Home Blog Page 848

Weekend European Leagues Fixtures & Previews

By
admin
-
0
Callum Hudson-Odoi, Nottingham Forest

Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest in Premier League action

Reuniting just a couple of weeks on from a dramatic FA Cup affair, Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest are back in Premier League action at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon.

As England boss Thomas Tuchel prepares to name his first Three Lions squad for March’s World Cup qualifiers, Callum Hudson-Odoi – one of his former proteges at Chelsea – stuck his hand up for a call-up with the critical goal to sink reigning champions Man City last weekend.

Lighting up a dull contest otherwise consigned to the back pages of the football annals, Hudson-Odoi beat Ederson at his near post to propel the Tricky Trees to another statement victory, one that ended their three-game losing run in the top flight in breathtaking fashion.

Forest’s top-four credentials may have been called into question after taking just one point from nine on offer before the visit of City, but the Garibaldi remain safe in third place and only have a four-point disadvantage to make up to a striker-less Arsenal in the runners-up position.

The ever-smiling Santo will now take charge of his 50th Premier League match as Forest head coach on Saturday, although recent history suggests that it may not be a memorable milestone for the Portuguese, as the visitors have been beaten in each of their last three top-flight away games.

At the other end, Ipswich Town‘s leaky defence will surely be exposed on more than one occasion, and a straightforward victory for Forest is the only outcome we can envisage here.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

 

Will Southampton drag Wolverhampton Wanderers down with them?

Southampton may be more or less consigned to relegation from the Premier League, but they can do their bit to try to drag Wolverhampton Wanderers down with them in Saturday’s encounter at St Mary’s.

 

Ivan Juric, Southampton

Ivan Juric‘s men are still yet to break the 10-point barrier following their 3-1 loss to Liverpool last weekend, while the visitors held the blue half of Merseyside – Everton – to a 1-1 draw in gameweek 28.

As spirited as Southampton’s efforts were at Anfield, spirit does not put points on the board for the South Coast side, who are now 14 points adrift of safety at the foot of the Premier League standings and remain on course for the worst season in competition history.

If the Saints cannot pick up one more win or draw at least two more games between now and the end of the season, they will break Derby County’s unwanted lowest points total of 11 from the 2007-08 season, and the less said about their St Mary’s exploits the better too.

No team in the Premier League have conceded from more shots than Wolves this season – 15.3% – although Southampton’s measly 7.7% conversion rate is also the worst in the division.

The Saints have also lost six top-flight games in which they have broken the deadlock this season, so even if Juric’s team can strike first, even a Cunha-less Wolves should have enough firepower about them to turn the tide and enhance their survival chances at the expense of their hosts.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

 

Alaves head to Las Palmas for a huge contest today

There is a relegation six-pointer in La Liga on Friday evening, with Alaves heading to Las Palmas for a huge contest.

Sandro Ramirez, Las Palmas

Alaves, who are 18th in the La Liga table, will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 success over top-four hopefuls Villarreal, while 19th-placed Las Palmas lost 1-0 to Real Betis last time out.

Las Palmas have not been victorious in Spain’s top flight since before the winter break, with 2025 proving to be incredibly difficult for the team thus far, losing eight of their 10 matches in all competitions.

Las Palmas have a record of six wins, six draws and 15 defeats from their 27 league games this season to collect 24 points, which has left them in 19th spot in the table, two points behind 18th-placed Alaves and three from Leganes in 17th.

Alaves were 10th in Spain’s top flight last season, which represented an excellent campaign, but it has been more difficult for the Basque outfit in 2024-25, with the team currently in the relegation zone.

This is a huge game at the bottom of the table, and it will be a fascinating watch considering that both teams are missing important players; Alaves will enter the fixture in a better place, but we believe that Las Palmas will be able to claim a point on Friday night.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

 

Genoa and Lecce fight for Serie A survival tonight

Fighting for their Serie A survival, lowly Lecce will visit Genoa on Friday evening, when the teams meet at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Nikola Krstovic, Leece

Having let a famous win slip from their grasp last weekend, the Salentini are only three points clear of the drop zone with 10 games remaining; meanwhile, their hosts sit comfortably in mid-table.

For the second straight week, Genoa fought back to secure a precious point last time out, as Maxwel Cornet‘s second-half strike earned them a share of the spoils in Cagliari.

Following consecutive 1-1 draws, the Grifone occupy 12th place in the Serie A standings, with no fears of a relegation fight to haunt them, nor any prospect of qualifying for Europe.

They have lost just one of their last five games as Patrick Vieira‘s quiet revolution continues: since the French coach took charge of a struggling side in November, they have accrued 22 points from 16 league fixtures.

Both teams average under one goal per game this season, and Lecce have only scored in one of their last five.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Premier League

Saturday

Everton 15:00 West Ham

Ipswich Town 15:00 Forest

Manchester City 15:00 Brighton

Southampton 15:00Wolves

Bournemouth 17:30 Brentford 

Sunday

Arsenal 13:30 Chelsea

Fulham 13:30 Tottenham

Leicester 19:00 Man United 

 

Spanish La Liga

Friday

Las Palmas 20:00 Deportivo Alavés

Saturday

Real Valladolid 13:00 Celta Vigo

Mallorca 15:15 Espanyol

Villarreal 17:30 Real Madrid

Girona 20:00 Valencia

Sunday

Leganés 13:00 Real Betis

Sevilla 15:15 Athletic Club

Osasuna 17:30 Getafe

Rayo Vallecano 17:30 Real Sociedad

Atlético Madrid 20:00 Barcelona

 

Italian Serie A

Friday

Genoa 19:45 Lecce 

Saturday

Monza 14:00 Parma

Udinese 14:00 Hellas Verona

AC Milan 17:00 Como

Torino 19:45 Empoli

Sunday

Venezia 11:30 Napoli

Bologna 14:00 Lazio

Roma 15:00 Cagliari

Fiorentina 17:00 Juventus

Atalanta 19:45 Inter Milan

Ato Forson Confirms: NPP Handed Over A Robust Economy To Mahama … Says Amin Adam

By
MAXWELL OFORI
-
0
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson displaying a handbag containing the budget statement

The minority in parliament says the minister for finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has confirmed their position that the previous government left a robust economy.

According to the minority, the economic figures given by the minister to parliament in his presentation of the first budget statement of the sitting government, only corroborated their stance and exposed the deception of the government that it inherited a badly managed economy.

The minority spokesperson on finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam made the observation in a preliminary response to the 2025 budget statement and economic policy of the Mahama government on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

“To start with, as you all heard from the minister, he confirmed to the whole world today that the economy we handed over to the NDC government was a strong economy.

“We have been telling Ghanaians that the economy was not in crisis. President Mahama used the SONA… over an economy which was not in crisis.

“And yet he told Ghanaians the economy was in crisis. The Minister for Finance also tried to do the same. But, however, we all heard him alluding to the fact that this economy is a strong economy,” Dr. Adam said.

Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam addressing the media

He continued that, “You watched the hesitation when it came to announcing the growth figures. You also watched with hesitation by the minister when it came to the debt levels, the debt to GDP levels. The reality is that as of the end of last year, 2024, the growth rate, real GDP growth, was 5.7%. And this was released just yesterday by the Ghana Statistical Service, confirmed by the Minister today.”

BUDGET

In reading the budget statement, the Minister for Finance informed the House what the real sector development was in 2024. Quoting the Ghana Statistical Service, the minister stated that “overall real GDP grew by 5.7 percent in 2024, compared to the growth rate of 3.1 percent recorded over the same period in 2023.”

However, he added that the “key driver of this growth was largely mining and quarrying, mainly gold, including galamsey,” adding that galamsey growth is not sustainable.

He also mentioned that in 2024 the mining sector recorded a growth of 19.1% and non-oil GDP grew by 6.0 percent, compared with 3.6 percent recorded in 2023.

2016 RATE

During the press conference yesterday, shortly after the minister’s presentation, the minority indicated that the previous NPP government took over from the NDC in 2016, with a growth rate of 3.4%. The minority thus argued it could not be right for the NDC to claim the economy under the NPP was in crisis when the data shows it grew at 5.7%, which is better than the 3.4% they inherited from the NDC in 2016.

PROJECTION

The former minister for finance described the 2025 economic projections by the government as “disturbing” and “disappointing.”

He argued that the government could not claim to be resetting an economy growing at 5.7% and project the next year’s growth at 4%.

“How can we say that this reset economy (4% projection) will be better than the economy that President Mahama [said the NPP] criminally mismanaged, and which grew at 5.7%?” he quizzed.

SCRAPPED

The controversial E-levy and betting taxes were not the only initiatives of the Akufo-Addo government that were ‘slaughtered’ by the first Mahama budget.

The finance minister announced that the government would “cut wasteful expenditures on inefficient and duplicative programs to reduce expenditure under the fiscal consolidation program.”

As a result of this decision, the famous One District One Factory policy will be eliminated, according to the 2025 budget statement and economic policy.

As of December 2024, approximately 250 factories had been put up and others were being constructed under the policy.

Apart from the 1D1F, the GhanaCARES program and the YouStart introduced by the previous government to create jobs for the youth will be eliminated.

BoG Seeking GH¢53bn Bailout From Government –Ato Forson Reveals

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
-
0
Fifi Kwetey and his team arriving in Parliament House

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has revealed that the Central Bank – Bank of Ghana- is seeking a bailout of GHS53 billion to address its negative equity challenge.

He explained the significant financial difficulties faced by Ghana’s Central Bank and the urgent need for a substantial bailout to stabilise its operations.

Dr Ato Forson, Finance Minister

“The BoG is also seeking an amount of GHS53 billion as a bailout to be able to address the negative equity challenge they face,” Dr. Forson stated whilst presenting the 2025 budget to parliament yesterday.

He also revealed that the total central government arrears amounted to GHS 67.5 billion as of December 2024, representing 5.2% of Ghana’s GDP. He noted that the road sector alone recorded arrears of GHS21 billion.

“At the end of December 2024, total central government arrears amounted to GHS67.5 billion, representing 5.2% of GDP, Mr. Speaker, with the road sector recording arrears of GHS21 billion,” Dr. Forson explained.

“The first day I assumed duty, my office was inundated with requests for payments from numerous Contractors and Suppliers. To ascertain the total arrears and outstanding payments for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Ministry of Finance (MoF) formally requested information on all arrears and outstanding claims from the MDAs on January 28, 2025,” he said.

Touching on stalled projects, the finance minister disclosed that government would require at least 12 years to complete all stalled projects across the country due to financial constraints and restrictions imposed under the ongoing debt restructuring program.

“Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, as a result of the debt restructuring of these stalled projects, working with the IMF would take a minimum of 12 years if we decide to go business as usual. We will be engaging in the coming days to resolve this challenge,” the minister stated.

Speaker Bagbin arriving to take his seat

This was revealed on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement to Parliament, highlighting the severe economic challenges Ghana faces.

According to the minister, the delay stems from the IMF-supported debt restructuring program, which has placed a cap on annual loan disbursements for ongoing projects.

As a result, projects that were halted due to funding shortages will take over a decade to complete if the government continues under the current disbursement structure.

IMF Restrictions and the Funding Gap

Under the IMF debt restructuring plan, Ghana is limited to an annual disbursement ceiling of $250 million for all bilateral loans that have been restructured.

This constraint is significantly lower than the funding required to complete halted projects within a reasonable timeframe.

With the road sector alone accounting for GHS 100 billion ($8 billion) in outstanding commitments, the government faces a major infrastructure deficit that will require careful financial planning to resolve.

Debt and Fiscal Pressures

The minister painted a grim picture of Ghana’s financial position, citing GHS 67.5 billion ($5.4 billion) in arrears owed to contractors and suppliers across various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

The finance ministry’s validation process also revealed that new contracts worth at least GHS 194 billion ($15.6 billion) have been awarded—many of them without proper commencement certificates or authorization, in direct violation of the Public Financial Management Act (Act 921).

Dr Ato Forson and Annor Dompreh (L)

To manage the crisis, the government has commissioned an audit of outstanding payments to ensure value for money before making any disbursements.

Additionally, the finance minister pledged to engage the IMF and other stakeholders to explore alternative solutions for expediting the completion of stalled projects. The government is also seeking to streamline procurement processes, ensure that new contracts align with approved budgets, and strictly enforce spending limits to prevent further accumulation of arrears.

Scrapping of Taxes

The Finance minister also announced the abolition of several taxes, including the 10% withholding tax on betting, the 1% electronic transfer levy (e-levy), the emission levy, and the VAT on motor vehicle insurance policies.

Small-scale miners will also see relief with the removal of the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold.

Explaining the rationale behind these removals, the minister emphasised, “The removal of these taxes will ease the burden on households and improve their disposable incomes. In addition, it will support business growth and improve tax compliance.”

The government is set to reduce the tax refund ceiling from 6% to 4% which is expected to save the country 3.8 billion Ghana cedis, more than compensating for the revenue losses from the removed taxes.

Reintroduction of Road Tolls and Energy Sector Levies

While abolishing certain taxes, the government plans to reintroduce road tolls in a technology-driven format to finance road construction and maintenance.

He stated that the new toll system will be technology-driven to enhance efficiency, transparency, and revenue collection.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Dr Omane Boamah and Dr Titus Beyuo

The move comes after road tolls were suspended in 2022, a decision that significantly reduced government earnings for road maintenance and development. Despite the suspension, demand for better roads and infrastructure has continued to rise, prompting the government to reconsider the policy.

In his presentation, Dr. Forson stressed that the reintroduction of tolls will be part of the “Big Push Programme,” a government initiative focused on large-scale infrastructure investment.

The new system will leverage digital payment solutions to eliminate cash transactions, reduce delays, and prevent revenue leakages.

Reforming the Extractive Sector

Highlighting Ghana’s underutilization of its natural resources, the government acknowledged that while natural resource rent accounts for 14% of GDP, revenue from the extractive sector only contributes 1.5% of GDP.

To address this gap, the Growth and Sustainability Levy on mining companies will be increased from 1% to 3%, ensuring the nation gains a fairer share of its mineral wealth.

VAT Reforms and IMF

A comprehensive Value Added Tax (VAT) reform is on the horizon, with the government seeking technical assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Among the proposed measures are: Abolishing the COVID-19 Levy, Reversing the decoupling of GetFund and the National Health Insurance Levy from VAT and Reducing the effective VAT rate for households and businesses.

The Minister acknowledged the distortions in the current VAT regime, stating, “Our VAT regime has been distorted and rendered inefficient. It combines both VAT and sales tax principles with a flat rate, standard rate, and levies.”

Educational Reform

The Minister disclosed that an amount of GH¢499.8 million has been allocated for the No-Academic-Fee policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions under the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ initiative,” Dr. Forson stated.

The policy is expected to benefit thousands of students across the country, covering academic fees for their first year in public universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions. Education stakeholders have welcomed the move, describing it as a step towards making higher education more accessible.

The No-Fees-Stress initiative forms part of broader social intervention programs outlined in the 2025 budget, including Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities, Free Primary Healthcare, and the Ghana Medical Care Trust (MahamaCares).

Moreover, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing access to education by allocating GH¢3.5 billion to the Free Secondary Education Programme and expanding free tertiary education for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

He announced plans to uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to provide a sustainable source of financing for both free secondary education and free tertiary education for PWDs.

“The President is committed to ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder access to quality education. By uncapping the GETFund, we will make dedicated funds available to fully finance free secondary education and extend free tertiary education to PWDs,” Dr. Forson stated.

With this initiative, qualified PWD students pursuing tertiary education will no longer bear the financial burden of tuition fees, making higher education more accessible.Additionally, the government has earmarked GH¢564.6 million for the comprehensive provision of free curricula-based textbooks.

The allocation will cover:Four (4) sets of KG books and workbooks for approximately 8 million learners.Four (4) sets of primary textbooks for 800,000 learners.Nine (9) sets of JHS 3 textbooks for 540,000 learners.Also, the school feeding program budget has increased by 33%, raising per-child meal allocations.

Nursing and teacher training allowances have been allocated 203 million and 480 million Ghana cedis, respectively.

Health insurance allocation has increased from 728.8 million to 953.5 million Ghana cedis,” he revealed.

Free Sanitary Pads for Students

The Minister also revealed that government had allocated GH¢292.4 million to begin the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.

“We have allocated an amount of 292.4 million Ghana cedis to commence the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools,” the minister stated.

For years, the high cost of sanitary pads has been a barrier for many girls, leading to school absenteeism and health risks.

Under the previous tax policy, sanitary pads were classified as “Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles” under the Harmonised System Code 9619001000, attracting multiple taxes, including a 20% import duty, 12.5% Value Added Tax (VAT), and other statutory levies.

This resulted in a 32.5% tax on imported sanitary products, pushing the price of a pack of pads to between GH¢20 and GH¢40.

Export of Workers

According to Dr. Forson, the Ghana Labour Export Programme aims to ensure that Ghanaian workers are protected through legal frameworks that safeguard their rights and welfare.

The phenomenon of irregular migration continues to be a significant concern in Ghana. Despite this, six out of ten Ghanaians have considered leaving the country due to economic challenges.

As a result, some Ghanaian migrants are often stranded or face fatalities in transit or destination countries while pursuing better opportunities.

But Finance Minister said the export programme will help prevent worker exploitation, a major concern for many Ghanaians who travel abroad for employment under informal or unregulated conditions.

He indicated that the initiative will have significant economic benefits, as remittances from Ghanaian workers abroad are expected to boost foreign exchange earnings and support the country’s economy.

Agriculture Sector

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, also announced the allocation of GH¢1.5 billion to the agricultural sector.This substantial investment, he said, is part of the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), which has been designed to drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and enhance food security.

Dr. Forson further highlighted key components that will benefit from the allocation.

“The Feed Ghana Programme, Ghana Grains Development Project, Vegetable Development Project and NkokorNketenkete are all projects aimed at improving agricultural productivity, reducing reliance on imported food items, improving vegetable production and creating employment opportunities in rural areas.

“By focusing on these strategic areas, government hopes to not only boost local food production, but also contribute to the overall economic transformation of Ghana,” he further noted.

 

Is the teacher’s work all about teaching?

By
admin
-
0
Opinion

Teachers rely on high standards of professionalism in knowledge, conduct and in practice to inspire and to challenge students to achieve their potentials in life (National Teachers’ Standards for Ghana Guidelines, 2017, page 6).

Teachers are knowledgeable professionals. It is, however, not to say that the teacher is all-knowing or an embodiment of all knowledge.  Being resourceful means that the teacher has an updated, refined knowledge on what to teach and on educational policies and programmes. The teacher is endowed with the knowledge in guiding students, learners through lessons and in facilitating the acquisition of learning experiences in an engaging, impactful and holistic manner.

Aside of the knowledge in the subject matter or in the lessons to teach to learners, the teacher demonstrates a high degree of familiarity with the policies and programmes guiding an education system and helps to implement effectively the official school curriculum towards achieving positive, useful learning outcomes (National Teachers’ Standards for Ghana Guidelines, 2017).

The teacher ought to have full command on verbal and non-verbal, written communication to enable the presentations of lessons and learning experiences to occur even beyond what is found in the curriculum and in textbooks. The teacher aptly identifies some gaps in learning and works with students, learners to get those gaps knitted using approaches like self-study, project-based or enquiry-based learning (National Teachers’ Standards for Ghana Guidelines, 2017, page 22).

The teacher is an indispensable vessel of good conduct to students. The teacher acts as a role model and gives guidance on morality and decent living. Page seven (7) of the Code of Conduct for Staff of the Ghana Education Service (2017) stressed on the need for teachers and staff in schools and in institutions to exhibit various forms of conduct for learners to emulate, including but not limited to leadership, selflessness, comportment, integrity, impartiality, fairness, and honesty.

The teacher is a role model to learners by being highly decent in speech, mannerism, discipline, and in dressing to be in line with the work and status of the teaching profession and for improved learning outcomes (Code of Conduct for Staff of the Ghana Education Service, 2017, page 26).

Teachers, for example, adopt servant leadership (or leadership by example) in such activities as desilting school drains and in undertaking farming activities in school gardens, as a form of project-based learning, where teachers demonstrate to learners how simple tools like shovel, spade, cutlasses and hoes are used to desilt drains and to control weeds on farm lands.

The teacher recognises the uniqueness and abilities of all individuals and does everything within the ambit of the teaching profession and of human learning to respect all learners, regardless of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, gender, and of geographical locations. The teacher ensures that the school is made conducive, protective and safe for learning to take place.

The school, as a learning space, ought to be an enabling, engaging environment for learners to feel at easy to discuss, share knowledge among themselves with the teacher as the lead facilitator. No teacher can subject learner(s) to exploitative labour, violence (i.e., physical, or psychological, or sexual violence), discrimination, favouritism, among other forms of unfair treatment, and cannot promote same (Code of Conduct for Staff of the Ghana Education Service, 2017, pages 15-26).

The change of the name, Ghana Teaching Service, to Ghana Education Service is enough to explain the multi-faceted role of the teacher on learners and on society, which goes beyond just teaching. It is a fact that teachers teach or facilitate learning, and it stands also that the teacher’s work goes beyond teaching. The teacher is endowed with the values, attitudes, knowledge and pedagogical skills to teach, guide, counsel, mentor and to act as a facilitator, coach, motivator, leader, friend and a disciplinarian.

The teacher does not only serve students but other interested persons also, including parents. The name, “classroom teacher”, or “school teacher” is, therefore, incorrect. The teacher’s role is beyond the classroom and school into the local community, country, or even the continent and globe in which the school resides.

The teacher has forums such as Parent-Teacher Association meetings, School Management Committee meetings, School Governing Board meetings (through teacher representatives on the Boards) and public gatherings to remind parents and other stakeholders of what they can offer to promote education.

The teacher relies on imaginative skills of using instructional resources like drawings, diagrams and ICT tools, as well as useful analogies, metaphors and narratives to stimulate learning and to seek the stakeholder support for education (National Teachers’ Standards for Ghana Guidelines, 2017).

The teacher can decently use mass media like radio, television, and print media to facilitate learning and to lead talks on what students and stakeholders can do together to promote learning. An Agriculture teacher, for example, can liaise with an agricultural extension officer to educate and guide farmers in the local community on the right way of applying manure to crops.

By Anthony KwakuAmoah (MPhil)

The writer is an educationist, trained counsellor in the Ghana Education Service and a visiting lecturer of the College for Distance and e-Learning of University of Education, Winneba. E-mail: amoatec80@gmail.com.

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

Editorial: Odumasi Dynamite Explosion: Police Must Dig Deeper Into The Incident

By
THE CHRONICLE
-
0
Odumasi Dynamite Explosion

The Ashanti regional police command, according to the media reports, is pursuing the owner of the shop where the recent dynamite explosion occurred at Odumasi, near Konogo, in the Ashanti Region. The owner reportedly fled the town immediately the explosion occurred. The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has reportedly confirmed that the police are looking for the suspect to arrest him. This was when he visited the town to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

According to myjoyone.com account, the death toll from the explosion, which occurred on Wednesday last week, has risen to three, a woman and two men. One person lost his live on the day the incident happened, whilst the remaining two died later at the hospital from the injuries they sustained. Five others remain in hospital, with some in critical conditions.

The fire broke out in stores selling dynamites and other explosives used by local miners, triggering earth-shaking blasts that left in its wake damaged buildings and injuries, myjoyonline.com report added.

It is regrettable that three years after the Apeate explosion where a number of people lost their lives, Ghanaians have still not learnt any useful lessons when it comes to the handling of explosive materials. In fact, a special committee was set up to investigate the incident we have just referenced and the said committee came out with a number of recommendations to avoid future occurrence.

The three member committee that probed the disaster found that the explosion occurred due to the mishandling of mining explosives. It, therefore, recommended to the government to ensure strict adherence to mining regulations, especially those pertaining to explosives. In the latest Odumasi incident that we are discussing, the police say they are pursuing the owner of the shop to arrest him.

This, to us at The Chronicle, indicates that the owner of the destroyed shop was properly not having the license to trade in dynamites and explosive materials. And if the owner did not indeed have the license to sell dynamite, are the Minerals Commission officials in the town saying they did not see the illegality until the disaster occurred?

According to the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (LI 2177), a license is required for selling or dealing in explosives, and strict adherence to storage and usage regulations.

The LI also states that no person can sell or deal in explosives without obtaining a license from the Minerals Commission. The application for the license must be in writing, made by a qualified explosives manager, and include an acceptable operating plan.

A dealer in explosives must store their supply in a licensed magazine or other licensed place. The LI states further that explosives cannot be supplied to individuals without a permit or license issued by the Commissioner.

The Chronicle believes if the relevant authorities were enforcing the law as spelt out in the above quoted LI, properly the latest incident could have been avoided. Unfortunately, Ghanaians are always interested in reacting to issues instead of putting preventing measures in place. We nevertheless commend the police for pursuing the suspect with the sole aim of arresting him to face the law.

We do not, however, believe that only the run-away suspect that must be pursued. If the police investigations prove that the owner of the exploded shop does not have a licence to sell such explosive materials, the police must be interested in how he was getting the supply of the explosive materials. This will enable them (police) to get to the bottom of the matter and deal with the source of the illegal supply of the materials as well.

Assembly members express gratitude to President Mahama

By
admin
-
0
Mr. Mawunyo Agbe, the President of CODAM

The Coalition of District Assembly Members (CODAM) has expressed its profound gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and his government to allocate funds for Assembly Members’ allowances.

The allocation of the funds fulfils a key promise outlined in the electioneering manifesto of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana’s 2024 general elections.

In a press statement signed by Mr. Mawunyo Agbe, the President of CODAM and Dean of Presiding Members in the Volta Region and Presiding Member (PM) of the Ho Municipal Assembly, the coalition acknowledged the government’s commitment to supporting Assembly Members, as stated on page 10, paragraph 4 of the manifesto.

Mr. Agbe noted that this commitment has now been decisively acted upon, with the allocation officially confirmed in the 2025 Budget and Financial Statement, specifically on page 14, paragraph 2.

“This significant step reinforces our collective commitment to good governance, transparency, and the efficient functioning of our Assemblies,” he stated.

He emphasised that by honoring this pledge, President Mahama has not only strengthened public confidence but also set a high standard for accountability and inclusive development in the country.

The statement further noted that the allocation of funds for Assembly Members’ allowances will significantly enhance their operational capacity, ensuring effective service delivery at the grassroots level.

“This initiative will empower Assembly Members to carry out their duties more efficiently, improving governance and fostering local development in their respective communities,” Mr. Agbe said.

The CODAM reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the government to ensure the success of local governance and development initiatives.

“We extend our sincere thanks to President Mahama for his visionary leadership and dedication to fulfilling the promises made to the people of Ghana. This is a significant milestone, and we look forward to continued collaboration to build a more prosperous and equitable nation,” the statement concluded.

The move has been widely welcomed by Assembly Members across the country, who have long advocated for a structured remuneration system to enhance their work and dedication to their communities.

In another development, Mr. Alfred Asiedu Adjei, President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) has called on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to expedite action on the election of their Presiding Members (PMs).

This, he said, would avert leadership gaps that threaten effective local governance.

He said the absence of PMs in Assemblies was not merely an administrative gap but a fundamental governance challenge that impeded effective decision making, development planning and service delivery at the local level.

Mr. Asiedu Adjei made the call in an interaction with some journalists in Accra.

He explained that as the country transitioned into a new government under President John Dramani Mahama, it was critical to uphold the integrity and functionality of local governance structures by ensuring that all Assemblies have duly elected PMs where vacancies existed.

The NALAG President stated that although the December 2023 district level elections brought in a new cohort of Assembly members who were sworn into office, many Assemblies have since struggled to elect PMs due to disagreements and the inability to reach a consensus.

He explained that some Assemblies that previously had PMs had also been affected following the revocation of positions held by government appointees thereby compounding the leadership crisis in those districts.

“With new government appointees expected to be sworn in soon under the current administration, it is imperative that affected Assemblies prioritize the election of PMs immediately,” he stressed.

MrAsiedu Adjei noted that local governance operated within a structured framework where the general assembly under the leadership of a PM played a crucial role in policy formulation, budget approval and oversight of the Executive Committee.

He added that without a PM work at the Assemblies would remain stagnant and were unable to effectively discharge their statutory functions.

Mr Asiedu Adjei intimated that the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) was contingent on the presence of a PM, indicating that any delays in the election could paralyze administrative leadership and hinder development efforts in the affected districts.

“At this crucial juncture, as we await the appointment of new government representatives by the President, I strongly urge all Assemblies facing this challenge to rise above differences, foster dialogue and expedite the election of their PMs,” he advised.

The NALAG President underscored the importance of a fully functional Assembly for the success of the country’s decentralized governance system, adding that political disagreements or internal conflicts should not be allowed to obstruct governance at the grassroots level.

“The development of our communities and the well-being of our citizens depend on effective leadership and seamless administrative processes,” he stated.

Mr. Asiedu Adjei therefore appealed to all stakeholders, including elected Assembly members, government appointees, traditional authorities and Civil Society Organizations to recognize the urgency of the matter and collaborated to ensure that the Assemblies were fully operational.

“Local governance is the backbone of national development and a well-structured, fully functional Assembly is essential for policy implementation and service delivery.

“Let us work together to uphold the principles of decentralization, ensure the smooth operation of our Assemblies and reinforce the democratic foundations of our nation,” he stressed.

Mr Asiedu Adjei pointed out that through unity and cooperation, Ghana could strengthen its local governance structures and pave the way for sustainable development in all parts of the country.

From Michael Foli Jackidy, Ho

GNA

Cecilia Dapaah: 1st Accused Ransacked My Storeroom

By
BERNICE BESSEY
-
0
Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah

Former Minister for Water and Sanitation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, took the witness stand yesterday in an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, detailing how her former domestic staff allegedly stole large sums of money and valuable items from her residence at Abelemkpe.

Court Complex

Testifying against her ex-House help, Patience Botwe and others accused in the case, Madam Dapaah swore an oath before reading her witness statement.

She recounted how Patience Botwe, the first accused, allegedly ransacked a storeroom in their home and made away with significant amounts of cash and personal belongings.

The Alleged Theft

According to Madam Dapaah, the stolen items included: $210,000, which was part of US$800,000 belonging to her deceased brother, Nana Akwasi Essan II.

US$200,000 belonging to Dorcas Wiredua, a relative and client of her husband, €300,000 belonging to her husband, GH₵300,000 contributed by her family towards their late mother’s funeral, GH₵50,000 of her personal savings. Jewellery worth US$95,000 accumulated over 35 years.

She explained that Patience Botwe had been introduced to her household by the fourth accused, Malik Dauda, whom she and her husband had known for 20 years.

Initially hired to clean their compound twice a week, Patience Botwe was later dismissed after frequent quarrels with Dauda.

However, in October 2022, while the former minister was in Kumasi for a funeral, her husband caught Botwe inside their storeroom.

She was immediately reported to the Tesano Police Station. Upon returning home on October 10, 2022 Madam Dapaah discovered that their storeroom had been ransacked, with valuables, including money and jewelry missing.

Plea Bargaining and Legal Arguments

During the proceedings, it was revealed that five of the accused persons, including Botwe, were engaged in plea bargaining discussions with the prosecution. However, Madam Dapaah stated that she had not been formally served any plea bargaining documents.

Cross-examining the witness, defense lawyer Adam Abdul Bassit, for Christiana Achab (A5) and Job Primary (A6), questioned Madam Dapaah on the total amount stolen, suggesting she did not know the exact figure.

She denied this, maintaining that her account was accurate.

When asked about two of the accused persons (A5 and A6), Madam Dapaah admitted she had never met them before.

In response, the defense lawyer objected to the charge sheet, arguing that there was no basis for their involvement in the case.

The presiding judge ruled that since disclosures had already been made, cross-examinations should proceed to ensure the case remains on track if plea bargaining discussions fail.

Next Hearing

The case has been adjourned to March 12, 2025 at 9:00 am when further cross-examinations and plea discussions are expected to continue.

This case has drawn significant public attention due to the large sums involved and the high-profile status of the complainant, a former government minister.

The other accused standing trial for conspiracy, stealing and dishonestly receiving with Patience Botwe and Sarah Agyei are Benjamin Sowah (A3), Malik Dauda (A4), Christina Achab (A5), Job Primary (A6) and YAHAYA Sumaila (A7).

Cecilia Dapaah’s Witness Statement  

My name is Cecilia Abena Dapaah. I live at House Number 4, Manhia Street, at Abelemkpe, in Accra, with my husband.

I know Patience Botwe, alias Maa Abena, the 1st accused person, Sarah Agyei, the 2nd accused person and Malik Dauda the 4th accused person.

I got to know the 1st accused person through the 4th accused person, whom my husband and I have known for about twenty (20) years.

My husband and I lived with the 2nd accused person for over five years as our house help.

During the period the 2nd accused person was staying with us, she got pregnant somewhere in July 2022 and I noticed that she could not bend down to sweep our compound.

I, therefore, asked the 4th accused person to enquire from the 1st accused person, who happens to be the mother of his child, if she was interested in coming to clean the compound, as she was unemployed at the time.

The 1st accused person accepted the offer and we agreed that she would come to the house twice a week to clean the compound, but will not be resident in our house.

Patience Botwe, the 1st accused person worked in my house for about three (3) months, but I sacked her because she and Malik Dauda would quarrel anytime she came to our house, because she went home very late.

I further emphatically warned Patience Botwe, the 1st accused person, never to come back to our house.

In the month of October 2022, I was bereaved and travelled to Kumasi. On 6th October, 2022 while I was still in Kumasi, I received a phone call from my husband that he had caught Patience Botwe, the accused person, in one of the bedrooms at our house, which serves as our storeroom.

My husband and I agreed that he should send her to the Tesano Police Station to lodge a complaint.

My husband later called to inform me that when he returned home from the police station, he noticed that the bedroom, which we used as our storeroom, had been ransacked.

I returned home on 10th October, 2022 and when I entered the storeroom, I noticed that it had indeed been ransacked and some of our belongings and valuable possessions were missing.

I realised that a substantial number of my valuable clothes (sewn and unsewn), kente cloths, dresses, skirt suits, blouses, handbags, lace fabrics and perfumes were all missing.

We also found out that huge sums of money had been stolen from our storeroom. This included an amount of $210,000 which belonged to my deceased brother, Nana Akwasi Essan Il, alias Charles Dapaah.

The $210,000 was part of an amount of $800,000 that my elder brother, Henry Osei Kwabena brought to me upon the instructions of our mother for safe keeping, after Nana Akwasi Essan Il’s demise.

Other monies stolen from our storeroom were: Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) belonging to Dorcas Wiredua, a client and relative of my husband.

Three Hundred Thousand Euros (€300,000) belonging to my husband. Three Hundred Thousand Cedis (GH¢300,000) being contributions that my siblings and I made towards the then upcoming final funeral rite of our late mother, Nana Ode Nyarko II. Fifty Thousand (GH¢50,000) being my personal money.

After my husband and I noticed our belongings and monies were missing, we were hoping to impress upon the 1st accused to return the stolen items because of the relationship we have with her and Malik Dauda.

However, after some time elapsed, we noticed that the 1st accused person would not return the monies and in addition to that, the police had informed us that their investigations had revealed that our monies had been distributed to different persons, including the accused persons herein.

The police initially arraigned the 1st accused person before court, but we were later informed that she jumped bail.

Somewhere this year, we were informed by the police that the 1st accused person and the 3rd accused person had been arrested at their hideout in Tamale.

I, therefore, had to do stock taking of my missing belongings and realised that my jewellery that I had purchased within a period of thirty-five (35) years, valued at Ninety-Five Thousand United States Dollars (US$95,000USD) were missing.

The total value of my missing jewellery is broken down as follows: Eleven (11) sets of earrings and pendants, which cost Three Thousand Dollars (S3,000 USD) bringing the total value to Thirty-Three Thousand Dollars ($33,000 USD). Four gold bangles which cost Three Thousand Five hundred Dollars (S3,500 USD) each totaling fourteen thousand dollars ($14,000).

Fifteen gold ear ring sets purchased at One Thousand Dollars each totaling Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

Diamond set ear rings, pendants and bangle bought at Nine Thousand five Hundred dollars (US$59,500). Twelve chains, which cost Two Thousand dollars (S2000 USD) each totalling Twenty-four Thousand Dollars ($24,000).

 

Cross-examination 

Cross examination by Abdul Baasit Adams, counsel for A5 and A6

  1. Highest level of education?
  2. First degree
  3. Which course?
  5. What do you do for a living?
  6. Currently I am retired as Public Servant.
  7. At the time you reported this matter to the police, were you in active work?
  8. Initially when I lodged the complaint I was still in active service.
  9. Can you tell the court the total amount of money that you allege was stolen?
  10. …
  11. I put it to you that you don’t know the actual amount of money that you allege was stolen
  12. My Lady, that is not correct
  13. The amount involved were in three different currencies: Ghana Cedis, USD and Euros. Is that correct?
  14. Yes, ‘My Lady
  15. Can you tell the court how much Ghana cedis?
  16. GH¢50,000 and GH¢300,000
  17. Can you do same for dollars?
  18. US$200,000 and US$210,000
  19. Can you do same for the Euros?
  20. €300,000
  21. Do you know A5. Have you ever met her?
  22. My Lady, I don’t. I have never met her.
  23. Do you know A6?
  24. I don’t.
  25. I put it to you that both A5 and A6, per your own admission that you have never met them before, have no basis to be in court.
  26. I’m not legally equipped to answer this question.

Counsel: Since Madam Dapaah has admitted that she has never met A5 and A6, I object to the charge sheet.

Court: Already there have been disclosures and you are aware of the prosecution’s case so it is ripe for plea bargaining. But since the process has not begun, you have to cross examine the witnesses so that in case the plea bargaining doesn’t work, we don’t have to go back calling the witnesses again.

“Erratic power supply in Ketu South will be resolved soon”

By
admin
-
0
Mr. Eric Edem Agbana

Mr. Eric Edem Agbana, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North has assured residents that the recent erratic power supply affecting many communities will soon return to normal.

In a press statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Mr. Agbana attributed the power fluctuations to the recent tidal wave incident in Agavedzi and surrounding areas, which has increased the load on the Dzodze Feeder.

This increased demand has led to low voltage, especially during peak hours, causing frequent power fluctuations.

“As the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, I share in the concerns of our constituents, regarding the recent erratic power supply,” Mr. Agbana stated.

He explained that to urgently address the issue, he has engaged officials from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ministry of Energy to understand the underlying problems and work towards a lasting solution.

“I want to assure the chiefs and people of Ketu North that the situation is being addressed with urgency. In the coming days, we expect a return to normalcy,” he added.

Mr. Agbana further reiterated his commitment to ensuring a stable and uninterrupted power supply in the constituency.

“Electricity is a necessity for businesses, schools, hospitals, and households. We remain committed to making sure that Ketu North enjoys a reliable power supply,” he emphasised.

He called on residents to remain patient and cooperative as efforts to restore stable electricity are ongoing.

The erratic power supply in Ketu North has disrupted economic activities, businesses and daily life, prompting calls for a swift intervention.

Residents are hopeful that with the MP’s involvement, the situation will improve in the shortest possible time.

From Michael Foli Jackidy, Dzodze

GNA

Gov’t allocates GHS51.3m to Women’s Development Bank

By
admin
-
0
Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Minister of Finance

The government has allocated GHS51.3 million as seed fund for the establishment of the national Women’s Development Bank, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Minister of Finance has said.

The Finance Minister made this announcement during the presentation of the 2025 budget statement and economic policy before Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Women’s Development Bank

“We have allocated GHS51.3 million as seed fund for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank,” he said, adding that the initiative formed part of the government’s effort to a trusted hand to the vulnerable, particularly women and youth and creating a new Ghana for coming generations

The Women’s Development Bank, a special-purpose bank, it is expected to support women-owned and women-led businesses with low-interest loans and other tailored financial services on very flexible terms.

According to the 2024 manifesto of the ruling National Democratic Congress, the initiative would be aimed at economically empowering a minimum of one million Ghanaian women.

The initiative would also provide financial literacy to enhance women’s confidence, enabling them to make informed decisions and effectively manage their ventures.

Dr Ato Forson said the government remained committed to the pursuit of the 24-hour economy policy to stimulate economic growth and job creation, and contribute to addressing the country’s structural economic challenges.

He stated that by so doing, it would create an integrated, efficient and increasingly export-driven industrial economy that fully utilised our national resources, capital and labour power.

The Finance Minister called on Parliament, the business community, civil society, investors and all citizens to support the bold reforms outlined in the budget, saying “together, we have the power to build a resilient economy that not only tackles today’s challenges but secures a prosperous future.

“This budget is not just about numbers – it is a blueprint for growth, stability and opportunity. With unity and determination, we can restore faith in our economy, foster innovation, and uplift every Ghanaian,” he noted.

GNA

GPHA, GSA resolve to reduce costof doing business at the Ports

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
-
0
GPHA boss welcoming Prof Gyampo to his office

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate in a bid to reduce the cost of doing business at Ghana’s sea ports.

This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and attractiveness of the ports to both local and transit customers, ultimately fostering socio-economic growth in line with the government’s economic reset agenda.

This commitment was highlighted during a working visit by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Professor Ransford Gyampo, to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to interact with the Director General of GPHA, Brigadier General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono and his Management team on issues of mutual interests and strategic approaches to minimising the cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports.

The engagement afforded the two heads the opportunity to deliberate on issues affecting the attractiveness of Ghana’s Ports and the huge role it plays in the nation’s maritime industry.

During the discussions, Prof. Gyampo emphasised the need for both institutions to identify operational bottlenecks and implement sustainable solutions to mitigate delays.

He noted that seeming inefficiencies in the system often lead to additional costs for importers, which are ultimately transferred to consumers.

“As I went about visiting the various stakeholders, one thing that was coming out clear was the cost of doing business which was so high.

President Mamaha said it openly that he will do his best to ensure that the cost of doing business is minimised.

“I believe that if you and I work together, we will be able to minimise the cost so people can have some peace of mind in doing their business,” he said.

In his response, the DG for GPHA Brigadier General Tanye-Kolono reiterated his earlier call on the Transport Minister to assist in the elimination of VAT and Covid-19 taxes from transit goods as well as certain taxes on trans-shipment goods.

‘On trans-shipment goods for instance, I don’t understand why goods that are spending just some minutes in Ghana’s ports and are on its way to other ports should be taxed. Same applies to transit goods.

“My interactions with transit agents and clients have shown that they have a strong preference for Ghana’s Ports, but are inundated with taxes on transit goods and this can’t be continued.”

The GPHA DG reaffirmed his faith in the Government’s resolve to boost a 24 hour economy and said he was hopeful that such taxes would eventually be removed by the government to ensure the swift clearance of goods at the ports, to alleviate the financial burden on importers.

He called for frequent meetings by the two institutions on practical ways of making Ghana’s ports attractive to support the government’s 24 hour economy and job creation agenda.

“I believe we must prioritize the national interest and the welfare of our stakeholders to ensure optimal service delivery.

“By working together, we can create a more competitive and business-friendly environment at our ports,” he affirmed.

 

The collaboration between GPHA and GSA marks a significant step toward making Ghana’s ports more competitive within the sub-region, supporting trade facilitation and contributing to national economic growth.

1...847848849...2,950Page 848 of 2,950

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

©
The Ghanaian Chronicle