Vera Hamenoo-Kpeda, better known as MzVee, one of Ghana's most successful female Afropop, dancehall, and R&B singers, has lamented the country's high fuel prices. The singer said she used to fill her vehicle's fuel tank with GHC300, but that it has now risen to GHC700, making it difficult for her to fill her tank regularly. She emphasized that she opposes the collection of the electronic transaction levy (E-levy) because she considers it to be double taxation. “I was filling my tank for about GH300 but now I fill it for close to GH700 so yeah it’s hard in Ghana. I don’t have a good take on E-Levy because I feel like it’s a double taxation situation,” she bemoaned. She added: “Hardship has definitely increased in Ghana. I think Ghana is part of the top 5 countries since the Ukraine and Russia war that is like going through it.” In an interview with the Accra-based 'The Pulse' on the issue of the National Cathedral, which this portal monitors, the multiple-award-winning Ghanaian musician added that there are many churches in the country Christians belong to. She stressed that government should prioritize resolving the country's current economic woes over a National Cathedral. “I think there are basic things we should look at before we think about building a national cathedral in this country. I feel like for every five minutes there is a church, so why don’t we focus on fixing street lights, fixing potholes basic things like that before we think about one big church for God,” she stated. One of the most contentious issues in recent months has been the construction of a national cathedral, with many Ghanaians believing that, given the state of the country's economy, a cathedral is not currently needed. According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, the project has been halted despite receiving nearly GH200 million of taxpayer funds. Credit: Modern Ghana

UK prime Minister, Boris Johnson has resigned following a revolt within his Conservative Party, saying in an address to the nation that the process of choosing a new prime minister "should begin now." "It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore, a new prime minister," said Johnson. "The process of choosing that new leader should begin now," he added, saying the time line will be announced next week. Johnson is not planning to leave office immediately, however. "I've today appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place," he said, in a televised speech outside 10 Downing Street. Appointing new cabinet ministers means that the government can continue to function as he prepares to depart. What happens when a British Prime Minister resigns? Johnson spoke of his attempts to stay on as leader and how "painful" it is for him to step down, but made no mention of the scandals that have proved his political downfall. "In the last few days, I've tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we're delivering so much... and when the economic scene is so difficult domestically and internationally," Johnson said. "I regret not to have been successful in those arguments, and of course, it's painful, not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself," he said, adding that he's proud of "getting Brexit done" and "leading the West in standing up to Putin's aggression in Ukraine." Johnson went on to address voters directly, and expressed his sadness at stepping down after nearly three years in the role. "To you, the British public: I know that there will be many people who are relieved and, perhaps, quite a few will also be disappointed," he said. "And I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world, but them's the breaks." Johnson has in recent months been engulfed in a series of scandals that forced even his most stalwart supporters to abandon him. Nearly 60 government officials -- including five cabinet ministers -- have resigned since Tuesday, furious about the botched handling of the resignation by Johnson's former deputy chief whip, Chris Pincher, who was accused of groping two men last week. Boris Johnson's tenure has been defined by scandal. Here are some of the biggest ones Johnson initially attempted to ride out the crisis -- despite an unprecedented flight of middle-ranking ministers from the government, a battering at Prime Minister's Questions and a bruising appearance before a committee of senior lawmakers in Parliament. On Wednesday, he still insisted he wasn't going to resign. But Johnson finally gave in Thursday after some of his most loyal allies told him that the game was up. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Johnson had made the "right decision" to resign. "We need calmness and unity now and to keep governing while a new leader is found," she added. Greg Clark, newly appointed UK Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said that he had a "duty to ensure that the country has a functioning government." The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, said it was "good news for the country" that Johnson had decided to resign, adding that "it should have happened long ago." "He was always unfit for office. He has been responsible for lies, scandal and fraud on an industrial scale," said Starmer on Twitter. The opposition leader also had scathing words for the Conservatives. "They have been in power for 12 years. The damage they have done is profound. Twelve years of economic stagnation. Twelve years of declining public services. Twelve years of empty promises," Starmer said. "Enough is enough. We don't need to change the Tory at the top -- we need a proper change of government. We need a fresh start for Britain." 'Needless damage' While Johnson has announced his resignation as Conservative Party leader, it is possible that he will remain as prime minister for some weeks or even months. Conventionally, when a Conservative leader resigns, he or she gives the party time to hold a thorough leadership contest, in which Conservative lawmakers and then party members nationwide vote. But some said Johnson should leave office more quickly. "We now need a new Leader as soon as practicable," Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said on Twitter. "Someone who can rebuild trust, heal the country, and set out a new, sensible and consistent economic approach to help families," he added. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also called for the leadership question to be settled. "There will be a widespread sense of relief that the chaos of the last few days (indeed months) will come to an end, though notion of Boris Johnson staying on as PM until autumn seems far from ideal, and surely not sustainable?" Sturgeon said in a series of tweets. Conservative MP Steve Baker told CNN that the party needs "to move swiftly to a leadership contest." Baker said Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab should be caretaker prime minister, but that Johnson could also continue in office. "I am absolutely determined that we should not prolong this crisis. If it's agreed within government that Boris Johnson should continue as caretaker, then that's fine with me," Baker told CNN. "Because we need to just end the crisis, get into a leadership contest, and start fresh in September." Former British Prime Minister John Major said it would be "unwise and may be unsustainable" for Johnson to remain in the office of prime minister for long while a new Conservative leader is chosen. Barrage of criticism Johnson's departure will mark a remarkable downfall for a prime minister who was once seen as having political superpowers, with an appeal that transcended traditional party lines. He won a landslide victory in December 2019 on the promise of delivering a Brexit deal and leading the UK to a bright future outside the European Union. But his premiership unraveled in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. In recent months the prime minister has faced a barrage of criticism from all sides over his conduct and that of some members of his government, including illegal, Covid-19 lockdown-breaking parties thrown in his Downing Street offices for which he and others were fined. Numerous other scandals have also hit his standing in the polls. These include accusations of using donor money inappropriately to pay for a refurbishment of his Downing Street home and ordering MPs to vote in such a way that would protect a colleague who had breached lobbying rules. Last month, he survived a confidence vote among members of his own party, but the final count of his lawmakers who rebelled against him was higher than his supporters expected: 41% of his own parliamentary party refused to back him. He suffered a further blow late last month when his party lost two parliamentary by-elections in a single night, raising new questions about his leadership. His reputation was also dented by the resignation of his second ethics adviser in less than two years. Story by: Lauren Kent and Sugam Pokharel

Executive Director of the National Population Council, Dr. Leticia Adelaide Appiah says reducing unmet need for family planning will help reduce the high levels of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and maternal and neonatal morbidity in Ghana. According to her, it will also reduce mortality with accompanied health and financial benefit likewise the population growth rate. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Thursday ahead of the 2022 World Population Day Celebrations slated for July 15, she said "Data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), unmet need for family planning stands at 30%.  Reducing unmet need for family planning will reduce the high levels of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality with accompanied health and financial benefits and a reduction in the population growth rate" "One of the consequences of lack of prioritization of reproductive rights and choices is high unmet need for family planning. Unmet need for family planning measures the gap between woman’s reproductive intentions and their contraceptive behavior" Dr. Appiah also mentioned child marriage and other teen pregnancies as another manifestation of the lack of prioritization of reproductive rights and choices for cultural reasons. "Child marriage disproportionately affects young girls with far reaching consequences that negatively impacts not only the lives of children who are married, but also the lives of those around them and the nation at large" Dr. Appiah stressed that when girls marry young before their minds and bodies are fully developed, they get pregnant before they become adults. Touching on pregnancy, she described it as a number one cause of mortality among girls aged 15-19 worldwide. Dr. Appiah also hinted that child marriage and teen pregnancies reinforce the gendered nature of poverty whose impact extends throughout a girl’s adult life into the next generation. "Prioritizing sexual and reproductive rights and choices of women in Ghana and Africa by decisively tackling child marriage, teen pregnancies and unmet need for family planning will improve maternal and child health and well-being at a reduced health, social, environmental and economic costs" "This will significantly reduce the unsustainable level of population growth rate in Africa and Ghana. It will help produce fewer healthier young people and increase the proportion of skilled workforce leading to accelerated socio-economic development" She added that it is important that policy makers, implementers and takers appreciate the health, social, environmental and economic benefits of prioritizing reproductive health and services. "This in my opinion will help bridge the inequality gaps, improve the health of citizens, free up funds for relevant quality education and skill acquisition and make it easier to build a resilient future for all" Dr. Leticia Adelaide Appiah mentioned that child marriage, teen pregnancies and unmet need puts strain on family and national income whiles increasing family and national expenditure mainly on consumption to the disadvantage of production. "Ignoring these seemingly harmless small issues is akin to the little foxes that spoil the vine in the bible. Songs of Solomon 2 vrs 15. Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom" As the world population hits 8 billion, for Africa to reduce its population growth rate to sustainable levels for national development, Dr. Appiah called for a concerted effort at reducing or eliminating child marriage, teen pregnancy and unmet need for family planning. She added that the call should attract attention and commitment from all stakeholders especially the Media, Economists, Traditional, Religious and Political Leadership. "For sustainable socio-economic development of Ghana and Africa, sexual and reproductive health policy should and must be seen and treated as an economic policy and a security policy" Dr. Appiah told Journalists that globally, United Nations World Population Prospects recorded 139,821,086 births and 60,119,439 deaths in 2021. She added Europe welcomed 4,047,432 births and recorded 5, 186,787 deaths whilst Africa had 49, 034,104 births and 13, 378,519 deaths. "Nigeria, our big brother, welcomed 8,424, 582 and buried 2, 777,541 according to the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs, Population Division in 2021" In Ghana, Dr. Appiah revealed that birthsin 2021 alone stood at 1,053,400 and deaths 288,378. She explained that the difference between births and deaths is the net increase Europe’s population decreased by over a million people and Africa’s increased by over 35 million in 2021 alone with Ghana contributing over 700,000. The Executive Director hinted that as the world is hitting 8 billion people; whilst Europe is contributing to slowing down the population growth down to a sustainable level, Africa is rather contributing to its accelerated growth also in an unsustainable fashion. Touching on below replacement level fertility, Dr. Appiah revealed that, in Europe ultimately translates into population with fewer young skilled workforce and a larger proportion of older people which poses a threat for economic growth and the maintenance of social welfare systems such as pensions and healthcare. Shae again added that in order for European countries to address its negative population growth rate, many countries in European Union have instituted some social policies promoting fertility, increased age of retirement and organized migration of skilled workforce. Additionally, Europe has invented automation and other technologies such as auto-pilot cars, computerized scans and algorithms that respond to customer service inquiries substitute for some activities humans were previously performing to increase productivity and improve lives. On the other hand, fertility rates above replacement level in Africa and Ghana drive fast population growth on the continent. Dr. Appiah noted that, Ghana is constantly contributing to a large proportion of young people and fewer skilled workforce posing challenges with provision of quality healthcare resources, relevant education, employment as well as sustainable economic growth. "With high unemployment and majority of people in the informal sector, automation and the use of current technologies could worsen the unemployment situation. A report by McKinsey Global Institute in 2017 revealed that about half the activities people are paid to perform globally could theoretically be automated by 2030 using current technologies." On his part, the Country Representative A.I, UNFPA, Mr. Barnabas Yisa said "Prioritizing rights and choices means providing all with adequate information and services to enable them make their own informed decisions and act more efficiently for their own good and the well-being of others." He added Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and choices are fundamental to bridging inequality and inequity gaps in health, education, employment within and between genders. He stressed that they are a set of rights that apply to all people in the world, regardless of religion, ethnicity, culture, gender, age or impairment (UNFPA, 2010). "With regards to the rights, men and women have the right to be informed and have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice as well as other methods, for regulation of fertility for optimal health and economic outcomes" Sharing his thoughts on high unmet need for family planning, he said "One of the consequences of lack of prioritization of Reproductive rights and choices is high unmet need for family planning. Unmet need for family planning comes about when currently married or sexually active fecund women who want to postpone their next birth for two or more years or who want to stop childbearing altogether but are not using a contraceptive method due to unavailability, inadequate knowledge, cost constraints or cultural barriers" "Data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) indicates that total unmet need for family planning is highest among the youngest women aged 15-19 years (51 per cent) and lowest among the oldest women aged 45-59 years (14 per cent). Unmet need is only slightly higher in rural areas than in urban areas (31 per cent and 29 per cent respectively). Unmet need is lowest among women with a secondary or higher education (24 per cent)" This, he said, is in the national interest to prioritize family planning in the health sector in general with a special focus on teen girls with little or no education. Touching on reducing high rates of child marriage, Mr. Yisa said "According to the National Strategic Framework on Ending Child Marriage (2017 – 2026), on the average, one (1) out of five (5) girls is married before their 18th birthday, thus, the percentage of girls aged 20 – 24 years who were married or in union by the age of 18 is 21 per cent nationally" Explaining further, he noted that, this amounts to 260,000 affected girls in the country. "Also, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2011, child marriage is prevalent in rural areas compared to urban areas, i.e., 36 per cent and 18 per cent respectively. The data above vividly reveals how child marriage is a profound manifestation of gender inequality. It disproportionally affects girls over boys. Among boys aged 20 – 24 years, only 2 per cent were married before the age of 18 compared to 21 per cent of girls. Reducing child marriage will significantly lower maternal and child mortality and malnutrition" On teenage pregnancy he revealed, according to the Ghana Health Service, between 2016 and 2020, 555,575 teen pregnancies were recorded; and in 2020 alone 107,023 pregnancies were recorded among girls aged 15 to 19 years. This, according to Mr. Yisa brings to sharp focus the importance of improving adolescent reproductive health services and information as a cost saving intervention both at the family and national levels. Mr. Yisa called on government to ensure adequate funding for family planning commodity supply. "To Reduce Child Marriage through a multi-prolonged intervention to alter social norms and legal framework. Increase awareness regarding child marriage laws and the consequences of child marriage among individuals, families and communities" "The Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) which pegs the age sexual consent at 16 years old needs to be amended and increased 18. The Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), which provides in section 14(2) that the minimum age for marriage is 18 needs to be amended and increased to 20" He also called for women to be empowered educationally, economically and politically to exercise their choice over their bodies and fertility. "Prioritizing reproductive health and rights for all through access to right information and service are, key areas to transform women in their fertility age to thrive. Negotiating cultures for gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights required reflective critical and comprehensive approaches." Background Globally, 11th July was set aside for the celebration of annual World Population Day (WPD) in 1989 by the Governing Council of the United Nations in all countries. The celebration calls for critical analysis of relevant population and its related issues that supports or hinders accelerated socio-economic development for national attention and action. The global theme for this year’s celebration is “A world of 8 billion: towards a resilient future for all, harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices” and our national theme is ‘Prioritizing rights and choices; harnessing opportunities, the road to a resilient future for all.’ Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

My family was poor and broken after the civil war in Sri Lanka but I could do nothing about it. So when I had an opportunity to improve our lives I grabbed it. I grew up in poverty. When I was a baby we lived in Colombo. My father supported the family through daily wage labour. He died suddenly in an accident. I was only a year old at the time. Our mother raised us with difficulty. She had five children to look after, four daughters and one son. I got married at the age of fifteen. After my marriage we were still living in poverty, but our life gradually improved; we bought land in Kepapilavu Mullaitivu, in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and built a house. It was during this time that the war was happening. We were forced to move in 2009. We moved from one place to another, and in Mullivaikkal we were relocated to a military-controlled area. They took us to the Cheddikulam refugee camp. Life in the refugee camp was hard as there was a shortage of food and water. We struggled a lot with the children for nearly seven to eight years. After years of struggle, in 2016 our land was finally released for resettlement. We were given our land, but I did not have the savings to do anything with it because we had lost everything during the war – I had lost my home, and my husband was no longer with us. I didn’t have the money to send my five children to school. Four of my daughters were married when they were young. One of my them was injured from a shell attack during the war. She then fell into depression and is to this day affected by loud sounds. She found employment in a garment factory, but she couldn’t bear the sounds of the machines. She couldn’t continue to work there. The only opportunity open to me was some daily wage labour. As a woman and head of a household with no external support, I was unable to take any steps to provide for my family with even basic necessities. Then, we were lucky. A cooperative society and a project of the International Labour Organization (ILO) learnt about our situation and invited me to join a livelihood programme on groundnut farming. They said if I participated in the programme, they would give me groundnut seeds that I could use to start cultivation on half an acre of land. They said they would give me 20 kgs of groundnut seeds for farming and after the harvest, I would need to return the same amount to them. I was happy to do this. Through the project they also taught us how to cultivate the land and grow crops. I practiced what I learnt. At first, I had to borrow money even for the wire to build a fence on my land. Despite all that debt I managed to cultivate 20 kgs of groundnut seeds and reaped the benefits from it. Today I have bought wire with my money, I own the fence, and I have expanded the land to one acre. I was able to return the 20 kg of groundnuts they lent me. After that, they even built an agro-well for me. The new agro-well has allowed me to cultivate groundnuts all year round. We have grown step by step. When the war broke out we moved to the camps without even proper clothes to wear. Even after the conflict we were stuck at home with no income. So, when we were shown a way to improve our situation, we grabbed the opportunity. I believe by making efforts, we will progress forward. "Cultivating is not easy, it’s hard work under the unbearable sun. But it’s our own business, this land is ours and we are not working under someone else. We will put our heart and energy into it. Now I plan to repair a water pump, which is the only thing I don’t have at the moment. And if our situation improves further, I would like to rear chickens as a livelihood. I also hope to set up a small shop for my youngest daughter. And it’s through my groundnut farming business that I will achieve these goals." Note: This interview was conducted before the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Abakah

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that a meeting between the striking teacher unions ànd government officials has ended inconclusively. According to sources, the two parties wanted to reach a consensus regarding the 20% COLA demanded by the teachers, a situation which has forced them to strike. More to follow...... Story by: Think News Desk

Raheem Sterling has agreed personal terms with Chelsea and confirmation of his move from Manchester City is now imminent. The England international headed a shortlist of Thomas Tuchel's attacking targets and had entered the final year of his contract with City, who are grateful for his service and will not obstruct his desire for greater minutes and status elsewhere. Pep Guardiola has repeatedly stated "I don't like to keep players that are unhappy" and was open to allowing Sterling's exit this summer, even to a Premier League rival, on condition that an acceptable bid in the region of £50m is tabled. Tuchel was desperate to add a decisive edge in the final third to cure Chelsea's goalscoring issues and new Blues owner Todd Boehly had been in touch with City to discuss figures and the structure of a deal. Sterling would offer Tuchel a guaranteed threat - he has directly contributed a combined 165 goals in the division in 320 appearances for Liverpool and City - as well as tactical flexibility and experience. The 27-year-old believes he is in the decisive phase of his career and wants to make a significant contribution on and off the pitch. The fact that City can cede two attackers to members of the 'Big Six' - Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal for £45m and Sterling to Stamford Bridge - without trepidation is a sign of their solid recruitment and the gap that exists between the clubs. Intra-league transfers at the top end of the table are set to become more common as European teams struggle to financially compete with their English counterparts. The Athletic's Liam Twomey on Sky Sports News: "I think it's a transfer that, potentially, works well for all parties. Sterling needs a change of scene; he has fallen out of favour at Manchester City, has a year left on his contract and there doesn't seem to be much of a market for him outside of Chelsea. "I think a lot of the big Premier League clubs are experiencing this at the moment where it is easier for them to sell to each other, potentially, than to anyone else, given the finances involved. And Chelsea need a way to refresh their attacking options, particularly after letting Romelu Lukaku go back to Inter on loan. "I think the new owners want to make a statement as well and while Raheem Sterling might not be the most exotic or exciting name to some Chelsea fans, he is Premier League proven, 27 years old, a key England international. He would clearly be a quality addition. "I think Sterling is a little bit of a polarising target among Chelsea fans and I think part of that is just because he is so familiar. We know his flaws as a player so well, as well as his strengths, as we've been watching him forever in the Premier League and I think that feeds into the way a lot of Chelsea fans see him. But there is no denying he has been a very effective player in top teams in this league for a long, long time, so I think he'd be a very reliable performer. "We are also seeing an increased willingness from Chelsea to look at Premier League proven targets. They have been burned in the last couple of years by signing players from other leagues who have maybe needed time to adapt or, in some cases, not really adapted at all and not been maximised in the team. "Someone like Sterling who has already produced at a high level in the Premier League for many years, you can see why that would be attractive to Chelsea and, for Boehly, he's a big name. And at 27, he's someone you could still expect to be productive for several more years." Credit: Skysports.com

The Zambian Minister for Mines and Minerals Development, Hon. Paul C. Kabuswe has on Wednesday, 6th July, 2022 led a 6-member delegation to Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to familiarise himself with operations at the Ministry, particularly on issues relating to the Mining sector in Ghana. Speaking at a brief meeting, Chaired by the Hon. Deputy Minister for Mines, Hon. George Mireku Duker on behalf of the Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, the Zambian Minister said his visit to Ghana was to basically study Ghana's Small Scale Mining Sector, exchange ideas and to learn best practices in the Ghanaian Mining space. He noted that for Africa to thrive and prosper in it's own efforts and resources, there must be strong and closer collaborations among African countries. "We need to collaborate and share ideas to help harness our resources as Africans and liberate ourselves economically because we are not yet economically powerful as a continent and as such, I believe it is time to it together and exchange views and not to stay aloof" He disclosed that Zambia has recently discovered gold and wants to embark on a very robust minerals exploration to ensure the mineral does not end up in wrong hands, adding that the country is mapping up the entire Zambia to among others help understand the extent of Mineralisation within the country. He also noted that they have taken the decision to clean up their license system because they believe that "mining starts at licensing stage and if you don't get it right from the beginning you miss the point and therefore you must get it right from the beginning" He said to ensure an all inclusive system, they have set themselves on a part to reorganise the Mining sector of Zambia with a new Mining policy framework to ensure this is strongly in place. Hon. Kabuswe strongly touted that they believe Africa has the human resources to achieve whatever goal they set to achieve. Hon. George Mireku Duker on his part, updated the delegation on Ghana's efforts to improve on the Mining sector through its regulatory framework and decentralisation. He said he is happy that Zambia has shown interest in Ghana's Mining sector, disclosing that up to 500 companies have also shown their interest in the exploration of same and also harness opportunities in the country. On value addition, Hon. Duker said the Government through the Ministry has set up agencies like GISDEC and GIADEC to promote and develop an integrated bauxite, aluminium, Iron and steel industry in Ghana. He said as part of Ghana's contribution to the Minamata Convention, government has procured Mercury-free Mining equipment which efficiently recovers more Gold for artisanal and small scale miners and also encourage responsible mining in the country. The delegation also paid a similar visit to the Mining regulator in Ghana, Minerals Commission and to Precious Minerals and Marketing Company which among others promotes the development of precious minerals and jewelry in Ghana. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has said it has monitored a fraudulent Facebook account created in the name of GAF with the name Asinyo Inno, advertising sale of protocol recruitment forms for interested applicants. The account bearing the name Mathias Sarpong with a contact number +233595577684, GAF said, is one of such numerous fraudulent social media accounts being used for recruitment scams. GAF, in conjunction with other security agencies under the auspices of the relevant Ministries, have stepped up efforts to trace and apprehend these fraudsters for prosecution. GAF however wishes to once again caution the general public that it does not use intermediaries and has not contracted any institution or individuals to conduct recruitment or enlistment exercises on its behalf. Also, GAF does not advertise recruitment and enlistment processes on social media, a statement said. Interested persons who wish to apply to join GAF should therefore pay heed to the numerous public warnings and education, and desist from patronising the activities of such fraudsters on social media. “It must be noted that GAF recently published the 2022 enlistment in ONLY two national daily newspapers (Ghananian Times edition of 14 May 2022 and the Daily Graphic edition of 16 May 2022). “The relevant information and guidelines in respect of the eligibility criteria, sale of scratch cards at designated Ghana Post offices across the country and the closure of the online application process on Sunday 10 July 2022, have all been indicated in the adverts. The public especially interested applicants should accordingly comply with the laid down processes as advertised in the Ghanaian Times and Daily Graphic in order not to fall prey to the fraudsters. “The public is therefore strongly advised to desist from paying monies to any person(s) who present themselves as GAF recruiters, agents or middlemen with the promise to help potential applicants join GAF. Interested applicants must report such individuals who present themselves as such intermediaries or agents demanding payment in order to assist them, to the nearest Military Installation or Police Station. In the same vein, the interested applicants who choose to pay monies to agents for help are equally culpable in the fraudulent act. “Once again GAF wishes to urge persons interested in joining GAF to ignore any advertisement and contacts on social media platforms inviting and also soliciting monies from them in respect of any supposed ‘protocol’ recruitment or enlistment process. GAF requires the cooperation of the public to curtail these fraudulent activities.” Source: 3news.com

The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has heaped loads of praise on Ghanaian printing company, Appointed Time Printing (ATP) Limited, a subsidiary of the Jopsong Group of Companies (JGC), following its production of first batch of science textbooks for basic schools across the country. He said the government awarded ATP a contract to print science textbooks for basic schools under the new curriculum while other local printers were also contracted to print other subjects. “I am very happy and satisfied with the printing jo done by Appointed Time Printing. And I am even more impressed with the state-of-the-art printing machines imported by the company to use in its printing operations,” he gladly expressed. Dr. Osei Adutwum made the commendation while paying a working visit at ATP’s head office in Accra on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. He said ATP has amply showed that the printing of government textbooks can be done in the country and by local printers. “The Akufo-Addo administration made it a policy that all government textbooks should be printed in the country, and ATP has indeed demonstrated printing made-in-Ghana,” he said. He reiterated President Akufo-Addo’s policy to ensure improvement in education, and therefore, the urgent need for textbooks to be made readily available for all basic schools throughout the country. Dr. Osei Adutwum also used the space to commend ATP for employing Ghanaians in its operations. The Head of Marketing of Appointed Time Printing Ltd., Mr. Charles Aidoo, expressed appreciation to the Education Minister for his visit. He disclosed that his company was expected to print over 600,000 science textbooks, but was quick to reveal that “as we speak now, we are about 50% through.” He was confident that by the end of August this year, his outfit would finish the production of the textbooks. This, he assured, was against the backdrop of the huge investment made into equipment by his company. “It has been our plan to complete production ahead of the timelines set for us. That will ensure that the textbooks get to the schools early enough to enable our school children get the textbooks and study,” he indicated. According to him, this first batch of textbooks will be distributed to Greater Accra, Volta and Central Regions, adding that each of these regions has a specific quantity that will be supplied. “Yes, we are 50% through with the job, but we are still printing, folding and distributing. So as and when the drivers come the ones which are ready will be delivered to them for distribution,” Mr. Aidoo noted. In late May this year, the government through the Ministry of Education contracted 5 local printers including ATP to print government textbooks for basic schools across the country. Under the contract, both the publishers and the printers were given 120 days to deliver. ATP was selected to print about 750,000 science basic school textbooks, which production commenced in June 2022. The company aims to finish production by end of August 2022. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry has launched the 2021 Non-Traditional Export Statistics Report in Accra. According to the report, GEPA has a recorded a 17% increase in earnings over 2020 in non-traditional export. Speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEPA, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare said "The year 2021 was widely heralded as the year of rebirth, and rightly so. This year has seen a resurgence in business and an optimistic return to normalcy. In terms of business, the year 2021 saw an uptick, with working amidst covid protocols being part of the norm" Dr. Asare added that GEPA as an institution with the primary mandate of facilitating the production and promoting made-in-Ghana goods and services outside the country’s boundaries came to terms with using technology primarily for several aspects of its operations where it hitherto heavily relied on in-person tactics. "Business summits, Trade shows, Global seminars and Exhibitions were all running either virtually or in hybrid mode, utilizing all available resources to promote exports and strengthening exporters’ capacities" She added that over time, with the reduction of restrictions and in-person events regaining prominence, GEPA perfected the art of incorporating a virtual perspective to all aspects of our operations. "Interestingly, now when we invite our Exporters for in-person events, the next obvious statement from them is “Please share the link for us to join online”. This practice has so quickly become “a matter of course”, as if it was always a part of us." She further revealed that GEPA perfected the art of partnerships and collaboration which proved impactful, engaging and rewarding for stakeholders involved. "Without sounding like a broken record Ladies and Gentlemen, our mandate at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority as an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, seeks to facilitate the production and promotion of value-added goods and services made in Ghana. Within the export value chain and trade fraternity, our mandates are quite interdependent and our best outputs are the ones that have been supported by strong institutional collaborations" "Our Exporters are the final beneficiaries of the work we do as their productivity impacts the export figures. So you can understand why we tend to get excited when we record a significant increase in non-traditional export earnings. We are quick to remind ourselves however that the broad target of Usd25.3 billion by 2029, is still on the horizon and therefore the performance of the previous year, is only an indication of the level of momentum we need to gather, to achieve our objective of making Ghana an industrialized economy" Dr. Asare stressed that as implementing agency of the National Export Development Strategy, GEPA aligned itself to three (3) pillars of strategy, of which enabled them work towards achieving its aim of turning its fortunes around. "Increasing productivity of our exporters, advocating for the enhancement of the business environment to encourage exporters to export more and building the competence of exporters to enable them compete favorably in international markets were the three strong pillars we aligned ourselves to" "However like I mentioned earlier, we are unable to achieve this alone as an Agency – not because we are unskilled but because the success of the strategy relies on the collaborative effort of public-private sector partnership." She hinted that since there is so much to be achieved in destination markets, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) will continue to provide duty-free treatment to goods of designated sub-Saharan African countries. "We have barely scratched the surface of this act. In 2021, we exported to 152 countries and the EU and UK markets continue to top our export destinations contributing 35.96% to total market value.  The Asian market demand alone is overwhelming not to mention the new AfCFTA market that beckons" "Ladies and gentlemen, you would realise that there’s a lot we can do to turn things around – if we set our minds to being export-oriented and aligning our operations to the pillars of the National Export Development Strategy" On his part, the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Herbert Krapa said “Ghana has taken a number of key advances on its way to becoming an industrialized country and events such as this one, allows us to look back and evaluate our progress in the export sector qualitatively. It goes without saying that if we want to achieve the status of an industrialized economy, then we equally need a persistent export-oriented mindset to give meaning to our vision of a “Ghana beyond aid”.” He added that Ghana, like all other countries worldwide, is getting back on track to plough back lost revenues due to downtimes in 2019/2020 and recover as much as possible after the pandemic. He hinted that following a renewed sense of optimism and determination to strengthen Ghana’s economy for the long term, Government is committed to helping, enhancing, and supporting activities that will inject a boost into the economy and consequently enable private sector create the much needed jobs. “Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to take you back to the reason why the National Export Development Strategy was launched in the last quarter of 2020. Ghana’s annual growth rate of total export figures in the last eight (8) years has hovered around 1.75% while the contribution of Non-Traditional Export earnings to the Total National Exports has recorded between 18% and 23% during the same period. Ghana has historically exported mainly raw commodities which have consistently fetched us low prices and insufficient foreign exchange revenues. Meanwhile in destination markets, considerable wealth and jobs are created by adding value to the raw materials we produce here in Ghana. The irony is how we have to buy back these finished products, at high prices, with hard-earned foreign currency.” To break this cycle, Mr. Krapa revealed that Government took a bold strategic decision to transform the structure of its economy from a raw commodity export-based one to a manufacturing industrial export-driven economy. This, he said, was backed with the launch of the policy document “The 10-Point Agenda for Industrial Transformation”. “Ghana Export Promotion Authority, an agency mandated under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, to diversify Ghana’s exports and promote products and services made-in-Ghana, was then tasked to lead the formulation of the National Export Development Strategy as a means to implement the 10-Point Agenda, complementing it with an export dimension” “The goal of the Strategy is to achieve substantial increase in the manufactured goods and services components of Ghana’s exports to attain a projected revenue of at least Usd25.3billion by 2029” “We are in the year 2022 and you may say the strategy is still in its early stages, but other nations have hit the ground running with their eyes on getting a chunk of the Usd3.3trillion AfCFTA market to improve their economies” He reminded the gathering that a few weeks ago, ten (10) sector committees were inaugurated at GEPA to kick off the implementation of the strategy. He noted that their role will be to provide the necessary guidance, advice, expertise and concrete implementation actions within their sectoral value chains based on the various interventions outlined in the needs. “As already outlined in the strategy, these members of the committees were drawn from private sector organisations and multi-faceted institutions within the public sector. This is to ensure that as much as possible, we are intrinsically linked for a common purpose, and no one drops their side of the bargain in making this strategy work for Ghana to prosper. A good number of interventions outlined within the Strategy correspond with Government’s policies and flagship programs, with a strong emphasis on value addition and employment development. By addressing the challenges in the trade sector and providing new export opportunities, we can cultivate sustainable grounds to boost our currency by having a wider and more diverse export base” “Once we are checking all the right boxes in the Strategy, we can then afford to measure how well we are doing on a yearly basis against our Usd25.3billion target in 2029. We can do so by identifying if the output of our daily grind and resulting outcomes are having the required impact on our economy, in our communities – most importantly in our pockets! The narrations and analysis behind the figures in this 2021 report are insightful. I know that a number of key institutions have a hand in validating these figures presented in the report.  I therefore have no reservations in encouraging as many stakeholders in the Industry and Trade fraternity, to make use of this Report as a vital source document for professional, academic, and research purposes. Mr. Krapa noted that despite the challenges the covid pandemic brought, Ghana's recovery rate  has been impressive adding that in 2018, NTE earnings witnessed a 10% increase over 2017 figures. Explaining further, he mentioned that in 2019 it recorded a 3.10% increase over the previous year, while 2020 recorded a decline of -1.84%. “The year 2021 – which a lot of people have called the year of bouncing back, recorded a 17% increase in earnings over 2020. I believe that this report will provide us with the drive and momentum to achieve the Usd25.3 billion target” WTO global trade forecasts for 2021 indicated that if COVID 19 Pandemic was brought under control and trade started to expand again, most regions could record double-digit rebound of around 21% - 24%. NTE earnings for the period under review (January to December 2021) amounted to US$3.330 billion, reflecting an increase of about 17% over 2020 earnings of US$ 2.846 billion. Over the last five years (2017 to 2021), Ghana's Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) grew at an annual average rate of 7.07% and contributed 22.62% to the total national merchandise exports of Ghana in 2021. The contribution of Non-traditional exports to Total exports from 2017 to 2021 shows a trendy performance depicting: growth from 2017-2018, slow growth from 2018-2019, negative growth from 2019-2020, substantial growth from 2020 -2021 and then a sharp growth from 2020-2021. Total National exports grew by 1.75% in 2021 compared to 2020. The average annual growth of total national exports over a 5-year period (2017-2021) was also 1.75%. Total exports showed a gentle growth relative to a rapid growth in the Non-Traditional Exports in 2021 relative to 2020. This was due to growth in demand in all categories of traditional export products with a corresponding average growth of 21.57% in earnings. Whereas NTE earnings experienced an average growth of 25.12% across sub-sectors. This growth associated with the NTE sector relative to the Traditional sector exhibits buoyancy of the NTE sector. NTE’s percentage contribution to Total National exports in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 were 18%, 19%, 18%, 20% and 22.62% respectively. The impressive showing of the NTE sector in 2021 over 2020 was due to a general increase in demand for major processed /semi-processed NTE products, expansions of and optimum running of installed capacities of some major companies, as well as exportation by some new 1D1F export-oriented companies, adherence to protocols of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) by most member States, and relentless trade facilitation efforts by the GEPA under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Manchester City are delighted to announce the signing of Kalvin Phillips on a six-year deal. The 26-year-old midfielder joins from Leeds United, having made 234 appearances over the course of eight seasons, scoring 14 goals and assisting 14. In addition to widespread admiration for his domestic performances with the Elland Road club, Kalvin has also received plaudits for his impressive individual and collective contribution to the England squad. He was one of the key components of the Three Lions side that reached the final of Euro 2020 last summer and also played an important role in helping guide the national side to this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar. “I am absolutely delighted to have joined Manchester City,” Phillips said. “City have again proved to the best team in the country with an amazing squad and a manager in Pep Guardiola who is rightly considered to be the finest in the world." “To be able to play under Pep and learn from him and his coaching staff as well as be part of a such a fantastic squad is a prospect that I am incredibly excited about. “City are a world-class Club with world-class staff and facilities and it’s a dream come true to have joined the Club. “Now I can’t wait to get started and to look to try and help the team to go on and achieve more success.” Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “Kalvin is a player that we have long admired, and at both domestic and international level, he has proved his fantastic ability and quality over the past few seasons. “His reading of the game, alongside his passing ability, energy and drive make him a formidable talent and he is a player who has a fantastic will to win. “We feel he will be a superb addition to our squad and that he will complement our game perfectly. “Everyone here is looking forward to watch Kalvin play and develop even further over the next few years.” PREMIER LEAGUE THOROUGHBRED One of the key components of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, over the past few seasons Phillips has reaffirmed his standing as one of the Premier League’s stand-out defensive midfielders. Armed with a formidable passing range and astute tactical awareness, Phillips combines those key attributes alongside his formidable stamina and infectious appetite for success. Possessing impressive technique, he is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and can also break the lines in central areas of play. With eight seasons’ experience at Elland Road under his belt, Phillips’ career has been one of constant upward trajectory. Leeds born and bred, Phillips joined the Elland Road club’s Academy as a 14-year-old, impressing as he progressed through the Club’s age groups initially as a more central midfielder. Having been an unused substitute in a FA Cup third round tie at Sunderland in January 2015, Phillips subsequently made his first-team debut against Wolves in April of that year. Kalvin then marked his senior home debut by scoring a goal in a 2-1 defeat to Cardiff that same month in 2015. After subsequently making 10 appearances in the 2015/16 season, Phillips’ Leeds career really took flight in the 2016/17 campaign with Phillips playing 40 times all told. He then figured 43 times the following campaign as he furthered his football education, and also won the Championship Young Player of the Month award for the first time in October 2017. However, it was the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds manager in the summer of 2018 that proved a transformative moment in Phillips’ career. The appointment of the visionary former Argentine and Chile boss saw Phillips converted into a more deep lying player in the engine room as well as also, at times, being deployed into central defence. He made the transition with aplomb, going on to make 46 appearances in Bielsa’s first season in charge at Elland Road, scoring three goals. Such was his instant impact, Phillips earned a place in the EFL Championship Team of the Year as Leeds finished third in the table, only to be pipped by Derby in the Championship play-off semi-final. In the COVID-interrupted 2019/20 campaign, Phillips was again a tower of strength, playing 40 games all told and proved a pivotal figure in helping Leeds finally end the Club’s 16-year absence from the topflight as they won promotion. Eligible to play for England well as Jamaica and the Republic of Ireland through his family heritage, ahead of Leeds’ return to the Premier League, Phillips was then named in the England squad for the first time in August 2020. He subsequently made his international debut in a Nations League clash with Denmark the following month, in the process becoming only the third player this century to play for the Three Lions before featuring in a top-flight game – following in the footsteps of Jack Butland and Wilfried Zaha. That same day Phillips was also selected as part of the PFA’s 2019/20 Championship team of the season. His inaugural season playing in the Premier League saw Phillips further hone his tactical awareness and adaptability as he went from strength to strength, along the way chalking up his 200th appearance for Leeds. After helping Leeds finish ninth on their return to the topflight, Phillips then further reaffirmed his quality in the summer of 2021 by starting every game as England reached the final of Euro 2020. The 26-year-old won praise from pundits, fans and the media for a series of combative, dynamic displays as Gareth Southgate’s side reached a first final in 55 years before eventually being beaten on penalties by Italy. Indeed, such was his impact for the Three Lions, he was voted as voted the 2020-21 BT England men’s player of the year beating Mason Mount and new City team-mate Raheem Sterling to the honour. Though the 2021/22 season proved a more challenging affair for Leeds, Phillips continued to impress before his campaign was interrupted by a hamstring injury which side-lined him for almost four months, though he returned in the spring to help the Yorkshire side preserve their topflight status. Credit: amp.mancity.com

A Member of the Environment and Science Committee of Parliament, Hamza Adam has asked the government to invest in rain water harvesting as a measure of addressing the perennial floods in Ghana. The legislator for Kumbungu Constituency told Alfred Ocansey on 3FM Sunrise that though floods are causing a lot of problems, they can also be solved profitably. One of the creative and profitable ways to handle floods is harvesting of the flood water. He stressed on the need to have a policy and a programme for water harvesting to take advantage of the runoff generated by the rainstorms like it is being done in other places of the world. “There are areas that experience flood during rains but after the flood, they experience draught” he noted that water harvesting will be very beneficial to the people in those areas. Water harvesting generally refers to the collection of rainstorm-generated runoff from a particular area (a catchment) in order to provide water for human, animal, or crop use. Also, the harvested water from the runoff can be stored in fire hydrants to help in fire fighting. Currently, the number of fire hydrants in Ghana are woefully inadequate; a situation that the Ghana National Fires Service has been complaining about for a while. Lack of access to hydrants poses serious challenges to fire fighters whenever their fire tenders run out of water during fire fighting. Firefighters depend on external water sources other than the water in the tender to fight bigger fire outbreaks and fire hydrants guarantee a steady and secure water supply from underlying water networks. Hamza Adam wants efforts towards public education and sensitization on human attitudinal contributions to the floods intensified, as well as effective punishments for people whose actions contribute to the flooding situation in Ghana. This will serve as a deterrent and motivation for people to do the right things within the environment. Credit: 3news.com