Bimbilla update: Butchers resume work

Heavy security in Bimbilla, last week. Photo: Geoffrey Buta

The butchers at Bimbilla have resumed the sale of meat after a meeting with the District Security Council, days after a misunderstanding between them the Regent sparked troubles in the area and left about 19 people dead.

An order to stop some of the butchers from using the abattoir for failing to present a portion of their meat to the regent of Bimbilla led to the shooting incidents.

The abattoir had been closed since the incident until the eve of the Eid-ul-Fitr festivities.

A journalist with Gmantambo radio in Bimbilla, Mohammed Ameenu Alabira told Citi News that the butchers have all resumed their duties amid heavy security presence.

He added that school children are yet to return to school after the incident even though schools haven’t officially been closed.

“The schools are still closed. I spoke with some headmasters and they said they will go to school to see if the children will come. But some parents are saying the place is still not safe so they will not allow their children to go to school.”

Mohammed Ameenu Alabira also said the district education directorate had told him that they “cannot also guarantee the safety of the children so they are still monitoring events and will meet later to take a decision on the matter.”

Source:citifmonline.com

Ghanaian pupil tops basic school exams in Italy

An official of the Santa Lucia education directorate (second left) presenting a certificate to pupil

A 13-year-old Ghanaian pupil is making waves in Santa Lucia, a district in the Italian city of Verona, after emerging the best student in the district basic school examination.

Master Emmanuel Sarpong Agyeman emerged tops in the Esame Di Stato examination, the equivalent of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ghana.

According to reports, what was surprising to many was that Emmanuel did not start nursery school in Verona. He arrived in Verona in

June 2011 and started primary or elementary school at the final stage in Class Five.

The primary system in Italy is not six years as it is in Ghana.

At the end of the third year, the final examination is based on Mathematics, Science, English and Italian.

After that, the international students are asked to write essays on their home countries while their Italian counterparts write on topics including water and the earth.

The students then present their essays to a panel.

Apart from Italian students, this year’s examination involved students from such countries as Ghana, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Romania, India and Senegal.

Emmanuel, the son of a former Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) administrative officer, Mrs Mabel Offin-Agyeman, presented a 24-page paper on Ghana to the panel.

He has been in Italy for four years but emerged the overall best student and was the only Black student among the 35 best students selected from all the 35 provinces of Verona.

Emmanuel told the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview that although he loved to study, he had not expected the award.

“I feel happy. But for me the award isn't the only result of my hard work. I never thought of getting awards because the important thing is to study.

“I have always liked studying and always tried to get excellent results. I have done this because I wanted to,” he added.

He said the award would inspire him to work harder to achieve higher laurels.

An elated Mrs Offin-Agyeman said it was a humbling honour.

“I’m humbled. I have been studying the language too. It is not easy to learn and understand it, but for my son to have, within four years, learnt it, understood it and passed his examination with distinction, the hand of God is in it.

“It is humbling what God can do. I am very happy. He had distinction in all the subjects,” she said.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

GACL apologizes for interruption in water supply at the airport

Ghana Airport Company limited

The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has apologized to the travelling public and other stakeholders for the interruption in water supply at the airport on Sunday, July 19, 2015.

In a statement issued in Accra, Management said the interruption was due to a major damage to one of the main pipelines supplying water to the terminal building which has since been fixed and water supply restored.

The statement assured the general public and other stakeholders that measures have been put in place to forestall any future occurrence as part of the ongoing infrastructural improvements at the airport.

Source: Ghana Airports Company Limited

Doctors issue another notice of mass resignation

Doctors at work

The Ghana Medical Association has served strong notice that its members may be compelled to resign en masse in the coming days if negotiations with the government continue to move at a slow pace.

According to them, they are unhappy with the current state of negotiations with the government over the drafting of their conditions of service.

The GMA had earlier this month deferred its intended mass resignation to give the government more time to finalize the preparation of a document containing their conditions of service.

Speaking to Citi News, the Deputy General Secretary of the GMA, Dr. Justice Yankson called on the government to speed up the process of producing the document or face the consequences.

“In terms of negotiations, some activities have taken place but unfortunately by way of progress very little or none. We are not happy with what is happening at the negotiation table, but we are still giving the benefit of the doubt.”

He noted that “our deadline is fast approaching. Between now and then a lot can change. So we are still optimistic that something could be arrived at by way of some negotiated condition of service before that day. Beyond that, I cannot preempt whatever activities except to say that the general assembly spoke and put a road map and we as council or executive committee are mandated to follow that.”

“The stakeholders are aware of everything that transpired from last year till now so we had made our case known to the government negotiation team and we are waiting for their responses,” Dr. Yankson added.

Source:citionline.com

Engage parties in development planning — Kufuor

Former President Agyekum Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for the involvement of all political parties in the planning of the country’s development.

Consequently, he has urged the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), to engage political parties and their flagbearers in the formulation of its long-term National Development Policy Framework towards socio-economic development, and the promotion of “an all-inclusive commitment by the parties”.

Former President Kufuor made the call on Tuesday in Accra, when Dr Nii Moi Thompson, the Director-General of the NDPC, paid a courtesy call on him, to invite the former leader to the launch of the Commission’s forum on the new policy framework, on Tuesday, August 4, in Accra.

He stated: “I don’t think you can tie the hands of any incoming leader in a multi-party system of government. But it is necessary to use all the parties in national development planning. They are the active ingredients because when you talk of a sitting president, you also talk of the people who are challenging him,” former President Kufuor stated.

Former President Kufuor asked the NDC to seek the views of flagbearers, who might have varied manifestoes, ideologies and philosophies.
He asked the Commission to consider, the digital age, spatial development, and the inter-connectivity of the world,the ECOWAS Common Custom Union and the Trans-Regional Highway and Railways in its planning.

Former President Kufuor also tasked the Commission to tackle urbanisation to prevent slums like Sodom and Gomorrah in Accra, adding that national planning should involve the public, and the private sector, which was the engine of growth of the economy.

Dr Thompson said the policy framework that would take effect from 2018 to 2057, was expected to bind governments, without necessarily tying their hands, but rather serve as a guide to successive governments.

Dr Esther Ofei-Aboagye, Vice Chairperson of the NDPC, gave the assurance that the Commission would consider the engagement of flagbearers and political parties in the formulation of the policy.

She said, the Commission would also seek the views of senior high school students about the country and what they envisaged for themselves in the future.

Source: GNA

Hammer’s belief in me encouraged me a lot – Blitz The Ambassador

Blitz The Ambassador

Music producer, Hammer is legendary for producing amazing instrumentals for musicians and also discovering the likes of Sarkodie, Obrafour, Tinny, Kwaw Kese , Edem and many others.

What is not known to quite a lot of people is that, rapper Blitz The Ambassador is a product of the music producer’s handiwork. Formerly known as Bazaa , the rapper featured on Deeba and Obrafour’s who born you by mistake and Ogya, all produced by Hammer before his move to the United States of America.

In an interview with Ms Naa on Live FM, the Juju musician spoke fondly of what Hammer’s belief in his talent has had on his career.

“shoutout to Hammer for giving me all the shots in the world. I will tell you about Hammer, what Hammer did for me was let me see first what is possible when you believe, you know what I’m saying. Hammer was the first believer, all of this out of nothing.”

He adds: “I went to some people’s studios and they straight up look at me like ‘you are not going to make it, why are you going ‘ and Hammer was the only one like ‘you are going to , spread your wings’ and that’s why forever I will always give Hammer props. I will always show him love because he always shows love. He gave a lot of people… look at the long list and a lot of these was out of belief. He saw something in us, that was the fire I went with – like Hammer believed and all these people didn’t so I have to prove that this is possible. Props to Hammer.”

Born and Raised in Accra, the Brooklyn-based rapper’s music is one of a kind. The artiste and his 8-piece band create a unique blend of Hip-Hop and Afrobeat.

Source:livefmghana.com

Tigo Ghana denies Sarkodie's $250,000 Ambassadorial deal

Sarkodie

Telecommunications giant, Tigo Ghana, have denied trending reports that award winning Ghanaian artiste, Sarkodie, has rejected a $250,000 ambassadorial deal offered him by the company.

Sources at Tigo said there was no such deal in the offing to start with.

Tigo Ghana, operators of Tigo Music and Deezer have adjusted their focus on music development in Ghana.

The company, through its Tigo-premiere initiative has supported six Ghanaian artistes and created platforms for many more but have stated that, signing up artistes on ambassadorial deals are not part of the company's immediate strategy.

Sarkodie is currently in the United States of America preparing for his Apollo Theater concert dubbed, "History in the Making".

The concert will feature the likes of EL, Obrafuor, Efya, Bisa Kdei, Nigeria's Banky W, IcePrince and many more.

Source:tigomusic.com.gh

Ayew braced for Swans utility role

Andre Ayew

Midfielder Andre Ayew says he wants to be useful in any role he will be asked to play at new club Swansea City.

The free agent recruit from French giants Marseille has been speaking about how he is settling in well at the club and their preparations towards the start of the English Premier League next month.

"Everything has gone on well with me so far. The guys have helped me get into the group and I thank them all for the warm welcome. People like Bafe (Gomis), the captain (Ashley Williams, Nathan (Dyer) and Jonjo (Shelvey) have been very nice to me. I thank them for their support and I hope things will remain as positive as they are.

"I have also appreciated pre-season training because it is an important way of getting to know the players here. I knew a lot of them from watching the team in the past but now, I must get to know them personally and how the team plays,” Ayew said to Swansea’s website from their Germany camping base.

About his favourite role, the Ghana international thinks manager Garry Monk is best to decide but stated that he is willing to make his skills available for the good of the team in whatever position he will be fixed.

"Concerning where I will be used, I believe that is for the manager to answer. I am someone who loves to play football and I like to enjoy the game. I always want to be on the field and play as much as possible.

"What is important for me is to be on the field and help the team. So, wherever the coach will need me, I will be willing to help us get results,” the 25-year-old added.

Swansea are guests to champions, Chelsea, on the opening day of the 2015/16 English Premier League on August 8.

Source:supersport.com

2018 World Cup: Ghana named among top seeds

Black Stars of Ghana

African seeding ahead of draws for 2018 World Cup first and second qualifying rounds on July 25 at Saint Petersburg in Russia are as follows:

First round

(two legs between Oct 5 and 13 2015)

Seeded: Niger, Ethiopia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burundi, Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau, Swaziland.

Unseeded: Tanzania, Gambia, Liberia, Central African Republic, Chad, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Sao Tome e Principe, South Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti.

Disqualified: Zimbabwe (failing to pay a former coach.

Note: 13 overall winners advance to second round.

Second round

(Two legs between Nov 9 and 17 2015)

Seeded: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Cape Verde, Egypt, Nigeria, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, South Africa, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Rwanda.

Unseeded: Togo, Morocco, Sudan, Angola, Mozambique, Benin, Libya and 13 first-round winners.

Note: 20 second-round winners will be split into five four-team groups in a separate draw with the winners qualifying for 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Source:GHANAsoccernet.com

National Council of PTAs disappointed with Vice-President’s wife

Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur

The National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) has expressed “great shock and dismay” with the Second Lady’s reported rebuke of a headmistress who requested basic inputs like chalk and log books.

While presenting five computers to Kukurantumi Presby Primary School, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, wife of the Vice President, blatantly denied an appeal from the headmistress of the school to provide the said items.

“How much is a box of chalk? I won’t give you chalk today, I won’t give you chalk tomorrow”, the second lady was quoted as saying.

She was also reported to have lamented the over-reliance of parents on government’s free school uniforms, saying that government had “spoilt” parents by providing school uniforms which had now made some reluctant to provide for their children.

The National Council of PTAs, in a statement signed by National President Mr Alexander Danso said they believe Mrs Amissah-Arthur “did not speak well” and must apologise to the headmistress, parents and Ghanaians in general.

They said the provision of basic teaching and learning inputs is widely believed to be the responsibility of government and Ghanaian parents had also not requested government to provide school uniforms.

“It is the government’s own decision to do so and if it is becoming a burden, and cannot continue further this project, then she should back out rather than allowing… officials to insult the dignity of Ghanaian parents,” the statement said.

The council said since PTAs support government in the education sector and so was needless on the part of Mrs Amissah-Arthur to tell Ghanaian parents to help.

Source:GNA

Parliament of Ghana sued

Parliament of Ghana

Parliament was yesterday served with a writ seeking to place an injunction on its attempt to recruit a new Director of Development.

The writ was filed by 1st Law Chambers on behalf of Kofi Safo-Duodu, who has held the position for many years until he was purportedly demoted by former Speaker of Parliament Ebenezer Begyina Sakyi Hughes.

The office of the Clerk to Parliament was served with the writ yesterday afternoon, setting the stage for a legal showdown.

The Parliamentary Service Board is recruiting a new Director of Development, having placed advertisement in the newspapers.

This decision to sidestep Mr Safo-Duodu is brewing tension in Parliament because the plaintiff has been the substantive Director of Development for many years.

Critics say the attempt to displace him is a wrong move because his demotion by the current Board is bizarre.

Parliament this week placed an advertisement in some newspapers seeking to invite applications from suitably qualified persons to apply for the post of Director of Development.

Among the qualifications required for the post is a postgraduate degree in architectural design, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or any related discipline with a minimum of 10 years working experience.

Among the qualifications also is the requirement that applicants must be members of an accredited professional institution and must have excellent managerial skills and be computer literate.

According to some aggrieved directors and management members, if this is allowed to go on, it would amount to lowering of standards because their colleague, Mr Duodu, has a better and higher qualification than what is being asked for by the Board.

They told the media that what is happening is a clear case of witch-hunting, details of which they are privy to, and urged the Board to reconsider its decision in respect of the Director of Development.

They alleged that some persons in higher positions in the service are pushing the agenda because Mr Duodu has refused to succumb to their pressures to do things in their favour.

They said they are aware of the numerous traps set for their colleague, which have all backfired and that those detractors, seeing that Mr Duodu is still on top of his job, have resorted to the use of the Board to get him out of his post for what they term as unjustifiable reasons.

They stated that if this illegality is allowed to succeed, then no staff of the service is safe because that would pave the way for persons who cannot stand others to perpetrate falsehood and get them booted out of their posts through the Board.

According to the angry directors and management staff, Mr Duodu has suffered victimisation for far too long for reasons they cannot understand and wish he could be left alone to do his work.

The angry parliamentary service staff also disclosed that their colleague, Mr Robertson, acting Director of Audit, is also facing a similar humiliation as the position of the Director of Audit, for which he has acted for over eight years, has now been advertised.

They are of the view that their colleague, who has held the fort all these years without creating problems for the service, should have been confirmed as the substantive Director of Audit after being taken through the process, and not be treated the way the Board is seeking to do by advertising that the position is vacant.

The angry directors and management staff of the Parliamentary Service therefore cautioned the Board to be circumspect in taking such decisions, because they have the tendency of lowering morale of other staff members, indicating that “what is going on clearly shows what could possibly befall any of us one day,” which they said could go a long way to affect their work output, because a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for.

Source:Daily Guide

Subah uncovers $65m revenue in fight against simbox

Subah Officials address the media

Subah Infosolutions Ghana Limited, working with the National Communications Authority (NCA), the telecommunications operators and the security agencies has busted the latest SIM Box fraudsters involving two suspects at a special operation at community 12 in Tema.

This brings to thirteen, the number of arrest made in the last seven months involving 17 people. Equipment confiscated by the police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) included;

One 16 Modem GOIP SIM Box System

One 8 Modem GOIP SIM Box System

One Generator

Two Printers

Two Internet Modems

One Inverter

2 Heavy duty batteries

Estimated 700 Airtel and MTN SIM Cards

Estimated 100 Airtel and MTN Top-Up Cards

The exercise is part of the special ‘SIM Fraud Triangulation’ project instituted in December 2014 to locate and confiscate SIM Boxes across the country.

The project task force involves personnel of the NCA, the CID and Subah Infosolutions physically driving around with sophisticated electronic gadgets to locate SIM boxes.

SIM Boxes are illegal terminals for routing international calls to evade government taxes. Official figures from the NCA estimate that the country losses in excess of $40 million of taxes annually due to the activities of SIM Box fraudsters.

Addressing a press conference in Accra today, the Director General of the Police CID (Subah to confirm and provide name) said the department have and will continue to commit human and material resources to fight the practice, which he said had become a very lucrative for perpetrators.

He commended Subah Infosolutions, the telecommunication operators and the NCA for their support and promised the department’s determination to relentlessly deal with such societal miscreants who plunder the resources of the state for their parochial gain.

The Managing Director of Infosolutions Ghana Limited, Mr. Birenda Sasmal reiterated the company’s resolve to work with the state agencies and the telecommunication operators to ensure that individual did not benefit unduly at the expense of the country.

“The consistency with which we have performed our duties could not have been possible without the support we have received from these collaborators and we assure you that together, we will succeed and ensure that SIM boxing become history,” he said.

Source: New Crusading Guide

Price war over petrol; Distributors, marketers disagree

Fuel Pump

There is disagreement over the pricing of petroleum products for consumers between wholesalers and retailers of the products.

While the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOB) has given an indicative price reduction of 26.26 percent on premium, gas oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene, the oil marketing companies have reduced the prices by between 11 and 15 percent.

The CBOD yesterday released an outlook of indicative prices for petroleum products for the next one week to the media, using world market prices for finished products, but the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs) says such projection is not achievable.

Some consumers and analysts are of the view that the prices should have dropped further following the rapid appreciation of the cedi and the downward surge in crude oil prices on the world market.

But the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AOMCs, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, told the Daily Graphic that the CBOD indicative figures were impossible for implementation by his association.

“Petroleum products are laden with so many taxes that it is virtually impossible to sell them at 100 per cent less even if world market prices dropped by 100 percent,” he noted.

According to him, returns for his members were far less than the taxes they paid on products.

Mr Agyemang-Duah disclosed that although the CBOD was the mouthpiece of bulk oil distributors (BDCs), importers of finished products, the BDCs themselves quoted varied prices to OMCs, stressing, “The CBOD is quoting a different figure from its members.”

“A lot of factors go into the pricing of petroleum products and for that reason it is not possible for prices to drop further in this pricing window.

“We pay 17 percent tax on our products, aside from the other operational costs we are faced with on a daily basis,” he explained.

He said the CBOD was working within its remit and acting based on world projections, but noted that BDCs themselves were selling at varied rates, aside from the taxes and other costs the OMCs were grappling with.

Giving due credit to the CBOD for its projections, Mr Agyemang-Duah said his members were using the formula provided by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).

“We are working within the formula. We are committed to the deregulation of the petroleum downstream industry,” he said.

Touching on the competition which had arisen among OMCs as a result of the full deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector, he noted that “if all prices remain the same at all pumps, that means there is collusion”.

“There is no collusion. We are not a cartel because we are showing and will continue to show good faith in the price liberalisation of the petroleum downstream sector,” he said.

The CBOD market update is a public interest service rendered by the CBOD to keep the public and consumers abreast of trends and key events within the petroleum downstream industry.

Under the new regime, the window review of products will be published on a weekly basis.

The first projection takes effect from July 16 to 23, 2015.

A document released by the CBOD said, “The June 27 to July 11, 2015 pricing window (used to set prices for sales between the 16th and 31st July) saw a 5.11%, 10.86% and 5.84% drop in the world market price of gasoil, LPG and kerosene, respectively. Gasoline inched up by 2.54%.”

CBOD petroleum price indicators

Meanwhile, the CBOD has launched its petroleum price indicators (PPIs) to give the public access to information on petroleum pricing and trends.

According to its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Senyo Hosi, the move was aimed at promoting transparency in the petroleum downstream sector.

It also sought to protect the interest of consumers and stakeholders by providing them with information in order to assist them to make informed purchase decisions.

The launch followed the price liberalisation of the petroleum downstream sector, which allows BDCs, importers of refined petroleum products and OMCs the free hand to price their products.

The price liberalisation policy, which is being championed by the government, will also result in the cessation of subsidies on fuel prices.

The CBOD PPIs include the Ex-Refinery Price Indicator (XPi), Oil Traders Index (OTi) and Fuel Forex Rate (FuFeX30).

The XPi is an estimate of ex-refinery prices at which the BDCs may sell their petroleum products to OMCs. It is based on the maximum allowable US dollar indexed price the BDCs would have sold petroleum products under the immediate past regulated regime and converted in Ghana cedis at a referenced foreign exchange rate known as the FuFeX30.

It is not a definition of what the BDCs must sell at. In the estimation of the CBOD, BDCs are likely to sell at prices lower than the ex-refinery price due to competition.

The OTi is an indication of the difference between the average actual traded ex-refinery prices by the BDCs and the ex-refinery price represented in percentage terms, while the FuFeX30 is a 30-day forward forex rate computed using the covered interest parity model adjusted by the Ghana Sovereign Bond Spread.

Source:graphic.com.gh

Lawyers of Yvonne Nelson threaten to sue over Gh¢5000 ‘bribe’

Yvonne Nelson

 

Lawyers for Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson and organizers of the #Dumsormuststop vigil, is threatening to sue persons who continue to speculate they were offered a ‘bribe’ of GHC5000 by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to organize the protest.

In a statement signed by Lawyer Kofi Bentil, the Lawyers state that their decision to sue such speculators stems from the fact that they were never given monies by the NPP to orgnaise the all-popular vigil.

“We are minded to protect our client. We will not hesitate to sue any individual or representative of an organisation that persists in peddling this falsehood…,” the statement read in part.

An NPP activist, Baah Acheamfour has alleged that officers of his party gave Yvonne Nelson and other celebrities the said amount to organize the protest against the persistent irregular power supply in the country.

Yvonne Nelson has since debunked the claims.

Read below the full statement from the Lawyers:

July 17th, 2015. 10.00 am

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

FROM THE LAWYERS OF YVONNE NELSON AND ORGANIZERS OF ?#?DUMSORMUSTSTOP VIGIL

To Whom It May Concern:

YVONNE NELSON AND ORGANISERS OF #DUMSORMUSTSTOP VIGIL DID NOT RECEIVE ANY MONEY FROM NPP

We the lawyers for Yvonne Nelson, and organizers of #DUMSORMUSTSTOP VIGIL state categorically that neither Yvonne Nelson nor organisers of #DUMSORMUSTSTOP VIGIL were offered nor did they receive any money from the New Patriotic Party to organize the #DUMSORMUSTSTOP VIGIL.

It seems there's an internal issue within NPP and our clients have been mentioned in error.

Unfortunately, some media organizations are relaying these statements thereby giving the public a completely incorrect impression.

We are minded to protect our client. We will not hesitate to sue any individual or representative of an organisation that persists in peddling this falsehood.

Thank you

Signed. Lawyer Kofi Bentil

Source:adomonline

CCG congratulates Muslims on successful Ramadan

Muslims Praying

The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) congratulates her fellow Muslim brothers and sisters for successfully observing this year’s Ramadan.

Ramadan is always a time where Muslims attain nearness and closeness to God so that He becomes a reality in their lives as they bear the rigours of fasting for the sake of following a Divine commandment.

We are of the strong conviction that, the many sacred practices such as fasting, praying and almsgiving exhibited in the month of Ramadan areyielding the desired spiritual and physical results in their personallives ,and that of our beloved nation.

The Council commends the leadership of the various Muslim communities in Ghana for their relentless ommitment and contributions towards religious harmony, peace and nation building.

As a Council, we will continue to work closely with our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters to promote interfaith harmony, peace and development. We will also continue to pray and work against any potential acts of violence and terrorism under the guise of religion because our respective religious traditions abhor such acts.

In pursuance of this, the Council is planning an Interfaith Harmony Week in September, 2015, to strengthen interfaith relations, dialogue on issues of mutual interest and also deepen our collective efforts towards nation building.

We ask the good Lord who has successfully seen you through this year’s Ramadan to continue to bless, protect, guide and grant you renewed spiritual energy in Jesus’ name.

The Council wishes every Muslim a Joyous Eid-ul-Fitr!

S.G.D

Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni

Frimpong

General Secretary

Source:Christian Council of Ghana

Dumsor will surely end by December - VRA

Head of Corporate Communications at Volta River Authority,
Sam Fletcher

The Volta River Authority (VRA) believes that government’s promise of ensuring constant power supply by the end of the year is achievable.

The VRA says the promise by the Power Minister, Dr. Kwabena Donkor is achievable due to the measures being put in place.

The Head of Corporate Affairs at the VRA, Samuel Fletcher made the observation on Atinka FM on Friday.

Mr. Fletcher was throwing more light on the worsening power crisis the country is currently experiencing. He explained that the unavailability of fuel to operate the thermal plants at Aboadze was the problem.

He said the current worsening situation will end very soon as measures are being put in place to normalize the situation.

On July 8, Tullow Oil Ghana announced an unplanned shutdown of its FPSO at the Jubilee field, rendering the Ghana Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo unproductive.

The situation has contributed to the intensity of the power crisis, increasing the power deficit from 400 to 600 megawatts.
Source:atinkaonline.com

Second Lady donated computers to school with no electricity

The Kukurantumi Presby school, which received five computers from Second Lady Matilda Amissah-Arthur, does not have electricity to use them. This was revealed by Citi FM after a visit to the school in the Eastern Region.

This, therefore, explains why the headmistress of the school, Juliet Oppong, rather requested for chalk because it was a more pressing need than computers that could not be powered.

Mrs. Amissah-Arthur has come under fire for publicly rebuking the headmistress of the school earlier this week for requesting for chalk and log books from government despite the gesture.

The second lady had gone to the school to donate five computers but after the presentation, Mrs. Oppong made an appeal saying, “the elderly say if you want to communicate something to God, you say it to the wind, we are therefore requesting of you to tell government to try and come to our aide with these things which are in short supply in the school…”

But the second lady, who was obviously not pleased with the request, proceeded to chastise the headmistress in the presence of the chiefs and people of the area who had gathered for the ceremony.

“I think we have over pampered you people. Because we have provided free school uniforms, so parents don’t even want to buy basic things for their children…I will not give you chalk today, neither will I give it to you tomorrow. You have teachers; you have the PTA, go and buy chalk for the school,” she fumed.

Host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle and and co-host Kwadwo Akoto Boateng paid a visit to the school to get first-hand information about their needs.

The school has well-manicured lawns, new classroom blocks, washroom facilities, among others.

But the basic needs such as chalks, books, log books, continuous assessment forms were in short supply.

Most of the pupils the Citi News team spoke to also requested for chalks, books, register and log books.
Source:ghanaweb.com

14-year-old escapes ritual murder

Police at Offinso in the Ashanti region are hunting for three men for attempting to murder a 14-year-old boy, Kwaku Effa for ritual purposes.

The suspects according to reports were allegedly offering the boy to a fetish priest for human sacrifice as part a set of rituals needed to be performed to make them rich.

The unfortunate incident occurred at Offinso Obuasi in the Ashanti region

The boy who is a pupil of Anyankase Junior High School said he was kidnapped by the suspects and they injected him with a substance which made him drowsy.

They subsequently drew his blood with a syringe and left him in an abandoned uncompleted building.

Kwaku Effa in an interview with Adom News said since that incident, he has been experiencing pains and an unusually heart beat.

Meanwhile the grandmother of the victim, Adwoa Fordjour said after the bizarre incident, the boy has collapsed several times.

She fears her grandson might die if nothing is done after his predicament.

Adwoa Fordjour said Kwaku is currently on admission at st. Joseph’s hospital at Offinso Amaase .
Meanwhile, the Offinso police has begun investigations into the matter.

Source:ghanaweb.com

KMA boss has deceived us – Kejetia traders

Some of the traders clearing the bush

 

Hundreds of ejected traders from the Kejetia Bus Terminal have been left to their fate by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to clear reptile-infested bushes at the Race Course in Kumasi for use as their new location to ply their trade.

At the Race Course, these vulnerable and miserable looking women, some with their babies strapped to their backs, are also at the mercy of the weather.

They have no shelter to protect them from either rain or the scorching sun.

The women claim that they had been forced to scramble for the land at very exorbitant prices because the KMA has barricaded the entire bus terminal and locked out both those owning stores and their counterparts selling within the terminal.

Although the KMA has on several occasions indicated that the area had been clearly demarcated, filled and made safe, the women are of the view that it was just a small portion that was cleared and filled with sand which is being used as a bus station.

Already the assembly has secured other places like Afia Kobi Lorry Terminal popularly referred to as Abinkyi Market and Adehyeman Market. Some drivers and traders have moved and started doing business at these places.

Reacting to the concerns raised by the women, the KMA Public Relations Officer, Mr Godwin Okumah Nyame told the Graphiconline that the barricaded Kejetia Bus Terminal was still open for business and that it was only drivers who have been barred from using the place.

He explained that at the Race Course, the portions that the KMA wanted to use for drivers and traders had been secured and properly filled and that those areas being cleared by the women were not part of the KMA alternative to the Kejetia Bus Terminal.

He said the assembly was moving men to the area to clear the women from using the area, explaining that these are women who were not at Kejetia but wanted to use the opportunity to also trade at the unmarked and undeveloped areas of the Race Course.

Mr Nyame insisted that though the terminal had been barricaded the traders were not prevented from opening their shops and trade.

Sixty-two year old Madam Serwaa Brago could not hold back her tears when the team decided to seek her opinion about the new place.

She wondered what they would do should the rains start, adding that “right now we have entered the rainy season. Look at this forest Kojo Bonsu has pushed us to come and trade. Is this place habitable, safe and secured for mothers and old women to sell their wares?”

She pleaded with the Graphic team to urge the KMA authorities to come to their aid.

The timely intervention of a cutlass seller saved a one-and-half year old from being bitten by a snake in the bush where his mother was clearing to secure a place to ply her trade.
Scared and terrified by the threat of snake biting her baby, Madam Sylvia Opoku has had to abandon her cutlass and the piece of land she had purchased from some KMA officials at GH¢200.

Sobbing intermittently, Madam Opoku said “My husband lost his job recently due to the dumsor. Luckily he gave me the larger portion of his severance award to trade and look at what I am going through. If I don’t sell the family will not eat. Please tell Mr Kojo Bonsu that since Monday I have not sold anything. My family is starving”.

Source:ghanaweb.com

AG prays Supreme Court to dismiss Sky’s case on EC Chair appointment

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong wants the Supreme Court to dismiss a case brought before it by journalist Richard Sky over the appointment of the Electoral Commission (EC) boss, insisting it lacks constitutional foundation.

According to the Attorney General (AG), they are convinced that the Richard Sky suit has not shown that “there is an actual as opposed to a hypothetical constitutional controversy worth resolving by this honorable court.”

In a 22 paged statement for the defense, which makes copious reference to case law, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong insisted that “in order to succeed in his claim, the plaintiff must show evidence of official action or inaction in respect of a matter in which such action is constitutionally required.”

It is also the argument of the AG that “it is not the duty of this court to descend into the arena of public discussion to resolve issues pertaining to the correctness or otherwise of various arguments.”

“Such debates, though healthy in a constitutional democracy; the court may end up soiling its own reputation as a neutral arbiter of actual constitutional controversies.”

The AG further urged the court “to hold that even if the plaintiff has placed before it a justiciable controversy any advice proffered by the council of state is non-binding” insisting that “an advisory body cannot pre-determine the final decision to be taken by the recipient of the advice.”

The AG concluded by saying that the decision on who to appoint as the next chairman of the EC is essentially a political decision and this court cannot determine how the President takes that decision.”

In his response to the AG’s defense, Richard Sky’s lawyer, Alex Afenyo Markin said that “the appointment of the EC chairman and his deputies have never been transparent, which the former deputy chairman of the commission (David Kanga) has conceded and confirmed: referencing a Citi fm interview with him. He also maintains that “the AG’s stance on the matter “is a rather myopic approach to the import of article 2(1) and 130 of the 1992 constitution.”

Article 2(1) enables any citizen to seek interpretation at the highest court of the land. That, according to Sky “is to say the right of Ghanaians to seek an interpretation at the Supreme Court is not fettered in any way. He also believes that the Supreme Court has the exclusive jurisdiction to interpret all provisions of the constitution which are ambiguous.

“The matter before you my lords borders on constitutional interpretation of articles 70(2), 91(3) and 91(4) of the 1992 constitution and Same is within the jurisdiction of this honorable court,” he prayed.

He also rebutted the AG’s claim that there is no constitutional controversy to be resolved by stating that “the plaintiff has demonstrated that the issue before the court is not a hypothetical one.”

Saying that as this matter is yet to be determined; the President went ahead and appointed a new chairperson of the electoral commission.

One would have thought that the Principal legal advisor to the state who is the defendant in this case would have advised the president to wait for the outcome of this matter that had been adjourned to July 14th, 2015 for hearing.

The question then is since the appointment was supposed to be made in accordance with article 70 (2): who initiated the appointment since the honorable court is yet to interpret article 70(2)?.It can be presumed that was done in accordance with the position being advocated by the defendant that the advice of the council of state is not binding on the president.

It went further to say that “my lords added to our earlier evidence it is clear we are not dealing with a hypothetical scenario as being alleged by the defendant but a genuine issue that ought to be determined by this honorable court especially in the light of the latest development”

He reiterated his stance by saying that “Accordingly, we invite this honourable court to analyze the object and purpose of Article 70 (2) which in our view does not give the President the sole power and unfettered discretion [to] the appointment of commissioners to the electoral commission.”

This to him will not be an exercise in futility and thus “the court by entertaining and determining this constitutional matter will not descend into the arena of public debate but will hold true the aspirations of the Ghanaian People and the rule of law.”

Picking on the argument of the AG that the council of state’s advice is merely to serve as a restraint on improper appointments by the president, the plaintiff believes that the position of the defendant is a curious one in the sense that “if indeed as conceded by the defendant, the council of state advice is to restrain the President on improper appointment, then how can she in another breadth insist that such advice is not binding on the President?’ To him, ‘the obvious effect of the council of state is that such advice is binding else, there will be no need to advise the president in the first ...obvious effect of the advice of the council of state is that such advice should be binding since there is the need to restrain the president in the appointment.’

Richard sky concluded by saying that it is the case of the plaintiff that the framers of the constitution did not choose the wording of the provisions of the constitution randomly.

It was chosen carefully to give full meaning to its objects and purpose.

Where the constitution intends to vest absolute power in the executive, a person or an institution in the performance of its functions, same has been expressly stated or provided for.

The apex court of the land has however set July 14, 2015 for hearing on the matter.

Source:Ghanaweb.com

NPP sharing 1000 to 2000 cedis to influence voters - Kofi Adams

The ruling National Democratic Congress(NDC) has bemoaned what they say is the NPP’s attempt to muddy the decent politics being exhibited by all parties ahead of the Talensi by-elections, with ‘corrupt tactics’.

The National Organiser of the NDC, Kofi Adams says the practice is affecting what is a decent campaign ahead of the July 7 elections.

Adams told Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM that the opposition party is sharing monies between GH¢ 1,000 and 1,200 together with some items.

“As a government, the expectation from the people on our campaign is too high because of the high standards the NPP has set in terms of expenses in the campaign here.”

Meanwhile, the National Organizer of the NPP, John Boadu has rubbished the claims, saying it is unreasonable to do that.

Taking a swipe at the NDC, Boadu said such behaviour is rather typical of the ruling Party.

“In a round up to the 2012 election that’s exactly what they did – That’s how come we are today facing harsh economic times.”


Source:Ghanaweb.com

Mahama's gov't can't control fuel prices - BDC Boss

Fuel prices have soared up close to 15 percent at various fuel stations in the country.

The new price adjustments though vary from one station to the other.

Shell pump station at Asylum Down disclosed there was a 50.5 pesewas increase in the price of petrol, up from 3 cedis 47.4 pesewas to 3 cedis 97.9 pesewas per litre; citifmonline reports.

Diesel prices have reportedly increased by 36 pesewas per litre.

Following the new fuel increments, host of Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" interviewed the Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Senyo Hosi; who indicated that the current administration cannot control the impact of the oil price increments.

He revealed that previous administrations have all tried to stem fuel price increases but have failed in the process.

According to him, the Government of Ghana must however intervene and draw up a programme to check the mass transportation of fuel into the country.

To him, it is about time the government puts up a refinery in the nation to augment Ghana's oil discovery.

He also believes the fuel price fluctuations can be curtailed if the government works effectively to cut down the impact.

“You can’t control. In Rawlings’ time, it wasn’t possible. Kufuor’s time, it wasn’t possible. Atta Mills’ time, it wasn’t possible. Under this regime, it’s also not possible. So, you must know that this is the situation. So, what can we do? Mass transportation, what is government’s programme for it?

“As a consumer, I’m not speaking as CEO. No, I’m speaking as a Ghanaian.”

Source;Ghanaweb.com

We’re making gains - Terkper declares

The Minister of Finance, Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkper, has asked Ghanaians to focus on the positive developments ongoing in the country, instead of harping on the challenges.

He said without the acknowledgement of positive developments concerning the Ghanaian economy, the perception and confidence out there would continue to be gloomy, lamenting that in spite of the many positive developments happening in the country, there was still a negative view of the performance of the economy, both externally and internally.

Mr Terkper, who was the guest speaker at a breakfast meeting jointly organised by Graphic Business and the Fidelity Bank on the Ghanaian economy yesterday, said, “It is not just the narrative at home which is not recognising some of the changes that are occurring, but we have to begin to acknowledge that there is some change.”

The meeting was on the theme: “The Economy and Prospects for Business Confidence”, and was attended by captains of industry.

Mr Terkper listed some of the positives as the ability of the government to stay within fiscal targets which produced a very encouraging outcome in the first quarter of the year.

Total revenue was also 11 per cent above the target in the first quarter of 2015, while expenditure came in five per cent less than projected. Moreover, spending on wages and salaries were contained, although capital spending rose well above initial projections.

He also said in only two weeks Ghana had received a clean bill of health from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its first review of the Ghanaian economy, enjoyed the disbursement of grants by the European Union (EU) and other development partners, stood to benefit from a policy-based guarantee from the World Bank that would enable the extension of the tenure of Ghana’s loans beyond 10 years and a guarantee for the Sankofa gas field that is set to be approved.

He explained that while Ghana was not alone in the challenges experienced by its economy, the challenges were due to external shocks such as the decline in commodity prices such as gold, cocoa and crude oil in 2012, coupled with the fact that oil production had reduced from 90,000 to 73,000 barrels daily.

That resulted in a huge gap in revenue, in addition to the lack of grants, he added.

“When we look at the economy, we should not look at it only on account of non-performance of Ghanaian managers, including politicians. We should look at it in the context of major shocks that we went through in the last two years when we launched the recovery,” he said.

Internally, he said, Ghana was experiencing a shortfall in energy supply because demand had outstripped supply from 2012 to 2013, although access had increased to 72 per cent, adding that Ghana was only second to South Africa in access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to Mr Terkper, in the past such shocks would have crippled the economy, “but these difficulties which in the past would have taken us to negative growth have kept us above positive growth”.

He also stated that dismal growth figures such as 3.5 and four per cent would not be the same now since the base of the GDP had increased. “Since 1985 when the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was consolidated, Ghana has never had negative growth, in spite of everything,” he said.

Mr Terkper continued that when Ghana adopted the home-grown policies to withstand the external shocks, it was able to migrate all public servants onto a uniform salary scale through the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

He, however, asked that care must be exercised in wage negotiations for civil servants, “else they take so much of the public purse and we have less money for other things or we borrow excessively for those other things, which is not the way forward for a nation like Ghana”.

Touching on the ongoing dialogue on salaries, he cautioned that the Civil Service must not be dismembered and that “if we don’t hold the various fiscals together, these services will tear the budget apart again”.

He said GH?3 billion had been paid out of GH?18 billion from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in single spine arrears alone, with an additional GH?8 billion in budget overruns attributed to compensation.

At the end of 2014, most arrears and overruns that the government hitherto had not been able to pay were all cleared through the home-grown policy, he noted.

Moving to the servicing of loans, Mr Terkper said the perception that all loans that were being serviced currently were contracted by the current government was wrong, since some were contracted by previous governments and stretched for many years.

He stated that it was not all loans that were part of the public debt, except those for schools, hospitals and clinics, lamenting that even though the bills paid by patients could be used to maintain the facilities, many of the institutions that had huge internally generated funds still went back to the government for financing.

He stated that 30 per cent of the debts was used to support commercial projects such as water, power systems, roads, among others, “for which those institutions should have borrowed on their own balance sheets”.

Source:Ghanaweb.com

More fuel stations to be closed down soon – Ayariga

Fuel station operators would have to brace themselves up for more rigorous checks following notice from the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation that it will close down more fuel stations sighted on waterways.

The move forms part of measures to prevent a recurrence of the June 3 fire and flood disaster which claimed over 150 lives.

“The closure is ongoing. We have more than 3,400 fuel stations in the country and even this morning my deputies sent me a message about some stations sighted on waterways. I can assure you that both the NPA and the EPA are going round to ensure that these fuel stations are closed down,” the Minister, Mahama Ayariga revealed on the Citi Breakfast Show.

The Minister and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have already closed down about four filling stations in the Greater Accra region.

The Minister and the EPA earlier explained that those filling stations were closed down because they did not have the permit to operate in the areas they were located.

They further stated that the move will prevent flooding in residential areas around these filling stations.

The Minister also revealed that a spatial development bill which aims to re-organise the institutions that are all now involved in processing application for land development, planning cities among others had been laid before Parliament.

“We need to build strong institutions and simplify the law so yesterday we introduced the Cabinet land use and spatial development bill which is to reorganise the institutions that are all now involved in processing applications for land development, planning the cities, zoning, rezoning and also looking at the laws to make it simpler.”

He disclosed that his outfit will go on a roadshow after the bill has been laid before Parliament and debated to give Ghanaians an opportunity to appreciate the institutional architecture government has been undertaking.

Mr. Ayariga pointed out that a day after the tragic incident, there were heavy rains the next day at the same area but it was not flooded because government had desilted and dredged the Odaw river.

He was however quick to add that a valve constructed under the Korle Lagoon restoration project was blocked because of the debris and other particles that had entered it.

He further remarked that there are several areas across the city that will be desilted to prevent a recurrence of the incident.

“…There are several areas across the city that needs to be desilted so that work will continue and I believe that those are the things that will address the issue to ensure that we don’t experience flooding,” the Minister said.

Source:ghanaweb.com

Poor energy supply hindering Africa's growth - Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has reiterated the need for a public-private-partnerships to boost power generation in Africa.

Former President Kufuor said it is time for Africa to find new ways to tackle the supply of energy to help end the numerous problems facing the sector.

“Without reliable and efficient supply of energy industrialization and development are stunted and the progress we so much seek, as a continent, will be denied us,” he said. Former President Kufuor said this during the inauguration of the West African Energy Leaders Group aimed at providing reliable and affordable energy supply for all Africans by 2030 in Cote d’Ivoire.

The group is made up of African political and economic leaders at the highest level, who are pooling their complementary skills to build momentum for a new vision and new solutions to the energy challenge facing Africa.

It aims to leverage the continent’s rich resources for the benefit of its people and its wider economy by focusing on innovative public-private-partnerships and commercially viable regional power pools.

The forum later witnessed the inauguration of the refurbished Combined Central Cycle Energy Plant at Azito, near Abidjan, by the Ivorian President, Dr. Alassane Ouattara.

The plant’s output has now been increased from 290 megawatts to 430 megawatts.

Among the leaders present were Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Yemi Osibajo, Vice President of Nigeria, Mr. Kabalan Duncan, Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, Alhaji Modibo Keita, Prime Minister of Mali and Alhaji Brigi Rafini, Prime Minister of Niger.

From the private sector were Dr. Tony Elumelu, President of Heirs Holdings, Nigeria, also co-private sector chair of the group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, Dr. Kandeh Yumekella, Under-Secretary General of the of the United Nations who is the initiator and co-founder of the Group and ace singer Ackon, among others

Source:Ghanaweb.com

Nana Konadu questions EC boss' nationality

Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has questioned the nationality of the newly- appointed chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs. Charlotte Osei.

“I want people to do their homework well and really find out if positions for Ghanaians can be given to foreigners, Mrs. Rawlings asked.

Though the founder of the National Democratic Party (NDP) did not mention anybody’s name, it was obvious she was referring to the recent appointment of the new EC boss.

Her allegation comes on the backdrop of recent speculations that Mrs. Charlotte Osei is a Nigerian by birth.

The former first lady was reacting to the front page story of the Daily Graphic on July 1, 2015 with the banner headline; “I’LL NEVER LET YOU DOWN, NEW EC BOSS ASSURES GHANAIANS” on Africa Live Show which is broadcast live on Business Television Africa (BTA) and First Television (FTV) on Monday and Friday.

She could not understand why a state-owned newspaper like the Daily Graphic should have a story on its front page on the new EC when Ghana was marking her 55th Republic Day celebration.

The veteran politician who is known for her strong criticism of the ruling government, decried the lack of professionalism which was exhibited by the state-owned newspaper.

According to her, the newspaper did not take into consideration the importance of the day to the country.

And not mincing words, the former first lady said: “this is so wrong, it’s totally wrong for a national newspaper like Graphic to do that.”

Mrs. Rawlings, who is a Graphic designer by profession, said even though she is not a journalist, she however claimed, her little knowledge in Journalism would not permit that.

She consequently registered her disappointment in President John Dramani Mahama for appointing Mrs. Charlotte Osei as the new chairperson of the EC.

Source:Ghanaweb.com

IMF, USA set to ruin Ghana - former British Ambassador

Craig Murray, a former British ambassador to Uzbekistan has diagnosed what he sees as the real challenges facing Ghana's energy sector which is almost on its knees with the ongoing dumsor (power rationing regime)

His views were contained in a piece titled 'IMF and USA set to ruin Ghana,' chronicles Ghana's power journey of years back, the current situation and where it is headed for. The former rector of Dundee University speaks on power production, distribution and transmission through to privatization and outright sale of public institutions.

Murray absolves the two major political parties of any blame, in his view, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) are trading accusation whiles the common adversary, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)and World Bank continue to repeatedly exploit the people of Ghana.

Below is the full article as published on his website

Just ten years ago, Ghana had the most reliable electricity supply in all of Africa and the highest percentage of households connected to the grid in all of Africa – including South Africa. The Volta River Authority, the power producer and distributor was, in my very considerable experience, the best run and most efficient public utility in all of Africa. Indeed it was truly world class, and Ghana was proud of it.

Obviously the sight of truly successful public owned and run enterprise was too much of a threat to the neo-liberal ideologues of the IMF and World Bank. When Ghana needed some temporary financial assistance (against a generally healthy background) the IMF insisted that VRA be broken up. Right wing neoliberal dogma was applied to the Ghanaian electricity market. Electricity was separated between production and distribution, and private sector Independent Power Producers introduced.

The result is disaster. There are more power cuts in Ghana than ever in its entire history as an independent state. Today Ghana is actually, at this moment, producing just 900 MW of electricity – half what it could produce ten years ago. This is not the fault of the NDC or the NPP. It is the fault of the IMF.

Those private sector Independent Power Producers actually provide less than 20% of electricity generation into the grid – yet scoop up over 60% of the revenues! The electricity bills of Ghana’s people go to provide profits to fat cat foreign corporations and of course the western banks who finance them.

Indeed in thirty years close experience the net result of all IMF activity in Africa is to channel economic resources to westerners – and not to ordinary western people, but to the wealthiest corporations and especially to western bankers.

Not content with the devastation they have already caused, the IMF and the USA are now insisting on the privatisation of ECG, the state utility body which provides electricity to the consumer and bills them. The rationale is that a privatised ECG will be more efficient and ruthless in collecting revenue from the poor and from hospitals, clinics, schools and other state institutions.

Doubtless it will be. It will of course be more efficient in channelling still more profits to very rich businessmen and bankers. I suspect that is the real point. That privatised utilities bring better service and cheaper prices to the consumer has been conclusively and forever disproven in the UK. What it does bring is huge profits to the rich and misery to the poor. To unleash this on Ghana is acutely morally reprehensible.

Ghana has a political culture in which the two main parties, NDC and NPP, heatedly blame each other for their country’s problems. But if they only can see it, in truth the electricity sector has been ruined by their common enemy – the IMF and World Bank. I pray that one day the country will escape the grip of these bloodsucking institutions.

 Source: craigmurray.org.uk

National House of Chiefs elevates 15 divisional chiefs

Traditional rulers

The National House of Chiefs has elevated 15 divisional chiefs in the Upper West Region to paramountcies, bringing the total number of paramountcies to 32, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister has announced.

He said the elevation of the chiefs would ensure good governance at the local level, reduce the incidence of chieftaincy-related disputes, and encourage the participation of many communities in the decision-making process.

He said it was government’s expectation that the newly elevated chiefs would work hard to accelerate the development of their communities.
Alhaji Sulemana announced this at this year’s Republican Day celebration with retired government workers, popularly called “senior citizens”in Wa on Tuesday.

He noted that much as he was happy about the creation of more paramountcies in the region, he was equally sad that as many as 10 paramountcies were at the moment vacant, due to litigation which was not beneficial to the people.

The regional minister appealed to traditional rulers and kingmakers in those communities, to initiate actions and address them amicably without any further delay.

Alhaji Sulemana used the occasion to highlight some disturbing attitudes and behaviours, which were gradually destroying the moral fibre of society.

He said Ghana was experiencing the creeping and unacceptable alien cultures, which were impacting negatively on the time-tested norms and practices of the people.
He mentioned the use of the social media for negative activities, crime and gross indiscipline by the youth, in the name of modernity and the upsurge of sex trade among others, as worrying.
Alhaji Sulemana explained that some practices such as disrespect for authority, truancy among school children, the disregard for rules and regulations and the indiscriminate littering of refuse without considering the negative consequences, greed and the craze for quick money, had become a social canker thwarting efforts to build a better Ghana.

He urged senior citizens, churches, chief imams, opinion leaders, policy makers and non-state actors, to join forces in the  fight against those social cankers which were fast destroying the good strides Ghana had made.

Alhaji Sulemana reminded the senior citizens of the National Sanitation Day exercise in the region on July 4, and urged them to advocate for communal labour to rid the communities of filth.

“We need the co-operation of traditional rulers, opinion leaders, students, youth groups, drivers, traders, market women and the security agencies, to come out and participate actively in the exercise,” he emphasized

Source: GNA