Day: January 5, 2024

The New Africa Foundation, an entity focused on addressing challenges on the African Continent, is to host ‘The Convention’ 2024 in Ghana, aimed at igniting the African voices towards meeting the continent’s developmental needs.

The event is scheduled to take place on January 7 at Independence Square, coinciding with Ghana’s Constitution Day.

The Foundation is known to extend its services in socio-economic empowerment, youth and women’s advocacy, religion, health, education, and humanitarianism, bridging gaps and addressing critical national, continental, and global issues.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Friday by the Foundation noted that the event would encompass different facets of African excellence, including thought leaders and artists, all before an audience.

This includes every stratum, community and group that constitutes the country, ‘a microcosmic representation of the macrocosmic continent.’

At the Accra event, the Foundation, in partnership with Afrokids, would give out 5,00
0 pairs of shoes to the needy as part of the activities of the convention.

Participants would get informed, inspired and empowered in the pursuit of Pan-Africanist ideals and the development of the continent.

Among the confirmed speakers slated for the maiden Convention is Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao, a trailblazing leader and Pan-African advocate from Zimbabwe, with a medical background and a commitment to fostering unity among African nations and the diaspora.

Her efforts in empowering women, promoting gender equality, and championing education and healthcare initiatives had contributed to a legacy transcending borders.

Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, a distinguished African Legal Scholar and passionate advocate for good governance and Pan-Africanism from Kenya, would also speak at the Convention.

With a significant tenure as the former Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, Prof Lumumba has gained global recognition through compelling speeches dissecting African politics and socio-economic chall
enges.

He remains a dynamic force in pursuing African unity and development, inspiring the youth and championing justice, the statement said.

South Africa’s Julius Malema, a dynamic and influential politician, who has captured the hearts of many with his impassioned commitment to social justice and economic equality, would also be present.

As the Founder and Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters since 2013, Malema has led a fervent crusade for the rights of the marginalised and the transformation of South Africa’s economic landscape.

Peter Obi, a luminary in Nigerian politics with unwavering integrity and exceptional leadership acumen, would be among the speakers to address the gathering.

Mr Obi has a background in economics and a successful stint in business and brings a unique blend of financial acuity and social consciousness to the political arena.

Serving as the Governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, he has been lauded for his transformative policies, focusing on education, healthcare, and
infrastructure.

The statement encouraged the public to visit for more information and free registration to attend the convention.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A 25-year-old former employee of Pizzaman/Chickenman, who stole a gallon of Frytol Cooking Oil valued at GH?600 belonging to the Pizzaman/Chickenman Company Limited, has been put before an Accra Circuit Court.

Charged with stealing, Kwame Asante pleaded guilty to stealing.

The Court presided over by Mrs Susana Eduful, therefore, ordered the accused person to sign a bond of good behaviour for six months in default serve three months imprisonment.

The facts as presented by Police Chief Inspector Samuel Ahiabor were that the complainant Mr Chris Nana Boayke is one of the Managers of Pizzaman/Chickenman Company Limited.

The prosecution said recently, the Management of the Company noticed an outrageous reduction of stocked items, including gallons of cooking oil, frozen chicken, and other items, which excessively surpassed production output.

It said given the situation, the Company installed CCTV cameras to monitor the activities of the staff and to curb the occurence.

?The prosecution said on November 14,
2023, at about 0500 hours, the accused person sneaked into the Company’s storeroom and made away with a gallon of Frytol cooking oil valued at GH?600.

It said the complainant came to work and while watching the footage of the previous day’s activities, he saw the accused person carrying away a gallon of cooking oil without permission.

The prosecution said a complaint was lodged to the Police and the accused person was arrested, but was subsequently released on Police enquiry bail for further investigation.

It said while an investigation was ongoing, the Spintex branch of the Company was broken into by one of the Company’s workers.

The prosecution said, ‘preliminary investigation conducted in the latter incident reasonably suggested that the accused person committed the crime based on the CCTV footage analysis.’

It said the accused person was invited to report to the Police and assist in the investigation, but he dishonoured the Police invitation and left the jurisdiction.

The prosecution said the Police
had a hint that the accused person was on board a bus travelling to Kumasi and he was traced and arrested at KNUST junction near Kumasi on December 20, 2023.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has donated Gh?10,000,00, bags of rice, cooking oil and water to support Failatu Abdul-Razak’s cook-a-thon.

Mr Angelo Yossi Dogbe, Northern Regional Director of GTA, who presented a cheque covering the amount to Failatu’s Manager in Tamale, announced that Zaina Logde also had a special package for her after the event.

He said, ‘Zaina Lodge inside the Mole National Park has promised a two-day stay, which is worth over $1,000 for Failatu and her family after the event.’

He lauded Failatu for drawing audience to witness the food and rich culture of the north and encouraged tourists to visit the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

An Accra Circuit Court has remanded into Police custody a dispatch rider, who allegedly robbed a cleaner of her Samsung Galaxy A04 mobile phone valued at GH?3,000.

Godwin Abayateye, aka ‘Capon’ who was charged with robbery, pleaded not guilty.

Abayateye was, therefore, remanded into Police custody to reappear on January 9, 2024, by the Court presided over by Mrs Susana Eduful.

Police Chief Inspector Samuel Ahiabor, prosecuting, narrated to the Court that the complainant Madam Ewenam Dzablabi, who resided at Community 18 Block Factory was a cleaner, while the accused person resided at Teshie Tebibiano.

The prosecution said in June 2023 at about 2100 hours, while the complainant was returning home from work the accused person with one other at large on an unregistered motorbike attacked her with a cutlass and put her into fear and trauma and succeeded in robbing her of her Samsung galaxy A04 mobile phone valued GH?3000 on December 20, 2023.

It said at Community 18 Police Station, the complainant pointed o
ut the accused person, who had been arrested in connection with a stealing case, as the one who robbed her together with one other at large.

The prosecution said the accused person was re-arrested to assist in the investigation.

In a caution statement of the accused person, he denied the offence and stated that he operated within the East Legon vicinity.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The cook-a-thon duration for Failatu Abdul-Razak, a Chef, who is attempting to break the Guiness World Records (GWR) for the longest cooking hours by an individual, has been extended to seven days.

The initial duration announced prior to the event was from January 01 to January 05, which should be 120 hours of cooking to make up five days.

Information provided by Failatu’s cook-a-thon team days into the event, however, indicated the need to extend the cooking hours to over 144 hours.

Mr Damba Naa, Manager of Failatu Abdul-Razak, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale, said, ‘The idea is no longer five days. We are doing six to seven days.’

He stated that the team had to come up with such a decision to enable the Chef to make a mark because a Ugandan lady had already cooked for 144 hours in the quest to break the existing record.

He said; ‘For us to be able to break the record and set any, we have to go beyond the 144 hours.’

Chef Dorcus Mirembe, also known as Mama D, is the Ugandan lady,
who attempted to break the existing cook-a-thon record officially and had successfully cooked for 144 hours.

She commenced cooking on December 23, and ended on December 28, to beat the 120-hour record of Alan Fisher, the current record holder.

Mama D’s record is yet to be confirmed by the GWR officials.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Awulae Angama Tu-Agyan, the Paramount Chief of Gwira Traditional Area in the Western Region, has advised the public, especially the youth, against indulging in same-sex marriages.

He said the country’s customs and traditions abhorred the practice and so the authorities must do everything in their power to prevent people from engaging in the act.

Awulae Tu-Agyan, also the Vice-President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, gave the advice when he addressed members of the Gwira Traditional Council and people of the Area at a new year gathering.

‘The very people who want us to practise same-sex marriage have made laws to criminalise polygamy,’ he noted.

‘Who has ever seen a male dog chasing another male dog, how much more human beings with wisdom and knowledge?’.

God created humans to procreate, he said, and wondered if promoters of the practice wanted humanity to go into extinction.

Awulae Tu-Agyan, therefore, called on Parliament to expedite action to pass the bill to criminalise same-sex marriage t
o help protect the Ghanaian cultural values.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Godfred Alufar Bokpin, an Economists, has asked governments to ensure that Ghana gains an inflation rate of at least six per cent annually for about 15 years.

That, together with stable currency, high productivity, and lower interest rate, he said, would make macroeconomic gains translate into improvements in the lives of citizens.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on recent economic developments in the country, Prof Bokpin said: ‘We’ve made some macro-level progress, but it’s yet to translate into micro, which takes time to benefit ordinary Ghanaians.

‘Before macro-level development benefits the Ghanaian on the street, we’re looking at achieving an inflation rate of not more than six per cent for not less than 15 years,’ he explained.

He observed that over the years, measures by successive governments to tame inflation were short-lived, a situation, the Economist said was not helpful for individuals and business planning and had less positive impact on Ghanaians.

‘Our target should b
e an inflation rate of not less than six per cent in 15 years, then we’ll see how interest rate comes down significantly, and ease restrictions on growth drivers of the economy, then, we’ll see that things are turning around at the household level,’ Prof Bokpin noted.

He described Ghana’s economy in 2023 as ‘enduring’, for individuals and businesses because ‘Ghanaians had to pay a high price of going through a surgical operation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’.

The sacrifices he said included higher taxes through increases to existing ones and the introduction of new ones from 2020.

Examples are the COVID-19 levy, Electronic Transactions Levy (E-levy), and Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which led to a haircut on investments.

‘Companies have had to lay off workers because things are hard, but government is keeping its size, but it was a price we had to pay for a future we can all be proud of, though the approach government adopted inflicted more pain on Ghanaians,’ he said.

He stated
that such sacrifices made by Ghanaians had yielded positive results with 2023 showing some signs of stability.

The inflation rate of 53.6 per cent in January 2023 had eased to 26.4 per cent in November 2023, with the Cedi rate, which experienced some depreciation against the Dollar, going for GHS11.6 for US$1 as of November 2023.

Prof Bokpin, however, said government must make more sacrifices going forward.

‘Even in 2022 when government said it was cutting allowances and coupons, they’ve not told us how much they’ve saved and what it’s been used for,’ he noted.

The Economist expressed optimism that 2024 would spur economic growth through increases in patronage of hospitality services, mainly, hotels and car rentals, due to election-related activities.

‘It means that there are some related businesses and Ghanaians whose lifestyles are indexed to political activities will have their harvest season. This would inject more liquidity in the economy and bring some relief to Ghanaians,’ he noted.

Source: Ghan
a News Agency

Mr Samuel Mensah, a business owner in Takoradi, says he is looking forward to an enriched nation capable of enhancing the living standards of its citizens.

He prayed for improvement in living conditions, which would enhance societal peace and stability.

‘I hope and pray that more jobs will be created for the youth and things will also be affordable to create a sound economy,’ he said.

Mr Mensah said conditions were quite tough in 2023 but expected economic growth this new year.

Madam Celica Annan, a businesswoman, said she expected the swift completion of the market circle, which is under reconstruction.

Meanwhile, traders have attributed the low sales during the festive season to buyers having to move from the old market to the new venue to purchase goods.

Mr Joe Kwofie, a trader, explained that moving from the old market to the new was difficult for buyers, hence the low sales.

Madam Ernestina Abakah, who sells cloth, said, the ‘dry season for business started early last year.’

Contrary to the crie
s of the others, Mr David Plange, a businessman, said business was good for him during the Christmas season and that he made the expected sales.

‘Although the new year is still young, I hope things will be better,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency