Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah has announced that the daily minimum wage will rise to GH¢14.88 in 2023. The Minister said at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday November 16 that, the national tripartite committee concluded the negotiations and “we think this is the best time to communicate to Ghanaians on the outcome of the negotiations. "The committee, he said, took into account the current economic challenges, cost of living, sustainability of businesses and desirability of attaining higher levels of employment.“ The committee concluded on the need to increase the national daily minimum wage by 10 per cent over the 2022 national daily minimum wage which translates into new national daily minimum wage of GH¢14.88 pesewas and a cost of living allowance of 15 per cent over the 2023 national daily minimum wage. “The effective date for the implementation of the 2023 national daily minimum wage shall be 1st January 2023.“ "All establishments, institutions, organizations whose daily minimum wages are below the new rate should adjust accordingly effective 1st January 2023,” he said. Organized Labour, the Ghana Employers Association and government have been meeting on the determination of the national daily minimum wage for 2023 since Monday November 14. Credit: Pulse GH

Former Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan has been awarded with a UEFA B Licence. According to UEFA, the license has paved way for the Former Black Stars captain to start his coaching career. Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that Asamoah Gyan was in class for a six-day residential course organized by the Football Association of Wales. Gyan after five months has been awarded for his hard work which means he is now ready to step into the dugout. Story by: Thinknewsonline.com

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor (MP) has sought to whip up the interest of the investor community into the country’s mining industry by urging them to direct their resources into helping the government achieve its ambition of positioning Ghana as a hub for the refinery of lithium, iron, bauxite, and other minerals on the continent. In a brief address delivered when the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency, Mrs Ozlem Ergun led a delegation of investors from Turkey to pay a courtesy call on him on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, the Minister remarked that the two countries have historically shared strong relations. He stated that the government of Ghana wants to chart a new trajectory in its diplomatic relations which will be anchored on economic development. He explained that bilateral relations between Ghana and Turkey can be deepened further through economic and business opportunities. Hon. Jinapor mentioned that aluminium and bauxite hold strategic value to Turkey and that he is confident that the country’s rich resources coupled with the investment-friendly regulations in the space will convince the Turkish investors to channel their resources into those sectors. The Minister remarks were triggered by a statement from the Turkish Ambassador, HE. Ozlem Ergun that investors from her country were exploring investment opportunities in Ghana’s mining industry. Disclosing the purpose of her visit, HE Ozlem Ergun stated that her country views Ghana as a destination for economic relations and would like to cooperate with relevant stakeholders to take advantage of Ghana’s rich mineral resources to create employment for Ghanaians. She affirmed the commitment of the investors to explore the country’s lithium, bauxite and iron resources and ensure that the government’s objective of adding value to Ghana’s resources is achieved. On his part, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mining, Hon. George Mireku Duker said the country is willing to collaborate at all levels with the investors as long as the partnership will be mutually beneficial to the two parties. He assured that the country is blessed with rich lithium and iron resources and that any investor who channels his funds into those sectors will enjoy tremendous profits. Below are some pictures: Story by: Fafa Nyame

Hearts of Oak and Kotoko are both expected to receive $10,000 per day from FIFA after Otto Addo confirmed that Daniel Afriyie Barnie and Danlad Ibrahim are in Ghana's squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The initiative forms part of the Clubs Benefit Programme by FIFA. The Club Benefits Programme is part of a broader collaboration agreement between FIFA and the European Club Association, which was first launched ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and further extended in 2015 to cover both the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. This means both of these clubs will earn a minimum of $140,000 from the mundial even if the Black Stars fail to progress from the group stages. Story by: Derek Katey Caesar

Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has charged President Akufo-Addo to sack him should he find him indulging in illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey. The Minister made this pronouncement while addressing Journalists in Accra on Wednesday. Speaking at the State of the Region Report, he said "President Akufo-Addo should sack me if he sees me doing galamsey" The Minister also charged Journalists to debunk allegations made by some persons accusing him and the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker of engaging in Galamsey. He described the Dompim chieftaincy brouhaha as a scam adding that the general public should not pay attention to it. He also added that river guards have been deployed to monitor the activities of illegal miners on river bodies in the region. Free-SHS Policy On education, the Minister praised President Akufo-Addo for the introduction of Free-SHS in the region. He stressed that the introduction of Free-SHS has helped in taking out the element of cost as a barrier to education. $17 Million USD Brouhaha Responding to the controversial $17 Million USD, he said "My driver did not bolt with any money. I have not sent any driver to go for any money from any galamsey site. Stop believing certain scams" The Regional Minister quizzed "can $17 Million USD fit into a land cruiser or a 20ft container?" Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah noted those lies being spewed against him and George Mireku Duker are by some persons living in Tarkwa. "That is what they have been doing to Hon. George Mireku Duker. They are mixing their chieftaincy issues with galamsey, lies and they are bringing it on us but it will not wash. It will bounce back to the sender" Kidnapping "There has been no kidnapping happening in Western Region. All of them were fake. They are trying to tarnish the image of Western Region" "There is no kidnapping so make sure you come to Western Region and celebrate Christmas with us" Sanitation The Minister revealed that in a quest to make his region one of the cleanest and also a regular tourist side, e-tankas has been introduced to deal with persons who litter the environment. "We are using e-tankas to ensure that filth is dealt with in my region. We have asked people to take pictures of persons who litter and then bill them. That is spot-fine. If you fail to pay, you will punished by the Sub Metropolitan Council" The Regional Minister also mentioned that his region is peaceful adding that investors should channel their attention and invest there. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that Former Black Stars striker, Kwesi Appiah has graduated from the Staffordshire University. According to sources, the former striker graduated in BA Professional Sports Writing and Broadcast Journalism. Congratulations to him. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) says it will be embossing a hologram seal with security features all FDA certificates and permits issued for products effective November 15. According to the FDA, the introduction of these security interventions is intended to improve authenticity and provide the needed assurances. In a release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com and signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FDA, Delese Mimi Darko said "This release is to inform the public that effective 15th November 2022, all FDA certificates and permits issued for products regulated by the Food and Drugs Authority would be embossedwith a hologram seal with security features" The FDA added that clients and stakeholders, including manufacturers, importers, exporters and market authorization holders of FDA-regulated products are therefore to be guided appropriately. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has chided Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko for comments he allegedly made about him recently. Osei Kyei Mensah-BonsuHe said Mr. Otchere-Darko, a cousin to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is accusing him of being behind the demand for the sacking of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. According to the Member of Parliament for Suame, Mr Otchere-Darko has wrongly accused him of being the mastermind behind some NPP MPs demanding the sacking of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. "From nowhere, we hear Gabby Otchere-Darko on his Asaase Radio accusing me of instigating what was happening, for what? What do I stand to gain from that?" he Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Sompa Radio, the majority leader questioned the authority of the cousin of the finance minister for leveling such allegations against him. "There are people who would rather want to cause disintegration while you are committed to integrating. But now this has brought about another sense of anger. That Gabby Otchere-Darko, who does he think he is? I serve Akufo-Addo, and I serve the party as well as the government... when we talk about the government itself, what is your locus standi to be accusing me of being an instigator?" the majority leader questioned. The majority leader noted that it rather took his intervention to instill calm when a group of MPs in the NPP made public demands for the dismissal of the finance minister. "With the way the thing started, if I had not been hinted at by a colleague to intervene, we would have been in a bad place. Today is November 15, and we were supposed to present the budget today, but we had to postpone to 24th because I realised we may not be prepared after studying the situation. I sat with the finance minister and agreed with him to postpone it. After doing this and you turn to accuse me of being an instigator, what if I decide to watch and let everything fall apart?" he stated. There have been public calls for the sacking of Ken Ofori-Atta, with his critics citing him as responsible for Ghana’s current economic challenges. In a recent press conference, NPP members in parliament demanded the minister's dismissal, claiming that doing so would help restore confidence in the Ghanaian economy. Credit: Pulse GH

The Deputy Commandant, Ghana Police College, ACP Dr. Herbert G. Yankson says awareness creation is the only cure to cyber fraud in Ghana. According to ACP Dr. Yankson, awareness creation does not only put people on the alert but also saves them from falling victims to the activities of cyber frauders. Speaking on the theme 'Understanding Cyber Fraud; The Challenges and Our Response' at the 2022 Fraud Awareness Week organised by First National Bank in Accra, ACP Dr. Herbert G. Yankson said "Awareness creation is another. We are so gullible as a people sometimes and we tend to believe anything we are told, those are some of the enablers" "If you talk about fraud, it is very broad when it comes to cyber crime. It captures romance and scooped websites" Business Email Compromises "We have business email compromises where we have people who tend to depend on emails thinking that that it is secure and that anything that is communicated between two people are secure and they also tend to trust the emails" he revealed. He further explained that in 2017, business email compromising became very problematic for many individuals as well as banks in the country. "Some people have signed an agreement with their banks and emails are sent to the banks to allow transfers into certain accounts or persons without crosschecking. They think that it is secure so these criminals are able to intercept and then modify these proforma invoices among others" Social Engineering He also revealed that cyber criminals also use social engineering where they use voice calls to tap information from people and later fraud them. Identity Fraud "Identity fraud is also another where they pretend to be that person or another since our phones are able to accept phone numbers as other user names" Statistics On statistics, ACP Dr. Yankson said "From somewhere 2015, we have had most of our cases with cyber crime being related are about 60% are fraud related and we kept on trying to reduce them" "As at last year, it was hovering around 40% of cyber cases being fraud related. So it means that as people, we are quite gullible. One of the key things we need to do is to ensure that there are lots of awareness creation" Cure/Solution He stressed "The only cure to fraud is awareness creation and that is what we need to hammer on most often" Taking his turn, Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Consultant, Philemon Hini said "When it comes to cyber fraud, there are various schemes depending on the capability of the frauders and what they want to achieve. They adopt several schemes so they can fraud people" Credit Card Fraud He said "Some cyber criminals will steal credit card information to shop online or book expensive hotels or even plane tickets and with these kind of fraud, it is quite easy to perform" "Sometimes, the criminals do not need to have that capabilities to go and hack into a banking system or a payment gateway in order to be able to have some financial records. They only open the cyber space, which is the dark web which is a part of the cyber space which is not easily accessible to ordinary users and some of these stolen informations are easily sold there. So with some few dollars, they are able to buy these card information and they use it to perform their activities" Impersonation "In some cases, we have Impersonation within the cyber space. These days, impersonation have become so easy because of social media" "We put so many information out there and the cyber criminals are able to put the pieces together and through that are able to impersonate someone with even fraudulent documents to be able to gain an account" Recruiting of Insiders He also revealed that cyber criminals also recruit Insiders in various institutions who relay vital information of activities in the organisations to them. "There are fraudulent schemes where cyber criminals will try to recruit insiders. People who are disgruntled in the institutions, try to manipulate their psychology to act on their behalf" Mr. Hini also revealed that some insiders are able to release network architecture of the institutions they work with among others. Sharing his thoughts, Chief Legal Advisor, Ministry of National Security, Osei Bonsu Dickson said "We can talk about electronic stealing, cyber stealing, cyber fraud. If we look at the Criminals Offences Act, it talks about fraud, defrauding people by force pretence. But now, these can be done virtually" He stressed that although there is cyber fraud, people must make it a pointto take serious measures. "The world has moved into a technological sphere and in that sphere, the criminals have also moved into that direction and it is important that we have Instruments to curtail it. There is cyber fraud and we have to take measures and those measures are in the nature of the cyber security measures outlined" he noted. Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah described cyber criminals as well-structured inviduals with command and control. Well-structured inviduals with command and control "These groups, they are well structured in terms of command and control. In these well structured group, the criminals relay information to their Oga (Boss) who does not necessarily have to be in the jurisdictions of where the activities are ongoing. There are also the 'Elder boys', those are the people who take direct instructions from their Oga or Chairman" "There is the 'Senior boys'. These Senior boys are the supervisors of the cyber criminals as they perform their dubious activities. They create fake platforms" Informants in banking sectors "There is also another group who don't necessarily need to know each other depending on their participation in the whole architecture. There are the main criminals who are the master minds of the whole crime. There are some people in the banking sector who will be providing information about customers to these cyber criminals" Deputy Head, Legal and Protection, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Leo Anthony Siamah (Esq) said "Another trick are the third party or the agents banks employ in carrying out some of their functions. These people are not active or main employees of a bank so it is easy to get to them" Seeking Employment He also added that cyber criminals push their agents to seek employment in some institutions adding that it becomes their hot zone to leak vital informations. "All these people have particular roles whether or not they are sent to tye bank to actually look for employment and then facilitate these things, it is also another matter. Advise The various experts advised the general public to limit the release of information on social media, avoid responding to certain unknown emails and calls. They also appealed to the public to be very mindful and alert to avoid falling victims to these cyber frauders. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The NPP MP for Sekondi Constituency in the Western Region, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, has said that the NDC Minority in Parliament is rehashing old and debunked allegations against the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta. Mr Mercer said the allegations of misreporting were first raised in May 2020, and rejected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as being untrue. He, therefore, wondered why the Minority would use the same issues as bases for a motion of censure against Mr Ofori-Atta. He made the observation at the first hearing of the Ad Hoc Committee on the motion of censure brought against the Finance Minister. It was in response to the presentation of Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, which centered on misreporting of the fiscal deficit, fiscal treatment of expenditures above or below the line and general public sector accounting. The MP said the past Country Representative of the IMF, Dr Albert Touna Mama, had debunked the allegations on Joy News File in May 2020, when he was called to respond to them. “Indeed, the said Dr Touna Mama was the Country Representative of the IMF, he was called to respond to allegations on misreporting of figures that the Finance Ministry had presented to IMF and he said all the figures were known by the IMF and therefore it was untrue that there was misreporting,” Mr Mercer said. IMF COMPELLED TO CLARIFY In May 2020, Dr Touna Mama said that whilst his outfit tried "as much as possible to stay out of debates" they felt compelled to clarify statements made by Fact Check Ghana concerning the $1 billion IMF COVID-19 relief fund to the government. Fact Check Ghana, an affiliate of the Media Foundation for West Africa, through its website, stated that government of Ghana presented data to the IMF which was different from figures in the annual budgets for 2018 and 2019. But speaking on Joy FM's News File Programme in May 2020, the IMF Country Representative to Ghana, Dr. Albert Touna Mama suggested that Fact Check Ghana misrepresented the facts because the government was not the one that presented the figures that the IMF published in its statements as Fact Check Ghana reported. DIFFERENCE IN METHODOLOGY The IMF Country Director explained that the difference in figures was as a result of a difference in the *methodology* of calculation, adding that the figure in fiscal deficit in their statement was a figure they generated themselves from the data government presented to them, having added financial and energy sector payments in line with their methodology, which is different from government's methodology. Earlier, Mr Ofori-Atta, asked the committee for a fair hearing. He asked that he be furnished with the documents that they intended to rely upon, to execute the motion of censure initiated against him. The Minister’s lawyer, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, said the rules of natural justice and fair hearing required that the accused was not only heard but also necessarily be furnished with the documents that formed the bases of the allegations made against him. The hearing continues. Story by: Thinknewsonline.com

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has asked the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in Parliament to furnish him with documents that they will rely upon to execute the motion of censure initiated against him. The Minister’s lawyer, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, made the request Tuesday morning when the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee hearing the motion started its sitting. Mr Otchere-Darko said the rules of natural justice and fair hearing required that the accused was not only heard but was furnished with the documents that formed the bases of the allegations made against him. He, therefore, insisted that the Minority, led by its Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, provides the documents to him and his client. The request was met with hesitance from the Minority, who appeared unprepared and insisted that they documents were already in the public domain and did not have to be tendered. After back and forth on the matter, the co-Chairmen, K.T. Hammond and Dr Dominic Ayine, ruled that the Minority presented the documents to the minister and the committee. The documents were subsequently listed. Story by: Thinknewsonline.com

A Superinten­dent of the Ghana Immi­gration Ser­vice (GIS) has testified that En Huang, who is facing trial at an Accra High Court used a forged marriage certificate to obtain an indefinite residence permit. Superintendent David Essien also added that a forged passport was used by Aisha in acquiring the permit. Superintendent Essien is the second witness in the trial of En Huang, also known as Aisha Huang, a Chinese businesswoman charged with engaging in mining without licence. She is also facing charges of facilitating the participation of persons engaged in mining operation and illegal employment of foreign nationals and entering Ghana while prohibited. She has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.He told the court that when the GIS became aware of the situation, the Comptroller General of the GIS revoked her indefinite residence permit on grounds of fraudulent misrepresenta­tion in accordance with Section 22(2)(a) of Immigration Act 2000(Act 573). That, he added, subsequently led to the repatriation of the accused on De­cember 19, 2018. He disclosed these under cross-examina­tion by defence counsel, Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey who quizzed him on whether his first encounter with the accused was in reference to investigating her immigration status. He explained that in addition to ascertaining the immigration status of accused, he was also tasked with assessing the situation on the ground. The witness said when they ex­amined the accused passport they found that the indefinite resident permit was granted to her based on her supposed marriage to a Ghanaian, Anthony Fabian. Superintendent Essien guided by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Yvonne Attakora Obuabi­sa began his testimony by telling the court that his first encounter with accused was on August 24, 2015. "This was when publications on Ghanaweb and MyJoyOnline with the headline: Tension mounts in Amansie Central over Chinese galamsey activities.” “In the said publication several allegations were levelled against accused for her involvement in illegal mining at Bepontenten.“ "Details of the publication alleged that her galamsey activi­ties had led to the drowning of six people,” he said. He added that Aisha was invited and her statement taken and an examination of her passport revealed that she had an indefinite resident permit.He told the court that his sec­ond encounter with the accused was on May 5, 2017, when three employees of the accused were arrested at Bepontenten. “Before the arrival of the ar­resting officers and her employees, the accused came to our office to inquire whether her employees had been brought to our office. When she realised they had not been brought there she left.“ "From about 2:30 when the arresting officers came I attempt­ed to reach the accused on phone but she failed to pick up. When she finally did she told me we can take them to Accra and she does not care.“ "We informed her that her employees had told us that their passports were with her and that she should produce them,” he added. Superintendent Essien said he subsequently led a team to the ac­cused residence in Kumasi where they went through great lengths convincing her to accompany them to the GIS office. "The accused eventually came to the office, where she gave us her passport and the passports of two Chinese accomplices" He added that the statements of the accused and her employees were taken and they were trans­ported the next day May 7, 2017 to the GIS head office in Accra. Hearing continues today. Credit: Ghanaian Times