Hajj Village Project Under Fire: A-Plus Calls Out Government’s “Misplaced Priority”
Kwame ‘A-Plus’ Asare Obeng, Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, has sparked a heated debate by labeling the Hajj Village Project a “misplaced priority”. Apexnewsgh reports The socio-political commentator took to Facebook to challenge the government’s claim that the project is not funded by taxpayer money. A-Plus argued that the Ghana Airports Company Ltd (GACL), which is building the Hajj Village, is a state enterprise, and therefore, any funds it uses are still state funds. He questioned the government’s priorities, emphasizing that Ghana has more pressing needs that require attention. The Hajj Village Project has been a topic of discussion since President John Mahama promised to rebuild the facility if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won the 2024 elections. Mahama had emphasized the importance of making the Hajj pilgrimage more accessible and affordable for Ghanaian Muslims. However, A-Plus warned the new NDC administration not to repeat the mistakes of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, which lost the 2024 elections. He stressed the need for transparency and keen prioritization, highlighting that the government should focus on more critical projects that benefit all Ghanaians, rather than investing in a facility that caters to a specific group. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Agenda 111 Projects: Funding Assurance Raises Hope for Improved Healthcare
Ghana’s healthcare sector is holding its breath as the Presidential Adviser on Health, Dr. Nsiah-Asare, expressed confidence that the 2025 budget will include funding for the Agenda 111 projects. Apexnewsgh reports This flagship initiative, launched under the Akufo-Addo administration, aims to construct 111 hospitals across Ghana, significantly improving healthcare access. With many of these projects nearing completion, Dr. Nsiah-Asare emphasized that he would be shocked if no allocation is made to ensure their completion. “I would be shocked if there is no funding for Agenda 111 in the 2025 budget because most of the projects are at the completion stage,” he stated. However, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has disputed claims that some of the hospitals have been completed. During an inspection of the Atwima Kwanwoma Municipal Hospital, he revealed that construction was still ongoing at sites inaugurated by the previous administration. President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Health Minister to oversee the completion of the Agenda 111 projects and transition their management from the presidency to the Ministry of Health. The president also criticized the previous government’s decision to site hospitals at places where mission hospitals existed, suggesting that collaborating with faith-based organizations to improve existing health facilities would have been a better approach. As stakeholders eagerly await the 2025 budget, concerns over funding and completion timelines remain. The president has proposed an innovative solution, suggesting that faith-based organizations take up some of the uncompleted Agenda 111 projects, complete them, and manage them. With the fate of these critical healthcare facilities hanging in the balance, the upcoming budget will be a crucial turning point in Ghana’s quest for improved healthcare. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Trump tells Congress he ‘appreciates’ Zelensky’s message on Ukraine peace
Donald Trump says Ukraine is ready to begin peace negotiations “as soon as possible”, with strong signals Russia is also ready for a deal. During an address to Congress, the US president read aloud a letter he said he’d received from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, which was similar to a message posted on X earlier in the day. “I appreciate that he sent this letter,” Trump said. The tone offered a hint of a possible cooling of the acrimony between the two leaders, our North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher writes. Meanwhile, the UK defence secretary is flying to Washington for a meeting with his US counterpart on Thursday – Ukraine is expected to be top of the agenda. Source: BBC
No New Taxes: Government Assures Citizens Ahead of Budget Presentation
Deputy Finance Minister-designate, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has allayed fears of new taxes being introduced in the upcoming budget. Apexnewsgh reports The Minority had raised concerns that the government planned to impose new taxes to generate about 200 billion cedis this year. However, Nyarko Ampem has dismissed these claims, stating that the government’s focus will be on improving tax compliance and expanding the tax base. According to Nyarko Ampem, the government will not introduce new taxes to increase revenue. Instead, they will broaden the tax base and enhance compliance. He emphasized that the Finance Minister has consistently stated that new taxes are not necessary to generate more revenue. “We are going to broaden the tax base. We are actually going to enhance compliance. And you will hear a lot of this in the budget when it is presented. And you’ll see,” he assured. Nyarko Ampem also highlighted the need for Ghana to maximize its economic rent from industries, given the country’s limited access to international bond markets. He noted that Ghana is not taking full advantage of the economic rent that should be generated from industries. To address this, the government will focus on enhancing revenue and managing expenditure. The budget, set to be presented to Parliament on March 11, will prioritize strengthening domestic revenue mobilization without introducing new taxes. This move aims to alleviate the burden on citizens while ensuring the government’s revenue needs are met. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang Hails National Economic Dialogue as Insightful and Productive
Ghana’s Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has praised the National Economic Dialogue as a resounding success, describing it as insightful and productive. Apexnewsgh reports The two-day event, held at the Accra International Conference Center, brought together stakeholders to discuss Ghana’s economic future and chart a bold and transformative agenda. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang expressed her gratitude to all participants for their dedication and valuable contributions. She highlighted the significance of the discussions, emphasizing the insightful and forward-thinking ideas shared during the event. The Vice President stressed that Ghana’s economic recovery requires a strategic reset, focusing on stability and inclusive growth that benefits all citizens. She also called for economic diversification, urging Ghana to reduce its reliance on a few sectors and enhance its export competitiveness. This push for economic diversification and stability is timely, given Ghana’s recent economic challenges. The country has been working to stabilize its economy, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) noting that Ghana has made significant progress in restoring macroeconomic stability and promoting growth. As Ghana continues on its path to economic recovery, the National Economic Dialogue has provided a crucial platform for stakeholders to share ideas and shape the country’s economic future. With the Vice President’s call for a strategic reset and economic diversification, Ghana is poised to embark on a bold and transformative journey towards a more stable and inclusive economy. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Minister Intervenes as Bridge Power Shutdown Cuts 200MW from National Grid
Ghana’s power supply system took a hit on Tuesday, March 4, as Bridge Power Co. Limited shut down its operations due to non-payment of supply arrears. Apexnewsgh reports The company, owed $47 million for seven months of operations, was forced to curtail 200MW of power supply to the national grid. In response to the crisis, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, met with the operators of Bridge Power Co. Limited to address the issue. Jinapor assured the company of the government’s commitment to resolving the financial challenges facing the sector. To alleviate the situation, the Minister directed that Bridge Power be included in TIER 1 power-producing companies. This move aims to ensure significant payments to the company, helping to mitigate the financial challenges that led to the shutdown. The shutdown has exacerbated Ghana’s already fragile power supply system, highlighting the need for urgent action to resolve the financial woes of the sector. The government’s intervention is a welcome step, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to prevent future disruptions to the power supply. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Former Minister Exposes “Lies” About State-Owned Enterprises
A war of words has erupted between former Minister for Public Enterprises, Joseph Cudjoe, and Finance Minister, Ato Forson, over the financial health of Ghana’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). Apexnewsgh reports Speaking at the National Economic Dialogue, Dr. Forson claimed that most SOEs are struggling financially, with “almost all state-owned enterprises” in the red. However, Joseph Cudjoe has debunked Dr. Forson’s claims as “lies.” According to Cudjoe, out of 53 SOEs, 39 reported profits in 2023, while five improved their performance by reducing losses. He questioned why Dr. Forson would claim that most SOEs are in the red when, in fact, most of them were not even preparing accounts during the previous administration. Cudjoe explained that Ghana has 175 public enterprises on its assets register, comprising 53 State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), which are commercial entities expected to make a profit; 75 Other States Entities (OSEs), which are regulators like the Food and Drugs Authority and the Petroleum Commission; and 47 Joint Venture Companies (JVCs), which are co-shared commercial investments with private investors. He urged Dr. Forson to stop peddling lies and instead acknowledge that only a few SOEs are struggling. Cudjoe noted that there is an ongoing program to bring these troublesome SOEs, including TOR, COCOBOD, and ECG, to profitability. Below is the full statement: THE FINANCE MINISTER LIED THAT MOST SOEs ARE IN RED: Joseph Cudjoe Replies There are 53 SOEs. 39 reported profits in 2023, per their audited accounts. 5 improved in performance from 2022 to 2023 by reducing losses. Why would the Finance Minister have the guts to say MOST of the SOEs were in red? Meanwhile, during their time, most of these SOEs were not even preparing accounts at all. It is worth noting that Ghana has 175 public enterprises on its assets register. 53 are State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) which are commercial per their mandates), 75 Other States Entities (OSEs). These are regulators like Food and Drugs Authority, Petroleum Commission, National Petroleum Authority, GPHA, DVLA, GRA, etc. These 75 OSEs are distinct from the 53 SOEs which are expected to make profit. Finally, there are 47 Joint Venture Companies (JVCs), which are co-shared commercial investments by government with private investors. Examples include GOIl, GCB Bank, SIC Insurance, Newmont, Goldfields, etc, etc. This category is largely profitable States Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA), an initiative by Akufo Addo’s government, has been responsible for bringing all these 175 public investments into a sharp focus so that their performances can be constantly monitored. Today, we have data to use to manage these enterprises and their performances are even ranked in a Public Enterprises League Table (PELT). The Finance Minister should note that there is an ongoing program to bring the troublesome SOEs to profitability. These troublesome ones include TOR, COCOBOD, ECG, Ghana Water, PBC, etc. The current Finance minister should stop peddling lies that “most” are in red because it’s rather few that are in red. Most rather prepared accounts got them audited and they reported profits in 2023. There has been constant performance improvements in these public enterprises since 2017 as opposed to the period before 2017 when companies like BOST (notorious for contaminated fuels during NDC’s time) and Ghana Publishing Company Limited were not even preparing accounts at all. Hon Joseph Cudjoe Fmr Minister, Public Enterprises Source: Apexnewsgh.com