OBITUARY: Ronnie of Buk Bak is DEAD

The death is reported of Ronnie Coches, the other half of hiplife group, Buk Bak. Ronnie kicked the bucket in the early hours of Thursday, enewsgh.com is told.
This website is able to report that he’s been sick for days now. Authorities at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have confirmed his passing.
A strong member of a group that stood the test of time, and survived the many phases of the hiplife genre, his demise leaves the unit with just a member, Bright.
They recently released two new singles ‘Feelings’ and ‘Ex Girlfriend‘, off their upcoming album.
He left behind a wife.

A enewsgh.com Story

Tarkwa police remand 8 suspected criminals

The Tarkwa Police Command has remanded eight suspected criminals between the ages of 20 and 28 for committing series of crimes in the Municipality.
The suspects, Kojo Boakye, Kwasi Hegan, Courage Abevor, Christian Voka, Alex Mawugetsa, Isaac Ofori, Frank Dodoo and Eric Baidoo, were arrested separately in and around Brahabebom and the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) area.
Briefing the media at Tarkwa in the Western Region, the Divisional Crime Officer, DSP Augustine Anyarah said at around 10:pm, November 9 2013, three of the suspects attacked some students of University of  Mines and Technology around the campus when they were returning from town and made away with their mobile phones and laptops.
DSP Anyarah said the next day, while the victims were worshiping at the Church of Pentecost, they saw the suspects and with the help of the security officers of the University, arrested and handed them over to the police
According to the crime officer, another group of three suspects were spotted by a citizen who knew one of them to be a notorious armed robber in Tema in the Greater Accra region and also caused his arrest.
DSP Anyarah said when a search was conducted on them, the police found a locally manufactured pistol, knife and six mobile phones.
The crime officer added that on Saturday November 23, 2013, a public identification parade would be held in front of the Tarkwa Police Station and therefore called on all those who have been robbed to come over and assist the police in identifying the suspected criminals.

source[rainbowradio.co.uk]

Nurses must not spend time on phones

The Nurses and Midwives Association of Ghana is calling on nurse and managers to strictly enforce measures to discourage nurses from using social media and watching television during working hours.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association, Mr. Daniel Atta Tuffour, says such activities distract nurses from concentrating on their core duty of caring for patients.
Mr. Atta Tuffuormade the call at the matriculation to officially welcome 342 newly-admitted students at Kwadaso SDA Nurses Training College at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
Mr. Ata Tuffour who is the Principal of Kwadaso Nurses College said nurses spend more time on their phones and behind television screens than on the sick persons in their care.
He acknowledges smart phones with their high technology systems have made life easier in terms of information exchange, but that must not take off the duties of a professional nurse.
Mr. Ata Tuffour therefore called for a probe on why hospitals charge student nurses fees before allowing them undertake clinical training.
He said the Ministry of Health must to do something about the practice.

SOURCE [Rainbowradio.co.uk]

Carpenter remanded for robbery

The Tarkwa Circuit Court has remanded a carpenter into prison custody for allegedly robbing Iquba Gogo, a gold buying company in Tarkwa to the tune of GH¢300,00000.
Michael Amartey Tetteh‘s plea was not taken and he would re-appear before the court on December 16, 2013.
The Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Florence Tawiah said at around 5:pm on Tuesday October 8, the Tarkwa Divisional Police Command had information that there was a robbery around My Choice area, near Hotel de-Hilda of which the victims were robbed of GH¢300,000.00 and laptops.
Chief Inspector Tawiah said the police moved to the area but before their arrival, the suspect, together with one Freeman, Justice, Bullet and Lawrence had fled the scene.
The police continued investigation and Tetteh, together with others were arrested at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region during a police swoop.

SOURCE [Rainbowradio.co.uk]

“Minority's attack against gov’t is far-fetched”- Mahama Ayariga

The Minister of Information and Media relations, Mahama Ayariga has described the Minority's attack against government and the Bank of Ghana for the sale of Merchant Bank Ghana Limited as “far-fetched”.

According to the Minister, the minority in parliament had no justification for the accusations it leveled against parliament since SSNIT took the necessary steps to ensure the sale of the bank.

“I know that SSNIT did not just get out of the blues to engage in the transaction with Fortiz. They engaged a very reputable transaction adviser and advertised the process. They gave other banks the opportunity and yet those banks did not exercise the option available so I think it is far-fetched to try and push this to government,” the Minister maintained

Fortiz, a wholly owned Ghanaian equity firm, reached an agreement with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and SIC Life to take over the majority stake in Merchant Bank in October, this year.

The Minority in Parliament however attacked the sale of Merchant Bank Ghana Limited to Fortiz, calling it a "scam".

Challenging both President John Mahama and the Bank of Ghana to "stop this fraudulent sale", the Minority said "we want to state emphatically that due diligence has not been done" with respect to the FORTIZ deal.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr Ayariga noted that SSNIT’s decision would not affect its employees since it had carefully considered its decision before executing it.

“To the best of my knowledge Merchant Bank is an assest largely owned by SSNIT and SSNIT is directed by its board of directors and the board of SSNIT is made up of largely institutional representations so I believe that these are men and women who will confidently take decisions that will be in best interest of the workers whose funds they are managing”

In his opinion, the best approach that the minority in parliament should have taken in resolving the problem amicably was to approach SSNIT to get some further explanations.

“I believe that if the minority has an issue with the sale of merchant bank, they could easily have approached SSNIT to get some further explanations as to the processes they went through.”

Meanwhile the Vice President of Imani Ghana, Mr. Kofi Bentil says the minority in parliament’s concerns are legitimate and justified.

He noted that Imani Ghana and the minority in parliament were prepared to go to court to further clarify issues.

“The concerns of the minority are legitimate and justified. Indeed they are not alone in their condemnation of this deal. We have put together all this and we are prepared to go court," Mr. Bentil stressed.


SOURCE [citifmonline.com/Ghana]

Rachel Appoh’s bodyguard sentenced to 20yrs imprisonment

The bodyguard of Deputy Minister of Gender, Women and Social Protection, Ms Rachel Apoh has been sentenced to twenty (20) years imprisonment for stealing money from the Deputy Minister's bank account.

ASP Joseph Darkwa, the Public Relations Officer of the Police CID confirmed to Citi News in an interview that Constable Nicholas Owusu Asante has been jailed for 20 years.

Constable Nicholas Owusu Asante was handed the prison sentence on Thursday 21st November, 2013.

He is said to have already withdrawn GH¢800 from the account of the deputy minister and was in the process of withdrawing an additional GH¢100 when he was arrested at the bank.

According to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Commissioner of Police Mr Prosper Agblor, Ms Appoh went to her bank and detected that some money had unusually been withdrawn from her personal account at the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

He said Ms Appoh also detected that her cheque book, with serial numbers 151901-151925, was missing and following the detection she made a complaint to the bank, who mounted surveillance to monitor cash withdrawals on the said account.

Mr Agblor said on November 19, 2013, Constable Asante forged the deputy minister’s signature on the stolen cheque and went to the Adabraka branch of the ADB to cash a cheque for GH¢100.

He said unknown to Constable Asante, policemen on duty at the bank had been alerted, and so as soon as he entered the bank to withdraw the cheque, he was arrested.

Constable Asante admitted to the offence in his caution statement and said before his arrest he had already withdrawn GH¢800 from Ms Appoh’s account.



SOURCE[ citifmonline.com/Ghana]

Govt’s 2014 macroeconomic targets not ambitious - IEA

The Institute of Economic Affair has described government’s 2014 targets set as unambitious.

Government in the 2014 budget set an inflation target of 9.5%, budget fiscal deficit of 8.5% and an 8% growth in GDP.

Senior Economist at the IEA, Dr J K Kwakye speaking at the institute’s post budget press conference said most of the targets are not ambitious enough.

Government’s target of 9.5% for the year 2014 is 0.5 percentage points above this year’s target of 9 percent. Inflation currently stands at a record high of 13.1 percent, the highest in 3 years.

Dr Kwakye indicates Ghana has constantly breached the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) of 5% inflation target in the wake of a fall in inflation globally.

“It will take a fundamental transformation of the economy to address supply constraints and sustained macroeconomic stability to tame inflation in the country,'' he said.

On the Budget deficit target of 8.5% of GDP, the institute said this is not ambitious enough and will entail a high level of borrowing and further escalate the public debt and interest payments.

Dr Kwakye said this also is far away from WAMZ convergence target of 3%. “We will not even get to this target by 2016 as we are aiming at 6% by that year.”

The institute however said the oil –inclusive economic growth of 8.5% seems to compare favourably with the 7.4% achieved this year.

The institute also condemns government’s move to impose an additional Value Added taxes in order to raise revenue. Government intends to generate tax revenue of about 19.3% of GDP. IEA said raising the tax effort from 17.3% to 19.3% in 2014 is un-ambitiously feasible.

Dr Kwakye also said government has simply taken the easy way out in generating revenue. It should focus on improving collection of rental and property tax, broaden the tax net and rope in the informal sector.

On Expenditure, Dr Kwakye expressed marvel at how Capital expenditure almost equaled interest payments. Government says it intends to spend about GHS6 billion on capital expenditure which translates to 5.7% of GDP while interest payments 5.9%.

The institute however welcomed the executive arm’s 10% pay cut, scrap of subsidies and the Infrastructure fund.


SOURCE [citifmonline.com/Ghana]

Victoria Beckham donates mountain of shoes to Phillippine victims

Victoria Beckham's shoes

Victoria Beckham's tweet reveals the shoe mountain she's donating to charity for Philippine victims.
She is rarely seen in the same outfit twice.
But if anyone doubted the sheer size of Victoria Beckham’s extensive clothing collection, they have only to look at the mountain of shoes she has hauled from her wardrobe.
The 39-year-old former Spice Girl and her husband David are donating thousands of pounds worth of designer clothes to their local charity shop to raise cash for victims of Typhoon Haiyan.
The couple have handed over boxes full of their old clothes and shoes to a British Red Cross shop in Chelsea, west London, to help fund the charity’s work in the Philippines.
Mrs Beckham yesterday tweeted a picture of the enormous shoe collection, along with a shot of her wearing jeans, a grey top and white trainers sitting in a cardboard box surrounded by other boxes.
"Big clear out of my shoes, on sale tomorrow in aid of @BritishRedCross #ShopDrop http://bit.ly/1iuh76e  " she tweeted.
The cast-offs, which are due to go on sale Friday at 11am, includes hundreds of pairs of Victoria’s shoes and many of David’s signature baseball caps.
Source: 

GHS challenges WHO ranking of Ghana as 5th most cholera endemic country

The Ghana Health Service says a recent World Health Organization (WHO) ranking of Ghana as the fifth most cholera endemic country in the world failed to consider the significant progress made so far towards eliminating the disease in the country.
Cholera is one of the three WHO quarantinable diseases along with yellow fever and plague.
In 2011, there were 589 854 cases of cholera reported globally. of this number, there were 7 800 deaths.
In Ghana, there were 10,628 cases with 105 deaths and this ranks Ghana as the 5th most cholera endemic country by the Health supervisory body.
However, Director of Public Health of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Joseph Amankwa says though the problem was evident in previous years a lot has been done to prevent outbreaks.
"This year we haven't confirmed anything and we think  it is because of the measures that we put in place", the Director stated.
He said intensive public education on how to prevent the disease has proved successful.

Source: [Ghana|Myjoyonline.com] 

Mohammed Polo appointed as Hearts new technical head

Newly Appointed Coach Mohammed Polo

 Former Accra Hearts of Oak play maker Mohammed Polo has been appointed coach of Hearts of Oak, according to sources within the club.
The hard talking technical director has been handed a  six months contract by the club’s board and will be outdoored on Friday at the club's secretariat.
Polo will be succeeding David Duncan whose acrimonious dismissal remains an issue with the club’s fans.
The board headed by Togbe Afede XIV have however decided to finally let the ex AshantiGold trainer go despite intense pressure from supporters to have Duncan restored.
Polo has now been handed the reigns with a set target of overtaking rivals Asante Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League.
He will however e offered an extension if he manages to stay second with a closed gap on the current leaders.
The club will soon be making the appointment official.
Polo is a Ghana legend haven helped the Black Stars to Africa Cup of Nations success in 1978.
Ebusua Dwarfs coach Prof. J.K Mintah and ex Ghana international Joe Addo were all linked to the Hearts job.

Source: [sportscrusaderonline.com] 

Photo of the Week: When a mob carry a policeman, it means peace

Chief Superintendent Nuru Jango gets an unusual reception

Pictured here is Chief Superintendent Nuru Jango, a peacemaker who managed to calm a violent section of  an unplanned army of demonstrators last Monday.
And the angry mob turned into a friendly, boisterous and harmless crowd as they made peace by carrying him shoulder high.
Youth of the Ayawaso East and West constituencies in Accra, had defied a police order banning them from embarking on a protest march Monday.
The group, predominantly youth from Nima, say the demonstration is to register their displeasure at the stalling of construction work on a drainage project in the area.
So the Police have done their work. Please, Government and contractors do yours. We may not see pleasant scenes like this next time around.

Source: [Ghana|Myjoyonline.com ]

TUC plays double standards on controversial sale of Merchant Bank?

The Trades Union Congress is demanding answers on the controversial sale of Merchant Bank despite being a member of the SSNIT board that approved the multi-million dollar deal.
TUC is represented by its Secretary General, Kofi Asamoah, on the SSNIT board that approved the deal on 19th September 2013.
As the majority shareholder, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust had agreed to sell the Bank to Fortiz, a private equity fund business for 90 million Ghana cedis.
Opposition to the deal which has already been approved by the Bank of Ghana has been growing.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Freedom and Accuracy Andrew Awuni who is championing the struggle against the sale is in court challenging the sale and has also filed another application seeking to place an injunction on the transaction that will seal the deal.
The Minority in Parliament on Thursday also described the deal as a scam.
As the MP for New Juaben South, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah, who is also a member of the Finance Committee of Parliament put it, "this is a scam; a fraud being perpetuated on the Ghanaian people. How can you give your daughter for marriage before the marriage rites are performed?"
In the wake of growing resentment against the deal, Joy News has learnt that the Trade Union Congress has begun moves following a meeting on Thursday with SSNIT officials to get answers on the controversial deal.
The executive board of the Trades Union Congress later Thursday invited SSNIT officials in charge of the Merchant Bank sale to a meeting, demanding answers on the multi-million dollar deal.
The meeting ended inconclusively, as TUC executives expressed dissatisfaction with the answers provided to its questions.
TUC wanted to know whether the takeover would result in any job losses when Fortiz acquires the Bank. The meeting was adjourned to next week, for SSNIT officials to return with more details.
Mr. Asamoah tells Joy News, the TUC will declare its position on the sale after its next meeting with the SSNIT officials.

Source: [Ghana|Myjoyonline.com] 

Road Fund generates GHC1.21 billion - Minister

The Ghana Road Fund has generated GH¢1.21 billion from 2000 to 2011, Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah, Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, disclosed on Thursday.

He said in spite of the financial achievement, the fund carried forward an indebtedness of GH¢210.5 million from 2012 to 2013, increasing the previous year’s indebtedness by GH¢59.60 million.

It is projected that this year, GH¢264.42 million would be accrued to the fund to enable it to meet the road maintenance budget, Mr Mensah said at a public forum on Financing Road Maintenance in Sunyani.

The Ghana Road Fund Board, under the auspices of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, organised the forum, attended by road contractors, engineers, representatives from transport organisations as well as municipal and district assemblies and the public.

Mr Mensah said the financial achievement of the fund was due to increases in road and bridge tools, as well as vehicle registration, road users and international transit fees.

The Deputy Minister, however, said the capacity of the fund could sustain only 30 percent of national road maintenance needs adding that was why the Government had been exploring other financial methods to carry out road maintenance.

These methods include long term pre-financing to carry out road maintenance as well as the Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) and Maintain, Operate and Transfer (MOT) concepts of Public Private Partnership arrangements, Mr Mensah said.

He gave the assurance that the Government was working hard to ensure that the national network of roads of about 68,000km would be in good condition.

A good road network, he said, would promote and accelerate socio-economic development and reduce poverty.

Mr Justice Samuel Adjei, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, said though Brong-Ahafo Region had a number of good trunk roads linking the various district capitals, many roads in the hinterland, especially in the Sene District, were deplorable.

He said this had been a source of worry to the chiefs and people of the region as farmers were unable to transport their food stuffs to the market centres.

Mr Adjei said whilst the Government made frantic efforts to solicit funds for the development of the road sector, there was the need for all and sundry to support the road fund by paying road tolls.

“Indeed our willingness to pay appropriate tolls and fees greatly enhances Government’s ability to generate enough funds for the maintenance of the bridges, roads, and drainage systems,” he said.

Professor Mohammed Salifu, a member of the Ghana Road Fund Board, and Mr Franklin Agbanator, Director of the Road Fund Secretariat, took the participants through funding road maintenance, Ghana’s road programme and the role of maintenance.

Source: [GNA] 

Eland International demands US$106 million from NIB

Lawyers for Indian-based firm Eland International are demanding an amount of US$ 105,564,876.72 from the National Investment Bank being outstanding balance plus interest of proceeds accruing from the sale of goods under a Collateral Management Agreement (CMA).
Eland is making the demand on the back of what it says is a breach of the CMA it entered into with the NIB on November 10, 2001.
A letter by lawyers for Eland International detailing the demands warns that the company would have no option but “take all the next legal and reasonable options available,” to protect its interest if NIB fails to retire the indebtedness.
 Among other roles, duties and responsibilities under the CMA, Eland was to:
 1.  Make arrangements to discount promissory notes issued/guaranteed/avalised by NIB and bear the costs of all interest/discount in the international market and all other allied costs.
 2.  Ensure that it supplies goods of contracted quantity and quality in a timely manner as per the requirements of the market to be communicated by NIB.
 3.  Ensure at all times that the agreed value of the goods always exceeds the principal amount guaranteed by NIB to the extent of at least 10% of the guaranteed amount in order to hedge Eland and NIB against any damage to goods in transit, foreign currency fluctuations, etc., and
 4.  Supply 2% extra bags/packing material for all items and also supply the re-bagging material so that any damage to the goods in transit can be reduced by re-bagging by NIB and Eland Ghana”.
According to Eland, it proceeded in furtherance of its obligations under the CMA, to remit a one-time collateral management fee of US$109, 600 to NIB on 28th January, 2002 and thereafter, supplied various items and commodities, especially rice but after over 10 years since the CMA was executed and in breach thereof, the bank has only made a part payment of US$33, 161,027.79 out of an escrow account for the goods supplied.
It said the NIB failed or refused to give a fair and truthful account of the sale proceeds of all goods delivered to the warehouse while several demands and reminders to the Bank to repay the outstanding balance have been ignored.
“It is blindingly obvious that your conduct as recounted above amounts to a wilful breach of the terms and conditions of the CMA and is not good enough to hold on to the hard earned money of our client in that manner or at all. To our mind, the foregoing appears to be nothing but undressed injustice.
“Accordingly, we have our client’s instructions to demand and we hereby demand the repayment of the sum of US$ 105,564,876.72(which sum includes interest as at April 30, 2011) pursuant to the said CMA within7 days of your receipt of this letter,” cautioned the letter.

Source: [Ghana | Graphic online] 

2014 Budget: 10% pay cut for Presidency and govt appointees

Government appointees have agreed to take a 10 percent pay cut to help bring the country’s wage bill down for 2014.

Announcing the move in the 2014 budget statement, the Finance Minister, Mr Seth Tekper said the amount to be deducted by the Controller and Accountant General, would be paid into a fund to be dedicated to focus on maternal health under the CHIP programme (Community-Based Health Planning Services).
He said the decision was voluntarily taken by the President, John Dramani Mahama, his Vice, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, Ministers of state and government appointees.
This, the Finance Minister said was to demonstrate leadership in the spirit of the partnership of the Ho Forum.
Compensation for public sector workers
Government early this year held a forum with organised labour in the Volta Regional capital of Ho where it explained that the single spine pay policy was imposing severe fiscal strain on the budget.
At that forum, it was agreed to conclude wage negotiations before the budget for the ensuing year was presented to parliament.
But as was explained by the Finance Minister, negotiations have not been concluded as of now and that government employers and organised labour were still continuing negotiations on the national daily minimum wage and public sector wage adjustments.
Mr Tekper said government believed that public sector compensation should not put stress on the fiscal envelop and that the budget must must leave room for infrastructure development and other priority programmes as was recently stated eloquently by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
He said the social partners of government were committed to removing leakages and wastages in public pay administration and bring wage bill to sustainable levels to re-align budget to national priorities.
This, he said was aimed at moving towards the ECOWAS convergence criteria of 35 percent of wages to tax revenue.
The Finance Minister said whilst acknowledging the positive aspects of retaining public sector staff and improving their productivity, the single spine pay policy was imposing severe fiscal strain on the budget.
"To demonstrate leadership in the spirit of the partnership from Ho", the President, his Vice, Minister and and appointees have agreed to take the 10percent pay cut for 2014, Mr Tekper said.

SOURCE[Graphic.com.gh / Ghana] 

ECG starts tariff reduction

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)  started the 25 per cent reduction in electricity tariff yesterday.

It has, therefore, reprogrammed its system for the implementation of the new tariff which has been reduced because of the  government’s subsidy for consumers.
The new subsidy will apply to all consumers of electricity in the country including prepaid or cash-based, unit-based and post-paid customers of ECG.
Review tariff
The government announced a review of the electricity tariff from 78.9 to 59.18 per cent following calls by the labour front for it’s reduction
The new price showed a 25 per cent downward review of the tariff which was expected to take effect from October 1, 2013.
This was done to change the previous tariff announced by the Public Utility Regulation Commission (PURC) on Wednesday, September 18 in which there was 78.9 per cent upward adjustment in electricity and 52 per cent in water tariffs with effect from October 1, 2013.
To cushion the effect of the tariff increases on consumers, the government agreed to pay about GH¢410 million to the utility companies to ensure a steady supply of electricity.
Subsidy application
The Divisional Manager of the ECG in charge of Regulatory and Government Affairs, Mr Daniel Azu, told journalists in Accra that a revised reckoner would be published to help customers understand the application of the subsidy when they bought recharge units at the vending points.
“Customers should note that all statutory levies including VAT, National Health Insurance Levy and street light levy, as passed by parliament, shall continually be paid by the customer as applicable,” he said.
For the prepaid customers who deposit money through e-cash, or the BXC smart cash meters, Mr Azu said the subsidy for their consumption of electricity for the month of October 2013 would be refunded.
“Consumption will be refunded to the customer at the deposit of cash from November 18, 2013. Beyond the first deposit, other subsequent deposits will be refunded at the beginning of the ensuring month.”
Explaining further, Mr Azu said,  for instance, a consumer whose monthly consumption was 70 units, which corresponded to a deposit of GH¢25, a subsidy of GH¢5.32 would be credited to the account at the first deposit of cash.
Such a consumer, he added, would receive a receipt at the vending point which would indicate the amount deposited, the subsidy applied and the total amount or credit.
Though the ECG was phasing out the unit-based prepayment metering system, the company acknowledged that few customers were still on the system.
For such customers, Mr Azu said when they made new purchases on or after Monday, November 18, 2013, the subsidy for  October 2013 would be refunded in full, in the form of units.
“For example, a customer whose consumption is 70 units would have to pay GH¢25 but due to the subsidy of GH¢5.32, the customer will now pay GH¢519.68.”
Customers on credit metering who were also referred to as post-paid consumers, would have the subsidy reflecting on their monthly bills.
Mr Azu said the monthly bill would apply to the tariff and further adjust it downward in line with the subsidy. “The bill will show what the customer is required to pay, less the applicable subsidies”.

source[Daily Graphic/Ghana]

Live-updates: 2014 budget presentation

Finance and Economic Planning minister, Mr. Seth Terkper, is presenting government’s 2014 budget and financial statement to Parliament.
The government has christened the budget a transformational one designed to generate growth and create jobs.
Myjoyonline.com brings you live-updates of the highlights of the budget.
As a result of sound economic policies GDP has doubled in nominal terms
Positive growth rates for all sub sectors have been achieved
Ghana is among three African countries that have attracted the highest foreign direct investments; our record reflects the high investor confidence in the economy.
In August the bond issue was over subscribed.
Government is pursing accelerated development targets.
This is a truly transformational budget which highlights policies that will create jobs and expand the economy.
Single Spine Salary Structure (SSS) imposing severe strain on the economy but government, employers and organized labour are continuing negotiations
We believe we are of one mind and therefore we are determined public sector wages will not put strain on budget.
To demonstrate leadership, the president, his vice and appointees, and ministers have decided to take a voluntary 10% pay cut in 2014.
The amount to be deducted will be channeled to maternal health.
Last week Parliament passed a new VAT Act that increases the rate to 15 per cent which includes the 2.5 NHIL.
In addition to stabilising the economy, the 2.5 VAT will be applied to expanding infrastruture.
Amendments to be approved by the House:
Special import levy should close in 2014 instead of 2015
Agric and fishing imputs, medical supplies including condoms, will be exempt from special levies.
Dedication of VAT to infrastructural development should pass through the normal appropriation process.
President is committed to enhancing the living standards of the people by creating decent jobs for them.
The president is working to enhance transparent governnance.
Consistent with the medium-term objective, government is targeting a growth rate of 8 per cent for the year.
The performance of the global economy remained low for the first half of 2013. The impact of global economy on the local economy diverse.
Happenings in the middle impacts the oil prices in the country.
Provisional real GDP rate for 2013, according to the Ghana Sattistical Service is 7.4 per cent, a little less than the projected 8 per cent. 
Distribution of petroleum revenue, 186 million dollars was allocated to GNPC and 316.1 million dollarGhana Heritage fund.
Inflation rose from 10.1 in January to 13.1 in October 2013 due to fuel and utility tariff adjustment.
2014 budget deficit will be 9 billion or 8.5 % of GDP
Policy initiative to achieve middle income status
The Finance Minister announced the establishment of the Ghana Infrastructure fund to deal with the huge housing deficit.
Private sector partnership
Fiscal and social intervention polices especially in fight against poverty.
On the risk management strategy of government debts, Seth Terkper annouced Liquidity management which uses short term borrowing,commercial projects design with emphasis on revenue creation and align loan policies to capital budget and programmes as some of the measures.
On the SSSS, he said in spite of SSS challenges, government remains committed to its implementation.
On market premium, government will implement white paper with immediate effect and from January 2014, existing market premium paid to workers will be abolished.
Book and Research Allowances will be repalced with a Research facility to be managed by the Ministry of Education.
Government has allocated 15 million cedis for the facility and  Ministry is to develop guidelines to make the facility sustainable.

 Source: [Ghana | Myjoyonline.com]

High corporate taxes push oil earnings up

Higher-than-expected inflows from corporate tax helped push the country's earnings from petroleum to GHC1.4 billion as of September 2013.

The amount was far higher than the year-end budget target of GHC1.1 billion, making it the first time that the country has earned more than budgeted from the nascent petroleum sector.

It is also the first year that operators in the upstream petroleum sector have paid corporate tax, having been recovering their capital allowances in the past financial years.

Mr Seth Terkper, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, announced the country's earnings from the petroleum sector on Tuesday while presenting the 2014 Budget and Economic Policy Statement of government to Parliament.

The minister said that the higher earnings from petroleum were as a result of "more-than expected corporate tax inflows."

He also added that oil production at the Jubilee Field was higher than estimated, averaging at around 100,000 barrels per day in the last nine months of 2013.

It is expected that government estimates from the petroleum sector will be higher than the 2013 figure, especially given that the Jubilee Field is elected to ramp up to its plateau capacity of 120,000 barrels per day by next year.

SOURCE[DAILY GRAPHIC.COM]

Only a miracle can end our dreams -Kwesi Nyantakyi

            Kwesi Nyantakyi, GFA President

The president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, says only a miracle can deny the Black Stars qualification to the Brazil 2014 World Cup today.

"We haven't qualified yet but we will qualify. It will only take a miracle for us not to qualify,” the FA boss told the Daily Graphic yesterday at the team's J.W. Marriott Hotel in Cairo.

“Failing to qualify will be the biggest miracle we are yet to see but miracles don't happen like that. We have done our work very well and God will shower His blessings on the team to qualify,” Nyantakyi declared confidently.

He said during the Stars' training camp in Istanbul, one could see the determination and positive competitiveness among the players to do well, giving him hope of another good performance in today's game.

“I think we had a very good preparation in Istanbul and we will see the outcome of that today. Now, the focus is to qualify to the third World Cup and make history and that is the greatest motivation of the players.”

The determined Black Stars team and officials arrived in Cairo in the early hours of yesterday and are so far satisfied with the security arrangements put in place by the Egyptians.

"So far what we've seen confirms the arrangement we were told would be put in place and there has been a strict compliance with that.

"As soon as we arrived at the airport the security men met us right at the tube and we didn't waste time at all going through immigration— the passports were left behind and we boarded a bus straight to our hotel and there was adequate security around the team,” he disclosed.

The Ghana team was scheduled to train at the match venue behind closed doors last night.

Meanwhile, 11 security men from the National Security headed by security expert, Alhaji Lartey, have been deployed to provide adequate security for the Black Stars at their hotel in Cairo till the end of the assignment.

One of the security personnel who spoke to the Daily Graphic yesterday said more of their men were expected to arrive in Cairo with the supporters’ groups today.


Source: [Daily Graphic]

Ghana must adopt hybrid teaching methods - Prof Allotey

Professor Francis K. Allotey, President of Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences has proposed that Ghana should adopt as a policy both the online and face-to-face learning methods of instruction.
He said the hybrid methods of instruction has the potential to reduce the rising cost of education, the shortage of qualified teachers and professors as well as making easy accessibility of education to all.
Prof Allotey was speaking at the 2013 Founder’s Week Celebrations of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Science (GAAS) in Accra.
The 2013 Founder’s Week Celebration lecture which is on the theme: “Education for National Development,” was attended by people from the academia and the public.
The event was also used to induct 10 new GAAS Fellows and two Honorary Fellows into the academy, bringing the total number of distinguish personalities in the academy to 120 and eight Honorary Fellows.
The new are Fellows Mr Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary General, Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson, President, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Vatican City, Reverend Canon Prof John Samuel Pobee, Vicar-General, Anglican Diocese of Accra, Prof Dr Daniel Buor, Vice Chancellor, Valley View University and Prof Wisdom J. Tettey, Dean of the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, University of British Columbia, Canada.
The rest in the Sciences category are Prof Yaw Serfor-Armah, Director, Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Prof Henry Nii Adziri Wellington, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Ghana, Prof Emmanuel Owusu-Bennoah, former Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Prof Benjamin Jabez Botwe Nyarko, Director-General, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Rose Emma Mamaa Entsua-Mensah, Deputy Director –General, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
The two Honorary Fellows are Prof Volker ter Meulen, immediate past President of the German National Academy of Science-Leopoldina and Co-chair of the Global Network of Science Academies and Prof Lorna A. Casselton, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford and Vice President of the Royal Society, UK.
Prof Allotey, who spoke on the topic: “Education in the age rapid technological advancement”, said Ghana must adopt a new system of education that emphasise rational thinking and excite young people to be creative, imaginative and innovative.
He said for the country to have the competitive edge it must train people to do something that is difficult to automate since the computer software is now taking over much of the things done by machine just as the machines also usurped the muscle power in the industrial age.
Prof Allotey noted that studies have shown that standard lecturing format is not the most effective mode of instruction.
He said the most efficient methods of teaching are those use in active learning and interactive engagement between faculty and students, as well as students and their peers.
He said one of the main reasons why many of the elite universities are joining online platforms is that the programme offers  them the opportunity  to  move much of the traditional lecturing-required for conveying the necessary material from inside to outside the classroom in an online format which are more interactive and engaging.
He said the challenges the educational sector faces in this age of fast scientific advancement  is how to prepare the children of today for a world that is yet to be created  and jobs to be generated.

Source: [Ghana | GNA] 

Five remarkable comebacks ahead of Ghana vs Egypt clash

Ahram Online compiles a list of five great comebacks over two legs before Egypt try to overturn a five-goal deficit against Ghana in Tuesday’s World Cup playoff second-leg.
Real Madrid vs Borussia Monchengladbach (1-5, 4-0)
In the 1985 UEFA Cup third round, Monchengladbach looked to have settled the tie in their favour when they crushed Real Madrid 5-1 in Germany.
Real Madrid took a 2-0 half-time lead at Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg, but they still needed to score two more goals to overturn the deficit and advance.
The breakthrough came with two late goals from Jorge Valdano and Carlos Santillana as Real Madrid defied the odds and went on to win the competition.
Partizan Belgrade vs Queens Park Rangers (2-6, 4-0)
English side QPR were overwhelming favourites to qualify for the 1984 UEFA Cup third round after thrashing Partizan Belgrade 6-2 at home.
But Partizan Belgrade stunningly stormed back in a remarkable second leg to score four goals without reply and go through on the away-goal rule following a 6-6 aggregate draw.
Bayer Uerdingen vs Dynamo Dresden (0-2, 7-3)
One of the most stunning comebacks saw Dynamo Dresden beat Bayer Uerdingen 2-0 in the first leg of the 1986 European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final before racing to a 3-1 half-time lead in the second.
This meant Uerdingen needed to score five goals to advance.
The unthinkable happened, with Uerdingen getting more than they sought: Six goals that gave them a 7-3 win for a 7-5 aggregate victory.
Barcelona vs Anderlecht (0-3, 3-0)
Barcelona looked to be enjoying a smooth passage when they secured a 3-0 away victory at Anderlecht in the second round of the 1978 Cup Winners' Cup.
However, they were made to work hard for the win after Anderlecht stunned them 3-0 at the Nou Camp to level the aggregate score. The Catalans won 4-1 in penalty shootout to advance.
Deportivo La Coruna vs AC Milan (1-4, 4-0)
Featuring the likes of Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Cafu and Kaka, AC Milan found no difficulty brushing aside Spain’s Deportivo La Coruna with a 4-1 home win in the first leg of the European Champions League in 2004.
But the modest Deportivo roared back in style, with goals from Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron, Albert Luque and Fran giving them a 4-0 second-leg win for a 5-4 aggregate victory.

 Source: [Ahram Online]

Budget statements nothing more than academic exercises –Ghana Federation of Labour

Even as government prepares to read its 2014 budget in Parliament Tuesday, the Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour is skeptical about government's ability to take its own document seriously
Abraham Koomson is convinced that budget statements prepared by governments over the years are nothing more than “academic exercises”.
Abraham Koomson speaking on Multi TV’s Tarzan’s Take, indicated he is at a loss as to why so much time is spent on doing research to inform a budget only for government to fall short of its implementation.
Mr Seth Tekper, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is set to read the 2014 budget on Tuesday. According to the Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga, it will focus on job creation and skills development.
But government has a lot to do if an Afrobarometer report which painted a gloomy picture of unemployment in the country is taken into account. The report says the youth population aged between 18-35 years makes up about 26 % of the entire population of the country, but account for over 45% of the total unemployed Ghanaians.
Weighing in on the unemployment crisis, described by some as a threat to national security, Abraham Koomson expressed worry about the lack of jobs in the economy despite the 2013 budget's stated aim of addressing the situation.
He quoted portions of the 2013 budget that read;
“The Ministry will continue the implementation of the Private Sector Development Strategy Phase II to widen economic opportunities for the transformation of the Ghanaian economy and develop a thriving private sector that creates jobs and enhances livelihoods for all”
But as far as Abraham Koomson is concerned there is little evidence to show after writing that “nice document”.
“They do a very nice research but its application and implementation becomes a very difficult exercise”, he noted.
Koomson is therefore calling on government to provide subsidies to the manufacturing sector as is done to local companies in Nigeria. This he says this will encourage industry to be competitive and employ more people as a result.

Source: [Ghana|Myjoyonline.com]

Terribly disfigured man who was hugged by the Pope tells his story

Vinicio Riva, from Vicenza in northern Italy, is covered from head-to-toe by the growths, a symptom of his genetic disease neorofibramatosis.

The disfigured man whose full-body tumours were lovingly kissed by the Pope has told the moving story of his life for the first time.
Vinicio Riva, from Vicenza in northern Italy, is covered from head-to-toe by the growths, a symptom of his genetic disease neorofibramatosis.
Earlier this month the 53-year-old's picture shot round the world, when he was warmly embraced by Pope Francis at one of the pontiff's weekly audiences.
Now, in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the brave man has described the encounter, saying that being caressed by Francis made his heart beat so fast he thought he 'would die'.
The pontiff's hug was 'like paradise', he said. 'He didn't even think about whether or not to hug me.
'I'm not contagious, but he didn't know that. But he just did it: he caressed me all over my face, and as he did I felt only love. '
Mr Riva recollected: 'He came down from the altar to see the sick people. He embraced me without saying a word. I felt as though my heart was leaving my body.
'He was completely silent but sometimes you can say more when you say nothing.'
'First, I kissed his hand while with the other hand he caressed my head and wounds. Then he drew me to him in a strong embrace, kissing my face.
'My head was against his chest his arms were wrapped around me. It lasted just over a minute, but to me it seemed like an eternity.'
He was accompanied to the Vatican by his aunt, Caterina Lotto, 68. Afterwards he felt so emotional and his heart was beating so hard he turned to her and said: 'This is going to kill me .'
Mr Riva lives with his sister Morena, 46, in the council house they share outside Vicenza.
He has endured numerous operations on his heart, throat and eyes, and often gets short of breath as a result of his condition.
Mr Riva suffers from open wounds on his legs that bleed onto his clothes and always wakes wearing a T-shirt covered in blood.
His sister Morena also suffers from the disease, although from a far milder form. Their mother Rosalia was the genetic carrier that passed on the disease but she did not develop any symptoms until she had children.
Until the age of 15, Mr Riva was an unblemished, self-assured adolescent. But then the growths appeared all over his body, inch by painful inch.
Now his entire face and head are covered in the boils. Only his left cheek, which is warped, is free of the painful growths.
During an operation on his heart the doctors had to enter through the armpit to avoid the tumours which cover his torso.
His feet are deformed and devastated by the sores, which makes walking difficult. He rides to work and around the village by bike but visited the Vatican by wheelchair because of the long waiting time on foot.
The dermatology patient's mother, Rosaria, eventually died of the condition, aged 81, and Mr Riva himself was only expected to live until the age of 30.
His father, 77, a former builder, who still lives in the retirement home where Mr Riva now works, seems to have been a somewhat authoritarian figure.
Mr Riva showed little affection to his son after he got sick and pulled him out of school aged 15 to come and work on the building sites with him. The dust made the boy's sores itch terribly.
Later the son went to work, painting in a ceramics factory and, in a specially assisted place for disabled people, assembling parts such as car batteries.
When he is not working Mr Riva rides his bikes around the village. He is also a keen football fan and often goes to football matches or out for pizza with former classmates and friends.
He has not had a girlfriend since he was a young man after having his heart broken.
But despite the heartache Mr Riva enjoys reading romance novels. And he has also been known to bring flowers to the nurses at the clinics where he needs once or twice a week treatment.
He says he would like to meet a person who suffers from the same condition 'out of interest' but especially a woman, for a possible relationship.
The big-hearted volunteer has often been shunned in the street as an 'Elephant Man', with mothers crossing the street to avoid him. Surprisingly, the women can be worse than the men, he said.
On one particularly painful occasion he was forced to leave his seat on the bus. He said: 'I got on the bus and wanted to sit next to the driver.
'But one man said that I couldn't sit there. He said he didn't want to look at me. No one on the bus defended me. I felt terrible.'
The family haven't been on holiday for years - for one thing because the wounds on Mr Riva's desk bleed so that the sheets need changing every day.
'They don't say directly but they say that you have to leave,' Aunt Caterina said.
'People can be OK but the "kids" [Vinicio and Morena] don't go out unless I go along too,' aunt Caterina said: 'They feel more protected when I am there. I've know them since they were born.'
The brother and sister exist on a mere 250 euros a month each from their disabled benefits and 150 euros each from their volunteer jobs.
There is not a lot of money to spare, but their aunt Caterina helps out with her by giving them part of her pension.
Fortunately, in the village the community have become accustomed to him.
He said: 'Those who I have known for a long time are kind; the others are horrible.'
The severely sick man is taken to Lourdes, a popular place of pilgrimage in France, every year by Catholic group Unitalsi but it was the first time they had thought to take him to St Peter's.

Source: [Daily Mail, UK]

25-year-old man electrocuted in Bolgatanga

A 25-year-old man in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region was electrocuted on a high tension pole on Monday while doing major maintenance works.
Edward Adapore Asigibilla, who died on the spot, was a leader of a team of electrician apprentices working with Budic Electricals, a local electrical engineering company, a sub-contractor to the Volta River Authority (VRA).
VRA officials, Ghana National Fire Service and Ghana Police Service personnel rushed to the scene to rescue him but it was too late. He was dead.
ASP Thomas Yaw Agbanyo, Upper East Regional Public Relations Officer of Police, told Joy News police are on the ground to start full scale investigations into the incident.
The Director of the company, Mr Halim Abubakar who became unconscious on reaching the scene was rushed to the Bolgatanga Municipal Clinic, where he regained consciousness.
The deceased, who left behind a wife and a child, has since been buried.

Source: [Ghana | Myjoyonline.com] 

‘2014 Budget to transform economy'

Seth Terkper, Finance Minister

The 2014 Budget statement and Economic Policy of the governement set to be presented to Parliament today is expected to announce plans to transform Ghana into a fully-fledged middle income economy.
Among the measures would be actions to cut the  fiscal deficit below nine per cent while embarking on massive infrastructural developments, sources close to Ministry of Finance have hinted the Daily Graphic.
The source said the budget would reflect the current lower middle income status of the economy, by making transformational changes in revenue mobilisation and expenditure.
Although the sources would not give specific initiatives, they hinted that revenues that would accrue from the additional increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT)  threshold would be channeled into infrastructural development such as trunk roads, feeder roads that serve farming communities as well as funding irrigation projects to unlock the potential of agriculture.
Agriculture's share of the national domestic productivity or gross domestic product (GDP) has been dwindlng over the medium term, with abysmal yearly performances.
Agriculture's share of GDP declined from 25 per cent in 2011 to 23.1 per cent in 2012, with its performance standing at 2.6 per cent in 2012 as against a target of 4.8 per cent growth rate.
The budget, which sources say would be presented under the theme: "Realigning the Budget"' is also not likely to end previous tax initiatives with sunset clauses such as the National Stabilisation Levy, although it will introduce new levies and taxes besides enforcing previously announced ones.
For the first time, the budget and economic policy of the government would be programme-based as opposed to the activity-based budgeting, which encouraged several projects running at the same time.
This time ministries, departments and agencies would be given allocations for programmes only when they are able to justify the efficient use of previous budget allocations.
The ministry of finance sources said the budget would seek to control fiscal deficit, but would use internally generated funds, bonds and other "creative funding sources" to finance uncompleted infrastructural projects that represent locked up capital.
"You and I will agree that the ordinary Ghanaian can only realise the benefit of projects when they are completed. This is exactly what we want to use government resources for; as counterpart funding to release ongoing projects," the source explained.
It said that would mark a major transformation and creativity to complete pipeline projects, while using new funds to start newer projects in subsequent years.
The budget would also announce social safety nets by increasing allocations to some of the existing social interventions such as the livelihood empowerment against poverty (LEAP), NHIS and those in education and transportation.

Source: [Ghana | Daily Graphic]

Ghana risks losing huge oil tax revenues

The country risks losing massive oil tax revenues if it continues awarding contracts to companies assess their tax liabilities themselves without checks, the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has said.
In the first of a series of policy briefs on Ghana's oil governance, make it mandatory for all oil companies to disclose their beneficial owners before they are given contracts, and then hire independent auditors to verify the tax liabilities of the companies.
“The tax havens first of all they promotes corruption, in the sense that beneficial owners of the companies are hidden, [and] people award contracts to themselves because they own companies that are registered in countries compelled to disclose the owners,” Mohammed Amin Adam, Executive Director of ACEP, said.
“And because we are not allowed to know that they are behind those companies, they get away with it; and this is what rich countries where politicians have companies and they award contracts to their companies because you cannot tell that those politicians are behind those companies since you have no access to their registration documents.”
Most of the companies operating in the country's oil industry are registered in tax- havens. Tullow Oil is incorporated in the British island called Jersey, a tax- haven that has just been blacklisted by France in a move to impose heavy penalties on thousands of French individuals and businesses.
Kosmos Energy and Anadarko Petroleum are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, another tax-haven. Government has also just recently approved a petroleum agreement in respect to the South Deep Water Tano oil block with AGM Petroleum Ghana, a company fully owned by AGM Gibraltar - another tax-haven.
“Our Petroleum Income Tax law allows any company that finances its project by debt financing to deduct the interest at cost, which means that the higher the interest the higher the cost - and the lower the revenue that will come to the state because revenues are shared after costs have been deducted.
“So companies registered in secrecy jurisdictions will finance their operations and the interest that is deducted goes back to the same company, and so it is the same company that is circulating revenues around at the expense of the state,” Mohammed Amin said.
“If we have to solve this problem, first of all we must have in our law that all owners, all the people behind companies, must be known - and Ghana would not be the only country asking for this. South Sudan just passed a new law, and they have made it a requirement that unless the owners of a company are known, that company will not be given a contract. Peru and Liberia have also put the same in their new bills,” he added.
On assessing the tax- liability of oil companies, Mohammed Amin said the country cannot rely solely on companies for that information, since they do not always tell the truth about such matters.
If the country's tax authority does not have the capacity to do its own assessment of how much companies owe the country in taxes, then an independent audit agency needs to be hired, he added.
Countries that allow companies to assess their tax liabilities, he said, have laws to punish the companies when they misreport.
“But we do not have that provision in our tax laws yet. And therefore if you are asking companies to do self- assessment, it is on the premise that they will provide correct information. But in the oil and gas industry, it is not true that companies provide correct information all the time. Most of the time they massage their figures and they increase their costs,” he said.
“If you do not have the critical skills that will unearth some of these critical challenges through self- assessment, then the country is the loser. In Angola they have found a way that when the companies do self- assessment, they hire a competent auditor to determine whether the company has provided the right information.
“Therefore nothing prevents Ghana, if we do not have that capacity, from hiring specialised audit companies to audit the self- assessment done by oil companies in order to establish the true value of their tax liability.”
For the 2013 fiscal year, the country expects a total of GH¢1.12billion from the oil sector, including GH¢107.8miIlion as corporate tax.
In 2012, government projected that a total annual revenue of over GH¢1billion would accrue to the country, but the corporate tax component of GH¢384 million was not received.
In 2011, government projected to receive GH¢1.2 billion from oil, including corporate taxes of about GH¢600 million.
The total amount earned, however, came down to GH¢667 million, representing a shortfall of GH¢ 583 million.

Source: [BFT]

Media must focus on relevant issues - Nunoo-Mensah

The National Security Adviser, Brigadier General (rtd) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, has urged the media to focus more on relevant social issues instead of providing platform for unending political arguments.

He said as a country, “we must be more serious and assertive on how to improve the economy in order to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youth and better the lots of the people.”

He therefore entreated Ghanaians to be innovative and take a cue from the Asian Tigers like Japan, China, Malaysia and Indonesia, which are powerful nations in terms of economic advancement.

“We should not sit aloof waiting for manna to fall from heaven and stop arguing about politics all day as if there is nothing else to do or else we shall continue wallowing in poverty,'' he advised.

Brig. Gen. Nunoo-Mensah, expressed these sentiments when he chaired the 48th Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior High School in Takoradi, over the weekend.

The event, under the theme “Harnessing the Innate Potential of the Girl Child for Positive National Development: Our Concern", also marked the “Family Day” for the school, which enabled families whose wards are in the school to interact with them.

Brig. Gen. Nunoo-Mensah entreated Ghanaians to stop complaining all the time about the economy, and rather urged the people to think about what they could do to improve the economy for the betterment of the entire citizenry.

Touching on the importance of education, the National Security Adviser noted that the future of the country’s development depended largely on providing quality education for all children-of-school-going age, since they are the future leaders.

He therefore advocated for a massive improvement in the educational infrastructure by the government, corporate bodies and philanthropists, saying, the government alone cannot shoulder all the responsibility in the education sector.

He said although he spent most of his adult life in the military, he had passion for education, hence he used portion of his resources to put up educational facilities for deprived communities in the country, and urged the well-to-do in society to do same.

The Headmistress of the school, Miss Louisa Constance Aggrey, said the school continues to record the best results in the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the Western Region.

She said out of 751 candidates presented for the 2013 WASSCE, 579 had quality passes in all the eight subjects, 163 passed in seven subjects while two passed in six subjects.

She said a comparative analysis of the third and fourth year candidates’ results in the WASSCE showed that, the fourth year batch generally performed much better than the third year’s.

However, she said the best candidate for the school was a third year candidate in the person of Miss Marian Queenly Gad, who had eight “As”, and currently studying Optometry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
Touching on some challenges confronting the school, Miss Aggrey, expressed worry over the increasing student population, which currently stands at 1,630, thus putting pressure on the few educational and accommodation facilities there.

She therefore, made a passionate appeal to the government, to as a matter of urgency, complete the GETfund projects in the school, which had stalled, to ensure conducive teaching and learning environment, for both teachers and students.

The headmistress commended both the teaching and non-teaching staff for their untiring efforts to maintain the high standards set by the founding fathers of the school and their predecessors.

Source : [GN]

Police administration hires private investigators; installs CCTV camera in offices to fight corruption

The police administration says it is taking steps to deal with corruption within its ranks.
It has therefore resorted to the fixing of CCTV cameras in offices and hiring the service of private investigators to track down corrupt police officials.
Police Director General in charge of Administration, COP Rose Bio Atinga says the service is aggressively dealing with personnel who engage in corruption as a deterrent for others.
She says their commitment to the fight against the menace is unquestionable.
"This administration under the leadership of the IGP has done a lot when it comes to the fighting of corruption," she indicated.
According to her private investigators have been hired to go round, cameras installed in offices all to ensure corrupt practices are done away with.
She added other police personnel are being prosecuted in the fight against corruption.

Source: Ghana|Myjoyonline.com 

2014 budget will provide relief for Ghanaians – Rashid Pelpuo

The Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of public private partnership, Rashid Pelpuo has assured Ghanaians worried about the impact of the increase in Value added Tax (VAT) on their lives that the 2014 budget will provide relief for them.

He says the budget which is expected to be presented on Tuesday will outline some measures to cushion the effects of the increase on businesses and consumers.

Speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis program The Big Issue Mr. Pelpuo said “I believe that [Tuesday’s] budget, I’m just giving you a hint several other issues are going to come and they will be very palatable and you will maybe forget about this VAT increase.’’

Parliament passed a bill on Friday amid objections by the Minority, to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) threshold from the current 12.5 percent to 15 percent.


SOURCE[citifmonline.com/Ghana]

Gov't has huge dev't plans for Volta Region - Mahama

The President John Dramani Mahama has promised the people of the Volta Region that his government will massively develop the region.

He made the commitment when he met chiefs across the region at the Volta Regional House of Chiefs.

Addressing the chiefs, President Mahama indicated that all stalled projects within the region will be revived soon to see completion.

According to him although the country is experiencing some economic challenges he is optimistic that the economy will be positive after key interventions are applied by government.

Whilst commending the Volta Region for its support to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), President Mahama assured them of many development projects his administration is involved in and would see to its completion.

The President had earlier on inspected the on-going projects at the permanent campus of the Ho University of Health and Allied Sciences.

President Mahama mentioned some of the prudent measures government was adopting to stem the economic challenges as widening the tax net to raise revenue, reduction of expenditure and increment of productivity at all levels of the economy.

He advised Party members not to despair, but should rather throw their weight behind all government officials to execute their duties responsibly to achieve the government's better Ghana agenda programme.

He added: "I want to tell all of you here to stand firm in the face of the difficulties we are encountering, because there is hope ahead of us, and by next year, things will change for the better.’’

The President denounced the bureaucratic tendencies that denied communities their fair share of developments and promised to eliminate those processes as they impeded the orderly progress of his administration.

“I want to assure the people of Volta Region through you [Chiefs] of our commitment to develop this region so that it occupies its premier place in the development of this country.’’

President Mahama said the Volta University is not the only project government is working, according to him, “we are finalizing arrangements for financing to upgrade the regional hospital into a teaching hospital for the use of the medical school of the University; we also are working very hard on the eastern corridor project… ‘’

“As I speak we have secured the funding and the contractors are mobilizing to site for e northern segment of the eastern corridor road,’’ President Mahama added.


SOURCE[citifmonline.com/Ghan]

Polytechnics to be converted into universities in 2014

Government’s decision to convert the nation’s Polytechnics into Universities is expected to take off next year.

At present, government is studying an interim report submitted by the technical committee which was tasked to draw a blue print for the paradigm shift.

This is intended to create more opportunities for students who are desirous of acquiring higher academic laurels.

Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Hon. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa dropped the hint at the 10th Graduation ceremony of the Africa University College of Communications (AUCC) in Accra.

According to him, government is contented with private investors support to the education sector and will do everything possible to ensure the sustainability of private schools in the country.

“H.E President John Dramani Mahama has directed the GET fund to work out modalities so that private universities and private tertiary institutions in Ghana can begin to benefit from the GET Fund; this is because we have all come to the recognition that the private investment in education is not just testing the ground but indeed they have become a mainstream, permanent and invaluable contributors to training our human resource and building capacity in this nation, Africa and beyond.”

As part of the education reforms, Hon. Ablakwa announced that plans were afoot to privatize the Basic Education Certificate Examination in 2015.

He said the West African Examination Council (WAEC) had approved the private BECE system to help address some of the challenges associated with the old scheme.

“In September 2014 WAEC will launch this new scheme; they will advertize on the modalities and in February 2015 the first batch of BECE private sitters or re-sitters will take their exams and we hope that this will contribute to the quality and flexibility that we want our educational system to have.”

Founder and Chairman of the African University College of Communications, Mr. Kojo Yankah urged the graduates to serve as Ambassadors of change in their communities.

“Invest your time profitably on activities that will inspire and uplift you and waste less time on unproductive venture; aim to be an icon for your family, for your community, for your nation and ultimately for your continent.”

He continued saying, I urge you to join the ranks of those who seek solutions rather than excuses; be amongst those who aim to excel and not those who are preoccupied with settling on mediocrity.”

Mr. Yankah charged the Governing Council and management to ensure that AUCC obtains its charter to run its own degrees under the name African University.

In recognition of the universities achievement’s, he further tasked the Governing Council to expand the course offerings to include BA in General Arts and Sciences, BSc in ICT and Multimedia Studies and certificate and diploma courses under the yet to be established Centre for Policy and Diplomacy and Centre for Creative Writing.

SOURCE[citifmonline.com/Ghana]

Mahama begins nationwide working visist

President John Mahama has begun a nationwide working visit to inspect ongoing projects across the country and to also assure Ghanaians of his commitment to fulfilling ever single promise he made during the last election.
The visit is also to thank Ghanaians for making him the President in the last election.
The President yesterday started his rounds from the Volta region where he met with the chiefs and people of Ho before continuing to Nkwanta for a similar meeting.
At Nkwanta, the President inspected the ongoing Eastern corridor road that will link the Southern and Northern parts of the country.
He later assured a gathering of chiefs and people at Nkwanta that the project would be completed before the next election in 2016.
"I have been here, I have seen the project and am going to speak to the contractors. I am promising you, soon you will see action on the road. During the last election I told you that I was looking for money to fix the bad road from Oti-Damanko to the Northern region. The good news is that we have received the money for work to begin on that stretch. There is a contractor standing by to start work on the road from Oti-Damanko to Nankpanduri in the Mamprusi area. So by 2016, we would have finished the Eastern corridor road. Work on the Dodi-pepeso and Asikuma stretch also stalled for sometime but I have instructed the Finance Minister to release money for the project to continue," the president said
He reiterated that his government will fulfill all the campaign promise it made to Ghanaians in the last elections.

Source: [Ghana|Joy News]

Prez Mahama directs Transport, Trade ministers to review Tema Harbour fees

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministers for Transport, Trade and Industry to review all fees charged at the Tema Harbour.
The directive is targeted at eliminating unauthorized fees exploited by corrupt officials to frustrate importers.
President Mahama was speaking to officials at the Tema Harbour after holding informal meetings with importers most of whom complained about the illegal charges.
He said after receiving complaints "about too many illegal fees and charges", he has given "the Ministry of Transport, Trade and Industry to put their heads together to look at the catalogue of fees and levies that they pay and see which ones are legitimate and which are not legitimate."
"My expectation is that if they give us a report on it, we will be able to publish a list of fees so that everybody knows that these are the legitimate fees that one is required to pay," President Mahama added.
He also announced that the Finance Ministry will soon come out with guidelines on the use of bonded warehouses following revelations of abuse by some firms.
The president stressed that, "You cannot go and stuff things in a bonded warehouse for four years, it doesn't make any sense and so we will come out with new regulations ... so that we maintain a bit of discipline in the system of imports."
Government will next year also begin a major project to link the Tema Harbour to the rail network.

Source: [Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Joy News ]

Aflao chief promises to harvest 100,000 votes for NDC in 2016

The Chief of Aflao has promised to deliver 100,000 votes for the governing National Democratic Congress and for President John Mahama in the 2016 general elections.
Togbuiga Amenyafiti V said the promise will be in fulfillment of an earlier promise he made before the 2012 election.
According to him he was only able to harvest, 80,000 votes, in the last election, 20,000 less of what he had promised but was quick to reassure the president that, as the world bank  of the NDC, the ruling party would be guaranteed its 100,000 votes in 2016.
He made the comment at a Durbar in honour of President John Mahama who has begun a nationwide thanksgiving tour and a two day working visit to the Volta Region.
The President had early on cut the sod for work to begin on the metro mass bus terminal in the area.
Togbui Amenyafiti was grateful to the president for the project, hoping it would provide ready jobs for the youth in the Municipality.
According to Multi-TV's Gifty Andoh Appiah the chief also requested for  the extension of railway lines and the establishment of other transport terminals in other areas of the Municipality.
The president expressed gratitude to the chiefs and people of the Aflao for their support.
He was quick to admit the challenges the country has endured over the past few months citing the market fires, the election petition challenge, the energy crisis but promised things will get better in the coming year.
The president is due to proceed to Keta and Anloga as part of his tour, Andoh-Appiah reported.

Source: [Ghana|Myjoyonline.com]

Football honour in memory of H.E. Mahama

H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama

Wa All Stars will take on former Premier League campaigners, Real Tamale United in a match to commemorate the memory of former Ghana Vice President, H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

The two Clubs will meet at the Tamale Stadium, Sunday afternoon to round up a week-long series of activities in honour of the Vice-President as they mark the first anniversary of his passing.

The match will be the first meeting between Real Tamale United and Wa All Stars since the former was relegated from the premiership ranks.

The former Ghana Vice President, who served two terms in the same position from 2001 to 2008 passed away last year at the age of 66.

H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama also served as a Board member of Real Tamale United.

Source: [Ghanafa.org]

Bureau of Public Safety disputes report exonerating police in market killing saga

The Bureau of Public Safety has disputed an investigative report that exonerated police officers who killed three suspected criminals at Mallam Atta Market in Accra.
According to the report, no act of professional misconduct was established after a service enquiry was initiated into the April 12 incident, hence no punitive measures were applied against the personnel.
The report said the robbers first attacked the police, endangering their lives.
Executive Director of the Bureau, Nana Yaw Akwada told Joy News that the police report can’t be true.
"I do not have a basis to believe what they shared with the public but I have a basis to disbelieve them because the Bureau of Public Safety indeed conducted some preliminary investigations - we conducted some assessment at the scene of the incident and to the best of our knowledge what the police is telling us is to the contrary," he said.
According to him, his outfit thinks "that the police actually killed these people without these people firing a single gunshot and they must explain how and why they did such a thing."  
Mr. Akwada also questioned why the police refused to release copies of its investigative reports to the media following its news conference on Friday.
Manufacture evidence
The police is however defending its report. COP Rose Bio Atinga, Police Director General in charge of Administration said they do not discriminate when it comes to investigating their own.
"We do not discriminate when it comes to investigating our own kind, we will stand for the truth forever because the truth counts. Have the confidence in us and support us to perform our duties. All that we need is evidence, where there is no evidence there is no evidence, we cannot manufacture evidence," she noted.

Source: [Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Joy News ]

I will justify mandate given me - President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday promised to perform in all the sectors of the economy to justify the mandate Ghanaians had given him for the next four years.
"The year started on a rather bad note, with series of fire outbreaks in our major markets, followed by the election petition, industrial strikes, energy crisis, among other issues, but thank God we are gradually getting out of them," President Mahama added.
President Mahama, who was addressing members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as part of his two-day official visit to the Volta Region, said government had drawn up a comprehensive programme that would address those challenges.
The President had earlier on inspected on-going projects at the permanent campus of the Ho university of Health and Allied Sciences, addressed members of the Volta Region House of Chiefs and visited the Ho market women.
President Mahama mentioned some of the prudent measures government was adopting to stem the economic challenges as widening the tax net to raise revenue, reduction of expenditure and increment of productivity at all levels of the economy.
He advised Party members not to throw their hands up in despair, but should rather throw their weight behind all government officials to execute their duties responsibly to achieve the government's better Ghana agenda programme.
He added: "I want to tell all of you here to stand firm in the face of the difficulties we are encountering, because there is hope ahead of us, and by next year, things will change for the better."
President Mahama said his administration would work hard against running a deficit budget, as that had negative repercussions on the growth and development of the economy, adding, "We will work hard to reduce the inflation and deficit rates to come out with better conditions that would spur our economy on."
He said government would also ensure that 70 per cent of the national income was no longer used for salaries and wages.
At the Ho Central market, President Mahama was disappointed that the Ghana Urban Management market rehabilitation project, which he cut the sod last year for work to begin, has not been executed.
He expressed shock that although there was money for the project, nothing has been done after one year and promised to deal ruthlessly with whoever was delaying the funds in Accra.
The President denounced the bureaucratic tendencies that denied communities their fair share of developments and promised to eliminate those processes as they impeded the orderly progress of his administration.

Source:[ GNA] 

Ghana needs a new planning institution - Urban Planner

An Urban Planning Specialist with the World Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Nkrumah is asking government to establish an institution to co-ordinate the agencies in-charge of controlling land use, the size and appearance of new buildings, and their impact on communities across the country.

“There must be an authority to hold people accountable to whatever code that exists because it does appear that the government is seen to be a clear institution that has that responsibility,” he said.

The construction of the mall on the Oxford Street in Osu has become a source of worry to residents within the city with many worried about the possibility of increased traffic on the stretch.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast show Mr. Nkrumah said “the whole thing is that, it is more of which authority oversees this thing. Is it town and country planning; is it the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA)?

According to him, because the country does not seem to have an institution that supervises the construction of buildings in the country, “translating what is on paper to the ground” becomes a problem due to “indiscipline.”

“I think that the whole thing is about monitoring and leadership. Who takes authority in all these things? Who can bring sanctions? Who can say that because you built this thing at variance with the code that we have, that building is going to be pulled down. But you realize that it does not get to be pulled down,” he said.


Many say the Oxford Street Mall, a 13-storey mall, built by the Ghana Libyan Arab Holding Limited (GLAHCO) could lead to an increase in vehicular traffic due to Osu’s narrow streets and the mall’s small car park.

Even though the mall has parking space for 300 cars, some Ghanaians say it would not do much to reduce the traffic situation.


He therefore advised corporate entities to incorporate in their buildings parking lots for their customers instead of focusing mainly on their business.

“Each business entity should not only think of the business it is going to do. It should also think of the welfare of the people who are going to work and those who are going to come in,” he said.

Giving reasons why there is a need to incorporate in the design of any commercial building a parking lot for both workers and clients; Mr. Nkrumah said it gives the staff as well as clients a lot of comfort in terms of security.

He explained that at the new World Bank offices in Accra, visitors as well as staff don’t park their cars outside the building because the building incorporated in its design, parking space for staff and visitors. “This is what we need in urban planning.”

SOURCE[citifmonline.com/Ghana]