A witness, Olalekan Odesanya, has told the Ogun State election petition tribunal sitting in Abeokuta that the election in his polling unit was cancelled due to disruption, wondering how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a result for his polling unit.
Odesanya was one of the witnesses called by counsel to the second respondent, Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Odesanya, who said he voted at Polling Unit 002, Wesley Primary School, Oke Eri, in Ijebu-North East Local Government Area of Ogun State, testified before the tribunal that no result was recorded by the electoral umpire because the election was disrupted by individuals who were allegedly sharing credit cards to voters.
However, Odesanya expressed surprise when his attention to the certified true copy of the Form EC8A of his polling unit by the counsel to the petitioner, Gordy Uche.
Uche asked Odesanya to take a look at the result belonging to his unit, in which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 139 and the All Progressives Congress (APC), 66 votes.
Responding, Odesanya said the result shown to him was for Wesley Primary School, his polling unit, saying “but no result was declared. This must be a fake result.” Yes, it shows Wesley Primary School, but I don’t know about it, there was disruption.”
Uche also showed a copy of Form EC40G issued by INEC to the witness, where it was reportedly written that votes were counted in the polling unit but the result was disallowed due to over-voting.
But, Odesanya insisted the election was brought to an abrupt end when some individuals sharing cards stormed the unit.
He said he collected a copy of the card and cashed out the money therein later.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)says there is no plan to deploy youth corps members to Niger to fight a war to restore democracy in that country.
The NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja in response to a video he said was circulating on social media, alleging that members would be deployed to Niger.
He stated that “management wishes to state that there is no iota of truth in the story fabricated by the purveyor, a skit and content creator.”
“The public, especially youth corps members, prospective members and their parents should disregard the story, which borders on criminality in its entirety.
“Content and skit makers are strongly advised to desist from spreading false information capable of subverting the peace of the nation.”
Mr Megwa added that law enforcement agencies would stop at nothing to bring the purveyors of the story to justice.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was a coup in Niger on 26 July where Nigerien soldiers toppled the government of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum from power.
Consequently, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is making efforts to restore democratic government to the country.
The session, chaired by Chief Director, Madam Eva Mends, was held to engage the media on the technical details of the Mid-Year budget review
The Chief Director of the Finance Ministry has encouraged members of the media to continue diligently in positive reportage about the nation’s economic progress.
In her welcome address, Madam Eva Mends stated that the Ministry was committed to continually engaging the media as strategic partners in nation building.
The Ministry of Finance engaged the Parliamentary Press Corps, Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists, and select Editors and business journalists for a technical briefing session on the Mid-Year Budget Review delivered by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, to Parliament on Monday, July 31, 2023.
It also gave updates on Ghana’s macroeconomic statistics, the country’s path to debt sustainability, and progress towards the impending International Monetary Fund Review.
The 2023 Mid-Year Budget Review focused on revenue and tax administration enhancement, measures for economic recovery following the Covid pandemic, and other global economic vulnerabilities.
Ken Ofori-Atta presented the 2023 Mid-Year Budget to Parliament, which is in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
The presentation to the Legislature reviewed the government’s 2023 Economic Policy and Financial Statement that was delivered on November 24, 2022.
Key among the presentation was no mention of additional taxes, which could come as a relief to the citizens and business community at large.
Ken Ofori-Atta also told lawmakers that government did not need or require a supplementary budget. This effectively meant government was not seeking any additional funding for the projects it outlined in the main 2023 budget.
Instead, the government revised Appropriation, that is, its allocations were revised from GH¢227.7 billion as presented and approved in November 2022 to GH¢206.0 billion.
The minister also told Parliament that Ghana’s economy is bouncing back to life. He said the economy is making modest gains in efforts to reverse the severe economic hardship that hit hardest in 2022.
According to him, the government’s policies introduced to bring the economy back to winning ways are yielding positive outcomes.
He mentioned peace, health, security and a continuous supply of power as some of the progress the country has chalked this year.
One of the areas of focus in the budget review also included the prioritization of social protection programmes like Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), School Feeding, and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Amid global economic uncertainties, hopes are high that the review will provide a positive outlook for Ghana’s economy and set the stage for a promising second half of the year.
The Governing Council of the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) has appointed Rev Fr Professor Peter Nkrumah Amponsah as the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Rev. Fr. Prof. Amponsah, an ordained Catholic Priest, holds a PhD in Journalism, a Master of Philosophy (Licentiate) in Social Communications and a Post Graduate Diploma in Communication Studies.
He is an Associate Professor with over twenty-one years of teaching and research experience and has held various positions in the University, including Head of Department and Dean.
A statement issued by the University and copied to The Chronicle in Sunyani said Rev. Fr. Prof. Amponsah has also served on the Council as a member.
Rev Fr Amponsah is a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and has published several articles and books in referenced journals in communication and journalism
Before his appointment, he was the Dean of the Graduate School and one of the longest-serving teaching staff of the University.
Established on May 3, 2003 the University was officially inaugurated by former President John Agyekum Kufuor in November 2023.
However, the University experienced low student enrolment between 2014 and 2016 academic years, due to stiff academic competition from both public and private universities.
The University, however, devised a strategic plan, including a six-year (2019-2024) Corporate Strategic Plan meant to address strategic imperatives that the University needs to focus attention on, to ensure its survival and unique contribution towards higher education in the country.
The University currently has seven faculties and schools, including the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, the faculty of Computing, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences, the Faculty of Education, the School of nursing and Midwifery, the School of Public Health and Allied Sciences, faculty of Religions and Social Sciences as well as School of Graduate Studies.
A total of 55, 584 candidates from both public and private Junior High Schools are writing this year’s 5-day Basic Education Certificate Examination, (BECE) in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions.
The examinations, which started yesterday August 7, 2023 would end on Friday August 11, 2023 across the country.
A total number of 600,714 candidates, comprising 300,323 males and 300,391 females from 18,993 participating schools have registered for the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) across the country.
According to WAEC, the number of candidates that registered for this year’s BECE is 8.8% higher than the 2022 entry figure of 552,276.
With regards to the BECE for private candidates, a total entry figure of 1,743 candidates was recorded and this is made up of 889 males and 854 females. This year’s figure is 5.4% higher than the entry figure of 1,132 for 2022.
The Public Relations Officer for the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the Bono region, Mr. Luke Mensah, told The Chronicle that 1,720 invigilators and 199 supervisors have been deployed for the examinations at 199 centers in the Ahafo and Bono regions.
He added that there are 20 depots holding the examination papers and other confidential materials during the conduct of the examinations.
BONO REGION
According to the PRO, a total of 23,436 candidates made of 11,663 males and 11,773 females registered for the examination in the Bono region. The candidates would write their papers at 80 centers in the region.
At the time of filing this report, it was not known whether there are any pregnant candidates in this year’s BECE in the three regions.
GOODWILL MESSAGES
The Executive Secretary for Key Media Solutions, Madam Stella Dabia Asare, has sent a goodwill message to candidates sitting for this year’s (2023) Basic Education Certificate Examination.
The message, copied to The Chronicle in Sunyani, read in part: “I write to convey heartfelt best wishes from Key Media Solutions to all our beloved sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, who will be sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
“As you commence your examination today to mark another milestone in your lives, I believe in your ability to put in your best, and excel”, the message said
“You are capable and I hope you know that the best way to do well in your examination is to believe in yourself and never give room for doubt. Let the amount of preparation you have put in, manifest as you take each paper. Compose yourselves, present what is required of you and write the examination to make yourselves and the rest of us proud”, the message added.
Madam Dabia Asare also commended staff of the GES for preparing the candidates for the examination.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the District Director of Education and staff of the GES, head teachers, subject teachers and all stakeholders who played various roles in making sure that our candidates were prepared well to write this examination”, Madam Dabia Asare said.
She further cautioned the candidates to eschew all forms of examination malpractices before, during and after the exams and further called on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to take all the necessary security measures to ensure leakage free of examination papers to avoid unnecessary cancellation of papers.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has been ranked the leading institution worldwide in the provision of quality education, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4.
Sustainable Development Goal 4 is about ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, as established by the United Nations in September 2015 among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
KNUST’s recognition was announced in the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact ranking in June 2023.
The ranking by THE was based on impartial assessment across four vital domains in research, stewardship, outreach and teaching having considered 1,591 universities from 112 countries with KNUST securing the topmost position with 93.1.
In 2022, KNUST secured the 14th position in the world and the top ranked university in Africa.
Prof. (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, who mentioned these details during an interaction with media practitioners in Kumasi, assured that KNUST would strive to remain the trailblazer in the pursuit of educational excellence worldwide.
She disclosed that KNUST, with a total student population of 89,047 – including 35,354 females (40%), employs a total of 8,083 members of staff with 73.7% being males.
The VC said a total of 26,733 students were admitted for the 2022/2023 academic year into various programmes offered by the University.
She said about 58.1% of the total enrolment are pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) related programmes with 44.5% being females.
Professor Rita Dickson also announced that KNUST is currently running 599 programmes, 452 being postgraduate programmes while 147 represent undergraduate programmes.
According to the VC, a significant percent of the programmes are at the various stages of cyclical reaccreditation process with the Ghana Tertiary Educational Commission (GTEC).
She explained that programmes have three years to be reaccredited for new programmes and five years for old programmes.
She reiterated a suggestion that the duration for reaccreditation be extended to 10 years to provide enough time for universities and the GTEC to satisfy the legal obligations of ensuring that all programmes are accredited on time.
Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson assured that KNUST would continue to work with GTEC to ensure that all programmes are duly accredited.
Dr Okoe Boye during the courtesy call on the regional minister
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Benard Okoe Boye says President Akufo-Addo is passionate about integrating mental health coverage into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Benefit Package.
Plans, according to him are, therefore, advanced to offset the cost of mental health treatment and make it more affordable for individuals suffering from the condition.
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye was addressing the Western North Regional Minister, as part of his working visit to the region.
He said there was dramatic improvement in Claims Payments to credentialed healthcare service providers, for which reason they have no excuse collecting illegal monies (Copayments) from NHIS members at the point of need.
“Presently, we make monthly payments to Service Providers whose Claims have been vetted and approved. On July 31st, 2023 we paid additional GHS186 million to our hardworking credentialed Healthcare Providers, reducing the previously piled up debt just to one month.
Western North regional office of NHIA
“As a result of the rapid Claims Payments, we launched a platform known as the ‘Sunshine Policy’, to deepen accountability, transparency and social auditing. Since its launch, suppliers of drugs to healthcare facilities and other stakeholders are able to log onto the NHIS website with privileged access to view payments made to deserving facilities.
“The Benefit Package has successfully been expanded over the years. We have recently added the Free Elderly Healthcare policy for people 70 years and above, the four commonest childhood cancers and a very expensive drug called Herceptin, for breast cancer treatment.”
The Western North Regional Minister, Mr. Joojo Rocky Obeng commended Dr. Okoe Boye’s administration for transforming the NHIS.
In a related development, Dr. Okoe Boye paid homage to the Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council, Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama II, where he called for collective efforts to sustain the NHIS.
“We have a duty to ensure that the NHIS is enlarged, made robust and sustainable. Everybody should get on board and together we can sustain the NHIS,” he said.
Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama II, on his part, praised the NHIA Chief Executive’s transformational leadership.
He urged Dr. Okoe Boye’s administration to keep doing its best, which he noted would not go unnoticed.
Projects inauguration
Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye on August 2, 2023 inaugurated two newly built projects in the Western North Region.
These are the Western North Regional and Sefwi Wiawso National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) office complexes.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Western North Regional office, Dr. Okoe Boye thanked NHIS staff in the region for achieving 80 percent of their set targets of the scheme’s active membership.
He encouraged them to go the extra mile and attain 100 percent, in line with the national agenda of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He said the expansion of NHIS infrastructure demonstrated government’s resolve to make the scheme accessible to all. He commended the Regional Coordinating Council and traditional leaders for their continued support in government’s quest to transform the lives of the people.
According to Dr. Okoe Boye, government’s performance in all sectors of the economy, particularly the health sector, is unprecedented.
He encouraged everyone to sign up for the NHIS and gain from the expanded Benefit Package, which includes the four commonest childhood cancers and the free elderly healthcare care for people, 70 and above.
The Western North Regional Minister, Mr. Joojo Rocky Obeng hailed the ‘New NHIS’ and underscored the need to sustain it.
NHIS Funds capping
A former Minister of Health, under whose watch the NHIS was initiated, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie bemoaned the politicisation of health matters, particularly the NHIS.
He lamented the negative impact of the capping of the National Health Insurance Fund and said it was depriving the NHIA of the required funds.
According Dr. Afriyie, the state of healthcare in the country required adequate financing, and insisted that starving the NHIS of adequate Funds is a misplaced priority.
Staff get-together
At a staff get-together, Dr. Okoe Boye interacted with drivers and district managers and promised to address key issues bothering their operations to enhance service delivery.
He thanked the staff for their dedication to duty and tasked them to remain committed and hardworking in increasing the NHIS active membership.
It was an opportunity for the frontline staff to meet face-to-face with their Chief Executive, who is concerned about staff welfare.
Dr. Okoe Boye met the Municipal Chief Executive for the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Assembly, Paul Andoh and also addressed NHIS staff in the district.
The NHIA Chief Executive’s visit to the Western North Region climaxed his working visits to all the 16 regions. The NHIA ultimate goal is to fully drive the national agenda of attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by the year 2030.
The Authority has taken initiatives and accomplished same in the light of contributing to the overall growth and development of the Ghanaian economy.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mark Okraku-Mantey has submitted his nomination forms to contest the New Patriotic Party parliamentary primaries in the Ayensuano constituency in the Eastern Region.
He submitted the forms on August 4, 2023.
He was accompanied by a large crowd of supporters, including party officials, traditional leaders, and members of the general public.
Okraku-Mantey is a popular figure in the Ayensuano constituency, and he is seen as a strong contender for the NPP nomination.
He is known for his work in the tourism and creative arts sectors. While submitting the forms, Okraku-Mantey promised to continue to work hard to develop the Ayensauno constituency. He said that he would focus on improving infrastructure, creating jobs, and providing quality education and healthcare for the people of the constituency.
Ghanaian rap icon, Sarkodie, has recently advocated for compassion and understanding toward young and upcoming artists in the entertainment industry.
Known as the ‘Landlord of Ghana Music’, Sarkodie shared his thoughtful perspective on the challenges faced by the new generation of artists in today’s media-driven world.
Taking to his Twitter account, Sarkodie expressed empathy for the pressures that young talents encounter as they navigate both social and traditional media platforms.
He recalled his journey, acknowledging that during his era, artists had the luxury of making mistakes behind closed doors and learning from them without the constant scrutiny of the public eye.
However, he emphasized the contrasting scenario for today’s emerging artists who are thrust into the limelight from the very start of their careers, leaving little room for privacy and learning from trial and error.
While on tour in the U.S., Sarkodie made a heartfelt plea for the industry and the public to rally behind these budding talents and provide them with the support and nurturing they need. He acknowledged the challenges faced by young artists and urged everyone to approach them with patience and understanding.
Sarkodie empathetically, encouraged everyone to give these young talents a chance to grow and flourish in their careers.
