MTN Ghana Foundation donates PPEs to Zuarungu Health Centre
MTN Ghana Foundation has donated assorted types of Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPEs) to the Zuarungu Health Centre in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region. As part of the MTN Ghana Foundation’s contribution towards health care across the country, Zaurungu Health Centre in Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region has received its share of the COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from the Ghana leading telecommunication network MTN. Addressing staff of Zuarungu Health Centre and some other guests during the donation ceremony, Mr. Obed Adu-Amankwaah representative of MTN Ghana Foundation and the MTN Area Sales Manager, North Regions who presented the items to the management of Zuarungu Health Centre used the opportunity to commend health workers across the country especially those working at the Health Center for their dedication in the fight against COVID-19 in Ghana. “As tough as the circumstances have been, our health workers have been up to the task in the fight against this deadly virus. We say Ayekoo !!!. According to Mr. Adu-Amankwaah, “…during this pandemic, we have acknowledged that protecting health workers is paramount, yet there is a lack of PPE in some of our hospitals and health facilities. Today, I am very pleased to be here on behalf of the MTN Ghana Foundation to make an intervention that is needed to protect health workers during this period. However, assorted items such as Face masks, coveralls, gloves, contactless thermometers, face shield, and mentholated spirit were handed over to the management of Zuarungu Health Centre on behalf of the health workers at the facility for onward protection against COVID-19. Mr. Adu-Amankwaah stressed, that the donation made at the Zuarungu Health Centre wasn’t an isolated one because MTN Ghana Foundation was making similar donations to 29 hospitals across the country. He said, MTN Group recently made a major move in the fight against this deadly virus COVID-19 by donating $25 million to the African Union to procure COVID-19 vaccines. “This partnership will provide 7 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for health workers across the continent, which will contribute to the vaccination initiative of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). 165,000 AstraZeneca vaccines have been received in Ghana and handed over to the Ministry of health”. “Additionally, MTN Foundation donated PPEs worth GHc 5 million to the National COVID Trust Fund and another donation of essential equipment to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research to enable rapid testing and data processing. “MTN launched the “Wear it for Me” campaign to raise awareness about the importance of wearing face masks and also donated about over 85k KN 95 face mask to over 30 hospitals in all 16 regions”. He expressed However, he continued to encourage all Ghanaians to adhere strictly to all the safety protocols issued by local and global authorities in fighting this pandemic. Madam Aawulenaa Dorothy who received the Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPEs) on behalf of the Bolgatanga District Health Director described the donation as ‘timely’. Even though she acknowledges the interventions of some other well-meaning personalities and cooperate entities who have come to donate some PPEs to the facility in the fight against COVID, she believes the donation by MTN Foundation will go along way in sustaining the facility and its staff. She thanked MTN for their wonderful support so far since 2011 till date. “Before the year 2013, this facility you are looking at was in a very deplorable state and through the able leadership of the then facility in charge, one Madam Agatha and the then Regional Director of Health Service, they were able to put up a request through MTN and they came for an inspection to also assess the facility and see what they could do to help improve health care delivery to the population here and so after the assessment, they were able to take off the whole roofing and did a general renovation and even currently, the water we are using and enjoying was provided by MTN and that is something we are forever grateful. As I said earlier, we are always indebted to MTN. Madam Dorothy narrated to Apexnewsgh.com during an interview after the donation. Meanwhile, the in-charge at the Zuarungu Health Centre Mr. Abudu Malik who expressed massive satisfaction after receiving the donation from MTN Foundation representatives also assured putting the donations to good use. As Oliver twist, he appealed to MTN to assist them with an HP Analyzer. Richard Asamane, the Upper East Regional Territory Sales Manager of MTN thanked the management of the Zaurungu Health Centre for their wonderful reception as he reassured them that their doors at MTN are always open. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
No freeze on public sector salaries — Akufo-Addo
President Nana Akufo-Addo is appealing to the Trades Union Congress and Organised Labour to assist Government in the country’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts. The President also dismissed allegations that public sector salary increment had been frozen. Speaking at the 11th Quadrennial Congress of the Trades Union Congress, on Tuesday, 23rd March 2021, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that at the height of the pandemic, Government instituted several measures and interventions to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on lives and livelihoods. “These measures sustained the economy, restored some lost jobs and incomes, whilst opening windows of new opportunities for others. The time has now come for us to take the next set of actions required for the sustained recovery of the economy,” he said. These sets of action, he explained, have been outlined in the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government. “The truth of the matter is that we are not in normal times, and I appeal to all Ghanaians, including Organised Labour, to assist Government in this endeavour to help rebuild our public finances and economy. We need to mobilise additional resources to cater for the new challenges confronting us whilst meeting other statutory requirements,” the President said. He continued, “I, therefore, urge all Ghanaian workers to bear with government in these unusual and rather challenging times. I am confident that sooner, rather than later, and together, we can create the happy, progressive and prosperous nation we all desire.” Whilst appreciating the concerns expressed by a section of Ghanaians, especially, with regards to imposition of some new taxes, President Akufo-Addo reiterated that “salary increments for public sector workers have not been frozen for the next four years”. The President told the gathering that, but the onset on COVID-19, all the macroeconomic indices, between 2017 and 2020, were all pointing in the right direction, evidenced by a cut in the fiscal deficit, stability of the currency, reduced cost of borrowing, and annual GDP growth rates of 7%, with Ghana, within the period, becoming the largest recipient of foreign direct investment in West Africa. “COVID-19 resulted in a drastic slowdown in economic activity and a huge drop in domestic revenues, combined with a sharp and unplanned hike in COVID-related expenditures. In sum, this unprecedented crisis led to a sudden shortfall in Government revenues amounting to some thirteen billion, six hundred thousand cedis (GH¢13.6billion), and an unexpected and unavoidable rise in expenditures of some eleven billion, seven hundred thousand cedis (GH¢11.7billion), he said. The 2021 budget, the President explained, has set the goal of reducing the budget deficit gradually from 11.7% in 2020 to less than 5% by 2024, whilst growing the economy and creating jobs. “To accomplish this, additional sources of revenue are required, and that is the reason why the budget introduced four key revenue measures to improve on sanitation and pollution, improve the health sector, and defray the cost of the financial sector clean-up,” he added. In addition to this, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that, towards revitalising and modernising the Ghanaian economy, and returning it to high and sustained growth for the next three years, Government has developed and is currently implementing the one hundred-billion-cedi (GH¢100 billion) Ghana CARES ‘Obaatampa’ Programme. The key projects under the CARES Programme includesupporting commercial farming and attracting educated youth into commercial farming;building the country’s light manufacturing sector;developing engineering/machine tools and ICT/digital economy industries;fast tracking digitalisation;developing Ghana’s housing & construction industry;establishing Ghana as a Regional Hub;reviewing and optimising the implementation of Government flagships and key programmes; andcreating jobs for young people, and expanding opportunities for the vulnerable in society, including persons with disabilities. Touching on the matter of lumpsum benefits to 2020 pensioners, the President assured Organised Labour that SSNIT and the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) are working with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations on the imminent resolution of this matter, assuring that the matter would have been concluded by the end of the year. On the issue of the National Unemployment Insurance Scheme that was announced last year, President Akufo-Addo noted that a Committee, made up of the members of the Social Partnership Council, has been setup by the Ministry of Finance to look at the establishment of this Scheme, which will provide temporary income support to workers that are laid off. “The Ministry of Finance has already earmarked some fifty million cedis (GH¢50 million) towards its operationalisation once discussions are completed,” he added. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
GH¢230 million spent in four years to construct drains — Housing Minister
The Government has spent GH¢230 million in the past four years in providing proper drainage systems across the country towards addressing the perennial flooding in some parts of the country. Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister for Works and Housing, who disclosed this in Accra after touring some major drainage projects in some flood-prone areas on Tuesday, said government, remained committed to providing more resources to the sector to address the menace. “Government has committed a lot of resource especially within the Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration. Within the last four years, on drainage provisions alone, government has spent GH¢230 million and you saw the dredging work at Odawna that is being done by Dredge Masters. In fact, I’m amazed at the work done so far. “This annual dredging has helped the country prevent another major flooding. Government will continue to commit resources towards addressing the issue of flooding,” the Minister said. The tour was to enable the Minister to appraise projects under the Ministry to make informed decisions. Project sites visited included the Accra Sanitary, Sewerage, Stormwater Drainage Alleviation Project (AS3DAP), Santa Maria Drainage Project, Mallam Drainage Project and Apenkwa Drainage Project, all under the 2018 National Flood Control Programme. At the Accra Sanitary, Sewerage, Storm water Drainage Alleviation Project (AS3DAP) which involves the dredging of the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon, Mr Sena Adiepena, Operations Manager of Dredge Masters, the Company tasked to desilt the Korle Lagoon, said it was currently in the third phase of the project, adding that 60 percent of work had been completed. He said the presence of squatters at the banks of the lagoon was, however, impeding the smooth implementation of the project and called on city authorities to as a matter of urgency move in to address the situation. Mr Adiepena was optimistic that the country would not witness any form of flooding this year, particularly in and around the lagoon with the onset of rains. “Going into the rainy season, per the work currently ongoing and what we want to achieve we don’t foresee any flooding except in the case of abnormal rainfall. Even though the metrological office has advised that we are likely to experience rainfall, the extreme we cannot tell but for minimum to average rainfall we believe that we will not have flooding issue because of our presence on the ground and the continuous dredging,” he said. At the Santa Maria, Mallam, Apenkwa Drainage Projects, Mr Seth Kudzordzi, Head of Drainage Engineering, Hydrological Services Department, said works on the three projects had so far been successful and has helped curbed the recurrence of flooding in the beneficial areas. He, however, said that the presence of a building close to the edge of the project stalled the progress of work at the Santa Maria Drainage Project and appealed to the Minister and the Assembly to assist the Department resolve the issue for work to commence. Government, since the June 3, 2015 flood and fire disaster, which claimed more than 150 lives and caused damage to properties, had implemented a number of measures including the annual dredging and desilting of major drains in the country, especially across the capital to forestall similar disasters. Mr Asenso-Boakye commended Dredge Masters for the quality of work done so far and appealed to Ghanaians to be more responsible in the management and disposal of waste to complement government’s efforts in averting recurrence of such disasters. “Government alone cannot address the issue of flooding if as a country, we as citizens don’t conduct ourselves in a responsible manner. I, therefore, urge our colleague citizens and Ghanaians to be more responsible in the disposal of solid waste,” the Minister said. He called on the District Assemblies to strictly enforce the various planning laws and building codes to address some of the concerns. GNA Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Shell welcomes NAPO to Energy Ministry
The Managing Director and Country Chairman of Shell Energy, Mr. Brian Muriuki has paid a courtesy call on Energy Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh to formally welcome him to the energy sector and to formally introduce the multinational company to him. Dr Prempeh noted that he was happy to see Shell Energy return to Ghana after a period of absence and looked forward to the execution of their long term agreement with Ghana to provide Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), as an alternative fuel for powering plants. “I am very optimistic that Shell Energy will work hard to provide quality but affordable products for the benefit of all and to boost our economy,” Dr Prempeh noted. In a related development, Dr Prempeh also held a virtual meeting with leading executives of Vitol, an energy distribution company on Monday, 22 March 2021. Their team was led by the company’s Country Manager, Mr. James Thorburn. In his remarks, Dr Prempeh expressed the hope that the government will continue to enjoy warm relations with the company, which has been operating in the country since 1992, in different spheres, including crude oil supply, exploration and production and product supply and trading. Thermal energy issues and energy pricing were key in the discussions, which according to Dr Prempeh were very fruitful and engaging. “I am optimistic that gas pricing, including the role of energy companies in competitive pricing, will help grow this important sector in our drive towards an industrialisation agenda,” the Minister noted. Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Let’s meet over 2021 budget– GFL to Employment Minister
The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has said the new taxes stipulated in the 2021 budget will have a negative impact on the living standards and conditions of the Ghanaian worker. It has, therefore, called on the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah to immediately convene “an emergency National Tripartite Committee meeting” to discourse on the fallout of the 2021 approved Budget. A letter by the Federation addressed to the Minister signed by its Secretary-General Abraham Koomson, on Monday, 22 March 2021, said: “We specifically refer to the following elements contained in the Budget Statement: COVID-19 Health Levy, Road Toll increase, Sanitation and Pollution Levy ‘Bola Fee’, 1 percent increase in National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), 1 percent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) Flat Rate, Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA), (Levy Increased)-additional burden on motorists and food prices, Financial Sector cleanup.” According to the Federation, it is obvious that “these new taxes will impact negatively on the conditions of service and living standards of workers. “ It added: “Accordingly, the Executive Committee of Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) requests the Hon. Minister to convene an emergency National Tripartite Committee meeting to address the fallout of the approved Budget.” Meanwhile, the National Executive Council of the Senior Staff Association-Universities of Ghana has described the unilateral decision of the government not to increase salaries and wages of public sector workers until 2024 as not only “shocking and worrying” but “disappointing, frustrating and traumatizing”. According to the council, salaries and wages are determined by a Tripartite Committee and not solely by the government. The council in a statement wondered that if the government is unable to increase salaries of public sector workers due to the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the economy could the government not have engaged the national leadership of unions in stakeholder consultative meetings to prepare their minds for no salaries adjustment? The council noted that tertiary education plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the country and contribute immensely to the sustenance of these gains and, therefore, it is shocking and demotivating that instead of the government consolidating and motivating them to continue to improve and expand their frontiers, it has “chosen to inject into our body system a high dose of agony and worsening economic conditions intended to lower or even kill the velocity” of its members with its unilateral position not to increase wages and salaries until 2024. Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
MTN Ghana introduces new ID measures for Momo transactions
MTN Ghana has announced new measures for its MoMo transactions. From 02 April, all MoMo customers will be required to present valid ID cards before any MoMo cash-out (withdrawal) transaction can be processed. As a result of the directive, all MoMo agents will be required to select the ID type and enter the ID card number presented by the customer before the transaction can be completed. Without a valid ID card, MoMo transactions will not be processed. The General Manager of MobileMoney, Eli Hini said the enforcement of this directive, apart from being a regulatory requirement, will also complement efforts being taken by MTN MoMo to curb MoMo fraud in the country. MobileMoney remains committed in the fight against MoMo fraud and will continue to implement measures that will make the service safer. The request for an ID card for MoMo transactions is not a new requirement. It has been part of the service offering from the start and is strictly enforced at MTN branch Offices or Service Centers nationwide. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
New taxes needless – Lecturer to Govt
A senior Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneda, Dr Bernard Tutu-Boahene has questioned the government’s decision to introduce new taxes in the budget statement without increasing the wages and salaries of workers. He stated that the government had no business introducing new taxes when the salaries of the people have been stagnated. Government does not intend to increase wages of workers following the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic on the financial health of the country. To that end, the government said in its budget statement for the 2021 fiscal year that “Government in 2020 outlined a number of initiatives to cushion the effect of the pandemic on the populace.” The authority has introduced new taxes to enable it deal with the impact of the virus. The government proposed in the 2021 budget statement which has since been approved by the legislature the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19. “To provide the requisite resources to address these challenges and fund these activities, government is proposing the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19,” the budget said among other things. But contributing to a discussion on this issues on the New Day show with TV3’s Johnnie Hughes, Dr Tutu-Boahene said if the government was not going to increase wages of workers then there was no need for these new taxes. He stressed the government had “no business” introducing new taxes. Meanwhile, former Member of Parliament for Bantama, Mr Daniel Okyem Aboagye has justified the introduction of new taxes in the budget statement for the 2021 fiscal year. He believed that the introduction of the taxes is better than going for loans which future generations will have to pay. His comments come after Bawku Central lawmaker Mahama Ayariga said it is unfair for the Akufo-Addo government to be taxing the people of Ghana over the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Ayariga said while speaking on the Key Points Programme on TV3 Saturday March 20 that the freebies provided to Ghanaians during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic were presented to the people as gifts, hence no one expected to pay for those giveaways again. Mr Ayariga told host of the Key Points Abena Tabi that “The taxes are unfair to Ghanaians. Because the relief packages were presented to us as gifts only to be told today that we are going to pay for them.” He further stated that the solution to solving negative impact of the COVID on the economy is not increasing taxes, rather improving on the collection of the already exiting taxes.” Mr Okyem Abogaye noted that the government could not have borrowed to deal with the ravages of the covid on the economy because that would have worsened the debt situation. “To me it is matter of what we will to do as a nation. Do we want to borrow and put all the burden on future generation or do we have to try and support the government to be able to undertake its development agenda?” He asked. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
New taxes: You’re not paying Covid debt – Gabby to Ghanaians
A cousin to the President Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has waded into the ongoing conversation surrounding the controversial new taxes captured in the 2021 budget. According to him, the government did not seek to share the burden of Covid-19 amongst the populace. He also refuted claims that Ghanaians were deceived by the free water and electricity provided last year. Government is introducing a Covid-19 levy, financial sector cleanup levy, and two others as part of measures to shore up revenue. The proposed levy will become a one percentage point increase on both the existing VAT flat rate and a National Health Insurance Scheme. Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah had earlier responded to concerns on the proposed new taxes, explaining that the burden brought about by the pandemic had to be shared by all. He said, “so we cannot escape the fact that we have to share the burden at this point in time.” But Gabby via a Facebook post said “the Government is not asking you to pay for the cost of Covid-19 last year. No! That cost led to the huge fiscal burden which we do not want repeated this year.” He noted that “the task this year is two-fold: to defeat the virus, and rebuild the economy for businesses to thrive to create jobs and put cash in the pockets of workers.” “The 2021 budget is not asking you to pay for the cost of 2020. You are being asked to help share the burden of the existing Covid-19 costs, including vaccines for over 20 million Ghanaians.” He added “Remember there is an equally important cost of reviving the economy through the cost of stimulus packages. Deceit is when a government pretends there is no cost to anything and uses your taxes not for the greater public good. As taxpayers, we must all consider ourselves as partners in bringing our national economy back to life even as Government continues to invest your money to save lives.” Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Most Ghanaian workers are thieves, employers should pay particular attention to them–Ken Agyapong
The Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Agyapong has said a majority of Ghanaian workers are thieves and they steal from their employers to amass wealth for themselves. He however used the medium to call on all employers to pay serious attention to their workers to enable them to prevent the chances of collapsing their businesses. Mr. Agyapong made the revelation in a television programme monitored by Apexnewsgh.com “I have a project I am doing at Tema, one of the boys who watches over the project told me that thieves come around so I should fix lights all over the place. Meanwhile he was the one planning with the thieves to steal the iron rods and other materials meant for the project,” he said. He added “I got him arrested. Let me state without fear that most Ghanaian workers are thieves. They steal from their employers and amass wealth for themselves.” “Politicians steal and carry the money out of the country but the civil servants and other workers are doing worse than the politicians,” Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
MTN Ghana launches “The Happiness Place”
MTN Ghana marked the 2021 edition of the International Women’s Day (IWD) with a virtual activity geared towards promoting Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) at the Workplace. The interactive forum driven by the global IWD campaign #ChooseToChallenge, had over three hundred (300) staff participating. The Chief Human Resource Officer of MTN Ghana, Mrs. Amma Benneh-Amponsah, who led the conversation highlighted the progress of 2020 Diversity and Inclusion commitments made to employees as well as the Diversity and Inclusion priorities for 2021. She said, the business has and continues to put together interventions that ensure that women live their full potentials as employees of the company. Mrs. Amma Benneh-Amponsah also used the opportunity to commend all women at MTN for their contribution to the success of the organization. The event was also used to launch an inclusion-focused podcast dubbed the “Happiness Place Live Podcast”. The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Mr. Selorm Adadevoh performed the official launch. Sharing ideas on thriving in positivity in a covid-19 era, four-member panelists comprising of two MTN Staff, Maame Acheampong and Peter Anani as well as two external guests, Dr. Derek Oppong, a Clinical Psychologist and Kokui Selormey a renowned Media Personality and Advocate discussed the topic “Being 10% happier during a pandemic”. Nana Amegashie, Senior Manager, Consumer Marketing and a ‘Women in Technology’ graduate at MTN moderated the discussion. The session ended with great reviews from the staff. The interactive podcast session will be hosted every last Thursday in a month and will be discussing interesting topics that will impact employee wellbeing. About MTN Ghana MTN Ghana is the market leader in the increasingly competitive mobile telecommunications industry in Ghana, offering subscribers a range of exciting options under Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go Services and Mobile Financial Services. The company has committed itself to delivering reliable and innovative services that provide value for subscribers in Ghana’s telecommunications market. Since its entry into Ghana in 2006, MTN has continuously invested in expanding and modernizing its network in order to offer superior services to a broad expanse of the nation. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093