Day: May 5, 2024

The Minister of Information Designate, Fatimatu Abubakar, has announced that the Broadcasting Bill will soon be laid before Parliament.

Speaking on May 3, 2024, during the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day in Koforidua, she said, “On legislation, I am happy to announce that the draft broadcasting bill is ready. We have received the advice of the Attorney General, and we are hoping to engage our respective parliamentary select committee in Parliament, which is the committee on communication, to help us facilitate the laying of the bill in the house.”

The purpose of the Broadcasting Bill is to provide comprehensive legislation on broadcasting services, regulated by the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA), in a manner consistent with the Constitution.

There have been ongoing calls from media and civil society organizations to pass the bill, citing its potential to sanitize the airwaves. The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) recently called on the Executive
and Legislature to prioritize the bill’s passage.

The Minister Designate also emphasized the government’s efforts to improve the working conditions and safety of journalists.

She stated, “We have provided comprehensive training in collaboration with our partners for over 140 journalists from different media houses nationwide. This training session has equipped journalists with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to excel in their profession.”

Additionally, she said, the Ministry has been engaging with the police service, other security agencies, and the judiciary to handle matters involving journalists effectively and ensure accountability for those who attack journalists and media houses.

Information Minister Designate Fatimatu Abubakar said, despite the success, the government is concerned about the increasing attacks on journalists globally.

“Furthermore, as part of efforts to combat impunity and ensure accountability, the Ministry of Information has been actively engaging with the Judicial Service.
We have advocated for severe punishment by the judiciary for those who attack journalists and media houses,” she said.

Ghana has improved its position in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, climbing from 62nd in 2023 to 50th place.

The Minister of Information Designate said the government will facilitate efforts to ensure that the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFFPIM) office in Ghana is properly set up.

“The government is concerned about our continued low performance when it comes to the Economic indicator used by Reporters Without Borders. It is in this light that the President and our former Minister of Information, now Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, worked so hard to lobby for Ghana to host the Regional Office of the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFFPIM). The government is taking the necessary steps to ensure that the office is properly set up and commissioned. So that issues pertaining to media sustainability when it comes to funding, there wou
ld be some form of support,” the Minister Designate said.

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, attributed the improvement to the GJA’s “aggressive actions,” such as blacklisting political figures whose supporters attacked journalists and media outlets.

He said the GJA is committed to using journalism to address environmental issues like illegal mining, sanitation, and climate change.

This aligns with the global theme of World Press Freedom Day 2024, “Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis.”

“The GJA seeks to lead a strong media campaign for the protection of the environment and the good of the country,” said Dwumfuor.

He encouraged other journalists to join the fight against illegal small-scale mining, known as ‘galamsey,’ and to focus on it for a longer time.

Source: Ghana Web

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is to engage the Ministry of Finance to consider removing some taxes on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to make it more affordable and accessible to consumers.

A Deputy Chief Executive of the Authority, Mrs. Linda Asante, who made this known, said the move spearheaded by the NPA Chief Executive, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, was to encourage more women to use LPG for cooking to protect their health and save the environment.

That, she said, was in line with government’s target to increase LPG penetration to 50 percent by 2030.

Mrs. Asante was speaking at a regional town hall durbar on cylinder recirculation model (CRM) in Tamale organized by the NPA, the durbar was attended by chiefs, security officers, public servants, LPG dealers, students and traders.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Sunday said Mrs. Asante said smoke from charcoal and firewood exposed mostly women and children to lung diseases, such as hypertension and also affected their eyes.

S
he said LPG, on the other hand, did not emit smoke, making it safe and convenient means of cooking.

Mrs.Asante said the government had introduced the CRM policy to make LPG more affordable, accessible and available.

She said the recent introduction of tender process by the NPA for importation of LPG had reduced the cost of the product.

Therefore, she said, the reduction would cater for any additional cost associated with the CRM value chain in terms of filling cylinders and distributing same to exchange points.

‘No huge jump of prices because of CRM. The tender process has brought down the price of LPG’, she said.

Mrs. Asante, therefore, urged them to switch from the use of charcoal and firewood to LPG to protect their health and preserve the environment.

She said within the few weeks time, consumers would begin to access filled cylinders at exchange points in their communities.

For his part, the Head of Gas, Commercial Regulation of NPA, Mr. Obed Kraine Boachie said four LPG cylinder bottling plants –
three in Tema and one in Kumasi – had been set up to fill cylinders for distribution to LPG marketers for onward distribution to cylinder exchange points.

He said the Authority had received applications for the setting up of bottling plants in Tamale and other areas.

Mr. Boachie said the CRM value chain would create more jobs and stressed that the existing LPG marketing companies would be the key drivers of the policy.

In her welcome address, the Director of Gas at NPA, Mrs. Akua Ntiwaa Kwakye, said the CRM was a new way of distributing LPG in a safe and convenient manner.

The Zagu Lana , Chief Yakubu Nantogmah,who, chaired the occasion, bemoaned the continuous felling of trees for charcoal and firewood for cooking.

He said the present generation had a bounding duty to protect the environment for future generation, hence the need for the people to stop cutting down trees and switch to the use of LPG.

Officers from the Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service staged demonstrations on how to put out fire on
cylinders using wet towels and fire extinguishers.

The Director of Corporate Affairs of NPA, Mrs. Maria Oquaye, the Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of NPA, Dr. Joseph Wilson, the NPA Northern Regional Manager, Mr. Theophilus Manu, the Head of Quality Control, Mr. Saeed Ubeidallah Kutia, the Head of Consumer Services, Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko, and the Head of Regional Coordination, Mrs. Aku Yuiah, all of NPA, were present at the programme.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A well-known Ghanaian figure in Kumasi, Kweku Kweku, also known as ‘Krofrom Killer,’ has narrated how some individuals were subjected to inhumane treatment during the tenure of the late Jerry John Rawlings as president.

According to him, after Rawlings took over as president through a coup, the military officers resorted to tormenting some civilians, including beating some of them in public.

He recounted a moment when his grandfather, who was a chief in the Ashanti Region called Nana Kwasi Agyemang, was whipped publicly while driving a wheelbarrow.

Krofrom stated that he was not the only victim of the brutality but also some women were treated in a similar manner that was disgusting.

Speaking in an interview with Poleena Multimedia and monitored by GhanaWeb, Krofrom noted that some of his friends were killed by the military.

‘I was in Kumasi in 1979 when Rawlings’ coup took place. A curfew was in effect at that time, leading to soldiers raiding homes. Some of my acquaintances were fatally shot. Some wome
n were placed on trucks and whipped vehemently. They were accused of hoarding clothing materials and provisions stuff.

‘My grandfather who was a chief, Nana Kwasi Agyemang, was asked to drive a wheelbarrow containing provisions while being flogged publicly. They did not even consider his status as a chief to treat him with dignity,’ he said.

Source: Ghana Web

Legendary Azumah Nelson returned to the boxing ring for the first time in 16 years for an exhibition bout against European Union Ambassador Irchad Razaaly at the Bukom Boxing Arena.

The bout which was to raise funds for the development of boxing in Ghana, attracted members of the diplomatic corps, stakeholders in boxing and huge patronage from boxing fans.

The three-time world champion Professor Azumah Nelson was inspiring and thrilled fans with his boxing skills, that once made him a dominant force in world boxing.

Razaaly, also demonstrated that, he was a good a boxer and exhibited some combinations to the excitement of the fans.

At the end of the three rounds, the fight was declared a draw with Nelson, saying we wished he could give fans more but was tired.

The retired boxing icon was the toast of the fans throughout the three rounds.

He advised the youth to shun negative lives and focused on their education and career.

Ambassador Razaaly whose?corner was directed by Coach Torado Bruce said boxing h
as brought Europe and Ghana together, in a positive way.

In other bouts, Dalvin Nelson, son of the legend, Azumah Nelson who quit boxing for some time was one of the winners on the night as he put up a great show to stop Philip Quansah in a Lightweight contest.

Delvin who once said ‘Dadabas don’t box’ looked very transformed in his outing as he punched and dodged very well on the night.

In other undercards Mohammed Ablor, a nephew of Azumah and speedy Wesley Ayibonte were exciting to watch, likewise Prince ‘The ‘Buzz’ Larbie and Desmond Pappoe in the juvenile bouts.

Light Flyweight Kelvin Addy fought Kelvin Amartey in an action-packed bout, while African Games medalist Theophilus Allotey proved his experience against hard working Nii Noi Dowuona in their Flyweight contest.

Bantamweights Stephen Armah and Wisdom Barnor displayed, likewise Israel Commey and David Ankrah in a Lightwelterweight contest.

Henry Malm was tested by Rexford Cofie in a Light Middleweight fray, while Light Heavyweight Jonathan Tet
teh aka ‘Worldwide’ was shocked to draw by Benedict ‘White Warrior’ Badu.

Janet Acquah of the Black Hitters defeated team mate Adelaide Djarbatey.

Jon Power also increased his unbeaten record to nine wins, while Freezy Mcbones knocked out Gabriel Adoko in the Light Heavyweight bout.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has hinted that a victory for the party in the upcoming December elections would lead to the creation of a National Women’s Development Bank under a Mahama administration.

Sammy asserts that the NDC is of the conviction that the financial empowerment of women is pivotal to the economic advancement of the nation.

He cited the 2023 National Population Census, which indicates that women exceed the number of men in Ghana, making up more than 51% of the entire population. This statistic underscores the importance of addressing the specific needs of women.

“If you are able to promote women, the job is half done because women are way more than men in Ghana. That is why we are talking about the national Women’s Development Bank. We have noticed that women love to engage in businesses, but they don’t have the requisite capital to start such businesses.

“A lot of the women have started with their own capital but are not ab
le to sustain it due to the unfavorable economic conditions in the country in recent times. We are also aware of the loans women have to go for and the draconian interest that comes with the loans. We are also aware that, women spend all their profits servicing their loans to the extent that, at the end of the day, they end up getting nothing,” Sammy said during an interview with UTV.

Source: Ghana Web

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference is embarking on a project to promote peace and build a cohesive society in response to the looming threats of violent extremism in the West African Sub-region.

The Conference with funding from the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), has been training religious leaders on inter-religious dialogue as a strategy to counter violent extremism.

It is part of an initiative dubbed, ‘Sahel Peace Initiative’ which is also being implemented by Bishops of four other countries including Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

As part of the initiative, a second cohort of religious leaders have been trained at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region following a similar training held in Tamale in the Nothern Region.

Participants were drawn from the Inter-Religious Dialogue Commission of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Cape Coast and Kumasi.

They included representatives from the three main Isamic sects, Protestant Christian Churches, Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches, and the Catholic Ch
urch.

The Reverend Father Michael Quaicoe, Head of Governance, Justice and Peace, National Catholic Secretariat, Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said the training was part of the church’s strategy to mobilise religious leaders as a united front against extremist views and actions.

He said every religion inherently sought to promote peace, hence, enhancing the understanding of religious leaders on peace and forging a network of leaders would build a fortress that could not be easily exploited in the name of religion.

‘All those who call themselves extremists are people who exploits religious sentiments as a vehicle so if we are able to help our people to understand that we have a role to play to overcome it, then we would have done our bit to empower not only our minds but also our hearts to fight anything that is inimical to our unity and common purposes and prosperity of our people,’ he observed.

Dr. Zakaria Zaka, the Lead Facilitator for the training, said Muslims and Christians were more united tha
n they knew because they share a lot in common as far as religion was concerned.

‘We have one Almighty God, we believe that God has created heaven and earth, we believe in charity and fasting, so, the concept is almost the same. The only difference is how we practice our religion,’ the Islamic Scholar pointed out.

He underlined the importance of working together as religious leaders with common needs for health, education, and social infrastructure.

The Sahel Peace Initiative which is the Catholic Church’s response to the unprecedented violence being meted out to civilians in the Sahel Region, is adopting country specific strategies based on local contexts.

In Ghana, the strategy is to tackle the spillover of insecurity from the Sahel with funding and technical support from the CRS.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to uphold Ghana’s democratic values and ensure the nation’s stability throughout the electoral process in December.

Addressing the crowd at the climax of the Aboakyer Festival in Effutu, Winneba, in the Central Region, he emphasised Ghana’s reputation as a model of peace and democracy in West Africa, which has been instrumental in attracting and retaining investment.

In his speech, President Akufo-Addo stressed the importance of peaceful elections, urging citizens to demonstrate political maturity and maintain tranquillity.

“Let’s contribute our quota for a peaceful and successful election to protect our democracy.

“The world awaits the outcome and events leading to, during, and after the December 7 polls; as a result, all must show political maturity and carry out routine works in peace to prove to the world that Ghana is a peaceful country,” he said.

He endorsed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the New Patriotic Party’s candida
te for the upcoming elections and called for strong support for him and other NPP candidates, citing the party’s extensive development efforts nationwide.

“The party has undertaken huge development projects across the country and deserves to be maintained,” he added.

Commending the Effutu community for preserving their cultural heritage, the president encouraged unity and tolerance to foster further development.

The Omanhen of Effutu, Neenyi Ghartey VII, praised the president for infrastructure improvements, including a new fish landing site and the ongoing expansion of the Kasoa-Winneba Road, which are expected to significantly benefit the local economy and safety.

The Aboakyer Festival, themed “Promoting Tradition and Development through Aboakyer Celebration,” featured various activities, such as a musical show, community clean-up, and sports events.

Source: Ghana Web

Fitch Solution, an international rating agency, says French banks exit from Africa will create more opportunities for local banks.

The rating agency said their exit could potentially spur growth and competition for local banks.

‘We see significant opportunities for local and regional banks in Africa despite the challenges. Some banking groups with pan-African ambitions should eventually gain enough scale to compete with long-established institutions. Increasing competition among pan-African banking groups should boost credit growth.

We expect credit growth to accelerate with the exit of French banks, albeit mainly in lower-risk segments, which will help preserve asset-quality metrics,’ the rating agency said.

This forecast comes against the backdrop of the Societe Generale (SG) decision to withdraw from the Ghanaian banking market and two other countries, notably Tunisia and Cameroon.

The rating agency said the challenges of French-owned banks in the African banking market that had occasioned their exit,
including their inability to target certain segments of the economy due to their parent bank’s conservative risk appetite.

Fitch also said French-owned banks followed more stringent loan classification and provisioning policies than locally owned banks, and this can act as a drag on growth and profitability.

The rating agency noted that stricter capital management, with higher buffers over local minimum regulatory requirements, has also constrained French-owned banks ability to lend in the African market.

The rating agency noted that French banks’ exit from African retail and commercial banking was slightly credit-positive for them.

‘They are refocusing on more mature retail banking markets in Europe and on activities such as insurance, leasing, and corporate and investment banking, where they can realise higher synergies. Their reduced presence in Africa also aligns better with their conservative risk appetite and efforts to optimise risk-weighted assets under European banking supervision, which is tight
er than the local supervision for their African peers. Increasing economic uncertainties and heightened geopolitical tensions in some African countries are also influencing their strategic reassessment,’ the rating agency said.

In the past six months, SG has also agreed to the sell off some other smaller African subsidiaries and launch a strategic review to dispose of its 52.34 per cent stake in Tunisia-based Union Internationale de Banques.

Source: Ghana News Agency