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Sam George hit hard on Ursula after the extension for SIM card registration

Caleb Qwofi Right
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The strategy is taken by the Ministry of Communications in Ghana. Card and SIM card registration procedures have been dubbed “shambolic” by Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram.

Sam George described the entire procedure as a “mess,” and he insisted that Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the minister of communications, be held accountable for the difficulties that the Ghanaian government and its citizens are currently facing.

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful extended the deadline for the SIM card re-registration till Sunday, July 31, 2022, and in response, the ranking member of the parliamentary select committee on communications criticized the communications ministry of imposing unrealistic registration deadlines.

“Ursula Owusu assigns blame for the confusion surrounding registration to everyone save herself.

“The deadlines she has given are impractical and poised to fail even before commencement. We are uncertain the robustness of the paid-for app she says would launch 2 days after her deadline has lapsed.

“This is a tragic comedy of poor policy decisions, shambolic implementation plans, and a clueless approach to technology rollout.

“Her shambolic public policy implementation would be studied in lecture rooms across the world as how not to implement a public policy,” he shared on social media.

Touching on the directive by the Communications Minister for Ghanaians in the diaspora to use their passports as the document for registration, Sam George wondered why the same government that rejected the use of the passports by Ghanaian residents would accept the same for residents outside Ghana.

“Again, we see incoherence in her directive to Ghanaians in the diaspora to use their Passports. The same passports she is refusing for us to use within the jurisdiction,” he said.

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful said on Sunday that the re-registration would now last until September 30, 2022.

She revealed that Ghanaians could now register their sims from the comfort of their homes via an app that would be released in the coming days. But the Ghanaian will have to pay GHC5.00 for the procedure.

“Upon consultation, the Government has decided to grant a final conditional extension.” The program will be extended to September 30 to end on the anniversary of its commencement, which will give us one full year of SIM re-registration,” the minister stated.

“It will be reviewed at the end of this month [July] and any SIM that has not been fully registered by the end of August will be barred from certain services including voice and data. It will also be more expensive to use unregistered SIMs,” she added

SIM registration: Self-service application to charge GH5 – Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, minister of communications and digitalization, has said that a self-service application can now be used to complete the process of re-registering SIM cards.

She said that the mobile app would be accessible starting next week on either the Android or iOS operating systems.

On Sunday, July 31, the minister stated at the Minister’s Press Briefing that the SIM registration through the app will nevertheless incur a fee of GHC 5.

If nothing unexpected happens, the SIM Registration App will be available for download this week on both Android and iOS. A 5-cedi surcharge will be applied to each registration made through the app.

“Non-resident Ghanaians who do not have the Ghana Card can use their passports to complete the process but will be required to update their details with the Ghana Card once they acquire it.” They have up to December 2022 to do so. I urge them to comply with these directives and to contact the NCA if they have any peculiar challenges,” the minister added.

JustIN: The deadline to reregister SIM cards has been extended to September 30

Caleb Qwofi Right
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The deadline for SIM card re-registration has been extended to September 30, 2022, according to a statement from Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communication and Digitalization.

The government appointee, who spoke to the media on Sunday, said she “reluctantly” extended the exercise, which was originally supposed to expire on July 31, 2022.

The delay came the following dialogue with the industry, the Communications Minister stated on Sunday during a news briefing. The process encountered some difficulties..

“Upon consultation with the industry and in view of the challenges enumerated above, I have very reluctantly decided to grant a conditional extension. The program will be extended to 30th September to end on the anniversary of its commencement.”

“That will give us one full year of SIM registration. It will be reviewed at the end of this month and any SIM that has not been fully registered by the end of August will be barred from receiving certain services including voice and data services,” she said.

Despite difficulties with the Ghana Card, such as long lines, the Minister observed that many Ghanaians still failed to register their sims after the deadline was extended.

Consequently, this deadline extension is the last one.

“The statistics indicate that there was a 90% drop in sim reregistration, as soon as the first deadline was extended on 21st March. Until a week ago there were no cues, people started going to register when they realised that deadline was imminent after going to sleep.”

“The mobile network operators, NCA, and the NIA have all engaged additional staff, procured the necessary logistics and are incurring significant expenses to conduct this exercise Succesful, any extension of the process increases their cost,” she added.

This comes as a large number of Ghanaians swarmed telecom stores all over the nation in an effort to register their SIM cards in time for the second deadline on Sunday, July 31.

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Alleged soldier assaults civilian, fires AK47

Caleb Qwofi Right
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A retired military commander is accused of assaulting Solomon Kusi and a few other persons, according to a social media user.

Kusi claims that a man named Major Konadu, who he claims to be a soldier, threatened to shoot him for refusing to give him permission to use a portion of his land for commercial development.

“Never in my life have I been so afraid. Because I disagree with him using a plot of property in high tension directly in front of my land for commercial purposes, this soldier (major Konadu) threatened to shoot me by shooting warning shots, the man stated on his Facebook wall.

According to Kusi, the aforementioned Major Konadu attacked him and others before calling a military unit headed by Abu to the scene to continue the assault.

He cut me on the hand with a live assault rifle, called soldiers from 4BN (headed by one Abu), and they pulled me to the floor of their pickup truck. He’s done that before, so this is nothing new. He did that against a Kofi Job employee for the first time in the area. He pointed the gun towards the ground and fired a warning shot,” he continued.

Major Konadu, who was brandishing an AK47 assault rifle, is heard yelling, “If you are fools I will show you,” in a number of the footage that accompanied Kusi’s post. I’ll show you where the power is if you don’t want to follow the law.

Check Below the full video

Fishermen get ready to return to work

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Activities for artisanal and inshore fishing around the coast, which had a month off, are anticipated to start up again on August 1.
This year’s closed season was implemented on June 1 by the Fisheries Commission and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) to restore the fish supply.

Most of the fishermen were spotted repairing their canoes at Accra’s Ussher Fort Beach, while others were fixing their nets in preparation for Monday’s return to work.

Samuel Quartey, a fisherman, told the Daily Graphic that he was grateful that the closed season would soon come to an end. The products provided by MoFAD, according to him, were insufficient for them to feed their families, and they experienced some financial challenges.

The goal of the intervention is to ensure ethical fishing methods and prevent overfishing of the fishery.

The primary goal of the restricted season is to enhance the lives of small-scale fishermen, other marine resource users, and community members who depend on fishing.

Following Ghana’s receiving a yellow card for using unsustainable fishing methods, the government implemented the limited season idea in 2016 to aid in replenishing the fish resource.

The industry participants feel that it was preferable to let the pregnant fish breed (spawn) rather than sending fishermen out to sea and having them come back empty-handed because research has shown that one pregnant fish has the ability to produce over 25,000 eggs.

The redevelopment of Takoradi Market Circle is 70% finished

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The Western Region’s Takoradi Central Market, also known as the Market Circle and dating back almost a century, is currently being rebuilt.
Approximately 73% of the first phase of the central market renovation, which is being carried out by an Italian contractor, Messrs Contracta Costruzioni Italia SLR, and is scheduled for completion by 2023, has been finished.

2020 will see the sod cut for the renovation of the Takoradi Market Circle by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The project will cost €48 million, and its funding will come from an export loan from Deutsche Bank S.p.A. Italy, with help from SACE, the Italian export credit agency.

Within 30 months, the project is anticipated to be finished and delivered.

The government’s decision to pull the market down and reconstruct was due to its weak nature. It was packed with improvised combustible materials, illegal electrical connections, and traders flooding the space, thus making the entire central market dangerous and congested.

When the Daily Graphic visited the market, information made available indicated that on completion the new Market Circle will have 2,408 stores, 33 restaurants, food courts, and bulk breaking areas.

The facility will also have a visitors’ car park, offices, police and fire station, a post office, a clinic, administrative offices, a daycare center, space for banks and other financial institutions, a waste separation dock, and changing rooms for staff.

The new market will also be fitted with fire detection equipment and fi re-combating systems to address fire outbreaks that were usual at the market and which is still fresh on the minds of the people.

Flood

The recent rains saw the build-up of floodwaters but the new facility has been incorporated with a drainage system, which is expected to be upgraded to alleviate flooding in the market and its environs.

Additionally, there will be improvements to social infrastructure, including toilets, sanitation facilities, and health posts – every aspect of the modern market that would create the perfect ambiance for trading.

One of the features of the new market that traders and the public are happy about is the conscious effort to prevent traffic congestion in the areas that surround the market through the provision of on-site bulk breaking facilities.

The previous situation where such bulk breaking activities were done on the main Market Circle Road will be resolved through the provision of a designated area for bulk breaking.

Currently, the management of the SekondiTakoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has provided a temporary site for traders in the old Central Market even though that is not what the traders are looking for.

However, they take solace in the commitment of the contractor and government to get the work done on the redevelopment.

The Western Region Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who expressed his excitement about the progress of phase one, said: “Infrastructure forms an important driving force for economic growth.

It reduces trade and transaction costs and stimulates the productivity of the economy at the regional, district, municipal and national levels.”

He said a lot of projects were ongoing in the region, adding, “I can assure the public that these projects would be completed to ensure that we under the leadership of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, continue to create the perfect atmosphere for our people.

“I am happy that today’s progress of work at the redevelopment site is more than 70 percent, which includes engineering, procurement, and construction works,” he said.

As the first phase progresses, he said, another proposal had been presented for the second phase and discussions were ongoing.

“Let me assure the people of Sekondi that the Sekondi Market was captured in the 2022 budget statement presented to Parliament pending processes leading to commencement,” he said.

Job Creation

The construction stage of the Market Circle project according to the statistics made available has created between 400 and 500 direct jobs and between 1,000 and 2,500 indirect jobs along the supply chain.

Some of the workers who are working directly with the construction workers were of the view that they were not only working for income but also for the skills being transferred.

One of them who gave his name only as Kojo said: “After the market is fully completed, there will be the need for maintenance and we, with all the skills, will be in the position to be engaged or move with the contractor to another location.”

Other challenges

Currently, one of the main problems around the construction site is the influx of hawkers who have completely taken over the streets around the round pavilion.

The traders are refusing to give way. Many of their businesses are on push trucks which have taken almost half of the double road, making it difficult for the free flow of vehicular traffic.

The managers of the assembly said they had plans to deal with the traders to ensure they did not pose a threat to the second phase.

Source :graphic.com.gh

We Need Offerings, Not ‘Zomi,’ To Fuel Our Cars– Prophet Kumchacha

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Nicholas Osei, a generally known Kumchacha in Ghana, has criticized those who accuse men of God of stealing contributions from churchgoers.
The notion that men of God lavishly spend on the offerings and tithes of churchgoers has been debunked by Prophet Kumchacha.

Prophet Kumchacha said during a Hitz FM interview that many pastors have wants just like other church members and that it is wise for them to likewise spend generously. Using a car as an illustration, he explained that pastors need money to be able to transfer their vehicles from one location to another by purchasing fuel.

“I didn’t use ‘Zomi’ (palm oil) to fuel the car I brought here. Petrol was used to fuel it, and petrol is purchased with money, Kumchacha said.

In other events, Prophet Kumchacha revealed in a Hitz FM interview how a British pharmacy refused to give him some medications after he complained about having a terrible headache.

He claims that before the pharmacy would sell him the pills, the pharmacist asked that he provide a prescription from a doctor. The pharmacist rejected his plea despite his best efforts to persuade him.

According to Kumchacha, the majority of individuals enjoy consuming marijuana without a prescription, which is terrible because it will complicate their health in the long run.

Ghana and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to combating global threats

CALEB QWOFI RIGHT
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The United Kingdom (UK) and Ghana will go further and faster to combat terrorism, organised migration crime, drug trafficking and other global threats following a summit in London.

A statement issued by the British High Commission in Accra, copied to the Ghana News Agency said the UK Government hosted the second UK-Ghana security dialogue between July 25 and 27, to discuss the countries’ shared interests in tackling global issues.

Madam Priti Patel, the UK Home Secretary and Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Minister for National Security of Ghana agreed to strengthen law enforcement agency collaboration, strengthen engagement on border security, work together to enhance cyber security in Ghana and support regional solutions to instability in Ghana’s neighbouring states.

Madam Patel said: “The UK and Ghana have a deep and long-standing relationship, and we are powerful allies when confronting the scourge of organised criminal gangs that operate across our borders.”

“Ghana is the beacon of freedom and democracy in West Africa and through our joint work we are tackling global threats and cracking down on the threats to our mutual security.”

Mr Kan-Dapaah said: “The UK is a primary and reliable partner to Ghana; therefore, we welcome essential security initiatives from the UK towards building Ghana’s resilience to address national and regional threats.”

“The Home Secretary visited Ghana last year in the first round of talks, opening a new Home Office-funded immigration taskforce office in the process.”

The statement said because of the joint working, since January 2022, 14 organised crime groups had been disrupted preventing the facilitation of 56 individuals from entering the UK illegally, saving the UK over £812,000 in the process.

It said through the New Plan for Immigration, that the UK government was working with countries around the world to tackle the heinous people traffickers who work across borders and bring misery to vulnerable people.

It said the Home Secretary hosted a reception with the Ghanaian delegation at Lancaster House on July 25 before counterparts discussed topics including, serious and organised crime, border management, security, countering terrorism and violent extremism, conflict prevention, and military over the course of the two-day event.

It noted that the Defence staff met to discuss peacekeeping, regional stability, counter-terrorism and maritime security.

Mr James Heappey, the UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces, said: “The UK is committed to expanding defence cooperation with the Ghanaian Armed Forces and we will continue to work together in frameworks such as the Accra Initiative to counter violent attacks and insurgency in West Africa and the Sahel.”

Source: GNA

Service delivery is expedited by digital solutions—Bawumia

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The government’s digital solution is the facilitating speedy delivery of public services and improve productivity, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has said.

Speaking at the 2022 Civil Service Week Awards Ceremony in Accra, Vice President Bawumia said the government’s digitalization agenda was the sure way to transform the economy and create jobs.

He cited various digital initiatives rolled out by Akufo-Addo’s Government that had begun yielding positive results including the National Identification System (Ghana Card), Mobile Money Interoperability Payment System, National Property Address System, Ghana.gov, GhanaPay, and Paperless Ports System.

For instance, he said, the integration of the databases of the National Identification Authority to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) had helped the scheme to delete 27,000 non-existent pensioners, which saved the taxpayer GH327 million a year.

The digitalization process had also enabled the National Service Scheme to identify 14,000 non-existent service personnel and saved the State GH¢114 million a year, the Vice President stated.

“So, we have been able to save GH441 million from the two institutions a year and so in 10 years’ time, we can save four billion Ghana Cedis.

“That was the reason I said that I will prefer Ghana Card to 1,000 interchanges but some people don’t understand and are saying; “What is this man saying, is he mad?”.

Vice President Bawumia stated that the country could not continue building the economy with “brick and mortar,” but we should adopt innovative ideas, systems, and institutions that work to facilitate economic transformation.

With the digitalization solution, Ghana could build a working credit system that would enable the credit reference agencies to score everyone with an appropriate credit rating and distinguish between people who honor their loan payments from those who default on payments.

That would enable those who honor their loan repayments to enjoy lower interest rates.

Dr Bawumia observed that in course of time, the Ghana Card could help the nation to compile credible voters register because those who turn 18 years at any given time easily register onto the register since they could be identified due to the unique identification system we had put in place.

Nana Agyekum Dwamena, the Head of Civil Service, said the Annual Civil Service Week enabled the Service to take stock of its activities and chart the way forward towards supporting the government’s developmental agenda.

The Civil Service Week also enabled the Service to sensitize public servants to ensure positive attitudes toward work for improved productivity.

Nana Agyekum Dwamena lauded hard-working workers for their dedication and sacrifices and urged all and sundry to work to enhance productivity.

The Civil Service Awards ceremony recognized and rewarded deserving civil and public servants for their strategic contributions to the government’s developmental agenda.

Source: GNA

The NPP leader in the 2024 elections is someone I know – Reverend Owusu Bempah

Caleb Qwofi Right
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The head of the Glorious Word Ministries, Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah, has denied supporting any of the contenders for the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer position in the 2024 elections.

In contrast to rumors that he had declared Alan Kyerematen the winner, Reverend Owusu Bempah told Okay FM that he had made no such announcement in public.

He argued that as a prophet, he just carries out the will of God and has no stake in who is in charge.

He asserted to be aware of the outcome of the party’s 2023 presidential primary, but he would keep it to himself.

The time in which Reverend Owusu Bempah made his forecasts public has passed, and he has decided to engage the candidates in conversation about them instead.

“I have not declared my support for anyone. I have seen something and I know the winner but I won’t say it. I even know the person who’ll win the 2024 elections but I will not say it. I will meet the person and tell him. You can choose to believe it or not but no one can be president without my knowledge,” he said.

A well-known NPP supporter, Reverend Owusu Bempah, recently declared that he and President Akufo-Addo no longer get along.

He clarified that the president is surrounded by individuals who are not concerned about the interests of his government.

“Maybe it’s because of the people surrounding him; maybe he no longer listens to the voice of God because when I used to be closer to him, things were going better.

“Nothing has happened but, like they say, ‘you can force the horse to the riverside but you can’t force the horse to drink the water.’ So if he is going to humble himself again and give room, I believe it is not too late. Because the Nana Akufo-Addo I used to know with a good heart, for which God chose him, is not the same person I see today. It is not because I have anything against him,” the prophet said.

“Samuel was asked to anoint Saul to become King. Things did not go well. Things went rough, and that was because Saul became stubborn and was not listening to God and Samuel, so Samuel distanced himself from Saul.

“When Samuel tried to intervene at a point, God asked him to stay off because Saul had shown disobedience, and so I see that the pure heart of Akufo-Addo, for which God chose him, has changed.

“He doesn’t listen to God anymore, and the prayers that clergymen used to say for him, he doesn’t allow it any longer. So, if you like him to Saul, it is the same thing, Samuel was only instructed by God to anoint Saul because he was God’s own choice,” Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah stressed.

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