Day: April 29, 2023

Today’s edition of Newsfile with Samson Lardy Anyenini focuses on the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey in the country.

This conversation comes on the back of some findings in the leaked 2021 report written by the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Professor Frimpong Boateng.

The report mentioned government officials and public officials as key persons involved in galamsey.

Some of the known names mentioned in the report include the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Laud Commey, Joseph Quam, among others.

While they have denied any wrongdoing, some alleged that Frimpong-Boateng was equally at fault.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng in his 36-page report wrote that Gabby pestered him when the IMCIM was about dislodging the Imperial Heritage.

His report recalls how Gabby Otchere-Darko, a cousin of the president and an influential member of the ruling NPP, called him on phone to question his decision to order for the dislodgment of equipment of a Mining Company Imperial Heritage which Prof. Frimpong Boateng argues was mining illegally with a prospecting license in forest reserves.

“We were ready to dislodge Imperial Heritage from Kobro Forest when Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko called to inform me that he was the lawyer for Heritage Imperial Limited, a company that was destroying the Kobro and Apaprama Forest Reserves and in the process had also polluted and diverted the course of the River Offin, as can be seen in the satellite images below. I informed the President about the behaviour of Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko and he promised to deal with it.”

Gabby in turn averred that the former minister had twisted the job of a lawyer to mean interference.

Source: Ghana Web

Comic star Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM) has cautioned the public, especially the male population, to take consultation with a urologist very seriously to safeguard their lives.

A prostate cancer survivor, he spoke to Class News’ Prince Benjamin (PB) in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and Janssen’s Prostate Cancer Early Detection Project themed Awareness and Early Diagnosis Saves Life.

The event took place, Friday, April 28, 2023, at the Burma Hall, Burma Camp, Accra.

KSM wondered why people “especially men” are quick to have a mechanic examine their cars when they suspect a fault because of “little noises that we’re not familiar with” but do not see a doctor when they detect the slightest bodily anomalies.

“We may wake up with some headaches, some dizziness, frequent urination and just assume that: ‘Oh it’s normal’. It is not,” he said with concern.

“If we give our cars attention, let’s do the same to our bodies as well,” he appealed. “If something is not well, go for a test, go for a checkup.”

KSM is a prostate cancer survivor.

“The only reason I am standing here, talking to you today, is that I had early detection,” he noted.

His brother lost his life to prostate cancer.

“My own brother – he died at 62 – he didn’t know. When he realised, it was late. It was a late presentation so we lost him,” the radio and television star revealed. “I’m talking to you almost at 67.”

KSM’s message is that prostate cancer “is survivable but you need early detection first.”

He spoke on the signs of the disease.

“Well, with prostate cancer, fortunately for me I didn’t go through many symptoms at all,” he said. “All I had was the frequent urination.

“But the signs that I know of is that: unusual dizziness, sometimes blood in your urine, sometimes blood in your stool, sometimes excessive hunger – unexplained hunger – these are all signs.”

He stressed, however, that only consultation with a certified health professional will uncover the veracity and implications of the signs he mentioned and others.

“Early checkup can help save your life,” he reiterated.

Though he granted that unhealthy habits can lead to prostate cancer, Mr Kwaku Sintim-Misa also underscored the prominence of inheriting the disease.

“If you know that, maybe, your father had it, or somebody in your family had it then that’s a red flag for you,” he warned. “Consider that it is easy for you to have it because it is hereditary.

“But then the key to all of this is doing your regular checkups, checking after your PSA (prostate specific antigen) – based on your PSA levels, your doctor or urologist can advise you whether it is cancerous or it is just prostate enlargement.”

He asserted that for prostate enlargement, “most Black men have it.” It could even be large and cancerous, he added, in some cases.

“When you have the cancer, it spreads,” he noted. “That’s why you have to get the early detection so that if it is cancerous, it can be detected early and you can start treatment before it spreads.”

When his cancer was first detected, the doctors had to ascertain by various tests if it had affected his kidneys, liver, or blood, he revealed.

“I had to do a bone scan to find out if it was in the bones,” he added.

Upon completion of the tests, “thankfully,” his had not “spread anywhere,” he also said.

On awareness creation through creative arts, KSM disclosed that he is “working on a material called Crash Landing. And it includes some of these things.”

“Like I do usually, I make you laugh but I want you to [also] think.

“So you’re right! Comedy is one of the avenues you can use to educate on any subject – health is one.”

Source: Ghana Web

The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu has appealed to the National Chief Imam to lead the crusade for a clean and responsible environmental activities in the country.

Dr. Kwabena Kokofu noted that the country faces several environmental challenges as a result of both internal and external factors which threaten the lives of its people.

He was therefore of the view that the involvement of civil society groups, more especially the venerable Office of the National Chief Imam will go a long way to assist in shaping the minds and attitudes of Ghanaians in becoming environmentally conscious.

The EPA Executive Director made the appeal when he led a delegation made up of directors of the agency to pay a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam last Friday.

He noted that environmental degradation as a result of human activities is a source of worry to the country, adding that though government is doing it’s best to address these challenges, it would require the expressed support and commitment from all stakeholders, including the religious community.

The National Chief Imam has meanwhile affirmed his support towards the crusade for environmental safety in the country.

The National Chief Imam made references to the Holy Book, The Qur’an where Allah The Almighty stresses the diverse reasons for creating man and enjoining man to be each other’s keepers.

He noted that every Ghanaian has a collective responsibility to ensure that out environments are safe since our very existence depends on it.

Speaking through his Spokesperson Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, The National Chief Imam noted “I am appealing to every Ghanaian to understand the importance of the environment; that is where we all survive. Collectively owe it to ourselves as a duty to make our environments clean of all poisonous substances that affect our health”

Meanwhile, the EPA Executive Director and his team made a handsome donations of items including 100 bags of rice, 100 cartons of canned fish and 100 cartons of cooking oil.

Source: Ghana Web

Ghana and Ajax midfielder, Mohammed Kudus could join an English club in the summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has been linked with a move to Manchester United, with Arsenal also monitoring his progress.

Although no concrete move has been made, Kudus, who came close to joining Everton last summer, is expected to leave Ajax at the end of the season.

He will however come at a huge price for any club interested in his services with 12 months remaining on his contract.

Kudus has scored 18 goals and provided five assist across all competitions this season.

“It looks like an open situation for Mohammed Kudus, things could happen with him this summer,” transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano wrote in his column for CaughtOffisde.

“I’m not aware of anything concrete at this stage with Man United or Arsenal; but he always had the dream to play in Premier League so the situation will be one to watch in the summer.”

Source: Ghana Web

Civil Society Organizations in education are calling on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure expenditure in education funding is not cut.

In a three-page petition, the groups said prior to the staff-level agreement, the IMF team at a meeting in Accra with the CSOs assured participants of its commitment to protect social protection and related budgets from expenditure cuts, as part of the expenditure rationalisation conditionality which included basic education, the School Feeding Programme in primary schools, and cash grants to the poorest but the reversal is the case.

The CSO’s bemoaned that these pernicious expenditure cuts are happening at a critical time when one million Ghanaian children aged 4-18 are out of school, over 5,000 public basic schools exist under trees, sheds, and dilapidated structures, 2.3 million public basic school children do not have access to desks, and less than a quarter of primary school graduates are exhibiting minimum competencies in Mathematics and English.

“This is not only inimical to the attainment of universal basic enrolment and completion with relevant learning outcomes by 2030, but the sustenance of modest gains made recently in enhancing equitable access,” the petition said.

The CSO’s have, thus, called on the IMF Board to live up to its promises, remove the brutal cuts, and ensure the Government of Ghana is able to meet required conditions subsequent to final approval.

Read details of the petition below:

To: Executive Directors to the IMF

Dear Executive Directors,

Civil Society Petition to the IMF Board on Cuts in Ghana’s Basic Education 2023 Budgetary Allocation and Medium-Term (2023-2025) Expenditure Framework for Education and the Ghana School Feeding Programme

On 12th December 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff-level agreement with the Government of Ghana on economic policies and reforms to be supported by a new three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of about US$ 3 billion. Ghana has since been working to meet the conditions precedent to a Board Level approval.

Prior to the staff level agreement, Civil Society representatives in Ghana held two meetings with the IMF team in Accra, during which the IMF assured participants of its commitment to protect social protection and related budgets from expenditure cuts, as part of the expenditure rationalization conditionalities. Specific areas of assurances were basic education, the School Feeding Programme in primary schools, and cash grants to the poorest.

However, the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (2023-2025) presented to the IMF by the Government of Ghana, including the expenditure allocations in the Budget Statement for 2023 – the inception budget for the IMF Programme, indicates:

a. 12 per cent of the national budget allocated to education for 2023.

b. 11 per cent projected expenditure allocation to education in 2024 and 2025.

c. 3 per cent GDP allocation to education in 2023.

d. 2 per cent GDP allocation to education in 2024 and 2025.

e. 25 per cent decline in the projected expenditure allocation for the basic school feeding programme in 2025.

The allocations above are in sharp contrast with the minimum financing benchmarks established by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) i.e. 15 per cent of national budget, and 4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) allocated to education, which the majority of the IMF Board Member-countries agree to, support and have pledged to champion.

In the case of Ghana, the President, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo was recently selected as the GPE Education Financing Ambassador responsible for encouraging other countries in Africa to commit at least 15 per cent of their national budgets and 4 per cent of GDP to education, bearing in mind that effective and efficient financing is crucial for the attainment of the education Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4) in sub-Saharan Africa.

The 2023 education budgetary cuts have not only reduced education’s share of the national budget and GDP, but severely affected, by over 40 per cent, the allocation of resources for providing teaching and learning materials in public basic schools (especially textbooks, which have been in short supply since a new curriculum was adopted four years ago), funds for managing basic schools (Capitation Grant), and basic school infrastructure.

Economically unrealistic allocations to the Ghana School Feeding Programme in the 2023 budget, coupled with projected freeze/cuts in the Programme’s expenditure allocation for 2024-2025 threaten to reduce the number of beneficiaries of the one hot meal a day intervention for 3.5 million public basic school children by up to 25 per cent. Today, Ghana School Feeding Programme caterers have declared a nationwide strike due to poor funding.

These pernicious expenditure cuts are happening at a critical time when 1 million Ghanaian children aged 4-18 are out of school, over 5,000 public basic schools exist under trees, sheds, and dilapidated structures, 2.3 million public basic school children do not have access to desks, and less than a quarter of primary school graduates are exhibiting minimum competencies in Mathematics and English. This is not only inimical to the attainment of universal basic enrolment and completion with relevant learning outcomes by 2030, but the sustenance of modest gains made recently in enhancing equitable access.

We, the undersigned Civil Society Organizations, with a membership of over 600, working across Ghana to promote access to quality basic education and social protection, call on the IMF Board to live up to its promises, remove these brutal cuts, and ensure the Government of Ghana is able to meet the following conditions subsequent to final approval:

a. Review the 2023 budget to reflect a minimum of 15 per cent national budgetary allocation and 4 per cent of GDP to education.

b. Restore the 40 per cent cuts in the basic education budget for goods and services.

c. Within the anticipated increase, make specific allocations for basic education infrastructure development.

d. Review the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework of the education sector to reflect a minimum of the 15 per cent national budgetary allocation and 4 per cent of projected GDP.

e. Reverse projected medium-term expenditure cuts to the Ghana School Feeding Programme and increase allocations in line with increasing inflationary trends.

The above demands are highly possible with expenditure cuts in the cost of government machinery, which is exceedingly high due to the large size of government.

Respectfully submitted.

Accra, Ghana.

27th April 2023.

Petitioning organizations:

1. Africa Education Watch.

2. ActionAid Ghana.

3. Oxfam in Ghana.

4. SEND Ghana.

5. World Vision Ghana.

6. School For Life.

7. Norsaac.

8. Coalition Against the Privatization and Commercialization of Education (CAPCOE).

9. Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC), representing 48 CSOs across Ghana.

10.Northern Network for Education Development (NNED), representing 89 CSOs in the Northern parts of Ghana.

Source: Ghana Web

Taskforces have been formed within cashew farming communities to compel buyers to pay government-approved prices per kilogramme to the cashew farmers.

Mr. Solomon Owusu, the Jaman North District Chief Executive (DCE) who announced this, said the essence was to ensure unscrupulous buyers would not cheat the farmers by paying below the GHS 8.50p per kilogramme approved by the Ghana Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA).  

The composition of the taskforce comprised personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, Information Services Department, Ghana Revenue Authority, and Ghana Police Service.  

Mr. Owusu told the Ghana News Agency in an interview about the challenges confronting cashew farmers, particularly in the area at Sampa, the district capital in the Bono Region, said most of the farmers were suffering from non-payment of approved prices because some buyers took advantage of their vulnerabilities.

He explained that some of the farmers in dire need of money to buy insecticides to spray their farms and other important family need accepted prices less than the approved kilogramme prices.

He warned that the law would not spare cheating buyers but would be prosecuted because “it is criminal.”

Mr. Owusu cited that the deplorable roads in the district are also a major challenge and contributing factor affecting the cashew business.

The DCE explained that drivers who were supposed to convey the commodity in their trucks from the farm gates and aggregation points to the depots and buying centres sometimes refused to render such services, particularly in the rainy season.

Mr. Owusu said the District Assembly had therefore started reshaping and rehabilitating some deplorable roads to address the transportation challenge and save farmers from running at a loss. 

Source: Ghana Web

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has revealed it does not doubt the support and love the Ashanti Region has for former President John Dramani Mahama to become President again.

A Deputy General Secretary of the NDC Mustapha Foyo Gbande, says the party’s intelligence suggests the love from Ashanti is massive and residents are willing to vote for their brother Mahama.

He notes that the blood that runs through the Northerner and the Ashanti are the same and it is impossible to separate him from residents of the Ashanti Region

“The NDC this year wants Ashanti Region to back it into power because His Excellency the former president has a trusted faithful relationship with Ashanti region.

“Naturally, we northerners we worship Ashanti because our blood is one, so if I see an Ashanti I call him uncle, Otumfuo is our father, can you compare the same with Eastern Region and Ashanti Region? Ethnic politics is part of politics because there is social mobilization agenda

“A property of the north belongs to an Ashanti easily like that. This year we are going to be in partnership with the Ashanti region to come to power. Every day and night you see us coming to the Ashanti Region. We want to strengthen our relationship and give them the assurance that when we come to power, we will still work with them.”

“We are here to work and we know that Asanteman will bring us to power, the NPP should think people who deter corruption, crime, and cronyism will continue to vote for them when they have failed”, he warned.

Source: Ghana Web

Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey, has opened up about his admiration for former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu.

The 29-year-old believes he shares a resemblance with the Nigerian legend and has been likened to him by fans.

Speaking to Super Sport, Partey said: “For Nwankwo Kanu, people say he looks like me. I think we played a charity game in Ghana and he was throwing the ball over me but I was quicker, he was old then. When he was in his prime, I was young and I can’t say I saw a lot of him but he was a great player.”

Kanu played for Arsenal between 1999 and 2004, winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups during his time at the club. He is still regarded as one of the greatest African players to have ever played in the English Premier League.

Partey is hoping to make history with Arsenal this season by helping them win their first Premier League title in 19 years.

If the Gunners achieve their goal, Partey could join the list of African players to win a title with the club.

Source: Ghana Web