President Akufo-Addo Launches Employment Programme For Galamseyers
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has launched the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme, a programme designed to help alleviate the hardships of those affected by the Government’s efforts to sanitize the mining industry. Speaking at the launch on Monday, 25th October 2021, at the auditorium of the George Grant University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that the lives of several people, including women and children, depend on illegal mining. However, following Government’s heightened drive to deal with illegal mining activities in Red Zones, many more illegal miners have lost their “illegal sources of livelihood”. “A comprehensive approach to tackling this canker, which demonstrates also our commitment to social solidarity and harmony, requires that, while working with the security agencies for the protection and proper utilization of our natural resources, we fashion alternative means of livelihood for those affected by the crackdown,” he said. To this end, the President indicated that his government has decided to diversify sources of livelihood, even in mining communities, to reduce the impact of the depletion of the resources on the lives of persons in mining communities. The National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), he said, will mitigate the unavoidable hardships, which the government’s efforts to sanitize the small-scale mining sector have created, particularly in the five (5) regions that Operation Halt carried out its operations. “It is intended to provide good economic livelihood options to illegal mining and its associated activities and to enable those adversely impacted the opportunity to work and support themselves and their families. The Programme will also focus on reversing the negative impact of illegal mining on the environment through the National Land Reclamation and Reafforestation component of the Programme,” President Akufo-Addo said. He continued, “Given that most of our degraded lands are due to illegal mining activities, it is very fitting that any programme targeting illegal mining should include a reclamation portion. This component of the Programme will restore degraded lands into economically viable lands, creating job opportunities for the youth, landowners, and communities at large”. In keeping with Government’s commitment to promoting responsible, viable, and sustainable small-scale mining, he revealed that the Programme will also include a Community Mining Scheme, which will be the model for small-scale mining activities in the country. Commissioning the Akoon Community Mining Scheme, on the day as well, President Akufo-Addo stated that “Community Mining Schemes will be supported by the Mine Support Services, and, altogether, are expected to create some two hundred and twenty thousand (220,000) direct and indirect jobs”. He reiterated that his Government will not condone any illegal activities in the mining sector, as the strengthened monitoring and enforcement regime put in place, under the auspices of the enhanced Mine Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission and the Regional Security Councils, will ensure that all small-scale mining activities are environmentally compliant. The President, thus, urged Regional Coordinating Councils, and Municipal and District Assemblies, in areas where this Programme will be implemented, to give their full support for its implementation. “The nation is grateful to the George Grant University of Mines and Technology for its collaboration and cooperation to make this Programme successful, by putting its teaching resources at the disposal of those who are involved in the Programme to enhance their capacity and expertise, and improve their productivity. University, let me say ayekoo, well done,” he said. Towards the sustainable funding of this Scheme, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that “at my request, the Ministry of Finance has committed to making adequate budgetary allocation in the upcoming 2022 Budget of Government to fund this very important policy”. —starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Interior Minister sends strong warning to Gaming Commission
Government has challenged the newly inducted Governing Board of the Gaming Commission to mitigate underage gaming in vulnerable communities. Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for the Commission, Ambrose Dery tasked the new board members to ensure the reduction of underage gaming in the country. “Your appointment comes at a time that the Commission has in recent times taken bold steps to phase out analogue and non-digital gaming machines by banning the importation and licensing of same as part of measures to upgrade the industry and also to help mitigate the challenge of the underage gaming in vulnerable communities,” he said. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the ministry’s conference room in Accra on October 20, 2021. Private legal practitioner Gary Nimako Marfo will chair the 11-member Commission. John Bayuo Warisa, Commissioner of Police; Arhin Kwesi Annor, Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South, Dakoa Newman, Ransford Kissi Appiah, Deborah Mensah, Fredrick Asouah Yankey, Frank Raji, John Yao Agbeko, Charles Owusu and Peter Mireku are the newly inaugurated board members. Mr Dery indicated that the Commission will soon deploy a Gaming Administration and Monitoring System (GAMS) to monitor and improve regulatory compliance in the gaming industry. He urged them to monitor and curb avenues prone to money laundering. “Indeed, your development of a Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing Policy Guidelines is lauded, and I urge you to continue to do more to monitor and curb the potential avenues for money laundering in the gaming industry,” he noted. Also, a 15-member governing board of the Narcotics Control Commission was inaugurated at the same ceremony. The commission will be chaired by J. Kaiffe Mensah. The constitution of the governing board of the narcotics commission is in accordance with the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), which makes provision for the establishment of the Narcotics Control Commission for offences related to narcotics drugs and plants cultivated for narcotics purposes and related matters. Mr Dery challenged the newly inaugurated members to execute their duties with collective institutional expertise and common objective to ensure effective and efficient performance of the Commission. He assured the board of his support and commitment to provide the needed resources for the effective running of the Commission. —mynewsgh Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
MTN’s customer service practices have evolved; Mrs Jemima Kotei Walsh
Twenty-Five years ago when MTN Ghana, then known as Spacefon launched its Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) mobile cellular services with initial coverage in Accra and Tema, they only had a hotline of just about four employees to attend to customer needs and enquiries. Today, the mobile telecommunications company in Ghana attends to millions of customers across the country. Customer Service Week is celebrated annually during the first week in October — October 4 – 8 but in recent years, the company dedicates the whole month to celebrating and expressing gratitude to its customers for their loyalty. Earlier this week, our reporter, Efia Akese (EA), interacted with the Chief Customer Relations Officer of MTN Ghana, Mrs Jemima Kotei Walsh (JKW), to find out how the journey has been throughout the 25 years of operation, how the company’s customer services have evolved over the years and what customers should expect especially this year when the company marks its 25 anniversary in Ghana. Below are excerpts from the interview: EA: We know you are commemorating the 25th anniversary of MTN operations in Ghana, can you take us through the customer service journey over the years? JKW: The journey over the past 25 years has been a truly exciting and rewarding one. Mrs. Jemima Kotei Walsh presenting a prize to a customer at a Y’ello Soiree in Takoradi in the Western Region We have grown from just a handful of customers and customer service persons in the early days of the business to millions of customers and thousands of service personnel today. EA: What have been the major changes in customer service in your 25 years journey? JKW: Our customer service practices have evolved with technology and gone through significant transformations over the years. From a hotline of just about four employees to a fully-fledged contact centre and customer service team with over 600 personnel offering both self-service and agent-assisted options. Customers being attended to at the MTN Service Centre at Osu in Accra Our branch network footprint has expanded from just a few centres in Accra to regional and current national coverage. In recent years, we have also introduced digital and online channels such as our social media customer support, as well as apps to enable us to serve our customers remotely and to be present on their preferred channels. We’ve also strengthened the relationship with customers by introducing relationship managers and key account managers for managing some categories of our customer base. Customer Relationship Managers and some guests on the dance floor at a Y’ello Soiree This is in addition to the thousands of canvassers who are out there on the field providing trade services to customers. EA: What technologies have the company invested in to improve customer service delivery? JKW: Over the past 25 years, there has been a great deal of investment in all aspects of the business, including customer services, to provide the best quality experience to our customers. Technological advancements offered us the opportunity to update our customer relationship management tools to better serve our customers from queue management to intelligent routing to enhanced KYC (Know Your Customer) and customer management tools and now digital. We also have Voice of the Customer (VOC) tools to solicit feedback from customers as a follow up of their engagements with us to help us continuously improve. EA: Could you share any positive outcomes or success stories (experiences) with customers? JKW: We have many of such stories to tell. MTN Customer Relationship Managers presenting a cake to a customer on her birthday Customers’ needs vary and it’s always a delightful experience when a customer issue is resolved, no matter how simple or complex it may be because it brings smiles to their faces. Our customer experiences are too numerous to share here. EA: How has the role of the customer service personnel changed with technology? JKW: Technology has enhanced our service delivery practices such that today, a customer’s needs not come to our physical touchpoints to be supported on an issue. Some guests at a Y’ello Soiree organised to celebrate customers The more basic requests such as purchasing airtime or unblocking a PUK can be done by the customer without any support from service personnel. Our service personnel are also able to remotely support customers, as well as handle multiple customer interactions via digital channels with the help of technology. In all of this, our people have also developed and sharpened their skills to thrive in the digital world. EA: What are some of the challenges you have faced and how are you dealing with them? JKW: The customer experience landscape has greatly changed over the years and keeps evolving. Throwback: Some customer service staff posing by the prize car of the first customer promotion organised by Spacefon Increased customer traffic and the complexity of customers’ needs are some of the challenges. EA: I believe you agree with me that we cannot talk about the achievements and challenges over the 25 years period without talking about COVID-19? How has the pandemic impacted customer service delivery? JKW: It certainly put a lot of strain on our people, processes and channels, especially the online channels and our service centres amidst the COVID-19 protocols, but we rose above the challenges and delivered acceptable service standards under the circumstances. EA: Do customers understand why your customer service teams changed the way they interacted with them? JKW: Yes, I believe this is in relation to COVID 19. A customer receives a phone from MTN at a Y’ello Soiree In view of the nature of the pandemic and the awareness created, they were very understanding of the situation. EA: What were some of the high and low points during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic? Can you share a touching story? JKW: The fear and anxiety stemming from the uncertainties of the pandemic and what the future holds were overwhelming in many ways. However, with the structures put in place and the support of the
Chief Imam dies in Upper East
The Chief Imam of Bawku in the Municipality of Upper East Region Sheikh Imam Muhammad Murtada has passed on. Reports indicate he passed on Friday 22, October 2021 and was buried 23rd October in Bawku in line with Islamic traditions. Subsequent funeral arrangements are expected to be announced later on. Various tributes have been pouring in around the country for him and to his Children Ruky Imam and Nasara Imam. Some of the tributes read: “Quran 2:28 reads; How can you disbelieve in Allah, when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you back to life, and then to Him you will be returned. Sheikh Imam Muhammad Murtada, the entire Muslim community of Bawku are indebted to your services. May Allah grant you Jannah without reckoning. —mynewsgh Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Popular gospel musician kidnapped and robbed
Famed Zimbabwean gospel artiste, Kudzaishe Nyakudya, has been assaulted and robbed at gunpoint by three unknown men who reportedly walked away with an undisclosed amount of money. According to a statement by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the incident happened on Thursday around 5:00 pm. He became a victim of the three unidentified men after the men pounced on him while he was dropping his friend at Corner Elizabeth Windsor and Newstead Rd, Marlborough in Harare. Prior to the kidnapping and assault, his friend was attacked and the men also took an undisclosed amount from him. After taking money and some valuables, the unidentified men dumped the artiste. Below is the statement that was released by the (ZRP) on their Twitter page: 1/3 The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating circumstances surrounding an armed robbery case involving Zimbabwe Gospel musician, Kudzaishe Nyakudya (35), which occurred at Corner Elizabeth Windsor and Newstead Rd, Marlborough, Harare on 21/10/21 at about 1700 hrs. — Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) October 22, 2021 —Adomonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Banks in defining moment as eNaira kicks off today
• Unease over how digital currency will affect financial intermediation • Nigeria joins Bahamas, Sweden, Cambodia, South Korea as pioneers of CBDC • ‘It’s elitist but will enhance the efficiency of payment system’ • We are ready for rollout, CBN insists Nigeria makes history today as it becomes the first African country to digitise its currency, an exercise the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has described as “one of the milestones of a long journey.” But the eNaira take-off is causing unease in the banking sector even as the concept note has admitted the project could unsettle banks as it comes with disintermediation risk. Amid the anxiety, some experts have warned that eNaira is just one of the disruptive technologies banks will need to accept and adapt to; to avoid being overrun. The launch will put Nigeria on the global Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) tracking map as the fifth country to launch a centralised national electronic money after the Bahamas first unveiled its version in 2017. Nigeria’s unveiling was earlier scheduled for October 1, 2021, but the apex bank said it was postponed owing to other national activities to mark the country’s 61st Independence anniversary. President Muhammadu Buhari will do the unveiling at the State House, Abuja. The project kicks off as the global community embraces the race for CBDC creation. Today, about 10 central banks are in the pilot stage of their CBDCs, while six have executed proof of concept. Some countries, including China, are positioning their digital currency project as the lead strategy for internationalising their currencies. Central banks around the world, most notably in China, the United States and the United Kingdom, are actively considering whether to adopt or create their own CBDC. The geopolitical pressures are high, with China far enough along in trials that it plans to roll out this new currency for international visitors as early as the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Other countries, keen to embrace the “tech revolution,” are vying to be early adopters of CBDCs. South Korea, Sweden, Cambodia, the Bahamas and Hong Kong are among various countries with pilot programs. South Africa also recently announced a trial of CBDCs for cross-border payments, just as Ghanaian central bank is seeking to make its digital currency, the e-cedi, available to offline users soon. On the readiness of the underlying infrastructure for the rollout, Director of Corporate Communications at CBN, Osita Nwanisobi, told The Guardian, yesterday, that the apex bank was fully ready. The Guardian perceived a little tension in the financial system on how the implementation would affect commercial banks in dealing with their role of intermediation. CBDCs, like other electronic money, including privately issued stable coins and cryptocurrencies, leverage blockchain technology to facilitate peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions and remove intermediaries. A source, who has monitored the unease among top bankers, admitted that it was too early to conclude that eNaira would reduce the volume of bank transactions, but disclosed that “bank executives are extremely worried that a widespread adoption of eNaira could reduce the volume of businesses executed by banks and transaction revenues.” A professor of economics and international finance expert, Ken Ife, said banks, like other industries, have no control over the evolution and impacts of blockchain. He said bankers would either smartly retool their operations to leverage the new technology or be left behind in the process. “Technology is the definition of all means of production and exchange; there is no limit. Blockchain technology has come to stay. It is about what you can do with it. It will affect the banking sector like every other sector. It will render the traditional model of banking that comes with high costs useless. The banks will either embrace it in a constructive way or they will be overtaken by the revolution,” Ife stressed. Also, Vice President of Highcap Securities Limited, David Adonri, said the fear expressed by bankers “is real as much of the revenues are truncation-based.” He wondered how the banks could play in the ecosystem, which is expected to be peer-to-peer (P2P)-driven. But in the design note, CBN said the eNaira “complements existing banking products and services and will not destabilise existing system”. Users are also expected to be linked with a commercial bank for complaint with Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AMT/CFT) guidelines even as Nigeria’s CBDC leans towards the account model. “The eNaira payment system will be compliant with AML/CFT guidelines to ensure integrity of the financial system. To achieve this, CBN has adopted an account-based CBDC. Through this option, CBN will be able to identify users on the platform using the identified frameworks: Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identity Number (NIN). “However, considering that the CBN is adopting a platform to market model, it means it would rely on financial institutions and other payment service providers to deliver layered value-added services on the eNaira platform. The CBN as such alluded to the fact that the role of AML/CFT checks will be handled by financial institutions, who have proximity and provide value-added services to customers. “To facilitate this process, customers will have the option to choose their preferred banking partner during the onboarding process and customers will be linked to that bank. The linked banks will as such be responsible for performing AML/CFT checks on the users and ensuring overall compliance,” the apex bank said in the concept note. There is, however, no sufficient information in the document to show how banks will make revenues from their role in the implementation of the digital naira. The eNaira, as it is conceived, is an alternative payment system and store of value for households and businesses to hold and use. To establish the ecosystem, users will need to convert some of their existing bank deposits into eNaira to hold in their wallets. The CBN admitted in the project design that conversion of bank deposits to eNaira could affect the banks in the form of reduction in deposit liabilities and availability of funds for bank
Release GETFund monies to enable them pay contractors – Ofori-Atta told
Member of Parliament for Buem, Mr Kofi Adams, has asked the Finance Minister Mr Ken Ofori-Atta to release funds to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to enable them pay contractors. According to him, the inability of GETFund to pay the contractors has resulted in abandoned projects all over the country. Mr Adams explained that it came out from a meeting officials of the GETFund had with Parliament that the Ministry of Finance had failed to release their funds. He noted that despite government using GETFUnd as collateral for loans, works continue to stall on educational projects. He told TV3 in an interview that “Unfortunately, contractors who we thought would be paid out of this seven billion [facility] that was raised through this means are still complaining of not being paid and looking at from last time till now. “If we will continue to have a situation where these very contractors are not returning to site because they feel that they are owed for works already done and certificates so presented. “It is unfortunate because the thinking was that with that huge resources available now, we will be able to complete all these projects. But that it is not happening and the funds now have to be paying every other time for these very facility that has already been taken but we are not seeing the effect of this facility in the completion of projects. That is why I am particularly worried. “The last time GETFund came to parliament it looks more like it was the Ministry of Finance that is not releasing the moneys to them,” he said. Last week, the Minority in parliament served notice that they would initiate a probe into a $1.5 billion security that was approved for the GETFund to undertake completion of critical educational facilities. Parliament in 2018 approved the $1.5 billion loan for the GETFund to support the development of educational infrastructure. This was amidst objections raised by the Minority. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers insisted that they could not back the loan agreement because they were unaware of the lender of the facility. Dr. Anthony Osei Akoto, the then Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation, said the minority members had been informed about the lender. He went ahead to announce to the House who the lender was – CAL Bank. “Mr Speaker, let us be honest with ourselves, other than that, we will be setting examples that we cannot continue to follow” he added. But the minority, despite boycotting the passage, say they will probe this loan facility. Dr Clement Apaak, Deputy Ranking member, Education Committee of Parliament told journalists after a tour of some uncompleted projects in the country on Tuesday October 19 2021 that “We are all aware of the inadequacy of infrastructure which is why the obnoxious double track system was introduced. “So, when we have structures like this, 90 per cent complete, at a cost of 9 million cedis and yet we cannot complete it for students to have access to education , for classroom sizes to be reduced, for communities to have hope that their wards are going to benefit from the free senior high school, clearly, we cannot forgive government. “Because the 1.5 billion dollars that GETFund was securitised to obtain was supposed to help complete what they themselves described as essential educational infrastructure and they indicated in their memo to parliament to that was to address the increased number of students who have come on stream as a result of the coming into being of the free SHS policy, so why is this here. “Is it that we don’t have the money? What have they done with the 1.5billion that we securitised the GETFund for? Is it not time they come to parliament to account for how many of the critical educational infrastructure they have completed so that we know there is value for money in a community such as this which doesn’t even have a secondary school. Is it fair?” —3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
NPP communicators, serial callers on strike over unpaid monthly stipends
It has emerged that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) pays its communicators and serial callers a monthly stipend of GHS300 and GHS200 respectively. According to reports coming from the Bono Regional NPP office, the party’s communicators in the region are on strike over the non-payment of their monthly stipends. However, serial texters, as well as people who send WhatsApp messages on the ticket of the party, are not paid a dime. The Sunyani East Constituency Communications officer of the party; Maxwell Mahama, confirmed the strike to Kwame Appiah Kubi, host of ‘Ghana Yesom’ morning show on Accra 100.5 FM, today, Monday, 25 October 2021. According to him, his colleagues in the region took the decision to embark on the strike because of the lack of fairness in the disbursement of the monthly stipends on the part of the Regional Chairman, Mr. Kwame Baffoe known in the political circles as ‘Abroye DC’. He said the disbursement of the monthly stipend to support the party’s communicators has been riddled with petty corruption and nepotism. He alleged that the Regional Chairman takes delight in sharing the money among his cronies in the region instead of the rightful beneficiaries. “The Regional Chairman has over the years been selective in the disbursement of the stipends to the beneficiaries. Trust me, if you’re not in his good books what you deserve, for working for the party at that level will not be paid,” he said. Mr. Mahama also accused Abronye DC of dividing the front of the party in the region, hence the party losing the majority of the parliamentary seat in the region. —mynewsgh Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Akufo-Addo To Ghanaians: ‘Change Your Attitude!’
President Akufo-Addo thinks the implementation of by-laws and logistics alone cannot solve the insanitary conditions in the country. Rather he believes attitudinal change will help rewrite the narrative to a large extent. He has therefore called on his fellow countrymen to change their attitude to rid the country of filth. This was when he launched the Operation ‘Clean Your Frontage’ in Accra on Friday. Operation ‘Clean Your Frontage’ is part of the “Let’s Make Greater Accra Work” transformational agenda that seeks to mobilise and empower all urban actors to practically and sustainably respond to the region’s waste management and sanitation challenges. It is also intended to create opportunities for sustainable urban and economic growth in the context of enhanced security, clean and green environment, public private partnerships and good urban governance. The Agenda was formulated by the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council under the leadership of Henry Quartey, the Regional Minister in response to President Akufo-Addo’s vision of making Accra the cleanest city in West Africa. The “Operation Clean Your Frontage” campaign would make it mandatory for property owners of residential, private and public institutions and the citizenry to clean and green their frontage and all open spaces around their property. President Akufo-Addo believes “the aesthetic appearance of our communities, especially the urbanized communities is critical to among other things attract tourist, investors and promote the wellbeing of the citizenry.” This implies that, cleaning and greening would be a daily practice in the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Greater Accra Region. Some of the strategic interventions under the “Operation Clean your Frontage” campaign includes by-laws on cleaning of the frontage of premises formulated and gazetted, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAS) deployment of systematic approach to sensitize residents, corporate organizations and community members on their roles and responsibilities in waste management. Under the initiative, Assemblies are expected to create extensive awareness on sanitation and cleaning by-laws and commit to enforcing the by-laws, deployment of a new City Response Team, evacuation of accumulated refuse at sanitary sites and other locations. It will also involve transfer stations in MMDAs, daily sweeping of streets, curbs, walkways, and open spaces, picking of litter from walkways, road medians and open spaces, daily collection of refuse from streets, road medians, and public open spaces, daily emptying of street litter bins, provision of concrete bins by the major highways, desilting of public drains, regular weeding of road medians, greening of public open spaces road medians and road shoulders and periodic curbs painting on ceremonial streets. Looking at the enormity of the project, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the JOSPONG Group is releasing logistics and equipment to support the Accra Must Work Campaign to achieve maximum impact aside the already deployed logistics for its regular operations. Chairman of the JOSPONG, Joseph Siaw Agyepong who announced this in addition to providing its personnel, the company is providing about 85 compactors and 1,000 Tricycles to support this campaign. He revealed that “the company has come out with the new tricycle model and system of operation that will unionize and assist the informal waste collection sector to contribute to the waste management processes in a more formal and organized manner to improve waste collection in slums and poorly planned areas.” He has therefore encouraged all Ghanaians to as it were “take advantage of this laudable initiative to clean their frontage to ensure that we, in our own small ways, also play our parts in making Ghana a clean and health country.” —mynewsgh Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Agric Minister rubbishes fertilizer company claims by former NPP activist
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Afriyie Owusu Akoto has debunked claims by an NPP activist on social media that he was prevented from establishing a fertilizer manufacturing company in the country. The party activist made those claims among others in a video that has been trending on social media since last week. However, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Afriyie Akoto in a statement sig rubbished the claim. Below is the statement: My attention has been drawn to a video by a former NPP activist on social media who says I prevented him from establishing a fertilizer manufacturing company in Ghana. First of all, he must be referring to a fertilizer blending factory NOT a fertilizer manufacturing plant. The latter requires the supply of natural gas as the basic input and requires 5 billion US Dollars of investment. Since 2018 we have been talking to potential investors abroad to establish a fertilizer manufacturing plant at Jomoro newfound Region using our newfound gas discoveries by Tullow, etc. There is no natural gas in Brong Ahafo to manufacture fertilizers. The grant of $100, 000 he claims was offered by the US Government cannot even build a fertilizer blending factory as he claims. It costs millions of dollars to put up such a factory. Currently, Ghana has six fertilizer blending factories and none of them needed a permit from me to set up. The comments made by this entrepreneur activist are not only full of mischief but pure propaganda of the NDC design! They must therefore be treated with the utter contempt they certainly deserve.’ —ghanaguardian Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093