International vaccine politics delayed arrival of second doses into Ghana – Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has attributed the delay in the arrival of the second doses of coronavirus vaccines into Ghana, to among other things, international vaccine politics. As a result, the President said, Ghana has not been able to vaccinate the number of people “ as we envisaged.” Speaking at the May Day celebration on Saturday May 1 he said the government is working hard to vaccinate the people. He revealed that on Tuesday 353,000 more vaccines will arrive into the country. His comments come after Professor at the University of Ghana, and Director of the West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Gordon Akanzuwine Awandare, has said Ghana will have to wait until the United Kingdom and the United States have all vaccinated their citizens then, the West African country can go and negotiate for the leftover vaccines for its people. Prof Awandare said there is no sign that COVID-19 vaccines in sufficient quantities will be arriving in Ghana any time soon in order to inoculate the people, He explained that the countries that produce these vaccines are now experiencing the worse form of the virus, hence are prioritizing their citizens over others. He told Abena Tabi, host of the Key Points on TV3 Saturday May 1 the government of Ghana gave a 100% assurance to Ghanaians that they were going to be vaccinated against the coronavirus virus when the production of the vaccines is not in its control. He told Abena that several Ghanaians who received the first dose of the COVID vaccines are concerned about when they will receive the second dose. This concern, he said, is genuine because of the assurance given to them by local authorities that they were all going to be vaccinated. “I see that a lot of people are angry and worried and all that. Yes, you have the right to be worried because maybe the mistake from our authorities was that they over-promised when they knew that this was not within their power to deliver on time. “We should have been more cautious and realistic with the people. Some of us were saying that let us think about July, August and let us promise the people that you will get vaccines beyond July and August. “When the UK is fully vaccinated, when the US is fully vaccinated then we can negotiate for left over vaccines but at this point you cannot guarantee the arrival of any vaccine in any sufficient quantities from anywhere,” Prof Awandaree said. He added “I have not seen any evidence that we have a concrete assurance that millions of vaccines will arrive anytime soon. “So I think we have to be realistic that maybe, we were overpromised but the reality is that this is beyond the control of any African government because they don’t have the capacity to make vaccines and they are relying on others to be generous.” 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Akufo-Addo freezes his salary increment and that of Bawumia and all appointees of the Executive
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has placed an embargo on salary increment for himself, his Vice and all the appointees of the executive for this year as a way of contributing to the reduction of the effect of the virus on the local economy. Speaking at this year’s May Day celebration on Saturday May 1, Mr Akufo-Addo said “…In addition the first unemployment insurance scheme ceded by government is being championed by the social partnership council and it is to be established by year end. “We also use this year to ensure that all workers are vaccinated to protect their lives and enhance their productivity. I have taken the decision to freeze salary increment for this year, 2021 for myself as president, the vice president, ministers, deputy ministers and all appointees of the executive. “It is our modest contribution to reduce the damage to our public revenue and to help hasten our nation’s recovery from the ravages of the pandemic.” The Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Mr Yaw Baah revealed that 800,000 workers in Ghana suffered from pay cut as a result of the effect of the coronavirus on the local economy. He recounted the impact of the virus on workers during the May Day celebration on Saturday May 1 in Accra. Mr Baah said at the event that workers had had to endure enormous economic pressure following the pandemic. He said among other things that “800,000 workers were affected by pay reduction.” He further revealed that poor housing for workers and delay in negotiation of national minimum wage are among some of the concerns of workers that the president must deal with. Mr Baah assured the president that organized labour is willing and ready to assist the government tackle the ravages of the virus on the economy. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Keep lubricating Ghana’s progress wheel – NDC to workers
The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), on May Day, has urged Ghanaian workers to keep giving off their best even as the nation trudges “in the face of the abject hopelessness generated by the appalling incompetence of the Akufo-Addo government”. A statement signed by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah on Saturday, 1 May 20201, said: “We, in the NDC, are proud of our relationship with workers and we do hereby encourage them to stand tall in their unflinching loyalty to the cause of Ghana”. It added: “The NDC further assures all workers that a future NDC government will commit to a much better handling of the economy and award them their due remuneration in recognition of their sterling role in lifting high the flag of Ghana”. Read the full statement below: NATIONAL SECRETARIAT P.O BOX AN 5825 ACCRA-NORTH, GHANA NDC MESSAGE TO THE WORKERS OF GHANA ON MAY DAY 2021 On the occasion of May Day 2021, the National Democratic Congress salutes all workers of Ghana. The NDC, as a social democratic party, solidarises with the aspirations of the teeming workers of the country, upon whose tireless labour the nation thrives. In the face of the abject hopelessness generated by the appalling incompetence of the Akufo-Addo government and compounded by the devastating onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NDC urges workers to continue to commit themselves to their work and the nation in order to lubricate the wheels of progress and development. For it is their sweat and toil that stabilise the nation, even as the people of Ghana continue to endure the scandal-ridden Akufo-Addo government. We, in the NDC, are proud of our relationship with workers and we do hereby encourage them to stand tall in their unflinching loyalty to the cause of Ghana. The NDC further assures all workers that a future NDC government will commit to a much better handling of the economy and award them their due remuneration in recognition of their sterling role in lifting high the flag of Ghana. This is a non-negotiable assurance that we owe to workers in order to maintain their faith in the choice they have made to serve this nation for both the present and future generations. For their uncountable contributions to Ghana, their commitment and dedication to duty, for their love for and loyalty to Ghana, we hail all the workers of Ghana. LONG LIVE THE WORKERS OF GHANA! LONG LIVE THE NDC! LONG LIVE GHANA!!! ISSUED ON 1st MAY, 2021 …….. (HON. JOHNSON ASIEDU-NKETIAH) GENERAL SECRETARY Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
411 of 465 ‘8As’ WASSCE students from Ghana – Akufo-Addo
On Friday, 30th April 2021, eight out of the 411 “Akufo-Addo Graduates”, i.e. the first beneficiaries of the Free SHS policy, who obtained 8As in the 2020 WASSCE were at Jubilee House at the invitation of President Nana Akufo-Addo. “Indeed, 411 out of the 465 candidates who scored 8As in the 2020 WASSCE were students from Ghana, and beneficiaries of the Free SHS policy”, the president said on his Facebook page. Again, 2020 was the only year that 50% of Ghanaian students scored A1 to C6 in all core subjects, he added. Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
MTN GHANA IMPLEMENTS NEW COVID – 19 RECOVERY LEVY
MTN Ghana has announced an adjustment of its tariffs following the introduction of the 1% Covid-19 Health recovery levy. The new levy takes effect from 1st May, 2021. Tariffs for all voice calls, data and SMS have been amended to reflect the new requirement. The adjustment will also be made across all services and platforms this includes Mobile bundle purchases and Usage, Fiber to the Home/Business , air time and bundle purchase through 3rd party Apps, Sunday special, Just4U, Jaara, VAS services, Roaming, IDD, reloads through voucher, EVD (Electronic Prepaid), MoMo and Postpaid. Commenting on the tariff adjustment, the Chief Corporate Services Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Mr. Samuel Koranteng said, “we are implementing this marginal adjustment in our tariffs to comply with the new law”. Customers can find out more details of the new tariff plan on our website www.mtn.com.gh and in selected newspapers. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
I’ve no hand in, connections with Agyapa deal – Kissi Agyebeng
Special Prosecutor nominee Kissi Agyebeng has denied having any hand whatsoever in the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal as speculated and claimed by his critics following the announcement of his nomination by Attorney General Godfred Dame. Speaking to Eugene Bawelle on Class91.3FM’s current affairs programme ‘The watchdog’ on Saturday, 1 May 2021, Mr Gary Nimako, a member of the governing New Patriotic Party’s legal team, revealed that Mr Agyebeng, in a private phone conversation, denied having any links to or dealings with the botched mineral royalties deal. “This is a matter where we are talking about the person’s dealings with Agyapa whatever royalties and the gentleman says that: ‘I’ve not dealt with Agyapa Royalties’”, Mr Nimako said. According to him, “when the point was raise for the first time, I personally called him and I asked him that: ‘I’ve heard on the radio that he had some dealings or connections with Agyapa’ and he said: ‘My brother, look, Agyapa; I was not even consulted, I had no idea about Agyapa, I’ve not dealt with that matter in one way or the other’”. “And I said: ‘Oh, is that so?’ and he said: ‘Yes’”, Mr Nimako revealed. He said Mr Agyebeng is silent on the allegation “because he has been nominated” and “cannot come out to speak. He cannot speak”. “Maybe, at the vetting, he would be asked and he would have the opportunity to really respond”, Mr Nimako added. As far as the issue of Mr Agyebeng’s closeness to highly-placed people in government or with connections to the government is concerned, Mr Nimako said that was neither here nor there. “Now, another person says that: ‘Oh, but you were a classmate to the Attorney General, you were a classmate to another person, and, therefore, for that reason, we think that you cannot function and do your work properly’. I disagree with that point because being a classmate to another person does not mean that you can’t do your work”, he argued. He said if that were the case, “then nobody can do anything in this country because as a matter of fact, we go to court and, sometimes, the judge sitting on the matter could be your classmate; he won’t recuse himself, he will deal with the matter and rule against you and pack your books and your diary and you go away and come and appeal, which may go in your favour or otherwise”. One of the harshest critics of Mr Agyebeng following his nomination is Mr Martin Amidu, the very first occupant of the Office of the Special Prosecutor. The former Attorney General resigned citing interference from President Nana Akufo-Addo, particularly in connection with his corruption and anti-corruption risk assessment report on the Agyapa deal. In an article, Mr Amidu drew close connections between Mr Kissi Agyebeng on the one hand and the Attorney General as well as the owner of Asaase Radio, Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, who also happens to be a cousin to President Akufo-Addo, on the one hand, to buttress his assertion that the nomination was a carefully crafted plot by “persons implicated in the Agyapa Royalties Transaction corruption assessment report to pressurise the President to appoint their surrogate as the Special Prosecutor to safeguard their interests”. Mr Amidu, who described Mr Agyebeng as the “Agyapa Special Prosecutor” and a “surrogate” said the nominee “is a personal friend and classmate of the Attorney General, and the owner of Asaase Radio, all of whom attended the University of Ghana’s Faculty of Law, and Ghana Law School”. Read Mr Amidu’s full statement below: DO NOT DEFAME MARTIN AMIDU IN THE PROPAGANDA TO NOMINATE A NEW SPECIAL PROSECUTOR Anybody deeply knowledgeable about the Agyapa Royalties Transaction Corruption Risk Assessment report which resulted in my eventual resignation as the first Special Prosecutor knows that one of the beneficiaries of the Agyapa Royalties Transaction is Africa Legal Associates whose contract to participate in the transaction was found to be contrary to the Public Procurement Act and tainted by bid-rigging. Until 20th March 2020 Agyapa Royalties Limited was incorporated as Asaase Royalties Limited on 5th November 2019 in Jersey, the United Kingdom. Anybody who cares to know, knows that the alter ego of Africa Legal Associates is a cousin of the President who also established Asaase Radio which began official transmission on 14th June 2020. The Agyapa Royalties Transaction records show the role the President’s cousin who established Africa Legal Associates, and Asaase Radio played with White & Case LLP, of London, one of the foreign law firms in the suspected corruption transaction. It must, therefore, be worrying to any patriotic Ghanaian not afraid of the culture of silence to see Asaase Radio undertaking political propaganda beginning on 25th April 2021 to 26th April 2021 to prepare the minds of the Ghanaian and international public to accept the surrogate of the alter ego of the Asaase Radio station and Africa Legal Associates as the Special Prosecutor as mandated under section 4(1) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959). In the attempt of persons implicated in the Agyapa Royalties Transaction corruption assessment report to pressurise the President to appoint their surrogate as the Special Prosecutor to safeguard their interests, the online reportage of Asaase Radio resorted to direct fabrications, lies, and omissions against me in its narration of the reasons for my resignation. The post on the Asaase Radio online website by one Wilberforce Asare states in respect of my resignation that: “His [Martin Amidu] reasons for resigning were roundly criticised by civil society actors, who maintained that the law offered him enough protection to stay in office and perform his duties without interference and that there was no clear evidence of any executive interference that should have triggered his resignation.” Asaase Radio and its alter ego did not have the courage to point out one civil society actor who expressed the fabrication it was putting out to the public to aid the appointment of its new surrogate
Viral: NPP gave us Ghc 20.00 to vote for their candidate — Upper East Mentally ill challenge celebrity (VIDEO)
A well-known mentally ill individual in the Upper East Regional capital of Bolgatanga who is popularly known by many as ‘Billy’, said he was given Twenty Ghana cedis (Ghc 20.00) during the 2020 general election to vote for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to do more. Billy made the revelation during a One-on-One interview with Apexnewsgh-Tv a trending online platform based in the Upper East region of Ghana. However, when Billy was asked why he collected Ghc 20.00 for voting, he responded by saying “They said, if we vote for them, they will make things better for us” Meanwhile, he said after voting for the NPP and President Akufo Addo, he interestingly snapshots it to please the one who offered him the Ghc 20.00 for the same purpose. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093