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Ghana is in financial trouble; should we continue to spend money on feeding students in SHSs? -Joe Jackson to govt

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Mr. Joe Jackson, a financial analyst and chief operating officer at Dalex Finance, is arguing against increased government spending on several programs, particularly the free Senior High School (SHS) program’s feeding component.
In his opinion, economic managers need to make tough decisions to look for methods to reduce spending because times are tough and the nation is broke.

Prior to Monday’s presentation of the mid-year budget review by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, he made this statement in an interview with TV3.

“It is time for us to look at all the expenditure cuts, it is time for us to look and wonder, do wo we want to spend this much on feeding and boarding in the SHS regime?

“Is this what we want to spend our money in the such difficult times on? These are hard times, there are hard decisions to be taken and one of the things we must realize is that Ghana is broke.”

Ghana’s economy is currently facing significant difficulties, which has compelled it to request assistance from the International Monetary Fund.

In order to interact with the Ghanaian administration, a staff delegation led by Carlo Sdralevich came in Ghana on July 6. On Wednesday, July 13, the team finished its preliminary work.

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Ernest Addison, all met with the IMF delegation.

In order to discuss social spending, they also met with the Finance Committee of the Parliament, civil society groups, and development partners including UNICEF and the World Bank.

Following the expedition, Mr. Sdralevich made the following remark, stating that Ghana is dealing with a terrible economic and social crisis in a setting that is becoming more complex on a global scale.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a dramatic worsening of the financial and debt crisis. Investors’ worries have also led to credit rating downgrades, capital outflows, a loss of access to external markets, and an increase in domestic borrowing prices.

Furthermore, Ghana is experiencing a restricted amount of leeway for maneuvering as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic shock and the global economic shock brought on by the conflict in Ukraine. These unfavorable events have contributed to a slowdown in economic growth, an increase in unpaid bills, a significant depreciation of the exchange rate, and a rise in inflation.

“The IMF team held initial discussions on a comprehensive reform package to restore macroeconomic stability and anchor debt sustainability. The team made progress in assessing the economic situation and identifying policy priorities in the near term,” the IMF said.

It added “The discussions focused on improving fiscal balances in a sustainable way while protecting the vulnerable and poor; ensuring credibility of the monetary policy and exchange rate regimes; preserving financial sector stability; and designing reforms to enhance growth, create jobs, and strengthen governance.

“IMF staff will continue to monitor the economic and social situation closely and engage in the coming weeks with the authorities on the formulation of their Enhanced Domestic Program that could be supported by an IMF arrangement and with broad stakeholders’ consultation

“We reaffirm our commitment to support Ghana at this difficult time, consistent with the IMF’s policies.

“Staff express their gratitude to the authorities, civil society, and development partners for their constructive engagement and support during the mission.”

On Friday, July 1, the Ghanaian government declared that it was requesting assistance from the IMF.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Information, this came after a phone call between the President and Miss Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF Managing Director, in which the President informed her of Ghana’s decision to work with the Fund.

Tears as family, loved ones bury Cairo-based Nigerian burnt to death by wife over alleged infidelity

Caleb Qwofi Right
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A man in Osun State, Bolu Bamidele, who died after he was allegedly set ablaze by his wife, Ifeoluwa, over allegations of having an extramarital affair, has been buried.

Bamidele, popularly known as Teebam, was said to have returned to Osogbo, the capital of Osun State from Cairo, Egypt, to give his wife a nice treat on her birthday.

The wife, according to findings, discovered that Bamidele had cheated on her and even had a child outside their union.

Ifeoluwa was said to have gone through her husband’s telephone and discovered the messages the deceased allegedly exchanged with another woman on WhatsApp.
After confronting him with the information, an argument ensued.

The lady was said to have angrily written on her WhatsApp stories that she would be taking drastic action.

She had said that her man has “pushed her to the edge” and that people would weep over the two of them before daybreak.

Bolu was reportedly set ablaze in his home at Koka village on Sunday, with all his belongings destroyed.

He was rushed to the hospital and died days later. The deceased was buried amid tears on Wednesday in Osogbo in the presence of family and loved ones.

The spokesperson for the state police command, SP Yemisi Opalola, said the police had declared Ifeoluwa Bamidele wanted.

Source: saharareporters.com

The ambulance contract’s execution was approved by the attorney general-Agyeman-Manu

Caleb Qwofi Right
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The Attorney General’s Department wrote to the Health and Finance Ministries urging them to proceed with the execution of the contract for the supply of ambulances with Big Sea LLC of Dubai, according to information provided by the Minister of Health, Kweku Agyeman-Manu.

The AG’s Department requested in a letter to the Ministers of Health and Finance that they carry out the contract because it was “legally enforceable” through the then-Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayini.

Reading extensively from the AG’s letter, Mr. Agyeman Manu revealed that it stated that, in the AG’s opinion, there was no basis for either party’s claim that they may withdraw from the agreement because they were obligated by its terms.

Mr. Agyeman Manu further revealed that the AG had said that if Big Sea filed a lawsuit, it would be “difficult for the government to put up a case” if the government didn’t fulfill its contract responsibilities.

The minister revealed this to Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botchwey’s Financial and Economic Court in Accra.

The AG reportedly said that after looking through the paperwork provided by Lawyers for Big Sea, he was certain that “all governmental clearances had been secured,” which was necessary for the contract’s execution.

The former Minister of Health, Sherry Aryeetey, wrote back to the AG after receiving the AG’s letter and expressed concern over the absence of a financing agreement between the Ministry of Finance and Stanbic Bank for a loan to pay for the purchase of the 200 ambulances, according to information provided by the Minister of Health to the court.

Asked what transpired after Sherry Aryeetey’s letter, Attorney General Godfred Dame said: “A letter was then addressed by the second accused to the Bank of Ghana asking the establishment of letters of credit in favor of Big Sea.” Mr. Agyeman Manu responded in the affirmative.

The letter asking for the LC was written “without recourse to the Ministry of Health,” according to Mr. Agyeman-Manu.

He further informed the court that the Controller and Accountant General received a second letter around four days later approving the transfer of GHS 806,688.75 to the Ministry of Health as payment for the creation of the letters of credit and other associated costs.

He claimed that after paying Big Sea, the then-minister of health directed the National Ambulance Service’s chief executive to inspect the ambulances that had been imported.

According to him, the Ambulance Service’s inspection found various flaws, which the Ministry brought to Big Sea’s attention.

He claimed that Big Sea responded in writing acknowledging the flaws and expressing their desire to fix them.

`In relation to the importation of 30 ambulances that were a portion of a consignment of 200 under a contract signed between the Ministry of Health and Dubai-based company, Big Sea Limited, in 2012, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, a former deputy minister of finance, Dr. Sylvester Anemana, a former chief director of the ministry of health, and businessman Richard Jakpa have all been charged with causing financial loss to the state.

My imprisonment served mostly as a message that NDC was combating corruption-Abuga Pele

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Abuga Pele, a former MP for the Chiana-Paga seat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), claimed that his imprisonment served as an evidence that the previous administration was combating corruption.
The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the now-defunct Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) claimed that his conviction was a “cross” he had to carry over from a case in which he was accused of causing financial loss to the state from which he did not personally profit.

In February 2018, the Accra High Court sentenced Abuga Pele and Philip Assibit, a private service provider, to 18 years in prison after finding them guilty on 19 counts, including defrauding the state of money.

However, due to his poor health, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo pardoned him in July 2021.

The former NDC MP implied that his prison term was unfair in an interview with Bolgatanga-based A1 Radio that countryghana.com/ was listening to. He described how the prosecution was tainted with plots and coercive measures intended to imprison him at all costs.

“Even at one point, can you believe that prosecution forged a letter and when they gave it to me I realized that wasn’t my signature and I told them that this is not my signature. If you look at the signature column of the thing [letter] it numbered 5, meanwhile, that document was more than 12 pages. Meanwhile, there was another 5 below. So the judge asked for it and I gave it to her then she looked at it and kept it down. Can you believe that it did not even appear in our proceedings,” he narrated.

Mr. Pele went on to say that while the case was pending in court, some individuals he believes to be his accusers were successful in persuading the President that he ought to be put in jail.

“One reason was to stop the constant accusations of corruption against the former NDC government, especially against GYEEDA. That’s how I felt, and two, I think I stepped on a lot of people’s toes running the organization [GYEEDA] by being extremely obstinate and refusing to let certain things be done, looking into people, and all that, so that might also be a factor,” he continued.

Mr. Pele said that he has accepted his fate and ignores the unpleasant experiences he has gone through while claiming that his situation has not ended his bond with his party, the NDC.

23-year-old student allegedly shot dead in his car

Caleb Qwofi Right
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An unidentified gunman shot and killed Kwabena Asumadu, a 23-year-old student, in Kumasi that evening on July 19, 2022.
After dropping off his companion at Sofoline at around 11 p.m., Kwabena Asumadu is alleged to have been shot multiple times by the attackers via the driver’s side of the vehicle, according to 3news.com.
After the event, the deceased, who was operating an unlicensed Mercedes-Benz, still had all of his possessions.

According to the story, the deceased’s friends who stormed the Suntreso District Police Command had not yet accepted the young man’s passing.

We’re devastated, but God is in control, said Addai Derick, a friend of the dead.
Although no one has been arrested as of yet, the police have now started an inquiry into the incident.
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary has received Kwabena’s body for an autopsy.

My law school’s first term fees were covered by Akufo-Addo-JFK

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Justin Frimpong Kodua, the general secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has explained how Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-influence Addo’s allowed him to enter the legal profession.

On Sunday, July 17, 2022, at the Accra Sports Stadium, where the NPP was holding its National Delegates Conference, Justin Kodua said in one of his first interviews that he might not have pursued law if the president hadn’t persuaded him to.

Given that he comes from a long line of NPP stalwarts, he described how this transpired by stating that he met the president while pursuing a career in politics.

JFK, as he is more often known, claimed that during that encounter, the president—at the time serving as the minister of foreign affairs—encouraged him to pursue a legal education as well since it would advance his political career.

“I recall him telling me, ‘Young man, you are extremely eloquent, and I will like you to be part of the young people I will groom in the party,'” the man recalled.

“I was very honest with him, I told him I wanted to pursue politics as a career. So he advised me then – that was 2009 – that if I am interested in politics and it is something I want to do as a full-time job, why don’t I go to law school. For that one, you have a backup profession and you don’t need to rely on someone to give you employment.

He stated in the JoyNews interview that Countryghana was watching, “You know, the moment you enter into politics, you are ‘tainted,’ and if you are not careful and your government loses elections, people will be uncomfortable employing you, but if you are a lawyer, you can be self-employed.

It would have appeared that President Akufo-assistance Addo’s ended there, but Justin Kodua noted that the president also covered the cost of his first semester of law school.

“I entered law school in that manner, and it was in 2010. It was among the best bits of advise anyone has ever given me, he continued.

Many Ghanaians are still talking about Justin Frimpong Kodua’s victory over John Boadu, who is considered to be a Goliath in the country.

But who is this man exactly?

John Boadu came in second with 2,524 votes, trailing JFK, as he is affectionately known, who received 2,837 votes.

Kodua became the favorite of the populace as a lawyer with a focus on corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration, with a particular interest in land disputes and asset management, which led to his win at the Accra Sports Stadium.

He was given the responsibility of leading the effort to treat Ghana’s young unemployment epidemic when President Nana Addo Dankwa selected him to manage the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in 2017.

He served as the New Patriotic Party’s Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer prior to being named the YEA CEO (NPP).

He graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with an LLB and the Ghana School of Law with a Barrister of Law.

The same university is where Justin Frimpong Kodua earned his Bachelor of Science in Land Economy.

Gyakye Quayson’s lawsuit has been placed on hold after Tsatsu Tsikata filed a motion to reverse the High Court’s decision

Caleb Qwofi Right
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James Gyakye Quayson, a Member of Parliament for Assin North, is being tried for perjury, and his attorney has asked that the hearing be postponed.

Tsatsu Tsikata claims that the request is required by an application that he submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday.

He disclosed that he had petitioned the Supreme Court for certiorari in order to overturn a decision made by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh to the court.

On July 13, Justice Ekue Yanzuh rejected a challenge brought by attorney Tsatsu Tsikata.

Gyakye Quayson’s attorney disputed some of Richard Takyi-testimony, Mensah’s claiming that the latter, who is the prosecution’s first witness, has firsthand knowledge of some of the allegations made.

Tsatsu Tsikata urged the court to strike eight paragraphs from the witness statement because she had objections to some parts of it.

The presiding court rejected the objection raised by attorney Tsatsu Tsikata after hearing arguments from both the defense attorney and the prosecution team, which was led by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa.

The prosecution’s first witness was expected to continue speaking on Wednesday after the case was recalled.

Tsatsu Tsikata objected to the witness’ statement, but he nonetheless informed the court about the move to overturn a prior ruling by the same.

“We have requested for an early hearing for the application and we had hoped to show a copy of the application but we were informed that the registry is waiting for a date to be provided by the Chief Justice for the hearing.

“In view of the application which is significant in respect of not only this particular witness but other witnesses that are scheduled to testify, we would respectfully request that the court await the determination of the Supreme Court on that matter, especially in order to avoid prejudice to the accused person by virtue of inadmissible testimony of a witness prejudicing a fair trial of this case as the constitution requires,” he told the court.

The prosecution voiced dissatisfaction about the defense attorney’s failure to serve them with a copy of the certiorari application or the hearing date, but not objecting to the defense attorney’s request.

In response, Mr. Tsikata claimed that despite his efforts to make the copy available, it is now not possible due to Supreme Court procedures.

Despite our best efforts, we are unable to bring it, he said.

Therefore, the case was postponed to October 18, 2022, with the sitting judge noting, “You have not shown me anything but I will accept your word for it.”

Ghana is going to IMF because our leaders are not thinking well – Kwesi Pratt Jr

Caleb Qwofi Right
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The Editor-in-Chief of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jr, has descended heavily on the Akufo-Addo government over the decision to seek an IMF bailout.

According to Kwesi Pratt Jnr, the country’s leaders kept repeating the mistakes that sent Ghana to IMF and it was time for them to think.

“Let us put on our thinking caps,” he admonished while making a public lecture at a public forum organised by the pressure group Arise Ghana.

The forum which was held at the GNAT Hall in Accra was on the theme “Ghana’s socio-economic outlook, the prospects of an IMF programme.”

According to the outspoken journalist, there were “no prospects in going to IMF” and added that the Bretton Woods institution has been an executioner of developing countries for many years and Ghana wasn’t an exception.

He said the fuel price hikes and food shortages in the country all pointed to the reality that those in leadership positions are not thinking.

“We have too many stupid leaders. Now somebody should tell me how the IMF is going to cure the stupidity of our leaders,” the press freedom advocate fumed.

“No country went to the IMF and got problems solved,” he stated and blamed the return to IMF on reckless borrowing on the part of the Akufo-Addo government which he said has refused to invest in homegrown policies to boost the economy.

“Guinea fowls are now imported from Denmark [to Ghana],” he added.

“Continuing to do things over and over again and expect different answers is madness,” he chastised.

He could not fathom why Ghanaians still import and buy second-hand clothes in the country after many years of attaining independence.

J. B. Danquah was stabbed by me with a jack knife – Sexy Dondon confesses

Caleb Qwofi Right
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A pen drive containing video admissions from the main suspect in the murder of the late Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu, was accepted into evidence by an Accra High Court.

The late MP was stabbed during a fight that broke out when Daniel Asiedu, alias Sexy Dondon, entered his Shaishie home on a robbery mission.

The suspect showed the investigators how he entered the deceased MP’s bedroom through his widow, according to a Dailyguidenetwork.com story seen by Countryghana.

A video was taken during the accused’s interrogation and a reconstruction of the crime scene in the late MP’s home both reveal information about his demonstration.

The court was informed, prior to the pendrive containing the recordings being brought into evidence, of Daniel Asiedu’s admission that a catapult and a metal cutter discovered in the MP’s bedroom belonged to him. According to information provided to the court, the suspect acknowledged using a catapult to scare away dogs before entering a home to conduct robbery while using a metal cutter to break through burglar-proof glass in windows that prevented him from entering the home.

“According to the first accused person (Asiedu), he did not use them because there were no dogs in the house and the windows were not having burglar-proof, so after the commission of the crime, he left them in the room of the deceased,” Chief Inspector Augustus Nkrumah, the case investigator told the court on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

Sexy Dondon, who has been accused with murder, was seen in the video that was played in court demonstrating to police detectives how he pushed himself through a metal fence and entered the house. The security guard who was on duty when he entered the residence, he claimed, was asleep.

The suspect also admitted to detectives that he had no prior knowledge of the late MP’s personality and had only chosen his room from among the other options on the property since it was the only one with a light on when he first arrived.

Daniel Adu claimed that the MP’s room’s glass pane was not locked, so he slid it open, went inside, and concealed next to a drawer where he took two cell phones.

He claimed that as he was going to leave the room, the sleeping MP saw him and woke up to switch off the television. The MP, according to him, yelled “thief, thief, thief.”

Then, he informed the jury that the suspect had firmly gripped the MP’s shirt at the neck, causing a fight between them.

Asiedu said that he stabbed the deceased MP with a jack knife during the battle, weakening him so that he was forced to sit on the floor next to the bed and was unable to shout for help.

Daniel Asiedu told investigators that he continued to search the room for valuables while the late MP sat helplessly and watched him do the searching.

During his reconstruction of the incident to the investigators, Daniel Asiedu in the video played in court visibly broke down, went on his knees, placed his elbows on the late MP’s bed, and said a prayer after which he made a sign of the cross before he continued the demonstration.

Counsel for the accused, Yaw Dankwa objected to the tendering of the video into evidence. He argued that the accused was under duress and at all material times was in handcuff, tortured and deprived of sleep and also did not have a lawyer present when the videos were shot.

The defense counsel’s argument was opposed by Sefakor Batse, a Principal State Attorney who said the accused was relaxed throughout the interrogation and the cuts on the accused as a result of struggling with the late MP while the one on his face as a result of putting his head through a metal fence with thorns around it.

The video was brought into evidence by the presiding court, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, who stated that the weight to be given to it depends on how the defense attorney for the accused responds to cross-examination.

At the age of 50, Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu passed away at his Shiashie Legon Home on February 9, 2016.

Many people discuss a video of six young boys eating from a trash bin

CALEB QWOFI RIGHT
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Internet users have been discussing a viral video that shows young kids between the ages of six and nine eating from trash bins. The video was seen by countryghana.
In the video, six young boys are seen consuming leftover food from a takeout container that has been dumped in an area where other bins’ trash has spilled over.

They were being urged to keep eating by a voice in the background that claimed to be the shooter, who also inquired as to whether they were looking in the trash for additional meat.

Since both the atmosphere and the food itself are unclean, the health effects of the meal’s source are concerning.

Watch the video below:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CgPOyvNriUG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
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