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Tag: Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

  • NDC’s claim that Akufo-Addo is using military to overturn election results ‘false, unfounded’ Nitiwul

    The Minister of Defence, Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, has debunked claims made by the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, that President Akufo-Addo is attempting to use the Ghana Armed Forces to “steal the victory” of the biggest opposition party in the 2020 general elections.

    While addressing the media on Tuesday, 8 December 2020, Mr Mahama said: “Some of what is happening is unacceptable and Nana Akufo-Addo continues to show credentials that are very undemocratic: You cannot use the military to try to overturn some of the results in constituencies that we have won and, so, we would resist any attempt to subvert the sovereign will of the people. The right thing must be done”.

    The Ministry of Defence, in a statement issued by Mr Nitiwul on Wednesday, 9 December 2020, however, dismissed the claims as “false and without any foundation”.

    The statement indicated that: “For the 2020 general elections, the military is deployed to support the Ghana Police Service and not to engage in politics”.

    “The general public is, therefore, implored to ignore the malicious propaganda against the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) but rather co-operate with them and the other security agencies”.

    The Ministry of Defence also reiterated that “the Ghana Armed Forces is a very professional institution and its members are well-respected across the entire world for their professionalism, service to mankind and neutrality”.

    In view of this, the ministry noted that “it will not accept any unsubstantiated allegation against the GAF as a body or any of its members without proof”.

    Source: Class FM

  • Concede, call Mahama and congratulate him – Asiedu Nketia tells Akufo-Addo

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo to concede defeat in the ongoing presidential election.

    His comment comes on the back of the NDC projecting a win for its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

    Addressing the press on Tuesday, Asiedu Nketia charged President Akufo-Addo to place a congratulatory call to John Mahama for what he describes as a projected win.

    “He [President Nana Addo] should call His Excellency John Mahama and congratulate him,” he said at the third in the series of press conferences held by the opposition party after Monday’s polls.

    Mr Nketia also accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of conniving with the Electoral Commission to turn the tables round in its favour to take over Parliament.

    He has therefore urged persons who have voted for NDC parliamentary candidates to ensure that ballots are protected to safeguard the seats they have already acquired in Parliament.

    “I believe that the NPP is in a very uncomfortable situation because whatever they do, it is clear that NDC controls Parliament now so that is why they want the Electoral Commission to try and find ways to try to collate results that have been declared for our parliamentary candidate. That is why I am calling on the electorate to rise and protect their votes.”

    Ghana’s voting ended on Monday in 38,622 polling stations within the 16 regions across Ghana.

    They cast their ballots in the general election to elect a president and 275 members of the parliament.

    The voting process was generally peaceful except for two persons sustaining gunshot wounds after a shooting incident in one of the polling stations in Kasoa.

    The tampering of presidential ballot papers in some polling stations in two constituencies was also witnessed, but the EC reacted swiftly.

    The EC has assured the public it will declare the results within 24 hours after the end of voting.

    Click here to follow our Ghana Election Page for all the figures and results from the constituencies.

    You can also click here to follow our livestream of Election Desk for all the press conferences, updates and interviews on the elections.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Vote for a second term for Akufo-Addo with purposes – CVM

    Ghanaians are demanding a second term for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to expand and further strengthen the Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy.

    A statement signed by Mr Razak Kojo Opoku, Founder and President of the Concern Voters Movement (CVM) and copied to the Ghana News on Saturday said, a vote for President Akufo-Addo is a vote for the completion of the One-District-One-Factory, the One-Village-One-Dam Policies, the Ghana Card Registration, the Railway Infrastructure Policy, the building of Kumasi International Airport, the continuation and expansion of the Economy and Sustaining the peace and stability of the Country.

    Others are the completion of the various road projects started by Akufo-Addo’s administration and his predecessors, continuation of the Planting for Food and Jobs Policy, the Housing Scheme and Projects, continuation of provision of jobs for Ghanaians especially the youth, provision reliable supply of electricity, prevention of Dumsor from reoccurring and Sustain the payment of Teacher’s trainees’ allowance.

    The rest are Provision and enabling environment for the private sector to flourish, Continuation to provide seed capital to the youth who desire to set up their own businesses, Completion of building of solid institutions, systems to fight corruption, Sustaining the payment of Nursing trainees allowance, completion the digitization of the economy and usher Ghana into full Cashlite Society.

    It said the NPP and Ghanaians were demanding another four years with a purpose and good intentions.

    Source: GNA

  • Salis Yakubu: Man who recorded $40,000 bribery video opens up

    Salis Yakubu Atsuluho, the investigative journalist whose alleged recorded video has birthed the $40,000 bribery scandal has given a detailed account of events leading up to the meeting with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and why he recorded the encounter with the President.

    Yakubu disclosed that the meeting with the president was recorded in July 2017 and that he was there as a brother of Alhaji Abass, the Executive Director of the Urban Roads.

    He revealed in an interview with Kevin Taylor that the donation to Nana Akufo-Addo by Abass Awolu was made to buy his protection from the President.

    Revealing why he recorded the encounter with the president, Salis said that in his bid to avoid being fired, Alhaji Abass, who sponsored the NPP campaign in 2016 paid to some intermediaries, with an assurance to get him to the president but they never honoured their promise.

    Salis said that he took the recording as an insurance policy on the blind side of Alhaji Abass so that in the event the President wanted to fire him, he will use it to blackmail him.

    He disclosed that Dr Baffour Adjei Bawuah who eventually managed to get them to the presidency was given GH¢10,000 for his services.

    He also mentioned Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr Bawuah, and Fawzia, the wife of Alhaji Abas,s as those who were present when he recorded the video.

    He confirmed claims by Sammy Gyamfi and Kennedy Agyapong that the death of Ahmed Suale was on grounds of mistaken identity as he was the one they were after.

    He mentioned the name of some government officials and NPP bigwigs who he suspects were behind the murder of Ahmed Suale and talked about attempts on his life.

    Salis in the over one-hour interview spoke about his relationship with the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo and Kennedy Agyapong.

    He also mentioned the First Lady as the person used by some contractors to lobby Nana Akufo-Addo to fire Alhaji Abass.

    GhanaWeb cannot independently verify the authenticity of any of the allegations made in the video below.

    Watch the full interview below:

    https://youtu.be/nGbLSMBPHnY

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We rest not until Nana Addo is declared president on December 7 – Three Northerners group

    A Group by name Three Northerners, which was created by northerners who are based in the southern part of the country ( Kumasi, Accra, Cape Coast, Takoradi et al) has made a strong case for the retainment of the Nana Addo led administration.

    The group which is made up of members from over 17 northern dialects have come together to campaign for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to retain power for the good people of the Northern Region

    Earlier today the group held a conference at Kumasi to voice out how former President John Mahama disappointed Northerners.

    Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Ismail Azuma popularly known as Y2K who doubles as Vice Chairman and Operations Manager of the group explained why the NPP should be given another four years.

    “We came all the way from Kumasi and Accra to campaign for NPP to retain power, we want our people from the North to know how the current President is bringing about progress and development in the Northern part of the country,” he said.

    “We voted former President Mahama to come to power because we knew that coming from the north he was best placed to understand our problems and challenges. But upon his coming to power nothing was done to address our problems.

    We are telling the former president to forgive us, is not about him been our brother but is about who can help develop the northern part of the country for us .”He opined.

    Mr Ismail added that as a group they were going all over the country to campaign for the NPP especially in Bawku, Wa, Tamale, for a house-to-house campaign and indeed were really grateful to His Excellency Nana Addo for initiating the free SHS, NABCO amongst others.

    Source: Abdul Basit Yakub Ouedraogo, Contributor

  • Kwabena Yeboah appeals to President Akufo-Addo for bus for SWAG

    The President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana, Kwabena Yeboah has appealed to the Minister of Youth and Sports Isaac Kwame Asiamah to use his high office to prevail on the President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo provide the Association with a decent means of Transportation.

    Delivering his speech at the 45th MTN-SWAG awards at the Swiss -Spirit Alisa Hotel, Mr Kwabena Yeboah said having blazed the trail of Sportswriting in Ghana Over a half-century, mobility has been a major debility to executing their mandate, and believes only a more decent means of transportation can help alleviate this plight.

    “My lordship, permit me to state an age-long debility and prostration of the Ghana Sports Writers Association of Ghana. The absence of a reliable vehicle to ease the transportation of members for events and programs”. The SWAG president addressed members at the event.

    “On this special occasion, may I urge my very good friend the Hon. Minister for youth and sports Hon Isaac Kwame Asiamah to use his very good office to prevail to our sports-loving President to consent to our humble request”.

    The Sports Writers Association of Ghana was formed in 1968 having existed through all Governments of Ghana while providing meaningful sports content, and aiding the development of Sports in Ghana.

    SWAG is noted for highlighting, and joining forces with various state institutions to churn the course of Sports development, and has seen some of its members right to the high office of Ministers of State.

    The SWAG awards, a scheme that celebrates the achievement of Sports memb and Women in Ghana is the longest existing awards in Ghana running for 45 years.

    Source: SWAG Ghana

  • ‘Excellent WASSCE results have shamed free SHS critics, naysayers’ Akufo-Addo

    The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has applauded the first batch of beneficiaries of the Free Senior High School policy for their excellent showing in the 2020 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    According to President Akufo-Addo, “I am reliably informed that the WASSCE results of Aburi Girls Senior High School, and, indeed, of all 2020 SHS graduates, was extremely impressive. Those who claimed that the policy was not achievable must be very ashamed now. I will shelve that conversation for now so we deal with it another day.

    The President continued, “However, I wish to congratulate all the students for their brilliant performance in WASSCE examinations,” President Akufo-Addo said.

    President Akufo-Addo made this known on Monday, 23rd November 2020, when he addressed party faithful and traditional rulers at Aburi, on day 2 of his 2-day tour of the Eastern Region.

    Indeed, the 2020 results of the WASSCE candidates is the only year in the past six (6) years that more than fifty percent (50%) of candidates who sat the examination obtained A1-C6 in all core subjects.

    Further analysis of the 2020 results revealed that performances in Mathematics and English Language were the highest, recording 65.71 and 57.34 per cent, respectively. Social Studies and Integrated Science recorded 64.31 and 52.53 per cent, respectively, the checks further indicated.

    The data also shows that about 60% of the 342,500 candidates who wrote the WASSCE, representing over 200,000, scored between A1 and C6 in their best six subjects, including English and Mathematics, which qualifies them for tertiary education.

    Source: presidency.gov.gh

  • If Ive not disappointed you, give me four more Akufo-Addo begs Ghanaians

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked Ghanaians to give him another term if the work he has done so far is not disappointing.

    The President was addressing a rally at Anyinam in the Atiwa East Constituency in the Eastern Region as part of his two-day tour of the Eastern Region.

    He noted that since Ghana started under the fourth republic, the people of the Nkawkaw Constituency and Atiwa West Constituency have been loyal to the New Patriotic Party(NPP) and therefore used the opportunity to thank them for their unwavering support since 1992.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo used the opportunity to call on them to vote massively for him in the impending election.

    “Since we started voting in Ghana under the fourth republican constitution, Nkawkaw and the Kwahu state have stayed with the NPP and I am here to say a big thank for your loyalty,” the President said.

    “I wish to further submit to you that if my work over the last four years has been pleasing to you and I have not disappointed you, then I plead with you to vote massively for me to continue all the good works I have started,” he added further.

    Source: My News GH

  • Akufo-Addo took a risk in appointing Martin Amidu – Kabila

    Former CPP Acting General Secretary, James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly called Kabila has waded into discussions regarding the resignation of Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu.

    Mr. Amidu announced his resignation on Monday, November 16, 2020, citing reasons that he and his Deputy had not been paid their emoluments and benefits since assuming office, that the President has been interfering in his work, and also recounting a traumatic experience he endured when he released his Agyapa Royalties corruption risk assessment report among others.

    He also revealed that he had been receiving threats following the report.

    To Kabila, Martin Amidu has disappointed him because the President took a risk appointing him into office.

    “To have appointed Mr. Martin Amidu, knowing very well the very recent history of the man with President Mills and NDC in government, President Akufo-Addo was risking. But the risk he took attracted applause from a lot of people except the NDC people.”

    He wondered why he (Amidu) would resign over threats when he once said, “he is not afraid of death and that the day you die, you will never know you ever lived”.

    “Indeed if there was a threat, will the resignation take away the threats?” he queried.

    He also slammed Martin Amidu for his writing of letters to address issues when he was the Special Prosecutor and educated him on undercover work.

    “Undercover work must be done quietly, seriously, expeditiously and with hard facts. But we don’t do this and it turns into writing of letters, this will be the end result. However, this shouldn’t discourage us because it is not this that will determine the 2020 elections,” he stated on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”.

    Watch video below:

    Source: Peace FM

  • Provide details of death threats to Police for investigations Akufo-Addo to Amidu

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu to assist the security agencies with all relevant information regarding the death threats on his life, for further action.

    Martin Amidu resigned as Special Prosecutor on Monday, November 16, citing interference from the presidency and threats on his life as some of his reasons.

    Though the president has denied the allegations of interference, Mr. Amidu insists his work on the corruption risk assessment on the Agyapa Royalties agreement was interfered with by the president.

    He reiterated his life has come under threat since then.

    Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, said in a Facebook post on Thursday, November 19 that “The former Special Prosecutor is also encouraged to assist the police with details of persons who have made these threats against his life, so that they can be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the country.”

    Mr Akufo-Addo has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Martin Amidu, police protection over claims of death threats on his life.

    Mr Eugene Arhin announced the president has directed that Mr. Amidu be protected 24/7.

    “The attention of the Office of the President has been drawn to claims by Mr Martin Amidu, the former Special Prosecutor, of threats made against his life since his resignation from office.

    “The President has, thus, directed the Inspector General of Police to provide Mr Amidu immediately with 24-hour police protection.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Government to re-wire markets in Accra Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said plans are afoot to undertake a massive re-wiring exercise of all markets in the capital, Accra.

    He believes this would be one of the surest ways to address the perennial fire outbreaks in markets in the city.

    President Akufo-Addo said this when he visited the Odawna market where fire razed down the pedestrian shopping mall in another fire incident on Wednesday dawn.

    “A decision has been made to re-wire all the markets in Accra…” he said.

    Meanwhile, the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), according to the President, will make available funds to support traders who had their wares destroyed by fire at the Pedestrian Shopping Centre close to the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange in Accra.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • President visits torched Odawna pedestrian shopping mall

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Wednesday took a tour of the Pedestrian Shopping Mall at Odawna, near the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange in Accra, which was razed by fire at dawn.

    “This is really sad. It is a big tragedy,” President Akufo-Addo remarked after accessing the damage and the huge loss to shop owners and traders at the Mall.

    He said the authorities were in the process of identifying and compiling the details of the victims to inform how government could provide assistance to them to restart their businesses.

    “We would see what government could do to begin the process of rehabilitating the people,” he said.

    The President disclosed that government had started the process to ensure that all the markets in Accra were rewired to forestall fire outbreaks.

    He urged the authorities to keep the people informed about the steps government was taking to alleviate their plight.

    Madam Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, the Executive Director of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), told the President that her office had begun the process of providing financial support to the traders and shop owners affected.

    She said the Municipal Chief Executive of Klottey Korle, Nii Adjei Tawiah, was providing the data of affected traders who were expected to receive some assistance to commence their businesses by next week.

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo refutes Special Prosecutors allegations

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has controverted allegations by the country’s first Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, that he (President’s) interfered in his work.

    A nine-paged response issued on Tuesday by Nana Asante Bediatuo, Secretary to the President, in reaction to the issues raised by Mr Amidu in his resignation letter, said his submissions in the letter “was most regrettable” because at no point had the President sought to interfere in his work.

    “At the outset, it must be made clear that throughout your tenure as Special Prosecutor, neither the President nor and member of his government interfered or sought to interfere with your work,” Nana Bediatuo said.

    The President’s response also covered issues on budgetary allocations, financial disbursements and accommodation search made during Mr Amidu’s time as the Special Prosecutor.

    Read full statement HERE:

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo orders Amidus 2-year emoluments to be paid

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has instructed the Chief of Staff Madam Akosua Frema Opare to ensure that all the emoluments due to the immediate past Special Prosecutor are paid to him.

    The President issued the instruction in a letter written on his behalf by the Chief of Staff, accepting the resignation of Mr Amidu as the Special Prosecutor.

    “The president has directed me to ensure that all emoluments and benefits due you under the law are paid to you accordingly.

    “The president thanks you for your service to the State and wishes you the best in your future endeavours,” the letter said.

    Mr Amidu resigned on Monday, November 16 after citing a number of reasons.

    He said in his letter to the president: “It is essential for me to state for the purpose of the records, and contrary to public perceptions, that my appointment letter was received on 5th February 2020 (almost two (2)-years after my appointment).

    “The copy addressees made no efforts to honour any of the conditions of appointment in terms of emoluments and benefits of the appointment ever since my warrant of appointment was issued on 23rd February 2018 to the date of my letter of resignation. The Deputy Special Prosecutor has also not been paid any emoluments since her appointment, and there is the need to redress that situation for her now that I am out of the way.

    “The events of 12th November 2020 removed the only protection I had from the threats and plans directed at me for undertaking the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption assessment report and dictates that I resign as the Special Prosecutor immediately.

    “I should not ordinarily be announcing my resignation to the public myself but the traumatic experience I went through from 20th October 2020 to 2nd November 2020 when I conveyed in a thirteen (13) page letter the conclusions and observations on the analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment on the Report On Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions and Other Matters Related Thereto to the President as Chairman of the National Security Council cautions against not bringing my resignation as the Special Prosecutor with immediate to the notice of the Ghanaian public and the world.

    “The reaction I received for daring to produce the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption report convinces me beyond any reasonable doubt that I was not intended to exercise any independence as the Special Prosecutor in the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and recovery of assets of corruption. My position as the Special Prosecutor has consequently become clearly untenable.”

    Source: 3 News

  • You have done well – President commends Foreign Minister

    President Akufo-Addo, has performed a ceremony to commission an ultra-modern passport office on Friday in Accra.

    In a brief speech, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, commended the “dynamic” Sector Minister, Ayorkor Botchwey, for her contribution towards the construction and completion of the edifice.

    He was impressed with the work of the Minister in ensuring the transformation of the operations of the office under the Ministry and bringing to bare innovative ways in acquiring passports.

    In what looked like a clear approval and appreciation of the Minister’s work over the period, the President, turned to her by saying in the Ga dialect “You have done well”.

    The plush head office sited on the Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue at Ridge near the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and the British High Commission, is a three level purpose-built edifice, with ancillary facilities such as a meeting room, cafeteria for staff and a well-structured record and archival room among others.

    It is expected that the new edifice, will provide the most conducive and enabling environment for both staff and prospective applicants

    The acquisition of passports, has been made easy and brought to the doorsteps of Ghanaians, following the establishment of Passport Application Centres in some regional capitals namely Kumasi, Tamale, Koforidua, Tema Hope, Takoradi and Sunyani, as well as Premium Passport Application Centres (PACs) in Accra and Kumasi to provide expedited services.

    There are also processes in place to renovate all existing regional Passport Application Centres, to give them a facelift and improve service delivery.



    Two other PACs will soon be commissioned in Central Regional capital Cape Coast and Wa in the Upper West Region. The two events which will be held in the coming days, will also include a new Premium Centre in Tamale.

    Already, the Ministry has extended biometric passport services to Ghana’s Diplomatic Missions abroad and so a total of 22 of such Missions, will commence the issuance of biometric passports by the second quarter of next year, 2021.

    In a speech, the sector Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, said the commissioning of the office is as a result of critical reforms and interventions taken by the Akufo-Addo government to significantly transform the operations of the Passport Office.

    The continuous transformation has helped eliminate business of middlemen notoriously known as goro boys, who until recently paraded at the environs of the Office searching for desperate applicants to do business with by charging them exorbitant fees.

    “We have successfully implemented the online passport application system, thereby phasing out the manual application system, which hitherto was the norm.

    These interventions have eliminated all the difficulties associated with acquisition of passports, notably turnaround time for delivery of passports, document fraud and middlemen popularly known as goro boys”.

    Madam Botchwey, was particularly concerned about the security and integrity attached to the Ghanaian passport, saying it is the responsibility of every citizen to guard the passport application process and not yield to certain unscrupulous people who scheme to undermine the integrity of the document.


    “We need the cooperation and support of all stakeholders to protect the sanctity of our passports”. She admonished the management of the new office to preserve and properly maintain having invested scarce resources into it establishment.

    She expressed immense gratitude to the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare, who played major role in the allocation of the site and its refurbishment and also the Consultants, Architectural and Engineering Services Limited and a few others.

    Source: The Herald

  • Rawlings and I saw value in each other Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revealed that he and the late former president of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings had a turbulent and wild relationship that dated years because of the differences in their political ideologies.

    But, he said, in the end, the two of them saw value in each other and became the best of friends.

    Mr Akufo-Addo said this when he received a delegation from the family of Mr Rawlings when they visited him at the seat of government, the Jubilee House on Thursday November 12 to officially inform him about the demise of the Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    Mr Akufo-Addo told the family that “I will like to extend my deepest condolences to the family, his widow, children, brothers and the entire family.

    “I was given this information when I arrived at the office and I found it hard up to now to cope with the information. This is a man of great vitality, dynamism and energy.

    “It is very difficult to go and see dead body lying in the morgue but then it is one of the things that all of us have got to get use to because the almighty has his own plans for each one of us.

    Photo: The 'Humble Rawlings' Trends On Social Media - Globecalls.com



    “He and I had tempestuous relationship over many years but I believe that we came to see value in each other in the end. I am extremely disturbed and saddened by his passage. He is not an ordinary Ghanaian, he was the first president of our Fourth Republic.”

    A family spokes person told the president that : “A great tragedy has befallen us as a country and as family. Some four weeks ago we were here to inform the presidency of the death of our mother, our grandmother, our sister.

    Pres. Nana Addo Speaks on the Death of Jerry John Rawlings Latest Trending News
    Today in History: Rawlings explains why he doesn't criticise Akufo-Addo's government


    The president, because of his special love for the ex-president, he assisted us a lot in the burial of our mother.

    “Just some few days after the burial the former president Jerry John Rawlings felt sick and was hospitalized.

    “A lot of efforts were made, the president was in touch with his brother. Little did we know that the former president will leave us.

    Rawlings Affirms Akufo-Addo's Credibility | News Ghana



    “So we have come here formally to inform the president and the entire government that this is what has happened. Jerry John Rawlings is no more and we deem it appropriate to come and inform you officially.”

    Mr Rawlings died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra on Thursday, November 12 after suffering a short illness.

    Rawlings and I had tempestuous relationship but we finally saw value in each other Akufo-Addo - 3NEWS

    Source: 3 News

  • Let’s work hard to keep NDC out of power Akufo-Addo charges Assembly Members

    President Akufo-Addo has charged the leadership and members of the Greater Accra Association of Assembly Members (GAAAM), to join forces with his administration ahead of the 7th December Presidential and Parliamentary elections to ensure that the New Patriotic Party (NPP), keeps the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) out of power.

    The President gave the charge when he addressed the association at the Jubilee House when they paid a courtesy call on him on Tuesday, 10 November 2020.

    “We all have to join forces and fight to ensure that we do not allow the NDC to come back to office. That should never happen in the upcoming elections. It will require that we join forces to prevent them from coming back to office” President Akufo-Addo said.

    “The atmosphere in the country is good for us. Ghanaians are largely happy with the work of my administration thus far and what is important now is to go from house to house and to drive home our enviable record from now till the 7th December elections. We can’t afford any complacency, because elections are not won until the last vote has been counted and we have to make sure that everybody who has registered, will come out and vote in this year’s election” President Akufo-Addo added.

    Payment of Assembly Members

    On the subject of the payment of Assembly Members which has become a controversial issue since former President John DDramani Mahama and the 2020 Presidential candidate of the NDC, promised to pay all Assembly Members a monthly salary, Spokesperson for the association, Stephen Kwasi Acquah, in his address, noted that any decision to pay them a monthly salary is welcome news.

    However, he indicated that Mr. Mahama, who is today promising to pay Assembly Members salaries, did same in his party’s 2012 manifesto but failed to implement the promise when he won power.

    To this end, Mr. Acquah observed that their association considers the 2020 manifesto promise of the NDC and its presidential candidate to pay Assembly Members monthly salaries as a promise without any substance.

    “We are only confident in one thing and that is, for you, Mr. President to make time to even meet us today, demonstrates that you are the President who will make our lives better from 2021 in your second term,” he said.

    Source: Class FM

  • Airlines which flout PCR testing for coronavirus will be sanctioned – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday said airlines which flout the directive for Polymerized Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for COVID-19 will be sanctioned.

    “The airport authorities will continue to demand that passengers arriving in the country should be in possession of a 72-hour old negative PCR test, and we will continue to sanction airlines that flout this directive,” President Akufo-Addo said in his 19th update on Ghana’s enhanced response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

    “With the imposition of stringent testing measures at the airport, we have, so far, been able to detect 172 positive cases amongst some 54,000 arriving international passengers.”

    He noted that the health authorities would intensify the follow up process of arriving passengers, even when they had tested negative to help ensure we have ruled out any possible infection that might have occurred during the period of embarkation and disembarkation.

    “In the area of testing, I have tasked the Ministry of Health, through the Ghana Health Service (GHS), to liaise with all laboratories and testing facilities across the country to ensure that reporting procedures are ironed out and adhered to,” he said.

    “In as much as our hospitalisation rates are very low, care for the sick and the provision of treatment remain an important aspect of our strategy.”

    He said to this end, the one hundred-bed Ghana Infectious Diseases Centre, located at the Ga East Hospital, would be opened in the next few days, under the management of the GHS.

    The President said the provision of adequate medicines, equipment, and personal protective equipment to enable health workers attend to home-based patients had also been guaranteed.

    He said the Government, in trying to mitigate against the effects of the pandemic, had put in place a number of measures to cushion ordinary Ghanaians and businesses.

    He said the Government had extended the policy of free access to water for all households across the country until December, as well as fully absorbing electricity bills for one million active lifeline customers for the same period.

    President Akufo-Addo said the Communication Service Tax had also been reduced from nine per cent to five per cent, effective September.

    Source: GNA

  • President urges strict adherence to health protocols amid coronavirus surge

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Sunday asked Ghanaians to adhere strictly to public health guidelines to stem a second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

    He said the gradual change in the trajectory of the virus in recent weeks, with an average of 130 daily infections in the last two weeks, gave cause for concern in view of the fact that Europe and America were experiencing a second wave of infections.

    Addressing the nation in a televised broadcast to give an update on measures being adopted by government to curb the spread of the disease, the President attributed the surge in new infections to the reduction in compliance with the preventive protocols.

    “I have seen at first-hand how, in some regions of our country, some residents are abandoning, altogether, the protocols, such as the wearing of masks, put in place to defeat the virus,” he stated.

    Referencing a Ghana Health Service survey which revealed that the high compliance rate with mask wearing across the country had fallen alarmingly from 44.3 per cent to five per cent, President Akufo-Addo said that that development was not acceptable, as the enhanced hygiene and mask wearing protocols “must now be central features of our lives, and they must continue to remain so for some time to come until we see to the elimination of the virus from our country.”

    “Fellow Ghanaians, it appears that we are letting our guard down…Now more than ever, we have to adhere to mask wearing, handwashing, the use of sanitizers, and social distancing protocols that have become a part of our daily routines, and which has ensured that we do not impose, all over again, the restrictions we are seeing in other parts of the world,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo emphasized that government would reaffirm the steps that had served us well so far” in order to help arrest the new threat of rising infections.

    “We are enhancing the measures of tracing, testing and treatment. In addition to this, we will continue to limit the importation of the virus, embark on the strategic, controlled easing of public gatherings, enhance public education and information, and continue to provide relief and support to individuals, families and businesses,” he said.

    To that end, the President has instructed the release of additional logistics, including vehicles, to the Ghana Health Service in order to help beef up contact tracing, and the supervision and monitoring of asymptomatic cases being managed from home.

    He said government was also employing the use of technology to augment contact tracing efforts, as well as the supervision and monitoring of home care cases.

    The President urged management of organisations operating in confined, indoor spaces, such as workplaces and supermarkets, to ensure the continued adherence to all COVID-19 protocols at all times.

    He further encouraged political party leaders and supporters to observe the set protocols and wear the mask as electioneering activities intensified across the country with a month to the conduct of the December 7, 2020, presidential and parliamentary elections.

    “This task is not only for the leaders of our political parties. All of us, in the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, public sector, security agencies, private sector, civil society, professional and trade associations, religious bodies, traditional authorities and ordinary citizens, must do what we can, in this period, to help minimise disease transmission.

    “We have to maintain, in a state of constant readiness, the enhanced infrastructure and expertise we have built during the period of the virus to cope with it,” he added.

    President Akufo-Addo warned persons who disregarded the COVID-19 hygiene and social distancing protocols that the law would deal with them accordingly.

    “Sanctions exist in our laws for persons who want to continue to disregard these protocols, and for those who want to endanger the rest of the population through their actions and negligence. The law enforcement agencies will, where necessary, apply these measures without fear or favour.

    “Fellow Ghanaians, I am appealing to all of you to be even more disciplined in your adherence to the personal hygiene, mask wearing and social distancing measures.

    “We cannot afford, at this critical moment, to throw caution to the wind, and destroy the incredible amount of work undertaken by Government, health officials, heroic frontline health workers, and members of the security agencies, in bringing us this far.

    “It is very clear that the more we adhere to the protocols, the quicker we defeat the virus,” he said.

    Ghana has over the past three weeks recorded an increase in active coronavirus cases from 398 to 1139 cases. The total number of deaths is 320.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghana on the brink of second wave with high coronavirus rate Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is worried that Ghana will be experiencing the second wave of the novel Coronavirus outbreak due to the rise in daily infections.

    In his 19th televised address to the nation on Sunday, November 8, Akufo-Addo warned Ghanaians to strictly adhere to Coronavirus safety protocols including wearing of face masks, handwashing, and social distancing.

    He explained, “The number of daily infections is on the rise, from an average of 25 new cases per day then, to an average of over 130 new cases per day in the course of the last two weeks”.

    The president further added: “In Greater Accra, with the exception of two districts, all districts have reported cases. In contrast, we have only seen a cluster of cases in the other regions from only a handful of districts. These figures, obviously, give cause for concern, in view of what is happening in Europe and America, following the outbreak of a second wave of infections that is engulfing so many other countries.”

    President Akufo-Addo further indicated that an analysis of the active case data suggests that the Greater Accra Region accounts for 75% of the virus with Ashanti, Bono, Eastern and Western regions being responsible for 16% of active cases.

    “The remaining 11 regions make up four percent of the cases, with arrivals at Kotoka International Airport [being] responsible for the other five percent,” he said.

    Akufo-Addo also noted: “Scientists at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, at the University of Ghana, Legon, collaborating with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, who are studying the genetic make-up of the virus in Ghana, have established that the virus has not changed.

    “Our observation, however, is that a reduction in compliance with the preventive protocols accounts for the increase in infections.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: It appears that we are letting our guard down Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed concern over the rise in daily infections of COVID-19 in the country.


    In his 19th coronavirus address to the nation, the President said: “Our observation, however, is that the reduction in compliance with the preventive protocols accounts for the increases in infections. Fellow Ghanaians, it appears that we are letting our guard down. Now more than ever we have to adhere to mask-wearing, handwashing, use of sanitizers and social distancing protocols.”


    He further indicated: “In order to help arrest this new threat of rising infections, [the] Government is going to reaffirm the steps that have served us well so far. We are enhancing the measures of tracing, testing and treatment, i.e. the 3Ts.

    In addition to this, we will continue to limit the importation of the virus, embark on the strategic, controlled easing of public gatherings, enhance public education and information, and continue to provide relief and support to individuals, families and businesses.”


    Ghana observed only about three-weeks of lockdown in March and has since rested on its oars. There has been a lacklustre attitude to observing the COVID-19 protocols on the part of individuals, private organisations and Government institutions alike.


    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Employ us, School of Social Work graduates beg government

    Graduates of the School of Social Work have appealed to government to immediately recruit them to fill vacancies at the various district social welfare departments across the country to stabilize society.

    The over 400 trainees, some of whom completed their studies in 2010 and 2012 made the plea at a press conference.

    They said a petition they sent to the government in early 2019 requesting for employment had been attended to.

    Ms Margaret Deynu, President of the Unemployed Social Workers, said it was a misplaced priority on the part of Government to employ unskilled labour while professional social workers were ignored. . Ms Deynu added that “the irony of the whole issue is that as at Friday there were districts with no staff at the social welfare units. Some only have one staff and at certain places, they are nearing retirement”.

    “It is of utmost importance to note that every district across Ghana has a social welfare department where social workers are supposed to be employed to carry out duties just as Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service does for nurses and teachers. ”

    She said on a daily basis, issues that required the services of the social workers at the various Social Welfare Departments cropped up in the districts, yet the units were grossly understaffed to efficiently attend to such issues, while they have been denied employment to practise their acquired knowledge and skills.

    She noted that it was pathetic that the vulnerable were often turned down on grounds of mental, financial and in some cases ignorance when they attended health institutions because social workers who had been professionally trained to handle such persons no longer existed at such establishments.

    “We are demanding social justice for clientele who comes to the social welfare units. It is their human right to have access to officers who have basic knowledge and skills in social work, ” she noted.

    She expressed worry that even though the School of Social Work was the only recognized professional training school under the Department of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), mandated to train staff for the department of social welfare, graduates like them had been denied employment at the department.

    According to them, they had on countless occasions argued that the problems in the Ghanaian society such as child trafficking, probation services which involves court work, casework, aftercare services, juvenile delinquency, and other key functions of social welfare required the attention of professional social workers.

    They wondered why students from their sister training institutions such as Nurses Training, Teacher Training, and Environmental Health Training schools were always recruited, and given employment postings upon graduation while graduates of School of Social Work were denied same opportunities.

    The School of Social Work was established by the government as a tertiary institution in 1946, and mandated to train professional social workers as a source of staff for the Social Welfare Department.

    Source: GNA

  • Volta group optimistic of resounding victory for Akufo-Addo on Dec 7

    The Volta Region Resource Group, an organ of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is optimistic the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would win the December polls.

    The group said the fortunes of the NPP in the region had improved with the party setting eyes on at least three seats.

    Mr King David Akpabli, Secretary of the Group, said this at a press conference in Ho to launch its campaign dubbed “All Hands On Deck” in the 18 Constituencies of the Volta region.

    The campaign aimed to equip the electorates with appropriate information on the government’s track record in terms of development projects, programmes and policies.

    He said President Akufo-Addo performed better than his contender, Mr John Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    “Akufo-Addo will continue to put smiles on the faces of Ghanaians and that the NDC is not an alternative, and does not deserve any second chance.”

    Mr Akpabli said though the party inaugurated various campaign taskforces, the VRG All Hands on Deck team would go an extra mile to garner at least 25 per cent of the votes for President Akufo-Addo and the party to stay in power.

    He said: “The President’s frequent strategic visits and the good job have endeared him to the hearts of the many Voltarians.”

    The many social interventions are changing the narrative and perception of the people, he added.

    The Secretary said the group had taken its activities to social gatherings, funeral grounds, Churches, market centres and identifiable institutions, adding “we are gaining grounds.”

    He observed that President Akuffo-Addo was God’s anointed, a performer and a beacon of hope for African politics and must be retained to take the fortunes of the country a notch higher.

    Mr Akpabli appealed to Ghanaians to vote for the NPP and a peaceful election, before, during and after the December polls.

    Source: GNA

  • Show appreciation, vote massively for Akufo-Addo – Bawumia

    Vice President, Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged Chiefs and people in the Krachi East Constituency of the Oti Region to show appreciation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for fulfilling his campaign promise of creating new regions including Oti and vote massively to retain him.

    He indicated that chiefs and the good people of the enclave petitioned successive governments demanding a separate region since 1954 but it was in the era of President Akufo-Addo, who responded and the “time to say thank you is now.”

    Addressing Nana Kwaku Beyorno II, who is also Nefahene of Chonke Traditional Area and his subchiefs, the Vice President urged them to vote massively for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming December polls.

    He said the Nana Akufo-Addo deserved another Four years due to its good track record in managing the nation’s economy as well as implementing social interventions such as planting for food and jobs, restoring teacher training allowance, restoring nursing training allowance, one constituency, one ambulance, one – district, one – factory, the establishment of Zongo development fund, National Builders Corps (NABCo) and the free senior high policy.

    “We have introduced a great number of policies and interventions and we are hoping to do more in the next four years, therefore do not vote for a different government to retrogress our development so far.”

    He reminds the chiefs and the electorates that, on the presidential ballot paper President Akufo Addo remained in number one position, and the parliamentary candidate, Mr Michael Gyato, also at the same position.

    Nana Kwaku Beyorno II, on behalf of his Subchiefs, assured the Vice President of their massive votes from Krachi East Constituency comes December 7.

    Source: GNA


  • Obuasi town roads to be completed in March 2022 Akufo-Addo

    Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inspected ongoing work on the 30-kilometre Anhwiankwanta-Obuasi Road, as well as the ongoing construction of town roads within the Obuasi Municipality.

    Inspecting the works on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, on day-1 of his 4-day tour of the Greater Accra Region, President Akufo-Addo was told by the contractor, Messrs. Joshob Construction, that the Anhwiankwanta-Obuasi project is being constructed at a cost of GH¢321.9 million cedis.

    The entire 30-kilometre road section has been formed and subbase placed, with 20 kilometres and 15 kilometres of crushed stone base and asphaltic binder respectively, having been laid.

    Physical progress, the contractor told the President, is about 70% complete, stressing that the project implementation is ahead of schedule, and barring any challenger, the road will be completed 18 months ahead of schedule.

    The contractor indicated that once completed, the road will enhance socio-economic activities, and facilitate the efficient movement of people, goods and services in Anhwiankwanta, Daa, Patasi, Kwapia, Dadwen and the contiguous municipalities of Obuasi, and Bekwai, among others.

    The President also inspected ongoing work on the GH¢128.92 million Obuasi Town Roads project, being undertaken by Messrs Justmoh Construction Ltd. The objective of this project is to overhaul the road network within Obuasi and give the township a facelift befitting its status as a gold and district capital and improve mobility and safety of people, goods and services.

    With the project having commenced on 17th March 2020, it is set to be completed on 15th March 2022, i.e. a 24-month construction period.

    The scope of works comprises the upgrading of 10km of unpaved roads to bituminous seal finish, and overlay an additional 20km arterial and collector road, with an asphaltic concrete wearing layer. In order to improve road and general drainage within the township, 23km of concrete-lined roadside, outfall and cross drainage structures will also be constructed.

    Key among the roads to be rehabilitated are Abompekrom Road, Assembly Road, Church Road, Hospital Road, Neighbourhood Clinic Road, Mensahkrom Road -Sec Tech, JJ-Queen Egyima Road, Queen Egyima-Post Office Road, First Allied-Central Mosque, Odotobri Road, Melcom-Stadium Road, Estate Roads, DUR Road, Ahasonyemedea Road

    Thus far, about 7.8 km of concrete-lined roadside and 105m of cross drainage structures have been constructed and 10km of roads overlaid with asphaltic concrete. Physical progress is currently 38.6%.

    Source: NET2 Television

  • Akufo-Addo commissions KNUST Obuasi campus

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, 4th November 2020, officially inaugurated the Obuasi Campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University (KNUST), at a brief ceremony in Obuasi.

    It will be recalled that the idea of starting the Obuasi Campus of KNUST came up on 22nd January 2019, when President Akufo-Addo launched the Obuasi Mine Redevelopment Project, in Obuasi.

    Recounting the process leading to the establishment of the Campus, the Paramount Chief of Bompata Traditional Area, Nana Effa Apenteng, who is Chairperson of the Governing Council of KNUST, stated that “in the presence of the Chancellor of the University, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, you (President Akufo-Addo) magnanimously agreed to support its establishment.”

    This, he noted, was welcoming news to the University as it perfectly fitted into its strategy to increase access to science and technology education.

    “Subsequently, the Obuasi Municipal Assembly and Anglogold Ashanti made land and buildings available for the initial infrastructural needs of the campus. As providence will have it, here we are today, witnessing the inauguration of the KNUST Obuasi Campus,” the Chairperson of the Council added.

    He was confident that, in the not distant future, the Obuasi Campus will develop into a full-fledged University like the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa and the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Sunyani, which were all satellite campuses of KNUST.

    Nana Effa Appenteng told the gathering that programmes for the Obuasi Campus have thus been carefully selected to suit the vision of the University.

    “We began this Campus during the 2019/2020 academic year, with Engineering, specifically Civil, Geomatic, Mechanical and Materials Engineering. The other programmes are logistics and supply chain management and environmental science,” he added.

    With a total of three hundred and forty-three (342) students were admitted to the Campus during the 2019/2020 academic year, the Chairperson of the Governing Council indicated that the University is envisaging to admit about 1,500 students for the campus, as engagements have already been concluded to introduce a number of new programmes in the field of health such as General Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory Science.

    He thanked President Akufo-Addo for giving clearance to the University to enable it to recruit four hundred and twenty (420) staff members this year.

    Oh his part, the President assured the University of the commitment of Government towards the growth and development of the University, assuring that the necessary structures would be availed to the Obuasi campus.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Akufo-Addo launches revised National Health Policy

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Monday, November 2, 2020, launched the revised National Health Policy and promised to provide the requisite leadership and resources for its effective implementation.

    The health policy, he said, would provide a clear policy direction to the Government in the health sector for the next 10 years and ensure access to quality healthcare without funding being a barrier to any citizen.

    He said the policy would ensure universal health coverage for all Ghanaians by “ensuring timely and quality healthcare, irrespective of one’s ability to pay”.

    President Akufo-Addo urged the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders to uphold the tenets of the policy.

    President Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when he launched the National Health Policy in Accra on the theme, ” Ensuring Healthy Lives for All”.

    He said the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic has made it a necessity for the nation to implement a health policy that would cater to the country’s emergency health needs in the future.

    The President was of the conviction that the ‘Agenda 111’ with the aim of constructing district hospitals in each of the districts without health facilities and three infectious disease centres in each of the geological zones would go a long way to ensure quality healthcare for all.

    President Akufo-Addo noted that the health policy was in tandem with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs), especially SDG three-‘ensuring quality healthcare and wellbeing for all’.

    Additionally, the policy derived inspiration from the African Union Development Framework- Agenda 6063, African Health Strategy, the Directive Principles of State Policy and other UN health protocols.

    Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the Minister of Health, said the adoption of the policy was in line with the SDG three, which intends to ensure quality healthcare and wellbeing for all.

    He said the old health policy, which was adopted in 2007 was not comprehensive enough to ensure equitable and affordable health services, hence the revision of the policy taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic and future health emergencies.

    Also, the revised policy took into consideration the socio-economic, environmental and health risk factors of the society, he added.

    The Minister said health was not only the absence of diseases but having physical, mental and socio-economic wellbeing of an individual.

    The policy, he said, has five key objectives including; ensuring resilient health system, sustainable financing, sustainable environmental practices and providing quality health services through multifaceted approach and thus, leaving no one behind in accessing quality health services.

    Source: GNA

  • My report on Agyapa deal submitted to Akufo-Addo two weeks ago – Amidu

    Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has announced he has completed his corruption risk assessment in the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal.

    In a statement, Mr. Amidu said he submitted his report on the risk assessment to the Presidency two weeks ago.

    “The analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment was completed and signed by the Special Prosecutor on 15th October 2020. The Special Prosecutor in a letter with reference number OSP/SCR/20/12/20 dated 16th October 2020 conveyed the conclusions and observations of the anti-corruption assessment to H. E. the President and the Hon. Minister of Finance as a matter of courtesy before informing the public.”

    “Two weeks is more than too long for this Office to continue withholding the announcement of the completion of its sixty-four (64) page report to the public. It is important that this Office has the freedom to discharge its anti-corruption mandate and keep the public informed. I have, therefore, decided to bring the facts of the conclusion of the anti-corruption assessment of the Agyapa Royalties Transactions by this Office to the attention of the public and to avoid the continued speculations on this matter,” he said.

    Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu in September called on the Finance Ministry to hold on with its scheduled initial Public Offer (IPO) on the Agyapa royalties deal until he is done with his corruption risk assessment on the transaction.

    “This Office would have wished to complete its corruption risk assessment on the Agyapa Royalties Transaction soonest but for the non-submission of the information and documents pending to be submitted by your Ministry. The information and documents you supplied concerned mainly the processes for and the appointment of the Transaction Advisors which goes to the root of any corruption risk assessment,” Mr Amidu said in a letter to the Finance Ministry.

    The letter added: “Information and documents relating to the identification and recommendation by the transaction advisors to your Ministry for appointment a list of other services providers and or underwriters that may be required to complete the transaction as provided in clause 2.2.1 of the mandate agreement amongst others, that are critical to any through corruption risk assessment are also outstanding. The legal opinions particularly of the principal legal advisor to the government under the Constitution are relevant to ensure compliance with her recommendations as part of any corruption risk assessment.”

    Source: Starr FM

  • Akufo-Addo has done so much to earn Ghana a 2nd spot in world teacher welfare league table – Bawumia

    Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has said the Akufo-Addo government loves teachers to the extent that he has put them first in his policies and programmes, which has earned Ghana the second spot in the whole world on the teacher welfare league table.

    Dr Bawumia made the comment when he opened a Training Institute for staff of the Ghana Education Service at Saltpond in the Mfantseman Municipal of the Central region.

    Conceived by the Kufuor administration, construction works began in 2011 but were abandoned in 2012 by the previous administration due to lack of funds. The project was resurrected in 2017 ant taken up by the GETfund through the efforts of the late MP for Mfantseman, Ekow Quansah Hayford.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony on Friday, October 30, 2020, Dr Bawumia said the completion and commissioning of the facility, which has 90 self-contained rooms, 2 large conference halls, training rooms and space to park 50 cars, is further concrete evidence of the Akufo-Addo administration’s commitment to the overall development of the education sector.

    “Since we assumed office in 2017, the Nana Akufo-Addo government has pursued a ‘Teacher First’ policy, which has led to the implementation of policies and programmes geared towards continuous improvement in the numbers and quality of teachers and other stakeholders in education.

    “We have taken concrete measures in the education sector. For instance, we have recruited 93, 274 new teachers since 2017, to clear the backlog of teachers who were qualified but not employed by the previous government.

    “In the past, teachers taught for three, four years but were only paid three months of their accumulated salaries. We have cleared that arrears.

    “We have restored Teacher, Nursing and Arabic Instructors training allowances cancelled by the previous government. We are building massive infrastructure across the country. And as indicated, we are ensuring the continuous professional training of teachers every year. We have also introduced a new and transparent policy for the promotion of teachers”.

    The Vice-President said all of these measures and more had led to Ghana being ranked number 2, behind China, in the league of nations to have improved teacher welfare the most in recent times.

    “President Nana Akufo-Addo is determined to develop the human resource base of Ghana. But he cannot do that without the active participation and input of teachers, hence the priority he has placed on teacher development and welfare. I can assure you of many plans in the works to make the education sector even more vibrant,” he indicated.

    Speaking earlier, Deputy Minister for Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo, shed more light on the Professional Continuous Training programme, which includes at least four days of intensive training per year, and two hours per week of peer learning.

    The Vice President was assisted by the wife of the late MP, who is now the NPP parliamentary candidate for Mfantseman, Mrs Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Central Region Minister Kwamena Duncan, Transport Minister Hon Kwaku Ofori Asiamah and other government officials.

    Source: Class FM

  • Intervene in my disqualification Independent candidate begs Akufo-Addo

    Disqualified presidential candidate for the coalition of independent presidential aspirants has headed to the presidency to compel the Electoral Commission to reverse its decision.

    Presidential hopeful for the coalition Kofi Koranteng has appealed to President Akufo-Addo to call the EC to order in his disqualification from the 2020 race.

    Mr. Koranteng together with four other aspirants were disqualified by the EC over varied reasons including forgery.

    Addressing the media, an emotional Mr. Koranteng wondered why nineteen voters who endorsed his form turned out to be CPP executives at the headquarters of the EC.

    The businessman accused the EC of failing to accept his corrected forms even after it had given him a window of opportunity to effect the required changes.

    Source: Starr FM

  • I want Ghanaians to see me as a man of integrity Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says he is submitting himself for re-election because he has been faithful.

    “I want them to see me as a man of integrity, of somebody who came to speak the truth to them and in whom they can have the confidence and entrust their destiny and the destiny of their children,” Akufo-Addo told Paul Adom-Otchere on Good Evening Ghana on Thursday.

    He added: “The leadership that has enabled us to confront the COVID menace, not that we have overcome it, but we certainly stood up well to it. The statistics indicate that we’ve been able to manage much more effectively in the arrangement of the economy. So, we have a stronger economy than we had five years ago, even with COVID,” he said.

    “We will not become a first-world economy overnight. We need to do many things and do them consistently for some time…but with correct policies, it will take a shorter period for the country to get there,” optimistic Akufo-Addo said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Vote based on Nana Addos record First Lady

    The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Naa Okiakor Akufo-Addo, has asked the public to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo based on its development record. Mrs Akufo-Addo made the call when she paid an official visit to the Ablekuma South Constituency as part of her campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region.

    According to her, the good record that has been set by the NPP, should be the reason the NPP government is retained for another four years.

    She noted that the flagship Free SHS, One District, One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs and NABCO policies of the ruling government is impacting positively on the lives of Ghanaians.

    “Right now, Free SHS has helped Ghanaians and a lot of people are benefiting, the government has also established more than factories all over Ghana which are creating jobs for citizens,” she added. “NABCO has also come to address the issue of youth unemployment.”

    Addressing the gathering, she said President Akufo-Addo has started a process of moving the country to another level of development which must be supported by all.

    “You have all seen how through the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, the country is changing and we need to support him and the NPP government so the change can be permanent,” she urged.

    With less than two months to the general elections, Mrs Akufo-Addo urged all to go out peacefully and vote on December 7 for the NPP and the Ablekuma South NPP parliamentary candidate, Bernard Brown.

    She said, “We are a peaceful country and we have shown this by holding free, fair and peaceful elections over the years.”

    The First Lady also pledged to liaise with the appropriate authorities to address the concerns raised by fishermen and market women in the constituency.

    “As soon as I get home, I will talk to the President about the outboard motor and personally see to it that the Tuesday Market is completed on time for you to continue trading,” she assured.

    Ablekuma South NPP parliamentary candidate, Bernard Brown, in a brief remark, said the NPP is the best option for the continued development of Ghana and called on the constituents to retain the NPP for another four years, to secure the future of the country.

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Akufo-Addo promises a bridge over Oti River

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has promised to construct a bridge over the Oti River to enhance economic activities of the region.

    Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Kete-Krachi in the Krachi West Constituency of the Oti Region, the President said the bridge was currently at the design stage to determine where it would be located, adding: “No matter what happens, the construction of the bridge will happen.”

    He said the Finance, and Roads and Highways ministries had reached the final stages of negotiations with Messrs FDN/INTORL, a Dutch Company, for funding and commercial agreements to build a 1.6km composite bridge over the Oti River at Dambai and Dodiokope.

    “Feasibility studies have been completed for works to commence upon receipt of the requisite approvals from Cabinet and Parliament,” he said.

    “Upon completion, this bridge will relieve communities in these areas of the long waiting periods and excruciating slow movement of people, goods and services by ferry across the Oti River.”

    The President inspected a 15-kilometre rehabilitation of the Kete-Krachi Town roads at the cost of GH¢58 million, which is expected to be completed in 12 calendar months.

    It was awarded to the First Sky Company Limited by the Regional Department of Urban Roads with scope of work covering drainage construction, earthworks, pavement works and asphalt overlay.

    President Akufo-Addo said the people of the area would also benefit from a potable water plant, as would be done for other parts of the country, from the Aqua Africa Project.

    He said the government had not relented on its promises to upgrade the Kete-Krachi Town roads, the Midwifery and Nurses Training School, the Military Barracks, and senior high schools to Get-Fund projects.

    “I have the Kete-Krachi and the entire Oti Region at heart. I am the one who created the region and anything that would bring development to the area is what the Akufo-Addo Government will pursue.”

    The President urged the electorate to vote massively for him and all parliamentary candidates in the region for more development projects.

    He expressed gratitude to the Krachiwura and the people for acknowledging the good works the New Patriotic Party had done for them.

    Mr Kwasi Amoako Atta, the Minister of Roads and Highways, said the construction of the bridge would cost an estimated 125 million Euros.

    Nana Mprah Besemuna III, President of Oti Regional House of Chiefs, commended President Akufo-Addo for the developmental projects for the region.

    “For all these things that you have done for us, we say one good turn deserves another. We the people of Krachi and Oti will push you up for the good things you have done,” he said.

    He commended the President and the entire Government for the sterling leadership and efforts in handling the covid-19 pandemic, making the country to achieve a near defeat of the virus.

    Nana Besemuna appealed to the President to replace the pontoon linking Kete-Krachi to Kwadjwo-Krom in the Sene District, solve the erratic electricity supply and open a technical university in the area.

    Source: GNA

  • President Akufo-Addo promotes four DCOPs and 23 ACPs

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has promoted four Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCOPs) to the rank of Commissioners of Police (COPs) and 23 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) to the rank of Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCOPs).

    A release signed by Superintendent (Mrs) Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman, Director, Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Friday, said the promotions were upon the recommendation of the Police Council.

    The four newly promoted Commissioners are; Mr Vincent Redeemer Dedjoe-Director-General/ Police Professional & Standards; Mr Godfred Owusu Boateng- Bono Regional Police Commander; Mr Kwaku Boadu Peprah- Director-General/ Operations and Mr Frederick Adu-Anim- Director-General/Information Communications Technology.

    The 23 newly promoted Deputy Commissioners are; Mr Joseph Obeng- Deputy Director, Service workshops/ National Headquarters; Mr Peter Baba Atinak- Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander; Rev. Father George Arthur- Director, Religious Affairs/National Headquarters; Mr Emmanuel Afriyie Sakyi- Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander; Mr Nelson Opoku- Deputy Director, Audit/National Headquarters; Mr Vance Baba Gariba- Director, ICT/National Headquarters; Mr Isaac Emmanuel Quist- Administrator/CID Headquarters; Mr Kwasi Akomeah-Apraku- Deputy Volta Regional Police Commander; Mr Alexander Kwame Amenyo- Deputy Upper East Regional Police Commander; Mr Dennis Abade Akob-Dem- Deputy Central Regional Police Commander; Mr Haruna Saeed- Director, Payroll/National Headquarters.

    Others are; Mr Moses Ali Kpachin- Deputy North East Regional Commander; Mr Sebastian Atsu Wemegah- Deputy Oti Regional Police Commander; Mr Charles Botwe- Officer Commanding Regional Police Training School/ Kumasi; Mr Michael Nketia Frimpong- Finance Officer, National Police Training School/Accra; Mr Ernest Akrasi Kirk Mensah- Deputy Western-North Regional Commander; Mr Francis Nyametso- Director, Serious Crime Registry/ CID Headquarters; Mr Ebenezer Larbi- Deputy Savannah Regional Police Commander; Mr Charles Kwabla Normesinu- Director, Inspectorate Unit/ National Headquarters; Mr Samuel Alfred Winful- Tepa Divisional Police Commander- Ashanti; Mr Francis Agrippa Oppong- Offinso Divisional Police Commander- Ashanti; Mr Ebenezer Ampofo- Berekum Divisional Police Commander- Bono/Region and Mr Martin Kwaku Ayiih- Commanding Officer Central MTTD/Accra.

    “Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, the Inspector-General of Police extends heartiest congratulations to the promoted officers and wishes them the best of luck in their new ranks,” the statement said.

    Source: GNA

  • President Akufo-Addo to visit Upper West Region today

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on Friday, October 9, 2020, commence a two-day tour of the Upper West Region to rally for support for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the December 7 polls.

    The President who is on a four-day visit to the Upper East and Upper West Regions is expected to arrive in Wa from Tamale at 0940hrs in the morning by flight.

    Immediately after arrival, the President is expected to pay a courtesy call on the newly coronated Yeri-Naa after which he will hold a meeting with the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs and later cut the sod for the construction of the Zoomlion Waste Recycling and Composite Plant in Wa before departing for Mangwe in the Wa East District.

    On his way to Mangwe, the President is expected to pay a whistle stop at Busa before proceeding to inspect the ongoing work on the Wa-Bulenga road after which he will address a durbar at Mangwe.

    President Akufo-Addo after the durbar at Mangwe will depart for Tumu in the Sissala East Municipality where he will again address a durbar of chiefs and people of the Tumu Traditional Area before returning to Wa.

    Upon arrival, he will hold a meeting with party executives, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) as well as parliamentary candidates of the party before retiring for the day.

    President Akufo-Addo will begin his second day with a courtesy call on the Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo, the Overlord of the Waala Kingdom after which he will grant a radio interview to a local FM station in Wa before departing for Lawra.

    At Lawra, the President will perform a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the Dikpe Bridge before commissioning the 13-megawatt solar power plant in Lawra.

    After the commissioning, the President will depart for Hamile in the Lambussie District where he will again commission a Small-Town Water System to provide potable water to the people of Hamile.

    After rounding up his two-day tour of the region with the commissioning of the Small-Town Water System at Hamile, President Akufo Addo will depart back to the Wa Airport to fly back to Accra.

    Source: GNA

  • Akwatia MP won’t go independent despite missing NPP rally – Akufo-Addo

    The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Mercy Adu Gyamfi (a.k.a Ama Sey) was conspicuously missing at NPP’s mammoth rally held to host President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the party in the upcoming 2020 general elections.

    Her absence seems to loudly confirm the rumours that Ama Sey may be lacing her boots to contest as independent candidate in the December parliamentary election.

    Ama Sey, who lost her parliamentary candidature to Ernest Kumi in a controversial manner, has since appeared bitter towards leadership of the Party due to the loss.

    According to reports, Ama Sey has been nursing the idea of contesting as an Independent candidate in the 2020 parliamentary elections considering her popularity in the Akwatia constituency.

    A number of groups in the constituency have rooted to push and support her to go independent even though some regional party executives have spoken hard that they would not allow her to go solo.

    At the rally in Akwatia on Sunday, October 4, 2020, which marked the last day of President Akufo-Addo’s campaign tour to the Eastern Region, the President emphasised that he was not sure Ama Sey would go independent.

    Meanwhile, at the moment, the aggrieved Ama Sey has not come out herself to declare her intentions of going independent. Moreover, she did not appear at the rally to indicate her declination.

    According to President Akufo-Addo, the NPP does not serve human beings but the party as a whole.

    “This independent thing they are talking about. I have heard it. But I don’t believe that Ama Sey will go independent. I don’t believe it. And she is a staunch NPP and NPP is on her heart.

    “It pains me that she is not here but I know well that she will not do that.

    “If the 4more4Nana becomes a reality, she will be part of my new arrangements and she (Ama Sey) knows she has been factored,” Nana Addo said to the people of Akwatia.

    According to Osafo Marfo, the Senior Minister, Ama Sey herself has confirmed to him that she would not go independent.

    He expressed that the NPP greatly recognizes her sterling effort in 2016 for heavily defeating then NDC candidate, Baba Jamal, to capture the Akwatia seat for the party.

    Source: McAnthony Dagyenga, Contributor

  • Akufo-Addo should have left ‘Green Book’ propaganda to communicators – Baako

    “We made a pledge to the Ghanaian people to expand and improve the road network while closing the missing links in the network. We had to make this pledge because we know that the so-called unprecedented infrastructure development of the Mahama administration was fantasy; existing in the Green Book and not on the ground,” President Akufo-Addo said when he inaugurated the $57-million Tema Motorway Interchange project.

    However, Kweku Baako Jnr reacting to this on Peace FM morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ said Akufo-Addo should not have made the comments above.

    “if I had had the chance to be close to him (Akufo-Addo) within a certain time frame, I would not have asked him to talk about the green book…he didn’t have to be the one to do that. He should have left it to his party communicators” he said.

    Listen to him in the video below

    Source: Peace FM

  • Ban on public gatherings: It’s too early for churches to open – Dr. Boadi Nyamekye

    General Overseer of The Maker’s House Chapel (TMHCI), Dr. Michael Boadi Nyamekye, has commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for not yielding to pressures by his colleague Pastors who are calling on him to revoke restrictions on religious activities, so Christians can go back to their various churches.

    The President, addressing the nation in his ninth update on COVID-19, extended the ban on public gatherings till 31st May, 2020 which means churches also remain closed till the end of the month.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo‘s announcement has been met with mixed feelings from religious leaders as some men of God in the country have vehemently spoken against the decision.

    Some of the Pastors have taken it a step further by threatening the President saying if he doesn’t allow churches to operate after the extension period, God will visit his wrath upon the nation.

    One of the religious leaders leading the crusade against the President is the Founder of Life Assembly Worship Centre and Presidential candidate for the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews, popularly known as Osofo Kyiri Abosom.

    According to Osofo Kyiri Abosom, the rage of God is kindled against the nation because of the closure of churches and if the ban is not lifted, something worse than the Coronavirus pandemic will befall the entire nation in the coming weeks.

    But speaking to Presenter and news anchor Akosua Ago Aboagye on Okay FM’s ‘Abrabo Pa’ programme, Dr. Boadi Nyamekye threw his weight behind the President saying ”the truth is we have to think about lives. If it is only the Word of God we want to tell them, we can reach them on the TV, radio and internet. And we should pray that the people stay alive because it is when people are alive that they will come to church. But if they get infected by the disease, there is nothing that we can do”.

    Dr. Boadi Nyamekye further had a word of advice for those advocating the opening of churches saying “we need people to be alive to be in church. So, we have to make sure whatever we can do as a people to make sure they’re alive and Christian leaders to make sure they’re alive and healthy, we do that. I agree with the President. They should wait patiently for things to tone down”.

    The TMHCI General Overseer disclosed that even when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo lifts the ban on public gatherings, his church will continue to be closed till there is every indication that the disease can be cured.

    “Even when they lift the restriction for us to go to church, I still will not conduct church services. I am not yet ready to hold church now at all. No way! Even if they allow churches to open, I have already told my church leadership that I won’t do church services and so the members should stay home and watch the sermons on Facebook, YouTube and Television. I will allow our members to come to church when a vaccine or medicine is discovered because I wouldn’t want you to come to receive life and go home with death,” he said.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Coronavirus Fight: God has refused to listen to Akufo-Addo’s prayer – Kweku Boahen

    Deputy National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kweku Boahen, has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of not having positive intentions towards fighting the novel Coronavirus in the country.

    He said the President should be able to put up proper and fair mechanisms as the leader of the country to save the people, as all his current measures in fighting the disease are pure political campaign messages that need not to be heeded to.

    In a submission on UTV’s ‘Adekye Nsroma’ newspaper discussion show, the NDC Communication Officer insisted “the affected cases of COVID-19 keep going up due to the hypocritical behaviors and principles President Akufo-Addo and his appointees exhibit concerning the fight against the disease”.

    He indicated that left to the first gentleman of the land alone, Coronavirus should forever remain in the country for his own selfish political gains.

    “God has refused to answer his (President Akufo-Addo) prayers because his holy words have already made us understood that he does not answer the prayers of a sinner,” Kweku Boahen bitterly lamented.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Coronavirus will not be in Ghana had Akufo-Addo not traveled to Norway – NDC Deputy Communications officer

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy National Communications Officer, Kweku Boahen, has stressed that a survey he has firmly conducted shows that COVID-19 which the country is strongly battling within every angle of its economy will have been with us today had President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not traveled to Norway during the early days of it’s spread.

    “Ghana will not have had any case of COVID-19 had President Akufo-Addo not traveled to Norway” he categorically stated.

    According to him, sometimes as the largest opposition party in the country, they need to be listened to since they also conduct important investigations for the growth of the country.

    “We warned citizens against foreign travels during the early days of COVID-19 in some foreign countries but the president neglected us and went to Norway, therefore the hardship we find surrounding us today” he added.

    However, in a detailed pronouncement on UTV’s ‘Adekye Nsroma’ political discussion programme, the NDC guru pointed out that President Akufo-Addo on his monetary laid out policies in fighting COVID-19 are ways of misusing state funds, to fill his family financial account.

    “All the President is interested in is positioning members of his family to be in charge of state funds to help build up their family account, especially the Finance Minister and the Chief Justice (RTD) Sophia Akufo who after pension has been elected back into government to be in charge of the COVID-19 funds. Can’t the President get any other trusted active person to be in charge of this fund?” he asked.

    Source: Peace FM