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Thursday, 4 May 2017
Ghana, Togo Resolve To Deepen Co-Operation & Bilateral Ties
We are on track to stabilize Cedi – BAWUMIAH
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stated that government is on track to restoring the country’s economy by stabilising the cedi and reducing inflation significantly.
According to him, the cedi, which had depreciated over the years, is gradually gaining some stability and pledged that government would continue to work to keep it stable.
“The key part of job creation is creating a vibrant private sector and making sure our cedi is stable.
“When we came it was running at 100 metres speed; we have arrested that a little and we will continue to work to keep the cedi stable. We are bringing inflation down and we will also bring interest rates down significantly,” he declared.
The vice president was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of the Gbi Traditional Area in the Hohoe municipality of the Volta Region in honour of John Peter Amewu, for his appointment as the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
Cedi Performance
The performance of the cedi against some major foreign currencies, especially the dollar, has come under focus since the beginning of the year.
The cedi had depreciated against the dollar thereby prompting concerns among Ghanaians as such an occurrence has a sharp effect on the prices of goods and services in the country.
But the cedi has recovered significantly against the dollar by recording a 1.13 percent appreciation as at April 21, 2017.
It now stands at GH¢4.20 per dollar and selling at GH¢4.40.
Dr Bawumia indicated that the 2017 budget presented by the government is enough evidence that the president is a man of his words with regards to the promises he made prior to the 2016 general election.
He pointed out that government would be rolling out the much-talked-about ‘One District, One Factory’ project by June this year to create jobs and transform the economy.
“By June we will be rolling out the ‘One District, One Factory’ in Ghana. We want to create jobs, we want to transform the economy and so we are all going to be putting our shoulders to the wheel,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians to have faith in the government and brace themselves up for all the great things that are in the pipelines for this country.
Special Prosecutor To Be Busy
Vice President Bawumia hinted that the Special Prosecutor, when appointed by President Akufo-Addo, would be very busy this year in the fight against corruption in the country, in order to nip the canker in the bud.
According to him, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is not going to be tainted with corruption...source Ghanaweb
According to him, the cedi, which had depreciated over the years, is gradually gaining some stability and pledged that government would continue to work to keep it stable.
“The key part of job creation is creating a vibrant private sector and making sure our cedi is stable.
“When we came it was running at 100 metres speed; we have arrested that a little and we will continue to work to keep the cedi stable. We are bringing inflation down and we will also bring interest rates down significantly,” he declared.
The vice president was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of the Gbi Traditional Area in the Hohoe municipality of the Volta Region in honour of John Peter Amewu, for his appointment as the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
Cedi Performance
The performance of the cedi against some major foreign currencies, especially the dollar, has come under focus since the beginning of the year.
The cedi had depreciated against the dollar thereby prompting concerns among Ghanaians as such an occurrence has a sharp effect on the prices of goods and services in the country.
But the cedi has recovered significantly against the dollar by recording a 1.13 percent appreciation as at April 21, 2017.
It now stands at GH¢4.20 per dollar and selling at GH¢4.40.
Dr Bawumia indicated that the 2017 budget presented by the government is enough evidence that the president is a man of his words with regards to the promises he made prior to the 2016 general election.
He pointed out that government would be rolling out the much-talked-about ‘One District, One Factory’ project by June this year to create jobs and transform the economy.
“By June we will be rolling out the ‘One District, One Factory’ in Ghana. We want to create jobs, we want to transform the economy and so we are all going to be putting our shoulders to the wheel,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians to have faith in the government and brace themselves up for all the great things that are in the pipelines for this country.
Special Prosecutor To Be Busy
Vice President Bawumia hinted that the Special Prosecutor, when appointed by President Akufo-Addo, would be very busy this year in the fight against corruption in the country, in order to nip the canker in the bud.
According to him, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is not going to be tainted with corruption...source Ghanaweb
METRO MASS TRANSIT CHASES NDC FOR 1.9 MILLION GHC DEBT
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The state transporter, Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL) is reportedly on the heels of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over buses the party rented whilst in government but allegedly failed to pay for the services the company rendered to it.
According to a pro forma invoice issued to the NDC after it had lost the general elections on December 7, last year, a total of GH¢1.921,896.99 was supposed to have been paid to the state transport company by the then governing party.
Pro forma Invoice
The pro forma invoice was sent to the party’s headquarters for the attention of the NDC National Organizer, Kofi Adams, who doubled as the Campaign Coordinator of John Dramani Mahama’s campaign team – which failed to achieve the goal of a second term bid for the former president. DAILY GUIDE learnt that the debt was still not fully paid.
The NDC had allegedly hired a total of 506 buses for its luxurious 2016 electioneering campaign but sources say the party only paid GHC410,000 out of the GHC1.921,896.99 debt, despite a supposedly generous discount offered to the party.
Metro Mass had even given the NDC a 20% discount for using the buses between November 30 and December 9, 2016.
The original amount for using the 506 buses was GHC2.402,371.24 but were given an invoice of GHC1.921,896.99 as a result of the 20% discount.
All attempts to speak to Kofi Adams and the MMT Managing Director, Hassan failed as calls put through went unanswered.
DAILY GUIDE sources claim that the NDC’s inability to settle the debt has impeded the MMT’s bid to settle its creditors, including GOIL which supplies the transport company with fuel.
GOIL source told DAILY GUIDE yesterday that the state transporter indeed owes it (the oil company) but could not readily lay hands on the amount.
Breakdown
In the invoice, Metro Mass gave details of the locations that all the 506 buses were distributed to. The buses were used to ferry party supporters to their voting centres across the country, but the party’s humiliating defeat by Nana Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) made it difficult for it to settle the bill.
Cape Coast had 22 buses at a total cost of GHC105,950.00 and a 20% discount of GHC84,760.00 while Wa and Koforidua had 11 each at a cost of GHC60,977.80 for Wa and GHC50,600.00 for Koforidua and a 20% discount of GH¢48,782.24 and GHC40,480.00 respectively.
According to the invoice, Kumasi had 113 buses with the overall cost of GHC601,740.80 at 20% discount of GHC481,392.64 while Takoradi had 42 at GHC411,591.00 with 20% discount of GHC329,273.52.
The invoice indicates that Swedru was given 23 buses – GHC131,050.00 and 20% discount of GH¢104,480.00 with Adenta, Accra, getting 50 buses – GHC186,496.00 at 20% discount of GHC149,196.80, while Ho received 48 – GHC65,619.00 at 20% discount of GHC52,495.20.
Tema was given 26 buses at the cost of GH¢159,300.00 with 20% discount of GHC127,440.00; Kaneshie had 38 – GHC203,600.00 and 20% discount of 162,880.00, while Laterbiokoshie, Accra, had 31 – GHC215,800.00 with 20% discount of GHC172,640.00/
There were 23 buses for a special project at a total cost of GHC55,600.00 and 20% discount of GHC44,480.00, while Oda had 5 buses at the cost of GHC39,824.00 and 20% discount of GHC31,859.20. Sunyani was allocated 17 buses – GHC29,900.00 with 20% discount of GHC23,920.00.
Tamale had 25 – GHC48,600.00 at 20% discount of GHC38,880.00, while Bolgatanga was also allocated 21 – GHC53,721.74 with 20% discount of GHC28,577.00.
According to a pro forma invoice issued to the NDC after it had lost the general elections on December 7, last year, a total of GH¢1.921,896.99 was supposed to have been paid to the state transport company by the then governing party.
Pro forma Invoice
The pro forma invoice was sent to the party’s headquarters for the attention of the NDC National Organizer, Kofi Adams, who doubled as the Campaign Coordinator of John Dramani Mahama’s campaign team – which failed to achieve the goal of a second term bid for the former president. DAILY GUIDE learnt that the debt was still not fully paid.
The NDC had allegedly hired a total of 506 buses for its luxurious 2016 electioneering campaign but sources say the party only paid GHC410,000 out of the GHC1.921,896.99 debt, despite a supposedly generous discount offered to the party.
Metro Mass had even given the NDC a 20% discount for using the buses between November 30 and December 9, 2016.
The original amount for using the 506 buses was GHC2.402,371.24 but were given an invoice of GHC1.921,896.99 as a result of the 20% discount.
All attempts to speak to Kofi Adams and the MMT Managing Director, Hassan failed as calls put through went unanswered.
DAILY GUIDE sources claim that the NDC’s inability to settle the debt has impeded the MMT’s bid to settle its creditors, including GOIL which supplies the transport company with fuel.
GOIL source told DAILY GUIDE yesterday that the state transporter indeed owes it (the oil company) but could not readily lay hands on the amount.
Breakdown
In the invoice, Metro Mass gave details of the locations that all the 506 buses were distributed to. The buses were used to ferry party supporters to their voting centres across the country, but the party’s humiliating defeat by Nana Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) made it difficult for it to settle the bill.
Cape Coast had 22 buses at a total cost of GHC105,950.00 and a 20% discount of GHC84,760.00 while Wa and Koforidua had 11 each at a cost of GHC60,977.80 for Wa and GHC50,600.00 for Koforidua and a 20% discount of GH¢48,782.24 and GHC40,480.00 respectively.
According to the invoice, Kumasi had 113 buses with the overall cost of GHC601,740.80 at 20% discount of GHC481,392.64 while Takoradi had 42 at GHC411,591.00 with 20% discount of GHC329,273.52.
The invoice indicates that Swedru was given 23 buses – GHC131,050.00 and 20% discount of GH¢104,480.00 with Adenta, Accra, getting 50 buses – GHC186,496.00 at 20% discount of GHC149,196.80, while Ho received 48 – GHC65,619.00 at 20% discount of GHC52,495.20.
Tema was given 26 buses at the cost of GH¢159,300.00 with 20% discount of GHC127,440.00; Kaneshie had 38 – GHC203,600.00 and 20% discount of 162,880.00, while Laterbiokoshie, Accra, had 31 – GHC215,800.00 with 20% discount of GHC172,640.00/
There were 23 buses for a special project at a total cost of GHC55,600.00 and 20% discount of GHC44,480.00, while Oda had 5 buses at the cost of GHC39,824.00 and 20% discount of GHC31,859.20. Sunyani was allocated 17 buses – GHC29,900.00 with 20% discount of GHC23,920.00.
Tamale had 25 – GHC48,600.00 at 20% discount of GHC38,880.00, while Bolgatanga was also allocated 21 – GHC53,721.74 with 20% discount of GHC28,577.00.
US government mobilizes $115 million for Ghana’s agricultural sector
Feed the Future, an initiative by the United States government has mobilized more than $115 million in private sector investment for Ghana’s agricultural productivity, boost incomes, and link farmers to market and trade opportunities, Melinda Tabler-Stone, Chargé d'affaires, US Embassy has said.According to her, the US government is aware that the growth of commercial agriculture in Ghana is constraint by lack of access to private capital and lack of access to markets and is therefore fully committed to working with its partners and the government of Ghana for a solution.
She brought this to the fore at the fourth annual agribusiness investment summit held in Accra, Thursday.
“Together with the government of Ghana development partners, we support small, medium and large enterprises in the maize, rice, and soy value chains. That support includes helping them form strategic partnerships and gain access to finance. To date, we have mobilized more than $115 million in private-sector investment for Ghana’s agricultural sector. This achievement has directly benefited more than 95,000 smallholder farmers in northern Ghana – and 40 percent of them are women,” she said.
“We are also promoting alternative and competitive sources of agricultural financing through the Ghana Alternative Market, which is operated by the Ghana Stock Exchange. As these efforts enrich equity financing and public-private partnerships, they also strengthen the regulation of capital to improve access to finance,” she added.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the US government’s Feed the Future Initiative, hosted the fourth annual agribusiness investment summit to showcase investment opportunities in Ghana’s agribusiness. The event which was under the theme, ‘Mobilizing Strategic Investment for Agriculture”, brought together business service providers, financial institutions, agribusinesses, farmers, development partners and the Ghana government.
The main aim of the event was to spotlight Ghanaian agribusinesses, and link them with viable private investment opportunities. The event featured panel discussions on subjects including opportunities in the agriculture sector, the importance of forming strategic partnerships to enhance agricultural productivity, and alternative sources of financing for agribusiness...............source Ghanaweb
Wednesday, 15 March 2017
WEIJA GBAWE NPP CONGRATULATES HON TINA NAA AYELEY MENSAH ON HER NOMINATION AS DEPUTY MINISTER FOR HEALTH
When the news about her nomination as a deputy minister for health broke ,many of her constituents from all the different political parties took to the streets to celebrate their member of Parliament, Hon Tina NAA Ayeley Mensah because according to them this was an elevation worth celebrating envisaging the enormous developmental opportunities they were likely to benefit from through her very rich lobbying skills and magnanimity. Traditional rulers,opinion leaders,party faithfuls and non party faithfuls alike trooped to Hon Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah's house to congratulate her on the new appointment and pledged their unflinching support for her when she is finally cleared by parliament to commence her duties in that capacity.On her part the member of parliament thanked his excellency President Akufo Addo for reposing confidence in her and pledged to work assiduously for the benefit of all.She also thanked all present for their support and prayers and promised to work with all for the government to succeed.
Honourable Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah is a Ga from British Accra and partly Ewe. 53 years of age ,married to a Fante and blessed with two adorable children. She lives in South-West McCarthy Hills (Tetegu) in the Weija-Gbawe Constituency.
EDUCATION:
• Bsc. Public Administration (Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration-GIMPA) 2009-2013.
• Diploma in Secretary Ship (Rapid Results, Accra) 1986.
• GCE O’Level Certificate (Accra Girls Secondary School) 1984
TRAINING PROGRAMMES:
• Negotiation and Leadership Training, Gender and Development – Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Ghana.
• The Law and Rights of Women in Politics in Ghana-The way forward – Friedrich Nuamann Foundation, Ghana.
• Conference on Organization Media and Campaign, JHS Foundation-Mahe Island, Seychelles.
• Communication and Campaign Strategies, JHS, Sweden. Communicating with confidence/Planning Election Campaign (WFD, Conservative Party-United Kingdom).
POLITICAL PROFILE:
• Former Deputy National Women’s Organizer New Patriotic Party. 2012
• Former National Women’s Secretary (Headquaters-NPP) 2003
• Former Greater Accra Regional Coordinator for the Three (3) Ablekuma Constituencies during Election 2000.
• Former South Ablekuma Constituency Assistant Women’s Organizer 1994
• Former Gbebu Cell Leader, South Ablekuma-Shiabu in 1992.
• A member of the Danquah-Busia Memorial Club. 1991
• Immediate past Secretary-God’s Wonderful Church Polling Station, Tetegu Electoral Area.
She is currently the member of parliament for Weija Gbawe Constituency
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
KUFUOR 'has had enough'; Ex-president riled by Rawlings' outbursts
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has hit back at ex-President Rawlings saying the ex-military leader exhibits sheer hypocrisy and often plays to the gallery pretending to have any good relationship with him in public although that is not the case.
Mr. Kufuor thus asked his counterpart to be advised on the cosmetic cordial regard for him in public functions, which does not really reflect in his actions against him.
This follows comments by Rawlings claiming that he [Kufuor] failed to prosecute a son of former Speaker of Parliament Peter Ala Adjetey while he was in office.
“The 31st December Movement suffered bankruptcy in supporting Atta Mills. How many of us bothered to show up in court to offer her moral support in recognition of the foundation she laid in leading the women from the PNDC to the NDC?
“During that trial, Peter Ala Adjetey, the then Speaker of Parliament, whose son, NDC’s well-fed Larry Adjetey, was charged together with my wife, threatened Kufuor that if he did not drop the ‘false’ charge against his son, he would personally go to court to defend his son. Kufuor dropped his charges.
“How many of these qualities of principled solidarity did we demonstrate towards our own? Instead, people got rewarded with appointments by denigrating and trying to destroy some of us. What money did I not borrow to assist some of our colleagues and comrades who were suffering financially under Kufuor’s regime? Those debts are still on my head today,” Rawlings said in an interview with the state-owned Daily Graphic.
However, Mr Kufuor in a statement has dismissed Rawlings’ assertion, saying “there is no truth whatsoever in this allegation. I wonder what ails Rawlings to make him always try to impugn my integrity in his interviews
“It is not true that I tried to prosecute Larry Adjetey but relented because of his father, Peter, threatened me.”
He added: “The circumstances of his (Rawlings) wife’s (Nana Konadu’s) trial is a matter of public record, available for anybody who cares to verify. Rawlings should stop posturing as the only person of integrity and truth.”
“If he wants to continue to blow trumpets from rooftops about his integrity and incorruptibility, let him do so, but he should leave Kufuor alone,”
A spokesperson for the former President, Frank Agyekum in the latest interview on the issue said Mr. Kufuor is becoming choked with the hypocrisy of Rawlings.
According to him, it served no purpose in pretending the good gestures at public places, yet he [Rawlings] is seeking the opportunity to hound his boss, Mr. Kufuor.
“He’s had enough of it. He[Kufuor] has a lot of respect globally and those false claims can destroy his image. There is no point pretending to laugh with him in public but inwardly you have issues against him.
“Mr Kufuor doesn’t pretend when he greets him in public. And so if he cannot maintain that cordial relationship with him, and is bent on always accusing him falsely, to impugn his integrity then we won’t accept that. If he has charges against him he should come out and make them, but the untruths held against Mr. Kufuor is becoming too many”.
2017 BUDGET TO FOCUS ON STIMULATING GROWTH AND JOB CREATION
Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta is expected to announce the abolition of import levies and taxes among others on some financial services as he prepares to present the 2017 budget in Parliament Thursday.
The Budget presentation, which will be the first of the Akufo-Addo administration would be also expected to spell out sources of funding for a number of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) promised policies including free senior high school (SHS) and reduction in fuel and utility tariffs.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said government would fund the cost of public SHS for all those who qualify for entry from the 2017/2018 academic year onwards.
He explained that by free SHS there will be no admission fees, no library fees, no science centre fees, no computer lab fees, no examination fees and no utility fees.
Spelling out the details of the policy “so that no one in Ghana is left in any doubts”, President Akufo-Addo added that in addition to tuition which is already free, there will be free textbooks, free boarding and free meals, and day students will get a meal at school for free.”
There has been a raging controversy after Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo in an interview with Joy News said government might use the Ghana Heritage Fund to finance the policy which is starting in the 2017/2018 academic year.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) minority in Parliament described government's decision to use the Heritage Fund as "lazy and incompetent."
At a news conference addressed by former Deputy Finance Minister, Casiel Ato Forson, the NDC MPs said any attempt to divert the Fund could destabilise the economy of the country.
However, Obuasi West Member of Parliament (MP), Kwaku Kwarteng, who is on Parliament’s Finance Committee said government has not taken any definite decision to use the Heritage Fund to finance the free senior high school (SHS) policy.
Also, the Budget is expected to focus on stimulating growth and job creation through private sector development aimed at getting Ghana working again, the NPP has said.
The Budget would include measures to restore fiscal disine and good economic governance, transparent and accountable use of public resources in accordance with the new Public Financial management law and to provide a credible basis for economic policy clarity going forward.
The Budget presentation, which will be the first of the Akufo-Addo administration would be also expected to spell out sources of funding for a number of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) promised policies including free senior high school (SHS) and reduction in fuel and utility tariffs.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said government would fund the cost of public SHS for all those who qualify for entry from the 2017/2018 academic year onwards.
He explained that by free SHS there will be no admission fees, no library fees, no science centre fees, no computer lab fees, no examination fees and no utility fees.
Spelling out the details of the policy “so that no one in Ghana is left in any doubts”, President Akufo-Addo added that in addition to tuition which is already free, there will be free textbooks, free boarding and free meals, and day students will get a meal at school for free.”
There has been a raging controversy after Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo in an interview with Joy News said government might use the Ghana Heritage Fund to finance the policy which is starting in the 2017/2018 academic year.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) minority in Parliament described government's decision to use the Heritage Fund as "lazy and incompetent."
At a news conference addressed by former Deputy Finance Minister, Casiel Ato Forson, the NDC MPs said any attempt to divert the Fund could destabilise the economy of the country.
However, Obuasi West Member of Parliament (MP), Kwaku Kwarteng, who is on Parliament’s Finance Committee said government has not taken any definite decision to use the Heritage Fund to finance the free senior high school (SHS) policy.
Also, the Budget is expected to focus on stimulating growth and job creation through private sector development aimed at getting Ghana working again, the NPP has said.
The Budget would include measures to restore fiscal disine and good economic governance, transparent and accountable use of public resources in accordance with the new Public Financial management law and to provide a credible basis for economic policy clarity going forward.
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