Category: Politics

Professor Seidu Alidu, Head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, says President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial reshuffle could be part of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) electoral strategy.

In his opinion, the decision could help to reenergize the NPP’s base, following repeated appeals from the Party’s rank and file for a shakeup in the executive.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Prof. Alidu stated that the reshuffle ‘has not dealt with realities’ and expressed concern that the changes in the affected ministries may not address pressing economic challenges facing the country.

‘The timing makes people believe that this is more of a political strategy for the NPP to win the hearts of Ghanaians than just to build the nation.

‘It may energise the base of the NPP…but collectively, Ghanaians are very discerning, and they know that the timing sparks of a motive other than just nation building and unity,’ he said.

President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, relieved 13 Ministers and 10 dep
uties of their duties with immediate effect, in a massive government shakeup.

Ministers affected are Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, Interior Minister Ambrose Dery, Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Environment, Science, and Technology Minister Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi Amoako-Atta.

The rest are Works and Housing Minister Francis Asenso Boakye; Gender, Children, and Social Protection Minister Lariba Abudu; Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Minister Dan Botwe; Sanitation and Water Resources Minister Freda Prempeh; Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Ibrahim Ahmed Awal; Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey; and Oti Regional Minister Joseph Makubu.

Prof. Alidu said the timing of the reshuffle was problematic and that the new ministers may not have adequate time to do ‘anything meaningful.’

He said that it could take six months to a year for the ministers to become familiar with the ministry’s operations and that
they may not be able to accomplish anything before the end of the year.

Prof. Alidu also observed that many of the new MPs were parliamentary candidates who would be more interested in safeguarding their seats than their ministerial functions.

‘Many of the MPs have won their primaries at the constituency level. Very soon they will have to go and campaign for their seats, and they will have little time to have impactful contributions to government delivery and business,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Christian Mothers Association of Ghana has been urged to encourage its members to take up leadership positions to claim political dominance at both the district assemblies and political parties’ elections of the country.

That, if done, would make them a pillar to influence national discourse and decision-making processes, and as well contribute to the national peace architecture in preventing violent conflicts in the country, especially before, during and after elections.

The association should therefore start now to put in place processes to involve its members to become polling assistants and agents, election observers and presiding officers in the impending national elections to ensure free, fair and violent free elections to legitimise the results.

Madam Esther Suglo, the Nandom Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) who made the call at a workshop organised for members of the association in the region, appealed to the church to support and motivate the women group
s to participate actively in the activities of local governance at the grassroots level, and not to limit them to the church activities alone.

‘Ghana must remain one nation and not a divided one after the elections’, she said, adding: ‘for this to be achieved, Ghanaians must vote on issues, policies and programmes devoid of ethnicity and religious affiliations.

Madam Suglo who was a resource person at the workshop, urged the association to consider corruption and other malfeasance activities in government circles as a hindrance to human development, and therefore should endeavour to hold duty bearers accountable on projects that were being undertaken in the communities.

Madam Olivia Ansu Amponsah, the Executive Secretary of the Christian Mothers Association, said in a year, the association trains its members so that they could actively participate in the elections through the deepening of their knowledge in the democratic processes to enhance peace.

She said the association was poised to organise such wor
kshops throughout the country for its members to build their capacities and knowledge to enable them to participate in the elections and contribute their quota to national development.

Madam Blandina K. Domapielle, the Diocesan President of the Association, said women needed to be enlightened, especially during this electioneering year.

She said it was an opportunity for them to learn about the electioneering processes to sharpen their skills to help the country to conduct free and fair elections to sustain the peace and democratic values of the country.

The Head office of the association in Accra organised the workshop dubbed, ‘women in democratic development’ with sponsorship from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung as part of its contribution to the deepening of the democratic processes in Ghana to ensure peace during this electioneering year.

The participants were taken through the overview of electoral processes in Ghana and the framework, election management bodies and elections administration in Ghana, po
litical participation, voter registration, voter and civic education, gender, conflict prevention and management and domestic and international election observers.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has asked Dr Mohammed Amin, incoming Finance Minister, to prioritise implementing policies that will give respite to Ghanaians.

‘What we’re expecting is that the change made by the President would necessitate a respite to the business community and the consuming public.’ Dr Joseph Obeng, President GUTA said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

‘For all these years, what we’ve been talking about is for the government to implement policies that would ensure that the cost of doing business in the country is reduced. So, the new Finance Minister should look at this,’ he said.

Dr Obeng noted that Ghana’s current economy required intentional policies that would harmonise tax systems, and reduce the cost of clearing goods at the port, and production.

Such policy measures, he said should be implemented alongside others that would cause a lower inflation rate, stable currency, and a lower lending rate.

‘The government already has its policies; our main concern
is how he (the new Finance Minister) drives the policy of the state to have a meaningful impact on the people of Ghana,’ Dr Obeng said.

He expressed optimism that doing so, would bring ‘a great sigh of relief to businesses and consumers, and the government will also stand to benefit from the taxes that people pay.’

The call has become necessary as macroeconomic gains from the implementation of a US$3 billion loan programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are yet to reflect in the lives of Ghanaians.

Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, has been nominated as the Finance Minister-designate, replacing Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, who has served in that capacity since 2017.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has handed over an ultra-modern two-unit Kindergarten (KG) block with auxiliary facilities to the Ahanta Akromakrom Community to improve access to quality early childhood education.

The block, built at a cost of GHC598,950.73, has a dining hall, office, storeroom, kitchen, washroom, furniture and enclosed fencing for the St. James Anglican School at Ahanta Akromakrom.

Mr Abdul-Mumin Issah, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), at the handing-over ceremony, said the provision of the facility was in line with the Assembly’s plans to improve access to quality teaching and learning in the rural zones within the Metropolis.

He noted that a good foundation of education was essential to the overall well-being of pupils, hence the facility to nurture a quality workforce for the nation.

 ‘The Assembly’s commitment towards education is unwavering, thus providing the ultra-modern kindergarten for the St. James Anglican School to serve the needs of
the early childhood education in the area,’ Mr Issah said.

He noted that the Assembly had deliberate plans to improve access to quality education in rural communities through the provision of modern classroom blocks, furniture and other teaching and learning materials.

Mr Issah, therefore, appealed to parents to collaborate with the school’s authorities to ensure they collectively nurtured their children to have a brighter future.

‘As parents, we must pay attention to the educational needs of our children and regularly visit their schools to enquire about their performance as some portray different characters at school from when at home,’ he added.

The MCE reiterated the need for the community and school authorities to properly maintain the facility to serve its purpose in the long term.

Mrs Sally Nelly Coleman, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Director of Education, commended the Assembly for the facility, which would improve early childhood education in the community.  

She said trained teachers had
been posted there to enhance teaching and ensure quality early childhood development and appealed to parents to enrol their children in the school.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The 2024 Kofi Annan Peace and Security (KAPS) Forum aimed at stimulating critical discussions on migration and peacebuilding in Africa is slated for February 27 to 28, 2024.

Hosted by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), this year’s KAPS Forum is on the theme: ‘Migration and Societal Resilience in a Multipolar World Order: Addressing Conflicts and Building Peace in Africa.’

The Forum, the third in a series, seeks to honour the memory of the late Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General for his role in peacekeeping, and for promoting global peace and security.

President Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo-Addo will be the guest of honour with some 200 delegates, including former African Heads of State, government officials, high-level diplomats, and representatives from the United Nations, African Union, and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), expected to attend the two-day forum.

It will feature broad thematic discussions on migration, sustainable development, confli
cts, and societal resilience in a multipolar world order, all of which are key drivers of migration in Africa.

Funded by the Government of Norway and Germany, the KAPS Forum 2024, being implemented by the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ), will provide a platform for delegates and participants to explore approaches to addressing migration-related conflicts through effective policies and peacebuilding mechanisms in the region.

Major General Richard Addo Gyane, Commandant, KAIPTC, speaking at a media launch of the 2024 forum, said as political tremors shook continents, the world order transitioned from a unipolar landscape to a multipolar one.

This shift, coupled with recent crises in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, was pushing migration trends to new heights.

He said Africa was faced with armed conflicts which had created instability in countries like Ethiopia, Mali, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, forcing people to flee their homes.

The Commandant said Climate Change was increasin
gly causing droughts, floods and extreme weather conditions, which were increasingly displacing communities, particularly the Sahel region and East Africa.

‘Weak governance and economic hardship continued to heavily increase poverty levels across the board. Unemployment, lack of access to basic necessities, corruption, human right abuses and political repression continued to influence young people especially, to seek opportunities elsewhere,’ he said.

Driven by the need to address the complex link between migration and security, Maj Gen Gyane said the KAPS Forum would effectively discuss the impact of migration on security, forging solutions and collaborations to prevent instability.

Ms Sivine Jansen, a representative of the German Embassy in Ghana, said the world was in a critical time as within a short time, there had been several military coups in the regions, which boarded Ghana.

She said with the sub-region becoming increasingly unstable with new challenges coupled with three francophone countries le
aving ECOWAS at the end of January puts some strain on the regional architecture.

‘In this urban conflict situation, there is a demand on all of us to find new ways of collaboration with particular relevance given to capacity building,’ she said.

The 2023 World Development Report shows that 2.3 per cent of the world’s population live outside of their country of nationality, amounting to some 184 million people with 37 million of those refugees who left their homes involuntarily.

These numbers, she said, made migration one of the world’s complex and pressing challenges as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had counted some 62.2 million internally displaced persons.

Ms. Jansen said it put a double strain particularly on low- and middle-income countries, adding that crises in the Sahel Region and protracted conflicts in the Horn of Africa had witnessed millions of Africans displaced.

To respond to those challenge, she said, ‘we must put our efforts to emphasise on resilience for survivors, fr
ugality, and adaptation. These efforts must be complemented by building peace that targets the underlying drivers of conflict such as poverty, inequality and governance.’

KAIPTC, Ms Jansen said, was well equipped as a peace training centre on the African continent to tackle those challenges, evident of the long-standing relationship and close corporation the German government had with the KAIPTC.

Mr Ernest Ansah Lartey, the Coordinator of the KAPS Forum, giving the rational for the forum said, among others, it would deepen and strengthen the collaboration between KAIPTC, United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), ECOWAS, Governments, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), especially the academia, Development Partners and Private Business Community.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Anthony Gagadu, a Political Analyst at Keta in the Volta region has said Ghanaians would not feel the impact of the current Ministerial and Cabinet reshuffles that was announced by Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic.

He said the reshuffle came too late, which would not enable the appointees to make any proper impact.

Mr Dagadu, who is also an economist, explained to the Ghana News Agency in an interview that Ghanaians expected the changes long ago, especially in the Finance Ministry.

‘This was what many were expecting for the past two years, but it is too late now,’ he said.

Mr Dagadu further stated that governance remained a continuous process ‘so allowing new hands to bring their ideas on board to the development of the Nation was a good call.’

He said the new nominees would be under extreme pressure to deliver to the satisfaction of Ghanaians, with only a few months to the general elections.’

In a related development, Mr Bless Nkegbe, the Communications Officer of the Akatsi S
outh NPP on his part, commended the President for his actions, saying ‘The reshuffle was a good one and there is nothing wrong with it.’

Meanwhile, some residents, the GNA engaged, also expressed some level of satisfaction about the reshuffle, with others describing it as late and dead to make any impact on development.

On Wednesday, February 14, a statement signed by Mr Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communications at the Presidency, stated that the President has announced some changes in Ministerial positions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Former President John Dramani Mahama has commiserated with the people of the Republic of Namibia on the passing of President Hage G. Geingob, describing him as ‘a patriot and a freedom fighter.’

‘My sincerest condolences go to the people of Namibia and the wife and family of President Hage Geingob.’ The former President said.

The former President, writing in the book of condolence in honour of the deceased President at the High Commission of Namibia in Ghana, sympathised with the High Commissioner and the Namibian Community in Ghana.

Mr Geingob died at the age of 82, less than three weeks after it was announced he would undergo treatment for cancer.

He died on Sunday at the Lady Pohamba Hospital in the capital Windhoek with his wife and his children at his side, acting president Nangolo Mbumba, said in a statement.

Mr Mahama acknowledged the cherished and long-standing relationship developed over the years with the people of Namibia.

‘I remember with fond memories the conversation we had about the strug
gle for freedom from apartheid and the respect held for Ghana’s role in the liberation of Africa.

It was a delight to share those moments with you and your wife during the summit we held in Malta,’ he noted.

Madam Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, the Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana, who described the late President as a true Pan-Africanist, said he would be buried on Sunday, 25 February 2024.

Meanwhile, a memorial in honour of the late President is scheduled to take place at the Accra International Conference Centre on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana and Zambia have pledged to boost bilateral cooperation, especially in trade and investment, following a visit to Lusaka by Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey who was received by President Hakainde Hichilema.

‘Trade and investment are particularly important for our countries because even our political stability depends on economic stability and development,’ President Hichilema told Madam Botchwey at a meeting at the State House in Lusaka, on Tuesday.

Madam Botchwey’s visit to Lusaka saw her signing two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with her acting Zambian counterpart, Mr. Mulambo Haimbe, on behalf of their respective governments.

One memorandum covers mechanisms for promoting commercial, economic, cultural, technical, scientific and political cooperation between Ghana and Zambia.

The other memorandum covers defence cooperation, including in training and development.

Madam Botchwey and President Hichilema also addressed her candidacy for Commonwealth Secretary-General behind closed doors.
Zambia is one of 21 African countries, which belong to the 56-member organisation that has a combined population of 2.6 billion people and annual GDP of more than US$13 trillion.

Commonwealth Heads of Government are due to choose a new leader in October to replace the incumbent, Baroness Patricia Scotland, whose second and final term expires at the end of 2024.

In her remarks, Madam Botchwey recalled the strong historical bonds between Ghana and Zambia. ‘Our two countries go back a long way, all the way to the years of our independence struggles led by Presidents Nkrumah and Kaunda,’ she said.

Ghanaian diplomats in Lusaka said a strong affinity for Ghana remained in Zambia. Scores of Ghanaian professionals and academics settled and worked in the southern African country from the early post-independence years through the eighties.

‘Our people left a good legacy here and it’s a viable foundation for furthering a strong business relationship, especially as we now have AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade A
rea),’ the senior diplomat said.

In a comprehensive lecture given by Madam Botchwey following the announcement of her candidacy in Accra earlier this month, the Foreign Minister outlined her vision for what she called ‘a new Commonwealth’.

It included a focus on trade and investment; harnessing ICT for skills, innovation and start-ups to provide jobs for young people, and a Commonwealth-wide migration compact to help stem the tide of illegal and perilous migration.

She called for ‘a strong Commonwealth voice for the concerted action’ against climate change which, she said, threatened all member states, but small island developing states more particularly.

Source: Ghana News Agency