Ken Ofori-Atta withdraws from Consolidated Fund for the construction of the national cathedral–Ablakwa
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has accused the Minister of Finance of breaching laws of the country by withdrawing funds from the Consolidated Fund for the construction of the national cathedral. Mr. Ablakwa said, the Finance Minister engaged in the act without the required parliamentary approval. Speaking to the press in Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed the response to a right-to-information request he sent to the Public Procurement Authority indicates that the authority did not play any role in the selection of a contractor for the project. “The finance minister on the blind side of Parliament has instructed three withdrawals from the Consolidated Funds without parliamentary approval. The latest in this unending saga of the national cathedral is on the 4th of July. We activated an RTI request writing to the PPA to ask them to provide information. This is another layer in this scandal… The PPA in response to our quest is stating clearly that they have no record on the construction of the national cathedral,” Ablakwa said. Apexnewsgh.com
IMF: Cathedral, NABCO, FSHS, Ex-Gratia in shamble as IMF conditions demands….
The much awaited International Monetary Fund (IMF) has finally landed to dying Ghana economy with several conditions to enable them gain access to loan to regain the economy from a very critical state. However, as these conditions as anticipated by many Ghanaians, these conditions will go along way affecting average Ghanaians as most of them may see us loose several interventions that have us since the Akuffo Addo led new patriotic party came into power. The conditions include the immediate resolution of the free senior high school policy which was started in 2017 by the new patriotic party after winning the 2016 general election. The IMF believes Ghana’s economy is not at a state to render free senior high school education with several sectors on their needs. Also, the resolution of the nation builders corps since a chunk of money is used to pay several semi employed youth in the economy whose take home salary isn’t anything to talk about. It suggests that the government redirect these amounts in to the construction of more factories and job creation interventions to reduce the unemployment rate. Meanwhile, the IMF sees no reason why a country running to it would prioritize the construction of a cathedral among other pressing needs such as constant floods in the capital and increasing prices of foodstuffs in various markets across the 16 regions of Ghana. The IMF will also want the President to cut down on the size of the government especially the number of ministers. Ghana currently has over 82 ministers and this number takes on ton of money of the national coffers. The International Monetary Fund will also want to see the government abolish the ex gratia system which leases out huge amounts of tax payers money to past presidents and ministers of states who were duely paid during their tenure and had proper retirement packages made for them. These are but a few directives the financial organization will require from Ghana should it happen to grant us a loan to salvage our economy from its knees and getting back on its feet. Many Ghanaians are also against the decision by the government to run to the IMF to ask for another loans despite taking several loans within its 6years in power . Ghana’s current debt sits at about $54 billion which constitutes over 7000% of the country’s GDP. Apexnewsgh.com
Include Seth Terkper in your dialogue with IMF–NPP Nana Akomea advises Govt
Nana Akomea, the Managing Director of Inter-City STC, has offered his little advised for government to set up an all-inclusive team as it engages the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In his view, a “broad front” will ensure a deal that will be more beneficial to the country. When pushed to suggest names on Accra-based Peace FM, Mr Akomea mentioned, the former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper should be included. According to him, Mr Terkper has worked with the IMF and can bring ‘something to the table.’ Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Breaking News: Boris resigns as UK Prime Minister
Boris Johnson has resigned as Conservative party leader on Thursday, paving the way for a successor to replace him as British prime minister, after dozens of his ministers quit his scandal-hit government. Source: Apexnewsgh.con
Breaking News: Dome Kwabenya to be declared vacant
From the information gathered by Apexnewsgh.com, has it that the Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo seat will be declared vacant. This came as a result of the MP and Gender Minister inability to appear before the Privileges Committee to explain her long absence from Parliament for period of months since last year. Even after a Zoom link was provided to her to be part of the proceedings, the MP failed to appear. However, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin tasked the Privileges Committee of Parliament to engage MPs Adwoa Safo, Kennedy Agyapong and Henry Quartey after the absenteeism was brought him. Meanwhile, Kennedy Agyapong and Henry Quartey appeared and from all indications, acquitted themselves with well supporting documentations to prove their case while Adwoa Safo failed to appear. Her removal is expected to generate controversy on the floor of Parliament but the majority is likely to prevail. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Churn-out credible and development oriented information –Stephen Yakubu to GJA Executives
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Stephen Yakubu has called on journalists in the Region to churn-out credible and development-oriented information to help propel development in the Region. He said the citizenry depended on the media for credible information on happenings in the country to enable them make informed decisions. “For this country to move forward and develop, journalists are the ones to let everyone know what information is good or bad and how to put it out there,” he noted. Mr. Yakubu made the call when the newly elected executives of the Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), led by its Chair, Mr. William Jalula called on him to introduce themselves. The Minister called for collaboration and support from the GJA to work as development partners, saying “We need to work together as a region to find solutions to the problems that face us.” He said the problems in the region were self-induced, including the politicisation of every development issue, tribal conflicts, and cited the Bawku, Doba and Kandiga intermittent conflicts that drained the coffers of the respective Assemblies and retarded development. Mr. Yakubu said the Region had enough resources that could be tapped to solve the development needs of the people, and therefore urged the media to rally behind the government to achieve the development agenda of the country. Mr Jalula on his part, urged journalists to be circumspect in their reportage, and avoid taking sides in the course of their work. He appealed to the Regional Minister to pay attention to some road networks, the street and traffic lighting systems which he noted were faulty and did not befit the status of the Regional capital, Bolgatanga. The GJA Chairman proposed that drivers and motorists who knocked down the street and traffic lights should be arrested and made to pay for the damage caused. He appealed to the Minister to practice an open door administration, and encourage the various Municipal and District Chief Executives across the Region to practice same, so that journalists could cross-check their stories before they published. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Upper East Regional Minister begs teachers unions to temper justice with mercy
The Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu has appealed to striking Teacher- Unions to temper justice with mercy and return to the classroom while government resolves their concerns. He noted that government appreciated their concerns and would endeavour to resolve the problem, adding that the timing for the strike action was not right, considering the Russian- Ukraine conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic that has negatively affected the global economy. The Minister made the appeal when he visited the Bolgatanga Girls’ Senior High School (BOGISS) and Bolgatanga Senior High School (BIG BOSS) to ascertain the impact of the strike on the students. Hon. Yakubu assured the teachers that the relevant authorities scheduled to meet the union leaders would work to resolve the impasse, and therefore urged the unions, especially the kitchen staff to consider the plight of the students and cook for them. He used the opportunity to call on parents to support their children in second cycle schools while school authorities fashion out other alternative ways to cook for them. He commended the Head teachers who in the midst of the challenges, ensured the students were fed to enable them concentrate on their own private studies while they waited for their teachers to resume from the strike. Source: Apexnewsgh.com