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Ghana to benefit from US govt’s $300m fund to build a first-of-its-kind data centre in Accra
May 21, 2023
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has announced $300 million in funding for African countries including Ghana.
The Corporation announced that it is using its $300 million loan facility to Africa Data Centers (ADCs), Africa’s largest network of interconnected data facilities, to construct a first-of-its-kind data centre in Ghana.
The Ministry of Finance confined that Ghana was benefiting from this facility as a result of the renewed investor confidence in the economy due to the $3billion bailout approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Office of the Finance Minister tweeted “Following the #IMFDeal, the @UnitedStates has led the way to signal renewed confidence in Ghana as an attractive investment destination. We welcome the announcement of a $300m private capital investment through @DFCgov, to build a first-of-its-kind data center in Ghana.”
The Board of the Fund unanimously approved Ghana’s bailout on Wednesday, May 17 at a meeting in Washington after Ghana secured the Paris Club financing assurance on Friday, May 12.
Debt Exchange: We're in a crisis, lower participation will prolong recovery - Ofori-Atta
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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged authors who write on African history to report the truth about the continent.
He also urged them to give praise where it has been earned, and criticism where it is deserved.
On Friday, 19th May 2023, at the request of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Akufo-Addo chaired the launch of two biographies, “State of Repair – How Muhammadu Buhari tried to change Nigeria for good” by Anthony Goldman, and “The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari” by Senator Abu Ibrahim, in Abuja, Nigeria.
As leaders, he said “we all have our high and low moments, but I have no doubt that posterity will be kind to Muhammadu Buhari. West Africa, Africa, and, indeed, the world will miss his leadership – the leadership of the military ruler turned consummate democrat, who was extremely solicitous of Nigeria and Africa’s interest, and who sought for principle in all decisions in which he took.
National Security is one of the wasteful ministries in Ghana - Adam Bonaa
“I congratulated the Englishman, Anthony Goldman, and the Nigerian, Senator Abu Ibrahim, for their industry and scholarship.
“And to the many other authors, poets and playwrights on the continent, I urged them to tell the African story truthfully and with flair, and to give praise where it has been earned, and criticism where it is deserved.”
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Speaker Tasks Parliament Staff
May 21, 2023
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has asked Parliamentary Service staff to uphold the essential values of honesty, integrity, and hard work that define the Parliamentary Service.
Speaking at a ceremony in Parliament to honor retiring service personnel for their remarkable contributions to the legislative process, Mr. Bagbin stated that staff employees needed to improve their knowledge and skill sets by participating in capacity-building programmes.
A total of 14 retiring employees of the Parliamentary Service were honoured for their exceptional dedication and contributions to the work of Parliament.
Speaker Bagbin commended the retiring staff for their work ethics and sacrifices, and pledged his unwavering support for initiatives in recognizing the work and contributions of staff.
He emphasised the importance of continuous learning and professional development in order to ensure growth and effectiveness within the Parliamentary Service.
He encouraged the retiring officers to document their experiences so that they might be used to advise and motivate current staff, as well as to build a culture of excellence and continuity in the service.
Speaker Bagbin called upon the existing staff members to embrace their role as mentors, providing guidance and support to their successors.
“By sharing your wisdom and expertise, you will help uphold the principles of the service and ensure a smooth transition for future generations of parliamentary staff,” he said.
As symbols of appreciation for their essential efforts, retirees were honoured with certificates of service, citations of honour, and gifts.Source: dailyguidenetwork.com
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Greater Accra regional Minister, Henry Quartey has been nominated as the business-friendly governor of the year in the upcoming African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2023.
ABLA has 16 categories rewarding exceptional corporate practices and outstanding achievers in Africa.
Under category four (4) of the ABLA 2023 polls, Hon. Henry Quartey (MP) Greater Accra Regional Minister has been nominated.
We humbly request you to vote. kindly click on: http://bit.ly/ABLA23
https://www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk/abla-2023-vote/
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Basoah To Be Buried yesterday
May 21, 2023
The late New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for the Kumawu constituency, Philip Atta Basoah, who died on March 13, 2023, will be buried today.
A high-powered delegation from both the majority and minority sides of Parliament are billed to attend the funeral at Kumawu, in the Ashanti Region, to pay their last respects to their former colleague who died suddenly. He was one of the three absentee MPs during a crucial vote to confirm President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial appointees a day after his death.
Party representation
A strong party representation, including the Ashanti regional chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), is expected to grace the occasion.
Ahead of the funeral, former President, John Dramani Mahama, led a delegation yesterday to the area to campaign for the party’s parliamentary candidate in the upcoming by-election, scheduled for Tuesday.
Statement
A statement issued by the special aide to the former President, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, said the leadership of NDC had been in the constituency supporting the candidate, Akwasi Amankwa, and his executives in the campaign.
The statement said former President Mahama is joining the national chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and others, already on the ground, to lend his support to the campaign.
He was expected to have called on the chief of Kumawu, before meeting various groups to campaign.
And on Sunday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is also expected to lead a team from the Jubilee House and party faithful to crown the moment and mobilise support for the NPP candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim.
Mr Anim, 38, and a Chartered Accountant won the NPP primary on Sunday, April 23, after polling 195 votes as against his closest rival and the only female in the five-man race, Obaapa Ama Serwah, who polled 181 votes.
Kwaku Duah, a former NPP member who went independent in the last parliamentary election at Kumawu, is also contesting the Kumawu by-election.
Profile of Basoah
Philip Atta Basoah, 53, was a member of the seventh and eight Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
He entered Parliament in 2012 and held onto the seat in subsequent elections until his sudden demise.
Before entering Parliament, he was the project coordinator of the Ghana Education Service in the Ashanti Region.
He was also the District Chief Executive at the ministry of local government for the Sekyere East District from 2005 to 2009.
The late Basoah was once a tutor at the Agogo Senior High School.Source: graphic.com.gh
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Ghana has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions at entry points across the country, effective Saturday, May 20, 2023.
According to a statement signed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Saturday, "the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on 5th May 2023 that COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Globally, there are decreasing numbers of deaths and hospitalization with high levels of population immunity against SARS-CoV. Though COVID-19 still remains a global health threat, it is time for countries to transition from emergency mode to managing COVID-19 alongside other infectious diseases.3".
In view of this restriction at all entry points is lifted and pre-departure testing and testing at all entry points are no longer mandatory for all passengers.
COVID-19 health declaration form for international travelers has also been suspended.
While the restrictions are lifted, the Ghana Health Service emphasizes the need for constant vigilance and protection against COVID-19 infections. The vaccination drive will continue, and individuals with symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat will be tested for both influenza and COVID-19 at sentinel sites across all 16 regions. Surveillance efforts will also be ongoing to identify any new variants of concern.
The public is advised to maintain general safety measures such as regular handwashing with soap and water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Those experiencing symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat are encouraged to seek medical assistance at the nearest health facility. Positive COVID-19 cases will be managed according to existing protocols.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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One person has been confirmed dead whiles 23 others have sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident that occured on the Sefwi Afere - Sefwi Juaboso stretch of road Saturday morning in the Western North Region.
According to report, the victims were traveling from Aboaboso to Afere all in the Sefwi Bodi District for a funeral.
Just about a few minutes into the Sefwi Afere community, one of the back tyres of the Sprinter bus with registration number ER 1993-13 burst making it veer off the road and headed into the bush.
A young lady who was in the Sprinter bus died on the spot and the others including the driver sustained various degrees of injuries.
The twenty three injuried persons have all been admitted at the Sefwi Juaboso government hospital receiving treatment.
Mr Francis Adama, Unit Committee Chairman of Sefwi Afere, who confirmed the tragic incident to the media revealed that this is not the first time of witnessing such an accident, adding that the previous once are not serious as compared to what happened on Saturday.
Mr Adama used the opportunity to advise the drivers especially those who ply that stretch of the road to be extra careful when using it.Source: Kwabena Dickson/ Western North Regional Correspondent, UTV
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Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) Ghana, a revenue and assurance audit firm, recently held a stakeholder engagement with the Board of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to discuss a sustainable roadmap that both parties could take to accelerate revenue growth in the country.
The engagement's goal was to improve good governance by promoting transparency and accountability in the government’s financial affairs.
During the meeting held at the SML Ghana’s office in Tema, Managing Director for SML Ghana, Christian Tetteh Sottie, stated that this meeting comes on the back of an already fruitful relationship between both parties.
He added that the interaction would deepen the collaboration between SML Ghana and the GRA as they discuss challenges and prospects around the advancement and achievement of the country's enhanced revenue mobilisation drive.
"This meeting with the Board is part of our mandate to deepen our synergies with the Ghana Revenue Authority, and by that, we took them through the detailed methodology of how SML Ghana is leveraging technology to improve the sector. When we do this, we are always on the same page and are able to communicate effectively as well," he said.
Mr. Sottie also reaffirmed SML Ghana's commitment to increasing government revenue mobilisation, saying, "We appreciate your presence and the effort you put into assisting us in smoothly performing our daily activities, and we assure you that SML Ghana will continue to put in all the necessary measures and processes in place to ensure a smooth audit process because we understand the impact that these activities have on the overall state of the economy.”
Board Chair for the GRA, Dr. Anthony Oteng-Gyasi, lauded SML Ghana for adopting and putting into place significantly more effective digital and innovative controls leading to an increase in the government's ability to raise revenue.
"What we have seen here today is indeed a good job by SML Ghana, and we are very happy to know that they keep monitoring in real-time and at all times, and we hope that these processes should further enhance our tax collection and also increase our revenue mobilisation," he said.
To address any future shortcomings, Dr. Oteng-Gyasi urged SML Ghana to continue investing in innovative measures, while emphasising the importance of building ongoing relationships that enrich the audit quality and improve revenue mobilisation processes.
"We will urge you to maintain the standard in terms of the sensors you use and the management devices and to avoid falling out and giving incorrect readings. The entire nation is counting on you for these revenues, and the GRA is prepared to provide the necessary assistance to ensure smooth revenue assurance," he stated.
The GRA’s Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, whiles similarly extolling SML Ghana’s role, stated that the tax authority is increasingly seeing the need to apply data in revenue collection. Consequently, he said, the GRA would look at other sectors where SML Ghana’s audit processes could be applied to help close the country's revenue gap.
"Since they began, we have seen an increase in revenue, and whatever opportunity we have to look at it in other areas, we will pursue it, but at the end of the day, the goal is to be able to increase revenue, and we are quite pleased with what they have done thus far. So we will continue to monitor the areas where we know that monitoring will aid in closing the revenue gap," he said.
Instant Impact
SML Ghana partnered with the Customs Division of the GRA to implement the Electronic Metering Management System (EMMS) project. This digital measurement project aims to monitor revenue from downstream petroleum products from over 20 depots across Ghana. The EMMS digitises the entire process chain, providing an end-to-end audit and assurance for the GRA in the downstream petroleum sector.
Since its introduction in 2020, SML Ghana's technological solutions have resulted in an average monthly volume of 450 million litres of petroleum products recorded by its meters in the petroleum sector.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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GTA Closes 6 Facilities Over Levy Debts
May 21, 2023
The Ashanti Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) last Thursday closed six hospitality facilities in the region for the non-payment of the Tourism Levy contrary to Legislative Instrument (LI) 2185.
It was part of a bigger exercise to clamp down on facilities that had defaulted in the payment of the Tourism Levy.
About 20 facilities in the region owed the GTA over GH¢200,000 in levies they collected on its behalf.
One of them owed GH¢29,338, the highest of the debts by a single company, for a period dating back to 2011.
The amount owed was for the period up to June 2022.
Exercise
Briefing the press, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the GTA, Frederick Kyei-Rudolph, said most of the facilities had refused to remit the authority with the levies.
He said all the facilities were given reminders but failed to heed to the request, and that the level of compliance with the payment of the levy in the region was not very encouraging.
He said although the authority had licenced more than 700 hospitality facilities in the region to charge the levy, “we get about half of them regularly paying the levy on monthly basis”.
He explained that the levy was not a tax charged on the facilities, but a levy paid by consumers, and expressed worry about how the facilities kept defaulting in the payment of the receipts they made to the authority.
Mr Kyei-Rudolph said the owner of one of the facilities was a recalcitrant client who kept operating even though closure notices had been pasted on the doors of the facility.
In all, six facilities out of the eight visited were closed down, with the other two making undertakings to pay their debt within two weeks after making part payment before the visit of the team.
The Authority has earmarked 20 faculties in the region for the exercise which is expected to last for two days.source: graphic.com.gh
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The Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 general elections, John Dramani Mahama, has advised constituents of the Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti Region to accept every form of inducement from elements of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and vote against them in Tuesday’s by-election.
The former President, who was in the constituency to commiserate with the family of the late MP, Philip Basoah, who is to be buried on Saturday, May 20, urged the constituents to alter their voting pattern this time around.
“Kumawu constituency, shake yourself a bit in this by-election because they [NPP] have taken you for granted for too long. May the soul of Basoa rest in peace. I see his death as a sacrifice to Kumawu Constituency. If not for his passing, there is no way we will see this heavy earth-lifting machine on Kumawu town roads” he stated.
Campaigning for the NDC’s parliamentary Candidate, Kwasi Amankwaa, popularly known as Tom Cee at Bodomase near Kumawu, the former President reminded the constituents that their loyalty to the NPP in elections has not brought about any meaningful development.
“The road from here to Drobonso was constructed by the NDC. The road from here to Agogo was also done by the NDC. The water we drink here in Kumawu, it is the NDC that brought it here. When we were distributing hospital projects, we told ourselves that Kumawu people also deserve one, and we brought one here. Unfortunately, when we lost the 2016 election, the NPP government abandoned the project for over six years now. But because of the upcoming election, they are not trying to do something there. If they complete it that’s good for you, but if they don’t complete the project, I want to assure you that the next NDC government will complete it for you” he said to loud cheers from the crowd.
“I am here to introduce to you Tom Cee [Kwasi Amankwaa, NDC’s Parliamentary Candidate for Kumawu], as the man the NDC chose to represent us. I beg of you, change your voting pattern a little. You’ve always voted for the NPP, but every legacy project here and at Bodamase came to you through the NDC.
The former President accused the NPP of inducing voters in the constituency.
“The NPP is on a door-to-door campaign sharing a cup of ‘Tugyimie’ [Low-quality rice] to you in the constituency just to win your votes. So now, the NPP thinks the value of your vote value is a cup of Tugyimie [[Low-quality rice]? I am pleading with you that when they bring the Tugyimie [[Low-quality rice] please take it, cook and eat it. But on Tuesday, tell them that your voting power cannot be influenced by a cup of rice. The voting day is Tuesday. Please come out in your numbers and vote for Kwasi Amankwaa devoid of violence.”
“Kwasi Amankwa is number 2 on the ballot paper. I’m confident that something will happen in Kumawu on Tuesday. We have to change things and change the NPP” he noted.
The NPP’s candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim, is number one on the ballot paper; the NDC’s candidate, Kwasi Amankwaa, takes the second spot, while the third and fourth positions are for two independent candidates who bear the same name, Kwaku Duah.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has rejected claims that the construction of the Kumawu roads is intended to win votes in the impending by-election.
He said procurement for the construction of the Kumawu internal and other roads in the constituency was made long before the demise of the former MP, Philip Atta Basoah.
“Basoah’s passing is only a coincidence, it is unfortunate and regrettable, but everything will be done to honour his name posthumously,” the Minister told the media after inspecting the progress of work on the Kumawu roads.
Mr Amoako-Atta said the ongoing works were not limited to only Kumawu but also Juaben, Effiduase and Asokore which were not in the Kumawu Constituency.
“Are people of Juaben, Effiduase, and Asokore part of Kumawu Constituency or are they going to take part in the selection of the next MP for Kumawu?” he asked.
“When the late MP was alive, he had on two occasions gone to the Paramount Chief to inform him about plans to commence the project,” Mr Amoako-Atta claimed.
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A man has died alongside his two nieces while travelling for his mother’s funeral in the Bono East Region.
The accident occurred on Friday, May 19, 2023, at Enyiresi in the Eastern Region on the Accra-Kumasi highway.
The man, identified as Kofi Gyan, was driving a Hyundai Sonata car with registration number GS 7776-19.
The car is reported to have fallen into a river along the highway when he lost control of the steering wheel in an attempt to avoid a head-on collision with a sprinter bus that had made a wrongful overtaking.
This resulted in the death of the three occupants.
Confirming the incident to Myjoyonline.com, an Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Alex King Nartey of the Public Relations Department of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), said the bodies of the deceased, one male and two females, were deposited by officers of the GNFS at the Enyiresi Government Hospital.
According to him, the GNFS received a distress call about the incident at 6:10 am on Friday, and arrived at the scene at 6:33am. He said the three bodies and the car were retrieved at 7:03am using the GNFS’ equipment.
According to ADO King Nartey, their preliminary investigations suggest that the car may have crashed on a hard surface since it was severely damaged from the front.
Although the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) is yet to comment on the accident, ADO King Nartey said he suspects the driver of the sprinter whose reckless overtaking caused the accident fled the scene.
He, therefore, appealed to members of the public who may have been on board the sprinter bus to volunteer information to the police that can lead to the driver’s arrest.
A group of young men from the community had attempted to retrieve the bodies and the car from the river, but were unsuccessful until officers of the Ghana National Fire Service arrived at the scene.
Kofi Gyan, the Executive Director of Initiators of Change Foundation, a non-governmental organization, is said to be a native of Kwabeng in the Nkoranza South Municipality of the Bono East Region.
The deceased, Kofi Gyan, Executive Director of Initiators of Change NGO. A check on his Facebook page showed that he made a post on Thursday, May 18, about the mother’s funeral, before traveling the following day only to die.
In the month of May and April this year, he made several Facebook posts about his mother’s demise and funeral arrangements while paying tribute to her.
His 75-year-old mother’s funeral was set for Saturday, May 20, 2023.
His friends and colleagues who are devastated by the shocking news of his passing have been mourning him on his Facebook page.
A further check on his Facebook page revealed images of several prominent personalities he had come into contact with through the activities of his NGO, Initiators of Change Foundation.
He had photos with former President John Agyekum Kufuor and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia among other prominent personalities.
Myjoyonline.com checks also indicate that the deceased is son-in-law to the Most. Rev. Dr. Robert Aboagye-Mensah, a former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana.
Kofi Gyan, who was in his late 40s, is the eldest of his siblings and also the bread winner of his family.
He was survived by three children and a wife who’s currently working outside Ghana.
His two nieces who died with him are said to be his sister’s children. Beatrice Yeboah and the other, only identified as Abena, were aged between 24 and 28.
"DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of freshgh
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GALAMSEY: THE MENACE CAN ONLY CEASE WHEN NDC, NPP JOIN HANDS TO COMBAT IT_YOUTH EMPLOYMENT COORDINATOR.
Oct 14, 2022
Bibiani Ahwiaso Bekwai Municipal deputy youth employment coordinator and NPP communicator Zunia Nana Darko has asserted that the galamsey canker can only be defeated when both the majority and minority sides conjoin to battle it.
Interacting with AkuapemHann, he revealed that shovel and pick axe were the only tools used for galamsey during former president Kuffuor's era which didn't affect water bodies however, the influx of Chinese galamsey kingpins into the country in late Prof. Mills' administration introduced excavator and dredging method for illegal mining in 2010-2012.
In furtherance, he rebutted that if the previous government was able to solve the problem of galamsey, Nana Addo wouldn't have fought it anymore.
Beseeching all and sundry to assist in protecting our water bodies from this venomous activity, he identified Ankobra,Tano, Offin, Pra and Bia as galamsey engulfed rivers nationwide.
In his submission Charles Obeng (Sir Coke), an NDC communicator in the Bibiani Ahwiaso Bekwai constituency also bantered that Nana Addo as president of the country has failed the fight against galamsey because he has permitted his party members, financiers and other government officials to jeopardize our environment with impunity adding that both NPP and NDC coming together in finding a lasting solution to curtail galamsey is never the best antidote to stop illegal mining.
Story by AkuapemHann Okyeame Radio-Bibiani.
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The Businessman and Assembly member of Mpatuam west electoral area of Manso Nkwanta constituency of Ashanti region, Hon. Frederick Nkansah popularly known as YENTUMI has donated two thousand (2,000)Mathematical Sets worth almost GH¢13,000 to all the final year Candidates for the Basic Education Certificate Examination, BECE, in the Amansie West District through their respective assembly members.
In a close door meeting held this morning at a conference hall meeting in the District, the assembly members expressed their greatest satisfactions with the wonderful relationship that Hon.Yentumi has built with his colleague assembly members , and used the opportunity to express their heartfelt gratitude to him for his astonishing benevolence.
Hon Yentumi assured the Assembly members his commitment and readiness to join hands with them to improve education and other matters in the District.
Hon. Dominic Owusu Agyei (kalusha), Presiding Member for the Amansie West District Assembly thanked Hon. Yentumi on behalf of his colleagues for his kind gesture and promised him to join hands in the coming days for more developmental projects that will make the district rob shoulders with other MMDAs
Hon Yentumi-024 978 1083
Hon Dominic Owusu-Agyei-024 766 3685
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WE WANT TO TAKE BACK BIBIANI ANHWIASO BEKWAI MP SEAT TO CHANGE THINGS - NDC COUNCIL OF ELDER'S MEMBER
Oct 14, 2022
Mr Kwame Obeng Adjena, member of council of elder's in the opposition party National Democratic Congress NDC at Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai has given public notice on liberty FM Ade Akye Abia Morning show host by Yaw Omono Asamoah that, NDC party is ready to take back the parliamentary seat at Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai in other to modify things in the constituency for development.
He revealed that, looking at things BAB should have developed more than how it's for now. Even though NPP government has done their part but not satisfactory.
According to Mr. Kwame Obeng Adjena, graduate youths with certificate are unemployed, farmers are suffering, roads are in bad condition.
On the part of upcoming basic education certificate examination BECE, Mr. Adjena said it's education that has made him success in life. Therefore, he took upon himself tour various schools and donate mathematical set to BECE candidates and also advice them to get rid of fears and tension but focus on what they were thoughts to pass their exam's.
Finally on NDC internal elections, Mr. Adjena, advice all aspirants to obtain peace in the upcoming constituency elections all because it's part of NDC reorganization to win power in 2024 general elections.
Source liberty news/ nana Yaw Adinkrah
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Nigeria and Cameroon have expressed interest in joining the alliance for economic relations on cocoa between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana; the two-leading cocoa-producing countries in the world, under Dr. Akoto as the Chairman.
The two West African countries believe joining the initiative will enhance the effort of the alliance in delivering a better price and remuneration for cocoa farmers.
This was expressed by the respective representatives of Nigeria and Cameroon, who addressed the Steering Committee of the Côte d’Ivoire – Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) at a meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire chaired by Dr. Akoto.
The initiative was set up following a declaration by the Presidents of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to harmonise the cocoa trading strategies of the two countries to improve the incomes of cocoa farmers in the two countries in the wake of persistently low cocoa prices on the world market.
The initiative has so far instituted the Living Income Differential (LID), the component of the cocoa trading mechanism operated by the two producer countries, which ensures that every tonne of cocoa beans sold attracts an extra $400.00 which is paid to farmers.
Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture and outgoing Chairman of the Steering Committee, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto welcomed the move by the two countries and said CIGCI will take the prospective members through the processes laid down to admit new members.
Dr Afriyie Akoto indicated that the need for a better price for cocoa farmers cannot be overemphasised. Hence, any attempt to grow the alliance and strengthen its drive to improve farmer income is welcome.
The two countries joining Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will create an alliance of countries, whose total cocoa production constitutes 75 per cent of the world's supply.
The Nigerian delegation was led by Engr. A. H. Abubakar, the Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture and Chairman of Nigeria’s Cocoa Management Committee.
Mr. Michael Ndoping, the Chief Executive Officer of Cameroon’s National Office of Cocoa and Coffee led the Cameroonian delegation.
Dr. Akoto, the outgoing Chairman of the Steering Committee of CIGCI was the first chairman-elect of the Committee He was elected in September 2021
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