The Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has called on farmers and Ghanaians as a whole to embrace the government’s proposed E-Levy transaction which was announced in the 2022 budget statement by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, last month. According to Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Akufo-Addo administration was working assiduously to raise money enough to support farmers in the country, hence the introduction of the E-Levy. However, he pointed out that the opposition National Democratic Congress’ (NDC’s) entrenched position on the matter was very worrying. Dr Afriyie Akoto made the assertion when he visited one of the government’s built warehouses at Gambaga in the North East Region on his first day visit to the region as part of his 13-day tour of the northern sector. The warehouse contained thousands of tons of harvested rice for safe keeping. Prior to the visit to the warehouse, Dr Afriyie Akoto held a durbar with stakeholders and farmers in the agriculture industry in the region where he encouraged them to support the government’s policies in the sector. These, he said, included Fertiliser Subsidy, Planting For Food and Jobs ((PFJ) among others aimed at improving farming activities in the region. On shortage of fertilisers, he indicated that the government was seriously working to address it. “We are making arrangements to ensure that farmers in the country have fertilisers to apply to their crops,” he assured. He explained that the problem has come about because of the global shortage of fertiliser, adding that this has caused increases in the price of fertlisers. He said, regrettably Ghana does not produce fertilisers, however, added that the government has subsidised fertilisers’ for farmers by 50%. This facility, he said, started when the government begun its PFJ programme. While admitting that there were demands for warehouses, he averred that the uncompleted ones will be worked on as quickly as possible. The Minister also paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigu, at his Nayiri Palace. Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigu thanked the minister and his directors for making time to visit his community. He recounted how his senior brother who was an agriculture extension officer helped him in his farming activities. He therefore, challenged the agriculture minister to ensure that extension officers carry out the needed knowledge to the farmers to improve their yields, adding that the region was one of the leading food baskets in the country. Speaking to journalists, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Mamprusi West, Aremeyaw Somo Lucky Basiutaly, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, mainly rice farmers, mentioned some challenges bedeviling the farmers. These, he mentioned, included no power at the processing centre and a lack of warehouse in the district for rice farmers. He, therefore, appealed to the minister to help resolve these challenges. From the palace of the Overlord of Mamprusi, the minister’s team visited the Presbyterian Agriculture Services at Lanbinsi Tenguri where he interacted with the women farmers and promised to support their activities. He then took his visit to Tamanaa Rice Factory located along the Tamale Highway where rice in its raw state were processed, packaged and sold to the final consumer or exported. Below are some pictures: Story by: Alfred Asamoah

The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has provided two buses and a motorbike to the staff of his Ministry and the Information Services Department (ISD). According to the Minister, the buses will aid in transporting the staff in their day to day activities. In a brief ceremony on Tuesday December 7, the Minister in a Facebook said "As part of efforts to improve the welfare of staff of my Ministry and the Information Services Department, I handed over two buses to aid in transportation" He also added that the buses will also provide comfortable and safe transportation for the Ministry's press pool when covering national assignments. "Another week of Parliamentary sessions also began and we look forward to smooth sessions within the chamber" he concluded. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Staff members of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) and for that matter Ghanaians have been urged to put to profitable use their God-given talents/gifts and not bury them. The President of the Eastwood Anaba Ministries (EAM), Rev. Joseph Eastwood Anaba, who made the call on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, (day two of the 2021 Annual Thanksgiving Service of JGC), said just as God gave gifts or resources to the slothful. He equally gave same to the Executive Chairman of JGC, Dr Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, who has largely excelled in his God-given talent. The five-day thanksgiving service is themed: "My Worship, My Weapon, His Glory" – 2nd Chronicles 20:22. Rev. Eastwood Anaba said slothfulness in life attracts rebuke, retrieval and rejection adding that “a slothful and failing servant vents his frustration on others, which makes such a person impolite and insolent.” Failures in life could be impolite and impolite people are insolent and indolent, he added. According to him, indiscretion and impatient were evident as testaments of a failing servant. Rev Eastwood Anaba thus challenged the staff members of JGC to see possibilities in everything, insisting that God gave each one of us talent as He did same to Dr Siaw Agyapong. “What is possible in Jospong is equally possible in every home", he said. He advised the workers against burying their God-given talents stressing that out of same lied greater results. Quoting from the book of Matthew 25, he said God in His infinite wisdom gave talents to some servants of which the first who received five doubled them while the second also received two. However, he said the third who received one, hid his talent and never put it to any good use. “The master upon returning from a journey rebuked this servant who received one talent and did nothing with it,” he narrated. He said out of the 17 verses, Jesus dedicated 7 to address the slothful, adding that "Slothful and failing servants attribute their failures to others rather than themselves" Rev. Anaba noted that a slothful person faces retrieval of talents and therefore encouraged mankind to put their talents to good use. For his part, the Executive Chairman, JGC, Dr. Jospeh Siaw Agyapong, recounted that during his early days when he was operating a printing press business nothing seemed to be working for him. “It was at that moment that I resolved to go to Begro and seek the face of the Lord and there I had a dream. I later travelled to China and saw tricycles collecting refuse. I then purchased one and later 300 then I acquired four plots of land at the Group’s current location which is our headquarters.” "In all our understanding of doing things, God has a way in it. Looking at the life span of this business which has footprints in all 260 districts across the country shows that it was made possible by only God", he testified. The gathering was thrilled by award-winning Gospel Minister, Ms Diana Hamilton, with her aesthetic voice empowered by the Holy Spirit. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Government of Ghana is implementing two major interventions to urgently respond to the effects of climate change. These are the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP) in cocoa forest land scape, mainly in the southern part of the country and the Ghana Shea Lands Scape Emission Reduction Programme in the Northern Savannah zones of Ghana. Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Hon Samuel A. Jinapor stated this at the opening of 12th Bosphorus Summit, in Istanbul, Turkey on Monday 6th December, 2021. These programmes, the Minister said will enhance the ecosystem whiles improving Livelihood opportunities for farmers, women groups and Forest users in general. Hon. Jinapor said in line with the vision of the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the country on June 11th 2021, successful planted 7 million seedlings nationwide under the flagship Green Ghana initiative. He also stated that a robust Afforestation Programme which seeks to restore degraded land scapes across all ecological zones and inculcate the culture of tree planting among the Ghanaian Youth will be rolled out soon as part of government's Master Plan on Land scape restoration. The Minister also called on various countries, institutions and the private sector actors to partner Ghana and exchange the rich experience and best practices in land scape restoration among others. Hon. Jinapor further urged participants at the Summit and the International Community to deliberate on the effects of Climate Change on the ecosystem which links forest and sustainable Livelihoods. He said " Let us invest in technology and science that prevents impact of climate change on the Livelihoods of the people we lead". The Minister was of the view that " We can only achieve our aim if global climate actions are real and verifiable, and this we must do, by embracing real and verifiable emissions reduction initiatives". On his part, the Chairman of the International Cooperation Platform (ICP) Mr. Rona Yircali said the time has come for the International Community to reaffirm their commitment towards the enhancement of the environment. He hoped discussions at the Summit including Climate Change and the importance of Agriculture will help to make the world a better place. The 12th Bosphorus Summit hosted by Turkey's Commercial Capital Istanbul, featured the participation of Ministers of State, Diplomats, experts and Academics from Ghana, Angola, Jordan, Turkey, Kosovan, Palestine, Denmark, Belgium, UK, USA , Norway, Azerbaijan and many other countries worldwide. Other discussions centered on cyber security, artificial intelligence, conflict resolution, transport and Industrialisation. Below are some pictures: Credit: MLNR PR UNIT

As part of the IGP's Community Engagement strategy, he and his team, on the third day of his visit to the Ashanti Region, engaged community members of Kwaafokrom, a cocoa farming community, about 5 kilometres from Mabang. At the time of his visit, all the community members were engaged in a customary communal activity, helping one of their own, Commissioner of Police Rtd. and a former Director of National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) formally the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Mr. Ellis Owusu Fordwouh on his 65- acre cocoa farm plantation. The farmers were in the process of cutting open the harvested cocoa pods, removing the seeds and heaping them on layers of banana leaves for fermentation. The Inspector-General of Police and his team joined in this process, with the Kwaafokrom community members, listened to their security concerns and shared some security tips with them. The team took the opportunity to share some good memories with the 83-year old retired Commissioner of Police, lawyer and farmer, Ellis Owusu Fordwouh. We are glad to share with you some of the pictures from the farm. The Police Administration wishes all famers a happy farmers' Day. Below are some pictures: Credit: Ghana Police Service

Students of St. Martin's Senior High School in the Eastern Region have benefited from Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and waste management sensitisation programme organised by waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, in collaboration with Schools Health Education Programme (SHEP) of the Ghana Education Service (GES). The programme, which is currently on-going in selected Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country, seeks to intensify measures for good sanitary practices among students through education and donation of waste management logistics. The Nsawam Municipal SHEP Coordinator of the GES, Mr. Stephen Dugbatey, in a presentation explained that "Children lose 272 million school days each year due to diarrhoea globally and an estimated one in three school-aged children in the developing world are infested with intestinal worms". He said Ghana was seriously lagging behind as total access to sanitation was just 13%, attributing this to the fact that 59% of the population use community or shared toilets. Mr Dugbatey charged the students to develop good sanitary practices. "Effective behaviour change programmes are critical to the success and sustainability of all water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. Schools must practise handwashing with soap, safe handling of drinking water, safe excreta disposal, environmental sanitation and personal hygiene including menstrual hygiene," he emphasised. A Senior Communications Officer of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mr Adams Mohammed Mahama, explained to the students that a major challenge to waste management was the negative attitudes developed by citizens towards sanitation. "Sanitation is a shared responsibility and it behoves all stakeholders to play their part for a clean country. Government has partnered the private sector to establish the needed infrastructure for waste management and this effort will be thwarted if we the citizens do not change our attitude towards the environment," he said. He indicated that "Zoomlion has established ultra-modern Integrated Recycling and Composting Plants (IRECoPs) in Accra, Kumasi, adding that these projects were also currently on-going in all the other regions to ensure that we create value out of the waste we generate by recycling them to help keep Ghana clean." He said "indiscriminate disposal of faecal waste into water bodies has been resolved by establishing a state-of-the-art sewerage treatment plant in Accra, Kumasi and other parts of the country." The Zoomlion team donated waste bins to the school and tasked them to use them to improve solid waste management on the campus. The Head Master of St. Martin's SHS, Rev. Benjamin Ohene, thanked Zoomlion and GES for the programme, assuring that the training and the logistics will help improve sanitation on the campus. He urged the students to demonstrate good sanitation behaviours by ensuring that their dormitories were always kept clean. He made an appeal to the Nsawam Municipal Assembly to relocate the site for the communal waste container which was closer to the school. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that President Akufo-Addo has ordered the Goil Oil Company (GOIL) to reduce its fuel prices. According to sources close to the Presidency, the order comes after President Akufo-Addo on Monday met with the leadership of the various transport unions. It is emerging that the reduction is expected to take effect on Tuesday 7th December, 2021. This decision comes after the coalition of transport operators in the country on Monday December 6, embarked on a national wide strike over high fuel prices. The 'trotro' strike left lots of passengers stranded at various bus stations. At Ashaiman, the drivers ceased the strike opportunity to play football among themselves. Some other drivers spotted by Thinknewsonline.com were also playing cards. Sources says Goil is expected to have a 15 pesewas reduction by Tuesday December 7th, and also sell their fuel at GHc6.7 per litre. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Chief Executive Officer of the Coastal Development Authority (CODA), Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib has expressed the commitment of the Authority to support the development of sports tourism through the provision of essential sports infrastructure under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP). The CEO was addressing constituency leaders, spectators, and the media at the commissioning of astroturf at Mamprobi in Ablekuma South constituency. The colourful ceremony, which was attended by the Member of Parliament, Mamprobi Sempe Mantse, Assemblyman, opinion leaders, and sports enthusiasts, was accompanied by an exhibition match between Chorkor FC and Jamestown FC which ended in the home team’s loss by 5 goals to 1. Consensus Building The selection, completion, and commissioning of the astroturf was characterised by a consensus-building process that saw the active participation of key relevant stakeholders namely elected officials, traditional leadership, youth, and other groups within the constituency. Recalling Parliamentary debates on the then Coastal Development Authority Bill, the Member of Parliament of Ablekuma South, Hon. Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije stated that he was “happy to be part of this commissioning today. I congratulate CODA for their good work in moving the whole constituency along in development”. On his part, the Mamprobi Sempe Mantse, Nii Ashaley Asuku II, thanked His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for introducing the one million dollars per constituency initiative to quicken the pace of development, adding that “this new pitch will help to unearth the talents of many youths from Mamprobi and neighbouring communities. The Assemblyman for Mamprobi, Hon. Joseph Brown urged residents to work together to ensure proper maintenance of the facility. Naming of Facility Lawyer Jerry Ahmed, following the consensus reached by the constituency’s stakeholders, proposed the naming of the facility after national football legend Stephen “Tornado” Appiah, who was also born and bred in Chorkor in Ablekuma South. This is in line with the sports tourism and local content objectives of the Authority to rely on the support of local assets to accelerate development. The artificial pitch was constructed by Blaze Investment Limited. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghana's Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has confirmed that the new percentage slapped on all electronic transaction levies (E-Levy) still stands at 1.75%. According to the Minister, the government will continue to hold talks with the Minority to accept the new introduction. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Monday, he said "The E-Levy is still 1.75%. We are in serious consultations and keeping clear about the fiscal implications of what it will mean" The Sector Minister made the clarification following a statement that was said to have been made by the Deputy Majority Leader, Afenyo-Markin. The Finance Minister noted that government will not reduce the E-Levy to 1.5% but rather maintain its 1.75% position. As it stands, most Ghanaians likewise the Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) have kicked against the request by the government. The Minority stressed that the increase will worsen the hardships of average citizens. The Finance Minister said “On the matter of the E-Levy, the elephant in the room, having regards to its serious fiscal implications, we will continue our consultations with the Minority Caucus in Parliament and other relevant stakeholders with a view to achieve a consensus and revert to the House in the shortest possible time,” Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for Food and Agriculture’s presidential aspiration appears to be gaining momentum in Cape Coast where massive support has been shown for him. Cape Coast shows massive support for Agric minister’s 2024 presidential bid (video) Although the governing New Patriotic Party has not officially opened nomination for its flagbearer contest, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and other notable members of the NPP have declared their intentions to contest, with the hope to replace President Akufo-Addo whose second tenure ends in 2024. A video uploaded on YouTube by broadcaster, Dan Kweku Yeboah shows a group of people believed to be supporters of the NPP in Cape Coast, marching and dancing to brass band music while holding a banner bearing the Agric minister’s image. According to Dan Kweku Yeboah, the show of support was recorded at Adisadel Park in Cape Coast. “Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto for President in 2024? Watch the Massive support with Jama at Adisadel Park,” he captioned the video on his YouTube page. The video has sparked reactions among Ghanaians, some of whom say the former MP for Kwadaso in the Ashanti Region should resign and focus on his presidential bid. Some people also say the show of support is a façade, and that the youth were just interested in getting financial benefits from him, so they were massaging his ego. Watch the video below: Credit: Pulse GH

The Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho has warned that the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia “will pay a very high price” for betraying him. Asiedu-Nketiah betrayed me and "he'll pay a very high price" for his betrayal - Koku Anyidoho According to the dismissed member of the biggest opposition party, his former boss was behind his sack from the party but has not served him with an official letter to that effect. “Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah CANNOT sack me from the NDC. He thought he will provoke me to leave the NDC. Asiedu-Nketiah is ashamed of himself!!!. He has not been able to serve me with any Dismissal letter. ‘I am NDC for life,” Mr. Anyidoho wrote in a Twitter thread. He alleged that he was the one who was doing a lot of works on behalf of Asiedu-Nketiah, so his absence is having a toll on him and the administrative work of the party. “I was the one who used to write and issue Press Releases, in the name of Asiedu-Nketiah. I am not doing for him any longer so he is bereft of ideas. He went further to express disappointment in the NDC Genera Secretary for allegedly stabbing him in the back and warned that he will pay dearly for it. “I don’t hate Asiedu-Nketiah: he betrayed me, and he shall have to live with his betrayal of me. He will pay a very high price for his betrayal. He begged me; he will beg me again to forgive him for his wickedness.” Asiedu-Nketiah betrayed me and "he'll pay a very high price" for his betrayal - Koku Anyidoho On Wednesday, January 20, the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the NDC suspended Mr. Anyidoho after a meeting to deliberate on two separate petitions filed against him over anti-party behavior. “You are therefore by this letter to take note, and notice is hereby given, that your membership of the NDC is suspended pending the hearing and final determination of the petitions against your conduct,” the suspension letter dated Monday, February 8, 2021, and signed by Asiedu Nketia read in part. The petitions by Oti Region’s Communications Officer, Mobarak Abdul-Karim, and Bono Region’s Deputy Communications Officer, Eric Adjei, were referred to the Disciplinary Committee for further action. Then, about five months later, the Disciplinary Committee recommended the dismissal of Anyidoho who had contested the General Secretary position against Asiedu-Nketia and lost. "At its meeting on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) considered the report and recommendations of the National Disciplinary Committee on the case of misconduct and anti-party behavior brought against you (Koku Anyidoho), pursuant to Article 48(1)(9)(a) of the NDC constitution. “The Functional Executive Committee (FEC) acting in compliance of Article 48(1) of the NDC Constitution unanimously adopted the report and accepts full responsibility for your expulsion from the party. “You are, therefore, by the decision of FEC expelled from the National Democratic Congress, and for that matter, you are no more recognized as a member of the party and cannot carry yourself as such,” the letter dated Tuesday, July 27, 2021, said. Credit: Ghanaweb

The Presiding Bishop of the Victory Bible Church International (VBCI), Bishop Nii Apiakai Tackie-Yarboi, has underscored the need for workers to be thankful and grateful to their employers. According to him, employers and gifts from God help workers to fend for their families. “You need to say thank you, Boss. Thank you, Boss, and always be grateful to your boss because he/she is taking care of you are your family,” he stressed. “So, therefore, as workers, we must always thank our employers and show appreciation to them,” he charged. Bishop Tackie-Yarboi was speaking on the opening day of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) Annual Thanksgiving Service 2021 held at the Forecourt of Zoomlion Head Office at Adirigarno, Accra on Monday, December 6, 2021. The four-day thanksgiving service is themed: "My Worship, My Weapon, His Glory" – 2nd Chronicles 20:22. Above all, he urged JGC staff members to continually thank God for His care, protection, and mercies over their lives throughout the year. “We focus on the fact that we are alive. There are many many workers in this Group and God has preserved us all. And in fact, we need to always thank God. …Always know that God has always been for us and with us. Therefore, we need to be thankful to him for delivering us from the hands of the evil ones,” he said. However, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi said an ungrateful person wreaks the flow of miracles from God into his/her life. “When we are unthankful, it blocks the blessings of God from coming into our lives,” he indicated. In this regard, he advised workers to withdraw from “unthankful and contentious” people. “Unthankful people create an atmosphere of discouragement,” pointing out that they also tend to demotivate people. “They [unthankful people] let you go down and constantly dampen your spirits,” he cautioned. “And so don’t forget to give thanks for it is good. God knows that thanksgiving helps our body and so we must learn to say praise the Lord, and in all things, we must thank God,” he encouraged the workers. After his sermon, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi led the workers and management of JGC to pray to God for upholding the Executive Chairman of JGC, Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, and his family, insisting that “he [Dr. Agyepong] is a gift to us.” He went on to ask the workers to pray to God for the Jospong brand to become “bigger, mega” and go beyond the whole world. Prayers were also said to God to deliver Ghana from the Covid pandemic and its associated variants and more importantly, from the hands of wicked people. “We pray that God’s grace and peace shall reign supreme in this country,” Bishop Tackie-Yarboi beseeched God. Bishop Tachie-Yarboi also led many to rededicate their lives to Christ while others surrendered to Christ. Earlier, in a welcome address, the Executive Chairman, JGC Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong, while appreciating his workforce of over 45,000 across the country, encouraged them to inject more energy to make the group better than it is now. "If you give out your best, you will be the beneficiary and will cater for many others," he noted. There was song ministration from the Zoom Choir and other gospel artists. The program will continue Tuesday, December 7, 2021, with the President of the Eastwood Anaba Ministries, Rev Joseph Eastwood Anaba, as the main speaker. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith