Fire has gutted a building complex which houses the Kisseiman branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) near Achimota in the Greater Accra Region. The incident is said to have occurred on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. The fire which was detected at 5:11am was successfully extinguished by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) with the support of the security services and the community. There were no casualty during and after the fire outbreak. In a statement issued by the Corporate Affairs of the Bank, the Kisseiman branch of the Bank, Emmanuel Kojo Kwarteng, he said "We will however not open for business today to allow for further assessment of the extent of damage to the building as well as safety measures aimed at protecting staff and customers" The statement added that customers in and around Kisseman branch are advised to use the Dome, Achimota, Haatso, Dzorwulu, Abelenkpe, Tantra Hill, Abeka-Lapaz, Legon, Tetteh-Quarshie and any GCB Bank Branch of their choice for their banking business. "Customers are also encouraged to make use of our alternate channels including internet banking, GCB Mobile banking, ATMs and G-Money Mobile Wallet. "We shall inform customers of any new development," the statement added. Read full statement below: GCB BANK PLC FIRE OUTBREAK AT KISSEIMAN BRANCH BUILDING FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 23RD MARCH, 2022. On Wednesday, March 23, 2022, there was fire outbreak at the building complex that houses our Kisseiman branch near Achimota in the Greater Accra Region. The fire which was detected at 5:11am was successfully extinguished by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) with the support of the security services and the community. There was no casualty during and after the fire outbreak. The Kisseiman branch of the Bank will however not open for business today to allow for further assessment of the extent of damage to the building as well as safety measures aimed at protecting staff and customers. Customers in and around Kisseman branch are advised to use our Dome, Achimota, Haatso, Dzorwulu, Abelenkpe, Tantra Hill, Abeka-Lapaz, Legon, Tetteh-Quarshie and any GCB Bank Branch of their choice for their banking business. Customers are also encouraged to make use of our alternate channels including internet banking, GCB Mobile banking, ATMs and G-Money Mobile Wallet. We shall inform customers of any new development. GCB, your bank for life. Emmanuel Kojo Kwarteng, Head of Corporate Affairs GCB Bank PLC. Credit: Modern Ghana

The Minerals Commission has provided a pick-up vehicle and other logistics to the George Grant University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) to enable them undertake an exploration of some mining blocks. On Wednesday, March 23, 2022, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. George Mireku Duker made the presentation to the University with an appeal to them to use it for the intended purpose. Hon. Duker described the partnership between the Minerals Commission and UMaT as a novelty that speaks directly to the aim behind the establishment of the university. Hon. Mireku Duker whose constituency, the University is located shed light on the positive impact of the exercise on the school. He noted that the investigation is the ideal medium to create linkages between academia and industry. He, however appealed to the Minerals Commission to provide more logistical and other forms of support to the University to help them undertake the assignment. “This is the first time the commission has asked the university to explore areas we can mine. This is a novelty, lets applaud the Commission. This is something that is going to help the University to enhance their geological investigation as far as mining is concerned”, he said “There are some areas for the university to mine and that is also a novelty. The university is going to have its own concessions that student will be deployed to mine directly. They will be attending to some practical activities whiles on campus”, he added The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr Martin Ayisi said its the resolve of the Commission to provide adequate support to the Geological Service and other relevant institution to undertake the prospecting of areas suspected to be rich in mineral resources. He explained this is a new dimension the commission is embarking on as a way of resourcing and empowering institutions in the country. He assured authorities of the George Grant University that the Commission will continue to provide the needed logistics for them to carry out the investigative exercise. Professor Richard Amankwah, the Vice Chancellor of UMaT welcomed with pleasure the task handed the University and assured that it will be executed to perfection. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has recounted how he earned the name ‘General Mosquito’. Asiedu Nketiah, speaking on Maakye on Kessben TV with Kwame Appiah Kubi narrated that he got the name when he was a member of parliament. He stated while serving on the appointment committee in parliament years back, he stood firm and ensured that a ministerial nominee who was sacked at the controller’s office for theft was not approved. According to Asiedu Nketiah, the Minister was nominated as the minister for forestry meanwhile he had just been sacked from the controller’s office by his superiors for corruption. Asiedu Nketias said he saw no rationale in appointing someone who had just been sacked for corruption to a higher office. The nominated minister being a ranking member of the government reportedly issued a number of threats through the executive arm of the government which made the other appointment committee members relent but Asiedu Nketia did not give up. He ensured the corrupt nominated minister was not appointed which eventually earned him the title ‘General Mosquito’ Watch the video below: Story by: Nazir Hamzah

Government has hinted of a possible opening of the country’s borders in the next two weeks. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to address the nation in the coming days to give details of the reopening and measures that will be put in place to prevent a possible spike in cases of COVID-19. Sources at the Jubilee House say government will consider mounting health posts at the various borders to test persons before being allowed into the country. The border opening comes on the back of agitation and demonstrations by residents who live within border towns. Recently, former President John Mahama also joined calls for the reopening of the borders. Among other things, he decried the negative impact the situation is having on the economy of border communities. “The long border closures have devastated the economy of our border communities. Government’s announcement that it is deliberating at Cabinet about a possible opening of our land borders is long overdue. Let’s open the land borders now!” Mahama said in a Facebook post. Story by: Jonas Nyabor

The Management of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has revealed that the Weija Headworks will be temporarily shut down on Wednesday 23rd March, 2022. According to the GWCL, this following a request by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Ltd to carry out expansion works at one of the stations that powers the Weija Raw Water Pumping Station. In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, the Chief Manager, PR & Communications, Stanley Martey said "Management therefore calls on its cherished customers to store enough water. Customers are also to note that water production and supply will resume as soon as work by ECG is completed" He hinted that affected areas will include; Kasoa, Weija, Mallam Junction, McCarthy Hill, Bortianor, Gbawe, Anyaa, Awoshie, Dansoman, Sakaman, Glefe, Odorkor, Mataheko, Mamprobi, Chorkor, Kaneshie, Akweteyman, Abeka-Lapaz, Nii Boi Town, Tesano, Achimota, Accra Central Business district, parts of Ministries and surrounding areas. The Management of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) says any inconvenience this may cause is deeply regretted. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Daredevil armed robbers who robbed passengers travelling from Assin Fosu to Kumasi told victims they will stage another attack soon. The gang made up of seven armed robbers attacked some drivers and passengers on Monday, around 1:00AM at Assin Endwa in the Assin North District of the Central Region. According to information gathered, the robbers who were masked did not only steal valuables from their victims but beat up some of the passengers. Some of the victims while narrating their ordeal shared that they were told by the armed robbers to go and work extra hard so that they can continue to steal more from them in the next operation. The victims were robbed of their mobile phones, travelling bags and monies. The armed robbers also took away the keys of about three saloon cars and an articulated truck. According to DSP Moses Osakonor who is the Assin Praso District Police Commander, the gang blocked the road with a seized articulated truck before carrying out their operation. The Assin Praso District Police Commander is on the manhunt for the armed robbers. Meanwhile, people who travel at night are advised to be extra careful and only do so when it's necessary. Story by: Eric Nana Yaw Kwafo

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia says the recent medical trips of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin must be a concern to all and not only the National Democratic Congress (NDC). According to Mr. Asiedu Nketia, the Speaker is currently serving in the interest of all Ghanaians hence his health must be taken into consideration. Speaking on an Accra-based television station, he said "Ghanaians should be worried about the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin. Although NDC is worried, the country must worry more" He also prayed for good health for the Speaker. Touching on the country's economy, he said "In our desire to do certain things, we must think about the citizens. I am yet to see a policy that has brought unity amongst Ghanaians" He challenged the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to be sensitive to the plight of the people before taken certain decisions in the country. "I am expecting the NPP MPs in Parliament to call for an extensive debate on the E-Levy" "E-Levy might be good but its timing is bad. The government must listen to the people and call it off" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ministry of Communications and Digitization has extended the closing date for the on-going sim registration exercise from March 31st to July 31st 2022. According to the Ministry, the extension will afford the over the over 7.5 million Ghanaians the chance to also get their cards registered. In a release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com and signed by the Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (MP), it said "The sim registration exercise began on 1st October, 2021 and is expected to end on 31st March, 2022. As at 17th March, 14,091542 sim cards have been linked to the Ghana Card, 10,348,532 bio-captures conducted and 99,445 new sins registered" "Due to a number of factors including the fact that over 7.5 million citizens and residents are yet to obtain Ghana Cards to enable them register their sim cards, it is clear that the deadline for the completion of the registration of the remaining active sim cards cannot be met" She added that more time will be required to update the sim registration app for the registration of diplomats, while a self-service sim registration app is being developed to facilitate registration for Ghanaians resident abroad. The Minister revealed that it will be operational by mid April. "The Ministry of Communications and Digitalization has therefore extended the deadline for the registration of subscriber identification module (SIM) cards to 31st July, 2022" Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Over 14 persons are feared dead following a ghastly accident at Asemasa near Beposo in the Shama District in the Western Region. According to reports by Connect FM, the fatal accident happened when a truck and a Ford passenger vehicle collided head-on. A post on the media outlet’s Twitter platform on March 22, 2022 indicated that the accident happened around afternoon today. Eyewitnesses indicate that the vehicles caught fire after the head-on collision. Police and the fire service were still at the scene trying to salvage the situation at the time of this report. Meanwhile police in the region say they have launched investigations into the incident. Watch the video below: Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor has called on Gold Fields Ghana Limited and other large scale mining companies to partner government in building Ghana into a viable Mining hub of Africa. The Minister explained that by building Ghana into the mining hub of Africa, the President Akufo-Addo government's vision is to ensure that all the components of the value chain exit in the country. "From exploitation, to mining itself, to refinery, to the downstream industry, to the various linkages in the mining industry gets established here, Including the mining financial center of Africa". He said. He was of the view that government cannot achieve this feet without the partnership and cooperation of mining companies such as the Gold Fields and therefore called for stronger collaborations among them. "I am here to extend a hand of partnership. Let us work together to build the Mining industry in Ghana. Let us be partners, let us cooperate. We don’t have to operate on the bases of adversaries but rather on the bases of partners" "We are the regulators, you are the operators, at the end of the day we need each other to build that Mining industry and I as your Minister, I am fully committed to work with Gold Fields to build the company into the biggest Mining industry in the world, not just Africa" he continued. The Minister made this clarion call when he paid day's working visit to the Tarkwa Mines of the Gold Fields Ghana Limited on March 22, 2022 to among others ascertain their level operations, inspect some development projects at the Mine and also interact with Management and staff of the company. He assured that to make this dream a reality, the goverment is committed to play it's role in creating a conducive environment that will enable Gold Fields and other Mining companies thrive in Ghana and invest more. He disclosed that in due time, the Ministry will engage executives of the Ghana Chamber of Mines to get mining institutions on board the Green Ghana Project which will ensure the planting of trees to restore the vegetative cover of the country, while commending the company for their own initiatives taken to Green Ghana through oli plantations and other vegetative intiatives. The Minister hoped that their engagement will help the country contribute largely to the global fight against climate change. "I'm hoping that when we get the opportunity to meet, we will be able to engage and chat a way forward to Green our country for our population and ensure that Ghana is a country that is contributing to the global fight against climate change" Hon. Jinapor announced the health and safety protocols his Ministry has put in place to ensure that their work is safe for the miners and the people of Ghana, reiterating that the Ministry is going pursue with all seriousness, the recommendations made by the Health and Saftey team he formed to review the entire health and safety regime of the sector. He also applauded the company for their generous donation of 1million dollars to the Appiatse Support Fund aimed at complimenting government's efforts to rebuild the Appiatse community. Congratulating Gold Fields on their Corporate Social Responsibility, (CSR) particularly on the road networks in Tarkwa and Damang, he reminded them of the President's plea for them to work on the roads in the Tarkwa township. He also applauded the management of Gold Fields for working tirelessly to ensure that the Mine is always safe. The working visit of the Minister also saw him being taken on a brief tour of the Tarkwa Mine, mainly the Gold room, where Gold is smelted and poured. On the back of the Appiatse explosion incident, the General Manager of the Tarkwa Mine, Mr. Stephen Osei-Bempah in a presentation said the company has since the incident taken better steps to ensure that explosives transported are safe on the road. On their sites, he said Gold Fields have been able to reduce injuries from 69 to 5 between 2010 and 2021, adding that the company is working hard towards achieving zero harm on all sites. He hinted that as part of their CSR, the company will soon construct a stadium in Tarkwa and Abosso, a girls dormitory for the Huni-Valley Senior High School, a health care center among many others in their respective localities. Gold Fields Ghana Limited is one of the biggest gold mine in Africa and the biggest in Ghana with 9 operating Mines and one project in Australia, Chile, Peru and South Africa. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Traditional commerce seems not to be the only sector suffering the pinch of Ghana’s economic meltdown. One of the oldest professions, commercial sex work, is also bearing the brunt of the current downturn. Players on the streets of Accra have been compelled by the prevailing economic situation to increase the price of their services. The majority of them are from countries such as Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Liberia among others. Until recently, many of them say they had been charging ¢50 for a short session that lasts between 15-20 minutes and as much as ¢300 for a full night. Despite their courageous approach to the trade, they always meet some clients who make them question their choice of work. “Some people don’t cum quick. If you know you don’t release early you have to give her more money. You have to pay the girl well to make her happy,” one of the workers told JoyNews on the streets of Lapaz, a suburb of Accra. “Even though you did him fine, as far as he did not cum he will say you did not do it well and will not pay you more than the agreed price.” However, their woes are worsening and the reason emanates from the most unlikely of sources. Fuel prices have crossed the ¢10 mark affecting prices of commodities while the dollar has also seen a record-high appreciation to the cedi. In the face of all these conditions, sex workers in the capital told JoyNews that they are not in the position to satisfy their clients at the same rates they initially charged. A report filed by Latif Iddrisu revealed that many of them have increased their charges by up to 100%. Lapaz, Cantonments, Osu, East Legon are a few hotspots for the trade. One of them, Vivian, said though sales were slowing down gradually, her income saw a brief uptick at some point in December last year as she “was taking ¢200 for short.” But the new year came with a very uncomfortable situation, creating the need for a commensurate upward adjustment in her charges. “There has been an increase in goods lately. To pay my rent is difficult now and because of that, I have increased my price,” she said. “Food these days is very expensive. I clothe myself, and the rest of that. So I can’t reduce my price.” But this insistence on not backing down on her new rates is now beginning to cut both ways. This is because the same financial challenges that the country is facing are holding her clients from seeking her services. “That is chasing my clients away,” she lamented. She pleaded with authorities to provide austerity measures that will ensure a flourishing economy. “Things have become very difficult for us so they should reduce some of the goods.” Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to communicate key measures and reliefs sanctioned by government to recover the economy later this week, after a crunch three-day Cabinet retreat chaired by President Akufo-Addo. According to the Information Ministry, details on some of the reliefs will include the reopening of land borders, the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, and measures to arrest the depreciating cedi. While these interventions are yet to kick in, clients of these sex workers may have no option but to find a middle ground between satisfaction and financial muscle. But for their rates, the only way is up. Story by: Kenneth Awotwe Darko

The Nifahene of the Sunyani Traditional Council, Nana Kwame Addai Kuntuma IV, has pledged the full support of the Council for the government’s energy transition initiative at a stakeholders’ forum held yesterday at the Eusbett Hotel in Sunyani, capital of the Bono Region. Speaking on behalf of the traditional council, Nana Kuntuma said the initiative to transition from the use of fossil fuel to cleaner sources of energy was a laudable idea as it has positive implications for the environment. “Just as tradition must evolve to meet the needs and aspirations of the people, it is also important, when the situation demands, that we are able to look at other resources that inure to the benefit of our people and make the necessary adjustments where necessary”, he observed. Commending the government for the bold step of the stakeholder engagement on a regional basis, Nana Kuntuma expressed his delight at the attempt to bring the conversation to the local level and engage the people of this country in this important step, and reiterated the traditional council’s support for the Energy Ministry in its drive towards cleaner fuel. On Tuesday 22nd February 2022, the Vice President, H.E Alhaji Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, launched the National Energy Transition Forum in Accra to set the ball rolling on a national conversation on energy transition. This was on the back of a global agenda, driven by the Paris Agreement and other international consensus-building platforms on the subject, including the COP26 Conference in November 2021 on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland, which was addressed by President Akufo-Addo. So far, the National Energy Transition Team has been to a number of regions, with the aim of visiting all sixteen regional capitals to solicit the input of Ghanaians in the development of a National Energy Transition Plan. Various dignitaries present at the Sunyani event included Nana Akosua Duah Brayie, the Paramount Queen-mother and her entourage, MMDCEs and Staff of various Assemblies, Vice Chancellors and Academia from various institutions, CSOs, NGOs, Media personnels as well as Ghanaians from all walks of life. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith