Day: June 27, 2022

Ho, Jun. 27, GNA – The Akatsi South Youth Parliament, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have congratulated Mr Emmanuel Agbaxode on his election as the new Volta/Oti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

The trio touted the journalistic performance of Mr Agbaxode, wished him well and were of the firm hope that the Chairman-elect would deliver his mandate to the growth of the Association in the Regions.

Mr Daniel Amuzu Kale, Speaker, Akatsi South Youth Parliament in a signed press release, said the House would give the media the total freedom and liberty to operate within the framework of the laws of Ghana as the mouthpiece of the citizenry.

The release further entreated the media to continue exhibiting the highly esteemed standards for the promotion of peace, unity, professionalism, and development of the nation.

The NDC in its release signed by Mr Dagba Daniel, the Constituency Secretary, the Party was not in doubt of Mr Agbaxode’s election as the Party was confident that his professionalism, objectivity, and hard work would be shown in his leadership role.

The release said the Party was also looking forward to a closer relationship with the Chairman-elect in his new role.

Mr Ocloo Mawuli Egos, Akatsi South Constituency Secretary, NPP, on behalf of the Party in a release said “this emphatic victory is a testament of your performance as a journalist. The news of your election warms the heart and soul of the Akatsi South NPP.”

The release said the Party expected Mr Agbaxode to perform above expectation, eschew needless partisanship and be fair to all, adding that his new role demanded a new outlook in his approach to issues.

Source: Ghana News Agency

To position the Bank to embrace opportunities available in the payments and financial space, Access Bank has brought together industry stakeholders to review the bank’s payment strategy in relation to global trends and available opportunities at a workshop for management and selected staff at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

The workshop on the theme ‘Open, Secured and Connected Payment Systems – The Future for Banks’ saw seasoned professionals from the Fintech, Telecommunications, and Cards industries as well as Bank of Ghana (BoG) share their expert opinions on the burgeoning payment industry.

They took participants through key interventions relevant to upscale payment solutions to customers.

In a welcome address, the Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Olumide Olatunji said the financial services industry finds itself in a significant transformation era that has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that given the key role digitization plays in the world now, electronic payments have become central to this transformation.

“Payments have become increasingly cashless and the industry’s role in fostering inclusion is a priority. Statistics from a PWC Strategy Global Payment models reveal that Africa will post the second-largest growth in the global cashless payment volumes growing by 78 percent between now and 2025 and by 64 percent from 2025 to 2030. This means that by 2030, the number of cashless transactions will be about double to triple the current level in Africa and across regions, globally”.

He noted that payments are supporting the development of digital economies and are driving innovation while functioning as a backbone for economies globally. “It’s critical to get ourselves better equipped to enable us to tap into all the opportunities our era presents. Our strategy to become a key player in payments across Africa and beyond is seen in our new Holdco structure with our Payco subsidiary”, Olumide said.

The Head of Fintech and Innovation at the Bank of Ghana, Kwame Oppong touched on regulating the payment ecosystem in the 4th revolution. He mentioned Merchant payment, Compliance, and leveraging offline payments and transactions as critical areas of focus for financial institutions to thrive. He advised participants to pay close attention to these areas adding that “to win in the future of payments, banks must have compel-partnerships instead of competition”.

Abdul Majeed Rufai, Head of Mobile Financial Services, Commercial department at MTN shared insights on financial inclusion transformation through payment. He noted that mobile money is a key enabler of financial inclusion and explained that establishing a broad efficient agent network is crucial to financial inclusion, alluding to the saying “The future of finance is not technology; it is the extreme obsession to be on the side of the consumer”.

The Chief Marketing Officer of Dream Oval Charles Kollo spoke about the role of banks in a reliable financial ecosystem. He presented some opportunities available to banks to remain competitive through partnering with Fintechs and commended Access Bank for its Africa Fintech Foundry initiative.

The Country Manager of Mastercard, Bossman Akuffo Kwapong also shed light on the future of card payments. He was confident that the technology or reel behind cards will keep evolving through plastic cards may become extinct. He advised participants to segment customers along with clear parameters and leverage technology to build solutions to meet their needs.

Closing the workshop, Pearl Nkrumah, Executive Director of Retail and Digital Banking said she had come to one conclusion after the exposure. “As a bank, you either evolve or dissolve. We need payments to solve lending problems, to scale and to maintain clients. Payments are ways customers leave a footprint with the bank”. She said the Bank will continue to equip staff through workshops and other practical means to help serve customers better.

Pearl noted that the Bank is in partnership with top IT organizations and Fintechs to ensure customers continue to receive top-notch banking services. “We are currently in partnership with IT Consortium on a number of payment solutions including Chango, a crowdfunding app, Nsano on our *901# USSD platform, Etransact and Cornett on various mobile money payment services, and Dream Oval for payments at the port.

Access Bank remains committed to giving customers more than banking and we have remained relevant in the payment ecosystem in Ghana and beyond, serving customers with our mobile banking offerings, card products, and cross-border remittance service, AccessAfrica.

The bank has over the years developed a deep understanding of customers’ needs, delivering excellent service and empowering them to achieve more through financial inclusion.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra, June 27, GNA- An Accra High Court has partially granted the Police a restraining and prohibition?order against Arise Ghana, a pressure group.

The Court presided over by Mrs Justice Comfort Tasiame held that a June 28 demonstration by Arise Ghana could be held from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

It also turned?down a request by the demonstrators to converge at the Jubilee?House and demonstrate till night.

The Court said the demonstrators could converge at Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and demonstrate through Farisco, the Trades Union Congress enclave to the Independence School on the said date.

It said the petition of the demonstrators could be received by a representative of the President of the Republic at the Independence?Square and urged the organisers to comply with the Public Order Act for the sake of peace.

The group had wanted to demonstrate in the early hours of June 28 and 29 till night and converge at the Jubilee?House.

The Ghana Police Service, however, disagreed with the timelines of the demonstrations and proceeded to court for redress.

At the Court, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sylvester Asare noted that the respondents’ proposed timelines would affect effective policing, hence prayed for the relocation of the intended demonstrations.

DSP Asare held that for the interest of public safety and effective policing, the Court should exercise its discretion in their favour and averted the Court’s mind to activities of terrorists within the subregion.

Mr Godwin Edudze Tamakloe, who represented?Arise Ghana in court, said: “The applicant is seeking for you (court) to make a judicial decision by imposing timelines within, which the demonstrators can exercise their constitutional guaranteed?rights.

“By this application, the applicant is clothing the court with powers beyond what Section 1(6) of the Public Order Act.”

Mr Tamakloe said the Police’s assertion that the demonstrations could not be held at night because of activities of terrorists was a “clear imagination.”

“In fairness and candour, they have not provided any evidence of an intelligence report in Ghana. They are playing?with the emotional?keyboard?of the court by mongering fear,” Mr Tamakloe said.

He recounted that the country had seen some demonstrations held at night.

Mr Tamakloe said if the court was minded of imposing a timeline, it should strike a balance between 3:00pm and 8:00pm, adding that: “This application has been brought in bad faith. The organisers have a statutory?obligation under the Public?Order Act to ensure that the demonstration was organised in an atmosphere of peace.

“We will respect the statutory provision of being held responsible?in case of any damage to public property,” Mr Tamakloe opined.

Earlier, the Court declined an adjournment by the Police following the filing of an affidavit in opposition by Arise Ghana.

The case was, therefore, stood down for some minutes after, which the Police was served with the affidavit in opposition by Arise Ghana.?

Arise Ghana has scheduled a demonstration on June 28 and 29, this year, against economic hardships in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghanaian actor, Prince David Osei, has slammed Ghanaians criticizing Jackie Appiah over her plush mansion.

Jackie Appiah, an actress, has become the talk of the town after her mansion surfaced on the internet by Nigerian actress and movie producer, Luchy Donalds after she visited Jackie Appiah in her Trassaco mansion.

In the video, the Nigerian actress can be heard exclaiming, “This is huge!” as in “huge in the video,” as she is taken aback by the exterior and interior decorations of the mansion.

Despite most Ghanaians expressing their joy for Jackie Appiah, others took to social media to accuse her of obtaining the mansion through high-time ‘prostitution.’

A netizen alleged Jackie Appiah was sponsored by politicians and fraudsters.

“You have politicians, fraudsters, and big boys sponsoring your life, but you come online to say “I worked for everything.

“Tell them about the countless sexual marathons you offered as a bargain for the things you have. Nobody’s a fool.

“Jackie Appiah didn’t acquire all that through acting/filmmaking alone.

“She has sponsors. She did things. She won’t tell y’all the full truth,” written by a Twitter account by name Albert Nart Hyde(Bogoideas).

This prompted David Osei to come to the aid of his colleague movie star, stating that Ghanaians should learn to celebrate the accomplishments of others rather than always thinking negatively about them.

David Osei stated that Jackie Appiah and the other ladies in the industry who are constantly accused of being prostitutes invest their money in profitable businesses that yield profits.

According to him, they can also acquire properties with the money they earn from acting.

“These ladies invest the monies they make from movies and other deals! When Jackie started doing UB40 TVC, Computer Ads was in Legon many years ago!!.

“Let’s learn to celebrate people and stop judging people soon we see them successful! We all sin differently! I am no way justifying wrong deeds but pls celebrate beautiful things, Haba!!.

“The jealousy and enviness for each other in this country has no limits gaddmit.. So movies can’t make you drive a nice car or build a mansion, these ladies in the industry have had enough of shaming!” he made these comments on his Instagram handle on Sunday, June 26, 2022 sighted by this portal.

Source: Modern Ghana

Mr Emmanuel Kungi Kwame, Coordinating Director, Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA), has urged parents to allow their children to make their own informed decisions on marriage.

He said the children were the ones who would be staying in the marriages and even though parents had their children’s interest at heart, marriage was something that people should not be forced into.

Mr Kungi, speaking at a consultative dialogue between the Department of Gender and stakeholders on the threats of child marriage in the Municipality and how to intensify efforts to curb the menace, he said parents should think twice by looking past the immediate benefits they would get after giving the children’s hand in marriage.

“Let us think twice and not look at the immediate benefits we will get when we marry off our teenage children. Things have changed and Ghanaians should also change,” he said.

He encouraged parents to invest more in their children’s education as it was the major key to success and that when they grew up the children would give them more than what a man will give them after marrying them off.

Ms Selorm Kutoati, Municipal Health Directorate, GEMA, explained that child marriage was the marriage where one of the couples, usually the female was under the age of 18.

She said child marriage violated one’s human rights, restricted the victims from pursuing higher education, maintaining ideal health, socializing with their peers, developing and subsequently picking their own partners.

She noted that although child marriage occurred among boys, the frequency was substantially lower as just 2.3 per cent of men married by the age of 18 in Ghana.

Ms Kutoati emphasised that gender inequalities, poverty, lack of access to education, teenage pregnancy, cultural and traditional practices, were some factors that caused child marriage.

She said there were physical and mental effects that were associated with child marriage. She named high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, fistula, malnutrition, postpartum hemorrhage and death due to infection and hemorrhage as some of the physical effects associated with child marriage.

“Depression, shattered dreams and aspirations, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, poor well-being, apathetic and insensitivity towards their children are also some of the mental effects of child marriage,” she said.

Ms Kutoati said parents and children were to be educated on the impacts of early marriage on the children and the society to help curb the menace.

Advertisements, educational awareness campaigns and implementation of health outreach initiatives at municipal, regional and national levels should be pursued to curtail child marriage, she said.

Ms Matilda Banfro, Greater Accra Regional Director, Department of Gender, said: “Child marriage practice is a global phenomenon mostly affecting women in a number of countries in Sub Saharan Africa.”

She further added that “in Ghana, one out of five girls are married before their 18th birthday. Girls from rural areas are twice likely to become child brides than those in urban areas, and girls from proper households are four times more likely to marry than those from richer households.”

She suggested that interventions such as hairdressing, tailoring, shop keeping, and other needed support be made available for young married women to cope with the effects of early marriage.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana Dancehall sensation, Samini and Nigerian afro beats superstar, Wande Coal are the latest headliners set to thrill fans at the DMV PARTY IN THE PARK, the first ever Pan African picnic and musical festival in the DMV area of the United States of America.

The newly elected GIMPA SRC President and ‘My Own’ hit-maker, Samini, who is best known for his stage craft and flawless live band performance joins a star-studded extravaganza to give the diaspora community an experience of a lifetime. Samini is entreating all music lovers and Africans in the United States to make a date with him at DMV PARTY IN THE PARK for what he terms, his best performance yet. “Grab your tickets now and come and experience a new Samini, this will be a special performance me especially after chalking another milestone in the Academic and students leadership sphere.” Samini said

On the other hand, the ‘Iskaba’ hit-maker who is currently on an international tour with Davido, is throwing his weight behind what he calls a true African celebration, as he and his crew will be making a stop to treat music lovers with back-to-back hits at the DMV PARTY IN THE PARK. He has promised patrons of a ‘Summer-to-Remember’ experience by bringing in the ‘Naija flavor’ for a truly African festival experience.

Other acts billed to perform include, Ghana’s Enjoyment Minister and multiple award-winning entertainer, D-Black, Chart topping crooner Afrobeats Badman & ‘Down Flat’ Hitmaker ‘Kelvyn Boy’, the sensational ‘E Choke’ Hitmaker Sefa and La meme Gang front line and J’Mapelle Hitmaker Darko Vibes.

Ghana’s sensational YouTuber, online activist & comedian EBABY KOBBY plus Nigerian Afrobeat’s event promoter Legendary Mike and a host of DJs and MCs are billed as hosts for this maiden event as well.

Also billed on the turn table decks are a multinational mix of Dj’s including Dj K Crakk (GH) – Ghana, Dj Slim (GH) – Ghana , Dj Akua (MD) – Ghana, Dj Blast (MD) – Cameroun, Dj Sam I Am (MD) – Sierra Leone, Dj Rozay (MD) – Ghana, Dj Fat Mike (MD) – Nigeria & Dj Tea bee (MD) – Ghana.

The DMV PARTY IN THE PARK is a StarBuzz Media LLC event which is being organized in partnership with the Office of the Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, Beyond the Return Secretariat with support from the Ghana Tourism Authority and the RigWorld Ghana.

The event is the first of its kind and will be happening on 10th July, 2022 at the Frederick Fairgrounds, Fredrick Maryland.

Source: Modern Ghana

Christians have been advised to purge themselves of all evil deeds as branches in the Lord’s vineyard.

They are also not to sit with the ungodly, stand in the ways of sinners or sit with mockers but constantly delight in the ways of the Lord.

Episcopal Dr Joy Bruce, Bishop of the Lighthouse Group of Churches gave the reminder during an outreach mission to the Fire Glory Chapel, which is a member of the Lighthouse Group of Churches.

The visit, first of its kind since the affiliation to Lighthouse was to familiarise with the operations of the church, highlights church growth and refresh the believers on working in conformity with the word of God.

She wondered “why we still have addicts and drinking bars all over; the Body of Christ was slacking on bringing more souls to the kingdom.”

Episcopal Bruce said: “If believers were doing the right things many societal problems would have been avoided.”

She reminded believers that a prosperous life was only found in Christ and nothing else.

Episcopal Bruce urged the Church to strive for Godly excellence.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding justice for the family of Ibrahim Mohammed, popularly known as ‘Kaaka’ on the occasion of the one-year celebration of the deceased activist.

The political activist died on June 26, 2021, after he was attacked on his way home and beaten by yet-to-be-identified men who left him dead at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

Although there have been investigations into the matter, there has been no conclusion, leaving the family in more pain.

On the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the death of Ibrahim Kaaka, the NDC has issued a press release to mourn with the family of the deceased activist.

The largest opposition party in the country further demands justice for the deceased.

“On the sad occasion of the first anniversary of the untimely death of Kaaka, the leadership and entire membership of the NDC join his family and friends in remembering him and his work in fighting for freedom and justice in Ghana.

“The National Democratic Congress further takes this opportunity to demand for justice for the family of Kaaka, especially as they have roundly rejected the findings and recommendations of the unsatisfactory report of the committee of enquiry set up under the authority of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to examine the circumstances that resulted in his murder,” parts of an NDC release signed by Kakra Essamuah who is Director of Communications has said.

It adds, “As we memorialise this sad chapter in the history of our dear country, we also call on the President to perform his constitutional duty to ensure that justice is secured for the families and friends of the victims of the Nkoranza disturbances which also resulted in the unlawful death of Albert Donkor whilst he was allegedly in police custody.”

Today, 26th June, 2022 marks the first anniversary of the brutal shooting of a young, brilliant political activist, Ibrahim Mohammed, alias Macho Kaaka, by state security forces in Ejura in the Ashanti Region. On 28th June,

2021, despite the diligent efforts of medical personnel, Ibrahim Mohammed succumbed to his injuries and died. During his funeral in Ejura, two other Ghanaian citizens namely, Nasiru Yussif and Murtala Mohammed, were also shot and killed by the security forces.

On the sad occasion of the first anniversary of the untimely death of Kaaka, the leadership and entire membership of the NDC join his family and friends in remembering him and his work in fighting for freedom and justice in Ghana.

The National Democratic Congress further takes this opportunity to demand for justice for the family of Kaaka, especially as they have roundly rejected the findings and recommendations of the unsatisfactory report of the committee of enquiry set up under the authority of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to examine the circumstances that resulted in his murder.

As we memorialise this sad chapter in the history of our dear country, we also call on the President to perform his constitutional duty to ensure that justice is secured for the families and friends of the victims of the Nkoranza disturbances which also resulted in the unlawful death of Albert Donkor whilst he was allegedly in police custody.

We note with extreme regret and astonishment that absolutely none of the numerous murders committed under the watch of President Akufo-Addo has seen any finality in prosecution and due punishment for the perpetrators. President Akufo-Addo is in his sixth year of governing this nation, and yet despite his well-known advocacy for law and order and human rights during his long sojourn in opposition, the government that he leads has had the highest number of politically motivated murders in the Fourth Republic.

Several other Ghanaian citizens have been maimed and disabled for life as a result of the unlawful use of force by security forces under the overall command and control of President Akufo-Addo in their engagement with ordinary Ghanaians.

Accordingly, we demand justice from the President for all who have perished in the numerous clashes between the security forces and ordinary citizens and, in particular, Ibrahim Mohammed, alias Kaaka, and the two other citizens of Ejura who died alongside Kaaka.

The preservation of life and property is the first duty of every President. President Akufo-Addo must merit his office by carrying out his solemn duties entrusted to him when the people of Ghana voted for him to become the president. Neither Kaaka, nor Nasiru, nor Murtala, nor Albert Donkor deserved to die. They deserve JUSTICE.

Source: Modern Ghana