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KNUST to launch Day of Giving in aid of GH¢200m on-campus accommodation infrastructure

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Prof. Rita Dickson - KNUST Vice Chancellor

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has set aside October 6, 2023, and every other October 6 as a KNUST Day of Given to raise funds for expansion and upgrading of on-campus accommodation infrastructure.

The objective of the initiative is to provide secure and safe accommodation for its students.

The campaign is targeting GH¢200 million for the construction of a 2,000-bed capacity accommodation infrastructure.

The proposed accommodation infrastructure

The Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Mrs. Rita Dickson, who announced the campaign in Kumasi, said it would help improve the residential needs of students, and reduce the deficit on campus.

She urged stakeholders to generously contribute towards this cause, stressing that no amount was too small.

The VC stressed that one of the primary concerns of KNUST was to ensure that students had access to suitable accommodation options.

According to her, the Directorate of Students Affairs, in conjunction with 500 private hostels, had, in the interim, teamed up to address the current accommodation challenges.

The VC further disclosed that KNUST was exploring Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) models for both students and staff to enhance on-campus facilities, and announced that the University was prepared to offer suitable land in this partnership to impact on the lives of its teeming students.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim advises Tinubu to create Ministry of Revenue

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Senator Jimoh Ibrahim

Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to create a Federal Ministry of Revenue.

This call was against the backdrop of the confirmation of 48 ministerial nominees by the Nigerian Senate on Saturday.

In a statement he issued on Sunday and made available to journalists, the lawmaker said the ministry, when created, would serve as a coordinating platform for all revenue-generating agencies.

It stated that Ibrahim advised President Tinubu on the need to create the ministry when he paid him a courtesy visit.

According to him, the envisioned ministry is indispensable for the nation to waggle its way out of the current socio-economic quagmire.

“There are many revenue-generating agencies in Nigeria today without a coordinating body or platform.

“The Ministry of Finance is not giving the required mobilisation and coordination in this regard, hence, the need for the Ministry of Revenue.

“In Nigeria over the years, we have the Ministry of Finance more or less playing the role of Bursar disbursing all the monies remitted into national coffers by generating agencies, but there is no Treasurer to keep proper records of revenues generated by the various affected agencies and give them the required impetus to generate more.

“Nigeria definitely needs a national treasurer to be symbolised by the Federal Ministry of Revenue when created,” he posited.

He added that the idea had been sold to President Tinubu, who, according to him, saw the need for it in line with his pedigree on improved revenue generation.

He said the ministry would serve as one of the strategies through which the nation’s debt could be defrayed by serving as a window for improved revenue generation to fast-track the nation’s development.

“The nation’s debts of N77 trillion shouldn’t be a cause for worry considering the current debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio of less than 31 percent and required innovative ideas of defraying it,” he added.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Resident doctors declare daily protests over unmet demands

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Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced its decision to embark on a daily peaceful protest and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, as well as all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide.

Giving the notice on Saturday in a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), the association said this is to press home its demands which have been largely neglected by the Federal Government.

The letter was signed by NARD President, Dr Emeka Orji and Secretary-General, Dr Chikezie Kelechi.

“We wish to bring to your notice, of the decision of the National Executive Council of NARD to embark on daily peaceful protests and picketing of FMOH, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

“Also, all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide, with effect from August 9th at 10.00 a.m.

“This has become necessary to press home our demands which have been largely neglected by our parent ministry and the Federal Government.

“We therefore resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story, the decay and corruption in the health sector as well as the neglect, the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions,” the letter read.

NARD, however, said that it believed that the government still had time to genuinely address the issues at stake before Aug. 9, or leave it with no other option.

Channels Television reports that NARD had on July 25declared a “total and indefinite strike action”.

Credit: channelstv.com

Fear grips northern Nigeria as Tinubu seeks military action against Niger coupists

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Fear grips northerners

Palpable fear has gripped Nigerians, especially northern residents, following the decision of President Bola Tinubu to seek military action against the junta in Niger Republic.

 

DAILY POST reports that following the toppling of Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum by his military guard last week, leaders of the West African regional bloc are devising means to restore democracy to that country.

 

Recall that about 10 senior military officers led by Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane had via a National broadcast on July 27, announced a coup in Niger over alleged poor governance and inability of the government to tackle security and other challenges bedevilling their country.

 

In a swift move to quell another military rule in the region, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, led by its newly elected Chairman, President Bola Tinubu gave the junta seven days ultimatum to restore normalcy or face some stringent sanctions.

 

The ultimatum was issued last week during an emergency meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.

In a bid to execute the resolutions, Tinubu, on August 3rd, dispatched a delegation to Niger with a mandate to expeditiously resolve the political impasse in the country.

 

The delegation, headed by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), left for Niamey on Thursday after a briefing by President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

 

Credit: dailypost.ng

 Niger Coup: Senate rejects Tinubu’s troop deployment plan, urges political solution

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Senate house

The Nigerian Senate has reached a resolution rejecting President Bola Tinubu‘s request to deploy Nigerian troops in Niger Republic to restore democratic rule in that troubled country.

Rather the upper legislative chamber advised Mr Tinubu and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), which he leads, to explore political solution to the crisis.

The resolution confirms an earlier PREMIUM TIMES report that Senators had taken a decision opposing military action in Niger.

President Tinubu had on Friday sought the approval of the upper chamber to mobilise the Nigerian Army to Niger Republic to combat the Nigerien coupists who overthrew their democratically elected president, Mohammed Bazoum.

In a resolution after deliberating on Mr Tinubu’s request at a closed session Saturday, the Senate supported other steps being taking by Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to reverse the coup but rejected the option of a military action in the poor West African nation.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, read the resolution after the lawmakers returned to plenary.

Me Akpabio suggested that the President did not seek the approval of the Senate to go to war in Niger Republic but that is incorrect because Mr Tinubu clearly indicated a plan to execute an ECOWAS mandate to deploy troops in Niger should the coupists remain recalcitrant.

Mr Tinubu is coordinating ECOWAS’ response to the coup in Niger, including the implementation of the regional body’s sanctions imposed on the neighbouring country to mount pressure on the coupists to restore democracy in the country.

Credit: premiumtimesng.com

Ghana to license only electric vehicles for trotro, taxis -Minister 

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Hassan Tampuli, Deputy Minister for Transport

Commercial mini buses, also known as Trotro in Ghana, taxis, and private cars are to transition from fossil fuels to electric, the Ministry of Transport has said.

A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to be piloted in Kumasi would make use of only electric vehicles.

This is to help prevent toxic emissions from fossil fuel vehicles entering the environment that warm the planet.

The transition is not expected to happen overnight, but as a gradual process, which is projected to take between 10 and 50 years.

Hassan Sulemana Tampuli, Deputy Minister for Transport, told journalists at a stakeholder consultation on electric vehicles (EVs) and the implementation framework in Accra, on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

He said the transition was happening around the globe, and Ghana could not be left out.

The Deputy Minister indicated that instead of kicking against the change, the country must rather put mechanisms in place in order not to be taken over by events.

Mr. Tampuli reiterated that the change had been necessitated by the phenomenon of global warming and the environmental and health challenges being posed by carbon dioxide (CO2) release into the atmosphere by fossil fuel vehicles and the like.

He admitted that although Africa’s contribution to global CO2 emissions was insignificant, the task of saving the planet was every country’s responsibility.

He added that the consultation was to brainstorm with the various stakeholders in the transportation industry on the shortcomings of the policy, and a way forward.

On what happens to the over 4,000 petrol stations across the country, he said: “These stations will not immediately fold up, because the policy is just not going to be started tomorrow; it will take us a bit of time, and, from all indications, from 2030 to 2040, and that is quite some time.

“We are not going to immediately have EVs across the country, so definitely people will still consume petroleum products, and more importantly, heavy-duty vehicles and trucks will still consume petroleum products.”

And also, in order not to repeat the mistakes of countries like the United Kingdom, which, from the initial stages of the transition, lost about £35 billion from revenue they could have generated from petroleum duties, the Transport Ministry was working closely with the Ministry of Finance in that regard.

Furthermore, an inclusive consultation was being held on the nature and design of the country’s road networks.

He also advocated for the pace at which rural electrification was being rolled out to be accelerated for a smooth takeoff and soft landing of the policy.

The Deputy Minister commented on how the lithium-ion deposit in the country would contribute significantly to drive toward this agenda.

The Ministry is also in talks with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to fine-tune excise duties on the importation of EVs.

With energy, he said Ghana produces enough to meet its needs in that regard.

Most immediately, the point not to make Africa a dumping ground for fossil vehicles by the Northern countries as they transition has been well made by the African Heads of State and governments.

Cylinder Recirculation module starts September

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Cylinder-Recirculation-Model

Starting this September, consumers of liquified petroleum gas (LGP) would no longer need to fill their empty cylinders, but exchange them with already filled ones, Curtis Perry Kwabla Okudzeto, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) announces.

The new policy is being rollout under the NPA’s Cylinder Recirculation Module (CRM).

At a media briefing in Accra on Friday, Mr. Okudzeto said customers only needed their Ghana Card, money and empty cylinder(s) in exchange for those filled.

According to him, there was no cap on how many filled gas cylinders one could purchase at a go, but the only difference in the current policy against the former was the cylinders would now be owned by the gas bottling plants.

The Deputy CEO explained that the only reason for which the exchange would require the Ghana Card before purchasing was to register and track unreturned cylinders in consumers’ possession.

“Go and identify yourself at the exchange point, and when you finish using it you bring it back to the exchange point and take another one,” he added.

Similarly, he added that the new policy would not immediately fade out the existing gas stations, but run concurrently till the country was totally covered by the latter.

He said the four bottling plants – three in Accra and one in Kumasi – had the capacity for the current demand of 30,000 metric tonnes a month.

Thus, the bottling plants have a capacity to fill 80,000 cylinders on a daily basis, meanwhile it was 50,000 being consumed a day.

Perry Okudzeto allayed the fears of consumers that the new policy would attract additional fees, adding: “Nothing in the price build up is going to change.”

The NPA is looking to have more bottling plants to come up in order to increase the production capacity, as well as LPG consumption by 50%.

While consumers will not be charged for faulty cylinders, he urged them to take good care of the cylinder; “…the fact that you don’t own the cylinder and the bottling plants owns the cylinder does not mean you can throw it about, kick it, and destroy it.”

He stated that the business module under the CRM was so flexible that petty traders in rural areas could register, train, and operate a well-managed LPG exchange point.

Mr. Okudzeto also encouraged businesses operating under the old framework to seize opportunities that were being presented by the new policy.

However, he mentioned that the new policy was not targeted at bulk consumers.

AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine Commissions 1.4 km Concrete Pavement Road

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admin
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The newly constructed concrete pavement road

AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine has commissioned a 1.4-kilometer concrete pavement road it reconstructed at Nhyieso on the Obuasi-Dunkwa highway.

For some time now, the newly reconstructed road has been in a very bad state, posing safety risks to motorists and pedestrians.

The stretch before the reconstruction

As a result, AngloGold Ashanti, in consultation with the Department of Urban Roads decided to refurbish the dilapidated section with concrete pavement to ensure safer and more efficient transportation for businesses, travelers, and community residents.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Senior Manager Sustainability of the company, Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo, expressed delight with the successful completion of the reconstructed road project.

“This milestone achievement underscores AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine’s commitment to its 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan, which prioritizes improving communities’ infrastructure to bridge gaps and address critical needs of the communities in which it operates”.

Mr. Baidoo expressed gratitude to the traditional and local authorities, the contractor, the Obuasi Mine Project team, and community members along the Obuasi-Dunkwa highway for their cooperation, expertise, and support throughout the reconstruction process.

The Chief Executive for Obuasi Municipality, Mr. Elijah Adansi Bonah, noted that the level of deterioration on that stretch was massive and commended the company for swiftly coming in to save the situation with the concrete Pavement.

The Odikro of Nhyieso, Nana Peprah Abu Bonsra, said pregnant women who need to go to antenatal clinic at Obuasi could not stand the ordeal they had to go through while crossing the much-deteriorated part of the road and commended the company for coming to the aid of both drivers and the general public.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi

Report positively on our economic progress -Finance Ministry urges journalists

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Eva Esselba Mends, Chief Director, Ministry of Finance

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance has encouraged journalists to be diligent and positive in their reportage about the nation’s economic progress.

The Ministry held a technical briefing for selected journalists on the Mid-Year Budget Review delivered by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta to parliament on Monday, July 31, 2023.

In her welcome address Madam Eva Mends, stated that the Ministry was committed to continually engage the media as strategic partners in nation building.

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.

Finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta presented the 2023 mid-year budget review 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 citizens and the 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.

Bagbin pushes for conditions of service for the media 

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has stirred a debate about the welfare and conditions of service for Ghanaian media personnel.

According to him, if the media were that important, how come the country has failed to clearly spell out the conditions of service for media personnel?

“If the media is that important, how come the country has not spelled out conditions of service, even if they’re minimal for media personnel? If the media is that important, how come the people don’t appreciate the product of the media, whether it is from private or public media?” he stated.

He said this whilst addressing Journalists in Takoradi on Saturday, August 5, 2023 ahead of parliamentary engagement in the region, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Parliamentary democracy in Ghana.

Speaker Bagbin indicated that it was important that: “we look at the welfare and conditions of media personnel so that they do not respond to the pressures of society but stand on their own and hold the government and everybody to account.”

This, he mentioned, was the intent behind the framers of the 1992 constitution, where the media function is clearly outlined.

He continued that whatever the media do is for the public good and its services nourish the country and “as you can see our human rights record is on the decline because of what is happening to the media.”

Speaker Bagbin mentioned specifically that he was unhappy about what he described as intrusion and a lot of intimidation, threats and violence towards media personnel.

“Yes, Parliament is really worried about the state of the media—it is not only the fear and intimidation and attacks against media personnel, but the working environment.”

For this reason, he said parliament has been visiting media houses, such as Graphic, GBC, TV3 and XYZ to hold discussions with them over the attack and intimidation on the media. The rest of the media houses, including the print media, would soon see the team arrive at their media houses.

He said Parliament decided to reach out to the media houses because it was concerned about the attacks.

Nevertheless, Speaker Bagbin, who described himself as a friend of the media, says it was expected of the media to play its role well because it is an arm of government.

The media, he pointed out, is an arm that links the other three arms of government together with the people, so the importance of the media cannot be underestimated.

Unfortunately, this has not been seen because it has not been formalised as the most important arm of government.

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