Category: General

Professor Mark Nii Lamptey, Mfantseman Local Area Focal person for Anti-Corruption, has called on the youth to be active, responsible, well-informed, patriotic citizens and to be bold to report incidents of corruption to the authorities.

Prof. Lamptey made the call during an engagement with students of Mankessim Catholic A and B School at Mankessim Township to commentate 2023, International Anti-Corruption Day.

The event was organised by Lamaconsult Foundation a non-governmental organization in partnership with Mfantseman Local Accountability Network (LANet) and sponsored by Good Governance Africa and Hewlett Foundation.

This year’s celebration was on the theme: ‘United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC); Uniting the World against Corruption,’ which emphasised on the interconnectedness of Anti-corruption measures, peace and development and collective responsibility to combat corruption across sectors.

Among personalities at the event were Mr. Benjamin Koomson, Mfantseman LANet Secretary, Madam
Sussie Odarkor, Anti-Corruption Focal Person, Mfantseman Municipal Assembly and Head Teachers of Mankessim Catholic A and B basic Schools.

According to Prof. Lamptey, the UNCAC is recognised as a pervasive issue that undermined democratic institutions, hampered economic progress, eroded the rule of law and diminished the quality of life for citizens globally.

He stated that Anti-Corruption efforts initiated by UNCAC was for state parties to promote the active participation of individuals and groups aside the public sector, to prevent and fighting corruption.

He said Ghana, recognising the debilitating effect of corruption on socio-economic development, had made significant strides in the fight against it by introducing and implementing laws to combat it.

He stated that Ghana still encountered some challenges despite its progress, saying since the adoption of the UNCAC in 2003, the country always joined the rest of the world to commemorate the Day annually in December to create awareness about the global i
mpact of corruption.

He said the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), with support from Good Governance Africa and Hewlett Foundation also educated and empowered Ghanaian youth across 33 districts on the significance of combating corruption.

The primary objective is to raise awareness among the youth about negative impact of corruption and to encourage their collective participation in anti-corruption endeavours.

Prof Lamptey further urged the participants and the entire youth, to keep a close eye on government activities and to keep government on track.

They must also know their rights, ask right questions at the right time, hold elected officials accountable and responsible for their actions, love Ghana and to reject all acts of violence and vigilantism and as they stood stand firm against corruption.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Ambassador Perpetual Dufu, the Coordinating Director/Multilateral and International Orgnisations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI), has indicated that resorting to coup d’états as an option to solve development and governance challenges was wrong.

She said the African continent had a growing youth population, which did not resonate with the available opportunities for them and that led to agitations and sometimes resulted in coup d’états.

She, however, said ‘One thing I can say is that we don’t always have to look for the solution in coup d’état.’

Ambassador Dufu said this in Wa at a stakeholders’ workshop on the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) protocol, programmes, and activities organized by the MFARI in collaboration with the Media Response.

The workshop was to offer the participants the opportunity to know and understand the pivotal role that ECOWAS played in the development and integration of the sub-region and the African continent in general.

Am
bassador Dufu added that issues of climate change displaced people and the desire for people to change their livelihood and lifestyles had also caused them to move from rural areas into urban areas, which had its accompanying consequences.

‘This brings along with its development challenges, and of course when the heat is so much it can result in some of the things we are seeing in our region,’ she explained.

She indicated that the ECOWAS regional integration efforts would help promote interaction, trade, and a prosperous economic life for the citizens of the region, which would contribute to reducing those coup d’état-related factors and ensuring peace within the region.

She said people in the region would not be able to access the benefits of the ECOWAS Protocols if they did not have the knowledge and understanding of the extent of the benefits of the protocols that were available to them.

The Ambassador said that was part of the reasons that had made it imperative that all member states should sensitise
their citizens to what they stand to gain if those protocols were effectively implemented.

She explained that the ECOWAS protocol had provided for the free movement of goods and persons within the community and the right to establish themselves in member-state countries.

Ambassador Dufu, however, observed that the challenge in the full implementation of that protocol was integrating the protocols into the laws of member states to make it a reality.

‘The challenge since this has been in place is that after all these protocols have been agreed member states are to localise it in their own laws and to remove barriers that exist within their legal systems to make this a reality.

In many places, some of the barriers still exist but it’s a work in progress’, she said, and called for the support of the citizens within the community in realising that objective.

Naa Seidu Braimah Nubalanaang, the Paramount Chief of the Guli Traditional Area in the Wala Traditional Council, expressed worry about the growing spate
of coup d’états in the West Africa sub-region.

He called on the leadership of the regional bloc to re-examine itself and to put in the appropriate measures to end the coup d’états within the bloc.

‘When we meet at the highest levels, we should not just go there to take tea and other things, chat and come back, let’s look at these things.

If sincerely, we had good governance in this part of the world I don’t think that these coup d’états will be happening,’ the revered chief said.

Representatives of traditional and religious leaders, Civil Society Organisations, students, security agencies, and the media participated in the workshop.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Seid Mubarak, the Sunyani East Parliamentary Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has promised to drill more boreholes to tackle the water needs of rural communities in the constituency.

He expressed worry over the lack of access to potable water by some communities in the constituency, which was a basic human need, and thereby depended on untreated streams and rivers.

Mr Mubarak told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview after handing over a mechanised borehole he had constructed for the residents of Penkwase, a suburb of Sunyani, and promised to expand the facility to other communities in the area before the Election 2024.

Besides the water provision, the NDC parliamentary candidate said the Sunyani Municipality also required a befitting market, standard access roads and other social facilities, promising that another NDC government would do more to tackle those development challenges proactively.

Mr Mubarak asked the Penkwasi residents to ensure proper maintenance of the boreh
ole, saying regular upkeep of the facility would enable more people to benefit.

Nana Kusi Boadu, the Chief of Penkwasi, expressed appreciation to the parliamentary candidate for the intervention, which would improve the lives of the people.

He said most of the households depended on dug out wells for water, and appealed for a public toilet for the area.
Source: Ghana News Agency

The second part of November saw an increasing trend of 64.7 per cent in the total reported cases of unethical and unlawful content on the airwaves, the National Media Commission and the National Communications Authority have said.

A joint monitoring carried out by the two institutions revealed that in the specific categories of unlawful and unethical content, fake lottery increased six-fold (676 per cent) while occultism doubled (105 per cent).

On the contrary, the report signed by Mr George Sarpong, Executive Secretary, NMC, said money doubling decreased by 23.03 per cent while money rituals decreased by 16.07 per cent.

It said the top 10 stations that had complaints against them were Adwenpa TV, Asomafo TV, Elephant TV, XTV, Diamond TV, Big TV, Passion TV, Funny TV, Best TV and Energy TV.

In the case of fake lottery, 10 complaints were received regarding Adwenpa TV, 16 for Asomafo TV, 31 for Elephant TV, four complaints involving XTV, three for Diamond TV, six for Big TV, one for Funny TV, two for Best
TV and five complaints for Energy TV.

Some 15 complaints were received concerning Adwenpa Tv regarding occultism, nine reports were made against Diamond TV, four against Big TV, six against Passion TV, one each against Best TV and Energy TV.

For money doubling, 15 complaints were made against Adwenpa TV, 28 against Asomafo TV, seven against Elephant TV, 12 against XTV, 23 against Diamond TV, 17 against Big TV, 13 against Passion TV, 28 against Funny TV, 25 against Best TV and 24 against Energy TV.

Adwenpa TV was reported on three occasions for promoting money rituals on their airwaves, one report was made against Asomafo TV, two against Elephant TV, 24 against XTV, five against Diamond TV and Big TV respectively, 17 against Passion TV, three against Funny TV, four against Best TV and two against Energy TV.

A total of 20 complaints were received against Adwenpa TV for promoting inappropriate sexual content on their airwaves.

The report said even though Asomafo TV, Adwenpa TV, Diamond TV, X TV, Funny TV, B
ig TV, Passion TV, Elephant TV, Best TV, Energy TV, Nkabom TV and Seekers TV were cited in the National Media Commission (NMC) / National Communications Authority (NCA) fortnight report, they continued to carry out their offensive broadcast after they were publicly cautioned.

‘They should take note that this constitutes their final warning. Regulatory action may be taken against them without any further reference to them,’ it said.

On the related case of Onua TV/ FM, the Commission said it had filed a notice of suspension of

authorisation with the NCA after the extended time expired without the stations apologising or withdrawing their offensive content.

It said Onua TV/ FM had subsequently filed a case in court claiming a right to carry the content the Commission found offensive, adding that the Commission would continue to update the public on the issue.

The Commission expressed gratitude to the NCA for the positive collaboration in ensuring professionalism in broadcasting.

‘We reaffirm our dedication
to ensure free, pluralistic and responsible media in Ghana.

‘We encourage the public to continue to collaborate with us by calling the toll-free number 0800-419-666, to draw our attention to any content they consider unacceptable by the standards of media ethics, Ghanaian culture, traditions and norms,’ it added.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Vivo Energy Ghana, the exclusive marketers and distributors of Shell branded products and services has donated Smoke Evacuator with accessories and a trolly to the Surgery Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The donation forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to enhance the hospital’s capabilities in ensuring that patients receive the best medical care to demonstrate its commitment to the wellbeing of the communities.

Mrs Shirley Tony Kum, the Corporate Communications Manager, Vivo Energy Ghana who presented the items in an interview said in October, this year, they collaborated with the hospital authorities to mark the World Breast Cancer month.

She said in their deliberations with the authorities a request was made for Smoke Evacuator, a key equipment in their surgical process and that; ‘Vivo Energy Ghana being a socially responsible company and having health and safety at the core of its operations and part of its corporate social responsibility decided to support them in
this regard.’

Mrs Kum expressed the hope that the donation would play a key role in the delivery of quality healthcare.

She said: ‘We take pride in the fact that we have been able to contribute to providing quality healthcare, which helps in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal ‘3’ of improving good health and wellbeing of people.’

She used the occasion to advise drivers to be cautious on the road during this festive season, saying; ‘As an oil marketing company, we want to re-echo our campaign message on road safety and to encourage drivers to avoid drink-driving to save lives and property’

Dr Josephine Nsaful, General Surgeon-Breast Surgery Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital who received the items expressed gratitude to Vivo Energy Ghana and said the support was timely and described the equipment as useful, which help suck smoke while surgery process was taking place.

She said: ‘October is breast cancer awareness month, but breast cancer is with us throughout the year, we want all women to und
ertake their monthly breast examination and even better than that of every year and should go for screening, do mammogram, do scan to help with early detection of breast cancer.

‘Breast cancer is curable. It is not spiritual disease, is not witchcraft,’ Dr Nsaful stated.
Source: Ghana News Agency

The Local Accountability Network of the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Area has organized a three-day sensitization drive on issues of corruption to mark the UN day against corruption.

The sensitization drive saw Women and youth from the central mosque of Takoradi and students of the Takoradi Community Technical Institute educated on the various debilitating effects of corruption and the need to help in nibbing the practice in the bud.

The primary objective, according to Mr Ebow Barker, the Focal Person for the Network in the STMA was to raise awareness among the youth about the negative impact of corruption and encourage their active participation in anti-corruption endeavours.

He said corruption was recognized as a pervasive issue that undermined democratic institutions, hampered economic progress, eroded the rule of law, and diminished the quality of life for citizens worldwide.?

The Focal Person added that Ghana, recognizing the debilitating effect of corruption on socio-economic development had made
significant strides in the fight against it by introducing and implementing policies, laws, and plans.?

Meanwhile, despite the progress, the country still faced some challenges.??

Since the adoption of the UNCAC in 2003, Ghana had joined the rest of the world to commemorate the? ?International Anti-Corruption Day, on December 9th every year to raise awareness about the global impact of corruption.

The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), dedicated to transparency, accountability, and good governance, is commemorating this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day on the theme: ‘UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption.’?

This theme highlights the vital connection between anti-corruption measures, peace, security, and development and the collective responsibility and imperative nature of combating corruption.

Mrs. Mercy Quarshie, the Chairperson for the Network, stressed the need for effective collaboration across individuals, institutions, and sectors, including government bodies, public offic
ials, law enforcement, media, businesses, civil society, academia, and the public, to address the adverse consequences of corruption.

She said, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), with support from Good Governance Africa (GGA) and Hewlett Foundation, aimed to educate and empower Ghanaian youth across thirty-three (33) districts in 14 Regions on the significance of combating corruption.?
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs. Francesca Obeng, Central Regional Head of Food and Drugs Authority, has tasked the public, particularly the youth who are the manpower of the Country to abstain from smoking tobacco and cannabis to avoid its delibitating effects on their physical and mental wellbeing.

She pointed out that the usage of cannabis induces structural damage to portions of the brain, leading to memory loss, hence the need for them to stay away from the drug, and those hooked to it contact professionals for help to assist them to quit its usage.

In an interview with the Media after a sensitisation programme in Winneba with market women, fishermen and fishmongers, Mrs Obeng told parents to constantly counsel their wards against smoking of tobacco and other cannabis.

The programme formed part of activities to commemorate the 2023 World Tobacco Day under the theme: ‘We need food and not Tobacco.’

It was organised by the Food and Drugs Authority in collaboration with Narcotic Control Authority and the Effutu Municipal Environm
ental Directorate at Winneba.

Mrs. Obeng stated that the continuous usage of such drugs could result in diseases, including, psoriasis, cataracts, wrinkling, hearing loss, Lung cancer, nasal cavity, oral cavity, stomach, pancreatic cancer, kidney and breast cancers.

Others are tooth decay, emphysema, osteoporosis, Heart disease, stomach ulcers, discoloured fingers, cervical cancer, miscarriage, deformed sperm and others.

She also urged the public to be very careful when purchasing pre-packaged products in cans as well as bottled drinks, especially during this Christmas festivities because most of them had expired.

She further urged people who would be attending parties, weddings and social events during the Christmas and the New-year festivities to ensure that the food they ate were in the right temperatures to avoid contracting food borne diseases.

The Narcotic Control Board and Effutu Environmental officers, on their part lamented the regular usage of cannabis among the youth.

They also urged stakehol
ders in the grooming of the children, to join the crusade in eliminating smoking tobacco and the use of cannabis.

They emphasised the need for food vendors and drinking bar operators to ensure that their operated in clean and hygienic environment and be certified before operation.

‘It is an offence to sell food without medical and FDA certificates and so people will have to ask food vendors and drinking bar operators to show their authorisation, before patronising their products to avoid any unforeseen circumstances,’ they added.

Later speaking to some of the traders, they commended the group for the education programme which must be done continuously at the churches, mosque, Lorry stations, schools, festivals and even at traditional Council meetings.
Source: Ghana News Agency

The ARB Apex Bank is set to roll out a new mobile banking application that will bring relief and great satisfaction to all customers and employees of Rural and Community Banks (RCBs).

The ARB Apex Bank’s highly anticipated mobile banking solution app is at the testing phase with more than 2,000 employees of rural and community banks enrolled on it to ensure effective operations of the banks.

Mr Alex Kwasi Awuah, the Managing Director (MD) of ARB Apex Bank PLC, disclosed this in a speech delivered on his behalf at the 36th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Agona Rural Bank Limited at Kwanyako in the Agona East District of Central Region.

Mr Awuah said: ‘once this testing phase is completed, we will proceed to launch the approved USSD Code *992# to our esteemed customers as part of efforts to enhance quality service.”

The Managing Director said the move would enable their valued customers to easily access a wide range of banking services such as funds transfer, bill payments, airtime top-up, bank statem
ent requests and many more.

Consequently, the Apex Bank would further initiate the Financial Sector Development Project, all of which are designed to enhance the banking experience at RCBs.

The MD said he believed strongly that the App would encourage the RCBs to actively enlist a substantial number of customers as anticipated by the mobile, internet and agency banking solutions to bring about a transformative shift in the banking sector.

‘It is projected that if executed effectively by the banks, it will significantly contribute to their revenue generation to improve operations of the banks.’

The MD congratulated the shareholders of the Agona Rural Bank on holding a successful 36th AGM and expressed the hope that a more successful performance story would be told next year.

He said the impressive performance displayed by the board of directors and management obviously showed that they would deploy every arsenal at their disposal to make sure the bank became competitive again.

Mr Awuah said the splendid
performance put up by Agona Rural Bank was a worthy example and must be emulated by sister banks to enable them to become viable and sustainable.

Mr James Kojo Buabeng, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank, said the bank made significant profit of GHC 214,784 in 2022 as against a loss of GHC 60,453 in 2021, the year under review.

The chairman said the bank had not been able to meet the Bank of Ghana requirement of GHC1,000,000 share capital, adding that currently it needed GHC123,400 to meet the minimum capital requirement.

Mr Buabeng appealed to the shareholders of the bank and potential customers to buy more shares to enable the bank to remain recognised as a rural bank by the BOG.

Mr Philip Lovemore Amedefu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bank, reiterated calls on shareholders, well to do citizens of Agonaman and investors both local and foreign to invest in the bank.

The CEO said the future looked bright for the bank and expressed the hope and confidence that 2023 would be much better
than 2022.
Source: Ghana News Agency