Month: May 2023

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Takoradi to host 2023 Ghana Teacher Award

Ghana Teacher Prize, an award scheme instituted to honour outstanding teachers annually, will be held this year in Takoradi, the capital city of the Western Region of Ghana.

At a planning committee meeting held in the month of February 2023, Takoradi was proposed as the venue for this year’s Ghana Teacher Prize. This has subsequently been approved by the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.

On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, Dr. Christian Addai-Poku, the Registrar of NTC led a delegation made up of Grace Agyeman Duah, the National Coordinator of GTP, Dennis Osei-Owusu, the Public Relations Officer of NTC, Grace Adoma Ababio of Standards and Compliance Department of NTC and Rhoda Ohene Tuffour, Budget Officer of NTC to meet with the Western Regional Minister, Regional Director of Education and the Local Planning Committee (LOC).

GTP is a three-day event that commences from the October 3 to 5 annually. The first two days are used for the symposium and exhibition, and the last day, October 5, (World Teachers’ Day) is the climax. The President of the Republic of Ghana is always the guest of honour.

Dr. Addai-Poku gave a brief history of GTP and underscored the need for the nation to motivate teachers as teachers are the number one determiner of quality and improved learning outcomes.

The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah specially welcomed the delegation from Accra and pledged his unflinching support in making the Ghana Teacher Prize 2023 a success.

He reiterated the need, to recognise the good works of teachers and pledged to give their all for the whole country to forever remember the west side hospitality.

A 7-member Local Organizing Committee (LOC) was formed and chaired by the Regional Director of Education, Felicia Okine, other members are reps from the following CHASS, Teacher Unions, Regional Education Office, TEWU, and the WRCC.

The National Coordinator for GTP walked the LOC through the Terms of Reference for the various sub-committees: Publicity, Event, Sponsorship, Transport, and Accommodation. She charged them to give their all to make this year’s GTP one of the best. The Chairperson, Mad. Felicia Okine promised the NTC officials of nothing but the best.

The team went round the city of Takoradi to inspect facilities for the event.

The event will officially be launched in the month of August 2023 in Accra.

The two-day symposium and exhibition will be held at Akroma Plaza and the Grand Durbar at the Ghana Secondary School (G.S.T.S.) auditorium, Takoradi.

Source: Ghana Web

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Student’s Chief intensify calls for removal of ‘killer’ taxes on sanitary pads in the northern region

The Dagbon Students Association chief of the Tamale Technical University and Executive Director of Dagbon Advocacy Network, Naa Nurudeen Ibrahim, has joined calls for the government to remove nuisance taxes on sanitary pad products.

According to him, the high cost of the product in the market follows the exuberant taxes placed on producers and wholesalers.

Naa Nurudeen’s breakdown of the taxes on the products, such as processing fee, Import Vat, Special import levy, Inspection fee, Covid-19 health recovery levy, ECOWAS Levy, EXIM levy, Newwork Getfund, Import duty on sanitary pads, Network charges Vat, African Union import levy and several others.

He bemoaned that sanitary pad has become a scarce product in deprived communities and among girls from poor homes.

Addressing Journalists at the DASA Palace as part of the Mensural Hygiene Day Celebration, he revealed that some girls use rags and towels whilst others quit classes during the mensuration period.

“Feeding and other basic needs are already a problem to these girls and access to sanitary pads of late has added more headache to these young women; some of them beg or borrow pads from friends during mensuration; this practice is common in boarding schools. When these taxes are removed by government, a pack of the product is likely to be Gh¢5; I am taking this opportunity on behalf of students in Ghana to appeal to government to adhere to the numerous calls”.

He called on the State Executive, organizations and the fourth Estate of the realm to collectively pressure government to revoke a number of the taxes.

Naa Nurudeen used the opportunity to appeal for sanitary pads for onward distribution to school girls at the Tamale Technical Institute (TTI) and other underprivileged women in some communities.

Source: Ghana Web

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Tanzanian giants Simba part ways with Augustine Okrah

Former Bechem United forward Augustine Okrah has reportedly parted ways by mutual consent with Tanzanian powerhouse, SC Simba.

Okrah in July 2022, switched from Bechem United to Simba on a year deal subject to a further renewal.

The pacey winger kicked his Simba career off on a sweet path grabbing goals in pre-season games for the Lions of Msimbazi but failed to keep his consistency hence both parties deciding to go their separate ways.

He last featured for Simba in December 2022, making only four appearances and scoring four goals during his stay with the club.

Before he departed the shores of Ghana for East Africa in 2022, Okrah scored 14 goals in 32 matches in the Ghana Premier League with Bechem finishing at the 3rd position which is club’s best position in the Ghanaian top-flight.

He helped them reach the finals of the FA Cup, ending the campaign with three goals in 5 games.

Source: Ghana Web

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Wives, relations of 300 illegal miners trapped in AngloGold mine besiege site crying for help

Wives and other relations of the over 300 illegal miners reportedly trapped in a mine shaft belonging to multinational mining giant AngloGold have besieged the site carrying for them to be rescued.

A video shared by UTV showed several people, predominately women, crying behind a fence where they claimed their husbands and family relations had been trapped.

“God help us! God help us! God give them strength for us, give them strength for us,” some of the women can be heard saying as they cried uncontrollably.

One of the women who spoke in the video indicated that she could no longer contact her husband.

She said her husband had been trapped for several hours and might be on the brink of dying.

“I have not been able to speak to him; his phone is switched off. They are weak; they have starved for hours, so they are just lying in the mine,” she said in Twi.

Background:

Hundreds of illegal miners are trapped in a mine shaft belonging to multinational mining giant AngloGold.

The incident, according to a Citinewsroom.com report, occurred at AngloGold’s Obuasi Mines at Anwiam in the Obuasi East District of the Ashanti Region.

The miners are said to have entered the underground shaft in search of gold deposits but have been trapped because all exit routes were subsequently shut.

One of the illegal miners, Ali Tijani, who spoke to Citi News, said some of his colleagues are unconscious as they have run out of food and water, the Citi News report stated.

The trapped contingent, reportedly numbering 300, are appealing through their families to the AngloGold authorities to intervene and rescue them from the shaft.

The company has not commented on the issue yet, and have also not responded to GhanaWeb’s request for information on the development.

Source: Ghana Web

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You’ll go down in history as the worst president in the 4th Republic – Prophet Oduro descends on Akufo-Addo

The General Overseer of the Alabaster International Ministry, Prophet Kofi Oduro, has said that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will go down in history as the worst president, Ghana has had in the 4th Republic.

According to him, Akufo-Addo has only managed to bring untold hardship on ordinary Ghanaians since he came into office on January 7, 2017.

Speaking during a sermon at his church, Rev Oduro added that Akufo-Addo has lost his way and cannot resolve the current economic challenges in the country.

“I want to tell my president; your expertise cannot fix this. From now until 7th December 2024, Your Excellency, you would go down in history as the worst in the 4th Republic.

“It has been six and half years of pain and agony. Six and half years of bleeding and bloodshed. We need help and that help no human can give… businesses are struggling, people are suffering,” he said.

The pastor added that the only way things would get better is when Akufo-Addo repents and begs God for forgiveness.

“Returned back with a pure heart, repentant heart and he will have mercy on all of us. When the righteous rule there is peace. Return back to God, he will restore your fortunes,” he said.

Watch Rev Oduro’s remarks in the video below:

Prophet Dr. Kofi Oduro, Senior Pastor of The Alabaster International Ministry has this message for president Akufo-Addo and his failed government.

Source: Ghana Web

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Tano Bofoakwa promoted to Premier League after beating Eleven Wonders on penalties

Bofoakwa Tano defeated Eleven Wonders 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to secure promotion to the betPawa Premier League.

Bofoakwa Tano had a fast start to the game and went ahead after just seven minutes of play, Leslie Aryeetey gave his side the lead from a spot-kick.

In the 26th minute, Bofoakwa Tano thought they had doubled their lead when Saaka Dauda tapped the ball home from close range. However, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Bofoakwa Tano continued to control the game and came close to scoring in the final minutes of the first half but goalkeeper Sulemana Adamu Rashid pulled off a good save to deny Enoch Abu and keep the score at 1-0 at the interval.

Just a minute into the second, Eleven Wonders leveled the score, Osman Zackaria leapt high to head in a corner kick from Hamza Mohammed.

Bofoakwa Tano after going down stepped their game up and came close to scoring in the 57th and 62nd minute. Enoch Abu first struck the post before Leslie Aryeetey fired straight into the hands of the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.

In the 70th minute, Bofoakwa Tano thought they had regained the lead when Leslie Aryeetey tapped home from close range after a free-kick from Saaka Dauda struck the post but the goal was legitimately ruled out for offside.

Both teams in the remaining minutes of the game, both sides pushed for the winner but failed to take the chances that came their way as the game went into extra time.

The extra-time produced no goals and penalties were needed to separate the two teams. The shootouts ended 7-6 in favor of Bofoakwa Tano, securing a place in the Premier League for the first time since the 2006/07 season.

Bofoakwa Tano joins Heart of Lions and Nations FC as teams to secure promotion to feature in next season’s betPawa Premier League.

Source: Ghana Web

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Supreme Court convicts Kpessa-Whyte for contempt after pleading guilty

Professor Kpessa-Whyte has been found guilty of contempt of court by the Supreme Court. Initially, he pleaded not guilty to the charge of scandalising the court but later changed his plea to guilty with an explanation, and then subsequently pleaded guilty.

A panel of five judges, led by Justice Mariama Owusu, convicted Professor Kpessa-Whyte based on his own admission of guilt.

The court had private discussions to determine the appropriate punishment after considering a plea for leniency from his lawyer, Dr. Justice Srem Sai.

Professor Kpessa-Whyte’s counsel requested the court to show mercy towards his client, emphasising that he has apologised and retracted the contemptuous comments made.

Following this development, the apex court cautioned and discharged Professor Michael Kpessah-Whyte after considering his apology and the mitigating prayer of his counsel.

Dr. Kpessa-Whyte’s controversial remarks were made in a recent Twitter post where he mentioned that the Supreme Court was being transformed into a “Stupid Court.”

Additionally, he criticised the current state of the judiciary, accusing it of partisanship and a lack of common sense.

These tweets came shortly after the Supreme Court decided to order the removal of NDC MP James Gyakye Quayson’s name from Parliament’s records due to procedural breaches during his nomination and election in 2020.

Following the tweet, Dr. Kpessa-Whyte received inquiries regarding his statement, particularly in relation to Ghana’s judiciary.

He clarified that his tweets were not specifically referring to the Ghanaian judiciary but were instead influenced by global developments, including those in the United States.

As a result of his comments, the Supreme Court has summoned Dr. Kpessa-Whyte, initiating a process that requires him to provide a valid explanation for his alleged contemptuous remarks.

Source: Ghana Web

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‘Nonsense’ – Maurice Ampaw slams Napo over alleged ‘NPP T-shirts for vote’ comment

Lawyer Maurice Ampaw has criticized energy minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh, for his recent comments suggesting that Ashanti support for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) could be secured solely by distributing party T-shirts.

Lawyer Ampaw branded the minister’s comments as nonsensical and disrespectful, maintaining that every community deserves development, regardless of political affiliations.

Speaking on his Mmra Ne Abrabo Mu Nsem on Wontumi TV on May 28, 2023, Ampaw opined that the minister’s chances of becoming a vice president had been damaged by his ill-advised statement.

“For you to come and say that Ashanti people only like T-shirts, what do you mean? They don’t like development. What kind of nonsense is that, what kind of nonsense is that Napo… for you Napo, your vice president issue has been dismissed, go and sit somewhere,” he exclaimed.

He further suggested that the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum should be considered for the vice-presidential role instead. He praised the Bosomtwe MP as being “blessed by God” and proposed that he should lead alongside Vice President Bawumia to ensure a victory for the NPP in future elections.

“Now, it is the minister of education who is reigning for the position. When you look at the man you can see that he has been blessed by God, so we should give it to him to lead and pair Bawumia, and let’s see how the victory will come,” he added.

Napo’s controversy originated from a campaign platform event in Kumawu, where he was captured on tape addressing party supporters. In the viral video, he assured them that the Ashanti Region, a stronghold of the NPP, would continue to vote for the party, emphasizing that the distribution of NPP T-shirts would be sufficient to secure their support. Napo’s remarks stirred debate and raised concerns about the party’s approach to voter engagement.

“If we cannot organize campaign rallies, let’s use our money to print T-shirts and distribute them to our party faithful and everyone – after all, our NPP T-shirts are beautiful, and I don’t think anybody will be wearing them and go and vote for another party,” he stated

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Kofi Abrefa Afena, has appealed to the general public to ignore deliberate distortions of Dr. Prempeh’s comment on the need to distribute New Patriotic Party (NPP) branded T-shirts to voters in the Ashanti Region during the 2020 electioneering campaign.

He explained that the statement of Dr. Prempeh had been maliciously taken out of context by his detractors to make it look like Dr. Prempeh took the voters for granted.

“Dr. Prempeh said the NPP is an attractive party. Therefore, if COVID restrictions would not allow for mass rallies, it was only wise to use the available resources for retail campaigning and printing NPP T-shirts. Dr. Prempeh continued that Ghanaians naturally love the NPP; therefore, T-shirts in the wake of the restrictions would make the people feel part and parcel of the campaign.”Source: Ghana Web

Source: Ghana Web