Day: April 13, 2024

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has vehemently denied any involvement with the GNPC Foundation Foreign Scholarship scheme.

His statement comes in response to a circulated list that names him and other members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as beneficiaries of the scheme during the Mahama administration.

Taking to his X handle on April 13, 2024, Ablakwa urged the general public to disregard the list, which he described as ‘malicious’ and ‘fake’.

Ablakwa also expressed his disappointment in the journalists who published the list without proper verification, a step he deems a fundamental journalistic duty.

He stated that he has alerted his legal team about the matter and will announce his next course of action.

‘I have never applied for nor been a beneficiary of a government scholarship of any kind. I, therefore, implore the general public to treat with utter contempt the deplorable circulation of this malicious and fake GNPC Foundation Foreign Scholarship list.

‘I
t is most condemnable that some journalists I hitherto had enormous respect for would proceed to further publish this defamatory list without conducting the basic ethical and professional journalistic requirement of verification,’ he posted.

Source: Ghana Web

Ghana’s first president and prime minister, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, hit the ground running shortly after the country gained independence on March 6, 1957.

That very day, Nkrumah formed his new government by nominating a handful of people to help him steer the business of administering a country.

The first set of cabinet ministers under his era were made up of 12 individuals, with various expertise, who were nominated to manage key sectors of the newly-formed government of Ghana.

A portrait of Dr. Nkrumah’s first cabinet in a group photograph has emerged on social media.

Clad in traditional kente cloth, Dr. Nkrumah and his cabinet ministers posed for the photograph on a green grass lawn, with a building in the background.

Some of his cabinet ministers could be seen beaming with smiles.

Source: Ghana Web

A Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, has vehemently refuted claims suggesting she received a scholarship from the Government of Ghana for her academic pursuits.

In response to the allegations, Mogtari categorically denied ever benefiting from a government scholarship, emphasising that these claims were purportedly spread by some members of the New Patriotic Party on social media and other platforms in an attempt to tarnish her reputation and that of her family.

Taking to social media on Saturday, April 13, 2024, Bawah Mogtari urged the public to disregard the unfounded claims, reaffirming her stance that she has never been a recipient of a scholarship from the Government of Ghana.

She asserted that the dissemination of such false information was a deliberate attempt to undermine her credibility and integrity.

Additionally, she clarified that she has never been enrolled as a student at Portsmouth University, refuting another aspect of the ‘misinformation campaign tar
geting her’.

‘Disregard the propaganda and falsehood being peddled by the dishonest NPP apparatchiki that I benefited from a Government of Ghana Scholarship.

‘Let me state without any fear of equivocation or contradiction that I have never applied for or received a grant or scholarship from either the GNPC or Ghana’s Scholarship Secretariat,’ she wrote.

She added ‘And for the avoidance of doubt, I have never been a student of the Portsmouth University.’

Source: Ghana Web

A deputy Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) in charge of Finance and Administration, Michael Addo has reportedly resigned from office.

According to a report by dailyguidenetwork.com, the resignation of Mr. Addo which comes on the back of the recent dismissal of the Director-General of SSNIT, Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang is informed by the appointment of Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as his replacement.

The Daily Guide report sighted by GhanaWeb underscores that bad blood existed between Mr Addo and Bosempem Osafo-Maafo who were both serving as deputy Directors under Dr. Tenkorang hence his decision to quit his position following the promotion of the latter to the topmost position at the state-owned company.

Michael Addo is said to have tendered in his resignation shortly after Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang, the outgoing Director-General presented his handing over notes to the Board of the Trust on Friday, April 12, 2024, before a Monday, Apri
l 15, deadline given by the President in his dismissal letter.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on April 9, 2024, dismissed the Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang.

The president gave Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang until April 15, to hand over to Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo the Deputy Director-General for Investments.

The president also made various changes to the management of SSNIT.

Pearl Nana Ama Darko, the Deputy Director-General for Operations and Benefits, was reassigned to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to serve as the Commissioner for Support Services.

In response, President Akufo-Addo has named Juliana Kpedekpo as the successor to the Deputy Director-General for the Operations and Benefits role.

Additionally, President Akufo-Addo is expected to nominate a new Deputy Director-General for Investment and Development in the near future.

In a letter signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo communicating th
e termination of Dr. Tenkorang’s appointment, it said that the outgoing Director-General will receive three months’ salary in lieu notice.

‘To ensure a smooth transition, kindly hand over and cease to act as the Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) no later than close of business on Monday, 15th April 2024. The President thanks you for your service to the nation and extends his best wishes,’ the statement added.

Bosempen Osafo-Maafo is the son of Ghanaian political stalwart Nana Yaw Osafo-Maafo who is currently serving as Senior Advisor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Yaw Osafo-Maafo served as Senior Minister in President Akufo-Addo’s first term of government between 2017 and 2020. He was also a Member of Parliament for Akim Oda from 1997 to 2009 and has held various government roles.

Source: Ghana Web

A total of 65 constituency youth organizers in the Ashanti Region have so far appended their signatures to a statement appealing to NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to choose Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh popularly known as Napo as his running mate for the December 7 elections.

The number represents 69.14% of the total of 94 constituency youth organizers, made up of 47 youth organizers and 47 deputy youth organizers, in the region.

Peace FM Online is reliably informed that the signing of the statement is ongoing and the target is that, between 82 and 85% of the youth organizers will sign it by the close of Monday, April 15, 2024.

‘It is an ongoing process because the youth organizers are scattered in the constituencies,” one of them told Peacefmonline.com.

Massive endorsement

He added: ‘This is a clear indication that the endorsement of Dr. Prempeh by a greater number of youth organizers in our party’s stronghold of Ashanti Region is no fluke. Our only appeal to our competent Vice President and flagbearer
is to consider him as running mate since he possesses all the qualities to support our flagbearer to lead the party to break the 8.’

Prerogative

The youth organizers reiterated the fact that no one can force the flagbearer to select a candidate of their choice.

However, they were confident that Dr. Bawumia would listen to their appeal as there is no question about the capabilities of Dr. Prempeh to be a worthy running mate.

According to them, the NPP under Dr. Bawumia is determined to win the elections and nothing should be left to chance to make that history.

‘Dr Prempeh is a shrewd politician and a pure NPP grassroots man who has helped the youth wing in the Ashanti Region in diverse ways. He has supported our major programmes over the years, and he also appeals to the youth across the country.”

“The youth are going to play a significant role in winning the elections and will be delighted to have Dr Prempeh as running mate,’ another youth organizer stated.

With Dr. Bawumia gearing up to name his runn
ing mate later this month, political pundits have put their monies on the Energy Minister as the best bet to galvanise support for the NPP in their Ashanti stronghold.

Source: Ghana Web

Hopeson Adorye, a former deputy national security coordinator, has voiced his opinion on the efficacy of the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) green book compared to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) performance tracker.

His comments come after the government admitted inaccuracies in the performance tracker.

Adorye’s remarks were made in response to a social media post revealing that the government had acknowledged errors in its performance tracker. The post stated, “The Government has admitted that 67 entries were mistakenly included on the list of projects featured on the performance tracker following its launch.”

In light of this, Adorye expressed his preference for the NDC’s green book, asserting that it was superior to the NPP’s Performance Tracker.

He emphasised that the green book, which documented developmental projects undertaken during the NDC’s tenure in government, offered a more reliable record.

“The green book was better lah,” Adorye remarked in a Facebook post on April 12, 2024.

The Gove
rnment of Ghana has disclosed that 67 entries were wrongly included in the government’s performance tracker after 48 hours of its launch.

In a tweet, the government also expressed joy with citizens’ interest in the tracker.

“Following the successful launch of the Performance Tracker, the government expresses gratitude for the remarkable interest and scrutiny from citizens.

“This level of engagement demonstrates the public’s commitment to ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the information provided.

“Within 48 hours following the launch, our attention has been drawn to 67 entries which were erroneously included,” the tweet concluded.

The Performance Tracker platform has been designed to give Ghanaian citizens easy access to valuable information on the performance of the Government of Ghana since 2017.

The government’s records are collected from 30 ministries organised to show projects undertaken by the government, as well as data on the outcome, impact, and beneficiaries of government interventions, e
nabling users to assess the effectiveness of these interventions.

The government believes showcasing the achievements can enhance transparency and accountability and build public trust in its ability to deliver on its promises.

Source: Ghana Web

Police in the Upper West Regional Capital of Wa have commenced investigations into the death of Sub-chief, Jontong Naa Mutala Tendana.

Jontong Naa believed to be in his mid-50s, was murdered in the early hours of Thursday, April 11, 2024, in his home at Suuriyiri, a suburb of Wa municipality by some unknown assailants.

It is unclear the motivation behind the gruesome murder of the Chief who doubles as the secretary to the Wa Customary land Secretariat.

The family revealed that the deceased was found in a pool of blood when they went to give him food.

The Upper West Regional Police Command has confirmed the incident to MyNewsGh.com but indicated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the culprits in the heinous crime.

Source: Ghana Web

Police in the Upper West Regional Capital of Wa have commenced investigations into the death of Sub-chief, Jontong Naa Mutala Tendana.

Jontong Naa believed to be in his mid-50s, was murdered in the early hours of Thursday, April 11, 2024, in his home at Suuriyiri, a suburb of Wa municipality by some unknown assailants.

It is unclear the motivation behind the gruesome murder of the Chief who doubles as the secretary to the Wa Customary land Secretariat.

The family revealed that the deceased was found in a pool of blood when they went to give him food.

The Upper West Regional Police Command has confirmed the incident to MyNewsGh.com but indicated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the culprits in the heinous crime.

Source: Ghana Web