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Novak Djokovic wins US Open for record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title

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Djokovic wins third Grand Slam title of the year - Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters

Novak Djokovic has emerged from an exhilarating and exhausting US Open final with a 24th Grand Slam title, using every ounce of his energy and some serve-and-volley guile to beat Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in a match that was more closely contested than the straight-set score indicated.

On Sunday, Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, moved one major singles title in front of Serena Williams to become the first player to win 24 in the Open Era, which began in 1968. Margaret Court also collected a total of 24 but 13 of those came before professionals were admitted to the Slam events.

There were moments, particularly in the one-hour, 44-minute second set that was as much about tenacity as talent, when Djokovic appeared to be faltering. After some of the most gruelling points – and there were many – he would lean over with hands on knees or use his racket for support or pause to stretch his legs.

This triumph against Medvedev, the opponent who beat him in the 2021 final at Flushing Meadows to stop a bid for the first calendar-year Grand Slam in more than a half-century, made Djokovic the oldest male champion at the US Open in the Open Era.

Djokovic’s fourth championship in New York, where he was unable to compete a year ago because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, goes alongside his 10 trophies from the Australian Open, seven from Wimbledon and three from the French Open, extending his lead on the men’s Slam list.

Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since January with a hip problem that required surgery, is next, with 22; Roger Federer, who announced his retirement a year ago, finished with 20.

As good as ever, Djokovic went 27-1 in the sport’s most prestigious events this season. The lone blemish was a loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Wimbledon in July. Djokovic will rise to number one in the rankings on Monday, overtaking Alcaraz, who was the defending champion at Flushing Meadows but was eliminated by the number three, Medvedev.

At the start on Sunday, with the Arthur Ashe Stadium retractable roof shut because of rain in the forecast, Djokovic was comfortable as can be. No sign of the occasion weighing on him, no trace of the tension he acknowledged briefly arose late in his semifinal against unseeded American Ben Shelton.

While Djokovic and Medvedev are intriguing figures, neither has been fully embraced by the New York crowds.

Source: Aljazeera.com

Feature: What is truly at stake in the 2024 Election? (2)

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Feature

It is very difficult to understand a situation, looking at it from the inside. It is best to step away from it and take a look from the outside.  With the partisan nature of our politics, that sounds like an impossible task.

But let us look at what is happening to Ghana with the idea that since the tilt is to unrestrained bigger government, the proper societal balance is gone and the worst come out on top.

Indeed, Ghanaians face four realities as they wait for the long-anticipated 2024 elections and campaigns.

  1. That time has come. Our politicians are out of control, and couldnot be more out of touch with the needs of ordinary Ghanaians like you and me – the people that make this country work. We lack courageous leadership backed by common sense and a commitment to getting big things done.
  2. There are no conservative ideas circulating in the country, there are only pro-big government socialists who continue to urge Ghanaians to surrender their rights to the state and the ruffians who pretend to speak out for the marginalised, but somehowalways end up with policies that serve themselves, not the poor.
  3. Majority of voters, regardless of their politics, where they come from, and their circumstance in life, and simply want the current crop of demented, power-obsessed, corrupt politicians OUT do not know how it is to create a society of abundance! They might go to the polls next year out of loyalty for their party of choice and or fear of losing a social grant, not for change.That is the good news.

The bad news is:

  1. A few individuals might be planning, with the help of some people in the media and some corrupt people from Big Tech to steal the 2024 elections by any means possible.

No matter how one look at it, Ghana’s democracy is facing a serious threat from planners who are jumping over themselves to use the state much better than the competition. This mentality is dangerous and is bringing us to ruin as we become an overly politically competitive country and forget what separates true leaders from warlords.

A true leader puts the people and the truth before himself or herself. A warlord pushes his opponents and critics down and do everything and anything to win the state, for the rents. Maybe there is ‘money’ in the system, government is creating jobs, and some think the government is generating growth, but when money was taxed away from the poor who would have spent it on their own behalf, is it really a great economy?

When unemployment is rising among school leavers and when the youth are fleeing abroad to find menialjobs, what bragging rights do our politicians have? Optimism is great, but when the people are clearly suffering, it is a mockery for those in power to say, “Times are great –and those seeking power to resort to lies and misinformation.

Twenty-twenty four should be an opportunity to acknowledge the truth, and a period to work with others to make this country better.Change the mind set and there will be a change in the political culture —naturally and spontaneously.

If the underlying influential attitude is the mind-set of the warlord, we will have more corrupt rent collecting interventionists in public office, whose main aim is to use their power to amass wealth, regardless of the party labels they may choose for their adornment and public appeal.

Politics floats from culture. This country is stuck with interventionist overlords who love to brag about their triumphs. Ghanaian politicians forget that they are the tools of the people, and should not try to hold them in utter contempt.

The average voter might not understand that all the loose fiscal policies is to build more economically dependent constituencies to maintain a firm hold on power, but they are not fools and it might take them away from the polls in 2024. Who cares about anincreased national debt?

That said, let us leave politics aside for just a moment and deeply consider what is really going on in Ghana and what is really at stake at this moment.

We are never victims. As citizens and voters, we have chosen to live in a country governed by our own self-deception. The majority of Ghanaians have come to expect public handouts at other people’s expense, enabling corrupt conmen to constantly conniving to give it to them in exchange for power for themselves. This country is inching dangerously close to normalising the totalitarian deceit, because the majority accept the prevailing lies and deceit.

That is our current reality. We are developing a political monoculture, which requires approval, allegiance and promotion of obedience to the state and ‘Leader,’ backed by foreign aid no matter what.Our “leaders” refuse to learn that the poor know better than they do how to lift themselves out of poverty. So why do they refuse to let them?

This country is not known for her liberties and limited government.The dictatorship we know as Constitutional democracy is drowning itself in a winner-takes-all tyranny, and suicidal economics. Our leaders benefit from the present economic development aid institutions, which preserves a paternalistic culture that relies too heavily on the technical expertise of outsiders and ignores, at its peril, the tacit knowledge possessed only by local beneficiaries.

Young Ghanaian politicians are not immune to this yearning, this will to power.  Theyouth are entitled, not restrained by morals. They ridicule age and wisdom. Ironically, our politicians are getting younger with every election cycle and with not much job experience. So what are they doing in the corridors of power so early in their lives?

The reason is simple. The youth covet riches and power and not afraid to use violence and intimidation. These ‘babies with sharp teeth’ come from both sides of the aisle, not just one party.  Their inclination is not to serve the people.

They want in in the extractive economic institutions. They want one thing—glory in their vision of themselves.  They are no wiser; they are only more conceited.  Look at the mess they are creating in the country. They are the last persons in the country who should have power.

But you already know this.

Regardless of how next year’s election turns out, majority of those who win would be those who are just happy to extract resources. They will continue to encourage the satanic mutilation of our economy; they will still work tirelessly to promote inflationary policies, as well as their full-scale looting of Ghana and their ongoing dance with the IMF, the World Bank and their indoctrination of our children with their collective welfare state poison. The institutions of state will still be corrupt, from the criminal justice system to the internal revenue system to the educational system.

Whose fault is this, really?

It is because we the people have not learned that we forfeit our freedom when we encourage demagogue politicians to vilify opponents rather than focusing on policy solutions. Encouraging the demonization of individuals without cause, divides Ghanaians rather than bringing them together for constructive conversation.

Sooner or later, we get the politics and politicians we deserve. It has ever been so. By this view, it is our own fault. And in a self-governing country how could it be otherwise?  It will take a long time to put this country on the way to recovery without a truly free, courageous, truth-telling individuals and a God-fearing press, which is very ESSENTIAL to a free country.

This is a reminder: If this country want change, voters simply must outvote whatever fraud occurs. However, going into the 2024 elections, some elements within the two big parties will try to steal the elections through every manner of election violence, intimidation, fraud, abuse and paying for votes for which our political parties are so famous.

There is also the question of trust.

Can we trust the mainstream media? The Internet? Opposition sources? Political party sources? The government? Organised religion and their pastors?

We urge Ghanaian voters reading this article to take proper look at those who come to us for our votes, to look at the country and compile a list of instances of our leaders’ careless and shameless abdication of their own prescriptions. How long should we tolerate state sponsored poverty?

Truth may make us uncomfortable, but it will preserve freedom.We have a brief window of time going into 2024, during which right-thinking citizen voters can slow-down the non-stop madness. All of us, working together, can still save our country.

By Kwadwo Afari

Mahama Strikes Out @ CJ … Says she is delaying in giving date for injunction application against EC

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JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Mr John Dramani Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has chastised Chief Justice Getrude Torkornoo over the delay in giving a date for the interlocutory injunction filed against the Electoral Commission (EC) to be heard. The injunction notice is in relation to the EC’s decision to limit the upcoming voter registration exercise to its district offices only.

Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, CJ

According to the NDC 2024 flagbearer, “after the writ and the injunction application were duly filed at the Registry of the Supreme Court on Thursday, 7th September 2023, at 2:50 pm the Registrar informed the applicants’ representatives that they were awaiting the date to be given by the Chief Justice, who was outside the jurisdiction at the time”.

He continued that the Chief Justice returned and travelled to Cape Coast for the Bar Conference while the applicants’ representatives are still waiting at the Registry of the Supreme Court. This, he described, as unprecedented and does not augur well for public confidence in the justice delivery system.

Former President John Dramani Mahama lamented that this was contrary to the time-honoured practice where the Registry of the Supreme Court gives dates for applications to be moved.

Mr. Mahama recalled in 2012, “when a Ghanaian citizen decided to challenge the creation of the 45 new constituencies, the Supreme Court had a sole judge to decide the interlocutory injunction application in a timely manner”.

He bemoaned that the EC would start the lopsided registration exercise today, for which the interlocutory injunction was supposed to be filed, reminding Ghanaians of the famous mantra, ‘Justice delayed, is Justice denied’.

Background

The former President had criticised the Electoral Commission over the upcoming limited voter registration exercise and urged the Commission to decentralise the registration Centers.

He also urged the EC to facilitate the registration exercise in all electoral areas, to allow for easy access and a reduced burden on the citizenry, in their quest to register.

After saying these in his Facebook live session, the NDC, together with four other opposition political parties; namely the Convention People’s Party (CPP), All People’s Congress (APC), Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) filed a suit against the Electoral Commission at the Supreme Court, over the latter’s decision to conduct the upcoming Limited Voter Registration exercise at their District Offices only.

The five political parties filed an Application for Interlocutory Injunction to restrain the EC from proceeding with the announced Limited Voter Registration exercise (starting today), pending the final determination of the substantive matter.

The parties were of the view that the EC’s decision to restrict the registration Centers to their district offices has the potential to deprive many eligible voters of their right to be registered as voters and to vote in public elections.
The limited voter registration exercise will be conducted for eligible Ghanaians who turned 18 years old after the 2020 registration exercise and other eligible voters from September 12, 2023 to October 2, 2023.

 

The EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, has said that the exercise will be held at all 268 district offices of the EC across the country.

Voter registration exercise begins today -EC

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JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Dr Bossman Asare, Deputy chair of EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) is informing the General Public that the 2023 Voters Registration Exercise begins today, Tuesday, 12th September, 2023 and ends on Monday, 2nd October, 2023.

The Registration, according to the EC, will take place at all the 268 District Offices of the Electoral Commission.

In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Michael Boadu, he indicated that Persons who have attained the age of 18 years since the last registration exercise and those who could not register in 2020, should visit the District Office where they reside with either their Ghana Card or their Ghana Passport.

Below is the full statement;

The Electoral Commission wishes to inform the General Public that the 2023 Voters Registration Exercise begins on Tuesday, 12th September, 2023 and ends on Monday, 2nd October, 2023.

The Registration takes place at all the 268 District Offices of the Electoral Commission.

Persons who have attained the age of 18 years since the last registration exercise and those who for one reason or the other did not register in 2020, should visit the District Office where they reside with either their Ghana Card or their Ghana Passport.

Eligible applicants who do not possess any of the identification documents listed above are required to present two (2) persons who are already registered voters to guarantee their registration.

The General Public is informed that it is a criminal offense for non-Ghanaians (foreigners) and persons who are not 18 years and above (minors) to attempt to register.

Offenders and those who guarantee for them will be liable for prosecution. Additionally, guarantors who guarantee for more than the legally mandated number of ten (10) persons will be prosecuted.

The Electoral Commission encourages all eligible applicants to register and vote in the upcoming District Level Elections. We urge the General Public to support the 2023 Voters Registration Exercise

NHIS Saving Lives of Children with Childhood Cancers

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Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, CEO of National Health Insurance Authority

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in June 2022, added treatment of the four common childhood cancers to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Benefit Package.

These are Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, Burkitt Lymphoma, Retinoblastoma, and Wilms Tumor. Since its implementation, the childhood cancers policy has been beneficial to many children who suffered from the disease condition, despite some few challenges.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) had conducted initial actuarial modelling of the Scheme’s capacity to absorb the costs of coverage for these childhood cancers with the hope of removing this financial barrier.

It was in this light that the first Lady. Her Excellency, Mrs. Rebecca Akuffo-Addo, announced the inclusion of the four most common childhood cancers at the official launch of the nationwide NHIS Week celebrations in November 2021.

This is evidenced by the submission of claims by credentialed healthcare service providers for services rendered to childhood cancer patients, who are active members of the NHIS.

It is the view of the NHIA that coverage of the four common childhood cancer services was in response to a real need for access to services for a condition that if treated well could save precious lives who would contribute to the nation’s fortunes.

The commitment of the Authority towards this goal attainment is thus unwavering and all measures will be employed to ensure its full implementation in collaboration with stakeholders.

Genesis

The NHIA initiated processes, as per its Benefit Package review guidelines, for the assessment and operationalization of new benefits and these processes involved mapping out of reimbursable management pathways, development of reimbursement protocols, costing of services and tariff development and final actuarial and budget impact analysis.

The mapping out of the management pathway for childhood cancers and the development of reimbursement protocols was carried out by a multi stakeholder group of paediatric oncologists involved in the direct care of cancer patients from Korle-Bu, Cape-Coast, Komfo Anokye, Ho and Tamale Teaching Hospitals, Geater Accra Regional Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, Techiman; officials from the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Health Facilities Regulatory Authority and the National Health Insurance Authority.

The NHIA was also informed that these services were provided by a Multi-Disciplinary Team of experts in only seven facilities- Korle Bu, Cape-Coast, Komfo Anokye, Ho and Tamale Teaching Hospitals, Greater Accra Regional Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, Techiman. This informed the roll-out of coverage in these facilities until the appropriate specialists and equipment were made available in other facilities nationwide.

Since its implementation in June 2022, the following Claims have been submitted to NHIA for reimbursement:

Despite the amounts paid above towards the reimbursement of Childhood Cancer services, the NHIA is aware of changing economic conditions that warrant reviews of its prices and tariffs.

Service tariffs and medicine prices were thus reviewed in February 2023 before the annual due date of July in response to changes in prices.

These price reviews apply to all other services on the Benefit Package and is an annual periodic activity that is done in collaboration with stakeholders.

The NHIA is currently in the process of comprehensively reviewing its tariff building blocks to arrive at tariffs that will further support the viability of facilities while also ensuring the continued sustainability of the scheme.

The NHIA takes note of claims from facilities of non-availability of medicines and consumables at stated prices and will endeavor to engage relevant stakeholders and regulators of the supply chain to purchase healthcare in the most cost-effective manner to ensure quality healthcare services are made accessible to all members of the scheme.

The NHIA values the distinctive role the mass media, members of the scheme, patient support groups and clinicians play in representing the interest of the populace on health issues and further suggests holistic representation of the efforts being made by the scheme towards providing financial risk protection against the cost of quality healthcare services.

Source: Corporate Affairs Directorate

Head Office

‘Agenda 111 expected to create thousands of jobs’

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The current state of one of the hospitals in Volta Region

Government’s much touted priority health infrastructure project, Agenda 111, is poised to generate thousands of indirect jobs and employ a substantial healthcare workforce of 20,000 professionals.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, Information Minister

Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, disclosed this at an Impact forum on the benefits of the Agenda 111 projects, held in Kpassa, in the Oti Region on Monday, September 11, 2023.

The event, organised by the Office of the President, in partnership with the Ministry of Information is the second in series of many others, aimed at updating Ghanaians on the progress of work on the government’s biggest health Agenda projects.

Dr. Nsiah-Asare highlighted the significant socio-economic and employment opportunities that the initiative would bring.
“Agenda 111 is not just about constructing hospitals, it is about creating opportunities and jobs for the people of Ghana.

Through this project, we expect to employ approximately 20,000 health workers across various roles, from doctors and nurses to support staff.
“Additionally, the construction and operation of these hospitals will create thousands of indirect jobs, driving economic growth in the areas where these facilities are situated,” explained Dr. Nsiah-Asare.

He emphasised that the project’s impact would extend beyond healthcare, benefiting communities through job creation and economic development.

Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare

The Agenda 111 project is an expansive initiative that includes the construction of 101 district hospitals in underserved regions, two psychiatric hospitals, seven regional hospitals and the rehabilitation of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

Dr. Nsiah-Asare stressed that this undertaking aligns with the government’s vision to enhance healthcare infrastructure while boosting the nation’s economy.

Also present at the forum were the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Regional Minister, Joshua Gmayenaam Makubu, Project Consultant, Paul Osei, Traditional and Religious Heads, Officials of the Monitoring and Evaluation Secretariat at the Presidency, as well as other well known dignitaries.

On his part, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah emphasised the meticulous planning and management of the project, which has been divided into eight zones, each comprising an average of 14 sites, each with dedicated teams of consultants, including architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers and biomedical engineers.

He stressed the importance of community engagement and collaboration to ensure the seamless integration and optimal functionality of the health facilities upon completion.

Nana replies JM: Supreme Court judges were approved by bipartisan Parliament

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MAXWELL OFORI
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President Akufo-Addo speaking at the Bar Conference on Monday September 11, 2023

President Akufo-Addo says contrary to a claim by the opposition leader, John Dramani Mahama, that he had packed the Supreme Court with members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), almost all the justices he nominated received a bi-partisan endorsement by Parliament.

The President was responding to claims by former President Mahama that he had packed the judiciary with New Patriotic Party (NPP)-aligned lawyers to evade accountability after leaving office.

President Akufo-Addo broke his silence over the accusation on Monday, September 11, 2023, when he delivered a speech at the 2023 Bar Conference of the Ghana Bar Association in Cape Coast, in the Central Region.

“In the case of appointments to the Supreme Court, because of its unique position in our judicial structure, there are the additional requirements of the consultation of the Council of State and the approval of Parliament. In the overwhelming number of cases involving justices-designate to the Supreme Court, that approval has been given on a bi-partisan basis. You can count on the fingers of a hand the number of justices-designate whose approval met less than unanimous consent,” he said.

However, appointments to the lower courts, the High Court, and the Court of Appeal are done by the President exclusively on the advice of the Judicial Council, according to Articles 136, 139, and 142.

NDC JUDGES

Mahama told the forum of National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawyers that, in order to balance the current numbers at the courts, some of them should prepare for appointments onto the bench in the event that he won the 2024 presidential election.

REJECT

In his speech, President Akufo-Addo said the comment by former President Mahama was a brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary.

He also said the thinking of the presidential candidate for the 2024 elections, Mahama, was dangerous and a reason for right-thinking Ghanaians to vote against him.

He noted that “not only are these concepts of “NPP” and “NDC” judges new in our public discourse, they are also extremely dangerous and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic. They provide another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No. 1 in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal.”

ELSEWHERE

The President stated that in some common law countries, particularly in the United States of America, the political colour of judges was a legitimate topic of public discourse.

He remarked that judges at the district and state levels within the federal structure of the American government, were elected officials and their political colouring was generally well-known and accepted.

Judges at the federal level, including those of the Federal Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court, are appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate.

NEW LAW

The President, speaking about fighting corruption, stated that his government had introduced the boldest measures against the canker.

In addition to investigating allegations against his appointees, citing the ongoing Cecilia Abena Dapaah probe by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, President Akufo-Addo also noted that efforts were ongoing to enact a law on the Conduct of Public Officers.

According to him, the Attorney General had undertaken various stakeholder consultations with a number of public sector organisations, civil society, and other interest groups to this end.

He explained that when passed into law, the Conduct of Public Officers Act will address issues regarding financial portfolios held by public officers before assuming public office.

The law will also address links of such financial portfolios “to family business, improper enrichment, care of public property, professional practices, property, investments, shareholdings, and other assets, self-dealing, partiality in the performance of duties, and use of public or confidential information to further private interests, amongst others.”

“The bill will provide a gamut of stringent administrative measures and sanctions to deal with violations of the law, ranging from a bar against holding public office for limited and indefinite periods to penal measures,” he said.

Convict attempts to attack judge in open court

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

It was a peaceful and quiet morning yesterday at the Accra Circuit Court ’10’ when Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah took her seat to deliver judgement on a husband and wife, who had been standing trial for various criminal charges since 2018.

Before the delivery of the judgement, Joyce Sarfowaa and her husband, Frank Obeng, were asked by the judge to sit down before she read the judgement.

However, after the court found them guilty on all criminal counts – conspiracy to commit a crime, to wit stealing, stealing, abetment and money laundering – gave an opportunity to make the couple make a plea before their sentencing.

The couple’s counsel took that opportunity to plead on their behalf.

Unfortunately, after the judge heard their counsel and resumed to hand down Joyce and Frank’s sentence, proceedings had to be halted for Her Honour to take refuge in her Chamber.

The chaotic scene was due to the fact that the judge sentenced Joyce and Frank to 10 years and 15 years in hard labour (IHL) respectively.

Frank, who was seated after the bar, moved unexpectedly aggressive towards the bench amid screaming.

Frank was shouting in Twi at the judge asking where did she know him from for her to jail him 15 years.

His wife was also all over the place screaming whether she was dreaming or not.

Nevertheless, due to the timely intervention of the Court Warrant Officers (CWOs), Frank was overpowered and restrained from attacking the judge.

Frank also unbuttoned his blue shirt and was about remove his trousers as well, but was equally restrained.

Sweating profusely, Frank cursed that he would rather die than go to jail, while his wife was lamenting over who would take care of her five years child.

The prosecution officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah, called the Police National Headquarters for reinforcement.

After several minutes, the reinforcement team arrived, handcuffed the couple, and drove off with them.

A woman believed to be the mother of convict Joyce also threw herself on the floor shivering, screaming, and crying uncontrollably.

Other family members and sympathisers who thronged the court wept bitterly when the two were being transported from the yard.

Her Honour Mrs. Asamoah, after taking refuge for almost an hour in her chamber, by which time the convicts had been taken away, returned to complete the reading of her judgement.

She sentenced Joyce to 10 years imprisonment on stealing, and Frank 10 and 15 years imprisonment on money laundering and abetment respectively.

The court further ordered that a Toyota Venza and landed property acquired by the convicts be given to Mavis Offan, the complainant, as the properties were acquired with proceeds of crime.

Similarly, mother care items retrieved from the convicts were also to be returned to the complainant, as well as an amount of GH¢712,229.00.

The convicts pleaded not guilty to the offences, hence, the case went through a full-length trial, since 2018.

Joyce was a shop attendant for Mavis Offan, a businesswoman who deals in mother care products at Okaishie in Accra.

Joyce stole items worth over GH¢800,000.00 from her employer to establish herself, bought landed property, and a Toyota Venza for her then boyfriend, Frank.

Stupored Foxes, Betrayers, Greedy Bastards, and a Stern IGP

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admin
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Opinion

Betrayal has always been a spoilt stitch in the web of civilisation, one so powerful that many a wise have fallen victim to its infidelity.

Never has an honest leader had peace of mind especially when the position is one of might and power. And, yes, in the midst of hounds can be found lions who would instill the fear of GOD in the bullish packs of terror!

The Police service has, finally, found that LION! Don’t liken him to the Lion of Judah, although he is just as protective of the institution that he heads.

Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, current Inspector General of Police, has been at the forefront of the fight against corruption, cleaning up the Police Service that he heads. Leading by example, he is bridging the gap between the Police and civilians.

But, then again, it is said that a block was put on a dog’s tail for a thousand years to straighten it out, but as soon as it was removed, it curled right back up again. And so is the Police service that this honest no-nonsense man is leading.

So, COP Mensah had lobbied for the position of IGP since 2017, claiming to be an NPP person. So, must this give him a right to unbridled rebellion against authority that he has sworn to protect? Or does it allow him an automatic entitlement to be elevated to that position?

What he doesn’t understand, and for that matter his assigns and colluders, is that the position of IGP is not for betrayers, corrupt souls, and daft schemers who do not know where to grasp the rope and when to tug it.

And some people who think that they have done some work as executives of my beloved party would plainly betray the President then rush to give him tapes or so-called evidence of untoward behaviour, forgetting that President Akufo-Addo is not a novice in politics and would easily detect chicanery in between the lines.

Look, the NPP has always won elections on truth and ability. NPP does not rig elections, unlike the NDC that has never once won an election without the uncanny intervention of poltergeists and demons! So, why would any NPP person be worried about an IGP, who is unwilling to taint his hands with immorality, imbecility, and fraud?

This is Dampare, that same person, who would arrest his friends or family members if they flouted the law. Why would anyone bastardise his credibility if not for a botched boot contract given by a lesser officer to a politician or something of the sort?

Again, what sense of entitlement is that? Why would any NPP person want to destroy the legacy of His Excellency the President by making it seem as if his choice for IGP was not a wise decision.

Look, before James Oppong-Boanuh was appointed as IGP, I asked the President why not Dampare, and he told me point blank that every era has its dynamics and its people to manage them. Then he added, “I cannot afford to get it wrong!” Verily, it came to pass. Boanuh became IGP, succeeded by Dampare.

You see, a young, energetic, and lively leader is an added plus. Under Dampare’s leadership, a level of sanity is being instilled among the rank and file of the Police Service, although more needs to be done to curtail the consistent begging and harassment of road users by officers on the roads.

I mean, how can a police officer at around Assin-Manso stick his hand into my car searching under dusters looking for money after I denied him fiscal generosity? This canker, Mr IGP, needs to be tackled with stringent measures, punitive and more! I trust you paa!

Dr. Dampare is a very well educated person with a flawless record in honesty and resilience. Those police officers and politicians who want him removed because he is not allowing them the benefit of entitlements that they feel are their “unconstitutional” rights because they have done one thing or another for him or the Party must bow their heads in shame.

Must everything be about corruption and “chop chop”? Can’t we do an honest thing at all in this country?How about Ghana that we are all fighting for? How about the poor Ghanaian that we are so passionate about! How about the legacy of President Nana Akufo-Addo?

Why are you people so wicked? Do you think that you can wash away the achievements of His Excellency by creating such a hurricane that is only big enough for a miserable teacup?As for COP Mensah and the others who were interdicted for their brutish hogwash, I say a big shame unto you!

Ɛyɛnokwaresɛ fie biara Mensah wɔ mu!

By Fadi Dabbousi

Editorial: Property rate collection: Is Asokwa Assembly not being mischievous?

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

Following the discovery that the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) lacked the capacity to collect property rates, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and the Land Valuation Board decided to form what The Chronicle will describe as a tripartite committee to study how best to address the situation.

After a lengthy discussion and research, it was decided that the GRA should fund the Land Valuation Board to value properties in these MMDAs to boost revenue mobilisation. Under the agreement, 70% of all revenues collected will go to the assemblies, with the GRA, Lands Valuation Board and the Ministry of Finance retaining the remaining 30%.

This agreement was negotiated on behalf of the assemblies by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development after the latter realised that some of the assemblies were struggling to raise revenue from property rates.

Under the agreement, the assemblies are not supposed to invest even a pesewa into the acquisition of the software that would be used to collect the property rate, but have the right to retain 70% of the revenues.

Indeed, the GRA has even gone ahead to establish a common platform, known as “myassembly.gov.gh” for the collection of the property tax rates. All the assemblies have access to this platform and every pesewa that is paid by property owners is known to the assemblies.

After the Ministry of Local Government had met and briefed heads of  the assemblies about the new method in revenue mobilisation, the latter had also gone back to inform their respective assembly members.

In a nutshell, every assembly member is supposed to know this new revenue collection method. The Chronicle, therefore, finds it rather strange an agitation by the Asokwa Municipal Assembly members in the Kumasi Metropolis that their source of revenue had been taken away from them.

According to a story we have published at our business page today, the members of the Asokwa Municipal Assembly have expressed worry over the takeover of the collection of property rates by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the expense of the Assembly.

Mr. Elliot Fosu Bannor, the Assembly’s Presiding Member, at a press conference explained that the situation had crippled the work of the Assembly as it is not getting its rightful share as expected.

He said the Asokwa Assembly was unable to perform its duties as expected and lamented that should their concerns remain unaddressed, they would be compelled to collect the property rates.

The Assembly members have, therefore, resolved that from October 2023, they would institute a taskforce to collect property rates, because the law still allows them to collect the taxes themselves, to prosecute its developmental agenda.

The above statement clearly shows that either the Assembly members were not aware of the new collection method, or they are simply trying to be mischievous. The Chronicle is, therefore, calling on the Municipal Chief Executive for Asokwa, who is obviously aware of the new method that has been introduced, to rein in his or her people.

It appears to us that the collection of the revenue by a centralised body is going to deny some people the illegal money they have been pocketing and hence doing everything possible to torpedo it.

Indeed, we must admit, this is not the first time a section of the assemblies is kicking against the property rate collection. In May this year,  the Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) in a statement said the Property Rate Tax was a ceded revenue for District Assemblies as enshrined in Section 124 (3) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and could not be collected by any other institution other than the District Assemblies.

However, in a counter statement signed by the Head of Communication for the myassembly.gov.gh project of the GRA, the authority said the cited piece of legislation spoke to revenue of district assemblies, but made no reference to the district assemblies collecting revenues on their own.

It added that the article in question also said nothing about the MMDAs not allowing other state agencies assist them in the collection of internally generated funds, which included property rate.

But despite this unambiguous explanation offered by the GRA, the agitation is still going on. The Chronicle advises the Ministry of Local government and indeed, all parties to the agreement not to succumb to pressure from a few others to truncate the laudable initiative.

Ayawaso West Wuogon municipality in Accra, is arguably the richest in Ghana, yet they were not able to collect highest percentage of their property rates. Why should this be so?

 

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