The National Association of Institutional Suppliers has said the Ministry of Education’s promise to settle all outstanding payments to suppliers, particularly for 2021-2022, remains unfulfilled.
According to the group, many of its members have not received any payments.
In a statement, the suppliers noted: “The Ministry’s assertion that a total of GHS26 million has been disbursed to pay arrears owed to suppliers of uniforms, PE kits, and stationery is misleading”.
“ It must be noted that for the past seven years when the award of contracts for the supply of PE kits and stationery was moved from the school level to the ministry level, suppliers of the PE kits and stationery have remained anonymous and are not members of our association. Shockingly, not a single member of our association has been awarded a contract for the supply of PE kits and stationery for the past seven years. It, therefore, appears that a substantial portion of the GHS26 million has gone to their own cronies; the suppliers of PE kits and stationery”, it added.
The suppliers emphasised that the process of settling arrears appears to be characterised by “selective payments rather than a systematic and transparent approach”.
It indicated that this selective payment practice seems deliberate and complicates the tracking of payments made to members, while stressing that another worrying situation is “that according to the ministry’s records, some suppliers have been marked as paid when they have not actually received payment. Upon inquiry, it has been discovered that their invoices are missing”.
The suppliers further noted that this exacerbates the issue, leading to inaccurate claims of payment by the Ministry.
The suppliers, therefore, called on the ministry to urgently fulfil its “commitment to pay all outstanding arrears without further delay,” while urging the ministry to “implement a transparent and systematic payment process to enhance tracking of payments made to members”.
Cerified economist and member of the NDC national youth working committee, Bernard Oduro Takyi also known as B.O.T on Saturday donated a cash of GHS 10,000 to support the party in the Mfantseman Constituency in the Central Region.
The Mfantseman seat which the NDC has tipped to recapture during the 2024 elections is one of the thirteen (13) constituencies the B.O.T has adopted to support across the country ahead of the 2024 general elections.
After joining the party’s campaign activities over the weekend, Oduro Takyi and his wife joined the party executived at their constituency office for a short meeting on campaign strategy and revitalisation of the umbrella family in the area.
He then donated the cash to the party which was received by the parliamentary candidate, Dr Ebenezer Prince Arhin. The executives who were at the short event expressed their appreciation to the economist and urged him to do more for the party.
They assured him of working hard to snatch the seat from Ophelia Hayford who they referred to as incompetent.
The May 4, 2024 gesture is Oduro Takyi’s contribution to shaping the party’s electoral strategy for the upcoming elections which he believes will go a long way to secure victory for the NDC.
B O T recently announced the adoption of 13 key constituencies across the country, with a comprehensive support package aimed at enhancing the party’s campaign efforts.
This constituencies include ,Sunyani West (Bono) ,Sunyani East (Bono) ,Berekum West (Bono) ,Mpohor (Western) ,Dome Kwabenya (Accra) ,Asunafo North (Ahafo) ,Sefwi Akontombra (Western North) ,Mfantseman (Central) ,Dormaa East (Bono) ,Techiman South (Bono East) ,Essikado Ketan (Western) Zabzugu (Northern)and Tatali (Northern).
B O T’s support package includes a significant cash injection of GHS10,000 to each adopted constituency, to be disbursed promptly upon the launch of their 2024 parliamentary campaigns. This financial assistance is poised to bolster grassroots mobilization and facilitate effective campaign operations within these constituencies.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that it has achieved a significant landmark regarding its procurement process and the resulting cost savings in election spending.
According to the commission, it has been able to reduce the cost per head in the election from $13 in 2016 to $7 in 2020, thereby saving the country a substantial amount of $19 million.
In a press statement on May 6, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, highlighted the commission’s efforts in enhancing efficiency and transparency over the past few years.
Since 2020, the EC said, it has implemented an open competitive bidding process for its procurements, with approximately 95% of procurements advertised in local newspapers.
This approach, according to Jean Mensa, has not only ensured value for money in services and materials but has also introduced significant competition, leading to a drastic reduction in procurement costs.
“… As such with approximately 95% of our procurement advertised in the local newspapers we can obtain value for money for our services and materials. It has equally ejected competition to our procurement drastically reducing the prices at which we procure our material.
“It is not a wonder that we managed to lower the cost of our election from $13 per head in 2016 to $7.7 per head in 2020 and saved our nation a substantial amount of $19 million,” she stated.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has asserted that the current value of the Cedi against the Dollar represents an improvement compared to its value during the tenure of the NDC government.
In an interview with AfricaWatch, Dr. Bawumia emphasized that the Cedi has performed relatively well under the Akufo-Addo administration, reiterating his previous claims about the currency’s stability.
He noted that despite the current global economic challenges, the depreciation of the Cedi has been sustainable, contrasting with the situation under the NDC administration.
“Why not? We use averages to measure progress in statistics and economics all the time. It is a valid comparison of the management of the exchange rate under our government versus under the NDC government. The point is that notwithstanding the major global and domestic challenges we have been through, it is remarkable that whereas the exchange-rate depreciation between 2009-2016 averaged 13.9%, between 2017-2023 it averaged 13.1%. That is a fact,” Dr Bawumia stated.
“The data shows that from 2009-2016, the cedi depreciated cumulatively by 71.1%, and between 2017 and 2023, the cumulative depreciation was 64.6%. So, whether you look at the average or the cumulative, the depreciation of the cedi has been lower under our government, notwithstanding the severe global shocks we have endured. That is the basic truth.”
Dr. Bawumia also defended a statement he made during the NPP’s campaign in 2016, validating his comment of an exchange rate exposing a government, when its fundamentals are weak.
He attributed the current exchange rate of the country, to global crises of the Russia-Ukraine war and the 2019 COVID pandemic, among others.
“Absolutely! It is still true, and I will continue to stand by that statement. We saw that between 2017 and 2021 when the fundamentals in terms of the fiscal deficit, inflation, GDP growth, external balances, and international reserves were fairly strong, the exchange rate was relatively stable.
“But following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, the banking-sector crisis, the excess-capacity energy payments, and the lack of access to international capital markets, the fundamentals of the economy were weakened, and the fiscal deficit and debt levels increased.
“Inflation reached some 53% at the end of 2022 and you saw the exchange rate depreciate by some 30% in 2022. The fundamentals have strengthened recently, with the declining fiscal deficit, declining inflation, improved external reserves, and so on, and this has resulted in relative stability of the exchange rate. So, my statement still holds true.”
Indigenous wholly owned Ghanaian airline Goldstar Air is working on a framework to build Tamale Cargo Village (Phase 4 Project) at the TamaleInternational Airport (TML).
According to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the airline Eric Bannerman, the building of the cargo village will allow direct exports from the region to international markets.
The cargo project aims to breach the north-south gap and to transform and reposition Ghana as an Aviation Hub to facilitate trade and regional integration. The project is also to galvanize investment and growth across the north of Ghana and manufacturing companies can move in because they can get their products easily to any destination in the world.
The development of air cargo villages at major airports in Ghana is expected to help the country in its aim to become a transshipment hub for air cargo. Major and non-major airports in most countries have cargo terminals.
It is very critical for airport infrastructure organizations in Ghana to plan for the next 30 years, where cargo should be because most of the airports in the country will want it. The challenge will be that, in the existing airports there will be limited land area to accommodate it. Terminals will be looking for capacity expansion, MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul), engineering, catering services space, and many more, but there will be not much space to go.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated airline cargo revenue in 2023 to be $134.7 billion. Economic growth and globalization drive air cargo demand. Today air cargo retains its vital role in economic expansion, with an emphasis on developing markets. As a trade facilitator, air cargo increases the global reach of businesses, enabling them to get products to distant markets in a more cost-effective and quicker way.
The terms cargo or freight refer to the transportation of goods from one place to another, but air cargo meaning typically refers only to goods transported by plane. The freight definition has a much broader meaning and can also be applied to the transportation of goods via road, ocean, rail, and air. Countries such as Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore over the years have emerged as major transshipment hubs for air cargo aided by the efficiency in cargo handling with simplified custom processes, value-added services, and connectivity.
The Northern Region, renowned for its agricultural and economic activities, stands to benefit from the cargo village’s strategic location within the Sahelian belt. The region also known as the food basket of Ghana is expected to facilitate access for local agricultural produce to international markets and the airline catering department. Northern Ghana contributes up to 80% of the Ghana food basket for the local and international markets, comprising major crops like yam, groundnuts, millet, cassava, maize, sorghum, rice, beans, and others, while livestock
species produced cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, and pigs, as the Goldstar Air is looking forward to contributing to raise it to over 90%.
Mr. Bannerman emphasized that fresh fruits and vegetables are becoming more and more popular year-round, and transportation of perishable goods is in high demand. Tamale International Airport will have a shorter travel time to most international destinations and with controlled temperature, will make it the preferred airport for transporting perishable goods by air, the means of shipping. The airport is a major hub for air cargo for the exportation of agricultural produce.
In the next 5-10 years, the air cargo industry will be shaped by key trends and innovations, including automation, sustainability, digital transformation, autonomous cargo drones, and e-commerce growth. One of the key trends in the future of air cargo is a shift towards sustainability, a commitment to greener skies, and a more environmentally conscious approach to logistics.
An air cargo village comprises an entire ecosystem which is an economic free zone with a definite bonding area across a certain space where all activities
related to cargo are embedded inside. Customs and other government agencies recognize the cargo village as an entity rather than just a cargo terminal where you can’t do anything much,
you can only receive and send cargo. Air cargo village encompasses everything inside it.
The advantages of an air cargo village are value-added services that can be undertaken within the cargo village and the customs processes are undertaken and streamlined to ensure a high level of efficiency.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), air cargo is a key driver towards the achievement of the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Air cargo plays a role as a trade facilitator for small island developing states (SIDS), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and least developed countries (LDCs), offering the
opportunity to link remote markets and to connect them across continents as well as to the global supply chain.
Each type of cargo has its own set of rules and regulations. International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations are based on the recommendations put in place by entities such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and standards built through industry working groups populated by member airlines.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently forecast that airfreight volume will grow 4.5% in 2024, building on this year’s second-half momentum. January 2024 global air cargo markets are indicating a strong start, total demand increased by 18.4%, compared to January 2023 levels. The profitability of the air cargo industry has been impressive.
When shipping perishable goods by air, specific steps and regulations apply to the process of shipping by air. Whether the cargo is acceptable, marked, labeled or does it meet the prescribed conditions. There are also shipper and carrier responsibilities that must be met.
There is a wide array of perishable goods, and they are each subject to deterioration, some faster than others. Appropriate packaging and handlingare crucial to the perishable goods being delivered in good condition. The packaging must facilitate both the integrity of the goods as well as the handling and storage of the goods. The packaging must meet food safety
regulations and meet food-grade standards while still being durable enough to withstand temperature changes and stacking.
There are numerous documents needed for shipping perishable goods. The process begins with ensuring that the Air Waybill is filled out completely and accurately and without unreasonable requests for handling the perishables. The cargo manifest should be labeled with the proper IATA handling codes. These codes are for internal use but ensure your perishable goods are handled properly. Other documentation may be required, such as some countries may need the permit numbers included on the cargo manifest.
Shippers should always mark what is contained in the packaging and whether dry ice is used because it is classified as a dangerous good. Then the packaging should be correctly labeled with the standard IATA label as such;’ ‘this way up’ or ‘wet cargo.’
Goldstar Air will be working closely with the local farmers 24/7 in and around the Northern Region to grow their businesses and will be supporting greater export of their agricultural products such as shea butter, cashew nuts, and mangoes with credit facility and by advertising their products on our aircraft screens during take-off and landing.
The tangible benefits of international trade in poverty reduction, as well as in the informal economy, are widely acknowledged. According to both the World Trade Organization and the World Bank, trade contributes directly to poverty reduction by opening up new employment opportunities. Northern Ghana contributes up to 80% of the Ghana food basket and to the local market, comprising major crops like yam, groundnuts, millet, cassava, maize, sorghum, rice, beans, and others, while livestock species produced cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, and pigs, as the airline is looking forward to contributing to rising it to over 90%.
International trade also benefits agricultural producers by expanding export sectors and by bringing about structural changes in the economy that increase employment of low-skilled, poor workers in the informal sector and provide better access to external markets for the goods that the poor produce.
Here is where air cargo plays a significant role in battling poverty. Ghana must shift towards local participation in aviation for sustainable job creation in the sector and ensure equitable distribution of profits within the country to bolster economic growth. Northern Ghana can rake in more revenue annually by instituting a 24-hour economy for growth and
advancement, and that will help reduce unemployment in Ghana. These initiatives will create over one hundred thousand jobs for Ghanaians and boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Goldstar Air will initially operate flights from Kumasi International Airport to Rome, Madrid, Hamburg, London, Dusseldorf, and Milan, and flights from Accra Kotoka International Airport will include destinations such as Washington, Dubai, Lagos, Toronto, Monrovia, Conakry, Abidjan, Guangzhou, Dakar, Banjul, Rhode Island, London, and Freetown.
Tamale International Airport will serve as a pivotal hub for our airline’s cargoband plans are underway to operate international passenger flights to and
from the Sahel region and Hajj flights to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In conclusion, after this, the Tamale Cargo Village publication will be closely followed by another article regarding the Tamale Aviation Training Organization (Phase 5) of the Tamale City Project.
The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has urged Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng to cease lamenting and concentrate on fulfilling his legally mandated duties.
Gyamfi expressed dissatisfaction with the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) handling of the case involving former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and emphasized the need for the Special Prosecutor to focus on delivering results.
He accused Kissi Agyebeng of failing to exercise his powers to bring the matter to finality but was only engaged in lamentations.
“He was whining and lamenting too much, you are a creation of law, exercise your powers and you are here singing ‘ankonam’.
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Communications Director, Richard Ahiagbah, has downplayed a video showing Kwadaso MP, Professor Kingsley Nyarko, giving a ‘white envelope’ to Electoral Commission (EC) officials during the Ejisu by-election.
Ahiagbah claimed that Prof Nyarko was merely discussing the electoral process with the officials and discovered they had not eaten, prompting his offer of money for food.
Appearing on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, May 4, the NPP spokesman dismissed suggestions that Prof Nyarko could have offered a smaller amount if his intention was genuinely to cover their meal expenses.
According to Ahiagba, even if Prof Nyarko had taken that course of action, individuals would have still accused him of bribing EC officials and considered his actions to be an electoral offense.
“If he had given 1 cedi to buy water, the same conversation would be had here, so it has nothing to do with the envelope or 50 cedis. The idea is that the individual at the moment decided to give that,” he said.
Mr. Ahiagbah emphasized that the ruling party did not condone or authorize the actions of the Kwadaso MP, making it clear that the NPP did not approve or design the controversial move.
“On his own humanitarian level (he) feels he wants to do that, we can judge it for what he has done and apply what systems we can put in place to check that in the future but he did that out of his goodwill seeking to help another.
“It cannot be for the purposes of the New Patriotic Party because I know he’s not been put to that,” Mr Ahiagbah clarified.
Private Legal Practitioner Martin Kpebu has dismissed the advice of Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to drop the money laundering investigation into former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah.
Kpebu has called it “false and not grounded in law.”
The renowned lawyer in an interview with Citi FM argued that the AG’s advice lacked a legal basis and is incorrect in requiring a predicate offence for prosecution against Dapaah.
He rejected the AG’s guidance and pushed for the investigation to continue.
The Attorney General’s office, on May 1, recommended the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) not to pursue money laundering investigations against Dapaah.
This recommendation follows the conclusion of the Special Prosecutor’s office that the discovery of over 1 million dollars in Dapaah’s residence was outside its jurisdiction, instead suggesting money laundering inquiries.
Kpebu argued that Dapaah’s inability to account for her wealth has warranted the AG’s intervention.
He also urged the AG to retract its communication to EOCO.
“The letter is a huge mistake, a faux pas, that was a wrong step because the letter is not grounded in law. The AG is insisting that you need a predicate offence before you can prosecute someone for money laundering, but that is not correct, it’s false, we have changed the law. There’s a new law, for us in Ghana, that says no need for predicate offence.
“Cecilia Dapaah cannot explain her source of money, if you take her to court, she’s guilty. The Attorney General’s letter is so bad that it has to be withdrawn. The AG has to be humble, we all don’t know it all, if the AG has gotten it wrong, he should just accept his mistake. He cannot win every case,” he told host Selorm Adonoo.
The Attorney General’s review also revealed that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) did not uncover any evidence of corruption by Dapaah.
Nevertheless, the Attorney General maintains that money laundering charges are contingent upon profits derived from illegal activities, implying that Dapaah’s wealth remains suspect despite the OSP’s findings.
Samuel Aggrey, General Secretary of the Food and Beverages Association, has revealed that more businesses are actively working on relocating out of Ghana and reducing their workforce to cope with the challenging economic environment.
Aggrey warned that businesses are taking this difficult decision because the government has failed to address their concerns, leaving them with no choice but to relocate, he said on PM Express on Joy News.
“It has been a very difficult decision for most of these businesses, and if government does not take steps to deal with their concerns, they will not be left with any option than to relocate”, he warned.
He emphasized that companies that have already left Ghana took this decision after engaging with the government and other agencies, but unfortunately, these efforts did not yield the desired results.
Mr. Aggrey pointed out for example that, the cedi’s perennial depreciation has also not been helpful, a major contributory factor to the businesses exiting.
He disclosed that government has not done enough to support firms that are operating in the country from the negative impact of cheap imports.
“The situation is getting very bad, most of these firms have to comprehend , with unreliable utility supply”, he said.
Accra, Ghana – Xatse Derick Emmanuel, a Research Analyst at the Institute for Energy Security (IES), has cast doubt on President Nana Akufo-Addo’s assertion that he has solved the perennial power crisis, popularly known as “dumsor”.
The President’s statement, made at the Workers’ Day parade on May 1, failed to acknowledge the long-standing generational deficit, which Xatse Derick argues is a crucial aspect of addressing the power supply challenges.
According to Xatse Derick, data from the Ghana GRID Company Limited (GRIDCo) System Control Center reveals a significant gap between power generation and peak demand.
In a Facebook post, the energy expert said on April 30, the generation peak at 10 pm was 3539 MW, while on May 1st, 2024, it was 3264 MW, falling short of the peak demand of approximately 3750 MW.
Xatse questions how the President can claim to have solved the power crisis when the data shows a persistent generation deficit.
He suspects that the Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, may have misled the President on the matter.
He also warned that the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) may be engaging in PR efforts to create a false impression of progress.
The IES Analyst’s critique highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of the power sector’s challenges and a data-driven approach to addressing them.
The President’s claim of solving dumsor, Xatse Derick argues, contradicts the reality on the ground, and he urges a more comprehensive strategy to ensure a stable power supply.
Below is his Facebook post
The President said he has solved dumsor. However, there was no admission of the reality of generational deficit. How can you be solving a problem that doesn’t exist?. Of course, he will be misled by the Energy Minister.
Incontrovertible data from the Ghana GRID Company Limited (GRIDCo) System Control Center shows that the generation peak on May 30th at 10pm was 3539 MW. On May 1st, 2024, at 10 pm, the generation peak was 3264 MW. Remember, 10pm is the peak demand period. Meanwhile, your peak demand is about 3750 MW.
All of these, the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited ECG will be doing PR work as if they generate power or transmit power generated.
So where have you met your peak demand, let alone guaranteeing a stable power supply?
This contradicts the data on the ground. Maybe the President was misled again!
Xatse Derick Emmanuel
Institute for Energy Security – IES
Mary Awelana Addah, Executive Director of Ghana Integrity Initiatives (GII), has expressed that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) could have conducted a more comprehensive investigation into the case of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
This comes after the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice advised EOCO against pursuing money laundering investigations into the matter.
In a letter dated April 25, 2024, the Attorney General’s office stated that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) failed to submit its collaborative investigation report with the FBI to EOCO, and also neglected to respond to EOCO’s request for its findings on Madam Dapaah’s case.
The GII director is suggesting that EOCO could have done more to investigate the matter.
The Attorney General’s office states the docket presented to EOCO only contains the OSP’s letter transmitting the docket, the diary of action, statements taken during the investigation, and letters written by the OSP to other institutions like the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and banks for inquiries.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on May 2, she stated that while EOCO may rely on the AG’s office for legal advice, it could have continued its investigation independently until it was necessary to seek advice for prosecution.
She noted that EOCO should have pursued the investigation to its logical conclusion before consulting the Attorney General’s Office, emphasising the importance of a thorough and independent investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by public officials.
“But then it is what it is; it is very unfortunate; let me not mince words at all. The impression this is creating is that we can always get away with anything, particularly when it comes to issues around allegations of corruption because we would use the weakness in the regime or legal regime to get away with them,” she said.
“And this goes to confirm what the President said because he was speaking from the point of authority; perhaps our laws were not robust.”
Mrs Addah suggested that EOCO could have conducted a thorough investigation into Cecilia Dapaah’s case by scrutinising her lifestyle, which could have provided valuable information and evidence.
She emphasized that lifestyle audits are a crucial tool in investigating allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds, and EOCO should have employed this method to ensure a more comprehensive and transparent investigation.
It is sad, but it is what it is from our current legislation and our current work. Unfortunately, we believe EOCO could have taken this up from another angle when you look at their laws.
“When you look at Section 1(3) of the current anti-money laundering law, you would see that they could have done a lifestyle,” she stated.
Civil society organisation, Election Watch Ghana, has filed a formal complaint with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) requesting an investigation into the alleged electoral misconduct of Dr. Kingsley Nyarko, the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso.
This petition follows a widely circulated video from the Ejisu by-election on April 30, which appears to show Dr. Nyarko handing a white envelope to two temporary Electoral Commission officials.
The organization is seeking a thorough inquiry into this incident to ensure the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process.
Election Watch believes that prosecuting the MP is crucial to restoring public confidence in Ghana’s democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.
“We strongly condemn this brazen act of corruption, which undermines the integrity of our already dying democracy. We request that your office take immediate action to investigate and prosecute the MP for Kwadaso, Kingsley Nyarko for his involvement in this electoral malpractice,” the statement from the group noted.
“We believe that swift action is necessary to maintain public trust in our democratic institutions and to uphold the rule of law. We will be monitoring this case closely and expect a prompt response regarding the actions your office will take to address this matter.”
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has clarified that the envelope given to its officials was intended for lunch expenses, not as a bribe.
Dr Kingsley Nyarko has also denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he did not offer a bribe to the officials.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
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