Koku Anyidoho is currently before NDC’s disciplinary c’ttee – Asiedu Nketia
General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said the party’s former Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho is currently answering questions before the disciplinary committee of the main opposition party. He said the committee will advise the party leadership appropriate on the next line of action against Mr Anyidoho when the time is due. Mr Nketia said this in an interview with TV3’s Komla Adom on the Mid Day news Wednesday March 24 after the suspension of former Central Regional Chair of the NDC Allotey Jacobs and another member Stephen Atubiga. “[Koku Anyidoho] is currently before the disciplinary committee. The committee has not reported to us. There is a time limit within which they must finish their work. “The time has not expired yet so we have not had any reason to go back to them. We are expecting them to do a good work and then advise the party leadership on the way forward.” The Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the NDC suspended Mr Anyidoho. His suspension letter stated that the petitions from Oti Region’s Communications Officer, Mobarak Abdul-Karim, and Bono Region’s Deputy Communications Officer, Eric Adjei, have been referred to the Disciplinary Committee for further action. “You are therefore by this letter to take note, and notice is hereby given, that your membership of the NDC is suspended pending the hearing and final determination of the petitions against your conduct,” Mr Asiedu Nketia, who was contested against by Mr Anyidoho at NDC’s last national executive congress, stated in the letter dated Monday, February 8, 2021. Since losing the 2020 elections, Koku Anyidoho has taken to Twitter to make comments that have not gone down well with many members of the party. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Students of GIJ in full anger after management decisions
Students of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) were denied access to the two campuses of the school Wednesday morning. The students, who had gone to the school for lectures, were not allowed inside because the gates had been locked. There was also some police presence to ensure law and order. The decision to lock the gates, according to the security personnel at the school, was “an order from above.” It is unclear why the school authorities decided to lock out the students; but it is believed to be in connection with a planned demonstration against the school’s directive to all students who paid their fees after the registration deadline to defer their programmes. According to a statement issued by the institute on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, “All affected students are to take note of this directive and act accordingly.” Mr Daniel Machator, who is in charge of Public Affairs at GIJ, said the decision was taken following the expiration of the grace period it gave to defaulting students to pay a certain percentage of their fees. He said the deadline for the payment of fees was extended for about three times but many students did not pay any seriousness to the notices of extension. The last grace period for the payment of fees expired on February 25, 2021. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Let’s focus on Akufo-Addo’s transformation agenda – Bawumia to 2024 campaigners
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, says he has not given consent to posters promoting him as the 2024 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Some posters with the hash tag #Breaktheeight, have emerged on social media, pushing an agenda for Dr Bawumia to be considered as the next flagbearer of the NPP in 2024. But a statement dated March 24, 2021, signed and issued by Dr Gideon Baako, the Spokesperson to Dr Bawumia said “The Office of the Vice President has taken notice of the proliferation of posters around the country apparently promoting H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the candidate of the NPP for the 2024 elections. “For the record, the Vice President has not given his consent to these and other associated activities.” It added that Dr Bawumia remains focused on assisting President Nana Akufo-Addo in the execution of his agenda to transform Ghana. “This is where everybody’s focus should be,” it said. Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the party, Mr Freddie Blay, has urged members with ambition for various positions in the party, including the flagbearership “not to steal the start for they might be disqualified.” In an interview with the Daily Graphic, he said following the results of the 2020 General Elections, it was important for every member of the party to focus on supporting the President to execute his plans in his second term. He noted however that the party was not against members being ambitious, but “we should not be reckless and indecent” in a manner that would injure the internal cohesion and peace required to steer the state of affairs of the nation till 2024. Graphic Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Establish your own schools – Samini to Rastafarians
Reggae musician Samini has called on “well-to-do” members of the Rastafari fraternity to consider establishing their own schools to ensure conformity to Rasta principles such as keeping dreadlocked hair without being discriminated against. In a lengthy Facebook post on Wednesday, 24 March 2021, the ‘My Own’ hitmaker shared his opinion on the ongoing debate about school hairdos after Achimota Senior High School refused to admit two Rastafarian students because of their dreadlocks. The school’s PTA, the National Association of Graduate Student (NAGRAT) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) have backed the headmistress’s decision not to accept the students. However, others like the Rastafari Council, the former member of parliament for Kumbungu, Mr Ras Mubarak and some Ghanaians, disagree with the position of the school. Contributing to the ongoing debate, Samini, who wears dreadlocks, said in a Facebook post that he disagrees with Achimota school if the debate is centred around style and preference. He wondered why someone cannot wear their hair the way they want to school in 2021. He, however, noted that if the argument is about religion, then he would stand with Achimota School. Speaking in favour of style and preference the ‘My Own’ hitmaker observed: “If it is an issue of style and preference then I would humbly plead that our authorities take a second look at this questionable ‘decree’ that smacks of intimidation, discrimination and even to some extent, racism! How will the locks make other students uncomfortable?” “How will the locks affect his performance? Or wait, will the locks perhaps turn into snakes at midnight and hound other students?” “Can someone please help me understand why I cannot wear my hair the way I want to school in 2021?” “Let’s even leave the public schools and turn our focus on the private schools that allow any kind of hair preference on their premises. Do we have any records of any troubles being created? I don’t think so.” On the other hand, the multiple award-winning musician noted that if it is an issue of religion; “if these lads who want to wear locks in school are insisting on that because it’s a religious requirement they cannot forgo, then by all means, let’s all stand with Achimota because allowing it, could be very very detrimental! “A wise man, Eric Weiner, once said ‘Religion is like a knife. If you use it the wrong way you can cut yourself’ ‘Massaging’ institutionalised procedure to favour ones religion is a dangerous path we should not take! The repercussions could be terrible because once it’s done to favour religion A, it must be done to favour all and who knows what religion B might ask for?” Samini, therefore, called on the Rasta fraternity to come together to enrol the affected students in private schools. He also suggested the establishment of Rasta-owned schools to champion their interest. ”That said, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to some well to do Rastas out there. Can we come together to fund these lads through private school? Until Rasta builds schools like the Muslims, Catholics, Methodists, SDAs and so on have, can Rasta hold its own to ensure no one pushes Rasta about over rules Rasta must obey in everyone’s interest?” A few days ago, the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Mr Angel Carbonu, wondered why Rastafarians do not have their own school by now so as to avoid the situation where their religious rights and freedoms always clash with the rules and regulations of the existing schools that their children attend. “I don’t even know why the Rastafarians don’t have their own schools because they’ve been in this country for a very long time,” Mr Angel Carbonou said at a press conference on Monday, 22 March 2021 at which the group voiced out its opposition to an earlier directive of the Ghana Education Service to the management of Achimota SHS to admit two fresh students with dreadlocks. “We expect that if you want to be in that school, you obey the rules and regulations. The rules and regulations of an institution are not chosen and picked by individuals, they become standard and ought to be obeyed by anyone who wants to access the school,” Mr Carbonu said. Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Ofori-Atta faces Appointments C’ttee tomorrow
Finance Minister-designate Ken Ofori-Atta will be vetted on Thursday, 25 March 2021 by the Appointments Committee of Parliament. This follows Mr Ofori-Atta’s return to Ghana on Monday, 22 March 2021. The Finance Minister-designate was flown to the United States of America on Sunday, 14 February 2021, to seek medical treatment for post-COVID-19 complications. “After recovering from COVID-19 last December, Mr Ofori-Atta has had medical complications, which doctors advise require further interventions not currently available in Ghana,” a statement from the Ministry of Finance said on Valentine’s Day. “The Ministry of Finance wishes to inform the general public and stakeholders that Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Representative of the President at the Ministry of Finance and Minister-designate of Finance, will travel to the United States of America today, for a special medical review. “Mr Ofori-Atta was scheduled to appear before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, 16 February 2021. “The leadership of Parliament has been duly notified for a new date to be fixed upon his return,” the statement noted. The Finance Minister-designate would be expected to answer questions on the state of the Cedi, the Agyapa deal and the country’s increasing debt stock among other issues when he appears before the vetting committee. Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Don’t make people think we are enemies – Bagbin to Mensah-Bonsu
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has said many people are wondering whether or not the Majority Leader Osei Mensah Bonsu is his still his friend. This was after the Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu engaged in heated exchanges on the floor of the House. The Suame lawmaker had asked the speaker to be consistent with his rule regarding hose Members of Parliament who want to rise and speak should go about it. The leader of the government said “Mr Speaker, even when you were the Deputy Speaker, you were insistent that members speak from their seats to so that you will be able to identify them but I noticed that you gather steam to make that pronouncement yet as they days went on you relaxed the rules. “I will encourage you to be consistent with this so that everybody will speak from his or her seat . That should not be relaxed, I will encourage you to do that.” In a reply, the Speaker said “Honorable Majority Leader, the Business of Government is led by you in this house. You don’t lead parliament, you lead the business of the House, you lead the Majority and you lead government business.” “As to the role of the speaker you have not reached there yet, when you get there you will do so,” he stated amidst laughter from the other lawmakers.” The former MP for Nadowli Kaleo further stated that “Please you have been my very good friend for all these years until I became speaker and everybody in Ghana is doubting whether you were really my friend . I receive a lot of calls about that and I said you are my friends and you are still my friend and people are doubting it. Please don’t give credence to that doubt.” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said again that “Respectfully, I have not been your friend until you became the speaker. You and I know that we are still friends but we agree to disagree.” 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
U/ER: Police holds Route March to warn the public against crime
The Upper East Regional Police led by the new Commander went on a route march through some of the principal streets of in the Bolgatanga Municipality “Dubbed Endurance Route March” as a sign of warning to the public against the vices affecting the development of the country and the Upper East Region in particular. The route march was in collaboration with the Commanding Office 11th Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the Ghana Armed Force bases in Bazua in the Upper East Region. The coordination with the Armed Forces and the Police in the endurance and fitness exercise is to gather strength and confidence based on the mandate of all the security services to protect lives and property in the country, provide maximum security for all the populace so that they can go about their daily duties without intimidation, fear or harassment. In an interview with modern Ghana, the new Regional Commander DCOP Dr. Saibu Pabi Gariba stated that a new operational module will be rolled out to revitalize the existing ones in order to tackle the recent upsurge in armed robbery cases in the region together with the Armed Forces. It will be recalled that in recent times, there has been virtually fear in Bolgatanga and its environs and the whole region for that matter, characterized by highway and within towns and communities robbery. DCOP Dr. Gariba indicated that the Bolgatanga Division supported by the Bolga District Commander will run patrols in the Bolga central and the issues of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) ensure there is safety. He explained how the Upper East Region has been zoned for effective patrols based on the capacity of their logistics. On COVID-19, the Regional Commander appealed to residents to adhere strictly to the presidential directive of all the safety protocols to stay safe, adding that, anyone who violates the directive will be arrested 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
Allotey Jacobs fired from the NDC
The Central Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs has been fired from the party. In a press release signed by General Secretary Johnson Aseidu Nketia, the party said that its disciplinary committee found Mr Jacobs guilty of allegations of misconduct and anti party conduct brought against him. “The Committee’s report which is herein attached for your attention, found you guilty of the said allegations of misconduct, anti-party conduct and recommended among other things your immediate expulsion from the party. “The Functional Executive Committee acting in compliance of article 48(1) of the NDC Constitution has unanimously adopted the report and accepts fully its recommendation for your immediate expulsion from the party,” the statement read. The party further stated that Mr Jacobs is no longer recognised as a member of the party neither can he hold himself as such and therefore ask him to return any property belonging to the party that are in his possession. However, reacting to this statement from the party, Mr Allotey Jacobs indicated that before this letter came, he had “already left the party”. He went on further to describe the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and the FEC as “living in a fantasy”. Meanwhile, Mr Allotey Jacobs was suspended from the NDC in 2020 for what the party described then as his persistent anti-party conduct. Myjoyonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093