Day: June 2, 2024

Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Ghana’s Finance Minister, has called on African governments to reform tax systems to make payment simple and fast, and friendlier to businesses and individuals.

That, the Minister said would engender compliance, increase domestic revenue, and reduce the continent’s heavy reliance on expensive international loans to finance the continent’s development.

According to the World Bank, low-income countries, including those in Africa face an estimated annual financing gap of half a trillion dollars to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

However, in most Sub-Saharan Africa economies taxes collected amount to less than 15 per cent tax-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which the World Bank says is barely enough to carry out basic state functions.

During an interview on the margins of the just ended 2024 African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr Amin Adam said, ‘we must reform our tax system to become fairer, and treat the taxpayer well.’

‘I’m
not saying we should overtax our people, but ensure that we bring efficiency to bear on our revenue collection and tax system… and have a system that is friendly to taxpayers and simple,’ he said.

While calling for incentives to make people pay taxes, Dr Amin Adam urged taxpayers to be honest with their payment, explaining that the frequent audit and ‘harassment,’ resulted from tax avoidance and the non-disclosure of income.

‘We must make sure that we bring in the informal sector because a few people are paying the taxes, therefore, if we expand the tax net and bring in more people,’ the Minister said.

That, he said would not only reduce the burden on the few who paid taxes, but also expand the continent’s tax base to generate more revenue ‘to support our own development.’

He also called for continuous education and sentitisation of the people on the need to pay taxes, and leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital solutions to improve efficiency to make people spend less time to collect and pay ta
xes.

‘More importantly, we must spend the tax money prudently in areas that can generate more money so that we have value for money,’ Dr Amin Adam said.

Meanwhile, Ghana, last month, instituted a monthly stakeholder engagement initiative with the Diplomatic Corps as well as the trade in business community to that effect.

The engagement is to discuss, find and implement solutions to make taxes friendlier, ease the business climate, and track the progress made with solutions on the ease of doing business and increasing domestic revenue mobilisation.

The government has also echoed its commitment not to overburden taxpayers, but, use effective means to collect revenue from those who evade taxes, while making tax payment easy and fast.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has addressed a forum of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Antigua and, alongside several leaders, advocated strongly for change to the structure of the international financial system to protect vulnerable nations.

‘Ghana is committed to the fight of the SIDS because it is right, it is necessary, and because we have the moral duty to do so,’ Ms. Botchwey told the gathering which included UN Secretary-General Antonio Guttierez, and leaders from all over the world.

‘Ghana urges support for the 2022 Bridgetown Initiative for the Reform of the Global Financial Architecture,’ said Ms. Botchwey, referring to a global financial policy reform proposal initiated by Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados whose capital city the idea is named after.

There are 39 countries categorized under SIDS, with 18 associate members. They constitute one percent of the global population, but are at the receiving end of disproportionate battering by climate disasters and stark eonom
ic conditions, due to their geographical remoteness, small populations, land size, and their citizens’ dependence on the ocean for their livelihoods.

Ms. Botchwey said: ‘Apart from the vulnerabilities we share as a result of climate change, and the solidarity we feel for the SIDS as the most impacted, we are in this together. The success of SIDS would be the success of the entire globe. We are committed to their fight for resilience.’

SIDS were recognised as a special case both for their environment and development at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Brazil 32 years ago.

‘SIDS face high import and export costs for goods and irregular international traffic volumes. Yet, they must rely on external markets for many goods due to the narrow resource base,’ a UN office, dedicated to SIDS, Landlocked and Least Developing countries, explains on its website.

The Bridgetown Initiative suggests a desperate and widely-acknowledged need for adequate funding for climate action, which would simultaneo
usly close the large infrastructural gaps that plague low- and middle-income countries, in order to achieve a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

Ms. Mottley, who commands rock-star status at international public forums, agreed with Ms. Botchwey, saying: ‘We must build a more responsive, fairer and more inclusive global financial system, and we must do so with pace and with scope. Speed and scope are what is missing.’

She said Ghana was in support of the call for debt relief by creditor countries and increased concessional finance and investment in SIDS.

Ms. Botchwey reminded her audience that a large number of SIDS were linked by blood with Africa including, in particular, those in the Caribbean, which has been categorized by the African Union (AU) as one of its six regions.

Ghana was heartened by the significant deepening of partnerships with the Caribbean, including through bilateral trade and investment agreements, technical cooperation and exchange of best practices and membership of the A
frican Development Bank (AfDB) and Afreximbank, she said.

The key policy lesson from recent records of how the most vulnerable countries had performed is that ‘business as usual is no longer a viable option,’ Ms. Botchwey said.

‘Continuing to apply the past models of development will not usher in the achievement of new outcomes. Building the economic resilience of developing countries, and SIDS in particular, is the imperative of our time.’

Ghana also chairs the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), comprising 68 of the most climate-vulnerable countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific.

In April, VCF Finance Ministers meeting on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual Spring Meetings in Washington, DC., also called for major reforms to the international financial system to allow developing countries to access the finances needed to enable them meet climate goals.

A communique issued at the end of that meeting said high levels of external sovereign deb
t and debt service were crowding out the ability of governments to make the investments required to achieve their climate change and development goals.

Ms. Botchwey expressed condolences on behalf of Ghana to Papua New Guinea, following a landslide that killed and displaced thousands of people.

She also held bilateral meetings with several leaders and Ministers, including from Mauritius, Maldives,Nauru, Tsonga, Tuvalu and Antigua.

Ms. Botchwey, one of Africa’s top diplomats, is candidate for Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The organisation, with 56 coutries, a population of 2.6 billion and combined annual GDP of $13 trillion dollars, will choose a new leader in October. Thirty-three of its members are small states, including 25 SIDS.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Hunger Project-Ghana (THP) has inaugurated a Vocational Training Centre at the Supriso epicentre, near Suhum in the Eastern Region, to train and empower school dropout girls.

The three-year project funded by THP-Switzerland is to improve the livelihoods of 10 school dropout girls in the area through the Vocational Training skills.

Dr Kofi Essien, who spoke on behalf of the Country Director of THP-GHANA, said the objective was to ensure that the lives of the beneficiaries were enhanced to be able to contribute to community and national development.

He admonished them to embrace the training as a game changer in their lives and take the training seriously to improving on their living standards.

Mr Dennis Kumi, Head of Business Resource Centre at the Suhum Municipal Assembly, indicated that similar government project to empower the youth especially drop out school girls was ongoing and commended THP for complementing governments efforts in that direction.

He said the Assembly would collaborate with the
Hunger Project to enrol the beneficiaries on the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) examinations for certification as part of the training to enhance their skills acquisition.

Mrs Patricia Osei Amponsah, Focal Person for Gender and Child Protection of The Hunger Project-Ghana (THP) said the training was fully sponsored to ensure beneficiaries had a successful training.

The sponsorship includes provision of equipment such as sewing and knitting machines, all materials for practicals including sewing threads, needles, and daily stipend for each of the 10 beneficiaries.

These provisions have been made to remove all impediments on the way of these young girls reaching the goals of this project which sought to change the living conditions of rural communities.

The Hunger Project-Ghana is a not-for-profit organisation focused on women and children’s welfare by empowering rural communities through the Epicentre strategy.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Amnesty International (AI) Ghana has called on the government to look at human right violations that occurred in 2023 and address them accordingly.

They included women’s and girls’ right, LGBTI people’s right, freedom of expression and assembly, right to health, death penalty and executions and the right to a healthy environment.

Launching its 2023/24 human right report in Accra on the theme, ‘State of the World’s Human Rights,’Ms. Genevieve Partington, Country Director of AI Ghana said in December 2023, Ghana recorded a total of 187 persons on death row and since 1993 there had not been execution but there was the need to completely abolish the death penalty.

She said in July 2023, Parliament voted in favour of the amendment of two acts that would ensure abolition of the death penalty, more than 95% of persons on death row were for murder cases.

Ms. Partington said the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly continued to be threatened, and authorities used excessive force to disperse protes
ts.

For instance, four years after the murder of Ghanaian investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, the investigation was ongoing and no one had been brought to justice.’

Adding that, ‘in April this year, a coalition of media associations asked for a repeal of Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act and Section 208 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, arguing that these laws had been ‘weaponized’ to arrest several journalists and restrict the right to freedom of expression.’

She said the right to health were limited in the country, ‘in February, Ghana Health Service revealed that 27 pregnant women in Bawku municipality had died between 2021 and 2022 due to their inability to access medical services.’

‘While some were unable to get to the hospital on time, others died due to staff shortages.’

Mr. George A. B. Aggrey Former Board Chair said Ghana had a lot to do regarding fighting for the rights of every individual regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, etc.

He called on the Presi
dent of Ghana to act on areas, highlighted in the report:

He said regarding women’s rights, the government should ensure strict enforcement of existing laws against Female Genital Mutilation, with a focus on protecting vulnerable girls and prosecuting offenders.

‘Address procedural issues promptly and sign the Anti-Witchcraft Bill into law to criminalize accusations of witchcraft, providing protection and justice for accused individuals.’

‘Prioritize and expedite the legislative process to pass the Affirmative Action Bill aimed at increasing women’s participation in governance and decision making at all levels.’

‘Remove import taxes on menstrual hygiene products and make potable water accessible, likewise sanitation, and hygiene facilities.’

On freedom of expression, he said government must expedite the investigation into the murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, dedicating sufficient resources and expertise to resolve the case.

He said the government must uphold the constitutional rights to peaceful assembly
and protest ensuring that law enforcement agencies facilitated and protected these rights, rather than suppressing them.

On the right to good health he said the government needed to address barriers to health care, particularly for pregnant women by allocating resources and funding to improve healthcare infrastructure in rural areas, ensuring that pregnant women had access to essential medical services and facilities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, has encouraged young people to embrace technology to remain relevant and competitive in the ever- changing world.

He stated that when young people embraced and adapted to technology, they would be able to stay up with the rapidly changing global tides and waves and maintain the gains made with the support of Plan International Ghana.

Mr Tchona said this during an exhibition fair organised by the Southern Programme Impact and Influencing Area (SPIIA) of Plan International Ghana for 32 youth-led organisations in Volta and Oti Regions.

The event was on the theme: ‘Youth Empowerment, A Necessary Tool For Development,’ and aimed to provide a platform for the youth groups to share knowledge and enhance the impact of their interventions.

The Country Director stated that in a world filled with difficulties, the youth had the key to unlocking solutions.

He praised young people for their determination to confront societal developmental concerns such
as the climate crisis, social injustice, education inequity, gender inequality, and healthcare inequities.?

Mr Tchona stated that the path to meaningful change was frequently fraught with challenges that necessitate a vision, resilience, tenacity, and teamwork, and that true achievement occured when one was willing to pay the price.

The Country Director revealed that the organisation had invested GHS800,000 in 65 teenage girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights clubs in their Northern Impact and Influencing Area (NPIIA).

He stated that Plan’s Flexible fund and Youth Challenge Fund had also provided cash to youth-led groups, supported movements and networks, and increased their capacity to influence change in their communities.

Mr Felix Datsomor, a Ho Circuit Court Judge, stressed the importance of youth in advancing national development and stated that being ‘youthful is to be useful.’

He challenged the youth to adopt a new perspective and stop being spectators in the events around them, emphasising
that they had the potential to transform Africa.

Mr Datsomor bemoaned that some attitudes among today’s youth, including the way they dress, were eroding the nation’s values and urged them to desist from such attitudes.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, a former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has celebrated her call to the Bar with encouragement to women to chase their dreams.

She was part of a group of 182 new lawyers inducted Friday by the General Legal Council of Ghana.In an appreciation post on Facebook, the 66-year-old expressed her joy about the achievement and encouraged young people to pursue their dreams relentlessly.

‘It is an honour to be part of such a noble profession filled with outstanding achievers and change-makers.

‘I am so grateful for the love and support of my family, friends, and everyone who has been part of my journey’, the Former Council of State member said.

‘My journey has been relentless, passionate and vision driven. Age should never be a barrier to success, and neither should your gender.

‘I share this to inspire each and every one of you, particularly, enterprising young women to chase their dreams and aspirations.’

Becoming a lawyer had been her ‘life-long dream’ and she wa
s still in ‘awe and gratitude’ for the accomplishment,’ the Aglow Prayer Director stated.Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie was first female Vice President and subsequently President of the GJA, serving the longest period from 1996 to 2003.

She attended Winneba Senior High School in the Central Region from 1970 to 1975, before enrolling in Journalism School.

The Managing Director of First African Group Ltd holds a Master’s degree in Governance and Leadership from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

She is also a Chartered Institute of Administrators fellow.

Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie has served in various capacities and boards, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), National Media Commission (NMC), Ekumfiman Rural Bank, CDH Insurance, and Kulendi@Law, a reputable private legal firm in Accra.

In 1993, she became an associate of the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press (WIFP), an American non-for-profit publishing organisation.

She pla
ys an active role in the Women’s Aglow Ministry, an interdenominational Christian women’s fellowship.

She has many awards and recognition, including Ghana’s highest National Award, the Order of the Volta.

She was appointed a member Council of State in 2005 by the then President John Kufuor, becoming the youngest person on the advisory Council.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. John Allotey, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission (FC), has called on Ghanaians to actively participate in the 2024 edition of the Green Ghana Day on Friday, June 7 to ensure its success.?

He said the Commission had made available enough tree seedlings of different kinds at all their Regional and District offices, ‘… so we expect all Ghanaians to go out and plant them to help advance the initiative.’

He said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, at Sekondi, during a tour of the Region to inspect progress of trees planted in the previous editions of the Green Ghana Day.?

Mr. Allotey appealed to traditional and religious leaders, opinion leaders and other key community stakeholders to mobilise their people to take keen interest in participating in the exercise to help achieve its set targets.?

He said: ‘The seedlings are free so we will need the support of everyone to ensure the success of the initiative on that day.
‘

He cautioned those engaged in illegal felling of trees, saying, ‘It is imperative for us as citizens to help protect the country’s forest reserves from destruction by illegal lumbering activities so that we do not suffer its consequences in the long run.’

Mr. Darko-Mensah said the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council (WRCC) was ready to lead the charge to plant trees to replenish lost vegetative cover in the Region.?

‘For us in the Western Region, we deliver about 60 per cent of the country’s forest products, so we are ready to plant enough trees to even exceed our targets in this year’s Green Ghana Day initiative,’ he stated.?

He reiterated the need for everyone to embrace the culture of tree planting to help mitigate the devastating impact of climate change on the environment and livelihoods.?

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ambassador Baba Gana Wakil, the Resident Representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), says the sub-region faces a significant digital deficit.

He said the sub-region faced a major challenge of a huge gap in digital transformation, rendering Ecowas countries incapable of competing globally.

The ECOWAS rep said this at the Inter-Schools Debate to mark the 49th anniversary of ECOWAS.

Six second-cycle institutions participated in a debate for honour’s with Accra Girls’ Senior High School emerging as victors.

Other schools included Achimota School, Lashibi Community Day Senior High School, Christian Methodist Senior High School, and Nungua Senior High School.

The theme for this year’s edition was, ‘enhancing regional unity, peace, and security.’

The ECOWAS was established on May 28, 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, with its stated mission to promote economic integration across the region.

Ambassador Gana Wakil urged the students to take an interest in forming ECOWA
S digital clubs to build in their competences and knowledge about the opportunities and limitations that the digital era presents.

‘You students are already digital natives, and this is an era of artificial intelligence and other technological innovations. We do not want a situation where the youth in the region are left behind. Please take an interest in forming ECOWAS clubs, particularly ECOWAS digital clubs,’ he said.

He said the digital transformation was not limited to economic growth but relevant in all other fields, including the peace and security framework of the region.

The schools debated topical issues, notably the exit of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from the sub-regional block and the implementation of the ECOWAS youth policy.

Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the ECOWAS was a beacon of hope and a pacesetter for sub-regional cooperation and integration globally.

He said over the years, the regional institutions within the sub-regional block had achie
ved significant strides, including facilitating trade and commerce through trade liberalisation schemes and breaking trade barriers with neighbours.

Despite these strides, the minister said challenges remained within the region, as there was a huge economic disparity among member states.

The minister said the organisation of the debate competition reinforced the ministry’s strategy to focus on the youth in creating awareness about the institutional and administiave duties of ECOWAS.

Source: Ghana News Agency