with one of the men who speak for the GNFS. ADO II Alex King Nartey is an Assistant Divisional Officer at the GNFS PR Unit, and he shares details on all that they have been up to in the past year. With some misconceptions having shrouded the Ghana National Fire Service and its operations in the country, ADO II Alex King gives clarifications to the concerns while helping the public understand how best it can help it do its work more efficiently. Watch the full video below: AE/BOG

General

29 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/2022-in-review-Fire-Service-addresses-misconceptions-myths-and-support-for-its-work-1687565

These are your favourite most read stories of 2022

2022 was some year! There were a lot of happenings from fights, floods to deaths, to accidents, to economic crisis, and price hikes, but there were a lot of very good things also that characterized the year. We had the World Cup Qualification, the discovery of an iron ore, hosting of international shows like the Global Citizen Festival, some new projects including the Tamale Interchange being commissioned well and a few others. In all this, GhanaWeb was there to provide accurate coverage and report the events as and how they happened. Some of these stories topped the list as the favourites of our readers and audience and have been compiled in this piece: Blow for NPP as Rev. Owusu Bempah releases latest prophecy on 2024 elections: As it will be, the year started with prophecies beginning from December 31 and one of these came from founder of Glorious Word Power Ministries. Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah who predicted that the key to winning the 2024 elections has left the NPP. He however said that it wasnt indicative of the fact that the key which was taken by an angel had been given to the NDC. The key to winning the elections has left the NPP. I have seen it so if they will listen and pray on it, they should act fast. We should find out what Saul did before he was stripped. God can reveal to a prophet who will win the elections, he said while speaking in an interview on Okay FM. Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb on March 6, 2022: Blow for NPP as Rev. Owusu Bempah releases latest prophecy on 2024 elections UG Medical School rejected my nephew because he is not Ga Kennedy Agyapong alleges In February this year, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong charged the education minister to pay particular attention to the admission process of medical school students in the country. He said nepotism and tribalism have prevented some deserving students from gaining admission and realizing their dreams of becoming medical doctors. Kennedy Agyapong made an allegation of how the University of Ghana Medical School turned down a nephew of his because he was not a Ga and had no history of medical doctors in his family. Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb: UG Medical School rejected my nephew because he is not Ga Kennedy Agyapong alleges Vladmir Putin sends message to Ghana: Amidst the emergence of the Russia/Ukraine war early this year, it emerged that President of the Russian Federation, Vladmir Putin sent a message to Ghana albeit on the occasion of her 65th Independence Day Anniversary. Vladmir, in a letter shared by the Russian Embassy in Ghana on Twitter, described the relations between both countries as traditionally friendly while indicating possible dialogue in the future to promote peace and security. Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb: You will not be allowed to host e-programme Afia Pokuaa told In April, Kwame Nkrumah Tikese, the host of Ade Akye Abia Morning Show on Accra-based Okay FM, warned Afia Pokuaa, his colleague and the host of Egyaso Gyaso that she will not be allowed to host her show virtually. According to him, some of the staff of Okay FM have been absent for a while but were hosting an e-programme on the station, a thing he was not ready to entertain. Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb: You will not be allowed to host e-programme Afia Pokuaa told Five young Ghanaians tipped to take over their family businesses In this GhanaWeb feature, focus was redirected slightly from the rich and powerful in Ghana, to their children, and more specifically, to the ones who have been publicly recognized to be likely heirs of their parents businesses. Among individuals tipped as prospective heirs to take over their parents businesses were; Kennedy Osei, Son of Kwame Despite, owner of Despite Group; Dr. Kwabena Duffour Jnr, son of Dr. Kwabena Duffour, former BoG governor and CEO of UniBank; Kojo Jones, son of Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah; Kwadwo Sarfo Jnr, son of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo; and Ken Takyi Agyapong, son of Kennedy Osei Agyapong. Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb: Five young Ghanaians tipped to take over their family businesses Youre not an Akyem and have no right to speak for us Osafo-Maafo told A group identified as Concerned Citizens of Akyem State condemned the ethnocentric statements of Presidential Advisor, Nana Yaw Osafo-Maafo which was captured on a secret recording. In the said report which was published in June this year, the said tape which went viral captured the presidential advisor during a meeting with delegates of the New Patriotic Party in the Eastern Region, questioning the contribution of the Ashanti people while touting the Akyem tribe as having led the fight for independence. Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb: Youre not an Akyem and have no right to speak for us Osafo-Maafo told Why a goat led the procession when Charles was officially proclaimed King in Wales: During the ceremony to proclaim Prince Charles as King of Wales, following the demise of his mother; Queen Elizabeth II, the Third Battalion of the Royal Welsh marched through the streets of Cardiff in a procession that was led by a goat, on Sunday, September 11, 2022. Known as Sheinkin IV, the official goat of the Third Battalion, it raised many questions about what the significance of this animal in the ranks of the Battalion stood for. According to multiple reports from international websites, the Sheinkin IV is the latest in a long line of regimental mascots for the Royal Welsh, who have been adopting goats into their ranks since 1775. Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb: Why a goat led the procession when Charles was officially proclaimed King in Wales Who does Gabby Otchere-Darko think he is? Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu fumes The Majority Leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, rebutted following some allegations levelled against him by a stalwart of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko. According to the Member of Parliament for Suame, Mr Otchere-Darko wrongly accused him of being the mastermind behind some NPP MPs demanding the sacking of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. "From nowhere, we hear Gabby Otchere-Darko on his Asaase Radio accusing me of instigating what was happening, for what? What do I stand to gain from that?" he retorted. Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb: Who does Gabby Otchere-Darko think he is? Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu fumes The 10 children of John Agyekum Kufuors mother and who they are: GhanaWeb in this piece put the spotlight on Former President, John Agyekum Kufour and his siblings. Aside his brother, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor; the other popular member, who served as Minister of Defence under his presidency in the early 2000s, very little is known about the other 8 siblings of John Kufour. GhanaWeb chanced on the following details in a book authored by Kwame Addo-Kufuor, titled "Gold Coast Boy (A Memoir) which speaks about the Kufour siblings. In all, there were 10 children born to their mother, Nana Ama Ampomah Dapaah. Their father was Nana Kojo Agyekum III, the Oyokohene of Kumasi. Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb: The 10 children of John Agyekum Kufuors mother and who they are NPP's JFK sacks Hopeson Adorye from his team: The General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong sacked a member of his team Hopeson Adorye over misguided comments that according to him, threatened the peace and unity of the party. The NPP chief scribe sent a message to Adorye to distance himself from his office and all activities around him after the latter used the pro-Alan walk in Kumasi to denigrate Northerners of the party. Sources say the NPP General Secretary is livid by the actions of Hopeson Adorye, saying it undermines the effort to head into the 2024 elections with a united front. Adorye launched scathing ridicule of Northerners in the governing NPP on Saturday (13 August 2022). Read the original article as published on GhanaWeb: NPP's JFK sacks Hopeson Adorye from his team

General

28 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/These-are-your-favourite-most-read-stories-of-2022-1687250

Stubborn Academy, 'sika mp dede' and other popular slangs that trended in 2022

A lot of these slangs usually started with some famous people using them in an address or a popular post, or simply using them to describe something. And being the people they are and with the clout they carry, a number of Ghanaians just jumped onto those terms, and before long, they became terminologies that were on the lips of many citizens. But the best part of these slangs is that they cut across sectors and the personalities in those areas, from politics to entertainment and even to social media terminologies. Lets take a look at some of them and also find out how they came about. We will also show you how some of them are commonly used. Stubborn Academy: During the recent national SIM re-registration exercise in the country, there were instances where the Minister of Communication and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, was forced to extend the deadlines for citizens to get their registrations done. But as it turned out, almost every time the deadlines were close, that was when the service centers of the various telecommunication companies in the country would be flooded with people. It was always an eleventh-hour thing for most citizens, and that gave cause for the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, who was one of the people who fought against the national exercise, to give it a name. His tweet of July 30, 2022, read, Stubborn Academy. Cheers, caught on with many people, and soon enough, it became a regular term for people to use in their daily interactions. It is worth noting too that Medikal, a Ghanaian musician, has a song with the same title, Stubborn Academy. Sika mp dede: Following his address to the nation at the peak of the economic hardships that have been experienced in the year 2022, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made a statement that caught on with many people, albeit for both positive and negative reasons. "Fellow Ghanaians, as the French would say, largent naime pas le bruit, to wit, money does not like noise, sika mp dede. Where there is chaos, where there is noise, where there is unrest, you will not find money. If you talk down your money, it will go down. If you allow some unidentifiable person to talk down your money, it will go down," he said. When many people were looking for messages of hope from the president and were intrigued by this particular Twa statement, it quickly became a term that people referred to. The term has since stuck with people. A song was eventually produced with those same words, confirming how popular the slang was. Largent naime pas le bruit: Not a particularly strong French-speaking country, although it is surrounded on all borders, except to the south, by francophone countries, many Ghanaians were intrigued to hear their president use the term largent naime pas le bruit while addressing them on October 30, 2022. With many variations of the French phrase becoming common in the country, this slang was undoubtedly one of the most commonly used in the year. Wei: The term "wei" was most commonly used on Twitter. It came from popular actor and broadcaster Akrobeto, who uses the term as a prelude to teasing people who are funny or engaged in things that he uses for his comic news show, The Real News, on UTV. The influence of Akrobeto made it easy for people to also use them in equally appropriate ways, and on Twitter, it became a usual term that was used by many users. Wotowoto: Originally a term from Nigeria, the use of wotowoto, which literally means plenty or in abundance became a common slang used in Ghana too. Being two countries with many similarities, it is unclear what exactly increased its use so much in Ghana, but before long, many people began using it to describe situations in which people are threatened with being mercilessly beaten. I will beat you, wotowoto, is one way the term is used. Ashawo Season: Ghanaian artiste, Kwesi Arthur, granted an interview in late 2021, where he was asked what he projects for the year 2022. In his response, he said he expects the year to be an ashawo season. The slang caught on and became another one of the popular ones that Ghanaians used. Which other popular slangs of 2022 do you remember? Let us know in the comments section. AE/BOG

General

28 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Stubborn-Academy-sika-mp-dede-and-other-popular-slangs-that-trended-in-2022-1687187

Sex conversations that freaked Ghanaians out in 2022

Sex is a taboo topic in Ghanaian households, however, it has transcended cultural boundaries and dominated media conversations from social media to traditional media in the form of news and entertainment. Among the top 10 websites that Ghanaians visited the most in 2021, two were pornography websites. This is according to the online visibility management and content marketing platform, semrush.com. This statistic drives the argument that Ghanaians may not want to discuss sex, but there is interest in the topic. 2022 was a melting point of several sexual discussions and this article seeks to highlight the most prominent ones that shook the foundations of Ghanaian culture. Gay rights and the anti-LGBTQ+ bill in parliament The 2021 discussion about criminalizing homosexuality and advocacy for gay rights crossed into 2022 after the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was introduced in parliament in March 2021. The Bill divided the Ghanaian populace into those in support of gay rights and those against it who have been largely described as homophobic. The latter often sexualize homosexuality on social media leaving the conversation to be about sex than personality. Sam George is an MP leading the support for the anti-LGBTQ+ bill Flogging of a couple in a viral sex tape in Wa In June 2022, a video showing the public flogging of a couple in Wa trended on social media sparking a debate about the consequences of recording sex tapes. The couple had earlier recorded their sexual activity, and it went viral in their community sparking outrage from community leaders who sanctioned the public flogging. The conversations were not conclusive on whether it is acceptable to record sex acts in private or not. But it was generally against public flogging. The couple who were flogged in public Afia Schwarzeneggers alleged sexual relations with Chairman Wontumi Since the issue is still in court, we cant say much but highlight it as one of the issues that sparked conversations on social media. She swore with a bottle of schnapps and cracked eggs that she has slept with Chairman Wontumi and he filed a GHC 2,000,000 defamation suit against her. Afia Schwarzenegger and Chairman Wontumi Serwaa Broni presidential affair It was a roller coaster with the Serwaa Broni scandal which alleged that President Akufo-Addo was having an extra-marital affair with a Canada-based Ghanaian woman who shared images and chats to prove her claim. She also accused security operatives of attacking her to recover the evidence she claims to have had. This allegation sparked a lot of discussion about sexual relations between public figures and how they protect their images and the affair from leaking. Bloggers and politicians had a field day and there was no reaction from the president. The discussion on this topic may not make it to 2023. President Akufo-Addo and Serwaa Broni

General

27 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Sex-conversations-that-freaked-Ghanaians-out-in-2022-1686776

Prophecies that dominated 2021 December 31st night services

Every year, Ghanaians anticipate December 31 watch night services held across churches. This is because it is known as the day some renowned prophets release tall lists of prophecies for the new year. Many Ghanaians are always eager to hear what these prophets will predict for the coming year. 2022 was a bit different because the Ghana Police Service cautioned the Christian Council that prophets who caused fear and panic with their prophecies would be arrested. This reduced the number of revelations these men of God dished out to the public. Despite all the cautioning, in 2022, three popular prophets, Bishop Salifu Amoako, Rev Owusu Bempah, and Prophet Nigel Gaisie topped the trends with their prophecies. As 2022 comes to an end, GhanaWeb takes a look at the prophecies by some of these prophecies that dominated headlines. Nigel Gaisie drops prophecies about Umuofia with details from Ghana Prophet Nigel adopted a strategy to deliver his prophecies about Ghana without directly referring to the country. Right before delving into his prophecies, the controversial pastor issued a disclaimer saying his prophecies will be about a nation called Umuofia and not Ghana. Strikingly, however, were the similarities between details about the nation of Umuofia and Ghana as disclosed in his prophecies. Some Prophecies by Nigel Gaisie about Umuofia (Ghana) I saw a heavy cloud like the cloud of darkness covering the head of state of Umuofia. Lets take this prophecy very seriously, I saw a cloud of darkness covering the head of state of Umuofia. I saw that his deputy is using mediums to trigger the quick passing away of the head of state. I saw in the realm of the spirit that the shoe of the big man is being worn by the deputy. I saw in the nation of Umuofia that something that has happened there is about to reoccur again, he stated. Prophet Nigel also warned of a terror attack in the nation of Umuofia. He warned that a pending explosive attack will occur in the nation of Umuofia and that the attack will be an external one with internal collaboration. Without mincing words, Prophet Nigel said the Lord revealed to him that former President John Dramani Mahama will win power in 2024 but warned that the current government of Umuofia will do everything to subvert the ballot. The hand of the Lord rested upon me and carried me into the election of 2024 or 2025 in the nation of Umuofia, and the Lord told me to tell them, to tell the CND people they should forget about the Ashanti Region. They should focus more on the Northern region. Because the election will be determined by these two regions. I saw a flag with red and black taking dominance. But let the CND people focus more on the northern region. Again, the Lord carried me in the realm and said I should say. The Lord said if the CND people of Umuofia do not wake up they will use systems and the EC and the NIA to twist the agenda and the will of the people. So let the CND people be more vigilant. He also predicted that 2022 will be a difficult year with a famine similar to that of 1983 likely to occur. On the works of parliament, Prophet Nigel said there is a conscious effort to reduce the minority seats and added that there will be a by-election. He also gave several prophecies about the speaker of parliament, the NPPs internal election, and the Greater Accra Regional Minister. He added that the current Special Prosecutor will resign just like his predecessor but issued all the prophecies alluding to the nation of Umuofia. List of Owusu Bempahs coded prophecies Leader of the Glorious Word Power Ministries International, Isaac Owusu Bempah, begged his congregation to accept a proverbial edition of prophecies during the 2021 Watch Night and Cross Over event at the church headquarters in Accra. Whiles admitting that this years session may not have been enjoyable as previous years due to the manner of prophecies, he tasked them to accept it as such and pray about the issues to the best of their abilities. GhanaWeb lists a number of the proverbial prophecies that Owusu Bempah delivered during the well-attended service that ended in the wee hours of January 1, 2022. Prayer for Parliament Owusu Bempah requested prayers for MPs because two persons holding candlesticks clashed causing their flames to be extinguished. We need to remember Parliament in prayers, we will remember them in prayers, he stated. Escalating tribal conflict Without giving specifics or mentioning in which region, the prophet said two tribes with serious disagreements were revealed to him and the spat became a public issue and military intervention was required. The offshoot was not palatable so we need to pray about it, he added. Prayers for Asanteman I saw darkness over Asanteman, I will pray that God intervenes, he stated. Prayer for people living along the coast We will pray for people living along the coast. I saw a man who was in the shape of water and he had walked to places inhabited by people. When he was going back, he went along with some people from the living world. We will pray water does not invade people, he added. A religious leader who travelled and never returned I saw a religious leader travelling, when he went he stayed on and delayed for so long and I saw nothing more about him. Prayers must go on, he stated. A big musician to get into trouble Owusu Bempah announced that big musicians must be remembered especially the very prominent and popular ones. I saw a popular musician who is well respected and largely followed, lose his hair and I saw his bare head. He lost all his hair. We will pray for prominent musicians, he added. Combative Kangaroos in security uniforms I also saw a kangaroo wearing military attire and another in police attire fighting and all trees around were in commotion. Trees were trying to intervene but it was impossible, even after a leader tried to intervene and it came down a bit. "(Let us pray) if not, Kangaroo in military and police attire will clash," he stated. Sleigh drawn by horses and donkeys crash Owusu Bempah said he saw a sleigh with horses in lead. The eyes of the horses lights like car headlights. I saw donkeys, horses and sleighs going at speed. The street before them rose and they entered a ditch. What emerged was bad. Encounter with silent destructive darkness I saw darkness walking and I asked where it was going and it discarded me. It refused to answer me, darkness stop, what are you doing, it refused to respond. I saw darkness go and stand at a big house and cover it with its hands, whiles rising, I heard shouts and screams in the house all subsequent questions, it refused and left the land of the living. I didnt see it again. In his closing remarks, he stated: 2022, if you walk well with God, you will be blessed. There will be marriage, which means the end time is almost here. The Bible says women will be given in marriage. Take good care of yourselves. Details of Elisha Salifu Amoakos prophecies During his first Sunday of 2022 service, the Founder and Leader of the Alive Chapel International, Archbishop-elect Elisha Salifu Amoako listed out some prophecies about the nations of the world. He called for prayers to be made against a lot of deaths and major confusion. Starting from the United States of America, right down to Ghana, the prophet told his congregation about how there have been major attacks initiated in the realms of the spirit against major personalities and groups of persons in the world. The angel of the Lord carried me into the nations, into the kingdoms. And the Lord said, in 2022, beginning from this month, the enemy has designed destruction and mind-boggling destruction against the world leaders. Im talking about the present and the past. If we dont pray for them, this year will be a year of major destructions. And the angel settled me in the United States and I saw a major death; a national one in the United States of America and the Lord said, Son of Man, pray against this destruction against the world leaders, he said. Archbishop-elect Salifu Amoako also spoke about what he said will be major deaths in India that will be occasioned by heavy rains, resulting in floods. And the angel settled me in the land of India. The Indian problem this year is going to be rain; rainfall will wipe away many lives. It will be heavy rainfall ... with heavy floods that is destroying people. The Lord said I pray also for the nation of India, he said. In Africa, he began his prophecies from Nigeria, calling for prayers to be made for the pastors in the country because a wind of many deaths has been directed at them. He also urged the actors in the country to take their prayer lives seriously otherwise they will be very surprised by the way people in the industry will die. Then He brought me to Africa and when I came to Africa, we settled in Nigeria. The Lord said, this year, certain high men of God need to pray in Nigeria because the enemy will kill some men of God; certain men of God, not only Nigeria too. Some men of God are going to die in Ghana; many men of God. Youd be surprised the way its going to happen. We need to pray. And I looked and I saw actors in Nigeria, and many of them, they have names, and the enemy attacked them and they started falling one after the other. The Lord says we should pray, he said. In Ghana, the prophet spoke to the media and the countrys lawmakers, stating that major attacks have been planned for them and that there is the need for prayers to be said for them, against all those evil. Salifu Amoako also said that the two main political parties should be guided since a major confusion is likely to break out between them. Then when he brought me to Ghana, this year, all the media houses the media houses, the media men, need to pray because theyll be attacked and therell be a major occurrence of death in the sector of the media. The Lord said we should pray because the media will be attacked. Number two, in Ghana here, the Lord said we must pray for the parliamentarians because this year will be a year of political confusion. There will be a major confusion between NPP and NDC. I see a lot of confusion but the Lord said we should remember them in prayer, he said He also spoke about directly sending an information to a sitting president who needs foreknowledge on something that is to happen between now and February of 2023; prayer for the Queen of England; that a Christian will rise up to lead in Nigeria; confusion in Uganda in June; and for the former president of Cote dIvoire, Laurent Gbagbo to be prayed for because there is a plan to poison him since the people want him back but people in power do not. Archbishop-elect Salifu Amoako also spoke about the worlds economies getting better, adding that in 2022, Ghanas economy will grow by 7%, among other things.

Religion

27 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/religion/Prophecies-that-dominated-2021-December-31st-night-services-1686695

Iconic U-turns made by the Akufo-Addo government in 2022

Effective communication, many experts have said, is a very critical part of the governance process of any nation. According to experts, this builds trust between the government and the citizenry. It, therefore, does not help when the leader of the government, the president, makes public pronouncements that are contrary to statements his appointees have made or makes statements that later have to be explained or clarified by his appointees. Yet, there were instances in 2022 when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made some statements that led to some mistrust in his government, which left his appointees scrambling to explain. Here are some of these instances: 'I'm not so sure Aisha Huang was deported' Akufo-Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in an interview in Ho, during his 2022 tour of the Volta Region, contradicted statements by some of his appointees that illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) kingpin, Aisha Huang, was deported from Ghana in 2018. "... I am not still sure whether she was, in fact, deported or whether she fled the country the first time and has now come back or whatever. There still seems to be some uncertainty about it. "Whichever way it is, she has become a sort of nickname for all that the 'galamsey' represents and also, unfortunately, for the involvement of Chinese nationals in this illicit trade," he said. But Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, in an attempt to explain the president's comments, said the president used a figure of speech and the most important thing was that Aisha Huang was repatriated in 2018, contrary to earlier reports that she was deported. He went on to explain the difference between deportation and repatriation. To him, the Minister of Interior has the power to "deport" while the Immigration Service has the power to "repatriate" via notice. "While the Minister for Interior can deport, the Immigration Service cannot. The instrument which the Immigration Service uses in such circumstances is a repatriation notice. Either way, the effect was that she was caused to exit from Ghana at the material moment," Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah tweeted. There will be no haircuts Akufo-Addo: President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo refuted suggestions that his government would buy off government bonds at rates lower than their expected returns "haircut on Government bonds". 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 clean-up, 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 covers 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. My government has constructed 10,875 kilometres of new roads Akufo-Addo President Akufo-Addo during his presentation of the State of the Nation Address, stated that the greatest infrastructure achievement his government has registered is in the road sector. Addressing the country in parliament, he said his government had completed, upgraded, and improved over 10,000 kilometers of road in the space of 5 years. President Akufo-Addo even gestured that the Members of Parliament (MPs) should open their eyes to see the roads. "It is in the road sector that we have registered the greatest infrastructure achievement. I know that the word 'unprecedented' is often used with careless abandon in our public discourse, but I use it carefully and purposefully", the President said. "In the five years of my government, so far, more roads have been built, improved, and upgraded than at any other equivalent period under any government in the history of Ghana. Some ten thousand, eight hundred and seventy-five (10,875) kilometres of new roads have been constructed in these five (5) years," the president said. In an attempt to clarify the president's figures, the Roads and Highways Ministry said the 10,875 kilometers of roads constructed included ongoing work on unpaved roads. According to the ministry, any activity on the road amounts to construction. The construction work the Ministry said it does on unpaved roads includes grading, gravelling, re-gravelling, and spot improvement. "In 2017, the total network size was 78,402 kilometers. As of the end of 2021, the projected network size has increased to 94,203 kilometers. The data on completed works has subsequently been updated to 10,875 km as of the end of February 2022. "Over the past 5 years, a lot of investment had gone into both the paved and unpaved roads to improve the riding quality on our roads. The 10,875 kilometres of roads constructed have been on both paved and unpaved roads," a statement by the ministry read. You can also watch an episode of Election Desk on GhanaWeb TV below: IB/SEA

Politics

27 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/politics/Iconic-U-turns-made-by-the-Akufo-Addo-government-in-2022-1686650

Daring, unfazed and vilified: Meet 2022 Woman of the year

There should have been a debate on this subject, but it seems that politically, and looking back on the year in retrospect, Sarah Adwoa Safo has no competition when it comes to names of females who have dominated news headlines for the most part of the last 365 days. The Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya has not just easily earned herself the coveted title of "Woman of the Year 2022," but she has also endeared herself to several good and bad energies. But even more interesting has been the fact that not only have these energies come from her usual opponents, but a number of them too have come from within her very background: from her colleague MPs in the Majority or New Patriotic Party (NPP). And someone might just say, well, it was expected. So, what are the specific reasons that this prestigious award would fall so easily at the feet of this young, yet experienced MP? Let's travel down memory lane to the first time her name became a major talking point in the year. This was when it was noticed that Sarah Adwoa Safo had been absent from parliament her constitutionally mandated place of work, for quite a long time. But even more profound was the fact that her presence was needed for a crucial government business; one that the president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, through his Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, was trying so had to push through the evenly-split Parliament of Ghana. The controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), which was eventually passed under very controversial circumstances, was what the country needed the Dome Kwabenyas presence so much for, but as it turned out, her presence wasnt so greatly needed. In fact, ahead of the vote on the E-Levy, which had gone through many stages of parliamentary procedures, arguments and counter-arguments, and near fisticuffs on the floor of parliament, the Majority (of which Adwoa Safo is a member of), had declared that with or without her, they would push through with their vote. In an interview in February 2022, Habib Iddrisu, the Deputy Majority Whip, stated that if history is any guide, the House has been able to pass many bills into law without the full support of majority MPs. Its not cast in stone that without the presence of Adwoa Safo the E-Levy will not be passed, he said. Adwoa Safo holding government to ransom: One of the people who many believed knew the exact whereabouts of Sarah Adwoa Safo, was the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong. This, beyond the fact that he was a colleague of hers, was mainly because he has children with her. But interestingly enough, he was one of the people who criticized her the most for staying away from parliament and from the country. According to him, the lawmakers conduct was tantamount to holding the governing NPP to ransom. NPP has a problem. As for me na truth go kill me. I will tell you the way it is... Adwoa Sarfo is holding the whole NPP to ransom. It is the truth Im saying. "I wont cover it up because I have 2 children with her so when she is doing something which is wrong, [I wont say it]. What is going on in NPP is very annoying. We have pampered some people to the extent that they have become tin gods, he said in Twi on February 8, 2022. There were also claims that the Dome-Kwabenya MP had been absent for that long because she wanted to be made the Deputy Majority Leader in parliament. Adwoa Safo absent from parliament for 15 days: By February 18, 2022, Adwoa Safos absence from parliament had officially entered its 15th day. Already unhappy with her prolonged absence without any concrete reasons or constant communication with them, some members of the Majority Caucus started processes to remove her as an MP. The MPs on the same side of the House with her had hinted that she will be reported formally to the Privileges Committee for onward action. But this was a decision that was, rather surprisingly, fought back by the people who should ordinarily be her opponents in politics: the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs. Minority for Adwoa Safo: The Member of Parliament for Adaklu Constituency, Kwame Governs Agboza, questioned why some members of the Majority in Parliament were attacking the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, as though she was the only MP who had absented herself from parliament for a long time. According to him, there are a number of MPs who only come to the chamber to break the 15-day rule after they have been away for a while. Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb, the MP quizzed why there is so much interest in Adwoa Safo who has been away from the house for a while. There are a number of Members of Parliament who always come here to break the 15 days rule. They come when the 15 days is about to elapse then they come and do one day or even half day, so why is Adwoa Safo of so much of interest currently? Look into the chamber for some people you even hardly know if they are still Members of Parliament. So, I dont even see the fixation on Adwoa Safo. The NPP is being so callous, unfair to Adwoa Safo. She has done everything for the party and even won seat for the party, today, you are telling her she and her father are nobody and the party doesnt belong her, but she has never claimed the party belongs to her, he noted. Chief of Staff paid Adwoa Safo GH120,000, Agyapong alleges: And then there was another major accusation made by Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central, about the whole Adwoa Safo saga. He alleged that the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, gave him GH120,000 to be deposited into the bank account of Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, to enable her return to parliament and work for the government. "I have vowed not to insult like I will blast her today. Adwoa Safo, Chief of Staff called me; I went there and [she] said now this is what she is saying, I swear [on] my mother's grave, Chief of Staff gave me GH120,000 to deposit in Adwoa Safo's bank account. "I put the money there; I deposited it in her Fidelity bank account; you can ask her PA if what I am saying is not the truth. I deposited the money there. Now, because of how she is behaving, we are in opposition," a furious Kennedy Agyapong said on Asaase Radio on Tuesday, February 22. Petition to remove 3 NPP MPs: After some time had elapsed, there was a petition made to parliament by a former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, seeking the Speakers powers to invoke Article 97(1) on some absentee MPs who have breached the 15-day rule in the House. According to him, four Members of Parliament all absented themselves from the Chamber for more than fifteen sitting days without the permission of the Speaker. The MPs are Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome Kwabenya; Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin South; Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso Central; and Ebenezer Kojo Kum, MP for Ahanta. I write to petition your high office to respectfully enforce the provisions of article 97(1) c of the 1992 constitution of Ghana and parliaments Standing Order number 16(1). It has come to my notice through parliaments Hansard, and newspaper and radio reports that some four Members of Parliament, namely Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome-Kwabenya; Hon. Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso Central; Hon. Ebenezer Kojo Kum, MP for Ahanta West; and Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central have all absented themselves from Parliament for more than fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament without the permission of Mr. Speaker in writing, he wrote. Bagbin refers 3 NPP MPs to Privileges Committee: After admitting the petition by Ras Mubarak, Alban Bagbin referred the case of the three MPs to the Privileges Committee. Privileges Committee, you are so directed, handle the matter, report back to the House, he directed. It would take a lot of back and forth, refusals to attend to the invitation of the Committee, to a report to the Speaker of Parliament recommending that action be taken on the three but Bagbin once again saved the Dome-Kwabenya MP. Bagbin saves Adwoa Safo once again: After many looked forward to the verdict that the Speaker of Parliament would deliver on the fate of Sarah Adwoa Safo and the two other MPs, he dipped a lot of hopes when he eventually did. On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, he dismissed the objection of the Majority Leader to the admissibility of the committee report for the consideration of the house. As I have noted in this ruling, the decision (sic) on not to admit a motion is the exclusive preserve of the Speaker. In view of the foregoing, the House is well within its right to receive and consider reports of the committee and make a determine arising out of the consideration. In the circumstances, it is my ruling that the motion was rightfully admitted and the report of the committee is subject to the consideration of the house. It goes without saying that the (sic) objection of the Majority Leader today (sic) is hereby dismissed... he concluded his verdict. Adwoa Safo sacked as gender minister: It must be stated that months earlier, and after a lot of expectations, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, officially sacked Sarah Adwoa Safo as Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection. According to a statement signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications, Office of the President, the presidents decision was according to Article 81(a) of the 1992 Constitution. The statement added that Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister, Sanitation and Water Resources, will continue as the caretaker minister until a substantive minister is appointed. In accordance with article 81(a) of the Constitution, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has revoked the appointment of Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, with immediate effect. The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, will continue to act as caretaker Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, until such a time that President Akufo-Addo appoints a substantive Minister, the statement from the Presidency concluded. Adwoa Safo finally resumes parliament duties: On Friday, November 11, 2022, GhanaWeb's lenses in parliament captured Sarah Adwoa Safo on the floor of the House. She was seen interacting with the former Minister for Works and Housing and MP for Abuakwa, Samuel Atta Akyea. Adwoa Safo's return to the House came after her aide, Nana Dubin Kwapong, indicated that she was having discussions with the leadership of the Majority caucus before resuming her parliamentary duties. In her first interaction with the media on her return, she ascribed thanks to all who had supported her in her absence. I greet all my constituents. As their Member of Parliament, by the grace of God, I have finally returned to the Chamber... the reception has been good... Im now back to continue my duties and today is the first day and Im hoping that the subsequent weeks are going to be good. It feels good to be back, she said. There is more that this article has not adequately captured but in general, these are the major things that make the personality, Sarah Adwoa Safo the Woman of the Year, in GhanaWebs projections. AE/BOG

General

27 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Daring-unfazed-and-vilified-Meet-2022-Woman-of-the-year-1686629

7 major fire outbreaks in 2022

Fire outbreaks occur very often in this part of the country. Every now and then, news of a fire outbreak in some parts of Ghana emerges in the news, causing fear and panic among people. The year 2022 has seen a lot of horrid incidents of fire outbreaks. From gas explosions to minor outbreaks leading to property damages as well as loss of items. In the first half of the year, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) recorded 3,678 outbreaks in the country. Below is a list of some fire outbreaks recorded of some big institutions, places and edifices the year 2022 Fire outbreak at Kantamanto In the early hours of Tuesday, November 22, 2022, fire swept through the Kantamanto Market in Accra causing a lot of damage to several properties of traders. Reports from GhanaWebs reporter on the grounds on the day indicated the extent of damage caused by the fire which destroyed a great part of the busy dresses and shoe market. More than 200 shops are believed to have been affected by the inferno although the cause of the fire was not clearly stated. As of the time GhanaWeb got to the scene, it was noticed that efforts of the Ghana National Fire Service to douse the fire had not been so successful, as many shops and their goods had been reduced to ashes. Reports also say about seven fire tenders were dispatched to the fire scene. Fire outbreak at China Mall One of the biggest malls in Ghana, the China Mall located at Weija in Accra witnessed a fire outbreak that destroyed a warehouse belonging to the company. The incident happened on Saturday afternoon [November 26, 2022]. According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), it took firefighters over nine hours to bring the fire under control. The Public Relations Officer of the Greater Accra Regional GNFS said they received the distress call at 3:32pm. "The ferocious warehouse fire was offensively fought by the tactical firefighters and finally knocked out at 02:17am on Sunday (November 27, 2022) without recording any casualty," the GNFS said in a statement published on Facebook. The GNFS added that the protracted fire was due to the chain of assorted fuels involved in the blaze and the difficulty in gaining access to the seat of the raging inferno. According to the GNFS, the firefighters were able to salvage some home appliances, including deep freezers, television sets, washing machines, air conditioners and a large portion of the warehouse from fire ruins. Fire outbreak at Berekum NEDCo There was a fire outbreak at the Northern Electricity Development Corporation (NEDCo) control room in Berekum leading to a power outage in Berekum and other adjourning communities. It took the timely intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service personnel to bring the fire outbreak that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, December 21, 2022, under control. The situation disrupted power supply to several communities including Berekum, Wamfie, Drobo, Sampa, Dormaa Ahenkro, Nkrankwanta and other adjourning communities served from the Berekum sub-station. The Berekum Branch Manager of NEDCo, Ing. Ferdinand Nkrumah who confirmed the fire outbreak at the control room said there was a fire outbreak at our control room so it has affected the power supply to many communities. There is a power outage in some parts of Berekum, Drobo, Dormaa and Sampa as a result of the disaster. Fire outbreak at Dadiesoabo Nursing and Midwifery Training College Management of Dadiesoabo Nursing and Midwifery Training College in the Asutifi South District of the Ahafo Region was shut down for two weeks following a fire outbreak that razed down a hostel in the school. Following the incident, students in the school were asked to go home as management looked for alternative accommodation for them. According to the Principal of the Dadiesoabo Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Marcelina Teni Kwose, they were forced to accommodate the students in classrooms for two days before eventually shutting down the school. Fire outbreak at Mile 7 Market Portions of the Mile 7 market in Accra were gutted by fire on Saturday, July 30, 2022. The cause of the fire was unclear but a video posted by Accra-based Metro TV on Twitter showed several structures up in flames. Personnel from the Ghana Fire Service were on the grounds to douse the fire while some shop owners attempted to salvage their wares. Fire outbreak at Opera Square Cinema There was a reported fire outbreak at the Central Business District of Accra. According to multiple reports, the Opera Square Cinema at Makola in Accra was engulfed in flames causing a huge cloud of dark smoke billowing from the building into the skies of the Central Business District. There were videos from the scene sighted by GhanaWeb that showed flames pushing out of the windows of the multi-story structure. It is unknown what sparked the fire but personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service were at the scene with tenders attending to the fire. Fire outbreak at Kumasi Central Market On Monday, October 4, 2022, fire swept through 20 shops at the leather and footwear section of the Kumasi Central Market, destroying goods worth thousands of cedis. Items like leather materials, bags, shoes and slippers were burnt in the blaze. The cause of the fire was not ascertained, but the traders said a trigger from the poor management of their production equipment produced the fire. Some affected victims had the shock of their lives after experiencing the outbreak. I had stocked my shop with leather. Everything has been destroyed. I had no access to salvage any of my items, said one woman. Another said I have restocked my shop with leathers worth thousands of cedis. I bought some with my own money and others on credit. I had no call concerning the fire, upon reaching this morning people started consoling me. Be sure to protect yourselves this festive season VKB/WA

General

27 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/7-major-fire-outbreaks-in-2022-1686611

Three times Akufo-Addos statements infuriated Ghanaians in 2022

2022 is undoubtedly one of the toughest years Ghanaians, particularly those who did not face the drought in the 1980s, have seen. Many expect the father of the country, the president, to give hope to the citizenry with his public pronouncements. Unfortunately, some statements President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made added insult to injury for many Ghanaians. The presidents comments that annoyed Ghanaians were mostly made during his tour of some parts of the country. Here are three statements by Akufo-Addo that did not sit well with many Ghanaians: To those of you saying bad things about me in the Ashanti Region, I will shame you all Akufo-Addo President Akufo-Addo, while speaking during a sod-cutting ceremony for the Suame Interchange on October 18, 2022, as part of his Ashanti Region tour, berated his political detractors in the region. According to him, these people will be shamed one by one for the numerous things he has done for the people of the region, which is considered the 'political world bank' of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP). President Akufo-Addo stated that for the past six years that he has been in office, the people of the Ashanti Region have benefitted enough from his government; therefore, his detractors cannot say otherwise. "And to those of you going around saying bad things about me in the Ashanti Region, one after the other, they are all going to be shamed convincingly today, tomorrow and the day after. "In spite of our present difficulties, which I know will be gone as soon as possible, I continue to be excited about the future prospects of the nation, and I urge all Ghanaians to join hands in building the Ghana that we want, we can realize it if we all work at it," he said. Your threats to vote against the NPP don't frighten me Akufo-Addo The president once again raised eyebrows in an interview on OTEC FM during his tour of the Ashanti Region when he stated how unfazed he was about the NPP losing the next general elections. He explained that while there are threats to vote against them, he is unmoved, adding that the intimidation of voting against the NPP due to unfulfilled promises or lack of development under his tenure is a voter's personal decision he cannot be bothered about. "People make those kinds of threats; they don't frighten me. Somebody votes for you, and somebody supports you. It's because they want you to do certain things for them. I understand that. But there is no need for people to say that if I am unable to do this and that... those are their own issues to deal with. Of course, I will do it (the road). "But if it comes to the election and you choose to vote for the NDC, that is your own issue; that is not my worry because nobody holds your thumb to vote; it is your own work. The important thing is that I understand my responsibility, and we will deal with it," the president said. I'm not so sure if Aisha Huang was deported - Akufo-Addo In September 2022, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo contradicted statements by some of his appointees that illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) kingpin, Aisha Huang, was deported from Ghana in 2018. Speaking in an interview on Stone City Radio in Ho during his tour of the Volta Region, which GhanaWeb monitored, Akufo-Addo expressed uncertainty about whether Aisha Huang was deported. According to the president, it is likely that the 'galamsey' queen was never deported but fled the country in 2018. "... I am not still sure whether she was, in fact, deported or whether she fled the country the first time and has now come back or whatever. There still seems to be some uncertainty about it. "Whichever way it is, she has become a sort of nickname for all that the 'galamsey' represents and also, unnfortunately, for the involvement of Chinese nationals in this illicit trade," he said. You can also watch an episode of Election Desk on GhanaWeb TV below:

General

26 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Three-times-Akufo-Addo-s-statements-infuriated-Ghanaians-in-2022-1686326

Most controversial statements made by politicians in 2022

It is arguably inevitable to stay on the safe bench as a politician. One may make statements against their opponents or unintentionally make a comment which may provoke some reaction. There was a list of these in the year 2022. Some quite interesting ones. As we wrap up the year, GhanaWeb has compiled a list of such remarks that have got Ghanaians talking; I will not resign; its like abandoning my children Ofori-Atta: This year was not necessarily good for the finance minister considering the economic status of the country, taxes that have largely been protested, and the countrys debt situation. There have been calls for his resignation time and again, mostly over mismanagement allegations but an announcement that the country was heading for an IMF bailout appeared to have courted even more calls for his head. A number of Ghanaians; CSOs and individuals alike called for the finance minister to give up his position for another more capable individual who perhaps will be able to turn around the fortunes of the country. In response to these calls, Ken Ofori-Atta disagreed. His arguments were that a resignation, particularly at a time like that will suggest that he is turning his back on Ghanaians. He further likened the situation to a father who was giving up on his children because of circumstances beyond his control. It is almost like telling a father to resign from his children because he is changed his mind. There are times that decisions have to be made for the survival of a country and therefore if circumstances such as COVID or the Ukraine war occur which are not typical, it does change the environment, and sensible people will change their minds, Ofori-Atta said. ken ofori atta: how can a father leave his children in hard times. you think governance is a matter of father and child, youre appointed by the power the people have to the president. nobody is your child, if you display incompetence, you must resign. BIIIG MVNNY (@mvnnyfrrevks) October 20, 2022 Telling me to resign is like telling a father to resign from his children because he changed his mind. - Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister at the NPP Delegates Conference. Dis Ken Dude paaa, he figure sey, he be de father of de nation or something? Quasi Abite (@abite222) July 16, 2022 I am not afraid to be voted against: This maybe was the biggest! The presidents comments about voting. Like the finance minister, the president has not been spared by critics who believe Ghana is not at a good place because of some decisions by the latter. It was during one of these periods that some residents of Manso and Kwabre in the Ashanti Region had threatened to vote the current government out if their issues about bad roads are not dealt with. Responding to this in an OTEC FM interview in Kumasi, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made a comment that got many people literally in stitches. In the interview, the president stated that he is not moved by threats of electoral consequences by some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He explained that he knows that people will vote for their preferred candidates in an election and that voters can also not be forced to make choices in a democratic dispensation, hence there was no need to threaten a government with votes. Their concerns were conveyed by the journalist who conducted the interview on OTEC FM. The people of Kwabre and Manso, we know they voted massively for Nana, they have asked me to inform the president that if their roads are not fixed, they will be pained and in 2024, they will vote against the NPP, the journalist asked after the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, had responded to a question. No problem, no problem. I am saying people make those kinds of threats, me, they dont frighten me. Somebody votes for you, somebody supports you, it is because they want you to do things for them, so I understand that, the president quickly weighed in with a response. But if it comes to the election and you choose to vote for the NDC, that is your own issue that is not my worry because nobody holds your thumb to vote; it is your own work. The important thing is that I understand my responsibility, and we will deal with it, the president added. I will shame you all: Still in the Ashanti Region for his tour, the president took an opportunity while making an address to send a statement to persons he believes are his political detractors in the region. According to him, these people will be shamed one by one by the numerous work he has done for the people of the region, which is considered the 'political world bank' of the governing party; the NPP. President Akufo-Addo stated that for the past six years that he has been in office, the people of the Ashanti Region have benefitted enough from his government, therefore, his detractors cannot say otherwise. "And to those of you going around saying bad things about me in the Ashanti Region, one after the other, they are all going to be shamed convincingly, today, tomorrow and the day after. In spite of our present difficulties which I know will be gone as soon as possible, I continue to be excited about the future prospects of the nation and I urge all Ghanaians to join hands in building the Ghana that we want, we can realize it if we all work at it, he said. This statement also got tongues wagging. I'm not so sure if Aisha Huang was deported: In September, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appeared to have stirred some talk with submissions during an interview with Stone City Radio in Ho during his tour of the Volta Region. During the interactions, he made a statement about the case of the embattled Chinese galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang (En Huang). Speaking in that interview, President Akufo-Addo said it is likely that the 'galamsey' queen may not have been deported, but rather fled the country in 2018. "... I am not still sure whether she was, in fact, deported or whether she fled the country the first time and has now come back or whatever. There still seems to be some uncertainty about it. "Whichever way it is, she has become a sort of nickname for all that the 'galamsey' represents and also, unfortunately, for the involvement of Chinese nationals in this illicit trade," he said. The statement came under a lot of public scrutiny because it was determined to have contradicted what some of his appointees had said on the same subject, to the effect that Aisha Huang had actually been deported from Ghana in 2018. I reluctantly agreed to extend the time to September 30 Ursula Owusu: The Minister of Communications and Digitization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has been urging Ghanaians to re-register their SIM cards to avoid disruption of services. After several warnings, the Minister extended the August 31 deadline to September 30. While addressing the nation on measures taken against Ghanaians who are yet to register their SIM cards said she reluctantly agreed to extend the second deadline time to September 30 upon consultations. "Upon consultation with stakeholders in the industry and in view of the challenges enumerated above, I have reluctantly accepted to extend the re-registration exercise to September 30, 2022, she said. Some Ghanaians criticised her for this comment. Among other things, they suggested that Ursulas use of the word hesitantly was quite unnecessary. The part that bore me is I have reluctantly extended the date. Is Ghana for Ursula Owusu cos eii MAMZE ???????? (@adjoahanson) July 31, 2022 Ursula Owusu stop talking like SHS Heard Mistress " I reluctantly agreed to extend the deadline " is arrogant talk who is she koraa #FixTheCountry THE HEAD OF THE TABLE (@anaba_emmanuel9) August 2, 2022 I agree with you patriot @BruceJojo! Vodafone was my first choice until they started giving me poor quality service and I had to switch to MTN. Reluctantly like Ursula Owusu...???????????? Sumaila Seidu Saaka (@sssaaka) August 4, 2022 NYA/WA

General

25 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Most-controversial-statements-made-by-politicians-in-2022-1685888

Ghanaians arrested for allegations they made against Akufo-Addo and his family in 2022

The government in 2022 was heavily criticized for the arrest of persons who made some allegations against the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his family. In fact, leaders of civil society organizations in Ghana and other notable Ghanaians accused the government of subtly reintroducing the abolished Criminal Libel Law, which criminalized speech. This was after the arrests, detentions, and trials of journalists and other Ghanaians for allegedly publishing false news as well as making disparaging comments against the president and his family. Here are some Ghanaians who were arrested for utterances they made: ASEPA's Mensah Thompson Mensah Thompson, Executive Director, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), was arrested by the Ghana Police Service for alleging that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, together with his relatives, had used the presidential aircraft of the Ghana Armed Forces for a shopping trip to the United Kingdom in December 2021. On January 7, Thompson posted an allegation on his Facebook wall, the first two paragraphs of which read: "So between the 20th and 30th of December, 2021... during the Christmas, the children of a close relative of the President took Ghana's Presidential Jet the Falcon EX jet on a trip to the UK just for Christmas shopping. "They didn't go alone, they went with their friends and partied in the sky all through the trip, taking snap videos and flaunting their lucky adventure." Mensah Thompson later backtracked on his claims and rendered an unqualified apology for peddling the false claims after the Ghana Armed Forces debunked the claims, discredited the reportage, and asked the general public to disregard it. His apology could not save him from being arrested and charged with the publication of false news and offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace. He was later granted bail of GHC 50,000. Accra FM's Bobie Ansah The host of the Citizen Show on Accra FM, Kwabena Bobie Ansah, was also arrested on Thursday, February 11, 2022, by the police and detained at the Nima Police Station. In a brief statement on Friday, January 11, 2022, the Ghana Police Service said his arrest was in connection with an "alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct." According to the police, Bobie Ansah's arrest was necessitated after he "turned down several invitations from the police to him and others involved in the case to assist with the investigation." Multiple sources indicated that the arrest of Bobie Ansah was about some allegations he made against the first lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo. Bobie Ansah, on live radio, accused the first lady of appropriating state lands for herself for the use of her private foundation. "Do you know that Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Samira have appropriated for themselves the aviation lands?" He questioned in a short video of the programme obtained by GhanaWeb. "As I speak to you today, there are Chinese nationals working on the aviation lands that were acquired by Kwame Nkrumah for the state for the expansion of the expansion of the aviation sector for its growth. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has had the guts to apportion the state land to herself and is putting up a project in the name of her foundation an NGO," he added. Media General's Captain Smart Broadcast journalist Godsbrain Smart, famously known as Captain Smart, was arrested two times in 2022, but only one of the arrests was related to comments he made against the president and his government. On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, Captain Smart was arrested by officials of the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) while on his way home from work. Before his arrest, the Ministry of Information had accused the journalist of impugning the character of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The statement was made on the back of a broadcast made by Captain Smart on October 17, 2022, in which he accused the president of being actively involved in illegal mining, also known as galamsey. The ministry described the claims by Captain Smart as false and malicious and further accused the journalist of engaging in unethical and irresponsible journalism. The journalist, after his release, confirmed that he was arrested in connection with the allegation he made against the president. TWI NEWS A mother of four, Salamatu Mohammed On Wednesday, November 16, Salamatu Mohammed, a mother of four, was arrested for wishing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo dead in a viral video. In the said viral video 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 (GH1200). 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. IB/SEA

General

25 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Ghanaians-arrested-for-allegations-they-made-against-Akufo-Addo-and-his-family-in-2022-1685852

Year In Review: Deadliest accidents of 2022 that took many Ghanaian lives

Road crashes count as one of the major contributors to fatalities in Ghana. Many accidents took the lives of scores in 2022. Some of these occured as a result of carelessness but some others happened as a result of factors including overspeeding, head-on crashes among others Below are some accidents reported in 2022 that recorded multiple deaths: Family of six, returning from wedding drown as car plunges into river In the early part of January 2022, a family of six sadly drowned when a car they were travelling in plunged into a river at Hwediem near Nkwawie in the Atwima Nwabiagya South of the Ashanti region. The accident occurred in the evening of Saturday, January 8. They were returning from a wedding at Bibiani in the Western North Region when the incident occurred. A source at the Nkawie Police Station, while confirming the incident said the vehicle transporting the family veered off the street and landed in a river after a failed overtaking. All occupants in the vehicle including a man, his wife, three children and an in-law drowned and died. 13 die as truck somersaults at Savelegu 13 people died in an accident at Zugo in the Savelugu Municipality of the Northern Region in January 2022. The accident is said to have occurred when the driver of a truck filled with about 33 mourners lost control of the wheel while he was attempting to avoid knocking down a cyclist who crossed his lane. The Northern Regional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, giving an earlier account of the accident said the truck somersaulted in the process and landed in a nearby bush. The information we gathered was that the truck driver was carrying about 33 mourners returning from a funeral and got involved in that fatal accident, he added. 4 perish, 39 injured in Tuobodom accident Also in the month of January, on the 20th, four persons died on the spot in an accident that occurred at Tuobodom in the Techiman North District on the Kintampo-Techiman highway in the Bono East Region. The accident occurred about 3:50a.m. when a KIA Grandbird bus from Bolgatanga to Kumasi ran into a breakdown DAF articulated truck in front of the Tuobodom Senior High School. The deceased included a mother and her four-year-old son, a nine-month-old baby boy and the bus driver's mate. The 39 other passengers who sustained varying degrees of injuries were sent to the Techiman Holy Family Hospital for treatment. 5 dead, 7 injured in accident on Accra-Kumasi Highway In the month of April, least five (5) persons were confirmed dead in a fatal accident which occurred on the Bunso stretch of the Accra to Kumasi Highway in the Eastern region. The accident occurred on Monday, April 4 at about 3:55 am. The accident involved a Toyota Hiace minibus with Registration number AK 1145-21 with 13 persons on board travelling from Kumasi towards Accra. A report indicates that, on reaching a section of the road after Akyem Asiakwa junction near Bunso on Accra to Kumasi Highway, the driver without due care and attention veered off his lane and crashed the offside rear portion of a DAF low bird articulated truck with registration number GT 3799-16 traveling from Tema towards Kumasi. The impact forced the Toyota minibus to crash at the roadside killing five persons including the driver instantly. Seven male occupants aboard the Toyota Hiace minibus sustained injuries and were rushed to Hawa Memorial Savior hospital and admitted. 14 passengers burnt to death in accident at Asemasa In the month of March, some 14 persons, including a child were confirmed dead in a gory accident at Asemasa in the Shama District of the Western Region. The accident involved a Tipper Truck with no visible number plate and a Ford Bus with registration number GW 6628 21. A police source said the accident occurred when the truck busted a tyre in an attempt to negotiate a curve at Asemasa. It veered off its lane and collided head-on with the Ford Bus, which sparked fire spontaneously, leading to the accident. The police said the Ford Bus was from Tarkwa while the Truck, loaded with quarry stones, was from Cape Coast. All 14 passengers on board the Ford Bus, comprising 10 males and four females, including a Chinese national, got burnt beyond recognition. The charred bodies were conveyed to the Central Regional Hospital Morgue for preservation. Four EUW students perish in accident at Asuobi The Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), in the month of March confirmed the death of four of its students in the road accident at Asuboi. In a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, the Public Relations Officer of the SRC, Shadrach Appiah, said that although nine people died, only four were students, and the others were passengers who joined the students. Because of the increases in prices of fares, students normally organise buses to the school because it is relatively cheaper. The bus involved in the accident was the last bus from Sunyani, and it had 35 students and other passengers the driver picked on the way because the bus was not full. Two of the students who died are male, and the other two female. The bus organiser was able to identify the two ladies, but he could not identify the gentlemen. I can confirm that one of the students was in level 300, the others were continuing students, but I have not been able to confirm their level as of now, Appiah said in Twi. The SRC PRO also disclosed that some of the students were gravely wounded, with three of the injured students referred to a health facility in Koforidua and subsequently to Accra. Six dead, 22 others injured on Wassa Akropong Bawdie road Six lives were claimed in an accident involving three cars at Wassa Asikuma on the Wassa Akropong Bawdie road in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality on March 3. The cars involved in the accident were; a taxi, sprinter, and a Kia truck with registration numbers; GT 6637-20, GT 8721-18 and AC 899-21 respectively. According to an eye witness, Emmanuel Nipa, the Kia truck loaded with bags of cocoa from Bawdie heading towards Wassa Akropong which was on top speed had a head-on collision with the sprinter bus which was coming from Wassa Akropong. The taxi driver who was behind the sprinter upon seeing the crash, tried to save passengers in the taxi and veered off the road into the bush injuring the passengers on board. The deceased persons included a two-year-old boy and a pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Wassa Akropong, while twenty-two others were severely injured. Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai MCE, driver die in ghastly road accident The Municipal Chief Executive for Bibiani-Anwhiaso-Bekwai in the Western North Region, Alfred Amoah, and his driver died in an accident Tuesday, July 12, 2022. According to a police report, the incident was reported around 5:15 pm when the said driver was driving the Nissan Patrol 44 No. GC 2060- 18 belonging to the Bibiani- Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly with Hon. Alfred Amoah the MCE of the Municipality on board travelling from Accra towards Bibiani direction. On reaching a section of the road at Akim Fisher on the Accra-Kumasi Highway, a Man Diesel Articulated truck No. AS 4229-X from Kumasi's direction veered off its lane and crashed head-on with the Nissan Patrol 44. The MCE and his driver got trapped in the vehicle and both are suspected to have died on the spot. With the help of the National Fire Service from Bunso and Kibi, the bodies of the deceased were removed and sent to Kibi Government Hospital where they were confirmed dead by the Medical Officer on duty. Their bodies were deposited at the mortuary for preservation, identification and autopsy. A Man Diesel Fuel tanker No. GN 8540-20 driven by Habibu Adam aged 35 years with an empty tank from Kumasi direction on seeing the danger ahead applied his brakes to avoid a crash. In the process, he lost control of the steering wheel veered off his lane and landed into a ditch on the offside when facing Accra direction, the police report said. 8 die in head-on collision, others injured Some eight lives were lost in a head-on collision that occurred on the Kwapong-Nobekaw road in the Asunafo South District in the Ahafo Region on Thursday, June 30, 2022. The accident involving a taxi cab with registration number GT 7008 X, and a tipper truck with registration number GC 7955-20, is reported to have occurred at about 9:30 a.m. All seven people onboard the taxi including the driver, died on the spot, in addition to one of the four passengers who were onboard the tipper truck. Five men dead in gruesome accident at Fanteakwa Five persons; all-male were confirmed dead in an accident at Akrumsu a farming community in Fanteakwa North District in Eastern Region. The accident involved a Benz bus with the registration number GE 4075 E, overloaded with bags of maize, and charcoal and aboard with few passengers from Donkorkrom and enroute to Akim Agogo. The accident was said to have occurred on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at about 15:30 GMT. A survivor alleged that the drivers brakes failed in the process of manoeuvring, where he lost control of the steering wheel at a curve near the Akrumsu Community. He said the bus suddenly veered off the road and somersaulted multiple times before landing in a ditch. Five school children crashed to death An accident involving pupils of DS Elites Academy at Adrobaa in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region claimed five lives and left six others in critical condition. The five pupils reportedly died on the spot following the accident which occurred on Friday, November 11, 2022. GA/WA

General

24 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-In-Review-Deadliest-accidents-of-2022-that-took-many-Ghanaian-lives-1685519

Year In Review: 5 times the police were accused of using deadly force on civilians in 2022

The Ghana Police Service in 2022 was heavily criticized for the increase in the use of excessive force by its officers on civilians. In fact, security experts, including the Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Prof. Kwesi Aning, said that police officers in the country have become trigger happy and are shooting down civilians haphazardly. This article looks at some instances in 2022 where police officers were accused of using unnecessary, brutal force on ordinary Ghanaians. Death of Albert Donkor in Nkoranza The Ghana Police Service in May 2022 stated that a robbery suspect, Albert Donkor, died as a result of a gunshot wound, he sustained during a police operation. But the family of the deceased said that the claim by the police was not true because Albert Donkor was not a criminal. The family accused the police of masterminding the killing of an innocent man, adding that Albert may have been targeted after he chanced on a robbery operation involving some police officers. Member of Parliament for Nkoranza South Constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum (Hon), also said that Albert was seen alive in the custody of the police. Narrating events leading to the death of the young man, Hon Agyekum said, "On 25th April 2022 at exactly 1:00am-midnight, Albert Donkor was picked up from his mother's residence at Kasadjan in the Nkoranza South Municipality by the Ghana Police Service on a suspicion of a robbery that had occurred on the Nkoranza- Kintampo road." "He was denied access to a lawyer of his choice, his family members were denied access to him, he was never tried by any competent court, and, today, all we are hearing is - Albert is no more," he revealed, asking "how reckless can the police service be?" Killing of a protester in Nkoranza The police also shot a mob in May protesting the killing of a robbery suspect, Albert Donkor, whom they claim was killed in the custody of the police. The shooting of the mob killed at least one person and injured at least five others. TWI NEWS According to the police, six persons were injured as the police defended themselves when the protest evolved into a barbaric attack on its officers at the station and one of the injured persons died at the hospital. On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, the Nkoranza Police Divisional and District Headquarters were invaded by some irate mob who attacked the stations with all forms of dangerous implements. The mob was allegedly protesting the death of Albert Donkor, an armed robbery suspect who died during a police anti-robbery operation." Police responded appropriately to the situation including bringing in reinforcement teams from the Regional Headquarters and adjoining regions to restore law and order. Also, as a result of the attack, six persons were injured and sent to the St. Theresa's Hospital, Nkoranza... one of them died while receiving treatment and five others are currently on admission and responding to treatment, portions of the police statement read. Arise Ghana Demonstration The police were also accused of using unnecessary force during the first day of the Arise Ghana demonstration on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Arise Ghana demonstrators clashed with police on Day 1 of their mass action. There was chaos as police fired tear gas at protesters while they [protesters] also pelted stones at the police. According to multiple reports, the chaos was caused by confusion over the route to take. According to the organisers of the demonstration, a total of 93 protestors were injured during the clash with police. They indicated that injuries sustained during the protest included bone fractures and rubber bullet wounds, which led to one of the protestors going blind. The police, however, blamed the demonstrators for the clash and arrested 29 of them. In addition, it declared the organisers of the demonstration wanted, stating that they would be arrested for their role in the incidents that happened on the first day of the protest. Kasoa: Police brutality leaves woman in critical condition A woman identified as Jennifer Arthur was left in critical condition, in May 2022, after she was brutalized by a police officer from the Kasoa District Police Station when she tried to stop the officer from whipping her husband. According to a doctors report, Jennifer suffered dislocations of the elbow and wrist as well as some bruises on the skull. According to angelonline.com.gh, the Kasoa District Police Officers, led by the District Commander, C/Supt. Timothy Dassah, paid a visit to the victim and pleaded for forgiveness on behalf of the police officer who brutalized Jennifer. The team tried to offer her two thousand Ghana cedis, but the family members rejected their offer and instead demanded justice for their daughter. They demanded that the police produce the name of the recalcitrant officer and also ensure that he is duly sanctioned. Gunshots at Kumasi Islamic SHS as police allegedly fire live bullets At least 30 students of the Islamic Senior High School in the Ashanti Region of Ghana were rushed to the hospital on Monday, June 13, after police opened tear gas on them while they were demonstrating over frequent road accidents in front of the school. According to local media reports, the students had blocked the road in front of their school in the course of their protest over frequent knockdowns. In their protests, the students lamented that frequent calls for speed ramps have fallen on deaf ears. Police were called in to clear the roadblock and disperse the demonstrating crowd. One of the students said that "the shooting incident occurred after the police had successfully sent them the demonstrating students back to the school campus, and for a reason best known to the personnel, they fired tear-gas and bullets suspected to be live ones to scare them. We don't know what the police wanted to achieve by firing live bullets after they had successfully sent us into the school," a student had said. Reports also indicated that the police entered the dormitories of the students, where most of the shooting incidents occurred, leading to the collapse of most of the female students.

General

24 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-In-Review-5-times-the-police-were-accused-of-using-deadly-force-on-civilians-in-2022-1685435

Year In Review: Popular persons arrested in 2022

As 2022 comes to an end, we take a look at some popular Ghanaians who unfortunately found themselves in the grips of state security officials for breaching the law. The list includes persons in the spheres of journalism, politics, religion, and the entertainment and arts, some of whom had a brush with the law on more than one occasion within the year. Oliver Barker-Vormawor Convener of #FixTheCountry Movement Oliver Mawusi Barker-Vormawor was arrested on February 11, 2022, at the Kotoka International Airport and subsequently detained for some 34 days before a Tema High Court granted him bail. Oliver Barker-Vormawor's arrest on account of the Ghana Police Service was about a Facebook post in which he had threatened to "do the coup" himself if the Electronic Transfer Levy Bill was passed into law. Charged with treason felony, a district court after holding a committal proceeding forwarded his case to an Accra High Court for hearing. Even before the case is included, the activist again was arrested on May 17, 2022. In a Facebook post, the embattled activist indicated that he had been charged with careless and inconsiderate driving. According to the police, the activist failed to comply with road markings while driving on a public road. The two cases against the activist are yet to be determined. Captain Smart Morning show host of Onua TV/FM, a subsidiary of Media General Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart, was picked up by operatives of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in the month of October. The media personality was picked up late Wednesday, October 19, 2022. His arrest was later determined to be in connection with comments he made against President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Before his arrest, the Ministry of Information earlier accused the journalist of impugning the character of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The statement was on the back of a broadcast by Captain Smart on October 17, 2022, in which he accused the president of being actively involved in illegal mining also known as galamsey activities. Describing the claims by Captain Smart as false and malicious, the ministry further accused the journalist of engaging in unethical and irresponsible journalism. The government in the statement said it was referring the matter to the National Media Commission for review and adjudication. Despite the statement by government in which a threat of legal action was issued, Captain Smart in a subsequent edition of his programme reiterated his allegations against the president. According to him, the allegation was on the basis of some of the governments actions and inactions relative to the fight against illegal mining. Meanwhile no official charges were pressed against the journalist. Nana Agradaa The founder and leader of Heavenway Champion International Ministries, Evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng alias Nana Agradaa was arrested by the police on October 9, 2022, and pressed with fraud charges. Her arrest followed multiple reports that the former fetish priestess had defrauded her own church members in a supposed money-doubling scheme. The number of victims who have since come forward has seen cases filed against her in at least three different courts. She is facing charges of charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretenses in all the cases. Francis Xavier Sosu The Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Francis Xavier Sosu was arrested on Thursday, November 3, 2022, after he was seen driving in the middle of the road around the Airport by-pass in his V8 vehicle with no regard for law-abiding pedestrians and other road users. The vehicle was impounded by the Police, and he was arraigned before the La District Court on November 4, 2022, on the charges of reckless and inconsiderate driving, driving in the middle of the road facing oncoming traffic and causing danger to other road users. A statement from the Police said he was convicted by the court and fined an amount of GH2,400. GA/WA

General

22 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-In-Review-Popular-persons-arrested-in-2022-1684520

Year In Review: High profile deaths of 2022

It was a year that started with many people, including all of the names and personalities you will read about shortly, but as of the time of writing this article, not everyone who made the list into 2022 still walks the surface of this earth. More directly, this GhanaWeb article takes a look back at some of the deaths of some prominent people in the country that happened in the year in review, 2022. From as recent as the past month to the start of the year, this article focuses on the news of all such personalities and the details available on how and when they died. The list begins with the death of GhanaWebs commercial manager, Ekow Blankson. Ekow Blankson: It was a Monday morning, the 3rd day of October 2022, when the shocking news of the sudden passing of GhanaWebs Commercial Manager, Ekow Blankson, spread through the newswires. He was 50 years. In the official statement by GhanaWeb to announce the death, the countrys leading website wrote that: It is with great sadness that the AfricaWeb Group, GhanaWeb and Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Ghana Ltd. (ADPU) announce the death of our friend, colleague and commercial manager Ekow Blankson. Ekow died early morning on Monday, October 3, 2022, at a hospital in Tema surrounded by his wife and close relatives. He was 50 years old. Ekow Blankson was a management member of the AfricaWeb group and a key driving force behind the companys commercial activities in Ghana. Recently, he led the company to present our products and services at the 2022 Ghana Bloggers Summit where he had been his usual ebullient and energetic self. He had time for everyone and was always engaged and interested in the people he met. In addition, he had a great intellect and was forever learning new things and developing new ideas. He brought those personal qualities (not to mention his vast experience in business) to the company and we owe him a great debt. He left behind his wife, Justina Naadu Blankson, and children; our thoughts and condolences go out to them. They too have been part of the AfricaWeb family, and we will continue to support them through this difficult time. About Ekow Blankson Ekow Blankson was the Commercial Manager of Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Ghana Ltd. (ADPU) where he brought his 22 years of experience gained across various business fields. Ekow Blankson managed the expansive growth of the digital business as well as identified areas within the organization that can be commercially expanded and developed in the digital world. He managed the sales and marketing teams of GhanaWeb as well as all AfricaWeb subsidiaries. Ekow Blankson worked with four multinational companies, including Ghana Breweries Limited, a subsidiary of Heineken; Coca-Cola; Vodafone, and WaterHealth International, in various leadership roles. He also worked with media companies including TV Africa, Media General Ghana Limited, and Multimedia Broadcasting Company as Managing Director, Director of Brands and Corporate Communications and General Manager (Luv FM and Nhyira FM) respectively. He was also the Director of Strategy and Corporate Communications at the conglomerate Groupe Ideal. Ekow Blankson had a Master's Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Ghana, Legon; a marketing certificate from Heineken University, Amsterdam; and a Diploma in Theatre Arts (Drama) from the University of Ghana, Legon. He also received years of training in various fields of marketing, sales, management and advertising. He is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG). With a long career in acting, he was awarded Best Male Actor International nomination at the 2022 NELAS AWARDS UK; Best Adult Male Role GH Student's Awards 2022; and nominated for Best Actor at the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2010 Ghana Movie Awards. He directed and featured in several Ghanaian movies including Checkmate; Borga; In April; Black Earth Rising; Death After Birth and The Intruder among many others. Prof Kwesi Botchwey: On November 19, 2022, the news of the death of Ghanas longest-serving Minister of Finance, Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, broke. The 78-year-old passed away at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where he was said to have been receiving medical care, multiple reports said. Prof. Kwesi Botchwey was a well-respected economist and governance expert who served during the military era of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), 19821991; and the constitutional period of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), 1992 to 1995. Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr: GhanaWeb reported on November 27, 2022, on the death of Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr, Bishop of the Upper West regional capital, Wa. Our confrere was taken by ambulance from the Generalate to the Gemelli Hospital at 5.45pm and we received the sad news at 6.25pm, an official communication said. In the middle of this month, the clergyman, who was officially head of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa, was discharged from Agostino Gemelli University Hospital/Policlinic. He had been transferred to the facility for medical care on Saturday, 15th October 2022. According to the Daily Graphic, Pope Francis called for prayers for the late Cardinal on August 27, after it came to his notice that Baawobr had been taken ill upon his arrival in Rome on official duties. Joseph Saaka Akati: A former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP), Joseph Saaka Akati, died on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. He was a former MP for Bole-Bamboi. Akati won the Bole-Bamboi seat with 11,452 votes in 2008, succeeding John Dramani Mahama. Mr Akati was survived by seven children. AB Crentsil: Alfred Benjamin Crentsil, better known as AB Crentsil, a Ghanaian Highlife legend, died on July 13, 2022. He was 79-years-old. The death of the celebrated singer was confirmed by sounds engineer, Fred Kyei Mensah, better known as Fredyma, in a Facebook post. Speaking in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, Fredyma intimated that the veteran singer had been sick for some time now. With over two decades of experience in the music business, A.B Crentsil proved himself as a consummate performer with a repertoire of amazing hits to his credit. He also won several Excellence Awards including the Fontomfrom Evergreen Award, which is a special honor bestowed upon a musician with 15-20 years of continuous music experience. While in middle school, he learned how to play the guitar. AB became proficient in playing the guitar and started singing along when playing the guitar. He joined the Strollers Band and played with the El Dorados, Sweet Talks, and finally the Ahenfo Band. He was married to Elizabeth and had seven children. He recently had a collaboration compilation CD with Obour, titled "The Best of the Lifes". Crentsil and his wife Elizabeth have eight children. John Ndebugre: A former Member of Parliament for Zebilla, John Akparibo Ndebugre, was reported dead on Friday, May 6, 2022. According to reports, the former Peoples National Convention (PNC) MP died at the age of 72, after a short illness. He is said to have died at Zebilla in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region. The former MP, who was a lawyer by profession, was married and had four children, the report added. Emily Akuffo: A former First Lady of Ghana, Mrs. Emily Akuffo, known widely as Sisi Ama Oduraa, died in her sleep on Friday, April 8, 2022. She was the wife of the late President of Ghana, General FWK Akuffo and was First Lady from July 1, 1978, to June 4, 1979. She was a teacher by profession. After the death of her husband, she spent the ensuing years in her hometown in Akropong away from the public eye. Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama: A day before Emily Akuffo died, the wife of Ghanas late former vice president, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, was reported dead. Hajia Ramatu Mahama was said to have died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. She died at the age of 70. Hajia Ramatu is said to have passed away surrounded by her family and children. Hajia Ramatu Mahama, fondly referred to as Nee Egala, had been fighting a heart-related sickness for over two years and had been to the United Kingdom for treatment. Reports of her death emerged during her stay in London but was quickly debunked in a statement by her son, Farouk Mahama, who is the Member of Parliament for Yendi. Mionlana Abdulai Mahamadu: The Paramount Chief of the Mion Traditional Area in the Northern Region, Mionlana Abdulai Mahamadus shocking death was announced on Thursday, August 18, 2022. The chief reportedly died after a short ailment. He was the heir-apparent to the Yaa Naa. Francis Kofi Okesu: The Krachi East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Francis Kofi Okesu, was found dead in a hotel in Kumasi, a news report of Monday, September 5, 2022, said. The deceased, who also served as the Dean of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Oti Region, was found lifeless in a hotel room he had booked. The police confirmed his death after the hotel staff informed them that the MCE had not been seen for the entire day on Sunday. According to a Graphic.com report, the door of his room was forced open, and he was found naked in a supine position on his bed, and traces of spermatozoa spotted on his thighs. Richard Akuoko Adiyah: The Chief Executive Officer of the Produce Buying Marketing Company, Richard Akuoko Adiyah, was reported dead on Sunday, October 2, 2022. Though initial details about his demise remained scanty, a myjoyonline.com report sighted by GhanaWeb indicated that Mr. Adiyah was found dead in his chair on Thursday, September 30, 2022, at his home. As a consummate finance and international development executive, the late CEO also had a political history, having served as a Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano North on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party from 2008 to 2012. AE/BOG

General

22 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-In-Review-High-profile-deaths-of-2022-1684415

Year In Review: Unprecedented parliamentary incidents in 2022

Even though the beginning of the eighth parliament had major happenings like a hung parliament and the election of the speaker from the opposition party, among others, the year 2022 had some unprecedented incidents that got the nation talking. GhanaWeb compiles a list of some of these happenings; Majority calls for Dome-Kwabenya's seat to be declared vacant On April 5, 2022, Speaker Alban Bagbin directed Adwoa Safo, Kennedy Agyapong, and Henry Quartey to the Privileges Committee. The Speaker's directive was in line with Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 17 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which states emphatically that "A Member shall not absent himself during a meeting for more than fifteen sittings without the permission in writing of the Speaker. Any member infringing this Order shall have his conduct referred to the Privileges Committee." The Privileges Committee produced a report after meeting the two other MPs, Ken Agyapong and Henry Quartey, and presented it to parliament. The Privileges Committee said in their report that they could not reach Adwoa Safo; therefore, they could not come out with a decision, but the majority maintained that whether or not they heard from Adwoa Safo, the constitution stated clearly that the seat should be declared vacant, as it was automatic for it to be so. However, when the report was brought to the house, the majority leader insisted that the committee had submitted the report to the house and the report had been laid for the information of the house and, therefore, a decision had already been determined concerning the three persons and the imperatives of Article 97 would automatically be triggered. The majority leader added that what was captured as a motion in the order paper had issues, as the purpose of a motion is for the house to make a determination, one he considers already determined (by declaring the seat vacant). "Mr Speaker, the privileges committee have submitted the report, and indeed, my own thinking and the incumbent of the situation is that once the committee has made a determination in respect of the three persons, then the imperative of Article 97 will automatically be triggered. "Mr. Speaker, my thinking is that even what is captured here as a motion, the purpose of a motion is for the house to make a determination and thinking that rarely this is not for the house to make a determination." The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, argued that the house is governed by the 1992 constitution and the standing orders of the house. According to him, the house should not set a precedent that a seat can be declared vacant based on recommendations of a Privileges Committee report, a precedent that could likely affect the house subsequently. Haruna Iddrisu emphasized that if a report has been submitted to parliament, the house must take a decision. However, the Speaker dismissed this call by the majority, stating that the report from the committee was not final but to be brought before the house for the plenary to take a decision on the matter. The Speaker is yet to take a decision on this matter, even though Adwoa Safo officially returned to the House on November 11, 2022. NPP MPs protesting against an appointee of their govt On October 25, a group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sack the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, to restore public confidence in the economy. This was announced in a media briefing by their spokesperson, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North. The group said it will not partake in government business nor support the 2023 budget if the president fails to heed their calls. According to them, the move follows previous concerns sent to the government that had not yielded any positive results. "We have had occasions to defend allegations of conflicts of interest, lack of confidence, and trust against the leadership of the Finance Ministry. "The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concern to our president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response," Andy Appiah Kubi said. The MPs believe the move would change the current economic situation in the country. This action has been described as unprecedented, as many have also called on the president to take action to avoid political instability. However, just at the time these calls were made, a video of Aremeyaw Anas' latest expose, dubbed 'Galamsey Economy' compelled President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sack the Minister of State in Charge of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, from office. Charles Adu Boahen alleged on video that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia needs just USD 200,000 as an 'appearance fee' and some positions from an investor for his siblings to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana. A few days before the budget reading, the leadership of the New Patriotic Party called on the aggrieved members not to boycott the budget reading. They obliged this plea and showed up in their numbers for the budget. Joe Wise overturns major decision by Alban Bagbin again On February 22, 2022, the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, threw out a motion by the minority for a bipartisan committee to look into the government's COVID-19 expenditure. This is after the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, had admitted the motion before leaving his chair for the First Deputy Speaker to continue with proceedings in the chamber on the day. It is not the first time the First Deputy Speaker has overturned a decision by the Speaker of Parliament. Motion by Minority to probe COVID-19 expenditure On February 22, the Minority in Parliament presented a memo to the House seeking to probe the government's expenditure on COVID-19 from 2020. The motion, championed by three members of the minority, proposed, "that this house constitutes a bi-partisan parliamentary committee chaired by a member of the minority caucus, to enquire into the expenditures made by the Ghana Government in relation to COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020." Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader; Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, Minority Chief Whip; and Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Ranking Member on Parliament's Finance Committee, were the proposed members. The motion was presented and read by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as he outlined the need for the house to probe the expenditure. Ato Forson stated that an amount of 1.2 billion Ghana cedis was approved by parliament to support the Coronavirus alleviation program, but the government is yet to account for their expenditure, even though they exceeded the approved amount to 8.2 billion Ghana cedis. Seconding the motion, the Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, added that the health ministry, per the 2021 budget review, was only able to account for an amount of 600 million Ghana cedis. However, before the debate could continue, Speaker Alban Bagbin requested that the Deputy First Speaker take the chair, leaving the actual debate in the hands of Joseph Osei Owusu. After the motion was seconded, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, raised a preliminary objection to the motion. He described the motion as baseless and urged the sit-in Speaker to reject the motion. Making reference to Article 187 of the Constitution, he indicated that the Auditor General is the best person to investigate the matter and not any other committee. Ruling on the motion, Joe Wise said the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, should not have admitted the motion. "My view is that the motion ought not to have been admitted and it is improperly before the house. I so rule," he said. Parliament passes 1.5% E-levy amid Minority MPs walkout On March 29, the Minority Members of Parliament staged a walk-out before the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) Bill 2021 was passed. The walkout occurred after the House had concluded the debate on the bill and the Speaker was to put the question on the motion for the adoption of the Finance The Committee's report in 2.4 million, approximately eight per cent of the population, were registered as personal income taxpayers. Prior to the walking out, the minority had complained that the E-Levy bill consideration came as a surprise as it was not listed in Parliament's business statement for the week. However the bill was passed after the 137 MPs of the Minority side of Parliament staged a walkout of the Chamber, on the grounds that they did not want to be associated with any further proceedings on or approval of the bill, which was being considered under a certificate of urgency. NYA/SEA

General

21 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-In-Review-Unprecedented-parliamentary-incidents-in-2022-1683971

Year In Review: Demonstrations that rocked Ghana

2022 is undoubtedly one of the most challenging years Ghanaians have faced in terms of the performance of the country's economy. The year saw prices of commodities increasing consistently beyond levels seen in the recent past. The country's currency also depreciated at unconscionable rates which many economists have said is the cause of the hardships in Ghana. In addition to the economic hardships, the menace of corruption in Ghana seems to be on the increase with the country's stance on the global corruption index dropping. The Auditor General's reports and other reports cite the involvement of government officials in instances of corruption as well as allegations of top government officials being involved in illegal small-scale mining (galamsey). To express their discontent, many Ghanaians poured out on the streets of Accra and other parts of the country to demonstrate against the government. This article takes a look at four demonstrations that rocked Ghana in 2022. Arise Ghana Demonstration The two-day demonstration by the pressure group, Arise Ghana, which took place from Tuesday, June 28 to Wednesday, June 29, was one of the demonstrations in 2022 that shook Ghana. Even before the demonstration started, there was a standoff between the organisers of the demonstration and the Ghana Police Services on the modalities it should follow. The demonstration was also endorsed by leading political figures including members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) as well as members of civil society organisations in Ghana. Arise Ghana demonstrators clashed with police on Day 1 of their mass action. There was chaos as police fired teargas at protesters while they [protesters] also pelted stones at the police. According to multiple reports, the chaos was over confusion on the route to use. The clash resulted from a disagreement over the route demonstrators were to use and an attempt by the protesters to march towards the presidency. The police announced the arrest of 29 people in connection with violent incidents that marred the June 28, 2022, Arise Ghana demonstration at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. The Ghana Police Service even declared the organisers of the demonstration wanted, stating that they would be arrested for their role in the incidents that happened on the first day of the protest. The police said the leaders will be held responsible for the attacks and damage to public property after the protests turned chaotic at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange. However, the second day of the demonstration [June 29] was incident-free and elicited commendation from the Ghana Police Service. WeBeCitizens Demonstration against the Auditor-General Another demonstration that made news headlines in 2022 was the WeBeCitizens demonstration against the Auditor General of Ghana. Even though the demonstration was not massive in terms of numbers, the caliber of Ghanaians who took part in it made it impactful. Over 15 CSOs, under the umbrella name Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Inclusive Governance or Citizen Coalition, protested the failure of the AG's office to retrieve billions of funds lost to financial irregularities on state accounts. As part of their demands, the group demanded that the AG exercise its constitutional mandate to disallow and surcharge for such irregularities. The 2021 Auditor General's report shows that Ghana lost some GHC 17 billion in financial irregularities. But according to the CSOs, it was incumbent on the A-G to implement measures that ensure the recovery of such funds back to the state, hence their decision to protest. As part of their protest, the group converged at the Afua Sutherland Children's Park and moved through some of the principal streets of the national capital, through the Auditor General's office, and finally ended at Black Star Square. Prominent members of the Coalition who joined the protest include lawyer Akoto Ampaw, lawyer Samson Ayenini, lawyer Martin Kpebu, Kofi Asare of Africa Education Watch, Nana Ama Agyemang Asante, Edem Senanu, Akwasi Pumpuni and Kofi Bentil. NABCO trainees protest unpaid stipend In February, scores of trainees of the Nation Builders' Corps (NABCo) programme hit the streets of Accra, demonstrating against the government's inability to offer them permanent employment. In addition to the demand for permanent employment, the trainees will also be seeking the payment of arrears owed them, ranging from four to eight months. The trainees who converged at the Obra Sport- Circle- were clad in red and black attire to show their frustration carrying placards with various sentiments on the abrupt end of the programme. They moved to the Independent Square to present a petition to the Chief Executive Officer of NABCO, Dr. Ibrahim Anyars. 'Kume Preko Reloaded': The 'Kume Preko Reloaded' demonstration, organised by renowned legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, also made waves in Ghana, mainly because of the demands of the demonstrators. The demonstration was over economic hardships in the country fueled by high inflation rates and was held on November 5, 2022. Kpebu led hundreds of demonstrators who marched through the capital, demanding the immediate resignation of President Akufo-Addo over Ghana's current economic woes. Addressing protesters during the march, he said: "We are dying; citizens are dying; citizens can't afford food; citizens are starving, all because of misgovernance by President Akufo-Addo. "It never happened that you have a president in office, and every time that the country borrows, the president's family becomes richer; how? This can't continue. "We can't borrow all the time and have Databank becoming richer all the time. Citizens have a duty, as stated in Article 41 [of the Constitution], to ask the president to resign, and this is not the first time that a president of Ghana is going to resign," Martin Kpebu said. Watch the second part of Elvis Afriyie Ankrah's interview on GhanaWeb TV below: Also watch the nomination for the GhanaWeb Excellence Awards Youth Edition below: IB/SEA

General

21 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-In-Review-Demonstrations-that-rocked-Ghana-1683926

2022 IN REVIEW: Four times Akufo-Addo made international headlines in 2022

Captivating speeches that make international news headlines and gain applause from the global community have been a feature of the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. One of such speeches was Akufo-Addos address to Ghanaians during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he said, "We knew what to do to bring the economy back to life, but not how to bring people back to life." 2022 was no different, with the president delivering an enchanting speech at the United Nations General Assembly and an interesting interview on the BBC. But this time around, the president also made international headlines for the wrong reasons. This article looks at four times President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made headlines in the international media in the year. Away! away! - Akufo-Addo booed on stage at Global Citizen Festival in Accra One of the unfortunate incidents that happened was the booing of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as he was delivering a speech at the Global Citizen Festival, a global entertainment event, held at the Black Star Square in Accra. Thousands of patrons were at the venue to witness the Global Citizen Festival, which had a number of local and international artistes performing. When it was the turn of the president to make his presentation, a section of the crowd began clapping and chanting 'away, away..." "The whole world is in Ghana today," the president is heard saying in a video sighted by GhanaWeb amid the 'away, away,' chants. The chants subsided, and the president continued with his remarks from the brightly lit stage. Musician 'exposes' Akufo-Addo over graphic theft President Akufo-Addo was also accused of plagiarizing excerpts of a music video of a Ghanaian musician in a tourism promotional video he shared on social media. The allegation that the president plagiarized excerpts of the music video made international headlines, with the BBC reporting it instead of its message of encouraging people to visit Ghana. On September 27, 2022, a video was shared on Twitter by the President of Ghana to promote tourism in the country and welcome expatriates into the country. The video caption read, "Beneath the deep blue sky, the Black Star is calling. Follow the stars and let them take you on a journey of our people. I invite everyone to the country at the centre of the world." In a tweet that highlighted the tweet, Kirani Ayat, a Ghanaian artiste, said the president had used his video without consulting him. According to Ayat, this was after the Ministry of Tourism failed to heed his [Kirani Ayat] plea to use the song GUDA to endorse tourism in the North. "The president of Ghana has used my video "GUDA" in this ad to promote Ghana. I was actively reaching out to the Ministry of Tourism in 2018/19 to use this video to push tourism in the North and got NO reply, yet today its in an ad and no one reached out to me for permission," he shared. The president of Ghana has used my video GUDA in this ad to promote Ghana. I was actively reaching out to the Ministry of Tourism in 2018/19 to use this video to push tourism in the North and got NO reply, yet today its in an ad and no one reached out to me for permission. ???? https://t.co/vLnAP0bRqf Kirani Ayat + The Spireeet ???? (@KiraniAYAT) September 27, 2022 Akufo-Addos interview with the BBC: The president also caused a stir in his interview with the British broadcaster, the BBC, on its April 4, 2022 edition of its Focus on Africa programme hosted by Peter Okwoche. There was a banter between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the BBCs Peter Okochwe over the health of Ghanas economy when the president granted an interview to the global broadcaster. The conversation between the President and Okochwe covered various sectors of the Ghanaian economy and recent occurrences in the socio-political space of the country. The president was asked about the governments recently passed Electronic Transfer (E-Levy) law, the tourism sector, and the Black Stars' qualification for the 2022 World Cup, among others. On the economy, however, the host suggested that Ghanas economy in its current state was doing terribly with the high cost of living and increasing fuel prices, among others. But President Akufo-Addo maintained that the situation in Ghana was not as bad and that the current state of the economy was a result of global events in which Ghana was not isolated. Every bullet, bomb that hits a target in Ukraine hits our pockets Akufo-Addo tells UN: The president again did not mix words as he was addressing the United Nations General Assembly when he called out the international for not supporting African countries enough, whom he said were becoming poorer because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. Akufo-Addo held that the war, which started in February 2022, aggravated an already precarious situation for African economies that were starting to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Akufo-Addo said the war had a direct impact on Africa, especially in the area of food supply, triggering importantly, inflation. "Two years ago, our world came to a thundering halt, as we cowered from a health pandemic from an unknown, malicious virus, coupled with a devastating global economic pandemic. High budget deficits were no longer concerns of only developing nations. "By 2021, COVID-19 had pushed Africa into the worst recession for half a century. A slump in productivity and revenues, increased pressures on spending and spiralling public debts confronted us without relent," he submitted. On the specific case of the Russian invasion, even though Moscow insists it was a military operation, Akufo-Addo stated: "As we grappled with these economic challenges, Russias invasion of Ukraine burst upon us, aggravating an already difficult situation. "It is not just the dismay that we feel at seeing such deliberate devastation of cities and towns in Europe in the year 2022, we are feeling this war directly in our lives in Africa. "Every bullet, every bomb, every shell that hits a target in Ukraine, hits our pockets and our economies in Africa. The economic turmoil is global with inflation as the number one enemy this year," he added. Watch the second part of Elvis Afriyie Ankrah's interview on GhanaWeb TV below: IB/SEA

General

6 December 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/2022-IN-REVIEW-Four-times-Akufo-Addo-made-international-headlines-in-2022-1675349

A Z of 2021: A for Agenda 111 Z for Zionfelix

2021 brought up lots of news A number of personalities hogged headlines for good and bad reasons Corruption and controversy but also calm played out in other areas Tuesday, January 3, 2021, marked the first working day for the year 2022 with 1st January falling on a weekend and the 2nd consequently having been declared a statutory holiday. The last news year was dotted with loads of information from the news, business, entertainment, sports and Africa sections of the GhanaWeb site. 2022 has kicked off in earnest and already prophecies and strikes are making a strong case even as Ghanaians wait with bated breath over what becomes of the E-levy when Parliament resumes. Below is an A Z compilation of how the year 2021 played out A - Agenda 111 Government launched the Agenda 111 project in August touting it as the most ambitious health infrastructure drive in the countrys history. It was dogged by controversy relative to the architectural works and strong opposition posture that government needed to come clearer on the figures. B - Bagbin Alban Bagbin was on his way out of Parliament till his party, the National Democratic Congress decided to put him forward for the Speakership of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic. He won the vote under controversial, chaotic circumstances and was celebrated early on but events in the latter months cast him as a spoiler of government progress, he flatly denies that. C - COVID expenditure COVID-19 remained with us through the year with concerns in early 2021 of a spike blamed on the election season and the holiday season that followed. Throughout the year, the Minority in Parliament chased government over monies expended since the pandemic arrived in the country. D Dampare, Dormelevo Two men who defined defiance in the year under review, Dormelevos fight with the government ended with what some see as a forced resignation and a blot on anti-corruption efforts. For Dampare, it is clear he came in August 1 with a mission to clean something bigger than a blot, a stain on the reputation of the Police. So far, accused of populist tactics in some corners but celebrated for no-nonsense policing within and out of the Police system. E - E-levy A latter-day saint/devil depending on how you look at it. Born or introduced on November 17 via the 2022 budget, the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-levy) has proven divisive in Parliament. Its saintly traits trumpeted by the Majority and its devilish leash pointed out by the Minority. F - #FixTheCountry A social media campaign calling for politicians to do right by citizens will evolve and turn into a pressure group that has embedded itself into the political activism space. Street protests, press conferences and media appearances have characterized their efforts. G - Ghana Card Finally, a strong effort at consolidating national IDs, the Ghana Card issued by the National Identification Authority, NIA, is needed for the latest round of SIM card re-registration even as concerns are raised about the thinking behind doing so. H - Hearts of Oak After over a decade in the wilderness, Samuel Boadu brought the Phobians out of the wild as they secured their first Ghana Premier League crown with the icing on the cake being the FA Cup triumph that handed Hearts of Oak of Accra a double in the 2020/2021 season. I - Impersonation Is it her, could it be maybe, maybe not. This was the case of Dome Kwabenya MP whose (real) presence in Parliament for a vote leading to the purported recission of a budget rejection caused a stir. The Minority says she is not the one and you know where the Majority will stand if so, right? J - Joy from Tokyo Samuel Takyi gave Ghana a reason to celebrate the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Winning a bronze medal, Ghanas first in a long while meant that the amateur boxer will return home a hero and be feted by the high and mighty for his feat. K Kaaka, Kasoa Ibrahim Mohammed alias Kaaka didnt live to see the extent to which he dominated the news headlines, he was killed at home in Ejura but his link to #FixTheCountry campaign magnified the death. Protest clampdown and government committee on Ejura disturbances followed. To date, the family is seeking justice. In Kasoa, another Ghanaian killed in cold-blood as teenagers murdered their 11-year-old friend in what has been classed a classic case of ritual murder. L - LGBTQ+ From social media to traditional media, from Parliament to the presidency from the religious pulpits to the halls of human rights and constitutional defence, same-sex issues dominated the news calendar even as Parliament continues to vet what has become known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. M - Mahama's petition In January, national attention was at the Supreme Court where NDC flagbearer John Mahama petitioned the court over his loss in the 2020 presidential vote. Cue in Tsatsu Tsikata, Akoto Ampaw and the EC lawyer, Asiedu Nketia, Rojo Mettle Nunoo and Michael Kpessa Whyte. Submissions, rulings, adjournments, drama in court, post-court press conferences, show or no show relative to Jean Mensas appearance and long story short, petition thrown out. N - No to galamsey Illegal small-scale mining had the government through Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources teaming up with joint security task force to launch an assault on galamsey. The operation is largely believed to have been successful as water bodies and forests were rid of illegal machines and miners. O - Otumfuo The overlord of the Ashanti State was in the news at different points, a key advocate in the galamsey war, his Akwasidae late in the year and the tax pronouncements that came. His hard advice when Akufo-Addo visited and the commemorative gold coin launch. P - Prempeh College The National Science and Maths Quiz, NSMQ, gave another thrilling account as Prempeh College torpedoed the seventh chase for glory by Legon Presec, in all of the fun and excitement, it was the third-placed team from Ketasco that shone, their female contestant even brighter. Q - Quartey, Henry The Greater Accra Regional Minister has a very busy 2021 earning him lots of praise across the political divide. The relocation of onion traders from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku, the operation clean your frontage and ban on tricycles plying the motorway are some of his achievements. R - Rasta boys, Ramadan fasting Senior High Schools became center of attraction beyond the NSMQ with the issue of Achimota Schools refusal to admit two students because they had rasta hair. A court has ruled in their favour. Methodist-run Wesley Girls also run into controversy with the reported ban on Ramadan fasting of a first-year student. The Chief Imam weighed in and government promised guidelines to cure the perennial issue.0 S - Sputnik V Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Health Minister had a hard time through the year with his botched Sputnik V contract with a Dubai Sheikh. Lots of political and civil society pressure failed to have him axed by the President. Government took the view that with the monies retrieved, Manu deserved reprieve, perhaps. T - Tidal waves In the latter part of the year, tidal waves hogged the news headlines after Keta and other areas suffered inundation. Following that was a fake sand winning photo by Deputy Minority Leader and Minoritys successful push to have tidal waves expenditure captured in the budget. NAPO will later misfire on the issue and find a hard time riding the loudmouth wave. U - Undeterred private jet trips The dogged demand of North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for transparency on chartered private jet trips of the president was the subject of several questions to Ministers but each time, that information never came forth, one of the most used excuse, national security concern. V - Vaccination Ghana like all countries across Africa except Eritrea continued efforts at vaccinating people against COVID-19. By close of 2021, the Ghana Health Service reported having administered jabs full or partial to over four million citizens. W - Whashawasay Cecilia Marfos issues with Bro Sammy will make the headlines as would Shatta Wale and a fake prophecy, cue in Diana Hamilton and VGMA glory the list goes on but the first artiste mentioned Auntie Cecilia clearly carried the day, if you dont believe us, sing along whashawasay... X Xtrajudicial The NDC are still pursuing government over the death of some of its supporters during the 2020 election cycle. The party believes the deaths were a case of extrajudicial killings and have since vowed to seek justice for the victims, however, long it takes. Y - YouStart The YouStart policy as contained in the 2022 budget is aimed at building a base of young entrepreneurs as the government moves to tackle unemployment. It will also support our accomplished Traders with appropriate training and access to capital to become manufacturers in order to expand the industrial base of our society and our import substitution strategy, in line with our Ghana Beyond Aid agenda. Z - ZionFelix One of the countrys big-time bloggers will be the subject of blogs and mainstream news sites thanks to his relationship/marriage issues. We counted up to three women a number of baby mamas in there and newborns. Eeeerm, not exactly a conclusive rundown of all you need to know but a fair idea of how 2021 unfolded from A Z. Happy New Year and may January be nice to you, yes, you!

General

6 January 2022

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/A-Z-of-2021-A-for-Agenda-111-Z-for-Zionfelix-1438510

Biggest police reshuffles of the year

Dr. George Akufo Dampare appointed Inspector General of Police Security analyst hails new IGP's tenure Akufo-Addo charges IGP to ensure strict enforcement of laws The Ghana Police Service (GPS) had a major shake in its leadership after the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, took over in substantive capacity as the IGP on August 1, 2021. The top hierarchy of the Service was hit with the reshuffle in the first week of his tenure. Here are 5 police officers affected by the reshuffle Superintendent Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman Madam Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman, in the shake up, was appointed to be in charge of the Judicial Police in the Eastern Region. Until the reshuffle, she was the Public Affairs Director of the service. She took over that position from DCOP David Eklu in January 2020. DSP Effia Tenge Until her appointment as the Greater Accra Public Affairs Director, DSP Effia Tenge used to head the Media Monitoring Desk (National Police Headquarters) where she supervised and analyzed media contents on police reportage. The now former Greater Accra Public Affairs Director, DSP Mrs. Elizabeth Effia Tenge, will be in charge of the Volta Regional Public Affairs Directorate following the reshuffle. ACP Kwesi Ofori Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Samuel Kwesi Ofori, was moved from the post of Operational Director of the Greater Accra police, to become the Public Affairs Director (PAD). He took over from Superintendent Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman. DSP Ms. Juliana Obeng Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ms. Juliana Obeng, returned to take over her old position as the Greater Accra Regional Public Affairs Director in the shakeup. She was until then in charge of Public Affairs at the CID headquarters. Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng who was in charge of the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) at the Police Headquarters was appointed as Director at the Public Affairs Department of the MTTD.

General

31 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Biggest-police-reshuffles-of-the-year-1435258

Year In Review: Major protests that put pressure on government

FixTheCountry movement demand improvement in socio-economic development 499 aggrieved law students protest mass failure in entrance exams Police frustrate demonstrators plans Globally, protests are seen as a means of voicing out strong opposition to a government initiative. In Africa and most particularly Ghana, many subscribe to the notion that, the only language government understands is demonstration [protests] and strike actions. As such, 2021 could not have gone by without a group or an association hitting the streets to register their displeasure at something it felt was not right. Here are some major protests that put pressure on government: FixTheCountry Undoubtedly, FixTheCountry wave will be the highlight of protests for the 2021 year ending. What began as a campaign on social media platforms with the hashtag FixTheCountry quickly metamorphosed into a movement which caught up with many particularly the youth. The participants took pictures of themselves and also shared pictures of deplorable conditions in some parts of the country on social media. The movement essentially was demanding for better living conditions from the government including provision of job opportunities for all, less corruption and better education. FixTheCountry put pressure on the government whose pro supporters such as the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annor-Dompreh started a counter hashtag FixYourself. However, this did not suffice as he received public backlash. This forced him to beat retreat and later come and apologise for his comments. Later the government changed its communication on the matter by highlighting some progress it had chalked in some sectors of the economy with a strategy encapsulated in WeAreFixingGhana. Plans by FixTheCountry conveners to stage an actual demonstration was frustrated as the police secured an injunction against it, citing COVID-19 restrictions. But on August 4, 2021, FixTheCountry protestors hit the streets of Accra after the group had gotten clearance from the court to do so. Thousands of citizens participated in the demonstration. The movement has gone on to stage a series of demonstration across various parts of the country and continues to remain a thorn in the flesh of government. Aggrieved 499 law students The issue of mass failure rate at the law entrance by the Ghana School of Law has long been a persisting canker. In 2021, only 790 out of 2,824 who sat for the entrance exams passed. However, 499 aggrieved law students insisted they had passed but were failed after the GLC introduced a new grading system without their knowledge. Determined not to let this one go, 499 aggrieved law students registered their displeasure in statements and press conferences whilst additionally petitioning parliament to intervene in the matter. Parliament on Friday October 29, 2021, passed a resolution to compel the GLC to admit all the 499 aggrieved law students however the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, in response to the directive said Parliaments powers are limited as far as admission into the Ghana School of Law is concerned. While the back and forth was ongoing, the aggrieved law students embarked on a demonstration on October 20, 2021 to demand their admission. In November, Godfred Dame, wrote to the General Legal Council to grant admission to the 499 students who were denied entry into the Ghana School of Law. They have subsequently been promised admission in January 2022. This was contained in the 2022 annual budget submitted by the office of the Attorney-General to the Finance Ministry. Sosu leads FixOurRoads protest in Madina Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu on October 25,2021, led residents in his area of jurisdiction to protest over the bad nature of roads in the constituency. He lamented the neglect of the maintenance of the roads by the Urban Roads Department and the Municipal Assembly. The protest however almost led to his arrest as the police attempted accosting him for the blockade of the road and destruction to public property. Francis-Xavier Sosu hopped into his V8 and the car sped off. The police have in the aftermath of the incident tried arresting the MP including storming his church to do so-a move which proved futile. The lawmaker has since been in a spar with the police over the demonstration for which he is currently in Court for. Meanwhile, Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi Amoako-Atta in November chided persons who protest for their roads to be fixed. He said "demonstrations don't build roads". "It is unreasonable for anybody to say that all roads everywhere should be fixed simultaneously. So these demonstrations should stop. Sometimes you get people who are supposed to know better,well-educated people who should advice their colleagues joining demonstrations. Demonstrations don't build roads"Mr. Amoako-Atta stated. UTAG Strike The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in August this year embarked on a strike action to compel government to address their worsening condition of service. The strike, which lasted for 2 weeks, forced some institutions to call off their end of semester examinations. UTAG, after the 2-week strike, suspended it after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government for a mandatory 30 days negotiation. However, some months down the line, UTAG accused government of showing bad faith as it failed to honour its side of the bargain. Ahead of the presentation of the 2022 budget statement, Secretary of Legon branch of UTAG, Professor Ransford Gyampo, urged the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to factor in UTAG's demands lest they "vacate and reopen no more". Ahead of 2022, the Legon branch of UTAG has served notice to embark on an indefinite strike beginning January 3,2022. This is after it had rejected UTAG national decision to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to accept a research allowance of $1,600 payable in 2024 and a proposal for the government to complete a Labour Market Survey report to determine the review of the Interim Market Premium by December 2022 for implementation in 2022. The Legon branch of UTAG believes its national leadership acted ultra vires as member institutions disagreed with the MoA.

General

31 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-In-Review-Major-protests-that-put-pressure-on-government-1435189

Most controversial political statements in 2021

In life, words are vital as they always find a way to come back and haunt the individuals who speak them but especially in politics, everyone is watching, youve got to be extra guided. So it was, as the year 2021 unfolded, some major happenings emerged and during these, some politicians made statements that shook, surprised, fascinated, and in some cases, angered some Ghanaians. In this piece, GhanaWeb puts together some of these: Demonstrations don't build roads Kwasi Amoako Atta Roads and Highways Minister, Kwesi Amoako-Atta appeared somewhat unhappy whilst delivering a speech following the inspection of the 31.7 Kwafokrom to Apedwa road in the Eastern Region. He was making a point about some demonstrations that had gone on previously, to demand for good roads in some areas. One of such protests was the one led by Madina MP, Francis Xavier Sosu for the repair of deplorable roads in his constituency. The Minister was trying to explain why all roads cannot be constructed simultaneously by the government. It is unreasonable for anybody to say that all roads everywhere should be fixed simultaneously. So these demonstrations should stop. Sometimes you get people who are supposed to know better, well-educated people who should advise their colleagues joining demonstrations. Demonstrations don't build roads," Mr. Amoako-Atta stated. His comments appear to have gone wrong with major sections of the public who thought it was a wrong move. Akufo-Addo cant remove me from office but I can remove him Bagbin The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, caught public attention with his comments about Parliament and the Executive Arm of Government. Speaking at a post-budget forum held at Ho in the Volta Region in November, Alban Bagbin sought to remind members of the house, about the power they wield as members of parliament. According to him, the eighth Parliament of Ghanas Fourth Republic which he presides over, will not be bullied into playing second fiddle to the executive branch of government. He also noted that Parliament has powers that can affect the Executive but the same cannot be said when its vice versa. Let me reemphasize that the 8th Parliament is properly positioned not to allow itself to be bullied into playing second fiddle to the executive. Parliament can remove His Excellency the President; His Excellency cannot do that to Parliament. As Speaker, His Excellency cannot remove me, but I can, through Parliament, get him [the president] removed, he said. ' You are not poor if you can send GH100' - Ursula Owusu defends new E-levy: Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Communications Minister, whilst attempting to justify the governments introduction of a new 1.75 E-levy, courted the publics anger with some utterances she made. According to her anyone who has GHC 100 or more to transfer cannot be classified as poor. We have made it a part of this policy that up to GHC 100 a day per person is exempt. This the state is saying, if you are sending up to a GHC 100 a day, cumulatively, you can send up to GHC 3,000 a month, that is all going to be tax-free. Now if you have more than GHC 100 to send a day, then you are not poor. So if you really are poor and you are in a position to send GHC100 a day, then we need to re-classify the definition of who the real beneficiaries of these are and it is only the sender who pays, not the receiver, she said whilst speaking on GHOne TV. 2024 will be a do or die affair: Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), during his Thank You Tour in the Bono East Region made some rather interesting comments that were tagged as controversial. According to him, the NDC had drawn lessons from their previous encounters during elections and are therefore making serious changes in the next elections. The polling station will be a do or die affair. I havent said all die be die, it will be do or die at the polling station, in 2024 that is where we will win the election. We will be doing everything to ensure that the election is free and fair. We dont want to cheat the NPP and we also dont want them to cheat us. We just want the will of the people to prevail, he said. Following this, however, Mr. Mahama received some backlash from sections of the public and some civil society groups who suggested that his comments, like the NPPs All Die be Die were sensitive and could stir chaos. The former President however justified his comments, describing them as an idiomatic expression. What Im saying is, NDC must not wait to go to the Supreme Court. We have to be vigilant at the polling station and collation centres. And so I wont retract. The next election for NDC is going to be a do or die affair, he repeated on Moonlite FM in Sunyani. Complete abandoned E-block if you are frustrated Akufo-Addo tells Aflao chief: Following a four-month ultimatum given by Aflao Chief, Torgui Adzonu-Gaga Amenya Fiti V to the Education Minister, for the completion of the abandoned E-Block Community Day Senior High School, President Akufo-Addo had this to say; Many of the E-blocks are being worked on across the country. Is he [Torgbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti] the one to give the minister ultimatum, then he should go ahead and complete the project, he told host Kwami Sefa Kai on Peace FM. This did not go down well with a number of persons including some Minority Members of Parliament who felt the Presidents comments were harsh and disrespectful considering it was in response to a traditional ruler. A deputy speaker is not a Speaker Joe Wise' comment that sparked chaos in parliament: Chaos broke in Parliament on November 30, after First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, made some comments whilst sitting in for the Speaker. Joe Wise who presided over the sitting, counted himself as part of Members of Parliament (MPs) present, to add up the number of Majority MPs in the chamber, to take a decision to overturn the rejection of the 2022 budget statement. Giving his ruling on a motion by the minority to have the approval of the budget reversed, Joseph Osei Owusu, drew a distinction between who a deputy speaker is and who a Speaker is. Honourable, heres my ruling. I have not heard anything here today which was not discussed yesterday. All the arguments that have been made were practically the issues raised and it's contained in my ruling yesterday. A few matters though which I wish to classify. First, it must be clear that a deputy speaker is not a Speaker. Indeed, Article 96 (1) of the Constitution says and I quote there shall be two deputy speakers who shall be elected by members of parliament from among members of parliament, he said. And to contrast that to Mr. Speaker ...Mr. Speaker is not a member of Parliament. I am a member of parliament and the Honourable second deputy speaker is a member of parliament and our role is to assist the speaker in managing this House. Any attempt to read and interpret the constitution of Mr. Speaker to include the deputy speakers is a misreading and a misapplication of the constitution. But when Mr. Speaker is not available, either of us can preside over the House. So can any other member if necessary. Any other member can be elected by the House to preside. That member does not lose his right to be a member of the House he further explained. This did not go down well with members on the minority side who said he had no right sitting in for the speaker if that was his stance. Then next thing was drama parliament. Teaching wont make you a millionaire Akufo-Addo tells teachers: President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo advised teachers to explore other avenues of making revenue rather than depending solely on teaching to excel financially. According to him, teaching is mainly a profession for persons who genuinely want to contribute to society and not necessarily make money. I dont think anywhere in the world that people go into teaching and expect to become millionaires and make money if you want to do that you do other things, the President told teachers in an interview. This sparked some wild controversy considering teachers have, for a long time been asking and urging the government for better conditions of service. Bring my mother back Zanetor appeals to NDC It was a bold step but it earned her talks. Dr Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, during the commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the late former president, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings said the National Democratic Congress (NDC), ought to work towards uniting the party for victory in 2024. This she said includes bringing her mother, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings who broke away from the NDC to form the National Democratic Party (NDP), back to the party. Id say the thing that nobody wants to say: Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings is an integral part of this party. Let us do what we have to do to bring her back, she appealed.

General

31 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Most-controversial-political-statements-in-2021-1435177

Year In Review: Failed prophecies of 2021

31st night, a well commemorated night in Africa, specifically Ghana, is surrounded by many factors. In commemoration of this day, Christians across Ghana gather in churches to cross over into the new year. The popular home comers who only go to church to crossover are not exempted from the populace. However, one of the things that characterise the last night of every year is prophecies. Some pastors have distinguished themselves as seers who are able to foretell future occurrences. In Ghana, most of these prophecies are centred around looming doom for the country. Nigel Gaisie, Prophet Asanteman Bofour popularly known as Obofuor, Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah among other prominent men of God have been identified as some of these seers whose prophecies are somewhat scary. At the end of every year, they give predictions as to what is going to happen in the new year. Over the years, some of these prophecies have ended up not coming to pass. According to some of these pastors however, it may be a good sign that prayers were effective and the evil intended was averted. As the year winds down, we take a look at some of the prophecies which emerged in 2020 which were not realized. England will win UEFA Euro 2020 England will win the cup were the words of Prophet Badu Kobi in 2021 as he prophesied the win of England in the UEFA EURO 2020. The game which was scheduled to be played in 2020 was postponed to 2021 because of COVID-19. England was at the finals with Italy for the game. Many predictions poured in but prominent amongst them was this very prophecy by Badu Kobi, owing to the confidence which backed his prophecy. England however succumbed to the fury of Italy in a match played in their very homeland. After a 1:1 score, Italy beat England 3:2 on penalties in London to win their second European Champions league, shoving another prophecy of Badu Kobi down the drain Ghana will lose an extremely powerful king in 2021 According to Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, Founder and Leader of Glorious Word Power Ministries, Ghana was going to lose an extremely powerful king in 2021. Ghanaians, however, did not take it lightly, as they pounced on the prophecy labeling him as a false prophet. Ghana is yet to hear the news of the death of a prominent king after the prophecy. Dancehall artiste, Shattawale, will die in 2021 Ghanaian prophet, Jesus Ahuofe predicted death for Ghanaian dancehall act, ShattaWale, according to him, the artiste was going to die on October 18, 2021. The artiste had so far received three death threats. The man of God revealed that Shatta Wale would be attacked and shot to death on the very day if serious prayers are not said for him. On the said day, news about him being shot emerged but it was later confirmed as a prank. For this, himself and his accomplices were arrested and processed for court. Akuapem Poloo will be raped Randolph Oduro Gyebi, popularly known as Eagle Prophet, the General Overseer and Founder of God's Crown Chapel, prophesied earlier this year that, Rosemond Brown, widely known as Akuapem poloo was going to be raped. He said "we have to pray for Akuapem Poloo ... I have seen her dead in pool blood, they are people planning to rape her". This very prophecy did not come to pass. The actress in a reaction to the above prophecy expressed gratitude to the Prophet for the revelation. "I will like to say a big thank you to him for letting me know this, God bless him so much because I wouldn't have known". What I want to say is that the God I serve, the living God, who always save me from the evil ones will save me. Because it is written in the bible that, that when God reveals, it means He has cancelled it, God will not let me be disgraced, she continued. Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has declared a crackdown on prophecies with caution to men of God who prophesy publicly to procure evidence from God before they embark on such activities. Superintendent Alexander Kweku Obeng, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service is quoted to have said on Peace FM that, it is an affront to the countrys law for one to prophesy. Placing prophecies under false publications, ASP Kweku Obeng said that anyone found to have made public prophecy will be compelled to substantiate his claims with evidence.

Religion

31 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/religion/Year-In-Review-Failed-prophecies-of-2021-1435051

2021 in pictures

Its a wrap! in a few hours, the curtains will be drawn to another eventful year; 2021. This year, like every other, was not without drama, grief, joy, and excitement alike. In all of these, memories were captured in photographs the funny, the dramatic, the happy and sad memories, even the bizarre ones. These have been put together in this GhanaWeb Year In Review piece, to give you a recap of how 2021 went down, Enjoy! January 7 parliament drama: The showdown started on the eve of the inauguration of the 8th parliament under the fourth Republic. It was a fight over ballot boxes and oh my! It was a messy fight. Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful marked her territory and she will not be bullied! Then soldiers were invited into the house, we would only learn later that this was a move authorized by a Commander in the Ghana Armed Forces, according to National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah. Alban Bagbin elected: Ultimately, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin was elected as Speaker of Parliament with Joseph Osei Owusu as First Deputy Speaker and Andrew Amoako Asiamah as the Second Deputy Speaker. Akufo-Addo inaugurated: President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was elected the President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana for the second time and for the first time in a while, he wore a suit instead of an African Wear like his predecessors did. Rawlings laid to rest: Following the death of Former President, Jerry John Rawlings on November 12, 2020, he was buried on January 27, this year. His wife, all four children, and sympathisers were present to bid the former President farewell. Election Petition 2021: The NDC sent the Electoral Commission and Flagbearer of the NPP to court to contest the 2020 elections. Here, it was a lot of drama as witnesses, judges, and lawyers for both plaintiffs and accused argued out their cases. IGP appointed: In July 2021, a new Inspector General of Police, George Akuffo Dampare was appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to replace, James Oppong-Boanuh. Following this, he has been praised on several occasions for bringing transformation to the police service. #FixTheCountry: This was arguably, the biggest protest of the year. A group of independent, non-political group of ordinary Ghanaians took to the streets to call for social and economic reform in the country. IGP introduces horse patrol, dog patrols: As part of his new introductions, the new IGP, George Akuffo Dampare introduced the horse and dog patrol system to help the Ghana Police Service in its work. Anti LGBTQ+ Petition: Led by Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, a group of persons drafted and presented a bill that provides some restrictions for activities by members of the LGBTQ+ community. It was contested by another group who said the bill had elements that violated the rights of such individuals. The bill is still before parliament and has since been supported by some religious groups. Kojo Tsikata, Sir John, Justice Marful Sau buried: The mortal remains of the late Captain (Rtd) Kojo Tsikata, former General Secretary of NPP, Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) and former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Samuel Kofi-Marful-Sau were all laid to rest in November, June and October respectively. The remains of Catpain Kojo Tsikata were however cremated per the request of the family. Budget reading: As is required of the Finance Minister to present the budget in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution did not come without its own set of drama. The hoots, the walkouts, the disagreements and the subtle jabs. There was the Mid-year Budget Review and the End of Year. Hearts of Oak wins FA Cup and GPL: Hearts of Oak won the 2020/2021 MTN FA Cup for a record eleventh time after edging out Ashantigold 8-7 during penalty shootouts. The team also ended their 12-year wait for a major silver ware after drawing 1-1 against Liberty Professionals on Sunday to win the 2020/2021 Premier League. Road Toll Ban: After the Finance Ministers budget reading in November, Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Atta directed that all toll booths be closed. This courted some controversy but ultimately, the tolls remain closed till date. Otumfuo gold coins: Some 20,000 commemorative gold coins were launched to honour the Asantehene, Outmfuo Osei Tutu II for his service to humanity and these were auctioned across the globe. Inauguration of Pokuase interchange: In July 2021, the Pokuase Interchange was commissioned in Accra by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. TB Joshua passes: Internationally known Prophet, T.B Joshua died in June this year and was buried in July. Keta Tidal waves: Residents of Keta and its environs suffered when tidal waves took over their homes. CK Akonnor sacked: The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) terminated the appointment of Black Stars Coach Charles Akonnor and his two Assistants with immediate effect over Ghana's abysmal start in the FIFA World Cup qualifications. Akuapem Poloo goes to jail: Actress Akuapem Poloo was arrested for posing nude in front of her little boy. She was sent to jail and subsequently bailed. Kasoa, Fiave, Abesim murders: There were various murders by jealous or jilted lovers. Most prominent were those that happened in Ho Fiave and Abesim in the Bono Region. There was also the murder of a little boy by some of his colleagues in Kasoa which news shook the nation. Adinkra CEO marries: Chief Executive Officer of Adinkra Pie, Barima Osei Mensah tied the knot with Anita Sefa Boakye, the daughter of the owner of Anita Hotel on Friday, November 5. Shatta, Medikal go to jail: Shatta and his accomplices were arrested for causing fear and panic with news about the artiste being shot. Rapper Medikal was also arrested for brandishing a gun. They both were later bailed. Samuel Takyi wins at Tokyo 2020: Samuel Takyi won a boxing bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Ghana's first podium finish in 29 years, but his incredible Olympic journey came to an end in the semi-final at the hands of the USA's Duke Ragan. Nima wedding turns bloody: This was a sad event, as a wedding meant for celebration ended up with a young lady being murdered through no fault of hers. Shots were fired as part of the jubilation and thats how the life of this young lady was ended. Actress Moesha Boudong repents: After an encounter with Christ, the actress, Moesha Boudong sold all her properties and took to preaching the message of repentance. NPP Delegates Conference: The New Patriotic Party (NPP) held its annual National Delegates Conference in Kumasi in December to do a review of the partys performance as well as plan for the future. Toyota, Suzuki vehicle Assembly Plant commissioned in Ghana: President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned a Toyota and Suzuki vehicle assembly plant in Ghana as part of efforts to create employment for the youth. Parliamentarians go gaga over E-levy approval: The budget reading was over and it was time for the debate but both sides of the house, Minority and Majority had their reservations. Majority wanted the budget approved, Minority members wanted it disapproved and so it happened there was a fight! Agradaa, Owusu Bempah feud: Pastor Owusu Bempah and some of his colleagues stormed the house of repented priestess, Nana Agradaa after she called their bluff. And of course the year did not end without all the fun-packed activities in December to mark the Yuletide. There was Gyakies live experience, ELs Bar 6 Concert, Stonebwoys Bhim concert, Saminis Xperience Concert, Shatta Wales Freedom Concert, Okyeame Kwames Hiplife Party, Sarkodies Rapperholic, Afrochella and R2Bee' show. TWI NEWS Article by Wonder Ami Hagan

General

31 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/2021-in-pictures-1435000

Year in Review: GhanaWeb programmes in a wrap

Since the introduction of GhanaWeb TV, it has served its audience variety of programmes, ranging from political, social, business, entertainment, sex and relationship matters and so on. On the business front, BizTech had several people both those in the known and young entrepreneurs gracing the show. For people who are in a relationship and need education on matters relating to sex and lifestyle, GhanaWeb TV served you more of these on Moans and Cuddles show Still on entertainment, there's Talkertainment and Bloggers Forum. Sports lovers were served exciting sports interviews and updates on the Friday Debate and Sports Check. On People & Places, our esteemed audience were taken round various parts of the country with beautiful display of culture and tourism. Other shows that air on GhanaWeb TV are Untold, hosted by Etsey Atisu and The Lowdown chaired by Ismail Akwei Nii Akwei. Below is a wrap of the programmes. Do enjoy.

General

30 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-in-Review-GhanaWeb-programmes-in-a-wrap-1434427

Year In Review: These punchline videos from 2021 will split your sides

To a section of Ghanaians, 2021 was a tough year for them, they voiced out their grievances to GhanaWeb as we covered all major news stories in the country. Sharing their experiences, many could not control their emotions on camera. As we wrap up the year, we have put together all the reactions right from Ghana's Parliament to demonstrators who called out the government for various reasons. Catch Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu Constituency, Alhassan Bashir Fuseini's punchline to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta over the 2022 Budget reading. Also, enjoy the crazy response from a market woman at Accra Central who gave reasons why some women stay in abusive relations. Watch the video below:

General

30 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-In-Review-These-punchline-videos-from-2021-will-split-your-sides-1434325

Ministries that were 'kicked out' in 2021

Following the transition of the New Patriotic Party for their second term in governance, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had to choose persons he deemed fit to join his administration for the 4-year period. This decision involved downsizing his already existing government and making provision for some new ministries with different functions. An initial figure of 126 was eventually cut down with majorly, the newly created ministries for regional integration being scrapped. As the year winds down, GhanaWeb brings a recap of which ministries were killed in Akufo-Addos second term and which survived. Office of the Senior Minister: This office, overseen by Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, was re-established by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in accordance with Section 15 of the Civil Service Act, 1993, to exercise oversight responsibility over economic Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure prudent economic management. In a statement from the presidency at the beginning of the year 2021 however, it was confirmed that this ministry had been scrapped though specific reasons were not allocated. The Office of the Senior Minister has also been abolished, the statement read in part. Aviation Ministry: The Aviation Ministry, headed by the late Joseph Kofi Adda was realigned and its functions added to those of its parent Ministry the Transport Ministry. Ministry of Inner-City and Zongo Development: This Ministry was created in the first term of President Nana Akufo-Addo as a special development ministry to accelerate development in the Zongo communities and to bridge the development gap between the Zongos and other parts of the country. The Ministry headed by Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid was however realigned under the Local Governance Ministry. Business Development Ministry: The Business Development Ministry headed by Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal was formed to create a sustainable and business-friendly, entrepreneurial and innovative business environment. It was one of the affected ministries in Akufo-Addos second government as it was scrapped and its functions added to the Trade and Industry Ministry. Monitoring and Evaluation, Planning, Regional Re-organisation and Development and Special Development Initiatives Ministries: The Monitoring and Evaluation, Planning, Regional Re-organisation and Development and Special Development Initiatives Ministries were the other four ministries which were scrapped. According to the statement from the presidency in January, these ministries are being realigned because they had mostly achieved the reasons for which they were created. "The president is realigning these special-purpose ministries because they have all achieved the purposes for which they were created," the statement said in part. In all, 28 Ministries were retained, a reduction from the previous 36 in the first Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo-Addo-led government.

General

28 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Ministries-that-were-kicked-out-in-2021-1433206

Your favourite most read stories in 2021

It was an eventful year, full of ups and downs. With the country trying to grapple with the down effects of the COVID-19 virus, a new government and parliament inaugurated, there was definitely a lineup of very interesting happenings. These were well documented and reported as and when they happened. Among the list, these topped the charts on www.ghanaweb.com and they have been compiled to give our esteemed readers a recap. Coronavirus: Hydrogen peroxide provides immediate protection Prof. Ayettey A former Provost of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana, Rev. Emeritus Prof. Andrews Seth Ayettey at the start of the year, in January 2021, recommended the use of Hydrogen peroxide as immediate protection against the coronavirus. According to him, the efficacy of Hydrogen peroxide had been proven considering some frontline nurses who had been using it and treating patients had not contracted the virus. In our on-going observational studies, we have become even more convinced about the efficacy of this solution, realizing that eight frontline nurses in the COVID-19 management team at a District Hospital using hydrogen peroxide had not contracted the disease and had tested negative since May 2020. In comparison, 62 of their colleagues not using peroxide had contracted the disease by end of December 2020, Prof. Ayettey said. Find the full story as published on January 22, 2021 Hydrogen peroxide provides immediate protection - Prof Ayettey Ministerial list: Here are those who have been dropped, maintained, and reshuffled Report After a few drama-filled events to transit after the 2020 elections, President Akufo-Addo had to make a tough decision on which group of persons he would want to join his government as ministers. So it was, a shake-up, reshuffle, and in some cases, a kick out. Some old ministers were kicked out, others had their ministries changed and some others earned new appointments as ministers. Prior to the official list being put out though, there were some names that had emerged as possible candidates in the reshuffle and reappointment process. Former Education Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo), Mr. Amewu, and Former Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Dan Botwe were all mentioned in this list of ministers to be moved to other ministries. Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, Roads Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta, Communications and Information Ministers, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah respectively, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Food and Agriculture Minister, Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, and Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey also had their names emerging as retained ministers at the time. For freshers, we had names like former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Deputy Chiefs-of-Staff, Francis Asenso Boakye and Samuel Abu Jinapor, Works, Housing & Sanitation, and the Lands & Natural Resources Ministries respectively being mentioned as new additions. Below is the story as publihsed in January 2021 Ministerial list: Here are those who have been dropped, maintained, and reshuffled Report Widow of former Ayawaso West Wuogon MP dies from Coronavirus Josephine Baiden Agyarko, a widow of former Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West constituency, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko died from COVID-19 complications the second month into the new year. She was receiving treatment and appeared to be doing well until a relapse, leading to her death on February 6. Family members who spoke to MyNewsGh.com which reported the incident requested privacy to mourn. She was one of the many prominent persons who succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. Read the full story as published in February Widow of former Ayawaso West Wuogon MP dies from Coronavirus Largest aircraft in the world lands in Ghana The largest aircraft in the world, Antonov An-225 Mriya landed at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra on July 7, 2021. The Antonov An-225 Mriya which was one of the only two ever built, is the only one in operation, according to Aviation Ghana. The aircraft flew from Leipzig and successfully landed at KIA shortly after 4pm on 7 July 2021. The arrival of the aircraft gives credence to the fact that Ghanas Kotoka International Airport is capable of hosting all types of aircraft. Read the full story below: Largest aircraft in the world lands in Ghana 10 government officials not wanted in Akufo-Addo 2nd term NPP group makes list On January 1, when the transition into a new government still under Akufo-Addo was done, a pressure group affiliated with the governing New Patriotic Party, Patriotic Reform Movement, emerged with its list of officials to be kicked out. According to them, sampled views of 2,500 party supporters nationwide suggested that some ministers were wanted out of the new government list in order to keep the prospect of maintaining power in 2024 alive. Such individuals will cause widespread apathy and will cause members to stay away and in severe cases leave the party. 2500 party members were interviewed across the 16 regions of Ghana and ten particular names were often mentioned, the group in a statement said. Kan Dapaah - National Security Minister, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye - Minister for Fisheries, Daniel Titus Glover - Deputy Transport Minister, Anthony Karbo - Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Madam Frema Opare - Chief of Staff, Samuel Atta Akyea - Minister for Housing, Kwasi Amoako Atta - Minister for Roads and Highways, Professor Frimpong Boateng - Minister for Environment Science and Technology, Yaw Osafo Maafo - Senior Minister, Simon Osei Mensah - Ashanti Regional Minister, made the list. Find below the full story as published on January 1, 2021: 10 government officials not wanted in Akufo-Addo 2nd term NPP group makes list Captain Smart using a service passport issued in 2017 Owusu Bempah alleges Godsbrain Blessed Smart Yirenkyi, popularly referred to as Captain Smart uses a Service Passport despite being an ordinary citizen who is not entitled to one. This was an allegation that was made on the August 30 edition of Net2 TVs The Seat Show, where the host and his guests produced the bio page of the said passport. Host Kwaku Annan, was in the studio with Ernest Owusu-Bempah of Ghana Gas Company and Hopeson Adorye, a failed parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, NPP. Key details of the document revealed that it was issued in November 2017, which presumes that it was issued under the current government, and is due to expire in November 2022. Under what circumstances did an ordinary citizen like Captain Smart procure a Service Passport, Owusu-Bempah quizzed threatening that he will head to the Police Criminal Investigations Department over the matter. Read the full story as published below on 31 August 2021 Captain Smart using a service passport issued in 2017 Owusu Bempah alleges Koku Anyidoho's wife speaks about how she was sacked, baggage thrown out of matrimonial home Wife of former NDC General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho in February this year, spoke about what she described as some unfortunate incidents happening in her matrimonial home. Jennifer Boahemaa Yeboah alleged in an exclusive GhanaWeb interview that, following months of emotional abuse and negligence from her husband, Mr Anyidoho sent her packing from their home. It will be recalled that Madam Jennifer was involved in a car accident in November last year which resulted in the loss of their 8-year-old daughter. She furthered that Mr Anyidoho abandoned her after the accident, taking away their only surviving son because he blamed her for the death of their daughter. Read the full story as published on February 25 this year: Koku Anyidoho's wife speaks about how she was sacked, baggage thrown out of matrimonial home

General

28 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Your-favourite-most-read-stories-in-2021-1433005

Year in Review: Deadliest accidents in 2021 that took lives

Road accidents have contributed to Ghanas highest causes of deaths so far as the country keeps recording daily cases. In 2021 alone, over 3,000 crashes were recorded, some very deadly whilst others were quite manageable. As at October 2021, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service indicated that over 2000 persons have been killed in road accidents. The provisional data revealed that the number of commuters killed in road traffic crashes for the first nine months of the year 2021 rose by 16.37% compared to the same period last year. As the year ends, GhanaWeb compiles list of deadliest accidents in 2021 that took lives. 17 die in gory accident on Offinso-Abofour road 17 persons reportedly died in a gory accident on the Offinso-Abofour road in the Ashanti Region on November 1, 2021. The accident which occurred at dawn included 10 children, 6 females and a male. The accident happened after the MAN Diesel vehicle heading toward Kumasi collided with a Sprinter bus heading towards Accra. Buipe-Tamale road accident claims 17 lives, 44 others injured Eighteen (18) people were confirmed dead by the Savannah Regional Police Commander following a gory accident at Buipe in the Central Gonja District. The accident occurred at Sarekyekura near Fulfulso on the Tamale-Buipe highway on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The accident happened when two buses with registration numbers GT 3345 16 and AC 1699 20 with 45 aboard each, collided with each other. 16 dead in fatal crash involving two buses at Akim Asafo Ghanaians woke up to the sad news of an accident killing sixteen passengers comprising 13 males and 3 females in a fatal head-on collision between two Kia Granbird buses on the Akyem Asafo stretch of the Accra to Kumasi highway. The accident occurred Friday, February 26, 2021, at about 1:30 am. 8 perish in Bodi accident On Friday, March 19, eight persons died after a sprinter bus with registration number AS 3022-15 traveling from Wa to Kumasi got involved in an accident around Bodi, a community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District. The accident involved a 23-seater Sprinter bus with registration number AS 3022-15 heading to Kumasi, Ashanti Region from Wa, Upper West. The car somersaulted and crashed into a bush in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District after bursting a tyre, as it attempted swerving a cart that had fallen off another bus that sped by it. 5 dead in accident on Accra-Tema motorway Five people died on May 6,2021 following an accident involving a Sprinter bus with registration number GR 6117-20 on the Accra-Tema motorway. According to an eyewitness, the accident occurred at about 6:30 am Thursday after the tyre of the bus burst around the weighing bridge. KNUST accident: MP loses son who was a final year medical student On March 27, 2021, a final year Medical Student of KNUST who is the son of Alhaji Seidu Issifu Baba, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Nalerigu-Gambaga Constituency was one of the two people who died in a ghastly accident. Their private vehicle is reported to have crashed on KNUST Campus on Saturday, March 27, 2021. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver, in an attempt to negotiate a sharp curve, ran into a tree, killing two persons on the spot.

General

15 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-in-Review-Deadliest-accidents-in-2021-that-took-lives-1424368

Henry Quartey is the most active government official in 2021

Some government officials in 2021 performed exceptionally well in their respective offices, gaining public recognition and some gaining the hatred of a percentage of the populace. GhanaWeb readers have chosen Henry Quartey as the most active government official in 2021 in a poll that was conducted by ghanaweb.com. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and Ken Ofori-Atta were also in the category of Most active government official. Out of a total of 1, 680 persons who participated in the poll, 68.51% votes amounting to 1,151, voted for Henry Quartey making him the choice of GhanaWeb readers. Ken Ofori-Atta, who was also nominated, pulled 3.45% votes amounting to 58 votes out of the total with Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia pulling 28.04% which is 471 votes. One person who was pleased by the work of the Regional Minister was President Nana Addo Dankwa AKufo-Addo, who noted that the minister initially rejected the offer of being regional minister. Henry Quartey has done well. And everyone can attest he is doing a good job in the country. I will tell you something to shock you, he actually said he was not interested in being the Greater Accra Minister at the beginning and I told him this is exactly what you will do so he should adjust his mind to it. And now everyone can see he came to do the job and not play. Henry Quartey in 2021 adopted proactive measures in making his region work, paramount amongst them was the relocation of traders at Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku after several failed attempts. Below are some of the things that he did earning him a name from Ghanaians: Relocating Agbogbloshie onion sellers to Adjen Kotoku Mr. Quartey took the initiative to relocate the onion sellers at the Agbogbloshie market to ensure the decongestion exercise is achieved. This was met with backlash but Mr. Quartey believed it is the only way to help develop the city. Though the traders opposed this move with all their might, the minister did not relent in his efforts to permanently move them from the market that has been in existence for so long. He finally succeeded in moving all the traders from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku on July 1, 2021. Relocation of Abbosey Okai spare parts dealers His initiative again ensured the allocation of land for Abbosey Okai Spare part dealers to relocate to Afienya. Henry Quartey said the government identified land in Afienya and was working towards allocating it to the spare parts dealers. Demolishing exercise in parts of Accra As part of his initiative; Let's Make Accra Work, Henry Quartey led a massive decongestion exercise that saw hundreds of unauthorized structures being removed to help keep Accra clean. While embarking on a decongestion exercise on Monday, July 26, 2021, he demanded the immediate removal of the Municipal Environmental Health Officer (MEHO) for Ayawaso Central Municipality, Emmanuel Sonni Alohleveh, from office. According to Mr. Quartey, Sonni Alohleveh has been absent from post for two weeks without any form of notice to his superiors. However, squatters at Railway Quarters along the Graphic Road in Accra amongst many others were rendered homeless in the course of the decongestion exercise. Ensured some persons were sanctioned for breaching sanitation protocols A resident of Kokomlemle in Accra was arrested for directing waste water from her home onto the street. The arrest was made following an order by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey. According to the Minister, the womans actions had caused unlawful damage to government property. The minister cited a part of section 172 of Act 29 which says whoever intentionally and unlawfully causes damage to any property by any means whatsoever to a value not exceeding GH1 million, or to no pecuniary value, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour. Enforced removal of sirens by ministers, deputies, others In July 2021, the presidency issued a directive, barring ministers, deputies, CEOs of public agencies, MMDCEs among others from using sirens. To enforce this directive, the Greater Accra Regional Minister gave a two-month grace period for the groups in question to remove their sirens in the capital. We are giving notice to anyone who uses siren in Accra to remove it by July. Its in your own interest to remove it. Because after July well enforce the laws backed by the act. We are giving people two months to comply, he said. Pledged GH1,500 to Psalm Adjeteyfio The minister pledged to give GH1,500 every month to support veteran actor, Psalm Adjetefio, popularly known as TT, of Taxi Driver fame, until 2025. The veteran actor was seen in a viral video pleading for financial assistance to pay his monthly rent worth 3000 cedis. This very act by the minister earned him the admiration of many, touting him as a soft-hearted man. Demolishing structures at Rawlings Park The minister ordered the AMA taskforce to demolish structures at Rawlings Park to pave way for vehicles to have access to the parking lot. This initiative is part of the Ministers effort to help ease traffic in the central business district. All these measures adopted by the Greater Accra Regional Minister summed up his Make Accra Work campaign in the year 2021. Although some citizens were not in support of his measures and heavily vilified him, some commended him for being proactive.

General

14 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Henry-Quartey-is-the-most-active-government-official-in-2021-1423768

Year in Review: Fake kidnappings that rocked 2021

Takoradi became quite popular in the year for fake kidnappings A woman faked both pregnancy and kidnapping The police has warned against such fake actions It may seem as though one of the weirdest trends in the year 2021; Fake kidnappings! The same subject matter of kidnappings that hit a neighbouring country such as Nigeria so much so that it has become a national security concern, with the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) taking particularly keen interest. And with the name of one city leading this negative tag, the year has experienced just about the highest reported cases of fake kidnappings. This is a trend that the Western regional police had cause to serve a warning on, following too many reports of such false claims of kidnappings in the region. Chief Superintendent Zoiku, who leads the regional command, had made this known after there had been some 18 fake kidnapping cases recorded in the region at one point in time in the year. The list is alarming and GhanaWeb, in this listicle, brings you a number of the ones that made their way into the public limelight, starting with the most recent one which has landed one of the frontline faces of journalism in the Western region n trouble. Fake Mpohor kidnapping: Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson, the host of the morning show on Connect FM in the Western region, was conducting his daily business one morning in November 2021 when a listener called into his program to make a report about a kidnapping that would later be established to have been a false one. Stephen Kumi, the alleged boyfriend of Stephanie Kumiwaa, is reported to have alleged that his 26-year-old girlfriend had been kidnapped, with the kidnappers requesting him to pay a ransom of GH2,000.00 to facilitate her release. But a statement from the police said checks at the Mpohor Police District Command indicated that no such case had been reported there. The story was thus concluded to be a case of a fake kidnapping. Paa Kwesi Simpson was eventually arrested alongside Stephen Kumi but the former was granted bail by a High Court in Sekondi to the tune of GH50,000. The bail conditions came with two sureties; one being a resident of Sekondi-Takoradi, after Simpson earlier been remanded into custody for two weeks together with Stephen Kumi. The two pleaded not guilty to charges of publication of false news with the intent of causing fear and alarm to the public contrary to the Public Order Act, and false publication of news through an electronic device. Takoradi pregnant woman kidnapping The biggest case of kidnapping in Ghana only next to the Takoradi Girls case happened this year when the case of a woman reported to have been heavily pregnant but had been kidnapped, made headlines. The case of Josephine Panyin Mensah later turned out that she feigned both her kidnapping and pregnancy. She was found at Tulano, a suburb of Axim, exactly five days after an official complaint was filed by her husband, Michael Simmons, that she had not returned since going for her routine morning walk. She is said to have said that the reason she faked the pregnancy in particular was because she didnt know how she was going to break the news of her fourth-month miscarriage to her husband. Resultantly, she played the part until after her delivery when she would use the planned kidnapping as a reason to prove that their newborn had been taken away from her by the kidnappers. The case got a lot of attention across the country with many disappointed in her after it turned out she had feigned this all along. Daughter fakes kidnap to extort money from adopted father Three suspects, Joana Krah, 29, the main suspect, conspired with Susana Awortwe, 27, and Francis Eshun, 27, were arrested by the police for faking a kidnapping and demanding an amount of GH5000 as ransom from the prime suspects adopted father. A statement from the police dated October 25, 2021, said Joana had conspired with the other two feign her kidnap. The Takoradi Divisional Police Command has arrested three suspects, Joana Krah, aged 29, Susana Awortwe, aged 27, and Francis Eshun, aged 27 for allegedly faking a kidnap and demanding a ransom or Five-Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS5,000.00). Reports indicate that suspect Joana Krah conspired with the other two suspects Susana Awortwe and Francis Eshun to feign her kidnapping on Friday, October 22, 2021, after which a call was placed to her adopted father to demand the ransom, the statement read in part. It further stated that Joana eventually showed up at the Takoradi Central Police Station to confess after she realized things were going sideways. Following that, her adopted father had reported the issue to the police and an extensive search had been commenced to find her

General

13 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Year-in-Review-Fake-kidnappings-that-rocked-2021-1422448

Political goof of the year: 'You are not poor if you can send GH100' - Ursula Owusu defends new E-levy

Government to tax electronic transactions from 2022 Communications Minister slams critics of E-levy Ghanaians peeved by Ursula Owusu The government of Ghana sought to introduce a new tax policy as part of revenue mobilization policies for the year 2022. The electronic transactions levy, which is a proposed 1.75% charge on all electronic transactions, including Mobile Money transfers, realized apprehension from the minority side of parliament and a cross section of the Ghanaian populace. A justification from the Minister for Communication and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, however, did not sit well with the public as her defense for the new levy was largely interpreted as a goof. With the minimum threshold for affected MOMO transactions pegged at GH100, the minister stated that persons who are able to conduct transactions at the minimum threshold cannot be said to be poor, hence, no need for Ghanaians to complain about the E-levy. Speaking on GH Today on GHOne TV, the minister explained that anyone who has more than GH100 on them in a day for transactions should not be considered poor and should pay taxes on their digital transactions. We have made it a part of this policy that up to a GH100 a day per a person is exempt. This, the state is saying, if youre sending up to a GH100 a day, cumulatively, you can send up to GH3000 a month, that is all going to be tax-free. Now, if you have more than a GH100 to send a day, then youre not poor. So, if you really are poor and you are in a position to send GH100 a day, then we need to re-classify the definition of who the real beneficiaries of these are, and it is only the sender who pays, not the receiver, she clarified. Following her definition of who a poor person is, the communications minister has received several backlash with many describing her position as being separated from the reality of economic conditions Ghanaians live in.

General

11 December 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Political-goof-of-the-year-You-are-not-poor-if-you-can-send-GH-100-Ursula-Owusu-defends-new-E-levy-1421632

45 timelines, incidents and scandals that defined Ghanas 7th Parliament

The life of Ghanas 7th Parliament which started on the dawn of 7th January 2017 with the swearing-in of Prof. Mike Ocquaye as Speaker, will come to an end on the 6th of January 2021 to make way for the 8th Parliament the day after. This 7th Parliament has survived bribery and visa fraud scandals, 11 walkouts, the gunning down in cold blood of a member and death of another through illness, COVID-19, as well as a street clash between some members and armed men and women of the Ghana Police Service. Two MPs were reprimanded as well for committing contemptuous acts against the 7th Parliament. Here is a catalogue of 45 timelines, incidents and scandals that defined Ghanas 7th Parliament. 27th January 2017: The Agyarko/Ayariga Bribery Scandal Exactly 20 days after the new MPs were sworn into office, NDC MP for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga alleged in an interview with Radio Gold, and subsequently Joy FM, that members of the Appointments Committee had been bribed 3,000 Cedis each to approve the nomination of Boakye Agyarko as Energy Minister. He claimed Chairman of Parliaments Appointments Committee Joe Osei Owusu and Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak were the conduits. The two denied the claim. NDC MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and NDC MP for Tamale North Alhassan Suhuyini publicly backed Mr. Ayarigas allegation, insisting the bribe money got to them but was subsequently returned. Parliament set up a committee to investigate the allegations chaired by Second Deputy Speaker of the 6th Parliament, Joe Ghartey. 31st March 2017: Joe Ghartey Committee reports there is no evidence of bribery in Parliament After almost 2 months of work, a five-member investigative committee that looked into allegations of bribery at the Appointments Committee submitted its report on the floor of parliament. The report of the committee chaired by Essikado Ketan MP Joe Ghartey concluded claims by Mahama Ayariga that MPs had been bribed to approve the nomination of Boakye Agyarko as Energy Minister were untrue. The committee said it found no evidence to back the claim. Joe Ghartey told the house a multiplicity of rumours does not metamorphose into a fact. The committee found him guilty of contempt of parliament and recommended that he be reprimanded and made to apologize. He contested the recommendation. After a long, dragged back and forth with Speaker Mike Ocquaye on the floor, he said; if you want me to apologize, I apologize. Majority MPs rejected the apology, insisting it was not remorseful. 7th April 2017: Mahama Ayariga renders proper apology On the floor of parliament, NDC MP Mahama Ayariga read out an apology letter he had written to the Speaker over his bribery allegation. In the letter, he apologized to then Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak and first Deputy Speaker Joe Osei Owusu, for accusing them of corruption without evidence. He also apologised to all MPs for lowering the image of the house. The Speaker told Mr. Ayariga; "go and sin no more." 3rd February 2017: Minority stages first walkout over Otiko Afisa Djabas appointment The Minority in Parliaments first walkout was a partial one. Maybe, they were now warming up to the game. It was over the approval of former Womens Organiser of the NPP Otiko Afisa Djaba as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection. The Minority refused to support approval of her nomination at the Appointments Committee after she stood by comments describing former President John Mahama as wicked and evil. They also did not understand why she should serve as minister when she hadnt done her mandatory national service in the past. As parliament approved her nomination, all Minority MPs except 10 members of the appointment committee left the chamber. The committee members stayed on to argue against her approval. A vote in the house saw 152 Majority MPs vote in favour to approve her nomination. 15th March 2017: Minority stages second walkout The Minority in Parliament staged the second of what would be several walkouts as the house approved the NPP governments first budget statement delivered by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. The minority protested cuts to the District Assembly Common Fund and what they claimed was inefficient planned use of the countrys oil resources in the budget. The walkout was after they lost a vote on the floor that approved the budget. 26th April 2017: MPs involved in alleged visa fraud Joy News Kojo Yankson broke the story of a confidential letter from the UK High Commissioner Jon Benjamin to Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Ocquaye, which detailed alleged visa fraud involving some 3 MPs in the 7th Parliament. NDC MP for Bia East Richard Acheampong, NPP MP for Ntotroso Joseph Benhazin Dahah and NPP MP for Ahafo Ano South West Johnson Kwaku Adu, were the alleged culprits. A former MP for Asunafo South George Boakye was the fourth. The letter claimed the four had allegedly facilitated the illegal entry and illegal stay of people they claimed to be their relatives in the UK. The High Commission said some of the actions could be considered criminal, but it was hoping to work with the speakers office to encourage MPs to desist from such acts. The letter said the four will not be granted visas to enter the UK for at least 10 years. The Speaker, Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, all promised thorough investigations and that those found culpable will be dealt with. But nothing has been heard of the case since May 2017. 29th July 2017: Minority unhappy as police raids homes of NDC MPs On the floor of parliament, the Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak demanded that the Speaker invokes constitutional protection of MPs from arbitrary police action. This was after former Deputy Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine, former Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor and former Deputy Power Minister John Jinapor who are all MPs, had their homes raided as part of investigations into controversial AMERI power deal. The speaker promised to invite security officials for the necessary conversations, so things are done right next time. 1st August 2017: Minority MPs stage third walkout over AMERI deal Minority MPs staged their third walkout of parliament over what they said was the Speakers illegal admission of a motion filed by Adansi Asokwa MP K. T. Hamond. Mr. Hammonds motion asked parliament to rescind the approval it gave to the controversial AMERI power deal back in 2015 at the height of the energy crisis. After power changed hands in January 2017, the Philip Addison led committee set up by Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko to investigate the deal concluded it was allegedly inflated by US$150 million. K. T. Hammonds motion for parliament to withdraw its approval claimed there had been gross misrepresentations in the original deal. Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu was unhappy the Speaker admitted the motion and referred it to the Energy Committee, insisting it was illegal for the 7th parliament to take a fresh decision on work done by the 6th parliament. The Minority MPs walked out just before the speaker went ahead to admit the motion. 21st December 2017: Parliament okays request by Ministry for Special Development Initiatives to spend a whooping GH800,000 on website development Parliament approved the 2018 budget of the newly established Ministry for Special Development Initiatives, which included a request for a whooping GH800,000 to pay for the development of the ministrys website. The Minority insisted the amount is bloated and it amounted to corruption. But the majority approved the request. The Majority subsequently clarified the figure should have been 8,000 Cedis and not 800,000 Cedis. 27th December 2017: Emergency recall of Parliament over cash-for-seat scandal A few days after parliament had taken its Christmas and New Year break, Minority Chief Muntaka Mubarak, North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and about 80 Minority MPs wrote a memo to the speaker requesting an emergency sitting of the house. The suggested agenda was for the house to deliberate on a motion for parliamentary probe into allegations the Ministry of Trade and Industry had charged business people unapproved fees of between US$25,000 and US$100,000 to grant them access to President Akufo-Addo. The move came after the president cleared the Trade Minister of any wrongdoing in facilitating the Ghana Expatriates Business Awards which was organized by the Millennium Excellence Foundation. For the first and the last time in the history of the 7th parliament, the Minority MPs invoked provisions in order 38 (1) of the Standing Orders of parliament which allows at least 15% of all MPs to cause a meeting of the house. All other summons have been at the behest of the Speaker. 5th January 2018: Parliament sets up 5-member committee to probe cash-for-seat scandal Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak at Parliaments emergency sitting moved a motion for the house to set up a committee to investigate what had come to be known as the cash-for-seat scandal. After long periods of deliberation, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu reluctantly backed the request allowing for the establishment of the 5-member committee. The majority could have used its numbers to shoot down the motion, but the Majority Leader said for the sake of transparency, his side will allow the probe to happen. Majority Chief Whip in Parliament Kwasi Ameyaw Chremeh was to chair the committee. 8th February 2018: Cash-for-seat Committee exonerates Trade Ministry officials; Minority stages fourth walkout A 146-page report of the committee that investigated the cash-for-seat scandal exonerated Minister for Trade and Industry Alan Kyeremanteng, and other ministry officials. The majority report concluded that there is no merit in the allegation. Minority MPs on the committee led by Bolgatanga East MP Dr. Dominic Ayine also produced a minority report that concluded the president had been used to extort money from business people. The minority staged a walkout of the house as the majority report was approved. 23rd March 2018: Parliament approves Ghana US Defence Agreement; Minority stages fifth walkout Parliament approved the controversial Ghana-US defence cooperation agreement which provides the United States access into the country to camp its military forces and equipment. The approval was done by only Majority Members of Parliament because the Minority staged a walkout. The Minority insisted the deal amounts to a sale of Ghanas sovereignty. 12th April 2018: Police CID question MPs for allegedly taking double salary Several Minority MPs including Inusah Fuseini, Rashid Pelpuo and Comfort Doye Ghansah reported at the Police Criminal Investigation Department for interrogation for allegedly receiving double salaries when they served in the previous parliament, and as ministers of state. The MPs denied any wrongdoing insisting it was only an attempt by government to intimidate them. 6th June 2018: Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong hauled before Privileges Committee Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak moved a motion on the floor asking the house to refer Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong to the Privileges Committee for committing contempt of parliament by calling the house useless. The house approved the motion which was supported by both majority and minority MPs. Days later, a disagreement between the two degenerated. Mr. Agyapong threatened Mr. Mubarak with a show down and called him dumb and unintelligent. In response, Mr. Mubarak told the media in an interview; If I meet him at the corridors of parliament and he tries to mess up with me, I will beat him up mercilessly. I am a Zongo boy and Zongo boys are not cowards. I will deal with him ruthlessly, who does he think he is? If Ken Agyapong thinks he is a man like me, he should bring it on and I will shut him up for Ghanaians to see he is not the only man in the country. The Minority Chief Whip subsequently apologized for the comment. 26th July 2018: New AMERI deal that will cost Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko his job laid in parliament A new power agreement between the government of Ghana and the Africa Middle East Resources Investment (AMERI), which will subsequently cost Boakye Agyarko his job as Energy Minister, was laid in parliament for approval. The original deal was signed by the previous NDC government in 2015. Mr. Agyarko claimed it was bloated by some US$150 million. The revised deal was to correct the alleged inflation. Parliaments Joint Finance and Energy Committees pulled breaks on approving the agreement until other substantial documents including the Attorney Generals advice on it was made available to parliament. The Minority said the new deal will cost the nation US$1 billion loss. The African Center for Energy Policy and Volta River Authority staff called on parliament not to approve it. Days later, the presidency which had earlier given executive approval to the deal before it went to parliament backtracked. The presidency said the president had been misled into greenlighting it. But Mr. Agyarko stood his ground that there was nothing wrong with it. On 6th August 2018, the president relieved Mr. Agyarko of his position after an ultimatum to him to resign expired. 21st November 2018: MP for Ayawaso West Wugon dies NPP MP for Ayawaso West Wugon Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko died in the USA after a short illness. The Electoral Commission announced there will be a by election to elect a new MP. 6th December 2018: New AMERI deal withdrawn from parliament New Energy Minister Peter Amewu withdrew the Boakye Agyarko version of the AMERI deal from parliament. He laid a new, enhanced one on the floor for approval that same day. That new agreement was eventually approved on 22nd December 2018. 13th December 2018: Controversial drone blood distribution service approved by Parliament Parliament by a majority 102 to 58 vote approved an agreement between government and Fly Zipline Limited, for drone distribution of blood and emergency health products to remote parts of the country. The Minority in Parliament, Ghana Medical Association and other groups opposed the US$12 million deal given to the US based company. But the government used its majority numbers in parliament to approve the deal. 29th January 2019: Kennedy Agyapong referred to Privileges Committee for a second time Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak moved a second motion in seven months on the floor of parliament seeking the support of colleagues for Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong to be referred to the Privileges Committee for contempt. The motion drew the houses attention to comments by Mr. Agyapong made, inciting members of the public to beat up investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, who was subsequently shot dead. Mr. Agyapong had circulated Mr. Suales picture on TV and urged people who saw him to beat him up. I make this complaint of contempt of Parliament against my own colleague for the embarrassment and uncalled for comments and incitement of the public against a member of the public that unfortunately led to the death of the gentleman, Mr. Mubarak said as he moved the motion. The motion was approved with support from both majority and minority MPs. The committee never sat on this second case. Neither did it ever report back to the house on it. 31st January 2019: Kennedy Agyapong and Muntaka Mubarak trade insults on the floor As MPs waited in the chamber for sitting to begin, Assin Central MP Kenedy Agyapong confronted the Minority Whip Muntaka Mubarak over the referral of Mr. Agyapong to the Privileges Committee for contempt of parliament. Both were restrained by colleague MPs. But the two hurled insults at each other. They called themselves animals. And used the F-word on each other in the Twi language. 13th February 2019: Parliaments Privileges Committee finds Kennedy Agyapong guilty of contempt A report of Parliaments Privileges Committees after weeks of deliberation concluded Kennedy Agyapong was guilty of contempt for describing the house as useless. When he appeared before the committee, Mr. Agyapong claimed he used the word cheap in the Akan Language in an interview on Net2 TV which he owns. But the committee concluded he actually used useless, which it said was disparaging and contemptuous. The committee recommended that he be suspended or reprimanded. The house voted to reprimand him after he offered an apology on the floor. 5th February 2019: Lydia Alhassan sworn in as MP; Minority stages sixth walkout Marches to Police Headquarters Lydia Seyram Alhassan of the NPP was sworn in as MP for Ayawaso West Wugon to replace Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko who died in November 2018. This was after she won the 31st January 2019 by-election there which was marred by violence. Ningo Prampram MP Samuel George who was in the constituency to monitor the elections for the NDC was slapped by a security operative. Clad in red and black, Members of the Minority walked out of parliament before she was sworn in. They marched on the streets from Parliament House to the police headquarters to petition the Inspector General of Police to investigate the violence that marred the polls. Before marching to the Police Headquarters, they shouted bloody widow at the Ayawaso West Wugon MP. 5th March 2019: Minority stages seventh walkout The Minority in Parliament staged its seventh walk out of parliament over an amendment to the Public Holidays Act. The amendment made January 7 (Constitution Day) and August 4 (Founders Day) public holidays. The amendment scrapped 1st July (Republic Day) and 25th May (Africa Union Day) as holidays and made them commemorative days. The Minority served notice a future NDC government will reverse the changes. 26th March 2019: RTI Law passed by parliament After two decades, the Right To Information Bill was eventually passed into law by the 7th parliament. The law operationalises the right to information which is enshrined in the constitution so members of the public and the media can hold government more accountable and ensure transparency. The bill was first drafted by the Attorney Generals office in 1999. An updated version got introduced in parliament in 2010 but was not passed before the 5th parliaments life expired. It eventually got approved by the 7th parliament. 3rd May 2019: Controversial Aker-AGM Petroleum deal approved by parliament Parliament approved the controversial government of Ghana and Aker - AGM Petroleum Limited deal, which the Minority said was a sell off of Ghanas oil fields. The deal was first signed and approved by the NDC administration. The NPP government re-negotiated the deal and brought a new agreement to the house. Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu claimed the new deal will cost Ghana a US$10 billion loss. 13th June 2019: Man attempts suicide in parliament A 35-year-old gentleman attempted committing suicide in parliament. Kojo Mensah who sat in the public gallery in an NPP embossed T-shirt with the picture of Kwesimintsim MP Joseph Mensah, was the victim. He shouted: I will kill myself, I will kill myself, as he tried to jump from the gallery one storey up, into the main chamber. Security officials restrained him and took him away. 28th June 2019: Speaker announces work on new 450-seater parliamentary chamber will begin soon Speaker of Parliament Prof. Milke Ocquaye announced plans to construct a new 450 seat parliamentary chamber, sparking a #DropThatChamber campaign. UK-based architect David Adjaye joined the speaker to unveil the design of the structure which was estimated to cost between US$150 million and US$200 million. 4th July 2019: Ernesto Yeboah arrested in parliament over #DropThatChamber Campaign Former Convention Peoples Party Youth Organiser Ernesto Yeboah was arrested in the public gallery of parliament for interrupting proceedings with the #DropThatChamber campaign. We dont need any discussion on this, drop that chamber, he screamed from the public gallery. He and one other protester were whisked out by security operatives afterwards. 8th July 2019: Plans for new chamber dropped Director of Public Affairs in Parliament Kate Addo told Joy News the Parliamentary Service Board has #DroppedThatChamber. She explained the board has decided to put the project on hold due to public sentiments against it. 21st December 2019: Minority stages eighth walkout as parliament approves Electoral Commissions budget Minority MPs walked out of Parliament as the house approved the budget of the Electoral Commission. The Minority was protesting among others, plans by the EC to compile a new voters register. 20th January 2020: Public Accounts Committee causes arrest of 2 District Finance Officers on live TV Chairman of Parliaments Public Accounts Committee James Klutse Avedzi caused the arrest of Isaac Akowuah and James Essilfie, the former and current Finance Officers of the Sefwi Akontombra District Assembly when they appeared before the committee. The chairman accused them of attempting to deceive the committee and invited the police to arrest them and take them to the station for investigations for deceit of public officers. They were handcuffed by the police and taken away even as the entire sitting was streamed on live TV. 20th February 2020: Minority stages ninth walkout, this time around, on Akufo-Addo Minority MPs walked out of parliament moments before President Akufo-Addo delivered the 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA). They were clad in red and black when they showed up in the chamber. The Minority Leader and other leaders earlier went out to welcome the president to the house. Just when he was about speaking, the minority started chanting war songs and walked out. They said they were protesting the violence perpetuated by militia groups during the Ayawaso West Wugon by election. The Minority MPs also did not partake in parliaments debate of the SONA which lasted for about a week. 26th February 2020: Speaker bars journalists from conducting interviews on the premises when proceedings are on Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye incurred the wrath of the media when he warned them against conducting interviews on the premises whilst proceedings are ongoing, else their accreditation will be withdrawn. Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu complained that members of the press corps had abandoned proceedings in the house the previous day to interact with NDC MP for Ellembele, Kofi Buah. The Speaker warned: ...you are here as guests by my permission. Because of the importance, this House attaches to the inking profession, any such humiliation will make you an unwelcome guests and your welcome will be duly withdrawn. The warning drew widespread condemnation from the Ghana Journalists Association and the Media Foundation for West Africa. That threat was however never carried through as journalists have continued to conduct interviews even when the house is in session. 21st March 2020: Speaker directs all MPs to wear masks over COVID-19 fears When COVID-19 hit, parliament responded. Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Ocquaye directed all MPs and staff to wear masks in the house. 23rd March 2020: Minority stages tenth walkout of parliament Minority MPs led by its Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak walked out of parliament during consideration of the Cooperate Insolvency Bill. We do not have quorum to take the decision and you are still carrying on. You are abusing the privilege of this house and you are making the house lawless Mr. Speaker. What you are doing is wrong, he said. After he was ignored by the speaker, he walked out. And his colleague minority MPs followed him. 5th April 2020: Minority Leader describes Speaker as Walking Illegality. Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu described Speaker Prof. Mike Ocquaye as a walking illegality during a press conference after the Speaker suspended sitting of the house instead of adjourning it. The speaker insisted the house cannot take a definitive break because it has to be on standby to approve measures aimed at dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. 27th May 2020: Muntaka accuses Parliament of lying and hiding COVID-19 cases Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak told Joy Primes Daniel Dadzie parliament lied in a statement issued the day before, denying media reports that no COVID-19 cases had been recorded in the house. He insisted 2 MPs and 13 staff had tested positive for the virus and had been asked to self-isolate. 14th August 2020: Parliament approves controversial Agyapa Mineral Royalty agreement; Minority stages eleventh walk out Parliament approved the controversial Agyapa Mineral Royalty Limited agreement despite a walkout by the Minority. This was the Minoritys eleventh walk out since January 2017. Minority MPs led by Cassiel Ato Forson addressed a media briefing in parliament house to demand the withdrawal of the agreement, claiming it will give private individuals 49% ownership of the countrys mineral royalties which will be against the interest of the state. 9th October 2020: Mfantseman MP killed by gunmen Gunmen shot and killed NPP MP for Mfantseman Constituency, Ekow Quansah Hayford. He was killed as he returned from an overnight campaign activity in his constituency. 13th October 2020: MPs to get armed police bodyguards Interior Minister Ambrose Derry, following a closed-door meeting with Members of Parliament, announced at a media briefing that all MPs will henceforth be provided with armed police bodyguards. This was after he was summoned by the speaker to provide a detailed plan on how MPs will be protected following the killing of their colleague member for Mfantseman, Ekow Hayford. 7th November 2020: NPP MP for Fomena Andrew Amoako Asiamah expelled NPP MP for Fomena Andrew Amoako Asiamah was expelled from parliament. Speaker Mike Ocquaye declared his seat vacant following a request from the Ashanti Regional branch of the NPP which said he had been sacked from the party over his decision to contest the upcoming 2020 election as an independent parliamentary candidate. The party requested that the speaker invokes the Article 97 of the Constitution and declare the seat vacant, which he obliged. 18th December 2020: Parliament passes first-ever private members bill Parliament passed into law the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2020 which introduces stiffer punishment for road traffic offenders whose actions lead to the death of an unborn child. This was the first time in history a private members Bill proposed by Members of Parliament (MPs) had been approved by Parliament. All other laws approved by parliament have come from the President, through his Ministers. Kumbungu MP Ras Mubarack, Chairman of Parliaments Constitution and Legal Affairs Committee Ben Abdallah, Majority Leader Osei Kyei MensahBonsu and Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu were the joint proponents of the bill. MPs expressed confidence the passage of the Bill will open more room going forward for Parliament to propose legislations and get the House to pass them. They questioned why the lawmaking arm of government had never made any laws on its own, all these years. 22nd December 2020: Minority MPs clash with police Minority MPs marched from Parliament House, broke through a barricade mounted by the police at the Ridge Roundabout, and walked to the headquarters of the electoral commission to petition the Electoral Commission boss. The MPs petition demanded collation of Techiman South 2020 parliamentary election results. The EC boss did not step out to receive the petition. A scuffle ensued between the police and the NDC legislators. 4th January 2020: Police charge 20 Minority MPs over walk to Electoral Commission Headquarters; summon them before Accra Magistrates Court Police charged 20 NDC MPs including Minority Leader in Parliament Haruna Iddrisu with two offences against the state for walking to the headquarters of the Electoral Commission on 22nd December 2020 to present a petition. They were asked to appear before the Accra Magistrates Court over the charges but they refused to show up. They insisted the leave of the speaker must be sought before criminal and civils court processes are executed against them. The court adjourned the case indefinitely. The police in a statement of offence accused the minority MPs of failing to notify the police before holding a special event contrary to sections 1, 2 and 9 of the Public Order Act. The police also charged them with unlawful assembly contrary to section 202 of the Criminal Offences Act.

Joseph Opoku

General

6 January 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/45-timelines-incidents-and-scandals-that-defined-Ghana-s-7th-Parliament-1147775

Deadliest accidents of 2020 that took many Ghanaian lives

2020 was arguably one of the most difficult years in the last decade. Countries across the globe had a fair share of economic ups and downs. Then came the onset of the viral disease, the Coronavirus which quickly soared to the level of a pandemic, killing millions of people and further crippling struggling economies. The year started on a rather rough note in Ghana as the country was mounting up a spirited campaign against road accidents. There has been a general outcry from the populace on the poor nature of several roads in the country and how it is needlessly claiming the lives of Ghanaians than any other cause of death. In the first month of 2020 for instance, recorded one of the highest casualty rates from road carnages. GhanaWeb catalogues the deadliest accidents which took many Ghanaian lives in 2020: On Monday, January 13, 2020, over 20 persons reportedly had their lives cut short after they were involved in a fatal accident at Dompoase near Komenda in the Central Region. Over 20 perish in gory crash at Dompoase in Central Region Starr News reported that the gory accident, which occurred at around midnight involved two buses, one said to be travelling from Takoradi to Accra with registration number GR 5704-18 and the other with registration number GN 3780-10 in the opposite direction. Read the full story originally published on January 14, 2020, on Ghanaweb 30 people burnt to death in Kintampo-Tamale road crash Barely two months after the gory accident claimed over 20 lives at Dampoase in the Central Region, another ghastly crash involving two buses on the Kintampo-Tamale Highway resulted in the death of over 30 people aboard the buses. Kintampo-based Nkomode FM reported that both vehicles went up in flames upon collision causing the burning of the over 30 passengers. Read the full story originally published on March 09, 2020, on Ghanaweb 11 die in gory Obuasi crash Another crash which proved deadly happened on Dunkwa-Obuasi highway on Monday, June 29, 2020. The accident claimed the lives of eleven people while dozens got severely wounded after a commercial Sprinter bus collided with a fully loaded passenger Ford bus. According to a Daily Guide report on July 1, 2020, rescuers made up of fire and police officers had a torrid time getting all the passengers aboard the 207 Sprinter bus with registration number GT 397 14, as well as the Ford bus registered GE 58 13. Six of the passengers, including the driver of the Ford mini bus, died on the spot while five others later died at the hospital. A heap of sand that had blocked half of the busy road was reported to have caused the tragic accident. 10 dead, over 80 injured as cargo truck crashes into two buses at Kyekyewere Over 90 passengers journeying on the Community stretch of the Accra- Kumasi Highway in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, were also involved in yet another horrific accident. 10 people perished while 80 were scarred with various degrees of injuries. According to an eyewitness, a DAF Cargo Truck believed to be heading towards Kumasi direction to Burkina Faso, burst a tyre causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and colliding with two passenger vehicles. Read the full story originally published on March 09, 2020, on Ghanaweb Eight dead in fatal accident on Accra-Kumasi highway Eight passengers of a sprinter bus en route to Kumasi from Accra died on the spot when their vehicle crashed into a parked, faulty loaded truck. The sad incident happened on the night of May 12, 2020, resulting in others sustaining life-threatening injuries. Read the full story originally published on May 13, 2020, on Ghanaweb Six young footballers perish in car crash in Ashanti Region The loss of some young promising Ghanaian footballers dealt a devastating blow to the country and particularly the sports sector in the last quarter of the year 2020. Six colt footballers aged between 12 and 15 perished after an overloaded bus in which they were travelling plunged into the Offinso River. Two others later died after they were hospitalised in a critical condition. According to reports, the driver lost control of the bus when they were returning from Afrancho Afranch to Offinso after undergoing colts division registration. Read the full story originally published on September 19, 2020, on Ghanaweb

General

2 January 2021

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Deadliest-accidents-of-2020-that-took-many-Ghanaian-lives-1145426

#TrendingGH: Coronavirus shattered our 2020 resolutions - Koforidua residents

Correspondence from Eastern Region: Residents in Koforidua claim most of their new year resolutions for the year 2020 got crashed by the novel coronavirus (covid-19) which broke out in the country in March 2020. They said all the plans they had and hoped to achieve in their businesses, spiritual and personal lives as well as their academics to enhance their status in life succumbed to the coronavirus. "For me as a business person with regard to stationery, I was expecting to get a lot more sales during the peak season which is September and October when schools reopen. "Like I said initially, the plans were great hoping for more sales but coronavirus also had its plans. So, when it came in, the government had to shut down all schools. So there was no season for us. That has done a great deal against us as business people in the stationery business. "We are hoping for the best. On 31st December 2020 the President will be speaking again and we are hoping schools reopen so we can make more sales. As a businessman I don't need anything better than sales, so that is we are hoping for," Forster Agbobafah, a stationery seller said. Another resident, Belinda Agbesi Watson, who is a student nurse and a trader of African jewelry, expressed disappointment in 2020 saying due to the covid-19, most foreigners did not come down into the country to patronize her products. "This year most of my plans got crashed due to the covid-19. I'm a student but for covid-19, I would have advanced in my academic level but the covid-19 has retrogressed my schooling. We are hoping that things will normalise so that I go back to school. According to Belinda, she is praying fervently to see the coronavirus vanish from the world so that business would start booming for her. Eric Nartey, carpenter based in Koforidua also disclosed that coronavirus erased the need for furniture in the minds of his customers since they were mostly indoors and thinking more about feeding than buying furniture. "Business did not go on that much. At the beginning of the year, sale was good but when the disease broke, the person did not want to go out. His thoughts were all on food. What will they do with furniture? So, it made our business dwindle. It really affected us my brother," he told Ghanaweb. Eric Nartey expressed hope that the coronavirus would normalise in 2021 for business to enhance so that he can make income to cater for his family and to pay taxes towards national development. An evangelist, Isaac Anderson, also averred that the year 2020 came with a huge surprise that hampered the attainment of the year's resolutions. He expressed confidence that 2021 would be a better year and described it as a "packed year" since he has deferred his stagnated 2020 resolutions to add onto those for 2021. Some of the residents, however, expressed with joy that they were able to achieve their set target despite the Covid-19. "I was able to achieve my target. I planned to work to get money to buy a stuffing chair. By the grace of God before the end of 2020, I have been able to sell, made the money, and bought it. For me I think everything went on well. I was able to achieve my dream. My target in 2021 is to build my house and so I pray that just as all went well for me in 2020, I can make good sales to get money for it," Auntie Abena, a trader who hawks with second-hand dresses told GhanaWeb.

Regional

31 December 2020

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/regional/TrendingGH-Coronavirus-shattered-our-2020-resolutions-Koforidua-residents-1144616

Major health stories in 2020

In February 2020, a new strain of bacteria - Neisseria meningitides serotype X was reported in the Upper West Region, with the hope that it will be contained in days. But by April 15, 2020, the virus had spread to all the five regions of the north, with 409 infections resulting in 40 deaths. COVID-19 On Thursday 12 March 2020, the country recorded its first case of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu, announced at a press conference that two imported cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Ghana, after laboratory tests from the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research. The two cases said to be travellers from Norway and Turkey were the first cases of the COVID-19 to test positive in Ghana after about 57 suspected cases proved negative. Consequently, Ghana closed all its borders by land, sea and air to human traffic from midnight on Sunday, March 22 to curb the importation and spread of the virus; contain its spread; provide adequate care for the sick; limit the impact of the virus on the social and economic life of the citizens. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a national address on Friday, March 27, 2020, imposed a two-week partial lockdown on Greater Accra and Kumasi, Kasoa and Tema. The lockdown took effect from 0010 hours on Monday, 30th March. The cities were identified as the epicentres of the novel coronavirus in Ghana and were shut down as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease. The partial lockdown was expected to give the government an opportunity to halt the spread of the virus, scale-up contact tracing of persons who had come into contact with infected persons, test them for the virus, quarantine and isolate infected persons for treatment. MALARIA In April 2020, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced that Ghana had recorded a total of 54 malaria deaths between January and March 2020, and called on the public to sleep in Insecticide Treated Nets (INTs). COVID-19 VACCINE On December 20, 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his Covid-19 update to the nation said the government had constituted a team of experts to make Ghana a recipient of ongoing deployments of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Ghana Health Service stated that the country would be in a position to take delivery of the vaccines by the end of the first quarter of 2021.

Health

31 December 2020

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/health/Major-health-stories-in-2020-1144604

Most searched words on Google by Ghanaians in 2020

The quest for information usually leads people to resort to various forms of avenues available to them to obtain results. In Ghana, the most visited platform for research and knowledge gathering is the search engine, Google. Throughout the years, reliance on Google has grown exponentially by all sectors of individuals in the country. In all of this, some words seem to have piqued the interest of Ghanaians as they have been searched for time and again all through the year. 2020 has turned out to be quite an extraordinary year with a fair share of surprises here and there as well as introductions of many new things. As the curtains draw on the year 2020, GhanaWeb highlights the items which were most searched for by Ghanaians across the country. Google Trends identified Ghana as the term which came on top as far as word searches by Ghanaian users in the past 12 months was concerned. Per the data available to GhanaWeb, queries that topped the list this year bordered largely around news, the global pandemic, betting and entertainment. Keenly following Ghana is the term Download as well as mp3 download. This development brings to bear the citizenrys attitude in acquiring music online. Fourth on the list is Ghanas foremost online news website, GhanaWeb, which prior to this had enjoyed being on top of the pile. That said, however, it is the only news website which made it to the top ten most searched for item in the year 2020. Coming up in fifth is the search engine google while two betting companies took the 6th and 9th spots. Social media platform Facebook is the 7th most searched item and the global pandemic, Coronavirus is 8th. Below is the full list of the 10 most searched items on Google in the year 2020: 1. Ghana 2. Download 3. Mp3 download 4. GhanaWeb 5. Google 6. Betway 7. Facebook 8. Coronavirus 9. Betpawa 10. Weather

General

31 December 2020

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Most-searched-words-on-Google-by-Ghanaians-in-2020-1144412

Greater Accra House of Chiefs hold End of Year Meeting - Outline plans for 2021

The Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs has held its end of year meeting. The purpose was to outline plans for the year 2021. The meeting was also aimed at reviewing the achievements of the house in the past year as well as ensuring the welfare of the people of GaDangbe. It further sought to find solutions to numerous problems confronting the GaDangbe people. Addressing Chiefs and elders, the Osu Mantse and President of the House, His Majesty Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI stated that the major agenda for the year 2021 will be focusing on education. He said most of the Chiefs are comfortable with what they have and where they find themselves and have therefore forgotten about the education of their people. He noted that lack of education within the GaDangbe communities was part of the problems confronting the GaDangbe people and therefore called on the Chiefs to ensure education becomes their priority. According to him, out of 275 seats in Parliament, the Ga people have only four seats. This he said is due to lack of education and boldness among the Ga people hence his call on all Ga Chiefs to take the education in their Communities seriously. He revealed that the house agenda to straighten education will be in collaboration with the traditional areas in the Ga States to help attain the targets. Avoidance of litigations The President of the house Nii Okwei kinka Dowuona VI hinted that the house has started registering all titleholders in the traditional councils and digitalise some. He said seven of the traditional areas has been registered and the remaining will be roped, this he appeals for support from well-standing and all GaDangbes in home and abroad. COVID-19 Touching on the COVID-19 pandemic, the President revealed that the house had series of educative programs to educate the masses on the need to control the spread of the Virus. He added that the virus was prevalent hence the need to wear face masks, regular sanitisation of hands as well as washing of hands with soap under clean running water to avoid the spread of the virus. Pending Cases On cases pending at the house, Nii Kinka Dowuona VI revealed that there have been 28 cases and the house have had 93 sittings and given ruling for six (6) which according to him it is a good sign that conflicts are been revolved The President also thanked the chiefs for their cooperation and without them, nothing could be achieved. Capacity building He said the Ga state before 2012 had only one Paramountcy and a traditional council but currently the state has six Paramountcies, traditional council's and Municipalities. Nii Okwei called on colleague Chiefs to wake up and ensure that the people within their traditional areas benefit from the establishment of government institutions in their localities. He said the house will collaborate with resource persons to educate and build capacity of Chiefs to enable them utilise the expertise of staff of the various municipalities to the benefit their people.

Faisal Mustapha

Regional

31 December 2020

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/regional/Greater-Accra-House-of-Chiefs-hold-End-of-Year-Meeting-Outline-plans-for-2021-1144406

Top government officials who lost their jobs in 2020

Coronavirus brought serious complications, and with it came not only many deaths, but the loss of jobs. The impact of the pandemic of the lives of many was immeasurable but others had their lots for other reasons; some self-inflicted, and others, inevitable. Such was the case for some government officials whose appointments were terminated for various reasons. GhanaWeb compiled a few of these and outlines them in this piece: PPA Boss Agyenim Boateng Adjei: It was hit after hit from all sides and angles after the then boss of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Agyenim Boateng Adjei was found culpable by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) of conflicting his personal interests with the performance of his functions. His woes began after he was exposed in an investigative piece by journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, as having sold government contracts to a company he was affiliated to; Talent Discovery Ltd. Which he established. The expose titled; Contracts for sale led to the dismissal of Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei. First, he was suspended in 2019. Then his contract as PPA Boss was terminated by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after CHRAJ found him culpable after investigations in October 2020. He was then banned from holding any public office for the next five years. As though that was not enough, the Ghana Institute of Procurement and Supply, which he belonged to, also suspended him as a member, over what they said was a breach of Article 13 of GIPS Code of Ethics pertinent to conflicts of interest. Mr Adjei tried fighting back and threatened to sue CHRAJ after the ban, noting that there was nothing incriminating in their report. Deputy Communications Minister - Vincent Sowah Odotei: His ministerial appointment was revoked in the middle of the year, on April 6, 2020. Very little information was given about the reason behind the decision which came from the presidency but the announcement was contained in a statement signed by Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin. It indicated that Mr Sowah Odotei will have his position as Deputy Communications Minister occupied by former Deputy Health Minister, Alexander Kodwo Kom Abban who is also MP for Gomoa West. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah: Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah resigned from office as Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry on July 3, hours after he admitted in an interview that he visited some voters registration centres in his constituency despite knowing he has tested positive for Coronavirus. Despite his knowledge of his COVID-19 status, the lawmaker made an appearance at his constituency and was massively criticized for it. He, however, mounted a spirited defence for his action, while insisting he did not err because he was cautious during his stay at the registration centres. This didnt go well with a section of the public with many calling for his resignation. They could not fathom why a public official would violate preventive protocols and refuse to accept his wrong. Prior to that, reports were rife the President had given Ahenkorah an ultimatum to resign or be fired.

General

31 December 2020

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Top-government-officials-who-lost-their-jobs-in-2020-1144376

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is Best Performing Minister in 2020 - Poll

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has been named the Best Performing Minister in 2020 in an online poll conducted by GhanaWeb. He emerged with the highest votes out of a group of four Ministers listed for the poll. They included the Education Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Deputy Health Minister Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyeremanten. With the theme, Best performing minister of 2020 that deserves a mention, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah topped the list with 5,299 votes out of the total of 10,759 representing 49.25%. While his closest contender, Alan Kyeremanten emerged with 3,625 representing 33.69%. Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh and the Dr Okoe-Boye salvaged 1,131 votes (10.51%) and 704 votes (6.54%), respectively. It is worth noting that the Information Minister has played quite paramount roles in the governments business this year. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has never left the news headlines ever since Ghana recorded the first cases of the Novel Coronavirus. As per the demands of his outfit, he consistently led press conferences which were targeted at detailing the minute intricacies of the virus and its effects on the countrys economy. He was heavily lauded for his pragmatic and proactive approach in handling his work during the period. By June 2020, Oppong Nkrumah was listed among the top 10 best performing Ministers in the Akufo-Addo administration by a survey conducted by the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana. Oppong Nkrumah was selected as one of 115 leaders by the World Economic Forum in their latest Worlds Most Promising Leaders under the age of 40. Below is the full result of GhanaWebs polls;

General

31 December 2020

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Kojo-Oppong-Nkrumah-is-Best-Performing-Minister-in-2020-Poll-1144301

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/year-in-review/?page=2

Josephine Acheamponmaa: Dr Yaw Adutwum makes selection of running mate difficult for Mahama and NDC

The upcoming general elections in Ghana have stirred up debates and discussions among citizens and politicians alike, with each party striving to select the perfect candidate as their running mate. For John Mahama, former President of Ghana and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the selection process has been made particularly challenging, thanks to the impressive achievements of Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum (MP), the Minister for Education. The NDC had previously chosen Jane Naana Opoku, the then Education Minister, as the running mate to Mahama in the 2016 general elections. However, with the impressive track record of Dr. Adutwum, Mahama’s team is now left with an enormous task of identifying a running mate that can complement their vision and mission for the nation without being overshadowed by the Education Minister. In the lead-up to the 2016 and 2020 elections in Ghana, the debate over the future of the country’s education sector took center stage as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presented competing visions for the transformation of Ghana’s educational landscape. The NPP, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, put forward an ambitious agenda focused on groundbreaking policies such as Free Senior High School (SHS) and initiatives to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. These initiatives were designed to address critical gaps in the educational system and provide opportunities for Ghanaian youth to thrive in the modern, knowledge-driven economy. In contrast, the NDC, led by its flagbearer and former President, John Dramani Mahama, and his running mate, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, took a different approach, emphasizing a desire to abolish what they deemed as unsustainable policies in the education sector. The NDC’s stance, as articulated by Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, appeared to set the party on a collision course with the transformative reforms championed by the NPP. Central to the NPP’s education agenda was the landmark Free SHS policy, which sought to ensure that every Ghanaian child had access to secondary education without financial barriers. This bold initiative was a game-changer, expanding educational opportunities and empowering young Ghanaians to pursue their dreams and aspirations. Furthermore, the government’s emphasis on STEM education underscored its commitment to equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy. On the other hand, the NDC’s position on education policy seemed to reflect a desire to dismantle the progress made under the NPP’s tenure. The party’s rhetoric suggested a readiness to overturn the strides made in expanding access to education and enhancing the quality of learning in Ghana. This approach raised concerns about the potential repercussions for the educational prospects of the nation’s youth. It is evident that the NPP’s vision for education in Ghana aligns with the imperative to nurture a generation of innovative thinkers, problem solvers, and leaders. By championing policies that prioritize access to education and the development of critical skills, the NPP has demonstrated a commitment to positioning Ghana as a hub for knowledge, creativity, and technological advancement. Conversely, the NDC’s stance on education policy has generated skepticism, with many questioning the wisdom of rolling back initiatives that have the potential to elevate Ghana’s educational standards and empower its citizens. The party’s apparent inclination to abolish policies that have contributed to the transformation of the education sector raises fundamental questions about its vision for the future of Ghanaian education. As Ghana continues its journey toward prosperity and sustainable development, the choices made in shaping the country’s educational landscape will be pivotal. The decisions taken by political leaders today will resonate for generations to come, shaping the opportunities available to Ghana’s youth and influencing the nation’s competitive position in the global arena. Hence, the attempt by Mr. John Mahama to cancel the Teachers’ Licensure Exams is an attempt to distinguish himself from the achievements by the NPP Akufo-Addo led government. Ghana deserves better than the usual rhetoric promises the former president is making without recourse to any strategic plan and that is why he carried out no due diligence but to make a promise of an initiative that is already in existence through the digitalization agenda of the NPP government led by H. E. Mahammudu Bawumia. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum

Josephine Acheamponmaa

Opinion

23 November 2023 9:17pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/josephine-acheamponmaa-dr-yaw-adutwum-makes-selection-of-running-mate-difficult-for-mahama-and-ndc/

Dickson Kissi: My take on 2024 budget and the health sector

The budget builds upon the progress made during the first term and sets the tone for the election year and beyond, building economic growth and inclusive opportunity for all. Healthcare is important both in good and bad times. Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Hamas wars have even made it clearer that healthcare delivery remains important in times of war when the economy is adversely affected. This is a key budget post-Covid and IMF negotiation along with world instability. As we turn our television to Aljazeera, Bloomberg, CNBC, GTV, Citi News, BBC, JoyNews, GhOne we notice that health is a major concern for thousands of people, and many millions that participate in the Global healthcare discussions. I hope to add clarity and credibility to the budget statement, and I will focus on the health sector. All of what has been said has been with the global financial crisis and the shock of the pandemic in view. The budget has made a strong argument for the need to expand access to quality healthcare and improved facilities. Former President Obama is known for OBAMACARE and am sure President Akufo-Addo, will also be known for his many addresses he gave us during the Covid pandemic period. Based on those many public engagements by the President, am convinced that the President is VERY much aware of the importance of health to our national security, employment, wealth, etc. The president has always asked that citizens participate in governance, and I want to assure the people of Ghana that when parliament engages in any debate on the floor, it is because we wish to express their most important needs to the executive arm of government and to amplify the voice of the people. This administration including parliament has demonstrated commitment to improving access to health and quality care by investments in new and updated facilities across the entire nation. An allocation of 15 billion Ghana cedis to the health sector alone cannot be overlooked. There are many expansion projects that incorporate features to expand patient access and ultimately to help ease physical and emotional stress for patients and clinicians alike. One key question on the minds of the health committee is how we move from about 6 percent of budget allocation to 15 percent which has been our GOAL for a long TIME after the Abuja declaration on Health care. This administration under the pressures of covid and global economic crisis has transformed the landscape for health infrastructure and many efforts to expand access are being worked on.  Korle bu Teaching Hospital project loans, 37 Military Hospital expansion, Construction of 5 general hospitals (Osiem, Assin, Kuhyea, Dormaa Akwamu, Wawfie, Kutre) are all major examples. We have weathered the challenges so far as a nation under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia. The importance of vaccination and the setup for the manufacturer of vaccines in Ghana cannot be overlooked.  I must say we have reached such an important milestone in the march towards very good healthcare. I am overly excited about the Malaria Vaccine approval for use which will lessen our disease burden both on hospitals, and the NHIS and ultimately on Families and patients. NHIS turned 20 years and we can all celebrate it with them because of the numerous lives that have been greatly impacted by the introduction of a powerful health insurance program. Together with the parliament, the President and the Minister of Health have made our health care more innovative, more accountable, and more accessible. The new deal is to push heavily for controlled cost of care, get more people insured and more focus of condition of service for our healthcare doctors, nurses, ancillary services, pharmacist, and assistants. This certainly will reduce the departure of many skilled health staff to Europe, Canada and North America. At the heart of our health budget are the average Ghanaian patient, families, providers, and the need to provide quality affordable care at a hospital near you. We must make sure that preventative care is improved, more public education and awareness for the ordinary citizen is done, plus the provision of adequate funding for all essential health programs like Immunization, TB, HIV, Covid, etc. I am confident to say that our 7-year dedication to health pre- and post-COVID has been phenomenal and will inure to the benefit of our country’s health security and economic stability. A healthy nation always is a wealthy nation. To achieve a lot more we need to devote more resources to healthcare for all age groups, the infants, the youth, the adults and the elderly. I cannot think of a more impactful contribution to our country after Covid, than the increased capacity and expanded access to services that the government provides through health insurance and hospitals at large. Our healthcare needs to be more sustainable to provide general care, surgical, labor and delivery, emergency care, laboratory investigation, imaging, non-communicable disease care (hypertension, diabetes) and stroke care. We can only hope that as we enter an election year, health budget allocation will be more than we witnessed this year and the previous years. I am more hopeful, that our health security will remain a priority for all Ghanaians both now and forever. Everyone deserves access to adequate health resources. We can work together with one heart, mind and soul to help our people to live healthier lives. I wish the entire Ghana a good life and good health and prosperity. The 2024 budget will support Ghana and for sure make us the premier destination for health care in the sub-region. Long live Ghana, Long live the people and health workers, Long live the President!! The budget is about the health of the ordinary citizen and your family. Prevention is key to a long, healthy life. Thanks for allowing me to participate in the debate on the principles within the budget. - The author, Dickson Adomako Kissi, is a Member of Parliament. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   2024 Budget Health sector

Dickson Adomako Kissi

Opinion

23 November 2023 4:26pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/dickson-adomako-kissi-my-take-on-2024-budget-and-the-health-sector/

Prof Gyampos open letter to Bawumia: Dont campaign with a sense of entitlement

Dear Sir, I have a few words to help your very difficult attempt at breaking the Eight. You must focus on your own campaign. Spend much time rebuilding the palpable trust deficit and show no sense of entitlement to anything. It is politically tactless to respond to the one who stands vindicated by the government’s (that you are part of) inability to fulfil some key promises and the bigger hardships people are now facing than they were experiencing before your government took over office. Remember, you were brought on board to manage the economy and your own lecture series and public utterances gave a lot of hope to many Ghanaians. But the hope of many has been dashed. Your government has dissipated the goodwill willed to it by many Ghanaians. Even among your core support base, there are complaints and regrets. How you are able to restore lost hope in your campaign is crucial, and for starters, the way to go isn’t to popularise your opponent’s idea of having a 24-hour economy. Your political strategists should be sacked for making you speak publicly about that proposal because, in their quest to get you to rubbish it, they have succeeded in getting you to make it very popular and trendy. Remember, it was your opponent’s response to the free SHS that made it even more popular. So, why your political strategist couldn’t shield you from this same campaign suicidal path, should be the reasoning for their sack. This is a free political consultancy. Focus on your campaign and let your opponents do same and may the one with the best of messages win the hearts of Ghanaians. Your recent experience is not making Ken Agyapong’s public outbursts against you, an issue, and your strategy to focus only on your delegates, should guide you. Once again, speak to the issues, stop the unnecessary mocking laughter that intersperses your public remarks, as they create a certain condescension, sense of entitlement, and show disrespect for popular sensibilities. Do more to deal with the public trust deficit as a fine gentleman. You compound the trust deficit by forcing us to overly fraternise with Christian engagements. As a Christian, I would love it, if you decide to be a Christian too. But we all know that you won’t convert to be a Christian. You are a Moslem, so remain true to your faith and be committed to it, or else your over-fraternisation with Christendom is easily perceived as a vote-getting technique which deepens the trust deficit. We have peacefully coexisted as Christians and Moslems and nothing should be done to point to our differences. Unintendedly, your over-fraternisations rather pronounce surreptitiously, our differences. So just leave it. We have always been together as one people and we won’t ever be disunited. That’s how come your party, a very Akan and a very Christian-dominated party, voted for you, as flag bearer. It means we have lived together, in spite of region and religion. May these guide you in your campaign. I wish you well. Yaw GyampoA31, PrabiwPAV Ansah StreetSaltpond&Suro Nipa HouseBehind Old Post OfficeLarteh -Akuapim DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Dr Mahamudu Bawumia Prof Ransford Gyampo

Prof Ransford Gyampo

Opinion

23 November 2023 4:10pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/prof-gyampos-open-letter-to-bawumia-dont-campaign-with-a-sense-of-entitlement/

Kwesi Yankah: The IGP caught red-handed

In the early 1990s when Ghana had not quite recovered from military rule, I took the risk and did a story which almost earned me a haircut and a new home address. The story appearing in my weekly column for the ‘Mirror,’ was entitled, Arrest the Ghana Police, in which I listed vehicles in Accra polluting the skyline of the capital, virtually spraying poisonous exhaust fumes all over the city. These included a BMW saloon with registration number GP 3, dedicated to the third-in-command of the Ghana Police Service. Days after the daring story broke, I ended up in the grips of the Ghana police for a traffic offence and was rescued in the nick of time. It was a happy ending, and I ended up keeping my own haircut and home address. I have since learned my lesson toying with screaming headlines. But since we are several years into constitutional democracy, let me dare reveal an unusual spectacle on earth that recently made headlines in social media and raised eyebrows: the nation’s Inspector General of Police, Dr George Dampare, ‘caught’ buying roasted plantain and groundnuts by the wayside. But for vigilant media men and paparazzi who recorded the scene, the gentleman would have escaped unnoticed and spared the charge of ‘dragging his high office into culinary disrepute,’ or rather ‘causing fear and panic by the streetside.’ It is an offence for big men to behave that way or rather be themselves. This explains my sensational headline today, ‘IGP Caught Red-Handed,’ which could as well cause a stir and haul me before George Sarpong and the National Media Commission. I have since made further inquiries from the IGP himself who admits his ‘offence,’ and ‘confesses’ that it is his normal routine, and may have happened in March 2022 when returning from a funeral in the Eastern region. The No. 1 Gentleman in charge of law and order thus ‘confesses’ being a serial offender, and unfortunately shows no signs of remorse or repentance. Given another chance, the IGP will probably buy roasted plantain by the wayside again and raise eyebrows!! The entire episode puts me on the spot and justifies the several beans I spill in my memoirs, The Pen at Risk, where I expose the pretentious lives of ‘big men’ including professors, and the ordinary world they dearly miss. Let me steal a page from the last chapter: ‘My Parting Confessions’: “Coping with your new status, as ‘professor’ the trickiest challenge has been curbing your appetite for street side finger foods: banana, roasted groundnuts with corn (‘Graphic and Times’), boiled or roasted corn with dried coconut pieces; 'atadwe' (tiger nuts). “The best of my favourites is 'bofrot' (not quite doughnuts), but also 'koose' (often denigrated as bean cake). It is often not a question of the availability of your delights in shops or stores: Accra Mall, Achimota Mall, West Hills, Kumasi Mall, and all the other malls. You may stock all such malls with bofrot, atadwe, roasted corn, roasted plantain, and all, but still, lose your professor clientele. My colleagues and I may prefer the street side finger treats but are socially handicapped to say it aloud. “As for tiger nuts, the biggest dilemma has been how to buy them without looking over your shoulders. Ogyakromians would better understand the parable of the tiger nuts here. The rest better forget our coded legend. The daring challenge has been how to roll down the windows of your airconditioned car and reach out for atadwe or atadwe milk, at Nkawkaw without being arrested by CCTV cameras or a past student of Legon. The front pages of the Daily Guide, or other social media portals may have a great headline the following morning, which could keep people whispering, ‘at this old age, why does he still need atadwe milk?’ “But there is a solution to all this. Make sure you are in good company if you are not using a personal driver. Between you and your driver (if any), there could be a secret pact. He would then know what to do, and how to pretend he is buying it for himself, and not for his unseen boss doing social media in the back seat. “Opanyin Kofi Agyekum may be spared divulging this; but on the several trips I did with him to Kumasi in the 1990s, he knew where we routinely stopped for hot steaming ‘bofrot’ at 9 am. It was Akim Asiakwa. This was a delight for which you could easily turn down a free flight from Accra to Kumasi.” Considering all these the IGP, Dr George Dampare, may as well be acquitted of all charges filed. IGP was not caught red-handed after all. He was seen maintaining public law and order with double-barreled plantain loaded with groundnut bullets. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   IGP Dr Akuffo-Dampare Kwesi Yankah

Kwesi Yankah

Opinion

23 November 2023 2:27pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/kwesi-yankah-the-igp-caught-red-handed/

Open letter to IGP: Alarming increase in armed robbery cases in Ketu North

Dear IGP, An alarming increase in armed robbery cases in Ketu North I am writing to draw your attention to the critical issue of escalating armed robbery incidents in and around Ketu North Municipal. The growth in such instances has become a major source of worry for our citizens' safety and well-being. In recent days, there has been a considerable increase in armed robbery cases in Ketu North and Akatsi North, particularly between Dzodze and Xevi. On November 18 and 20, 2023, a number of people on the Ho Aflao route were brutally shot and sent to the St. Anthony Hospital in Dzodze. This concerning trend is endangering public safety and spreading fear in our communities. As a result, I feel it is critical to address this issue as soon as possible and as efficiently as possible. The root causes of this increase in armed robbery can be attributed to various factors. Firstly, the high rate of unemployment, especially among the youth, is pushing many individuals towards criminal activities as a means to make a living. The job market is limited, and the lack of opportunities creates a fertile ground for criminal involvement. Furthermore, the ease with which firearms and other weapons are available is worsening the severity of armed robberies. The illegal arms trade across our borders with conflict-torn nations has made it very easy for criminals to obtain these weapons illegally. You must take decisive action to stop the flow of illegal firearms and interrupt the supply chain that drives armed robberies. In addition, insufficient security infrastructure and flaws in our law enforcement system are contributing to an increase in armed robberies. Our law enforcement organisations' capacity to tackle these illicit acts is hampered by a lack of police presence in the area and insufficient resources. It is critical to strengthen our police presence and capabilities, as well as provide them with the necessary tools and resources, to combat the recent increase in armed robberies. I applaud your attempts to combat this problem, such as increased police patrols and improved intelligence collecting in specific parts of Ghana. However, I encourage you to guarantee that these safeguards are regularly reinforced and that law enforcement is visible and present in communities affected by armed robberies. I have faith in your leadership, knowledge, and dedication to safeguarding the safety and security of Ghanaians. I respectfully suggest that you prioritize this issue and collaborate with other key parties to address the rising number of armed robberies in and around Ketu North. We can collaboratively confront this threat by taking a holistic approach that includes law enforcement, economic empowerment, and community participation. I look forward to positive outcomes and a safer future for our citizens. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I eagerly await your prompt action. Yours sincerely, Evans Mawunyo Tsikata DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   IGP Ketu North

Evans Mawunyo Tsikata

National | Opinion

22 November 2023 8:28pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/open-letter-to-the-igp-alarming-increase-in-armed-robbery-cases-in-ketu-north/

Prince Ibrahim: The 24-hour economy Bawumias narrative is hollow

As we march toward the 2024 elections, it is essential to dissect policy proposals with a sharp, informed perspective. The recent comments by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President and New Patriotic Party's (NPP) flagbearer, critiquing the 24-hour economy vision proposed by John Mahama, the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), warrant a response that is not only politically astute but educational. Firstly, it is crucial to clarify the essence of a "24-hour economy." This concept extends beyond the simplistic enumeration of sectors that operate round-the-clock. It encapsulates a comprehensive economic strategy that fosters job creation, economic dynamism, and inclusive growth by incentivizing a wide spectrum of industries to operate continuously. Dr. Bawumia's portrayal of the 24-hour economy as merely a list of currently operational sectors is a gross simplification and hollow. Hospitals, digital financial services, and food establishments like chop bars offering 24-hour services do not, on their own, constitute a 24-hour economy. Rather, these are services that meet essential, immediate needs, regardless of the hour. The concept proposed by Mr. Mahama is a far-reaching one, aimed at creating systemic changes that encourage a wide array of businesses to operate in multiple shifts, thereby maximizing resource use and job opportunities. Prince Ibrahim The Vice President’s critique seems to overlook the potential of a fully realized 24-hour economy policy, which could stimulate economic activity and provide the framework for a more resilient and diversified economy. A policy that encourages businesses to operate 24/7 would potentially boost productivity and employment, foster a more vibrant urban life, and make Ghanaian cities more competitive on a global scale. Furthermore, the Vice President's hasty dismissal of the 24-hour economy vision speaks to a concerning trend in political discourse — the tendency to politicize and undermine potentially transformative ideas without a thorough examination of their merits or the policy framework underpinning them. It is vital for leaders, especially those aspiring to the highest office, to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of economic policies and engage in constructive debate over their implementation. A true 24-hour economy is not a spontaneous occurrence but the result of deliberate policy decisions that incentivize and support businesses to extend their operations. These policies could include tax breaks, safety and security measures, infrastructural support, and flexible labor regulations that collectively create an environment conducive to round-the-clock operations. It also requires cultural shifts, a robust infrastructure that supports night-time operations, and a regulatory framework that safeguards workers' rights and well-being. In light of these considerations, one must question the readiness of leadership that hastily discredits a policy without offering a detailed critique or alternative solutions. The people of Ghana deserve a discourse that is constructive, foresightful, and geared towards the economic prosperity of the nation. As such, while Dr. Bawumia's comments may represent a politically charged perspective, the NDC’s response should aim to educate both the Vice President and the public on the intricacies of the 24-hour economy and its potential to transform Ghana into a bustling, job-creating, and inclusive economy that operates efficiently, day and night. Let us elevate the conversation beyond political point-scoring to a dialogue that enlightens and paves the way for economic innovation and progress for all Ghanaians. In the spirit of progressive dialogue and nation-building, it is imperative to acknowledge and commend former President John Dramani Mahama for putting forth the visionary policy of a 24-hour economy. This idea, which seeks to invigorate the Ghanaian economy through round-the-clock operations, is not just a testament to innovative thinking but also to an empathetic understanding of the needs of our nation’s youth, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. The introduction of such a policy could mark the beginning of a transformative era in Ghana's economic landscape. By creating a structure that supports businesses to operate continuously, we can anticipate a surge in job opportunities that will significantly reduce unemployment, especially among the youth who are the backbone and future of our nation. It is a policy that embraces the aspirations of our energetic and ambitious population and aligns with the global trends of economic development. We call upon the people of Ghana, particularly the youth, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, to rally behind this vision. The promise of a 24-hour economy is not just the promise of jobs; it is the promise of a vibrant, robust, and dynamic Ghana where businesses thrive, innovation is constant, and opportunities are plentiful. It is a promise of a future where the nocturnal silence of closed shops is replaced by the hum of productivity, and the stars witness the bustling activity of a nation on the move. ************************ The writer is a Business Operations Analyst and MPhil Operations Management student at UGBS with a research interest in the petroleum downstream sector of Ghana. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Bawumia Mahama Prince Ibrahim

Prince Ibrahim

Opinion

22 November 2023 1:54pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/prince-ibrahim-the-24-hour-economy-bawumias-narrative-is-hollow/

Nii Moi Thompson: Bawumia, chop bars, and the 24-hour economy

When former president and flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, declared a 24-hour economy as his main strategy for transforming Ghana’s development fortunes, his adversaries across the pond probably dismissed it as just another campaign talk. That is, until the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, Dr. Yaw Baah, an economist, described the strategy as “a game changer”. And then panic set in across the pond, and even inside it. For some crazy reason, those adversaries reduced the idea of a 24-hour economy to having fun at night Hence, in the 2024 budget, the finance minister tried to upstage Mr. Mahama by promising everything from “a Night and Sport Economy” (p. 92) to “the Night Economy and tourism” (p. 92) to the development of Black Star Square into a “City Light Centre…to drive the night economy in Accra… [and create] a welcoming night-time environment…” (p. 92), and, finally, to the use of Astro Turfs to create “vibrant night economies” in their host communities (p.93). (For the record, the word “night” appears only once in the 2023 budget, in reference to patrols by immigration officers). Not to be outdone by the finance minister, the vice president and chairman of the economic management team, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who will be contesting Mr Mahama in the December 2024 presidential election, reportedly said at a political rally that Mr Mahama “doesn’t understand his own policy” and that “it does not make sense”. He went on to remind his audience that Ghana already has a thriving 24-hour economy, citing hospitals, fuel stations and chop bars – yes, he did! – as proof. He then promised “a new vision” complete with a “new policy” that would “transform this country.” The news report gave no details about this vision. But if his idea of a 24-hour economy, beyond the nightlife of the finance minister, is about building more chop bars across Ghana to ensure round-the-clock access to fufu or fried rice, then he is even more rudderless than he has proven in the past seven years. A 24-hour economy is about more than keeping a few establishments open around the clock – or lighted Astro Turfs at night. It’s a multi-dimensional strategy for economic transformation, where businesses that operate during the day are strengthened and conditions are created for others across the country – not just Accra – to rise or thrive in an interconnected world that never sleeps. It’s about a country living to its fullest potential, not settling for mediocrity over chop bars. When the idea of a 24-hour was originally proposed in the 40-Year National Development Plan, it was partly to address unemployment from what the Plan called the “technological upheavals” of the future, such as robotics, AI, and 3D printing, that would displace workers in many traditional and high-value sectors. The strategy, as laid out in the Plan, aimed at three shifts of 8 hours each and 4 shifts of 6 hours each, depending on a “productivity revolution,” which was also proposed in the Plan. The strategy, which was subsequently incorporated into the NDC’s 2020 manifesto, alongside transformative policies like an Employment Act (to complement the Labour Act) and a jobs programme called Edwuma Pa (Good Work), also recognised the availability, dependability AND increased use of electricity (a measure of a growing economy) as a pre-condition and one of 10 key drivers of a productive 24-Hour economy. Specific targets for electricity consumption, measured by the kilowatt-hour (kWh) per capita, were therefore set, and Dr Bawumia’s government inherited more than enough electricity from Mr Mahama in 2017 to meet those targets. They didn’t. Instead, they blamed Mr. Mahama for giving Ghana “too much electricity,” when the real problem was too little economic activity due to the bankrupt economic policies that they initiated the moment they took office, destroying the financial sector and subverting industrial activity. Thus, they missed the critical first-years targets. For example, in 2018, the government attained only 452 kWh per capita, instead of the projected 620 kWh, and in 2021 it managed 548 kWh instead of 850 kWh; it is unlikely that they would meet the 1,433 kWh target for 2025. The consequences of these “fatal errors” were predictable: Manufacturing growth declined from 14.24% in the first quarter of 2017 to 6.32% in the last quarter of 2019, while electricity use by the economy peaked at 20.82% in the first quarter of 2018 and then plunged to 0.90% in the third quarter of 2019, all before Covid and Ukraine, which are now the whipping boys of their mismanagement. The latest data from the Ghana Statistical Service show that the economy has still not recovered from the wrong-headed policies of Dr. Bawumia and his team. The manufacturing sector shrank by 2.5% in the first three months of 2023 and by 0.5% in the next three, inevitably worsening unemployment. (His voodoo claim of creating 2.3 million jobs in a collapsing economy will be tackled another time). Significantly, and despite popular perceptions, Mr. Mahama has perhaps the best record of any president, except Kwame Nkrumah, in providing electricity to Ghanaians, after inheriting dumsor, which had plagued Ghana intermittently since 1983. The following are the average annual growth rates for installed electricity (by Megawatt) under the four most recent presidents, based on data from the Energy Commission: ·JAK: 1.2% (2001-2004)·JAK: 3.6% (2005-2008)·JAM: 3.7% (2009-2012)·JDM:15% (2013-2016)·NAA: 8.1% (2017-2020)· NAA:1.1% (2021-2022) Even chop bars, 'taflatse', need electricity, and Dr Bawumia has woefully failed to provide that. It is doubtful that he would do any better. Now or ever. Nii Moi Thompson22/11/2023 “What others have done, we can do.” – Marcus Garvey. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

Nii Moi Thompson

Opinion

22 November 2023 1:53pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/nii-moi-thompson-bawumia-chop-bars-and-the-24-hour-economy/

JMs Promises to review fSHS and to cancel Teacher Lincensure Examination make sense

Every stakeholder in education in Ghana is in favour of reviewing the fSHS programme and the cancellation of the Teacher Lincensure examination, but NADAA, DMB, Hon. Fordjour and the NPP gov't. The promises made by JM are commonsensical, justified and will be implemented when he takes over as President. Hon. Fordjour and the NPP gov't are either out of touch with reality or haven't followed public sentiments. If JM has plans to cancel fSHS he wouldn't be planning to invite stakeholders to a national forum to discuss fSHS. JM has on several occasions said that fSHS has come to stay. Like most Ghanaians however, he is concerned about the well documented implementation challenges and how to address them to make the fSHS better for national good. Ghanaians of all walks of life are calling for a review of the fSHS policy, which has been implemented for over six years, and JM will honour this call because the fSHS programme is challenged by: erratic academic calendar; inadequate and unwholesome food; inadequate academic and residential space; overworked teaching and non-teaching staff amongst others. Equally, JM's proposed forum on fSHS will also consider the role of PTA's and private secondary schools in the delivery of the policy. JM is not opposed to examining teachers as a basis of certifying them as professionals. However, like teacher trainees and stakeholders in teacher training, JM is opposed to the current arrangement towards certification. His reasonable alternative is to make the examination towards professional certification a final year compulsory course to be written alongside other final year courses. In JM's variant, when a teacher trainee passes all final year courses, including the course tailored to certify a trainee as a professional teacher, the trainee is given a licence. If the trainee passes all courses but fails the certification course, he/she doesn't get a licence and would have to re-register the course and write it in his/her college as is the case with final year compulsory courses. This mode of teacher certification in addition to JM's promise to cancel the one year compulsory national service, which is currently an additional requirement for appointment as a teacher by the Ghana Education Service, has additional advantages. Under JM's proposal, teacher trainees who pass all courses, including the certification course, are immediately posted to the classroom; no wasting a year doing national service and no need to pay, after national service, to write a licensure examination. We can certify our teacher trainees to professional teachers and deploy them in the classrooms sooner, where they are most needed, through a cheaper, simplified yet rigorous process. Dr. Clement Abas Apaak MP, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member on Education Committee of Parliament DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Free SHS John Mahama teacher licensing exams

Dr. Clement Abas Apaak

Opinion

21 November 2023 7:57am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/jms-promises-to-review-fshs-and-to-cancel-teacher-lincensure-examination-make-sense/

Stan Xoese Dogbe: Abolishing teacher licensure exams a step towards ensuring quality education for all

In what some practising teachers and education watchers have described as a remarkable move towards promoting quality education in Ghana, former President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have re-echoed their 2020 manifesto promise to stop the mandatory writing of licensure exams by teachers every four years, which teachers are required to pay for. The Mahama decision is rooted in the belief that if teachers receive quality training and instruction during their teacher trainee years, there will be no need for periodic examination mina9ons that also put a financial burden on them. While opponents say teacher licensing was announced and piloted in 2016, what they deliberately forgot to add is that the licensing regime as put out by the NDC administration was not structured as a periodic exam but aligned to a professional development programme. It was aimed at licensing all newly recruited teachers before they are allowed to teach, existing professional teachers are streamlined while those who are not professional teachers will be given temporary licences for three years. The acting Chief Inspector of the Na9onal Inspectorate Board (NIB), Dr Augus9ne Tawiah, in a Daily Graphic report of September 21, 2016, explained at a stakeholders' information session that non-professional teachers who are unable to acquire their licenses within the first three-year period would no longer be recognised as qualified teachers. The policy, as put out by the NDC administration, was also intended to encourage continuous professional development and growth among teachers by requiring them to participate in relevant programmes and appraisals to renew their licenses. Note, not regular exams, that they have to pay for. Critics have voiced their concerns about the Mahama and NDC proposal to stop the ongoing exams, and among them is a deputy minister for education. It is important to thoroughly analyse these cri9cisms and the underlying mo9va9ons behind them. While there is a need for evaluation and measures to gauge and maintain teacher competence, the current system of periodic licensing exams places an undue financial burden on teachers. By abolishing the exams and focusing on providing quality training during the years of professional teacher training in the Colleges of Education, the NDC is taking a significant step towards empowering teachers and encouraging them to invest in their professional development. For example, the NDC, as explained by Dr Tawiah, envisioned that teachers would have to participate in professional development programmes to qualify for a renewal of their licence. He mentioned another criterion that would qualify a teacher to be licensed as having a good appraisal report, including punctuality and regularity, effective teaching and serving on community committees. “If you are always fighting and also if you have a criminal record and all such vices, you will lose your licence”, he added. Teachers who have received proper training and are equipped with the necessary skills will, therefore, be better prepared to deliver high-quality education to their students. Mr Mahama argues that the mode of instruction and practical training of student teachers must be enhanced to prepare them to graduate with exceptional and professional skills to teach. They must after their final College exams, write a licensing exam, after which they will be licensed to teach. Interestingly, an association of College of Education teachers says they are against the decision to stop the licensure exams, insisting that it is a good step. Are they admitting that the teachers they are producing from the Colleges are half-baked and not professionally prepared to be posted to teach in our schools? Furthermore, the Mahama decision to stop the periodic exams aligns with international practices in education, where countries such as Finland, Singapore, and Canada have implemented similar models that prioritise the acquisition of quality skills during the teacher training programme rather than relying solely on periodic examinations. It is crucial to acknowledge that teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a nation. Their role extends beyond simply delivering curriculum; they serve as mentors and sources of inspiration to their students. By easing the financial burden on teachers and focusing on quality training, the proposal to abolish licensure exams aligns with the broader goals of providing enhanced education opportunities for all children in Ghana. Let me conclude by saying that the decision to abolish the mandatory licensure exams for teachers demonstrates a commitment to improving the quality of education. By prioritising quality training during the teacher trainee phase and linking licensure to ongoing professional development, this proposal will not only empower teachers but also ensure that students receive the education they deserve. It is our duty as a nation to support these progressive changes and work towards a brighter future for all Ghanaian children. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Licensure exam Mahama Stan Xoese Dogbe

Stan Xoese Dogbe

Opinion

21 November 2023 6:30am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/stan-xoese-dogbe-abolishing-teacher-licensure-exams-a-step-towards-ensuring-quality-education-for-all/

Ghanas original DDEP and revised DDEP impact on the banking sector for 2022 and 2023: An Autopsy

1. Brief background By the end of the 3rd Quarter of 2021, Ghana’s fiscal vulnerability had been evident to the market resulting in a loss of market access largely consistent with the country’s struggle to manage its public debt since independence. In all of Ghana's program engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), debt unsustainability has been recurring reflecting a weak fiscal regime of expenditure rigidities and low domestic revenue mobilization. The latest IMF Supported Program is unique given the number of prior actions the country had to undertake in order to qualify for help from the IMF including taking a comprehensive approach to restructuring the country’s public debt with the domestic debt restructuring being a condition precedent to getting IMF Board approval. Unlike the case of Zambia, which excluded the domestic debt from its debt restructuring to protect the domestic financial system, Ghana applied the most aggressive debt restructuring which was first announced on December 5th, 2022. Arguably the first of its kind in the history of the country. Government instruments (excluding only treasury bills) held across households (including pensioners), financial institutions, body corporate, and resident and non-resident investors were considered to be in the universe of eligible bonds. The country’s economic fundamentals had deteriorated to the extent that the traditional fiscal consolidation measures embodying expenditure restraint and revenue enhancement measures were considered to be inadequate and therefore restructuring had become fundamental to restoring fiscal sustainability. 2. Overview of the original DDEP impact on the banking sector The Ministry of Finance invited on 5th December 2022 holders of 60 old domestic debts to voluntarily exchange GHC 137.3 (US$14.3) billion domestic bonds and notes including E.S.L.A and Daakye Bonds, for a package of twelve new eligible domestic bonds. Under the debt swap or exchange announced on 5th December 2022, local holders including domestic banks, Bank of Ghana, Firms and Institutions, Retail and Individuals, insurance companies, foreign investors, Rural and Community Banks and SSNIT were to exchange GHC 137.3 billion (US$14.3) worth of 60 eligible domestic bonds for twelve new eligible bonds maturing between 2027 to 2038. Under the initial offer, for bondholders with bonds maturing in 2023, the government promised four new bonds that were expected to mature in 2027, 2029, 2032 and 2037 with zero (0) coupon rate in 2023, 5% coupon rate in 2024 and 10% coupon rate in 2025, which would continue till the maturity of last bonds in 2037. Initially, the Ministry of Finance stated that debt exchange program would affect local banks, Bank of Ghana, firms and institutions, foreign investors, insurance companies, pension funds, rural and community banks and SSNIT but excluding retail and individual bondholders. The debt exchange program was extended to 30th December, 2022 because could not achieve the 100% voluntary participation. After fierce resistance from Trade Unions about the inclusion of pension funds in the domestic debt exchange program and for the lack of enough voluntary participation, the government announced the extension of the voluntary participation in the program to 16th January 2023 with following modifications:  Offering accrued and unpaid interest on eligible bonds and a cash tender fee payment to holders of eligible bonds maturing in 2023 (ii) increasing the new bonds offered by adding new instruments to the composition of the new bonds for a total of 12 new domestic bonds, one maturing each year starting January 2027 and ending January 2038. (iii) Modifying the exchange consideration ratios for each new bond. The exchange consideration ratio applicable to Eligible bonds maturing in 2023 will be different other from other eligible bonds; (vi) Setting a non-binding target minimum level of overall participation of 80% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of eligible bonds and (vii) expanding the types of investors that can participate in the exchange to include individual investor. On January 16th 2023, the government extended deadline of domestic debt exchange program to 31st January,2023 after another resistance by some creditor group particularly individual investors whom the government promised not to include in the program. The government made some modifications including (i) offering accrued and unpaid interest on eligible bonds and a cash tender fee payment as a carrot to holders of eligible bonds maturing in 2023. (ii) increasing the new bonds offered by adding eight new bonds to the composition of the new bonds, for a total of 12 new bonds, one maturing each year starting in January, 2027 and ending January 2038. The third extension of deadline for domestic debt exchange program from 31st January 2023 to 7th February,2023 for voluntary participation and also as the final deadline for institutions and individuals to sign up to domestic debt exchange program. The government has made offer which includes the exchange of new bonds with a maximum maturity of 3.8 years instead of original 13.8 years and a 10% coupon rate to individual bondholders below the age of 59 years to encourage them to participate in the domestic debt exchange program. Additionally, all retirees including those retiring in 2023 will be offered bonds with a maximum maturity of (3.8 years) 5yrs instead of 13.8 years (15yrs) and a 19.1% coupon rate per annum to 9.1% per annum Subsequent extensions of dates and payment maturities meant that the remaining stock was reduced from GHC137.3 billion to GHC130 billion. However, the eligible bonds as per memorandum meant an exclusion of pension funds and bonds that were subject to swap mechanisms for monetary and exchange rate policy operations. This then brought the eligible bonds tendering to GHC 97.75 billion. Out of the total eligible bonds for tendering, GHC 83 billion (US$ 6.7 billion) was successfully tendered-accounting for about 85% of outstanding eligible amounts and meeting the target 80% as expressed in the memorandum of the exchange. Nevertheless, the GHS 87.8 billion (64%) that were successfully tendered represent only 60% of the original outstanding debt stock of GHS137.3 billion. Ghana exchanged C87.8 Billion out of the total domestic debt of GHS 193.1 billion that average coupon rate of 19.1% with bond returning as little as 9.1% with extended period from 3.8 years to 13.8 years. Using the 16% discount rate for the NPV for government bonds valued GHS 50.6 billion resulted in DDEP losses of 22 banks capturing at GHS 37.7 billion in 2022 with the private domestic banks and state-owned banks accounted for losses of GHC 19.9 billion while foreign owned banks accounted for (GHS 17.8 billion while leaving uncaptured losses of (GHS3.7). The DDEP impairment losses have technically rendered some of Ghanaian local owned banks insolvent that would require additional capital support from shareholders or participate fully in the Ghana Financial Stability Fund. According to IMF Country report (23/168), the World Bank, other donors and the government of Ghana were expected to provide GFSF to amount of US$1.5 equivalent in Cedis to facilitate the build- up of capital buffers for qualifying banks. The local or indigenous banks have already submitted their credible time bound plans to rebuild capital buffers on a phased basis in line with timelines set in the country’s financial sector strategy. These recapitalize plans would have to be reviewed by Bank of Ghana and finalized by banks for approval by Bank of Ghana by the end of September, 2023. For capital restoration for local banks, the preference or priority must be given to those local banks that are not quoted and listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange Market as those listed banks are expected to raise additional capital on market.  The capital restoration of the local/indigenous banks must take it in consideration of the entire losses for their participation in the DDEP and the deletion of all the regulatory reserves in the balance sheets of those banks. There has been heightened need for the recapitalization of banks operating in Ghana after the domestic debt exchange program in December, 2022, and it has been spearheaded by the foreign owned banks operating in the country. A couple of months ago, Standard Bank.SA (Standard Bank), and First Rand SA-both based in South Africa revealed their plans to recapitalize their operations in Ghana even before the submission to recapitalization plans to Bank of Ghana. Standard Bank (Stanbic) has reportedly reserved South Africa Rand (ZAR) 1.5 billion approximately US$ 81 million for impairment losses from the DDEP. Also, Nigerian owned bank Zenith has revealed that it has set aside US$ 265 million to ring fence its impairment losses as a result of the participation of DDEP. Domestic bonds were widely distributed across the financial sector in Ghana, representing the most important asset class held by 22 universal banks, specialized deposit taking institutions, pension funds, asset management companies, and insurance companies. Banks held 30 to 50 percent of their total assets in government securities before the DDE—with especially high exposures in the state-owned banks—and relied significantly on income from these securities. The coupon reductions and maturity extensions in the recently completed DDEP mean that the value of these assets had declined to about 70 percent of the par value. (IMF Country report, 23/168). From IMF report (2021) domestic debt restructuring have a direct impact on the balance sheet and earning potential of financial institutions holding sovereign debt. The impact on bank balance sheets could be significant where sovereign securities comprise a large share of bank asset as Ghanaian banks held about 30% to 50% of the government bonds. Any loss in value of government debt exposures have led to serious capital losses in banking institutions as most banks never absorbed by provisioning and mark-to-market (MTM) accounting. These losses were due to a combination of coupon or interest rate reduction, and maturity extension with below-market coupon rates of 19.1% as a result of the domestic debt exchange implementation. According to IMF country report (23/168) the government offered most bondholders a set of new bonds at fixed exchange proportions with a combined average maturity of 13. 8 years and coupons of up to 10 percent (with part of the coupons capitalized rather than paid in cash in 2023 and 2024). The capacity of the banking sector to absorb losses were lower as some of the banks were not properly capitalized. When banks are able to absorb losses without having to resort to a recapitalization from the government, the fiscal consolidation and/or burden-sharing by other creditors required to restore debt sustainability would be smaller.  According to IMF country report (23/168), the completed DDEP has produced very large cash debt relief for the government of almost of GHC 50 billion in 2023 and the baseline fiscal cost of DDEP to the financial sector is up to 2.6% of GDP. The recent domestic debt exchange program of unprecedented size and dire consequences is a major concern throughout today’s society, from the popular press to policy-makers, regulators and academics around country. The near collapse of prestigious local banking institutions could be followed by the near paralysis of the banking sector with negative consequences for the real economy, makes the past crisis a singular point in the series of modern crises and unquestionably qualifies it as the most severe one since independence of the country’s in 1957. The uniqueness of the crisis has prompted efforts to identify its determinants and the solutions to cope with it. The crisis is frequently attributed to the bursting of the Ghana’s bond market bubble bust but such a complex event presents a multidimensional profile as well as poor and lax risk management and regulatory capture and failure on the part of the banking fraternity. Original DDEP impact on the Banking Sector Original DDEP impact on the Banking Sector 3.0.  The Overview of Revised DDEP impact on the Banking sector The 22 universal banks, auditors of the individual banks, Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance agreed at a 16%-18% discount rate as the final terms of the DDEP implying an average NPV reduction of about 14% for government bond holders (IMF Country report, 23/168). Using the 16% discount rate for the NPV for government bonds calculation resulted in DDEP losses of 22 banks stood at GHC 7.3 billion with the foreign banks, private domestic banks and state-owned banks accounting for losses. The Banking sector held about GHC 50.6 billion out of GHS 87bn restructured from Treasury bonds, ESLA and Daakye bonds excluding pension funds. The average coupon rate and maturity period of the restructured bonds currently stands at 9.1% (previously 19.1%) and 8.3 years (previously 13.8 years).   Using the 16% discount rate for the NPV for government bonds calculation resulted in DDEP losses of 22 banks stood at GHS7.3 billion. The revised DDEP overall losses of GHC7.3 billion with foreign owned banks losses stood at GHS2,995,387,32 while state owned banks at GHS2,377,396,772 with privately domestic bank at GHS1,911,911,762. These revised DDEP had impacted marginally on both banks’ solvency and liquidity but significantly and negatively impacted on the non-performing assets has increased from 15% in 2022 to 20% in 2023. The DDEP impairment losses of GHS 7.3 billion as an impairment due to the introduction of expected loss provisioning under the IFRS 9 accounting standard. The banking sector of Ghana has suffered marginal losses in the revised domestic debt exchange program had moderate impact on solvency and liquidity of the banks. The twenty- two Ghanaian banks reported the combined write-back on Government of Ghana bonds in their balance sheets following the sovereign debt restructuring amounted to GHS7.3 billion. The NPV losses in 2022 was 30% as against 14% losses in the revised DDEP in 2023 as a result of the reduction of maturity period from 13.8 years to 8.3 years. 4.0. Discussion of findings in the revised DDEP implications on the Banking Sector The revised DDEP had a marginal impact on the balance sheet and earning potential of financial institutions holding government debt. The impact on bank balance sheets was moderately significant because the twenty-two banks held more 50% of sovereign securities comprise a large share of bank assets. With the reduction from 13.8 years to 8.3 years and the reduced coupon rate of 19.1% per annum to 9.1% per annum the loss in value of government debt exposures led to marginal capital losses in banking institutions unless these have already been absorbed by provisioning and mark-to-market (MTM) accounting. These marginal losses were due to a combination of coupon or interest rate reduction from 19.1% per annum to 9.1% per annum, and maturity reduction from 13.8 years to 8.3 years with below-market coupon rates of 19.1%. The capacity of some the banking institutions had a bigger capacity to absorb losses as they were well capitalized. While some of the state owned banks were not able to absorb losses without having to resort to a recapitalization from the government financial stability fund.  Capital shortfalls were more likely to emerge for a tail of weak banks like some state owned banks and for those banks had a high share of exposure to government domestic debt relative to their capital. With the revised DDEP, most of the banks would have write back of losses in 2022 that could make some banks more profitable and capital compliant with regulatory capital adequacy ratio in 2023. From the comparative analysis on both the original DDEP and Revised DDEP impact on the banking sector showed that NPV losses have reduced from GHS 41.3 billion to GHS7.3 billion respectively. From data analysis most banks including will have huge write back for the losses incurred in 2022 to improve on capital adequacy ratios. These revised DDEP had impacted marginally on both banks’ solvency and liquidity due to a combination of coupon or interest rate reduction from 19.1% per annum to 9.1% per annum, and maturity reduction from 13.8 years to 8.3 years. With the revised DDEP, most of the banks would have write back of losses in 2022 that could make some banks more profitable and capital compliant with regulatory capital adequacy ratio in 2023. First, the domestic debt exchange has negatively affected availability of credit and cost of borrowing from some banks for corporations and households, with potential indirect distributional effects. This has called for a thorough assessment and mitigation of the distributional implications of the restructuring on case-by-case basis. The consequences of domestic debt exchange if not properly managed could render banks unable to support private businesses which could have negative impact economic growth with small and medium sized enterprises being the worst culprit. This has the tendency of hindering economic growth of the private sector which is said to be engine growth thereby negatively impacting job creation which is needed in the economic recovery process. This represented the first study that explicitly accounted for the size of the haircut when determining the historical consequences of default. The main conclusions were that deeper haircuts are associated with higher post‐restructuring global bond spreads and longer duration of exclusion from capital markets. Further, if there were a debt restructuring the perception of increased risk of government debt was expected to significantly blunt confidence in the Ghanaian economy in general, thereby affecting the creditworthiness of private institutions as well. This has translated into a further cut in credit lines to some of domestic banking institutions especially the state owned banks, which would have grave implications for external trade and the stability of the foreign exchange market. Ghanaian domestic banks had already suffered the effects of cuts in credit lines and margin calls by corresponding banks as a result of the international credit crunch in the post Covid19 period. Further withdrawal of credit lines and margin calls have had devastated effects on the international trade system, financial markets and in the Ghanaian economy in general. As most corresponding banks have withdrawn their credit lines especially with the local banks Second, another negative effect of domestic debt exchange is that it has caused investors to lose confidence in the country's ability to repay its debt on time. The DDEP has had a significant impact on investor confidence in the fixed-income market in Ghana. The sudden loss of value for existing bondholders has led to concerns about the safety of government-issued securities and has shaken investor confidence. Investors who previously considered government-issued securities as risk-free investments are now be more cautious and may require a more thorough assessment of risks before investing in fixed-income securities. The decline in investor confidence also had broader implications for the fixed-income market in Ghana. Reduced demand for government-issued securities have led to higher borrowing costs for the government in the money market, as government had needed to offer higher coupon rates to attract domestic investors. This had increased the cost of debt servicing for the government and impact the country's overall fiscal management. Additionally, lower investor confidence may also result in reduced liquidity in the fixed-income market, as investors may be hesitant to buy or sell securities, further affecting market dynamics. This has led to a decrease in foreign investment and an increase in the cost of borrowing for the government and local businesses with yearly treasury bill rates had surging from 22% in 2022 to 33.7% post DDEP era. Third, the higher interest rates on treasury bills has also affected the country’s banking institutions thus creating an adverse selection problem. As interest rates rise more conservative, risk-averse borrowers shy away from the credit market. A larger proportion of the persons applying for loans are thus those who are willing to take risky bets. The likelihood of default increases and so therefore does the banks’ proportion of non- performing loans. The recent Bank of Ghana’s report on the increases in the non-performing asset ratio from 15% to 20% confirmed the debt crowding hypothesis. Weaker economic activity has translated into higher non‐performing loans by both firms and households which could increase bank distress through balance sheet and liquidity effects. The recent currency depreciation has also exacerbated non‐performing loan volumes through currency mismatches. Fourth, domestic bond restructuring episode has marginally impacted on the financial sector of the country for several reasons. First, the asset side of banks’ balance sheets took a direct hit from the loss of value of the restructured assets, such as government bonds. Second, however, on the liability side, Ghanaian banks did not experience deposit withdrawals and the interruption of interbank credit lines. These issues marginally affected their ability to mobilize resources at a time of stress. Finally, restructuring episode has also triggered interest rate hikes, thereby increasing the cost of banks’ funding and thus affected their non-performing assets. Together, these factors marginally impaired the financial position of some domestic banking institutions to such a degree that financial stability was threatened and pressures for bank recapitalization and official sector bailouts are increased. Lastly, the domestic debt exchange program had moderately affected the  foreign banks from Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Morocco, and France and all that financial institutions that are operating in the country that have been exposed moderately to country risks in Ghana that underwent domestic debt restructuring which transmitted  the shock across borders, be it directly via loss of value of government securities or indirectly via their exposure to the Ghanaian banking sector which have resulted in marginal DDEP losses for which most them have started recapitalization process. The direct costs of revised domestic debt exchange in Ghana do not pose a serious threat to the success of sovereign debt restructuring as they will be covered by the bailout funding under Ghana Financial Stability Fund.  Safeguarding financial stability included liquidity and solvency support to banking institutions affected by the domestic debt restructuring, as well as temporary capital flow management measures and the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Ghana interventions to support orderly market functioning. 5.0. CONCLUSION The implications of a domestic debt restructuring were not limited to a one-time value tax on domestic debt holdings or, in other words, a one-time NPV loss to the debt holders, however. Where the government domestic debt is a structural necessity i.e., in case of universal banks including the central bank, insurance companies, and other regulated financial institutions, these entities have faced mild equity erosion requiring fresh capital injections, liquidity crunches, and maintenance of minimum capital challenges, however in the case of revised domestic debt exchange implemented the banking sector  was hit marginally after the reduction of maturity period from 2038 (13.8 years) to 2031(8.3 years) and reduction in the coupon rate from 19.1%per annum to 9.1% per annum. The restructuring of domestic debt was an inevitable step, given the insolvency of the country with no access to the markets and alarming prospects of debt evolution in the future. Reducing the burden of domestic debt by GHS 61.7 billion (Ministry of Finance 2023) is likely to give Ghana some breathing space, while the bailout loans by the IMF and the World Bank will provide Ghana with the necessary time to get back on its feet. The domestic debt restructuring itself will not solve the root cause of the problems though – an inability to sustain primary balance, deeply rooted lack of competitiveness, deep seated corruption of Ghana and inefficiencies and regulatory capture of a regulatory and supervisory authorities, improve domestic revenue mobilization, reduction in the government expenditure and non-existent debt cap or debt limit in the constitution are the recipe for future domestic debt restructuring. 6.0. Implications for future domestic debt restructuring. Ghana’s domestic debt restructuring fell below the global standards for stable capital flows and fair debt restructuring for emerging market for the lack of transparency, poorly and timely flow of information, bad faith of actions, unfair treatment of some creditors and not communicating the debt exchange as financial transaction. Importantly, the debt exchange was not communicated simply as financial transactions but rather as an integral underpinning to Ghana's strategic economic program which included significant fiscal reforms buttressed by the planned elimination of the fiscal deficit in the near term. Lack of transparency and poor timely flow of information regarding the changes in the coupon rate from 19.1% to 9.1% and drastic changes in reduction in maturity period from 13.8 years to 8.3 years for Treasury bonds, Daakye and Esla Bonds. For debt restructuring to achieve its target requires transparency of exchange Process. The intensive dialogue with creditors and the provision of extensive economic and financial information contributed significantly to the success of the exchange program.  Bad faith action was initially demonstrated by the Government through exemption of the retail and individuals from original domestic debt exchange program in December, 2022 but with the inclusion pension funds but reversed the decision. There wasn’t extensive but informal consultation prior to the launch of both exchanges with a small group of large bondholder institutional investors. However, good faith principles encourage the Ghana government to engage in actions designed to establish conditions for renewed market access on a timely basis, viable macroeconomic growth, and balance of payments sustainability over the medium term. The government did not treatment of creditors fairly as the government varied the terms of domestic debt exchange program three times since December, 2022. A major consideration in the debt exchange process was according fair treatment to all classes of domestic creditors as the government originally exempted the retail and individuals from the original program on 5th December 2022. No creditor, creditor group or instrument should be excluded ex ante from participating in debt restructuring and decisions need to be made on a case-by-case basis in close coordination with relevant stakeholders. Broad creditor participation in debt restructuring operations is essential to ensure fair burden sharing, and to assess the impact of the provision of new financial assistance, as well as the appropriate ranking of creditor claims.  Fair treatment of all creditors is in the interest of both sovereign debtors and creditors. It lessens the burden on all creditors and, by ensuring a fair burden sharing, encourages creditors to participate voluntarily in debt resolution and minimizes any adverse impact on the investor demand for existing or new issues of sovereign debt by the sovereign debtor undergoing debt restructuring or by others in the asset class. For Future domestic debt restructuring the Government must that the following issues are properly and adequately addressed: lack of transparency, poorly and timely flow of information, bad faith of actions, unfair treatment of some creditors and not communicating the debt exchange as financial transaction.   END- By Dr. Richmond Atuahene, K. B. Frimpong (FCCA.UK) & Isaac Kofi Agyei DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Banks DDEP Ghana Ofor-Atta

Dr. Richmond Atuahene, K. B. Frimpong (FCCA.UK) & Isaac Kofi Agyei

Analysis | Banking | Economy | Finance | International | Investments | National | Opinion | Survey

21 November 2023 1:05am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghanas-original-ddep-and-revised-ddep-impact-on-the-banking-sector-for-2022-and-2023-an-autopsy/

Kwesi Dadzi: Why NDC must pick running mate from Ashanti Region

An indispensable move to demonstrate the NDC's commitment to inclusion and respect towards the Ashanti Region, dynamic politicking and running mate. To inspire, rejuvenate and ignite a fire that is in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a strange yet vivid dream gripped me in a night ago, revealing the best path for the NDC to secure victory in 2024. In this dream, I saw former President Mahama consulting with a wise old man under a baobab tree in Kumasi. The sage said, "The game changer lies here in Ashanti." As a concerned citizen and a student leader at the University of Ghana, I have quietly observed the political wind across our nation. While I appreciate the grace and intellect brought to the NDC ticket by Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang in 2020, the dynamics have shifted. The NPP's new flagbearer is energizing zongo communities, especially in the Ashanti Region. Per my engagements with students nationwide, this is likely to surge NPP support in Ashanti and could cripple the NDC's chances in 2024. However, my dream revealed a ray of hope - the NDC selected an Ashanti running mate. This would counteract the NPP's gains in the region and potentially lead President Mahama to victory.It will put fire and re-energise the NDC, in both Ashanti or better still in Alan-dominated areas and the Zongos collectively. After consulting party sages in my vision, three Akan (Ashanti) politicians stood out as ideal running mates: Mr. Kojo Bonus - His grassroots networks across Ashanti can sway key swing votes. Mr. Eric Opoku - His intellectual and vested knowledge in economics, especially in the agric sector couple with his regional ministerial experience provides key insights on Ashanti's needs.Currently, Eric Opoku still controls and has the influence on most Akan areas, especially the rural and farming communities with a substantial network in the urban areas. Nevertheless, Mr. Awuah Darko also shines the brightest in my dream. Mr. Darko possesses the raw energy and force of personality needed to ignite the youth. His warm manner and common touch will revitalize party structures. I saw vivid scenes in my dream of him electrifying rallies in zongos as our supporters chanted his name. I realized in my dream that if the NDC is to stand any chance in 2024, we need a running mate who can galvanize our youth base. We need an individual with vitality, charisma and strength of conviction. Prof. Jane, with all due respect, often came across as too reserved to stir passion amongst the youth and grassroots. Beyond galvanizing party youth, Mr. Darko's stellar leadership at BOST and TOR indicates he is the man who can lead Ghana's economic recovery. With the economy in turmoil, his experience rescuing insolvent state enterprises is invaluable. He has the clout and skill to inspire confidence in international markets. The NDC must at best heed to this dream revelation and choose Awuah Darko as running mate. Alternatively, Eric Opoku also shines to break the unique monopoly of the NPP in the Akans or the Ashanti enclaves. Uniting behind an Ashanti leader of his caliber and conviction is indispensable to winning the youth and zongo votes that will swing the 2024 elections. Party leaders must look beyond personal interests and make the strategic move my vision foretold. The time has come to select an Ashanti running mate and open the path to victory. This revelation must not be ignored. It should also be noted that, the vice Presidential candidate should if not for anything at all come from the Ashanti Region, which must be non-negotiable NDC must rise again with fire to fire to ignite the bases and recapture power which is almost at hand with a youthful running mate like Awuah Darko and co. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Mahama Running Mate

Kwesi Dadzi

Opinion

20 November 2023 6:30pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/kwesi-dadzi-why-ndc-must-pick-running-mate-from-ashanti-region/

Reality Zone with Vicky Wireko: Good news from 2024 budget is, locally locally-produced sanitary pads are tax-free!

It is welcome news. It is good news for girls; it is a win for advocates and civil society. It is a victory for all who supported the call for sanitary pads to be made affordable by removing existing taxes. And so here we are today, looking into 2024, the tireless efforts of advocates were crowned in the Government’s 2024 “Nkunimde” budget statement read last Wednesday by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.  In that budget, the Minister has simply endorsed the call of sanitary pad advocates by stating that locally produced sanitary pads are going to be tax-free. That in effect, should bring prices of locally produced pads down. I normally would not sit through listening to budget statements. I often do not see what is in it for me as a pensioner. However, one thing that gave me hope in last Wednesday’s budget statement was that of a waiver on taxes on locally produced sanitary pads.  As an advocate for the welfare of women and girls, I had cause for a big sigh of relief and a thumps up hearing what everyone else heard.  Discrimination Through no fault of theirs, women and girls around the world have faced discrimination, stigma and exclusion just because of a biological change in their bodies at a certain period in the month. They go through menstruation sometimes under pain and stress, something they did not choose for themselves but bestowed on them by nature. Yet, in some traditional settings, no matter the level of enlightenment of the society, a woman or girl in her period is discriminated against and is even seen as unclean and excluded from certain rituals and practices.  The worse of it happening in recent times is that the stigma has taken a different turn in schools, especially in deprived areas as stated by research, where girls are absenting themselves from school due to teasing during their menstrual periods.  Because these vulnerable girls cannot afford or do not have access to the use of hygienically produced sanitary towels, they tend to use sub-standard materials during menstruation. Consequently, sometimes, they end up with infections. Others badly soil their clothes which makes them a mockery at school. They face ridicule, especially by their male peers.  So rather than go and endure ridicule, the girls would rather stay at home and miss classes. Promiscuity Some unfortunate reports had it that some of the vulnerable girls sometimes became victims of promiscuous lives just so they could raise money to enable them to afford sanitary pads during their periods. Some such reports did prick the conscience of some civil society organisations and individuals who vigorously took up the campaign to get the government to consider either supporting girls in vulnerable communities with free sanitary pads or removing taxes on locally produced sanitary pads and other products for maintaining personal hygiene during menstruation.  The latest calls were reiterated just last May when the world celebrated World Menstrual Day. There were calls once again on government to consider removing taxes from local production to make sanitary pads affordable and easily available. The good news is that all those cries have finally been heard and action taken in the government’s last budget statement read a few days ago. According to the Graphic Business news story of Wednesday, November 15, the budget statement pleasantly announced that “taxes on locally produced sanitary pads had been removed”. Sampling views Not surprisingly, news reports and sampling views from the public as well as some local producers of the products have welcomed the announcement in the budget statement.  It only remains for it to become a deed. Come to think of it, it is not for nothing that the United Nations (UN) has set aside May 28 of each year to focus world attention on breaking any taboos end the stigma surrounding menstruation and focus on the importance of good menstrual hygiene management worldwide. One’s take from the waiver of taxes on locally produced sanitary towels in the 2024 budget therefore is a two-pronged one. First and foremost, stigmas would be reduced and secondly, good menstrual hygiene would be ensured when affordability sets in and girls are able to afford clinically produced sanitary pads. One only hopes that the news will be implemented sooner and the ripple effects become visible, especially in girls’ absenteeism from school. It is good news to learn that enrollment in secondary schools has tripled and in some instances quadrupled with the free SHS policy introduced by this government. Hopefully, the school dropouts and low enrolment of girls reported in sections of the media will be reversed with this budget announcement. Parents and wards, as well as vulnerable girls, would experience the peace that tax waivers on locally produced sanitary pads have brought them. The “Nkunimde” budget is definitely a victory for advocates for tax-free locally produced sanitary pads. ***** The writer can be contacted via email:vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Sanitary pads

Vicky Wireko

Opinion

20 November 2023 6:15pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/reality-zone-with-vicky-wireko-good-news-from-2024-budget-is-locally-locally-produced-sanitary-pads-are-tax-free/

Ayilo: Lowers cholesterol, stops the growth of cancer cells

Pica is an eating disorder in which a person eats things not usually considered food. One of the most known Pica’s is ayilo.  Ayilo, also known as ayilor by the Gadangmes,  is a Ghanaian term for kaolin or bentonite clay. It is a baked solid white clay usually taken by pregnant women. They are usually baked into egg-shaped balls.  Ewes call it agatawoe/agatawe,  and the Akans call it shirew/shile. Also, Ayilo is known as mabele in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon as calaba.  Nsu in Nigeria(https://www.alowafoods.com/products/mabele). The English name is Kaolin. People sometimes say it is bentonite clay. However, they are in the same family with the same benefits. But what are the scientific benefits of ayilo? I herein explore in this article. Science Ayilo is a neglected ‘gold mine.’  A review of geophagy by Sherman et al.(2011) in 482 people and 297 animals found evidence to suggest the main reason people eat dirt is the possible protection soil might offer against toxins. However, more research is needed to support this theory. Geophagy means eating dirt as part of a cultural practice, or because other people in the family or community also eat dirt, which differs from pica. In this instance, there’s a clear reason for eating dirt. On the other hand, Pagophagia, persistent ice eating or cravings for ice, can also be a sign of pica. Pica usually won’t be diagnosed in children, as many children eat dirt when they are young and stop on their own. Pica can co-occur with conditions such as trichotillomania or schizophrenia, but it doesn’t always involve a separate mental health diagnosis. Diarrhoea, Constipation One animal study by Callahan GN(2003) reasoned that animals eat dirt or clay when they have diarrhea, stomach distress, or poisonous fruit. Bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate), a medication that treats diarrhea, has a mineral makeup that’s similar to kaolin, or the kind of clay some people eat for the same purpose. So eating soil could potentially relieve diarrhea. Moosavi M(2017) study suggests that clay may help some people with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation by regulating bowel movements. Also, another study by Buccigrossi et al.(2017) found that a type of adsorbent clay called diosmectite helped stop rotavirus from replicating. Littman et al.(2022)  reasoned that bentonite can also help to treat diarrhea. Reduce Morning Sickness Callahan GN(2003) study found that pregnant women worldwide eat dirt to help ease morning sickness symptoms. This is practiced in most cultures. Detoxification  Srasra and  Bekri-Abbes(2020) review found clay to be a natural detoxifier. A recent study by Wang et al.(2021)  found bentonite clay’s effectiveness at aflatoxin sorption in earlier animal and human trials. The researchers also tested a sodium bentonite clay on computational, in vivo, and in vitro models, suggesting it may offer a method to combat emergencies, such as an outbreak of acute aflatoxicosis. A recent study by Littman et al.(2022)  used a combination of bentonite clay, probiotics, and black seed oil to treat a 2-year-old with a Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection. After four days, there were no traces of C. diff in the child’s stool samples. Finally, another recent study by Oguz et al.(2022)  found that clay is effective when consumed, including bentonite, to bind to various toxins in animal feed depending on the type of toxin. Diaper Rash Wang and Phillips(2023) recommend that calcium montmorillonite clay may enhance the antibacterial effect of barrier creams against Escherichia coli formation. The authors highlight that montmorillonite clay may occur in creams to treat diaper rash due to its adsorption properties. Removing lead and other heavy metals A recent study by Abdelnaby et al.(2023) recommends that bentonite clay nanoparticles help to remove trace elements of residual lead and cadmium from milk. On the other hand, Moosavi M et al.(2017) review also recommends that bentonite is an effective treatment for metal toxicity in animal models. Lowers cholesterol A study by Turgut et al.(2021)  recommends the following combinations of ingredients have a cholesterol-lowering effect on mice: bentonite, grape seed extract, and turmeric bentonite, grape seed extract, psyllium, and turmeric bentonite, grape seed extract, turmeric, and flaxseed Stops Growth of Two Cancer Cell Lines in a Lab Cervini-Silva et al.(2016) study found that eating clay stopped the growth of cancer cell line U251, a human cancer cell found in a central nervous cancer called glioblastoma. However, another cell line grew larger when exposed to the substance. The researchers explained that the cell formations and swelling of bentonite clay are the reasons for this, and it could potentially be effective against specific types of cancers (like glioblastomas) but not others. Another lab experiment by Maisanaba et al.(2014) found clay to cause cell death of Caco-2 cells, a colorectal cancer line. In this study, the clay exhibited a large amount of oxidative stress upon just the cancer cells without damaging the DNA. Supports thyroid function One study by Cai et al.(2006) in mice studies, found clay to absorb certain thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), resulting in the alleviation of hyperthyroidism. This result suggests bentonite might potentially help people keep thyroid levels down, although the test has not been duplicated in humans as of yet. Supports Weight Loss Xu et al.(2016) trial in rats tested the impact of clay on weight loss and found that the supplement was correlated with weight loss, as well as decreased cholesterol. Kaolin v Bentonite Bentonite clay, also known as calcium bentonite clay, comes from volcanic ash and is manufactured mainly in the United States. Its name comes from the primary bentonite clay producer in the U.S., volcano-rich Fort Benton, Montana. Bentonite clay is cost-effective, although it is far more intense for the skin than kaolin clay. However, bentonite clay has a much higher pH level than kaolin clay. Kaolin clay is a mild type of clay made up of a mineral known as kaolinite, which can be found all over the globe. You may also see it referred to as white clay.  The original kaolin clay was harvested from a hill in China, Kao-ling, which was the only source of the clay for hundreds of years. Kaolin clay is known for being very finely powdered, soft, and usually off-white or pink.  The clay is composed of tiny minerals and crystals (including feldspar, quartz, silica, copper, magnesium, and zinc). It has a relatively neutral pH level of around 4.5, which is close to the skin’s natural pH of 5.5, and bentonite clay sits at around 8.5. This makes it slightly more “basic” on the pH scale, which can help people open their pores even further to accept more products. Although deciding which clay to use comes down to your personal skin care needs, however, kaolin clay(ayilo) is more beneficial. Why? kaolin clay is more gentle and accessible for all skin types, so you don’t need to worry about how your skin may react. Warning In 2016, the FDA warned consumers not to use a certain type of bentonite clay due to its high lead levels. A study by Steiner-Asiedu et al.(2016)assessed the microbial quality of clay samples sold in two of the major Ghanaian markets. They concluded that ayilo samples were found to contain Klebsiella spp. Escherichia, Enterobacter, Shigella spp. staphylococcus spp., yeast, and mold. These have health implications when consumed. Another study by Kotei et al.(2019)  showed that there are beneficial minerals in ayilo, however, the accumulated effects of these heavy metals can lead to various complications in pregnancy. The clay also contained pathogenic microorganisms. Traces of Lead, Nickel, and Arsenic were found in the clay. Common microorganisms identified were Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Mucor , and Aspergillus spp. A recent study by Konlan et al.(2020) examined the use of ayilo amongst pregnant women and found that, out of the 286 pregnant women, 21.2% and 17.8% considered white clay and ice respectively as nutritious. Prevalence was 47.5%, while 44.9% of pregnant women reported they feel uncomfortable when they do not eat ayilo, and 63.3% considered intake as harmful. Among women who received education against ayilo practice, 49.4% have ever taken it and 50.9% of them with education on effects were currently engaged in the activity. Also, a study by Moosavi M(2017) found that eating clay causes side effects when a person uses large amounts. Sherman et al. (2011) also reported that eating clay could have an effect on nutrients, since clay in the stomach may bind to iron, zinc, and other nutrients. In other words, eating dirt could increase the risk of anemia. The high potassium in clay could lead to high blood potassium, increasing your risk for cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrest. Constipation is also expected when one eats more clay. It can also alter the immune function, though, a study in animal by Cindy Engel(2007) have suggested clay consumption offers protection against a range of toxins. Recommendation & Conclusion Drink plenty of water throughout the day while using ayilo. This will help flush the clay from the digestive tract and prevent constipation. Also, ayilo is an ancient remedy that could hold promise as a treatment for various health conditions. It has a low risk of side effects when a person uses it in moderate amounts. There is a need to tap into ayilo-related products. I recommend that the government should tap into the ayilo industry. This could generate millions of dollars to the national coffers. The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist, an author, and a science writer. E. mail: professor40naturopathy@gmail.com. For more about me, Visit:  profnyarkotey.com References Steiner-Asiedu M, Harrison OA, Vuvor F, Tano-Debrah K. Quality evaluation of processed clay soil samples. Pan Afr Med J. 2016 Jun 6;24:118. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2016.24.118.8406. PMID: 27642456; PMCID: PMC5012739. Kortei NK, Annor IA, Aboagye G, Manaphraim NYB, Koryo-Dabrah A, Awude E, Essuman EK, Alidu HW, Tettey CO, Awadzi B. Elemental minerals and microbial compositions as well as knowledge and perceptions regarding kaolin (clay) consumption by pregnant women in the Ho municipality of Ghana. Pan Afr Med J. 2019 Oct 28;34:113. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2019.34.113.17394. PMID: 31998429; PMCID: PMC6961938. Konlan KD, Abdulai JA, Konlan KD, Amoah RM, Doat AR. Practices of pica among pregnant women in a tertiary healthcare facility in Ghana. Nurs Open. 2020 Jan 28;7(3):783-792. doi: 10.1002/nop2.451. PMID: 32257266; PMCID: PMC7113508 Moosavi M. Bentonite Clay as a Natural Remedy: A Brief Review. Iran J Public Health. 2017 Sep;46(9):1176-1183. PMID: 29026782; PMCID: PMC5632318. Callahan GN. Eating dirt. Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Aug;9(8):1016-21. doi: 10.3201/eid0908.ad0908. PMID: 12971372; PMCID: PMC3020602. Wang M, Hearon SE, Phillips TD. A high capacity bentonite clay for the sorption of aflatoxins. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2020 Feb;37(2):332-341. doi: 10.1080/19440049.2019.1662493. Epub 2019 Dec 2. PMID: 31790632; PMCID: PMC6989347. Srasra E, Bekri-Abbes I. Bentonite Clays for Therapeutic Purposes and Biomaterial Design. Curr Pharm Des. 2020;26(6):642-649. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200203144034. PMID: 32013819. Oguz H, Bahcivan E, Erdogan T, Yalcin NF, Ozdas A, Isık MK, Altunbas O. In vitro mycotoxin binding capacities of clays, glucomannan and their combinations. Toxicon. 2022 Jul 30;214:93-103. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.05.006. Epub 2022 May 18. PMID: 35597522. Moosavi M. Bentonite Clay as a Natural Remedy: A Brief Review. Iran J Public Health. 2017 Sep;46(9):1176-1183. PMID: 29026782; PMCID: PMC5632318. Wang M, Phillips TD. Lecithin-amended montmorillonite clays enhance the antibacterial effect of barrier creams. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2023 Sep;229:113450. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113450. Epub 2023 Jul 10. PMID: 37451226; PMCID: PMC10528371. Abdelnaby A, Abdelaleem NM, Elshewy E, Mansour AH, Ibrahim SS. Application of Bentonite Clay, Date Pit, and Chitosan Nanoparticles as Promising Adsorbents to Sequester Toxic Lead and Cadmium from Milk. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2023 May;201(5):2650-2664. doi: 10.1007/s12011-022-03353-w. Epub 2022 Jul 13. PMID: 35829983; PMCID: PMC10020323. Turgut R, Kartal M, Akkol EK, Demirbolat İ, Taştan H. Development of Cholesterol-Lowering and Detox Formulations Using Bentonite and Herbal Ingredients. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Dec 6;12:775789. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.775789. PMID: 34938189; PMCID: PMC8685422. Cervini-Silva J, Ramírez-Apan MT, Kaufhold S, Ufer K, Palacios E, Montoya A. Role of bentonite clays on cell growth. Chemosphere. 2016 Apr;149:57-61. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.01.077. Epub 2016 Feb 3. PMID: 26849195 Maisanaba S, Gutiérrez-Praena D, Pichardo S, Moreno FJ, Jordá M, Cameán AM, Aucejo S, Jos A. Toxic effects of a modified montmorillonite clay on the human intestinal cell line Caco-2. J Appl Toxicol. 2014 Jun;34(6):714-25. doi: 10.1002/jat.2945. Epub 2013 Oct 9. PMID: 24122917. Xu P, Dai S, Wang J, Zhang J, Liu J, Wang F, Zhai Y. Preventive obesity agent montmorillonite adsorbs dietary lipids and enhances lipid excretion from the digestive tract. Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 19;6:19659. doi: 10.1038/srep19659. PMID: 26891902; PMCID: PMC4759552. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Ayilo cancer cells Cholesterol Shirew

Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu

Health | Opinion

20 November 2023 12:43am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/ayilo-lowers-cholesterol-stops-the-growth-of-cancer-cells/

Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu: Laying on of hands destroys breast cancer cells

In the book Laying on of Hands by Eastwood Anaba, explained that the laying on of hands is a spiritual process by which hands are laid on people for the transfer of spiritual virtue, gifts, and blessings. The practice of laying on hands is an ancient tradition that began in the Old Testament, continued in the ministry of Christ and the New Testament Church, and is in practice in the Church today. This practice is one of the most treasured abilities God has given the Church. It is so important to the Body of Christ that we have to teach and practice it constantly to keep it alive. In this book, Eastwood Anaba teaches the meaning of laying on of hands, traces its practice in the Bible, and explains the power that is available to the Church through it. In the medical sector, laying on of hands is becoming popular. This means that this concept is beyond the church cycle. It also tells the importance of this practice from biblical concepts. This concept is being practiced by drugless healers and referred to as “therapeutic touch,” which seeks to create a feeling of caring that physical closeness or touching, like stroking a fevered brow or holding someone's hand, can convey. This is because the practitioners are dealing with energy fields that surround the body. Biblical doctrine  Genesis 48:8-20… Jacob said: “Joesph, bring your sons to me.” And Jacob placed his hands on the boys’ heads and prayed: “May God bless these boys, and multiply their descendants greatly throughout the Earth.”  Jesus says in Mark 16:18, “They will place their hands on sick people and they will get well.” And 21st-century science tells us what mothers have known since Eve: touching babies relaxes them, makes them calm, and helps them to grow into confident adults. People lay hands on other people just about everywhere in the Bible, and it always leads to some benefit. The Biblical basis of laying on of hands for: Blessings Healing Baptism in the Holy Ghost Spiritual Gifts Commissioning ministers 1. Blessings Genesis 48:8-20 is the scriptural example of blessings by laying on of hands. By calling blessings from God and laying on hands (touching the recipient with the whole palm and fingers — not just tips), one multiplies power and faith. This often transfers the benefits of one’s powerful faith to another person. For Jacob and his grandchildren, it bore great fruit in the later generations as they multiplied to become a great nation. Healing refers to body, spirit, and soul. The Bible has many passages wherein people are healed of physical afflictions after prayer with the laying on of hands. Read in full the passage Mark 16:15-18. There’s more, but first this: Healing happens to those who believe. Belief is the only qualification for the one doing the praying. It is not the physical act of laying on of hands that does the healing. Hands are the outward sign of one’s belief that the sick person will get well. In Luke 4:38-40, Jesus lays hands on Peter’s mother-in-law and heals her of a fever. Because of this demonstration, lots of people came forward and were healed. Later, in Luke 13:10-16, Jesus heals a woman with a twisted back. This practice is the basis of chiropractic care. Verse 16 tells us that the woman is freed from an evil spirit. This often happens. The illness is demonic, and laying on of hands in faith casts out the demon. For more examples, see Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 6:1-6, and Acts 28:7-10 There are early examples in Acts 8:14-21, where we see that the Baptism is a gift from God and cannot be bought with money. And in Acts 19:1-6, some believers had been baptized by John but had never heard of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then they gladly received it. 4. Spiritual Gifts All Spiritual Gifts come from the Holy Spirit, but that doesn’t mean we all get every gift. God knows what He is doing, and He gives to each the one or two best suited to that person’s nature. Stephen, in Acts 6:1-8, received gifts, stepped out in faith, performed marvelous works and wonders, and then got clobbered by skeptics. The Devil was at work, trying to keep people from receiving God’s best and from spreading the Good Word. Timothy got the gifts and Paul admonished him to never forget it. Timothy used his gifts in the face of opposition and came out ahead. See 1 Timothy 5:22. “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.” This admonishes church leaders to be careful about laying on hands to ordain new ministers. If Timothy commissioned someone who did not follow sound doctrine, then Timothy would be responsible and share in the sin. Today, we might call that aiding and abetting, or being an accomplice after the fact. So — the laying on of hands has many purposes in the body of Christ. Science This spiritual power is not transmitted through a physical act of laying on hands. Christian Science treatment never includes the belief or practice of a "therapeutic" physical touch. Spiritual power is realized only through scientific prayer, acknowledging God's allness, and proving error's nothingness. Thus Christian healing can be accomplished even when we are asked to pray for someone many miles away. The omnipresence of divine Truth knows no separation. However, one needs faith to experience positive effects in healing (Benor, 1990). Grad (1961, 1965, 1976), is the pioneer of healing work in experimental animals. In the first controlled experiments, Grad studied the Hungarian healer Oskar Estebany’s ability to accelerate the healing rate of mice with one-half by one-inch wounds. Estebany held the cages of mice twice daily for 15 minutes. The treated group healed significantly more rapidly than the untreated group (Grad, 1961). Grad also induced goiters in mice by feeding them an iodine-deficient diet (Grad, 1976). The thyroid glands of mice treated by a healer twice daily for 15 months grew significantly more slowly than those of the control mice. This effect was also obtained when Estebany did not treat the mice directly with his hands but instead held in his hands cotton cuttings, which were placed in contact with the mice in the cages. In the area of cancer in live animals, Onetto and Elguin (1966) experimented with inhibiting tumor growth in mice that had been injected subcutaneously with a tumoral suspension. They found the area, weight, and volume of tumor growth in one group of 30 tumorigenic mice significantly less than that of 30 untreated control mice. Interestingly, a second group of 30 mice was treated in an attempt to increase tumor growth, but these mice did not differ from the control mice. Null (1981) also gave 50 healers two mice each to screen for their ability to prolong the lives of mice injected with cancer cells. Only one healer produced total tumor regression in one of his mice, and the other survived longer than predicted. The one successful healer was then asked to replicate the healing on 10 mice. The healer was able to extend the average survival of the treated mice to a statistically significant number of days beyond that of the control group (Grad, 1976). A recent study by Bengston & Krinsley(2000) titled “The Effect of the “Laying On of Hands” on Transplanted Breast Cancer in Mice published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration found a positive response with the cancer cells after the preacher lay hands. In this study, Bengston treated these mice for 1 hour per day for 1 month. The tumors developed a “blackened area,” then they ulcerated, imploded, and closed, and the mice lived their normal life spans. This demonstrated the effect of anointing by laying hands on breast cancer cells. Chiropractic care How spiritual power is obtained has not changed in two thousand years, and two thousand years from now it still will not have changed. The way is illustrated in the life of Christ Jesus: It is to accept man's holy office, his true identity as the beloved offspring of God, Spirit. One study by Bleakley et al.(2010)  found that incorporating therapeutic exercises during the first week after ankle sprain results in significant improvements in short-term ankle function compared with the standard PRICE intervention.  Over the years, practitioners have reported the benefits of immediate soft-tissue therapy after injury. Also, Veljkovic et al.(2010) found that Laying on hands creates movement of tissue similar in ways that exercise causes tissue movement. A recent article suggests that aerobic exercise training may be a promising nontoxic anti-HIV therapy. Another study by Suhr et al.(2010) also found that frequent exercise enhances the extracellular matrix (ECM) processing of angiogenic molecules.  Science says, when a hand is placed on soft tissue, stress is created. Stress is defined as the amount of tension or load per unit in a cross-sectional area that is placed on a specimen.   The significant aspect of this is that the effect of all soft-tissue methods (including exercise) is the deformation of the tissue.   Banes et al.(2001) explained that when the tissues are deformed, the resident cells are deformed. A more recent study by Carneiro et al.(2020) showed that laying on of hands with Spiritual connection by Spiritist “passe” appears to be effective in increasing cardiac vagal activity and regulation of immune responses of employees in a public hospital with stress/anxiety. Quality of Life Care One study by Pohl et al.(2007) determined whether the impact of "laying on of hands" on the well-being of patients with advanced cancer is more efficient when performed by a person with self-declared "healing powers" as compared to an actor mimicking the healer in close detail. A total of 80 patients were registered to participate in a randomized, single-blind phase III trial to evaluate the difference in efficacy of "laying on of hands" by either a "healer" or an actor. Each group consisted of 40 patients, scheduled to receive treatment for 5 min, three times a week. The effect of treatment was measured using a "Well-Being scale", with the difference of the average score of the "Well-Being scale" on day 10 being defined as primary and that on day 5 as the secondary endpoint. The study found that"Laying on of hands" resulted in a significant improvement in cancer- or cancer-therapy-associated symptoms. The magnitude of improvement obtained was similar whether on a self-declared-healer- or an actor-provided "treatment". Drugless healers Healing by hand has been employed by many drugless as well to heal their patients. For instance,  reiki could all be incorporated in healing. A Reiki practitioner uses this type of therapy to guide energy throughout the body and promote a person's self-healing abilities. The use of massage with a good hand could heal the patient. Acupuncture, acupressure, and many more are being used today in healing. All these therapies have their basis in the bible. Take Home Laying on hands was practiced in the biblical days. It is effective right from biblical days and is still effective in the modern era based on science. Laying on of hands in the modern days in the healthcare sector is practiced by drugless or alternative medicine healers. For Ministers of the Gospel, Paul admonishes them in 1 Timothy 5:22. “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.” For the congregants, it is not any  Pastor that you should allow to lay their hands on you. Finally, laying on of hands is being practiced in healthcare as well. The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist, an author, and a science writer. E. mail: professor40naturopathy@gmail.com.  Visit-profnyarkotey.com DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   breast cancer cells laying of hands

Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu

Opinion

19 November 2023 11:44am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/prof-raphael-nyarkotey-obu-laying-on-of-hands-destroys-breast-cancer-cells/

Engr Eric Atta-Sonno: I saw an Evil under the traffic lights

“There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake” - Ecclesiastes‬ For those of us in Accra and other cities who drive, you will notice this situation where traffic police officers are found at traffic intersections. Most of the time, these officers are found helping to direct traffic at times when the lights are on and functioning, a situation which is very ironical. There are a couple of traffic lights around town whose functionality is as irregular as the occurrence of earth tremors. With such traffic intersections, you could get there in the morning and find the traffic lights completely off yet without any traffic warden to help direct flow of traffic. When you get to that point on such a day, it becomes your duty to check the flow of traffic and meander your way through. You could get to that same intersection a day later and find the same set of traffic lights on and working perfectly. In that instance, one is fortunate to have the lights determining the flow of traffic.  Yet at other times dear friend, you could drive through this same traffic intersection and find the lights functioning and yet with motor traffic officers stationed and determining the flow of vehicular traffic. When you get to the traffic intersection on such a day, you could notice the lights turned to ‘Green’ and yet the traffic police could cause you to wait for minutes on end before allowing you to have your turn. The traffic signals could also be red but be asked to keep moving. I have always wondered why we have traffic police determining the flow of traffic in situations where the traffic lights are actively working. As I thought through this strange phenomenon, I wondered if it was because the timing of the lights were not helping with flow of vehicular traffic. You know, before traffic lights are installed anytime, traffic studies are conducted based upon which the traffic lights are engineered. Essentially, there are three factors that come together to determine how long each of the Red, Green and Amber (Orange) lights stay on or off. These factors are preprogrammed timing schedules, motion sensors and time of day. This determination is done to ensure that the lights function in tandem with the flow of vehicular traffic at any point in time during the day and night. This is to ensure that the traffic lights ensure effective operation of any set of traffic lights at an intersection.  The whole essence of the traffic or signal intersection is to assign right of way to conflicting movements of traffic at any intersection. The signals relay messages to road users on what to do and what not to do. Traffic signals eliminate human factor in the management of vehicular traffic management.  Based on the above, is it not therefore very surprising that after all these strenuous efforts are made to programmers and install these signals, we end up having traffic police men positioned to take over the role of these signal lights! If you are observant, you’d appreciate that quite a number of our traffic intersections are almost always falling prey to this menace of always having police officers from the Motor Traffic Department (MTD) taking up the role of these lights. Unfortunately as we all know, they are never able to match the efficiency and effectiveness of the traffic lights. My dear friend, a few weeks ago, as I drove home, I got to the Neoplan traffic intersection at Achimota. The traffic lights were all on and working. For some weeks prior, there were police men directing traffic at that spot even though the lights were functioning. On this particular day, as I got close to the place I noticed that vehicles were being directed to keep moving. Well, it got to my turn and I noticed that the lights were on Greenso I moved. By the time I got to the old building of Peace FM using the main highway, I noticed that I was being tailed by a police on a motor bike. He got to me and I slowed down to hear him out. His charge was that I had failed to stop at the order of an officer when I got to the traffic light. I explained to him that the lights were Green and as far as the road traffic rules were concerned, I had my right of way. He still insisted that since there was a police officer there who had flagged me to stop, his order took preeminence. Much as I explained myself within the circumstances surrounding the perceived confusion, he simply refused to budge. He wanted to escort me to go make a u-turn at John Teye Memorial School in Pokuase and then to Tesano Police Station for their processes. I was in no mood to budge so I gave him my call card and asked him to trigger a replay of the CCTV footage at the location. If I was at fault, they should process me for the Courts. With that, I then moved on and never heard from them. Sometime last week, on my way home using the Tetteh Quarshie-Madina road, I noticed an encounter as I got to the Ghana Standards Authority intersection. There, I realized that even though the traffic lights were in good working condition, the policemen were once again here directing traffic. Ahead of me, I noticed that a driver who was following the signals was at the same time being flagged by one of the officers to move on even though the lights were red. For some reasons, he refused to heed and appeared to be waiting for the green in spite of the tooting of horn from the drivers behind him. He had his way by waiting for the Green. When we got to the Okponglo intersection, the two of us were now driving parallel so I rolled down and asked him for the reason behind his action minutes earlier. Apparently, he had encountered a very rough police officer just a few days before. This was as a result of confusion as to whether to obey the lights or the MTTD officers when he got to an intersection. He had followed the traffic officer’s seeming instruction to move on only to be stopped thereafter that he had crossed the Redlights. He had since resolved that for as long as the lights were working, he’d follow the lights and not allow any  traffic police officer to misdirect him. Now my question, my dear friend! Why do we engage scarcely needed police officers the nation needs to prevent and fight crime and deploy them at traffic intersections to direct the flow of traffic when that is the very reason for which the signals are installed? If the view of the Department of Urban Roads is that the flow of vehicular traffic as directed by the traffic signals at any one point are not effective, why do they not take steps to recalibrate the signals to suit the new traffic situation? Are our State authorities aware that rather than assisting the general public to have smooth usage of our roads, these traffic police and YEA traffic wardens spend most of their time and energies resorting to the harassment, intimidation and extortion from innocent members of the same general public?  I am fully persuaded that in as much as our authorities had good intentions for the deployment of traffic control police at our road intersections, the presence of police officers at most of these intersections have become more of a menace than a benefit. Clearly, in instances where the signals are fully functional, the presence of officers must be done away with. It is about time that our authorities only deploy these officers to direct flow of vehicles when traffic signals are non-functional. It is about time we utilize our national resources a lot more judiciously! DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Accident road safety Traffic lights

Engr Eric Atta-Sonno

Opinion

17 November 2023 6:42pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/engr-eric-atta-sonno-i-saw-an-evil-under-the-traffic-lights/

Cyril Quansah-Quainoo: The transformative power of PR beyond media relations

Public Relations (PR) is regarded as a crucial function that helps with making important decisions for organisations. Its primary responsibility is to manage how people perceive the organisation, manage its reputation, and build good relationships with relevant stakeholders. With my years of experience in the PR industry in Ghana, I find it discouraging that some organisations still do not appreciate the value of the PR profession. Managers of these organisations only consider PR when engaging the media. They do not realise that PR professionals can contribute greatly to strategic decision-making for the growth of their organisations. The evolution of PR In the past, PR professionals were mostly responsible for managing communication between organisations and the media. Their main function was to disseminate press releases, coordinate conferences, and engage with journalists to get positive media coverage. The reason is that media coverage plays a significant role in shaping public perception and influencing consumer behaviour. This PR role remains relevant. Over time, however, the function of PR has expanded to incorporate a more strategic role within organisations. In addition to managing media relations, the role of the PR professional has now expanded to provide strategic advice to senior management and collaborate closely with other departments to ensure a unified communication approach that aligns with the organisation's goals and values. The strategic importance of PR in decision-making The narrow-minded approach, which restricts PR to only media relations, can have detrimental effects on an organisation's reputation, as it fails to capitalise on the strategic insights and expertise that PR offers. Undoubtedly, one of the most important aspects of PR is media relations. Like in many other parts of the world, organisations in Ghana frequently depend on PR specialists to maintain positive relationships with the media; nonetheless, the misconception that PR is solely about media management poses a serious impediment to maximising the full potential of the PR function. As previously indicated, PR is essential for managing connections with the media as well as serving as a critical advisor for top management. PR professionals hold a distinct position and can provide helpful views on the possible consequences of particular decisions or actions on an organisation's reputation and connections with various stakeholders. Sadly, their ability to predict public opinion, identify possible hazards, and suggest strategic ways to mitigate them is often underutilised. Challenges faced by professionals in Ghana Drawing from my experience and professional network, I have come to realise that, many Ghanaian organisations continue to limit the responsibilities of PR specialists by keeping them out of critical decision-making processes. Because of this exclusion, ill-informed decisions are made, which could have a negative impact on public perception. When it comes to product launches, crisis management, or social media issues, PR professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to offer insightful suggestions that can greatly improve an organisation's standing and overall performance. The Bank of Ghana Case Study: A Cautionary Tale A compelling case study that highlights the dangers of limiting PR to media engagement is the analysis of the Bank of Ghana. It is becoming more and more clear from recent events that the central bank has faced severe criticism from its diverse stakeholders. A range of concerns, from unprecedented indebtedness, illegal printing of money, US$250 million new office building, and domestic debt restructuring issues among others, have somehow damaged the reputation of the institution. It is safe to say that had the managers of the central bank probably consulted the services of a PR agency or actively involved their internal PR professionals in their decision-making processes, they could have proactively addressed concerns, communicated their efforts to the public, and demonstrated their commitment to sustainable collaboration. Disregarding the advisory role of PR professionals has not only hurt the bank’s reputation locally and globally but also to some extent hindered their growth and long-term success. Embracing all PR methods for organisational success In today's competitive environment, it is important for organisations to break away from the archaic mindset of limiting PR to just media relations. Managers of organisations should embrace the strategic expertise of PR professionals. By doing so, managers of organisations can proactively enhance the reputation of their institutions, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and position themselves as leaders in their respective industries. Finally, it is crucial to recognise that the advisory role of PR is not an option but a necessity for any organisation seeking long-term success and sustainability in the ever-changing business world. ***** The writer is the Public Relations Manager of Academic City University College DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Public Relations

Cyril Quansah-Quainoo

Opinion

17 November 2023 2:30pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/cyril-quansah-quainoo-the-transformative-power-of-pr-beyond-media-relations/

Anny Osabutey: Memories of Effiakuma Love

I was in Takoradi two weeks ago for work. The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), where I work in the Policy Coordination Department, celebrated its Consumer Week with a durbar at Sekondi, the twin city. The platform offered the NPA the opportunity to continue with its sensitization of the Cylinder Recirculation Model, which is to discontinue the current model of selling gas at the retail stations. It was well received. Kofi Kinaata, a national treasure, agreed to spice the event with some of his songs. The guy is a gift from the region. I love that side of town.  My journalism career got a major lift in that part of town, with SkyPower FM. Then a student at the University of Cape Coast, I spent a whole summer holiday with the station, learning under my friend and editor, Philip Nyarkpo and his team of reporters. I later reported for them for a while. Sekondi-Takoradi is a fascinating town with great people. On the back of the oil find, I was commissioned by British and American news agencies to assess the potential impact of the discovery, and the hopes of the people. I spent close to three months, trawling through villages and towns in Axim, Kwesimintim, Essikado- Ketan and more, speaking to people and how much they thought the oil find was going to change their lives. I must admit their hopes were high. The story today is different from the reality; hopes have given in to despair. This situation has fuelled the desire of most of the young people to seek greener pastures abroad, mostly using visiting vessels from Europe and North America, or traveling through the desert to Libya, enroute to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea. Post oil find again, and that was in 2009, I was part of a BBC Panorama team that interviewed some young people who were about to embark on a similar journey. We had a lead from a book written by a British journalist friend of mine and the main character, a young man then in his teenage years from Effiakuma, suburb of Takoradi, who embarked on a similar journey and almost lost his life, had come from. I first went to the community to look for relatives of the young man. I made contacts with some of his friends who knew about him. I got a bit of the story as to why most of the young people there wanted to embark on such an adventure. Poverty, one of them explained to the team that later visited the place to speak to them. Most of them we spoke to said they were eager to get a slice of Europe and if crossing the Mediterranean Sea, with all the associated dangers, will help them get there, then so be it. For somebody like me who partly grew up in a fishing port like the Tema Harbor, it wasn’t strange to me the things I was hearing from them. The tales of a sea men are pleasing to the ears of a desperate man looking for a way out of poverty and economic stagnation. I have my own story, but I will save it for another time. These folks who live around the seaport hear the good tales as told by the sea men on these vessels and get the opportunity to travel abroad. They also had friends who made the journey through the desert to Europe and are now living well. If you stay here (Ghana) you will die, and if you make the journey too, you will one day die, one of them told us. we met an elderly man whose son was about to embark on that journey. He had already lost a son to the sea, and the thought of another making a similar trip was weighing heavily on his mind. But the said son was determined to go ahead with his plan, he told us. He said his fate will not be same as that of the late brother.  He said he wouldn’t want to live a life of regret.  His old man, wearing a woven hat and sipping tea with friends, did not speak much afterwards. He buried his face in his palms for some seconds. Allah, he explained, had plans for everyone. I love my son, I can’t control his destiny, he said. That was loaded.  On our way back to Accra from Sekondi-Takoradi, we passed through Effiakuma. And as if by design, the next song on the bus driver’s catalogue was Effiakuma Love, the lovers rock classic by Kofi Kinaata. It brought back so much memories of that encounter. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Effiakuma Love Illegal Migration Kofi Kinaata

Anny Osabutey

Opinion

17 November 2023 12:35pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/anny-osabutey-memories-of-effiakuma-love/

Prince Ibrahim: The 24-hour economy vision Charting a new course with John Mahama

In a visionary, bold move to revitalize Ghana's economy, former President and NDC Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama, has put forth a brilliant policy initiative: the transformation of Ghana into a 24-hour economy. This transformative vision, aimed at job creation and economic development stands as a testament to his innovative leadership. If effectively implemented, this strategy could be a pivotal game-changer for the nation, offering a robust solution to pressing issues like high unemployment and stagnant industrial growth. Such a forward-thinking approach not only addresses current economic challenges but also paves the way for sustainable development and prosperity in Ghana. Understanding the 24-Hour Economy Model The concept of a 24-hour economy represents a fundamental shift in how a nation conducts its business and economic activities. It's about transforming the traditional 9-to-5 workday into a continuous cycle of productivity, where businesses and services operate around the clock. This change is not limited to just keeping retail stores open all night. It's about a holistic transformation that touches every corner of the economy, from factories churning out products at midnight to IT services being offered in the wee hours of the morning. In this model, the entire infrastructure of the economy adapts to support 24-hour operations. This means that not only do shops and restaurants stay open, but also factories, government services, and even retail, banking, and logistic services also operate throughout the night. The goal is to make full use of all available resources at all times. For instance, a factory that operates 24/7 can produce more goods than one that works only during the day, leading to increased output and potentially more jobs and economic growth for the country. Moreover, a 24-hour economy can dramatically change the lifestyle and consumption patterns of the population. It offers flexibility for people to shop, access services, and even work at hours that suit their personal schedules. This flexibility can lead to a more dynamic and vibrant urban life, with different sectors like entertainment and food services adapting to the new round-the-clock demand. In essence, transitioning to a 24-hour economy means reimagining the rhythm of daily life and business, turning the traditional day-night cycle into a continuous loop of economic and social activity. This change holds the promise of increased efficiency, better utilization of resources, and the creation of a more flexible and accommodating economic environment. SWOT Analysis: Ghana's Position Strengths: Dynamic Youth Demographic: Ghana's youthful population is a vital asset. Their energy and adaptability can drive a 24-hour economy. Technological Growth: With increasing digital penetration, Ghana is well-positioned to leverage technology in this transition. Weaknesses: Infrastructure Gaps: Challenges include underdeveloped road networks and a lack of robust transportation like railways. The fragile energy sector, heavily debt-ridden, is a major concern. Strategic investments and efficient management in these areas are essential. Workforce Preparedness: Transitioning to a 24-hour work culture requires a mindset shift. Nationwide education and sensitization campaigns are necessary to prepare the workforce for this change. Opportunities: Economic Diversification and Growth: This model can stimulate sectors like IT, tourism, and retail, offering diverse opportunities. Employment Creation: It's a pathway to reduce the high unemployment rate, especially among the youth. Threats: Health and Social Risks: The non-traditional work hours could pose health risks. Security Concerns: Ensuring safety during night operations is crucial. Key Recommendations Infrastructure Development: Prioritizing investments in reliable power and transportation infrastructure is crucial. Regulatory Framework: Crafting policies that support 24-hour operations while safeguarding workers' rights is essential. This includes revising labour laws to accommodate night shifts and ensuring fair compensation. Economic Incentives: Offering tax breaks or subsidies to businesses that operate round-the-clock, especially in sectors like manufacturing and IT, could encourage participation. Education and Skill Training: Aligning Ghana's educational system with the demands of a 24-hour economy is vital. This includes vocational training programs focused on night-time economy skills. Pilot Projects: Implementing pilot projects in major cities like Accra and Kumasi can provide valuable insights and help in fine-tuning the approach. Safety and Health Measures: Establishing robust public safety measures and healthcare facilities to cater to the night-time workforce is imperative. The Youth at the Forefront Ghana's youth, as the primary beneficiaries of this transformative shift, must recognize the immense potential that John Mahama's vision for a 24-hour economy holds. Facing high unemployment rates, they stand to gain significantly from the plethora of job opportunities this change would bring. The transition to a round-the-clock economy promises not only employment but also exposure to diverse skills and innovative working environments, greatly enhancing their employability and entrepreneurial capabilities. In conclusion, the vision of a 24-hour economy in Ghana, as proposed by John Dramani Mahama, is not just a policy shift; it's a cultural and economic revolution. It promises to harness the potential of Ghana's youthful workforce, address key economic challenges, and position Ghana as a forward-thinking, dynamic economy on the global stage. With strategic planning, investment, and a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation, this vision can indeed become a vibrant reality, setting a precedent for economic transformation in Africa. ***** The writer is a Business Operations Analyst and MPhil Operations Management student at UGBS with a research interest in the petroleum downstream sector of Ghana. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   John Mahama

Prince Ibrahim

Opinion

17 November 2023 10:33am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/prince-ibrahim-the-24-hour-economy-vision-charting-a-new-course-with-john-mahama/

Evaluating the public health aftermath of the Akosombo Dam controlled spillage

The recent controlled spillage from the Akosombo Dam has not only highlighted the immediate need for rescue and relief operations but also the importance of understanding the enduring public health ramifications of such events. As the waters recede, the full extent of the damage becomes apparent, extending far beyond the initial destruction and into the very fabric of community health. This calamity has exacted a heavy toll on the local populace, stripping away properties and leaving a trail of disruption in its wake. In expressing our solidarity with the victims, we recognize the necessity of shifting focus to the subsequent health issues that such a disaster invariably introduces. The potential for outbreaks of waterborne and foodborne illnesses, compounded by the risk of psychological distress, transforms this from a mere environmental debacle into a complex public health emergency. The need for accurate information is critical; quantifying the disaster's impact through data on displacement, illness, and mental health disturbances is indispensable. Such statistics are the bedrock upon which we can build effective and responsive public health strategies. As we parse through this data, the enhanced risk of infectious diseases in the disrupted ecosystem becomes evident. Addressing this risk requires a robust combination of disease surveillance, preventative measures, and health education efforts that are accessible to all affected individuals. In parallel to disease prevention, the mental health fallout from the spillage demands immediate and sensitive intervention. Offering psychological support and counseling services is a lifeline for those grappling with the trauma, with particular attention needed for the most vulnerable populations like children and adolescents, who are susceptible to long-term developmental disruptions. The situation is particularly dire for children who have not only lost their homes but potentially their futures as well. The psychological impact on young minds, coupled with specific challenges faced by young girls, such as access to menstrual hygiene products, calls for urgent attention to protect and nurture these young lives. Moreover, individuals with pre-existing health conditions find themselves in perilous situations, as the floodwaters may have swept away their lifelines of medication and routine care. Securing healthcare facilities and ensuring they are equipped to handle the surge in demand is a matter of life or death for those with chronic conditions. Recognising the multifaceted challenges, it is incumbent upon public health experts and governmental bodies to conduct a thorough post-spillage evaluation. This is not only to address the current crisis but also to lay the groundwork for future incident preparedness. Informing residents about planned spillages in advance can significantly curtail both the human and economic toll of such events. The thread of community resilience weaves through the entire fabric of disaster response and recovery. By engaging with affected communities in resilience-building initiatives, we pave the way for not just a return to normalcy but to a state of improved preparedness against future calamities. In conclusion, the controlled spillage at the Akosombo Dam serves as a stack reminder of the latent dangers inherent in such infrastructure. It's a call to action for long-term commitments to public health and disaster readiness. As we band together to address the immediate aftermath, we must also look ahead, ensuring that the strategies we implement are not mere stopgaps but steps towards a resilient and prepared society. About the authors; Michael Sarfo is a Part-time lecturer and Researcher at the University of Huddersfield, UK. Godness Biney is a Global Health Expert and Researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Akosombo Dam Public Health

Michael Sarfo & Godness Biney

Opinion

17 November 2023 12:26am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/evaluating-the-public-health-aftermath-of-the-akosombo-dam-controlled-spillage/

Evron R. Hughes: Banking on a turbocharged digital future

It may currently be going through difficult macroeconomic headwinds, induced in large part by a confluence of exogenous factors - the CoVID-19 Pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and relentless, excessive financing premiums - but, hidden from the global spotlight, a digital revolution is taking place in one of Africa’s brightest spots, Ghana, that has placed her in pole position for faster recovery, and a resiliency better able to absorb future shocks.  Beginning in 2017 when a new, pro-business government assumed office under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, one-time Attorney-General and Foreign Minister, Ghana's digital firsts have been a series of digital firsts. Google selected it4 to host the first-ever AI research centre in Africa, followed by Twitter as its first entry point and headquarters for its African operations. This is a positive nod to Ghana’s strong digital skills ecosystem, its reputation as a growing digital technology hub, strong government support for digitalisation, and its growing regional influence as the headquarters of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  The groundwork for Digital Ghana is being spearheaded and championed by its indefatigable, Oxford University-educated Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, named as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2022 by the New African magazine.  He is a man on a mission; to not only use new technologies to solve age-old problems but also bet on the enormous potential a digital workforce, robotics and engineering, cybersecurity, AI and Machine Learning, digital manufacturing, STEM and TVET skills provide for a largely youthful, industrious, and entrepreneurial population.  There is wisdom in the admonishment to not forget to build the pipeline that carries the new oil that data is, and, Dr. Bawumia is building a fistful of it, underpinned by a biometric digital identity (GhanaCard), an open-banking infrastructure (Mobile Money Payments Interoperability System), and a digital address system.  Over the last seven years, no less than ten stand-out digitisation initiatives have been successfully implemented, including the GhanaCard, an ID scheme which provides a secure, global-standard, unique biometric identity for residents, the centrepiece of the Digital Ghana project.  This has already made it possible to integrate databases across public agencies and service providers. Success stories include Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT); Electricity Company Ghana Limited (ECG); the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA); Mobile Networks’ SIM cards; Banks; and taxpayer databases.  The implementation of a Mobile Money Payments Interoperability System (MMPIS), making it possible for Ghanaians to move money seamlessly, as well as make payments across and between mobile money wallets and bank accounts, is a global first. The government’s agenda was threefold: increase the formalisation of the economy, reduce the exclusion of the poor and the unbanked from the financial services market i.e. achieve financial inclusion objectives, and, deepen the payments ecosystem to help achieve broader economic development goals. The aims of the MMPIS have largely been achieved.  There’s a dizzying number of other government-led digital initiatives as well: a first-of-a-kind National Electronic Pharmacy Platform (e-Pharmacy); an E-Travel Card to control, track, and ensure the retirement of travel expenses by public officials; a platform for the National Health Insurance Authority to enable direct registration, renewal, and other functionalities by citizens to the national health insurance scheme; a single point of access to, and payment for public services (Ghana.Gov); digitisation of the acquisition of passports; and e-Justice system for filing online court processes, case tracking, and case distribution among judges. And all these initiatives have been built by local talent, in collaboration with government.  The foundation for all of this was laid out before the government came into office in 2017. In a policy document it launched in 2016, it promised to put ICT “at the centre of the national development agenda, and also, as part of a strategy to position the country as a regional ICT hub.” To execute this, it listed six main goals which it seems to have pursued almost to the letter: register every resident in Ghana under a National Identification Scheme, integrate all public sector databases using the national identity system as a unique identifier, automate access to public and social services, improve mobile network and data accessibility, support the growth of a vibrant technology ecosystem, and increase the bandwidth and speed of data connections.  The implementation of Ghana’s overarching digital economy project is showing positive signs: since 2017 to 2021, the Information and Communication subsector of the economy has quadrupled in size while more than doubling its growth rate. However, the ambition goes beyond merely integrating databases.  A digital identity enables the development of a vast range of digital services of which Ghana have an active scene, including neobanks and payment platforms (Fintechs), Healthtech systems, Agrotech apps, Edtech platforms, and E-Commerce businesses among others. McKinsey estimates the additional value-creation potential of digital identity in Nigeria at 7.1% of its GDP. A conservative estimate for Ghana, even at half the rate of Nigeria’s, could see a potential multiple billion dollars being added to the economy. Estonia is a great example of what Ghana can achieve if it gets this right.  Estonia’s rise as a global leader in digitisation and digitalisation for economic transformation has been meteoric. When it gained independence from Russia (then the Soviet Union) in 1991, it was estimated that less than half of Estonians had telephone lines. By 2017 it was being hailed as both a “digital leader of Europe” and “among the most digitally advanced societies in the world.” By 2018, it has built the world's most advanced digital society, and by 2019, the most tech-savvy society in the world and Europe’s tech hotspot. Like Ghana, the lynchpin of Estonia’s digitisation is the use of a mandatory digital identity, enabling it to now deliver about 99% of its public services online. Estonia has digitised the payment of taxes by its citizens. It is estimated that by 2019 it has digitised 97% of its health data and 99% of prescriptions. Ghana is on a similar trajectory: the Ghana Health Service has rolled out a national health Patient Records Management System and the National Electronic Pharmacy Platform, and by converting the national ID numbers into tax identification numbers (TINs), Ghana immediately increased the number of formally registered potential taxpayers from 4% of the adult population to 85%! Today, it has rolled out digital tax filing, online and through a mobile app, with significant fiscal implications in the mid to long-term.  Estonia is now leveraging its digital identity platform to break new ground with its e-Residency programme, “a government-issued digital identity and status that provides access to Estonia’s transparent business environment…[enabling] e-resident entrepreneurs from all over the world [to] start an EU-based company and manage a business from anywhere, entirely online.” Ghana, with its digital identity infrastructure nearly twelve times as large as Estonia’s, can quickly scale up, and leverage its position as the commercial capital of the continent to serve as the hub for global entrepreneurs looking to tap into the over 1.3 billion people African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  A good way of looking at the potential of what is being built in Ghana is to take what Estonia has achieved so far, scale it up by a factor of 20, and reduce the potential time to completion by a factor of half.20 What you get is a pouring of gasoline on an already burning digital fire. A turbocharged digital future.  It will not be easy though. With scale comes complexities, and Ghana has plenty, including its peculiar digital competency gaps. But, it is possible!  They say Estonia is the best of all digital states to date in Europe. We say Ghana has the potential to be the digital state from Africa to Europe’s best! And right in the middle of it all would be Ghana’s eponymous Digital Champion, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who, incidentally, is the Presidential candidate for Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 elections.  ****** The author, Evron R. Hughes, is an Economic Advisor, and Director, External Economic Relations at the Office of the President. His professional interests lie at the point where Banking, Fintech, and Cybersecurity converge.  DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Digital future Evron Hughes

Evron R. Hughes

Opinion

16 November 2023 7:28pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/evron-r-hughes-banking-on-a-turbocharged-digital-future/

Kwami Ahiabenu II: How can cryptocurrency support nonprofits fundraising strategies

Nonprofits are very important institutions in our society today, they provide important services and support systems in areas where governments are not able to provide these services. Nonprofits derive their revenue from multiple sources such as individuals, governments, foundations and companies among others. Most non-profits receive such donations from traditional financial systems using instruments such as cheques, bank transfers, debit or credit cards, mobile money and other digital payment platforms. The evolution of non-profit fundraising strategies means most non-profit organizations are open to new ways of receiving funds/donations which come as a result of successful fundraising. One new tool, some nonprofits are using to receive donations is cryptocurrency; a  digital currency designed on cryptography. Cryptocurrencies are not issued by any central authority such as a central bank, thereby theoretically shielding it from control or interference by any government. Cryptocurrency are not legally permissible in some jurisdictions, however, global acceptance is growing at a rapid rate and https://thegivingblock.com/annual-report/, estimates crypto donations to nonprofits are expected to surpass $10B in the next decade. There are a number of options open to non-profits interested in receiving donations in cryptocurrencies. First, they can set up their own wallet on platforms such as Coinbaseto receive payments and convert proceeds into fiat currency using their banks. Second, nonprofits can make use of third-party cryptocurrency payment processors who are specialised in processing cryptocurrencies donations for non-profits such as The Giving Block, (https://thegivingblock.com ),  Freewill ( https://nonprofits.freewill.com/products/crypto) Engiven (https://www.engiven.com/crypto-donations ) for a fee, or for free such as  (https://www.every.org/crypto ) does.  Non-profits can decide to accept cryptocurrency donations after taking into consideration legal and other risks. The recommendation is for the non-profit to produce a written gift acceptance policy which can provide guidance on how to navigate cryptocurrencies as an instrument for receiving donations. This can be done by updating the non-profit’s gift acceptance policy. Once this is done, it must take steps to undertake a robust due diligence process to help select a third-party processor. To be successful at leveraging crypto fundraising, a nonprofit must educate its audiences about the benefits of crypto donations such as tax benefits etc. Also, it must market this opportunity to millennial and Gen Z donors since, they are more likely to give through this channel. Some nonprofits may face challenges in dealing with cryptocurrencies. Due to its novelty, cryptocurrencies are plagued by misconceptions leading to uncertainty and doubts. For instance, there is the perception that persons using cryptocurrencies are criminals and cryptocurrencies are a passing fad which will disappear over time. To deal with this challenge, non-profit interested in cryptocurrencies philanthropy must invest in understanding how it works. It is important to note that most of crypto fundraising myths have been debunked. Cryptocurrencies, of course, do have risks and fraud associated with it, but these issues are not peculiar to this payment instrument since the banking system faces similar risks too. Another myth about cryptocurrencies is its price volatility. Although cryptocurrencies are volatile there are ways to deal with such price fluctuations. The recommendation will be for non-profits to convert cryptocurrencies once they receive it into fiat currency to mitigate against price fluctuations. That is if a nonprofit receives donations in X amount of Bitcoin, it must convert this into USD, rather than keeping it in Bitcoin which is subject to price instability.  Another way of overcoming cryptocurrencies price swings, is for a non-profit to accept only stable-coins, which are cryptocurrencies backed by reliable assets such as USD which improves price predictability and stability. There are a number of reasons why donors are leaning toward the use of cryptocurrencies. Individuals making donations using cryptocurrencies are not responsible for paying capital gain tax on appreciated crypto once it is donated.  Some companies, especially tech startups, may prefer cryptocurrency as a mechanism for giving in fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility. Also, crypto is now a popular tool for peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, for example, a mass movement was created to provide aid to Ukraine through crypto donations. Another opportunity for crypto donations is for individuals to donate to Donor-Advised Funds which is a pool of funds managed by an entity for charitable giving. While cryptocurrency may not be a permissible currency in some countries, it does not disbar a nonprofit from receiving such donations. They can set up an account with a third-party cryptocurrency processor in a country where cryptocurrency is accepted and once donations are received these can be converted into cash within milliseconds, showing no link to cryptocurrencies in their books. In conclusion, a new generation of rich donors are holding funds in cryptocurrencies, they are excited to donate with cryptocurrencies and evidence points to these modern-day philanthropists redefining what it means to support charities by making donations worth hundreds of millions in crypto donations. Although there are some challenges dealing with crypto donations, it is a new reality, nonprofits therefore must embrace these new ways of fundraising in order to support their quest to do good in the world. ***** Kwami Ahiabenu, II (Ph.D.) is a Tech Innovations ConsultantE-mail: Kwami@mangokope.com  DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   cryptocurrency Kwami Ahiabenu II

Kwami Ahiabenu, II

Opinion

16 November 2023 1:51pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/kwami-ahiabenu-ii-how-can-cryptocurrency-support-nonprofits-fundraising-strategies/

Eugene Osei-Tutu: Electric Cars; The governments pledge vrs the reality

One of the things I really like about the budget was the import duties waiver on semi-knocked down and completely knocked down electric vehicles imported by registered EV companies in Ghana for 8 years. This comes after the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in September visited the offices and assembly plant of Solar Taxi, a wholly Ghanaian start-up engaged in the assembly and manufacture of electric cars, motorcycles, buses, and battery packs for electric cars, and stated that the government of Ghana is working on a policy framework to move public transportation from a dependence on petroleum fuels to electric vehicles. As a sustainability practitioner and a watcher of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this is a big deal for Ghana’s climate and sustainability credentials. Ghana has climate obligations like the NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) which is essentially about cutting emissions and adapting to climate impacts, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change obligations (IPCC), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), etc all geared towards climate action to reduce the consequence of climate change and its exacerbated impact on society. What are electric cars? An Electric Car (EV) is essentially an automatic vehicle with an electric motor powering it. A fully electric car does not run on or have a petrol or diesel engine. With an Electric Car, when you place the car in 'drive' mode, the vehicle accelerates just like an automatic vehicle. There are no gears in electric or hybrid cars. They are all always fully automatic cars. When the accelerator is pressed, power is transferred from the battery to the electric motor. The motor is powered resulting in the drive shafts turning the wheels. When the car brakes, the car begins to decelerate and the motor becomes an alternator, generating power. This power is then sent back into the battery. The importance of electric cars in today's world Electric cars are ever more appealing in a world where reducing carbon emissions and pollution is a growing concern for many people and impacts all facets of the global economy. Research has shown that electric cars are better for the environment since their usage emits fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants compared to traditional cars in the system which uses brown energy, petrol, or diesel. The major benefit of electric cars is the contribution that they can make towards improving air quality in towns and cities. With no tailpipe, pure electric cars produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driving. This reduces air pollution considerably. Put simply, electric cars give us cleaner streets, making our towns and cities a better place to be for pedestrians and cyclists. Over a year, just one electric car on the roads can save an average of 1.5 million grams of CO2. That’s the equivalent of two return flights from Accra to Cape Town. This is hugely significant to the course to achieving SDG 11, sustainable cities and communities where by 2030, there will be a reduction in the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management and provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. Evolution of the global electric car stock Until 2015, the United States accounted for the largest portion of the global electric car stock. In 2016, China became the country with the largest electric car stock, with about a third of the global total.  China has more than 200 million electric two-wheelers,  3 to 4 million low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs), and more than 300 thousand electric buses, China is also by far the global leader in the electrification of other transport modes.  The year 2021 was a major leap forward for electric vehicle sales. Sales of electric vehicles doubled from 2020 to 6.75 million. The number of EVs sold in a week in 2021 was higher than how many were sold in the whole year of 2012. The year 2022 came on strong, breaking records. EV sales exceeded 10 million, with 14% of all new cars sold being electric, quite the jump from 9% in 2021 and less than 5% in 2020. That resulted in more than 26 million electric cars roaming global roads in 2022, representing a 60% uptake from 2021. Assessments of the EV industry indicate that the electric car stock will range between 9 million and 20 million by 2020 and between 40 million and 70 million by 2025.This is a clear statement that with the right investment, the right policy framework, and deliberateness, the implementation of the government of Ghana is possible. Eugene Osei-Tutu What is being done elsewhere? In France, recent legislation mandated that 50-75% of parking bays in any new or renovated residential building must be pre-installed with conduits that allow the easy installation of EVSE ranging between 7 kW and 22 kW. In commercial buildings, 5-10% of parking bays must have conduits suitable for installing EVSE with a power rating of at least 22 kW. Also in France, financial incentives can take the form of a tax credit equivalent to 30% of a home charger or subsidies for the installation of residential or workplace chargers. In China, the central government supports municipalities deploying public charging infrastructure by subsidizing the construction of charging stations. Norway provides EVSE public funding for fast-charging stations every 50 km (on average) on main roads and contributes to deployment incentives for public chargers. Sweden offers financial support for the development of charging infrastructure. In 2015, the funding amounted to SEK 130 million. In the United Kingdom, individuals receive GBP 500 (USD 650) for the installation of a dedicated home charger for an electric car, and businesses are entitled to grants of GBP 300 (USD 400) per socket to fund charge points for fleets and/or employees and receive tax breaks for investment on large EVSE deployment. Local authorities also receive refunds to install roadside charge points in residential areas. In the United States, most EVSE support takes place at the state level. For example, the state of Colorado provides grants of up to 80% of the costs for an EVSE unit and installation How can Ghana realize this dream? To realize this dream in Ghana, Ghana will need huge investment in the building of EV infrastructure and a dedicated energy source. There must be the building of charging ports across the country, building local expertise, huge consumption burden on our already jittery energy infrastructure. This will mean Ghana will have to tap into renewable energy sources for such a project. Otherwise, it will be Cos 90 (zero) because the majority mix of our energy in Ghana is brown energy, and fossils, which pollute the environment and accelerate the destruction of the environment and warming of the environment. Also, if the usage increases and we still rely on our current energy mix, at the generation level, where high demand and scarce capacity could increase prices, resulting in the burning of more fossil fuels to meet the growing demand. At the transmission/system operator level, where stress on the system during peak times requires more system services, such as frequency control, and the need to maintain reserve power capacity, and finally at the distribution level, where the overloading of power lines and transformers and voltage drops could occur affecting businesses and industries. It is therefore clear we need to tap into renewable sources like solar which have a huge prospect across the country and due to our location, south of the Sahara. Solar is costly at the initial stage and we will need a huge financial commitment mainly from strategic investors and a great deal of deliberateness to get it kicking. The promises of import duties waiver on semi-knocked down and completely knocked down Electric vehicles imported by registered EV companies in Ghana for Ghana until 2032 is good. It will help us to test the water, and give our development partners and individuals the confidence that Ghana is ready for such investment but we must keep that the focus, keep a deliberate posturing, and incentivize other local companies within the space to accelerate growth and realize this dream. Credit: Professor Gabriel Takyi, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KNUST, Virta etc. *******************  The writer, Eugene Osei-Tutu, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and Climate Science and currently wrapping up a postgraduate degree in Energy and Sustainable Management. Eugene Osei-Tutu currently works as the producer for talk-related programmes of LUV FM, a radio subsidiary of the Multimedia Group Limited. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   2024 Budget Electric car Tax reliefs

Eugene Osei-Tutu

Opinion

16 November 2023 12:06pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/eugene-osei-tutu-electric-cars-the-governments-pledge-vrs-the-reality/

Akufo-Addos tribute: Theresa Kufuors warmth, kindness and grace were exceptional

On that fateful night of Sunday 1 October, I had gone to the residence of President Kufuor inPeduase to, as it were, catch up with him, since it had been a while I had visited him at hisresidence. At the end of our discussion, he gave me the unpleasant news, one he had dreadedfor some time. His beloved wife, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, our nation’s former First Lady, had died thatmorning. I was deeply saddened by the news of her death. Her passing reminds me keenly of human mortality, that is, that Almighty God will come for eachand every one of us at the appropriate time. I am grateful to Providence that our lives crossed. Shefought a good fight, and deserves the victor’s crown. Hers was a life well-lived. Mama Theresa, as she was affectionately called by most people, Aba to me, was a devoted companionof President Kufuor throughout their 61 years of marriage. She was an invaluable and constantsource of advice, encouragement and prayers for him. Member of a well-known family from Odumase, in the Bono Region, and Bantama in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, sister of the renowned statesman, the late J H Mensah, and aunt of President Kufuor’s Secretary, the brilliant diplomat, Ambassador D K Osei, she was politically astute, and was a major contributor to her husband’s political success. She was a composed and articulate First Lady, polyglot, fluent in several languages including Ewe, who brought great dignity to the position. I knew several members of her family, especially her celebrated brother, and I am grateful that I hadthe opportunity to know her too. Her warmth, kindness and grace were exceptional. She bore the vicissitudes of life with great stoicism and an unshakable belief in the sovereignty of Almighty God. My wife, Rebecca, the First Lady, our family and I will miss her a lot. We extend our deepest condolences to President Kufuor, their children, grandchildren, and theirfamilies on their irreplaceable loss. We wish her a peaceful place of abode in the Bosom of the Almighty, as she deserves, until the LastDay of the Resurrection when we shall all meet again. Amen!! DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Nana Akufo-Addo Theresa Kufuor Tribute

Nana Akufo-Addo

National | Opinion

16 November 2023 9:04am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/akufo-addos-tribute-theresa-kufuors-warmth-kindness-and-grace-were-exceptional/

Fare thee well, Aba; Adieu, my dearest love! Kufuors heartfelt tribute to Theresa

Shortly after what I now perceive as a clearly fore-ordained introduction by our mutual friend Dr Kwame Appiah-Poku, Aba and I met in person on 1 July 1961 at a ball at Battersea Town Hall in London, to celebrate Ghana’s first anniversary as a republic. Aba had just completed nursing school in Edinburgh and was on her way to pursue a midwifery course at the Radcliffe Infirmary, part of Oxford University. I was also on my way to Exeter College, Oxford, having just passed my Bar exams at Lincoln’s Inn in London. My first impressions of my beautiful Aba were that of a soft-spoken and well-mannered lady; andwithin a year of bonding and courting, we both discovered that we very much enjoyed each other’scompany. We had the same cultural tastes in art, music and cinema and shared similar socialpreferences. Consequently, we decided to tie the knot; and this we did at Brompton Oratory inKnightsbridge, London, on 8 September 1962. We were joined by Chief, our first male child, on 6 September 1963. By mid-1964, shortly aftercompleting our studies in Oxford, we moved to London to pursue our respective careers. Our secondchild and first daughter, Nana Ama, was born in Golders Green in London on 29 November 1964.However, due to overwhelming pressure from my family in Kumasi, we decided to return home toGhana. Shortly after our return to Kumasi in January 1965, I joined Okomfo Anokye Chambers as a juniorlawyer with Victor Owusu as senior partner. Aba later joined the Kwame Nkrumah Universityhospital as a nurse/midwife. Soon after that, on 4 November 1965, Aba and I welcomed our thirdchild, Saah, into our rapidly growing family. Our fourth child, Agyekum, was born on 16 February 1968. By the time he arrived, I was alreadyembroiled in the web of public service. I had been appointed in 1967 as the chief legal officer andcity manager of the second city of Ghana, Kumasi. That was our entry into civic and public life inGhana. Aba had a very confident personality that fitted in with ease everywhere we went, and which alsoallowed her to cope under the most challenging of pressures. In 1969, I got elected as a Member of Parliament of the Second Republic (for Atwima Nwabiagyain the Ashanti Region). I then also got appointed as Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairsunder the premiership of the late Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia. So, our young family had to relocatefrom Kumasi to Accra. Aba, to my delight, took our evolving life in her stride as she adjustedeffortlessly, and with confidence, to our new milieu of a life in national politics and diplomacy.Between 1969 and 1971, with both Aba and me in our early thirties, our lives seemed to be on anupward trajectory. But this was to be truncated with a shocking and unexpected coup d’état on 13January 1972, which arrested practically all the members of the government and threw us in prison.Our world had crashed. Fifty-four of us, including cabinet ministers, junior ministers and some Members of Parliament,would remain in jail for a minimum period of between 12 and 15 months each; having initiallyendured – incommunicado, for almost eight weeks – denial of any contact with family or the outsideworld at Ussher Fort prison. This angel of a woman, to my amazement, would survive the ordealof raising five children on her own – in my absence, Aba gave birth to our fifth and last child, Kofi,as a single parent on 16 June 1972. Her strong and exceptionally disciplined personality did indeedcome to the rescue of our family. I could not have foreseen the crash that befell us and could not, therefore, have made any provisionfor our ordeal. However, Aba rose above that. With her strong, prayerful faith in God, Aba’s spiritwould not and could not be broken. She survived on very little then; and she truly kept our hopesalive. When allowed to visit me in prison, she left me with a sense of optimism that was mostassuring. I survived my incarceration of 15 months largely because of Aba. She was a woman ofsacrifice, devotion, humanity and resilience. After my release from detention, she returned to practice nursing at Cocoa Clinic, where she roseto the position of the clinic’s first-ever matron. Only once did Aba strongly protest about my absencefrom home, as my entrepreneurial businesses kept me away for extended periods of time. Hercommitment to our marriage and her exceptional will to be a loving wife, a caring home-maker anda firm but loving parent have produced the fruit of what our children have become today. She wasfirm, yet tender. When I was elected to office as the second President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, Aba wouldplay a pivotal but quiet role in shaping key social interventions, such as including the kindergartenstage for all the children of Ghana in the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education policy; theprovision of one hot meal a day to primary school children across the nation; the launch of theNational Health Insurance Scheme; and the introduction of free maternal care for all. She also worked tirelessly as the founder of the Mother and Child Community DevelopmentFoundation to support early childhood development programmes across the country. HerFoundation built three schools and gifted them to communities in Nyanyanor in the Central Region,and in Kotobabi and Amansaman in Accra. Through her Foundation, she also provided a breast cancer screening unit to a health-care servicesprovider in Sunyani and she assisted bakers in Nsawam and Adoagyiri with baking equipment. Sheestablished a phone-in counselling centre to support and combat the stigmatisation of HIV/Aidspatients. Remarkably, Aba rendered all her community action-based services without seeking anypublicity. Aba and I shared a gleeful sense of humour, which meant we could laugh at each other; just as wecould naturally forgive each other for our unfailing human shortcomings.She and I embarked on many trips together as I pursued my political career and after I becamePresident. However, what touched her most during our international trips was the recognition shereceived from Pope Benedict XVI, who bestowed on her the prestigious Papal award of Dame ofSt Gregory the Great. Throughout her life, she remained a devout Catholic; a passionate worshipper;and a chorister of Christ the King Catholic Church in Accra. Aba, your departure has left an unbridgeable void in my life; but I take solace from the many merciesand blessings the good Lord has showered on our journey of 62 years: living long; the blessing ofbeautiful children; 14 splendid grandchildren; the honour of having served our nation together; thegift of loving; extended families; and a network of friends around the world. I am so thankful to the good Lord God for giving you to me as my life partner. Aba, you have earnedyour good rest and as the words of the Apostle Paul go: “You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. Now there is in store for you the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to you on that day – and not only to you, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” Fare thee well, Aba. Adieu, my dearest love! DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   John Agyekum Kufuor Theresa Kufuor

John Agyekum Kufuor

National | Obituary | Opinion

16 November 2023 7:30am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/fare-thee-well-aba-adieu-my-dearest-love-kufuors-heartfelt-tribute-to-theresa/

Solar Africa: All must support Electrochem to help transform lives in Ada

Solar Africa, a Civil Society Organization (CSO) has learnt with dismay, the absolute machinations and sheer sabotage of all efforts of McDan Group of Companies and its subsidiary, Electrochem Gh. salt mining company who have been legally authorized for the mining of salt in the Ada Songhor Lagoon for exploration and extraction. The Mcdan Electrochem Ghana has secured a leasehold by Government of Ghana, a 41,000 acreage within the Songhor Salt Mining Lagoon, for a period of 15 years effective 2020. This was backed by the Parliament of the Republic. Subsequently, Mcdan Group has employed about 3,000 youth this year and augment the labour force with an additional 4,000 employees in 2024. By this gesture, the chiefs and people of Ada are overly excited to benefit from these natural resources which have been politicized and have been unproductive for decades. The forces militating against the good job of McDan Group of Companies is simply intolerable and condemnable. The enormous benefits of this progressive government initiate to lease the project to McDan include but not limited to the following; 1. The Salt extraction project shall serve as a source of human and community development. 2. Shall be a reliable source for public finance and state revenue. 3. Shall serve as a source for job creation. 4. Shall end all family and community disputes since the ancient of days in the Ada Traditional Area. 5. Shall accelerate infrastructural development. 6. The company shall embark on a sensitization exercise through radio programs and community engagement to encourage the youth to apply for employment with the Electrochem Gh. to rather reduce crime rate in the traditional area and beyond. Solar Africa wishes to appeal to all citizens of Ada and beyond to let cool heads prevail for the youth of Ada to cooperate with the chiefs to ensure progressive development in the Traditional area. Similarly, the exploits of Electrochem Gh. in Ada shall encourage other Ghanaian local entrepreneurs to invest in other natural resources in other parts of the country. All must take note that investment in our natural resource exploration is quite expensive. Thus our local businessmen/women deserve encouragement rather than “pull him down” attitude. Ghana needs peace and harmony to help develop our human and natural resources into their full utilization. Solar Africa is appealing to all religious organizations, chieftaincy secretariat, all human rights and civil society organizations, the security agencies to also voice their indignation against reactionary forces working against the progress of Ada Traditional Area. The Ada Songhor Lagoon is the property of the state and it behooves the political authorities including the Member of Parliament and the Municipal Chief Executive as well as the media to offer their maximum support to the Electrochem Gh. to help transform the lives of the people in Ada and the Satellite Communities. - By: Kenteman Nii Laryea Sowah, (Founder & Executive Chairman) and Nii Naate Atswele (Co-Founder) DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Ada Electrochem

Opinion

16 November 2023 3:32am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/solar-africa-all-must-support-electrochem-to-help-transform-lives-in-ada/

Nathaniel Yao Tollo: Africas youth leading the charge in the climate technology revolution

In a recent report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), a vivid and unsettling truth emerges: Africa, a continent that contributes only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, is shouldering the full weight of climate change's devastating onslaught. The report paints a striking picture of an entire continent grappling with the dire consequences of environmental degradation. A Continent Under Siege At this very moment, Africa finds itself the sanctuary of 17 out of the world's 20 countries most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change (United Nations Economic Commission, for Africa, UNECA), a stark testament to the brutal realities faced by its people. Climate change is not a distant spectre; it has already sunk its teeth into the heart of Africa, exacting a heavy toll that hovers between 2 to 9 per cent of national budgets across the continent. This financial burden weighs down nations that are steadfastly striving for progress. According to the State of the Climate in Africa Report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), in 2022, more than 110 million Africans experienced the direct repercussions of weather, climate, and water-related hazards. The economic wreckage left in its wake soared past the staggering sum of US$ 8.5 billion for that year alone, the report further states, As these numbers skyrocket, it becomes increasingly evident that climate change is not a distant concern but a harsh and immediate reality. The Widespread Ramifications The malevolent effects of climate change reach far beyond economic costs. They corrode food security, disrupt ecosystems, jeopardize economies, intensify displacement and migration, and fan the flames of conflict over dwindling resources. The "State of the Climate in Africa 2022" report underscores the accelerating rise in temperatures across the continent, accompanied by increasingly severe weather- and climate-related perils. A Glimmer of Hope Through Africa's Youth Amid these challenges, a beacon of hope emerges from the vibrant spirit of Africa's youth. In October 2023, forty-nine (49) young climate tech innovators and leaders hailing from 19 African nations descended upon Ghana. Their mission: to participate in an exhilarating three-week immersive leadership and professional development program, generously sponsored by the U.S. Government. This program, a visionary collaboration between four YALI Regional Leadership Centers, was made possible through funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It was a bold challenge to young leaders and entrepreneurs: to craft ingenious social and business solutions that tackle today's climate challenges using cutting-edge technology. This initiative follows the path outlined by Vice President Kamala Harris during her transformative journey to African nations, which included Ghana. She called on African nations to embrace the digital economy and innovation as catalysts for economic transformation. Vice President Harris highlighted the remarkable innovations blossoming in Africa, from water-based farming in Kenya to battery energy storage systems in Malawi and fintech startups in Nigeria. These innovations are not just shaping Africa's future but also leaving an indelible mark on the global stage, a testament to Africa's unyielding optimism and untapped potential. Nevertheless, she also acknowledged the formidable challenges, including security concerns in the Sahel, climate-induced droughts and floods, and barriers to economic growth. One such youthful trailblazer is Maxwell Deladem Xonu, a participant in this year’s YALI Climate Tech Innovators and Leaders Program and a luminary in clean energy and climate action. Through his climate-action enterprise, Ebapreneur Solutions, founded in 2019, Deladem harnesses clean energy derived from waste biomass materials and designs solar dryers to curtail post-harvest losses in Ghanaian communities. His journey, which this program has contributed significantly to, has ignited a fervour for transformative climate tech innovation. Upon receiving the prestigious YALI Leadership Award for his extraordinary talent and leadership prowess, Deladem voiced his unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of his climate tech project, fully aware of its potential to leave a lasting legacy. "I am elated to have embarked on this transformative journey because it has placed me at the crux of a vibrant learning community that is leading the charge for climate tech in Africa. I believe it is a new dawn for me and Ebapreneur Solutions, and we are redefining the very essence of minding our own business" he said. The U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Virginia Palmer, underscored the pivotal role of African leadership in confronting climate change. She emphasized the unwavering commitment of the U.S. government to support Ghanaian and African youth in addressing the climate crisis. "The U.S. government has long been a steadfast partner to Ghanaian and African youth in advancing our shared priorities, particularly when it comes to climate change," she said at the commencement of the three-week program – from 9th to 27th October 2023. Africa may be bearing the brunt of climate change, but the resilience, innovation, and determination of its youth illuminate the path to a brighter tomorrow. In the words of Dr Esi E. Sey, Project Director of YALI RLC West Africa, extensive climate change mitigation necessitates the collaboration of young minds across Africa, forging a world where the horizons of climate tech know no bounds. As Africa's young leaders rise to the challenge, the world watches with hope, as these initiatives pave the way to safeguard our planet from the throes of the ongoing climate crisis. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Climate Tech Revolution

Nathaniel Yao Tollo

Opinion

16 November 2023 1:11am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/nathaniel-yao-tollo-africas-youth-leading-the-charge-in-the-climate-technology-revolution/

Beloved, it is time for us to end partnership and to think together: An appeal after studying 2024 Budget Statement

I think of the Minister of Finance as an old friend, we are both progeny of the Legon Dons and share a common alma mater, though he was several years my senior. I must confess that I never know what politicians think of me these days. Old friends have recently called me a terrorist; others say I am not neutral. My response is always, so long as both NDC and NPP elements say my sympathies lie with their partisan rivals, I must be doing something right. The East African poet, Taban Lo Liyong once suggested that: Ambition swiftly grabs a man by the throat, and as soon as a man wears a crown, he forgets his hunger mates. These parties differ in the sense of the cabals they present to contest for power. I am unconvinced that they differ much in terms of their fundamental attitudes to the neoliberal road. They both talk a lot and then take instructions from the IMF. In the days ahead, there will be the usual chatter among the two main bourgeois camps of NPP and NDC. The budget has taken over the news, and the flooding incident from the dam spillages has been forgotten. The masses of Mepe and surrounding areas are on their own. Just like the villagers who endured the decimation from the explosive consequences of poor safety practices by a mining company. In Ghana, the maximum attention span of the bourgeoisie along with the bourgeois media, where the suffering of the masses is concerned, is - I estimate - two weeks! The masses are on their own, the petite-bourgeoisie reign from shore to shore. Until one day the whole thing explodes. I begin my actual comments on the budget by congratulating the Finance Minister. If all the numbers (except population growth), that I use in this write-up are from his statement, there is something to be said for transparency. I do not take this for granted. Thank you, Sir. The saddening comment in the budget statement for me is: "THE STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY REMAINED UNCHANGED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS." If we never make structural changes, how can we ever achieve structural improvements? The budget gives a lot of food for thought, less for the stomach. It has a firm neoliberal focus, therefore its tone and narrative are buoyant and upbeat. But many of its numbers are not. A glance a my admittedly random selection reveals this. In 2023 we see these numbers among others. Industry shrunk by 2.2%. Our import cover is at 0.8% only. Non-oil real GDP growth is at 1.5% (in a country with a population growth of 1.94%, this is a real-life contraction!). Food inflation in September, even if declining, is at 44.8%, which is very high for such a poor country. We are told the banking sector is sound. At NPL levels of 18% in September, is this a valid assessment of reality? I ask a question here, I do not make a conclusion. These 2.3 million jobs that are said to have been created, is the number net or gross? And can we be given a sector-by-sector breakdown? Even more worrying for me is the outlook for the 2024-2027 time frame! Non-oil GDP growth is forecast, and that is only a forecast, at 2.1% growth. This is really just about the same as population growth! Beloved, we are in trouble. The neoliberal road is not delivering and it has not delivered but we expect it to deliver soon. How is it possible to change our fate by doing the same things that got us into trouble over and over again? It is time we put partisanship aside and really sit down together to figure out a better way to improve our society for the masses. We must urgently improve livelihoods, or else, we are heading to the fire next time. We can only do so by making structural changes that liberate and emancipate our productive forces. The tinkering around the edges we keep doing will deliver nothing! Three decades in business means I have experience with sometimes facing very difficult situations. Things sometimes go wrong despite your best efforts. You can find yourself stuck in quicksand. At such times, even the best in the world know it is time to put factionalism and petty rivalries aside and bring all heads to the table to help. We are there now in Ghana. Who will be the voices of reason that can get a reasonable consensus on effective development approaches from our political class? That is the urgent question all people who love our country must answer. We simply cannot continue like this. In the name of God, the unborn and our ancestors, I again make an appeal to Nana Akufo-Addo, and ask for help from the best thinkers in the country on development matters. I can say no more. As always, I must stress that by thinkers, I do not refer only to the formally educated. Best wishes to us all. Yaw Nsarkoh,15 November 2023 DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   2024 Budget Statement

Yaw Nsarkoh

Opinion

15 November 2023 3:55pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/beloved-it-is-time-for-us-to-end-partnership-and-to-think-together-an-appeal-after-studying-2024-budget-statement/

Jason Marshall: Navigating the crypto waters, a beginners guide to signing up

You’ve heard the terms so many times: “Bitcoin”, “Blockchain,” and “Crypto”.  Maybe you’ve wondered, how can you begin your journey into understanding cryptocurrencies with the aim of becoming well-versed in the field without feeling too overwhelmed. Here are a few steps to follow as you make your entrance into cryptocurrencies: Understand the Basics Before you dive into the crypto universe, you need to understand the basics. Cryptocurrency is like money, just that it’s digital money. The same way you use your phone to send and receive mobile money, you can use your phone to send or receive crypto. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are like different currencies in the crypto world. Choose a Crypto Platform Like Yellow Card Start by doing your research before selecting a home for your cryptocurrency. One recommended platform is Yellow Card because it provides a user-friendly interface and also adheres to global standards of Know Your Customer (KYC) and compliance. This means you are assured of operation at the highest international security levels. By aligning with global standards, Yellow Card ensures a secure and compliant environment, making it the premier choice for Ghanaians venturing into the world of cryptocurrency. Create Your Crypto Identity Your chosen crypto platform is like a social media account. To sign up, you will input your details and create a secure password. However, you would also need to verify your identity. This is critical in any digital offering. The requirements here are more stringent than with a regular social media account. It is recommended that you secure your account with two-step verification. While the platforms are robust, your personal security is also your own responsibility. Buy Your First Crypto Now that you’re in, you can buy your first cryptocurrency. Just like any other online purchase, select what you want, confirm the transaction, and you’re a crypto owner. Understand Crypto Volatility Cryptocurrency values can fluctuate based on demand and supply, just like prices change in the stock market or traditional currency market. This means, the value might go up or down. It’s important to emphasize the importance of doing your research so that you understand how the system works for your safety and to make the most of the opportunities available. Get information from YouTube and other skilled traders. Follow crypto influencers on TikTok. Through the Yellow Card Academy, as an example, you have access to hundreds of resources available at any level that can help you understand these market fluctuations, ensuring you can navigate them with confidence. Transfer Your Assets This is a fast and direct procedure. Select the amount, enter the recipient’s address, and send. If you’re familiar with sending mobile money, it’s just as easy. Yellow Card operates with the aim of making this transaction seamless and simple. Join the Crypto Community Entering the crypto community opens up a world of knowledge and support. Through its Yellow Card Academy, Yellow Card offers free courses on financial literacy you can learn in simple and exciting ways. This platform and others can help you discover the goodness of digital assets; learn how to trade, invest in crypto, secure your funds and data, and make the best money moves. Constant learning is key to equipping you to grow your knowledge base. Just like with all new things, beginning your crypto journey may seem uncertain at first, but through self-education and practice you can master the exciting world of cryptocurrency. You’re in for quite a ride! DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   beginner's guide Blockchain Crypto

Jason Marshall

Opinion

14 November 2023 11:05pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/jason-marshall-navigating-the-crypto-waters-a-beginners-guide-to-signing-up/

Beyond religious tokenism: Arising for genuine political inclusivity in Ghana

As the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), I find it imperative to address a critical issue that has recently dominated our political discourse in Ghana. The election of Dr Bawumia as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in their 2023 presidential primaries has sparked a debate that transcends individual personalities and delves into the heart of our democratic principles – the issue of religious tokenism and its impact on our political fabric. In 2007, during a discussion with a US embassy official, I expressed concerns about the trend in Ghanaian politics where certain appointments seemed more a ploy for votes than a reflection of genuine inclusivity. This was not a critique of individual capabilities but a commentary on a systemic issue. At the time, I analyzed the upcoming NPP presidential primaries and contrasted the succession trends of the NDC and NPP, especially regarding Vice Presidents becoming presidential candidates. I noted that while the NDC, exemplified by Vice President Mills succeeding President Rawlings, followed other global patterns of Vice Presidents ascending to the presidency, this was not the case with the NPP. I argued that the NPP's selection of Aliu Mahama as Vice President in 2000 was more a strategic move just to attract votes from Northern and Muslim communities than a genuine endorsement of his leadership potential. I predicted that the NPP would Jettison Aliu Mahama after the tenure of President Kuffour, reflecting a pattern of regional and religious tokenism rather than a genuine commitment to true representation and inclusivity in our body politics just as it happened in 2007. Religious tokenism, as I have long maintained, is a practice where political parties make appointments based on religious affiliations primarily as a strategy to garner votes, rather than based on merit and genuine belief in the individual's capability to lead. This approach not only undermines the integrity of the political process but also does a disservice to the individuals appointed under such pretences. It creates a facade of diversity and inclusion, while in reality, perpetuating a cycle of superficial representation. The repercussions of religious tokenism in Ghana's democracy are profound. It breeds cynicism among the electorate, erodes trust in political institutions, and perpetuates a culture of superficiality over substance. When political parties engage in tokenism, they reduce the complex fabric of Ghanaian society to simplistic binaries, ignoring the rich diversity of our nation. This practice can lead to polarization, where communities feel used rather than genuinely represented. Conversely, genuine inclusivity has the power to transform our political landscape. When political decisions and appointments are made based on merit, capability, and a sincere intent to serve the diverse needs of our people, it enriches our democracy. It fosters a sense of belonging and representation among all Ghanaians, regardless of their religious or ethnic background. This approach not only strengthens the fabric of our democracy but also ensures that the best and brightest minds are at the helm of our nation's affairs, irrespective of their religious affiliations. The recent election of Dr. Bawumia as the NPP's presidential candidate certainly invites a deeper examination of the party's real intent. One must ponder, is the choice of Dr Bawumia genuinely rooted in his merit, economic acumen, and appeal, or are there other, less apparent factors at play? Could it be that the true sentiment within the core of the NPP, stripped of the influence of government machinery and resources currently at Dr. Bawumia's disposal as Vice President, might have leaned towards a different candidate? How much did the backing of the establishment, with its considerable resources and influence, sway the decision in his favour? Is this a calculated move to counter opposition narratives or to project an image of inclusivity, rather than a reflection of genuine belief in Dr. Bawumia's leadership? Sooner than later, the true intent behind the NPP's choice of Dr Bawumia will become increasingly apparent, potentially revealing motivations that go beyond the surface-level justifications currently being presented. As Ghana continues to evolve as a democracy, we must embrace a political culture that values genuine inclusivity and representation. This is not just the responsibility of political parties but of every Ghanaian who dreams of a nation that truly reflects the diversity and potential of its people. We must move beyond tokenistic gestures and build a political environment where every individual is valued for their competence and potential to contribute to national development. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has consistently, over the past demonstrated a commitment to genuine inclusivity focused on merit and capability. We believe in the potential of every Ghanaian to contribute meaningfully to our nation's development, and our choices are a testament to this belief. As the General Secretary of the NDC, I reaffirm our party's dedication to this principle. We will continue to advocate for a political culture that transcends religious tokenism, one that embodies the spirit of inclusivity, representing the rich diversity of Ghana in its truest form. This truly is the bedrock upon which a thriving democracy is built, and it is the legacy we must strive to leave for future generations of Ghanaians. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Religious tokenism

Fifi Fiavi Kwetey

Opinion

14 November 2023 1:29pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/beyond-religious-tokenism-arising-for-genuine-political-inclusivity-in-ghana/

Bright Simons: Ghana dances with Austerity as the IMF cheers on

The government of Ghana resisted going to the IMF for months until its economic crisis degenerated to the point of imminent catastrophe. But once it did, one fine day in July 2022, it pursued the program with the enthusiasm and zeal of a Pentecostal convert. And been well rewarded for it. In its latest assessment of the program which commenced in May 2023, the IMF was fulsome in praise, at least in IMF-speak. Source: Tilapia (TV3) As Ghana’s Finance Ministry gets ready to present its first post-review budget this week, many observers have been frustrated by IMF legalese, diplomatese and double-speak. They want it straight: is Ghana’s IMF program producing the economic wonders suggested by the government with the seeming endorsement of the IMF? This essay attempts to grapple with that question. There is no doubting the fact that Ghana’s IMF ECF program has stanched the acute blood-flow seen at the height of the economic crisis. Inflation has fallen from 54% at the height of the crisis to 38% today. Currency depreciation has slowed from an annualised rate of more than 55% as at October 2022 to about 22% today. No one can dispute the sheer tenacity and relative skill with which the government, and in particular the Finance Minister, has managed to ram the IMF program through without the barest glint of a national consensus. Despite the absolute disregard for the opinions of civil society organisations, the political opposition, and even numerous dissenters within the ruling party, the government has successfully concluded a staff review of the first phase of the IMF program. The IMF thus, definitely, has a point when it said in its press release at the end of the review that things have improved. The only question is whether the prospects are as bright and the improvements as solid as they and the government have sought to portray. The simple answer is “no”. The much-touted recovery is sluggish at best, and by some measures even illusory. For example, a major indicator in any import-dependent economy is the inbound trade level. Central bank data for the first four months of 2023 suggests that imports of goods are lagging 2016 figures, with a possible fall in value by more than 6% relative to the 2016 figures. (Exports do not illuminate macroeconomic trends well in Ghana’s case because they are dominated by commodities whose pricing align with global, rather than local, cycles.) Correspondingly, the country’s main trading port, Tema Harbour, has seen a drop in container volumes exceeding 20% measured against the 2021 level. All the principal interest rates in the economy are at levels last seen two and half decades ago. Compared to 2022, when the central bank’s Real Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) showed positive growth every month until the last few months of the year, the CIEA in 2023 has recorded, albeit with a tapering trend, persistent negative growth since January of this year. Non-performing loans have risen from an average of ~14% in the last quarter of 2022, when the IMF program was essentially finalised, to roughly 21% today, putting ~$1.1 billion of banking assets at risk. Some of the worst performing borrowers in the economy remain state-owned enterprises, which have exposed the government to $1.4 billion of potential liabilities not accounted for in the country’s ongoing debt salvage operation. A raft of so-called “public-private partnerships” (PPPs) sold as “commercially self-sustainable”, because the private sector was meant to underwrite commercial risk, have become a quasi-fiscal albatross around the neck of the state. The vaunted Ghana Card scheme (a civil identification project) is one such mess, with unbudgeted state liabilities since 2019 hitting $70 million by close of 2022. The shakiness of the recovery owes much to the laxity in certain aspects of the ongoing ECF program. Much has been made of the success of the fiscal consolidation plan. But the praise is hardly critical. A great fiscal consolidation strategy must be closely complemented by tightening monetary conditions, at least in the medium-term. Yet, compared to 2022, over the period for which data is available, broad money supply in Ghana has increased by roughly 50%. As empirical studies on dollarized economies, like Ghana’s, have shown, effective broad money supply expansion is one of the trends best correlated with persistent inflationary pressures. Not surprisingly, the pace of disinflation has been lacklustre with price falls in the producer segment reflecting more a collapse in B2B demand rather than any structural relief. Consumer-level prices thus remain stubbornly high. Last year, this author wrote the following about the IMF program: 16. IMF will not fix systemic governance deficits Repeating any treatment for the 17th time cannot be an occasion for celebration. An IMF program is merely an opportunity to attempt a reset of specific fiscal dials. It does not transform national governance culture wholesale on any level. The eventual transformation of Ghana’s economy to one of sustainable growth and widespread prosperity cannot be delegated to technical interventions by international organisations. 17. The fight is still on the homefront It shall only come about as a product of the nation-building struggle. IMF will come and go. It is not a savior from poor economic leadership. But neither should it be treated as a convenient scapegoat for homebrewed failures. The fight for true economic liberation remains that of Ghanaian citizens alone. In somewhat depressing fashion, the way the ECF program is being implemented appears to be vindicating the above sentiment much too readily. To fully appreciate this fact it helps to start at the beginning. Despite Ghana’s initial aloof posture, the IMF was very keen to do a deal, having wooed the country relentlessly. So, in a somewhat expedited fashion, Ghana reached a staff-level agreement (an understanding to move forward, in principle) with the IMF in December 2022, having already begun to incorporate the key elements agreed with the IMF over the previous six months in informal and formal negotiations into the national budgeting framework and in its broader crisis-response strategy. To get IMF Board approval of the in-principle agreement, Ghana had to undergo debt restructuring, during which the government did everything to pass on all the pain to the private sector whilst preserving most of its political flexibility. Whilst the entire process was more chaotic and rockier than it should have been, the government did manage to do just enough to secure the coveted approval by May 2023 (after which it returned to the unfinished business of extracting more relief from beleaguered private creditors). Along with the approval came a disbursement schedule for the $3 billion bailout package in the form presented below. The government’s strategy of shifting most of the pain in the ECF program to the private sector, instead of more frontally grappling with the need to rein in its spending, dragged out the debt restructuring process well into October 2023. Fitch could thus only upgrade the country’s local debt ratings to one notch above restricted default in November 2023. The restricted default rating on foreign debt remains as the government is driving a very hard bargain with foreign creditors. As shown in the table below, abstracted from an IMF working paper on the subject, Ghana’s path to international creditworthiness is bound to be more protracted than many other countries that have gone through a debt crisis over the years because of the tactical choices made by the government. Government data, furthermore, shows that, notwithstanding the supposed fiscal consolidation effort, public sector wage growth continues, with the government on course to spend ~12% more than budgeted for 2023. Government operations costs have also seen no cuts whatsoever. The President continues to retain and pay over 100 Ministers and the Presidency’s personnel roster, long bloated by secondments from across the public sector, has not been revised throughout the crisis. It is useful to bear in mind that a committee of eminent experts tasked to look into constitutional matters has advised that the country will work fine with just 25 Ministers and can easily do away with a whole panoply of sinecures and redundant offices. Even more bizarrely, the government refuses to terminate white elephant projects like a so-called “National Cathedral”. Yet, in the first review of the ECF program, the IMF has been fulsome in praise of Ghana’s performance under the program. How to explain this paradox? Simple really: sleight of hand. Frontloading the domestic debt restructuring and freezing payments on servicing overseas financial obligations, particularly Eurobond servicing, which also naturally led to a decline in foreign-financed CAPEX, allowed government spending to come down just enough to lower the fiscal deficit just enough to meet the IMF program’s expectations. Furthermore, when a government no longer services its obligations, including to corporate holders of domestic debt, it ripples across the rest of the system, tampering economic levels, and conserving scarce foreign exchange, with a resultant effect on inflation and the exchange rate. Complementing the above strategy is a clever decision by the IMF to narrow down the review criteria to those areas highly responsive to these short-term stabilisation measures. The table below lists the said criteria. A perfunctory examination would show that merely by freezing government obligations to the private sector, the majority of the first review hurdles were already bound to be crossed. Drawing partly on work done by Accra-based IFS on Ghana’s previous IMF ECF program (2015 to 2019), we can contrast the 2023 scorecard aced by the current government with the review criteria of the 2015 program presented in the tables below. Some of the key scoring indicators removed from the recent review include wage bill management, domestic arrears management, and broad money dynamics. The very areas the government is underperforming in. Even more fascinatingly, the IMF decided to scale down the ambition of the phase one review scope by not even touching on the structural reform agenda at all. In the 2015 program, on the other hand, structural targets, as listed in the table below, such as blocking waste in public spending, were important criteria in the review process and the source of some of the relatively harsher verdicts delivered by the IMF then. All this “marking scheme slimming down” stuff is very curious because Ghana’s economy is in a far worse shape today than was the case in 2015. The conventional wisdom, to use a simple analogy, is that the sicker the patient the greater the need for more monitoring indicators. It is clear to even the casual observer that the IMF having learnt its lessons over the years and having thus become humble about how much its programs can actually engender lasting change has very shrewdly decided this time around to alter the marking scheme in order to prop up the government’s goal of manufacturing program momentum, at all cost. No more shall pesky civil society activists like this author find it easy showing how much the ECF program is falling short of its own reach. In fact, unlike in 2015 when the first few months of the ECF program saw the government being subjected to diagnostic reviews, this time around, the plan is to complete the first governance diagnostic in 2024, nearly a year after formal commencement of the program. That the marking scheme for the review was changed by the IMF to ensure that the Ghanaian government will pass with flying colours is but just one of the curious aspects of the ongoing ECF program. In some cases, critical evidence was simply ignored. For instance, in the area of social protection, Ghana’s LEAP program designed to support the most vulnerable in society came up for much praise by IMF reviewers. Yet, Ghana’s own Auditor General have been trenchant in their criticism, lamenting how, for instance, a cost threshold that should not have crossed 10% escalated past 22%. Just as well that no structural reform issues were tackled. The two main sectors highlighted for special attention in this latest IMF bailout program – energy and cocoa – have degenerated considerably since the program started. According to analysis by KPMG, the energy sector faces worse outcomes than initially assumed in the areas of distribution-level power sale collections, technical losses, OPEX failures, and generation-level losses. Combined, these problems could lead to cumulative accounting shortfalls of roughly $8.275 billion by the end of 2023 against a 2019 baseline. According to Ghana’s Ministry of Energy, collection losses in energy sector sales for 2023 have worsened by a mindboggling 20 times compared to 2017 figures. The country’s state-owned gas producers continue to lose 80% of recoverable value on each unit of gas sold to a private generator called Genser. The main distribution utility, and the primary source of cash for the entire energy system, ECG, has wasted tens of millions of dollars on metering solutions that still leave more than a quarter of bills uncollected. Worse of all, none of these solutions were competitively procured. In fact, ECG is working assiduously to be exempted from all public sector procurement constraints so it can continue dishing out sweetheart contracts to favourite fuel and meter contractors. In the cocoa sector, debt restructuring has not been able to redeem the state-owned marketing monopoly, Cocobod. For the first time in 30 years, it has struggled to close the annual syndication loan well ahead of the main buying season. In spite of the obvious certainty of funding challenges, the government chose to increase the farmgate price of cocoa ahead of securing the necessary financing for the buying season. None of Cocobod’s worsening financial conditions are inexplicable. Massive waste and inefficiencies have in recent years become hallmarks of how it does business. As the data below from Ghana’s Auditor General shows, Cocobod can save ~65% of its CAPEX on large-scale infrastructure, like the vaunted cocoa roads, that is if a cocoa trader should even be investing in such projects, simply by using competitive procurement methods. It simply won’t. None of these governance defects have been tackled with any seriousness so far as part of the IMF program because of the tactical decision to focus primarily on shifting the pain of adjustment to the private sector. The shrewd way the IMF and the government are going about gaming the marking scheme for the government’s performance in the ECF program, notwithstanding, the strategy of deflecting all pain elsewhere may well backfire at some point. Ghana is due for an inflow of a second tranche of $600 million from the ECF. However, per the agreement with the IMF, the release is conditional on the country’s Paris Club creditors and China issuing a letter of Intent or a draft MOU confirming that agreement has been reached in principle to restructure the country’s bilateral debts. However, some confusion has broken out among countries who want the coverage period of the debts eligible for restructuring to end in 2020, on one hand, and those who insist that it must stretch to end-2022, on the other.  Ghana and the IMF, of course, want the maximum coverage possible in order to extract the deepest possible debt-relief, all the better for allowing the government to postpone harder austerity decisions. They have enlisted the United States into their corner. The US is more than happy to deploy its immense geopolitical capital in support of these causes because it has quietly wrung out important concessions from Ghana over the course of this whole IMF bailout imbroglio, such as the installation of an Advisor in Accra with broad, unpublicised, influence over sovereign financial planning. The end-2022 cut-off date for debt coverage would, however, also ensnare major export credit facilities advanced by some European countries. And it will impact regional development finance banks like Afreximbank, who advanced a large loan to Ghana within the proposed debt relief period under very opaque circumstances. Afreximbank must have been shaken by this development given its already somewhat precarious international credit rating (BBB, compared to, say, the Islamic Development Bank’s AAA). The Ghanaian government, with the backing of the IMF, may pat itself on the back for its shrewd burden-shifting, but the export credit agencies and DFIs taking the hit are part of deep financial networks. The government may find that it gets much harder than securing new facilities in the near future. Even though freeing up fiscal capacity by restructuring old debts might appear, on first sight, as a clever way of saving borrowing room for vote-attracting projects ahead of next year’s ultracompetitive general elections, there is a massive downside: alienating prospective creditors. Already, Afreximbank has been stalling on arranging financing for planned railway investments. If the point of the scorecard-gaming is to speed up Ghana’s return to international creditworthiness, then it is clearly in conflict with the burden-shifting, faux-austerity, strategy. And both strategies are, undoubtedly, in tension with Ghana’s true national interest of a durable, reform-backed, recovery. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   IMF Ken Ofori-Atta

Bright Simons

Analysis | Opinion

14 November 2023 1:27am

https://www.myjoyonline.com/bright-simons-ghana-dances-with-austerity-as-the-imf-cheers-on/

Remembering President Jerry John Rawlings three years on

On Thursday November 12, 2020 Ghana was shaken by the sudden demise of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, former President of the Republic. The shock and pain of the loss of a husband, father and champion of the masses was very heavy to bear and is indeed still a difficult pill for many to swallow. Today marks three years of the loss of a man who endeared himself to millions in our country Ghana, our continent Africa, and across the world. Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings stood for selflessness and a rare form of candour. He was a strong man whose approach to leadership has redefined what we ought to espouse as leaders regardless of our fields. His courageous hands-on style of leadership, juxtaposed with his understanding and appreciation of the struggles of the common man defined his raison d’etre right throughout his life. As we mark the third year of the loss of President Rawlings, we remember him as ‘A MAN OF THE PEOPLE’. He was a soldier’s soldier; a patriot; a fighter for The People. Jerry John Rawlings loved his country deeply. He remained boldly steadfast in his position on  political and social issues that affected Ghana and other countries within our continent. As President and former President, he never paused in his desire to help the underprivileged or distressed as in the cases of Buruli ulcer in the 1990s and the memorable photograph of him standing knee deep in flood waters at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. We cannot forget how one June 4 morning he cut short the celebration to visit the site of the June 3, 2015 disaster, also at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. As the JJ Rawlings Foundation and Family,  we join all Ghanaians whose lives were impacted by President Jerry John Rawlings, to celebrate his memory. To celebrate his selflessness and make a call to Ghanaians to revive the spirit of nationalism and love for country above personal pursuits and political bias. Jerry Rawlings stood for integrity, probity, accountability, equity and transparency. Let us reflect on his lifetime of dedication to these ideals, and embody them in our daily lives. As we celebrate the memory of Chairman Rawlings, we pray that we will unite as a people to lift high the image of our country, pursuing Ghana’s socio-economic revival and development with selflessness and purposeful devotion. JJ Rawlings joined the ancestors on November 12, 2020. May his spirit continue to watch over Ghana. Issued By: The Rawlings Foundation and The JJ Rawlings Family DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   jerry Rawlings

The Rawlings Foundation and The JJ Rawlings Family

National | Opinion

13 November 2023 1:52pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/remembering-president-jerry-john-rawlings-three-years-on/

Martin Amidu: Comrade Jerry Rawlings left a void that may never be filled soon 3 years on

Comrade Jerry John Rawlings, it is already three years since your departure from the earthly Ghanaian and world political scene, but it already looks like decades to comrades committed to your ideals and practical vision for our dear country. Every day things are getting worse. I wish you were in a position to predict when things will get better for the people of Ghana you so loved, laid down your life for and fought relentlessly to emancipate from the yoke of political, social, and economic neo-colonialism. The 1992 Constitution you bequeathed to Ghana has been raped and defiled beyond recognition by the fraternity of all the professional political and middle-class elites. Ghana has become in the words of Chinua Achebe, “a cesspool of corruption and misrule”, overseen by a state-sponsored Special Prosecutor.  The citizens of Garu, Wa, Ashaiman, and others who have been brutalised and robbed under direct Government sponsorship are crying for you and hoping your spirit will direct a redemption for these woes of the times we live in this country. Comrade Rawlings, can you imagine that even a Deputy Majority Leader can override an invitation by Parliament for a Minister of National Security to appear before it to justify unconstitutional conduct by the government? Yes, that is happening in Ghana today with all Ghanaians afraid to challenge the illegality and unconstitutionality. Even articles criticizing the regime do not see the light of day in some media outlets on grounds of pervasive corruption.  Incidentally, the shock at once, is that the Speaker of Parliament was one of the early Members of Parliament in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under our first NDC Government who would not have dared disregard the suffering of ordinary brutalized Ghanaians when you were alive. The fact that you would have spoken up was enough to instil sanity into the body politic.  Comrade Rawlings, your demise has created a vacuum in cadre mobilisation, action, and leadership. I have been waiting day after day for your foundation, the Rawlings Foundation, to be a galvanising point for mobilisation to continue your legacy of ensuring real probity, transparency and accountability of Government and the greedy political elite for our people. Alas! It is taking too long to materialise. Comrade Rawlings, I am waiting for your dear wife to actualise your foundation, so that at least we can have a J. J. Rawlings Lectures on the anniversary of your demise. I pray this happens soon.  The traitors who used their acquaintance and friendship with you while you lived to project and create political acceptance amongst your followers are still planning to obliterate your name in the NDC you founded and still remain the founder. The takeover plot of the NDC by the traitors has intensified using surrogates after your journey to our ancestors. While we live, we shall continue to fight to bear the torch you lit to emancipate Ghana and Africa.  Surely Jerry John Rawlings you were an honest leader of integrity and a hard taskmaster, but you were also very tolerant and magnanimous. Comrade, you drew the best from us, your comrades, and compatriots each of whom was proud to serve you to the utmost capacity. Comrade Jerry John Rawlings, I salute you and you will continue to live in our hearts amidst the culture of silence in Ghana today. Every day I look beyond the horizon and wonder, when will salvation come to Ghanaians again under the 1992 Constitution you birthed? Say hi to  Arikpo (GP. Captain Richard Forjeo (Rtd.)), who followed you to eternity at the beginning of 2022. You are deeply missed and most fondly remembered.  Martin A. B. K. Amidu 12 November 2023  DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   jerry Rawlings Martin Amidu

Martin Amidu

Opinion

12 November 2023 10:29pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/martin-amidu-comrade-jerry-rawlings-left-a-void-that-may-never-be-filled-soon-3-years-on/

Reality zone with Vicky Wireko: Bawumia factor I saw coming

There is this Akan proverb which says that one does not need light, even in the dark, to look at the face of a woman one knows, to ascertain whether she is beautiful or not.  In effect, a man does not need any more convincing to settle on a woman he wants. His years of acquaintance would have been enough to make a decision. That may not always be the case otherwise how does love at first sight come in? It was in early 2020 that I wrote an article entitled, “The Bawumia Factor” for my column. Before then, I had met Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia on two occasions both of which were before he ever became a running-mate or a Vice President. In that column of Saturday, February 15, 2020, published in the Daily Graphic, I mentioned that Dr. Bawumia, then the Vice President, was someone one could not wish away.  In saying so, I was referring to his appearance a few days earlier, at a Town Hall meeting which was held in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi. He had gone to the garden city, his party’s stronghold, to account to the entire people of Ghana, his government’s fulfilled and yet-to-be-fulfilled campaign promises. At that Town Hall meeting, the Vice President was in his usual best element. I studied him closely, picked on and applauded his communication skills and how he succeeded in holding his listeners spellbound with some rapt attention and deep interest. That was not the first time I had followed him closely on stage. In all of my observations, he came across several times as someone who was on top of issues. No matter the topic, he always spoke with some passion, and flair, with messages from a concerned heart. My observation of him made me conclude in my article of February 2020 that he was a great asset to his party. Was I a prophet looking into the future? I certainly was not a prophet and neither was I a witch.  I was purely speaking from having observed him over a period of time and said it the way I saw him come across as Vice President after three years in office. Presidential slot So I was not surprised he decided to put himself forward to contend for his party’s presidential slot in the 2024 general election for which the party hierarchy did not object. Luckily for him, the Bawumia brand he had created for himself surprisingly still carried strong, irrespective of the hardships and disappointments in the system.  An affable, intelligent, good communicator who communicates to enchant and carry others along, he had the searchlight focused on him and three other party stalwarts, also equally qualified, to vie for the party’s leadership role.  That the primaries went well and the mantle settling on his lap is another attestation of his popularity in his party. Show of confidence Despite all the jolts his government has suffered especially in their second term in office, it was settling to see his people’s show of confidence in his future leadership as was evidenced in his performance both at the super delegates voting and the recent presidential primaries where some 203,439 delegates of his party cast their votes in 276 constituencies. The Bawumia factor stands out even taller, learning from some analysis coming out in the course of the week. One is being told that so far, for the party’s primaries that have been run since Professor Adu-Boahene’s candidature, at the very first attempt, Dr Bawumia has been the first candidate to have garnered 61 per cent votes at the party’s presidential primaries. All the others got marks well below 60 per cent at their first attempt. Those results notwithstanding, I have had cause to admit in the presence of some friends that my man of the party’s presidential primaries of last Saturday was Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong. He won my applause because he put up a spirited performance and did not allow his spirit to be dampened.  He stood out at the end of the contest last Saturday, as an outstanding candidate with so much charisma going his way. The votes he pulled at the super delegates and the flagbearer race of last Saturday were just impressive. Both Mr. Agyapong and Dr. Bawumia have exceptional charisma and one can imagine what the outcome will be were they to run together as prospective candidates and running mates respectfully. The balance promises to be a very interesting one. The period ahead of us would be an interesting one in Ghana’s politics and certainly in the politics of the ruling New Patriotic Party. At the crossroads, some thirteen months to the 2024 general election is going to be a long wait but the anticipation is one that we all will certainly look forward to.  Interesting times await us. ***** The writer can be contacted via email at email:vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

Vicky Wireko

Opinion

12 November 2023 5:11pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/reality-zone-with-vicky-wireko-bawumia-factor-i-saw-coming/

Changing narrative around the life-threatening endeavour of motherhood in Ghana

Motherhood is not easy. In fact, I have frequently heard and seen it described as a form of physical trauma. So much so that one American TikToker created an ongoing list of horrifying things that can happen during pregnancy. People often describe this ‘List’ as a form of contraception.  In Ghana, apart from all the terrors that ‘The List’ holds, women must also face a maternal mortality rate of 264 out of every 100,000 births (2020). Even if these women survive, they must face the odds that their children will not. Per Dr Alexander Manu, in 2020, 39,000 babies died in their first month of life, and of these, 75% died during the first week. I cannot imagine a more painful experience than enduring nine months of physical trauma, which inflicts lifelong changes on your body, only for it to be futile. While some might argue that Ghana has done well to reduce its maternity mortality rate from 499 per 100,000 births in 2000, Dr Manu pointed out that the rate of decrease has slowed down significantly since 2010 and is in danger of plateauing if more is not done. Moreover, the women who fall victim to these issues the most are poorer women. These women are less likely to have access to medical support due to transportation issues, reduced subscriptions to NHIS and increased distance from healthcare providers. He outlined the Inverse Equity Hypothesis which suggests that poorer women only experienced improvements in their medical care when they “trickled down” from the rich, who tend to benefit from medical improvements most, albeit needing them least. However, Dr. Manu was also generous enough to provide solutions. He used the results of his own research to demonstrate that interventions which targeted the needs of the poorer women in certain villages were able to decrease their fatalities to rates that were even below those of higher socio-economic status. Using this method of intervention which restores equitable balance, as far as I’m concerned, is essential not just in healthcare and childcare, but across the board. Another aspect of maternity protection that sharply impacted me was the lack of job security and maternity leave that is awarded to Ghanaian women. One speaker at the conference shared how she was forced to go back to work two weeks after giving birth for fear of losing her job, while another said that she was denied a promotion due to having given birth that year. People also pointed out that the government recommends that mothers breastfeed for six months, but women are only given twelve weeks of maternity leave. Idiosyncrasies like this demonstrate how much is expected of women and how few allowances are made to help us meet these expectations.  Near the end of the conference, it was pointed out that while increasing maternity leave and advocating for more laws to protect mothers is important, we should first aim to ensure that all women benefit from the existing laws. I thought this was immensely astute - a society is only as strong as its weakest member and, as highlighted by the Inverse Equity Hypothesis, improvements tend to favour first those who need them least.  Another issue that was raised at the end of the conference had been on my mind throughout. All of this legislation for maternity protection could only ever protect women working in the formal economy. However, the Ghanaian economy is fundamentally propped up by the informal economy, and more specifically the women who contribute to it. These include food sellers, farmers, market women etc. who would never even be able to dream of maternity leave, a nursing area or childcare. One woman even mentioned how the children of farmers had been playing with pesticides because their mothers had no choice but to bring them to work. While it is potentially difficult to think of a solution that would benefit these workers, I believe it’s important to keep them in mind as an essential part of Ghana’s labour force. While I was sitting in this workshop, I began to feel a deep sense of dread at the thought of having children. I might be discriminated against at work. I might lose my job. I might be forced to work after just having given birth. Worst of all, I or my child might die. Although I don’t live in Ghana, attending the conference made these outcomes feel imminent and predetermined. I started to ask myself whether it was worth it. I’m sure the average Ghanaian woman doesn’t have access to the information shared at this event, or they might feel the same. If we as a people don’t do something to protect the women who ensure the future of our nation, we cannot expect them to keep sacrificing their bodies, careers and well-being for us. Thankfully, the aim of this conference was for the CSJ to develop a position paper from the various deliberations. This position paper will then be an advocacy tool with government, health authorities, labour and employer’s associations including the Trades Union Congress and political parties developing their manifestos for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Ghana. It will be interesting to see what is recommended in this position paper and the extent to which the varied groups adopt and enforce the given suggestions. ****** The writer, Emerald Effe Ace-Acquah is a graduate of Oxford University and currently works with the Centre for Social Justice in Accra as an intern. CSJ is a think tank advocating for progressive social transformation and people-centred development. She can be reached at emeraldacecquah@icloud.com. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags:   Motherhood

Emerald Effe Ace-Acquah

Opinion

12 November 2023 4:58pm

https://www.myjoyonline.com/changing-narrative-around-the-life-threatening-endeavour-of-motherhood-in-ghana/