Day: April 28, 2024

The Reverend Fr Samuel Kwarteng, a visiting Priest of the Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Cape Coast, has appealed to Christians to lead the lives of true believers and not just church goers.

He said Christians were sometimes tempted to believe they were true believers, however, the word of the Lord did not abide in them.

‘Our lives should reflect that of Christ. Not all who follow Jesus and listens to his teachings are true believers and Judas is an example,’ he added.

Fr Kwarteng gave the advice in a homily when he was addressing the congregation of the Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 4th Ridge, Cape Coast at a Sunday service.

Speaking on the gospel reading from John 15: 1 to 8, which says: ‘I am the true vine and my father is the Gardner.?He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful,’ he entreated Christians to bear fruit to fulfil their duties as true followers of Christ.

‘À heavy burden is laid o
n us to bare fruit. Imagine feeding a child with all nutrients, and yet he gets kwashiokor. That is what we Christians are becoming,’ he noted.

He admonished Christians to distinguish themselves by filling the world with love, patience, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control not only in words but deeds.

‘Our lives should be of benefit to others. We are the new Pauls, Peters and James,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Air Commodore David Anetey Akrong, Deputy Commandant, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has urged maritime security experts to consult, share knowledge and complement the efforts of each other to enhance safety in the maritime domain.

In a speech read on his behalf, he said the successful maintenance of good order at sea could only be accomplished by concerted efforts and persistent inter and intra-state engagements among nations and regions.

The Deputy Commandant gave the advice on Friday at the closing ceremony of KAIPTC’s two-week Course on Maritime Security and Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) in Accra.

The Course, which started from Monday, April 15 to Friday, April 26, 2024, was sponsored by the German Government.

A total of 24 participants from Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of Congo, Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria and Liberia benefited from the Course.

Participants came from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons Service,
Customs Division of GRA, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Fisheries Commission, Narcotics Control Commission, National Boundary Commission, Volta Lake Transport Company, Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute and some media houses.

Air Commodore Akrong advised the participants to share their experiences with their colleagues who did not get the opportunity to participate in the Course and apply the knowledge acquired at their workplaces.

He said the intricate and dynamic nature of piracy and other TOCs were undoubtedly brought to light by the Course.

‘It was also made clear that the maritime domain is essential to global mobility and trade and is an abundant source of vital resources. Beyond the capacities of individual countries and navies, there is a shared imperative and duty for maritime security,’ he said.

Transnational organised crime refers to those self-perpetuating associations of individuals who operate transnationally for the purpose of obtaining power, influence, monetary and/or commercial gains
, wholly or in part by illegal means.

There are many activities that can be characterised as TOC, including drug trafficking, smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, money-laundering, trafficking in firearms, counterfeit goods, wildlife and cultural property, and even some aspects of cybercrime.

The Course addressed a wide range of topics such security-related vulnerabilities; piracy; illegal,unregulated and unreported fishing; illicit trafficking in its various forms; marine environmental pollution, among other TOCs.

It apprised security personnel and maritime industry players on emerging maritime insecurity and associated TOCs.

Participants got the opportunity to strengthen existing collaboration, coordination, cooperation and information sharing.

The Deputy Commandant thanked the Government of Germany for the assistance in developing, reviewing, financing and delivering the Course.

In her valedictory remarks, Mrs Anwuli Irene Akpu, Certified Protection Professional, Nigeria Ports Authority, lauded
the KAIPTC for the well planned Course content and facilitators for availing themselves to share their rich knowledge and experiences with participants.

She thanked participants for sharing pertinent information and knowledge to enrich each session.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some residents in Tema Community One have called for clarity and a timeline from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on its announcement of ending the erratic power supply soon, popularly known as ‘dumsor’.

Mr Herbert Krapa, the ECG Board Chairman, who doubles as the Deputy Minister of Energy, assured Ghanaians on April 24 this year, that the ‘dumsor challenges will be over in a few days,’ noting that the government has taken measures to ensure a stable power supply for consumers.

Reacting to this, Mr Justice Osei, a resident, told the Ghana News Agency that it was important for the ECG to provide clarity and precision in addressing the power issue.

He said the persistent power outages were unbearable and affecting their lives particularly during the night when sleep becomes difficult because of the excessive heat.

‘We need clarity from the authorities; a few days could mean weeks, even months; we deserve a concrete date for the solving of this ongoing problem,’ he said.

Madam Emmanuella Addo, a provi
sion shop owner, expressed hope that the Board Chairman of the ECG would keep to his words and resolve the issue as soon as possible.

She said ‘dumsor’ was affecting her work because the unexpected power cuts gave little room for effective planning of routines to prevent provisions that needed refrigeration from going bad.

Mr Kwame Appiah, a tailor, said the load-shedding had made it difficult for him to meet his time target production of clients’ clothing.?

He said it would be good if the issue was resolved soon and permanently to help improve business quality.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Thomas Mensah, a Deacon of Believers Temple Assemblies of God, has encouraged Ghanaians, especially, Christians to work diligently to promote national development.

‘It’s true that it’s God’s blessings that make us prosper, but God also encourages us to be diligent; you don’t leave your work to be reading your bible during working hours, it amounts to doing the right thing at the wrong time,’ he said.

Mr Mensah was delivering a sermon on Sunday, April 28, on the theme: ‘My work as my service to God’.

He explained that when people took their work as a service they were rendering to God, it would take away shoddiness, noting that apathetic attitude towards work had been a major setback to Ghana’s progress.

He stated that people sometimes went to the extent of pretending to be sick and stayed home or attended to private activities.

‘We often say that the public sector work is not something that one must work wholeheartedly. This shouldn’t be the situation as it doesn’t auger well for national development,
‘ he said.?

On corruption, Mr Mensah said some people demanded monies were paid to them before a service that had already been paid for was rendered.

‘We often accuse politicians of corruption, yet at our offices, we would not render some service to people until they paid unjustified money for that service.? This ought to stop,’ he said.

He encouraged Ghanaians to continue to work hard, using Proverbs 12:11, which reads: ‘those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense,’ as a reference.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Participants at a day’s stakeholders’ engagement at Winneba have resolved to partner the Central Regional Lands Commission to promote the judicious use of land in accordance with sustainable principles to help curtail conflicts in the area.

They are Neenyi Ghartey VII, Effutu Oma Odefe, Obirifo Ahor Ankobea II, Omanhen of Gomoa Akyempim and representative of Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI, Omanhen of Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Areas.

They also agreed to collaborate with the Commission to ensure that land development in their traditional areas is effected in conformity with the objectives of the Commission as enshrined in the Land Act, 2008 (ACT 767), to ensure sanity in their communities.

In attendance were members and Chief Executives of Effutu Municipal, and Gomoa West, Central Districts, and Effutu Divisional Police Command, who also suggested means to iron out land related issues in the area.

The meeting was organised by the Central Regional Directorate of the Land Commission at Winneba to help curb the
frequent land litigations which at times resulted in incidents of violence and ensure all went about their activities without intimidation and in peace.

In an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Kwame Kwaasi Dansu, Chairman of the Central Regional Lands Commission pointed out that the long standing infractions between the three traditional areas with regards to land boundaries over the years, was of concern to the Regional Directorate.

‘The workshop was therefore to encourage the three traditional areas to cultivate the habit of prudent and proper land management within their jurisdictions to help bring sanity and development to benefit their people.’

He said the security agencies especially the Police, were included to draw their attention on their role to help ensure sanity within the three traditional areas prevailed.

Mr Dansu said the security services would arrest and prosecute persons flouting the laws of the land Act and other regulations governing land acquisition, to serve as deterrent to
others.

He told the gathering that, the Almighty God created land for the benefits of humility and therefore, they must use it prudently to better their lots for development to take place.

According to him, countries that took decision and steps towards prudent land management and administration had advanced in development, hence, it was time the country did same.

‘ Effutu, Gomoa West and Central Traditional Areas are blessed with vast arable lands with natural resources and minerals, but we are still in poverty because of litigation,’ he stated.

Mr Dansu expressed the need for family heads, chiefs, youth groups and caretakers of lands to stop the haphazard sale of lands to estate developers and pocketing the moneys, since their lands were not for them alone but the entire people in their communities.

He called on the chiefs and the stakeholders in the various traditional areas to manage land resources well for both current and future generations to benefit and enjoy its fruits and not to migrate to othe
r areas for greener pastures which were not there.

Portions of land must be allocated for markets, schools, factories, employable and economical gains, rather than taking cars and vehicles in exchange for acres of land, he stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Seth Terkper, a former Finance Minister, has expressed confidence in Ghana getting a waiver from official creditors to support the approval of a third tranche of US$360 million for the country.

Mr Terkper who led Ghana’s 16th International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan-support programme in 2015, said, ‘it may be difficult, though not impossible to secure another waiver because these are major waivers.’

The former Minister and current Executive Director of a consulting firm, Public Financial Management (PFM) Tax Africa Network, was speaking at a virtual media briefing on Friday, April 26, on the back of the country’s programme.

Ghana has reached an interim agreement with its official creditors, but yet to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for debt treatment in line with the parameters of the programme.

While indicating that the MoU would not be a prerequisite for the disbursement of the third tranche, the Fund has also heightened the need for the country to ensure that a deal was reached with official
creditors.

Mr Terkper stated that, ‘it’s not a type of waiver, where we’ve probably fell short of fiscal target by a 0.5 per cent or others, and we promised that we’ll be able to surmount. Reports are that all these problems are surmountable.’

His optimism is on the heels of the country having previously secured a waiver from France and China [Official Creditors Committee Chairs] before the current loan-support was approved last year, just as it was done in the first review.

He encouraged the government to take bold measures to ensuring that enough buffers were created to be able to cater for debt repayment, and reduce the accumulation of same.

‘If you do not set aside money for debt repayment when you’re growing, it’s a mirage, you can never reduce your debt accumulation,’ the former Finance Minister emphasised.

That, he said was required as the country’s revenue at the end of the three-year programme would not be boosted as expected, which together expenditure projections would not be enough for debt s
ustainability and economic resilience.

Ghana’s total revenue and grant for 2022 was 15.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and is expected to reach 15.7 per cent 2023, and 16.7 per cent in 2024.

In 2025, the country’s revenue is expected to be 17.3 per cent, 2026 – 18.2 per cent, 2027 – 18.1 per cent, and reduce further to 18.0 per cent in 2028.

Expenditure, which stood at 27.7 per cent of GDP in 2022, is expected to reduce to 20.4 in 2023, with a marginal increase to 21.7 per cent in 2024, but reduce to 21.6 per cent in 2025 per the programme’s projections.

In 2026, it is projected that Ghana’s expenditure would increase slightly from the previous year to 21.8 per cent, and reduce to 21.2 per cent in 2027, before another decline to 21.1 per cent in 2028.

Mr Terkper attributed this development to the uncertainty as to when the domestic modernised and automated tax system [Integrated Tax Administration System, ITAS] would be completed, and the unambitious nature of the programme to increase tax-to
-GDP ratio by a two-percentage point.

‘Ghana needs to do more on its own, including setting up a credible debt repayment mechanism like the Sinking Fund [a financial reserve set aside to cover the cost of specific future expenses],’ he recommended.

He urged the government to use the Energy Sector Recovery Act (ESLA) to pay off Independent Power Producers (IPP) debts, as the Bank of Ghana kept ensuring that it kept to the zero financing of government expenditure.

Source: Ghana News Agency

?The Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) has acknowledged the enormous contributions of veterinarians in the country to the health of animals, people and the environment as Ghana commemorates the 2024 World Veterinary Day

The GVMA said the application of veterinary science contributed not only to animal health and well-being, but also to human’s physical, mental and social wellbeing.

The commemoration of the 2024 World veterinary Day was on the theme: ‘Veterinarians are essential health workers’, which resonated with the GVMA’s quest for ensuring that the veterinary profession in Ghana continue to contribute significantly to animal and

public health delivery in the country and beyond.

A statement, copied to the Ghana News Agency, stated that the Association recognised the veterinarians pivotal roles in clinical practice, disease diagnosis, food safety and inspection, scientific researches, wildlife medicine, regulatory and public health, ‘therefore, there is no doubt that veterinarians in Ghana ar
e indeed essential health providers’.

‘Veterinarians in Ghana play key roles in promoting animal, public and environmental health through the application of the One Health Approach.’

It said veterinarians worked in diverse areas in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana Armed Forces, Wild life Division of Forestry Commission, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Academic and Research Institutions, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), among others.

They also collaborate with both local and international partners and researchers and carry out activities on diseases of public health and economic importance.

They participate in outbreaks investigation and control.

In commemoration of the Day, GVMA said it would continue to carry out its mandate as professionals to impact lives in the country and urged the Government, the private sector and stakeholders to continuously recognise the crit
ical roles veterinarians and called for motivation for them.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Anomabo Traditional Council has outdoored three new special committees to facilitate a holistic and sustained development in a renewed drive to transform the 64-community ancient coastal city over the next 20 years.

The committees will be responsible for developing policies, ensuring compliance, and generating revenue for development purposes.

They include the Finance and Business Committee which will work with the youth and experts from Anomabo to enhance business development and revenue generation and the Lands and Natural Resources Committee tasked to ensure the judicious use of land and water resources and protection of the environment and its natural resources.

The Development Planning Committee is responsible for the long term development of Anomabo including facilitating the construction of a tertiary institution, a hospital, roads and CHPS compounds in all 64 communities for Anomabo in the next 15 to 20 years.

The committees were outdoored at the quarterly traditional council meeting on Friday
, which was presided over by Nana Baffoe IV, Krontihen of Anomabo Traditional Area on behalf of Kantamanto Amonu XI, Paramount Chief of the area.

The meeting also saw the introduction of two new chiefs; Nana Essuman Ababio, Buranamoa Odzikro and Nana Kofi Amentuw I, Mputohen of the Anomabo Traditional Area.

Nana Offisaa XIV, Mankrado of Anomabo Traditional Area, who introduced the new committees, maintained that it was time Anomabo took its destiny into its own hands and developed.

He stressed the need to take critical steps to generate revenue for development and not wait on government, else they would continue to lag behind.

For instance, he insisted that they had to grow beyond appealing for funds to celebrate their Festival, Okyir.

‘We want to change our concept of governance as chiefs, working with one mind and purpose for a new direction.

‘We need to be independent and not allow politicians to take us for granted,’ he noted.

Nana Offissaa proposed a total transformation of the chief’s palace into
a state-of-the-art facility to attract tourists.

Later, the leadership of the Council proposed an insurance scheme for all chiefs and appealed to the chiefs to commit to the policy and enjoy the benefits.

For his part, Nana Baffoe entreated the committees to work with utmost dedication, truth, unity, and honesty to expedite the development of the city.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) says it has enough funds to pay benefits due its members.

Management of the Scheme said there had been ‘steady growth’ in contributions, contrary to reports that its reserves were ‘depleting’.

The response follows reports quoting the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that the Scheme would not be able to pay benefits by 2036 due to its ‘dwindling reserves’.

In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, Management of SSNIT clarified, among other things, that pension payments were not ‘funded by reserves’.

‘The SSNIT Scheme presently receives contributions and has enough funds to pay accruing benefits due members. The pension scheme is a partially funded scheme and pension payments are funded from contributions and returns from investments.’

‘…There has been steady growth in contributions. This growth is well supported by the current demographics and the dedicated activities of our staff in getting new employers and contributors to join the sc
heme,’ the statement noted.

It added that ‘investment income has been healthy and would offset any unexpected deficit that may arise…The Trust has never missed any pension payment since 1991, when the pension scheme was introduced.’

SSNIT said the Government of Ghana continued to pay contributions on behalf of its workers, and that ‘modalities are in place to service the outstanding contributions’.

The Management reassured the public that it would ‘continue to ensure prudent management of the Fund to meet its benefits payment obligations beyond 2036’.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Nungua Traditional Council has performed ‘Jenten Nishwamo’ -a traditional rite ahead of this year’sHomowo celebrations.

Jenten Nishwamo is a pre-Homowo rite performed to feed the gods with a traditional unleavened corn-made dish-‘kpokpoi’ prepared by the traditional priests and priestess of the area.

This is done by the traditional authorities to feed the deities of the traditional area.

It means that that the gods would not partake in the Kpoikpoi that would be prepared during the actual Homowo festival.

The rite commenced in the morning with the preparation of the meal by the traditional priests and priestess in a sacred space at the Kpowulu No, which represented the Gborbu Groove.

Only a few people were permitted by Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse to witness the preparation, with those doing the cooking prohibited from talking. They used sign langyage.

The Gborbu Wulomo, in Nungua custom and traditions, serves as the interface between the people and the ‘living god’ and th
eir 99 gods; he is also described as the Overlord of the GaDangbe State.

After the preparation, the Oofu Wulomo, second in command to the Gborbu Wulomo, carried the dish in his arms whilst the Gorbu Wulomo-Shitse sprinkled it at the temples of the 99 gods of the GaDangbe State.

Nii Bortey Frankwa, Mankralo of Nungua Traditional Area, said the event was of traditional and historic significance and helped to keep the earth in balance since Nungua fell within the centre of the world.

He said the traditional rite dated back to their historical stay in Israel and had been in existence for more than 820 years.

Nii Frankwa said what made today’s ceremony exceptional was the involvement of Naa Yoomo Ayemode, the newest priestess of the Gborbu shrine, who was unveiled recently.

He said the ceremony also paved way for them to be able to eat the new corn after feeding the gods.

Nii Frankwa said they would be performing seven more traditional rites before the start of the actual Homowo celebrations in July.

Homowo
, also known as Kplejoo, is a traditional festival of GaDangbes in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

The festival starts at the end of April into May with the planting of crops before the rainy season starts.?

The GaDangbe people celebrate Homowo in the remembrance of famine, which they experienced in precolonial Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency