Day: January 26, 2024

Ms. Akua Aniniwa Owusu-Asamoah, the Head of Fiscal Decentration Unit of the Ministry of Finance, has encouraged budget analysts and officers in the various District Assemblies to help the Assemblies raise funds for programmes and projects.

‘Let not rely solely on the Building Operating Permit, property rates but let turn attention on modern and electronic revenue mobilization schemes like crowd funding, individual donations among others to build a better Ghana,’ she said.

The Head of the Fiscal Decentration Unit gave the advice at a two-day workshop for Budget Analysts and Officers, to remind them of the roles in budget control mechanisms and expenditure mainstreaming.

She said: ‘Ghana is now under a programme (IMF) and so we will not be able to do things as usual business, but the need for pragmatic approaches and innovative solutions to help the country get back on track economically in a more appreciable manner’.

The Budget Analysts and Officers were drawn from Western and Western North Regions to pla
n for 2024 and how ethical, professional, efficient and responsiveness could help to cut fiscal excesses in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

Ms Owusu-Asamoah described them as strategic Architect of the District Assembly and therefore, tasked to advise the Chief Executives on spending, proposed better strategies for procurement, identify new revenue items that could bring in more inflows and other potentials of the assemblies for growth.

She advised the officers to change their attitudes towards data collection and analysis, adding, ‘start the process early, co-create the budget with other sectors and departments within and out of the Assembly for effective deliverables.’

Mr Kirk Mensah, the Western Regional Director for the Controller and Accountant Department urged the Assemblies to prepare programme-based budget.

‘Be in tuned with policies and programmes of the day and frame your budget around that for effective implementation,’ he said.

Mr. Mensah also called on them to be abreast
with the Financial and legal framework among other public sector financial management briefs to help them stay on course in the execution of their mandate.

Mr. Daniel Ofosu-Adjei, the Western Regional Budget Analyst said the IMF programme coupled with other economic indicators behooved on such crucial staff of the assembly to ensure prudent resource allocation and usage for the betterment of all.

The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah, urged the District Assemblies to closely work with businesses for the common good of the populace.

He said the growth of the private sector will result in the growth of the local economy and the country at large.

He added: ‘This is the real thing for local economy development and the District Assemblies Concept.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Cape Coast: The Central Regional Office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has made significant subscriber enrolment registering 1,366,321 out of its target of 1,600,244 for 2023.

Representing 85.4 per cent of its target, the Authority is poised to go all out to achieve further strides in the years ahead.

‘For this great achievement, we are exceedingly grateful to the NHIA offices, across the Region.

‘They have worked hard together with our registration outreaches, NHIS App, and stakeholders support has brought us this far,’ Mr Fred Appiah, Regional Director told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Cape Coast.

Recounting the districts’ contributions, he said the Assin North District recorded the highest number of registrants, scoring 94 per cent target of 110,975.00 whilst Gomoa came last, registering 74 per cent of its target of 140,000.

The Cape Coast Metro emerged as the Best Performing Scheme regarding the key performance indicators (KPIs).

Mr Appiah identified the issue of illegal payment
s by some health providers from their subscribers as a major challenge affecting their operations.

However, the NHIA would soon begin what it called ‘the pulpit approach’ of assigning staff to some health facilities in the Region to address such concerns.

It will also strictly monitor health institutions on such misdeeds and accordingly sanction where appropriate to deter others.

To deal with that challenge, again, Mr Appiah disclosed that some health facilities have received sanction letters from the Authority for engaging in illegal payments with the aim of sanitizing the system.

‘The Authority will intensify monitoring, clinical audit, and compliance to ensure some debts could be avoided in the years ahead.

‘Some fund deductions will be affected from claims of some facilities after clinical audits are conducted in 2023,’ he said.

Mr Appiah pledged the Authority’s commitment to work harder with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the 2024 targets were achieved.

Equally, he urged all to enrol using th
e *929# and MYNHIS App to help boost membership for quality healthcare services towards achieving universal health coverage.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Benjamin Essilfie, General Manager of the Emmanuel Co-operative Credit Union, has expressed optimistic of the Union meeting its 2024 financial target to ensure economic transformation.

He said the Union had met all indicators which would facilitate sterling performance in 2024 in the areas of savings, deposits, payment of dividends and others to enhance its operations.

Mr Essilfie gave the assurance when he addressed customers, shareholders, board of directors, management, and staff of the Union at Agona Swedru in the Central Region.

He said the last year performance of the Union was superb as far as financial transactions were concerned and that hundreds of customers, depositors and shareholders were able to meet their expectations.

The General Manager stated that the indices of the 2023 financial performance was excellent despite the worldwide economic crisis that confronted countries including Ghana and that through prudent management they were able to maximize profit.

‘The Union was able to pay e
ight per cent on shares and 10 per cent on deposits respectively to customers, and shareholders,’ he said.

Mr Essilfie said this year, the Union would spread its tentacles to open new branches in Ashanti and Eastern Regions as part of strategic plans to provide service opportunities to businessmen, and women.

He appealed to the people, especially market women and business operators in and around Agona West Municipality and beyond to join Emmanuel Co-operative Credit Union to access quality, and regular financial services.

Mr Essilfie expressed the hope that with maximum support of the dynamic board chaired by Mrs Mercy Asante, the Union has a brighter future in making giant strides in its operations, especially in 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Cape Coast: A man believed to be in his mid-20s has gruesomely decapitated his biological father, Mr Kwaku Manu, at Assin Akrofuom in the Assin South District of the Central Region.

A timely intervention by the Central North Regional Police Command patrol team, saved the suspect, Richard Manu, also known as ‘Azonto’ from being lynched by an angry youth in the area.

The suspect is presently receiving treatment at the St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Assin Fosu under police guard.

Some residents told the Ghana News Agency, that, the suspect earlier accused his father (deceased) of exchanging his destiny for his elder brother following a visit they made together to a spiritualist.

The situation, the aggrieved suspect believed, had aided his elder brother to become rich at his expense and he confronted his father amidst accusations.

The accusations, however, led to a serious altercation between father and son and the latter who was wielding a machete, subsequently inflicted it on his father, beheading him on t
he spot.

Meanwhile, the mother and niece of the suspect who attempted to intervene, also sustained cutlass wounds on their head and back.

The Police patrol team transported the injured people to the St. Francis Xavier Hospital at Assin Fosu.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms Cynthia Anima Boadu, the Bono Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has underscored the need for political tolerance and love among citizens as fundamental principles for nation-building.

She explained until citizens begin to embrace a sense of belongingness and eradicate greed and selfishness, which had been major contributors to corruption and hindered the country’s progress, holistic development would be limited.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani on the NCCE’s theme for 2024, ‘Together We Can Build Ghana, So Get Involved,’ Ms Boadu emphasised nation-building was not the responsibility of one person or a selected few, but rather a collective effort that required the active participation of every citizen.

She stressed every country aspired to achieve prosperity, characterised by robust economic growth, attractive governance and a peaceful environment that fostered economic activities, asserting those objectives could only be accomplished if citize
ns fulfilled their civic responsibilities.

Ms Boadu stressed citizens without positions had crucial roles to play in the governance of the country because they granted authority to the elected few to manage the affairs of the nation.

She questioned whether, ‘we are actively ensuring that this authority and power, vested in a select few is being utilised for the benefit of all citizens.’

Ms Boadu urged citizens to take responsibility for their actions and abide by the law, emphasising that ‘if people are bold enough to break the law, they should also be prepared to face the consequences and allow the legal system to deal with them.’

She noted that was an aspect of citizenship that the populace often neglected, indicating that to build a developed country, all citizens must fulfil their responsibilities of all forms regardless of their positions and circumstances.

Ms Boadu concluded that developed countries demonstrated a strong determination to build and progress, saying unless citizens were fully committ
ed to the task of building the country, the needed level of development would not be achieved.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has urged road users to consider every other person on the road as a ‘mad person’ and be extra-cautious to protect themselves against accidents.

It said that mindset informed a person to observe defensive use of the road, which was crucial in avoiding preventable road crashes and saving precious lives.

Mr Mohammed Abdul-Samad, the Upper West Regional Head of the NRSA, who said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa, observed that carelessness of some road users caused accidents.

‘Don’t trust anybody driving or riding ahead of you, the person can indicate the traffic indicator towards the right but curve at the left.

Just see that every person on the road is mad, you are the only sensible person on the road, so when the mad person does anything on the road you can prevent an accident, that is defensive driving or riding,’ Mr Abdul-Samad explained.

He entreated motorists to respect pedestrians, especially the aged, persons with disabilities an
d children, by stopping for them to cross the road whether at a designated zebra crossing or not to avoid needless accidents.

Mr Abdul-Samad also urged motorists to observe road traffic regulations such as speed limits, rightful overtaking, using traffic indicators and being generally vigilant to help avoid preventable accidents.

He urged teachers to serve as role models to the school children by wearing crash helmets when riding or wearing seatbelts while driving for the children to learn from them.

He cautioned pedestrians to always obey road traffic regulations because they were also liable for prosecution if their carelessness caused accidents.

‘In road traffic law, we call something jaywalking, which is walking carelessly on the road, you can cause an accident.

‘It is punishable by law though; we have never heard that someone has been prosecuted for jaywalking.

Someone can get drunk, misbehave on the road and if a motorist knocks the person down, they tend to blame the driver or rider’, Mr Abdul-Sa
mad explained.

Available statistics from the Upper West Regional office of the NRSA indicate that a total of 143 cases of road accidents were recorded in the region from January to September 2023 compared to 95 cases recorded within the same period in 2022.

That involved 219 vehicles within that period in 2023 while 156 vehicles were involved in 2022, with 12 and 16 pedestrian knockdowns in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

This resulted in 45 deaths and 183 injuries within that period in 2023 while 40 deaths and 153 injuries were recorded in 2022 within the same period.

Mr Abdul-Samad attributed the increase in road crashes in 2023 to gross disrespect for road traffic regulations.

He, however, said the situation could have been worse but for the strong collaboration between the NRSA, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and Motor Traffic and Transport Department in their sensitisation drives.

Mr Abdul-Samad said the Authority and its partners would not relent in their efforts to curb the menace of road cr
ashes by engaging in public education through the media, institutional visits, and public places such as market centres.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nana Yaw Peperah II, the Chief of Sefwi-Akurafo, near Boako in the Wiawso Municipality of the Western North Region has identified the lack of educational and health infrastructure as a major challenge in the community.

 He has, therefore, appealed to the Government, through the Wiawso Municipal Assembly and other benevolent organisations to assist the community in acquiring such amenities to improve upon their living standards.

Nana Peperah II made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after traditional rites to introduce him to the community as the new chief were performed.

He mentioned the abandoned six-unit classroom block and the community CHIP compound which are in a deplorable state.

He said urgent steps must be taken to give a facelift to those facilities.

He pledged the community’s readiness to participate in communal labour to complete any government project that would be initiated in the community.

Nana Peperah II said: ‘The only CHIP compound here that serves Tiabante, Apromp
e, Kojohunu, Mmofranfa Adwene and Fawoman has only one delivery bed, no furniture or beds and toilet facility. That is a big worry.’

He called on the Wiawso Municipal Assembly to take steps to ensure the completion of the abandoned school block and renovate the CHIP Compound to help promote quality education and healthcare delivery in the area.

The traditional leader further advised the youth to avoid indulging in violent activities as the country prepared to go to the polls on December 7.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: The ECOWAS Court of Justice has declared the State of Côte d’Ivoire liable for the violation of the rights of Adou Kouamé and nine other Ivorians.

It has, therefore, ordered the Ivorian government to pay 50 million CFA Francs to each of them as compensation.

In its judgement delivered by Hon Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, Judge Rapporteur, the Court declared that the respondent (State of Côte d’Ivoire) violated the right to a healthy environment and health, right to private and family life, right to an adequate standard of living and food, right to freedom of religion and right of minorities to have their own culture.

However, the Court dismissed the Applicants (Adou Kouame and Others’) claim that their property right was violated, for lack of sufficient evidence of ownership.

The Court also declared the second, thirteenth and fourteenth Applicants in the suit as improper parties before the Court, stating that they did not present evidence showing their relationship with the parents th
ey claimed to be representing respectively.

The Applicant’s request for collective compensation was dismissed by the Court too.

In the Applicant’s case, one Kouame, village head of Similimi and 14 other residents, claimed that the State of Côte d’Ivoire’s failure to protect them from the negative effects of the mining activities in their community violated their right to a healthy and sustainable environment, and health, right to religious and cultural freedom, right to private and family life, right to adequate standard of living and food, and right to property guaranteed under international laws cited in the application.

The Applicants’ lead Counsels, Mr Rashidi Ibitowa, Ms Geneviève Aïssata Diallo and Mr Jonathan Kaufman argued that the Ivorian government did not ‘take measures to give effect to human rights protected by international law.’

They added that the mining operations have had adverse effects on plantations, forests, rivers, and places of worship causing them health hazards from polluted wate
r, polluted air, explosions, noise pollution and ground tremors.

‘And that their ancestral places of worship were destroyed by the mining activities including altars for sacrifices and they are of the opinion their ancestors are angry with them because their prayers and invocations were no longer answered,’ they said.

They also asked the Court to hold the State liable for failure to validate the impact assessment results of 2010 that would have resettled them, adding that the Ministry of Mining and Geology renewed the mining licence of the company in 2018 even though the environmental damage persisted, and the company had not fulfilled its obligations.

They demanded 12 billion CFA francs as compensation for the estimated 600 residents of Similimi, and another 3 billion CFA francs for the Applicants for the prejudice suffered, and an order for their resettlement, among other reliefs.

The Respondent said that following the exploitation of the mines, and the residents’ demand for compensation from the mining
company as well as complaints of adverse effects on water and human health, the Minister of Environment engaged its agencies like the Ivorian Anti-Pollution Centre and the National Environment Agency and that their reports led to the suspension of the activities of the mining company by an Order of November 11, 2015.

However, the company was allowed to resume activities in 2016 while implementing corrective measures, adding that periodic meetings between all parties continued until 2020 and that a general meeting was held in 2021.

The Respondent asked the Court to declare the case inadmissible, arguing that the matter was within the jurisdiction of national courts and that the Applicants’ claims were ill-founded and should be dismissed.

In the judgment, the Court which held that the matter was within its jurisdiction, also asked the State of Côte d’Ivoire to ensure the residents of the Similimi community located in Bondoukou district in Côte d’Ivoire were resettled in compliance with relevant laws .

It wa
s also to ensure a healthy environment was restored rapidly, end the ongoing environmental degradation, and hold the perpetrators responsible for the environmental degradation.

The State of Côte d’Ivoire was ordered to bear the cost of litigation and submit to the Court within three months measures taken to implement this judgment.

Also on the bench were Justices Edward Amoako Asante (presiding) and Dupe Atoki (Member).

Source: Ghana News Agency

London: Dr Martin Luther King has been honoured by the Camden Council in London through the United Kingdom’s first heritage plaque recognising the work of the legendary American civil rights leader.

The blue plaque was unveiled at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, where Dr King preached a sermon for the first time in London on October 29, 1961, during a visit to the UK.

It is mentioned in the church’s history, and six decades later is still remembered by people who were there at the time.

Dr King, born on January 15, 1929, was a Baptist minister and one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.

London?s blue plaques scheme, founded in 1866, and run by English Heritage, celebrates the links between notable figures of the past and the buildings, grand and humble, in which they lived and worked.

There are 1,000 such plaques in London.

Camden Council, alongside the Nubian Jak Community Trust (NJCT) and Bloomsbury Baptist Church, organised the unve
iling of the plaque on Wednesday.

They said that not only was this the first plaque honouring Dr King in the UK, but was also the first commemorative plaque to be unveiled in 2024 and the first to be installed on a place of worship.

‘As a borough we want to do more to shine a light on those who have made a real, lasting difference in this world,’ said Camden Councillor Sabrina Francis, Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture.

‘It was an honour to unveil a plaque for Martin Luther King with local communities to celebrate his life and work, with the hope more people can learn about his crucial campaigning for equality and peace.

Councillor Nadia Shah, Cabinet Member for Voluntary Sector, Equalities and Cohesion, said: ‘What a fantastic day honouring Martin Luther King with a commemorative plaque at Bloomsbury Baptist Church – a place visited by Dr King over 60 years ago.

‘Ensuring our public spaces celebrate and reflect the diversity of our communities is a priority for us and why we are committed to h
onouring individuals from communities that have been historically underrepresented.’

Dr Jak Beula, CEO of NJCT, said: ‘Although Martin Luther King is a name that has transcended generations, I’m pleased that we have identified a space where he had a presence in the UK, and where future generations can go to feel connected with him.

The NJCT says it is dedicated to installing blue plaques commemorating significant individuals from underrepresented communities.

Since 2006, it has installed over 90 commemorative blue and black plaques around the UK.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has asked the media to give a total media blackout to Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu Senya East, with immediate effect.

The call follows a ‘cold silence’ on the part of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Police over an assault on Mr David Kobbina, a journalist with Cape FM at Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana.

‘Having consulted with our partner institutions, including GIBA and PRINPAG, as well as senior members of the Association, the GJA calls that all media houses must give total media blackout to Mavis Hawa Koomson and stay away from her as MP, Minister of State or any other public capacity and position she may hold.

‘This is because we believe there are thugs, unreasonable and evil-minded people around the MP who pose a serious threat to the lives of journalists and other media practitioners. I must emphasise that we have nothing against the person of the MP, but we are scared of
people around her.’

Mr Dwumfour said this at a press conference in Accra.

The conference was to give an update on the assault of the Cape FM journalist and the general safety of journalists.

He urged the NPP leadership, at the national and regional levels, to identify the thugs who assaulted the journalist and sanction them appropriately.

The GJA President said the Police must speed up investigations and prosecute the perpetrators, adding that, the Police must also identify and sanction the officer, who invited the journalist and watched on whilst he was beaten mercilessly.

Mr Dwumfour said the call for a total media blackout on the MP would last until further notice and may be reconsidered if the NPP and Police acted.

‘We are following this case with keen interest, and we shall periodically review it and update the public on the same. Colleagues, we urge all media houses to rally behind our call and ensure that it has a biting effect.’

On Thursday, January 4, 2024, Mr David Kobbina was assaulted at th
e Central Regional vetting of parliamentary aspirants of the NPP at the Regional Coordinating Council by some thugs, numbering about 15 and wearing a branded T-shirt of Mrs Koomson.

According to reports, the attackers mistook Mr Kobbina for another person, who had allegedly insulted the MP, also the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.

‘These thugs would have killed Kobbina, but for the timely intervention of some of his colleagues around. They did not care about the evidence Kobbina showed them that he was not the one they were accusing. That is how unreasonable they are.’

He appreciated the kind gesture of Mr Peter Mac Manu, a former National Chairman of the NPP, for offering Ghc1,400 to cater for Mr Kobbina’s hospital bills, after being informed of the incident.

The GJA President said following a news conference on January 8, 2024, to address the issue, the GJA served notice that if by close of Friday, January 12, 2024, its demands had not been met, it shall advise itself.

He said the G
JA also submitted written petitions to the NPP, both at the national and regional levels, and the Ghana Police Service, pursuant to the demands.

Mr Dwumfour said three weeks after the assault, no arrests had been made, thereby denying Mr Kobbina justice.

Mr Kwasi Pratt, a Veteran Journalist, noted that over the past couple of years, there had been repeated assaults on journalists by security personnel and party activists.

He said it was important for the GJA to send a signal that it would not tolerate such acts going into the December General Election.

‘It is important to insist that our rights are protected. We do not want to have another Ahmed Suale. It’s about time we sent a signal that we’re ready to fight all the way until media freedom is respected,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency