Day: January 5, 2023

The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has set 2023 as the action year for labour unions to iron out their differences and come together under one body – “Organized Labour,” Mr Abraham Koomson GFL Secretary General has stated.

“Recent unity among labour unions ensured that the government back-tracked and exempted the pension funds from its domestic debt restructuring programme, must serve as a rallying point and a wake-up call to the leadership of the various unions that we must work together.

“We achieved the breakthrough as one body with a common purpose to protect the interest of workers, it was not based on individual approach, therefore, the ground is fertile for us to come together and under Organized Labour,” Mr Koomson stated at the Ghana News Agency Tema Industrial News Hub Platform.

He said any individual interest group with challenges must follow internal due processes and seek redress, “we must not allow internal power struggles and misunderstandings to sink the labour ship….in 2023 we must all be on a rescue mission to save the Ghanaian worker from exploitation from employers”.

Mr Koomson said “union leaders must demonstrate commitment to the fight for workers’ interest, avoid underhand and backroom dealings with employers, and let us be truthful to the labour movement.

“Our priority as labour leaders must be the allegiance to the organisation, and let us not be traitors sacrificing the interest of workers for political and financial expediency”.

The GFL Secretary General said some union leaders served as “Political watchdogs,” who joined the union to advocate the interest of their political party and cause mayhem on the labour front.

He said, “Political Watchdogs within the labour front are corrupt, self-seeking, and only work to make gains from the challenges the Labour force is facing, yet pretend to be working to promote the development of the union”.

Mr Koomson cited the mismanagement of public funds by the government as another reason why the Labour unions work together, and not back down on their efforts to see that workers in the country are given what they are due.

He said any member of the Labour union especially among the leadership who identifies with a political party is not qualified to be a good member of the union.

The GFL Secretary General appealed to members of the Labour force to put aside their differences and continue to fight for the good of all.

Source: Modern Ghana

Ghana international Ismail Abdul Ganiyu has left Iraqi side Al-Talaba SC, just four months after joining the club.

The defender parted ways with the Ghanaian champions, Asante Kotoko at the end of last season to join Al-Talaba in September 2022.

Ganiyu penned a one-year contract with the Iraqi top-flight side but has decided to end his stint with the club.

The enterprising defender whose contract was expected to expire in the summer of 2023 has terminated his deal due to lack of game minutes.

He is expected to find himself a new club before the closure of the January transfer window.

Source: Ghana Web

Five employees of Kwadwo Ofori (K.Ofori) Limited, a leading brand in building materials distribution, remanded for stealing building materials worth GHC 2,615,011, have been granted bail.

Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court, the court admitted the five employees to bail in the sum of GHS1million bail with three sureties each to be justified with landed property.

The Court ordered accused persons namely Santa Nangba, a 27-year-old Sales Manager, Peter Bawla, a 28-year-old Supervisor; William Dagadu, 27, Michael Jeffery, a 28-year-old IT Technician and Felix Ofori, a cashier, first sureties should provide property within the Greater Accra or Central Regions.

Additionally, the Court said the second sureties should be public servants earning not less than GHS3,000.

Again, it ordered that the third sureties of each of the accused persons should be family members.

The accused persons were also ordered by the Court to report to the Police every Wednesday.

The bail of the accused persons came up after they had made their second appearance before the Court.

A team of lawyers also made various applications for bail as their clients spent days in custody.

The five accused persons had been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, to wit, stealing and stealing.

They have denied the charges before the court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah.

The accused persons are expected to reappear on January 23, 2023.

Earlier, Superintendent of Police Augustus Yirenkyi narrated that the complainant, Frank Kwadwo Ofori is the Director of Kwadwo Ofori Limited, Accra and accused persons are employees whom he trained to manage his various branches.

The Prosecution said accused persons were working in Accra and they were later transferred to Cape Coast to manage a branch.

It said the accused persons were supplied with iron rods, cement, binding wires and nails by the complainant to be sold in large quantities.

The Prosecution narrated that the complainant trusted the accused persons especially Nangba, his sales manager of the Cape Coast branch.

According to the Prosecution on or before September 2022, the accused persons requested bags of cement.

The complainant, however realised that the accused persons had about 10,000 bags of cement in stock.

The Prosecution said the complainant therefore became sceptical as to why the accused persons were requesting bags of cement, among others.

It said the complainant through one of his employees got to know that the accused persons had sold the bags of cement in stock, but they failed to account for them.

The Prosecution said the complainant became alarmed and together with his accounting officers conducted stocking at the Cape Coast branch, revealing “a shortage of stock to the tune of GHC2,615,011.30.”

It said accused persons were therefore invited to the head office for interrogation.

The Prosecution told the Court that the accused persons admitted stealing items such as iron rods, bags of cement, binding wires, and nails to the tune of GHS2,568,770. 40 and wrote in an undertaking to refund the money to the complainant.

On December 20, 2022, the Prosecution said the complainant reported the matter to the Police and the accused persons were picked up.

The Prosecution said, “investigations revealed that the accused person had sold the materials which were supplied to them without accounting for them.”

Source: Modern Ghana

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that it has appointed Swiss tactician Nora Hauptle as the new head coach of the Black Queens.

“Nora Hauptle has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Senior Women’s national team – otherwise known as Black Queens.

“The 39-year-old former Swiss International is a product of the University of Bern where she attained her Masters in Sports Sciences – also a Bachelor of Philosophy and Minor in Theatre Sciences.

“Nora holds is a UEFA Pro Licence certificate and has previously worked as an Instructor for the Swiss Football Association,” an official statement on the website of the Ghana FA said on Thursday, January 5.

Nora Häuptle during her stint with the Black Queens will be assisted by Joyce Boatey-Agyei and Aboagye Dacosta.

Joyce Boatey–Agyei is a physical Education Tutor and Coach of Kumasi Girls Senior High School and a former Coach of the Girls U-15 national team.

Meanwhile, Aboagye Dacosta is a former player of Asante Kotoko and Head Coach of the Women’s Premier League Club Ashtown Ladies in Kumasi.

The new technical team of the Black Queens is getting to work immediately to prepare for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the third edition of the WAFU Zone B Women’s Cup of Nations 2023 in March/April this year.

Source: Ghana Web

Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has announced the resumption of its strike.

According to CETAG, it will resume its strike from tomorrow, Friday, 6 January 2023.

In a statement, released today, Thursday, 5 January 2023, the association noted that: “Following a meeting held between the Government Team and CETAG on 4th January, 2023 over the outstanding issues of CETAG, the National Council of CETAG met to evaluate what transpired and concluded that the strike action which was suspended on 17th December, 2022 shall resume on Friday, January 6, 2023 if the two-day grace period given to the Minister expires without a resolution of the outstanding issues.”

The association further noted that: “All the outstanding issues contained in the communiqué signed on 16th December 2022 which the Minister promised to resolve within two weeks after the suspension of the strike, remain unresolved to date.”

CETAG bemoaned the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) inability to take steps in order to seek financial mandate from the Finance Ministry, for the three outstanding allowances, despite the promise to do so.

It indicated: “The effective date of January 2023 which the Government Team wants to unilaterally impose on CETAG instead of the mutually agreed effective date of January 2022 is totally unacceptable.”

It also added: “GTEC has failed to disclose to CETAG the amount it has proposed to be paid as all-year-round work compensation as well as the time the payment shall be made.”

CETAG resumed work on Monday, 19 December 2022, after suspending its strike action.

A statement issued by the association announcing the suspension of the strike noted it is to give the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the opportunity to “fulfil his promise of helping to address all the unresolved issues CETAG had raised within two weeks.”

The statement continued: “Consistent with the Association’s bottom-up approach in decision-making, the leadership of the association consulted its teeming members on the matter and received a majority endorsement of the rank and file on Wednesday, 14 December 2022, to suspend the strike action, subject to the signing of a communiqué that shall bind the parties to commit to engaging to bring finality to CETAG’s 2021 Conditions of Service and payment of compensation for all-year-round work for the 2021/2022 academic year”.

It urged its members to “resume work on Monday, 19 December 2022, on their various campuses.”

CETAG and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG) began an indefinite strike in all 46 colleges of education across the country over the government’s failure to prioritise their welfare.

The groups said they are disappointed at the non-finalisation of Conditions of Service (CoS) negotiations, the unilateral determination of April 2023 by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) as the effective date for placing First Degree Holders of CENTSAG on 17H on the SSSS, undue delay by the Ministry of Education in responding to requests for payment of compensation among others.

They gave the government a five-day ultimatum to address their concerns or they strike.

Following the expiration of the deadline, CETAG and CENTSAG declared a strike on Monday 14 November 2022 until their demands are met.

Source: Modern Ghana

Ghana forward Emmanuel Gyasi has lauded the performance of his Spezia teammates in their game against Atalanta despite letting a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 on Wednesday.

Gyasi netted the opener as Spezia raced to a 2-0 lead before halftime, but Atalanta fought back with 13 minutes remaining at the Alberto Picco Stadium.

“I think we played a great match, but we still have a bitter taste in our mouths, because after passing we were twice unable to close the match in the lead, and then ended up suffering a comeback,” said Gyasi after the game.

“Sorry, however, that the team was not able to snatch the three points, but looking at the glass half full we still moved the standings against a very strong opponent,” he added.

Gyasi connected to an M’bala Nzola assist to score the opener in a thrilling encounter. The Spezia captain showered praises on the attacking midfielder.

“Nzola was really good at serving me on the second goal, we moved very well in that action and when I cheered I saw in his eyes the joy of having served me a great assist. Even after the goal we had the opportunities to close it and if you don’t materialize it, teams like these will come back under you,” he continued.

Spezia will next face Lecce as the battle for Serie A survival continues.

“Let’s look ahead, trying to improve game by game, starting to think about Lecce as early as tonight, because a real final awaits us on Sunday,” he concluded.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra, Jan.05, GNA—The Ghana Police Service and Ghana Immigration Service, have refuted claims that they are blaming each other over the whereabouts of some 48 alleged terrorists.

A statement jointly issued and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs and

Chief Superintendent of Immigration Micheal Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs, said the publication was false and should be disregarded.

“The attention of the Police Service and Immigration Service has been drawn to a publication by the Ghanaian Times Newspaper – on the front page and page 12 – of Thursday, January 5, 2023, which story has also since then been carried by other media houses alleging that there is a blame game between the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Immigration Service over the whereabouts of some 48 alleged terrorists.”

It said no supposed terrorists had been arrested by the Police and the Immigration, and there was certainly no blame game going on between the two state security agencies as was being “falsely claimed” by the Ghanaian Times Newspaper.

The statement said some 48 foreign nationals were arrested by the Police and the Immigration in two separate operations at Ekyem, Achiase and Akokoamong near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region in September, 2022, for engaging in illegal Network Marketing (QNET).

It said all 48 suspects were profiled in line with standard operating procedures of the two institutions and were repatriated to their various home countries between September 26 and September 29, 2022.

The statement urged the public, especially the media, to be circumspect in their use of the term “terrorists” and avoid using the word loosely and irresponsibly, and thus create unwarranted fear and panic in a peaceful society.

It said the two state security institutions would continue to collaborate and partner with each other in the discharge of their respective mandates for the good of Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Unique Mining Group, one of the Small Scale Mining Group operating in the Gbene community of the Talensi District in the Upper East Region has asked the Upper East Regional Minister to disclose the money he received from Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited on behalf of Unique Mining Group.

A letter written by the leadership of the Unique Mining Group and directed to the Upper East Regional Minister Mr. Stephen Yakubu which was sighted by this portal with a reference number UN/Ma/01 dated December 29, 2022 and signed by the acting Chairman of the group Mr. Abdulai Amaligo says, “the request has become necessary because we are not sure of the total amount either by cheque or cash paid through the UERCC for onward delivery to our group (Unique Mining Group)”.

The leadership of the group who are not satisfied with happenings regarding their share of money paid by Earl International also demands further and better particulars.

“We also wish to request for the dates of payments and the currency used for the payments. We respectfully expect you to address our request within seven (7) working days from the day of receipt of this letter for us to decide the next line of action,” the letter noted.

Meanwhile, this reporter’s earlier conversation with the Regional Minister on December 8, 2022 on the Unique Mining Group issue, Hon. Stephen Yakubu did not deny receiving the money from Earl International on behalf of the small-scale miners.

According to him, his intervention through the RCC was to make sure peace returned at the mining area. But responding to why the disputed money was paid to an individual instead of a group, Mr. Yakubu said, the name of the individual was given to him by the Mineral Commission as the leader of the Unique Mining Group.

Following the latest development, numerous phone calls and messages to get the Regional Minister for his response to the said letter were unsuccessful.

In December last year, the Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI), a Civil Society Organisation operating in the Talensi District with support from Savannah Research and Advocacy Network (SRAN) demanded the compensation for families of the 16 young men who lost their lives as a result of alleged negligence caused by the Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited now Earl International Group (Ghana) Gold Limited.

Members of Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI)

Speaking at a news conference, the TAMCI Secretary Mr. Laamdolba Bright said, “We are very worried as we discuss with you today that the deaths of our 16 brothers were caused by Shaanxi and the minerals commission investigative report on the incident, proves our point that Shaanxi laced explosives with a lethal chemical called chlorine to kill the 16 young men intentionally.”

Source: Modern Ghana