Fubara makes fresh appointments amid fight with lawmakers

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January 29, 2024

Chairman of Presidential Committee on Tax Policy and Fiscal Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has said the Federal Government is not recruiting ‘area boys’ to collect taxes.

On January 17, Oyedele exclusively told Channels Television that the government could train area boys for tax collection and pay decent salaries to forsake their old ways.

Following the public outcry that trailed the statement, Oyedele took to his X handle on Saturday, to say his comment was taken out of context.

He argued that a person cannot be recruited to do the job they are already doing, whether they are legally engaged or otherwise.

You cannot recruit a person to do the job they are already doing, whether they are legally engaged or otherwise.

We have over 40 taxes and levies which States and Local Governments are authorised by law to…

“We have over 40 taxes and levies which States and Local Governments are authorised by law to collect across Nigeria including road taxes on trucks, buses and bicycles, wheelbarrow, kiosks and shops levies,” he said.

“In many cases, area boys are engaged to collect these taxes which they often do through crude, unorthodox means and harassment.

“Painfully, these taxes yield very little revenue to the government despite the huge burden they place on small businesses, artisans and transporters.”

Oyedele said the issue he raised in the interview was not about employing more tax collectors but about finding common ground with those already involved, who have an unofficial stake in the system.

“We propose to eliminate many of these taxes and harmonise a few of them that may be appropriate and devise a civil means of collection using mobile phones,” he said.

Oyedele said the issue he addressed was sensationalised and taken out of context.

According to the tax expert, he was talking about how to “get the buy-in of those who currently collect these taxes (and benefit from doing so beyond whatever they are being paid officially)”.

“I did not mention any word like recruit or employ. My thought on it beyond the legal aspect was to consider the social dimension and find a practical solution that has a high chance of success,” he said.

“The idea is that the government could train the collectors to behave in a civilised manner and pay them decently so that it is comparable to what they currently make.

“Their new role will be to drive and monitor compliance. The payers will pay less and be treated with dignity. Government will earn more, and society will benefit – a win-win outcome for everyone.”

In October 2023, the presidential committee led by Oyedele presented a quick win report which contained 20 recommendations.

President Bola Tinubu, upon receiving the document, directed an immediate implementation of the recommendations.

Credit: channelstv.com

We’ve returned to Buhari era – CUPP kicks over Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips

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January 29, 2024

The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has disagreed with President Bola Tinubu over his recent private trip to France.

The group wonders why the president would be embarking on such a trip while, according to it, Nigeria is in dire need of leadership.

CUPP said it is disturbed and not happy by the frequency of Tinubu’s so-called private trips to France, adding that the country may have just returned to the Buhari era.

It recommends that, while choosing a leader, a comprehensive health and fitness test be made compulsory so that Nigerians will avoid this situation in the future.

“It is our hope and belief that these private trips do not involve something untoward that is hidden from Nigerians who voted for him to salvage the country, which has been in a downward spiral,” the coalition said in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Peter Ameh.

“Tongues have begun to wag, and speculations are beginning to abound about the real reasons for these private trips.

“We hope that Nigeria is not about to witness another Buhari 2.0 presidency where, from time to time, without any form of announcement, the President would sneak out of the country to a foreign country for medical treatment in the name of private visit.

“President Tinubu should realise that Nigeria is beset on all sides by insecurity, galloping inflation, hunger and starvation, unemployment that is running wild and out of control, etcetera. The value of the naira is speeding southward, with our currency exchanging at almost a thousand five hundred naira to the United States dollar.”

CUPP said it feels and recommends “that the country needs a hands-on-deck president, and whatever the reason for these private visits can be conveniently handled in Nigeria or in the absence of such facilities being available, provision should be urgently made to have them brought to Nigeria.

“Nigeria needs the physical presence of their president to have that assurance that the job of Mr. President has not been outsourced to those who have no business exercising it.”

Credit: dailypost.ng

Sentuo Refinery will help reduce dependence on foreign products -Prez

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MAXWELL OFORI

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January 29, 2024

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the Sentuo Oil Refinery on January 27, 2024 describing it as a symbol of the government’s commitment to being energy self-sufficient.

According to the President, the prevalent situation where ninety-seven percent of the country’s current consumption of petroleum products is imported is worrying. This situation, he observed, results in a heavy reliance on external sources.

“This over-reliance not only poses economic challenges such as high costs and the constant drain on our foreign currency reserves, but also limits our ability to control prices and ensure a stable supply,” he said.

He continued that: “it is why the establishment of this refinery signifies our commitment to reducing this dependence, achieving self-sufficiency and driving the growth of our domestic petroleum industry.”

FACILITY

The Sentuo Oil Refinery, owned by Sentuo Group, a Chinese conglomerate, is Ghana’s first private refinery.

The President cut sod for its construction in 2022 under the ‘One District, One Factory’ initiative.

A front view of the Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema

The Sentuo Oil Refinery has an initial processing capacity of 40,000 barrels per day and a 100,000 barrel capacity when in full operation.

Phase one of the refinery will refine two million tonnes of oil per year and phase two, to be completed in 2024, will produce five million tonnes annually.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In his view, the facility represents not just brick and mortar, but also the nation’s determination to reduce dependency on foreign oil and inspire investment in the economy.

He commended the efforts of the Chinese promoter, Mr. Xu Ning Quan, saying that his collective work in the past fifteen years has culminated in strengthening the industrialisation agenda of the government.

He mentioned that beyond providing a stable supply of petroleum products, the refinery will create jobs and drive investment, adding to the Fujian Sentuo Ceramic Company Limited he commissioned in February 2018.

TOR

The new private oil refinery has become a neighbour to the publicly owned Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which has been rendered unproductive.

In his address, President Akufo-Addo assured the gathering of the government’s unflinching commitment to revamp TOR.

He said the government “will stop at nothing to bring it (TOR) back on stream, so that, together with Sentuo [Oil Refinery] more and more of our oil will be refined right here in Ghana.”

LONGSTANDING TIES

The Executive Chairman of the Sentuo Group, Xu Ning Quan, noted that the setting up of the refinery in Ghana reflected the long-standing ties between his country, China and Ghana.

He observed that the development underscored what nations can achieve when the private sector is supported.

Xu Ning Quan thanked the government for creating a conducive and enabling atmosphere for the sector to thrive, adding that the refinery would bolster Ghana’s quest for energy efficiency and sustainability.

In attendance were the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, former President John Agyekum Kuffuor the first Deputy Speaker, Joseph Owusu, the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey and others.

Mahama promises to transform Obuasi

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January 29, 2024

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr. John Dramani Mahamah has stressed the need for a possible facelift for Obuasi, as a town, where gold has been mined for over a hundred years. He said the present state of Obuasi is an eyesore that must be rectified.

Speaking at the Bonsra Afriyie Palace, at Adansi Fomena, where he and his entourage had called on the Adansihene Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afriyie II, on their way to New Edubiase for a Town Hall meeting, Mr. Mahamah said Johannesberg in South Africa is a city to behold, for the mere fact that profits from gold were used to beautify the city, and said the same can be done for Obuasi.

“Nana, when I come back as President, we shall put our heads together to change the present state of Obuasi”, he said.

He assured Ghanaians that the NDC will do everything within its power to ensure peaceful elections in December, this year, noting “we are the sons and daughters of Prof. Atta Mills, the Asomdweehene”.

NDC flagbearer Mahama shaking hands with the Adansihene

The Adansihene, on his part, said the country’s biggest problem is the constitution and urged Mr. Mahama to do something about it if he wins political power.

“The constitution should be structured in such a way that it will punish people who perpetuate corruption”, the Adansihene suggested.

Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia paid glowing tribute to the late Mr. P.V. Obeng, a native of Adansi Akrokerri, for nurturing the NDC to become what it is today.

Speaking at the Town Hall meeting at New Edubiase, Mr. Mahama pledged to complete the local sports stadium he started when he comes back.

He also pledged to increase the percentage of PWDs share of the District Assemblies Common Fund.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Fomena

APN rewards seven distinguished personalities

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January 29, 2024

Seven distinguished African personalities have received awards at the maiden edition of the Africa Prosperity Champions Awards organised by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) as part of the 2024 edition of Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD).

The award ceremony was held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City on Friday, 26 January 2024, under the distinguished patronage of the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and several other dignitaries from across the African continent.

All the award recipients registered their pleasure to Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, founder and executive chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, Organisers of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) and Africa Prosperity Champions Awards (APCA) for the honour done to them.

They pledged to continue in their various endeavours which led to the recognition and to continue to spearhead the transformation agenda of the African continent and in their individual sectors of activity to achieve the prosperity of Africa and her peoples.

Some of the biz gurus engage in serious discussions

The first award category, the “Social Infrastructure Award,” went to Julius Mwale, Principal of Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC) in Kenya.

The MMTC is a USD 2 billion community-owned sustainable city with 35,000 residents and serves as proof of concept for the development of sustainable smart cities across Africa. Construction of the MMTC began in 2014 and includes the 5000-bed Hamptons Hospital among other facilities.

The second award, the “Young Entrepreneur Award,” was received by Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, better known by his stage name, Mr Eazi. Eazi is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is the pioneer of Banku music, a fusion of sound he describes as a mixture of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions and patterns.

The “Nation Builder Award,” the third of the day, was given to Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire and presented by John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of the Republic of Ghana.

Alasane Dramane Ouattara has been President of Côte d’Ivoire since 2010. An Economist by profession, Ouattara worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Central Bank of West African States and he was the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire from November 1990 to December 1993, appointed to that post by President Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

Professor Benedict Okechukwu Oramah picked up the “Financial Leadership Award,” which was presented by Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

Dr. Benedict Oramah assumed the position of president and chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) on 21 September 2015.

Under his tenure as president and chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Professor Oramah has supervised extraordinary financial investments on the African continent across various sectors of the economies of member states.

Under Professor Oramah’s leadership, Afreximbank has recently established offices in the Caribbean as it expands its activities to include Global Africa, Africa’s sixth region.

The “Global Africa Leadership Award,” went to Mohammed Irfaan Ali, the ninth President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali was sworn in as Guyana’s executive president on 2 August 2020.

The sixth award, the “Global Africa Champion Award,” was given to Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal. The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC is the 6th Commonwealth Secretary-General. She is the second Secretary-General from the Caribbean and the first woman to hold the post.

The last award category, “Industrialist of the Year Award,” went to Mohamed M. Abou El Enein. The award was presented to him by Mr Ibrahim Mahama, founder, Engineers, and Planners, and CEO of Dzata Cement Ltd.

Mohamed M. Abou El Enein is a renowned Egyptian businessman, investor, public figure, and accomplished politician. He is the founder and chairman of Cleopatra Group, a company that has established many major projects spread all over Egypt. He is also Deputy Speaker of Egypt’s House of Representatives.

Giovani Caleb earns Master’s in Marketing Strategy from UGBS

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January 29, 2024

Media personality Giovani Caleb, known in real life as Caleb Elolo Adjomah, has graduated with a master’s in marketing strategy from the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS). The 3FM presenter, famed for hosting the television reality show Date Rush, bagged his undergraduate degree from the same university years ago.

Giovani Caleb posed in his master’s graduation gown to immortalise the significant milestone in pictures.

He posted on X that: MA marketing strategy bagged. Kudos my supervisor Dr@Rafurl. My big brother Prof @thePOE_T for encouraging me to go back to school. #UGBS

He also posted on Facebook that: “MA Marketing Strategy – University Of Ghana Business School. Glory be to God. Going back to school after all these years wasn’t an easy decision but glad I made that move. Thanks to family, my lectures and supervisor, colleagues and friends. On to the next!”

Congratulations have poured in after the celebrated presenter basked in the joy of the degree from UG on social media.

John Dumelo bags Master’s Degree in Law @ Legon

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January 29, 2024

Actor-turned-politician John Dumelo is celebrating securing another master’s degree.

The actor on Friday announced that he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Law majoring in Natural Resources.

John Dumelo was one of the thousands of graduates from the University of Ghana.

“I graduated with a Masters Degree in Law(Natural Resources) from the University of Ghana law school today. To God be the Glory!! #idey4u #3rdmasters #PraiseGod,” he captioned his post.

This is the actor’s third master’s degree. In 2022, he celebrated bagging his second master’s degree from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

Meanwhile, John Dumelo’s wife celebrated her husband’s new academic achievement, gracing the graduation ceremony with him.

Sharing a picture of the actor on her Instagram page, Mrs Dumelo noted that she was proud of her husband.

She wrote “Congratulations to the love of my life @johndumelo1 for bagging masters degree in natural resources law at the University of Ghana Law School. Super proud of you. Help me welcome the newest expert in natural resources law.”

Credit: myjoyonline.com

Fancy Gadam blames absence at Sista Afia’s concert on wrong timing

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January 29, 2024

Ghanaian musician, Fancy Gadam has finally revealed why he failed to attend Sista Afia’s concert at the Tamale Sports Stadium.

The show held on May 14, 2022 had low turnout after Fancy Gadam withdrew from the line-up.

In an interview with Majority Radio in Tamale, Fancy Gadam revealed that, the agreement with Sista Afia was reached only one week to the scheduled event.

“Sista Afia didn’t approach us. Someone called and said he wanted to do a show with me and her. We charged GH¢100,000. Then she called herself, wanting me to help her, so I took GH¢50,000 per artiste-to-artiste agreement, meaning half of the initial fee” he explained.

Fancy Gadam said apart from the payment, he also had issues about the timing of the event.

According to him, they needed sufficient promotion so he suggested they should postpone the show to ensure its success, since Ramadan was also inching closer.

“We needed time to promote the show. Timing was the main issue and it was Ramada. We are all Muslims and fasting so they will not want to attend,” Fancy Gadam explained.

However, because Sista Afia’s management had done all arrangements, the concert proceeded on the agreed date.

Even though he had been paid a week before the event, the ‘Total Cheat’ hitmaker said he decided not to honour the invitation to protect his brand.

Sista Afia has said in interviews that Fancy Gadam failed to show up and all calls made to him and his management have since been ignored, Sister Afia said.

According to Sista Afia, Fancy Gadam has yet to extend an apology to her or her team and render an explanation for the no-show.

She lamented the incident, labelling it as an embarrassing situation which could have been avoided.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

Stonebwoy unveils first single for 2024 ‘Believe in Africa’

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January 29, 2024