The Electoral Commission (EC), according to Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairman, has no plans to use the Ghana Card to cast a ballot in the elections of 2024.
He claims that the Ghana card is merely a prerequisite for obtaining a voter’s card.
“We are not going to use the Ghana Card for voting. No, we are not going to use it for voting. The Ghana Card is only for registration as a new voter and when you register, we will issue you with our voter’s card. So let’s encourage our children from 16 years to go for their Ghana Card so that by 2024, when that child is 18 before 60 days to the elections, he or she can walk to our district office or constituency and register for his or her voter’s ID”, Graphic.com.gh quoted Dr Eric Bossman Asare
In the meantime, lawyer Kwame Jantuah asserted that for efficient planning, the EC and all political parties need to work together.
He has also urged the EC to see to it that Ghanaians are properly informed about the Ghana Card’s debut as a valid form of voter identification.
“I don’t know what all the fuss is about. The coordination of efforts between the EC and political parties is, in my opinion, of utmost importance. This back-and-forth doesn’t help,” he said to Asaase Radio anchor Kwaku Agyeman Budu.
“The people of Ghana and the EC ought to work together strategically. They must be strategic in the sense that they must inform us, listen to people’s arguments, and not wait for political parties, he said.
The largest cannabis farm ever has been discovered in Afram Plains in the Eastern Region.
The 80-hectare cannabis farm was discovered in the Obuo Akroma Forest Reserve in the Afram Plains North District by the Forestry Commission on Saturday.
Five people including an agric science teacher have been arrested by a team of Forestry Commission personnel who had swooped on the suspects on the farm acting on a tip-off.
The suspects had been identified as Michael Anakpo, the Agric teacher and alleged leader in charge of the farm, Normenyo Blewu, Korsi Mawuena, Charles Kale, and Emmanuel Kojo.
The suspects have since been handed over to the Police for investigation.
According to the District Manager of the Forestry Commission in Afram Plains, Mr. Richard Amoateng who led the operation at the weekend, three maxi-sacks of harvested cannabis, six medium size sacks, three cutlasses, two hoes, a knife, five plastic containers filled with the harvested stuff and alcoholic drinks mixed with the narcotic substance were retrieved.
Briefing the media, Mr. Amoateng said “we had a tip-off about the activities of the suspects in the forest reserve and quickly mobilized my team to the said reserve where we met the suspects and several others on the farm”.
The suspects, he said attacked “us but my men overpowered them while others managed to escape being arrested”.
The District Manager added that the team had also discovered that the suspects have nursed many of the seedlings waiting to be planted.
According to him the team also found 13 tents on the farm that accommodated the suspects as they had erected a warning signpost with the inscription: “Don’t attempt.”
Mr. Amoateng assured that the Commission would soon intensify its operations to curb down on such illegal cultivation of herbs in the area.
It is recalled that Ghana’s new Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) passed by Parliament on March 20, 2020, and assented to by the President on May 11, 2020, seeks to treat drug use and dependency as a public health issue rather than focusing on law enforcement, incarceration, punishment, and repression. The new law has converted prison term for drug possession for personal use into a fine of between 200 to 500 penalty units equivalent to GH¢2, 400 to GH¢6000 respectively.
Section 43 of Act 1019 of the Narcotic Control Commission Act, 2022 (Act 1019) stipulates that “the Minister on the recommendation of the Commission, may grant a license for the cultivation of cannabis popularly referred to as “wee” in Ghana, which is not more than 0.3 percent content on a dry weight basis for industrial purposes for obtaining fibre or seed for medicinal purposes.”
However, in a 4-3 majority decision Wednesday (July 28, 2022), a seven-member panel of the apex court held this section violates Article 106 of the 1992 Constitution, which details the processes a bill must go through before it is passed into law Parliament by, and was therefore null and void.
After a video of her husband ignoring her request for a kiss during their wedding ceremony went viral, Ghanaian media star Bridget Otoo has finally answered.
She claims that she and her husband agreed that, regardless of how excited or loving they get toward one another at their wedding ceremony, there wouldn’t be any public kissing.
She said in a tweet that she was adamant about that because she didn’t want them to violate her rule for reasons she knew better.
She disobeyed her own rule when her feelings for him got deeper and she was unable to restrain herself in front of others. She tried to kiss her husband in front of others, but he turned away despite the fact that they were both in public.
Recall that Bridget Otoo wed at Sekondi-Takoradi over the weekend. It is alleged that she married the former partner of Abena Korkor
If immediate action is not taken, Ghana will soon have a fuel crisis, according to Alex Mould, the former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
According to a Facebook post by Alex Mould, the country may soon experience fuel shortages because businesses that import oil products are running out of the foreign currency they require to do so.
He said that because the Bank of Ghana is also out of the foreign exchange, these enterprises are not receiving the necessary foreign exchange.
Without government intervention, a fuel shortage is looming due to the foreign exchange (FX) credit constraint. To pay for expiring Letters of Credit (LCs) provided to global oil trading firms like BP Vitol, Trafigura, etc., banks are claiming a lack of foreign currency.
This is because the Bank of Ghana was unable to fulfil the requirements at the different FX auctions. Since the quantities required by the fuel importers are simply not available, some Banks have even stopped quoting FX rates (BDCs). As a result, BDCs are reaching the maximum amount of their credit line limits with their banks, which means that moving forward, the banks will no longer have credit lines available for the BDCs to import fuel.
In order to assist prevent the situation, Alex Mould stated that the government must expedite the procedures for obtaining a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
A political risk analyst is not surprised by the recent downgraded of Ghana’s credit worthiness.
Dr Theo Acheampong insists that his assessment of the citizenry point to an increasing level of hardship among the populace.
He made these comments on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 13.
This week, Ghana’s rating was downgraded by Fitch from B- to CCC, putting the country’s creditworthiness into junk status.
This update follows Standard and Poor’s (S&P) downgrade of Ghana’s foreign and local credit ratings from B-B’ to CCC+C with a negative economic outlook.
These come amid government’s call on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an economic bailout.
Speaking on JoyNews, Dr Theo Acheampong indicated that the past few years have seen the hardship felt strongly in the pockets of the populace.
Many including petty traders in the country are feeling the pinch, which Dr Acheampong says, calls for pragmatic measures.
Meanwhile, businesses that require foreign investments and financing are projected to be one of the entities at the receiving end of the economic downgrade.
This is according to the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).
Dr Humphrey Ayim-Darke, speaking on the same show, said bulk importers of goods and the private sector will be largely hit by the latest rating which put the country’s creditworthiness into junk status.
According to reports, a 29-year-old nursing mother submerged her four-year-old daughter in hot water, causing her lower body to burn.
According to reports, the incident occurred on August 1 at Oforikurom, a town close to Samreboi in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipality. The assembly member for the neighborhood described the incident and claimed that the woman was disciplining her daughter for misplacing her sandals, which were worth $8. According to Azure Suleman, the mother asked the preschooler to look for the object first. When the youngster was unable to locate it, the woman heated some water and drenched the four-year-old in it out of wrath. However, the accused denied purposefully plunging her daughter into the boiling water as a punishment in her defense.
She claims she observed that her child’s private area was hurting. She opted to boil water to treat the youngster after hearing rumors that they had been abused.
The assemblyman, however, is dubious about the justification as residents also disputed her justification.
Since then, the nursing employee has been detained and charged.
She was given bail, according to the police, since she is a nursing mother of a one-year-old child.
The youngster was also directed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital by the court for medical care.
But according to current inquiries by Myjoyonline.com, the woman has not yet brought the victim to the medical center.
Meanwhile, the three-year-old girl is unable to walk as the effect of the hot water was severe on her.
According to a report, a reorganization is anticipated to affect the Ghana Revenue Authority’s top management (GRA).
According to the Asaaseradio.com report, this reorganization is expected to have an impact on Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), who has been charged in the Labianca case according to a Special Prosecutor report. The Ghana Revenue Authority’s current Commissioner-General, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, is likewise not likely to have his contract renewed. The statutory retirement age has been reached by these two.
The reason given by Asaase for the shake is that the “presidency has been markedly reluctant in this second term to renew contracts of appointees who have attained their retirement age.”
After investigations linked the Special Prosecutor’s office to corrupt activities involving Labianca Company Limited, Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (Ret.), Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), took a shot at the Special Prosecutor.
Speaking at a Customs Division Management Retreat in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, the Commissioner of Customs described the report as “hollow” and one that does not contain any substance. He added that the reason for the OSP’s investigative report was because he did not permit one Mr. Akrugu to be seconded to the SP’s office.
He claimed that since the Almighty God is on his side, any attempts by the Special Prosecutor to bring him down will fail.
“Three days ago a report purported to be coming from the Office of the Special Prosecutor trying to indict the Deputy Commissioner of Operations and myself [but] anybody who has read that report very well will know the basis of that,” he said while addressing some Senior Customs officers at the retreat.
“And luckily for Me, God is always on my side, before that report came, that person had made a comment to some people who had come to tell me [that] he [Special Prosecutor] was going to publish (a report) that will discredit me…
“I even sent people to go and tell him that he is a small boy and I am older than him, I have lived a meaningful life and if he attempts to destroy me, it won’t be easy for him. People have tried and I have survived and this one too I will survive it,” he said.
The host of Peace FM’s morning program Kokrokoo, Kwame Sefa Kayi, is claiming ignorance of the causes behind the National Democratic Congress’ decision to boycott his program.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the general secretary of the NDC, appeared on the program on Friday, August 12, 2022, two years and three months after the party’s boycott.
After allowing Asiedu Nketia to explain the party’s opposition to the Electoral Commission’s new proposal to use the Ghana Card as the only source document for the 2024 election, Kwame Sefa Kayi asked him if his appearance signals the end of the boycott.
However, in order to put some closure, the NDC General Secretary urged Sefa Kayi to visit the party’s office.
However, because they previously had some meetings on the impasse, Sefa Kayi questioned why the NDC would not like to come to his office.
Asiedu Nketia made an effort to remind Sefa Kayi that the party—and not the other way around—is the one holding the cards.
However, Sefa Kayi questioned Asiedu Nketia and pressed him to explain the rationale behind the party’s boycott. The talented broadcaster claimed he was unaware of the causes and asked Asiedu Nketia to clarify his mistakes.
Why did I harm you? Tell us what I did wrong because you are here today. Tell me what you think I did to wrong the NDC, you say.
However, Asiedu Nketia rejected it, saying, “This is not a court.”
Asiedu Nketia, who made a presence on the program, defended the NDC’s stance on the Ghana Card registration and rejected claims that the party should be held accountable for the difficulties.
“The NPP consistently distorts problems. The NDC filed a lawsuit when the NIA announced they will conduct the registration without using the current voter ID card. We advised our party members not to subscribe to it while the legal proceedings were ongoing because we were contesting it in court. After the court made its decision, we organized a news conference to urge our supporters to sign up. Why then do you blame us? He responded.
Industry professionals have expressed their sorrow over the passing of Livingston Aik Abani, the chief executive officer of Madhaus Entertainment, who invested in a number of talents.
On August 10, 2022, a Ghanaian businessman passed away. His reason for death is still unknown. On the other hand, friends and users of social media have expressed their sympathies and shared their best memories of him.
In a 2021 viral video, Aik, who identified himself as a servant of God, was shown preaching the gospel and anointing a crowd.
In a letter of appreciation, media consultant Kelly Nii Lartey Mensa wrote: “You once invested millions of dollars in Ghanaian artists and entertainers. You went by yourself the day you fell. Even though they might not remember you, the Lord will nonetheless make room for you because of your noble character. I recall that practically all of Ghana’s musicians were signed by MaddHaus Entertainment! Chief, Chief, Chief! You surprised us! Aik Abani, CEO of Madd Haus Entertainment, rest well.
Even though he acknowledged that things are difficult, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo pleaded with Ghanaians to have faith in his administration to make things better.
According to the president, Ghana is not the only country dealing with the current economic difficulties brought on by COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
He is confident that, all else being equal, the government’s current programs will put Ghana back on the path to economic growth and prosperity.
As part of his official tour to the Northern Region, Akufo-Addo stated on August 8 on North Star Radio in Tamale: “The problems are there, I will be the last one to belittle the issues, they are touching the lives of ordinary people in a very significant way.
“But what I am saying to the people of Ghana is, continue to have confidence that this government that took our economy from one of the lowest growth rates in our modern history, when I came into office in 2017 and brought it up to one of the fasted growing in the world… this government that was able to steer Ghana through the COVID pandemic,” he added.
He claimed that major proactive measures had been done to lessen the effects of the COVID and noted that Ghana had some of the “lowest mortality and infection (rates),” which had prevented the pandemic from having a significant detrimental effect on the country’s economy.
“With the policies it has committed to, this government will find a way to revive our economy and enhance the lives of Ghanaians. Apart from anything else, we have to because we are politicians,” he insisted.
In a statement dated July 1, President Akufo-Addo commanded Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to provide the IMF with an economic rescue plan.
Since then, from July 6 to July 13, a delegation from the Fund led by Carlo Sdralevich visited Ghana and spoke with key stakeholders.
Ghana’s economic headaches
He claimed that major proactive measures had been done to lessen the effects of the COVID and noted that Ghana had some of the “lowest mortality and infection (rates),” which had prevented the pandemic from having a significant detrimental effect on the country’s economy.
“With the policies it has committed to, this government will find a way to revive our economy and enhance the lives of Ghanaians. Apart from anything else, we have to because we are politicians,” he insisted.
In a statement dated July 1, President Akufo-Addo commanded Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to provide the IMF with an economic rescue plan.
Since then, from July 6 to July 13, a delegation from the Fund led by Carlo Sdralevich visited Ghana and spoke with key stakeholders.
This was stated in a document made public by the Ministry of Finance that provided information about the government’s July meeting with representatives of the Bretton Woods institution. The ministry described its efforts to secure the money as part of the IMF’s High Combined Credit Exposure (HCCE) strategy, a recently established innovative blended program.
