Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto takes on E-levy critics
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Ghana’s Agric Minister has encouraged farmers to welcome the government’s proposed electronic levy (E-levy), which seeks to help the country widen its tax net as read by the Finance Minister in the 2022 budget. According to the Agric Minister, who was responding to opposition MPs in Parliament describing its entrenched position on the E-Levy as worrying. He said the Akufo-Addo administration has assisted farmers with several programmes, adding that the introduction of the E-levy will help raise money to support them with several interventions. The Minister who was quoted by Citi News said: “There are two markets in Ghana; the subsidized fertilizer market, which is the planting for foods and jobs, and the commercial or open market for anyone who wants to buy. These two markets have existed side by side, but because the subsidized fertilizer market was so big, there was very little for the open market. Now with the price increases on the open market, we are also facing problems with revenue collection in Ghana and everywhere else because international trades have also shrunk”. However, during his remarks when he visited one of the government’s built warehouses at Gambaga in the North East Region on his first-day visit to the region as part of his 13-day tour of the northern sector. He said, “We get most of our government revenue from international trade – imports and exports. That is why it’s become necessary for this government to look for alternative sources of revenue to close the gap, hence the introduction of the electronic levy. The opposition (NDC) is making the electronic levy a big issue. What they don’t realize is that it’s affecting other areas. So if we are to remove the levy, where are we going to find the money to give subsidies to farmers? There would be nothing,” he stated. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Opuni to call 8 witnesses in COCOBOD trial
Lawyers of Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni, the former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana COCOBOD has told the High Court in Accra their intention to call eight witnesses to defend their client. Already, the first Defence Witness (DW1) Charles Kwao Tetteh Dodoo, a former Director of Finance at COCOBOD is in the witness box as Dr Opuni’s first witness. In court on Thursday, December 9, 2021, the presiding judge, Justice Clemence Honyenuga asked lead lawyer for Dr Opuni, lawyer Samuel Codjoe how many witnesses they intend to call. Lawyer Codjoe in his response said, “we intend calling eight witnesses” adding that, “We also intend to subpoena two out of the eight.” Asked if he will need the assistance of the court, lawyer Codjoe answered in the affirmative, saying “we will need the court’s assistance for one particular witness that is a witness who has health challenges and as a result of that we will pray if his evidence will be taken by video link.” According to counsel, this witness “sometimes comes to Accra for some medical check ups, so, I spoke to him last week and he said he will see how best he can help.” The Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa while responding to the request said, the prosecution will not oppose it. “In this era that we lived in, the use of technology in the adjudication or deciding cases is common and the prosecution has used or relied on witnesses who lived outside the jurisdiction in a number of its cases,” the DPP said.According to her, “once the proper arrangements have been made this can be done.” Justice Honyenuga, a Justice of the Supreme Court sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, said “the application to have the intended health challenged witness through video link is in order.” “The evidence of the intended witness shall be taken after the evidence of DW1 (First Defense Witness)” the court said.The court has subsequently directed that, “the registrar of this court is to take note of this and make the necessary arrangements with the ICT Department of the Judicial Service.” Letters for information on fertilizers Continuing with his Evidence-in-Chief for as the first defense witness, Mr Dodoo told the court that the procurement unit wrote to a number of institutions requesting for information on fertilizers. Breaking things down to the court, the witness, ‘Exhibit 81’ referred to Sidalco’s response in a letter it received from COCOBOD on Feb 25, 2014. He told the court that a response from Louis Breyfus in ‘Exhibit 82,’ was received on Feb 26, 2014. Again he said, for “Exhibit 83′ which was a response from Wienco was in a letter dated Feb 26, 2014. For Chemico’ response in ‘Exhibit 84’ he said it was received on Feb 27, 2014 while ‘Exhibit 85’ – Sidalco, he said though the date it was received on letter was not clear, that letter was dated Feb 25, 2014. These Exhibits he told the court that, “they were all providing information which the procurement unit will use for the preparation of the ….awards and they all relate to different types of fertilizers.” Opuni does not influence letters from procurement unit When counsel asked him of his response to the prosecution claim that, Dr Opuni influenced the procurement process when it wrote ‘exhibit Q’ which was a letter dated Feb 25, 2014 to the PPA seeking approval to sole source fertilizer for Cocoa Hi-Tech program in 2013/2014, the witness said that was not correct. The Witness said, Exhibit ‘Q’ was written by the Procurement manager and the distribution list of Exhibit ‘Q’ the procurement manager is the last on the list and upward is director of audit, director of finance and the three deputies of Chief executives. He added that, “The letter (Exhibit Q) was responding to a PPA enquiry and the letter in its response referred to a meeting between the board of PPA and management of COCOBOD which took place in 2008. “The results of the discussions could be and are with the procurement unit of Cocobod. The letter referred to fertilizers, not particular ones that Cocobod buys through sole sourcing and the correct price. And so this letter could not be coming from the CEO. He (Opuni) has no idea what happened in 2008, so, this letter cannot be coming from the CEO who was not at post in 2008 and as I have indicated, the distribution list indicates the one who originated the letter,” the told the court. He explained that, “letters going out of COCOBOD are to be signed by the Chief Executive even though he doesn’t write them.” Draft letters He told the court again that draft letters from the procurement unit are vetted by him before they are put on COCOBOD letter heads which he sent to the Chief Executive to sign before they are subsequently dispatched. The former Director of Finance while responding to a claim by his successor Peter Osei Amoako, a (Prosecution Witness) cross-examination that, the procurement unit, write only draft letters not the final one for the Chief Executive to sign, the witness said until he excited the system In 2016, that was not the practice. “What pertained under my watch and before I took over was that, the manager in this case procurement unit issues a draft to me, I will look at the draft, if it is in order before it bring a final letter on Cocobod letter head which I have personally on a number of occasions taken to the Chief Executive office. “In fact, I stood and he signed and then I picked the letters away and handed them over to the procurement unit for dispatch. “My Lord, this may happen when the letters need to go quickly but then the manager cannot force his way into the Cheif Executive office. So, I pick the files for the number of letters to sign and I go to his secretariat and he is
Police arraigns Nhyiaeso MP after turning himself in
The Ghana Police Service on Thursday, 9 December 2021, put before the La Magistrate Court Nhyiaeso MP Dr Stephen Amoah “when he presented himself to the police after failing to appear in court yesterday, Wednesday, 8 December 2021”, after which a warrant was issued for his arrest, a police statement has said. Dr Stephen Amoah was, on Tuesday, 7 December 2021, arrested together with six others for violating road traffic regulations around the Airport By-pass. The police said details regarding his appearance in court will be provided by the Accra Regional Command in due course. Dr Amoah was busted during a police operation to arrest drivers of V8 vehicles who were not complying with road traffic regulations. During the exercise, some V8 drivers, including that of the lawmaker, were arrested for the offences of careless driving, dangerous driving and causing road obstruction among others. Six other drivers were also arrested, as part of the operation, which lasted between 4 pm and 6.30 pm. They include: 1. Driver in charge of Toyota Landcruiser V8 with registration number GN 5532 – 17, Mr Joseph Brown. 2. Driver in charge of Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GT 7059 – 20, Hon. Dr Stephen Amoah. 3. Driver in charge of Toyota 4 Runner with registration number GE 303 – 20, Mr Samuel A. Anim. 4. Driver in charge of Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GE 1611 – 17, Emmanuel Kofi Ofori. 5. Driver in charge of Toyota Highlander 4×4 SUV with registration number GE 14 – 21, Mr Dimini Atuahene 6. Driver in charge of Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GN 3516 – 18, Mr Daniel Boateng 7. Driver in charge of Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GT 856 – 20, Thomas Atinga. —Classfm Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Carlos Ahenkorah asked Ghanaians to avoid using MoMo, if they can’t pay E-Levy
Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West constituency, has asked Ghanaians who do not want to pay the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) to avoid using Mobile Money Services. In response to Justice for Ghana protestors who were in Parliament to register displeasure, the MP pointed that the E-levy is targeting people who have the opportunity and ability to send money through that system and not the poor. “It is not a compulsory tax, if you don’t do MoMo you don’t pay so if you don’t want to pay don’t do MoMo, it’s as simple as that,” he reiterated. “What I am telling them is that they don’t seem to understand what is going on. They should forget about what they are doing and rather let’s see how we can assist the government to run this country.” “This budget that we are talking about, an amount of $5million is coming from the E-levy thing to as it were support the expenditures. If we decide that we don’t want the E-levy anymore, so the government should take it out. It means that the government has to go and borrow that 5million from outside to come and support the budget.” “The government cannot find money anywhere unless you and I contribute into the kitty for the development we are looking for. Everybody want good road and free school thus free education. Where does the government going to get the money from,” he stressed. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
If you already have laptop still take it and give it out to your family members—NAGRAT PRESIDENT to Teachers
It appears the agitation and cry by teachers across the country are not in any way felt by the Leadership of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT). The leadership of NAGRAT has cautioned its members across the country that they stand on a losing path if they reject the One Teacher-One Laptop programme brought to them by the NPP government. He said the laptops form part of the measures being rolled out by the Ministry of Education to motivate teachers to perform better. According to NAGRAT, teachers who refuse to take the laptops because of the issues surrounding their procurement will later suffer it. Mr. Angel Carbonu, insisted the laptops are to unearth the professionalism in teachers across the country. He further described it as a good deal from the government to all teachers. Mr. Carbonu said teachers stand to lose a great deal if they refuse to take the laptops because the government is bearing a major portion of the price. He said the laptops are a motivator rather than a burden on the teachers. “Teachers who feel they already have laptops should still take it and give it out to their family members because the product is one of the subsidized freebies from the government to teachers”, he said Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
You Samson, you are doing NPP biding because Gabby promised to make you MP–Kelvin Taylor alleges
The originator of Loud Silence Media Kelvin Taylor has alleged that an influential leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has assured the NewsFile host, Samson Lardi Anyenini of assisting him to become the next Member of Parliament for the Bolgatanga East Constituency. According to Mr. Kevin Taylor, the legal practitioner Mr. Anyenini is much interested in running for the position and has been directed by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko to do the bidding of the governing party as a payback to win him the Bolga East seat. He said “You, Samson Anyenini, you want to be MP in your village. You are sitting there insulting me because I spoke against the budget, I spoke in favor of Ghanaians. I stood for Ghanaians, for the right thing to be done. But you want to go up there in the North where you are from, where you know poverty is a tradition (to become MP yet you are not fighting for development for them). You were born in the Ashanti Region, you’ve lived all your life here, you want to go up there, Gabby has promised you that he will make you an MP in the North because you don’t need much. You need (to give them) just maggi cube, one cup of sugar and they will vote for you. So you sit on NewsFile and what the people want you speak against it,” he pointed. However, he also accused Mr. Anyenini of not fighting for the common. Kelvin Taylor claimed the NewsFile host came from one of the most impoverished districts in the country with its residents having to share water with animals as they do not have access to basic amenities including potable water. “Who are you representing on NewsFile? Who do you work for? Do you work for that politician Gabby who said he is going to make you an MP in your village? This budget was going to kill your village people because they don’t have that money. They have been paying taxes for 5 years and over, nothing has gone there. In your village, people are drinking water with cows and still, you are sitting in Accra saying that we don’t have to fight against the budget that is going to destroy your own people. Because Gabby has told you he will make you MP, you are telling them to put the hardships on the same people you want to represent?” Mr. Kelvin Taylor said, Mr. Anyenini attacked him on his NewsFile Show because he castigated the 2022 budget presented by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, which he believes will have a negative impact on a common Ghanaians. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Government rolls out mining scheme in galamsey endemic areas
Six community mining schemes in galamsey-endemic areas has been launched by government to address the issue of illegal mining. The schemes rolled out in communities in the Western, Ashanti and Eastern regions of Ghana, is expected to enable willing persons to mine in a responsible manner and create 10,300 direct jobs and 21,000 indirect jobs. This was revealed by the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr George Mireku Duker, during the regular Meet The Press session organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra on Wednesday, 8 November 2021. According to him, the government is sanitizing the extractive sector of the country with the introduction of the community mining scheme which paves the way for the commencement of regulated, responsible, and sustainable community mining, aimed at helping to get rid of illegal mining. “We are creating community mining schemes to hold onto those who will be moved out of the illegal mining and to cushion them as well”, he told journalists. “So far, we have created these schemes in six mining areas of the Western, Ashanti and Eastern Regions”. “The schemes are intended to provide livelihoods for members in the mining communities, promote sustainable and responsible mining and therefore prevent illegal mining,” Mr Duker said. He said community mining had become the main fulcrum around which the nation sought to organise responsible small-scale mining, explaining that it is the reason the government has developed a Small- Scale and Community Mining operational manual to guide the operations of small-scale miners. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093