Day: January 28, 2022

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We are all safer under democracies—President Akufo-Addo

Accra, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), says the resurgence of coup d’états in the community is a threat to the peace, security and stability of the region.

“The deteriorating political situation in the region should be a matter of great concern to all…no country is insulated from the occurrence in the community and we have to nip it in the bud.

“This situation hinders the much needed economic and social development of the region,” he lamented when he opened the virtual extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of States and Governments to deliberate on the political crisis in Burkina Faso.

The regional bloc, which is grappling with terrorist attacks, insurgency and the COVID-19 pandemic, has experienced three military take-overs in the past 19 months, the latest being the January 24, 2022, coup in Burkina Faso where army officers demanding the sacking of military chiefs and more resources to fight Jihadist, deposed 64-year-old President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

The coup makers, now known as the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR), led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, suspended the country’s constitution, dissolved the government and Parliament, and said it would return the country to constitutional order “within a reasonable time frame”.

ECOWAS sternly condemned the coup, and asked the coup makers to return the country to constitutional rule.

President Akufo-Addo told the meeting that the happenings in the region was a wake-up call that not all persons preferred democracy as a mode of governance, and “we have to work to convince those people that we are all safer under democracies.”

“I convened this meeting in the hope to address the urgent situation in Burkina Faso and find solutions to restore constitutional order to Burkina Faso, and stabilize the region at large.

“We should not renege on our collective duties and obligations to ensure a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous community…I urge you to examine critically this rising phenomenon in our region and take the necessary decisions to meet the aspirations and expectations of our peoples.

“The world is looking up to us to be firm in the matter and the outcome of our meeting,” he said.

The regional bloc is expected to suspend the Burkina Faso from its governing bodies, and impose sanctions as it did to Mali and Guinea after military takeovers.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Hohoe is a shining example of an Assembly—Dr Letsa

Hohoe (V/R), Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, has described the Hohoe Municipal Assembly as a shining example in a decentralised system.

He said Hohoe had always been performing excellently since he assumed office as a Regional Minister in 2017.

Dr Letsa, addressing staff of the Assembly in Hohoe, as part of his tour of the 18 Assemblies, said the Assembly must carry communities along and gain their support, adding that strengthening sub-structures in the Assembly was the surest way to achieving such a feat.

Dr Letsa said the Assembly must ensure value for money in contracts it awarded.

He urged the Assembly to increase their Internally Generated Fund (IGF) to the extent where they might not need funds from the government to execute projects.

Dr Letsa expressed worry about the negative audit reports of the Assemblies in the Region and admonished them to ensure that the infractions did not recur.

He said the Regional Coordinating Council would support the Assembly in its performance and build the capacity of staff.

Mr Daniel Noble Awume, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), noted the visit meant a lot for the Management and Staff of the Assembly.

He assured that his staff would perform.

Reverend Isaac Adja Tettey, Volta Regional Economic Planning Officer, described the Hohoe Municipal Assembly as an excellent Assembly.

He urged the Management and staff of the Assembly not to relent on their performance efforts.

Dr Letsa and his entourage toured the newly built rice factory under the 1D1F, a warehouse and Hohoe Market, both under construction.

Mr Awume said the factory was completed and awaiting the arrival of equipment to make the factory fully operational.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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E-Levy: Government will stay focused on public engagements – Fatimatu Abubakar

Accra, Government will stay focused on public engagements on the 1.75 per cent Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) and work to get their support.

Madam Fatimatu Abubakar, the Deputy Information Minister, in an interview with Ghana News Agency on Friday, said: “The Nana Akufo-Addo government is not bothered about the town hall meetings organised by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to criticise the proposed E-Levy.”

“We are not distracted by whatever engagement the NDC is having in opposition to this e-levy because at the end of the day, we have the core responsibility to explain the policy to Ghanaians and also educate the public. Whatever they are doing on the other side is up to them.”

She said government was committed to ensuring that Ghanaians understood the e-levy and the benefits it would bring to the country.

The Government, on Thursday held a Town Hall meeting in Koforidua to explain the importance of the E-Levy to the country’s development and take their feedback.

Meanwhile, the NDC, on Monday, held a Town Hall meeting in Kumasi to declare its stance against the E-levy and why Ghanaians should resist it.

However, Madam Abubakar said government would engage the people in various forms to make Ghanaians accept the levy.

Though there were no plans for another town hall meeting after Thursday’s event, government would use other forms of engagements, especially at the local level, to discuss the levy, she said.

Dr. Kobby Mensah, a Political Marketing Strategist, who described the town hall meeting as the most effective mode of political communication, called on the parties, especially the NPP and NDC, to make the citizens part of their conversations.

“It is good for political parties to speak to topical issues, however, it is incumbent on them, especially the NPP and the NDC, to go to the people to have that simple conversation for their understanding.”

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Coup in Burkina-Faso not affecting business in border communities – Immigration

Tumu, (U/WR) Ibn Yussif Duranah Abdul Mumin Seidu, the Upper West Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Immigration Service, says the coup in Burkina-Faso had not affected business in border communities in the Upper West Region.

He said, “So far there is no evidence to show that there is any kind of movement as a result of the coup in Burkina-Faso. No fleeing of persons had been witnessed and persons on the borderline continue to go about their normal activities.”

He told the GNA in Tumu in the Sissala East Municipality that the office was keenly monitoring the situation and that security in the border communities was very tight not to allow refugees into the country.

Mr Duranah Abdul Mumin Seidu said security was a shared responsibility and expressed hope that all border residents would collaborate effectively with the Ghana Immigration Service and other security officials to ward off any kind of problem that may arise to ensure the full protection of the borders.

He said Immigration officials always advise those living within the borderline to report suspicious characters to the security patrol teams.

He indicated that since 2019 the government had supported the service in ways that had been enhancing effective and efficient ways of securing the borders and that had not changed and that the service could confidently say that border security was unperturbed and everything was going on normally.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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ECOWAS leaders to hold virtual summit on Burkina Faso

Accra, The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are to hold a virtual meeting Friday to deliberate on the political situation in Burkina Faso.

The Extraordinary meeting is being convened by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,  Chairman of ECOWAS.

The Heads of State will be considering and discussing the recent political developments in Burkina Faso as a result of the January 24, 2022, coup d’état where army officers deposed 64-year-old President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

The coup makers had demanded the sacking of military chiefs and more resources to fight violent armed groups in the country.

The military government, now known as the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR), led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, announced the suspension of the constitution and dissolution of the government and Parliament, and indicated that it would propose a return to constitutional order “within a reasonable time frame.”

But ECOWAS condemned the coup, the third  of such in West Africa in the last 19 months, and asked the coup makers to lay down their arms in the higher interest of the country.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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African Court urges rebuilding of institutional trust

Tema The African Court on Human and Peoples Rights says ongoing socio-political developments on the continent demand urgent rebuilding of institutional trust.

Justice Imani Daud Aboud, President of the African Court, said it was therefore going to make this a priority agenda.

“Rebuilding and deepening institutional trust both in the eyes of the public and African Union (AU) Member States will be one of the focus areas of the African Court this year.

“Institutions such as the African Court have proved in the past years that they can bring a significant contribution to achieving regional integration and human development.”

This is contained in a document made available to the Ghana News Agency in Tema.

Justice Aboud called for African governments to renew their commitment to the continental court, to enable it to respond to challenges of the times.

She noted that the court could make tremendous contribution to resolving the democracy crisis, facing the continent, adding that human rights justice was at the centre of the debate on current threats to democratisation in Africa.

“There is a growing general concern that human rights will be the primary victims of a new global trend of unconstitutional changes of government and relapse to the authoritarian past.”

That was why the African Court was going to assume the huge task of delivering human rights justice in a regional environment impacted by the global democracy crisis.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Parliament adjourns E-Levy debate to February 1

Accra, Parliament on Friday adjourned the debate on the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Bill to Tuesday, February 1.

Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker, presiding as Speaker, adjourned the sitting.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader, had wanted the House to take the E-Levy debate, however, the Minority members said they were tired of the long sitting since 1000 hours, which was delayed until 1700 hours.

The Majority Leader, however, insisted that the debate be carried on and that the House took a 45-minutes break.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader, said his side had the numbers and that once the debate began, it should be put to vote.

At that point, the Majority Leader asked that the House be adjourned until Tuesday, February 01.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Ghana, Rwanda sign agreement to boost trade and investment

Accra, Ghana and Rwanda have agreed to boost trade and investment for both countries with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Accra.

The agreement, signed by the trade ministers of the two countries, seeks to develop and strengthen investment and trade ties to increase commercial exchanges among private sector operators.

This is to be achieved through the development and implementation of new strategies and measures that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, observed that in spite of the good fraternal relations that existed between the two countries and the enormous role both played in making the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) a reality, trade and investment between the two had been low.

“We envisage that through this MOU, Ghana can become an entry point for Rwandan investments within the West African sub-region whilst Rwanda on the other hand can become a strategic entry point for Ghana into the Central and Eastern African markets,” he said.

The agreement, he said, presented an opportunity for the countries to share experiences and learn from the implementation of various industrialisation agenda programmes such as the Government’s 10-point Industrialisation Agenda.

This includes the One District One Factory initiative, Export Development Programme, Development of Small Medium Enterprises, and the creation of Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones.

“I would like to assure you, my sister and colleague, of our commitment to making this agreement an instrument of action and not a mere symbol of diplomatic courtesies,” he said.

Mrs Béata Habyarimana, the Rwandan Minister of Trade and Industry, said the MOU would be a blue-print for a continued bilateral cooperation within the AfCFTA Framework.

“Our two great leaders; Paul Kagame and Nana Akufo-Addo have provided a great direction on how to achieve intra Africa cooperation. It is, therefore, incumbent on us to fast track the economic links of our great countries,” she said.

The event was climaxed with an exchange of gifts between the two ministers.

The Executive Director of the Association of Ghana Industries, Mr Seth Twum-Akwaboah, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the event, welcomed the initiative and said the bilateral agreement would afford Ghanaians the opportunity to establish presence in East Africa.

To promote fairness, he expressed the optimism that the established protocols under the AfCFTA would address challenges associated with unfair trade practices.

“The challenge we usually have with such MOUs is ensuring its implementation and with assurances given by both ministers we are sure it will be implemented.”

Aside hosting the AfCFTA secretariat, Ghana hosted the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government in Accra in July, 2012 where the formal decision to establish the Free Trade Area was taken.

The AfCFTA agreement was then signed in March 2018 at the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the AU Assembly of Heads of State in Kigali, Rwanda.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency