Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Minister for Works and Housing, has successfully retained the Ofoase Ayirebi seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), securing a significant victory in the 2024 elections.
Oppong-Nkrumah garnered 18,601 votes, comfortably defeating his closest challenger, Alfred Osei-Poku, who secured 13,415 votes. The incumbent Minister’s victory ensures that he will continue to represent the Ofoase Ayirebi constituency for another four years.
His win is a crucial triumph for the NPP in the ongoing election cycle.
The Ayirebi Easter Convention, organized by the Church of Pentecost, witnessed a remarkable moment as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, led the praise and worship session.
The convention, held annually to celebrate the Easter season, saw a diverse congregation gathered in Ayirebi, a town in the Eastern Region, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During the event, and former Minister of Information took to the stage with passion and enthusiasm, leading the attendees in soul-stirring worship songs and uplifting hymns.
Watch video below:
Observe Kojo Oppong Nkrumah taking the lead in leading praise and worship at the Ayirebi Easter convention organized by the Church of Pentecost🙌😍Your No.1 Singer😁😁 pic.twitter.com/sRtg9uHJiR
A group of about15 armed robbers has allegedlyattacked the premises of Jia Xin Industrial Mining Company in Akyem Akokoaso, within the Ofoase Ayirebi constituency of the Eastern Region.
According to reports, five Chinese nationals were shot, with three currently in critical condition following the incident.
The perpetrators forced their way into the mining site during a social gathering at night, robbing victims of their belongings and bolting with about Ghc10,000 in cash along with two gold bars.
Tragically, one of the victims suffered a gunshot wound in a particularly sensitive area.
Appearing to be a well-planned and diligently executed attack, the robbers took deliberate steps to disable the site’s CCTV cameras by seizing their decoders.
“15 people executed the mission, tough guys. They didn’t pass through the Akokoaso Kade road. They took along the decoders for the CCTV cameras. They didn’t target other civilians. The company is licenced to do deep mining prospecting in the Akokoaso old shaft but is taking undue advantage to mine to that extent,” a witness mentioned during a media engagement.
Meanwhile, victims are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
This event has brought to light longstanding tensions between the mining company and the local community.
Over the years, residents have voiced grievances against Jia Xin Industrial, accusing them of engaging in illegal mining practices.
Concerns stem particularly from the company’s lack of proper licencing for extensive underground mining, which has reportedly had adverse effects on the area.
In 2018, Jia Xin Industrial inherited the prospecting licence from Ofosua Mining and Construction Company, a move approved by then-Minister John Peter Amewu.
However, recent confrontations between the company and local youth have intensified. Just three weeks prior to the robbery, 16 individuals from Akokoaso were arrested for illegal mining activities on the company’s concession, allegedly under the direction of Chinese authorities.
It’s worth noting that the mining company has been a frequent target of robbery attacks in recent times.
The former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation and ex-chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has shared a video of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) site allegedly linked to the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng, who shared the link to the video in a statement he issued while responding to the information minister’s reactions to a report on government officials behind galamsey in Ghana he (Frimpong-Boateng) released, said that he received the video from a constituent of Oppong Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency.
— The Independent Ghana (@independent_gh) April 25, 2023
The former science and technology minister said that even though he does not want to believe the claim made in the video about the ownership of the galamsey site, Oppong Nkrumah must take the necessary actions to stop the menace happening close to his hometown.
The man who recorded the video can be heard alleging that the galamsey site belongs to Oppong Nkrumah and he (the minister) has hired some Chinese people to work for him.
He said that the illegal mining site was in Akyem Brenasi, along the Pra River.
“He (Oppong Nkrumah) has brought the Chinese here to work for him. This is what they have done to the Pra River,” the man said as he was taking a shot of the river.
“This place is called Akyem Brenasi, along the Pra River, there are about 15 excavators here,” the narrator added in Twi.
In order to pass the three revenue bills that are currently before the House, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, minister of information, has urged the minority in parliament to cooperate with the majority.
They are theIncome Tax Amendment Bill, Excise Duty Amendment Bill, and Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bill.
The government is seeking to pass these bills to generate approximately GH¢4 billion per year to supplement domestic revenue.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah who is also a Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi told journalists in an interview on Tuesday, March 28 that “To our colleagues in the Minority, I think it is clear that we need to work together to achieve a certain objective for the country.
“Sometimes we are whipped up but let’s look at the country’s interest at this point in time.”
“The world is ready to help us, China, the Paris Club and external creditors are all with us in a good place now and are looking at us to see if we can help ourselves. My appeal to those in government, Minority, economic groups is that, we must ensure that these revenue bills are passed to close this GH¢4 billion gap”, he added.
Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Dr Ernest Addison also urged the House to prioritize passage of the Bil.
He said that the Monetary Policy Committee noted that the budget statement for 2023 has set fiscal policy on a consolidation path.
He said this was consistent with key elements agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the Staff Level in December 2022.
The domestic debt exchange programme launched by the government, new revenue measures, and structural fiscal reforms will provide significant reduction of debt service and help create fiscal space, Dr Addison stated.
Addressing the 111th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference in Accra on Monday, March 27, he said the fiscal outlook is contingent on financing of the budget and will require the conclusion of the domestic debt exchange programme as well as securing the requisite financing assurances from bilateral donors. Indications are that these discussions are proceeding well.
“Based on the above, it is imperative that Parliament prioritizes the passage of the revenue bills currently before it,” Dr Addison said.
He further intimated that under the Staff Level Agreement with the IMF, the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance have finalised a Memorandum of Understanding on zero financing to the budget, which will be signed shortly.
“The passage of the relevant revenue bills by Parliament will therefore conclude the required prior actions to advance Ghana’s programme to the IMF Executive Board.
“This will be critical in resetting the economy on the path of recovery, including putting it firmly on a disinflation path and sustained growth,” he said.
Last week, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, led a high-level delegation from the ministry to China to engage in bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart and other Chinese officials.
The Finance Ministry said that Mr Ofori-Atta had very positive and encouraging meetings in China.
The Ministry said they were looking forward to securing external assurances very soon.
“So far had very positive and encouraging meetings in China! Looking forward to securing external assurances very soon, even as we pass our outstanding domestic revenue bills back home. Great progress on all fronts…#ResolvingTogether #GhanaFirst,” the Office of the Finance Minister tweeted on Friday.
Mr Ofori-Atta also mentioned to the Chinese Finance Minister Liu Kun the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme that has been introduced by the government as an indication that Ghana was ready to take the necessary action to readjust its fiscal path.
In response, Mr Kun said “we know that these are short-term challenges which we as responsible creditors remain committed to resolving” and that “the long-standing and prosperous relationship between Ghana and China imposes on us, a responsibility to help”.
The Chinese Finance Minister further said it was the hope of his country that Multilateral and Commercial creditors would also fully participate in the interest of burden sharing.
“Chinese authorities have confidence in Ghana’s economic management, and its long-term economic viability,” Mr Kun said.
He added “China believes in promoting debt sustainability and sustainable development,”
He said these when Mr Ofori-Atta, led a high-level delegation from the ministry to China to engage in bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart and other Chinese officials.
