Political integrity: Only Nkrumah compares to Rawlings – Amidu
In terms of the exhibition of “the highest degree of integrity and honour” in the management of the public affairs of Ghana “for the common good of her ordinary citizens since independence”, no Ghanaian head of government or state, except Kwame Nkrumah, compares with the late President Jerry John Rawling, former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has asserted. According to Mr Amidu, in terms of management skills in all facets of governance, Mr Rawlings can only be compared to the late British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. Mr Amidu noted that it will take this country a long time for another president who understands the ordinary Ghanaian psyche and empathises truly with his compatriots to emerge “to salvage our decaying democratic situation under the constitution.” In an article dedicated to Mr Rawlings on the first anniversary of his demise on Friday, 12 November 2021, the Citizen Vigilante stated that Mr Rawlings was human and naturally had human weaknesses, and some of the actions taken under his leadership to restore the sanity and dignity of the political system may have hurt others, and sometimes fatally. However, within the dialectics of the unity or identity of opposites in nature and man, Mr Rawlings’ integrity and honour in this life far outweighed any human weaknesses he had. “The facts are evidentially demonstrated by the extent to which those who had exhibited disdain to his regimes when he was in office as Ghana’s Head of State turned round to opportunistically assimilate and integrate his personality and successes into their regimes,” Mr Amidu wrote. In Mr Rawlings’ memory, Mr Amidu wants all those who call themselves comrades of the late Ghanaian leader to unite and work together to see to his vision of a social-democratic tradition for the good of the ordinary Ghanaian. Below is Mr Amidu’s full statement: IN MEMORIAM: COMRADE CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT EMERITUS, FLT. LT. JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS – BY MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU In my lived experience, there is no Ghanaian Head of Government or Head of State who can compare with the late Comrade Chairman, and President Emeritus Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawling in terms of the exhibition of the highest degree of integrity and honour in the management of the public affair of this country for the common good of its ordinary citizens since independence on 6th March 1957, except the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. In terms of management skills in all facets of our governance as Head of State, including an in-depth understanding of the statecraft of our national and international relations, the life of the late President Emeritus Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings compares in our circumstances only to the late statesman and British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who also did not have all those highfalutin certificates or university or college degrees. It will take this country a long time for another President who understands the ordinary Ghanaian psyche and empathizes truly with his compatriots to emerge to salvage our decaying democratic situation under the Constitution. The late Comrade Chairman and President Emeritus Rawlings like all of us was a human being: he naturally had human weaknesses, and some of the actions taken under his leadership to restore the sanity and dignity of our decadent political system may have hurt others, and sometimes fatally. However, within the dialectics of the unity or identity of opposites in nature and man, Jerry John Rawlings’ integrity and honour in this life far outweighed any human weaknesses he had. The facts are evidentially demonstrated by the extent to which those who had exhibited disdain to his regimes when he was in office as Ghana’s Head of State turned round to opportunistically assimilate and integrate his personality and successes into their regimes. This in memoriam I am writing dedicated to him on the first anniversary of his demise will only serve any useful purpose when those committed cadres who started with him under the 4th June, and 31st of December Revolutions, and served in his Governments under the Fourth Republican Constitution remember at all times that part of the work we started together until his demise on 12th November 2020 remains unaccomplished. First, several reverses have taken place since 7th January 2001 against the interest of the ordinary people of Ghana as enshrinined under the 1992 Constitution. This country cannot make any meaningful progress in the absence of a strict commitment to probity, accountability, and transparency in governance as mandated by the 1992 Constitution that the late President Rawlings bequeathed to this nation. Secondly, the Rawlings’ social democratic tradition was to ensure genuine political, financial, and economic transparency in the handling of our common patrimony which is the democratic representative electoral process, the national purse, and the management of our collective natural resources. These are at their lowest ebb as at this first anniversary of his demise and renders at nought all the struggles for a better Ghana as the Black Star of Africa since independence. The occasion of this anniversary, for me, is a reminder that unless and until the genuine comrades, colleagues, and younger supporters of our departed President Emeritus Rawlings bury their differences, (which was manifest long before his demise) and unite, the social democratic tradition he initiated and sustained in his lifetime would elude the ordinary Ghanaian whom he so strenuously led us to fight for and defended to his last breath on 12th November 2020. Acrimony as to who truly represents the 4th June or 31st December Revolutions or the social democratic tradition has been and is being stoked to divide and weaken the social-democratic cause of the workers and people of Ghana Comrade Rawlings dedicated his life to. May the remembrance of our dear late Chairman and President Rawlings today touch the hearts of those who have inherited his mantle to reach out to every cadre and member who had associated with him during his lifetime and to bring unity amongst all his accolades. This cannot materialize without seeking to reconcile with his dear
JUST IN: Nana Akufo Addo Finally Gives Broni Appointment -CONFIRMED
The first election by the Assembly Members in the municipality took place in October but ended abruptly due to confusion with the electoral body. Today, the Assembly members converged in the presence of heavy military numbering close to 100 and drawn from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prison Service, and the Ghana National Fire Service. After the process, Mohammed Tamimu only managed to poll 9 out of 34 votes cast as he was rejected for the second time. Today’s election was conducted in the presence of Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibril, former MP for Salaga South, and Savannah Regional Minister, Salia Braimah, the MP for the area, Hajia Zuwera Ibrahimah, and the MD for the Ghana Water Company. Following his second rejection today and agitations from the youth, President Akufo-Addo may have to make a different nomination to replace Tamimu Mohammed. Meanwhile, the latest news culled from Ghanaweb has it that Akufo-Addo has named Broni to replace rejected Tamimu as East Gonja MCE in Savannah Region. In furtherance, the report states that a statement signed by the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Dan Botwe has directed the Savannah Region Minister to liaise with the Regional Electoral Commission to conduct the confirmation process of the nominated Chief Executive, Richard Broni. See the photo below. MCE nominee for East Gonja Assembly, Richard Broni
Akufo-Addo goes on leave in France
The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left Ghana on Thursday, 11th November 2021, to lead the Ghanaian delegation to attend, at the invitation of UNESCO’s Director General, Audrey Azoulay, the 75th anniversary ceremony of the founding of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which is being held at its headquarters in Paris, France. The United Nations Charter, which came into effect on 16th November 1945, provided for the creation of a specialized agency in the fields of education and culture, and the President will, on Friday, 12th November, deliver a statement, at the height of the commemoration, on the impact UNESCO has had in Ghana, and what Ghana expects from UNESCO in the coming years. President Akufo-Addo will from Saturday, 13th November, to Saturday, 20th November, take a seven-day leave of absence, during which he has accepted an invitation to preside over the panel that will adjudicate a debate in the French Parliament on “The Trial of Progress”, on Friday, 19th November. The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; the Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Yaw Adutwum; and officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry. The president will return to Ghana on Saturday 20 November 2021. —Daily Mail GH Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Sack Roads Minister over ‘demonstrations don’t build roads’ comment – Prez Nana Addo told
Former People’s National Convention (PNC) flagbearer hopeful, Sampson Asaki Awingobet, has lashed out at the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta over comments ridiculing citizens who embark on demonstrations for good roads. According to him, Ghanaians should not take exception to the statement, and regards what the minister said as a blow below the belt and disrespectful to the citizenry. The Minister called the bluff of such protesters arguing demonstrations do not fix or build roads. According to the minister, he is appalled by educated people who embark on such exercises. “It is unreasonable for anybody to say that all roads everywhere should be fixed simultaneously. So these demonstrations should stop. Sometimes you get people who are supposed to know better, well-educated people who should advise their colleagues joining demonstrations. Demonstrations don’t build roads,” he told the media when inspecting the 31.7km Kwafokrom to Apedwa road in the Eastern Region which forms part of the Accra-Kumasi dualization project.” Reacting to the Minister’s statement in an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, the visibly angry politician stated, “It is cheap talk for the Minister to say roads cannot be constructed simultaneously and I strongly believe Ghanaians need to take exception to that. Our roads are bad and we go to the workshop all the time. As a Roads Minister, an interaction with the media is the right opportunity for you to appeal to the conscience of Ghanaians and let them understand that the government is trying to fix the country’s roads. His statement was rather unfortunate and is not expected from a Minister of his caliber. If I were the President of Ghana, he would’ve vacated his post. I believe the President must see to it that he relinquishes his position because his statement made no sense.” With countless live being lost to poor roads in the country, Sampson Asaki Awingobet asked, “why shouldn’t we demonstrate for good roads? He should be fired over such loose talk. Ghanaians are mad and you have the audacity to say such things when you’re being paid by the tax payer. This is disgusting,” he reiterated. —happyghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
SSNIT pays over GH¢2.7 billion to beneficiaries this year
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has paid out a little over GH¢2.7 billion, to retired workers and dependents of deceased members, from the beginning of the year to September 2021, the Director-General of SSNIT, Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, has disclosed. This follows a similar payment of a total of GH¢3.3 billion, at the close of the previous year, 2020. With an active contributor base of about 1.7 million, the SSNIT scheme in October 2021 alone is said to have paid a total of GH¢246.59 million to some 219,598 pensioners. These payments to the SSNIT beneficiaries, according to Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang, are indicative of the scheme’s commitment to contributing to securing and improving the lives of contributors or their dependents, in retirement or death. Speaking in an interview at the sidelines of an ‘Employers’ Breakfast Meeting,’ in Kumasi, Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang noted that the Trust intends to embark on a ‘sale-drive’ targeted at 80 percent of the Ghanaian workforce listed under the informal sector. He reckoned that the narrative of some people in the informal sector is that the SSNIT scheme is only for the government workers or that one has to be working in an office. It is against this background that he said “it is about time that we got out of our offices and engage people to let them know that they too are entitled to insure the incomes that they are making today for the future.” The expansion of the operation, he mentioned, will promote voluntary contribution. This notwithstanding, Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang intimated that the trust will continue to engage those in the formal sector to ensure that every worker is covered. He said the trust over the period has made tremendous improvement in its operations, which has now made it possible for pensions to be paid on an average of 10 days after an application has been filed and received. The Director-General of SSNIT attributed some of these developments to the digitization and “also making sure that we are pushing out the contribution statements to employees.” Addressing participants at the meeting, he entreated employers to pay SSNIT contributions of workers on their right earnings to enable contributors to get decent pensions on retirement. He indicated that the amount one receives as pension is a reflection of their contribution history while noting that if employers declare small basic salaries for their workers to the trust and pay them big allowances, the worker will be worse off during retirement. “As we speak, over 80 percent of workers in Ghana contribute GH¢275.00 or less each month towards their pension from SSNIT. This means they have declared salaries of GH¢2,500.00 or less to us. Should the contributions remain unchanged, 80 per cent of members will receive pensions of GH¢1, 500 or less when they retire.” He also disclosed that only 5.3% of workers in Ghana are contributing on salaries of GH¢5,000.00 or more. So, ensure your workers receive meaningful pensions when they retire by contributing on their right salaries.” Employers were also charged to encourage their employees to merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers to be able to access pension services from 2022. The 2021 SSNIT Employers’ Breakfast meeting is the second of its kind to be held since the maiden edition in 2019, in Accra. Organised under the theme, ‘Social Security: Employer compliance and its impact on businesses and employees’ morale’, the event provided a platform to discuss innovative ways to further enhance the quality service delivered by the Trust. The meeting with selected employers is to strengthen the relationship between the Trust and compliant employers and to help deepen their understanding of the operations of the First Tier Social Security Scheme. —thebftonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
46th Edition Of MTN SWAG Awards Launched In Accra
MTN Ghana in partnership with the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) have officially launched the 46th edition of the SWAG Awards. The 2021 SWAG Awards is set to be held on the 17th of December 2021 at the Accra International Conference Center. MTN Ghana also used the occasion to announce a sponsorship package of fifty thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc 50,000) some souvenirs and airtime towards the SWAG Awards. The 46th MTN SWAG Awards was officially unveiled at a press conference held at MTN House in Accra. Speaking at the launch, the Chief Corporate Services Officer of MTN Ghana, Samuel Koranteng, said, “the decision to support the SWAG awards stems out of the MTN’s strong commitment to the development of sports men and women as well as sports in general”. “We are proud to be sponsoring a long-standing event that honours those who embody and have demonstrated extra-ordinary strength and resilience in their sporting endeavours”, he added. The President of SWAG, Mr Kwabena Yeboah, expressed gratitude to MTN Ghana for their unflinching support for the past decade. He said, “The partnership has gone a long way to strengthen the SWAG Awards and enhance its sustainability”. MTN Ghana remains committed to the development of sports in Ghana. The company has over the years committed resource towards sponsorship of different sporting disciplines. MTN’s support to sports development is not restricted only to sporting activities but also to sports journalists as well. MTN Ghana has been a major sponsor of the annual SWAG Awards for over 10 years and the headline sponsor of the awards for 2021. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093