Day: June 10, 2024

CDD-Ghana calls for increase in mineral royalty payments to mining communities


The Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has reiterated calls for an increase in the mineral royalties allocated to mining districts.

Despite Ghana’s longstanding history as a resource-rich nation, it is widely known that communities that produce these minerals are lagging in terms of development.

According to Mr Emmanuel Yeboah, a Research Analyst with CDD-Ghana, the percentage of mineral royalties allocated to mining communities were woefully inadequate, and that had accounted for the gap in development in these communities.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting to review the CDD report on the Mining Districts Development Scorecard at Obuasi, Mr Yeboah said the insignificant 20 percent royalties paid, coupled with the delays in the disbursement of the fund made it impossible for the affected districts to undertake any meaningful development projects in their communities.

He appealed to the Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, the Ghana Revenue
Authority and other key stakeholders, to consider increasing the percentage of the mineral royalties allocated to the districts to bridge the development gap in the mining communities.

The Obuasi Municipal ranked sixth in the latest 2023 Mining District Development Scorecard (MDDS) league table with a score of 35.4, out of 100 points according to the CDD.

The district performance score was said to be below the MDDS overall score of 38.4 points.

This suggests severely ‘weak’ governance practices in the Municipality’s management and utilization of mineral royalties.

The Mining District Development Scorecard is an initiative of the CDD-Ghana with support from Ford Foundation.

It was introduced to track the usage of mineral revenue in mining districts in the country.

The two-year project seeks to promote transparency, accountability and improve social and human development outcomes.

The project’s long-term goal is to empower and strengthen community participation in natural resource governance and manageme
nt for better development at the sub-national level in Ghana.

Obuasi’s score was only better than Asutifi North District and Prestea- Huni valley Municipal.

Mr Yeboah said the Municipality scored poor in two MDDS major component areas, which were; local management committee effectiveness and mineral development fund utilization efficiency.

He said, ‘across all the five major components of the MDDS, the Obuasi Municipal scored an average of ‘ very good’ in 10 out of 12 subcomponents that were assessed and scored using administrative data sources prepared by the Assembly.’

He added that the research discovered weak fiscal transparency as one of the challenges of the Assembly and the local mining committee.

Dr Amina Achiaa Asiedu Amoah, Chairperson of the Local Mining Committee of the Obuasi Municipality, gave the assurance that the committee would intensify its awareness creation campaign for the people to know the activities of the committee.

She also called for increase in mineral royalties allocated to
the districts to speed up development in the mining communities and finance the activities of the LMC including public outreach programmes.

Mr Ali Tanti Robert, Executive Director of the Center for Social Impact Studies, called on the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to scale up its public engagement campaigns to render account to the public on the utilization of mineral royalties.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr. Bawumia promises tax amnesty for Ghanaian businesses in 2025


Ghanaian businesses will receive tax amnesty in 2025 on their operations.

The move will be part of efforts of the country’s transition to the flat rate tax system, where every Ghanaian would have to pay a single rate on taxable goods and services.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, who announced this, said he would also introduce alignment of import duties, when elected as President in the December general elections.

Addressing members of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs as part of his three-day campaign tour of the region, he said this would help importers and businesses to predict on the taxes they would have to pay.

Dr Bawumia pointed out that one thing that was disturbing importers and the business community was unpredictability.

‘This is one thing that is disturbing importers, there is no predictability. The predictability on import duties will help importers to have a fair idea of how much to pay and on a flat rate in Ghana Cedis.’

The quantity of ea
ch goods being imported must have a flat rate, since there is no predictability, prices of goods and services are being increased without notices and benchmarks and this brings about inflationary biases,’ he told the chiefs.

On credit systems, he mentioned that Ghana had been able to generate a database to help implement credit scoring, adding that the country would start credit scoring before December 2024.

Dr. Bawumia, touching on digital skills, pledged to train one million youth in digital skills to maximize job opportunities across the nation.

‘Even people who are school dropouts will be trained in digital skills for a better Ghana.’

The Vice President indicated that since he had worked tirelessly and performed well under the government of President Akufo-Addo if voted as the next President, he would continue to fight corrupt practices and remain accountable to Ghanaians.

He said the Government was in the process of empowering chiefs to be actively involved in the governance system.

To this end, he
noted, the Government would need to amend the Chieftaincy Act, give more powers to chiefs and resource them financially to discharge their duties.

Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Asante Mamponghene, thanked the Vice President for the visit and said the chiefs would always support the government to implement various initiatives that would help improve the living conditions of the people.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Election 2024: Odododidodio NDC parliamentary candidate confident of victory


Mr Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, National Democratic Congress (NDC) has assured his constituents he will bring positive change to them when voted into power in the December polls.

He said he was confident he was going to retain the seat for the NDC which would enable him to bring the transformational change which the constituency had longed for.

Mr Ashie who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Monday added ‘I will also foster unity among the people to ensure that there is always peace in the constituency,’ he said.

He said the Odododiodio seat was a safe seat for the NDC and that he would do everything possible to ensure that the party retained it.

Mr Ashie called on stakeholders to put their best foot together to ensure that the election became peaceful.

He said: ‘We are one people with one nation and for that matter we don’t have to make elections bring division among us.

The NDC Parliamentary candidate said in the spirit of peace we should understand that there was o
nly one Ghana and that elections were meant to choose leaders.

‘It must not become an avenue for conflicts and bloodshed rather comportment and civility must be the guiding principles in our campaigns,’ he said.

‘As we approached the general elections in December, all must resolve to eschew tendencies that could compromise the peace of the country before, during and after the elections,’ Mr Ashie said.

He described the Odododiodio Constituency as a peaceful constituency, saying, ‘it will continue to remain peaceful, let us maintain it as such.’

Mr Ashie advised the youth to desist from being used by disgruntled politicians to foment troubles.

Source: Ghana News Agency

STMA inaugurates ninth Sub-Metropolitan District Councils, Unit Committees


The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has inaugurated its ninth Sub-Metro District Council and Unit Committees as part of efforts to advance the local governance structures within the Metropolis.

The Sub-Metro District Councils, made up of Assembly Members, are Sekondi, Essikado-Ketan and Takoradi, with the Unit Committees comprising the various Unit Committee Members elected during the December 19, 2023, District Level Elections (DLEs).

Mr Abdul-Mumin Issah, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate the Councils, said the gesture was a bold step taken by the Assembly towards deepening transparency, accountability and inclusiveness in its local governance process.

He said: ‘Today, we have successfully carried out a task crucial to our forward-march as an Assembly, in conformity with the provisions in LI 2223.

‘The way is now clear for the Sub-Metropolitan District Councils to meet, elect their respective chairpersons, and constitute the Sub-C
ommittees among others and begin to exercise their mandates.’

The MCE urged the Council Members to deliver on their mandates diligently and help to promote proper participation among the citizenry, while inculcating in them a sense of ownership to the development agenda of the Assembly.

‘As Unit Committee Members, you are to among others support in revenue generation and act in ways that will ensure the protection of our environment against pollution, while embarking on regular engagement with community members on issues of development,’ Mr Issah noted.

He also asked them to be united and work together to help spur the growth and development of their communities and the Metropolis in general.

Mr Eugene F. Ofori-Atta, the Presiding Member of the STMA, stated that the composition of the Sub-Metropolitan District Councils and Unit Committees meant that all structures were fully in place to work assiduously to deepen grassroots participation in local governance and ultimately serve the interest of the good pe
ople of Sekondi-Takoradi.

He said the exercise was a testament of the Assembly’s commitment to entrenching democracy, decentralisation and open governance, and championing development agenda that encompassed input from all levels.

Mr Innocent Haligah, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metro Coordinating Director, urged the members to ensure they worked closely with the relevant authorities in their community to help make the work easier for them.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Asher-Smith wins 100m gold at European athletics championships


Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, won gold in the women’s 100 metre at the European athletics championships in Rome on Sunday.

She got got off to a slow start, but powered through the final 50m to win it in 10.99 seconds and claim her second European 100m title.

Silver went to Ewa Swoboda of Poland (11.03s), while Zaynbab Dosso of hosts Italy took bronze.

In the 1,500m, Ireland’s Ciara Mageean was crowned European champion, after bronze in 2016 and silver in 2022.

Britain’s Jemma Reekie had the lead ahead of compatriot Georgia Bell after 1,000m run. However, Mageean burst through and found the gap between the British pair, to make her move and finish in 4 minutes 04.66 seconds.

Bell kept pace and picked up silver, while Agathe Guillemot of France took bronze. Reekie finished fifth after a disappointing conclusion to that race.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Bawumia meets Black Stars players ahead of CAR clash


The Vice President and Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Monday visited the Black Stars ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Central Africa Republic (CAR).

Dr Bawumia is in the Ashanti Region for a three-day tour and took the opportunity to meet the players and technical team of the Black Stars to encourage them.

Vice President Bawumia congratulated the players on their win against Mali last Thursday and charged them to beat the Central Africa Republic in today’s encounter.

The Black Stars arrived in Kumasi last Friday to prepare for the CAR after stunning Mali in Bamako on matchday 3 of the World Cup qualifiers.

The Black Stars have accumulated six points from three matches and sit joint top of Group I with Madagascar and Comoros.

The Vice President is expected to be at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for the game tonight.

Ghana hopes to make a return to the World Cup tournament for the fifth time in the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026.

Ghan
a qualified for its maiden World Cup in 2006, where it reached the 1/16 stage, and qualified for the 2010, 2014 and 2022 respectively.

The Black Stars best performance was in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where it reached the quarter final stage.

It was eliminated in the group stages in both 2014 and 2022 World Cups.

Vice-President Bawumia is a soccer enthusiast and has been mobilising support for the Black Stars in the past.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Majority of Ghanaian songs lack spirituality value – Enam?


Ghanaian vocalist Enam has stated that most songs released by artists today sound plain and lack spiritual value.

Enam, who recently released her single ‘Libation’, believes that music is one of the most powerful instruments for connecting with others in a variety of ways.

‘Try watching a movie without music or sound, or attending church without hearing music. Music is intended to trigger something deep within us. Something we call spirituality, and when you tap into it, you discover methods to manipulate the world to your will. This bending emerges in a variety of ways, including the ability to impact one’s own life,’ the singer explained.

According to Enam, her genre, Afro-Spiritual, was influenced by the ‘Hadzivodushis’ (priestesses of the song) of the ‘Ye?e’ Shrine in the Volta Region.

‘Music reaches beyond the visible to impact our consciousness, and this impact can be helpful or harmful. Enam emphasised that any style of music devoid of something deep will not fulfil its intended effect on the human
soul.

‘I see music as a mediator of spiritual life. Music has become part of everyday life, and I feel most songs lack spirituality. 

‘Some artists are only concerned with the rhythmic aspect of the sound and how danceable it is, but forget the spiritual connotation,’ Enam said in an interview.

The powerful singer further stated that her purpose in pursuing the Afro-spiritual genre was to make people feel the spirituality of Ghanaian Indigenous people, which was one of her reasons for pursuing a career in music. 

‘Ghanaian music has so much depth, especially when we return to study the way sound has been used by our people, particularly within our indigenous spiritual practices. Everything has a meaning and a purpose,’ she noted.

Following the success of her six-track EP, which features award-winning Highlife artiste Akwaboah, Enam is on a mission to revive interest in the wisdom held in traditional music, and ‘Libation’ is a clear example.

Her new ‘Libation’ song is accompanied by some intriguing visua
ls that invoke a feeling of oneness with the earth and water. At the core of it, that is what spirituality is all about and the oneness in the world we live in.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Highlife music has evolved with new artists taking the genre to another level – Joe?Osei?


Ghanaian highlife composer, vocalist, and performer, Mr. Joe Osei, has shared his perspective on highlife music, saying it was not the same as now. 

He said ‘new ones have been upgraded to another level highlife legend, Mr. Osei had noted, indicating that contemporary highlife music had evolved with compositions transitioning into a more sophisticated realm’.

 

In an interview with GNA Entertainment, the renowned singer of ‘mepe wo asem’ emphasised that whilst classic highlife tunes possess timeless appeal, the current iterations have undergone refinements and advancements that distinguish them from their predecessors.

 

‘The essence of vintage highlife melodies differs significantly from the modern renditions. The genre has been elevated to a higher echelon in terms of musical sophistication.’  

He said that emerging artists had successfully revitalised highlife music, ensuring its relevance and resonance with contemporary audiences. 

‘It is imperative to acknowledge that the torch bearers of today ha
ve adeptly preserved the essence of highlife music, taking into cognisance the tastes of the present generation, ‘he added. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana chosen for high-level dialogue on lasting peace in Ukraine


Ghana has been selected to participate in the maiden High-Level Conference for Peace in Ukraine, an event being organised at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

It is meant to establish a common framework and concrete steps towards a future peace process for a lasting solution to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Switzerland is leading the Conference, slated for June 15 and 16, this year, to establish mutual understanding between as many States as possible on a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

‘Discussions will focus in particular on the various peace plans already proposed,’ a statement issued by the Swiss Foreign Minister and former President, Ignazio Cassis, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), noted.

According to the Swiss Foreign Minister, the time had come to put the culture of dialogue to work for world peace.

‘Even when voices are silenced and weapons take their place, we believe that dialogue has its place…’

The United Nations, as of July 31, 2023, reported that
some 26,015 civilians had been gravely affected in Ukraine since the war commenced two years ago, with 9,369 people killed and 16,646 others injured.

The Swiss Foreign Minister underscored the need for stakeholders to pool their strengths, ideas and visions of the world, however different they may be.

‘The war in Ukraine has had worldwide ramifications. It has spread far beyond the continent of Europe, lighting a fuse before a powder keg capable of turning the whole world upside down.

‘Africa, for example, has suffered its immediate consequences with a steep increase in staple food and fertilizer prices.

‘Whether the war results in food shortage, an attack on territorial sovereignty, a nuclear threat, an impediment to freedom of navigation or a violation of international humanitarian law, its consequences and risks are felt wherever we live on the planet,’ the statement said.

The Swiss Foreign Minister indicated that Ghana had an opportunity to shape this Conference from its specific perspective and cont
ribute significantly by making its voice heard.

Generally, the event will focus on subjects of global interest, such as food safety, freedom of navigation, nuclear safety and humanitarian aspects, including prisoner exchanges.

‘This initiative to end the war in Ukraine can only be followed by concrete and effective action if there is discussion at the highest political level on how Russia can be involved in such a process,’ the Swiss Foreign Minister noted.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana’s underlying fish depletion problem is overfishing – Researcher


Jens Otto Krakstad, a Senior Researcher with the Institute of Marine Research in Norway and Cruise Leader for the Research Vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, has disclosed that Ghana’s fish stock depletion problem is due to overfishing.

Mr. Krakstad said the current 12,000 artisanal fishing boats in Ghana must be re-looked at, as overfishing is the underlining problem of the depletion of the country’s marine fish stock.

He said this when speaking to the media during the commemoration of World Ocean Day at the Tema Port and a tour of the research vessel that is conducting research in the marine waters of Ghana and La Cote I’voire.

He said: ‘I think that with the effort that the two countries are taking together, it will be possible to increase the stocks, but the underlining problem is that we are fishing too much, so even if we are able to regain the fish stock, the situation is that we have more than 12,000 artisanal fishing boats in Ghana, and most probably that number somehow needs to be reduced.’

Mr. Kraksta
d said they have noticed that the pelagic fish stock in Ghanaian waters is especially depleting, as there is a reasonable reduction in pelagic fish in Ghana.

He noted that embarking on the upcoming closed season in July and August was important to give the fish time to spawn and grow up to a size that the fishermen could harvest.

He expressed happiness that Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire were supporting the closed season initiative, adding however that there was a need to reduce overfishing within the marine waters to ensure the sustainability of the fish.

He what they had noticed during the research was that Ghana was in the upwelling system period, in which the ocean current was speeding up and the cold water was coming up to the coast, producing a lot more food for the fish.

‘So, what we see now is that the anchovies are coming into the coast and feeding on the phytoplankton, and we see that most of the sardinella is still in Cote d’Ivoire, albeit moving towards Ghana because the upwelling and production of p
hytoplankton are increasing in the Ghanaian waters. We expect that within a couple of months now there is going to be more pelagic fish also in Ghana,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency