All posts by Afia Coke

News

Be wary of expired, poisonous products in Christmas season – FDA

Leave a comment

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Central Region has urged the public to be wary of buying and consuming poisonous products during the Christmas festive season in the name of promotions and cheap prices.

It warned that many products which were near expiry were often dumped onto the market at incredibly low prices for the unsuspecting public during the season.

Madam Francisca Obeng, the Principal Regulatory Officer, FDA, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, therefore, entreated the public to buy products only approved by the Authority.
She urged them to take responsibility for their health and personal safety by checking the expiry and manufacturing dates and avoiding bloated and dented products.

“It is also very important to pay attention to the storage conditions of the products; ensure that the food you are buying is not directly under the sun or on the floor or in any other unwholesome condition,” she said.

Madam Obeng said consumers of ready-to-eat foods should look out for the Food Hygiene Permits and Street Food Vending Permits of the sellers to ensure they were buying from safe sources.

“If you have to buy food from the street, be sure that the vendor is medically certified, keeps good hygiene principles and has a hand washing station with a neat environment,” she said.
Meanwhile, she said the FDA was still working relentlessly to ensure public health safety through market surveillance, public education, and routine inspections.

Touting some achievements of the Authority in the region this year, Madam Obeng said her office disposed of about eight tonnes of expired, unwholesome, and unregistered products at the Nkanfoa Landfill site in Cape Coast.

She said the Authority was able to meet its target by registering more products through the Progressive Licensing Scheme for small-scale and cottage-sized businesses.

“We also increased visibility in the market by ensuring an increase in market surveillance and more encounters with the public to educate them on food and drug safety,” she added.

Going forward, she assured that they would continue to encourage local cottage and small-scale industries to register their products with the FDA.
“The FDA will intensify the provision of industrial and technical support to industries while ensuring the continuous flow of information regarding our regulatory products,” Madam Obeng added.

News, Politics

Decline in Governance reducing public interest in local level elections – Juaboso NCCE Director

Leave a comment

The Juaboso District Director of the National Commission for Civil Education, Mr Stephen Tikoli has blamed the widespread apathy towards the upcoming District Level Elections on bad governance and lack of commitment towards full implementation of the dictates of the decentralization concept.

According to him, public interest in Assembly elections which has seen a sharp decline since its inception, reflects reality about neglect over the years, depriving Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies the full powers and resources needed to facilitate development in their localities
Juaboso District NCCE Director, who was speaking to TV XYZ/Power FM’s Western North regional correspondent, Anthony Acquah said the lip service to pledges in the past must stop before it’s too late.

He noted with concern that the Assembly and Unit committee members which are not adequately resourced do not get the needed funds to execute work in their various electoral areas.

This he said equally renders them ‘useless’, entities solely depended on the manipulations and releases by government through the Assemblies.

The districts of Ghana were re-organized in 1988/1989 in an attempt to decentralize the government and to assist in development

DISTRICT ASSEMBLY CONCEPT

Per the concept as dictated by the 1992 Constitution, Districts are governed by District Assemblies, which are established by the Minister of Local Government, and serve as the highest political authority in each district. They consist of:
• the District Chief Executive, appointed by the President of the Republic
• one person from each electoral area within the district elected by universal adult suffrage
• the member or members of Parliament from the constituencies that fall within the area of authority of the District Assembly
• other members that shall not exceed thirty per cent of the total membership of the District Assembly appointed by the President in consultation with the traditional authorities and other interest groups in the district

FUNCTIONS OF DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES

As the political and administrative authorities over the districts, the primary function of District Assemblies is to promote local economic development.
The Local Government Act of 2016[6] also tasks District Assemblies to:
• formulate and execute plans, programs and strategies for the effective mobilization of the resources necessary for the overall development of the district
• promote and support productive activity and social development in the district and remove any obstacles to initiative and development
• sponsor the education of students from the district to fill particular manpower needs of the district especially in the social sectors of education and health, making sure that the sponsorship is fairly and equitably balanced between male and female students
• initiate programs for the development of basic infrastructure and provide municipal works and services in the district
• be responsible for the development, improvement and management of human settlements and the environment in the district
• in co-operation with the appropriate national and local security agencies, be responsible for the maintenance of security and public safety in the district
• ensure ready access to courts in the district for the promotion of justice
• act to preserve and promote the cultural heritage within the district
• initiate, sponsor or carry out studies that may be necessary for the discharge of any of their duties

These among others have been virtually taken away from the Assemblies over the period.
Under the current dispensation, the District Assembly Common Fund has been capped further reducing inflows which often comes late.
Another major source of revenue for Assemblies, property rates has also ben targeted by Centrao government.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is partnering the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the collection of property rates using a Unified Common Property Rate Platform.
The Unified Common Property Rate Platform also known as Myassembly.gov.gh is a complete end-to-end district revenue collection and administration platform designed to enhance the collection and accounting of property rates. It is also linked to the Ghana.gov.gh payment platform.
Reporter: Anthony Acquah – Western North

News, Politics, Topstory

Next NDC government will scrap BETTING, E-Levy, COVID, other nuisance taxes – Mahama

Leave a comment

2024 Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama has promised to scrap nuisance taxes overburdening Ghanaians if he wins the next general election.
According to the former President, even the free water and electricity government promised households during the COVID pandemic, it has made a U-turn to levy Ghanaians.

For him, it’s simply a reflection of desperate measures adopted to stay afloat after recklessly spending resources with impunity.

“There are no jobs and the little people are earning from betting, you are taking it away from them. Water and electricity government claims we consumed for free, we are being levied to pay back. When we (NDC) come, we will abolish the E-levy, BET tax, COVID and all other nuisance taxes” he emphasized.

Mr. Mahama who is on a tour day tour of the Western Region was addressing a Town Hall meeting with Chiefs and people of Apowa in the Ahanta West Constituency.

This is not the first time the former President has made such pledges.

It will be re called that in the wake of the recent public outcry about the high cost of dialysis treatment, Mr Mahama added his voice to calls for the abolition of import taxes on medication and kits.
Mr Mahama said at an event to mark 2023 United Nations International Day for the Aged. ….. “The explanation I have read from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital cites the increase in taxes and duties of materials for dialysis treatment as the main reason for their decision to hike the price by a hundred percent. As an immediate measure, I call on the government to exempt medication and kits for dialysis treatment from taxes and duties to maintain this critical lifeline for patients whose survival depends on these treatments”.

News, Politics

$1.4bn Needed to Complete Agenda 111 Projects – Committee

Leave a comment

The Health Committee of Parliament has announced that an estimated amount of $1.4 billion will be necessary to complete all ongoing Agenda 111 projects.

According to the committee, as of November 2023, over $251 million has already been spent on the hospital projects, with 90 out of 102 projects currently at various stages of construction.

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, expressed his concerns about the government’s commitment to the Agenda 111 projects, labeling it as mere lip service.

He stated, “The committee observed that, as of November 2023, $251.4 million has been spent and that they require about $1.4 billion to complete all the projects.

The commitment of this government to Agenda 111 is just lip service.”
Akandoh went on to highlight the slow progress of the project, emphasizing that the $251 million released to date would not be enough to complete even 20 percent of the entire project.

He questioned the government’s decision to allocate approximately GH¢1billion in this year’s budget, suggesting that the project could have been rolled out in phases, allowing for more efficient allocation of funds.

Furthermore, Akandoh revealed concerning information regarding the condition of the ambulances procured by the government in 2020. Out of the 307 imported ambulances, 79 are currently non-operational and 12 have been involved in accidents.

He warned that if the trend continues, the fleet will be seriously depleted within the next four years.
The Agenda 111 project was initiated by the government with the aim of constructing 101 district and regional hospitals, as well as upgrading the appropriate hospitals to meet international standards.

It is envisioned that these projects will greatly enhance the healthcare infrastructure of the country and improve access to quality healthcare for all citizens.

The Health Committee’s revelation regarding the significant funding gap and the challenges facing the ambulance fleet highlights the importance of addressing these issues urgently.

Efforts should be made to secure the necessary funds and ensure the timely completion of the Agenda 111 projects to fulfill the government’s commitment to improving the healthcare system in Ghana.

 

Source: Daily Guide

News, Politics

Federation of Labour kicks against proposed 3pm closure of polls; describes EC’s move risky

Leave a comment

The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has kicked against the proposal made by the Electoral Commission</a> to close polls at 3pm instead of 5pm.

According to the Labour union, stakes in the 2024 general elections are very high with dire security consequences should the Electoral body, which is tainted with suspicion take any risk that could backfire.

In a press release issued over the weekend, GFL said the proposal has the potential of disenfranchising many new voters on the election day.


GFL also rejected claims by the Electoral Commission that records show 70% of its polling stations were empty by 1pm during the 2020 elections as a result of robust verification devices and this will prevent manipulations and rigging.

“GFL strongly kicks against this dangerous experiment in the upcoming election, many agree is crucial because stakes are high and tied to the peace and security of our beloved country. A presidential winner in Ghana must obtain not less than 50%+ of the total valid votes, means every vote counts,” the release read in parts.

It added that, “But when a system is created for potential confusion on an election day, whereby potential electorates mostly first time voters may have to struggle to find their polling stations, this plan to close at 3pm could potentially disenfranchise thousands.”

The Ghana Federation of Labour made some recommendations the EC can adopt to run a smooth 2024 elections.

Find recommendations below

1. An immediate round table consultations with critical stakeholders including Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), Governance think tanks, CSOs to scrutinize EC’s assessment with reference to realities in difficult to reach communities.
2. Subject EC’s recent data capturing measures to scrutiny especially the potential chaos over location of polling stations by those recently captured.
3. Outstanding registration exercise and clarion calls to expand Centers for easy identification of polling stations /voting centers.
4. The application of INDELIBLE INK to check multiple voting must continue until sole reliance on VERIFICATION DEVICES is proven to be effective and the process acceptable to stakeholders.
5. Abandon plan to use the upcoming District elections for another level of piloting because of the potential very low turnout which will NOT reflect realities expected during general elections as in the case of 2024 in which stakes are very high.
6. Critically consider vote patterns in difficult to reach areas where declaration of results always delay – (cases of late start or queues after 5pm and guarantees to address causes to ensure potential votes from such areas are not lost out.
7. Revert to Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) structures and Conventions with guarantees to build confidence to enhance buy-ins into reforms.

News

Free SHS: Parents spend more than gov’t; 15% of students failed to report – EduWatch

Leave a comment

The latest report by Education think tank, Africa Education Watch (EduWatch), reveals that parents are spending more on their wards in Senior High Schools contrary to the impression created that, the policy has brought great relief to parents.

The Eduwatch report also indicates that, despite the implementation of the free Senior High School ( free SHS) policy, lack of money to buy school items( prospectuses) and other costs have prevented some students from enrolling into various senior high schools.

According to findings on the financing of education titled “The Financial Burden of the Free SHS Policy and Implications for Equitable Access to Education”, 15 per cent of all students placed in Senior High Schools for 2022/2023, failed to honour their admissions due to financial difficulties.
Senior Programmes Officer of the Africa Education Watch, Divine Kpe, who presented the report before stakeholders, also revealed that parents and guardians of students under the free senior high school policy spend more on average than the government does per student.

The report indicated that while on average government spent GHS 1,147and GHS 1,107 on boarding and day students respectively for the 2021/2022 academic year, parents and guardians on the other hand spent on the average GHS 2,477 on prospectuses and GHS 4,000 on personal effects for boarding students.

It explained that parents of continuing day students reported spending an average of GH¢4,400 annually on their children’s education, including transportation, constituting 40 percent, breakfast of 50 percent, and 10 percent on books.
The report also revealed that parents of day students spent GHC5,507 inclusive of prospectus costs, which outweighed the government’s spending of GHS1,107.
To minimise the cost burden of the prospectus, the report recommended that, in the medium to long term, the Ministry of Education must develop and implement a strategy to focus on children from the poorest households using data from the LEAP programme.
The education think tank appealed to the Government, particularly the Ministry of Finance, to ensure prompt disbursement of funds to the Ghana Education Service and the schools to enable schools to meet the expenses of the schools in time.
The revelation revives the need for government to open up for further engagements with stakeholders to review the policy to address pressing implementation gaps, over six years on to formalize roles or input by parents to ease the burden on School administrators.
Government through the Ghana Education Service has been heavy handed in handling school heads for taking initiatives (charging fees) to facilitate day to day running of schools, describing such moves as illegal.
President Akufo-Addo launched at the official launch of the Free SHS policy in September 2017, assured that the programme will “lift the financial burden off our parents, and the heart-rending anxiety that accompanies the beginning of every school term.”
But EduWatch through its engagements and research work says that notwithstanding, financial difficulties of parents and guardians still remain a challenge to universal access to education.

News, Politics

Next NDC government will support housing scheme for teachers, other salaried workers – John Mahama

Leave a comment

Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his promise to build affordable houses for salaries workers.

The former President who was in a two-day tour of the Western North region said teacher and other pubic servants are assured of his commitment to bridge the housing deficit gap to eliminate the phenomenon of sleepless nights over how to house families after retirement.

Speaking at Debiso in the Bia-West constituency as part of his Building Ghana tour, John Mahama said ” by the time you will retire at age 60, government would have helped you build at least a two bed room apartment at a place of your choice”

He added, “the deduction will be done from your salary so it does not put undue financial burden on you”.

On his usual humorous way of explaining things, Mr. Mahama said “you won’t go back to your family house and be litigating with cousins and nieces over family facilities and or where to lay your head after years of serving the nation and time to have a peaceful mind to reflect’.

According to the latest data by the Ghana Statistical Service, about six (6) million out of the 33 million Ghanaians need housing.

The 2021 Population and Housing Census data on structures, housing conditions and facilities as presented by the GSS puts Ghana’s housing deficit to 1.8m.

 

 

 

By:Wisdom Hededzorme/myxyzonline.com/Ghana

News, Politics

John Mahama begins ‘Building Ghana tour’ in Western region tomorrow

Leave a comment

The Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama will begin a two day tour of the Western region on Saturday, 16th of December, 2023.

The former President, who just ended a similar visit to the Western North region is expected to begin from the Jomorro and Elllebele districts where he will engage party foot soldiers and various groups within the Nzema belt of the region, as well as courtesy calls on traditional leaders.

A communique issued by the Western regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Richard Kirk-Mensah, his entourage will kick start the tour in Jaway Wharf, where he will interact with market women, drivers, transport unions and other identifiable groups.

He is also expected to pay a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council at Atuabo and then meet artizans, dressmakers, hairdressers, traders etc in Atuabo.
Later in the morning on day one of his visit, he meet the student body of the Eziama Nursing school will Still in the Ellembelle constituency.

The former President, accompanied by some top party officials, NDC MPs in the region and former appointees, will end the 1st day of the tour in Evalue Ajomoro Gwira constituency, where he will pay a courtesy call on Paramount chief of Nsein tradition Council and the paramount chief of Lower Axim in Nsein and Axim respectfully.

The communique said, in the evening on Saturday, the former President will interact with fisherfolks in Axim.

On Sunday, 17th December, John Mahama is expected to join congregants at the Roman Catholic Church at Apowa in the morning and follow up with a community engagement in Apowa.

The team will proceed to Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, where there will be a town hall meeting where His Excellency John Dramani Mahama will use the platform to throw more light on the much talked about 24-hour Economy.

“There will be a student connect program at the Holy Child Training school where the next president will interact with the student body.” – the statement signed by Richard Kirk-Mensah noted.

According to his itinerary, the Mr Mahama will end his 2-day tour of the region in the Shama constituency, where he is expected to engage the fishing community in Anlo Beach.

 

By: Afia Owusu/myxyzonline.com//Ghana

News

GES to reinstate all 11 interdicted headteachers

Leave a comment

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has revised its decision and will reinstate all the interdicted heads of Senior High Schools.

This follows pleas at a closed-door meeting between the GES leadership, representatives from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and the Conference of Assisted Heads of Senior High Schools (CHASS) in Accra.

General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah, who was present at the meeting, expressed appreciation for the GES’s responsiveness to calls for the reinstatement of the affected heads.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Musah said.. “This development suggests a positive outcome from the discussions, signaling the imminent reinstatement of the interdicted Senior High School heads,”
The education authorities were compelled to sanction the school heads for charging what it described as unapproved fees.

Letters announcing their interdiction referred to charges and sale of school branded items including cloths, track suits, vests, Students Representative Council, SRC, House and PTA dues, books, calculators, admission process fees, and charges for printing slips, files, and hymn books to first-year SHS students.
The eleven interdicted headteachers are Mrs. Selina Anane Afoakwa, Headmistress of Kumasi Girls SHS; Mr. Nathaniel Asamoah, Headmaster of Asanteman SHS; Mr. Andrews Boateng, Headmaster of Kumasi Senior High Technical School; and Mr. Kwadwo Obeng-Appiah, Headmaster of Manso-Edubia SHS.

The others include Mr. Daniel Boamah Duku, Headmaster of Agric Nzema Community SHS; Ms. Gladys Sarfowah, Headmistress of Nkawie Senior High Technical School; and Mr. Ampong Ahmed Omar, Headmaster of Collins SHS.

News, Politics

EC to display scanned pink sheets showing results from all polling stations on dedicated portal in Election 2024

Leave a comment

The Electoral Commission (EC) intends to display results from the various polling stations on a dedicated online portable as part of efforts to enhance transparency in the 2024 General Election.
The Commission said it would display scanned signed pink sheets on the portal, which the public can access in real time.

Mrs Jane Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, disclosed this at a stakeholder meeting to take stock of events after the 2020 General Election as part of preparations towards the 2024 General Election.

The meeting, organised by the National Peace Council, was held at Peduase in the Eastern Region on Thursday.

Mrs Mensa said the decision to publish polling station results would promote inclusion and involve citizens throughout the election process.

“We intend to display the results from the polling station on a dedicated portal. This proposal aligns with the EU Observer Mission recommendation. For the first time in our history, we posted results from the 16 Regions and 275 Constituencies in real time.

“This time around, we plan to display the scanned signed pink sheets on a dedicated portal. We are confident that this arrangement will promote transparency and engender further trust and confidence in our electoral processes,” she said.

EC to close polls at 3pm

The EC also proposed to close polls at 15:00 hours to ensure that counting was done in broad daylight to enhance transparency.

The Commission said the experience from the 2020 Election indicated that by 13:00 hours, about 70 per cent of polling centres were empty of voters due to the creation of multiple polling centres that sped the process.

Mrs Mensa said the EC intended to create many polling centres and ensure that each polling centre had not more than 500 voters to limit voting time.
She said in the last election, voters spent not more than five minutes in casting their voting because of the creation of more voting centres.

“We are convinced that closing the polls at 3pm will enable counting and collating to take place in broad daylight and promote the needed transparency and orderliness we so desire.

“We trust that our Parliament will support this drive to ensure greater transparency and orderliness in our electoral process,” Mrs Mensa said.

The Commission also proposed an all-year-round exhibition exercise, which would enable citizens check their registration details on their smartphones and other mobile devices.

Mrs Mensa said she was hopeful that Parliament would pass the new Constitutional Instrument that recommended a continuous voters registration exercise and sought to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document to establish an applicant’s citizenship.

She said the proposal would help to phase out the guarantor system, which had been fraught with challenges and undermined the credibility of the voters register.

Reverend Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman, National Peace Council, said the Council would continuously dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure peaceful election in 2024.

He appealed to the National Democratic Congress to return to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to foster consensus building.

“If we all commit to peace Ghana will have one of the best elections in Africa,” he said.
Ms Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said the 2024 Election was peculiar in the wake of political instability in the West Africa Sub-region.

“We are more vulnerable than before. We must work with each other and assure each other so that we can arrive at the elections and beyond the elections in peace

 

 

 

Source: GNA

News, Politics, Topstory

NDC returns to IPAC meetings after National Peace Council’s intervention

Leave a comment

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejoined the Inter Party Advisory Commitee (IPAC) meetings with the Electoral Commission.

The decision follows an intervention by the National Peace Council, NPC at a meeting held at Peduase in the Eastern Region on Thursday, December 14.
The stock-taking conference, attended by other stakeholders, was to assess institutional progress towards building the required resilience for credible, transparent, and peaceful general elections in 2024.

Myxyzonline has learnt NDC’s return was based on condition that IPAC maintains its consensus status whereby decisions twill be influenced by the consideration of all parties in the interest of Ghana.
Prior to the official announcement by the NDC, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, made an appeal to the NDC to rejoin IPAC.

She admitted that the party’s contribution was invaluable to the democratic process of the country.
“I would like to use this opportunity to invite the leadership of the National Democratic Congress to our IPAC meetings. We do realise that since 2021, NDC has not been present at our IPAC meetings. We miss them, we miss their fire. I extend an olive branch and in the interest of peace of our country. We invite them to IPAC,” she said.

In response, the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia expressed his party’s commitment towards efforts at shaping the country’s democratic and electoral processes.
He however emphasized the need for the C must ensure that IPAC assumes its original “consensus building” status towards the implementation of electoral reforms.

“On behalf of the Party, we accept the appeal from the National Peace Council that we should consider returning to IPAC, but we want to return to IPAC and not any other forum”. – he explained
Mr Nketia added. “The other side is for us to work to make sure that IPAC returns to its consensus building days…the issues that blocked our return should be dealt with before our next IPAC meeting,”
He also expressed concern with the EC’s efforts towards making the Ghana Card the sole identification document for the Commission’s proposed continuous voter registration exercise.
The NDC argued that the move had the potential to disenfranchise about one million voters, a position the EC had debunked.

“We will support it if everyone had the Ghana Card,” Mr Nketia said.

Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Kathleen Addy, in a brief remark, said the 2024 Election was peculiar in the wake of political instability in the West Africa Sub-region.

“We are more vulnerable than before. We must work with each other and assure each other so that we can arrive at the elections and beyond the elections in peace and intact,” she said.

The NDC had boycotted IPAC meetings since March 2020 after the party expressed displeasure about the posture of the Electoral Commission (EC).
The Party had accused the Commission of failing to take into consideration decisions at IPAC meetings as part of its electoral reforms.

Myxyzonline

News, Showbiz

Play Ghana songs always – Akufo-Addo’s daughter to radio stations, DJs and nightclubs

Leave a comment

The Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Agency, Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, has called on various media organizations, Disk Jockey (DJs) and owners of nightclubs in the country to prioritise local songs during their shows.

According to the daughter of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Play Ghana initiative seeks to ensure that songs by Ghanaian artistes are played most of the time in the media and various nightclubs to help improve the visibility of locally produced songs.

She indicated that her outfit is putting measures in place to ensure that the local content law is amended to enable the enforcement of the Play Ghana Songs initiative.

“So the Play Ghana initiative is not an initiative just for Christmas. Coincidentally, it has come around the Christmas season, as obviously, this is the biggest season for our creators. We are pushing to play Ghana songs forever. It is not something that is just stagnant and is something that is just going to be a gimmick. We are here to play Ghanaian music forever,” she said during the minister’s press briefing held at the Ministry of Information.

She further added, “We are asking every single radio station, DJ, nightclub owner, and nightclub promoter to play Ghana music first. So this is not something that is just an initiative that will be pushed every Christmas. It is something that we are starting for Christmas and we are hoping to lead, to be able to change and amend the local content law.”

Ghanaian artistes have been fuming about the lack of support and promotion of their songs which impedes their success.