Breaking News: Chiana SHS students in viral video insulting President Akufo-Addo finally dismissed
Apexnewsgh.com can confidently report that the students captured in a viral video insulting President Akufo-Addo identified as Form 2 students of Chiana Senior High School ( SHS) in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region have been dismissed from the school with immediate effect. This is according to a letter dated November 29, 2022, signed by the Director General of Ghana Education Service Dr. Eric Nkansah. Meanwhile, immediately after the unfortunate act by the students, the Headmistress of Chiana SHS initiated disciplinary action against the students even as investigations into the matter continue. The widely circulated video attracted a lot of condemnation from the public. Even though, others also blamed the policies of the Government FSHS, which was introduced by President Akufo-Addo, which they claimed have limited the authority of teachers with regards to ensuring discipline such as using corporal punishment. Even before the investigation continued, Ghana Education Service (GES) apologized to President Akufo-Addo and the public on behalf of the students and the school. Read the full letter signed by Director General: Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has given approval for the dismissal of Miss. HamiduHuzaimah Daabu with immediate effect to serve as a deterrence to other students. This is in view of her involvement in misconducting herself by making derogatory comments in a video that went viral, a conduct considered very undesirable and contrary to the acceptable standards of conduct generally required of any student in our Educational system in Ghana. Your ward is therefore requested to properly hand over any school property in her possession to the headmistress of the school before leaving. It is expected that your word will use this as a major turning point in her life to bring the desired change in her behavior and attitude towards life.We wish her all the best in her future endeavor.Thank YouDr. Eric NkansahAG. Director General Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Naysayers can’t stop me; ‘I’ll build National Cathedral come what may’ – Akufo-Addo
President Nana Akufo-Addo has said the avalanche of criticisms hurled at him in connection with the National Cathedral project will not deter him from continuing with the construction of the edifice in the remaining two years of his last tenure. Expressing gratitude to the clergy for their support for the project, Mr Akufo-Addo said at a New Year church service at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, 10 January 2023: “It’s always [good] that we hear encouragement because a lot of the time, you hear harsh criticisms and I think to hear encouragement from very responsible members of the community is also something very heartwarming and encouraging”, adding: “It only reinforces our determination to see how we can do it. He said despite the fact that “times are difficult”, it is such situations that call for resolution, strength, and commitment. “And that is what, hopefully, I am showing and my government is showing with the determination that, come what may, we’ll work our way out of the difficulties we have in this country,” he said. He said the hard times are “not permanent, noting: “Ghana is a land with many possibilities, and even though we are caught up in a global conjuncture like many other countries, we can still find our way forward. And that’s my determination”. Mr Akufo-Addo said: “I am determined, come what may, I have two more years, that whatever the case, the National Cathedral will be at a very advanced stage before I leave office. I think it is important that we do it.” “All the reasons that I’ve given and continue to give that there will be critics and naysayers; I think we have to take it as they are all part of life. But it should not be a sign of discouragement to us to be able to go forward,” he added. A few weeks ago, President Akufo-Addo said his decision to build the cathedral to the glory of God has more supporters than the ‘Sanballats and Tobiahs’ against it. “Just like Sanballat and Tobiahs in the days of Nehemiah, there are some who do not share my views on the building of the National Cathedral”, the president said, adding: “I respect their right to differ but I am confident my decision [is backed] by the vast numbers of enthusiastic supporters of this project, whose spiritual dimension is limitless”. The president made the comment on Sunday, 18 December 2022, when he delivered an address at the centenary celebration of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, held at the Black Star Square, Accra. The president noted that upon completion, the National Cathedral will serve not only as the country’s collective thanksgiving “to the Almighty for the blessings He has bestowed on our nation, sparing us the ravages of civil war that have bedevilled the histories of virtually all our neighbours, and the outbreak of deadly mass epidemics but also as a rallying point for the entire Christian community of Ghana, which represents seventy-plus per cent of the population.” Addressing the congregation, which included the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, the asked the Ga Presbytery, and, indeed, all Christians, to continue to pray for Ghana’s peace and unity, so the nation can move forward in unity. “I need the support of every Ghanaian, together with the prayers of the church, to help me and my government carry out our mandate successfully. Pray for me so that Almighty God will continue to give me wisdom, strength, courage and compassion to enable me to execute my duties as a good leader. With Him, all things are possible, as the battle is the Lord’s. For this, too, shall pass”, President Akufo-Addo said. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, recently said the National Cathedral is not a sensible project to undertake in the midst of an economic crisis.In his view, the government could use the site for the project, for a more sensible venture. Speaking at a roundtable organised by the Citizen’s Coalition in Accra on Thursday, 15 December 2022, Professor Prempeh said making allocations for the cathedral in the 2023 budget beats his imagination. “When you are in a crisis, you can do exceptional things, I don’t see anything in the budget to suggest that this is a crisis and that this is being done as an emergency measure,” Professor Prempeh said. “This is not the time for vanity projects but we have preserved a vanity project in the form of the cathedral. I was expecting that this being a crisis period, we will reflect on that decision and say: ‘even if this is sensible to do at all’ – and I do not think so – that it will not be the appropriate period or we will change the idea to something else”. “There is a lot that we can still do with that site which can make sense”. “So, generally it is a missed opportunity in terms of seeing this as a crisis moment and seeing it as a moment to reset the button”, Prof Prempeh noted. “I think we have not quite done that”, he stressed. “It looks to me that it is purely an emergency thing targeted at the IMF to approve a loan, as opposed to something that is going deep into the structure and our governance,” Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh admonished in his assessment. Prof Prempeh is in good company with pressure group OccupyGhana which recently recommended that the government suspend all public expenditure on the National Cathedral considering that the country is going through an economic crisis. “Whatever arguments there might have been to support spending now-non-existent money on the proposed National Cathedral, have been eroded by the dire straits that the nation faces”, the group said in a statement. “Our current situation makes the continued commitment in the budget to spend GHS80m on the cathedral, look like a vanity project”,
Politics in Ghana, too divisive Alan Kyerematen
Former Trades Minister Alan Kyerematen, has stated that politics in Ghana is too divisive. He believes that keeps out some of the country’s best talents in offering themselves for political appointments. “Yes, we pride ourselves as being the bastion of democracy in Africa, but that does not mean that we should allow partisan politics to destroy our collective interests”. The former Trade Minister also noted that “…the arrogance of power has been a major obstruction to progress in our country. People in positions of authority must understand that leadership is an opportunity to serve the people, and not to lord it over them. In servant leadership, humility is an asset and not a weakness, He made this known on Tuesday, 10 January 2023 during his national broadcast. Read Mr Kyerematen’s full address below: Fellow countrymen and women. Friends of Ghana. Let me start first by wishing you all a happy, healthy, productive and prosperous New Year. Secondly, I wish to express formally, my profound gratitude to His Excellency the President for the opportunity given me to serve the good people of Ghana in his Administration over the last six years, and for graciously accepting my resignation as Cabinet Minister responsible for Trade and Industry, with effect from 16th of January 2023. Thirdly, I wish to use this platform to formally announce my decision to contest the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party when the party officially opens nominations for that purpose. His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been a good friend of mine and will always remain so based on our shared commitment to the ideals and principles that inspired the founding fathers of our great Party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP). We have competed in the past but have always worked together thereafter. The president has laid a strong foundation for the socioeconomic development of our country, although I believe there are things that could have been done differently. My vision is to build a superstructure on this foundation that will bring prosperity to our nation. The pre-COVID-19 performance of our economy, the flagship programmes including the Free SHS, the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, the Agenda 111 project and the COVID-19 Response initiatives, are all testimonies of the strong leadership that the president has provided over the last six years. In spite of all of the above, however, it is an undeniable fact that the combined effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, has stampeded our country into a crisis of unprecedented proportions, with its negative impacts on the economy, businesses, and on our social lives. I have no doubt that the anticipated International Monetary Fund (IMF) Support Package will restore confidence in our economy, and bring it back to the pre-COVID levels. Fellow Countrymen and Women This is the seventeenth time that we have gone to the IMF over the last 57 years. We promised never to go back but we have gone back. One of the lessons that we have learnt from the recent developments is that Ghana’s economy is still fragile, vulnerable and susceptible to both external and domestic shocks. This primarily is as a result of the fact that our economy is highly dependent on the export of commodities with little or no value addition. Indeed, the 5.1% projected GDP growth for the Ghanaian economy for 2023 is based on the anticipated increase in commodity prices. To avoid going back to the IMF, we need a new plan. A plan that will lead us to a more self-reliant and resilient economy. That plan must move Ghana from stability and growth to transformation. Fellow Countrymen and Women If, by the will of God and through your goodwill, I am voted first, as the flagbearer of the NPP and subsequently as president of the Republic in the next general elections, I will become the transformational leader of our time, who will build on the foundations laid by successive leaders of our nation over the last sixty-five (65) years. To achieve this strategic goal of transforming our dear country to become the shining star of the new Africa, I will, as president, launch and lead the execution of the Great Transformational Plan (GTP) of Ghana which will span the period 2025 to 2030. The Post-COVID Economic Recovery Programme (P-CERP) currently being implemented with the anticipated support from the IMF from 2023 to 2025, will be a transitional economic programme leading to the roll out of this Great Transformational Plan. Fellow Countrymen and Women Before I proceed to provide a brief insight into the key elements of the Great Transformational Plan, seven critical considerations would need to be taken into account to guarantee the success of the Plan. The primacy of the private sector in our national development agenda. The private sector, both domestic and foreign, formal and informal has to be at the centre of our transformational agenda. The government’s focus must be to facilitate the process of making our private sector competitive, by creating an enabling environment for businesses. Attitude to work and enforcement of discipline. We, as a people, should appreciate the need for discipline in all spheres of our national lives and change our attitude to work. Whether you are working for the private sector or for government, as a worker, you are not doing a favour to your employer. It is your duty to ensure that you earn your living from the efforts of your labour. Corruption and petty theft or thievery, particularly from the public purse, deny our country the benefit of utilising its tax revenue and other resources for the development of our country. The arrogance of power has been a major obstruction to progress in our country. People in positions of authority must understand that leadership is an opportunity to serve the people, and not to lord it over them. In servant leadership, humility is an asset and not a weakness. Passion for excellence. As a
Corruption and petty theft or thievery, particularly from the public purse deny country development– Alan Kyerematen
According to the former Trades Minister Alan Kyerematen, “Corruption and petty theft or thievery, particularly from the public purse, deny our country the benefit of utilizing its tax revenue and other resources for the development of our country”. The former Trade Minister also noted that “…the arrogance of power has been a major obstruction to progress in our country. People in positions of authority must understand that leadership is an opportunity to serve the people, and not to lord it over them. In servant leadership, humility is an asset and not a weakness, He made this known on Tuesday, 10 January 2023 during his national broadcast. Read Mr. Kyerematen’s full address below: Fellow countrymen and women. Friends of Ghana. Let me start first by wishing you all a happy, healthy, productive and prosperous New Year. Secondly, I wish to express formally, my profound gratitude to His Excellency the President for the opportunity given me to serve the good people of Ghana in his Administration over the last six years, and for graciously accepting my resignation as Cabinet Minister responsible for Trade and Industry, with effect from 16th of January 2023. Thirdly, I wish to use this platform to formally announce my decision to contest the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party when the party officially opens nominations for that purpose. His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been a good friend of mine and will always remain so based on our shared commitment to the ideals and principles that inspired the founding fathers of our great Party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP). We have competed in the past but have always worked together thereafter. The president has laid a strong foundation for the socioeconomic development of our country, although I believe there are things that could have been done differently. My vision is to build a superstructure on this foundation that will bring prosperity to our nation. The pre-COVID-19 performance of our economy, the flagship programmes including the Free SHS, the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, the Agenda 111 project and the COVID-19 Response initiatives, are all testimonies of the strong leadership that the president has provided over the last six years. In spite of all of the above, however, it is an undeniable fact that the combined effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, has stampeded our country into a crisis of unprecedented proportions, with its negative impacts on the economy, businesses, and on our social lives. I have no doubt that the anticipated International Monetary Fund (IMF) Support Package will restore confidence in our economy, and bring it back to the pre-COVID levels. Fellow Countrymen and Women This is the seventeenth time that we have gone to the IMF over the last 57 years. We promised never to go back but we have gone back. One of the lessons that we have learnt from the recent developments is that Ghana’s economy is still fragile, vulnerable and susceptible to both external and domestic shocks. This primarily is as a result of the fact that our economy is highly dependent on the export of commodities with little or no value addition. Indeed, the 5.1% projected GDP growth for the Ghanaian economy for 2023 is based on the anticipated increase in commodity prices. To avoid going back to the IMF, we need a new plan. A plan that will lead us to a more self-reliant and resilient economy. That plan must move Ghana from stability and growth to transformation. Fellow Countrymen and Women If, by the will of God and through your goodwill, I am voted first, as the flagbearer of the NPP and subsequently as president of the Republic in the next general elections, I will become the transformational leader of our time, who will build on the foundations laid by successive leaders of our nation over the last sixty-five (65) years. To achieve this strategic goal of transforming our dear country to become the shining star of the new Africa, I will, as president, launch and lead the execution of the Great Transformational Plan (GTP) of Ghana which will span the period 2025 to 2030. The Post-COVID Economic Recovery Programme (P-CERP) currently being implemented with the anticipated support from the IMF from 2023 to 2025, will be a transitional economic programme leading to the roll out of this Great Transformational Plan. Fellow Countrymen and Women Before I proceed to provide a brief insight into the key elements of the Great Transformational Plan, seven critical considerations would need to be taken into account to guarantee the success of the Plan. The primacy of the private sector in our national development agenda. The private sector, both domestic and foreign, formal and informal has to be at the centre of our transformational agenda. The government’s focus must be to facilitate the process of making our private sector competitive, by creating an enabling environment for businesses. Attitude to work and enforcement of discipline. We, as a people, should appreciate the need for discipline in all spheres of our national lives and change our attitude to work. Whether you are working for the private sector or for government, as a worker, you are not doing a favour to your employer. It is your duty to ensure that you earn your living from the efforts of your labour. Corruption and petty theft or thievery, particularly from the public purse, deny our country the benefit of utilising its tax revenue and other resources for the development of our country. The arrogance of power has been a major obstruction to progress in our country. People in positions of authority must understand that leadership is an opportunity to serve the people, and not to lord it over them. In servant leadership, humility is an asset and not a weakness. Passion for excellence. As a country we must celebrate competence and excellence and not mediocrity. As a people, we must focus more on getting things done
Invest in your own future by supporting his campaign–Alan told Ghanaians
Former Trades Minister Alan Kyerematen has told Ghanaians, to invest in their own future by supporting his campaign to become the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party and then President of Ghana. The former Trade Minister has also announced that he be launching a mass ‘Ketewa biara nsua’ Campaign and ‘Adopt a Constituency Initiative’, which will afford Ghanaians from all walks of life the opportunity to be part of my campaign, He made this known on Tuesday, 10 January 2023 during his national broadcast. Read Mr Kyerematen’s full address below: Fellow countrymen and women. Friends of Ghana. Let me start first by wishing you all a happy, healthy, productive and prosperous New Year. Secondly, I wish to express formally, my profound gratitude to His Excellency the President for the opportunity given me to serve the good people of Ghana in his Administration over the last six years, and for graciously accepting my resignation as Cabinet Minister responsible for Trade and Industry, with effect from 16th of January 2023. Thirdly, I wish to use this platform to formally announce my decision to contest the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party when the party officially opens nominations for that purpose. His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been a good friend of mine and will always remain so based on our shared commitment to the ideals and principles that inspired the founding fathers of our great Party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP). We have competed in the past but have always worked together thereafter. The president has laid a strong foundation for the socioeconomic development of our country, although I believe there are things that could have been done differently. My vision is to build a superstructure on this foundation that will bring prosperity to our nation. The pre-COVID-19 performance of our economy, the flagship programmes including the Free SHS, the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, the Agenda 111 project and the COVID-19 Response initiatives, are all testimonies of the strong leadership that the president has provided over the last six years. In spite of all of the above, however, it is an undeniable fact that the combined effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, has stampeded our country into a crisis of unprecedented proportions, with its negative impacts on the economy, businesses, and on our social lives. I have no doubt that the anticipated International Monetary Fund (IMF) Support Package will restore confidence in our economy, and bring it back to the pre-COVID levels. Fellow Countrymen and Women This is the seventeenth time that we have gone to the IMF over the last 57 years. We promised never to go back but we have gone back. One of the lessons that we have learnt from the recent developments is that Ghana’s economy is still fragile, vulnerable and susceptible to both external and domestic shocks. This primarily is as a result of the fact that our economy is highly dependent on the export of commodities with little or no value addition. Indeed, the 5.1% projected GDP growth for the Ghanaian economy for 2023 is based on the anticipated increase in commodity prices. To avoid going back to the IMF, we need a new plan. A plan that will lead us to a more self-reliant and resilient economy. That plan must move Ghana from stability and growth to transformation. Fellow Countrymen and Women If, by the will of God and through your goodwill, I am voted first, as the flagbearer of the NPP and subsequently as president of the Republic in the next general elections, I will become the transformational leader of our time, who will build on the foundations laid by successive leaders of our nation over the last sixty-five (65) years. To achieve this strategic goal of transforming our dear country to become the shining star of the new Africa, I will, as president, launch and lead the execution of the Great Transformational Plan (GTP) of Ghana which will span the period 2025 to 2030. The Post-COVID Economic Recovery Programme (P-CERP) currently being implemented with the anticipated support from the IMF from 2023 to 2025, will be a transitional economic programme leading to the roll out of this Great Transformational Plan. Fellow Countrymen and Women Before I proceed to provide a brief insight into the key elements of the Great Transformational Plan, seven critical considerations would need to be taken into account to guarantee the success of the Plan. The primacy of the private sector in our national development agenda. The private sector, both domestic and foreign, formal and informal has to be at the centre of our transformational agenda. The government’s focus must be to facilitate the process of making our private sector competitive, by creating an enabling environment for businesses. Attitude to work and enforcement of discipline. We, as a people, should appreciate the need for discipline in all spheres of our national lives and change our attitude to work. Whether you are working for the private sector or for government, as a worker, you are not doing a favour to your employer. It is your duty to ensure that you earn your living from the efforts of your labour. Corruption and petty theft or thievery, particularly from the public purse, deny our country the benefit of utilising its tax revenue and other resources for the development of our country. The arrogance of power has been a major obstruction to progress in our country. People in positions of authority must understand that leadership is an opportunity to serve the people, and not to lord it over them. In servant leadership, humility is an asset and not a weakness. Passion for excellence. As a country we must celebrate competence and excellence and not mediocrity. As a people, we must focus more on getting things done than talking. Ghana is gradually becoming a NATO country – “No Action Talk Only”. We need to remember that the use
MTN Ghana recognized for employing best project management standards and practices
MTN Ghana has been recognized for its consistency in employing best project management standards and practices at the 4th Project Management Awards Ghana held in Accra a few days to the festive season. MTN Ghana received six awards, the highest number at the event. This showing by MTN Ghana is a continuation from previous successes chalked consistently by MTN at the Project Management Awards Ghana. The awards won by MTN are:• Economic Impact Award• Project Management Company of the Year• Project of the Year – Western Corridor Project• Project Team of the Year – Fibre Project Team• Distinguished Contribution to Project Management – Dario Bianchi• Project Director of the Year – William Tetteh William Tetteh, Chief Capital Projects Officer of MTN Ghana won the Project Director of the Year award for the second consecutive time. William was recognized for demonstrating great leadership and support to achieving project goals and overall contribution to strategic objectives. The Chief Digital Officer of MTN Ghana, Dario Bianchi won the distinguished Contribution to Project Management award for his promotion of excellence in project management practices in the digital space and for constantly educating staff to conform to the project management practices on their digital journey. In his remarks, William thanked the organizers for the recognition. He dedicated the awards to his team, all MTN staff for supporting the project teams, suppliers and stakeholders for their immersed contribution to supporting MTN in executing and delivering projects on time and within schedule. The Chief Executive Officer, Selorm Adadevoh congratulated Dario and William for the personality awards. He said, “it is exciting to see MTN rewarded for doing the right thing. This recognition will enable us to take a step further to ensure all standards and procedures are adhered to the letter. MTN Ghana executed various projects which were recognized at the event. The Project Management Standards and Procedures employed by MTN, the Governance Structure and training of MTN Staff won the business Project Management Company of the Year. MTN’s commitment to training 100 young women and men in Nsawam and Suhum districts in the Eastern Region with skills in mobile phone repairs to provide employment to the youth won the Economic Impact Award. The 2022 Western Corridor Fiber Capacity Expansion Project rolled out using existing Third-Party Fiber infrastructure to resolve transmission capacity constraints within the Western and Western North Regions won both the Project of the Year and Project Team of the Year awards. The Project Management awards recognizes individuals or organisations who pursue best practices in economic development through projects and attained the highest standards of professional conduct and competence within the project management space. MTN GHANA—