Day: May 9, 2023

The leadership of the Young African Women Congress Network (YAWC) Ghana Chapter has paid a courtesy call on Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng, a commissioner of the electoral commission of Ghana.

In attendance were the President of the YAWC Network Ghana chapter Lady Matilda Hammond, Media Liaison officer Ms. Janet Smith and Ms. Janet Cobbina, a member of the Ghana Chapter. The delegation was accompanied by Mr. Daniel Osei Tuffuor, the founder and Executive Chairperson of the YAWC Network.

The team was warmly received by Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng who has been a lead Promoter of the YAWC Network since 2018.

The chairman Mr. Daniel Osei Tuffuor in his opening remarks acknowledged the role and impact of Reverend Akua in the society including the YAWC network and also commended her on her new appointment as a Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

He mentioned that the YAWC network has just returned from its East Africa subregional Congress held at the Makerere University in Uganda. He also added that the network currently has 10 chapters across the African continent and the diaspora and currently working assiduously to add a few more chapters in the southern, central and northern parts of Africa.

Lady Matilda Hammond added her voice that Reverend Akua is a role model for every young woman and that she and the entire members of the YAWC Network Ghana Chapter really look up to her.

Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng in her response expressed her gratitude to the leadership of YAWC for visiting her and also congratulating her on her new role as a commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. She stated that this was a new challenge and believed it was for a good purpose. She further reiterated that Mr. Osei Tuffuor is a true HeforShe who genuinely has the interest of women at heart and commended him for his amazing works and impact in Africa and beyond.

Rev’d Akua assured the delegation that she will attend the upcoming annual continental convocation of the Young African Women Congress 2023 which will be held in September in Accra, Ghana.

The team then presented a plaque to Reverend Akua on behalf of the YAWC network as a sign of support and encouragement to the Minister of the gospel for her new role in the Ghanaian society.

She commended the team and expressed her joy for such a beautiful gesture. She added that it would be a symbol of hope to her because leadership at the top could sometimes get lonely and people think leaders up there do not need help but they do.

Ms. Hammond gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the network and commended the reverend for her good works in the Anglican diocese, the society and her great impact on the lives of women. She added that she is an inspiration to young women and a beacon of hope to young African women across the African continent and beyond.

She believes that in 10 to 15 years to come more YAWC members would be appointed to higher offices in the UN, ECOWAS, governments, etc to continue to serve women and humanity even better.

Source: Ghana Web

Many have wondered why hotels are expensive in Ghana forgetting the factors that lead to the pricing of rooms, among others by these hospitality companies.

According to the Managing Director of Alexander Palace Hotel Apartment, Semira Seyram Mohammed, the about 30 taxes and levies billed hotels in the country are one of the reasons for the high prices.

Making this known during the launch of the plush hotel and apartment at Ashieyie in Accra on Saturday, May 6, 2023, she called on government to review the taxes on hospitality industries.

“Government should work on the hospitality taxes. We have a lot of taxes that kind of hit us back and forth…We have about 30 taxes or levies that we pay to government. A lot of people say hotels in Ghana are very expensive and it is one of the reasons because we have a lot of authorities that we need to pay levies, allowances and taxes to so you can imagine. The business owner would have to put all together and find a way of distributing it to the client or customer and that makes it very expensive,” she said.

While listing some solutions to this problem in the hospitality industry, Semira Seyram Mohammed said, “Maybe, they would need to come together, put all the bodies together and charge maybe one large sum amount of money and then distribute it at their end and that could help in support as a little bit.”

She further noted that the Ghanaian-owned business formed part of moves to support domestic tourism in the country and to give back to society.

It will also create employment for the youth in the area.

Speaking in the same vein, the President of the Ghana Hotels Association, Dr Edward Ackah-Nyamike entreated the staff of the hotel to give their all to help the company grow.

He said, “beyond the employment that has been given to you through the establishment of this hotel, you are also contributing to the economic development of this country.

The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Tourism Authority, Kwasi Agyeman, President of the Car Rental Association of Ghana, Mr. Seth Yeboah Ocran were present at the launch of Alexander Palace Hotel and Apartment.

Source: Ghana Web

The former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has taken to social media to mock former president John Dramani Mahama for wrongly quoting cement price during a campaign stop in the Northern Region.

Anyidoho questioned whether farmers use cement in crop cultivation instead of fertilizer, referring to the slip as a “new dead goat technique.”

He further opined that Mahama’s error was indicative of his exhaustion, suggesting he should refrain from further embarrassing himself.

“I can’t stop laughing, pls listen! Do farmers use cement to grow crops? Is it, not fertilizer that is used? Or there is a new dead goat technique of using cement to farm? Haaba! This man is obviously very worn out; he should stop embarrassing himself,” he said in a Twitter post on May 8, 2023.

Former President John Mahama, while addressing farmers in Kpandai in the Northern Region, inadvertently mixed up the prices of cement with that of fertilizers, leading to a humorous exchange with the crowd.

The incident occurred during his campaign tour ahead of the party’s presidential primaries on May 13, 2023. A video capturing the moment quickly went viral on social media, eliciting various reactions from netizens.

In his address, Mahama attempted to provide an example of the current economic condition in Ghana, emphasizing the high cost of living.

However, he mistakenly stated that a bag of cement was priced at GH¢800, while the actual market value is around GH¢100. Members of the crowd immediately corrected him, causing a murmur of amusement to sweep through the gathering.

John Mahama previously served as President of Ghana from 2012 to 2016, before losing to Akufo-Addo in the 2016 presidential election. He unsuccessfully ran against Akufo-Addo again in the 2020 election but has expressed confidence that he can win in 2024 and bring about the changes he believes the country needs.

Source: Ghana Web

Three Yemenis arrested by a combined team of Minerals Commission and Artisanal Small-scale Miners (ASM) taskforce on Monday, May 8, 2023, at Asomdwe, a suburb of Akyem Oda for allegedly engaging in illegal mining have denied being illegal miners.

The taskforce invaded a new mining site being prepared for community mining operation at Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, destroyed cables and other equipment and arrested the three Yemenis expatriates, and impounded two excavators.

A chief who is also fronting the community mining exercise was also arrested and put behind bars for two days by Police when he went to the Police station to secure bail to the expatriates.

GHOne News checks however indicate that, the Yemenis namely Hussein Ali, Muhammed Omar and Salleh Ali are engineers who were installing Macon SD-400 gold Wash Plant and other equipment which are advanced technology being set up as part of processes to establish an office and infrastructure for Oda Community Mining program on about 100 acre land leased under tributary arrangement by Ghana Consolidated Diamond (GCD) approved by Minerals commission.

A visit to the site observed it is almost 100 meters away from the Birim river.

Three(3) dams have also been created for recycling of water for its intended mining operation using the latest technology being installed by the Yemenis.

Kontoh Owusu Agyekum, Project Coordinator of the Oda Community Mining program said , their preparatory activities were known to the District Security Council, BNI, Regional Security Council, Regional Police Command, Minerals Commission and all other regulatory bodies.

He added that it is therefore disingenuous for anyone to claim they are engaging in illegal mining.

Kontoh Owusu Agyekum alleged that the taskforce stole Ghc30,000 belonging to the expatriates.

Source: Ghana Web

Mr Abdul Samad Nurudeen, the Bono Regional Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), says the leadership of the party needs total overhaul to enhance its fortunes in Election 2024.

He said with a more proactive leadership, the PNC could find alternative sources to fund its activities, instead of “the normal norm of over-relying on bigger political parties for support.”

“It’s unfortunate the leadership of our great party has failed woefully to get sustainable avenues to finance the PNC,” Mr Nurudeen stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday in Sunyani.

He expressed regret that “internal corruption and selfishness” remained the bane of the PNC, and that in the days of Dr Hilla Liman, the founder, the PNC was the third force in Ghana’s political space.

“He left a very good landmark in the political landscape of this country, did exceptionally well in government, and transformed the nation’s transport and agriculture sector.”

“In fact, the late Dr Liman made the PNC exceptionally attractive until our great party was taken over by leaderships with selfish ambitions,” Mr Nurudeen said, adding: “We now need a strong leadership that will nurse the hope and aspirations of our late founder.”

He said the divisions and factions in the PNC were gradually collapsing it while some individuals were using the party to amass wealth.

Source: Ghana Web

Members of the Northern Regional Re-integration Committee on Witchcraft Accusation and Disbandment of Alleged Witches Camps, have condemned lynching of two persons at Zakpalsi in the Mion District of the Northern Region over witchcraft allegations.

Hajia Adam Lamnatu, Secretary to the Committee, who read a statement at a press conference on behalf of Members of the Committee in Tamale, said ‘this is barbaric and an affront to Human Rights, especially as Ghana has signed onto a number of international human rights conventions including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)’

Members of the Committee are ActionAid Ghana, Songtaba, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Department of Gender Children and Social Protection and representatives of traditional and religious leaders.

Safura Imoro, in her early 40s, and Mba Cherefo, an aged man, were lynched in the early hours of Sunday, May 07, 2023, over witchcraft accusations.

Hajia Lamnatu said ‘This is particularly worrying as Madam Safura Imoro, who was lynched at the forecourt of the Zakpalsi Naa’s Palace, left behind seven children.’

She called on the Police to act swiftly on the issue to bring the perpetrators to book and give justice to the families of the victims.

She said, ‘This is a clear case of alleged murder, and there should not be any interference to give the Police the space to do their investigation.’

She appealed to Parliament to hasten the passage of the Anti-witchcraft Bill into law to help address the prevalence of witchcraft accusations and safeguard the fundamental rights of victims.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Alpha International Theological Seminary, in collaboration with Sister Theological, South Africa, has conferred Honorary Professorship on Reverend Dr Mark Nii Lamptey, a member of the Centre of Awareness Global Peace Mission, for his outstanding work as a Christian Lecturer.

He was also recognised for his outstanding performance as a public servant, servant of the Church of Christ, and peace activist.

Right Rev. Prof Godwin Davids, the Executive Director of the International Institute for Governance and Development, officiated the conferment at the Assemblies of God (Deliverance) Church Auditorium, Mankessim.

Rev Dr Kwaku Asante, Rev Dr Edward Acquah Mensah, and Rev Vincent Michael Mensah, Minister in charge of the Deliverance Assemble of God Church, who doubles as a lecture at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, robed Dr Lamptey.

Right Rev Davids, also the President of Alpha International Theological Seminary and Vicar General of World Council of Apostles and Bishops, said the awardee was privileged to share his wealth of experience and knowledge with seminary students in Ghana, South Africa, and other parts the world to enrich their knowledge.

‘We are privileged to do the conferment for you and also certain this will serve as a springboard for the Lord to use you for greater things,’ he said.

Rev Dr Lamptey, apart from the Honorary Professor of Theology Certificate, further received the International Diploma in Governance and Peace Building Certificate from the International Institute of Governance.

He also received the Man of Peace Award and a Citation from the World Council of Bishops and Apostles and the International Institute of Governance and Development.

Rev. Dr Lamptey worked as Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority for Mfantseman Municipality and the Gomoa and Ekumfi Districts of the Central Region.

He was also the Dean of the School of Leadership, Politics and Governance, Mission Africa Incorporated, where he studied Theology.

He was a part time lecturer at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Kormantse near Saltpond, affiliated to the Global University and a Returning Officer of the Electoral Commission for Gomoa West Constituency from 2004 to 2012, among other achievements.

He is a United States Peace Corps contact person and has been on counterpart programmes since 1997.

He is also the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Association-Ghana, a member of United International Peace and Governance Council of Africa, Ghana Chapter and the Centre of Awareness Global Peace Mission.

Rev Dr Lamptey is married with four children.

He thanked all and sundry who supported his work and assured that he would continue to use his God given talents to serve the society.

Source: Ghana News Agency