The Minister for Communication and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, says the e-levy will not erode the gains made in digital transactions as some have suggested. She’s of the view that the government will raise adequate revenue from the e-levy for national development. Speaking at the government’s first town hall meeting in the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua on the controversial tax, she likened the public reaction to the E-levy to the Communication Services Tax (CST), arguing that despite the many criticisms and opposition to the CST, also known as ‘talk tax’, it was passed, and its results have been impressive. She noted that although she was among those against the CST, she has now realized how helpful it has been and strongly believes that the E-levy will follow the same trajectory. “Our collective experience shows that despite their initial opposition to many of these interventions [including the CST], they’ve proven to be worth the wait,” she said. The Ablekuma West legislator appealed to the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, and the minority in parliament, to endorse the tax and cooperate with the government in getting it passed. “I appeal to them [minority] to cooperate with government and work with us to pass this levy as well because ultimately, the result that we got from the Communication Services Tax, which clearly didn’t destroy the industry, will also be evident post-implementation of this levy as we all work collectively to enhance access to and use of digital platforms working with Ministry of Finance to ensure that digital financial services become the norm as we strive to become a cash-lite society.” Ursula Owusu Ekuful noted that contrary to suggestions that implementing a tax on mobile money transactions will lead to many people moving to cash-based transactions, evidence from other countries such as Uganda show that after only a few months of reduced digital financial transactions, mobile money transactions bounced back to become the leading means of transactions. “When a similar levy was passed in Uganda, transaction values reduced slightly upon the introduction of this levy, but they picked up almost immediately,” she said, adding that she is confident that Ghana will do much better. The government has said that it will re-submit the Bill to Parliament, following the conclusion of extensive consultations on the controversial levy. A section of the public including some civil society organizations has kicked against the government’s plans to introduce a 1.75% tax on electronic financial transactions of above GHS 100. About CST The imposition of extra taxes on telecom services in the country began in 2008 when the then government under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) insisted on imposing a six-cent tax on communications services. The government then argued that the tax was intended as an excise tax to raise additional revenue from communications services rendered by mobile operators to their customers and to each other when dealing with calls from customers. Credit: Citinewsroom

According to the board chair Paul Adom-otchere By the Grace of God, the honourable Deputy Minister of Transport Hon. Alhassan Tampuli (MP) swore in the additional board members of the Ghana Airports Company Limited to bring the total number to nine (9). We are particularly delighted to welcome renowned sports journalist and nationalist, Mr Kwabena Yeboah affectionally called The Writer, he comes on board with a two term experience as a member of the Ghana Free Zones Authority. Mr Kwadwo Egyir-Danso is also warmly welcomed.. Story by: Emmanuel Odoom

The Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has described as worrying the seeming frequent absence of the Speaker of Parliament from the jurisdiction to seek medical attention. After returning from medical leave on the 23rd of January, the Speaker is scheduled to jet off once again over the weekend for another medical review. In the Speaker’s absence during the last meeting of Parliament, the split in the numbers in the house degenerated into a physical confrontation in the house. Speaking to Citi News, Frank Annoh Dompreh indicated that while the Speaker is entitled to the best of medical care, the question of the possibility of getting that within the jurisdiction should not be neglected. “We have to put our heads together as a people or maybe leadership would have to find a way of helping the Speaker find a solution to this because it is becoming one too many. We also need to give it balance. He is the Speaker, he is taken ill, and he needs treatment. Is it the case that we can get an equally good medical team to have this treatment done here?” “These are questions we need to ask, vis-à-vis the fact that because of the nature of our Parliament now, one would have thought that we will find an alternative. I am just hoping that we will get to that point and make that conclusion and draw that line that based on the happenings and the matters at stake, we will be happy to have the Speaker sit in the chair. It is something we need to think about but also give a balance.” This is the third time the Speaker is traveling to Dubai to undergo a medical review; the first was on November 27, 2022, and the second was on January 7, 2022, During the first medical review, Mr. Bagbin was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Alice Adjua Yornas, Head of Parliamentary clinic, Dr. Prince Kofi Pambo, the Speaker’s Secretary, and his aide. He embarked on his first medical trip a day after he presided over Parliament’s chaotic developments that saw the Members of the Majority side of Parliament staging a walkout during processes to approve the 2022 budget and the House’s subsequent rejection of same. Credit: Citinewsroom

A senior member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, K.T Hammond, has taken a dig at sacked Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac. The former Algeria gaffer supervised Ghana’s worst performance in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon where he failed to win a single game from the group stage. Following the four-time African Champions’ exit from the AFCON, Rejevac stated in an interview that his primary target was to qualify Ghana for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but not to win the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The comment didn’t go down well with the Adansi Asokwa Member of Parliament, pushing him to use some unprintable words on the Coach on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday 26th January 2022. Meanwhile, the country’s football governing body later in the evening announced the sacking of Milovan Rajevac. Watch the video below: Credit: SportsworldGhana.com

The Western Regional Council of State Member, Eunice Jacqueline Buah’s company, Labianca’s partner in the Netherlands Wegdam Food Link has been sighted for fraudulent acts in Haaksbergen. The council of State member whose company Labianca was in November last year (2021) petitioned to the special prosecutor for fraudulent acts at Tema Port is currently been investigated. A publication sighted by this online portal in the Netherlands on tubantia.nl/Haaksbergen has the following details. Wegdam Food Link in Haaksbergen is suspected of fraud with chicken meat. The criminal investigation department of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority raided the company on Tuesday afternoon. Three men were arrested. During the raid, the Intelligence and Investigation Service (IOD) of the NVWA searched two business premises and two homes. This happened in an ongoing investigation into suspected fraud with documents, in the export of chicken meat, among other things. Detectives confiscated the business records. At the same time, searches also took place in Belgium and Spain, at three companies that may cooperate with Wegdam. The arrested suspects have all been arrested in the Netherlands. The suspicion is that Wegdam, among other things, turns frozen chicken meat on paper into other products, such as fish. This is then exported to countries in Africa. In order to be able to do that, the NVWA suspects, the company is cheating with official veterinary certificates and loading slips. Sham constructions Wegdam is also suspected of using sham constructions in some shipments to make the fraud possible. The financial benefit of the fraud ends up directly with the recipient of the products. According to the NVWA, it pays up to 70 percent less import duties in the country of destination. For the fraudster, there is the advantage that this turnover is retained and – as the NVWA says – customers retained. "By defrauding documents, the Dutch company is doing a favour to its customers abroad. As a result, the company may be able to export more than companies that comply with the rules.” How the investigation service came to the suspicion of fraud, a spokesman does not want to say. “That investigation is still ongoing,” he says. He confirms that the study also looks at the financial benefit that has been achieved. Office closed At Wegdam, located in a monumental building on the Parallelweg, no one could be reached for comment on Tuesday afternoon. The company’s office is closed. The NVWA says that this form of fraud is a risk to food safety. "If something turns out to be wrong with a food, it must be possible to find out where the product came from and to whom it was delivered. This so-called tracing is not possible if, for example, chicken meat is changed to fish on official documents,” the NVWA said in a statement. Source: tubantia.nl/haaksbergen

President Akufo-Addo has donated GHc100,000 as his widow's mite in support of the Apiate Support Fund. The donation makes President Akufo-Addo, the first individual to support the fund. President Akufo-Addo made the donation after the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources paid a courtesy call to introduce the five member steering committee of the Apiate Fund. President Akufo-Addo said "I am donating GHc100,000 to support the fund. This is my widow's mite" The President also mentioned that it is necessary to rebuild the city. President Akufo-Addo further expressed concerns about safety in the mining sector. "We have to focus on the issue of the safety in the mining sector and areas" President Akufo-Addo tasked the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to review the mining rules to avoid future occurrences. "I agree with the Chairperson to rebuild the town", he added. On her part, the Chairperson of the 5-member steering committee, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee thanked President Akufo-Addo for the opportunity to lead the team. She said "Everything has happened so quickly. We are sure that by the close of tomorrow, we would have been able to put things together" She also added that she is confident, the steering committee will be able to raise the necessary funds. "We are working on the targeted fund" she added. "Efforts will be made to establish a model greener and sustainable community devoid of the depletion of the natural resources" The Sector Minister commended President Akufo-Addo for his swift response when the news of the Apiate explosion broke. He also updated President Akufo-Addo on an ongoing investigations of the Apiate Explosion. He told President Akufo-Addo that some measures are being put in place to ensure the safety of the people. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio has commissioned and handed over some vehicles to the Achimota Depot of the Forestry Commission in Accra. According to the Minister, the vehicles will not only help the Forestry Commission to run their day to day activities with ease but also enable the project achieve its development objectives. Speaking at the handing over ceremony, he said "I want to use this opportunity to caution the Project Management Team to take good care of tye vehicles to enable the project achieve its development objectives" He added that the vehicles will be strictly used in support of project activities in the mined out areas and monitoring of plantation development activities. Hon. Owusu-Bio stressed that the Forestry districts to be allocated the pick-ups are Bedwas, Bibiani and one other district yet to be determined. He added that one of the pick-up will be for the monitoring activities by the Headquarters. He disclosed that although the intended vehicles to be distributed are 13, the eight (8) to be presented today are the first batch. "I want to assure our donors that the vehicles will be used specifically for the purpose for which they have been procured and this is expected to enhance project operational activities including field monitoring" Explaining further, he hinted that the Ghana Forest Investment Programme is being implemented for the past five years and following the successful implementation of the programme. "The GFIP got an additional financing from the strategic climate fund through the world Bank to augment project implementation of Enhancing Natural Forest and Agroforest Landscape (ENFALP)" Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio noted that the main objectives of the Additional Financing is to augment Government’s efforts in the reduction of deforestation and forest degradation due to artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) in forest landscapes and community job creation. On his part, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Nyadia Sulemana Nelson thanked the Lands Ministry for their kind gesture. He promised to ensure that the vehicles are well taken care of and used for its intended purpose. Below are some photos: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Government has begun the processes to rebuild the Appiatse Community which was razed by an explosion that occurred when a truck carrying explosives for mining exploded at the community on Thursday, 20th January 2022. Following the incident, the Vice President, H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, led a government delegation to commiserate with the victims of the tragedy. The Vice President promised that Government will pay in full the medical bills of all the injured, and work with the relevant agencies to reconstruct the Appiatse township. On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, launched an Appiatse Support Fund to raise funds to, among others, reconstruct the community. Speaking later in Parliament, the Minister said Government was committed to rebuilding the community into a modern one to bring the necessary relief to the people of the community. Following this, a government delegation which included the Minister and Deputy Ministers for Lands and Natural Resources, the Minister for Works and Housing, the Western Regional Minister, officials of the Minerals Commission, State Housing Company, Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Department of Rural Housing and the Ghana Chamber of Mines, visited the community on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Welcoming the delegation, the Chief of the town, Nana Atta Kwadwo Bremebi, thanked the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for all what he has done since the incident. He said since the tragic incident, the President has shown great concern, constantly sending high profile government officials, including the Vice President, to visit the community and to ensure that emergency relief items are available. He called on government to expedite action on investigations to ensure that such incidents do not happen in future. The Minister for Lands Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, who led the delegation said, every tragic incident requires three immediate actions, first is the provision of emergency relief items, second is investigations to determine what went wrong and to punish wrongdoers, and the third is the rebuilding of whatever that is lost. In respect of the first, he said the President has instructed all the security services and the National Disaster Management Organisation, to mobilise all the requisite resources to provide emergency relief to the victims of the incident. Mr. Jinapor said on the instructions of the President, the security agencies and the Minerals Commission were also conducting thorough investigations into the incident and whoever is found culpable would be made to face the law. He said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has also formed a committee to undertake independent investigations into the incident and to make recommendations to avert such incidents. Hon. Jinapor disclosed that the purpose of the visit was in respect of Government’s third response to the incident which is to rebuild the community. He said the President Akufo-Addo instructed him and the Minister for Works and Housing to visit the community to assess the destruction and to find ways of rebuilt the community. He also said the purpose of establishing the Appiatse Support Fund, is to, among others, support the rebuilding of the community. He called on the Chiefs and people to support Government and the Committee managing the fund to ensure the rebuilding of the community. On his part, the Minster for Works and Housing, Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye, MP, said the reason for bringing the agencies along is for them to assess the damage and the land and to see how to rebuild the community. He said LUSPA will undertake the planning of the community while the State Housing Company and the Department for Rural Housing will oversee the rebuilding of the community. He noted that already, the State Housing Company has done a lot of work and once their reports are ready, Government will take the necessary action to facilitate the rebuilding of the community. The delegation visited the temporary site being built to house the displaced families. Following the visit, the Mr. Jinapor said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will set up a committee, made up of members from the relevant agencies, to oversee the rebuilding of the community. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has revealed that Bono, Upper East and Eastern Regions are the latest to record cases of Bird Flu in the country. According to him, other regions who have already been hit by the disease are also recording new cases. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Wednesday, he said "The current update is that the Bono, Upper East and Eastern regions are the latest to record cases of Bird Flu while some of the already affected regions continue to experience new cases. Among them is the Greater Accra region precisely some parts of Tema where a number of farms have been affected. Other notable cases reported most recently are in Sunyani in the Bono Region" The Minister told Journalists that in all cases, the Veterinary Services Directorate of the Ministry has been on hand to offer the requisite services for stemming the spread of the disease. Dr. Akoto also disclosed that his Ministry has received Financial Clearance to commence the recruitment of the 550 veterinary professionals. He further explained that his outfit has also received a warrant for the release of Twenty million Ghana Cedis (GHC20 million) to carry out the aforementioned activities. "We are looking forward to receiving the remaining 50% of the approved budget to enable the Ministry procure badly needed vehicles, motorbikes and laboratory equipment for operational purposes" The Minister stressed that the availability of these logistics will go a long way to strengthen the capacity of the VSD to carry out its very important mandate of protecting Ghana’s livestock and poultry industry, through surveillance and timely enforcement of biosecurity measures on farms. Dr. Akoto hinted that the logistics will also empower the Ministry to enforce compliance of biosecurity and management standards of livestock and poultry farms. "Ladies and gentlemen, while awaiting the release of approved funds to combat the spread of the HPAI in the country, my Ministry is responding within the constraints of available resources to protect and mitigate the adverse impact of the disease on the livestock and poultry industry" The Food and Agriculture Minister further announced that as part of its action plan to stabilize the situation, it is rolling out a comprehensive communication plan to sensitize the general public and targeted stakeholders at the national, regional and district levels about the HPAI and other transboundary animal diseases. "Pursuant to this, a Ministerial implementation team will be inaugurated on Friday 28th January 2022, to coordinate the nationwide sensitization programme and oversee the general implementation of the Ministry’s management programme" "I must emphasize that in addition to the provision of technical services by the VSD, the nationwide sensitization programme is key to the success of stemming the further spread of the disease in the country. The key actors for ensuring this include Traditional Authorities, MMDAs, Famers and Value Chain Actors within the livestock and poultry industry, the media, Allied Health Institutions and the Security Agencies" The Minister called on media to support in combat the HPAI and other transboundary animal diseases. "Finally, ladies and gentlemen, a major reason why the country’s poultry and livestock industry has become vulnerable to the outbreak of transboundary animal diseases is the long absence of an updated Animal Health Act to effectively regulate the industry" "I am therefore pleased to report that Government has taken the necessary steps to up-date the existing 1960 Animal Health Act by finalizing a new Bill for introduction to parliament this year" He revealed that once in effect, the updated Act will empower the Ministry through the VSD to regulate the industry. He told the media that among the proposals of the Bill is the regulatory authority to certify poultry and livestock farms and the enforcement of sanctions such as closure of farms of recalcitrant farmers in the country. Dr. Afriyie Akoto urged the public to support Government’s efforts to contain the spread of the HPAI and help keep alive the vision of transforming the Livestock and Poultry industry. Government’s Intervention The Minister hinted that government’s unprecedented intervention seeks to strengthen the capacity of the VSD for the effective discharge of its core mandate of managing Animal Health in the country. It would be recalled that Government granted approval for the immediate recruitment and deployment an initial 550 veterinary professionals, out of a total of 1100 Professionals throughout the country. The intervention also include approval for the release of an emergency budget support of approximately Forty-Four million Ghana Cedis (GHC 44 million) to the Ministry. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed his commitment that his administration will create one million jobs in the next three years. According to him, the one million jobs will provide an effective solution to the youth unemployment challenge facing the country. President Akufo-Addo also mention that the one million job will be made possible through the YouStart Initiative. He said "The YouStart initiative is a key vehicle government intends to use to create one million jobs in the next three years" President Akufo-Addo described the YouStart as a comprehensive initiative. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has explained the thinking that went into the decision to dress in traditional Kente cloths to president over the House on Tuesday January 25. Mr Bagbin departed from the usual suit and tie wearing to put on traditional cloths and dressed like a Royal Majesty. He said the practice of lawmakers and the Speaker wearing traditional attire is long over due. “This is the Parliament of Ghana , it is a unique made in Ghana product and we must showcase and market it to the world as a brand. “We must create a unique set of values and norms that will give a unique character to our parliament to set it apart from the colonial legacies of the British system. ” My outfit today, as the speaker, the presiding officer is to set the motion for that agenda. The practice of MPs decently dressed in traditional attire, led by the Speaker is long overdue.” Story by: Laud Nartey

A Ghanaian economist based in Canada, Dr. Dennis Nsafoah has said it should not come as a surprise when Akufo-Addo's government runs to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this year. According to him, targets in the 2022 budget statement and economic policy of the government are overambitious and unrealistic. Speaking via Zoom to deliver a presentation on Ghana’s Economic Outlook for 2022, Dr. Dennis Nsafoah said he foresees government running to IMF before the end of the year. “Thinking about the situation, the most likely outcome that came in my mind was that at the end of the year when they [the government] realise that they will not be able to achieve the revenue target they have set for themselves because it is too high, that is when they will start talking to the IMF,” the Economist shared during a dialogue held on Monday, January 24, 2022, by PFM Tax Africa. Government has set a target to increase revenue by 42% this year as one of the many steps to improve the debt-to-GDP ratio. Although Dr. Dennis Nsafoah agrees that urgent measures are needed to address the growing debt-to-GDP which currently said to be close to 80%, he recommends that government stop delaying and seek the intervention of the International Monetary Fund. “In the short-term in recommend that the government should contact the IMF and start negotiations for some sort of intervention. In the medium term the government also has to deal with the expenditure problems that we have,” the Ghanaian Economist based in Canada proposed. He notes that from indications and his projections, Ghana could end 2022 with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 83.9%. Sharing his though on the proposed Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy), Dr. Dennis Nsafoah said, in his view, it is not an intervention that will solve the country’s problems. He said rather, the levy when implemented will be the same as government shooting itself in the foot after making investment in the cashless economy. “In terms of what I think of the E-Levy, personally I don’t think it’s good for an economy which is trying to go cashless to impose such punitive measure in place. I don’t think the E-Levy is the best way to generate revenue,” Dr. Nsafoah who is an Associate Professor at Niagara University in Canada emphasised. Story by: Eric Nana Yaw Kwafo