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We won’t call off nationwide strike -School Feeding caterers resolve 

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Madam Gifty Asamoah, leader of the caterers addressing the media

School feeding caterers from across the 16 regions of the country, under the various Metropolitan, Municipality and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have emphasised their position never to go back to the various schools to cook for the pupils, until their conditions of service improve and their arrears paid by the government.

Madam Gifty Asamoah, Convener of the group, at a news conference organised by the aggrieved caterers in Kumasi, noted that until all payments due them are made through the School Feeding Secretariat and the Ministry of Finance, they will maintain their stance.

She said no amount of threat from the MMDCEs would send them back to the kitchen, unless their condition of service improves and all arrears paid.

According to her, the government and the School Feeding Secretariat are hiding behind the MMDCEs to threaten them with job losses if they do not rescind their decision to call off the strike.

Madam Asamoah explained that government owes them arrears from 2017 to date and that, like other professionals such as Teachers, Nurses, Police and Civil Servants in the country, the government cannot not deny them salary for a single month, let alone starve the caterers for a number of months without pay.

She stressed that they are workers like other Public Servants and deserve to be paid.

According to her, the caterers live in disgrace because they owe their creditors

huge sums of money.

She stressed that, all the caterers are members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and would not want the party to go to opposition for refusing to address their grievances.

The Convener stressed that the caterers, as members of the NPP cannot campaign vigorously for the same New Patriotic Party that is starving them of what is due them, and cautioned the party to forget about breaking the eight (8), if the government would not address their concerns.

According to her, caterers cannot be made a laughing stock, impoverished and very miserable and seen as beggars.

The Race to Immunisation Agenda 2030: We Need to Catch Up

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Opinion

A world where everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines for good health and well-being. This is the Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030) vision over the next decade (2021 – 2030). IA2030 positions immunisation as an integral asset, and investment in the future for the enjoyment of the best achievable physical, social and mental well-being, to create a healthier, safer and more prosperous world.

The WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunisation Coverage (WUENIC) was the first to reflect the recent major global disruptions to vaccinations due to COVID-19 and other factors. The statistics were reflective of the lack of confidence in vaccines that played out through misinformation, vaccine hesitancy and a general distrust of vaccination exercises.

In 2021, the number of children worldwide who missed routine immunisation increased by 2 million compared to the previous year, and a staggering 6 million more children who missed out on routine immunisation in 2019.

The data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Africa also showed a decline in immunisation coverage rates for various essential vaccinations between 2019 and 2020, with rates falling below the target of vaccination coverage set at both the African regional and global levels.

Building confidence in vaccines in Africa is an essential step in the process. It requires a multifaceted approach that involves not only providing accurate information, involving communities and influencers, as well as fostering partnerships but also strengthening healthcare systems and supply chains. At Niyel, we are taking active steps to increase education and drive awareness through empowered influencers and CSOs – ultimately positively impacting vaccination rates, protecting people against preventable diseases, and saving lives.

The risks of not catching up

The IA2030 provides a sustainable strategic framework to inspire and align the activities of stakeholders within the communities, nationally, regionally and globally, as well as a vision that ensures that the benefits of vaccines extend to everyone everywhere.

The benefits of vaccines are enormous, including health and non-health benefits. Vaccines save lives by preventing diseases and deaths in individuals and disease outbreaks in communities. These diseases also result in negative educational, economic and social consequences for individuals, families and communities.

The recent repercussions include diphtheria, cholera and measles outbreaks across various African countries; deepening a critical need to work towards raising demand for vaccines, ensuring adequate supplies (including supporting local and regional vaccine manufacturing) and strengthening primary healthcare to deliver immunisation programs.

Overcoming Obstacles to Catch Up

Building confidence in vaccines is critical to increasing vaccination rates and ensuring people are protected against diseases. However, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation have been significant challenges that have led to low vaccination rates and the resurgence of preventable diseases. Through the Safe and Secure: Achieving Immunity Together campaign (previously known as Power Up Health and Immunisation), Niyel is working to build confidence at every level. Our aim is to:

  1. Provide accurate information: This includes information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines, as well as the benefits of vaccination. By engaging governments, civil society organisations and healthcare actors, we execute campaigns and media activations that emphasise the importance of vaccination and address common misconceptions about vaccines in a relatable manner.
  2. Involve influencers and communities: Engaging communities in the decision-making process is essential. To build confidence, community leaders, the traditional and new media, and other influential individuals need to be involved in promoting immunisation and dispelling myths and misconceptions. Community-based health workers also play a critical role in promoting vaccination and addressing concerns. The data collated from the various engagements have informed subsequent activities around the issues and nuanced them to each community and region.
  3. Foster partnerships: Building partnerships between governments, health organisations, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders helps to deploy solutions at scale. By working together, stakeholders can develop comprehensive immunisation strategies and ensure that vaccines are delivered to those who need them, and on schedule.

At the core of our ethos at Niyel, we care about the well-being of Africa, Africans, and the world. We remain committed to encouraging people to get involved in changing the negative prevailing African narrative, including the misinformation about vaccines in Africa, by providing the right tools to understand, influence and change harmful practices, and policies.

By Dr. Obinna Ebirim, Senior Advocacy Officer at Niyel

Source: African Media Agency (AMA)

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

EFCC Arraigns Ondo Speaker, Two Others Over Alleged Fraud

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Speaker of Ondo State House Of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oloyeloogun

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned the Speaker of Ondo State House Of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oloyeloogun before the State High Court in Akure over alleged fraud.

The lawmaker representing Akoko South/West Constituency 1 at the Ondo State House of Assembly, Felemu Bankole, and a civil servant, Segun Oyadeyi Bankole was also arraigned along with Oleyeloogun.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations levelled against them.

Counsel to the EFCC, Kingsley Kudus, prayed the court to remand the defendants at the Olokuta Correctional Facility in Akure.

He argued that though they had pleaded not guilty, the defendants were still in the hands of the court while the trial continues.

Counsel to the defendants, Barrister Femi Emodamori, told the court that he was fully prepared for the commencement and continuation of the trial.

He asked the court to strike out EFCC’s prayer for remand, saying the administrative bail application on the defendants was still active.

He explained that the second defendant (Oleyeloogun) was having a health challenge that needed urgent medical attention.

Emodamori also asked the court to caution the nominal complainant, a former Deputy Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Iroju Ogundeji,  in the case, for allegedly sending annoying messages to Oleyeloogun.

According to Emodamori, if Ogundeji does not desist from such action, he would be prosecuted.

In his ruling, Justice AdegboyegaAdebusoye asked the defendants to grant the defendants administrative bail till the next hearing.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the case till May 18, 2023, for a proper hearing.

Credit: channelstv.com

After four weeks vacation, Tinubu returns to Nigeria

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Bola Tinubu stepping out of the plane to a cheering crowd at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja

President-elect Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after a four-week vacation in France.

Mr Tinubu arrived at the/ Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday at about 4:15 p.m.

He was received at the airport by his running mate, Kashim Shettima, and some other party faithful.

Mr Tinubu left Nigeria on 21 March. His handlers later said he would be in France, the UK and Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj.

“The President-elect decided to take a break after the hectic campaign and election season to rest in Paris and London, preparatory to going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj) and the Ramadan Fasting that begins Thursday,” spokesperson Tunde Rahman said in a statement.

Mr Tinubu’s frequent travels overseas continue to fuel speculations on his health status. He made several trips to the UK and France before the commencement of campaigns in 2022.

In October 2022, he spent 12 days in the UK. At a point, he had to release a short video clip of him walking out to address the speculations on his health.

He and his team have, however, said he is healthy enough to be president.

Mr Tinubu is due to be sworn in on 29 May.

Credit: premiumtimesng.com

Lawyer asks Appeal Court to stop Tinubu’s inauguration

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Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

A fresh motion on notice seeking to stop Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from being inaugurated as Nigeria’s new President on May 29, 2023, has been instituted at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The fresh suit marked CA/CV/259/2023 is instituted by a Presidential candidate in the 2019 Presidential election and constitutional lawyer, Chief Ambrose Albert Owuru and his political party, Hope Democratic Party (HDP).

Owuru, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982, is praying the Court of Appeal in Abuja to prohibit President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from inaugurating the 2023 President-elect on May 29.

The politician, who participated in the 2019 presidential poll on the platform of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) wants Buhari, the AGF and the INEC stopped from taking any further steps on the 2023 presidential election that produced Tinubu as winner.

Owuru, who claimed to be adjudged constitutional winner of the 2019 presidential election predicated his grouse against inauguration of Tinubu or anybody else as successor to Buhari on the ground that he is the constitutionally adjudged winner of the 2019 election and has not spent his tenure as required by law.

Among others, Owuru insisted that President Buhari has been usurping his tenure of office since 2019 because the Supreme Court has not determined his petition filed in 2019 in which he challenged the purported declaration of Buhari as the election winner.

In his motion on notice marked CA/CV/259/2023 just filled at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, Owuru applied for “An order of prohibitory injunction compelling Buhari, AGF and INEC, their servants, agents and privies to preserve and give due cognizance and abstain from any further undertaking or engaging in any act of usurpation of adjudged acquired Constitutional rights and mandate as winner of the 2019 presidential election.”

He also applied for another order directing and placing on notice that any form of handover inauguration, organized and Superintended by Buhari on 29th May 2023 outside the adjudged winner of the 2019 presidential election, subject of the pending appeal, remains and is viewed as an “interim place holder” administration pending the hearing and determination of his substantive appeal on constitutional interpretation thereof.

Listed as respondents in the motion on notice are President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd, respectively.

The motion on notice filed on his behalf by Mr Odion Peter has been served on President Buhari and AGF through their counsel, Mrs Maimuna Lami Ashiru of the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, while that of the INEC was served through the Head of Legal Department and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr S. O Ibrahim.

DAILY POST observed that the motion is supported with an 8-paragraph affidavit praying the Court of Appeal for expeditious hearing before the inauguration of Tinubu.

The affidavit deposed to by an Abuja based legal practitioner, Adebayo Anafowode and filed at the Court of Appeal in Abuja expressed apprehension that Owuru’s suit against Buhari would be rendered nugatory unless given quick hearing.

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit by the Court of Appeal.

Credit: dailypost.ng

AngloGold Ashanti scaling up 10-year development plan

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AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine is scaling-up infrastructural development within its operational areas as part of its 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) launched in July 2022.

Work is progressing steadily on the construction of an ultra-modern nine-unit school complex for Sanso, a District Police Headquarters at Bidiem, both in the Obuasi Municipality, and a 20-seater toilet facility at Anyimadukrom in the Obuasi East District.

They form part of a plethora of infrastructural development projects contained in the 10-year SEDP. Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo, Senior Manager Sustainability, AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, expressed satisfaction at the progress of work after a tour of the various project sites.

“I am particularly excited for the fact that the contractors for the Sanso school and the police station are both Obuasi based, and the quality of work done means that they are making a strong case for local contractors which is part of the objectives of our 10-year SEDP to enhance local participation,” he observed.

On the importance of the projects, Mr. Baidoo said when completed the GH¢5 million Sanso school project, which was the first of its kind in Obuasi, would contribute to enhancing access to quality education in Obuasi.

It comes with a staff common room, head teacher’s office, sickbay, kitchenette, library (book and e-library), computer lab stocked with computers and a beautiful landscape with a water fountain.

Mr. Baidoo said the construction of District Police Headquarters was in line with the company’s commitment to partner government and the local authority in enhancing security which was considered as an indispensable tool for sustainable growth and development of any community.

“We at AngloGold Ashanti are upbeat about the impact of this GH¢1 million police headquarters project in supporting the police to fight crime and ensure total security in Obuasi”.

Mr. George Alfred Koomson, Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, was positive that the completion of the Sanso school project would help address low attendance in the school.

So, it is our hope that this magnificent project will serve as a morale booster for the kids to enable them stay in school,” he reiterated. He lauded AngloGold Ashanti for their support towards the promotion of education in Obuasi over the years.

Mr. Thomas Ofori, Assembly Member for Sanso commended AngloGold Ashanti for the school project and urged people in their operational areas to support the mining company to enable it deliver on their commitments towards making their communities better.

By Yussif Ibrahim 

Source: GNA

Pay your taxes and enjoy many reliefs -GRA  

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Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Commissioner-General

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) says there are many tax reliefs for Ghanaians who pay and file their tax returns.  Mr. Lawrence Hotsonyame, Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Training and Development Department, said the country had all these services, but citizens might not benefit if they failed to file their tax returns.

Mr. Hotsonyame made this known at a two-day workshop for some selected court reporters in Accra.  The two-day workshop was organised by the GRA in  collaboration with the Judicial Training Institute for selected journalists and Staff of the Communication and Public Affairs Department of GRA.

It was aimed at educating participants on the Judicial System of Ghana, effective reporting of court proceedings and courtroom etiquette, among others. Some of the tax reliefs include Aged and Dependent relief, Marriage relief, Children relief, Disability relief, mortgage relief, Responsibility relief and Cause of Training relief.

He said in the administration of the tax laws, disputes might arise between the taxpayer and GRA which would require resolution by the law courts.   ”It is therefore the expectation that, tax cases brought before the courts should be dealt with expeditiously to ensure fairness and timely collection of taxes due the State,” he said.

The Assistant Commissioner said the GRA was counting on the Judiciary to assist to fulfill its statutory obligations of mobilising tax revenue for national development.

He said with the disputes arising as a result of tax related issues, the Ministry of Finance inaugurated the Independent Tax Appeals Board to provide a clear mechanism for resolution.  The establishment of the board is part of Government’s initiative to transform revenue administrations and enhance revenue mobilization.

“It is to provide an alternative tax dispute mechanism in the country,  instill confidence in investors by providing a neutral entity for the resolution of tax disputes and relieve the Ministry of Finance from having to mediate or resolve tax disputes between GRA and taxpayers.

The Board was established in accordance with the Revenue Administration (Amendment) Act,  2020 (Act 1029).”

He said the GRA aimed to become a world class revenue administration institution with professionalism, integrity and excellence. According to him, the GRA has commenced an aggressive automation drive and appealed to the public to assist the authority by paying their taxes regularly to propel development.

Mr. Yaw Boadu-Ayebuafoh, Chairman of the National Media Commission, said using the media to inform or educate the public about GRA and taxpayers was one of the positive ways to enhance awareness about the Constitutional imperative of open declaration of incomes.

“As journalists, we must deploy our skills to consciously enable the people understand the work of GRA. We must also stimulate change with our reportage on tax issues,” he added.

Source: GNA

Entertainment sells Ghana more than football –Dada Hafco

By
NANA KWESI COOMSON
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Dada Hafco

Highlife musician, Dada Hafco argues that the culture and creative industries hold greater fortunes for the country than sports.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, Dada Hafco said; “Look at how much money we’ve been pumping into the Black Stars. I am an avid football lover. I would love to watch football every time. But since 1982 if we haven’t won any football trophy why do we keep doing it when in recent times Ghana has become a hub for entertainment every Christmas?”

“Why are we not channeling enough energy [into the arts] because entertainment is actually putting Ghana on the map more than even football so why are not putting more energy into that?” Hafco added.

The highlife musician also remonstrated lack of a collective agenda to promote Ghanaian music as one of the nemeses of the music industry in Ghana.

According to him, if the Broadcasting Law is passed to give assent to playing more local songs than foreign songs on Ghanaian radio, a lot of songs that have been consigned to the back by some DJs will make their way into their playlists.

He also noted that even though he believes every artiste in Ghana should be free to venture into music genres of their choice, highlife should be projected to be the face of Ghana’s music.

Dada Hafco, is one half of the defunct highlife duo Mframa known for songs such as ‘FiiliGadoochi’, ‘Ghana Lady’, ‘Meboso’, among others.

Since he went solo, he has released songs like ‘YebewuNti’, ‘Obarima’, ‘Our Story’, ‘Bedianko’ and ‘Friends’.

We worked at construction sites for survival –Tagoe Sisters

By
NANA KWESI COOMSON
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Tagoe Sisters

Celebrated Ghanaian Gospel group, Tagoe Sisters, have revealed how they survived before their breakthrough in the music industry.

In an interview on Accra FM, the twins recalled how they managed to survive through life some years ago.

Recounting their struggles, they disclosed that at a point in their lives, they had to mix mortar at construction sites just to survive.

They also worked at quarry sites, one of which has been transformed into the new Achimota station.

Tagoe Sisters said they have to undertake such jobs, including carrying sand and blocks to survive during their school days.

These experiences happened while living with their adopted father, Nana Ekumfi Ameyaw.

They also disclosed how the name ‘Tagoe Sisters’ came about.

58 bodies recovered in Kenya starvation cult case

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Kenyan police Monday have exhumed dozens of bodies from mass graves in a forest in eastern Kenya linked to a religious cult whose followers allegedly starved themselves to get to heaven.

Paul Mackenzie Nthege, the leader of the cult, was arrested after police received a tip-off that his vast land on the Shakahola forest in the Kilifi County of eastern Kenya, contained mass graves.

Police clad in overalls have been scouring the site since Friday when they have found increasing number of bodies each day.

Police attended the site Friday and started exhuming bodies finding an increasing number of bodies found each day.

There are fears the numbers could rise as the Kenya Red Cross said 112 people had been reported missing to its staff at Malindi.

Kenya’s President Ruto branded Mackenzie a “terrible criminal,” whose actions were “akin to terrorists.”

The case has sent shockwaves through Kenya and the government has vowed tighter regulations on religious bodies and organisations.

Kenya is a deeply religious country and has had problems in the past with unregulated churches and cults.

Source: cnn.com

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