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Freight Forwarders Deliberate On Maintaining Their Relevance In A Turbulent Global Supply Chain 

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The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) has held its 25th Annual General Meeting in the Eastern Regional Capital town of Koforidua, to deliberate on how freight forwarders can maintain their relevance in a turbulent global supply chain.

Speaking at the event, the Omanhene of New Juaben, Daasebre Nana Kwaku Boateng III, appealed to freight forwarders to be honest in their dealings with importers and refrain from acts of distortion.

The President of GIFF, Eddy Akrong, said in maintaining the freight forwarders’ relevance efforts should not be spared from venturing into ICT solutions whose dividend would endear freight forwarders’ to the trader.

He appealed to the Minister of Transport to bring to finality some unjustifiable shipping line charges.

Eddy Akrong said the GIFF research hub, which was recently launched, would make available research data to tackle challenges and also provide solutions to issues within the port and shipping industry.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Benonita Bismarck, revealed that the Authority in collaboration with the Committee of Freight Forwarder Associations (COFFA) and the Ghana Union of Traders Association have engaged the shipping lines in order to streamline processes and address the general service quality issues within the cargo clearance space with the view to stemming the tide of arbitrariness in the introduction and increases in tariff.

She further disclosed that the 2021 estimates of the amount of demurrage paid by shippers in Ghana showed a significant decline to $19million and that the Authority will continue to pursue a further reduction to the barest minimum in the interest of shippers, especially with the recent increases in the daily demurrage rates by some shipping lines coupled with the current exchange rate volatility.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong commended freight forwarders for their immense role in the global supply chain.

“The various roles and activities carried out by the freight forwarder makes him indispensable in the current global supply chain. From Customs Brokerage to compliance, networking, scheduling, inventory management, warehousing, administration and documentation, the freight forwarder clearly maintains his relevance in the current turbulent global supply chain,” he noted.

The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah averred that to ensure a competitive business environment, there is the need to harmonize and standardize shipping line charges, negotiate for minimum service standards and more importantly, build strong regulatory framework for enforcement and compliance.

This, according to him, will ensure non-proliferation of charges at the Ports, arbitrary increases of charges, improved service quality and value for money.

Leveraging on technology and building capacity and partnerships across the global supply value chain, he said could provide a competitive advantage in the service provision.

“I therefore want to take this opportunity to urge the Institute to provide the needed support and capacity building to ensure that members are abreast with modern trends in the industry,” he stated.

Kwaku Ofori Asiamah revealed that the Ghana Shippers Authority Act has some inefficiencies which precluded them from exercising their Authority, therefore, the Act would be amended to give them more power.

He noted that sustainable shipping is the future of the industry, hence, the need to ensure that the maritime industry evolves along that trajectory.

“Ensuring environmental friendly ports, promoting regulations for green shipping through technology and renewable energy along the shipping value chain are some of the interventions being pursued by Government.

“Therefore, ensuring green logistics operations across the logistics value chain is a strategy that we must all pursue in our various capacities,” he stated

Canadian kidnap victims’ families to join judgement hearing

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BERNICE BESSEY
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The alleged kidnappers

The families of two Canadian females, who were allegedly kidnapped in Ghana, have applied through the Attorney-General’s Office to join hearing of the conclusion of the case.

According to the trial court, it had accepted the request made by the family members of the victims – Lauren Tilley and Bailey Chitty – to have them join the hearing of the final determination of the case.

The High Court, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, was compelled under the circumstances to adjourn the delivery of the judgement, which was scheduled for last Thursday, to December 20, 2022.

To enable the families of the victims to be part of the hearing, the Judge said there would be an arrangement to have a video link setup for the Canadians to be able to join the proceedings.

She said in the open court that although the judgement was to be delivered on Thursday, “unfortunately, it is not ready. Meanwhile, I received a letter from the Office of the Attorney-General, requesting that the victims and their families would want to be part of the delivery of the judgement.

“The court has agreed to their request. We shall create a link by which they can join on the day that the judgement would be delivered. This information would be relayed to them at least for the day of the judgement.”

She adjourned the case to December 20, 2022 and at a time convenient to the court, between 9:00 and 1:00pm.

The two Canadian women were allegedly kidnapped by Samson Agharlor alias Romeo,  Elvis Ojiyorwe, Jeff Omarsar, and Yusif Yakubu in Kumas on June 4, 2019.

On June 4, 2019, the gang, in a car, accosted the two Canadian ladies, who had hired the services of an Uber ride at their hostel at Nhyiaeso, a suburb of Kumasi, assaulted them and forced them into their own vehicle amid shooting.

They took their victims to their uncompleted building hideout at Kenyasi Krobo, another suburb of Kumasi, and demanded a ransom of US$800,000 from the families of the two ladies during their captivity.

The ladies were, however, rescued on June 11, 2019, in an operation led by National Security.

Indian ‘defrauds’ Clearing Agent

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

An Indian national, M. Nareswal Singh, 45 and businessman, has been accused of defrauding a Clearing Agent, Francis Cole, off US$60,000.00.

Singh was arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court last Thursday on the count of defrauding by false pretences, but has pleaded not guilty to the offence.

The court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, remanded the accused into police custody for further investigations to be conducted into the matter, and by which the case was adjourned to December 5, 2022.

The facts of the case, as presented by ASP Maxwell Oppong, was that the complainant, Francis Cole, is a resident of Tabora, while the accused lives at Cantonments, all in Accra.

He said, during the month of September 2021, the complainant wanted to buy a Lexus LX570 vehicle, 2019 model, and in the process, contacted the accused who deals in automobile.

According to him, the accused convinced the complainant that he had the said vehicle at his warehouse in Canada, and that if an amount of US$60,000.00 was given to him, he would ship the vehicle to Ghana for the complainant.

The police prosecuting officer added that the complainant made part payment of US$50,000.00 to the accused on September 22, 2021, and paid the balance of US$10,000.00 two weeks later.

The accused, after receiving the money, promised the complainant that the car would be delivered within two months.

Unfortunately, the accused, after receipt of the money, started to give the complainant unjustifiable excuses anytime he demands a refund of his money.

“Upon persistent demands, the accused refunded US$15,000.00 to the complainant and went into hiding. All efforts made by the complainant to locate the accused proved futile,” he added.

As a result, on October 27, 2022, the case was reported to the police for investigation, and the accused was arrested on November 15, 2022.

The accused admitted taking US$60,000.00 from the complainant to supply him with a Lexus LX570 vehicle 2019 model, but failed.

The court was informed that the accused refunded another US$5,000.00 during investigation, after which he was charged with the offence and brought before court.

Editorial: Fight on gallant Stars; down but not out

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The Black Stars opened their campaign at the Qatar 2022 Mundial with a painful 3-2 defeat at the hands of Portugal in their Group H showdown on Thursday. The loss appears to have rubbed Ghanaians the bad way after putting the Stars in a seemingly difficult situation, as far as the quest to qualify from the Group to play at the round of 16 is concerned.

This is because the Stars now have to secure not less than four, out of the possible six points at stake, in their next two group matches.

As usual, the mathematical calculations which mostly accompany the Stars’ qualification in major tournaments in the past have started, with a lot of permutations and probabilities. As it stands now, the Stars would have to defeat South Korea at all cost in their second group game today, to bolster their chances of sealing qualification to avoid an early exit.

Though the situation at hand appears dicey, it is not beyond the capabilities of the gallant Stars to overcome the South Korean threat and to qualify for the round of 16.

It is in the light of these possibilities that The Chronicle is calling on the Stars to see the task ahead of them as one of the tricky situations that must be conquered.

In fact, a similar situation happened in 2006 in Germany, when Ghana participated in the Mundial for the very first time in the country’s history. Italy, who eventually won the trophy, defeated Ghana by 2-0 in their opening group game, but when all the odds went against us, we gallantly fought on to beat the Czech and USA.

These great wins helped Ghana to qualify from the group and propelled the Stars to the round of 16, before they were eliminated by Brazil. The Chronicle would, therefore, urge the Stars to draw inspiration from that great achievement in Germany 2006 by putting their best foot forward.

In our honest opinion, the eminent threat that the 2006 squad faced and surmounted at the time, appeared quite herculean than what we have ahead of us today. This is partly because at the time, most of the names of the players did not ring a bell on the international stage, as far as the World Cup was concerned, while the Czech and the USA had occupied respectable positions in FIFA world rankings. Ironically, head coach Otto Addo was a member of that squad.

Additionally, the record set by the Stars in their previous participation in the Mundial, especially in 2006 and 2010, must serve as an additional motivation for the gallant Stars, going into today’s game.

It is also worthy of note that though the Stars suffered a painful defeat in their opening game, they were not humiliated.

It is obvious that once again, Africa was robbed at the international stage when American referee, Ismail Elfaith, strangely awarded a dubious penalty to the Portuguese.

Strangely, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which has been introduced to check some of these excesses by referees, also went to sleep, because it was against Ghana and Africa.

The sense of urgency with which the Stars fought explains why the usual backlash and sharp criticisms that often followed the Stars after a poor performance appeared to be absent.

We view this as a sign of good hope, respect, trust and confidence that the nation has reposed in the Stars and the technical team to make amends in today’s game.

We urge the Stars to be inspired by some major upsets that have already been recorded in the tourney so far. At least, it must also serve as a warning to the Stars not to underestimate the Asian countries that are now determined to compete on the world’s biggest stage.

The game against South Korea must, therefore, be approached with all seriousness, determination and a good game plan that it deserves, to be able to contain the opponent’s speed.

Ghana lost due to the dubious attitude of the American centre man, but we are definitely not entirely out of the competition.

Thankfully, the Black Stars have their destiny in their own hands going into today’s game and cannot let Ghanaians and Africa down.

The Stars must definitely shine and fly the Continent’s flag high.

A Catholic Priest has Spoken; We Must all Listen

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Opinion

Recently, there was news that mineral deposits, of gold, iron ore and lithium have been found in the Oti and Volta regions’ areas of Akpafu and Bonwiri, which are forest reserves.

It was announced that mining will begin in 2023. This is where I have problems. With the happenings in areas destroyed by illegal and unregulated mining in this country, I seem to be the lone voice, calling for a complete suspension of all forms of mining and the implementation of a programme to reclaim our water bodies and arable lands, a lasting and binding mining policy put in place, before we begin mining again.

Already, a BBC news in 2021 stated that about 60% of our natural water bodies have been polluted. Must we wait till we get to the El Salvador’s level of 90% before we act?

I was therefore, pleasantly surprised when I read a publication, Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, by the Catholic bishop of Jasikan Diocese, Most Rev. Gabriel A. Mante.

In this publication, the Lord Bishop raised very genuine concerns about what could surely happen in the Oti and Volta regions should mining begin there. The sources he gave are very much alive with us today, with what is happening in mining communities. Water bodies, farm lands and cocoa farms are being destroyed with such impunity. Foreigners who abide by environment laws in their countries, are here destroying ours just in search of gold and other minerals.

Bishop Mante, in calling for discarding of mining in Oti and Volta regions, made reference to the Papal Encyclical, Laudato Si, published in May 2015 by Pope Francis.

In this encyclical, the Pope drew our attention to the fact that the earth is our common home and we are mandated by God to take care of it. The consequences of doing otherwise,could be very serious.

When the Pope came out with this, some prominent people make mockery of him, because their business demands they destroy nature.

When a Catholic priest speaks, he speaks. Catholic bishops by their ranks are like the apostles of Jesus Christ and God did speak to them.

In the sixties, Pope Paul VI declined to allow Christians to use contraceptives. His reasons went beyond just prevention of pregnancy, but entered into areas called the experimentation of the human body. He warned and he was mocked at.

About twenty years later, sexual experiments led to LGBT+. Transgender came up with costly sex change, about $100,000.00 per surgery. Humans started having sex with animals including snakes, and even marrying them, without shame but vain pride. Incest is now permitted.

This was what Pope Paul VI warned us against, when sexual issues were being upgraded by the formal introduction of contraception.

Some of us pray, that humans should abide by Laudato Si, if not something terrible could happen to this world in less than twenty years’ time. We need to protect our environment.

Most Rev. Gabriel A. Mante, as a servant of God, is most concern about the destruction of his Master’s properties, in the form of these illegal and unregulated mining going on. The destruction and injustice perpetrated by all forms of mining on the people, especially the poor who live off the land, should not be tolerated anymore.

Poverty, floods, upsurge of skin diseases, variety of cancers, sexual diseases, deformed births and early mortality among children and youth are now very rampant.

“Such dangerous chemicals as Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, Mercury, Arsenic, Chromium, Cyanide and Copper have been introduced into mining activities with careless abandon, and do nothing but cause harm to the growth, development, reproduction, and behaviour of living things.

The biodiversity is reduced and the ecosystem has been seriously damaged, and the farmland polluted by mining acids. No doubt, foreign markets have started rejecting agricultural produce from Ghana,” Bishop Mante, sadly referred us to.

With 60% of our natural water bodies polluted, when major river bodies in the Oti and Volta regions, such as Dayi and Oti also get polluted out of mining in these regions and they feed into the Volta River, the repercussions for the whole country will be serious.

Mining is meant to create employment opportunities to the local people especially the youth. But in all seriousness, has this been achieved anywhere in this country? What is the end result? Obuasi should have been as beautiful as Johannesburg, since both are the top two gold producing areas in Africa. What happened to Obuasi?

Once the mining investors start work and do not cater for the people in the area, once their men go luring the young ladies with worthless goodies, and impregnating them and running away from responsibility, then we have a problem.

Once the young men feel left out and their farmlands get taken away from them or destroyed, then illegal mining will begin.

The bishop also warned against mining in elevated areas, since this could cause landslide and communities could go under rocks and debris, ending thousands of lives.

When a Catholic priest speaks, we all ought to listen. The only way out now, is to cancel this mining prospects in the Oti and Volta regions. In fact, no more mining anywhere in Ghana, until we resolve the problems mining has placed on our heads.

Hon Daniel Dugan

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

Assemblies of God delegation calls on Otumfuo

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Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

A 14-member delegation of the Executive Presbytery of Assemblies of God Ghana, led by the General Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam, has paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to introduce the new leadership team of the church to him.

Addressing the meeting, Rev. Wengam commended the Asantehene for his unequaled contribution to nation building and the development of Asanteman, especially, the championing and provision of scholarships for the poor and needy.

He thanked Otumfuo for his support for churches, releasing lands for church buildings and construction of schools.

The General Superintendent briefed the Asantehene on the global influence of Assemblies of God, citing the worldwide membership of 70 million, the Africa membership of 19 million and 600,000 in Ghana.

He added that members of Assemblies of God, Ghana played key roles in the development of the country and Asanteman.

On matters of national development, the General Superintendent called on Otumfuo to use his bi partisan office to encourage the leadership of the nation to invite all political parties to a bipartisan roundtable to find solutions to the challenges facing the economy in this time of global economic recession.

Rev. Wengam commended the government for measures it had put in place to mitigate the harsh effects of the present economic challenges.

He reiterated the church’s commitment to continue to partner every government and all traditional rulers to build a God-fearing, united, peaceful and prosperous nation.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on his part, congratulated the new leadership team and Assemblies of God Ghana on their contribution towards the development of Ghana and society.

He lauded the church’s evangelistic activities leading to the spread of the word of God to every part of the country.

Otumfuo advised the new leadership team to unite and support the General Superintendent. He promised to continue to work with the government and all the political parties to ensure the peace and development of Ghana.

Chief calls on citizenry to respect authority

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Nana Kwame Boakye II - Apagyahene of Prang

Nana Kwame Boakye II, Apagyahene of Prang Traditional Area, has condemned the attitude and conduct of a section of the citizenry, particularly the youth, towards elders and people in positions of responsibility.

He noted that such behaviour did not augur well for the growth of the country.

The Chief made the observation when he represented Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III, Omanhene of the Traditional Area, at the ‘Nkyifie Yam Festival ‘ last week at Prang in the Bono East Region.

Nana Kwame Boakye said disrespect for authority was very dangerous and drew curses on the country, hence, the numerous and unending problems facing the country, and the world as whole.

According to the Apagyahene, the body language of the youth, especially on the political scenes, and the situation where political and traditional leaders, ministers and parliamentarians were abused and  insulted on radio and social media had adversely affected the pace of our developmental agenda.

Nana Boakye noted that respect is reciprocal, and emphasised the need for the youth to be circumspect when approaching our leaders in order for them to address their concerns with passion.

Quoting Romans 13:1, Nana Boakye emphasised that authority did not come by chance, but instituted by the Creator, and that respecting what had been ordained by God brought along inherent blessings.

The Prang Apagyahene was also quick to caution all leaders to also play their roles as leaders in a way that could command the respect of their subjects.

He commended the Nana Akufo-Addo-led government for the numerous projects dotted around the area, and mentioned some of them as 1D1F factory, Agenda 111, feeder roads and infrastructure for the regional office, construction of District assembly building.

The Chief called for support and protection for the government in these critical times.

KASS past student supports needy pupils at alma mater

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Kwame Poku Sarkodie presenting a laptop to a beneficiary student

A US-based Ghanaian has donated 30 brand new laptops to needy but brilliant final year students at the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School (KASS) to promote ICT education.

Mr. Kwame Poku Sarkodie, who was a renowned sportsman of the 1983 year group, has been supporting the school through the ‘Chito Award’ scheme for four years now.

The award is intended to bring home a sense of appreciation for education among students in the school.

According to him, the support for his initiative comes from his clients and friends in the United States of America to assist the needy to achieve their educational dreams.

Mr. Poku Sarkodie promised to ensure that his Alma Mater, which is currently ranked second best school in the country, becomes a first grade school through his motivation.

He charged the beneficiaries to strive for higher levels in education, as it had the better advantage of producing an easy route to a successful life.

He stressed that life without education could have complicated matters for him as a person, no matter the chance of travelling abroad, hence the pride and motivation to help others in his own small way to promote the education of others.

Rev. Canon Senkyir, Headmaster of the school who received the items at a short presentation ceremony, commended Mr. Poku Sarkodie for his benevolence.

He urged the beneficiary students to make judicious use of the items for their intended purposes.

Rev. Senkyir called on other past students of the school to emulate the shining example of Mr. Poku Sarkodie.

The beneficiary students also expressed their profound gratitude to Mr. Poku Sarkodie for supporting their ICT studies with the laptops and entreated other philanthropists, corporate bodies and individuals to emulate the example in assisting the needy and less privileged in schools.

Nigeria Is One Of Four African Countries Printing Currencies –Buhari

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Buhari unveiling the new naira note

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday boasted that Nigeria is among four of the 54 African countries that print their currencies locally.

 

He said when he unveiled three redesigned naira notes earlier proposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adding that it is a thing of pride that Nigeria does not print its currencies abroad like many African countries.

 

“While this may not be apparent to many Nigerians, only four out of the 54 African countries print their currencies in their countries and Nigeria is one. And majority of African countries print their currencies abroad and import them the way we import other goods.

 

“That is why it is with immense pride that I announce that these redesigned currencies are locally produced right here in Nigeria by our Security Printing and Minting PLC,” Buhari said.

 

The President said the naira redesign was borne out of urgent need to take control of the currency in circulation, counterfeiting of high denomination naira notes, amongst others.

 

He said it is on that basis that he gave his approval for the redesign of the 200 naira, 500 naira and 1,000 naira bank notes.

 

Today’s unveiling marked the first time in 19 years Nigeria will be redesigning its currency notes.

 

Credit: channelstv.com

We can wipe off multidimensional poverty in less than a decade –Obi

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Presidential Candidate of LP, Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi is optimistic that Nigeria can wipe off its multidimensional poverty in less than a decade.

In a Facebook statement on Friday, the former Anambra State governor posited that the rural part of Nigeria is trapped in abject poverty, adding that the nation is leaving its children, miserable and uneducated.

Reeling out stats, Mr Obi wrote that “27 percent of school-age children are out of school and poor, 29 percent of all school-aged children are not attending school, and 94 percent out of school children are very poor.”

According to him, the Multidimensional Poverty Index is the best mirror of failure of governance in the country, “in spite of earning trillions in oil revenue, in spite of borrowing trillion naira for infrastructure development, almost half of Nigerians are poor and close to two-third of Nigerians do not have access to basic sanitation, access to basic education, lack basic nutrition and do not visit hospitals”.

He said it is a terrible disgrace and disservice to a country with tremendous natural and human resource.

“The political economy of this report should be made clear to every Nigerian voter because what it simply means is that government is not working.

“It means that the state is working for the few, and not for all the citizens of the country. It means that the future is terrible for every Nigerian – young or old, rich or poor”.

Credit: channelstv.com

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