Kotoko could lose MTN, RLG sponsorship deals | Soccer News 2013-12-03

Kotoko could lose MTN, RLG sponsorship deals | Soccer News 2013-12-03

Happy birthday to Yvonne Okoro

Today is the birthday of one of Ghana’s screen diva, Yvonne Chinyere Okereke Okoro.

Yvonne is an actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She's been in the movie industry actively for 4years after she graduated from University of Ghana, Legon wit a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2008 and a diploma from the University of Nantes in France in 2009 in French civilization and culture.

After taking a brief course in drama in France in 2009, Yvonne returned to acting which is her first love in Ghana.

Yvonne Okoro has over the years played different roles in movies here in Ghana, Nigeria and France and has a plethora of accolades, with several awards and nominations under her belt.

Some of the awards are: Best Actress 2010 at the Ghana movie awards, nominee for Best Actress 2011, 2012 and 2013 at the African Movie Academy Awards and winning Best Actress at the Nigerian excellence awards in 2011 and 2012 honoured by the ambassador of Nigeria His Excellency Musuliu Obanikoro for personality of the year.

The first Ghanaian actress to have been interviewed on BBC focus for Africa and appeared on the radio breakfast show Newsday on BBC radio as fast rising entrepreneur.

She's been involved in several charitable causes and has to a degree been able to fulfill some of her social responsibilities.

Today as part of her gift back to the society, she will be launching a state of the art play ground for the Dzorwulu Special School.

GhanaWeb Entertainment Desk wishes her long life and prosperity as she enjoys her day.

Zoomlion to begin waste separation programme

Zoomlion Ghana Limited, would begin a new waste separation programme for government institutions especially the ministries and some public schools in Accra.

Under the programme, three types of waste bins would be given to each institution within the ministries and the selected schools in Accra. One of the bins would contain paper, another plastics and the last one food waste. 

Dr Joseph Agyepong Siaw, Executive Chairman of the Zoomlion Group of Companies whose speech was read on his behalf at the launch of the National Source Waste Segregation Programme, expressed dissatisfaction about the indiscriminate disposal of waste without knowledge of separation.

The Programme is an initiative of Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation in partnership with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and waste management experts- Zoomlion.

Dr Agyepong Siaw explained that the source waste segregation or separation is an educational and attitudinal issue, which should have been part of the culture and practice of the people both at homes and in public places.

“It is however sad and unfortunate that in most homes, offices and in public places waste is treated as something that needs to be dumped anyhow,” he said.

He noted that the production of waste is inevitable in any country in the world, however segregating and recycling waste appropriately could prevent potential health hazards as well as keep the environment clean.

Dr Agyepong Siaw announced that Zoomlion has built a lot of landfill sites in Accra and is currently building transfer stations across the country for effective waste segregation and transportation.

Dr Joe Oteng Adjei, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation whose speech was read on his behalf stated that waste segregation is an efficient and environmentally sustainable way of managing waste in the country.

He noted that the process would help reduce the amount of waste to be transported to land filled sites as well as provide additional value from secondary raw materials, which could be recycled into useful products to support economic development.

He said waste segregation should be encouraged and promoted in hospitals, schools, government offices and even homes.

Dr Adjei said Ghanaians should understand that waste is a resource which should be handled properly to generate wealth.

Mr Daniel Amlalo, Executive Director of EPA said waste management and practices such as landfill disposal and incineration have failed to provide opportunities for the complete reuse and recycling of solid waste.

He said the Agency is committed to the waste segregation project for recycling and organic manure production for agriculture and landscaping.

GNA

11 ROBBERS GRABBED ON SEPARATE OPERATIONS

By Zulaihatu Abubakar

The Greater Accra Regional Police Command has arrested eleven armed robbers in different operations within the Greater Accra Region.

Some of the robbers have been on the police wanted list for committing varius degrees of robbery in and outside Accra the Police has said.

In a press briefing in Accra yesterday, the Regional Police Commander DCOP Christian Tetteh Yohonu explained that, the police have been on the lookout for any suspected activities within the Metropolis.

According to him, the first and second case of robbery involved car snatching with suspects Renold Blay age 26, Kwesi alias Boutigue, Abu Mohammed alias Alhaji 32, Ackun kwadwo alias Abodam 32 and Wahab Bawah alias teller 29 are in the grip of the police respectively.

According to the Regional Commander, in October to November, 2013, the Police have experienced a number of car snatching cases in the Region.

DCOP Yohuno narrated the first robbery of taxi snatching with suspects Ackun and Wahab that, on the 15th of this month, at about 12:30am the suspects hired a Nissan Almera taxi with registration number GR 6166 – 13 to Riz junction at Madina.

The victim later reported the incident and upon intelligence from the Police source led to the arrest of the two suspects at their hide out at Madina in which they made a revelation upon interrogation that from October this year they have succeeded in snatching ten cars in the Accra metropolis.

He said, an investigation conducted by his outfits led to the arrest of suspects Seyram Danquah alias two face and Awudu Awal as their accomplices in which six out of the ten snatched vehicles have been retrieved and handed over to ther respective owners.

In the case of the second snatchers, Renold Blay has been described as expert in car snatching.

According to DCOP Yohonu  Blay and his accomplice Kwesi alias Boutique hired a Nissan March taxi cab from Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Tantra Hill in Accra.

When they got to their final destination the two suspects pulled a knife on the driver and succeeded in snatching the taxi cab.

Upon Police interrogation after the arrest, the suspect Renold Blay confessed snatching the car and drove to Asamankese where they sold for GH¢ 2,000.

The Police have also arrested two notorious armed robbers on separate incidents, Yakubu Shaibu alias Jelilu and Micheal Tetteh alias Charles Wayo Amartey Tetteh 32.

Suspect Yakubu Shaibu was arrested for the offence of robbing Mamprobi Guinness Depot on the 18th of July this year with his five accomplices who are currently facing trial but suspect Yakubu managed to escape upon seeing the Police on that faithful day.

The Greater Accra Police Commander noted that, one of the five robbers who was a worker at the Guinness Depot at Mamprobi Emmanuel Laryea planned the robbery in which they manage to take away an amount of GH¢700.00 with some items and shot the security personnel on duty who met his untimely death upon arrival at the Kole-Bu Teaching hospital.

Suspect Micheal Tetteh alias Charley Wayo Amartey Tetteh was also grabbed for committing series of armed robbery in Accra, Tema and Ashaiman with his gangs.

DCOP Yohuno noted that, on the 6th of this month at about 1:30pm, the Reional Police Comnman had a tip-off that, the suspect was armed with a pistol looking for ammunition to buy at Abelemkpe in Accra.

The Police acted swiftly and arrested him and after a search on him, a “Black Walther” pistol number 301104 was retrieved from him.

Further investigation also disclosed that, the suspect and his gang were behind the armed robber attack in Tarkwa in which a hooping sum of GH¢900,000.00 was robbed.

DCOP Yohuno however appealed to the general public and especially those who have ever fallen victims to the robbers to assist in the prosecution at the law court.

10% SALARY CUT VRS 10% KICKBACK

The difference bewteen a ‘property grabbing’ and ‘People’s gov’t’

Last Tuesday, the Finance Minister Seth Tekper, took to the floor of parliament to perform an annual ritual of presenting the nation’s fiscal policy to the house of Parliament in line with the Article 179 of the 1992 constitution.

Since the event in Parliament, most serious economists and business minded people have described the 2014 Budget as quite like none they had ever seen in recent projections of successive governments in terms of its frankness, and transformational character. 

Among other things, there were significant highpoints of the budget including tax removals and favorable adjustments.

 However,  the 10% voluntary salary cut by President Mahama and all government appointees announced in the budget appears to have sunk a dagger in the hearts of many opposition elements who thought it was rather a populist move.

 Juxtaposing the 10% voluntary salary give away by the NDC government functionaries to allegations by former National Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Haruna Esseku that the government under President John Agyekum Kufuor was illegally collecting a 10% Kickback from would be contractors before awarding contract to them, it is obvious why Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu and his allied Think Tank called, IMANI are chastising and labeling the budget with all kinds of mundane descriptions.

According to the NPP Chairman who was speaking to his party delegates in a secret meeting at a location in the Eastern Region of Ghana, accruals from the illegal kickback collection were  being kept by President Kufuor himself.

Interestingly, accruals from the voluntary salary cut of the Mahama government  as announce by the Finance Minister, are to be used to support maternal health care; showing a huge class between the two leading political parties.

    Also whilst under the erstwhile Kuffuor government, there was a calculated effort to crippled state agencies and weaken their ability to keep watch over the highly corrupted executives the current budget has shown its eagerness to tackle corruption on various fronts.

According to Mr. Seth Tekper,  the government has increased allocations to the state anti-corruption agencies to intensify their ongoing war on graft.

“To fight corruption in all its forms and, following H.E's directives, additional budget provisions have been made to strengthen anti¬corruption agencies, notably CHRAJ. A percentage of proceeds of corruption when recovered, will be paid to anti-corruption agencies instrumental in exposing such acts, and this will further strengthen their resource base”

Mr. Seth Terkper, presenting the 2014 Budget statement and Economic Policy of the government in Parliament, has announced that the President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, his Veep, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, together with Government Appointees and Ministers of State will take a "a voluntary 10% pay cut" next year.

He further revealed that "the amount to be deducted will be channeled into maternal health".

According to him, the move is to demonstrate leadership and several efforts being put in place to solve the ballooning wage bill of public sector workers due to the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure.

“Single Spine Salary Structure is imposing severe strain on the economy but government, employers and organized labour are continuing negotiations on how to solve it....We believe we are of one mind and therefore we are determined that the public sector wages will not put a strain on budget…to demonstrate leadership, the president, his Vice, appointees and ministers of State have decided to take a voluntary 10% pay cut in 2014...the amount to be deducted will be channeled into maternal health,” Hon Seth Terkper said.

As usual, the NPP and its apocalypse think tank, IMANI have been condemning the budget in other to divert attention from the visible contrast between their government and that of the current.

 Professor George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi and a ranking member of the Minority on Finance, said the budget indicated a bleak future for Ghana’s economy, because the economic policy statement did not espouse concrete actions, policies and programmes that would transform the economy.

He said the focus on infrastructural development alone cannot transform the economy, adding that govern ought to be bold to put more money in Small and Medium Scale Enterprise development and encourage private sector growth and reduce the cost of credit to propel the financial system significantly.

The lawmaker expressed fear that the revenue government has projected to realise from the 2.5 per cent increase in the Value Added Tax rate would not be applied to the shore up infrastructural development but would be utilised for other sectors of the economy because of the unrealistic projections in the budget.

Prof Gyan-Baffour said he was not enthused that government chose to increase the tax rate instead of broadening the tax base, suggesting that the move would stifle private sector growth and dwindle the fortunes of the economy.

Also condemning the novel gesture from government officials was  Franklin Cudjoe  who said the cut was rather too small.

 Speaking on Joy fm morning show yesterday, "I thought the percentage should have been more in line with tariff that have been increased. I think the 10 per cent is small.

" Pushing further, Franklin Cudjoe noted the "real" cut should be directed at waste within government bureaucracy and contracts that does not give government value for money.

Ghana was nothing to write home about under NPP - NDC Guru

A member of the Communications team of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Anim Piesie, has charged the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to zip up over President John Dramani Mahama’s anti-corruption and transparency drive since they (NPP) failed to fight the canker with their “zero tolerance for corruption” crusade.

President Mahama last Friday gave instructions to the Attorney General and Finance Ministry to retrieve all judgment debts from foreign firms and the suspension of all GYEEDA payments as a starting point to deal with corruption and bring sanity in his (Mahama’s) administration.

But the opposition NPP, in the words of Asamoah Gyamfi, communicator of the party, believes that the President is paying lip-service and engaging in public relations gimmick with the anti-corruption directive he rolled out. According to him, the President is not committed in putting a stop to the canker in the country as he has lost the will-power to sack officials who have been named in various corruption cases.

It is against this backdrop that the NDC communicator asserted on Okay Fm that “the Ghana we inherited in 2008 was not a country we could beat our chest out in pride that we had a better Ghana under NPP.”

“……if Ghana was a better place, the late President Mills and current President Mahama would not have pursued ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ in 2008; Ghanaians also accepted that the country was not better under NPP. It was full of corruption…the NPP in power, rechanneled state funds which were meant for development and the betterment of Ghanaians to award themselves with medals,” he stated.

With the developmental projects being undertaken under NDC, he averred that Ghanaians can appreciate the fact that President Mahama is vigorously putting every measure in place to fulfill his campaign promises, stressing that Ghanaians will rather reward him at the end of his tenure in office.

Admitting the existence of corruption in the country, he pointed out that corruption still remains a serious canker, not only in Ghana, but the world over. He stressed that despite the support given to the former President Kufuor, he failed to curb the practice under his leadership.

“…President Mahama has learnt from the flaws of former President Kufuor and is poised to make a difference in the fight against corruption…the measures President Mahama is initiating will make corruption unattractive to Ghanaians who have the perception that it is easy to amass wealth in politics,” he added.

Source: peacefmonline.com

Chief Justice probes allegations of judicial tampering in election petition

Information available to Myjoyonline.com indicates that the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood has instituted a probe into various allegations of judicial tampering in the recently decidedelection petition.

A source close to the Judicial Council of Ghana said the decision to probe the allegations was taken at an emergency meeting Wednesday, November 20, 2013.

The source said claims by dismissed Deputy Communications Minister, Victoria Hamah, that Gender and Social Protection Minister, Nana Oye Lithur may have played a role in securing a favourable verdict for President John Mahama, the Electoral Commission and the governing National Democratic Congress (the Respondents in the election petition), is one of three allegations to be investigated.

It said previous claims that the judiciary was interfered with in the matter of the election petition, brought by three leaders of the opposition NPP, challenging the validity of President John Mahama’s election, have been lumped together with Vicky Hamah’s claims and are now being investigated.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision affirming the validity of President Mahama’s election in the 2012 poll, the Free Press Online, published allegations that the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, had, acting on behalf of the president, bribed the nine-member panel to dismiss the petition.

The Asantehene denied the claim, just as Nana Oye Lithur did.

But the opposition New Patriotic Party, in the wake of Ms. Mahama’s claims which were contained in a leaked tape, petitioned the Chief Justice, to in the interest of protecting the sanctity of the judiciary, institute an administrative inquiry into the claims.

General Secretary of the NPP, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, said the denial of Nana Oye Lithur was not sufficient to allay the fears of Ghanaians that something untoward may have happened in the case.

He argued that since the former Deputy Minister was a member of government, her claims could not have been without basis and, therefore, should not be dismissed.

Our source said, in addition to Vicky Hamah’s claims, the other allegations are also being investigated.

More soon.

By Myjoyonline.com | Malik Abass Daabu

Ex-NPP MP vows to pursue election petition caseWhen the Supreme Court of Ghana ruled on August 29, this year, on the historic presidential election petition, bringing to an end eight months of legal tussle between the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), it was anticipated that electoral petitions of all forms, particularly those concerning parliamentary elections may have effectively come to a close.

This is based on the assumption that the evidence adduced at the Supreme Court by the petitioners was the same as that of the parliamentary candidates, who have gone to the various High Courts to challenge the results declared by the Electoral Commission in their respective constituencies.

It did not, therefore, come as a surprise when the Asawase Constituency candidate of the NPP, Nana Antwi Tawiah, decided to file to discontinue the case he had brought against the EC and the NDC candidate in a Kumasi High Court.

The Chronicle can, however, authoritatively report that the Ahafo North Constituency candidate of the opposition party, Mr. Richard Akuoko Adiyiah, is not disturbed by the Supreme Court ruling and therefore, not considering any move to withdraw the case, which is also pending before a Kumasi High Court.

The soft-spoken former MP has told the paper he has no intention to follow the path of his colleagues, as he believes in the solidity of his case and evidence before the High Court in Kumasi.

The NPP Candidate, who lost narrowly to his NDC opponent in last year’s election says he is ready to fight the case to its logical conclusion and prove to the whole world that the parliamentary results of the December 2012 elections in the Ahafo Ano North constituency was marred with massive fraud and irregularities.

Denying reports that NPP leadership had allegedly instructed all petitioners to discontinue their cases following the final judgment of the Supreme Court, Hon. Adiyiah, brimming with confidence, stated that he believes he has an incontrovertible evidence to prove his case in court.

“I have no intention to drop this case, not at all, look I have strong evidence of fraud and irregularities in my constituency and I will prove to the whole world,” a confident Hon. Adiyiah told this reporter in a telephone interview.

The defeated MP, Akuoko Adiyiah, is challenging the eligibility of the December 7 parliamentary election which he narrowly lost to his National Democratic Congress (NDC) opponent, Hon. Akwasi Adusei, who polled 18,841against 18,418 by the failed NPP candidate.

The former MP, per his statement of claim alleged that the election was marred with fraud and irregularities and is demanding that the results be cancelled.

Hon. Adiyiah contends that presidential elections are completely different from the parliamentary and that the fact that the Supreme Court ruled against the petitioners has nothing to do at all with his parliamentary case.

“Let’s not forget that in the case of presidential elections, they deal with percentages but in the case of parliamentary, just a single vote will be enough to change the results in favour of another candidate,” he stressed.

Citing the case of Tema West Constituency where Hon. Titus Glover won by a margin of less than 10 votes, Hon. Adiyiah noted that he is optimistic he can convince the court to change the results in his favour.

“My opponent Hon. Adusei, based on the status quo, won by less than 423 votes and I am seeking an annulment of over 9,000 votes which will eventually reduce the percentage of votes obtained by the NDC and increase that of his.

The case is currently before a Kumasi High Court presided over by Justice Roben Batu, pending hearing into an appeal filed by Counsel for the first respondent, Lawyer Mujeeb Abdul Rahman & Co., who filed an appeal against ruling by the court and have further raised objection about the legitimacy of the Counsel for the petitioner, Kwame Adom Appiah.

The petition initially suffered some setbacks and had to be moved to Accra upon instruction of the Chief Justice but has since been referred back to Kumasi for hearing. At the last sitting on Monday October 14, Counsel for the second respondent, the Electoral Commission, failed to make an appearance, compelling the court to adjourn hearing to somewhere November 21, 2013.

THE PETITION

In the 21-point petition filed by the defeated MP, he catalogued various forms of irregularities which he claims violated the credibility of the results announced by the second respondent, the Electoral Commission (EC) which declared the first respondent as the winner of the December 7, 2012 parliamentary election in the Ahafo Ano North constituency.

The petitioner claims that the election was generally marred by several irregularities including instances of voting without biometric verification, absence of presiding officers’ signatures on pink sheets.

The violations, the petitioner claims, also include aggregates of instances of over voting due to total votes in ballot box plus unused/spoilt ballots exceeding the number of ballots issued to polling stations and aggregate of instances of over voting due to total votes in the ballot box exceeding the number of ballots issued to voters on the polling station register.

The defeated MP averred in his petition that the total number of votes that were wrongfully, unlawfully and / or illegally added to valid votes cast amounted to 9,204. The petition further states “That when the Petitioner detected the anomalies he requested a copy of the data from the Biometric Verification machine but the EC District Officer asked the petitioner to seek legal advice.”

It further pointed out that on a second demand the EC official indicated to the petitioner that all the machines had been set to zero as the chips had been removed.

The petitioner, therefore, claims that these irregularities, when corrected, shall have significant impact on the declaration of the result by changing the figures purported to have been bagged by the so-called winner of constituency parliamentary elections from 18,841 votes to 13,031 valid votes with percentage strength of 45.78 of the total votes cast.

On the other hand, the petitioner avers that the correction, when done by the court, will reduce his votes from 18, 418 to 15,122 valid votes representing a percentage strength of 53.12 of the valid votes cast, making him the winner of the December 7 election.

The petitioner is, therefore, seeking three reliefs from the court including a declaration that the irregularities practised by the EC officials who were in charge of the Ahafo Ano North Constituency affected the authenticity of the election and that the first respondent had not been validly elected as a Member of Parliament for the constituency.

Source: The Ghanaian Chronicle

JJ & Wife Grace Club 100 Awards

When Mrs Mawuena Trebarh took the bold decision to change the structure and pattern of the 2013 Ghana Club 100 event she could not have known that she would be making the impact that she did. Putting the usual business community aside, the event was graced by the Founder of the NDC – whose regime founded the GIPC - former President Rawlings, his wife and Former Prime Minister P.V. Obeng who chaired the occasion!

The arrival and participation of many high-profile dignitaries – both local and foreign – and most importantly former President Rawlings at this year’s GIPC Club 100 gave a seal of approval to the 2013 event. 

Interestingly, the GIPC was established when Former President Rawlings was at the helm of affairs as Ghana’s CEO and yet this is the first time he honoured the company’s flagship event. 

Coincidentally, the event’s theme, “Promoting Good Corporate Governance and Innovative Entrepreneurship” is in line with President Rawlings' ideals of probity and accountability.

The former President was accompanied by his wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and both gave awards. And in her usual self, Mrs Rawlings brought her dancing heels – she danced outstandingly!

Last Friday night starting from 7 pm, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre celebrated Corporate Ghana, in a much anticipated 13th edition of the prestigious Ghana Club 100 awards at the State Banquet Hall! 

The other highlight of the evening was the changed format which saw a panel discussion on the topic “The Economic Integration of Africa -The role of the private sector” with Dr. Thomas Mensah – Chairman of Lightwave and Wireless Systems Corporation, USA (via Skype conference call) , Mr. William Olukoya, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Symbion Power LLC. USA, Professor Yaw Nyarko, Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the Development Research Institute, Dept. of Economics - New York University USA and Mr. Paul Talley CEO of Vanu Africa. The panel discussion was moderated in a BBC style by ace journalist Mr. Komla Dumor, Senior Broadcaster with the BBC, United Kingdom.

The emphasis on corporate governance, according to GIPC, is that the presence of strong governance standards provides better access to capital and aids economic growth. Properly designed rules of governance should focus on implementing the values of fairness, transparency, accountability, and responsibility to both shareholders and stakeholders.

When asked of her views of this year's event, Mrs. Trebarh stated that she was humbled by the presence of former President Rawlings, his Wife as well as the Chair for the occasion Mr. P.V. Obeng and the other dignitaries. She went on to emphasise that "there is no doubt that one of the greatest achievements of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) is the introduction of Ghana Club 100 (GC 100) in 1998. The GC 100 is made up of the top 100 high performing companies in Ghana from both public and private sectors. The listing, grading and awarding is carried out annually during which companies who make the mark join the list whiles those that are unable to, are eliminated.

The brand has aimed mainly at introducing a system of ranking the top 100 companies in Ghana while encouraging and nurturing the private sector to develop and grow to compete internationally. The Centre believed, and still believes, that this would cultivate the character and confidence required by businesses in Ghana for the global environment.

When asked about the choice of this year’s theme, she went on to say that it was important for Ghana to accept that there is a global yardstick with which standards of operation and practice must be set, and with “Good Corporate Governance and Innovative Entrepreneurship” it is important for us to note that potential investors will always be interested in seeing evidence of a company that is not just successful in terms of client base and revenue but also in terms of operational and best governance practices. Good corporate Governance is therefore a necessary ingredient if our companies want to be competitive in the global market.

Mrs Trebarh further said "It is also worthy to note that the dynamic and competitive nature of global business means investors are only attracted to well organized and positively ambitious companies because they have a greater potential of success and good profit margins".

The GIPC Boss went on to suggest: "We need to put our house in order to attract more of the scarce Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in the market now. According to the 2013 World Investment Report by UNCTAD, Ghana attracted just 0.24% of the total world inflow of FDI. The report also states that FDI into West Africa declined in 2012 as compared to 2011. FDI flows to West Africa declined by 5 per cent to $16.8 billion from $16.1 billion in 2011. Fortunately Ghana is reported to have maintained the $3.3 billion it attracted in 2012. We have a lot of work to do if we are to increase these percentages and we at the Centre believe with the collective efforts of both public and private institutions, we can be partners in prosperity. To ensure that we attract a fair share of the Global FDI, we have put together a strategy, which is based on three pillars, Image, Experience and Tangible results".

She also stated that "Ghana needs to project and maintain the right Image and Reputation of both the GIPC and the country as a whole. It is therefore imperative that we encourage the adoption of best practices in all aspects of our business lives if we wish to attract the relevant and strategic FDI into the country. In addition we are ensuring that every investor and anyone else who influences decisions has only positive experience where execution of commercial opportunities in Ghana are concerned.

“Finally, we wish to translate direct investments (both foreign and domestic) into jobs, infrastructure, high impact interventions on critical economic indicators and key factors driving investment decisions."

Off the back of a tough 2013 which has seen political court cases and power-related problems persisting as well as new appointees settling into offices, the GIPC's bold changes can only be commended!

Source: myjoyonline

Abraaj Group acquires Ghana Home Loans

One of Ghana’s leading providers of residential mortgages, Ghana Home Loans has been acquired by a Dubai based private equity firm.

This is the second major acquisition by Abraaj in Ghana in five months.  In June, it acquired 100 percent stake in Fan Milk International, the parent company of Fan Milk Ghana.

In a statement, Abraaj said it has invested in two of the fastest growing sectors-real estate and financial services in Ghana.

The acquisition is the latest example of private equity firms looking to Africa for deals, drawn by a growing middle class and increased consumer spending.

Ghana Home Loans is focused mainly on offering residential mortgages for first-time buyers, buy to let, equity release and home completion products. Abraaj gave no details on its payment for the stake.

Founded in 2002, the Dubai firm has about 7.5 billion dollars in assets.

Source: myjoyonline

TUC ON WAR PATH

As Ghanaian workers go red over utility hikes

Angry Ghanaian workers will from Tuesday put on red arm bands and fly red flags in their various work places as the pressure on government to announce a reduction in utility prices continue unabated.

This was announced by the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress Mr Kofi Asamoah after a marathon union conference held, Monday, to agree on the next line of action to take in protest over the rising cost of living as a result of the utility price hikes.

TUC had issued a ten-day ultimatum to government to reduce the 150 per cent hikes in water and electricity. The deadline for the ultimatum is Tuesday, October 22, 2013.

After the marathon meeting, Kofi Asamoah told Joy News' Francisca Kakra Forson, they have taken into consideration the appeal by the president, John Mahama for the organised labour to exercise restraint as the technical committee submit an interim report on the utility prices.

With that report set to be ready in a week, Asamoah said the workers will put red arm bands and fly red flags at their various work places to register their displeasure over the increases.

He said they would rather have the government stagger the hikes in a way that will not drastically affect organised labour.

He did not say what the workers will do in the case government does not announce any reduction in utility prices, even though strikes and demonstration may not be far-fetched.

Meanwhile, barring any last minute intervention, members of the Trades Union Congress in Kumasi will hit the streets in protest over what they say is the growing hardship caused by the 150 per cent hikes in utility prices.

This was confirmed by the Ashanti Region chairman of the TUC, Kofi Asare Essiamah. Government is however appealing to the workers to exercise restraint.

A deputy Information Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu told Joy News the government is ready to dialogue with workers to find an amicable solution to the problem.

"Ultimatum and threats do not help much," he stated, adding, dialogue is the key.

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Editorial

TEACHERS’ HONOUR; A WORTHY FEATHER IN THE CAP

It is worthy of recognition that many teachers in Ghanaian schools, although in the face of scarcity - want and need precipitating hardship and not-too-good condition of service, are still striving to give off the best in them.

The Republic newspaper would also add voice to those giving kudos to the nation’s crop of teachers who have, against all odds, distinguished themselves in the service of nation and humanity.

We should also help give three loud cheers to Mr. Simon Jude Yifaa, the 2012 overall Ghana’s best teacher and his two runners up, Mr. Tia Yahaya and Mrs. Mariama Antwi-Adjei for onerous deed in the teaching field.

This paper would, however, add up to calls on other teachers to emulated the patriotism of the three and many others winning various awards in this year’s annual event.

We are saying this because, in many schools today, teachers have become more business-minded than the core duty they are expected to deliver.

When some of the Ghanaian schoolteachers of today have turned their classrooms into the stalls of petty trading where they sell all sorts of goods, including chocolate, books and sometimes, funeral cloth and shoes, it is refreshing to note that others have chosen to bring to bear the best in them, winning them, not only the material honours, but the heart of the nation too.

Some of the teachers would even demand that the pupils and students, especially those approaching their final year classes or examinations, as a matter of necessity attend school on Saturdays and Sundays before they could be able to teach and learn what would sail them through in flying colours. This, the paper thinks is below the teaching belt.

The teacher exudes reverence, discipline and respect among the student and pupil population, but today some teachers stoop so low to even sharing cigarette and partake in more than one social vices with the pupils they are to ‘bring up’.

The Republic would also congratulate government for sustaining the Annual teachers’ awards and giving out what has been the 19^th edition of it this year.

The package going with the awards has also been transformed positively to the enticement of the teachers – for given out 3-bedroom house is not only commendable but it is also very inviting.

However, The Republic would see it as more satisfying if government considers as priority, teachers’ salary issue, which they always cry over, leading to unnecessary strikes that create interregnum in almost every year’s educational calendar, as we view the government/teacher/education-success as give and take affair.

Once again, we say three great cheers to the nation’s illustrious teachers who put nation first.

2013 HAJJ IS SUCCESSFUL

By Zulaihatu Abubakar

The National Chairman of the Ghana Hajj Committee, Mr. Ibrahim Abdul-Rauf Tanko, has revealed that, this year’s hajj pilgrimage has been a success, although, with minor challenges.

According to him, the problem they encountered had to do with pilgrims being escorted with many people to the hajj village. This, he said, created a major problem for them in term of crowd control.

“I can confidently say that this year’s hajj has been successful apart from late submission of application which has prevented some from getting their visas; but their monies were refunded to them back. Everything went on smoothly and we are expecting them back by the end of this month God willing”, he added.

He said, 5,430 Ghanaian Muslims were airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to observe this year’s Hajj.

Alhaji Tanko advised Ghanaians who wished to observe next year’s pilgrimage to pay on time, in order to avoid encountering this year’s similar situation, adding that “this helps to make our process smoothly without encountering any challenges”.  

The first flight of this year’s hajj departed Ghana on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 with 319 pilgrims. This year’s Hajj has recorded minimal challenges unlike previous years’.

The Ministry of Health assigned some medical officers to accompany the 2013 Hajj pilgrims in order to ensure they get urgent treatment if any of them contracts the deadly corona-virus in the Middle East.

Vice President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur who saw the first batch of pilgrims off, advised them to be of good behavior as they serve as representatives of the country during the Hajj.

Zoomlion Workers Up In Arms

·    Over 6 Months’ Unpaid Salary

Story: W.K. Adusu

Workers of the Ghana’s Waste management giant, Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, La Dade Kotopon (LaDMA) branch, are up in arms. They are angry at the Company for holding on to their five and six (6) months’ pay.

The workers, majority of whom are women have been cladding in red-band and were bitter about the manner in which the Company was treating matters of their welfare.

Some of them, who were shedding tears, said it is sad the company does not regard them as human beings working for it.

According to them, they also have children who are in school, and now that schools have resumed after vacation, they would have to pay fees and buy books for their wards; yet, the Zoomlion company is refusing to pay them their money for 5 and 6 months’ now.  

With insults and curses on the management of the Zoomlion; and their immediate boss at the LaDMA, who is only known as Mr. Kpanja, they posed a number of questions demanding answers for them.

They disclosed that they take Gh¢100.00 each person as their monthly salary; and queried that since the company has refused all this long to pay them what does the Company expect them (workers) to eat, wear, and in some cases, to pay transport fare with to get to their work places to perform their duties.

The workers numbering over 300 converged at the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly; demanding for their full pay and not one month out of 5 or 6 months the Company owes them. They say they need everything to enable them settle their debts they also owe people out there.

LaDMA To Issue Over 4000 Nat’l IDs To Residents

...As NIA faces Problem with its Biometric Machines 

Story: W.K. Adusu

National Identification Authority in collaboration with the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA), has so far issued some one thousand eight hundred (1,800) National Identification Cards out of four thousand (4,000) ID Cards, to the area’s applicants within 4 weeks amidst challenges.

It emerged during the exercise that there were some institutions in the Municipality who are not prepared to assist the Municipal Assembly to serve the indigene or help to mitigate its minor problems facing the people.  

The ongoing exercise which is taking place at the premises of the Presbyterian church in the heart of the La township; due to certain teething problems has left applicants queue in the scotching sun for hours every day in attempts to receive; but many are disappointed after going through the long queuing process but failing to find their cards.

These disappointed persons are then referred to the National Identification Headquarters at Shiashie, a suburb of Accra for the collection.  

The Republic gathered that the applicants who were normally provided with canopies through the magnanimity of the Presby church, as they (applicants) go through the card distributing process, were this time denied that service, because the Church was demanding payment of Gh¢10.00 for each canopy on daily basis, which the service providers couldn’t afford.

The source added that, the church claims the canopies belong to the youth group of the church, and it was the group that demanding Gh¢30.00 for three canopies.    

This paper gathered that an elderly woman of her sixties fainted earlier while queuing in the scotching sun for hours;  collapsed and sustained bruises on her body, at the premises of Presbyterian Church; and was rushed to a near-by clinic.

In a telephone interview, the MCE, Madam Rita Odoley Sowah, told this Reporter, the assembly, has been renting canopies from the same church whose premises the exercise was going on.

The MCE, seems not understand why the church should allow the people of La queue in the sun for hours to go through process of receiving their National Identification Cards.

She was of the view that the church providing canopies freely for the exercise could be part of its social responsibility; but the Assembly pays for them (canopies).

Hon Member of Parliament for the area, Nii Amasah Namoale, said the impasse has been resolved with the church and its youth group, because the church insisted taken money. This was agreed that at the end of the exercise, the bill for the use of the canopies would be sent to the MP, to pay.

On this score, the use of the canopies started again yesterday, Monday, October 7, 2013. This brought a kind of relief to the La Municipal Chief Executive.

The Republic further noted that in spite of the aforementioned problem, the NIA officials are also faced with challenges of the biometric machines’ unable to identify the fingerprints of some applicants.

And with the support of the NADMO staff, the NIA serves over six hundred people daily, with just one computer.

Some queuing applicants told The Republic that, they were yeaning to have their national identification cards; but the exercise was not moving they way they expected it.

Others also were disappointed that after a long queue the biometric machine could not pick their fingers, although their information and photographs were on the machine, whilst others were asked to go to Shiashie for their cards.     

INVEST MORE INTO YAM RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT - IITA

By Zulaihatu Abubakar

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), one of the worlds’s leading research partners working to find solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, has held its first global conference in Accra, calling for more investments into yam research and development.

According to organisers, increasing funding for research and development on yam will help unleash the potential of the crop, improve livelihoods, create jobs and enhance food security in Africa.

The Global Conference on Yams provides a platform for stakeholders to explore recent innovations in yam improvement, share lessons learned, identify research and development needs, and develop global alliances.

Researchers, policymakers, and representatives from the private sector have noted that, recent investments in yam research are paying off, and demonstrating the crop’s greater potential than what is being realized.

In his address, the Director General of IITA, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, noted that sustaining and enhancing funding support for yam research and development backed by political will are needed to unlock the crop’s full potential.

He praised the government of Japan, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD), for supporting IITA on yam research and called on researchers to develop a vision for the crop.

Known as the ‘king of crops’ because of its contribution to incomes and food security, yam, also has high cultural value especially in traditional marriages in Africa.

However, the crop is under-researched due to low funding; and this has been limiting the potential of the crop for alleviating poverty.

A deputy minister for Agriculture, Hon. Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, who represented his sector Minister, noted that, if the agricultural sector is able to attract more investments to advance and expand yam research globally, the anticipated benefits and impacts will be quite enormous.

According to him, there was a need to “soberly rethink through research-and-development, and invest our limited resources judiciously to ensure best results.”

The Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, noted that in spite of the contribution to food security and incomes, African crops such as yam have not commanded the attention they deserved, and have as a result remained underutilized.

“Yams are unexploited in several aspects: actual yields are lower than potential, utilization is low for instance in animal feeds, and potential for diversification of yam products among others is unexploited,” he said.

Commending IITA for its contribution to yam research and development, Dr Akinbamijo said that the key to unlocking the potential of yam lies in science and technology as well as empowerment of the producers, and urged marketers, and consumers to take advantage of what research offers.

According to him, “the challenge is to mobilize the investment required to conduct research and develop the yam value chain into a profitable enterprise for small and large-scale operators alike.”

Dr. Robert Asiedu, IITA Director for Western Africa, and the Convener of the Global Conference on Yam said that, the event provided a platform for consultation and development of a global strategy for improving the yam sector based on genetic enhancement; crop protection and mitigation of risks due to pests, diseases and climate change; conservation of genetic resources; prevention of postharvest losses; improved seed systems; crop diversification; and enhancing industrial potential of yam and improved market access.

The ultimate goals of the event are to establish: (i) a global alliance for yam improvement; (ii) gain more investments to advance and expand yam R4D agenda globally, and (iii) contribute to the strengthening of R&D capacity and human resource development for sustainable yam improvement.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty.

Its award-winning research for development (R4D) approach addresses the development needs of tropical countries.

IITA works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is a non-profit-making organization founded in 1967 in Nigeria and governed by a Board of Trustees.

It also works on crops like cowpea, soybean, banana/plantain, cassava, and maize. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.