The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr. Afua Asabea Asare is urging strong collaboration between businesses and stakeholders to work together to boost the country’s trade resilience drive. According to her, despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, local or small scale businesses are steadily making progress in their various sectors. Speaking at the information ministry’s weekly press briefing, Dr. Asabea underscored her outfits readiness to pursue this directive avert future economic crisis as part of the WTPO conference scheduled for the 17th and 18th of May, 2022. Dr. Asabea Asare "In 2018 when Ghana put in the bid to host the WTPO, we had no idea that the world was going to sign up for lessons in maneuvering in times of business turbulence. But here we are today" "The conference had to be rescheduled for a number of times. In the last two years, I can say without a doubt that if not for nothing at all, we have practically learned so much as organisations. We have learned to use other means to get around and also to communicate and also relied on what we do best at Ghana Export Promotion Authority" She also revealed that GEPA in the last two years have made good use of information technology as it held meetings among others virtually. Madam Asabea Asare underscored the need for small businesses to take a cue from the well established ones in order to also grow. She revealed that Ghana will not disappoint as it is ready to host the 57 countries come 17th-18th May in Accra. "The WTPO is here in Ghana to dicuss ways of how we stay resilient in the face of what is going on across the world" "This morning, I learned a new thing. That is the conflict, covid and climate. So we are going to discuss how we will stay resilient in the face of all of these 3Cs" On her part, the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC) Pamela Coke-Hamilton on her part charged trade organizations to pay more attention to trade promotion to change the status quo. Watch the video and pictures below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Abola Traditional Council (ATC) has strongly affirmed its support to the efforts by the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) to ensure that Accra, and for that matter the entire country, was always clean. The council said a clean environment was good and one that prevents diseases and also keeps the citizenry healthy for them to contribute to national development. The Paramount Chief of Abola Traditional Area, who is also the Atofotse of the Ga State, Nii Ahene Nunoo III, made the observation when he led a delegation of chiefs, queen mothers and Ga warriors (Asafoatses) from the GTC to tour and familiraise themselves with operations of JGC’s state-of-the-art waste management facilities in the national capital, Accra. He commended the Jospong Group for its continuous efforts to keep Accra always clean. “We have seen the huge investment that Jospong Group of Companies has sunk into making Accra and Ghana clean, and definitely the Group needs our support,” he said. He appealed to residents in the capital to always keep their environs clean, healthy and refrain from practices such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse and dumping of solid waste into drains and gutters. Furthermore, Nii Ahene Nunoo III, who is a member of the Ga Traditional Council, lamented the behaviour of some households who dump solid materials including pair of shoes, worn-out shirts, wallets, car tyres among others into their sceptic tanks. “It is displeasing that shoes, car tryes, rags were found among faecal matter which is supposed to be liquid. It is a practice that must seize because it does not speak well of us as a people,” he advised. This came to light when the Head of Engineering Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL), a subsidiary of JGC which is managing the facility, Ing. Eric Amofa Sarkodie, bemoaned that such solid materials were often found in faecal matter after dislodgement, adding that they were seriously affecting their machines. The Highest Chief Priest of the Ga State, Nuumo Akwa Mensah III, who was part of the delegation, charged citizens in Accra to join hands and support the JGC for Accra to become the cleanest city. “We have all seen the difficulty with which the Jospong Group of Companies is working, particularly in the waste management space, to make our capital city clean. We need an all hands on deck approach to make them succeed,” he said. He used the chance to appeal to the managers of the JGC to offer employment to the teeming youth within the location of their plants. “I also want to add my voice to the call for residents in Accra in particular to stop the practice of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and other unhealthy practices. We should bear in mind that such practices are what bring about diseases which affect our health,” he noted. The first point of call was the Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited where Ing.Eric Amofa Sarkodie, showed them around the operations of the plant. From there, the delegation visited the Accra Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECoP) also within the same area. Later, Nii Ahene Nunoo III and his team visited the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant at Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West Municipality, and finally rounded up their tour at the Universal Plastic Products and Recycling Limited (UPPR), all subsidiaries of JGC. The delegation included Abola Mantse and Atofotse of the Gat State, Nii Ahene Nunoo III, the Highest Chief Priest of the Ga State, Nuumo Akwa Mensah III, Ga State Asofoatse, Captain Kojo Nsenin Mankata and Korleman Mantse, Nii Korle II. The rest were Abola Dzaasetse, Nii Ajeshie Akrong IV, Asafoatse Osiakrom, Asafoatse Odumgya, Asafoatse Okwandahor, Abola Gbormo Anang, Manye Kordei I, and Manye Adobea Shikatse. Zoomlion Ghana Limited was represented by Ms. Patricia Ofori Atta-Acting Director for Communications&Corporate Affairs, Mr. Daniel Ohene Obeng-Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr Jephthah Tetteh-Communications Officer and Mr. Edmond Otu-Yeboah, Audio visual officer. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh has been laid to rest in a cemetery in occupied East Jerusalem, three days after she was fatally shot by Israeli forces while reporting on a raid in the occupied West Bank. Thousands of people gathered for Abu Akleh’s funeral on Friday, including family, friends, and those who only knew Abu Akleh as a mainstay for 15 years in Al Jazeera’s coverage of the occupied Palestinian territories and the lives of everyday Palestinians. Some mourners hoisted Palestinian flags, with many chanting “Palestine, Palestine” as the coffin was moved from St Louis French Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood to a funeral service at Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City and finally to the Mount Zion Cemetery, where Abu Akleh was buried next to her parents. Her niece, Lina Abu Akleh, remembered her aunt’s “commitment to making sure that people know the truth, and her love for the people in making sure they know the truth.” Family and friends stand by the coffin of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in a church in Jerusalem [File: Ammar Awad/Reuters]“She knew how much she was loved, but she was so humble, she never wanted to be at the centre of attention,” she said. “I think she would have been proud to see how the Palestinian people supported her and supported our family,” Father Fadi Diab, the priest who conducted the funeral, told Al Jazeera that Abu Akleh’s killing would “have influence all over the world”. “Shireen Abu Akleh was a messenger for Palestinians and for their rights,” he said. “Life is sacred and we’re not allowed to assassinate life. God created life not to be assassinated, but to be nurtured.” “If someone imagined that the influence of Shireen will stop, no,” he said. “Now, she will have influence all over the world.” Still, constant reminders of the Israeli occupation on which Abu Akleh so often reported loomed over the three days of memorials that preceded the burial. Members of the Israeli security forces detain a man during the funeral of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh [Ronen Zvulun/Reuters]Israeli police entered the Al Jazeera veteran’s home on Wednesday, hours after she was killed, removing a Palestinian flag and telling mourners to turn down patriotic music. On Thursday, the same day the slain journalist was laid in state at the Palestinian Authority’s Presidential Palace, her brother was summoned by Israeli authorities who warned him against mourners carrying Palestinian flags or chanting pro-Palestinian chants during memorial ceremonies. Then on Friday, Israeli forces attacked mourners who attempted to walk with Abu Akleh’s coffin in occupied East Jerusalem. In shocking footage aired live on Al Jazeera, Israeli forces beat mourners, including those carrying Abu Akleh’s body, almost causing them to drop the coffin. Israeli forces later smashed the window of the hearse carrying Abu Akleh’s body and removed a Palestinian flag. Lina Abu Akleh recounted the event, saying Israeli forces “just stormed in, and they were beating up everyone, it was very frightening, to be honest.” “This was a peaceful funeral, everyone was there to show their support and love. At the end of the day, even in her death, it was not done peacefully.” Family and friends carry the coffin of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in Jerusalem [File: Ammar Awad/Reuters]Palestinian human rights lawyer Diana Buttu said the mistreatment on the way to her final resting place underscored that, even after her killing, Abu Akleh continued to shine a spotlight on the abuses committed by Israel. Buttu, and many others, have called for an independent investigation into the killing. On Friday, UN human rights experts joined the chorus, calling for a “for a prompt, transparent, thorough and independent investigation” into the journalist’s killing. “So many people loved her and continue to love her,” Buttu said. “The strength of her reporting but also the love for Palestine.” “She cared about how the occupation affected lives, telling people what the occupation means on a personal level,” she said. “She genuinely loved people and was outraged by the Israeli occupation.” Below are some pictures: SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

The Power Planning Technical Committee (PPTC), the body responsible for the drafting of the 2022 Electricity Supply Plan, has stated that contrary to the claims by NDC MP Hon. John Jinapor and ranking Member of Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, that ‘dumsor’ is imminent, there is no such risk. The PPTC, set up by the Energy Minister to, among others, develop planning reports for Ghana’s power system, made this point in a statement issued on Friday 13th May 2022 and signed by its Chairman, Ing. Frank Otchere, in reaction to an earlier claim by Hon. Jinapor on 9th May 2022 on a number of issues pertaining to the power sector. Dumsor Reacting specifically to Hon. Jinapor’s claim that ‘the existing generation capacities will not be adequate to serve the projected demand with 18% reserve margins for any of the planning years’, on which basis he predicted the imminent return of ‘dumsor’, the committee explained that according to the 2022 Electricity Plan (ESP), the country had total installed generation capacity of 5,265.1MW, with dependable capacity standing at 4,706. With a projected annual peak demand going up to 4,793MW in 2026, the committee stated that it is obvious that both the installed capacity and dependable capacity are in excess of peak demand, and therefore there cannot be imminent ‘dumsor’ as was portrayed. Explaining further, the committee states that ‘dumsor’ only occurs when the actual demand is higher than what the system is able to generate, and clarifies that the additional demand recommended in its report is only required to provide as extra capacity to serve as reserve. Future Generation Needs The committee further clarifies that in recommending further generation capacity between 2023 and 2027 (a total of 822 MW), this only refers to a sensitivity analysis on capacity requirement in the event that the Bui Hydro Plant is able to run only on two (2) units instead of three (3) during the peak period. “This situation is rare, and was analysed only as a sensitivity scenario in the unlikely event of such a situation”, the statement said. Gas Supply On the claim by Hon. Jinapor that the report negates the argument of Ghana having excess gas leading to capacity payments, the statement rebuts that with a claim that the recommendation of the ESP 2022 for arrangements to increase gas supply did not imply procuring new gas facilities. Rather the statement said it was only alerting that demand is growing and therefore there was the need to make arrangements to increase volumes of gas supplied from the existing gas facilities. In conclusion, the statement reiterates that there is no imminent dumsor as has been alleged and further, that there is capacity available to increase gas supply for extra generation in Ghana, “Accordingly, the issues quoted cannot be cited to discredit the assertion of excess capacity on the Ghana power system”.

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has held a successful consultative meeting with some women groups on Ghana's 2022 Voluntary National Review on the SDGs in Accra. According to the NDPC, the consultative meeting served as an avenue to beseech inputs into the final 2022 Voluntary National Review (VNR) report on the SDGs ahead of the country’s 2nd presentation in July,2022. Speaking at the consultative meeting, Chairperson for the occasion, who doubles as a Ghanaian Author; Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Prof. Emerita Takyiwaa Manuh said “The adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda in 2015 provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At it hears the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are an urgent call for action by all countries develop and developing in a global partnership. She added that Ghana has established a coordination and instituted a reporting system to periodically share progress on its implementation of the SDGs. “Ladies and gentlemen, achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment (SDG 5) is integral to each of the 17 goals. The attainment of the goal would help address some of the major challenges of our time from economic crisis, rising inequality, violence against women and girls, to quality health care and education, and climate change, among others, all amidst the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic” Delivering a speech on behalf of the Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, the Principal Programme Office of the Gender and Social Protection, Sabia Kpekata said “Government through our Ministry has developed several policies, laws and strategies to address inequalities in our society. They include; A 5-year Strategic Plan to address Adolescent Pregnancy in Ghana (2018-2022), The National Gender Policy, 2015; National Framework on Ending Child Marriage, (2017-2026), Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act 732), Domestic Violence Legislative Instrument (LI 2037), 2016; Ghana’s National Action Plan on UN Security Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (GHANAP 2). Madam Kpekata added that her Ministry is to draft the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill to be passed into law to provide the representation and participation of women at all levels of governance and decision making in Ghana. She stressed that in achieving the SDGs calls for periodic reviews to measure progress made, identify challenges and galvanize support for its implementation. She commended the NDPC for organizing the meeting with the Women Group who are key stakeholders for achieving the targets set in the agenda 2030. Speaking exclusively to Thinknewsonline.com, the Deputy Director for SDG National Coordinator, Dr. Richard Osei Bofah said “Ghana is practicing the decentralized planning system which means that we are not doing anything unique to the SDGs but the SDGs have been mainstreamed in our plans, budgets the sub national level” Dr. Osei Bonfah also called for a collective effort for Ghana to be able to achieve the SDGs. “Achieving the SDGs is not the only responsibility of government but all of us” “Ghana currently has a mixed story. There are parts of the SDGs we are doing so well and there are some parts we are not working on. As a country, that should be our priority. Open defecation is still hanging around our neck. We have 8 years and I feel we can get there” “We are looking at SDG goal 4, 5, 14, 15 and 17. We are looking at issues of education, gender, climate and partnership. These things are very critical for discussion at the high level of the political forum” he concluded. Other participants who spoke via zoom called for a collective effort which they believe will help Ghana achieve its intended SDG goals. The consultative meeting also appealed to persons in higher authorities not to look down on persons living with disabilities. The various women groups believed that giving a disabled person an opportunity to work helps bridge the inequality gap. It emerged that while Ghana is committed to reporting progress against all 17 SDGs, special attention is paid to SDGs 4 (quality education), 5 (gender equality), 14 (life below water), 15 (life on land), and 17 (partnerships for the Goals) as these are the selected SDGs for in-depth review at the 2022 HLPF. Ghana’s interest in undertaking this 2022 VNR despite the limited resources available although this is not mandatory, demonstrates Ghana’s commitment (as a signatory) to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and Agenda 2063: The ongoing partnership between the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Africa Development Bank, and UN Women to compile the Country Gender Equality Profile with support from the United Nations Gender Team in Ghana, through UNFPA, is noteworthy. On benefits for Ghana, the second VNR is indeed another milestone and increases the country’s visibility on the Global and Regional spaces. The benefit of the VNR process is to place the attention once more on progress so far in achieving the gender SDG indicators and to track progress. The UN in Ghana has created a team of agency VNR focal points who regularly meet to discuss, plan and support the VNR roadmap- helping to build synergies, avoid duplication and reduce transaction costs. The SDGs offer a wide array of exciting partnership opportunities including Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. The VNR 2022 seeks to enable the identification of such opportunities and targeted follow up for increased engagement, strengthened partnerships and catalytic results. Below are some videos and pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has kicked against another group calling itself the Concerned Spare Parts Dealers who are protesting government’s decision to relocate them to Afienya. The association says the current place of business has outlived its usefulness, hence, the relocation to a safe and conducive environment is in order. The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council as part of efforts to decongest the capital has announced plans to relocate the traders to Afienya in the Ningo Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region. Addressing the media, the Chairman of the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, Clement Boateng, said the relocation is in the interest of all. “The security situation is bad, sanitation is not the best. Pilfering is rising., and customers can't even get a place to park their cars to patronize our business.” Mr. Boateng also criticized the spare parts dealers, who threatened to demonstrate if the government fails to rescind its decision to relocate them. “It is an indictment on them. We want the whole world to know that our members are solidly behind us and are in full support of the project.” “We cannot let this project slip out of our hands because of the selfish and parochial interest of the minority to the detriment of the majority,” Mr. Boateng said. Credit: Citinewsroom

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta is calling for a second look into the much-talked about Agyapa Royalties Agreement. According to him, should the deal go through an appropriate process, it could help reduce Ghana's debt problems. Addressing Journalists in Accra, the Minister said "My mind is still on Agyapa Deal. The deal would reduce the country’s debt problems should it go through an appropriate" The Finance Minister further said "The Agyapa Deal is not about whether the monetisation of mineral royalties or listing of the company is bad or good, it is good because that is how you raise resources.” “The question is the process of doing that. If we have a problem with the process, let’s articulate it, let’s cure it, but let us not drop something that would be good for us and reduce our debt exposure,” he said. Mr. Ofori-Atta called for a collective effort at deal with the deal saying its success will be a win for Ghana. “My mind is still there. I know the President has mentioned something about that,” Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta made these submissions while giving a detailed lineup of an upcoming African Development Bank 2022 Annual General Meeting scheduled for Thursday. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor says there must be a ‘careful balance’ between ensuring that citizens get the maximum benefits from their resources and attracting the needed capital and technology for the effective exploitation of the resources. Contributing to a panel discussion on ‘Resource Nationalism’ at the ongoing “African Mining Indaba” conference in Cape Town, South Africa, Samuel A. Jinapor stressed that striking the right balance between the aforementioned issues will resolve the headache on resource nationalism. Shedding light on the approach and tactics adopted by Ghana to create the enabling environment in the mining sector, Hon. Jinapor stated that the Democratic principles which the nation upholds serves as the bedrock for investment in her resources. He further underscored Ghana's political stability as one of the best in the world, saying that "the rule of law is not an exception, is the law, democratic accountability is ingrained in the Ghanaian society". The Lands Minister said the framework for the Mining sector in Ghana is cast out clearly and indicated that, for potential investors who want to do business with Government of Ghana, they should be certain that the sanctity of contractual agreements is the norm and not the exception, adding that government will respect and comply with contractural agreements. "If an investor were to come into Ghana, he knows the local content laws clearly, he knows the physical framework we work with in the country clearly and the regulatory framework so the rules don't change in the middle of the game" he said. Speaking on the topic; The Resource Nationalism Challenge: How has the Global Pandemic shaped sovereign state views on resource nationalism and collaboration, Hon. Jinapor said the issue of value sharing and Mining impacting on the livelihoods of populations have to be looked at dispassionately as poverty, COVID- 19 and other occurrences have made these impact almost impossible to be realized by the indigenes of mining nations. He stated emphatically that the matter can be considered from two view points, explaining that "countries must be mindful of the kind of arrangements we get into with investors and Mining companies regarding negotiations, capabilities and integrity of these companies" He continued saying " having done that negotiations and gotten into contracts and the train having taken off, how the proceeds of those transactions are utilised is another critical point that I believe States in particular ought to be interrogating" The Lands Minister charged that Africa must rise and be truthful to herself as governments and countries have not done well on both sides historically. "We haven't negotiated properly, we haven't built the capacity which is extremely important when it comes to getting properly negotiated agreements" Hon. Jinapor submitted to the panel the strategy Ghana has employed on the issue of Resources Nationlism on mining saying " we in Ghana have adopted the multilateral approach to dealing with issues on Mining so we do not use the unilateral approach and by this, whatever measure, intervention or policy we put in place, we make sure that we engage the mining communities and players" He added that through the expertise and capacity of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, which is the umbrella body of almost all the major mining companies in Ghana, the government is able push its interventions through. He disclosed that the President Akufo-Addo government has rolled out a strategic programme being implemented by his Ministry which he believes will result in a major paradigm shift in the regulation and operation of the Ghanaian mining industry. "We have a short to medium to long term programme which will ensure that we add value to these minerals, ensuring that the whole value chain from exploration to the downstream industry is retained in Ghana. He added that other special institutional arrangements such the Minerals Development Fund (MDF) have also been put in place to ensure that 20% of the mining royalties is invested in the development of Mining Communities in Ghana. The Sector Minister pointed out forcefully that "in the end, be it corruption, be it negotiations, be it the sanctity of contracts and the respect for investments, all boils down to the policy and legislative framework" "At the heart of this matter of resource nationalism, preventing it and also ensuring that the State gets its share of the resource is to make sure that you have the framework which makes matters certain" He concluded. The 2022 Investing in African Mining Indaba, which ends on Thursday, is the largest mining dialogue platform in Africa and the largest mining investment conference and exhibition in the world. Story by: News Desk Report

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that he is encouraged by the offer of partnership by the Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana (MAAG) to ensure that the electronic transactions levy (E-Levy) is successfully administered. He said it was appropriate that direct stakeholders such as the association voiced their concerns as they did initially and those concerns were taken into account by the government so that when the law was finally shaped, it was meaningful for the state and the private sector. President Akufo-Addo stated this when the National Executive of the 300,000-member MAAG paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House in Accra. “I welcome very much this offer of partnership, the idea of an alliance to work together to see how best the new tax can be implemented and developed,” President Akufo-Addo noted. Regarding the request by the association for some of its members to be on the boards of other state institutions and bodies, the President said although most of such boards were regulatory in nature and thus could not have the very people they regulated as board members, the government would see how best it could meet them half way. “The more cooperation we have in the running of the economy, between the government and the private sector, the better it is for the economy and for the people of this country,” he assured. Security President Akufo-Addo said the government would find effective ways of responding rigorously to the criminal syndicates that were attacking the mobile money operators because if they were allowed to go ahead it would be a major defeat for the government and Ghanaians in general. He described as unacceptable the attacks on mobile money operators by criminal elements, describing the situation as detrimental to the growth of such legitimate market. “I want to assure you whatever can be done as a state to create an atmosphere of peace and stability for you to be able to do your work”, he said. President Akufo-Addo assured the executive of the association that contacts would be made with them, especially the security agencies, so that together they would work out effective ways of dealing with criminal interferences. Association The President of the association, Dela Abotsi, expressed worry that since the introduction of mobile money transfer over a decade a ago, their rate had remained the same and never increased and asked the President to intervene, especially in instances when the vendors were attacked even to death, the telcos did not offer any assistance. He gave instances where some of their members who were breadwinners for their families had been attacked and killed by armed robbers and there had been no assistance from any quarters. The Secretary of the Association, Evans Otumfuo, commended the government for the digitisation drive that had culminated in the introduction of the Mobile Money Interoperability which had impacted positively on users of MoMo and earned Ghana the first African country to achieve such a feat. He also mentioned the introduction of a QR-CODE payment system, the electronic renewal of the NHIS, among others which were all heavily dependent on mobile money and had boosted their businesses. He also mentioned the recent national roaming system, the SIM card registration which would eliminate identity theft and fraud and added that “As business people, we have a soft spot for your policies that directly or indirectly affect our operations spheres.” “Despite our earlier resistance to E-Levy, we also understand that government will have to take drastic measures in drastic times,” Mr Otumfuo said, and added that the E-Levy had now been passed into law and all citizens must obey, “so we are here as allies and not opposing forces” He commended the government for taking bold steps to reduce the electronic transactions levy from the initial 1.75 per cent to 1.5 per cent and the tall list of exemptions provided by the E-Levy. Mr Otumfuo indicated that the existence of this union meant that all the over 300,000 Mobile Money agents across the country were under one umbrella to properly position themselves with policymakers, regulators, telecommunication networks and the government. “The association has a database of all our members and as such, each member has a unique 7-digit number serving as a membership ID,” he added. Story by: Donald Ato Dapatem

The Ajumako District Police Command in the Central Region is investigating circumstances that made a father go berserk, shooting his wife and son and later killing himself at Enyan Abowinum. Kwesi Tandoh, 40, was reported to have gone maniacal at around 10:30pm on Wednesday and shot his wife Abena Nyamekye, 43, and one of his sons, Richmond Tandoh aged 14. Three other children aged five, nine and 17 who survived the bloody incident are receiving counseling at a shelter. According to the Central Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Oppong, the Ajumako District Police Command responded to an information received from Enyan Abowinum that Kwesi Tandoh had shot his wife and one of their children. The shooting DSP Oppong said when the police arrived at the scene, Tandoh had locked their house and wielded a gun, firing and threatening to shoot anyone who would dare to reduce his family members. Bloody scene DSP Oppong indicated that when police broke into the room they found Richmond 14, and the father in a pool of blood with gunshot wounds in their heads and chest whilst the wife was struggling for survival. She said Abena Nyamekye was quickly rushed to Ajumako District hospital for treatment, but Richmond and Tandoh, the father (suspect) were pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. The wife Abena Nyamekye aged 43, later died whilst receiving treatment. The other children aged five, nine and 17 were spared the violence as they hid themselves in the room. Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been conveyed to Our Lady of Grace hospital mortuary at Breman Asikuma for preservation and autopsy. DSP Oppong said items found at the crime scene included a single barrel shot gun, one locally manufactured pistol, a cutlass and weedicide. Social welfare and counseling DSP Oppong stated that the command in collaboration with the regional social welfare office had sent the children to a shelter while University of Cape Coast Guidance and Counseling Unit is giving the children psychological support as they looked traumatised

Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, at a meeting of the Board of Directors held on March 15, 2022, appointed Mr. Benjamin Dzoboku as the new Managing Director of the Bank to succeed Mr. Farid Antar on his retirement. The Bank of Ghana granted approval to the appointment on 10th May 2022. Mr. Antar retires from the Bank on July 15, 2022, after over 42 years of exceptional service to the Republic Financial Holdings Group (RFHL), Trinidad and Tobago, with his last three years spent at Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC. Mr. Dzoboku’s appointment takes effect on 15th July 2022. Profile of Mr. Benjamin Dzoboku Mr. Benjamin Dzoboku joined Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC (then HFC Bank (Ghana) Ltd) in January 2007 as the Head, Risk Management from SG-SSB where he started his banking career as an Internal Auditor. Prior to this, he worked with Pannell Kerr Forster (PKF Ghana) as a Senior Auditor. He has over the years held several positions of responsibility at Republic Bank including, Head, Internal Audit; Financial Controller; Treasurer and General Manager, Retail Banking with his responsibilities for the Retail branch network and the Bank’s International Trade and Treasury operations. He later moved to the position of General Manager, Finance and Strategy before being designated as the Bank’s Chief Operating Officer responsible for Finance & Strategy, International Trade, Treasury, Administration & Premises, Cash Management, Custody Services, Internal Control, Portfolio Management Office, Centralized Support and also the Bank’s subsidiary, Republic Trust Limited Company. Mr. Benjamin Dzoboku has strong academic and professional qualifications underpinning his achievements. These include being a Chartered Accountant (ICA, Ghana) and memberships of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIT, Ghana); Institute of Financial Accountants (UK) (fellow) and Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE, USA). He holds Master’s Degrees in Business Administration (MBA) (Financial Management) (St. Clements University, UK) and in Public Administration (MPA) (GIMPA, Ghana). He has also participated in several executive management programmes including the Senior Executive Program in Leadership (Harvard Business School), Corporate Governance & Compliance and High-Performance Management Excellence. About Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, a subsidiary of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) of Trinidad & Tobago, is a leading Universal Banking Institution in Ghana and arguably the most diversified Financial Institution. As a one-stop Financial Institution, the Bank’s services include Corporate, Commercial and Retail Banking; Investment Banking; Trustee Services; Mortgage Banking and Micro Finance. The Bank’s Parent Company, RFHL, is the largest and most profitable independent Bank in the English-speaking Caribbean, having served the region for over 185 years with a total asset base of USD$16.5 billion as at the end of the 2021 financial year. Credit: Graphiconline.com

Ghana's COVID-19 active case count has dropped to 47, a month after the easing of preventive measures including the wearing of facemasks in public places. This was contained in figures published by the Ghana Health Service which also indicated that all the 47 active cases were located in the Greater Accra Region with the remaining fifteen regions of the country having no active cases of the illness. When the revisions to the COVID-19 prevention measures were announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 27, 2022, the country had 72 active cases and over 13 million vaccinated persons. Since then, the country has as of May 10, 2022, administered a million more doses (14,944,182). Among the preventive measures that were revised included a return to full capacity in-person activities such as church services, mosques, conferences, workshops, private parties, events, cinemas and theatres provided that the audience and all participants are fully vaccinated. Additionally, President Akufo-Addo also directed that outdoor functions and sporting events, entertainment spots, political rallies and funerals could resume at full capacity provided that all persons at such events are fully vaccinated at those venues. He directed that handwashing and hand sanitising points be made available at venues where events were held in full capacity for vaccinated persons. Ghana has recorded 161,280 cases of COVID since the first case was recorded in March 2020 with 1,445 deaths. Story by: Kweku Zurek