Day: August 16, 2022

Accra, Aug. 16, GNA- A survey conducted in communities where development projects and interventions have taken place at tourist sites revealed that 85 per cent of residents are satisfied with the interventions.

The survey, which focused mainly on citizens and tourists’ satisfaction, was conducted at 25 sites in eleven regions that benefited from the Ghana Tourism Development Project.

This was revealed during a report validation on the Tourist and Citizen Satisfaction Survey held in Accra by the Ghana Tourism Development Project (GTDP) of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).

The project is a World Bank sponsored initiative at the cost of US $ 40 million to help improve the performance of tourism in targeted destinations in Ghana.

It is an International Development Association (IDA) credit facility that has a 30-year maturity life span and a five-year grace period.

In the survey, residents said completed sites had fostered improvements in environmental conditions and created opportunities for economic improvements for the locals.

Responding to the gains derived from the development project, they said among other things that their waste management had improved, there had been creation of jobs for the local people and increased festive activities boosting local tourism.

The Communities Satisfaction Survey (CSS) explored residents’ satisfaction regarding the project’s contribution to the public good such as community development, improvement in environmental and socio-economic conditions.

Tourists Satisfaction Survey (TSS) are used to determine the objectives, results, and analysis of the Survey.

The CSS explored residents’ satisfaction by focusing on the project’s contributions to the public good such as community development, improvement in environmental and socio-economic conditions in the host communities.

It also explored the perspectives and perceptions on the project’s sustainability and viability, its expectations, and recommendations.

The Tourists Satisfaction Survey analysed the demographic characteristics of tourists, assessed their length of stay at destinations and the quality of service. It also explored the tourist experience and satisfaction levels.

Under the TSS, 65 per cent of domestic visitors were satisfied whereas 82 per cent of international visitors were satisfied.

The survey also revealed that quality restaurant services, standard of washrooms and road accessibility were rated low by the tourists whilst knowledgeability of tour guides was rated very high.

It was concluded that the likelihood of all visitors repeating their visits to the destinations stood at 51 per cent.

The survey recommended that proper facilities (accommodation, eatery, camping, souvenirs) be made available at tourist sites and necessary steps taken to ensure such projects that were stalled were completed without further delays.

It said community members should be involved, particularly the youth, whilst providing skill training for staff at tourist sites.

Aggressive marketing strategies were also recommended to drive needed tourism traffic destinations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The NPP Presidential race getting hotter as Hopeson Adorye, a member of the ‘Team Alan’ reportedly said on Saturday, during a “walk for Alan” in Kumasi that Northerners in the party are only fit for running mate positions and not flagbearership.

He indicated that the Presidential slot has been alternating between the Danquah and Busia gates.

“There is one thing I am going to say. The NPP has a tradition. Our tradition is Busia, Danquah and Dombo. Danquah represents Eastern Region and the bottom (south), Danquah represents Ashanti Region and the Bono areas, while Dombo represents Northern Region,” he stated.

The NPP stalwart claims that “whenever a Danquah leads the party, the Busia side steps aside but there is a Dombo (for a running mate), and whenever a Busia leads, the Danquah side steps aside but there is a Dombo (for a running mate). As for the Dombo’s they are always there (for a running mate).”

But responding to this, the former Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen, has rubbished those claims.

He said authoritatively that nobody apart from Vice President will lead the ruling NPP in the coming 2024 general elections.

On the Accra-based Okay FM, monitored by Modernghana News, he described Hopeson Adorye’s claim as “wrong calculations.”

“I can beat my chest and say that as long as I Kofi Boahene is alive, no one can beat Dr Bawumia. With all due respect to every individual. In the Ashanti region, Alan Kyeremanten and other aspirants’ votes in the Ashanti region will not reach that of Dr. Bawumia. I am not bragging but I trust what I am saying.

“Forget about what Hopeson Adorye said. What he said is not true that Northerners are only fit for running mates. His calculations were totally wrong,” he said

Source: Modern Ghana

Tamale, August 16, GNA – The government has been called upon to prioritise and commit to releasing in full the five per cent of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) as mandated by law to the National Youth Authority (NYA) for its programmes and activities.

The NYA is also to account for the 5% allocation of the DACF released to it so far by the Administrator of the DACF.

This was contained in a statement issued by YEFL-GHANA, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), signed by Mr Alhassan Abdul Ganiyu, its Technical Advisor on Youth Advocacy and Gender, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale.

The statement was to mark this year’s International Youth Day, on the theme: “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages.”

The statement said the 10-year National Youth Policy of Ghana, which expired in 2020 had delivered very little in its priority areas.

According to the statement, after the expiration of the policy, the NYA has developed a new National Youth Policy to serve as a comprehensive guide to youth development with a five-year implementation plan.

The plan is expected to be launched on International Youth Day in 2022. On the surface, the new policy is expected to provide a framework to improve youth development in the country.

“As we are excited about the new policy priority areas to be launched on International Youth Day, we are also primarily concerned with how the policy recommendations to be implemented will be funded.

It asked has been dedicated to fund the policy and how youth and CSOs would assess the progress of the implementation of the policy.

The statement registered the concern of YEFL-Ghana and, said: “We are concerned because youth CSOs had already pushed for the enactment of NYA Act 939 of 2016, with a clear funding allocation of 5% of the DACF under the Act.

This effort was in furtherance of securing sustainable funding and legislating the mandate of the NYA to oversee youth development.

“This is a significant milestone towards the sustainable funding of youth development in Ghana. The government demonstrated commitment and released a total of GHc149.7 million between 2018 and 2019 to the NYA.

However, according to the Auditor-General’s report for 2021, there is no evidence of the expenditure as well as the fact that the schedule of payments violated Article 252(3) of the 1992 Constitution.”

It added that “In the report, the Auditor General called for the suspension of the administration of funds to the NYA for the payments to be reconciled.

“This is cause for concern because it would be an impediment to the implementation process of the new National Youth Policy and the overall youth development in Ghana.”

It, therefore, called on all agencies, institutions, CSOs, and individuals to join efforts to demand that government commit to funding the NYA in line with the NYA Act 939 of 2016 to enable it to support youth development in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana football legend, Mohammed Polo has insisted that Asamoah Gyan must be overlooked despite claiming that he wants a place in the Black Stars squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup, adding that he isn’t the same as Roger Milla.

Gyan in an interview with BBC Africa reiterated his desire to return to the Black Stars ahead of the Mundial in Qatar.

The 37-year-old has been out of action after leaving Legon Cities last season.

Gyan, who is the country’s all-time top goal scorer has not featured for the Black Stars after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] in Egypt.

However, Mohammed Polo insists that the former Sunderland striker’s situation is not the same as Roger Milla’s and says Ghanaians should be serious.

“We must be serious with our football, this is our fourth time going to the world cup and Ghana wants to make an impact,” he told Kumasi-based Akoma FM.

“Gyan still has the opportunity though he is aged. Some of his age mates are still playing regularly.

“Is he (Gyan) actively playing now? We know what he can do when he is active, so if he wants to play again for the Black Stars, he should register for a local team just like Sulley and prove his worth. Everything stops with the coach (Otto Addo).

“Roger Mila did the same and played well in the World Cup but the question is ” are the situations the same”?

“We want to make an impact going to the world cup so all needed necessities must be explored but like I said we must be serious with our football,” he concluded.

Ghana, who are in Group H will open their campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha.

Four days later, the Black Stars return to action with a clash with South Korea at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.

Ghana will wrap up their group stage adventure with their much-anticipated encounter with Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.

The Black Stars having missed out in the last edition hosted in Russia in 2018 will be hoping to improve their performance in Qatar after exiting the group phase during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Source: Modern Ghana

Accra, Aug. 16, GNA- Some Ghanaians have expressed worry over the increase in utility tariffs saying it will increase the cost of production and inadvertently affect the general prices of goods and services. 

 Water and electricity are basic input for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

Madam Abena Christy, a pure water and soft drinks wholesaler the at Tema Station in Accra in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said market women were experiencing financial hardships and that the increase in utility tariffs would make matters worse because they were yet to get over the recent hike in fuel prices.

“As of late, we are only able to sell one fridge of water per day, which requires 20 bags of water. When we are unable to sell all the water in the fridge, it clogs and has an impact on us. The Government should show mercy on us because many single mothers and women are experiencing great agony,” she said. 

Mr Kwasi Addae, a shoe seller, said the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) should reconsider its decision regarding the hike in utility tariffs to discourage “illegal connections”.

“The PURC should have a second thought about the increment because Ghanaians are suffering and it’s not everyone who can afford the charges after it has been increased, some people will not prefer sleeping without lights and since they can’t buy electricity, they’ll resort to illegal connections,” he said.

Mr Isaac Baah, a dealer in handbags, pleaded with the government to put on hold the increment in utility tariffs saying, “the system is hard” and living is very difficult now due to inflation and fuel prices.  

The PURC on Monday announced a 27.15 per cent and 21.55 per cent hike in electricity and water tariffs respectively effective September 1.

The tariff decisions for the period 2022-2025 was informed by thorough analyses, extreme

debates, and broad consultations.

The last major review of tariffs, which resulted in a 17.5 per cent reduction for residential and 30 per cent for non-residential in electricity was done in 2018.

Source: Ghana News Agency