President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said, he will not renege on his pledge to help create progressive and prosperous Ghana but, he cannot do it alone. According to President Akufo-Addo, he needs the backing of each and every Ghanaian, “if we are to bounce back together and build a Ghana beyond aid”. The President made the plea at Cape Coast, Central Region on Sunday, 6 March 2022. The President remembered how “our forebears worked together with the belief that Ghana, once free and independent, could make her own unique contribution to the growth of world civilization and be able to generate wealth and prosperity for the masses of her people”. “They forebears put away ethnic, political and religious affiliations and came together to work for the liberation of the Gold Coast from colonial and imperial domination”, Mr. Akufo-Addo explained that each of them contributed their quota toward a free, independent Ghana in which we now live”. “All of us gathered here and millions out there – inside our borders and outside – share this love for the place we call home”. “When we make wrong choices, we must act to set things right” and “when those put in charge of running affairs get it wrong, we must have the courage to say so”. “That is our patriotic duty and calling. But, we must not, at any given opportunity, run down our nation simply because we can, all to achieve a narrow, political can partisan interest”. “acknowledges that we’ll have differences of opinion on the way forward for our nation. We must, however, recognize that the expression of those diverse views should not undermine the fundamental unity we need to forge to advance the cause of our nation”, he said. “Fellow Ghanaians, for the last two years, we’ve seen, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disruption of the global supply chain, and the global financial system; the opening up of a huge funding gap in virtually all countries, the widening of the fiscal deficit and increased public debt level. Simply put, there are difficulties everywhere in the world. We are seeing increasing global freight rates, rising crude oil prices – which means rising fuel prices; rising cost of items on the market, as a result of inflationary pressures and the depreciation of currencies”. “Inasmuch as these are all happening in all countries around the world, the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has not thrown up its hands in despair. We’re not looking for the easy way out”. “We’re determined to become even more self-reliant and, in the process, find Ghanaian solutions to Ghanaian problems, as, already, we have made considerable progress toward this end”. “Is a net exporter of foodstuffs thanks to the success of the programme for Planting for Food and Jobs” while pointing out: “Free Senior High School is ensuring money, or the lack of it, is no longer a barrier toward the attainment of a minimum of senior high school education for every Ghanaian child – an important tool for the development of our nation”. “We’re processing more of our cocoa in Ghana than at any other time in our history”, adding: “The ‘One District-One Factory’ initiative, which has seen the ongoing construction of 278 factories cross the country – 106 completed – is part of the foundation, on which we are building a comprehensive industrialization programme by the development of strategic anchor industries and the coordinated exploitation of our bauxite and iron ore resources”. “We have opened up this country through the construction of roads, more than any other government has in the history of the fourth republic”. President said He further said: “Our efforts at digitization are improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in the public sector and helping to accelerate the growth of our economy”. “Fellow Ghanaians, these and more are what we have used tax revenues for over the last five years. In all your communities, villages, towns, constituencies and regions, you’re seeing your taxes at work – whether it is the construction of a classroom block, clinic, small-town water facility, factory, or road and we will continue down this path”, he said. Meanwhile, the theme for the 65th anniversary is ‘Working together; bouncing back together’ Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
NDC demands President Akufo-Addo to end the attack on free expression
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed worry over what they described as an attack on free expression, as they called on President Akufo-Addo to end it with immediate effect. Their call came after the arrest and detention of Accra FM’s Kwabena Bobie Ansah on Thursday night, 10 February 2022 at about 10:00 pm. According to them, “The NDC assures the despotic regime of Akufo-Addo, that we shall not relent in our effort both within and outside Parliament to stop the introduction e-levy,” the statement captured. Below is the full statement: President Akufo-Addo Must end the Attack on Free Expression Now The National Democratic Congress has observed with utter dismay, the calculated onslaught on media freedom and free speech by the Nana Akufo Addo government, which is increasingly showing dictatorial and autocratic tendencies. The past few weeks have seen a dramatic upsurge in the criminalization of free speech as well as unbridled attack on the journalism profession. There has been sharp deterioration in the expression of the right to free speech under the Presidency of a personality whose claim to fame as a human rights activist, was his work on the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law when he was an Attorney General. Recent events however, exposes duplicity and hypocrisy Mr. Akufo Addo’s. In short President Akufo Addo speaks from both sides of his mouth. The nation is yet find answers to the barbaric murder of an investigative journalist, Mr. Ahmed Suale, following his expose of the involvement of the President and his Vice in the Kwesi Nyantekyi – bribery scandal. The peoples demand for justice has remained an illusion. In the last few weeks, four journalists have suffered police brutalities and in some cases unfair judicial conviction. Journalist are being cowed into silence through the atmosphere of oppression and harassment. It is the modus operandi of autocrats and despots to create an atmosphere of fear to silent the voice of opposition and free speech. In all these the police appear complicit, aiding the oppressors to hound citizens of Ghana. Last week a Media Generale Radio and TV presenter, Captain Smart was in a Rambo-style dragged into detention, after he had been granted bail by a court. Last Tuesday another radio presenter, Oheneba Boamah Bennie of Power Fm/TV XYZ was incarcerated for statements he allegedly made against the President. A civil society activist, Mr Mensah Thompson was arrested, detained, sent to court on criminal charges, granted bail and yet again detained all for being critical of President Akufo-Addo. Another radio presenter Mr Kwabena Bobie Ansah of Accra Fm, was last night arrested and detained in connection with a story of looting of state lands by Mrs. Rebecca Akufo Addo. We consider the escalation of arrests and harassments as an attempt by the Akufo Addo junta to put fear in Ghanaians opposed to e-levy and douse the impact of the massive ‘Yentua Demonstration’ held in Accra yesterday. The NDC assures the despotic regime of Akufo-Addo, that we shall not relent in our effort both within and outside Parliament to stop the introduction e-levy. We are deeply worried by the loud silence of the Moral Society, large section of Civil Society and rather surprisingly the Ghana Journalists Association, whose members are under siege. We take this opportunity to call on these groups to speak out against the blatant acts of repression being perpetrated against our young democracy. These groups should take note of the rising political instability in the sub-region and speak out now and not wait to until matters get out of hands before they host series of belated interventions and seminars on what went wrong. Signed Johnson Asiedu Nketiah General Secretary Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Latest Akufo-Addo trip on private jet costing Ghana over GHC4m – Ablakwa
According to the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has “demonstrated beyond any shred of doubt that his blatant contempt, gross insensitivity and utter disdain for the Ghanaian people who made him President have no boundaries, whatsoever”. Mr. Ablakwa in his latest post on Facebook (Meta) alleged that President Akufo-Addo’s latest trip on a private jet is costing Ghana over GHC4m Read the full details below: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
‘I am appalled at the growing criminalization of speech and journalism in Ghana–John Mahama to Akufo-Addo
Former President John Dramani Mahama has written to inform President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that he is shocked following the growing criminalization of speech and journalism under his watch in this 21st century. Kindly read the full letter below: Dear President Nana Akufo-Addo, I am appalled at the growing criminalization of speech and journalism in Ghana, under your watch, in this 21st century. An investigative journalist was murdered, under very troubling circumstances. Yet, while the Ghanaian people and the international community have demanded justice, Government’s inability or unwillingness to act is obvious to all. The police have virtually shelved the investigations into this brutal murder. There have also been several disturbing incidents of harassment of journalists in the line of duty; we have witnessed media establishments closed down on your instructions, despite many appeals to you. Now, in a space of less than two weeks, four people have suffered police action, criminalizing their right to free speech. As Attorney General, at the time, who led the repeal of the criminal libel law, in order that citizens could freely express their views, it is unconscionable to be suppressing the rights and criminalizing the speech of citizens and journalists. It is even more worrying when the power of the state is used as a pliant tool in this intimidating endeavor. Radio and TV presenter Captain Smart was dragged from court, and although he had been granted bail, sent into detention. Another radio presenter, Oheneba Boamah Bennie has been incarcerated for statements he allegedly made. A civil society activist was arrested, detained, sent to court on criminal charges, granted bail and yet detained again for making a statement against you, President Akufo-Addo. As if to suggest insincerity behind the serious decriminalization of speech that you led, another radio presenter, Bobie Ansah, has been arrested, detained and charged– criminalized for speaking and making allegations against your wife. Again, last week, security personnel linked to your party brutalized a radio presenter and producer in the city of Takoradi. Such lawless attacks have today become common occurrences in our country. President Akufo-Addo, you cannot continue to oppress the people, criminalize speech when these matters are essentially civil in nature, if you feel offended by them. It is even more sad that the Journalists Association and its senior members, many of our clergy and other moral leaders, scared because of the oppressive and dictatorial regime you are running, have remained quiet in the face of this disturbing development in our maturing democracy. This is a dangerous blueprint you are fashioning for our dear nation and it must not be encouraged. Your actions as President have totally discredited your self-acquired accolade as a human rights lawyer and activist. Ghana has long emerged from the unfortunate past where journalists were cowed by incarceration and brutalization. I fear that if you do not take immediate action to arrest this unfortunate trend, when you exit the high office of President in January 2025, freedom of speech and a free media will certainly not be counted as part of the legacy you leave behind. Your brother, John Dramani Mahama Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Yentua Demo: NDC Communication Officer blames Akufo-Addo for poor turn out
The Deputy National Communication Officer of the Opposition National Democratic Congress Godwin Ako Gunn has blamed the poor turn up at the ‘Yentua Demonstration’ on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to the Deputy Communication Officer during his engagement with the media he said, people fear coming out for the ‘Yentua’ demonstration as expected because they know what the President can do. “People who skeptical know Nana Akufo-Addo, they know what he can do to media people, those who have lost their lives, those who have to run away that is people are scared sometimes to even come and join demonstration”. He stressed He added: But some of us are prepared to die on the street for Ghana. So, the people of Ghana will come out in their numbers and we complete it. However, he was hopeful that the number will see an increase before they start with the demonstration. “The number might not be my issue now but am telling you, there will be more than 20,000 people before we leave here. Just watch us in the next hour, this place will be flooded with people”. The opposition NDC and its representatives in Parliament have vowed to kick against the 1.75 percent levy which they said will affect electronic transactions and the poor masses. Meanwhile, the government has explained that the upsurge in the use of e-payment platforms, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been an impetus for the introduction of the levy. As a result, Ghana recorded a total of GHS500 billion from e-transactions in 2020 compared with GHS78 billion in 2016. However, the government says the e-Levy proceeds will be used to support development in the country such as entrepreneurship, youth employment, cyber security, and digital and road infrastructure and among other things. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
‘Akufo-Addo thinks we all suffer from dementia—Dr. Adongo
Development Economist Dr. Michael Ayamga Adongo has said, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has run to African leaders to guard against credit ratings. Dr. Adongo said, “Sometimes one wonders whether they don’t read or they don’t understand. So, let me give Mr. President a free piece of advice. Mr. President, please desist from embarrassing yourself by stating that Moody’s has upgraded Ghana.” Below is his Facebook post: AKUFO ADDO THINKS WE ALL SUFFER FROM DEMENTIA Today, President Akufo Addo is telling African leaders to guard against credit ratings. How interesting. Let me quote your the Vice President, then candidate Bawumia, “Stop embarrassing yourself Mr. President”. President John Mahama had moved Ghana from B-/negative to B-/stable. The Vice President took the former President to the cleaners. “speaking at the launch of the NPP’s 2016 manifesto at the Trade Fair Center in Accra, the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, said “Economic mismanagement and corruption has resulted in Ghana turning to the IMF for a bailout. Ghana’s sovereign credit rating has been downgraded from B+ positive. Without oil, Ghana was being rated at B+ Positive under the NPP. We’ve now come down with oil under the NDC and John Mahama to B – (negative) with a stable outlook in 2016 with oil. In fact, International Credit Ratings Agencies like Moody’s, Fitch, Standard and Poor’s, now have basically the same credit rating for Ghana.” “The recent revision of Ghana’s Outlook from B/Negative to B- Stable, which is the equivalent of the B-3, has resulted in a misinterpretation by the NDC government and President Mahama that Ghana’s credit ratings has been upgraded. This is in fact not the case. Moody’s did not upgrade Ghana’s rating. Ghana’s rating under Moody’s is still B/Negative. It is only the outlook that has been revised, and that is not equivalent to a ratings upgrade. Sometimes one wonders whether they don’t read or they don’t understand. So, let me give Mr. President a free piece of advice. Mr. President, please desist from embarrassing yourself by stating that Moody’s has upgraded Ghana.” Today Ghana is in the Cs and negative outlook and all of a sudden you think there is something wrong with the ratings! Moodys downgraded Ghana from B3 to Caa1 with negative outlook. Fitch downgraded Ghana from B to B- with negative outlook. Our President now goes to tell African leaders who are doing relatively better, who have better ratings and do not owe as much as we do that the ratings are problematic? Since I don’t suffer from Dementia let me refer the President to that infamous manifesto launch in 2016 and ask the President to take the advice from his Vice who told a sitting President, John Mahama, who had actually succeeded to achieve Upgrades to “stop embarrassment yourself ”. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
‘Akufo-Addo’s government has refused to accounts for its stewardship’—Dr. Apaak
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has said, the government of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has refused to account for its stewardship to Ghanaians. Apexnewsgh.com report Responding to a question on why members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) still maintained they won’t support the e-levy agenda, Dr. Apaak told Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, that, “Government has refused to account for its stewardship, and we have given examples; refusing to account for the feeding of Ghanaians during the lockdown, no one knows how much was spent, COVID accountability, they gave us free water, free electricity and they never told us the full cost, only to say that Ghanaians should pay for water and electricity after the election”. He added: “We have pointed to the luxurious lifestyle of the President and his Ministers, including the use of a private jet luxurious jet, they have refused to tell us how it cost”. “We have asked them to cut down on expenditure, they say this is the time to be buying private jets” “We have also raised the issue of heavy leakages at the port where a colossal amount of monies are lost. And if the government were to tighten the loopholes even Ghc10 billion a year from the port is a small change”. He stressed He said a citizen has filed a case to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) against a sitting member of the council of state because of tax exemption. “And also the issue of tax exemptions were tax exemption were given to companies, friends, families and cronies who don’t deserve tax exemption and actually we loosed not less than Ghc 5billion through tax exemption”. According to Dr. Apaak, when the government refused to account, they are allowing tax weavers, they are not taking action with regards to the Auditor’s General report which says that the country lost Ghc 12 billion to not be accounted for in 2020. “And you are still flying high, living luxuriously” he stated Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Trust NDC Minority Caucus, we will continue to vote against the E-levy–Navrongo MP to Ghanaians
NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Navrongo Central Constituency Mr. Sampson Tangombu Chiragia has called on the Ghanaians to trust the NDC Minority Caucus in Parliament as far as voting against the E-levy is concerned. Apexnewsgh report The Member of Parliament made the call on Thursday, February 3, 2022, when speaking to Apexnewsgh.com Mr. Chiragia said: “We are saying that we are against E-levy. He is the President of Ghana, the people went to the polls and voted for him as the person they think he can manage for now. But what we are saying, is we the NDC minority are against the E-levy because the effect is directly on the poor and we as a social democratic party. They don’t think we should endorse what will have a direct effect on the poor and for that matter, we are against”. “And now, as long as they bring the bill to parliament and as long as we are there and they put it before us, we will only vote against the E-levy period”. He stressed “Now we don’t want to comment because we have told the people and now the people now know what the E-levy will do to them more than us. But, they are saying they will do it. So, the NDC minority caucus will continue to vote against the E-Levy. He maintained Meanwhile, he believes they in the NDC are not to be blamed but the government and President Akufo-Addo should because they were not able to mobilize 138 majorities as they claim. “Nana Addo should go and mobilized his 138 parliamentarians and come and pass E-levy, apart from that, is 137-137 nothing more nothing less. If Akufo-Addo is able to mobilize his 138, we will go by the constitution and passed the E-levy. We will continue to stand by the masses”. Mr. Chiragia was responding to President Pronouncement on E-levy when addressing traditional leaders from Dzodze in the Volta region on Tuesday, 1st February 2022. According to President Akufo-Addo, “Revenues during 2020/2021 went down considerably because of the slowing down of the economic activities that came from the COVID-19. At the same time, government, in order to keep the country going, did incur some expenditures on the free water, the free electricity. These were the unavoidable expenses that government had to make,”. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
‘You are behaving like a drunk, borrowing and chopping stop insulting Ghanaians’—Dr. Adongo fires governments
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). Meanwhile, the government has already started engaging its citizenry through Town Hall meetings, according to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta during his engagement with the media, the move is to explain better the importance of E-levy to the people. However, Dr. Adongo on his Facebook wall on Friday, January 28, 2022, believes: “This government takes Ghanaians for granted. To even think that we the citizens do not understand and need education about this Electronic theft called E-levy is condescending”. He pointed He added: “We are not morons. We know you have been lying all along when you told us the fundamentals of the economy were strong. We know it has become too difficult for you to borrow because you have been behaving like a drunk, borrowing and chopping”. “The lenders have weighed your economy and found you unworthy of credit so they either refuse to lend to you or do so at unsustainable interest rates. We know the lenders know you have mortgaged our resources to lenders”. “They know the record debt to GDP you have achieved means even if you were using all of Ghana’s annual output to pay debts it would take us a decade to pay the principal of the debt stock. That is why you have returned to squeeze the masses”. “Since when did you know education is important? When you went borrowing did you educate us? When we expressed worry you told us people were lending to you because they had confidence in your management of the economy. You never told us we will bear the immediate consequences. Now that your economy is rated B minus with negative outlook that is also a record since these agencies started rating Ghana) your return to loot our meager pesetas”. He said “Come to think of it. Did you forget of youth employment at the peak of your bromance with financial markets? You now want to use youth employment as a smokescreen to rob money directly from peoples’ wallets and pockets. We didn’t even get to this during the dreaded structural adjustment years. The failure doesn’t amaze me. What amazes me is your boldness to hold your head high in this hopeless situation and call us ignorant”. Dr. Adongo posted Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
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









