Month: April 2023

Mr Bright K. Lenwah, the Municipal Chief Executive of Nkwanta South in the Oti Region has paid a familiarization visit to some communities in the Bonakye North Electoral area.

The communities visited were- Bugna, Jumbu Cheri and Alege-Akura.

His visit was to ascertain the challenges of the chiefs and people of these areas and find immediate solutions to them.

Mr David Yatima, the Assemblyman for Bonakye North Electoral Area, highlighted challenges confronting the communities, which included bad road networks, poor school facilities, lack of potable drinking water, lack of telecommunication network, lack of electricity and poor health facilities.

He commended the MCE for the initiative and hoped that measures would be put in place to address them.

Mr Lenwah, responded to the various issues raised by the communities, and promised to deal with the issues, especially those directly under his jurisdiction and refer those that were not under his immediate control to the appropriate quarters for redress.

He called for continuous support to government policies and interventions regardless of their political affiliation and to live in peace and harmony with one another as the only way to derive development.

The people in the communities visited expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the MCE for his visit saying that, this is the first of its kind a face-to-face meeting was held to ascertain their challenges, which had boosted their hope and confidence in him and his government.

They encouraged him to continue his good works for the people of Nkwanta South and assured him of their support whenever he called on them.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Reverend Dr Komi Hiagbe, Rector of the Global Theological Seminary (GTS), Centre for Capacity Building and Continuing Education (CCB and CE) has called on Christian leaders and church workers to remain committed to their calling.

He said it was important to remind ourselves of the call to serve God fully in all situations.

Dr Hiagbe made the call when he addressed GTS Akatsi Campus students at their maiden graduation ceremony held at Akatsi in the Volta Region.

He called for the commitment in doing God’s work regardless of any challenging moment that may occur along the line.

‘Under whatever condition, let us not be found wanting in doing God’s work. Know that you are serving God,’ he said.

Dr Hiagbe who was also the guest speaker during the short graduation ceremony which saw 20 graduands, commended them on their resolve to enhance their knowledge in doing God’s work.

He urged the graduands to move to higher heights after attaining their initial excellence in Christian Ministry courses.

Reverend Forestone Tsagli, the Akatsi Presbytery Chairman, disclosed that the school was recommended for Catechists, Church Elders, Deacons, Administrtors, and other church workers who desire to be equipped for effective ministry.

The ceremony, which was held at the GEC’s Shalom Chapel auditorium, under the theme, ‘Christian Ministry as Service to Christ and His Kingdom,’ was part of the climax of this year’s Presbytery Representative Conference of the Church, Akatsi Presbytery.

Certificates were presented to all graduands who took part in the mandatory nine-month Ministry Course.

The ceremony brought together some governing council and management members of the school such as, Professor Sampson Agbozo, Council Chairman, Reverend Dr Michael Alloteh Iiamofig, Vice Rector, Dr Hayford BK Kwashie, Registrar, Reverend Forestone FK Tsagli, Presbytery Chairman, Akatsi, Rev. SK Agbeyome, as well as Pastors and Church workers.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to address this year’s May Day celebration in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.

Annually, May 1 is celebrated as Labour or Workers Day across the world to recognise and appreciate the contributions of labour in nation building across the globe.

This year’s celebration would be on the theme: ‘Protecting incomes and pensions in an era of economic crisis: Our responsibility.’

Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister, who confirmed the President’s participation in the celebration to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga, said ‘All is set to receive the President for the occasion.’

He noted that the President had frequently visited the Region, and it was therefore not a surprise that the Upper East Region was chosen for the National May Day celebration, adding that the tourism industry would be boosted.

‘All our major hotels in the Region are full, and that will increase incomes of the business community. In fact, apart from the May Day celebration, since I became Minister, the Region hosted National conferences of the Ghana Bar Association, the Ghana Medical Association, the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union among others,’ he said.

Mr Yakubu reiterated the need for residents in the Region to live in peace to attract more conferences and National events to boost tourism and businesses.

Leaderships of some labour Unions, especially the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) made appeals and shared their expectations from government in this year’s celebration.

Mr Samuel Alagkora Akolgo, the First Vice President of the GRNMA, appealed to government to reconsider its decision to rope in pension funds onto the Domestic Debt Exchange programme.

He said the Social Protection system in Ghana, especially for the aged was not the best, ‘So if people save their money with the hope that they will use that to sustain their lives, and this programme will affect them, we do not think that is fair.’

Mr Akolgo appealed to the President to assure the people that pensioners who had been complaining about their locked up investments would be exempted.

He said the cost of living and taxes had increased after labour negotiated the salaries of workers for 2023.

‘Obviously, these were not factored into the negotiation and now that some of these things are coming up, we expect government to work out a package to compensate workers for the introductions of some of these taxes,’ he said.

He said it was the expectation of the Association government would address inflation rate in the country which he noted affected market prices of items.

‘A lot of workers spend their money mostly on food, so inflation influences the food component so much. This means the purchasing power of the ordinary worker will be reduced.

‘So we expect the President to announce measures that will curtail the high inflation we are experiencing now. From the data, we are hovering above 40 per cent, which is not good for planning,’ Mr Akolgo said.

Mr Charles A. Ateem, the Bolgatanga Municipal Chairman of GNAT said ‘For us as Teachers, we need better conditions of service. We expect the President to tell us what the government is doing to better our conditions of service.’

On Housing Scheme for Ghanaian workers, Mr Ateem recalled that President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of a 120 affordable housing unit to ease the housing deficit in the Region, and said ‘We expect to hear from the President the state of that project.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The first batch of 74 Ghanaian nationals being evacuated from war-torn Sudan will be airlifted from Addis Ababa to Accra on Tuesday, May 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has said.

The Ministry in a statement, shared with the Ghana News Agency, said 76 Ghanaian nationals had successfully crossed the Sudan-Ethiopia border with the assistance of officials of the Ghana Embassy in Ethiopia and were currently in Addis Ababa.

It said arrangements were in place to fly 74 of them to Accra on Tuesday May 2.

Additionally, one footballer and two engineers had been assisted by officials of the Ghana Embassy in Egypt to cross over the Egyptian border post of Wadi Halfa, north of Sudan, while two other footballers were going through immigration formalities, itsaid.

‘The Ministry wishes to reiterate its commitment to evacuate all willing Ghanaians nationals in Sudan to safety to neighbouringcountries such as Egypt and Ethiopia,’ it assured.

It, therefore, urged those in need of assistance to take note of the details of the following persons who were on standby to help them to cross the respective borders.

For Egypt, Mr Peter Okoe Agoe Allswell can be contacted phone number +201-55441-4228, whereas for Ethiopia, MrSamuel Asante can be contacted phone number +251-94242-1242.

Also for Sudan, Mr Osama Ataaelmanna, can be reached on whatsapp number +249-92920-0000/+249-91239-2570.

The statement said the Ministry would continue to keep the public abreast of new development regarding the evacuation exercise.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Workers in Ghana, will Monday, May 1, 2023 join their counterparts around the globe to mark this year’s May Day.

May Day is an international holiday observed in over 80 countries.

It is a commemoration of the achievements of the labour movement.

The holiday may also be known as International Worker’s Day.

For the first time in many years, the Upper East Regional capital, Bolgatanga will host the national parade for this year’s International Workers’ Day (May Day) celebration on Monday.

A cross-section of Ghanaian workers are expected to convene in the city for the commemoration on the theme, ‘Protecting incomes and pensions in an era of economic crisis: Our responsibility.’

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia would be the special guests at this year’s celebration.

The national celebration is expected to start at 8 am and last for six hours. Regional parades would also be held to enable workers to join the celebration.

Ahead of the celebrations, various labour unions have been commending workers for contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC), in a statement issued by its Secretary General Dr Yaw Baah, congratulated all workers for their contribution to the socio-economic development of the country, saying, ‘Ayekoo to all the working people of Ghana! Long live workers’ solidarity! Long Live Organised Labour.’

Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) has commended all workers and leadership for their monumental contribution towards the social and economic development of Ghana over the years.

A statement issued by Mr Dan Acheampong, President, GEA, copied to the Ghana News Agency, extended its heartfelt appreciation to organised labour and all Ghanaian workers on ‘this auspicious day (May Day) when the world celebrates workers.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ethiopian delegation led by the newly appointed CEO of Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise, Beriso Amelo is paying a 3 days working visit to Djibouti.

According to Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti, the delegation today visited SGTD Doraleh Terminal and Doraleh port.

The delegation also discussed with CEO of the port of Djibouti Djama Ibrahim Darar on issues of the Ethio-Djibouti maritime transport and logistics service sector.

The delegation is expected to visit several other port service providing facilities over the coming days.

The CEO of Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics, joined by Ethiopian Ambassador in Djibouti Berhanu Tsegaye has also met with Chairman of Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA), Omar Hadi.

During the occasion the two officials held a briefing session on ways to further cooperation between Ethiopia and Djibouti in the maritime and logistics sector.

The visit aims at taking significant steps to boost Ethi-Djibouti shipping and logistics sector.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

A holidaymaker is being sought after having gone missing in The Gambia.

It is understood Michael Costain, from Rhayader, Powys, travelled to the African country on 8 March and was expected back on 20 March.

It’s believed the 69-year-old stayed in Busumbala, western Gambia, for two days before leaving to travel to the village of Abene, in southern Senegal.

He had booked a flight home but was not on it and has not been seen since.

Dyfed-Powys Police has appealed for anyone with information to get in touch.

Source: BBC

Mr Liam Byrne, the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Inclusive Growth, has congratulated Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin for his lead role in setting up the Parliamentary Network on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Africa. …’I am proud of your role in managing the current difficult situation of a hung Parliament in Ghana, and your efforts at maximizing the power and authority of parliament,’ he said. Mr Byrne, a member of the British Parliament and member of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was impressed with the patronage and interest in the network that Mr Bagbin had been able to generate among MPs on the continent and the strides that the network had made so far in countries where they had been set up. He was speaking at a meeting with Ghana’s Parliamentary Delegation to Westminster in London led by Mr Bagbin, a statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament said on Saturday. Mr Byrne was at the meeting with Dame Caroline Dinenage (DBE MP), former Minister of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It focused on ministerial obligations and parliamentary scrutiny. He commended Mr Bagbin for being able to manage the conflicts in the legislature as well as his endeavours at promoting collaboration and consensus building. Ghana’s 275-Member Parliament is split between the ruling New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress, with one independent member. One of the best ways for Parliament to hold ministers accountable was through the Ministers’ Question Time on the floor of the House, Mr Byrne noted. Mr Bryan, therefore, described the concept of Urgent Questions as one of the most innovative interventions in Parliamentary democracy in the last decade. The British MP advised ministers of state, who inevitably would have to respond to questions from Members of Parliament, to develop the capacity to anticipate when they could be invited to the House to respond to questions from MPs and pre-empt those with statements on the vexed issues, which provided some steer on how they were being managed. Dame Caroline Dinenage, former Minister of State at the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said the conundrum of MPs juggling two roles (that is the addition of ministerial appointment to the job of the MP) was real. ‘Success, in this case, depends largely on one’s ability to assemble a strong team for the constituency work and an equally strong team for the ministerial job,’ she said. Mr Bagbin, on his part, said the dual role of MPs who were also ministers, was a challenging one. ‘Developing policies and other instruments for parliament to approve and then sitting in as an MP to scrutinise to approve it, and then exercise oversight responsibility for how it is implemented could be puzzling,’ he said. However, the role of MPs as leaders was also to provide hope and optimism for the majority of the population, Speaker Bagbin said. …’Consequently, MPS must not be seen complaining about situations in which they find themselves, or else it will generate despondency among the populace, even though current uncertainties within the political domain have had adverse effects on the work of the MP.’ Mr Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, the Clerk to Parliament; Mr Ebenezer Djietror, the Assistant Clerk; Mr Magnus Kofi Amoatey, Legal Counsel to the Speaker; Mr Gayheart Mensah, the Director of the Speaker’s Communication Team, and Mr Charles Dery Tenzagh, the Deputy Director of Parliamentary Relations were members of Speaker Bagbin’s team to the Westminster meeting.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Daniel Noble Awume, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) says a number of programmes and projects will be rolled out in the Municipality by the end of 2023. He said the implementation of the programmes and projects were in pursuant of the President’s development agenda in addition to his vision for the growth of the Municipality. Mr Awume delivering his sessional address to the General Assembly during the First Ordinary Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Hohoe Municipal Assembly on the theme: ‘Partnership for Enhanced Local Governance’ said under social development service, a total of five mechanized boreholes would be provided and completed. He said there would also be a construction of meat shop with mechanized borehole system, procurement of 30 skip containers, ten tricycles and 1000 240 litre household bins. Mr Awume said he would provide support for Persons With Disabilities in the forms of materials and start-up capitals and other financial assistance. He said under agriculture, Farmer Based Organizations (FBOs) and individual farmers would be trained in standards and regulations, post-harvest management and agribusiness, provide support for FBOs for exportation of produce and undertake public education on zoonotic diseases. Mr Awume said Community-based Health Planning and Systems (CHPS) Compound with mechanized borehole and ancillary facilities would be constructed, expand Health Centers with mechanized boreholes and also undertake immunisation for all children against killer diseases under health projects. He said for education projects there would be construction of four 3-Units and one 2-Units classroom blocks, two 10-Seater Water closet toilets with mechanized boreholes, rehabilitation of Municipal library, classroom blocks and provision of both pupils and students, and teachers’ furniture. Under Business and Trade Development, the MCE said he would develop and support youth entrepreneurial skills development and business, register and develop capacity of 100 Micro, small and medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He said he would under infrastructure and human settlement projects, reshape Alavanyo Abehenease-Tsatsadu Waterfalls feeder road, provide logistic for the operations of the 12 Disaster Volunteer Groups (DVGs), re-organize dormant DVGs and organize capacity building program for them on Disaster Management and Income generating activities. Mr Awume said he would also grade 20km selected urban roads in the Municipality, do a sport improvement of 20km of feeder roads and construct speed rumps at vantage points to regulate vehicular speeding and accidents. He said he would reconstitute and provide needed funds to support the establishment of tourism clubs in selected schools, support the activities of the tourism related Development and also develop fliers, construct billboards and other souvenirs to market all the Tourism Sites in the Municipality. Mr Awume said he would build the capacity of the staff of the Assembly, Decentralized Departments and Assembly Members while providing all needed logistics and funds for service delivery. He said he intended to collaborate and closely work with the Member of Parliament, Assembly Members, the traditional authorities, the citizenry, Management and Staff of the Assembly and indeed all other stakeholders and groups for the achievement of the goals for the Municipality. ‘We can and we will achieve more in all the sectors of agriculture, education, health, sanitation, water, roads, infrastructure, business and enterprises if we can improve on our approaches to the work as duty bearers.’ Mr Awume noted that as of December 31, 2022, the Assembly has been able to successfully implement most planned programmes and projects under all sectors. ‘This contributed immensely towards achieving the development goal of the Municipality such as laying a strong foundation for accelerated economic and social development.’

Source: Ghana News Agency