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Bizman arrested @ KIA over US$386k NIB cash

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Court hammer

A 38-year-old businessman, Paul Tuopare Junior, has been arrested at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) for his alleged involvement in the stealing of US$386,790.00 belonging to the National Investment Bank (NIB).

He was arrested on July 13, 2023, by officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) while going through departure formalities, and handed over to the police.

Tuopars Jnr. was put before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Isaac Addo, yesterday, on a single charge of stealing. He pleaded not guilty and has been remanded into police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Emmanuel Amoah, the prosecutor, told the court that on July 16, 2020, the management of NIB informed the police that they had been alerted by Mastercard International about unusual ATM traffic out of Ivory Coast on NIB issued portfolio during the late hours of July 12, 2020.

Acting on the alert, the bank discovered that 45 Mastercards were fraudulently acquired and used to fraudulently transact businesses to the tune of US$386,790.00.

He said police commenced investigations into the matter and arrested 13 suspects who were cautioned and released on police enquiry bail to assist with investigations.

According to him, Paul Tuopare Junior, who investigations established was the mastermind behind the whole transaction, went into hiding and efforts made to apprehend him proved futile.

As a result, the police secured a warrant of arrest from the Kaneshie District Court and the accused was put on the stop list of wanted individuals. The prosecutor stated that it was based on this order that the accused was arrested and put before the court.

The case was adjourned to August 8, 2023.

MESTI to provide 12 SMEs with technical & financial support

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Officials present at the news conference

The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, has revealed that his twelve Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), operating within the plastics value chain under his Ministry, had been selected to receive technical and financial support.

Mr. Kwaku Afryie addressing the media

The Minister made this known at a news conference at the Ministry of Information in Accra yesterday. The support, he noted, was mainly offered for them to demonstrate the production of biodegradable plastics from alternative feedstock and packaging materials designed from non-fossil.

Achievements

Mr. Kwaku Afrieyie also revealed  that his outfit was collaborating with relevant Ministries and private sector to transform the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) into the Ghana Space Agency to coordinate the development of the human capital, infrastructure and manage the space science sector.

He stated: “The Ministry under the Ghana-Korea K-Innovation Partnership Programme unveiled a 10-year master plan to specifically enhance the commercialization of Research and Innovation.”

Media men and women seated at the news conference

He further noted that he has completed the review of Ghana’s National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy with technical and financial support from UNESCO.

“MESTI, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), is reviewing the Biological and Toxin Weapons Bill that seeks to implement the 1972 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction,” he said.

On Plastic Management, he revealed that they were working with the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly using the Phasing-In Approach to the management of “Orphan Plastics” in selected electoral areas (Adabraka North) to promote circular economy through plastics collection, sorting and recycling.

This, he said, was to ensure the implementation of the National Plastics Management Policy (NPMP).

On Sustainable Management of E-Waste, Dr. Kwaku Afrieyie said with support from the German Development Cooperation, the Ministry is implementing the sustainable management of electrical and electronic waste through the provision of incentives.

“Over 315.71 tons of e-waste cables, 36.65 tons of mixed batteries, 19.94 tons of thermoplastics and 106 sets of CRTs have been retrieved to prevent their indiscriminate disposal into the environment”, he asserted.

Way Forward

According to Dr. Afriyie, as his ministry forges ahead in the pursuit of national development, it will continue to deepen the collaboration with all MDAs, CSOs and the Private Sector to co-manage the implementation of its policies, programmes and projects.

These collaborations, he said, will enhance circularity, thus, recognizing the finite nature of resources and the urgent need to transition to sustainable consumption and production patterns where the Ministry promotes the adoption of circular economy principles.

Majority MPs ‘boycott’ parliamentary biz

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Parliament of Ghana

Parliamentary business for Wednesday, July 19, 2023 ended abruptly due to lack of quorum. The Legislative House could not get one-third of the entire 275 Members of Parliament (MPs), in accordance with Article 102, to enable them do business for the day.

At the time Second Deputy Speaker, Andrews Asiamah, was adjourning the House to Thursday, July 20, 2023 the MPs who had signed the attendance list were 91, which is one member short of the figure that would have formed a quorum.

Present in the Chamber were about 35 MPs from both sides of the political divide, but the rest were at their various committee meetings, including the Public Accounts.

The Chronicle observed that, though the minority side have for some time now being boycotting parliament in solidarity with their colleague, James Gyakye Quayson, who is on trial for forgery and perjury, the majority themselves did not simply have the numbers.

The majority MPs, who lead the government business in the House, needed at least 92 out of its 137 members to form a quorum to do business, but they could not get the required number.

It is trite knowledge that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have 137 members each, but the former has a working majority due to the addition of the independent member, Andrews Asiamah.

Article 102 of the 1992 constitution states that: “A quorum of Parliament, apart from the person presiding, shall be one-third of all the members of Parliament.”

QUORUM

A few minutes into the proceedings, which began with prayers and then the correction of votes and proceedings for the previous day, the NDC MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Defeamakpor raised the issue of quorum.

Regardless of interventions from the Speaker and counter-claims by the Majority side, he did not budge and insisted on being heard on the quorum issue, until the Speaker was compelled to end proceedings, as it was evident the House did not have the numbers.

“Mr. Speaker, you cannot adopt [the votes and proceedings] first. We don’t have the numbers to do that. We don’t. Mr. Speaker, upon my last reading about two minutes ago, we had only 35 members and Mr. Speaker, let me anchor the gravamen of my submission to the Supreme Court, in the case of Justice Abdulai versus the Attorney General on quorum…

“Mr. Speaker, we may have to bring this matter to your attention this morning. The House is totally not capable of conducting any business this morning. We have to adjourn and come back here tomorrow to handle matters of state. I so submit, Mr. Speaker.”

Prior to raising the issue on quorum, the Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza, had also cited from the vote and proceedings of Tuesday that the House had 75 members, which “fell short of the number” needed to conduct business.

The minority maintained that their boycott of proceedings could not be the reason the House was not capable of forming a quorum, as the majority members themselves do not attend upon the House.

The MP for Asawase, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubrak, argued that even without the minority, the majority should not be found wanting. He charged the leadership of the majority to mobilise their numbers to do government’s business, “so that you can call our [minority] bluff.”

PROCEDURE

The MP for Bekwai, Joseph Osei Owusu, submitted that the issue of quorum was not new to the House, so as to let a court judgment sound like a refresh directive in the House.

He argued on Order 48(2) and urged the Speaker to follow the procedure of the House, which included allowing a ten-minute window for the bell to be tolled to call members into the Chamber.

Section (2) of the said Order says: “If at the time of sitting a Member takes notice or objection that there are present in the House, besides the person presiding, less than one-third of the number of all the Members of Parliament, and after an interval of ten minutes a quorum is not present, the person presiding shall adjourn the House without question put, until the next sitting day.”

The Speaker directed for the bell to be tolled, but after waiting for well over ten minutes, there was still no quorum.

PRECINCT OF PARLIAMENT

In a move to convince the House to yield to continuing with business, the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, referred to a previous ruling by the Right Hon. Speaker, Alban Bagbin, that members present in Parliament included those within the precinct of Parliament and not only those in the Chamber.

The Nsawam/Adoagyiri MP then told the House that other colleagues were present but are at their committee meetings.

The Second Deputy Speaker insisted he gives the specific number of the members present within the precinct of Parliament, which the former mentioned as 91.

SPEAKER

“91” is still not even one-third. Honorable Members, I will go ahead and adjourn the House. But I think we have to take the work of the House very seriously,” he said, referring to media publications about lack of numbers to do business.

“So, Honorable Members, I think today will be the last day that we will raise this issue of quorum. So, Whips, I am urging you to do more. On that note, I am bringing proceedings to a close and adjourn the House to tomorrow at ten o’clock in the forenoon,” he said.

Farmers allegedly dupes businessman off GH¢868,800

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Court

A farmer living at Asamankese in the Eastern Region, Felix Nyeduah, together with three others currently at large, has allegedly duped a businessman, Jones Dodoo, off GH¢868,800.00 under the pretence of selling and transporting 10 kilograms of gold to him.

Nyeduah (A1) and his accomplices, after collecting the money, supplied one kilogramme of fake gold to Dodoo and went into hiding.

The farmer is now standing trial on conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by false presences. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢900,000.00 by an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Evenly Asamoah.

He is being prosecuted by ASP Emmanuel Haligah, who told the court yesterday that the complainant, Jones Dodoo, is a Ghanaian business consultant domiciled in Tokyo, Japan.

ASP Haligah said the 2nd, 3rd and 4″ accused persons were accomplices now at large.

In the month of July, 2022, the complainant decided to venture into gold business and was introduced to Al by one Kwasi Mensah David, alias Amuzu.

The complainant then expressed interest to buy three kilogrammes of gold, but Al, knowing his malicious intentions to defraud the complainant, offered to supply about 10 kilogrammes to him on conditions that he could pay for the cost of shipment of the gold to Tokyo, and to remit the principal to him after the sale of the gold.

The complainant naively agreed to the offer made to him by Al and made payment of cash in the sum of US$25,000 to A2, who posed as the shipper. A3 later handed over one kilogramme of fake gold to the complainant and took cash in the sum of US$40,000 as collateral for the 10 kilogrammes of gold to be shipped to Tokyo.

The complainant, after payments then travelled to Tokyo anticipating to receive his gold, but was deceived by Al and A4 to pay an additional sum of US$7,000 and US$400 to A1’s agent in Tokyo before the gold could be delivered to him, which was paid.

The complainant kept the one kilogramme of gold in Ghana and was expecting to get the 10 kilogrammes for his business in Tokyo, but detected fraud after efforts to receive the consignment failed.

He returned to Ghana, but could not trace Al and his accomplices. He later tested the one kilogramme of gold, but found it to be a fake. A report was then made to the police.

On July 14, 2022, Al was arrested at Akim Oda for attempting to defraud another victim. During interrogation Al admitted all the offences in his caution statement. Investigations revealed that Al, A2, A3 and A4 were a fraud gang based in Accra.

The accused person was charged and arraigned before the court.

Investigations are ongoing to arrest the accomplices.

Editorial: Building on top of the Aburi Mountains – We are sitting on a time bomb

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Editorial

The Daily Statesman reported yesterday that the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) had issued a strong advisory to members of the public, urging them to exercise caution when carrying out developments in areas known to be prone to earthquakes.

According to the report, the Director General of the GGSA, Isaac Mwinbelle, specifically highlighted areas such as Accra, extending from Weija to the hills of Aburi and the Akuapem Range, which is part of the middle belt of the country.

The GGSA Director General emphasised the importance of conducting thorough investigations before commencing any construction projects. He stressed that it was crucial to determine whether an area fell within an active earthquake zone or not.

According to him, it was equally critical that developers investigate the specific site to ensure it was not located on a weak or fault zone. Failure to take these precautions, he indicated, could render structures vulnerable and unable to withstand potential earth movements or disturbances.

Mr Mwinbelle further emphasised the need for responsible development practices, and urged individuals, businesses, and government agencies to prioritise safety when planning and constructing buildings in these high-risk areas, as non-compliance could result in significant loss of lives and property damage.

Indeed, the manner residential structures are springing up on top of the Aburi Mountain, and the Akuapem Range as a whole, is very alarming. The Chronicle, therefore, commends Isaac Mwinbelle for coming out to warn developers to conduct proper investigations before putting up buildings.

A couple of years ago, the rock formation on the Aburi Mountain, especially around the Peduase enclave, started falling apart. The Ministry of Road and Highways, then headed by Alhaji Inusa Fuseini, put in interim measures to hold back the rocks from falling on the road. But because there was no permanent solution to the problem, there were media reports recently that the rocks had started falling on the road again.

This is a serious matter, because apart from the road leading to our Presidential Villa, which is the Peduase Lodge, it is also one of the major entry points to the Eastern Region. Foreign dignitaries who visit this country are sometimes hosted at the Peduase Lodge. One can, therefore, imagine what would happen should any of these foreign dignitaries be involved in an accident in the area.

Though we are not experts, we suspect that the rock formation has started falling apart due to the heavy load on top of the Mountain. About three or so years ago, a landslide buried an entire village in Sierra Leone. Our authorities in Ghana are aware of this disaster, yet they have given permits for people to build residential apartments on top of the Aburi Mountain and surrounding areas.

As if this is not enough, permits have also been given to developers to build right beneath the mountain. This means should there be a landslide, which we pray against, lives and properties are going to be destroyed. At Weija, which is an earthquake-prone area in Accra, people are building on top of the hills surrounding the Weija Dam, yet the authorities concerned are pretending not to have seen the developments coming up.

Clearly, we are sitting on a time bomb, and the day disaster strikes, all of us will be laughing at the wrong side of our mouths. Ghana is governed by rules and regulations, but what is going on at Aburi and Weija clearly shows that our laws are not working, and the earlier we accept this reality and do something about it, the better it would be for the country.

 

“Omanhene’s One Week”

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Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey

The year was circa 1710, the scene was Kumasi. The greatest Asantehene in history, Otumfuo Opoku Ware I, had an insoluble problem – his bitterest, most troublesome enemies were the Dormas and Gyaamans.

So, Otumfuo sent for the Chief of Asokore and ordered him to send an expeditionary force to build an espionage military base that could give him early warnings about Jaman-Domaa military movements.

Thus was born an Asante settlement called Berekum in a typical BONO enclave down through the ages until the year 2000 or thereabouts, when Nana Amankona Diawuo ascended the throne as Berekumhene.

He spent 17 years in the court battling for the throne, and after only five years Dr. Leo Ofori of East Legon, a top surgeon at Sunyani Government Hospital, “went to the village”.

Rumours of Nana’s journey to the beyond hit town in early December 2022, but the Sumankwahene announced that Daasebre had crossed the river on June 2023, and the whole of Berekum assembled at the Omanhene’s 9th Park – about four acre size meeting grounds – on Friday 14th July 2023 to celebrate his “One Week”.

For us in Berekum, thus far, it was the mother of all funerals. I got to the Omanhene’s Park at about 8am, early enough to get a very good strategic location to settle down. Slowly the over 60 canopies were all filled up, circa 10,000 chairs, with plenty of chiefs from far and near. It was a cultural fiesta.

Her Majesty Nana Aneahene II, the larger than life Queenmother of Berekum, accompanied by the Asokorehene and Benkumhene of Berekum now acting as Omanhene, arrived at the funeral grounds at 12noon and went round greeting everybody, covering nearly one hour.

I counted not less than six cultural groups, all busily playing with shapely female dancers doing their own thing.

All the members of the Berekum Traditional Council were seated with their entourage, and interesting hiccups took place concerning the Benkum Division and the chiefs from Senase – the Kronti Division. Traditional warriors called Abrafoo from the Palace came to escort out of the grounds two chiefs whose presence was declared undesirable.

A large retinue of Moslems from Berekum Zongo was there, and I saw the Ghana Bar Associate from Sunyani, also judges from the High Court in Sunyani, including Mr. Justice Baryeh and Justice Obeng Diawuo from my hometown, Jinjini.

As for the chiefs, whose name should I mention and which one should I leave out? Two Paramount Chiefs, each of them very noble with an impressive following, appeared representing NSOATRE; Bechemhene, Seikwa and many, many others were present.

Reader, I was stunned to my seat when I beheld the majestic figure of the Queenmother of Dormaa, who came to represent her brother, Nana Dormaahene, tall, graceful, and splendid, she shook my hand, and apparently she knows me, so she was homily in her tete-a-tete with me.

Almost all the media houses in Berekum were there with instant photographers doing brisk business.

Musketry was fired about a thousand for a penny, and the atmosphere was just royalty at its best.

Late in the afternoon, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) General Supremo, took the whole place by storm, as he was escorted by a huge mass of followers, dancing to the popular party tune.

Bringing down the curtain to the day’s events was the major arrival of Sampahene, some thirty something year old, looking a young, noble King, with a huge entourage beating atumpan drums – just as he sat down the MC announced the end of proceedings – the one week was over, time check, circa 5:00pm.

Written By Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey

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

Akatsi-North Assembly provides 500 dual desks to schools

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The Akatsi-North DCE, Mr Simon Peter Kofi Ofosu (left) presenting the dual desks to the District Director of Education, Mr Dominic Dzanado

The Akatsi-North District Assembly has handed over 500 dual desks to the District Directorate of Education for distribution to schools that lacked adequate classroom furniture to address the severe shortage in basic schools in the district.

Handing over the furniture to the Akatsi-North District Director of Education at Avedakpa, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Simon Peter Kofi Ofosu, said, the Assembly was committed to efforts at promoting quality education in the area, and called on stakeholders to collaborate with it.

Mr. Ofosu said the Assembly would also provide additional 500 dual desks to basic schools without adequate furniture before the end of the year, to end shortages in schools in the district.

According to the DCE, the delivery of the desks was a demonstration of the Assembly’s pledge to improve educational infrastructure in schools, and urged pupils to take advantage of the available opportunities to develop themselves.

He said the Assembly was dedicated to resolving the furniture crises in schools in the district, saying it recognised the important  role adequate furniture played in the promotion of quality teaching and learning.

Mr. Ofosu stressed that the Assembly’s commitment to the educational welfare of pupils was unwavering, and assured that it would continue to work closely with the District Directorate of Education to ensure that problems hindering quality education would be tackled, including lack of classroom furniture.

He explained that his outfit’s determination to address the furniture challenges was in line with the government’s broader efforts to enhance education across the country.

The DCE said the dual desks would not only ease the difficulties pupils faced in the classrooms, but also contribute to creating an enabling environment that would promote effective teaching and learning.

Mr. Ofosu stressed that it was the hope of the Assembly that the furniture would help pupils to be focused in class, comfortable, and ensure overall educational experience that would lead to better academic outcomes.

He said the objective of the Assembly, in collaboration with the District Education Directorate, was to strengthen the system in the district, aimed at providing a solid foundation for the present and future generations to benefit from the better education, and urged students and pupils to learn hard to justify the investment being made.

Receiving the furniture, the Akatsi-North District Director of Education, Mr. Dominic Dzanado, thanked the Assembly for the gesture, and said the desks had come at the right time, when hundreds of pupils lacked classroom furniture, and would help address the problem.

Mr. Dzanado observed that the high interest the Assembly had shown in promoting quality education would go a long way in providing an attractive environment that would encourage more children to be in school.

Sogakope Chief unveiled GH¢500,000 Barrier Development Project

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The Chief of Sogakope, Togbe Atsuga Sogah II (Middle) and the Aburi Kyidomhenmaa and Brukuase Ohemaa Awo Kyekyeh (left)

The Chief of Sogakope , Togbe Atsuga Sogah II, in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region, has unveiled a GH¢500,000 Barrier Development Project (BDP) at Sogakope to promote the economic activities of hawkers, and also develop tourism along the Volta Lake.

It is to promote and make Sogakope a preferred tourism and business destination in the Africa sub-region.

The unveiling coincided with the launch of the 4th Anniversary celebration of ascension of Togbe Sogah onto the stool, which would be celebrated on September 23rd, 2023 at Sogakope. It was also to raise funds towards the project and was attended by prominent chiefs and queenmothers from the Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra regions.

Togbe Sogah explained that the economic and tourism promotion project at the barrier at Sogakope, would include the building of a multi-purpose shed for hawkers with modern toilet facilities to provide a safe business environment for women, who spent the day selling in the scorching sun.

According to Togbe Sogah, as part of the Barrier Development Project, long sheds would be built along the road at the barrier with modern seating facilities for the traders and passengers in transit, who would buy food to eat while their vehicles were checked by the security agents.

He said there would also be toilet and urinal facilities for traders and passengers, adding that Sogakope was located on an international road, therefore, the project would be designed to meet international standard, while putting an end to the situation where people openly defecate along the shore of the Volta Lake.

Togbe Sogah stressed that the project would be executed in collaboration with the South Tongu District Assembly (STDA) to ensure that it was in line with the total development agenda of the assembly, adding that hotel owners would be involved in promoting tourism that would make Sogakope a number one tourism destination in the Africa sub-region.

Togbe, who is also a Divisional Chief of the Fievie Traditional Area, said the GH¢500,000 project would have part of it invested in the construction of a storm drainage systems in the town to connect to the Volta Lake to prevent flooding in the future, including the Volta Regional capital, Ho.

He said efforts were being made to promote commercial farming in the area, and announced that he had invited investors from Swaziland and South Africa to explore opportunities in rice cultivation in particular, not only to provide adequate rice for local consumption.

He further said it would also help in job creation for the teeming unemployed youth in the Fievie Traditional Area, and the Volta Region in general.

The Chief, therefore, appealed to community development non-governmental organisations (NGOs), institutions, groups and individuals to contribute meaningfully to support the project with money or materials.

He admitted that even though the government had the duty to provide the developmental needs of the people, it was becoming clear that it could not do it alone, therefore, chiefs needed to initiate projects and mobilise adequate funds to complete them.

Togbe Sogah said in order to promote development activities in the area, the Sogakope Development Foundation and the Sogakope Ladies Association (SLA) were formed to be responsible for dealing with issues relating to challenges confronting the growth and development of women, with the Okada Riders Association to promote its activities in the area.

The Aburi Kyidomhenmaa and Brukuase Ohemaa, Awo Kyekyeh, who launched the 4th Anniversary, which was sponsored by the Doza Group of Companies, commended the Chief for his development agenda within the four years of occupying the throne, and wish him success.

Gunmen attack Enugu police station, cart away arms

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Gunmen attack Enugu police station

A Divisional Police station in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State came under attack by unknown gunmen, early Tuesday morning.

Although no officer was reported killed during the attack, one of them was said to have been shot and is currently receiving treatment.

The gunmen also succeeded in carting away arms and ammunition.

A local hinted that the assailants stormed the unfenced police station at about 2 am with a Toyota Sienna bus, shouting “Release Nnamdi Kanu,” “No Nnamdi Kanu, no peace.”

“They came through Eha-Amufu and left through the same axis but it’s not possible they got to Eha-Amufu township or crossed to Nkalagu, otherwise they would have been encountered by the soldiers in that area. It’s possible they went through Aguamede to Benue state,” the source said.

The Enugu State Police Public command is yet to issue a statement on the reported attack.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Tinubu announces review of N8,000 palliative to poor Nigerians after criticism

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President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has called for a review of the N8,000 cash transfer programme to millions of poor Nigerians in response to public criticism of the initiative.

The president made this known in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The statement said that there have been many misconceptions and criticisms regarding the cash transfer programme proposed by the government.

The president had on 13 July announced that a monthly transfer of N8,000 will be made to the bank accounts of 12 million households classified as poor or low income. This cash transfer programme is intended to be implemented over a period of six months.

The programme, aimed at supporting vulnerable households affected by the removal of petrol subsidy, has however generated heated debates among Nigerians.

On Tuesday, Mr Alake noted that the Tinubu administration firmly believes that if something is prohibited or removed, there should be an alternative provision in place.

The statement added that since petrol subsidy, which was seen as a threat to the economy, had been removed, the government decided to implement a wide range of relief measures to provide assistance to Nigerians.

Credit: premiumtimesng.com

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