The Vice President H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has cut the sod for the start of a 1.8 million euro rubber plantation project at Assin Nsuta in the Central Region on Friday, 29th April, 2022. The 826 acres monementous rubber plantation project by the Anglican Diocese Of Accra(ADOA) is the biggest initiative in the rubber industry in the country. Speaking at the colourful sod cutting ceremony, the Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said he was extremely proud to be associated with the initiative by the church which he said will go a long way to create decent jobs for the teeming youth in the area and contribute to the socio economic development of the country He underscored the importance of natural rubber saying it's production in the country will not only reduce the cost of import but also contribute significantly to the country’s GDP. Government he said, is geared towards supporting private entities and is ever ready to partner faith based institutions to undertake meaningful ventures such as this. "I am very excited today, this is a very important undertaken and we cannot afford to let it fail" he said. The Vice President also described the plantation project as a very important one and a "game changer" providing nourishment for many industrial establishments" He said the rubber plantation project also ties in with government flagship initiative such as the planting for food and jobs, export and the 1D1F cherished vision of the President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Dr. Bawumia used the occasion to entreat other faith based institutions to emulate the laudable initiative of ADOA , adding that as churches "you come as credible investors and very soon we will have one church one plantation", he pointed. Addressing the gathering, the Hon. Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Benito Owusu Bio, on behallf of the Sector Minister appealed to the Anglican Dioces across the country to actively participate in the upcoming national tree planting exercise on June 10, 2022, the Green Ghana Day, while commending the church for their support during the 1st edition. He said arrangements are being made for the distribution of seedlings of various tree species through all regional and district forestry offices to selected locations for collection. He affirmed the commitment of the Ministry to assist ADOA plantation in the processing of land documention and other related issues and encouraged them to continue to expand the project to secure a sustainable source of revenue to the church and for the benefit of its members. The Managing Director for ADOA, Rev. Canon Ebenezer Jones Okai in his remark that Faith based institutions are developmental partners with government and hence they will collaborate with government to ensure the sustainability of the rubber plantation project. He further opined the importance of collaboration and partnership between the Church and the locals from Assin Nsutem, as he called on them to be key stakeholders in the project. The Chief of Assin Nsuta Nana Dr. Ohemeng Owhere V gave a historical overview of the Assin Nsuta land acquired for the project saying that the land was originally a stool land and was later in the 1970s vested as State Land. Nana Dr. Ohemeng V was however quick to add that "we have not sold the land but rather we have leased the land to ADOA". He however called on his subject to cooperate fully with ADOA for the successful takeoff of the project. The Central Regional Minister, Hon. Justina Marigold Assan said government is committed in supporting individuals and organizations in the area of production especially agriculture. She said the collective responsibility of all, is to come together and help government to succeed as agents of development. The Rubber plantation project is being financed by Agricultural Development Bank (ADB). Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Aluminium has been identified as a strategic mineral by Governments worldwide in the drive towards the energy transition, and Ghana has huge opportunities for persons looking to invest in the downstream. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor ( MP) stated this when he led a Ghanaian delegation to this year’s Bauxite and Allumina Conference held in Miami, Florida, in the United States of America on Wednesday, 27th April 2022. The Conference was to promote Ghana’s Integrated Aluminium Industry, and to market Ghana’s policy to drive the processes of integration and value addition across the bauxite to aluminium value chain. Hon. Jinapor indicated to the investor community that Ghana, with her open society, vibrant economy, resilient democratic institutions, respect for individual liberties and the rule of law, and where the principles of democratic accountability are ingrained into her body politic, is ready for business. The engagement, according to  Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources Minister will help ensure that the efforts of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is to build in Ghana, an integrated aluminium industry with all the linkages to mining, smelting, refinery and downstream production, are realized. “We are determined to work relentlessly to ensure that his vision comes into fruition”, he said. For over eight (8) decades, Ghana has made several efforts to establish and maintain an integrated aluminium industry. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, upon assumption of office in January 2017, resurrected this vision by establishing GIADEC by an Act of Parliament. This move by the President, the Minister said is to ensure that bauxite mined in Ghana is refined in Ghana, thereby helping to develop the downstream industry to provide employment, enhanced talent development, and to transform the economy. On his part, the CEO of GIADEC, Mr. Michael Ansah highlighted the need to utilize Ghana’s raw material base to ensure that the aluminium produced is used to drive the downstream industry which, in the end, will help the country realise the vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid. He reaffirmed the commitment of GIADEC in meeting regulatory requirements in all developments along the bauxite and aluminium value chain; and safeguarding the environment for stakeholder communities and future generations. On the sidelines of the famous bauxite and alumina Conference were engagements with global giants in the Bauxite and Alumina Industry such as Trafigura Investment Company Ltd, with the view of attracting much-needed investment capital in the industry. Also present at the Conference were top Diplomats, industry Captains, Ministers of State including Guinean Minister for Mines and Geology, Mr. Moussa Mogassouba. Below are some pictures: Story by: Nadia Aidoo

The Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Committee is right on schedule as the Temporary structures earmarked for the resettlement of the explosion victims are 98% completed for Relocation on 4th May, 2022. The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio says citizens are to start moving into the 32 completed rooms while works on the other 2% are continued for the official relocation, explaining that the 1st May relocation date has been rescheduled for 4th May, 2022 to make way for the Holiday Festivities. Addressing the media on his last inspection visit to Appiatse, ahead of the relocation of victims to the temporary structures, on Thursday, 28th April, 2022, Hon. Owusu-Bio said the bid for contractors to win the opportunity to design and rebuild Appiatse begins on Friday, 29th April, 2022. The Ministry of Roads he said has also promised to commence layouts of the road networks for the new Appiatse Commmunity and this he assured will be done side by side with the bidding process. Hon. Benito hoped that by the time the road networks are completed, his team would also be ready with the awarded contractor for work to begin as scheduled. Hon. Benito who is also the Chairman of the Appiatse Reconstruction Committee expressed his joy, having been able to meet the May Completion deadline promised by government, this he said will afford his team the opportunity to focus on the main reconstruction works. " The President Akufo-Addo led government always delivers on it's promises, that is why we are witnessing this success today. As works are completed here, it will give us the time we need to now focus on the main work at the Appiatse site itself. I am particularly happy to see the people from the community already cleaning up the completed rooms for moving which only tells that they are equally happy and impressed with the work done here." The Deputy Minister asserted that government is also in talks with partners and stakeholders including the Ghana Water Company, The Electricity Company Ghana, Vodafone foundation, among others who have shown their earnest commitment in commencing the project with focus on the core part destroyed by the explosion. He reiterated government's commitment to continue in it's effort to reconstruct the new Appiatse community while applauding them for their patience and support for the persons working on the site. On behalf of the Sector Minister, Hon. Benito thanked Ghanaians for their support for the Appiatse Support Fund while admonishing that "we are not done until we restore normalcy to this area and so we will continue to seek for your support towards the main work and take this as doing it for yourselves" Members of the community also expressed their outmost appreciation to government and the Ministry for doing as promised saying that they really look foward to the official relocation which will save them from the wrath of the rain. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, says despite the strenuous efforts the Ministry is undertaking to end illegal Small Scale mining (Galamsey) activities in the country, a collective effort is needed to totally ride the country of this menace. Hon. Mireku Duker asserted that the fight against illegal Mining is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders and every Ghanaian to ensure the sector is properly sanitized, with deepened community sensitization and education. Speaking on the Breakfast Shows of Citi TV and Citi Fm, The Deputy Minister opined that measures to combat "Galamsey", has been reviewed to tackle the issues in a more upfront manner. He mentioned that the campaign to safeguard the country’s waterbodies is vigorously in session with a number of speed boats aquired to patrol major waterbodies by river guards, explaining that this intervention will compliment the effort of the Military to stamp out any illegal mining activities on the rivers. "It is pertinent we protect our riverbodies which is one of the main logics for this whole fight least we risk importing water in some years to come and honestly without the intervention of the government through the Ministry, such as the Operation Vanguard and Operation Halt 1 and 2, the story would have been worse" he added. He indicated that Reclamation, Alternative Livelihood, Gold traceability, and the establishment of a refinery which he said is about 90% complete are also some of the key interventions being rolled out by government to promote responsible mining and make Ghana the preferred mining hub of Africa. The Deputy Lands Minister also indicated that some of the Ministry's intervention in the fight against illegal Mining (galamsey) is also being tackled through the expansion of Community Mining Scheme (CMS) in which host mining communities are embedded into the mining value chain. He said the initiative, which was launched during the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led government's first term, is one of the responses to tackle galamsey, with the aim of creating thousands of new and decent jobs in host communities lawfully, under the purview of the Minerals Commission and exclusively for Ghanaians. Hon. Duker said the Community Mining Scheme CMS is a policy which is meant to align with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 which regulates the small-scale mining industry. He also disclosed that the government aims to create  jobs through the scheme by legitimising the participation of locals of host mining communities in small-scale mining. The Deputy Lands Minister explained that  the sanitization and regulation of small-scale Mining  is meant to ensure the clamp down of practices such as pollution of waterbodies adding that the procurement of Gold Katchas by the government is also aiding in this fight. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for Public Enterprises, Joseph Cudjoe is challenging employers in the country to pay good salaries to their employees in order to attract good performances. According to him, without a good salary, no employee will work efficiently and effectively. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Wednesday, he said "I openly declared anywhere that I am an advocate for good salaries and if this is bad, tell me that it is bad. I know that when foreign companies come here and they decide to pay good salaries to their employees, some Ghanaian HRs tell them not to pay. Good salaries helps people to cater for their need and also save" "If someone is taking fat salary then my issue is whether the person is giving an output that reflects the salary. If the person is performing and taking good salary, I clap for the person. If the person is not performing and is not taking that good salary, you exact performance from him or her because you are paying the person" "I am a lover of fat salaries. You can't use me to pay people bad. I always speak for people who are not paid well" The Minister hinted that his Ministry will do everything possible to ensure that companies under performing are given the necessary support to help boost their production. "If you pay peanuts, you will get monkeys to work with. So if public sector wants to attract competent people, then they should be willing to pay good money" "Taxpayer's money should be subjected to evaluation" Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Convention People Party's Central Committee has unanimously agreed that Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong Kumankuma should step aside from her position as the chair and leader with immediate effect. This call has comes following a revelation that Nana Akosua Frimpomaa did not meet the 50% or more threshold directive as directed by the party's constitution. A Re-run of the elections has been authorized by the Central Committee and Comrade Kwame Jantuah has been nominated as the committee chairman to oversee and bring the modalities to make the Re-run effective. Nana Akosua Frimpomaa has also been referred to the party's disciplinary committee for misappropriation of party funds that were raised run up to the 2020 elections. Some members of the party are of the view that, the directives of the Central committee are in order, as they will correct the breach of the party's own constitution which has been breached as well as provide the platform for proper accountability. The CPP was confident that it was going to win the 2020 elections. The Executives believe without a clean house, they can not stand out as pacesetters. Below are copies of release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has downplayed suggestions that the government’s anti-galamsey drive has been unsuccessful. According to him, the campaign to safeguard the country’s waterbodies is witnessing giant strides as some waterbodies are experiencing some turnaround. Addressing the issue of illegal small-scale mining on Adom Tv’s morning show program, Hon. Mireku Duker said contrary to suggestions that government has thrown its hands in despair, it has actually stepped up its anti-galamsey drive with a series of key interventions. He also mentioned that government has procured Hundred (100) Gold Katcha machines to prevent the usage of mercury by small scale miners and also help attract 90% of the threshold out of the ore processed by these miners. The move, he said will bring some life and confidence in their operations. He indicated that Reclamation, Alternative Livelihood, Gold traceability, and the establishment of a refinery which he said is about 90% complete are some of the key interventions being rolled out by government to promote responsible mining and make Ghana the preferred mining hub of Africa. According to him, the purchase of five modern speedboats for patrol on major waterbodies by the river guards, he explained will compliment the effort of the Military to stamp out any illegal mining activities on the rivers. Touching on the fusion of digitalization and the illegal mining war, he mentioned that the tracking of all mining equipment will serve the purpose for which they were imported into the country adding that "the system can be operated centrally and remote controlled in the various concessions”. This will prevent the situation where people bring the equipment into the country under guise of undertaking legitimate mining business only to use them for something completely different. Detailing how the tracker works, the Tarkwa-Nsuaem MP said “the machines will be rendered ineffective should they go beyond the boundaries designed for them”. On digitilization, Hon. Mireku Duker said licensed concessions will have QR codes that will make it easy for verification. He is of the view that this move will enable the government rid the space of the unlicensed concessions which will positively affect the fight. The retooling of the inspectorate divisions of the mining committees is another intervention being taken by the government to revive the fight against illegal mining, stressing that the sector Minister recently commissioned a number of vehicles to aid in that drive. Elaborating on this move, Hon Duker said the anti-galamsey taskforce, (Operation Halt II), the District Mining Committees and their respective inspectorate divisions would have vehicles to empower them discharge their duties effectively. On the Community Mining Scheme, the Deputy Minister disclosed that “about 51,000 direct jobs has been created across five mining regions of the country” and was quick to add that government has also outdoored an operational manual to guide and promote responsible mining thereby promoting local champions in the small scale mining arena. Ghana, he said will not only concentrate on gold mining but it is also promoting industrial minerals such as quarry and salt operations and commended the wholly owned Ghanaian salt business, Electrochem, for engaging in what he describe as a very good business that has so far employed about Five (500) Hundred Ghanaian youth. The Hon. Deputy Minister also used the platform to dismissed claims of his involvement in mining operations, saying Tarkwa which is home to his constituency host about 60% of Ghana’s mining activities and was therefore not surprised that some people have associated him to that assertion. On Green Ghana 2022, the Ministry has ramped up its efforts to make this years Green Ghana Day which will see to the planting of 20 Million trees a success with a call on corporate Ghana to collectively work with government to restore the nations forest cover and mitigate climate change, he concluded. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Interior Minister has urged officers of the Greater Accra City Response Team (CRT) to work hard and be disciplined in the discharge of their duties. Mr. Ambrose Dery, who represented President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, made the call at the passing out ceremony of the first batch of the Greater Accra City Response Team Course 1--2022. In all, 867 CRT trainees passed out after four weeks' rigorous training at the Army Peace Operation Training School (APOTS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at Burma Camp on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The Greater Accra City Response Team module is under the 'Operation Clean Your Frontage' campaign which was launched by President Akufo-Addo in October, last year. The four-week course trained the CRT officers in traffic management, voice procedure reporting, first aid, VIP protection, crowd control, sensitising Ghanaians on good sanitation practices among others. Four recruits — Ernestina Afriyie, Florence Jean, Caleb Mensah and Ransford Lartey — were adjudged the Overall Best Student and Best Student in Bravo Company, Best Student in Challenge Company, and Best Student in Delta Company respectively. Mr. Dery charged the CRT trainees to endeavour to work within the confines of the law. "....work always within the confines of the law, and in the discharge of your mandate, you must see the citizenry as partners and endeavour to always uphold your relationship with them," he entreated the recruits. He said it was crucial that Ghanaians put their hands to the wheel and support the Let's Make Accra Work agenda to become successful. He commended the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council under the able leadership of Honourable Henry Quartey for this initiative, adding that it will make it obligatory for the citizenry and corporate organisations to "clean and green their frontages." He said the Let's Make Accra Work campaign was a "transformational agenda" in response to President Akufo-Addo's vision of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa. "...and under the agenda, CRT is expected to enforce traffic regulations, enforce the ban on tricycles on highways, enforce the cleaning and greening of frontages and sanitation bye-laws. They will also sensitise Ghanaians on the need to change their attitudes towards the environment," he enumerated. Mr. Dery assured Ghanaians that the Akufo-Addo administration was committed to maintaining the peace and stability in the country. This, he said, will continue to ensure that Ghanaians go about their businesses in peace and stability, adding that it will also help attract investors into the country. In a welcome address, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Quartey, pointed out that the passing out of recruits of the Accra CRT marked another milestone of the making Accra clean agenda. As part of their mandate, he said l, members of the CRT will assist Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in areas including enforcing sanitation bye-laws, traffic regulations among others. According to him, the CRT was expected to generate about 3500 jobs for the teeming youth. "The passing out ceremony gives me great joy because it is an indication that the Let's Make Accra Clean campaign has come to stay," he delightfully expressed. He was, therefore, optimistic that the trainees of the Accra CRT will deliver on their mandate. However, he sounded a strong note of caution that any member of the CRT who decides to take the laws into his/her own hands will be dealt with accordingly. "You will not be spared if any of you take the law into his/her own hands. Always be guided by your code of conduct and the bye-laws that established your outfit." ...don't also arrogate to yourself laws and powers that have not been vested in you," he warned. Honourable Quartey disclosed that the Secretariat for the Operation Clean Your Frontage has been commissioned and was fully operational at his ministry. He used the opportunity to particularly expressed his ministry's appreciation to the Executive Chairman of Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, for his group's continuous support and all the stakeholders in the Let's Make Accra Work agenda. While congratulating the CRT officers, he assured them of his ministry's support to enable them execute their duties effectively. In a brief remark, the General Officer Commanding the Southern Command, GAF, Brigadier General Amoasi, commended the trainees for undergoing four weeks of rigorous training. He averred that the objectives of the programme have been "largely" achieved. He charged the officers to make sure they are always disciplined in the line of duty. According to Brigadier General Amoasi, cooperation between the military and civilians was important in the development of Ghana. On display at the parade were 14 branded Greater Accra CRT pick-up vehicles that would be used by the CRT. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye is appealing to the general public not to write off the wearing of the nose mask following President Akufo-Addo’s ‘no longer mandatory’ pronouncement in his last covid update to the nation. According to Dr. Kuma-Aboagye, the public should at most wear their nose mask whenever they find themselves in an enclosed and a congested area to avoid the spread of the disease. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Tuesday, he said “The President said it is not mandatory but he did not say don’t wear it. The risk is still there and so we recommend that where possible, wear your mask and especially when you are in an enclosed and a congested area” “I will not enter a lift without my mask on. Even in a small place where there are 8 people, you have to wear it. Closed and congested places or onboard an Aircraft with a small tube, among others, it is safer to wear your mask” “In schools, we encourage that they continue wearing their mask because those below 15 are not safe and it still remains as a potential threat to them” The Director General of the Ghana Health Service ceased the opportunity to commend Men of God as well as Imams for pushing the agenda and ensuring that their members adhered to the directives which was given by the President. He told Journalists that although most of restrictions eased, he is still calling on persons who have taken only one jab to go for the second. Dr. Kuma-Aboagye also reminded persons who are yet to have both jabs to do so in order to protect themselves, family and the environment. He urged travelers to also adhere to all directives given at the various Airports. Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

A two-storey building at Opera Square in Accra has been destroyed following a fire outbreak on Monday (25 April), firefighters have confirmed. Several shops in the building have been destroyed including properties worth thousands of Ghana Cedis, according to eyewitnesses. The inferno was first seen at the first floor and then extended to the second floor of the building which contains refrigerators, air conditioners and disposal packs, the state-owned Daily Graphic reported on its website. Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service, who are at the scene with their fire engines are yet to establish the cause of the fire. Below is a video: Story by: K Mensah

Agreement was being negotiated for weeks, but the platform’s board accepted the South African’s proposal on Monday, 25. The Billionaire was negotiating to buy the company a few weeks ago The South African Billionaire Elon Musk completed the purchase of twitter, one of the largest social networks in the world, for $44 billion, which are equivalent to approximately R$ 215 billion. The confirmation of the sale was announced by Bret Taylor, executive of the social network. Previously, Musk had already become a shareholder of the company, with 9% of the shares of the social network. Since then, negotiations for the acquisition of the company began. In the agreement signed, Musk will have full ownership of the social network. In all, shareholders will receive US$ 54.20, approximately R$ 263, for each share they hold. Credit: The News 24

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio has received on behalf of the Sector Minister, reports on Terms of Reference 1 and 2 from the Sole Inquirer, who was tasked to investigate the circumstances surrounding the true ownership of some parcel of Land in dispute between the Bulgarian Embassy and a private developer. Upon receiving the report, Hon. Benito expressed his profound gratitude to the Sole Inquirer saying that the Ministry together with the Lands Commission and other stakeholders involved in the land case would peruse the reports provided and make available the contents in due course. He hoped that per the expertise of the Sole Inquirer, the findings of the reports provided will indeed be a great asset which will guide matters to do with Bulgarian Embassy Land Case. In a brief background to the reports received, the Deputy Minister spelt out the Terms of Reference of the Sole Inquirer, adding that due to the urgency of the issue relating to the Bulgarian Embassy, the Minister gave the Sole Inquirer an ultimatum of seven (7) days to present a Report on his Terms of Reference (1) and (2), however, due to the voluminous nature of the work, he said the Sole Inquirer sought for an extension which was granted by the Sector Minister for the proper scrutiny into the case. Hon. Benito says the Sole inquirer still has some grace period out of the one (1) month given him to present a full Report on Terms of Reference (3) to (5). He also assured the public that the recommendations obtained in the report would be considered by the Ministry and appropriate directives issued for further implementation. On his part, the Sole Inquirer, Justice Retired Kwasi Anto Ofori-Atta said with the support of the Ministry and Lands Commission, he commenced his investigative work on 21st March, 2022 with letters sent out to various entities and professional bodies involved in the case to source information which will aid his investigative work. He added that in response to these letters, 11 witnesses appeared to testify on the case and some had to be recalled for re-examination, all in efforts to arrive at the very truth on the case. He said per his Terms of Reference, the current reports presents findings and recommendations for the Terms of Reference (1) and (2 )which he hoped will inform the Ministry’s decision making on the case. Justice Retired Ofori-Atta, a retired Justice of the High Court and a one time Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission in his submission also expressed his gratitude to Government and the Minister for the confidence reposed in him and asked for a continuous support to deliver reports on the other 3 terms of references. The Sole Inquirer was inaugurated on Friday 18th March, 2022 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the true ownership of some parcel of Land in dispute between the Bulgarian Embassy and a private developer. The Sole Inquirer was tasked to undertake a full and impartial inquiry into the alleged encroachment and/or demolishing of property on the land being used as the Bulgarian Embassy. He was also expected to make appropriate recommendations relating to the land being used as the Bulgarian Embassy. The Sole Inquirer was charged to inquire into the nature of interest in any land held or occupied by Diplomatic Missions in Ghana. He was further challenged to inquire into any matter relating to land in which Diplomatic Missions in Ghana have an interest whatsoever. He was tasked to make recommendations to Government. Below are some pictures: Story by: Nadia Aidoo