MTN Ghana Provides Ghc10m To Empower And Expand Girls In ICT Project
MTN Ghana, as part of its 25th Anniversary celebration, has committed an amount of GHc10 million to the Ministry of Communication and Digitalization in support of the Girls in ICT project. Girls in ICT program is an international initiative adopted in 2012 by all ITU Member States including Ghana. The program is aimed at exposing young girls to opportunities in the ICT sector through the mentorship workshop and open day programs to prepare them for ICT related professions in future. The first part of the funds was presented to the Minister of Communications and Digitalization Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful at a presentation ceremony in Accra. The funding is to cover the cost of the project over a three-year period to support government’s efforts to empower and encourage girls to consider studies and careers in ICT. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Chief Corporate Service Officer of MTN Ghana, Samuel Koranteng, said “The MTN Group is a signatory to the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles and by this, the company has pledged its commitment to the advancement of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It is part of the company’s core beliefs that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life and therefore strive to ensure that men and women benefit equally from ICT.” “Gender Empowerment is a key strategic component of MTN’s Corporate Social Investment and over the years we have made significant contributions in this regard and because of that, we do not wait until precocious young girls become seasoned women professionals before taking an interest in them. Our contributions start from the grassroots level,” Mr. Koranteng added. The Chief Capital Projects officer, William Tetteh speaking on behalf of the CEO of MTN Ghana said “MTN Ghana remains committed in supporting government development agenda and this presentation is a demonstration of that commitment”. Receiving the cheque on behalf of the government, Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, thanked MTN Ghana for joining other corporate organizations to support the government’s initiative to empower girls in ICT. She said “The ICT world provides great career opportunities for girls if they are given the needed support and mentorship. The initiative for this year includes a bootcamp for girls from rural communities in the Western North region who are already undergoing programming and coding training. The Ministry will consider expanding the programme to reach more girls in other regions.” The initiative falls in line with MTN’s vision to lead the delivery of bold new digital world and its core beliefs that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life. In view of that, MTN Ghana has supported the programme since its inception with mentorship programs as well as cash and kind donations. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
Bawku: National security disowns killer as his Kasoa gunshots video drops.
It has emerged that the middle-aged man who shot and killed the tricycle operator at Sabongari, a suburb of Bawku on the afternoon hours of July 29, 2021, is not a recruit with the nation’s national security as widely claimed. A top official with the national security outfit, has disclosed to this paper that Simon Sandow Zanya is not known to the security outfit. Shortly after the shooting incident, unconfirmed information emerged, linking him to the nation’s national security bureau, but this has been dismissed by top officials of the division. The deceased – Mohammed Mahmood, died after he was hit by a stray bullet allegedly shot by Simon Zanya. This paper is informed that the mid-twenties tricycle operator was plying his routine job when the hungry-searching bullet crashed him to death at a popular food joint at Sabongari called Rabi waakye joint. He was said to be waiting for his turn in a queue to fill his hungry stomach when the hungrier-bullet arrived and penetrated through his head. Pictures available to this paper saw the brain of the deceased babbled out at the scene. Simon is said to be at loggerheads with someone (name unknown to this paper) in the Sabongari vicinity over a tiny parcel of land. On the said day, a misunderstanding ensued between Simon and the unknown claimant. In an unprovoked manner, Simon is said to have rushed home only to return with the high volatile riffle. Checks by this outlet revealed that Simon is a known hooligan in the municipality. His activities of hooliganism is known to local police. Several persons are said to have reported him to the police, commonly on crime of threats. Simon’s first appearance at the Bawku circuit court saw a galaxy of armed soldiers storming the premises. Simon’s guns shots video: This paper has in its possession a video recording where Simon displayed his skills and love for guns when he stormed a registration center at Kasoa in the Central Region and scatted an ongoing voter registration exercise in the leadup to the 2020 general elections. In his usual smock, Simon stormed the said centre and shot sporadically into the air thus bringing the exercise to an un-ceremonial end. Some persons were reportedly injured. He has since not been arrested nor charged over that violence. His links to the Member of Parliament (MP) for that area, Hawa Komson is making rounds, but the embattled lawmaker has avoided questions relative to her association with the 35-year-old secondary school leaver. Text messages and calls sent to her went unanswered. He was remanded into police custody to reappear on September 10, 2021. More to come! Source: theheraldgh.com
Massive Rot Uncovered At GNPC ….Workers Demand Corporation Be Saved From K.K Sarpong & Freddie Blay
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has been described as “can of worms” which must be opened up and thoroughly audited to appreciate the extent of the rot happening in the state institution under the management of Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). They mentioned procurement issues, property rentals, renovation works among others, as issues of concern, which are ongoing at the Corporation and need the urgent attention of the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, because they don’t see the Energy Minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, as leading a crackdown exercise at GNPC to stop the financial hemorrhage. The demands are coming on the heels of revelation by the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) Ben Boakye that Dr Sarpong, while leaving the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as Managing Director, left behind a debt of US$1.4 billion from a debt of about US$400 million. The ACEP boss said, “In 2015, a government committee, with the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and KPMG, recommended further investigation into the debt and use of funds at TOR. However, as vulnerable as the Ghanaian public is, he gets rewarded with a more significant portfolio in GNPC”. Insiders, have painted a picture of an institution that is decaying, tardy and unproductive, which must be salvaged from the current management of Dr. Sarpong, and board of directors led by the National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Worsemawu Blay, who has just been retained. Also of particular interest to the GNPC insiders, are the reckless use of funds in the name of the GNPC Foundation headed by Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso traditional area, who doubles as the President of the National House of Chiefs and the granting of scholarship packages. Interestingly, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, who is on the GNPC board, is also a member of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC); an independent statutory body mandated to promote transparency and accountability in the management of petroleum revenues in Ghana, but many insiders, say his management of the GNPC Foundation, must be probed. PIAC, until recently was chaired by Dr. Steve Manteaw, but it doesn’t appear to have looked into the operations of GNPC. Also cited to The Herald, was the employment of cronies, which has bloated the workforce of GNPC. Both the current board and management, have been in charge of the Corporation in the last four years, but many of the workers; both retired and serving, insist there is no clear direction for the strategic state institution. For instance, the workers alleged that the GNPC Foundation, has recorded lots of mismanagement of funds in the award of scholarships. There are claims of politicians eating from funds allotted from the foundation, while the children of cronies of various managers, are on one scholarship or the other. This paper learnt that, the Corporation has recorded some procurement issues in recent times. Mention was made of a building at a suburb of Takoradi in the Western Region bought from the owners of Global Haulage, whose financial institution; Royal Bank, the GNPC Chief Executive had worked with before its collapse, following the clean-up of the banking sector. The Global Haulage building, this paper learnt, was bought for nearly US$8 million. What is interesting is that at the time of purchasing the Global Haulage building, GNPC, had almost completed a building project which started under the management of Alex Mould during the John Mahama administration. The uncompleted building, The Herald, learnt has been left to the vagaries of the weather. Furthermore, mention has also been made of the renting of a building facility from one John Taylor at Tema, near the Petroleum House, which has been under renovation for years now without any end in sight. Indeed, many say the renovation work, had been abandoned, while GNPC continuous to cough up outrageous amounts in United States Dollars to settle the said Mr Taylor for the use of his building to house officials of the corporation. The cost of the rent, according to insiders, is running into millions of dollars, since GNPC occupied it some years ago, and there is no effort to stop the financial hemorrhage by completing the Petroleum House renovation works for the workers to return. The last four years, has seen lots of staff recruitments into the Corporation, but The Herald was told, most of these staff, are not technically inclined to assist in the core mandate of GNPC. They are said to be largely administrative staff. The Freddie Blay board, is also mentioned as lacking technical expertise, hence difficult to monitor and evaluate the work of the management led by Dr. KK Sarpong, and to the insiders the return of the board will not bring anything of value to the country. Freddie Blay, is cited as sleeping on the job and signing many documents without reading them. Also mentioned is the construction of numerous facilities at educational institutions in the country, including the GHS12 million University of Mines and Energy (UMaT) and the US$5 million GNPC School of Governance and Law at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in the name of getting GNPC Professorial Chairs in four public universities as some of the procurements which must be probed. About two weeks ago, the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) hit hard at the GNPC boss, Dr. Sarpong, for insulting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) over the US$1.65 billion controversial GNPC- AGM Petroleum and Aker Energy oil deal. Benjamin Boakye in an open letter, suggested that Dr. Sarpong’s escapades and incompetence at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) were such that he should not have gotten any other public appointment, but he was rather given another job at GNPC. “TOR was handed to Dr Sarpong with a total debt of about $400 million. At the time, the State needed the genius to save the company. Not only that, the public was billed, through
Education Ministry adds 139 Technical & Vocational Schools to Free SHS programme
The Ministry of Education has included 139 Technical and Vocational Schools into the Free Senior High School programme, in addition to the 47 already on it. This is aimed at expanding the scope of Technical and Vocational Training and making it more accessible for pupils to enrol. The National Coordinator for the Computerized School Selection Placement System, Mark Sasu Mensah, revealed this at a Pilot Training at Effiduase in the Eastern Region on the Computerized School Selection and Placement System, CSSPS for parents, teachers and pupils in the New Juaben North Municipality. He indicated that 10 districts have been selected in the country for the pilot training to help resolve some of the challenges that come with Senior High Schools Selection. The New Juaben North Municipal Education Director, Beverly Dansoa Bartels, was happy that the programme will enlighten the participants on how to select their SHS and advised parents to collaborate with the teachers of their children to know their capabilities before selecting schools. Some parents and pupils who participated in the training shared their views with GBC News, welcoming the opportunity offered them. In all, 35 schools in the Municipality participated in the programme. Statistics from WAEC show that 539,202 pupils from 18,000 and 13 schools have been registered to write this year’s BECE in November. —gbcghanaonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
The world risks losing dividends of democracy if we don’t act in unison – Osei-Owusu
The First Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu has observed that the quest to contain the COVID-19 pandemic has scaled up the use of emergency powers by a number of governments, giving rise to widespread abuse of those powers. He was contributing to a panel discussion on the topic “emergency measures imposed by the government must always be subjected to Parliamentary approval and regular review.” This was at the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament currently underway in Vienna, Austria. Hon. Osei-Owusu, who is the leader of Ghana’s delegation to the conference, said the threat to democracy occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic appears to be more catastrophic than the losses already experienced by humanity as a direct result of the pandemics. He was concerned that the world risks losing the dividends of democracy should governments fail to act in unison and fast enough. “It is a truism to state that the Covid-19 Pandemic has come to stay, at least into the foreseeable future. Its impact has been devastating to the global economy just as it has constrained the space for good governance around the world”, said the First Deputy Speaker. He noted that the shrinking space of democracy as a result of the search for solutions to the pandemic has been characterized, in a number of countries, by the excessive use of emergency powers by the Executive arms of government, often reflecting in decisions that are taken without recourse to the legislature. First Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu In some cases, he said, such powers have been exercised without due consideration to the concerns of opposition parties. In others, they have been very repressive in their outlook and devoid of public inputs and the preferences of the governed. “Human rights abuses are inherent in these, as basic freedoms are denied the people,” he pointed out. According to the leader of Ghana’s delegation, there has been the use of draconian measures to impose far-reaching restrictions in certain parts of the world. Emergency powers of some governments around the world have been expanded beyond the reasonable remit of the law, and media freedoms have been suppressed, preventing the publishing of any material other than what is politically correct from the perspective of governments. These, he said, are some examples of undemocratic measures undertaken by certain governments under the guise of fighting the pandemic, using emergency power. Hon. Osei Owusu maintained that “altogether, the legitimacy granted by the Parliamentary approval of the use of emergency powers by governments is complemented by the implicit consent of the public to cooperate with the government in finding a lasting solution to the problem. In the light of the foregoing, it is my considered opinion that it is always necessary to subject the use of emergency powers by the government to regular legislative scrutiny and reviews.” Whilst admitting that emergency powers are essential in dealing with major global challenges including the Covid-19 Pandemic, he said it was for good reason that the laws of most countries require that emergency measures undertaken by governments are brought to the legislature for ratification and, particularly, for extension beyond the minimal terms that the laws often grant governments to exercise. Hon. Osei-Owusu shared Ghana’s experience, where the legal regime granting the President of the country the authority to deal with the pandemic, limited any emergency regulation enacted to a maximum period of three months in the first instance, and an extended period of only three months when it was absolutely necessary. That way, he said, Parliament retained its supervisory role over the executive. —etvghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
Go and beg Jean Mensa for forgiveness – Buaben Asamoa advises Mahama
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Director of Communications, Yaw Buaben Asamoa believes former President Mahama owes the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensa an unqualified apology. He argues the former President needs to apologize to the EC Chairperson for accusing her of rigging election 2020 to favor the ruling NPP, when he has known all the while that “elections are won at the polling station.” On his accord, the former President proved with a recent interview that he wasted the time of Ghanaians and the Supreme Court for dragging the outcome of election 2020 to the highest court of the land. “President Mahama has accepted that victory comes from the polling station so why did he tarnish the image of Jean Mensa after the 2020 polls? He needs to seek forgiveness from the EC chair and tell Ghanaians how much he wronged them for disturbing the nation with a frivolous election petition. He accused the EC of election rigging when he knows one has to be diligent at the polling station if they want to win an election,” he shared with Raymond Nyamador on the Happy Morning Show. The politician revealed the ruling NPP learned the hard lesson at the 2013 election petition and has since then put in place measures to keenly monitor elections at the polling station. Yaw Buaben Asamoa noted the NPP’s system makes sure they collate results of an election at most 6 hours after the polls close. “Winning an election is all about being diligent at the polling station and monitoring events but not with violence as posited by former President Mahama with his do or die slogan. It is all about preparation,” he intimated. He notes that democracy is not about violence and asserted the NPP embodies peace. “The NPP abhors violence and we plead with Mahama to do away with violence. As the NPP, we will be diligent and ensure we win the election peacefully.” Background Former President John Dramani Mahama who contested the 2020 elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress, took the Electoral Commission to court after they declared the results. He sought to challenge the validity of results and the subsequent declaration of President Akufo-Addo as the winner. A seven-member panel of the country’s top court Judges’ dismissed the election petition in a unanimous decision, saying the case had no merit. Former President John Mahama is fighting off claims that his recent comments may be a prediction of violence in the next general elections. Mr Mahama says his utterance regarding a ‘do or die’ affair at polling stations in 2024 has been misconstrued by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). During his ‘Thank You’ tour, John Mahama reiterated this suspicion on Tuesday, September 7, that; “we were clearly robbed, but we accepted the verdict for the sake of peace.” “But I want to state here that the next elections would be won or lost at the polling station. So at the polling station, it will be do or die. I am not saying all die be die. I’m saying it will be ‘do or die’ because the right thing must be done,” he told Techiman-based Akina FM. etvghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
‘NDC was careless if not stupid in elections 2016 and 2020’ – Manasseh tells Mahama
• Manasseh Azure has condemned former President Mahama’s ‘do or die’ comment • According to him, Mr Mahama does not need violence to win the 2024 elections • He says the NDC in 2016 and 2020 were careless in collating their results and has asked the party to change Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has described the National Democratic Congress as being careless in the collation results it obtained in the 2016 and 2020 general elections. Former President Mahama in a recent interview stated that the NDC will consider the 2024 election to ‘be a do or die affair’ in terms of the protection of the ballot and the collating of results. The outspoken journalist in a strongly worded but ‘friendly’ letter reacting tto the former President’s comment, has, however, said that Mr Mahama and his party should rather focus on putting up a more robust and effective system in collating results as the party had been careless in that regard in previous elections. “John Mahama, you don’t need violence to win the next election. You and the NDC only need to be told the bitter truth. The NDC was careless (if not stupid) in the 2016 and 2020 elections. You could not account for your votes. When you said you were in a comfortable lead in 2016, you had no idea what you were talking about. When you said you were leading in the parliamentary majority in 2020, you did not have concrete figures besides what you heard in the media.” He added, “When you were going to court to challenge the 2020 results, you could not account for a chunk of your declaration forms. In effect, if you were cheated, you wouldn’t know. How did you expect to win the 2020 election petition when you went there empty-handed and expected to use evidence from the one you accused of cheating you to succeed? Our elders say a man cannot catch a witch with empty hands no matter how physically strong he is.” To Azure, for the NDC to have failed to successfully to collate their own results in the two consecutive elections was unacceptable. “Our elders say it is only a fool whose testicles are trampled upon twice. If you don’t admit your failures and act, your precious balls will be trampled upon thrice,” he stated in his letter to the former President which he has shared on his Facebook page. While advising Mr Mahama and the NDC to change their ways, Manasseh, who stated that the former President stood a better chance in winning the 2024 elections than previous elections in 2016 and 2020, outlined various reasons why he finds the recent comment by the former President in a bad taste. He said despite efforts by Mr Mahama to defend his statement as not denoting violence, the statement in the understanding of the average political party fanatic equals a war chant. “I heard you explain that what you said was an idiomatic expression. You’re a communicator, and I know you are well aware that the words we speak have denotative and connotative meanings. To the average angry and desperate party fanatic on election day, a “do-or-die” charge at the polling station is a vague and deadly war chant. Your idiomatic expression could be heard as an idiotic expression and translated into violence,” he noted. Among other things, Manasseh argued that the statement made by Mr Mahama goes contrary to his personality for which reason the former President must take a retrospective look at his statement. “Mr. John Mahama, don’t change who you are because you want to win the next election. It might prove counter-productive to your cause. I still have a vague idea about the concept of comparative advantage from my high school Economics lessons. That’s why as one of your fiercest critics, I remain one of your staunchest supporters when mention is made of your love for tolerance and tolerance. Don’t blow away your unique selling proposition to the discerning Ghanaian voter with these needless utterances,” he wrote. Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
UER: Women protest against violence, harassment at workplace
Some number of women have poured onto the streets of the Upper East regional capital Bolgatanga to demonstrate against violence and harassment at the workplace. The demonstrators are demanding the ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) C190, which is the first international treaty to recognize the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment. The Convention was adopted in June 2019, by the International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and came into force on 25 June 2021. Governments that ratify C190 will be required to put in place the necessary laws and policy measures to prevent and address violence and harassment in the world of work. The Convention represents a historic opportunity to shape a future of work based on dignity and respect for all. The demonstrators held placards with inscriptions like “violence and harassment in the world of work is real’, ‘stop gender-based violence at the work place’, ‘protect women workers’, and ‘stop sex for jobs’ amongst others. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
3 communities, 34 households received house keys as relocation package in Tempani
The Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu with support from Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) has handed over a total number of 32 buildings to some households as part of the ongoing resettlement exercise in additiion with a clinic and church bringing the number to 34 buildings constructed by GIDA in the Tempani District of the Upper East Region. The benefitted communities are: Kugzua, Dagdiri Natenga and Anini Doari community in Tempani District. Nearly 115.6 hectares of farmlands at Tempane and its environs in the Upper East Region were submerged following a torrential rainfall that caused the Tamne Irrigation Dam and its major tributaries to overflow their banks. The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) Ing. Wilson Darkwah who doubles as the representative of the Agric Minister told Apexnews Gh that even though the journey has not been smooth due to some financial challenge, they have able to resettle most of the community members. Asking whether all the aggrieved affected community members will receive their share of newly constructed houses, Ing. Darkwah said “unfortunately, it is not possible for GIDA to build houses for everybody in this area. GIDA is a subverted organization and we only get a budget for constructing the dams but it so happens that where the water is going to sit, there are still people living there and we cannot leave those people”. “I am aware that people have fallen in love with the beautiful building and I want to encourage you that the contractor who build the houses has trained so many of the youth here, most of the labor he used to do these houses are from this area and therefore, they already had the technology to make these houses. “We thank you for allowing us to come and do this dam here and also giving us the opportunity to relocate those whose house will be relocated. Ing. Darkwah told Apexnews Gh However, Ing Jawad Adbul-Rakeeb General Manager Munisco LTD who was the contractor in charge of the construction of the resettled houses extended gratitude to community members especially the Dagdiri Natenga Chief. He admonished members of the community to desist from attacking those working on the project and rather support the wonderful initiative. “We want to express our gratitude to the community members and also to advice those of us who are in the community and instead of supporting the project, they will rather be finding ways to denigrate the project.” He said Meanwhile, after a short ceremony organized in Kugzua community, the Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu handed over the keys of the buildings to the beneficiaries. “Our very hardworking Minister of Agric has promised that he is very much committed in making sure that the arable land which is the second phase after the rains, that he is going to develop all that area so that farmers will go there and continue the year-round farming and I think that is even the main problem apart helping the flooding area”. Hon. Yakubu said Even though affected areas include Zambala, Bugri, Gagbiri, Gaago, Kugzua, Gella-kolgo, Napaadi, Arazim, Kugri, Kolsabuilgu and Zulli, 3 out of these communities were able to benefit from the relocation project. However, benefitted community members expressed gratitude to the governance of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for what they described as a ‘dream come through project’ “we pray that any obstacle that might hinder your efficient work be broken long before materialization” “The community members are hopeful that work done so far will definitely reduce the high-level unemployment among the youth. Fishing and other farming activities will undoubtedly be utilized as good opportunities”. They used the medium to request for the construction of a bridge on the Kugzua No1, “…the road serves as the only Kugzua No1 and No2. Due to the construction of the Dam, the water has extended beyond human safety cross and this had led to the drop out of school by people who can no longer access the only school which serves communities and even beyond”. They appealed Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093