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AngloGold’s GHC4.8m Sanso School Project Commissioned

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Dr. Ntim Fordjour addressing the gathering

A GH¢4.8 million one-storey building school project constructed by AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, for the Sanso Community in Obuasi has been commissioned.

The Sanso Basic School Project, which has nine fully-furnished classrooms for both primary and JHS, consists of a library, ICT lab, sick bay, canteen and toilet.

Commissioning the project, the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. John Ntim Fordjour, expressed appreciation to Nananom of Sanso, AngloGold and other stakeholders for collaborating to put up such a beautiful facility.

Picture of the new school block

He also thanked President Nana Akufo Addo for helping to revamp the company after it collapsed in 2014, pointing out that if the company had not been revamped by the President, with the support of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Sanso School project would not have  materialised.

He noted that the best strategy to transform communities around companies is through investment in education and commended AngloGold for the project.

According to him, the school project will go a long way to transform the socio-economic fortunes of the people of Sanso and its surrounding communities.

“When you empower people in the catchment community through education, they will become teachers, engineers and professionals and help ease societal burden on the company,” he added.

Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo, Senior Manager, Community Relations Africa of AngloGold, said the Sanso School Project stands out as a testimony to the company’s long term commitment to contributing to improving quality education within the communities it operates.

Dr. John Ntim Fordjour (middle) being assisted by Nana Akua Dwum II  to commission the school

“While we celebrate this occasion of handing over this school infrastructure to the people of Sanso, we also celebrate the fulfilment of our promise to contribute to nurturing to invest in the dreams of our children and to pave the way for a brighter tomorrow, through the cornerstone of education,” Mr. Baidoo added.

The Member of Parliament for Obuasi West Constituency, Mr. Kwaku Kwarteng, commended the Sustainability Department of Anglo Gold for facilitating the project.

He also praised Kilon Design and Build, the Contractor, for a good job done.

The Edubiasehemaa, Nana Akua Dwum II, called on teachers in the school to do their best to improve standards.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi

LPG importation now goes through tender process

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Dr Mustapha Hamid, CEO of NPA

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on Monday, 29th January, 2024 successfully held the maiden Open Competitive Tender for LPG imports into the country.

The winning Tenderer submitted the lowest premium of USD30.39/MT for the four (4) Lots that were tendered for the period, March to June 2024.

This is a significant drop from the current premiums which range between USD67/MT to USD98/MT. Each lot is about 20,000 metric tonnes.

The NPA says the decision to use open competitive tenders for the importation of LPG is to reduce cost and ensure efficiency.

It said the proposal for the open competitive tenders was approved after consultation with Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs), with a majority of them supporting it.

An LPG filling station in Ghana

The Authority indicated that the quantity being tendered per month represents about 70 percent of Ghana’s monthly LPG consumption, with the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) supplying the remainder.

It is recalled that the NPA proposed the use of Open Competitive Tenders for the importation of LPG in 2021 to, among other things, bring efficiency to the importation of LPG into Ghana and ultimately reduce the cost of LPG through competition.

This was one of the measures proposed to help reduce the cost of LPG to aid in the implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), which has affordability as one of the key tenets to successfully implementing the policy.

The proposal was thoroughly discussed in-house to assess its feasibility, and after it was concluded that it would help reduce the cost of importing LPG, approval was granted to engage with the BIDECs to get their buy-in before its implementation.

There were several engagements with BIDECs throughout 2023. These engagements resulted in the majority of BIDECs supporting the proposal, despite some reservations from a few of them.

The Authority considered the concerns raised by those with reservations and concluded that they were not strong enough to prevent the implementation of the policy.

Data available to the Authority on LPG imports by BIDECs over the years shows a huge disparity in the premiums paid to the International Oil Trading Companies (IOTCs). This can be attributed to the smaller parcels of LPG imported by the BIDECs.

The Authority is of the view that importing the LPG in bulk through the tender process will help to reduce the premiums due to economies of scale and further bring efficiency to the importation of LPG.

 My story: The Journey, My Victory and the Authenticity of the Ghana Teacher Prize

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Faith Dzakpasu, the author

What is this institution known as National Teaching Council (NTC), embodying strength, diplomacy, and authenticity?

Day and night, I tirelessly endeavoured to put my content together to fulfil the requirements of the ten essays for the Ghana Teacher Prize. After school, without hesitation, I would rush to my computer to pour my heart into narrating my journey of becoming a teacher.

Gradually, what initially felt like a daunting task transformed into an enjoyable experience. As I revisited my story and reflected on the impact I had made, I was astonished by how profoundly I had served my beloved country. The realization sent shivers down my spine.

A few days before the deadline, I discovered the need for a thorough check to ensure the success of my application. The realization almost led me to the point of giving up. Nevertheless, despite the challenges, I persevered and submitted my application.

Months after submitting my application, I found myself constantly anticipating communication from the NTC through texts or emails, as there had been no formal communication. One early morning, while getting ready for school, I noticed a text message from the NTC.

Excitedly, I checked, and the message instructed me to join the launch of the Teacher Prize. At school, I would eagerly check every few seconds until I finally saw that the program had begun in full swing. To my delight, I discovered that I was the third name on the list, and I could not contain my joy.

One significant challenge was gathering the necessary documents for the interview. Some of the required materials dated back five years, and the most daunting aspect was retrieving certain documents from my previous school. Despite the difficulty, I undertook the task.

This involved obtaining my School Based Assessment, lesson notes, BECE results, and various other pieces of evidence showcasing my work. A day was scheduled for the interview in Kumasi, and the journey from Accra to the Ashanti Regional capital proved both exhausting and emotionally charged. My husband made a few stops along the way in an attempt to calm my nerves.

The following day, we arrived at the academy, and the sight of the interview team left me trembling with a mix of nerves and excitement. They were not only warm but also poised, clearly aiming for the best candidates. As I entered the interview space, a group of NTC ladies carried my seemingly overly expected teaching resources.

The sight of them and their diligence reminded me of the devoted service of the Galilean women in the holy book. Throughout the process, they treated us with care and respect, providing all the necessary support. My session involved teaching and responding to detailed questions about the teaching profession, making it one of the most intense days of my life.

After the interview, I shared with my husband how the chairperson closely scrutinized my impact brochure. He suggested that we pass by the next day to give the book to the chairperson. I hesitated, expressing fear about going against the academy’s warning not to offer any form of appreciation to the team, not even a simple book, because I did not want to invite any trouble.

Soon, award ceremony at hand. We were provided with comfortable accommodation at Akromah Plaza in Takoradi. The hotel not only offered restful sleep, but also served appetizing meals. However, the anticipation of the contest outcome weighed heavily on my mind, causing me to lose my appetite.

During the two-day symposium, we had the chance to share our impact stories with the observers present. Interestingly, many people kept asking if I had any hint that I was going to win. The answer was a resounding no. There were no signs, no hints, just a lingering suspense that added to the excitement of the moment.

It felt surreal, like a dream unfolding on October 5th when my name filled the airwaves – the Outstanding Teacher came from Greta D Shepherd 2. What made this honour even more special was the absence of any financial obligation. There were no secret meetings, no undisclosed demands for the award, reinforcing my belief that indeed, genuine organizations existed in Ghana.

My sincere appreciation goes to the NTC for upholding such integrity. Many were curious about the packages promised by the NTC. To my delight, every commitment made by the NTC was promptly fulfilled, and I received everything promised within the shortest possible time. Yes, everything.

My journey to Singapore was an unforgettable experience, and with the promised one thousand exercise books and three-bedroom house fulfilled, there was no doubt that the NTC had elevated me to a higher level. Just when I thought I had done well for myself, the NTC came along and made me a better woman.

I declare, with the heavens as my witness, that the Ghana Teacher Prize Award is truly free and authentic. I stand as living proof, a beneficiary of this genuine recognition. Grace, passion, and hard work are consistently the keys that unlock doors.

I encourage all fellow teachers to continually fall in love with the noble profession we have been called to. One day, divine recognition will speak, and the world will sing our praise.

The National Teaching council is indeed building confidence and raising teaching standards.

Long live NTC!

Long live Ghana!

Author: Ghana’s Most Outstanding Teacher-2023.

By Mrs Faith Aku Dzakpasu

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

 

Saglemi trial: Witness lacks personal knowledge of project –Counsel

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Law Courts Complex, Accra

After testifying that US$80 million out of the US$200 million for the Saglemi Housing was paid by late Enoch Teye Mensah, also known as E.T Mensah, it has come to light that the prosecution’s first witness (PW1), Reverend Stephen Yaw Osei, has no personal knowledge of the entire housing project.

According to Rev. Osei, Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing’s testimony before the Accra High Court, he was never involved in the project, therefore, his evidence is based on the documents that he has seen.

The court, presided over by a justice of the Court of Appeal, with an additional responsibility of the High Court, Dr Ernest Owusu Dapaa, heard on Tuesday that the witness was never involved in the implementation of the project.

The witness was testifying under cross-examination by Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, Counsel for second Accused (A2), Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, a former Minister for Works and Housing.

PW1 told the court that he also does not know the roles played by some key people who were in employment with the project consultant, AESL, as well as the ministry, despite knowing them either by their full names, first names or surnames.

Rev. Osei said he did not know that one of the officers, Eric Amankwah Junior, whom he has personal and working relationship with, was the Schedule Officer at the Ministry of Finance on the Saglemi housing project.

To test the evidence of the witness and find out whether the prosecution had done a proper investigation before charging his client and others in the U$200 million Saglemi project, read from a document disclosed by the Attorney-General’s office.

The said document was a statement given by one Eric Victor Aryeetey Ansah, a Deputy Director of AESL, to the Forensic Unit of the Criminal Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.

In the document that portions were read to the witness, Mr Ansah had stated that when preparing the Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs), the Consultant deduct the requisite amounts out of the advanced payments and attached same to other documents, making it a voluminous documents with progress photographs.

Although the witness claimed lack of knowledge about the said statement, denied that there were IPCs attached to the voluminous documents.

E.T Mensah was a former Minister for Works and Housing and his immediate successor was Alhaji Collins Dauda, and then Dr Agyeman-Mensah, who, together with two others, are facing 70 charges of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, issuing false certificate contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Government Contracts (Protection) Act, 1979, AFRCD 58 and dishonestly causing loss to public property contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Public Protection Act 1977 (SMCD) 140 and intentionally misapplying public property.

The others, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubo, a former Chief Director of the same Ministry and Novi Tetteh Angelo (A5), the Chief Executive Officer and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited.
The accused persons were five in all, but one, Andrew Clocanas, then Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited, is deceased.

Cross-examination 

Q. Rev at the last sitting you confirmed the fact that $80m out of the $200m was paid when the Hon ET Mensah was the minister?
A. Correct.

Q. Now do you by chance know any architect by name BasseyAku who played a role of the project architect on the Saglemi Housing project?
A. I know Blassey, but I am not sure of the surname who worked with AESL. However, I am not sure of the role he played in the Saglemi housing project.

Q. Are you also aware that, Architect Bassey Aku was one of the officers who appeared before the financial forensic unit of the CID. Are you aware?
A. I’m not aware. What I know is that some officials on AESL were invited for questioning but I cannot say Bassey is part.

Q. I’m suggesting to you that architect Bassey was one of the persons invited by the CID?
A. I have already told this court that some officials of AESL were invited, but I cannot vouch that Architect Bassey was among those invited.

Q. Are you aware that when Architect Bassey went before the police CID, he gave a statement dated September 14, 2020, where upon he told the police that as the project architect, they were doing quality assurance of the works on site, supervision of work, the presentation of weekly reports with the milestones reports, which were all sent to the ministry?

A. I’m not aware. But some reports as I have told this court in the form of certificates and others came to the ministry, but that was signed by Mr Satchel and not Architect Bassey.
Q. Satchel was the head (MD) of AESL where Architect Bassey works. Correct?

A. Yes.
Q. In fact, are you aware that Architect Bassey in his statement to the police indicated that they worked on the project from the beginning to December 2016, and that they prepared monthly reports detailing work done and progress reports with photographs that were sent to the ministry?

A. AESL was one of the consulting firms of the implementation of the Saglemi housing project from the beginning. As for the reports by architect Bassey, as to whether they did a good job or not I was not there. But my lord in effect, whatsoever came out of that project, was to give a line of the Escrow Management Agreement.

Q. So I understand you to say that you are aware that progress reports prepared by AESL were sent to the ministry. Yes or no?
A. I’m not aware.

Q. And are you aware that this report contained various work done?
A. I have tendered in evidence one of the reports, which is in evidence in this court. If I can have that document.

Q. Now do you know Eric Victor AryeeteyAnsah?
A. I know one Mr Ansah who was deputy Director of AESL. I don’t know if he is the one.
Q. Do you know as a deputy director of AESL, he was also the project coordinator for the Saglemi Housing project?

A. I don’t know.
Q. Do you also know on the September 8, 2020, he gave a statement to the financial forensic unit of the CID?
A. I don’t know.

Q. I’m suggesting to you that the said Eric Victor Ansah gave a statement to the police CID on September 8, 2020?
A. I’m not aware.

Q. Are you aware that in this statement to the police CID, Mr Eric Victor AryeeteyAnsah as the project Coordinator stated “I signed the interim payment certificates together with the project Quantity Surveyors (QUSR) together with the MD of AESL . After the project (QUSR) were evaluated by the contractor”. This was the statement of the coordinator when he faced the police?

A. I’m not aware.
Q. I’m suggesting to you that in a statement given by Eric Victor AryeeteyAnsah, he stated that “when preparing the IPCs we deduct the requisite amounts of the advanced payments as shown on the list attached,” contrary to your testimony before this court that the advance payment is not deducted.”
Prosecution: Objection

Our objection is that counsel is quoting verbatim from a document, which is not in evidence. The witness has informed this court in earlier question posed to him that he is not aware of the document he (counsel) is quoting from and since the document is not in evidence, he can’t be quoting verbatim. He is must find a better way to find the document in evidence so that he can properly use it.

Counsel: I’m doing two things, defending and also undermining the work of the prosecution. This document was in the discovery given to us by the prosecution. Section 74…this is prosecution is not persecution…
By Court: The objection raised by prosecution to overrule the immediately preceding question goes to the legal effect of section 74 & 75 of the Evidence Act 1975 NRCD 323.

According to section 74(1), in examining the witness concerning a writing, it is not necessary to show, read, or disclose to him any part of the writing. Sub section 2, if the witness is not a part, all parts to the action shall be given if they chose to inspect the writing before any questions concerning would be asked the witness.

According to section 55 in examining the witness in signing a statement or other conduct by him that is in consistent with any part of his testimony with the trial, it is not necessary to disclose to him any information concerning the statement or other conduct.

According to the law Reform Commission whose work complement NRCD 323,  who report…by virtue of the Interpretation Act, 2009 Act 792, recourse can be in order to contextualised the proper understanding of the scope, relevant and accurate.

The rationale behind section 74 & 75, essentially, cross examination should have an element of right to elicit the truth from the witnesses. However, if the statement…is attacking the credibility of the witness, fairness demands that the witness be given the opportunity to explain…as section 76…

In the instant case, counsel for A2 is quoting a statement from a document, which was made available during discovery, but same has not yet been rendered by prosecution. The witness certainly has the opportunity to answer the question or even suggest an answer. A citation to be shown the particular document allaimed at advancing the truth and projecting the credibility. See the cases of Kudai against the Republic (1976).

In the Circumstances the objection is overrated, the witness must answer the question.
Statement to the police
Repeat questions

Q. I’m suggesting to you that in a statement given by Eric Victor AryeeteyAnsah, he stated that “when preparing the IPCs, we deduct the requisite amounts of the advanced payments as shown on the list attached,” contrary to your testimony before this court that the advance payments were not deducted?

A. I still maintained that the advanced mobilization was not deducted and subsequent IPCs raised, and my lord, I earlier requested for a document that Thaddeus Sory tendered in evidence that those monies were not deducted.

Q. I’m suggesting to you that in this statement by Eric Victor AryeeteyAnsah to the police CID dated September 8, 2020 it states “the IPCs come as voluminous documents with progress photographs.”

A. The IPC were to follow instructions in the EMA. In the EMA when the contractor raised the certificate, it has to state in clear terms the milestones achieved that is specific on work done and its corresponding amount to pay.

And the EMA made it clear that a copy of a sheet detailing the milestones and progress of work achieved must be part of the IPCs but my lord, looking through those voluminous documents and IPCs to the ministry, you don’t find those documents (The sheets on the EMA that details the milestones archived).

The IPCs are also silent on the percentage of work done or milestones with the corresponding amounts paid to the contractor. It only states the amount of money to be paid to the contractor.

Court:..
A: It is a template from the EMA and the document state clearly that anytime IPCs are to be presented to the ministry that template should be completed and attached to the IPCs before it is presented to the ministry. Unfortunately, there is nothing like that from the documents we received from the contractor.

Court: So who is to liaise with the commission to ensure the documents are intact?
A. The contractor, the consultant and also the ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
Cross examination continues

Q. Before this court I’m suggesting to you that you have not put these voluminous interim payments certificates before the court. Correct?
A. Copies of those documents were presented to the lawyers for the prosecution.
Q. You have testified in this court that when the IPCs are forwarded to the ministry of finance, no further validation takes place. Do you still standby that testimony?

A. Yes.
Q. Are you aware that before payments are effected there is a desk officer at the Ministry of Finance who does the validation before payment is effected?

A. Yes, at the Ministry of Finance, all ministries have desk officers who worked on documents from the respective ministries so before the Hon. minister for finance will authorize payment, that officer may work to raise memos.

Q. And what the desk officer or schedule officer does is to validate the payment requests before?

A. I don’t understand what he means by validation, what I know is that from the EMA it is stated clearly that the contractor, OAS the ministry was the account holder and the account is at BoG and the EMA stated further that the milestones agreed between the parties (contractor, consultant and the minsters).

The ministry of work and housing is supposed to do the internal test to make sure that milestones achieved and raised by the contractor through the consultant correspond to the actual work done on the field.

Q. Rev. as far as the Saglemi housing project is concerned, you have testified in this court that you were not personally involved until after December 2016 when there was a change in government?
A. I have never been involved in the implementation of the project.
Q. I’m suggesting to you that your testimony in this court is limited to only the documents that you have seen. Correct?

A. Yes.
Q. Do you know, any officer (Scheduled Officer at the Ministry of Finance by name Eric Amankwa?

A. Yes I know Eric Amankwaah, but I didn’t know he was working as a schedule officer.
Q. From your testimony can you tell the court how well you know the said Eric Amankwa?
A. I have known Eric for a very long time. He used to be a macho man. He actually introduced me to the gym and we worked on the documentation of the theAkyimOda Water project.

Q. Eric Amankwah Junior never informed you that he was the schedule officer at the Ministry of Finance on the Saglemi housing project despite this long relationship you have with him?

A. No.
Q. Okay. I am suggesting to you that his main duty is the schedule officer… to validate and process certified drawn from the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing ?
A: I’m not aware.

Q. Are you aware that the dropped down requests are usually sent to the Bank of Ghana either by the Minister for Finance or the Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance on behalf of the minister. Are you aware?
A. I’m not aware.

Q. I’m putting it you that prior to you testifying before this court, you never found out how the drop down request are processed to the bank of Ghana ?
A. I work with the ministry of work and housing and I’m concerned with what happens at that ministry.

Editorial: Government, Labour Unions must dialogue to resolve impasse

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), the Senior Staff Association-Universities of Ghana and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-TUC) have declared an indefinite nationwide strike.

The unions have declared an industrial strike over what they described as the failure of the government, their employer, to address some pressing concerns affecting them.

They cited welfare needs, including payment of their tier-two pension funds with compound interest, over-time allowances and better conditions of service.

GAUA, for instance, lashed out at the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) for the poor handling of its conditions of service.

This strike by the labour unions, which started on January 17, 2024 have resulted in the withdrawal of essential services, such as cleaning the tertiary institutions’ environment, setting up classrooms for teaching and learning, providing security services and hospital services, among others.

The national chairman of the Tertiary Education Workers Union, Sulemana Abdul-Rahman, addressed journalists yesterday and indicated that they would only return to work if their concerns were addressed.

In university settings, like other workplaces, the role of every staff member is important and culminates in seamless day-to-day activities. As such, academic work would be greatly affected by the decision taken by the unions.

Teaching and learning cannot take place in filthy lecture halls, as vice chancellors and other management members cannot operate from untidy offices, and with no security, just to mention a few.

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has urged the government to address the demands of the university senior staff. The NUGS says the strike is impacting final-year students, especially those who need supervision during their practical sessions.

The government should quickly engage the aggrieved union and sort out their concerns.

We are not oblivious to the fact that this is not the first time labour unions have embarked on a strike.

It would have been a sign of patriotism for them to consider the economic crisis the nation finds itself in currently, which has seen her take refuge at the IMF with strict conditions.

Usually, the timing for these strike actions is during election year when the agitators know the ruling government is vulnerable, for fear of losing votes and thus may succumb to their pressure and heed their concerns.

Granted that it is a strategy, we do not think it is wrong in any way, if the demands are genuine. The unions do not, out of the blue, declare strike actions. They follow due process which includes notices to the employer and government.

The Chronicle is particularly concerned about the strike action, as it will definitely have consequences for innocent students. But are they not justified, considering the hullabaloo surrounding the AFCON 2023 budget? We have our reservations on that matter and have expressed same in previous editorials.

In the midst of complaints from labour unions, comes the wanton dissipation of resources on the senior national football team, the Black Stars, and their abysmal performance at the ongoing AFCON tournament.

The amount of money budgeted for the tournament does not correspond with the performance of the team. It comes as no surprise that a section of Ghanaians are demanding a total overhaul of the Ghana Football Association and to check the wanton dissipation of resources with nothing to show for it.

The labour unions must be heard and their concerns addressed. We are delighted to note that the government has scheduled to meet the striking tertiary workers today, Thursday, February 1, 2024.

We expect that the meeting today will address the concerns that provoked the strike. On the other hand, the labour unions should not go to the negotiation table with an entrenched position. It should be a win-win situation in the interest of the nation.

Zamfara Governor declares state of emergency in health sector

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Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has officially declared a state of emergency in the state’s health sector.

The governor announced the development during a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday, expressing deep concerns after an unscheduled visit to Gusau General Hospital revealed deplorable conditions in the health facility.

Visibly disturbed by what he witnessed, the governor outlined a comprehensive plan to address the challenges within the health sector.

“As a responsible government, we are taking urgent steps towards intervention,” Lawal declared, acknowledging the need for immediate action.

The key initiatives outlined by the governor include: “Massive Infrastructural Development: Improving the quality of all general hospitals through significant infrastructural development.

“State-of-the-Art Medical Equipment: Providing state-of-the-art medical equipment to enhance healthcare delivery.

“Standard Laboratories: Establishing standard laboratories for proper diagnosis.

“Maternal and Child Healthcare: Offering free services to address maternal and child healthcare, with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality.

“Primary Health Centres (PHCs): Giving special attention to PHCs in remote communities to enhance standard primary healthcare delivery.”

The governor also expressed his commitment to the well-being and welfare of healthcare service providers as he pledged to establish an affordable and comprehensive health insurance scheme for all citizens of Zamfara State.

Furthermore, the governor assured of the distribution of necessary equipment and essential medicines to hospitals across the 14 local government areas.

To ensure accountability, Lawal announced mandatory physical verification of all hospital staff, including casual workers, stating that the state health commissioner will establish a proper channel for external supervision of staff on duty.

In addition to these measures, the government plans to enhance ongoing Special Modified Medical Outreach, strengthen emergency response, and reposition human resources for the health structure.

The governor reiterated his dedication to the urgent and effective transformation of the health sector in Zamfara State, saying that the declaration of a state of emergency marks an important step towards achieving the goal and ensuring the well-being of the citizens.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Lagos IRS announces extension of deadline for filing tax returns

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The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, has extended the filing of employers’ annual tax returns by one week, starting from February 1 to February 7, 2024.

Ayodele Subair, the Executive Chairman of LIRS, disclosed this in a public notice released by the agency on Tuesday.

According to him, the extension is due to the recent downtime experienced on the government’s e-tax portal.

According to the state’s law, the filing of annual tax returns by companies expires on January 31 of each fiscal year and attracts stiff penalties for defaulters.

Subair tasked Taxpayers to take advantage of this extension to perform their civic obligation.

“We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and this extension is intended to accommodate such instances.

“We implore all employers of labour within Lagos State who are experiencing difficulties in filing their annual tax returns to call our customer service centre or visit the help desks at our various tax stations.

“It is essential to adhere to the revised deadline to maintain compliance and avoid any potential penalties”, he said.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Families of 25 deceased police officers receive N134m in Zamfara

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Nigerian police

The Nigerian Police Force has disbursed the sum of N134 million to the families of 25 officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria.

The disclosure was made in a press statement issued by the spokesman of the Zamfara Command, Yezid Abubaker, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the funds were provided through the Group Personal Accident, Group Life Insurance, and IGP Family Welfare Schemes of the Force.

The Nigerian Police Force has disbursed the sum of N134 million to the families of 25 officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria.

The disclosure was made in a press statement issued by the spokesman of the Zamfara Command, Yezid Abubaker, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the funds were provided through the Group Personal Accident, Group Life Insurance, and IGP Family Welfare Schemes of the Force.

The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, CP Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, acting on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, presented cheques totaling N134,550,824.86 to the bereaved families.

“The cheques issued are part of the IGP’S welfare initiative under the Group Personal Accident, Group Life Insurance, and IGP Family Welfare Schemes of the Force,” the statement affirmed.

CP Shehu reiterated the commitment of the Inspector General of Police to prioritize the welfare of members of the police force, whether in active service or posthumously.

He advised the beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously to address their academic and other financial needs.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Atiku’s comment reckless, Tinubu on top of security issues -Presidency 

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President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar

The Presidency, on Tuesday, described as “reckless”, a statement by ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar calling for the resignation of President Bola Tinubu over rising killings and kidnappings in Nigeria. In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said contrary to Atiku’s claims, Tinubu is on top of the security situation in Nigeria.

Atiku, Nigeria’s Vice President from May 1999 to May 2007, was one of Tinubu’s main challengers in the 2023 presidential poll, scoring 6,984,520 votes to come second with Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, winning the election with 8,794,726 votes.

Atiku, the candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), earlier on Tuesday, descended on Tinubu for “playing fiddle while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity”.

“To imagine that the Commander-in-Chief is on a so-called private visit while kidnappers kill a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay N90m ransom and two monarchs in Ekiti, among others,” Atiku wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

However, in its response, the Presidency said Atiku’s statement accusing Tinubu of “fiddling amidst some security and economic challenges is to say the least, reckless” and “fell short of what is expected from an elder statesman.

“If Alhaji Atiku is really concerned about security issues and not playing cheap politics, he should have known that President Tinubu is on top of issues and working hard to restore peace to every part of our country.”

Credit: channelstv.com

Tema Port Becomes First Port of Call in West Africa

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13, 676 TEU Vessel, Maersk Edirne berthed at MPS Terminal 3 at the Port of Tema

A historic milestone in the annals of the Port of Tema has been chalked with the arrival of a 13,000+ containership earlier this week at the MPS Terminal 3.

The call of the Maersk Edirne marked the commencement of a new express service, making the Port of Tema the first port of call in West Africa.

The 366-meter-long, 13,676 TEU vessel, before reaching the West Coast of Africa, journeyed through major hub ports in China and Southeast Asia in under 20 days.

This vessel is one of thirteen similar-sized vessels deployed on the updated Far East-West Africa service, expected to deliver better connectivity and quicker transit times.

The Maersk Ghana team, together with some of the line’s key customers, celebrated this milestone with a quick tour of the giant ship.

Razak Ngula, the Managing Director of Maersk Ghana Limited said his outfit is excited to bring this express service to the doorstep of customers at a reduced transit time.

“We want to see this corridor grow each year. Last year, the corridor grew 23% into West Africa and we expect that this would inject the needed capacity to be able to carry the cargo that is needed into West Africa,” he indicated.

He said considering that most African ports have structural constraints, this move by Maersk “gives indication of the kind of infrastructure that we have in Tema to be able to receive such big vessels.”

According to Eva Kwarteng, the Import and Export Manager at Nestlé Ghana Limited, a major customer of Maersk, “the vessel coming directly from Far East to us means we’ll have our materials available on time for us to be able to produce on time in order to satisfy our customers.

Secondly, because the lead time is short it means we do not have to keep so much stock at a point in time because we can always get them coming as and when we need them so it can help us also to reduce the stock holding that we have in terms of our raw and packaging materials.”

Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Port Services, Mohammed Samara, told Eye on Port what this means to traders, industries, and ordinary consumers using the Port of Tema.

He said not only will it mean shorter transit time in the logistics supply chain, but marginal reductions in freight rates would be enjoyed due to the direct service.

The MPS CEO said this feat is made possible by the massive investment made into the port facility at Terminal 3.

“We have deployed eight cranes on board this ship alone. Not many ports in West Africa have eight cranes let alone be able to deploy eight cranes on one ship. The infrastructure that we have built over here is capable of taking such sized vessels and even bigger. We have the draft and we are connected directly to the Atlantic Ocean.”

Mohammed Samara revealed that this is only the beginning, so far as Ghana’s gateway ambitions are concerned.

He said without mentioning names due to commercial sensitivities, some other shipping lines have already engaged MPS to explore the possibility of deploying similar services through the Port of Tema.

The MPS Boss said the transhipment opportunities look bright for the Port of Tema which is truly living up to its vision of becoming the leading container hub of the sub region.

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