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Ghana media has served nation well -Ambassador Kabral

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SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere delivering his presentation 

Former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, has commended the media in Ghana for serving the nation well.”It has played significant role in holding successive governments accountable”, the Diplomat said at the first of a series of public lectures to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the GJA in Kumasi.

The theme was: “75 years of Excellence in Journalism: Honouring the past and embracing the present”. Ambassador Blay-Amihere noted that the media has made significant contributions and that it must be proud of its impact on the development of Ghana.
He, however, said that the state of the new media landscape, characterised by too many media houses, is a challenge to the GJA.

Dignitaries, members of the GJA Planning Committee in a pose

The Diplomat, therefore, urged the GJA and media Houses to remain committed to promoting ethical and responsible journalism, in the face of new media models because traditional journalism is the only beacon of hope for Ghana.
He also urged the GJA to maintain its independence to avoid manipulation by the industry players.

The Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Prof. Amin Alhassan observed that journalism is at the cross roads as the model which defined journalism pra tice the past 75 years is under siege.

According to him, the practice is faced with proliferation of media houses with its attendant “jokers” who pretend to practice journalism.
The GBC Director-General noted that the future of journalism is at stake and needs to be protected from collapse.

He, therefore, called on the GJA to sensitise practitioners to avert ill practices of non practitioners who parade themselves as professionals.
Prof. Alhassan suggested that the GJA should liase with training institutions to train the right calibre of practitioners to sustain the profession.

The Director-General called on journalists to acquire skill sets needed for modern day journalism practice in this digital era Nd further called on journalism schools to ensure that students are trained  and equipped with skill sets to prepare them for the job market.

The Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Charles O. Marfo, inferred to the saying by former US President Thomas Jefferson that, he would prefer newspapers without government to a government without newspapers, to stress the importance of journalism in nation building and urged the GJA to find everything possible and reasonable to sustain the ideals of journalism in Ghana.

Dr. (Mrs) Victoria O. Faleke, the Head of Department of Language and Communication Science, KNUST, appealed to the GJA to establish a concise pedagogical studio for students to acquaint themselves with the practice of journalism.
Ms. Linda Asante Adjei, the GJA Vice chair, indicated that holding the lecture at KNUST is a major collaboration that seeks to strengthen and deepen their relations.

The Chief of Apemanim, Nana Fobi Kropa III, also known as Prof. Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh, presided over the GJA public lectures in Kumasi.

Over 80,000 passports not collected – Prez Advisor

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Dignitaries present at the media briefing

Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo has disclosed that a staggering 86,000 passports remain uncollected by applicants across the country. This is despite the improvement in biodata capturing through the establishment of new booths, which have drastically reduced waiting times nationwide as part of efforts to digitize public services and enhance efficiency.

He noted, “Despite our efforts to digitize public services and improve efficiency, we still have 86,000 uncollected passports. This is a significant number, and we urge applicants to collect their documents.”

The Government of Ghana, through the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor and the Public Sector Reform Secretariat, launched the first-ever Public Sector Reform for Results Project (PSRRP) from 2019 to 2023. Funded by the World Bank, the project aimed to enhance efficiency and accountability in delivering selected services across thirteen key government entities.

The introduction of modern biodata-capturing booths, according to Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo has streamlined the application process and significantly reduced waiting periods.

Since August 2023, the Passport Office has processed and printed approximately 700,000 passport applications, including 100,000 backlogged applications. This achievement surpasses the annual average target of 500,000 printed booklets, marking a significant enhancement in the passport application ecosystem.

“Setting up new biodata capturing booths has drastically reduced the waiting period for passport applications,” Mr. Osafo-Maafo stated, and added that “Our ability to process and print 700,000 passport applications, including clearing a significant backlog, demonstrates our commitment to improving public service delivery.”

Addressing the media on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, Mr. Osafo-Maafo highlighted the successes achieved under the PSRRP over the past four years.

In his presentation, Mr. Osafo-Maafo also appealed to the World Bank to support a second phase of the Public Sector Reform Project.

“Judging from the achievements of the first phase, we believe there is a strong case for continuing our efforts. We appeal to the World Bank to support the next phase of the Public Sector Reform Project to build on these successes and address ongoing challenges,” he stated.

Financial Overview and Project Restructuring

Mr. Osafo-Maafo added that the PSRRP commenced with a US$ 35 million credit facility from the World Bank, formalized through a Financing Agreement on November 12, 2018.

However, between July and December 2021, the project underwent restructuring, resulting in a reduced budget of US$ 24 million.

This adjustment focused resources on thirteen Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, ensuring targeted improvements in service delivery.

Mr. Osafo-Maafo explained, “The restructuring allowed us to prioritize and concentrate our efforts on key areas that needed the most improvement, ensuring we could deliver tangible results despite the reduced budget.”

Births and Deaths Registry

Also, he continued that one of the notable successes of the PSRRP has been the transformation of the Births and Deaths Registry (BDR), which previously faced significant delays and errors in registering births and deaths. Through collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the BDR printed and supplied 1.2 million Combined Maternal and Child Health Record Booklets with Birth Notification Forms. This initiative has streamlined the notification process, improving accuracy and reducing delays.

“By integrating our systems and streamlining processes, we have significantly reduced the incidence of multiple registrations and errors in data management,” said Mr. Osafo-Maafo. “The harmonization of the BDR, NIA, GHS, and Ghana.gov data systems have been a game-changer.”

Editorial: Early Completion Of Ofankor-Nsawam Highway Is Very Important

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Editorial

When the government of Ghana, through the Ghana Highways Authority, started the re-construction of the Ofankor-Nsawam highway in July, 2022 many commuters heaved a sigh of relief. because of the hassle they were going through before traversing the corridor.

The road, which forms part of the National Route 6 (N6) and a key link between Accra and Kumasi, is costing the tax payer $42 million. The completion date, as announced by the government when the project started, was July 2024.

With July 2024 just around the corner, the Chief Resident Engineer overseeing the project, Ing. Kwabena Bempong, has told Citi FM, as reported by myjoyonoine.com, that the completion date cannot be met.

“We have requested the Contractor to give us a revised programme and obviously for a project like this, we need to have an extension of time approved by the Ministry of Roads and Highways and until that, we cannot say anything.

“So far as we are concerned, the completion date is July, but we all know that it is not possible so the contractor will have to give us compelling reasons why it is not possible to complete it on the date that was originally scheduled,” Bempong was quoted as saying.

He added that the delay is mainly due to the need to relocate utility lines and compensate persons affected by the construction.

“Relocation of utility lines and longitudinal drains are some of the major reasons the project has been delayed. We are relocating electricity, water and communication lines.

“The other challenge is the relocation of people affected by the project. There are people who are trying to injunct the project and we still have litigations. We are two years into the project and we still have some of the utility lines in the road space,” he reportedly told the radio station.

Road construction is not a child’s play so one will be tempted to sympathise with the contractor based on the reasons that have been given by the resident engineer for not meeting the targeted date to complete the whole project.

But, at the same time, one may also be tempted to ask as to whether all the obstacles mentioned above were not factored into the equation before the July 2024 deadline was set for the completion of the project.

Since the Accra-Kumasi highway is the busiest in the country, commuters, especially those living in and around Amasaman, Dobro, Nsawam, Pobiman and those traveling to Kumasi and beyond are always caught up in an unbearable traffic jam.

What has even worsened the situation is the setting in of the rains, which has made the road surface very rough and difficult to drive on it. The Chronicle is, therefore, appealing to the government and in this case, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, to intervene and ensure that all the obstacles thwarting the early completion of the project have been addressed.

The delay in completing the dual carriage way beyond certain period of time will exacerbate the already precarious situation confronting commuters.

Apart from productive hours that are being wasted in traffic, the authorities should not gloss over the health implications as well.

The Chronicle is also appealing to property owners who have reportedly taken the contractor to court to soften their stance and negotiate for the early settlement of the case. The economic value of the road being referenced is simply immeasurable and we all have the duty to ensure its early completion.

Kwesiminstim Legislator sponsors vocational training for the youth

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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Dr. Prince Hamid Armah exchanging pleasantries with the beneficiaries

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwesimintsim, Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, has instituted a Free Vocational Training Programme in the area.

Under DPHA Foundation, the two-week comprehensive hands-on training program aims to empower the youth of Kwesimintsim and its surrounding areas with valuable employable skills that would help transform their lives and the community.

The participants undertaking the vocational training programme

Over 1000 youth have currently enrolled for training in cake making, interior decoration, makeups and bead making amongst others.

Goshen Training Institute are instructors of the two week training programme.

The DPHA Foundation has a proud history of training over 2500 youth in Kwesimintsim over the past six years with employable skills and remains committed to continuing with the work.

The Legislator who is financing the two week training programme paid a surprise visit to the beneficiaries of the programme over the weekend.

Legislator Hamid Armah, who is also the Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, extended his heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated instructors from the Goshen Training Institute who are imparting their knowledge to these enthusiastic young individuals.

He wished all the participants the very best in this new endeavour and look forward to seeing the positive changes they would bring to the community.

Jomoro MP renovates Mpasem classroom block

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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The renovated four classroom block

The Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has renovated the Mpasem Roman Catholic School, the only Basic school in the community.

The hitherto dilapidated school was abandoned and the pupils were compelled to learn under a shed. This affected quality teaching and learning anytime it rains.

For now, the pupils and teachers of the school have heaved a big sigh of relief following the intervention by the Jomoro Legislator.

Following the renovation of the four classroom block by the Legislator, the Chief of Mpasem, Nana Ezenebenie, was full of joy and indicated that the traditional leaders are appreciative of the efforts of the MP in the community.

The Chief, who spoke in Nzema, told the Legislator that “My people know you due to what you have done for the community and Jomoro in general. Ever since the school building collapsed, we have told several government officials to help with its construction, but to no avail until you [Hon Dorcas Affo-Toffey] came in to re-construct the school for us”.

Nana Ezenebenie continued, “You will continue to be the MP for Jomoro until you decide otherwise”.

The chief asked the Legislator to continue to make human and infrastructural development the center of her commitment to developing the constituency.

“Continue doing the good things and ensure you spread these good projects across the entire Jomoro Constituency, so that other communities will also benefit”, he added.

The chief assured that, “We shall write your name on this school to tell generations what you have done for our community”.

The plaque confirming Legislator Toffey renovated the school block

The Jomoro District Education Director, Edith Mary Hagan, said construction of school buildings is not the duty or the job of any MP, but Dorcas Affo-Toffey has gone out of her way torenovate the Mpasem Roman Catholic School.

She said this was not the only thing the MP had done to support education in the District and that she had also provided water, desks and computers to schools and scholarships to students, among others.

Madam Hagan said with the renovation of the school, it has reduced the burden on her as the Education Director in the District and urged the teachers to provide quality education to the pupils.

The Director called on teachers to be punctual and ensure they maintain the school to serve the purpose for which it was renovated.

The Roman Catholic Parish Priest for the Jomoro District, Rev. Father Jerome Toku Appiah, said education is the word of God and the word of God is also education and that for the MP to put up such a structure indicates she is doing the work of God.

It is on record that in 2019, a heavy rainstorm razed the school to the ground rendering it useless for students. All efforts to renovate the school building proved futile, until Legislator Toffey intervened to renovate the school.

Irate youths destroy Wike’s statue in Rivers

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Youths pulled down Wike’s statue in Rivers

Some of the visibly angry youths, who spoke in a mix of the Ikwerre dialect and English, pulled the statue down while the others cheered him on.

The bust statue of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has been destroyed by irate youths who stormed the Obio/Akpor council headquarters earlier Tuesday. Some of the visibly angry youths, who spoke in a mix of the Ikwerre dialect and English, pulled the statue down while the others cheered him on.

The youths, who had invaded the council headquarters, claimed they were there to ensure the safety of council property following the expiration of the chairman’s tenure.

Wike, a former Chairman of Obio/Akpor, and former Rivers State governor, has been involved in a political feud with his former protege the governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara.

Credit: channelstv.com

Nigeria plans to send first citizen to space –Official

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Nigeria to send first citizen to space

The Nigerian government has announced that it is planning to send the first citizen to space.

The Director General of Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency, Mathew Adepoju, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Punch Newspaper reports.

Mr Adepoju said the feat is based on a partnership between his agency and the Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA).

“This collaboration, which is coming to the country, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s 25th anniversary of Space Exploration journey and opens new opportunities for scientific research and technological advancement.”

Credit: premiumtimesng.com

Nnamdi Kanu seeks negotiation with govt

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Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra

The Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has told the Federal High Court Abuja that he will, under section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, seek negotiations with the Federal Government.

Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 when he was arrested in Kenya. Since his arrest, he has been facing terrorism-related charges levelled against him by the Federal Government.

Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act states that “in any Proceeding In the court, the court may promote reconciliation among parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof”.

Speaking through his lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu made this known in open court on Wednesday after he moved two applications brought before the court.

The first application is to move form 49 and an application objecting to the jurisdiction of the court.

Ejimakor said if the applications are denied they will move for the implementation of section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.

Responding to this, counsel for the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, told the court that he had earlier informed the defendant that he does not have the powers to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government, as the fiat given to him does not empower him to negotiate.

He added that the defendant should approach the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

Credit: channelstv.com

PSC union asks Tinubu to fire IGP Egbetokun

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IGP, Kayode Egbetokun

The Joint Union Congress of the Police Service Commission (PSC) has called on President Bola Timubu to immediately relieve the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, of his position for alleged anti-ethical behaviour and misconduct, which it said could destroy the country’s peace.

It also called on the police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, to publicly apologise to the commission within seven days over his alleged unprofessional, false and misleading press releases to Nigerians on the recent recruitment of police constables.

The union made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday. “We begin with this press conference, with a clarion call on the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to immediately relieve the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun of his appointment as IGP. “Our concern comes from the fact that a public officer who misleads the president is causing confusion in the country and may lead to chaos which is antithetical to his duty as a police officer,” its chairperson, Adoji Adoyi, said.

The union comprises the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU).

Its demands are coming following the recent rejection by the police of the ongoing recruitment of constables.

Credit: premiumtimesng.com

 

Shippers’ Authority Board pays working visit to Western Rail Line 

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Dr Michael Adjei Anyetei, Managing Director, Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL)

Madam Stella Wilson, Chairperson of the Governing Board, Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), has led a team comprising members of the Board and a representation of the Management to visit the Western Rail Line under construction by the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA).

The rail line is part of the construction of standard gauge lines across the country to facilitate cross-country as well as international trade, with respect to the movement of cargo within Ghana and through Ghana to her neighbouring landlocked countries.

The GSA, in a news brief, indicated that its interest stemmed from the fundamental role the rail line would play in the effective operationalisation of the Boankra Inland Port and Logistics Terminal (BILT) located in the Ejisu District of the Ashanti Region.

BILT is aimed at enhancing Ghana’s international trade, especially with her neighbouring landlocked countries to boost economic growth and through that, drive wealth creation for commercial shippers.

Dr Michael Adjei Anyetei, Managing Director, Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) and member of the GSA governing Board, accompanied by Mr Michael Addison, Chief Civil Engineer, GRCL, received the team in Takoradi and led them through Kojokrom to Eshiam in the Essikado-Ketan Constituency of the Western region.

Upon arrival at Eshiam, Dr Anyetei briefed the team on the extent of works on the construction of the rail line in the area. He indicated that the work from Kojokrom to Manso was 95 per cent complete, that of Takoradi Port to Manso to Huni Valley was 18 per cent complete, whilst Adum to Kaase in Kumasi was two per cent complete.

 

He added that the line from Kaase to Eduadin and Eduadin to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region had been awarded on contract. Dr Anyetei assured the visiting team that GRDA was making frantic efforts to ensure that resources were pooled to operationalise the rail line to BILT.

He underscored the pertinence of the timely completion of the lines to the operationalisation of BILT, and affirmed the readiness of the GRDA to work assiduously to ensure the timely completion.

Madam Wilson congratulated the GRDA for the work done so far, expressing the gratitude of GSA for the focused attention and enthusiasm GRDA had given to the project and urged that the momentum should be sustained to enable the timely operationalisation of BILT.

Mr Kwesi Baffour Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GSA, added his voice to the call for the remaining works to be expedited citing the key role the operationalisation of BILT would play in the actualisation of GSA’s new strategic direction.

He explained that GSA’s strategic focus for the next five years was to place the interest of the shipper at the centre of everything.

That, he said, would enable the effective promotion and protection of the commercial interests in the Shipping and Logistics industry across all modes of transportation, drive exponential growth in international trade and consequently revenue generation.

Other members of the Board who visited the Western Rail Line are Dr Yaw Adu Agyei-Gyamfi, Mrs Linda Dennis Boateng, Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor, Mr Seth Twum Akwaboah, and Mrs Lawrencia Boahemaa Awuah.

GSA’s Management was represented by Ms Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu, Director of Operations, Mrs Monica Josiah, Head of Operations, Mr Fred Asiedu Dartey, Head of Business Development and Commercial Services, Ms Bernice L. Natue, Head of Corporate Affairs, and Mr Enoch Brew Amofa, Acting Head of Procurement.

GSA, the State’s international cargo trade facilitating Agency, under the Ministry of Transport, has been in the forefront of seeking resources for the completion and operationalisation of BILT. GNA

 

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