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GIPC Reaffirms Commitment to Retail Sector Transformation Under 24-Hour Economy Initiative

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Ghana Introduces Prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Diaspora Awards

Artificial Rain and Chaos in Accra CBD as Fire Service Responds to Mass Breathing Difficulties

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Ghana Health Service Warns of Increased Road Accident Risks During Christmas Festivities

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Kojo Adu Asare Sparks Debate After Declaring Interest in Marrying Daddy Lumba’s Widow

Ken Ofori-Atta

U.S. Extradition Request for Ken Ofori-Atta May Face Political Hurdles, Says Law Expert

NDC’s Hamza Suhuyini Urges Realism in Galamsey Fight, Citing Scale of Challenge

NDC’s Hamza Suhuyini Urges Realism in Galamsey Fight, Citing Scale of Challenge

Dr. Bawumia Gets Unshakable Boost from Former Minister Bin Salih as NPP Primary Looms

Dr. Bawumia Gets Unshakable Boost from Former Minister Bin Salih as NPP Primary Looms

We are not expecting anything better from Finance Minister– Navrongo MP Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central Constituency, Mr. Sampson Tangombu Chiragia
Opinion, Politics

We are not expecting anything better from Finance Minister– Navrongo MP

Member of Parliament for the Navrongo Central Mr. Sampson Tangombu Chiragia, said they are not expecting anything better from the Finance Minister Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta. The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, will appear before Parliament today to lay before the House the Mid-Year Budget Review of the Economic Policy of the Government and Supplementary Estimates for the 2022 fiscal year. Today’s presentation, pursuant to the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), will see the minister provide information on how revenue and expenditure had performed in the first half of the year, the country’s current budget deficit figures and projections for the next six months. Meanwhile, the MP for Navrongo Central has no hope for the yet-to-be Mid Year Budget. He said, “Because of where we are now, we are not expecting anything better from him apart from probably if they finalized their program with IMF”. Adding that, “We have got to a crossroads to go and look for a bailout somewhere. I am not even sure we have a budget now until we see what the IMF has for us”. The Navrongo MP thinks that Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta is coming back again to sing and only quote a Bible and probably talked about what he said in October last year. “We don’t trust him, whatever he says is a lie” He stressed Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen

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Ken Ofori-Atta withdraws from Consolidated Fund for the construction of the national cathedral–Ablakwa
Opinion, Politics

Ken Ofori-Atta withdraws from Consolidated Fund for the construction of the national cathedral–Ablakwa

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa,  Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has accused the Minister of Finance of breaching laws of the country by withdrawing funds from the Consolidated Fund for the construction of the national cathedral. Mr. Ablakwa said, the Finance Minister engaged in the act without the required parliamentary approval. Speaking to the press in Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed the response to a right-to-information request he sent to the Public Procurement Authority indicates that the authority did not play any role in the selection of a contractor for the project. “The finance minister on the blind side of Parliament has instructed three withdrawals from the Consolidated Funds without parliamentary approval. The latest in this unending saga of the national cathedral is on the 4th of July. We activated an RTI request writing to the PPA to ask them to provide information. This is another layer in this scandal… The PPA in response to our quest is stating clearly that they have no record on the construction of the national cathedral,” Ablakwa said. Apexnewsgh.com

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IMF: Cathedral, NABCO, FSHS, Ex-Gratia in shamble as IMF conditions demands….
Opinion, Politics

IMF: Cathedral, NABCO, FSHS, Ex-Gratia in shamble as IMF conditions demands….

The much awaited International Monetary Fund (IMF) has finally landed to dying Ghana economy with several conditions to enable them gain access to loan to regain the economy from a very critical state. However, as these conditions as anticipated by many Ghanaians, these conditions will go along way affecting average Ghanaians as most of them may see us loose several interventions that have us since the Akuffo Addo led new patriotic party came into power.  The conditions include the immediate resolution of the free senior high school policy which was started in 2017 by the new patriotic party after winning the 2016 general election. The IMF believes Ghana’s economy is not at a state to render free senior high school education with several sectors on their needs. Also, the resolution of the nation builders corps since a chunk of money is used to pay several semi employed youth in the economy whose take home salary isn’t anything to talk about. It suggests that the government redirect these amounts in to the construction of more factories and job creation interventions to reduce the unemployment rate. Meanwhile, the IMF sees no reason why a country running to it would prioritize the construction of a cathedral among other pressing needs such as constant floods in the capital and increasing prices of foodstuffs in various markets across the 16 regions of Ghana. The IMF will also want the President to cut down on the size of the government especially the number of ministers. Ghana currently has over 82 ministers and this number takes on ton of money of the national coffers. The International Monetary Fund will also want to see the government abolish the ex gratia system which leases out huge amounts of tax payers money to past presidents and ministers of states who were duely paid during their tenure and had proper retirement packages made for them. These are but a few directives the financial organization will require from Ghana should it happen to grant us a loan to salvage our economy from its knees and getting back on its feet. Many Ghanaians are also against the decision by the government to run to the IMF to ask for another loans despite taking several loans within its 6years in power . Ghana’s current debt sits at about $54 billion which constitutes over 7000% of the country’s GDP. Apexnewsgh.com

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Those who take you to IMF cannot break the 8–Kennedy Agyapong
Opinion, Politics

Those who take you to IMF cannot break the 8–Kennedy Agyapong

The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has said the New Patriotic Party cannot win the 2024 elections with the same faces taking the country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a financial bailout. Engaging Party members at the ongoing NPP National Constituency Officers Welfare workshop at Koforidua in the Eastern Region Friday, Mr. Agyapong expressed disgust about the move by the government to seek a bailout from the IMF. “You are sitting here and you are smiling. IMF? What are we going to say again? Somebody texted me that I shouldn’t say anything about the IMF, I shouldn’t say anything about IMF? I will say it”. “Going into IMF is just like giving over power to NDC without a contest straightaway. Because the noise makes and I chew my own words back when I said NDC Went to IMF because of their mismanagement of the country or the economy”. “So, if NPP is going to IMF what am I going to say again? So, breaking the 8 is going to be tough. You cannot use the face of those who took us to IMF to break the 8, I won’t work. My message to you is simple, you cannot read my lips, and am not scared of anybody in the party, I will tell you the gospel truth.” Those who take you to IMF, those same faces cannot break the 8. A word to the wise is enough. I am very very sad today, when I saw the publication that we are going to IMF. You know, that is what Mahama was praying for and he has gotten his wish. It will not be easy, it will take hard work. So, prepare ourselves knowing there is a task ahead of us, and therefore, is only unity that will make sell through breaking the 8. He stressed Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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Gov’t has been transparent with COVID-19 expenditure – Ofori-Atta
Health, Politics

Gov’t has been transparent with COVID-19 expenditure – Ofori-Atta

Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has denied claims that government has not been transparent with its COVID-19 expenditure. Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the Minister said all programmed, mobilized and utilized funds pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic have been dully reported in line with government’s commitment to accountability and transparency. His presentation comes on the back of the Minority’s demand for an audit into all COVID-19 related expenses over discrepancies in government’s expenditure data. However, responding to questions, the Mr. Ofori-Atta said government is transparent on its expenditure items and will continue to operate an open-door policy and welcomes any opportunity to engage in the national interest. “Mr. Speaker, at this juncture, I wish to dispel the notion that there have been inconsistencies in government data on COVID-19. His Excellency the President intimated during that State of the Nation Address on 30th March, 2022, that we had mobilized about Gh¢17.7 billion since 2020 to fight the pandemic. “We have subsequently reconciled the data and I can report that as of end-May, 2022, we have mobilized Gh¢18.19 billion to mitigate the effect of the pandemic. Again, when His Excellency the Vice President indicated on 7th April, 2022 at the National TESCON Conference that Government had spent Gh¢8.1 billion on Covid-19, it was within the context of expenditures for 2020 as I have already indicated,” the Minister said. This the Minister explained that out of the Gh¢18.19 billion expended to mitigate the effect of the pandemic, GH¢1,550 million was disbursed under the Support to Households Programme, GH¢1,049 million was allocated to health response-supplies equipment and relief for health workers, GH¢600 million was released to begin the construction across the country and a further GH¢763.92 million has been released to continue the construction of the 111 district hospitals. He said government also programmed a total amount of GH¢875 million for security operations, evacuation of Ghanaians stranded abroad and coordination of MMDAs’ sanitation and disinfection exercises. Additionally, he said in line with measures to stabilize the economy after the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, government implemented programmes to revitalize the economy and protect jobs. This includes the GH¢600 million utilized under Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme (CAPBuSS) by the NBSSI now the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA). With regards to vaccine procurement, the Minister indicated that GH¢929.30 million was allocated. A total amount of GH¢775.82 million was released for the purchase of Sputnik V, the Janssen COV SARS 2 COVID Vaccines and the Emergency deployment of vaccines in schools among other key government’s disbursement. —Starrfm

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Use MoMo ¢200 in 2 days to avoid e-levy zero impact–Ken Ofori-Atta to doomsayers Ken Ofori-Atta
Opinion, Politics

Use MoMo ¢200 in 2 days to avoid e-levy zero impact–Ken Ofori-Atta to doomsayers

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has recommended to some aggrieved Ghanaians complaining about the controversial e-levy charges to change GHc 200.00 in two days to avoid being victims of the charges. He said: “ if you have GH¢200, I am sure you can do it in two days and, therefore, there will be a zero-impact”, he recommended The 1.5 per cent levy on some electronic transactions does not affect mobile money transfers under GHS100. Mr. Ofori-Atta told journalists at a press conference on Thursday, 12 May 2022: “I think we pretty much have it under control, as much as we can”. “We started on May 1, we were blessed with that being a period of holidays for three, four days, so, we saw the issues and began to tackle them,”. “We are a country moving really forward”, adding: “We know our salaries are not that high so truly, most of those that people advocate as regressive taxes are not affected at all”. He added: “We are truly excited about this new tax handle to look at issues of curing auction failures, increasing our revenue mobilization, getting technology and gradually moving into an economy in which, really, people just don’t use cash because it’s much easier to continue with technology,”. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your  adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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Reshuffle Amoako-Atta, Ofori-Atta, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu–Jantuah to Akufo-Addo Lawyer and social commentator Kwame Jantuah
Opinion, Politics

Reshuffle Amoako-Atta, Ofori-Atta, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu–Jantuah to Akufo-Addo

A social commentator and legal practitioner Kwame Jantuah has called on President Akufo-Addo to reshuffle some of his ministers that have not proven to be competent. Those among the ministers he mentioned were Finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi Amoako-atta, the Minister of Health, and a few others as ministers who should be reshuffled following the incompetence. “I do not understand why we have a government and there has not been one reshuffle. I do not understand it. Are we trying to say all the government appointees have done a good job, is that what we are saying?” he question. According to Mr. Jantuah, he expected President Akufo-Addo to emulate his predecessor, the first President to come from the NPP, President John Agyekum Kuffour. “What did he do, he did reshuffle and he told some Ministers I run this government and I’m moving you here. If you don’t want, leave.” “I think if for nothing, the Minister for Roads and Highways should go, Ministry of Health, I think the Finance Minister should be moved. If you do a poll on Ghanaians they will say that he hasn’t been able to handle the Ministry that well,”. He pointed, that one good example has to do with the introduction of the controversial E-levy by Mr. Ofori-Atta. “He Ofori-Atta did not consult anybody, no consultation with stakeholders, no consultation with opposition parties then you brought it. You now took it to Parliament it raises so much and you are now doing the consultation,” he stressed Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen  Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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Persuade your MPs to pass e-levy and hold me accountable for all expenditure—Ofori Atta to Ghanaians Ken Ofori Atta
Opinion, Politics

Persuade your MPs to pass e-levy and hold me accountable for all expenditure—Ofori Atta to Ghanaians

A Development Economist with the University for Development Studies (UDS) Dr. Michael Ayamga-Adongo has cautioned the government not to take Ghanaians for granted by their way of thinking that Ghanaians do not understand the meaning of the Electronic levy charge which has so far received some level of backlash from some set of Ghanaians especially the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The Minister echoed that the time has come for citizens to share the burden in the development of the country with the Government by paying that tax. Mr. Ofori Atta insisted that the e-levy would help increase revenue as the country moved into an e-commerce economy, and invest such revenues into debt sustainability, infrastructure development and youth entrepreneurship. “What I was really expecting Parliament was to say, we’re going to get 6.9 billion from this new tax revenue measure. So how then do you Finance Minister report to me Parliament on a quarterly basis on the uses of the fund and its application so that we move on,” he stated. Meanwhile, touching on the concerns by some people that the 1.75 percent was high, Mr. Ofori-Atta, explained that the Government had engaged telecommunication operators to accept a 0.25 percent absorption to cushion Ghanaians. “You go to the issue of 1.75 percent e-levy and people will say that’s too high even though we exempted transfers of less than a 100 cedis. The arguments were coming ‘fast and furious and we had to listen and reassess that in terms of the impact of the 1.75 percent. We were able to come down by 0.25 percent by the telcos, which means that the impact will go down for the average Ghanaian,” he said. “We will still be able to retain revenues needed for these three critical areas of debt sustainability, infrastructure build-up and ensuring that our YouStart programme becomes a standard in our socio-economic development.” He pointed Mr. Ofori-Atta said this at the closing ceremony of the 73rd University of Ghana Annual New Year School and Conference in Accra on Wednesday. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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E-LEVY: Transactions to be affected and exempted listed by Ofori-Atta Ken Ofori-Atta
Politics

E-LEVY: Transactions to be affected and exempted listed by Ofori-Atta

Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has said he is working out modalities to resubmit the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) to Parliament for approval. The tax E-Levy has been a controversial one since government presented its 2022 Budgets statement to the house in 2021. According to him, the move will increase the country’s tax-to-GDP from 13% to a targeted 16% or more. Minority insists that the 1.75% tax is a tool to exacerbate the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian, which the Covid-19 pandemic has already impacted. A section of the populace and experts have also greeted the yet-to-be approved levy with disapproval. The other components of the budget have been approved with the exception of the E-Levy which the Minority vows to fight vehemently. As Parliament prepares to reconvene on January 25, the Finance Minister has been clarifying some issues regarding the E-levy, which he hopes will clear the air ahead of the bill’s resubmission. To drum home his justifications, the Minister listed many transactions that will be affected by the levy. Addressing the media at the Ministry’s press conference on Wednesday, Mr. Ofori-Atta enumerated that it will encapsulate the following: Mobile money transfers between accounts on the same electronic money issuer (EMI) Mobile money transfers from an account on one EMI to a recipient on another EMI Transfers from bank accounts to mobile money accounts Transfer from mobile money accounts to bank accounts Bank transfers on a digital platform or application which originate from a bank account belonging to an individual to another individual The Minister subsequently highlighted some scenarios where the E-Levy will not apply. They are; Cumulative transfers of GHC100 per day made by the same person Transfers between accounts owned by the same person Transfers for the payment of taxes, fees and charges on the Ghana.gov platform Electronic clearing of cheques Specified merchant payments (that is, payments to commercial establishments registered with the GRA for income tax and VAT purposes) Transfers between principal, master agent and agent’s accounts Citing Bloomberg’s report on Ghana’s economy, he said approving the e-levy would help address the issue of the downgrade of Ghana’s credit rating from B to B-. Mr. Ofori-Atta also noted that the levy would be the driving force to move the country towards a more sustainable debt level. The engagement forms part of a sensitization campaign geared towards getting the populace on board with the introduction of the levy. The Minister says that from January 20, 2022, his outfit, “colleague ministers and other key members of government will embark on a public engagement and sensitization campaign across the country.”

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