Day: April 13, 2024

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has clarified that Ghana is not on the verge of having any health issues as a result of the delay in clearing the essential medicines at Tema Port in the Greater Accra region.

According to the MoH, despite the challenges, Global Fund has sent an itinerary for the delivery of medicines for the year 2024.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health further disclosed that the first consignment for 2024 was delivered on Friday, 12th April 2024.

‘By this press release, we wish to re-assure our stakeholders and the general public that the Global Fund remains our strong development partner in health, and has neither suspended nor intends to suspend any supplies to Ghana, and for that matter, no health crisis is looming.

‘The commitment of the government, through the Ministry of Health and its development partners, to meet the health needs of all people living in Ghana continues to be our collective top priority,’ the ministry stated.

Source: Ghana Web

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has clarified that Ghana is not on the verge of having any health issues as a result of the delay in clearing the essential medicines at Tema Port in the Greater Accra region.

According to the MoH, despite the challenges, Global Fund has sent an itinerary for the delivery of medicines for the year 2024.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health further disclosed that the first consignment for 2024 was delivered on Friday, 12th April 2024.

‘By this press release, we wish to re-assure our stakeholders and the general public that the Global Fund remains our strong development partner in health, and has neither suspended nor intends to suspend any supplies to Ghana, and for that matter, no health crisis is looming.

‘The commitment of the government, through the Ministry of Health and its development partners, to meet the health needs of all people living in Ghana continues to be our collective top priority,’ the ministry stated.

Source: Ghana Web

Mr Daniel Titus Glover, the Greater Accra Regional Minister designate, has called on the youth of Tema Newtown to allow investigations to be carried out by the Police on the shooting of some youth in the area by the Navy.

The incident occurred on Friday night when a clash ensued between the Navy and the youth groups who were on a final procession to celebrate the Kplejoo festival.

Mr Glover made the call after conferring with the Tema Traditional Council on Saturday on the issue that had created tension in the town.

He said, ‘We came here basically to speak to the Traditional Council, console them, and also address the youth. You can see the tension is so high in town because of the killings and the injuries.’

He added that even though the incident was so painful, they want the due process to continue; therefore, the youth should support him, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, and the Tema Regional Police Commander to ensure they are able to address the problem fast.

‘Police are doing their investigations
; the Metro Security Council will sit on the issue from Monday and will be referred to us in the region, then quickly, we will look at them,’ he stated.

He gave the assurance that there would be no recurrence of such an incident in Tema Newtown, stating, however, that, ‘the Navy should know how to comport themselves; I am appealing to them; I was part of the festival; last Saturday I danced with my people; the Police are able to comport themselves, so when they are meeting the crowd, they should at least slow down.’

The Regional Minister designate noted that I was at the Hospital with the Police commander on Friday night after the incident occurred, saying, ‘I saw the two dead and the three seriously injured, one with a pellet inside the thigh and the other two seriously injured. From there, I went to the naval base to meet the flag officer commanding to have a brief discussion.’

He pleaded with the media not to inflame passions with the incident but to help calm the youth.

Source: Ghana News Agency

One of the contestants in the New Patriotic Party’s parliamentary primary, Kwabena Boateng, has accused the party and Electoral Commission (EC) of allowing double voting in the ongoing parliamentary primary at Ejisu.

Kwabena Boateng was seen pointing hands at one of the delegates, saying, ‘He has been seen, the witnesses are there. He is in red.’

A journalist in a video shared by Asaase Radio, while giving his commentary, narrated that some chaos erupted during the voting process as Kwabena Boateng raised concerns over double voting.

Prior to Kwabena Boateng’s reactions, Kwame Baffoe Abronye, the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), whose wife is a contestant in the party’s parliamentary primary, had expressed deep concern over the voting process.

Abronye alleged that there has been collusion between the Electoral Commission and the constituency chairman, who is also part of the election committee, to unfairly tilt support in favour of a specific candidate among the nine contenders.

T
he governing NPP is conducting the parliamentary primary to select a candidate ahead of a by-election.

The by-election in the Ejisu Constituency was necessitated by the unfortunate passing of the Member of Parliament for that constituency, John Kumah, on March 7, 2024.

All nine aspirants for the April 13, 2024, internal poll were cleared by the vetting committee on April 6. They had picked up forms to contest the NPP parliamentary primary for the Ejisu constituency since the party opened nominations on April 2, 2024.

Source: Ghana Web

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team has reached a staff-level agreement on the second review of Ghana’s loan-support programme, allowing the Executive Board to consider and approve about US$360 million for the country.

This comes following a conclusion of meetings held between Ghanaian Authorities and the IMF staff team between April 2 and April 12, 2024 in Accra on the country’s Extended Credit Facility arrangement.

At the end of the mission, Mr Stéphane Roudet, Mission Chief for Ghana, in a statement said: ‘Upon completion of the Executive Board review, Ghana would have access to SDR 269.1 million (about US$ 360 million).’

That would bring the total IMF financial support disbursed under the ECF arrangement since May 2023 to SDR 1,171.9 million (about US$ 1,560 million), the statement noted.

‘This staff-level agreement is subject to IMF Management approval and Executive Board consideration once the necessary financing assurances have been received,’ Mr Roudet said in the statement.

However,
the Mission Chief noted that given Ghana’s strong progress under the IMF-supported programme, the next key step for the country is to reach an agreement with its official bilateral creditors.

‘We look forward to the authorities’ continued efforts to reach an agreement with all creditors in line with programme parameters,’ he said.

On Ghana’s performance under the IMF-supported programme, the Mission Chief stated that most quantitative targets had been met, with good progress made on the key structural reform milestones.

‘The authorities’ policies and reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while laying the foundations for stronger and more inclusive growth are already generating positive results,’ he stated.

Providing some figures to that effect, he stated that the fiscal primary balance on a commitment basis improved by over four percentage points of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023.

Mr Roudet also indicated that the country was on track to achieving a fiscal primary surpl
us of 0.5 per cent of GDP in 2024.

‘Spending has remained within budget limits, while the authorities have significantly expanded social protection programs to help mitigate the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable,’ he stated.

‘Ghana has met its non-oil revenue mobilisation target, while making progress in implementing ambitious structural fiscal reforms to bolster domestic revenues, strengthen public financial and debt management, and enhance transparency,’ he noted.

Mr Roudet also stated that Ghana’s external sector has improved significantly, with international reserve accumulation ahead of program objectives, financial stability has been preserved, with banks posting solid profits in 2023.

IMF staff held meetings with Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr Ernest Addison, and their teams, representatives from various government agencies, and other stakeholders.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghanaians are expressing strong disapproval towards Member of Parliament Sheila Bartels for her public display of recently graduated police officers from the Ablekuma North Constituency.

In her post on Saturday, April 13, 2024, Sheila Bartels proudly showcased the recruits with the caption: “Freshest batch of graduated police officers from Ablekuma North constituency. We wish you the best!”

Despite the apparent fulfilment displayed by these individuals in the accompanying photos, questions have arisen regarding Sheila Bartels’ role in their recruitment.

While the specifics of her involvement remain unclear, some individuals have insinuated that the legislator may have facilitated their entry into the police force.

These allegations, however, lack substantiation and are viewed by many as attempts to politicize the recruitment process.

Critics argue that such actions undermine the integrity of the security agencies and should not be condoned in the realm of politics.

Source: Ghana Web

The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has rebuffed the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s recently announced position on LGBT+ activities.

According to him, while the vice president’s announcement came later than expected, its personalisation made it irrelevant.

“Look at the time the matter came up till now; you have been silent. Had it not been for the pressure people were putting on him, he would not have said anything about it. He has realised that the pressure is heading towards tough territory, so he has to come out and say something.

Meanwhile, I am concerned about what he said. He stated that ‘I personally’; meanwhile, in the election, you won’t be voted for as an independent candidate. So his personal views do not matter to us. It is that of the collective he leads that matters,” he stated.

Following months of calls to make his position on gay activities and the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeking to make same illegal clear
, Dr. Bawumia while addressing Islamic faithful in Kumasi during Eid prayers, emphasised his strong opposition to homosexuality, citing both cultural norms and religious beliefs as the basis for his stance.

“First of all, it is important to note that our cultural and societal norms and values as Ghanaians frown on the practice of homosexuality.

“Furthermore, as a Muslim, my view on this matter aligns with the position of my religious faith. The Holy Quran is replete with verses frowning on LGBTQ acts, including same-sex marriages. My faith is, therefore, very strictly against the practice of homosexuality, no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’. No shades of grey,” Dr. Bawumia stated.

He emphasised that his opposition to homosexuality is unwavering, echoing the sentiments of other major religious traditions in Ghana, particularly Christianity and Islam.

“Therefore, I personally cannot support that which my religion, and indeed, all the major religions in Ghana, clearly and unequivocally forbid,” Dr. Bawumia declared.

“All t
he major religious traditions in Ghana (Christianity and Islam) are opposed to this practice, and I stand opposed to it now, and I will stand opposed to it as President, Insha Allah,”

Dr. Bawumia’s remarks come amid ongoing debates surrounding the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021, which Parliament passed in February.

Pratt contends that the spotlight should be on the stance of the New Patriotic Party, with Dr Bawumia serving as its representative.

The bill proposes a minimum jail term of three years and a maximum of five years for those who engage in and promote homosexual activities in the country.

Nevertheless, President Akufo-Addo has not yet signed the bill into law due to a legal opposition at the Supreme Court.

Source: Ghana Web

Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong has rallied polling station executives and electoral area coordinators of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to employ all available strategic methods to secure votes for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s bid for the presidency of Ghana.

Addressing party officials at the inauguration of the Akuapem North and South Constituencies working committees in the Eastern Region, Seth Acheampong stressed the pivotal role of grassroots executives as the driving force behind the party’s success.

He urged them to engage voters across the spectrum, including those from opposition parties, and convince them of the NPP’s agenda.

Hon. Seth Acheampong outlined various strategies to mobilize support, emphasizing the importance of attending to the welfare needs of voters, providing assistance in farming and domestic activities, and articulating the beneficial policies of the NPP.

He added, that even if the need arises to court a voter to vote for NPP, the executives can go ahead to do so.

‘P
olling station campaign is very crucial because that is where elections are won. So even if you have to go to the extent of courting someone to convince the person to vote for the NPP, I will advise you to go ahead. Any strategy you will employ to garner votes for NPP we have to do it, even if you have to fetch water for someone to vote for NPP, go ahead,’ the Regional Minister said.

These efforts, he believes, will bolster Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy and garner widespread support for the party.

Speaking on Dr. Bawumia’s track record as a competent Vice President leading the country to tap the benefits of the digital economy, Hon Acheampong praised his ability to build upon President Akufo-Addo’s governance achievements and drive transformational change across the nation.

He hailed Dr. Bawumia’s tenure as Vice President, characterizing it as unparalleled and setting a new benchmark for the position.

The event was attended by Sammy Awuku, Parliamentary candidate for Akuapem North, Eric Apeadu Yeboah, Parliamen
tary candidate for Akuapem South, OB Amoah, Minister of State at Local Government Ministry, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, among others.

Source: Ghana Web