President Akufo-Addo has commissioned an ultra modern 20 gated residential complex for Appeal Court Judges at Danyame in the Ashanti Region. According to President Akufo-Addo, the massive infrastructural development will motivate the judiciary to work harder to promote justice and rule of law in the country. Speaking at the commissioning of the ultramodern 20 gated apartments, President Akufo-Addo said "My government is committed to improving court facilities and accomodation for judges nationwide in order to enhance justice delivery" "This initiative of constructing courts and accomodations for judges is aimed at curbing the subject of insecurity of judges been subjected to abuse and threats after judgements" Mr. Akufo-Addo also revealed that the 20 gated apartments will serve the Appeal Court Judges in the Middle and Northern part of the country. President Akufo-Addo stressed that he hopes the massive infrastructural development will motivate the judiciary to work harder to promote justice and rule of law in the country. "My government will continue to implement policies to advance the rule of law and thereby reinfoce the confidence of the people and show up our nation's reputation as the country governed by the rule of law" President Akufo-Addo thanked the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for gifting 7-acres-of-land for free. Taking his turn, Chief Justice for Ghana, Justice Anim Yeboah expressed his profound gratitude to the government. He pleaded to the government to construct more courts and residential accomodations for the judges in Ghana. Project Architect, FeDems Limited and Consultant for the construction, Betty A. Arkoh commended workers for completing the project before time. "I am optimistic that the judges will have the protection they need at the facility" Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) commenced on Monday October 17, across the country. Out of the Sixty Three Thousand One Hundred and Eighty Seven (63,187) candidates who sat in the Central Region, Thirty One Thousand Six Hundred and Ten (31,610) were male while Thirty One Thousand Five Hundred and Seventy Seven (31,577) were female. In Ajumako Enyan Essiam District, 2,919 candidates were at their various centres to write the exams. Out of the number; 1,497 were male and 1,422 were female from 109 schools. There are nine centres which include; Ajumako, Ajumako Osedze, Ajumako Ocheso, Bisease, Enyan Denkyira, Enyan Maim, Etsii Sonkwa, Ajumako Mando and across the District. It is emerging that after a careful observation of the nine centers in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District, none of the female candidates got pregnant as compared to 2021 Examination. Though some candidates were absent, it is however unclear what led to their absence. During the 2021 Examination, over 25 Female candidates visited their centre with pregnancies. In an interview with Kasapa FM news, the District Director of Education for Ajumako Enyan Essim, Sabina Aba Wilson noted that this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination is the not peaceful one she has ever witness since she became the Education Director for the District. She congratulate all the Female Candidates who wrote the Examination for keeping themselves safe from teenage pregnancy. She also thanked all Parents in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District for given their wards proper advised interms of teenage pregnancy. She also thanked all the hardworking Teachers in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District for given their Candidates proper councilling for them to stay away from teenage pregnancy and early sex. In all she thank the Teachers in Ajumako Enyan Essiam District for a successful Examination supervision. No candidates was caught in teating in the Examination Room or entered the with any foreign materials. Meanwhile,the District Chief Executive also advised the Candidates to study hard and pass well to enjoy the Free Senior High School Policy. Credit: Kasapaonline.com

Evangelist Patricia Asiedua a Oduro also known as Nana Agradaa has been granted bail by the Accra Circuit Court 9. Presiding judge Samuel Bright Acquah granted the accused bail of ¢50, 000 with 3 sureties of Civil servants earning not less than 2K a month. She is also to report to the Prosecutor every Wednesday. Despite the development, the former priestess will still be in Police custody pending similar charges level. The Founder of Heaven Way Champion International Ministry who celebrates her birthday today looked relatively happier after her somber mood throughout the hearing. She is facing charges of 6 counts of defrauding by fault pretense and charlatanic advertisement. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Over 500,000 candidates will sit for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) which begins today, October 17, 2022.The examination which will last for one week will be written in 2,033 centres across the country. The students are expected to start with social studies and ICT papers. The Ghana Education Service ahead of the examination is entreating all students and other key stakeholders at the various examination centres to desist from any form of examination malpractices. Meanwhile, the Ghana National Association of Teachers  (GNAT) is urging supervisors and invigilators of this year’s examination to comply with all the rules of invigilation. The General Secretary of the Association, Thomas Musah, said, “we all know the implication of the rules of engagement. Nobody will go and supervise and say he or she doesn’t know the rules of engagement.” "So to the extent that you have been invited to assist in the conduct of the exam requires each one who is having that opportunity to live up to expectations,” Mr. Musah said. Credit: Citinewsroom

At a recent interview on Asempa FM’s late afternoon political talk show ‘ekosiisen’ where Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, affectionately called ‘NaPo’ was asked by a listener about the magic wand he seem to wield, which makes him overcome challenges and leave imprints wherever he finds himself as Minister, his response for me, was intriguing. He simply said, the magic wand is God. Sitting by him in the studios together with Adentan NPP Parliamentary candidate hopeful and senior brother, Kwasi Obeng-Fosu, I was not surprised because as the avid Christian he is; a member of the Maker’s House Chapel International, Dr. Prempeh acknowledges that the strength, excellence, resilience and the competence with which he discharged his duties in the past as Education Minister and now as Energy Minister, was as a result of a supernatural unction. Immediately, a favourite christian anonymous quote of mine began to struck and bite my thoughts and into further sobriety, as the venerable Minister and my boss, kept dishing out plain answers to the host of the show, OB and Ghanaians. The quote - “Between the periods, “thus sayeth the Lord” and “it came to pass” are consistency, determination, hard work and prayer”. In essence, it could be God’s will that, Dr. Prempeh will be successful in his work as Minister but in reality, his consistency, determination and hard work has been key determinants in actualizing the magic wand he faithfully, attributes to God. His work attitude certainly will not pass unnoticed. This positive attitude, I suspect is underpinned by his agreement with the words of a former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice - “There’s no greater challenge and there is no greater honour than to be in public service.” He must, thus, work diligently in whatever capacity he is entrusted in public service to bring the needed comfort to the ruled. For NaPo, public service is nothing short of a sacred duty. Power Sector Dr. Prempeh assumed the role as Energy Minister with a clear appreciation of the sensitivity of the energy sector as a key backbone for our national economy. He sees the period between 2013 and 2016 when Ghana reeled under pervasive power cuts popularly known in Ghanaian parlance as ‘Dumsor’, which brought so much frustration, the collapse of businesses and many losses, as a blot on Ghana’s history which must never relapse. Indeed, he knew that the biggest expectation of the Ghanaian citizen is power stability for domestic and industrial use. In spite of this awareness and his preparedness for the important task ahead, his first days in office were greeted with some power outages. For the skeptics, this was going to be NaPo’s malignant nemesis as the arriving protagonist. But really, this was never going to be the Manhyia South law maker’s scourge nor his ‘hamartia’ because of the preponderance of technically incontrovertible facts. He was unfazed. Pardon my love for English Literature. These outages were largely as a result of infrastructural upgrades on power lines which have been used since time immemorial up to present day Ghana. Dr. Prempeh looked Ghanaians in their eyes with utmost candour and explained that the outages were necessary to allow for these repair works and upgrades. "Dumsiesie” was the catch phrase he coined to make Ghanaians understand fully, the necessity of the situation and asked for forbearance. According to Information Minister, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Wesley Girls people and their ‘nkyekyeho’ taking a cue from NaPo said it was “Dumfix”. In effect “Y3redum asiesie” (putting off to repair). Because, whilst fellow human beings were on the lines working, it would be unconscionable to want the lights on for them to be electrocuted. From a political communications perspective, that was a masterstroke. There was no shortage in generation capacity. Our plants were also being powered without hinderances. These times, tested Dr. Prempeh’s leadership character at the Energy Ministry. He spent manly hours keeping taps on the power sector players, notably, those in charge of the grid and the distributors for periodic updates on the exercise to a point of recognized stability. Mindful of patronage and sycophancy in this political enterprise as espoused copiously in the writings of Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, he is not the type of political leader who would accept whatever one tells him hook, line and sinker, just because it is mellifluous to his ears. For example, on the issue of Ghana’s generation capacity, which was the basis for the signing of arbitrary Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) by the NDC government for which reason we are paying needless excess capacity charges which is a burden on the tax payer, Dr. Prempeh continues to hold the technical people to account, to provide realistic and accurate projections on our total installed capacity, available capacity and peak demand with supporting data analysis for his visionary planning. The Minister in the face of our total installed capacity of 5, 288MW and projected system peak of 3,246MW (as of March, 2022), which makes it impossible for us to run in to capacity shortage is keeping a close marking on various power projects which will add to our generation when they come on stream. This is why he says without fear of contradiction that “‘Dumsor’ will never be back”. This certainty is further accentuated by the fact that, he is seeing to the robustness of the cash water fall mechanism and gas clearing house; policies which will ensure the liquidity of power sector players, reducing inter-utility indebtedness. These are strategic anti-power sector financial challenges measures since it is so obvious that the 2013-2016 power tragedy was purely as a result of financial challenges. Under Dr. Prempeh’s watch, the Ghanaian tax payer can be assured of a more sustainable and value-driven approach to PPA contracting, anchored on only ‘Take and Pay’, no government guarantees, no tax exemptions and a cap on energy tariff. We can also go to bed knowing that tariffs will be denominated in Ghana pesewas as well as the provision of bank liquidity support. This is nothing but absolute LEADERSHIP! Nana Poku (NaPo) oy3ade3yie’s energy has consistently been channeled through the improvement of Grid stability, the improvement of power supply reliability, key amongst this being the relocation of the AMERI power plant to Kumasi and the rationalization of electricity tariffs together with the PURC by making the methodology transparent and the tariff structure non-punitive. Dr. Prempeh is one Minister who has demonstrated from day one, his commitment to making the Electricity Company of Ghana become viable whatever means possible. He is supporting the company curb commercial losses, technical losses, collection losses and system losses which is plaguing it. He relaunched the ECG revenue protection taskforce in September 2021, this time with a very clear mandate to identify power theft and recover debt across consumers, a mandate they continue to prosecute with the required direction. This immense support has also been extended to NEDCo as their viability is equally crucial to the strength of the energy sector. The Volta River Authority (VRA) on the wings of Dr. Prempeh is back on sound footing, recording in 2021, profit of GH¢112.76m for the first time in 9 years and after 6 continues years of losses. Goodness!  Under Dr. Prempeh, Cabinet has approved for the inclusion of nuclear energy in our generation mix, actualizing Ghana’s dream hinged on his absolute commitment to the sustainable availability of all forms of power to propel our industrialisation drive. NaPo is working tirelessly to increase the current national electricity access rate of 87.03% to a universal access by the end of term of this administration and therefore leading efforts also at scaling up renewable energy to be a critical facet of our generation mix. On-going renewable energy projects include 38 mini grids,35,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS) for off grid communities and 12,000 Net Metering PV for SMEs/Public Buildings/SHS. It also includes BUI Solar of 150 MW, Jubilee House Solar Phase II to a total of 912 KW as well as ongoing PPA negotiations/discussion between ECG and Lekela on 225MW and EleQtra on 50MW wind. Petroleum Sector and Energy Transition In the face of disruptions in global supply chain and palpable crisis, where there have been recorded shortages of petroleum products in parts of the world, even including the UAE, Dr. Prempeh continues to ensure the availability of petroleum products for the Ghanaian consumer. He has engaged and continues to engage the Bank of Ghana to assist in the securing of forex, the issuance special forex auctions for the petroleum industry and also seeing to the establishment of a credit reference bureau for all Dealers, OMCs, BDCs, IOTCs and other stakeholders. Also worth noting are the arrangements put in place to allow International Oil Trading Companies & Contractors to bring on land, petroleum products and hold titles to these products. This Energy Minister further continues to show keen interest in the activities of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) ensuring they live up to their mandate of holding up to 6 weeks of strategic stocks for our country. BOST, basking fervently in this ministerial ambience has for the first time in so many years recorded a profit before tax of GHC164m in 2021, from a previous figure of GHC2m, from the period of recurrent losses. The Minister has instructed the company to make frantic efforts at extricating itself from the quagmire of protracted debts. This is simply NaPo’s midas touch! As Dr. Prempeh continues to oversee through the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, the implementation of the Petroleum Hub agenda, where Ghana aspires to become a hub for refined petroleum products and petrochemicals in the West African sub-region, he has never lost sight of the strategic importance of a local oil refinery within the overarching context of our downstream petroleum sector development. He is thus, working to return the nation’s premier refinery back to work. A strategic partner is in the offing as part of efforts at revamping the refinery. With 3 offshore and 1 onshore basin currently engaging in active E&P activities, the continued presence of 12 Operators with 14 Petroleum Agreements, 3 Producing fields – Jubilee, TEN and SankofaGyeNyame producing steadily with an average daily production of 150,000bbl/d and 380mmscf/d of gas, Dr. Prempeh continues to ensure the development of our upstream petroleum industry backed by strengthened legal and regulatory framework so that Ghana is not shortchanged. He is leading a massive investment drive with the PC and GNPC for our hydrocarbon resources through strategic oil and gas roadshows of E&P acreages and farm-in opportunities in the sector to prospective investors. This drive to position our oil and gas resources for investment is happening at a time where the energy transition conversation continues take center stage of global discussions. As a leading voice on the subject matter in Africa and beyond, he continues to argue strongly that, the transition conversation must be had within a careful context giving cognisance to our circumstances as a country and by extension, continent. He therefore posits that, we will transit gradually on our own terms, leveraging on our oil and gas resources for economic growth. The scramble for energy in Europe as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war is a testament of the failure of renewable energy to meet global energy demands. This in Dr. Prempeh’s view means that we need to find a balance between renewable and fossil fuel investments, at least in the short to medium term, hence investment in oil and gas. Under no circumstance, he says, will he watch our country be left with stranded energy assets. The National Energy Transition Committee under his able direction is thus, working with a clear blue-print that will ensure an energy transition that is the best interest of Ghana, of course cognizant of our international commitments in the Paris Agreement, the UN SDG7 goal and the Call for Action Conference of Parties (COP 26) accord to increase investments in green energy initiatives. Local Content and Local Participation For Dr. Prempeh, Local Content is an article of faith. He strongly believes that it is a medium through which local capacities could be built. He postulates that, Government’s policy intention which has basis in the local content law for the upstream sector for example, is that Ghana should not only be the recipient of direct revenues from petroleum operations, but also create value through local participation. Under his watch therefore, Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation) (Amendment) Regulations, 2021. (L.I. 2435) has been passed to include channel partnerships and strategic alliances in the sector. Channel Partnership is where an indigenous Ghanaian company and a non-indigenous Ghanaian company including a distributor, a vendor, a retailer, a consultant, a system integrator, an original equipment manufacturer or a value-added reseller to market and sell the products, services, or technologies of the non-indigenous Ghanaian company in the country. Strategic Alliance on the other hand is where a Non-Indigenous Ghanaian Company and an Indigenous Ghanaian Company where the responsibilities of each partner are clearly defined and partners agree to share resources to undertake a specific mutually beneficial project while each retains independence. These options alongside the incorporation of JVCs are to further deepen local content and local participation in the upstream petroleum industry. Additionally, he is seeing to the review of Draft Regulations for Ghanaian Content and Ghanaian Participation for the downstream petroleum sector. He is keen on ensuring the passage of this law. The Minister also continues to ensure the enforcement of Legislative Instrument (LI 2354) on Local Content and Local Participation in the Electricity Supply Industry passed in 2017 Conclusion When one makes a fair assessment of the energy sector since the assumption of office of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as Minister, it will point clearly, to his unassailable transformational touch. BOST and VRA are recording profits after years of losses, the anti-theft machinery of the power sector is super charged, there is power stability even when it rains, cats and dogs, a phenomenon most Ghanaians say, is quite unprecedented in our recent history with consistent efforts at ensuring grid stability. The regulatory muscles of energy sector regulators are being flexed effectively supported by the relevant legal and regulatory regimes for the efficient utilisation of our hydrocarbon and other energy resources and indeed, the visible development in our renewable energy space. His fiercest antagonists and critics, are on a daily basis eating humble pies openly under no coercion, and absolutely dumfounded at the leadership acumen of Matthew Opoku Prempeh. They are dazed by the fact that, in the midst of our current economic difficulties occasioned largely, by exogenous shocks, the lights are on. Ahwenepa nkasa and it is very much so! I am convinced without shudder, that the energy sector will see much more phenomenal transformation under his sterling leadership as he continues to work in a determined manner to surmount challenges that confronts the energy sector. A consummate democrat and leader, I have no shred of doubt that, NaPo will leave behind one day, a power sector that is robust enough to support the economic transformation of our country as well as a petroleum sector that will be viable to support Ghana’s economic growth, where Ghanaians will experience the full benefits of our hydrocarbon resource across the entire petroleum value chain spanning upstream, midstream and the downstream sectors. On the back of the available evidence, it is abundantly clear that, the transformation we are witnessing in the energy sector points Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s impeccable LEADERSHIP. The LIGHTS are on and the NATION IS MOVING and he is currently with His Excellency the President on an Ashanti Regional tour, where he will assist the President to commission a 330kV Kumasi-Bolgatanga Transmission line project. President Akufo will also commission the newly constructed Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Primary Substation, all to improve power supply reliability. Yes, God is the magic wand, but to make sense of the supernatural, his leadership, lack of inertia and hard work has made all the difference in this 1 year and 6 months at the Energy Ministry. Great Job done Hon. Minister! NAPO’s Energy at Energy remains the looping aphorism and mantra. He keeps blazing the trail! Credit: Kofi Abrefa Afena, MBA (Corporate Communications Strategy & Brand Management), B.A. Hons (Political Science with Sociology), Member, IPR-Ghana.

A young man has died after climbing a high-tension pole at Kasoa over hardship in Ghana. The yet-to-be identified gentleman, who is a resident of Kasoa was caught on video climbing to the very end of a high tension pole, leading to his death. According to some residents, the gentleman had gotten tired of the current economic hardship in the country, thereby taking his own life to end it all. In the video, the gentleman is seen climbing vigorously to the end of the pole, ignoring pleas from the general public who had gathered around the pole. When he got to the end of the pole,  he was electrocuted, meeting his untimely death. Although the Police were on sight, nothing was done to save the gentleman’s life. Watch video below: Credit: AladinKing Video Credit: Adoa Tv

In a passionate appeal to Regional and District Forest Mangers in llegal mining endemic areas, Hon.Benito Owusu-Bio, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands and Forestry charged the officers of the Forestry Commission to rise up and join the fight against illegal mining as he noted that the menace is gradually creeping into the country’s Forest Reserves. He lamented saying "the days of illegal mining menace being a challenge on only waterbodies and lands are over, now it is gradually getting into the Forest Reserves and if we do not rise up now, tomorrow may be too late. We must rise up to ensure that the forests are protected from this canker" This meeting held in Kumasi on Friday, 14th October, 2022, follows the President of the Republic's call on all stakeholders to take up active roles and marshall efforts to support central government in the combat against the illegal mining menace (galamsey). Hon. Benito in his address advised the managers to move out of their comfort zones and offices to the field and join forest rangers if necessary as all efforts are needed to ensure that the forests are not swallowed up in the illegal mining menace. He warned that government and the Ministry will not accept the excuses some managers give being "I am not aware of this", indicating strongly that strict sanctions will be meted out to mangers in whose Districts or Regions turns to have illegalities without their knowledge. He therefore encouraged the managers to report whatever they see in their Districts and Regions without fear or favour and promised the support of government to help them achieve thier aim of protecting the Forest  Reserves and it environs. The Deputy Minister noted that government is aware of the challenges that constrains their work but with or without challenges "we must utilise the little we have for now and work diligently to reverse the old-aged galamsey" Hon. Owusu-Bio reiterated that government has not issued any prospecting permit or licence for any Small Scale Mining industry whatsoever, not even for the Community Mining Schemes and "so any form of mining ongoing in a Forest Reserve that is not a large scale like that of Newmont and Chirano Mines, is illegal and must be stopped" he pointed out. Speaking to the media after the meeting with the mangers, the Deputy Lands and Forestry Minister called on all and sundry to help in the fight against the menace saying "it is no longer a matter of this is for government, it concerns all of us and so if you see something, say something" while he encouraged them to call the Ministry’s contact centre with any information relating to these illegalities. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Forestry Commission, John Allotey in his statement disclosed that the Commission is considering the setting up of a Mining Unit under the Forestry Service Division to help coordinate and collate information relating to mining in the various Forest Reserves across the country who will be dedicated and always ready with real-time information on the Reserves. He also announced that there will soon be an increase in the duties of the Rapid Response Team as the Military attachees have been withdrawn, charging them to beef up their activities to complement the responsibilities ahead. He indicated that illegal mining makes more devastating impact than the illegal logging they are familiar with and therefore a more drastic approach must be deviced to boot it out of the system. "Unlike illegal logging that takes away essential tree species which can regenerate after some time, illegal mining makes more devastating effects, it takes off the trees and the top soil that could aid replanting or regeneration, the land is destroyed and it goes all the way to affect our waterbodies. Additionally, we also have to contend with people who are armed so that is obviously worse and therefore the strategy mush change" He also urged the managers to work collaboratively with the Traditional authorities, District Chief Executives and the Regional Ministers as they embark on consultative meetings all in efforts to avoid lapses and encourage effective flow of information so that no one is left out. Mr. Allotey also implored the managers to collaborate with the Minerals Commission and report suspected cases of illegal mining wether in the Forest Reserves or outside the Reserves for coordinates to be taken and further actions applied. Below are some pictures: Story by: Nadia Aidoo

Deputy Minister for Finance, John Kumah says he is confident that all policies and strategies being implemented and explored by the Akufo-Addo government will help address the economic challenges facing the country. This, he said, is one of the focus of the 2023 budget. Speaking at a Stakeholder Engagement in Accra on Friday, he said "Government is confident that the policies and strategies being implemented and explored will help address the economic challenges we face" He added that as gov't makes submissions and propose recommendation the reparation of the 2023 budget, the citizenry must be guided by the focus areas of government for the ensuing fiscal year and the medium-term. "Government will restore and sustain macroeconomic stability, ensure durable and inclusive growth and promote social protection, maximize revenue mobilisation efforts by widening the tax net and enforce compliance measures and vigorously pursuing the digitalisation agenda to minimise revenue leakages. He added that government will introduce efficiency measures in the use of public funds by reducing duplication of functions among covered entities and reducing waste. "It is my believe that you will come up with suggestions, recommendations and proposals that will enrich the 2023 budget" "As a Government, we believe in the culture of governance that promotes the principles of transparency and accountability and therefore these engagements enrich the budgeting process and moves us a step closer to achieving these principles" The Deputy Minister stressed that the Ministry of Finance over the years have been exploring avenues of deepening citizen participation in the budgeting process in a bid to ensure that we achieve inclusive growth. "In fact, there are several engagements that have and continue to take place in different forms and with diverse stakeholders at various stages of the budgeting process. Therefore, let me assure you that these engagements are taken with the utmost seriousness that it deserves" "Our commitment to this process is even more enforced in these times of macroeconomic turbulence. Ladies and Gentlemen, our economy, just as many other developing and emerging economies, is still managing the pressures posed by the current global and domestic challenges such as revenues are underperforming; and some critical expenditures are rising amid general rising cost of living" "Increasing debt service (growing interest payments resulting from exchange rate differentiation); and rising cost of compensation payments resulting from the introduction of COLA.?" Stressing on the harsh realities, he noted revenue projections for 2023 are still on the low, however, Government is investing in the necessary infrastructure to boost domestic revenue generation. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we need as a country to forge together on this rebuilding path. We need to pay our taxes to enable government mobilise enough revenue to implement planned programmes especially the provision social safety nets for the poor and vulnerable. "We need to support and monitor the implementation of government programmes and projects and provide feedback. We need to consume made-in-Ghana goods and services to boost local production and productivity. We need to put the country first in our day-to-day activities among others" On his part, Chief Director, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Patrick Nomo said "The Annual Budget is a major policy tool for determination of national priorities, programmes categorisation, resource allocation and accountability" He also explained that the budget process therefore makes room for engagement of stakeholders across a broad spectrum of Ghanaians. This, he, indicated provides opportunity to obtain perspectives and insights that can only emanate from a collective national representation. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Adutwum has hinted that Senior High School (SHS) Education in Ghana is set to be made six (6) years. The Minister made these known while speaking at the 60th Anniversary of Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (Ghana) in Koforidua in the Eastern Region. Speaking at the 60th Anniversary, he said "There are so many areas that we need to ensure that there is improvement. One area where we are going to cabinet for approval and eventually Parliament for approval is making Secondary Education six (6) years and not three (3)" He hinted that a draft bill has been put before cabinet for approval then to Parliament to make SHS six years combining JHS education. "Draft bill before cabinet for approval and eventually Parliament, is making Secondary Education six years and not three. It does not mean we are going to bring three more years to your campus" "But what we are saying is this, we have a rare opportunity to amend the pre-tertiary education Act that says that JHS is part of Basidlc effective given our Senior High Schools three years. This was a nation that had seven years Secondary. Chemistry should begin from Junior High School One" He said "The 1998 education reform did great injustice to this country. When we said we don't need six form anymore. It also meant we needed four years university education instead of three for most courses" Below is a video: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith Video source: Kojo Ansah TV

Waste management giant, Zoomlion Ghana Limited has donated handwashing items to schools in the Greater Accra Region. The donation forms part of Zoomlion’s activities to commemorate Global Handwashing Day (GHD), which is celebrated annually on October 15th. The theme for GHD 2022 is “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene.” The Global Handwashing Day is an advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the significance of handwashing with soap as an effective tool to prevent diseases and save lives. The items included 150 Veronica buckets, 300 paper towels, 50 waste bins, 50 gallons of handwashing soap and 300 hand sanitizers. The presentation was done by the Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Ms. Adwoa Appiah Osei Duah, who was accompanied by the Coordinator of Zoomlion Foundation Thomas Narh Korley. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the ceremony, Ms. Appiah Osei Duah explained that Global Handwashing Day is relevant as handwashing among children formed the basis of hygiene, hence awareness must be increased, especially among children. She said the items from Zoomlion were to aid in effective handwashing among school children, adding that the theme for the celebration was appropriate. "The onset of Covid-19 taught us a lesson on handwashing; a practice that should be made part of an individual’s life,” she advised. She, therefore, encouraged Ghanaians to make handwashing a regular activity. This year’s Global Handwashing Day will fall on Saturday, October 15, a reason Zoomlion chose to commemorate the Day with La kwantanang GES on Thursday, October 13, in order to meet and interact with the Zoomkids of Ayi Mensah Basic School in the La Nkwantanang Madina-Municipal Assembly (LaNMMA) in the Greater Accra Region. The Municipal Director of Education, La Nkwantanang Madina-Municipal Assembly, Mr. Kean Adjei Appiah, who received the donations on behalf of Madina schools, thanked Zoomlion for the gesture, and assured that the items will serve their intended purpose. He indicated that handwashing has enormous health benefits, stating that the day was established by health authorities against the backdrop that diligent washing of hands with soap under running water has positive impact on lives. According to him, diarrhoea has been reduced by 30%, acute respiratory infections by 20% and the transmission of outbreak-related pathogens such as cholera, Ebola, SARS and Covid-19 amongst others have largely been reduced, all because of handwashing during the Covid period. He, therefore, implored parents to assist head teachers to instill hand washing discipline in children. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Controller and Accountant General's Department served notice that it would stop paying government workers who are not registered with the National Identification Authority (NIA). The Department directed government workers to register and get their Ghana cards before December 1, 2021. It added that effective December 1, 2021, all government workers without Ghana cards would not be paid. The Controller and Accountant General's Department has served notice it would stop paying government workers who are not registered with the National Identification Authority (NIA). The Department has therefore directed government workers to register and get their Ghana cards before December 1, 2021. A statement issued by the Department announced its plans to harmonize its database to facilitate biometric and unique identification of all workers on the government payroll. In so doing, the Department says it would be working with the NIA to achieve that. It has therefore disclosed that effective December 1, 2021, all government workers without Ghana cards would not be paid. Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker has dared his cousin, Nathaniel Dekyi to go and burn any equipments he claim belongs to him. The Deputy Minister made these remarks on an Accra-based radio station on Thursday. In an interview monitored by Think News Online, George Mireku Duker said "Mining is not done in the room. Every miner can easily identify an individual involved in mining. It will not take Nathaniel Dekyi to tell the world. This concession has been in existence since 2016. Go there and burn the machines and any equipments you claim belongs to me" "I am going round and burning that of others so why leave mine to function if he claims I am mining. He should go there and burn them" He also added that the false allegations being levelled against him by Nathaniel Dekyi was due to his (Mireku Duker) refusal to help his cousin get crowned as a chief at Dompim. The Deputy Minister who was once a Chief revealed that he abdicated his Kingship for a position of Member of Parliament (MP) in 2008. "In the laws of Ghana, one cannot be a Chief and an MP at the same time, so I gave up on the Kingship for the MP position. There are some disputes in Dompim" "Nathaniel Dekyi during the last elections uttered defamatory statements about me of which I let it slide but as for this one; I will not let it slide. I have asked my lawyers to prepare a writ and send it to court" "The court is an open forum. Nathaniel Dekyi should come with his evidence and tell the court where my concession is. He will be served very soon" "His move is a strategy to distract me from my work but I will not fall victim" Mr. Mireku Duker also revealed that he has never been involved in any form of Mining. "I have never mined before. By virtue of where I hail from and representing miners. About 90% of my constitutes have their lives been impacted by mining so I represent miners in Parliament" "60% of Ghana's gold threshold is from Tarkwa and its enclaves. Tarkwa is the heart of mining in Ghana as far as gold is concerned but it is unfortunate I have never mined before" The Deputy Minister explained that he is not the owner of Akon Community Mining as speculated. "Akon Community Mining is the name and why should it be mine? The community mine was commissioned by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. The commissioningbrought under one umbrella high profiled personalities and interest groups" He revealed that the Akon Community Mining is a big concession which has employed not less four thousand (4,000) people. Mr. Duker commended Akon Community Mining saying the firm is mining responsibly. "It is an underground mine and they are mining responsibly. I leading it does not mean it is mine. Akon Community Mining does not belong to me. Lands in Tarkwa does not belong to Dompim because it is in a different jurisdiction" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith