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GRA to clampdown on diversion of transit cargo

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The Customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has vowed to clampdown diversion of transit cargo in the country.

At a stakeholder engagement on securities of transit cargo in Tema, the Acting Deputy Commissioner of the suspense regime fletching Akoto said the country loses a lot of revenue as a result of diversion of Cargo, hence, the need for all stakeholders to be involved to nib the practice in the bud.

“They (clearing agents) all agree that there is cargo diversion but majority of them are compliant. I mentioned that diversion is not good for us, it costs us a lot. Our objective is to make sure that we root out diversion completely,” he stated.

The stakeholder engagement was meant to discuss the issue of overloading and over gauge or over height of transit vehicles, shedding of overloaded transit vehicle resulting in malfeasance, weight declaration on transit trucks by agents at transit terminal, containerization of higher risk goods, monitoring of transit goods along the corridors to the exit points and introduction of SIGMAT to strengthen transit goods.

The event was also used to solicit the challenges transistors face in transporting their goods from the ports to their final destination.

The Regional Maintenance Manager of the Ghana Highways Authority for Oti region, Albert Annan called on truck drivers to desist from overloading.

“Our main objective is to make sure that there is no overloading on the road network. When they are not overloaded all of us will be safe on our road, the more you overload the more you reduce the lifespan of the road infrastructure and the more you overload, the more we spend more money on maintenance,” he stated.

The deputy Operations Manager at Ghana Link, Emmanuel Kuagbelah said the training will go a long way to facilitate the clearance of transit goods at the ports of Ghana.

“Because of the education that they have had, as to the number of days that you can spend on the road and the reasons you should not spend much time on the road is to enable the providers of the tracking device get enough stock to present to others who need them,” he said.

The Transit Manager at the Port of Tema, David Songotu called on all stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring that the transit trade rakes in the needed revenue.

“It is very important that we encourage the trade, because we have over 2000 people working in this trade, hence, earning their livelihood,” he revealed.

ECG to embark on 33kv line upgrade project to stabilize power situation in Ashanti region

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SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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The network maintenance team on site

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is to commence a 33kV line upgrade project aimed at improving power supply reliability in the Ashanti Region.

The project, being undertaken by Indian firm Arvensis Energy Private Limited over an 11- week period will focus on enhancing the existing 33kV line from Ridge BSP through the Kaase Substation to the Boadi Substation of ECG.

Ing. Eugene Nyanor, manager of network maintenance for Ashanti Sub-Transmission at ECG who led a delegation to brief Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah on updates of the project, said once completed, the upgraded transmission lines will increase capacity to transmit more power and thus enhance the overall reliability of electricity supply across the region.

He said the project would entail upgrading conductors from 265mm² to 400mm² to boost power generation and supply reliability, doubling one-phase cables per phase to increase capacity, and installing galvanized steel towers.

Ing. Nyanor announced that the project is has the full backing of the Energy minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, assured the ECG and the contractor of the Regional Coordinating Council’s support for the successful completion of the project.

He stressed the importance of the project which, he said, would come to complement the proposed commissioning of the Ameri Plant, towards stabilizing the power situation in the region.

Stakeholders Inspect Ongoing Projects Initiated By AngloGold in Obuasi

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The almost completed Obuasi East Examination Printing Centre

Staff of the Sustainability Department of AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine as well as Health and Education officials in Obuasi have inspected some of the    ongoing projects being funded by AGA to improve the lives of the people in Obuasi and its environs.

Areas the team visited for the inspection were the Apitikoko CHPS Compound and Nurses Quarters, Dokyiwa/Binsere Health Centre, Obuasi Robotic Centre and the Obuasi Municipal and the Obuasi East Examination Printing Centres.

At Apitikoko, the site engineer, Mr. Richard Opoku Minkah, told the team that the CHPS Compound will be completed in July this year.

The Dokyiwa,Binsere Health Centre under construction

The project engineer supervising the Dokyiwa/Binsere Health Centre, Mr. Roland Boakye said work is going on smoothly and that the project will also be handed over by June.

At the Obuasi Robotic Centre being constructed at the Obuasi Senior High Technical School grounds, Mr. Godbless Densi Amankwah supervising the project said there has been some variations in the plan and for that matter the project cannot be completed in June as scheduled.

While Mr. Omane Solomon, site engineer for the Obuasi Municipal Examination Printing Centre said work is ninety five percent complete, Mr. Jonas Davoro, contractor for Bachor and Jonas Company in charge of the Obuasi East Examination Printing Centre said work is almost completed and will soon hand over the project.

Commenting on the inspection tour, Mrs. Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei, Social Development and Gender Superintendent of AGA, said it was so arranged for the team to know the state of the various projects and expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at all the project sites visited.

Mrs. Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei addressing the media after the tour

Touching on the Robotic Centre, Nana Yaa Kyei said science is the call of the day and added that it is prudent on the side of AGA to carry the people of Obuasi on the line of global waves with its construction.

She noted that the Robotic Centre will train the youth such that when they are done with school, they will be self sustained or self employed and not wait to be employed by anybody as they will be given life skills that cannot be taken away from them.

From Frederick Danso Abeam

Shocking revelation at PAC: Consolidated Bank Ghana Owes Gov’t Over GH¢11bn …GCB Bank also owes GH¢2bn

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MAXWELL OFORI
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James Klutse Avedzi, chairman of PAC

The five-year-old Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) is owing the state over GH₡11 billion, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

At its sitting on Monday, April 8, 2024 the PAC, especially its chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, appeared alarmed over the staggering amounts that entities such as the CBG owed the nation, when officials from the Controller and Accountant General Department appeared before it.

“A company like Mankoadze Fisheries owes GH¢184 million. Tema Oil Refinery, they still owe GH¢218 million; Consolidated Bank of Ghana, they owe over GH¢9 billion. Yes, GCB also owes over GH¢2 billion. Ah, Consolidated Bank again GH¢2.3 billion. Then they owe over GH¢11 billion; anyway,” James Klutse Avedzi said, whilst reading from the Auditor General report.

A-G FINDINGS

Paragraphs 48 to 51 of the Auditor’s report on the 2022 accounts of the government indicated that non-recovery of loan receivables stood at GH¢50,677,171,636.

The Auditor observed that the Controller and Accountant General (CAG) had not implemented its recommendation to recover the debts from the institutions.

The report noted that out of the 310 institutions indebted to the government of Ghana, the CAG was able to recover from eight institutions an amount totaling GH¢13,867,733,821 – representing 27.36 percent, leaving an outstanding balance of GH¢50,677,171,636.00 to be recovered.

“We recommended that the CAG should, as a matter of urgency, adopt a structured approach to recover the outstanding amount of GH¢50,677,171,636.00 from the debtors without further delay, the Auditor General further stated.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSE

The CAG responded that the CAGD and Ministry of Finance have stepped up measures to effectively recover the loan receivables.

As part of the measures, the Government On-lending and Recoveries Committee has been constituted to oversee the recovery and recommend the write-off of nonrecoverable loan receivables in the books as may be appropriate.

“It was through these measures that an amount of GH¢13,867,733,821 was recovered. The Committee is still working towards recovery of the outstanding loans receivable,” the Controller wrote to the Auditor.

EFFORTS

The Chairman of PAC, James Klutse Avedzi, having read the CAGD response that the committee was working towards recovery of the outstanding loans receivables, asked how much had been recuperated since the last audit.

The Deputy Minister for Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, offered an explanation on the basis that the matter had been referred to the ministry. According to her, there were about 18 companies identified and not all are state-owned.

She told PAC that the ministry had written to the Registrar of companies and the state interests and governance authority to know if these companies were still operating, but were yet to receive responses.

She said that when they get feedback and these companies are defunct, the ministry will go through the appropriate procedures to clear them off its books, as was done in 2019.

She said for state-owned companies that are viable, the government will “do the needful” to recover their portions, and for those that are defunct, their assets will be sold to defray the debt.

“And where we cannot find [assets] respectfully, we will come to you and seek your advice on the way forward,” she added.

The Chairman retorted in agreement to the ministry going through the process, but could not understand the reason to offer the loans and wait till the companies could not pay and then they go through the process for Parliament to write them off.“Why do we want to do that? GH¢50 billion can do something for a small community,” he remarked.

RECOVERY

Since the report was put together, GH¢67 million out of the over GH¢50.67 billion has been recovered, the PAC Chairman identified.

The Deputy Minister agreed with the concerns raised by the committee, emphasising that governments over the years have worked to retrieve these monies.

The Chairman disagreed that it was a long time, citing the debts that were written off in 2019, adding that “these ones are current accumulations.”

“Mr. Chairman, it is not current. We can provide you with the information,” the deputy finance minister said.

However, the chairman, who referred to the information in the Auditor’s report, said it did not add the dates.

What is in the report is the balance as at January 1, 2022 and the balance as of December 31, 2022.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the dates or the age of the debts,” the PAC Chairman said and the Deputy Minister responded, “Mr. Chairman, we will furnish you with some data.”

Akufo-Addo assents to wildlife management resources bill

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has signed into law an Act of Parliament, which seeks to revise and consolidate all laws relating to wildlife and protected areas.

A statement signed by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, and released in Accra on Monday, this week, said the Wildlife Resources Management Bill, which had been pending for over fifteen (15) years, was previously laid before the fifth, sixth and seventh Parliaments, until it was eventually passed by the Eighth Parliament, on 28th July, 2023.

The following is the full press statement;

The President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has signed into law an Act of Parliament which seeks to revise and consolidate all laws relating to wildlife and protected areas.

The Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2024 (Act 1115), sponsored by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, was passed by Parliament on 28th July, 2023 and  assented to by the President on 1st March, 2024.

The Wildlife Resources Management Bill, which had been pending for over fifteen (15) years, was previously laid before the fifth, sixth and seventh Parliaments, until it was eventually passed by the Eighth Parliament, on 28th July, 2023.

Wildlife and protected areas were previously regulated by the Wild Animals Preservation Act, 1961 (Act 43), the Wildlife Conservation Regulations, 1971 (L.I. 685) and the Wildlife Reserves Regulations, 1971 (L.I. 710).

Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources

These legislation, enacted over fifty (50) years ago, were not in tune with current international best practices for wildlife protection and management, and did not provide a proper legal framework for the implementation of the Forest and Wildlife Policy, 2012; the Forestry Development Master Plan (2016-2036) and other national and international frameworks that guide sustainable resource management, all of which were adopted years after these laws were passed.

These previous legislation also did not clearly define the aims and objectives of wildlife management and the various categories of protected areas, and lacked deterrent sanctions for wildlife offences.

On Thursday, October 28, 2021, Cabinet, at its seventeenth (17th) meeting, gave approval for the new Wildlife Resources Management Bill developed through a very extensive consultative process involving both state and non-state actors, to be laid in Parliament, leading to its passage and assent by the President.

Among others, the new law brings Ghana’s wildlife law in conformity with existing policies in the sector and provide for the implementation of international conventions on wildlife to which Ghana is a signatory.

It provides for a new management structure to give legal backing to the involvement of local communities in wildlife management through the creation of Community Resources Management Areas (CREMAs) and provide higher penalties and sanctions regime for wildlife offenses, deterrent enough to protect our wildlife resources.

The law also provides for the implementation of several international wildlife conventions to which Ghana is a signatory, such as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitats (RAMSAR) 1971, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, (CITES), 1973, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (BONN), 1979, as well as several indicators in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is committed to the effective implementation of this important piece of legislation for the efficient and progressive preservation and management of the wildlife resources of our country, in the spirit of transparency, anchored on integrity and utmost good faith, for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.

SIGNED

HON. SAMUEL A. JINAPOR, MP

MINISTER

NPP financier cries foul over demolition of his multi-million dollar house

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The structure about to be demolished

A financier of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr George Oti Bonsu, is crying foul over the demolition of his buildings on a one acre land at Adjiriganor, a plush suburb of Accra.

Speaking to journalists at the site of the demolition, Mr Bonsu said one Hajia Aisha Ahmed, who is also claiming ownership of the land, allegedly brought in military men on the morning  of Monday April 7, 2024 to demolish the ten-storey building on the land, worth  several millions of United States Dollars.

Recounting the incident, he described how uniformed and masked military personnel arrived at the scene, ordering the Caretakers to lie on the ground and confiscated their phones before proceeding to demolish the structures, using bulldozers.

Mr. Oti Bonsu speculated whether this drastic action was in retaliation for his support of Mr. Ken Agyapong, a prominent figure within the NPP.

The following vehicles, with registration numbers CR6703-23, UE11-14, GA 1915-21, BA1915-21 and 53GA75, which he alleged belongs to both the military and National Security were involved in the demolition exercise. The Chronicle cannot, however, independently confirm this allegation.

Meanwhile, Hajia Aisha Ahmed, in her reaction to the allegation, has provided detailed accounts about the dispute, over the ownership of the disputed land. The following is what her outfit sent to The Chronicle;

THE TRUE FACTS OF HAJIA AISHA AHMED V GEORGE OTI BONSU AND WINCHESTER EMPIRE LTD (Suit No. C1/11/2021)

  1. The Plaintiff (Hajia Aisha Ahmed) is the legal and beneficial owner of two parcels of land being:

(a) ALL THAT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND situated and lying at Dzornaman (Ability, Adjiriganor) in the Adenta Municipality, in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana, containing an approximate area of 0.80 acre or 0.32 hectare (hereinafter called “Property A”), and

(b) ALL THAT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND situated and lying at Dzornaman (Ability, Adjiriganor) in the Adenta Municipality in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana, containing an approximate area of 0.13 acre or 0.05 hectre (hereinafter called “Property B”).

  1. Hajia Aisha concluded the purchase of Property after having taken the necessary steps, including legal searches, to ascertain the root of title of her grantor and was satisfied that her grantor, the Okpong-We Family, duly represented by its Head and Lawful Representative, Nii Tawiah Osabu-Kle, was the lawful and proper owner of the lands in that area, with an encumbrance from Ibrahim Brobase Limited.
  2. Soon after the lease was executed, the Plaintiff sought the assistance of the Ghana Police Service in Adenta to move all the squatters from the Property and built a wall around the Property to secure the land. The said wall was demolished by George Oti Bonsu, a few days after it was put up.
  3. Upon acquiring Property A, Plaintiff commenced registration of the land to register her title to the land, which was plotted at the Public and Vested Lands Management Division of the Lands Commission with the number LXDGAST20289582020.

 

  1. Plaintiff began registering the land wherein Property B was plotted at the Public and Vested Lands Management Division and Survey and Mapping Division of the Lands Commission as LRDTDR10274282020.
  2. On or about July 2020, Plaintiff was informed that some workers had moved onto Property A and Property B (hereinafter collectively called “Properties”), trespassed and interfered with the quiet possession of the Plaintiff, wherein the Plaintiff sent a representative to inquire into the said information. Upon meeting the workers, they claimed that George Oti Bonsu had contracted them to construct housing units on the Properties.
  3. Hajia Aisha duly filed a complaint on 7 August, 2020 at the Criminal Investigation Division of the Ghana Police Service and the Property Fraud Unit and Anti-Land Guard Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
  4. Subsequently, the Police arrested the workers on the Properties. However, George Oti Bonsu sent different group of workers to the Properties to develop them.
  5. George Oti Bonsu further told the Attorney that, he George Oti Bonsu had no documentation of the Properties, but the said representatives should allow him to develop the Properties without any further interference.
  6. That the continuous development of the Properties by George Oti Bonsu caused the Plaintiff to file the instant suit and Interim Injunction at the registry of this honourable court, which said interim injunction, was granted on 23 October, 2020.
  7. Hajia Aisha continued with the registration of Property without any objection from any third party. Thus, a search at the Lands Commission will show that the Plaintiff is the legal and beneficial owner of the properties.
  8. On the 25th Day of January 2021, when the bailiff of this honourable court served the order of Interlocutory Injunction on the Respondent at the site of the properties, George Oti Bonsu, in the full glare of the Police ordered his workers and assigns to continue with the development of the land and same have continued to date, with wanton disregard for the orders of this honourable court.
  9. Hajia Aisha was able to duly register the land at the Land Title Registry of the Lands Commission with GLPIN and Plotting Number – GA 1216053-358490.
  10. Hajia Aisha maintained an action against George Oti Bonsu and Winchester Empire at the Courts in Adenta, as both of us were sued in Tema as defendants by Winchester Empire. An application for injunction against Hajia and George was dismissed by the Tema High Court and the case was never pursued again by Winchester, leaving the case between Hajia Aisha v George Oti Bonsu and Winchester Empire at the Adenta Courts.
  11. During all material times at the court, George Oti Bonsu refused to come to court and every court process was served on him by substituted service. Due to this, an interlocutory judgment was granted against George Oti Bonsu and served on him, but he still continued to develop on the land and several police attempts to stop him proved futile.
  12. Hajia Aisha went ahead to prove her case and judgement was awarded her on 28th Day of November, 2023.
  13. Hajia Aisha Ahmed entered Judgement and same was served on George Oti Bonsu on 19th December, 2023.
  14. A writ of possession was granted by the courts for Hajia Aisha to take possession of the Land and on 11th March, 2024 and same was served on George Oti Bonsu.

 

  1. On 12th of March , 2024 the Judicial Secretary wrote to the Inspector General of Police through the Director General of the Police Legal Directorate to assist Hajia Aisha to take possession of her land and attached certified true copies of all land documents and judgement.

Gov’t working on incentives to wooinvestors into housing sector –KON

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Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah

Government is taking steps toward bridging the 1.8 million housing deficit in the country by actively developing an incentive package to attract private sector developers to the housing industry.

This initiative was announced by the Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, during the Revision of Ghana’s Housing Profile Workshop held in Accra on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Speaking at the event which convened stakeholders within the sector, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said while current housing programmes, though well-intentioned, have seen slow execution, incentivising master developers within the sector with incentives like tax breaks, streamlined approval processes for construction permits and land allocation at competitive rates will jump-start housing projects to bridge this gap.

“We in Ghana need to understand that we cannot resolve a 1.8 million housing deficit without the partnership of the Private sector through incentives. We have commenced engagement with industry groups towards developing this incentive packages,” he said.

This strategy he said takes inspiration from countries like Kenya and Ivory Coast, which have successfully utilised attractive incentive packages to lure private sector investment into housing development.

Collaboration is key

The Minister highlighted ongoing discussions with industry groups like the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) to develop a comprehensive incentive package expressing confidence in securing the necessary approvals from both Cabinet and Parliament. This collaborative approach, he said, signifies the government’s commitment to working alongside the private sector to address the housing challenges the country face.

Ghana’s Housing Profile

The workshop also focused on the revised Ghana Housing Profile, a vital tool that informs housing policy and interventions. Initially developed in 2010, the profile has been updated to reflect the significant changes that have occurred over the past thirteen years, including the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the findings of the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

This revised profile takes a more holistic view of Ghana’s housing sector, encompassing all income groups and geographic locations. Unlike the previous profile, which focused primarily on urban areas, the new profile aims to integrate housing policies with broader urban and rural development plans.

This ensures that housing development aligns seamlessly with social, economic and environmental considerations for a more sustainable future.

Challenges and Opportunities

The workshop also shed light on the ongoing challenges plaguing Ghana’s housing sector. Lengthy procedures for housing development, limited access to affordable housing, and difficulties in obtaining financing due to high-interest rates were identified as key roadblocks.

However, the workshop also highlighted opportunities for improvement.

The Minister outlined several initiatives aimed at tackling these challenges, including accelerating existing affordable housing programs to deliver outstanding projects; expanding the National Homeownership Fund to provide more opportunities for mortgage financing and encouraging the use of sustainable materials and construction methods for a more environmentally friendly housing sector.

The road ahead

The success of this initiative according to Mr. Oppong Nkrumah will hinge on collective effort. He said the housing sector holds immense potential to contribute to Ghana’s economic and social development and by addressing the current deficit, the country can empower its citizens, create jobs, and foster a more prosperous and inclusive society.

He maintained that with a concerted effort from all stakeholders; government, the private sector and individual Ghanaians, Ghana can rise to the challenge and create a brighter future where the dream of homeownership becomes a reality for all.

Henry Fitz, 2 others charged for sexual extortion

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Henry Fitz

Henry Amponsah, a.k.a as Henry Fitz and two others have been charged for conspiracy to commit crime, namely non-consensual sharing of intimate images of Ms Serwaa Amihere, a Media Personality.

Other accused persons are Edem Saviour Ketti, a filmmaker and Candylove Kwakyewaa Ababio, a trader.

They were also charged with two counts of sexual extortion, contrary to section 66(1) of Cyber Security Act, 2020 (Act 1038).

Brief facts filed at an Accra Circuit Court indicated that the ccomplainant is Ms Amihere.

Edem Saviour Ketti resides at Adjiringanor and Candylove Kwakyewaa Ababio also resides at Achimota, Kingsby in Accra.

According to the fact sheet, Henry Fitz is at large.

It said on December 3, 2023 the Complainant’s make-up artist – Colleen Nhyira Afful-Sam called to inform her that someone had texted her demanding an amount of GHS5,000 with the pretext that he had the Complainant’s nude pictures.

It said that the said amount should be sent to an MTN mobile money account number – 0558247205, which bore the name Edem Saviour Ketti.

The demolished structures

The facts explained further that, on April 2, 2024 another MTN number -0555252660 called and demanded an amount of GHS20.000.00 to be sent within a minute, or else he would post the nude videos of the complainant.

“Though he succeeded in taking the ransom, he still went ahead and posted the nude pictures of the complainant on social media handles,” it added.

It said on April 3, 2024 the Complainant filed a complaint with the Police and upon surveillance mounted Edem was arrested at his hideout at Dzorwulu.

It also said that during the investigation, he admitted to using his Ghana Card to register the MTN mobile money account number 0558247205, which he handed to Ababio, who then gave the same number to Henry Fitz, and that he had been using the number till date, in the desire to sexually exploit the Complainant and circulate her intimate images on social media handles and networks.

According to the brief, the case is still under investigation, whilst efforts are underway to apprehend Henry Fitz.

By Morkporkpor Anku

GNA

 

Editorial: The ghosts must be searched, located and prosecuted

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Editorial

Myjoyonine.com is quoting two personalities – Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and the Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, as saying that the government has successfully weeded out ghost names from the public payroll.

According to news portal, Mr Kwaning-Bosompem, whilst addressing the 2024 Controller and Accountant General’s Department Annual Conference in Kumasi recently said “Payroll database has been an active database all these years. What it means is that we’ve gone through a process of putting intervention in place to make sure the payroll database is credible and that there would not be any instance where we’ll find an unauthorised person existing on the payroll and benefiting from the government’s resources.”

And just on Monday, this week, Veep Bawumia confirmed this assertion at the Chief Justice’s forum in Accra. “I have also seen through digitalisation that you can deal with corruption. We have now eliminated ghost workers at the Controller and Accountant General’s office just by using the Ghana Card because ghosts don’t have fingerprints.

“This has saved SSNIT four hundred and eighty million Ghana cedis by eliminating twenty-nine thousand ghost pensioners.  … and at the National Service (Secretariat) by eliminating forty-four thousand workers, we have saved over three hundred and fifty-six million Ghana cedis. This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Bawumia has been quoted as saying.

The Chronicle congratulates the government for achieving this feat because the issue of ghost names was a bother to every Ghanaian. Indeed, when Dr Bawumia in particular started championing digitisation and the need for Ghana to embrace it, many people did not understand him. At some point, his political opponents were even making fun of him.

But today, the digitisation policy, which gave birth to Ghana Card, produced by the National Identification Authority, has helped to remove those who were obviously using dubious means to steal from our national coffers.  As the Vice President pointed out, but for the Ghana Card, the authorities wouldn’t have been able to smoke out these criminals who were illegally taking our money every month.

This is one of the reasons why every government department and agency should be digitised. But, whilst congratulating the government for finding a solution to this ghost names matter, The Chronicle is worried that both Dr Bawumia and the Controller and Accountant General were silent on the prosecution of these criminals, who have illegally taken our money for no work done.

We disagree with the school of thought that these are ghosts and should be treated as such. In our opinion, the monthly salary these so called ghosts were drawing from our national coffers each  month were paid into account because the government does not pay its workers on ‘table top’. The big question is: who were the signatories to these accounts?

Clearly if the government wants to get to the bottom of the matter, all these ‘ghosts’ can be smoked out from the holes they are hiding in. This is the reason why we are surprised that Dr Bawumia, whilst touting this achievement, could not assure Ghanaians that the ghosts would be found and prosecuted.

We should not gloss over the fact that when it comes to production of airplanes and car engines among others, we (Ghanaians) are nowhere near the Europeans and Americans. But the latter cannot match us when it comes to using our brains to commit crime. This is a fact that no Ghanaian can dispute.

So whilst Dr Bawumia and officials of his government are gloating over the removal of the ghosts from our payroll, the criminals have already started devising a strategy to beat the new system. To prevent this from happening, the state must search, locate and prosecute them to serve as a deterrent. The prosecution is essential to protect the integrity of the government payroll.

A Season Of Vanishing Genitals

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Opinion

In the past three weeks, fear and panic have gripped parts of Ghana. A legend of vanishing male genitals has been circulating, with a number of arrests made by the police of suspects. The dreaded spots so far are Kasoa, Awutu Senya, and parts of Eastern region. In all cases, though, no missing genitals have been proven, and suspected robbers or magicians have been set free. To older Ghanaians this should be a familiar story.

Its closest precedent was July-August 1997, when the spooky tale spread across the nation leading to mob attacks and lynching in crowded places. While this lasted, cultural norms involving bodily touch were frozen. Even the bravest among men would not take chances; hands were cupped around flaps, and protocol handshakes were sacrificed for fear of genital loss. The possible causes?

There had been an influx of immigrants from the subregion, and the fear mongering was perhaps an ‘aliens compliance order,’ cleverly crafted to free immigrant jobs for Ghanaians. But it could also be real black magic at work. At the time this happened, my pen was alive. Listen to my right hand in July 1997.

“Not the first time human body parts have been felt missing. Dentists are the first offenders after they have applied local anesthesia to your gum, and asked you to wait at the reception for your turn, which never comes.

The tooth extraction over, not only is your tooth gone. Anesthesia makes you feel your lips were extracted together with your tooth, and a momentary search for your lips may begin.

For those not quite used to wintry weather, a five minutes exposure in winter often ‘disappears’ your ears, and an occasional check with a mirror or hand touch could even be advised by the weather man. Who knows if disobedience may lead to ear loss. But it is not only body parts.

The Kattah family I knew in the early seventies were probably glad to be associated with a kinsman, Brigadier Kattah, who kept eluding the Acheampong government after an alleged overthrow plot. The story was simple. Brigadier Kattah would vanish anytime he was pursued by the security.

It was simply a matter of touching the wall, and he would find himself at the Aflao border probably with Kofi Awoonor. I met the legendary Brigadier Kattah not too long ago at a friend’s get together in New Achimota. A very simple, smallish man he was, and he only chuckled when I inquired about his mystical powers.

If a mere touch of the wall led to body displacement, Brigadier Kattah could very easily have caused a scare shaking hands at funerals in Anloga, or asking for directions at Makola.

Looking at the faces of chief mourners last weekend at a colleague’s funeral, you could see panic written across faces. In a moment, they would have wished they had the option to avoid serial handshakes with the long queue of sympathizers: each greeting followed by a handshake. What an ominous custom, where sympathy cannot be expressed without the risk of losing your male genital.

And what of the customary expression of gratitude after you have given your nsawa or donation at a funeral. A group of women has been specifically tasked to proceed in one dogodogo line, and shake hands with the kind donor, thereby causing his manhood to disappear or shrink, as an expression of the lineage’s gratitude.

But since anybody could be a victim or culprit, a good safeguard is possibly not putting yourself in a position where you will thank or be thanked, sympathize or be sympathized with; touch or be touched. Whether in Bawjiase or Madina, walking the streets these days can be scary; you can be lynched by a mob, or maimed by a simple cry of ‘Give it back to me.’

If the alarm blower has held his flap, you are in trouble. So are you jeopardized if you respond to a stranger’s quest for directions, or time check. For being a good Samaritan, this may cause you the loss of genitals, and you may find yourself placing a lost and found adverts on radio. Finder may be amply rewarded.

I am surprised the business acumen of the Ghanaian has not been roused. Let one insurance company start the business of insuring male genitals against ‘depreciation,’ and you will notice how long the registration queue. That is why the Sollatek stabilizer appears to have made it overnight. Sollatek insulates your electronic equipment against power surges, fluctuations and the like.

And do you remember the picture that comes with the bill board advert? A lineup of four or five defenders in a soccer game facing a free kick just outside the penalty box; their hands firmly cupped over genitalia.  The written advert simply says, “Protect your valuable property.”

No wonder taxi drivers and trotro ‘mates’ no longer take moneys directly from the passenger. Passenger fare may be left in a till provided somewhere near the driver. ‘Don’t touch me’ has been revisited.

But wouldn’t the mystery have been over if what was alleged to be missing, were a visible body part? Could victims, for instance have complained to the police about ‘my missing nose,’ ‘my missing chin,’ or ‘my missing jaw bone.’ Why is it never a missing something apart from the something?

That would certainly have made police investigations easier. It would simply have been a matter of pointing to your missing chin, or nose, without having to strip in front of the police or doctor, to display how little you are in spite of your big size, or how big you are in spite of your miniature size. Just imagine the extent one police station went, according to newspaper reports, inviting a lady to massage a ‘victim’s’ shrunk genitals into rising or awakening.

Ghanaian business acumen would one day lead to the upsurge of women genital entrepreneurs, whose mystical powers would lie in restoring missing organs for a fee. And here the restoration therapy would simply involve massaging the empty slot, whereupon the victim after a few minutes of ticklish sensation would exclaim.

“In the name of Jesus; I have found it.”

By Kwesi Yankah

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.

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