Foreign Affairs Ministry not aware Ghana Card is to become E-passport
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong has disclosed that it has no knowledge about the fact Ghana’s National Identity Card also known as the Ghana Card is to be used globally as a valid E-passport. Mr. Sarpong disclosed this on a Kumasi based radio station, Akoma FM. According to him, “The report is not emanating from my Ministry; hence officially I cannot confirm that Ghana Card is now e-passport,” “Maybe, the report is from a higher authority because my Minister and her two deputies of which I am part are not privy to the said report.” He said According to report, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has given its seal of approval for Ghana’s national Identity Card to be recognized globally as a valid e-passport. Thus, holders of the Ghana Card as well as its future biometric equivalents can present it as official documentation at all 197 (ICAO) compliant countries and 44,000 airports worldwide and board flights to Ghana. This follows a “Key Ceremony” on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at the headquarters of ICAO in Montreal, Canada, during which Ghana, represented by the High Commissioner to Canada, H.E Ransford Sowah, received the ‘key’ to symbolically indicate the country’s entry into the ICAO family. However, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the information on the Ghana Card serving as E-passport is news to the Ministry and it cannot authenticate that. “As of yesterday 9pm, I was in a meeting with my Minister and she denied that and said the topic is news to her because officially the report is not from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Deputy Minister disclosed. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Mensah Thompson of ASEPA granted bail
Mensah Thompson, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) who was arrested and detained by the Police has been granted bail on Thursday, 10 February 2022 Mr. Thompson was granted bail of an amount of GHS50,000 with two sureties. He was detained at the Teshie Police station in Accra on Wednesday, 9 February 2022. According to a report available to the media, he is facing charges for the publication of false news after alleging that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo together with his daughters used the presidential jet in December 2021 for family purposes. Meanwhile, the custodians of the Presidential jet, the military have denied the allegations as false. However, the ASEPA founder later withdrew the publication and apologize. “In the same medium I made the earlier publication, I withdraw the publication pending an official response from the GCAA. I unreservedly apologize to the Ghana Armed Forces if their image was in any way affected by my publication. “We shall put out for your consumption the response to our request from the GCAA records of the Falcon 900-EX,” a statement issued by ASEPA noted. According to Police Prosecutor, Inspector Ebenezer Tei Okuffo told the Kaneshie District Court that Mr. Thompson’s post had the potential of inciting the youth against the president’s family.
Take down your tweet and render and offer a genuine apology to all PWS—Stammers to Gabby Otchere-Darko
The Ghana Stammering Association (GSA) holds the view that the comment made by a leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Gabby Otchere-Darko is a disparaging comment about stammers. Mr. Otchere-Darko, in his recent response to former President John Mahama on the current state of the country’s economy, took to Twitter to liken Mr. Mahama’s criticisms of the Akufo-Addo government to a stammer complaining about how musician, Sarkodie raps in his music. Meanwhile, the tweet has been condemned by the association in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Michael Obeng, dated February 9, 2022. “GSA condemns this act and deems it very disparaging and demeaning to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the disability community as a whole,” they expressed. “Even though Mr. Otchere-Darko sought to render an apology in the same tweet, we find that rather derisive to PWDs,” it added. However, the association is demanding that Mr. Otchere-Darko take down the disparaging tweet and offer a genuine apology to all PWDs. Below is the full statement: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
The Cedi Dr. Bawumia claimed he arrested and handed key to the IGP, is facing massive depreciation in the prison cells– Edem Agbana
The National Deputy Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress Edem Agbana has revealed that the Cedi claimed to be arrested by Dr. Bawumia and handed the key to the IGP, is facing massive depreciation inside prison. Apexnewsgh.com report The Deputy National Communication Officer of the Opposition National Democratic Congress Godwin Ako Gunn has blamed the poor turn up at the ‘Yentua Demonstration’ on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo According to Deputy Youth Organizer who was addressing the media at the Yentua demonstration venue in obra spot “We will be matching to parliament to send a message to the inept, insensitive, failed Akufo-Addo and his government that we are not ready to pay the e-levy”. “We have gotten to the point where the e-levy had become what has incited the action but in terms of hardship, Ghanaians are already suffering”. “Ask I speak, I have seen taxi drivers who packed their taxis because they want to protest against the increment in fuel prices. As we are talking, they are talking about breaking the 8, there are only two things that will break the 8 in this country 1. Fuel prices, is already at 7.4 almost 7.5 before the end of this year we know, with this failed leadership they are providing, we will break the 8 with fuel prices. 2, the depreciation of the cedi. As we speak, the cedi is depreciating so poorly to the extent that we are paying over 6.4 to a dollar”. He said “Meanwhile, the Vice President, the head of the economic management team told us that, he has arrested the cedi, locked it and given the key to the IGP. Even in prison, the cedi is depreciating much and is going towards the 8. So, imagine if is released in freedom, we will be paying maybe a Ghc 1000.00 for $1. These are the two things that will break the 8. Mr. Agbana pointed “My point is that, the economic mismanagement, the corruption, the failed leadership, the insensitive leadership of Akufo-Addo and his government is so glaring”. He concluded The opposition NDC and its representatives in Parliament have vowed to kick against the 1.75 percent levy which they said will affect electronic transactions and the poor masses. Meanwhile, the government has explained that the upsurge in the use of e-payment platforms, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been an impetus for the introduction of the levy. As a result, Ghana recorded a total of GHS500 billion from e-transactions in 2020 compared with GHS78 billion in 2016. However, the government says the e-Levy proceeds will be used to support development in the country such as entrepreneurship, youth employment, cyber security, and digital and road infrastructure and among other things. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Yentua Demo: NDC Communication Officer blames Akufo-Addo for poor turn out
The Deputy National Communication Officer of the Opposition National Democratic Congress Godwin Ako Gunn has blamed the poor turn up at the ‘Yentua Demonstration’ on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to the Deputy Communication Officer during his engagement with the media he said, people fear coming out for the ‘Yentua’ demonstration as expected because they know what the President can do. “People who skeptical know Nana Akufo-Addo, they know what he can do to media people, those who have lost their lives, those who have to run away that is people are scared sometimes to even come and join demonstration”. He stressed He added: But some of us are prepared to die on the street for Ghana. So, the people of Ghana will come out in their numbers and we complete it. However, he was hopeful that the number will see an increase before they start with the demonstration. “The number might not be my issue now but am telling you, there will be more than 20,000 people before we leave here. Just watch us in the next hour, this place will be flooded with people”. The opposition NDC and its representatives in Parliament have vowed to kick against the 1.75 percent levy which they said will affect electronic transactions and the poor masses. Meanwhile, the government has explained that the upsurge in the use of e-payment platforms, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been an impetus for the introduction of the levy. As a result, Ghana recorded a total of GHS500 billion from e-transactions in 2020 compared with GHS78 billion in 2016. However, the government says the e-Levy proceeds will be used to support development in the country such as entrepreneurship, youth employment, cyber security, and digital and road infrastructure and among other things. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
ASEPA boss detained by police
Executive Director of anti-graft civil society organisation, Alliance For Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson, has been detained at the Teshie District Police Command and charged with the publication of false news. Mr Thompson was promptly detained when he went to the police station upon their invitation. The police have said that his detention is pursuant to a complaint by the Ghana Armed Forces that Mr Thompson had allegedly published false news against it. He will be put before the Kaneshie District Court on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Background In January, Mr Thompson alleged that family of the President had travelled with the Presidential Jet, which is operated by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), to London for shopping in December 2021. “So between the 20th and 30th of December, 2021..during the Christmas, the children of a close relative of the President took Ghana’s Presidential Jet the Falcon EX jet on a trip to the UK just for Christmas shopping.They didn’t go alone, they went with their friends and partied in the sky all through the trip, taking snap videos and flaunting their lucky adventure. “Ghana has spent close to half a billion dollars in the last two years renting private jets for our President, whiles his family members continue to lavish in our rejected aircraft at the expense of the poor tax payer. “The Ministry of National Security, the Ghana Airforce and the Civil Aviation Authority would have to provide answers to the good people of Ghana why a national security asset like the Presidential jet was left at the mercy of spoilt youngsters who went partying around the world playing in Ghana’s Presidential jet, creating an international diplomatic spectacle embarrassing the country Ghana.” But just before the GAF released its statement denying the claim, he wrote again that “I have had an extensive conversations this morning with the PRO of the Ghana Armed Forces pursuant to the usage of the Presidential jet by the children of the relatives of the President. “In the same medium I made the earlier publication, I withdraw the publication pending an official response from the GCAA. I unreservedly apologise to the Ghana Armed Forces if their image was in anyway affected by my publication. We shall put out for your consumption the response to our request from the GCAA records of the Falcon 900-EX.” GAF issued a statement denying the allegations and reported the matter to the police, who invited Mr Thompson. “We wish to state without any equivocation that the said publication is untrue, frivolous and without any basis. We additionally wish to state that the said aircraft has not been to Europe for a very long time and this publication is therefore a figment of the authors imagination. These allegations can easily be verified since there is always a task order for the movement of all Ghana Air Force platforms. “We believe that this unfortunate publication which has been circulated widely is a calculated effort to undermine the image of the Ghana Armed Forces in the eyes of the general public. More disturbing is the fact that whilst the GAF is focussed on its mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of the country against serious external and internal threats, others are working very hard to distract us from our core mandate. “We are calling on all Ghanaians, especially politicians once again, not to drag the GAF into any partisan politics. The Ghana Air Force platforms will continue to be used for the interest of all Ghanaians including its traditional role of maintaining fighter ground attack capabilities and providing close air support during operations, as well as providing transport support to the Ghana Armed Forces. We will continue to provide surveillance over the air space of Ghana and over the Exclusive Economic Zone of the country. “In view of the seriousness we attach to such malicious publications, the issue has been referred to the Inspector General of Police for further investigations.” Mensah Thompson rendered an apology for publishing the falsehood about the Ghana Armed Forces. Mynewsgh.com Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
E-levy: NDC to intensify ‘Yentua’ demo today
The most awaited NDC Youth-led Yentua Demonstration which is planned to protest against the introduction of the controversial E-levy bill is taking effect today, 10 February 2022. Per the arrangement, demonstrators are expected to converge at the Obra Spot where the protest will begin through the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue through Farisco, Striking Force, the Kinbu Road, the Octagon, and the National Theatre through the AU Roundabout and finally end at the Parliament House. According to the Police, the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) will deploy personnel to assist with traffic management. The opposition NDC and its representatives in Parliament have vowed to kick against the 1.75 percent levy which they said will affect electronic transactions and the poor masses. Meanwhile, the government has explained that the upsurge in the use of e-payment platforms, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been an impetus for the introduction of the levy. As a result, Ghana recorded a total of GHS500 billion from e-transactions in 2020 compared with GHS78 billion in 2016. However, the government says the e-Levy proceeds will be used to support development in the country such as entrepreneurship, youth employment, cyber security, and digital and road infrastructure and among other things. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen