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I’ll sue Okudzeto after CHRAJ probe – Rev Victor Kusi Boateng

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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A member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, Rev Victor Kusi Boateng has vowed to sue Mr Samuel Okudzeto, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, over “defamatory statements made against me”.

The leader of the Power Chapel Worldwide, issued a statement minutes ago to debunk the MP’s allegations.

However, he has decided to wait for the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to conclude its investigation before initiating the court action against the MP.

Below if the full statement

GHANA IS THE BEST PLACE TO DO BUSINESS IN WEST AFRICA” – PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO

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admin
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President Akufo-Addo addressing the forum

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has described Ghana as the best place to do business in West Africa, and has urged the private sector and investors in the United Arab Emirates to make Ghana their first port of call when venturing into the Region for business.

Addressing the UAE-Ghana Business Forum held on Tuesday, 17th January 2023, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, President Akufo-Addo stated that Government, since 2017, has put in place measures needed to reduce the cost of doing business, and improve the business environment.

According to the President, these measures “made the Ghanaian economy not only one of the most business-friendly economies in Africa, but also one of the fastest growing economies in the world between 2017 and 2020, averaging 7% GDP annual rates of growth, up from the 3.4% rate we inherited in 2016.”

Guests at the event

 

With Government working to restore the nation onto the path of high growth rates experienced prior to the onset of COVID-19 and the Russian/Ukraine war, he told the gathering of Ghana’s decision to seek the collaboration of the IMF “to repair, in the short run, our public finances, and give credibility to our balance of payments, which have taken a severe hit in very recent times as a result of these developments.”

“I am confident that we will emerge from this with a stronger and more resilient economy, and advance towards our goal of reaching a Ghana Beyond Aid. Not only is Ghana the best place for doing business in West Africa, but she is also the preferred destination for a perfect blend of mineral resource potential, stable regulatory environment, favourable fiscal regime, and socially responsive mining in Africa,” he added.

Describing mining as a key pillar of Ghana’s economy, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that gold, which still holds its own as both a commodity and a financial asset, is, by far, the most commercially exploited mineral in Ghana, accounting for more than ninety percent (90%) of the country’s mineral revenue.

“Indeed, in recent times until 2021, Ghana was the largest producer of gold in Africa and was 6th in the world. We are also major producers of bauxite and manganese, and are, indeed, the 3rd largest producer of these two minerals in Africa,” he said.

The President continued, “more recently, Ghana has been placed globally on the map of some few countries that have made significant discoveries of lithium, just as she has found also graphite and iron ore in significant quantities. Ghana is also working towards the net zero emission target, and collaborating with other relevant stakeholders in employing climate-friendly technologies and practices, to achieve the maximum developmental impact for the country.”

He explained that what his government is seeking to do is not just to exploit these minerals in their raw form to enhance our export earnings, but, more importantly, generate value added benefits, along the full value chain of the minerals, and create linkages with other sectors of the economy.

“The potentials created offer considerable opportunities for UAE investors, who possess the capacity to generate the value-added benefits, especially through the Government’s local value-addition and processing drive, to partner Ghanaian companies in converting their natural comparative advantage into an enhanced, more valuable, sustainable and competitive advantage,” the President added.

He assured that the standards for responsible environmental and social stewardship, maintained by Ghana’s minerals and mining sector, is comparable to any found in the best of mining jurisdictions, stressing that “the Minerals and Mining Act of 2006 (Act 703), supported by the Regulations passed in 2012, along with a few amendments and introductions that have been made, have stood the test of time”.

In spite of the country’s present challenges, President Akufo-Addo maintained that “it is an exciting time to be in Ghana, and do business in the country. So, I would urge the private sector in the UAE to take advantage of the business-friendly climate in the country to invest in Ghana. Regardless of where you choose to invest in Ghana, Government has instituted a number of fiscal incentives for the investor, depending on the nature of the activity or the location of the investment.”

With Ghana considered a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa, with a modern democratic system of governance, with an independent Judiciary and a strong attachment to the rule of law the President stated that “in the same vein, we are determined to make Ghana an example of rapid economic growth within the context of a well-developed market economy. We welcome greatly your contribution to this endeavour.”

TRANSFORMATION OF ECONOMIC ARCHITECTURE TO MAXIMISE AfCFTA -VEEP

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admin
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Vice President, Dr Bawumia opening the new year school

The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia obeserved that, Ghana, like many African countries, is blessed with an abundance of resources, but, has, over the years, not been able to translate this into the much-needed growth and development the country and continent desire, thus leaving the economy in a fragile and unfulfilled state.

To avert this and and also to realise the full benefits of AfCFTA, Dr. Bawumia called for the transformation of the economic architecture, in order to meet the demands of the emerging global economies post covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was speaking at the opening of the 74th edition of the annual New Year School and Conference by the University of Ghana in Accra.

“In order to maximise the benefits of the AfCFTA the structural transformation of the economy has to be accelerated,” Dr. Bawumiaurged.

“We are still overly reliant on the production and export of raw materials, and not sufficiently on the things we make and grow.”

“That is why Government is firmly committed to addressing productive capacity issues through initiatives such as the “One-District One Factory” (1D1F) policy, the development industries like the integrated bauxite and aluminum industry, the iron and steel industry and the programme for agricultural renewal and enhancement that we have dubbed “Planting for Food and Jobs”.

“It is this transformation that will give us the best opportunity to derive maximum benefit from our abundant natural resources, and from our participation in the AfCFTA, and help bring progress and prosperity to our people, fortified by the deliberate steps we are taking to educate our children to be  responsive to the needs of the 21st century world of work.”

Dr. Bawumia also cited Government’s digitalisation  initiative, which has catapulted Ghana to one of the leading digital economies in Africa, as an example of how the government is transforming the economic architecture of the Ghanaian economy ahead of the impending global economic revolution.

VP Bawumia opens University of Ghana’s 74th annual New Year School and Conference

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admin
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Vice President, Dr Bawumia addressing guests at the opening of the 2023 Annual New Year School

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has opened the 74th edition of the annual New Year School and Conference by the University of Ghana in Accra.

The New Year School and Conference, which brings together stakeholders from academia, business and political leadership to discuss issues of national significance, has been held annually since the inception of the University of Ghana 75 years ago.

The dignitaries in a group photograph

Opening the 74th edition, Vice President Bawumia, who represented President Nana Akufo-Addo, commended the University of Ghana for sustaining the New Year School, which he said, “has always been a source of national discourse and for transforming our nation.”

The theme for the 74th New Year School is: “Positioning the African Market for Sustainable Economic Development through AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area), and Dr. Bawumia noted that the theme provides an important barometer for Ghana’s quest to boost economic development through regional trading.

“While recent domestic and global economic challenges have negatively impacted our economy, it is important that we promote AfCFTA efforts of key stakeholders such as industry, the private sector, academia and government to reposition Ghana through trade,” Dr. Bawumia noted.

The Vice President expressed concerns over the low level of trade between African countries, adding that Africa must take advantage of the opportunities AfCFTA offers to avert the worrying situation of low intra Africa trade.

“Madam Chairperson, when you consider the fact that trade between African countries remains low, currently standing at some 16% of our combined GDP, compared to other parts of the world, like the European Union’s 75%, it is obvious that these very low levels of intra-regional trade cannot improve our prospects of bringing prosperity to our peoples ” Dr. Bawumia observed and listed a number of opportunities the AfCFTA provides.

“A large part of the growth and prosperity that we seek on the continent will come from us trading more among ourselves.

The coming into force of the AfCFTA means that Africa now has the world’s largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organisation,” he said.

“The Free Trade Area will cover a market of 1.2 billion people, with a combined GDP of $3 trillion, across the fifty-four (54) Member States of the African Union that have signed up to the Agreement. It will provide the vehicle for us to trade among ourselves in a more modern and sophisticated manner; it will offer a huge opportunity to exploit the abundant wealth and resources of our great continent for the benefit of all our people; and it would give us protection in how to deal with other trading blocks.”

Dr. Bawumia added that the coming into force and successful implementation of the AfCFTAties in perfectly with the vision of moving Ghana to a self-reliant country, “that has freed herself from a mindset of dependence, charity and handouts, and is determined to make intelligent, disciplined use of her considerable resources the basis for her growth and prosperity. “

“This vision can be better realised if we can leverage the trade and investment opportunities the AfCFTA presents.”

Diamond Appiah hauled to court over alleged fraudulent transaction

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Diamond Appiah making phone call in front of the court after her bail bond

Diamond Appiah, 36, and a businesswoman, has been charged before an Accra Circuit Court for fraudulent transaction of land. She  has pleaded not guilty to the charge and has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢300,000 with three sureties, two of whom should be public servants.

The prosecution Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Evans Kesse, informed the court, presided over by Her Honour Evelyn Asamoah yesterday that the complainant is Ayisha Modi, a Businesswoman and lives at Adjiringanor in Accra.

He added that the accused, Diamond Appiah, is also a businesswoman and stays at East Legon. 

According to him, in the year 2020, the Complainant needed a plot of land to buy for a building project and discussed it with one Johnson, a Witness in this case.

He told the court that the accused, who overheard the conversation, jumped in that she has a plot of land lying at East Legon Hills and was willing to sell it to the complainant at a cheaper price. 

DSP Kesse indicated that the accused demanded and collected cash in the sum of US$30,000.00 from the Complainant under the pretext of selling her one parcel of land, lying at East Legon Hills.

In respect of that Diamond took the Complainant to a land at East Legon Hills but when Ayisha later visited the land, she met one Gustav, who also claimed ownership of the same land.

Unfortunately, several attempts made by the complainant to retrieve her money from the accused person prove futile. 

On the basis, the complainant made a report to the police and accused was arrested and during investigation, it was established that the accused did not have any land at that location before she swindled the complainant. 

In her investigation caution statement, she admitted to the offence and she was charged with the offence and brought before this Honourable Court.

Black Stars will get a coach before March – Sports Minister

By
AGNES ANSAH
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Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif

Due to the impending Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in March, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Mustapha Ussif, has told Parliament that there will be a Coach for the Black Starts before March 2023. 

“…I know that we have an assignment in March and we need to have a head coach in place so that he can start preparing to get the team in place for the AFCON qualifiers, which is going to take place in March. So indeed, the country should be assured that the FA is working to ensure that we get a replacement,” the Minister said. 

He made this known to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament yesterday when he appeared before them to respond to audit queries involving his ministry.

He made the disclosure when by way of public interest question, a member of the Committee, chaired by Mr James Klutse Avedzi, asked him the steps Ghana is taking to get a new coach for the national team because many countries have found coaches for their national teams few weeks after the World Cup. 

He indicated that the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the organization in charge of ensuring that the national team has a coach, had already commenced the process. 

He said the GFA will submit its report within this week or the ensuing week for a decision to be made. 

PAC commenced public hearing on the report of the Report of the Auditor-General (AG) on the Public Accounts of Ghana – Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies for the year 2020 on Monday July 16. 

At its first sitting, representatives from the Ministry of Finance, together with a team from the Controller and Accountant-General Department took their turn to respond to some infractions cited by the AG followed by the Bank of Ghana. 

As at the time this report was being filed, the Ministry of Finance, together with the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Controller and Accountant-General Department had already responded to their infractions and the Ministry of Youth and Sports had also done same. 

The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture are expected to also appear before the Committee to respond to some infractions cited in their reports.

Cocoa Farmers Shoot Down Aljazeera Report…. on alleged Child Labour; say it was stage managed for the cameras

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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The durbar with the chief and people of Ohiampenika
Director of Special Services, Charles Amenyaglo speaking to journalist

THE management of Ghana COCOBOD says it suspects a calculated attempt by powerful forces to undermine Ghana’s effort at producing cocoa to the benefit of her citizens.

This follows a report carried by Doha based international media network, Aljazeera, which sought to portray Ghana as using children, as young as four years, to work on cocoa farms.

This claim has, however, been denied by the farmers, saying it was stage managed for the cameras.
According to COCOBOD management, the report cannot be true and has, therefore, led a team of journalists to hold a durbar with the Ohiampenika community, in Amenfi West District of the Western region, where the report emanated from and explained to them the attempts being made to undermine cocoa production in Ghana.

Aljazeera

The Director of Special Services at Ghana COCOBOD, Charles Amenyaglo, told the community

that his outfit does not condone the use of children on cocoa farms and that they have always been vociferous about that.

“We are looking at what has happened as a strategy to kill Ghana cocoa industry and we will not allow this to go unmentioned. There is a deliberate strategy to harm Ghana’s cocoa production,” he said, after the community had told him about their side of the story, aired by Aljazeera.

He added that with Spain and China producing cocoa, the intention was to undermine Ghana’s efforts in producing cocoa and to project theirs.
The Director of Special Services, therefore,pleaded with those involved in the Aljazeera report to cooperate with COCOBOD in its investigations.

They should also not hesitate to honor invitation by the Police since using children as young as four years to work on cocoa farms is a crime in Ghana.

The chiefs and people of Ohiampenika on their part denied the Aljazeera report.

In the said report, Ghana is accused of failing to end the fight against child labour on cocoa farms, citing the Ohiampenika community as an example.

However, at the durbar with COCOBOD officials, the chief and people of the community denied the report.

The chief of the community, Nana Kofi Gyan, explained that on November 13, 2022 which was a Sunday, they received the Aljazeera crew who introduced themselves as COCOBOD officials.
The crew, according to the chief, said they were in the community to help them and first asked them to list their most pressing needs as a cocoa growing community, so that they could forward them to the government for immediate attention.

Happy with the news, the chief went on to list needs such as clinic, school, electricity and cocoa pension fund amongst many others, as most pressing needs his community would want the government to address.

The chief continued that, after listing their pressing needs, the crew then asked them (community) to send them (crew) to their various cocoa farms together with their children.
He said, since it was a Sunday and the children were all in church at the time, they had to go and bring out the children, changed their cloths and took them to the farms to act, as the crew had directed them to do.
Ibrahim Asana, who was captured in the Aljazeera report working on the farm with his children, told officials of COCOBOD and Journalists at the durbar that, he was asked to stage the event where the children were seen carrying cocoa pods.
He said, since he did not know the crew was shooting a video on child labor, he also gave in to the demand of the crew.

“I am very angry when the cameras captured me and my children working on my cocoa farm,” he said.

My fingerprints don’t match incriminating evidences -Afoko

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Gregory Francis Asianab Afoko

Gregory Francis Asianab Afoko has finally opened his defense, after almost eight years since his arrest, which is in connection with the alleged murder of the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adams Mahama.

Being led by his defense counsel, Stephen Sowah, to his give evidence-in-chief at the General Jurisdiction of the Accra High Court yesterday, Afoko said he was informed by investigators in the case that his fingerprints did not match the incriminating evidences before the court.

The incriminating evidences were a cup and a gallon that allegedly contained the acid which was used to bath Adams Mahama on May 20, 2015.

Afoko told the court, presided over by Her Ladyship Afua Merley Wood, that the information was released to him by Mr. Nkrumah and William Sedoame, all police officers and witnesses in the case, during a conversation.

He also informed the court that during his arrest, when the police officers conducted a search of his bedroom and a garage in their house in his presence, nothing incriminating was found.

Afoko further testified that after it was discovered that the fingerprints on the incrimination evidences were not his, the police took him to the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to be examined.

According to him, the only sore found on him was a burn from the exhaust pipe of his motorbike, which, at the time the two doctors who examined him, wrote in their report that it was almost healed.

According to him, he even informed the investigators at the initial stage that if he be allowed to go home, he will do his little part to assist the police to unravel the truth.

Responding to the charges – conspiracy to murder and murdering of Adams Mahama – leveled against him and Asabke Alangde, he said: “My Lady, it is not true, because I have no quarrel with Adams, and I have not sat for a second to plan with this young man (Asabka)…I have not committed any crime, and I can’t do anything of that sort.”

Lead in evidence by his counsel.

Q. Can you give your full name to the court?
A. My name is Gregory Francis Asianab Afoko?
Q. Where do you live?
A. I live in Bolgatanga.

Q. What work do you do?
A. I’m a farmer.
Q. Do you know the deceased, Adams Mahama?
A. Yes.

Q. How do you know him?
A. I know him because he is my sister’s son, and he was my party’s Chairman.
Q. When you say your party’s Chairman, which party are you referring to?
A. The New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Q. In addition to Asake, you have been charged with conspiring to murder and murdering of Adams Mahama on the 20th May, 2015. What do you have to tell the court in respect of these charges against you?

A. That is not true.
Q. Can you tell the court why that is not true?
A. I have not done that and I can never…

Q. Can you narrate to the court your activities on the 20th of May, 2015?

A. On the 20th of May, 2015, my dad was bedridden and I was the one taking care of my father. I have been with my later father ever since he was bedridden for one year six months.

So ever since he was sick, I stopped going to the farm and I was doing nothing except taking care of my late father. At the same time, we have …he was on medication and anybody who is on medication had the prescription of the doctor. And anyone who is on medication is on devotion, according to time, so every two hours you have to administer medicine…

My lady, I fed my father in the evening around 6:30 thereabouts. Beginning the previous day, members of the party… asked me for party flags so that they can hang the flags at where they used to sit. So after feeding my father, I picked two flags from the house to be given to Asake.

On reaching their family house, I called him and he came out to the street. When I gave him the flags he said no, he is not educated so we should give them to the Secretary, Baba Ayaa (PW4).

My Lady, Asake and Baba Ayaa live about 100 metres apart. By then I was using a motorbike, so he sat behind me. Where Baba Ayaa lives there is a container where they sell drinks called the Lovers Inn.

We parked there and there were some tables there that some people had finished drinking and left. So we sat there and waited for Baba Ayaa to come. While we sat, Asake said he needed a bottle of drink, so I bought a bottle of Guinness for him. Baba Ayaa came and joined us.

And I bought another bottle of beer for Baba Ayaa. The main reason I went there was to hand over the flags to him and returns home. So I handed over the flags to him.

Three of us agreed that the Secretary should inform everyone that the following day there would a youth meeting. When I checked the time it was 7:30. I was left with 30 minutes to get home, because my father would be taking his medicine at 8:00 so I left. I was the only one who administers medicine to him.

When I was about to leave, Asake had not finished the bottle of Guinness and so he said since I came with him I should drop him back at his junction, and so I did. Without wasting time I went home.

When I got home I parked the motor in the hall and locked it with four locks, because I know I was not going out again. When I got to the room and I check my time, it was a minute to 8:00.

I administered the medicine to my father and my dad slept, because I slept with him. He was 97 years old. Because I knew I was not going out, I locked the motor with four locks, and the motor is with the police, and I retired to bed. Around 2 to 3am, I lie close to my father, he tapped me and I heard Inspector Agbenyo mentioning Afoko, Afoko.

And subsequently, I heard my elder brother, by name John, also called. So I went out through the hall gate. Then someone held me by my boxer shorts behind me. They were many of them.

I asked him what I have done. In response he said when we get to the police station he will tell you what you have done.
Q. Now apart from PW12, can you tell the court who these other people were and what happened?

A. They were all policemen except my elder brother, John. And in the family house everybody has his or her room. Since I was with the old man, I sleep in his room. He decided to search the house that very evening. He searched my dad’s room and went to my room. When we got to my room they have put handcuffs on me. In my room I picked one of my smocks to wear, but I couldn’t wear it because of the handcuffs.

The crime officer and his men turned everything virtually upside down in my room… So they said we should go. When we were exiting the room, I could identify some of the policemen, including PW12, DSP Agbenyo.

Q. Before you go on, you just told the court that the crime officer turned everything in the room, what did you mean by that, and what was the outcome of that?
A. They searched the whole room, and at the end they did not find anything and at the end they said we should go.

When we were going, I handed my room keys and the motor key, they were bunch of keys, to the crime officer. I didn’t know it was such a huge case like this, so I told Frempong, one of the policemen, when they release me and I’m coming back I will pass by his office and take them from him.

So in the compound of the house they said they want to search the garage. So I opened the garage. They searched inside.

Q. You said they searched inside the garage. Can you tell the court the outcome of the search?

A. My father’s vehicle was parked inside. Before then, the oil of the vehicle had been changed so the dirty oil was in a gallon. So they poured some of the oil down and they said this is dirty oil.

All this time Tofic Muntala (PW1) was with them. From there, they said we should proceed to Asake’s house. I was kept in one of the vehicles and Tofic was also in another one.

They took the lead and we all followed them in a convoy. On reaching Asake’s family house, we discovered…I was in the vehicle and some of the policemen went into his house. They all came back with an old man and they said I should ask the old man where Asake was.

When I asked the old man, he said for the past two days he has not seen him. Then from there, they took me straight to the police cells in Bolgatanga. I just spent an hour in the cell and they came and picked me to Tamale.

Q. Now, it has been stated in this court that on the way from your house to A2 house, you deliberately misled the police to A2’s house. What would you have to say to that?

A. My Lady, it is not true. Where the family is that is where I took them. It is a big house.

Q. You have also stated that in the police cells in Bolgatanga you were transferred to Tamale that very morning. Can you tell the court what happened in Tamale?
A. I spent two nights in Tamale cells, when one Charles Blay (PW7) came and took my statement.

Q. Is he a civillian or a police officer?
A. He is a police officer.
Q. Do you know his rank?

A. No.
Before he took my statement he said I should write and I said I can’t see; he should do the writing for me, because I needed glasses. After he finished writing, he read over it and showed the report to me, which I signed.

So he returned me back into the cells. When I got into the cells another team of policemen came.

Q. Who were they?
A. They said they were from Accra, and one was called Mr. William Sedoame, [and] he was with Inspector Nkrumah and another person.

Q. Mr. Afoko, before we left for the short break you said Mr. Sedoame and Mr. Nkrumah paid you a visit after you had given your statement, can you tell the court who else was in that party and what happened there?

From page 2
A. They were four in number; I can only identify two. The two others were a driver and a photographer. They took a photograph of me and invited me to join their vehicle, because we were going somewhere.

Q. Now, the prosecution has tendered into evidence Exhibit P, track suit, which has acid stains in it, which was obtained in your room?

A. My lady, my response is that at the time they searched my room in my presence, they said they didn’t find anything incriminating in the room, so when they came to Tamale and took me along with them to Accra, on reaching the Headquarter they opened the bucket of the pickup and there was a box and in it were some items.

I was told they have taken my raincoat and the deceased’s cloth, a gallon and they were all in a box.

They took them in my presence, and we all went upstairs. They took me to East Legon Police Station. The following morning they came to pick me again and brought me back to the Police Headquarters. And they said they needed my fingerprints.

On the third day, Inspector Nkrumah and Sedoame were conversing, and they told me that the fingerprints they took did not match what was on the gallon and the cup.

Then I suggested to them that they should let me go home, and in my own little way I will help them to unravel the truth. Then they said no, they would have to bring me to court.

Q. In your narration you mentioned the bucket. Can you tell the court what you meant by that?
A. The back of a pickup.

Q. And can you confirm to the court the mode of transportation from Tamale?
A. We used the same pickup. Two were seated in the front and three at the back.
Q. Now I know it is a long time ago…can you confirmed to the court apart from the fingerprints were you taken to another place?

A. The very day they told me the fingerprint was not matching the ones in the cup they took me to Korle-Bu Plastic Surgery room. Then two doctors examined my whole body. Before then there was a sore at this part of my leg from exhaust and it was almost healed. Then the two doctors wrote a report and gave it to the police.

The two doctors said it is an old wound and it is almost healed.
Q. During this trial you have heard Tofic, PW1, Madam Zouwera, PW5, and Asirigri Quii, PW2, and Hajia Zinabu testifying that they heard the deceased mentioning your [name] that you poured the substance on him. What do you have to say to that?

A. My Lady, it is not true, because I have no quarrel with Adams, and I have not sat for a second to plan with this young man.
Q. Apart from the statement you gave at Tamale, please tell the court whether you gave another statement?

A. When we got to Accra here, Inspector Nkrumah gave me [a] plain sheet of paper to write on and I said no, I have already given a statement.
Q. Do you have anything more to tell the court?
A. What I want to say is I have not committed any crime, and I can’t do anything of that sort.

Cross examination by Andrew Vortia, Counsel for A2.
Q. Mr. Afoko, before this incident, how long have you known the A2?
A. About five years. We meet during party activities.

To be continued.

Suspend Debt exchange program & consult -Minority 

By
AGNES ANSAH
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inority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu in the company of Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Mr Sammy Gyamfi and Mr James Klutse Avedzi

The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to suspend the Debt Exchange Program (DEP) and engage affected persons and stakeholders first.

“…We in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Minority group, call on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa, to immediately suspend the ongoing Debt Exchange Program …He should suspend the initiative and engage in deeper consultation and allow for greater transparency…,” Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu said at a press conference in Parliament yesterday.

The Minority Leader, in the company of the Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Communications Officer of NDC, Mr Sammy Gyamfi and Minority’s Spokesperson on Roads, Mr Kwame Agbodza, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and other Minority MPs, said the government stands to lose if it continues with the program in its current form.

He argued that continuing the program in its current form will create extreme hardship for millions of Ghanaians and existing financial institutions and insurance companies will also be worse of and may collapse.

The Tamale South legislator also indicated that should bondholders also refuse to sign on to the program, government will keep extending the deadline and that would affect the IMF program, which seems to be the last bet for the Akufo-Addo administration.

Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu with Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Mr Sammy Gyamfi

He said this is likely to happen because bondholders, financial institutions and insurance companies are aware of the amount of monies they will lose, and hence will refuse to participate in the program and that will cause the government to keep postponing.

He, therefore, pointed out that looking at the dire consequences of the program on both the citizens and the government, the best thing would be to suspend it and engage in consultation.

Aside the consultation, the Minority also advised the Akufo-Addo administration to consider holding a national economic dialogue on the state of the economy and how the DEP can be implemented.

Mr Iddrisu believed that recommendations from this national dialogue will guide the government in the implementation of the initiative since people with much knowledge will share their views on it.

The Minority indicated yesterday that before the government will engage in this dialogue, it should first take immediate steps to embark on major expenditure cuts since they are the ones who plunged the country into the economic crisis due to their excess borrowing.

He said cutting down government expenditure will be a manifestation of fiscal prudence, which will help achieve fiscal consolidation.

“We in the Minority we are demanding major expenditure cut as a manifestation of fiscal prudence for purpose of achieving fiscal consolidation,” Mr Iddrisu said.

The leader advised the Akufo-Addo administration to heed these recommendations and implement them since their refusal to heed advise some months ago is why the country is in the mess it is in now.

Meanwhile, the Minority Leader says the National Democratic Congress will deploy its men and women into various parts of the country to educate Ghanaians to appreciate the level of economic crisis that the country has been plunged into and how they can brace themselves for the hardships ahead.

PURC: why tariffs for utilities have been increased

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PURC

The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) has explained why it has decided to adjust tariffs for water and electricity for the first quarter of 2023. According to the Commission, the idea is to reduce losses being incurred by the utility companies.

The commission has increased average end user tariffs for electricity to 29.96% across board for all consumer groups, while water has also been increased by 8.3%.

PURC has, however, approved varying rate adjustment including some reductions for selected industrial and commercial consumers, as part of the ongoing restructuring of the existing water structure.

A statement issued in Accra on Monday,January 16, 2023 and signed by Executive Secretary of the PURC, Dr. Ishmael Ackah said, “the combined effect of the cedi/US dollar exchange rates, inflation and weighted average cost of gas is that the utility companies are significantly under-recovering and require an upward adjustment of their tariffs in order to keep the lights on and water flowing.”

It said the commission is equally mindful of the current difficult economic circumstances, but notes that the potential for outages would be catastrophic for Ghana and has to be avoided and therefore sought to balance prevention of extended power outages and its deleterious implications on jobs and livelihoods with minimising the impact of rate increases on consumers.

The statement commended stakeholders for their support as the PURC continues to implement quarterly tariff reviews in accordance with its Rate Setting Guidance for Quarterly Review of Natural Gas, Electricity and Water tariffs.

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