I’ll increase road tolls if approved – Amoako-Attah
The Roads and Highways Minister-designate, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has hinted of increasing road tolls if approved by Parliament’s vetting committee. “If I am given the approval, it’s one of the things I am going to do immediately. There is going to be a proposal to increase the toll rate, and I am going to bring to this house [Parliament] for support”, Mr. Amoako-Attah said when he appeared before the vetting committee on Tuesday, 16 February 2021. In his view, road toll in Ghana is on the low compared to other parts of the world and, therefore, for Ghanaians to enjoy good roads, there is a need for them to pay for it. Mr Amoako-Attah told the committee “The research that has been done in my ministry suggest that, on the average, toll rate is about a dollar. In Ghana, a dollar is close to GHS 6 but people pay GHS 50p as road toll.” Although he agreed a section of the populace might kick against the attempt to increase road tolls, Mr Amoako-Attah insisted it was in the interest of Ghanaians if they want good quality roads. “The last time tolls were increased, there was so much hue and cry in this country. We all saw what happened in this country with drivers saying they will go on strike. Will Ghanaians be prepared to pay more for road toll as it is seen in other parts of the world? We pay the lowest rate; meanwhile, we want good roads. Ghanaians should be prepared to pay for good roads and if I am giving the opportunity, it will be done”, he noted Classfmonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093
Mo Ibrahim Foundation welcomes historic appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the WTO
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation welcomes the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). As its first female and first African leader, this is a significant moment. This comes at a difficult time for multilateralism. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, a tumultuous period for global trade and increasing nationalist tendencies, the WTO faces significant challenges. Our sister Ngozi will fill this critical role with experience, wisdom and determination – steering an inclusive global trade agenda that is the only way to lift millions out of poverty and bring shared prosperity to the world. We hope that the WTO will temporarily waive the specific Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). This will provide the know-how to manufacture vaccines in Africa, a key step in enabling access to vaccines for all as quickly as possible. This is the only way to ensure a global, coordinated effort to contain COVID-19. If there is one emergency we must address, this is it. A close friend of our Foundation from its very beginning and member of the inaugural Prize Committee, the new Director-General of the WTO can rely on our full and committed support. Mo Ibrahim Foundation Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093
Lawyer wants Franklin Cudjoe summoned before parliament on comments against Dan Botwe
A private legal practitioner, Ibrahim-Anyass Muhammed is calling on the Privileges Committee of Parliament to summon Imani president, Franklin Cudjoe, over some allegations he made against the Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Minister-nominee Daniel Kweku Botwe. This comes after Franklin Cudjoe accused Daniel Kweku Botwe, the Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Minister-nominee of being part of those who disenfranchised the people of Santrofi, Akpafu, Likpe and Lolobi (SALL), by denying them the right to vote and have a representative in Parliament. Ibrahim-Anyass Muhammed said Dan Botwe cannot be blamed as they were not assigned to him by law; his duties were merely administrative. He is therefore calling on parliament’s privileges committee to demand particulars of Franklin Cudjoe‘s allegations against Dan Botwe. In a Facebook post the lawyer said “to accuse the Honorable Minister of lying however is a very low and despicable behaviour that must be condemned by all well-meaning Ghanaians in light of the strong wording of Article 21(4)(e) of the Constitution which provides for a law that is reasonably required for the purpose of safeguarding the people of Ghana against the teaching or propagation of a doctrine which exhibits disrespect for the nationhood of Ghana or incites hatred against other members of the community.” “Indeed this behaviour warrants for his summoning by the Privileges Committee of Parliament to give particulars of that unfounded allegation.” FRANKLIN CUDJOE NEEDS TO GET IT RIGHT “They claim to be honest, hardworking and effective and they have answers to every problem. They are mistaken.” – Elizabeth Ohene, All-Knowing Neutrals (2020) I must concede at the inception of this piece that for any growing democracy, criticism and contrary opinions of constructive nature and based on merit must be apparent. This system of governance as accepted widely by Ghanaians implies the diversity of thoughts and opinions to reflect the intended purpose of the framers of our constitution in having a free, fair and transparent society. It is in this vein that the popularity of Civil Society Organizations have soared. The idea for some of these CSOs is that because they are not openly political, they must lock horns with politicians, political actors or parties to appear credible to the unsuspecting public. The Founding President and chief executive officer of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Mr. Franklin Cudjoe is one of such persons who have been on a deliberate path to disagree with anything a politician says even when most of the time that posture tends to mislead the public. Indeed his latest fuss has been against one of Ghana’s most reputable public servants, Minister-designate for local government and legislative representative, Hon. Dan Botwe. I will accordingly reference two of Mr. Cudjoe’s tweets from his official Twitter account: “I just discovered that the former minister for Regional Reorganisation could be an accomplice in the SALL debacle. We shall meet at his vetting – 9:27 PM • Jan 23, 2021” “I respected Dan Botwe. I now firmly conclude he is part of the cabal that clandestinely disenfranchised SALL. He has told lies at vetting!! – 6:30 PM • Feb 15, 2021” The accusation by Mr. Franklin Cudjoe against the former Minister for Regional Reorganization and Development, Dan Botwe in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lipke and Lolobi (SALL) debacle is that the former Minister could have contributed to the ‘disenfranchisement’ of the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lipke and Lolobi in electing their Parliamentary Representative in the just-ended election. It is quite shocking that Mr. Franklin has maintained this untenable position even when well-meaning persons who know better have cautioned him against such unscrupulous allegations. Firstly, Article 47 of the Constitution places the creation of constituencies solely within the authority of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. The Supreme Court in the case of Ransford France v AG and EC emphasized that the EC was under no obligation to publish in the gazette the mode of exercising its mandate including those under Article 47 of the Constitution. The former Minister’s duties at the Ministry was to execute the will of the people as made in the referendum on the creation of six new regions on 27th December 2018 which was conducted smoothly by the Electoral Commission and the results effected by the President by issuing out Constitutional Instruments in compliance with law. A primary school student should be able to arrive at this conclusion without any assistance and yet we have the head of a whole think tank consistently failing to comprehend this simple constitutional process. It should be beyond clear by now that the Honorable Minister could not possibly be blamed for matters that were not assignable to him by law since his duties were merely administrative in providing the necessary state apparatus for those newly created regions, which he indeed discharged dutifully and faithfully. As to his second tweet, the multitude of social media posts that commended the Honorable minister for his sterling performance at the vetting for the position of Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs betrays that alleged firm conclusion. To accuse the Honorable Minister of lying however is a very low and despicable behaviour that must be condemned by all well-meaning Ghanaians in light of the strong wording of Article 21(4)(e) of the Constitution which provides for a law that is reasonably required for the purpose of safeguarding the people of Ghana against the teaching or propagation of a doctrine which exhibits disrespect for the nationhood of Ghana or incites hatred against other members of the community. Indeed this behaviour warrants for his summoning by the Privileges Committee of Parliament to give particulars of that unfounded allegation. This teaching and propagation of hate speeches by the “All-Knowing and Mighty Lord Cudjoe” and his disciples must be nipped in the bud so as to give effect the wishes of the framers of our Constitution and to serve notice to all manner of persons seeking to create mischief out of social and political capital in order to cause disrespect to our nationhood and our revered elders. After all, a nation that lacks respect for its seniors