My government has fought corruption not in words but….Prez-Akufo-Addo
President Nana Akufo-Addo has said, his government has fought corruption not in words, but in concrete deeds. Giving a keynote address at the National Anti-Corruption Conference, organized by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), on Friday, 10 December 2021, the President said, his government has “fought corruption not in words, but in concrete deeds. We have shunned mere exhortations and showy denunciations of unproved corruption. It has been a holistic approach. He further said, “We have protected the public purse, we have made institutional reforms, we have enacted additional, requisite laws, and we have resourced more adequately the accountability organs of state. Our fight against corruption has been grounded on legislative, financial and institutional action, and not on lip-service.” President Akufo-Addo said, since coming into office in 2017, he stated that he has, first, had to make sure that every single alleged act of corruption leveled against any of his appointees have been investigated by independent bodies, such as CHRAJ, the CID, and, in some cases, by Parliament itself. Citing the example of the suspension of the then head of the Public Procurement Agency, the President indicated that “following recommendations from CHRAJ, based on their investigation, I removed him from office in October 2020, and the Office of Special Prosecutor is seized with the matter of prosecution. If an appointee is cleared of any wrongdoing, the evidence adduced and recommendations made by these agencies, after the investigations are concluded, are what clear the accused persons, not myself.” However, President Akufo-Addo indicated that “there are some who refuse to accept my method of proceeding, and have characterised me as a ‘clearing agent’, because, for them, the mere allegation without more is enough to merit condemnation of the public official, even though they did not apply this principle when they were in office. For my part, I will not set aside due process in the fight against corruption, no matter how much opprobrium this incurs for me.” With a clear understanding that corruption thrives in an atmosphere conducive to its concealment, he told the gathering that his government has ensured the passage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), which will foster a culture of transparency and accountability in public affairs. In addition to this, President Akufo-Addo revealed that Parliament has passed the Witness Protection Act, 2018, (Act 975), to which he gave his assent on 24th August the same year. The Act, he explained, established a Witness Protection Agency to establish a witness protection scheme as a vehicle for offering protection to persons, who are required to co-operate with law enforcement agencies as witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of cases, particularly corruption cases affecting public officers. Last year, he stated that the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act, 2020, (Act1034), was passed to amend section 239 of the Criminal Offences Act, to categorize the offense of corruption, previously a misdemeanor, as a felony, and to guarantee stiffer punishments of terms of imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and not more than twenty-five (25) years in prison. The President indicated that other laws passed by his administration, and which have enhanced significantly the capacity of the State in the fight against corruption are the Revenue Administration (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 1029), Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 (Act 982), State Interests and Governance Authority Act, 2019 (Act 990), Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency Act, 2020 (Act 1015), Companies Act, 2019(Act992), Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) and Real Estate Agency Act, 2020 (Act 1047). Underlying the digitalization agenda of his government, which comprises a robust national identification system, digital property address system, paperless port system, e-justice system, pensions and insurance data, a digitized land registry, and mobile money interoperability system, he stressed, is the overarching objective to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in the public sector. “A digitized environment, ultimately, helps to eliminate and prevent corruption in various institutions and agencies. The passport office, ports and harbors, Registrar-General’s Department, National Health Insurance Service, Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority, which, hitherto, were fertile grounds for corrupt activity, are being transformed beyond recognition,” he said. He continued, “The introduction of the Ghana.Gov platform has significantly reduced the risk of public sector corruption through embezzlement, making it possible for services to be accessed and payments made online by card or mobile money, with a considerable reduction in the conduit of middlemen or ‘goro boys”. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
“My job is to act on allegations of corruption, not convict persons
President Nana Akufo-Addo has said, his job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant inquiry and necessary action and not to convict corrupt persons. He said such a job is solely for the courts. Apexnewsgh.com report According to President Akufo-Addo who was addressing the congregation at a high-level national conference on the theme: “Building a culture of integrity for generations” to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day in Accra on Friday, 10 December 2021, He said none of his appointees who were accused of corruption went uninvestigated. “The government has undertaken, arguably, the boldest initiative since our nation attained independence nearly 65 years ago, to reform and strengthen the capacity of our institutions to tackle corruption in the public sector”, he said. He added, “Charity, they say, begins at home; and, that is why, so far, every single alleged act of corruption levelled against any of my appointees has been investigated by independent bodies such as the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and, in some cases, by Parliament itself”, he stressed. “It is not my job to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing or of engaging in acts of corruption; that is the job of the courts”, he explained. “My job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant inquiry and necessary action, including – if required – the suspension of the affected official pending the conclusion of the investigations”. “That is exactly what has been done since I assumed the mantle of national leadership on 7 January 2017”, he said. “As it was in 2019, I suspended the then-acting head of the Public Procurement Authority from office after conflict of interest and corruption allegations had been levelled against him”. “Following recommendations from CHRAJ based on their investigation, I removed him from office in October 2020 and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, is seized with the matter for prosecution”, he pointed. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
E-levy is a none starter, I will not support it today, I won’t support it tomorrow– Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba
Madam Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tempane Constituency in Upper East Region who doubles as a member of the communication committee in Parliament has assured her constituents to be rest assured that she will never support the controversial E-Levy today nor tomorrow. Speaking to Apexnewsgh.com in an exclusive interview, the Tempane legislator lamented that most of the things she expected the budget to capture which she thinks will reduce the plight of her constituents and region at large weren’t captured in the 2022 budget read by the Finance Minister. “Upper East is one of the deprived regions in the country and what I was expecting to see from the budget is something that will reduce the plight of the people of Upper East Region. I want to see a very robust programme for electricity, water, road network, youth employment, which I didn’t see in the budget”. She said the YouStart programme is a very scanty one because it did not specify what is going to do for the Upper East Region for the youth to get employment. For instance, I want to see that in the budget, that there provision made for Dam, for those who are not in the formal sector, those who want to go into Agric, or for those already in Agric to enhance their productivity. “I want to see the Minister of Finance assuring us that come next year or next coming season, there will be enough fertilizer for those who are into farming. I want to see TVET is very important today in our sectors. For instance in my constituency, if we have TVET that can actually train the youth carpentry, meson, tiling, mechanic so that when they come out and the government cannot employ them, they themselves can find a way of making a living out of it. So, I want to see something that is specific, if the budget is approved”. As for the E-Levy, the Tempane MP described it as a none starter. “E-Levy is none starter, we don’t even want to talk about it, because i don’t want to worsen the plight of our people. My people are already poor. Somebody is asking for Ghc 100.00 and you are telling me if I send the person Ghc 100.00 you are going to take Ghc 1.70 from that money again. So, at the end of the day, what is the person going to get? I will not support E-Levy today, I won’t support it tomorrow”. She 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
UER: 19 year old boy with Osteoarthritis appeals for help
19yrs old Demian Konoseh from Nayagenia in Navrongo Municipality of the Upper East Region is appealing for the intervention of the general public to come to his aide. Demian has been battling with Osteoarthritis for over 8 years now. However, for his life to be saved, specialists said he needs Thirty-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc 35,000.00) to undergo surgery. Demian is a student of Kanton Senior High School. Meanwhile, his current situation has become a very massive setback on his education. Please for any assistance, kindly contact 0555568093. or Apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Akufo-Addo honored ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for Free SHS
President Nana Akufo-Addo has said on Thursday, 9 December 2021, “I received, officially, the Forbes “African of the Year Award” from Forbes Magazine”. Also, he said the President of the US National Bar Association, Judge Carlos E. Moore, presented a “Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition of my “initiative to provide free quality education to students”, which “will help with the broader development” of Ghana, as highlighted in Goal 4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. A few days ago, the President of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, paid glowing tribute to President Akufo-Addo, for his recognition by Forbes Magazine as the “African of the Year”. At a state dinner held in honour of the visiting South African President at Jubilee House on Saturday, 4 December, the South African President was full of praise for his Ghanaian counterpart for being adjudged the African of the Year by the world’s renowned media entity, Forbes. President Ramaphosa extolled the virtues of President Akufo-Addo, which, in his view, led to Forbes awarding him the prestigious African of the Year crown. “We are proud of this recognition, Your Excellency, because it speaks of your commitment, it speaks of your creativity, your innovation, and your clear strategic vision of what should happen in your own country, as well as on our beloved African continent,” he said. President Ramaphosa also stressed that the recognition of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by Forbes is about his vision for Ghana, in particular, and the African continent as a whole. “The recognition by the magazine is about your vision, not only for Ghana but for the people of our continent as well”, the South African President stated. Not only was President Ramaphosa pleased with President Akufo-Addo’s recognition as the African of the Year, but also impressed by the cultural heritage of the Ghanaian people. “This morning, Your Excellency, you took me to Kumasi to show me the wonders of Ghanaian culture and spectacular traditions during the 50th celebration of Nana Otuo Sriboe II of Juaben. I was deeply moved and impressed to see how Ghana has continued to keep true to the traditions of old, traditions that span generations and generations”, the South African President said. Continuing, President indicated: “I will go back to South Africa with vivid memories of a people who are together in the very peaceful spirit celebrating, and I was truly honoured and humbled that you did take me to see the wonders of Ghanaian culture and tradition,” he said. For his part, President Akufo-Addo thanked President Ramaphosa and his delegation for their visit to Ghana and reiterated his confidence that the visit will deepen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and their peoples. “For me, one of the essential pillars of our relations must be the mutual nurturing of our young people. They are the ones to inherit the legacy of our current co-operative endeavours, who should work towards preserving and further enriching it,” he said. The President continued: “With your visit, I am confident that a solid foundation for this new and mutually-beneficial cooperation has been laid, just as we have renewed our determination to work towards strengthening our common commitment to our continental organisation, the African Union”.
UER: Binduri MP Pledged to follow up with the controversial Upper East Airport
Member of Parliament for Binduri Constituency Abdulai Abanga has said, he will seek clarity on the controversial airport meant for the people of Upper East Region. Apexnewsgh.com report His response came after the Navrongo Member of Parliament Mr. Sampson Tangombu Chiragia has criticized the government of the day for not considering the people of Upper East in what he described as NPP empty 2022 budget that could not even capture the airport which is one of the very important things for the people of the region. Speaking in an interview with Apexnewsgh.com on Thursday, December 9, 2021, the Binduri legislator who is now known in the region as Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper East said, even though he has not much information about the airport as at the time of this interview, he promised to follow it up. “I will take it up and try and find out what the situation is regarding the setting up of the airport in the region. You are aware that our senior brother late Hon. Kofi Adda, may he rest in perfect peace. They started the airport idea and he worked so hard and really wanted to see the airport fully established but it didn’t happen before his demise”. “It will help all of us in the region and beyond in our transportation especially those of us coming from Upper East. Now we have to land in Tamale, drive 2,3,4 hours before we can get to our various destinations either to Bawku, Navrongo or to Sandema. So, definitely having the airport in any part of the region will give us an advantage and it will help us so much in our duties as MPs, as business people, and for the general public. So, I will also pick it up to find out what the thinking is and the policies with the government regarding that Airport”. He told Apexnewsgh.com However, he was confident that the airport will be constructed once the government has already taken notice of it. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093