Category: Key Issues

Tamale,- President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inspected ongoing work on the two-tier Tamale Interchange, which has reached 80 percent completion.

The President undertook the inspection of the project as part of his two-day tour of the Northern Region.

The Director of the Department of Urban Roads, Alhaji Abass Awolu, who took President Akufo-Addo on a tour of the Tamale Interchange, said the project with a total length of one kilometre bridge and ramps, and five kilometres of ancillary road works, is 80 percent complete.

He told the President that the interchange had 19 spans, out of which 13 and accompanying ramps had all been completed. Work is currently ongoing on the next 6 spans.

The other six spans are expected to be completed in the next three months, with ancillary works, mainly asphalting, street lighting and road safety works, all scheduled to be finished before the end of 2021.

Alhaji Awolu assured the President that the project would be completed on schedule, indicating that the contractor, M/S SinoHydro, is using two teams to undertake the works.

The Tamale Interchange is an integral part of comprehensive measures put in place by the Akufo-Addo Government to address the issues of congestion in urban centres, and to help improve travel times on major arterial roads.

Other interchanges being constructed include; the PTC Roundabout Interchange in Takoradi, the Nungua Interchange which is part of the La Beach Road Completion Project, the Adjringanor Overpass, where ongoing works will be completed by the first quarter of 2022; and Phase II of the Tema Motorway Interchange.

The Tema Steelworks Road, the only concrete road to be constructed by Government since the Accra-Tema Motorway, has also been completed. Similar works are also being undertaken within the Tema Industrial enclave.

The Legon/Adjringanor roads, aimed at improving travel times within that corridor, are 52 percent complete; the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension Project, which include; the dualization of the Lake Road and lining of the Sissai River Drain in Kumasi, is 75 percent complete; and the Teshie Link Road, popularly referred to as the LEKMA Road, is 90 percent complete.

President Akufo-Addo also inspected ongoing work on asphaltic overlays on sections of the road network in Tamale, in the Northern Region.

The contract, being undertaken by M/S Queroz Galvao Konstruktion, will see the construction of 100 kilometres of roads within the Northern, North East and Savannah Regions. Work commenced in March 2021, and is expected to be completed by September 2022.

18 kilometres out of the 40-kilometre road network in the Tamale Metropolis has seen the overlay of asphalt, with construction of the remaining 22 kilometres underway. 15 kilometres of town roads in Yendi will also have the construction of asphaltic overlays over them.

President Akufo-Addo also inspected ongoing work on the upgrading of the 30.2km stretch of the Tamale-Daboya Road, specifically the Tali to Daboya from a gravel surface to a bituminous surface treated road.

The works include; earthworks to embank the road in low lying areas, construction of drainage structures to ensure that the road was drained and, therefore, does not fail prematurely, paving and surfacing works.

The contract for implementation of the works was awarded to Messrs Maripoma Enterprise Ltd, at the cost of GHȼ119,657,337.41 for completion in 36 months. The works commenced on November 16, 2020 and is scheduled for completion by November 16, 2023.

The project is expected to significantly reduce vehicle operating cost, and accidents, when completed.

It, (the project), together with the upcoming Daboya bridge project, would reduce travel time between major towns in the Savannah and Northern Regions, and improve access to socio-economic facilities such as markets, schools, clinics of the people living in communities along the project corridor.

The President ended his two-day tour of the region, with visits to Savelgu and to Tolon, where he called on the Paramount Chief of the Tolon Traditional Area m Maj. Suleimana Abubakari (Rtd).

He had at the beginning of the tour on Friday, visited Yendi, Bimbilla and Mion, with calls on the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari Mahama, and the Regent of Bimbilla, Nyab-Nyalibolinglana Yakubu Andani.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Aug 05, GNA – Participants at a day’s workshop organised by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), have rekindled the debate for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

According to them, electing the MMDCEs would go a long way to deepen Ghana’s democracy and to accelerate the administrative and fiscal decentralisation process in the country.

The participants maintained that making the office of MMDCEs electable would make the Chief Executives more responsive and accountable to their constituents.

They intimated that the election of MMDCEs would enable the smaller political parties to grow, and also help curb the phenomenon of winner-takes-all.

They appealed to the two leading parties in the country; the Governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to collaborate in amending Article 243(1) and Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution to ensure the election of MMCDEs and the promotion of multiparty democracy at the local level.

The workshop, which was the last of the 16 GACC Regional Engagement Meetings with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) was attended by representatives of CSOs, district assembly men and women, the media and other stakeholders.

It sought to provide a platform for citizens to discuss governance challenges in general and anti-corruption issues specifically.

The Participants reiterated the need for the Government to institute a National Policy allocating salaries to District Assembly Members, considering their task in formulating policies and approving budgets for their local assemblies.

They argued that just as the National Assembly Members (Members of Parliament) were being paid for their works of making laws for the country, the district assembly members should also be paid for their works of making by-laws and approving budgets and other policies in their local assemblies.

The participants called for increased sensitization and education of Ghanaians on the roles of the Assembly men/women.

As part of efforts to build strong national institutions, the participants recommended that the appointment of heads of anti-corruption institutions should be based on merit.

They also called for the monitoring of the disbursement and application of District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to ensure accountability and transparency.

The participants recommended that the sections of the Auditor-General’s annual report on the 216 district Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) should be made available to members of the concerned MMDAs’ as part of efforts to promote good governance, transparency and to combat corruption at the local level.

Mr Mike Adisu, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, GACC, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency reiterated that the Project sought to collate citizen position on governance and anti-corruption issues into a national citizen’s governance reform positions document that would be used to engage the three arms of Government – the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Thursday sworn into office the New Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, with a charge to him to fight corruption independently and impartially.

At a short ceremony at the Jubilee House, Accra, at which the Oaths of Secrecy, Allegiance, and Office were administered to Mr Agyebeng, President reminded the Special Prosecutor, that, as per the act establishing the Office, the onerous was on him to have full authority on the control over investigations, initiation and conduct of proceedings of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officers, and persons in the private sector, in the performance of their functions and business.

He told Mr Agyebeng that the wide acceptance of his nomination by the Ghanaian people, and the nature of his performance during his approval process in Parliament, are indications that the confidence reposed in him to discharge that critical function of the state was not misplaced, adding that he was “eminently qualified” to occupy the Office of Special Prosecutor, and “he has the capacity, the experience, the requisite values, and intellectual strength to succeed in this vital position.”

The President, who stressed the genuineness of the commitment of the government to create an independent non-partisan body with the relevant professional capability to lead the fight against corruption, and hold public officials, past and present, accountable for their stewardship of public finances, said in spite of the unfortunate events that led to the departure of the first occupant of the office, “I do not regret making that appointment.”

“On my part as the President on the Republic, I ensured that Office was adequately resourced to enable it to carry out its mandate,” he stated.

President Akufo-Addo assured Mr Agyebeng that just as he provided support to his predecessor, he would ensure that his office was truly independent, and given all the needed assistance to enable the effective discharge of his duties.

“I am very much aware that activities of his office, no matter how vigorous, cannot provide the entire panacea to the problem of corruption, it must be supported by other institutions and the cooperation of all…Indeed all institutions of State will work and cooperate with him,” he added.

He said Government will continue to give stronger budgetary assistance to all other constitutionally mandated institutions that hold the government accountable and help fight corruption.

Mr Agyebeng thanked the President for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work assiduously to suppress corruption to the barest minimum.

“I come into this office and pledge to the people of Ghana, as I said exactly two weeks ago that I am willing to work assiduously with deliberation to suppress and repress corruption. I said two weeks ago in Parliament that I will not be naïve to assume that I am coming to stop corruption. It is lit in humans, but as much as possible my office is going to drive it down and repress it to its barest minimum,” he said.

Mr Agyebeng, 43, a private legal practitioner, was nominated for the position last April by the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, when the first Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu unexpectedly resigned from that office in November last year.

Mr Dame in his letter the President nominating Agyebeng, stated that his nominee, who possessed the requisite expertise on corruption and all related matters, was of high moral character and proven integrity, and satisfied all the requirements to occupy that office.

Thus, the President accepted his nomination, per the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), which mandates him to appoint a new Special Prosecutor, within six months of the office being vacant, and subsequently referred same to Parliament for vetting and approval.

Parliament’s Appointments Committee on July 22, 2021, after a three-hour rigorous vetting process, unanimously approved Mr Agyebeng as the Special Prosecutor.

Mr Agyebeng was called to the Ghana Bar in October 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ghana, as well as, Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Canada, and Cornell Law School, USA.

He has since 2006 been practicing law privately and teaching Criminal Law at the University of Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a message to mark Founders’ Day, rallied citizens to work relentlessly to free the nation from the non – productive neo-colonial structure of the raw material producing and exporting economy.

He also urged the active participation of all towards the realisation of a united, free, democratic and truly independent Ghana.

In the message, posted on his social media handles, the President said Ghanaians must: “As a mark of reverence to our forebears, work to free ourselves from the economic arrangements designed by the former colonial power to serve its particular purpose at the time, which continue to bind us.”

“Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel, and drive our nation to its destination, a united, developed, prosperous, free,

democratic and independent Ghanaian nation.”

Founders’ Day, instituted in 2019, is a statutory holiday observed to commemorate the contributions of all the people who led the struggle for Ghana’s independence.

The event, originally called ‘Founder’s Day’, and observed on September 21 each year, was to mark the achievements of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, who led the struggle for independence from colonial rule, with other nationalists.

But in March 2019, the Public Holiday Amendments Bill was passed into law and August 4, was instituted as the “Founders’ Day,”

The rationale was that the original date of September 21, was Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday, and since he was not the only person who fought for Ghana’s liberation from colonialism and imperialism, that date should be kept to honour his memory, and a different date be set to pay homage to all those who took part in the country’s independence struggle.

Consequently, August 4 was chosen for the Founders’ Day commemoration because it marked two important events in Ghana’s history.

It is the date for the formation of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society by John Mensah Sarbah in 1897, and the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in 1947 by J.B. Danquah and George Alfred “Paa” Grant.

However, that decision was without controversy, as some political activists said it was an attempt by the ruling government to distort historical facts.

They claimed that the institution of the Day was a ploy by the President to honour his uncle, J.B Danquah, who was a leader in the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), the political party from which Kwame Nkrumah broke away to form the Convention People’s Party.

The CPP won him the election that saw him become the first president of Ghana.

However, on the inaugural Founders’ Day celebration, on Sunday August 4, 2019, President Akufo-Addo, in a message, acknowledged the role played by successive generations of Ghanaians who worked towards the liberation of Ghana.

He implored Ghanaians to rise above partisan considerations and to recognise the collective efforts in the fight for freedom and independence from colonial rule “and do right by our history.”

Source: Ghana News Agency

Bolgatanga, – The Upper East Regional branch of the Ghana Association of elected Assembly Members (GAAM) has threatened to boycott the confirmation of the Municipal and District Chief Executive (MDCEs) nominees when announced, if government fails to address their welfare concerns.

According to the Assembly Members, although their work was sacrificial, government had the responsibility to address their welfare issues which was within their right, to help facilitate their work and ensure development in their respective electoral areas.

At a news conference held at Bolgatanga, the Elected Assembly Members who described their fate as discriminatory said most of the work at the local government level was done by the Assembly Members ranging from facilitating revenue collection to addressing some concerns of the electorates yet they were not appreciated.

The Assembly Members therefore called on government to address their concerns before announcing the nominees for the positions of MDCES to avoid their wrath.

Mr David Adoliba, the Regional President of GAAM who read the Petition on behalf of the Association, said they had proposed for the establishment of an Electoral Area Development Fund to be financed through a five per cent cut from the District Assembly Common Fund.

This, he said, would enable elected Assembly Members to access the fund to undertake minor development projects including, patching of potholes, re-roofing of classrooms, clearing of gutters, repairs of streetlights and other emergency matters.

The Association also urged government to consider paying Assembly Members monthly allowances and ensure that their ex-gratia was flat across the country to avoid discrimination and should be paid from the Consolidated Fund and not the Internally Generated Fund.

“Per the directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Metropolitans, Municipals and Districts are supposed to pay Assembly Members GH¢2000.00, GH¢1500.00 and GH¢1000.00 as their ex-gratia but some Assemblies still owe Assembly Members two years after their tenure of office.

“We are hereby calling on such Assemblies to pay all outstanding monies owed the Assembly Members before the confirmation of the government nominees for the various MDCEs”.

They also want government to continue the distribution of the motorbikes acquired for the Assembly Members and help them to acquire cars on tax free basis to facilitate their work.

The Assembly Members also called on government through the Regional Coordinating Council to assist the remaining five districts in the region which had not been able to elect their Presiding Members to do so.

They are Builsa South, Bawku West, Talensi, Binduri and Tempane Districts.

The Assembly Members advocated the amendment of the Local Government Act to allow for the election of the Presiding Member position to be based on simple majority.

“It must be noted that the Local Government Act of 2016, Act 936 gave the mandate of summons for the confirmation of MMDCE nominees to only the Presiding Members, so we expect that the Presiding Members must be elected and allowed to summon the house to consider the confirmation of the MMDCE nominees,” it added.

The Assembly Members explained that when the above concerns were addressed it would not only enhance their work and development of their respective electoral areas, but further encourage people to take up the role of Assembly Members.

“We are therefore stating that, if our concerns are not addressed before the announcement of the MMDCE nominees, we will have no option than to join our colleagues in other regions to boycott the confirmation of the MDCE nominees in the region,” they stressed.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Sunyani, – Leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Bono Region on Wednesday, visited and sympathised with the bereaved families of the two party executives who passed on recently.

Mr Kofi Darko, the Deputy Bono Regional Organiser, and former Organiser of the party in the then Brong-Ahafo Region died on Tuesday, August 3, while Mr Gabriel Kwame Awuah, the party Council of Elders chair passed on two weeks ago.

They were 67, and 81 years old respectively.

Led by Mr Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as ‘Abronye’ the delegation comprised Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Mensah, the first Vice-Chairman, Mr Kofi Boateng, the Regional Secretary, and other party executives and supporters.

Mr Baffoe told the bereaved families the party had already informed the national leadership and the government about the deaths and assured the party’s support towards their befitting burial.

He explained that the NPP in the country and the government, in general, were shocked about the sudden demise of the “two great patriots and statesmen”, whose deaths he said remained a big blow to the party in the region.

Mr Baffoe extended President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Buwawia, and the entire leadership of the NPP condolences to the bereaved families.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The University of Ghana in partnership with Global Entrepreneurship Network-Ghana will host the official launch of the University of Ghana Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme (UGIEP), on Friday 6th August 2021 at 2 pm at the Cedi Conference Centre (Department of Economics, University of Ghana Legon)

UGIEP is a trans-disciplinary initiative that seeks to foster entrepreneurship and innovation culture at the University of Ghana, through extracurricular programs and projects that support creative thinking, venture creation, and growth towards the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship development in Ghana.

It will help unlock the ideas of students, alumni, and faculty members of the University of Ghana, and translate the products and services from these ideas into products, services, and processes leading to employment and economic growth opportunities in Ghana.

The University of Ghana Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme (UGIEP) is an integral part of the University’s research development strategy to enhance its innovation ecosystem. The program is designed to engage students, alumni, faculty, and external stakeholders in leveraging the research, innovative skills, and experimental models to create start-ups and other opportunities.

UGIEP is a result of the partnership between the University of Ghana through its Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), and the Global Entrepreneurship network-Ghana (GEN-Ghana).

The Guest of Honour for the launch is His Excellency, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (Vice President, Republic of Ghana).

The event will also be attended by captains of industry, policymakers, academia, civil society organizations, development partners, the media, students, and alumni of the University of Ghana

The launch of the program is scheduled as follows:
Date: Friday, 6th August 2021
Time: 2:00 pm
Venue: Cedi Conference Centre (Department of Economics)
Admission: Strictly by Invitation
All covid-19 protocols would be strictly observed.

Sign. Stephen Gyasi-Kwaw
(Country Founder/ MD, Global Entrepreneurship Network-Ghana)
Tel: 0206621106 Email: genghan1@gmail.com

Source: Ghana Web

Accra, – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the Executives and members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to bury their differences and remain united towards a common cause to retain political power in the 2024 Election.

He said the Party would not accept and tolerate any kind of backsliding and bickering that often disrupt its forward match to victory.

Speaking at the NPP’s 29th Anniversary in Accra on Thursday, President Akufo-Addo expressed optimism that the next presidential candidate of the Party would emerge victorious in the 2024 Election.

He said the Party, over the years, was dedicated towards advancing the ideals and values of the country’s democracy and should work towards consolidating the gains made so far.

The NPP received its certificate of incorporation as a political party on Wednesday, July 28, 1992 from the Electoral Commission.

The event was held on the theme:” NPP@29: A Tradition for Stability, Prosperity and Continuity,” which attracted party bigwigs including the Chairperson of the Council of Elders, Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, National Chairman of the Party, Freddie Blay, General Secretary, John Boadu, National Organiser, Sammy Awuku, members of Parliament and ministers of state, as well as supporters and sympathizers of the elephant family.

President Akufo-Addo recalled the difficulties the Founding Fathers of the Party endured in establishing it as a formidable political force in the country.

“Today, the challenges that confront our country, the difficulties that we have been plunged into by the COVID-19 pandemic are going to give us the opportunity to grow stronger and stronger and that strengthening of our party and its organs means one thing.

“And I am very confident of it that on December 7, 2024, the new NPP presidential candidate is going to win the election,” he stated.

The President urged the party to close its rank and file and remain united for victory in the next general election.

“Our objective and responsibility are to do whatever is necessary to make sure that, that victory is forthcoming. We have to continue our way forward in Ghana. We cannot continue to accept the backsliding that takes place every now and then.

“It hasn’t benefited our nation and will not benefit our nation. The foundations that we are laying today for the prosperity of our nation will be shaken if again through our own fault we allow the path of progress to be diverted,” President Akufo-Addo advised.

Mr Freddie Blay, the NPP National Chairman, in his welcome remarks, entreated the party faithful to prioritize party unity over parochial interests, especially as it prepares for its internal elections.

He urged party members to prioritize unity to help achieve its objective of retaining power in 2024.

“I want to charge the members of the party to prioritize unity over parochial interest. This is the only way that we will still be on top of government and our contract with the people of Ghana in terms of its development.

“This is the only party that can deliver that, and we must keep it so, and we must be very united irrespective of our own personal interests,” he added.

Mr John Boadu, the General-Secretary, NPP, recounted some landmark policies and programmes the Party had implemented over the years that had transformed lives.

He mentioned the School Feeding Programme, Livelihoods Empowerment Programme Against Poverty, National Health Insurance Scheme, Free Senior High School Policy, Mobile Money Interoperability Payment System, Digital and Property Addressing System, Paperless Port System, National Identification System, Planting for Food and Jobs, One-District, One-Factory; One-Ambulance, One-Constituency and many other social interventions that had alleviated poverty.

Mr Boadu said despite being a Centre-Right political party tradition that believed in private enterprise, it had implemented more social intervention programmes than any political party in Ghana.

He acknowledged the contributions of the Party’s founding fathers and stalwarts who made immense sacrifices towards sustaining its political tradition that takes its root from the United Gold Coast Convention, United Front Party, National Liberation Party, Progress Party and Northern People’s Party.

The Party, since its formation in 1992, has won four presidential elections upon resumption of multi-party democracy in Ghana including 2000,2004, 2016 and 2020 polls.

Source: Ghana News Agency