We’re Building Prosperous, Dynamic Nation - Akufo-Addo Assures In Germany
Ghana is systematically rising to become an influential player in the affairs of the global community, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said.
“We do want, and we shall work, to take Ghana to where she deserves to be — a prosperous and dynamic member of the world community which is neither a victim nor a pawn of the world order,” he stated.
The President made the declaration in a speech delivered in Dusseldorf, Germany, last Monday as part at the 75th anniversary celebration of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s number one industrial region and most populous state.
President Akufo-Addo is in Germany for a seven-day state visit at the invitation of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Addressing the gathering, which included Chancellor Merkel and the Minister-President for North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, President Akufo-Addo said Ghana was determined to participate fully in the global marketplace as an exporter of manufactured goods, not raw materials.
Inspiration
President Akufo-Addo added that the country was drawing inspiration from the success stories of North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany because, “likewise, we want to build a progressive and prosperous country”.
He said with Germany being a major exporter of industrial products and technology, led by North Rhine-Westphalia, Ghana’s relationship with Germany was of utmost importance and must be hinged on that.
“The recent establishment of a Volkswagen assemblying plant in Accra is a welcome development, and we are encouraged by the fact that more and more German companies have expressed their willingness to set up shop in Ghana,” he said.Trade and investment
The President said one of Ghana’s priority was to increase trade and investment co-operation with Germany because that could develop into economic relations with Germany and the rest of the world, thereby helping put Ghanaian products at the high end of the global value chain.
That, he explained, would lead to the creation of jobs for the teeming masses of Ghanaian youth.
Transparency and inclusiveness
“Thirdly, Ghana and Germany must co-operate to ensure the promotion of transparent and inclusive policy and decision-making processes at local, national, regional, continental and global levels.
“This will include, recognising as key stakeholders, the state to help provide direction and facilitation; the private sector to drive the creation and management of markets, agriculture, industry and decent jobs, and civil society to help ensure accountability within the body politic,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo reiterated his commitment to renew and deepen relations with Germany, with North Rhine-Westphalia at the centre, for the mutual advantage of the two countries.
US$5m Bribery Allegation: Court Doesn’t Deal With "Hearsay" – Lawyer Nimako Marfo
Private Legal Practitioner, Lawyer Gary Nimako Marfo says the lawyer at the centre of the US$5 million alleged bribery scandal involving the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana sounds ‘unserious’.
He claimed lawyer Kwasi Afrifa has till now not been able to provide any factual evidence to back his wild allegation against the Chief Justice.
To him, the lawyer's allegation is only based on hearsay.
"He should prove his allegation before the committee, ‘I hear say, I hear say’ doesn’t work in court. No, we are not joking here, he should prove his allegation,” he told NEAT FM’s morning show, Ghana Montie.
Kwasi Afrifa is now facing a 9-count charge leveled against him by the General Legal Council on his allegation against Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah
He is at the moment, fighting a legal battle in the High Court after the Council in its initial hearings concluded that he (Kwasi Afrifa) was cited for misconduct.
New Towing Service For Breakdown Vehicles— NRSA Director-General
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has started discussions with insurance companies for the deployment of an effective towing services to clear broken down vehicles from the roads as soon as practicable.
The move is to prevent road crashes and fatalities that emanate from abandoned vehicles on the roads.
It will also help to promote safety on the roads by way of providing a reliable towing service to remove broken down vehicles swiftly, as well as help prevent oil from leaking onto the roads which destroyed them.
The Director-General of the NRSA, Mrs. May Obiri-Yeboah, made this known to the Daily Graphic when the paper contacted the authority to find out what steps were being taken to reduce the increasing road crashes on the roads.
She said the NRSA was determined to roll out an effective towing service in the country for which reason it had started engaging the National Insurance Commission (NIC) and the Ghana Insurance Association (GIA) on the matter.
"A number of insurance companies have shown real interest in partnering us to roll out vehicle towing service. The dialogue is still on because there is no decision yet," she said, when asked when the initiative would start.
However, she said the NRSA was determined to continue with the dialogue to ensure that the towing service was rolled out as soon as practicable.
Mrs. Obiri-Yeboah added that the authority had engaged and continued to engage other transport sector stakeholders on a towing service for abandoned vehicles, "and the response has so far been positive."Law on broken down vehicles
The Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I 2180) give specific directives on the movement of breakdown vehicles.
Regulation 102 (1) of L.I 2180 states: “An owner of a vehicle or person in charge of a motorcycle or trailer who causes or permits the motorcycle or trailer which breaks down on the road to be left on the road shall give notice to the nearest police station or authorise a towing service provider within an hour if the broken down vehicle or trailer is located within a built-up area; and within two hours if the broken down vehicle or trailer is within a place other than a built-up area.
In spite of the law, some breakdown vehicles are left on the road for many days and, sometimes, months without being cleared.
Following the loss of many lives in crashes relating to abandoned vehicles, the NRSA, which was then a commission, announced that effective July 1, 2017, vehicle owners were required to pay a mandatory road safety fee each time they went to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to renew their roadworthy certificates.
In its explanation, the NRSA said the service was to be run such that within one to two hours after a vehicle broke down, a towing vehicle would be available to do the towing.
Per the details, owners of motorbikes were to pay GH¢10 annually, while owners of non-commercial vehicles pay GH¢20.
For commercial vehicles, taxi owners were expected to pay GH¢40; mini buses, GH¢80, while heavy-duty trucks also pay between GH¢80 and GH¢200 annually, depending on their tonnage.
In addition, foreign vehicles that were not required to go to the DVLA for road worthy certification were to be made to pay the required fees at the points of entry.
The NRSA had clarified further that owners of motorbikes had been captured because the law enforcing the collection of the fee, LI 71 (8) of 2012, defined vehicles to include motorbikes.
When the NRSA announced that policy, it said modalities and contractual arrangements with Road Safety Management Company Limited (RSMCL), a private company, to implement a nationwide towing service to clear all abandoned vehicles, had been completed.
The RSMSL had then acquired 118 trucks for the national towing service but the trucks were not put to use because the policy was aborted following protests by various stakeholders.
Abesim Murder: Genitals of Murdered Children Missing, Other Parts Retrieved
The Ghana Police Service has been able to retrieve some other parts of the murdered children at Abesim.
They were found at a cocoa farm behind the suspects house.
The parts which were found according to the CID personnel at the Bono Regional police headquarters include the stomachs of the murdered children.
However, their genital parts were not found and thus compelled the Police to empty the septic tank in the house but they were not found either.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased children have been sent to the Police Hospital at Accra for autopsy.
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Headquarters to provide technical support to Bono Regional CID to investigate the murder of three persons at Abesim in the Bono Region.
The murder case involves Richard Appiah, a 28-year-old surveyor, who is suspected to have murdered 12 and 15-year-old young men and a yet-to-be-identified man whose bodies were found in his living quarters at Alaska near Abesim on Friday, August 20, 2021.
The Police in collaboration with members of the community arrested the suspect, Richard Appiah who is currently in Police custody assisting the investigation.
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has also commended the police and the community for the swift response in arresting the suspect, and entreated that civil-police collaboration should be deepened to promote peace and security in the society.
Police in a statement indicated that on August 20, 2021, one Thomas Adjei aged 56, reported that at about 5:30 pm on the same day, his stepson Richard Appiah came in for his12-year-old son, Louis Agyemang Junior, who has since not returned.
That same day around 2300 hours the complainant and his four brothers called for the arrest of his 28-year-old stepson, Richard Appiah, an architect/Surveyor on suspicion of knowing the whereabouts of his son.
“Police together with the complainant and suspect proceeded to the house where the suspect resides in Alaska near Abesim. Surprisingly police found the deceased lying in a supine position in one of the rooms.”
The Crime Scene Mgt team led by the Regional Crime officer Supt. Kennedy Adusei and the Sunyani District Commander, Dsp Francis Humado after conducting a thorough search in the house found another dead body cut into pieces and kept in a double door fridge in one of the rooms.
“The second deceased was identified to police as Stephen Sarpong aged 15 years.
“The bodies have since been sent to the Mentukwa private mortuary for preservation and autopsy as regional and Municipal mortuaries are full,” the statement added.
Zongo Development Fund (Zodf) Partners GBC To Push The Zongo Development Agenda
The Zongo Development Fund and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) are to collaborate to ensure effective broadcast of development oriented stories about Zongo communities in the country.
The stories will be geared towards fostering attitudinal change and empowering the people to take up more challenging vocations.
Under the partnership, ZoDF will be afforded the opportunity to utilize the various broadcast platforms of the GBC to strengthen the execution of its mandate in Zongo communities.
This initiative was deliberated upon when the Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund, Dr. Arafat Sulemana Abdulai, paid a courtesy call on the Director-General of the GBC, Professor Amin Alhassan, at his office, today (Wednesday).
In his opening remarks, Dr. Abdulai expressed the gratitude of the Fund to the GBC for the “marvelous” support it has rendered to the Fund so far in terms of publicity.
He recounted several instances of collaboration in broadcasting the programmes, projects and interventions of the Fund by the GBC across the length and breadth of the country.
Dr. Abdulai stated that the Fund was committed to the strengthening of the collaboration with GBC.
He said the challenges confronting Zongo communities in the areas of education, sanitation, basic infrastructure and health were issues that the support and collaboration with the GBC would assist in resolving.
Other areas include skills training, employment, economic empowerment, drug abuse, extremism and violence.
Dr. Abdulai also expressed the readiness of the Fund to partner the GBC in fostering attitudinal change in Zongo communities.
On his part, Professor Alhassan commended the Fund for the unprecedented support it is rendering to Zongo Communities. He said as a public broadcaster engaged in “public service”, the GBC shares in the mandate of the ZoDF.
He expressed worry at the negative stereotyping of Zongo communities and underscored the readiness of the GBC to support the Fund in producing programmes targeted at such social challenges such as “child beggars, violence and extremism.”
He said attitudinal change is very necessary in Zongo communities and assured the Fund of the readiness of the GBC to support in fostering such a change.
Other members of the delegation from the Fund are; Mr.Thomas Baah, administrator; Ms Aisha Sissy, personal assistant to the CEO; Mr. Hafiz Bamba, programmes and evaluation, Mr. Musah Yahya Jafaru and Ahmed Ayuba, Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Department.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
We Are Acting In Your Interest, Trust Us – Gov't Assures Workers Of Ghana Bauxite Company
George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of mines has given workers of the Ghana Bauxite Company the assurance that government will not make any move that will deprive them of their livelihoods.
According to him, government’s ultimate aim is to protect the livelihoods of the staff, ensure the sustainability of the company and strategically position it as the nation’s foremost bauxite firm.
Addressing the staff after a meeting with the management of Ghana Bauxite Company on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, George Mireku Duker explained that the immediate steps being taking by government are targeted at streamlining activities of the company so that it does not flout the country’s mining laws and also guarantee maximum benefit for the state and the workers.
Mireku Duker averred that there is huge potential for the company and that government is bent on finding ways to explore the potential of the company to its apex and make it a viable source of revenue and employment.
“I will ask you to relax because you are the reason we are here. The welfare you the Ghanaians and the company are reasons we are here. We are not going to leave you behind. We’ll carry you along for the prospect and future of this company. You may have a heart that will say I wouldn’t understand what the minister is saying but in all sincerity we all here for the betterment of this country and that explains our visit this morning.
“We are here to give you the assurance that government will not do anything to thwart your working future. We are here and care for you. You’ve been working for this company and it has reached a certain level where government want to takeover the shares of this company. As the supervising ministry, we are working to ensure that we make the settlement so please never lose trust and faith or throw your hand in despair. There is a future that is going to see this government move from strength to strength. So I’m here to assure you of our commitment” he said.
The Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem noted that the company’s fortunes has dwindled over the years due to inefficient management but government through the Ministry of Lands is prepared to ensure a turnaround.
He urged the workers to have belief in the government and gave it their utmost support to help propel the company to the lofty heights it ought to.
“Our history hasn’t been that smooth in terms of profit-making and that has not given the country the dividends it expects. Future of this company is important. Whatever will be mined today, we will not have it tomorrow. You also know that we mine for a purpose. South Africa is touted to have used mining to develop some of its cities because the owners of those concessions are in the country and whatever they mine are kept in South Africa. In Ghana, we have a different story because most our big companies are foreign owned so we depend on taxes.
George Mireku Duker cautioned that government will not hesitate to crack the whip on foreign companies found culpable of breaching the country laws. He assured however that mining firms that strictly adhere to the rules will be protected and enjoy the full benefit of their investment.
The Western North Regional Minister, Richard Joojo Obeng said that government is concerned with recent development within the company and is focused on resolving the issues to ensure smooth operations.
The engagement between the Minister and staff and management of the Ghana Bauxite Company follows recent reports of tension within the company over the withdrawal of one of the company’s key investors.
Preceding the meeting with the staff and management was a courtesy call on the paramount chief of Sewhi Anwhiaso, Ogyeahorhuor Kwaku Gyebi II at his palace.
George Mireku Duker and his entourage are on a fact-finding mission to unravel the full state of the company and how the issues crippling it can be resolved.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Meet the Winners of the 2021 Resolution Social Venture Challenge
Thirty emerging social entrepreneurs won the Resolution Social Venture Challenge (SVC), which took place at the Baobab Summit an annual convening for Mastercard Foundation Scholars. The Social Venture Challenge, a collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and The Resolution Project, which is now in its sixth year provides entrepreneurial and socially responsible Scholars with a pathway to bolster their social enterprises and deepen community impact. Read on.
Find out more about Mastercard Foundation in Africa.
The 2021 Resolution Project Social Venture Challenge winners from left to right: Kayiteesi Rebecca, Joy Kafua, Nyeko Agech, Alicia Namakula , Janepher Matini, Florence Namubiru, Success Awuku Amador, Diana Rashid, Hanifa Fuseini, Barikisu Nasiru, Zawi Sulley Fuseini, Kaahwa Christopher, Duplicate Sambani, Oyella Gladys, Sylvia Akurut, Onapa Ambrose, Acaye Opio, Beatrice Laker, Royford Mutegi, Roger Tcharo, Irëne Bossavi, Anil Ayebare, Aisha Nalumansi, Nakangu Christine, Diana Njuguna, Dorcas Lukwesa, Saciid Guure, Owomugisha Fortunate, Jimcale Faarah, Emmanuel Nyatefe.
60,000 Farmers Empowered to Boost Ginger Production in Nigeria
Agrolog General Services Limited in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation will support 60,000 smallholder farmers in vulnerable indigenous ginger farming communities in Kaduna State. The partnership will provide immediate materials, capacity, and structural support to boost ginger production and increase work opportunities for young people and adults in Nigeria. Read on.
Find out more about Mastercard Foundation in Africa
Tanzania: Gunfire erupts near French embassy, five people killed
Tanzania's president on Wednesday said five people are dead, including three police officers, after a gun battle with an armed man near the French Embassy in Dar es Salaam.
It was not immediately clear whether the shootout in the heavily guarded diplomatic area was a terror attack.
Liberatus Sabas, Tanzania's head of police operations, said the gunman attacked two police officers, took their guns and then "began shooting sporadically towards the French Embassy."
"He then took cover at a structure next to the French Embassy where he continued shooting," Sabas said.
Inspector general of police Simon Sirro told reporters the armed man was a foreigner and police believe he was from Somalia.
Sirro also warned the attack could be linked to the jihadist insurgency in neighbouring Mozambique, where a growing number of African nations are jointly pursuing the fighters.
The confrontation occurred shortly after President Samia Suluhu Hassan addressed security officials in another part of the city, Tanzania's commercial hub.
The president later said three police officers, a member of the auxiliary police and the armed man were killed, and she ordered an investigation.
The U.S. Embassy in a security alert warned citizens to avoid the area.
The shootout occurred not far from the scene of the deadly bombing in 1998 at the U.S. Embassy.
Morocco 'keen' to maintain 'strong' ties with Libya
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita says his country is "keen" to maintain "strong ties" with Libya after meeting with member of the Libyan Presidential Council Abdullah al-Lafi in Rabat.
During a joint press briefing , Mr. Bourita stated that Morocco will stand by Libya unconditionally, to help promote security and stability of the country.
"Our meeting focused on two main points: the first is the bilateral relations between the two countries and the very strong and deep ties that bind the two brotherly peoples. I conveyed to the Vice President of the Libyan Presidency Council (Abdullah al-Lafi) that His Majesty the King is keen to maintain these strong ties between the two people."
Abdullah al-Lafi , the visiting member of the Libyan Presidential Council replied saying,
"We have just confirmed with his excellency the Foreign Minister a meeting between the two Libyan and Moroccan consular commissions that will be held next week to settle all the problems of obtaining visas and to follow-up on the flights file. Surely this commission will play a positive role to alleviate the suffering for both, the Libyan and Moroccan people."
According to the moroccan minister, the issue of national reconciliation, remains an essential factor to overcome the past and foster unity among all parties, especially as elections draw near in Libya.
He stressed that Morocco, which has led an exemplary process in this field through the Equity and Reconciliation Commission, is willing to share its experience and guide Libya.
