Category: General

The founder of Movement for Change, Alan Kyerematen, has invited the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the launch of the Alliance for Revolutionary Change at UPSA on April 17, 2024.

The Movement for Change (M4C), led by Alan Kyerematen, and the National Interest Movement (NIM), led by Dr Abu Sakara Foster, recently announced the conclusion of talks with several other political entities to establish a grand alliance to contest the 2024 General elections.

“The Alliance seeks to end the dominance of the duopoly, the NDC and the NPP, in Ghanaian politics, two parties that, after 32 years in government, have failed to address the fundamental challenges of development in our beloved country.

“The divisiveness in Ghanaian politics, the ‘Winner takes all’ syndrome, as well as the lack of continuity in the execution of government projects which have been associated with the duopoly, have brought untold hardships on the good people of Ghana,” the Alliance stated.

In a statement dated April 12, 2024, the Allia
nce extended an invitation to the party he broke away from to an official launch of his new group.

“The Alliance brings together a number of existing major political entities, movements, and individuals who will work closely together to contest the 2024 General Elections.

“It will mobilize support from Ghanaians across the country, particularly the Youth and Women irrespective of their religious political and ethnic affiliations,” Mr. Kyerematen disclosed.

Source: Ghana Web

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called on development partners and other stakeholders to extend their cooperation and engagements on policy and governance beyond the executive arm of government, for accelerated impact.

He said this at a National Agricultural Policy Dialogue organized by Policy Link and Market Systems Resilience Activity sponsored by USAID’s Feed the Future program on April 16, 2024, at the Modern City Hotel, at Tamale.

The dialogue was on the theme: ‘Strengthening decentralization for effective agricultural sector policy implementation and coordination.’

Speaking on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament was the MP for Wa East constituency, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, who doubles as the Deputy Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee of Parliament.

Dr. Jasaw indicated that the structures and institutions of decentralized governance were well laid out in the 1992 constitution of Ghana with the appropriate supporting institutions and agencies also being es
tablished in the last three decades of Ghana’s enviable democratic journey.

He opined that the challenge however, has been how to ensure an effective lateral and vertical coordination between the arms, structures, and institutions on one hand, the consistency, and coherence in the country’s policies on the other hand.

Dr. Jasaw urged that, as a nation, there is the need to come to this realization and quickly employ pragmatic actions to further decentralize the implementation of policies and programs with the appropriate key performance indicators for effective monitoring.

The MP stated that it was, therefore, paramount to extend the policy space to include the people’s representatives at every stage of activity implementation.

He further reiterated that Parliament wields the ‘Power of the Purse’ and it was easier to carry MPs along when they have sufficient information about a particular policy issue or/and its budget line.

Dr. Jasaw assured them of parliament’s readiness to support efforts at strengthe
ning the decentralisation of the agricultural sector and urged the District Assemblies to conscientiously embrace the integration of District Directorates of Agriculture for a better impact on the livelihoods of the citizens.

The participants for this year’s National Agricultural Policy Dialogue included the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), members of parliamentary committees on Local Government and Rural Development, and Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Academics, Private Sector, media, Development Partners and other stakeholders.

The dialogue, which touched on the essentials needed for a sustained decentralized agricultural policy implementation, also called on the need for a speedy and timely disbursement of resources for agricultural production activities taking into cognizance, the season patterns.

They also called for the establishment of a dedicated fund such as the NHIA Fund and GETFUND for Food Security in the country.

The participants called on parliament to review the Distri
ct Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocation formula to include food security under the basic needs component of the formula.

Dr. Jasaw, on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, commended those organizers of the Dialogue for their civil societal role in promoting food security through agriculture production in Ghana.

Source: Ghana Web

The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has called for reforms to the composition and appointment processes of Board Members of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

This according to the committee will allow persons with the technical competence or experience in the extractives industry to provide strategic direction to the NOC.

PIAC observed that the appointment to the GNPC Board is governed by PNDCL 64, which allowed all board members to be appointed by the President of Ghana, on the advice of the Minister for Energy.

‘It is believed that persons often affiliated with the ruling administration are appointed to the Board,’ PIAC highlighted in its second Issue Paper titled, ‘The Role of GNPC in the Upstream Petroleum Industry: Challenges and Prospects’.

It also noted that the Board lacked institutional representation, unlike other Organisations such as the Petroleum Commission Board, which has representation from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Institution of Geoscien
tists, and three other persons, one of whom must be a woman.

It called for the urgent review of the PNDCL 64, which does not provide enough details on the qualifying criteria for appointment to the board of GNPC and for that matter served as an opening for ruling administration to appoint individuals ‘with strong allegiances to the party.’

PIAC also highlighted the need for the corporation to, among other things, take urgent action to retrieve funds owed to it by the state and other government agencies and review its Corporate Social Responsibility activities to commit more funds to cash calls and mandates, especially when its funding from the PHF is expected to cease.

‘The Committee commends GNPC for its role in managing Ghana’s interest in all upstream petroleum activities for over 30 years since its establishment, however, the NOC must start refocusing on its core mandate, and increase its efforts at becoming a viable stand-alone operator,’ the paper indicated.

PIAC is an independent statutory body man
dated to promote transparency and accountability in the management of petroleum revenues in Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

In a heartfelt statement, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Ga Dangme Caucus in the Greater Accra Region has expressed deep sorrow and condemnation over the tragic shooting incident that marred the final procession of the Kplejoo festival in Tema Newtown.

The incident, which occurred amidst what should have been a joyous occasion, resulted in the loss of two lives and left three individuals injured.

The NDC Ga Dangme Caucus extends its thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the deceased and wishes for a swift and complete recovery for the injured.

The caucus decried the escalation of tensions between youth groups and the Navy, labelling the use of lethal force during a cultural celebration as unjustifiable and contrary to principles of peace and harmony.

The group condemned the actions of the Navy in a statement signed by E.A. Mettle-Nunoo Jnr, the Deputy Spokesperson of NDC Ga Dangme Caucus.

The Caucus emphasized the right of every Ghanaian to celebrate their cultural heritage with
out fear of violence or intimidation.

The statement also expressed solidarity with Mr. Adjei Tetteh and the other victims, highlighting the trauma they endured during what should have been a moment of cultural significance for their community.

Commending the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for initiating investigations into the attack, the caucus urged for a thorough and transparent inquiry to hold those responsible for the loss of lives and injuries accountable.

As representatives of the Ga Dangme people within the NDC, the caucus advocated for restraint and dialogue as the primary means to resolve disputes and conflicts within communities, emphasizing the importance of peaceful coexistence and understanding.

In conclusion, the NDC Ga Dangme Caucus reiterated its condemnation of the shooting incident and called for calm and restraint from all involved parties.

They affirmed their readiness to support efforts aimed at fostering reconciliation and healing within the Tema Newtown community

Source: Ghana Web

The Ashaiman District Court has fined Edmund Dela Adrah, a 21-year-old student, a sum of GHC600 for falsely claiming that a passer-by has caused his penis to shrink.

Adrah would serve six months imprisonment if he defaulted in paying the fine.

The Court, presided over by Mr Derick Parden Eshun, also made Adrah to sign a bond of good behaviour for 12 months or, in default, serve three months in prison.

It further granted bail in the sum of GHS6,000 with one surety to Isaac Adukor, a 17-year-old sales representative and an accomplice of Adrah, for making a similar claim.

With Adukor, because of his age, the case has been adjourned to May 14 and referred to the Social Enquiry Investigative Department to investigate the conduct of the juvenile before the court can give judgement.

The two pleaded guilty to two counts of publication of false news and deceiving a public officer.

Inspector Tetteh Nartey, prosecuting, told the court that the complainants were police officers stationed at the Adjei Kojo District
Police Command.

On April 6, 2024, the police received a distress call about some disturbances in the Kanewu neighbourhood and a petrol team was dispatched to the scene.

He said the team met the juvenile and Adrah, who had accosted the victim, Abubakar Fatawu, with a crowd around him.

An on-the-spot inquiry by the police team revealed that he allegedly shook hands with the victim and immediately their penises shrank, leaving tiny bits, prosecution said.

Inspector Nartey stated that the two had raised an alarm by shouting at the victim and attracting the attention of passersby, which nearly led to the victim’s lynching.

He said the victim and the two accused persons were sent to the Adjei-Kojo District Police Headquarters for further investigation, adding that the victim was detained to prevent him from being lynched.

The court heard that a formal complaint was made by Adukor and Adrah against the victim for allegedly causing the shrinking of their penises.

On April 9, 2024, Adukor and Adrah were examine
d by a medical officer at the Tema General Hospital, who noted that their penises had no abnormalities and were of normal sizes for their ages.

The prosecution added that they were subsequently arrested, and an investigation established that they made false statements to cause fear and alarm.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Members of the Ghana Network on Environment, Society, Corporate and Accountability (GHANESCA), have undergone a two-day capacity building training in Kumasi to sharpen their advocacy skills to effectively reach their audience.

Representatives of 43 member organisations, drawn from the 16 regions of Ghana, attended the training with funding support from the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF).

The participants were taken through importance of media engagement and communication, understanding their audience, crafting a consistent message, choosing the right channel for dissemination, and utilising social media for outreach, among other topics.

They were also taught how to build relationships with journalists and media outlets, prepare press releases and media kits as well as promote human rights, gender and social inclusion.

The training was on the theme: ‘Strengthening Members’ Capacity for Efficient and Sustainable Organisations.’

Dr Frank Baffour-Ata, a resource person from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Sc
ience and Technology (KNUST), said effective media engagement and communication were vital for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to achieve their mission and impact.

He said it was important for them to define clear objectives, target audiences, and choose relevant platforms for communication.

They must also adopt compelling narratives that resonate with their audience, humanising data and showcasing impact by using high quality images, videos and infographics.

By implementing these strategies, Dr Baffour-Ata said NGOs could amplify their reach, foster partnerships and drive positive change.

Dr Renee Aku Sitsofe Morhe of the KNUST Law Faculty, who led the discussion on human rights, gender and social inclusion, said NGOs had critical roles to play in upholding the fundamental human rights of citizens.

Non-governmental organisations must be at the forefront of efforts to change the narratives in terms of the blatant abuse of human rights, she said, and encouraged them to adopt rights-based approach to
development in their advocacy to protect human rights at all levels of governance.

Mr Richard Adjei-Poku, an Environmental Scientist and Founder of GHANESCA, said the training was to build the capacity of member organisations to be efficient in their work.

He implored the participants to take advantage of it to make themselves visible in both traditional and social media with impactful messages.

Mr Adjei-Poku, also a Grant Advisor of the West African Advisory Board of the Global Greegrants Fund, took members through the GGF grant application and reporting processes including good proposal writing.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professional qualifications and membership aligned across both organizations

Partnerships built on shared aspirations for the advancement of the marketing profession

New partnership will support marketers throughout Ghana and the UK in their careers

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) have announced a novel partnership to collectively advance the profession of marketing, for the benefit of marketing professionals, businesses, and society in Ghana and the UK.

The new partnership agreement between CIM and CIMG is designed to support the advancement and mobility of the marketing profession and to provide access to development opportunities for professional marketers and practitioners. Marketers will also benefit from access to the latest resources needed to develop their skills, drive their careers, and enhance their organization’s performance.

CIM and CIMG will now be able to allow marketers entry to or exemption from, certain qualifications ba
sed on an equivalent level of study or individual modules studied at the partner organization, providing flexibility to marketers throughout their careers.

This new partnership also streamlines the process for marketers seeking recognition from both CIM and CIMG through membership accreditation. CIM and CIMG mutually acknowledge each other’s membership accreditation across various member grades where possible.

CIM and CIMG’s partnership will support the marketing profession in Ghana and the UK by:

1. Aligning CIM and CIMG’s professional marketing qualifications

2. Simplifying entry to and exemption from professional marketing qualifications where applicable

3. Recognising parity between CIM and CIMG membership grades (specific member grade only)

4. Providing access to a wider range of career opportunities, research and networking

Discussing the partnership, CIM CEO Chris Daly, said: ‘The formal collaboration between the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Gh
ana (CIMG) is built upon our shared vision to advance the marketing profession for the benefit of individuals, businesses, and society at large. Through this strategic partnership and our recognition of each other’s memberships and qualifications, we are able to provide a pathway for professional marketers to advance their careers.’

Discussing the partnership, CIMG’s National President, Dr. Daniel Kasser Tee said: ‘Both CIM and CIMG share a vision to develop and advance the marketing profession. This partnership provides marketers with many opportunities for professional development through wider access to training and qualifications as well as the latest thought leadership, and insights into emerging trends, empowering Ghanaians, and those in the UK with the tools they need to enhance their skills, navigate uncertainty, and deliver business growth to the benefit of the wider society.’

Together, CIM and CIMG are poised to empower marketers to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and make meaningful con
tributions to society through their expertise and leadership.

Source: Ghana Web

As the 2024 general elections approach, Ghanaians have a major decision to make between the NDC’s former president John Dramani Mahama, and the NPP’s Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The choice of Ghanaians should be based on logic rather than emotions and affiliations, this is the only way Ghana can achieve development and economic growth.

Albert Einstein once said, ‘Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience. You need experience to gain wisdom’. This underscores the importance of experience in leadership as important as the presidency.

Former president John Dramani Mahama has a vast flurry of experience as a politician.

He has held several positions on the political ladder, in comparison to H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; H.E. John Mahama will be a man of his own if elected while Dr. Bawumia will be subjected to the influences and machinations of his political god-fathers as a result of his inexperience, he will therefore not be able to make independent and informed decisions.

The experie
nce of H.E. John Mahama gained in and out of Office as President would enhance his leadership capabilities if re-elected. Despite his numerous achievements, the former president might have made some mistakes during his presidency, but he will recognize the valuable perspectives he gained during his time out of office.

There is a saying that ‘No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.

During his Building Ghana Tour in Kambatiak, H.E. John Mahama stated that, “I have been president before, and I had the experience. There is no school where you go and pay school fees, enroll, and say, I want to learn how to be president. You have to learn on the job.

Luckily for me, I got the experience of working with a very good, honest, and one of the best presidents we have had in Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills. As president, we did some things well; we built a lot of infrastructure. We provided health facilities in many districts and regions. We provided educ
ational facilities,’,

It is refreshing to hear the former president acknowledging some of the mistakes during his presidency, and stating that, given the opportunity, he would have approached certain issues differently.

H.E. John Mahama added, ‘Not everybody gets that opportunity that you become president; you go out of the office and you get the opportunity to come back again, and so I know that in the four years coming, I will be a much better president than even when I was president. This statement is pregnant with humility and candour.

H.E. John Mahama made this statement because of the experience that he had as president before, and the opportunity to reflect on his period as president.

While H.E. John Mahama will have the freedom and independence of mind to formulate his cabinet based on his convictions and experience and omit those whose performances were not satisfactory during his presidency, Dr. Bawumia will not have such independence and freedom to formulate his cabinet; his choices of cabinet
members will certainly be influenced by his political god-fathers. John Dramani Mahama has no political god-father, he is a man of his own.

Dr. Bawumia will be a puppet president if elected because he will be compelled to succumb to the dictates of those who put him in the presidency as a result of his lack of experience and his poor political background. H.E. John Mahama is certainly beyond this shackle of manipulations and influence, because of his political background and vast experience.

Ghana needs a leader with experience and an independent mind, rather than a novice who will be controlled and manipulated by a particular group of people to do their bidding.

Source: Ghana Web