Ghana to be Blacklisted from EU Money Laundering List

                                                                                                       Photo credit: Presidency

    

The European Commission hints on removing Ghana from the list of countries that are deficient in Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing. This came to light when President Akufo Addo met with the President of the European Council, His Excellency Charles Michel as well as the European Commission as part of his two-day working visit to Brussels, Belgium. 

Whilst acknowledging Ghana for the laudable reforms laced with its sustainable and robust systems in place, the European Union was enthused at the strides made by Ghana in the implementation of its action plan and programs of the International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) in record time.

Here are details of the story contained in a press release signed by the Acting Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin

 

 Source: GBCs Isaac Asare

Life impact stories: Healing with Plants

An option to addressing health challenges in Ghana

Source : Praise Nutakor (Ms) UNDP / GBCs Isaac Asare

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being of all is essential to sustainable development. Enoch Keitu is a young Ghanaian who developed love for herbal medicines at a tender age because his mother, a traditional birth attendant has passed on a wealth of knowledge on herbal remedies. With his indigenous knowledge coupled with scientific knowledge, he is now providing solutions to health challenges with certified herbal medicines in Ghana.

Enoch was certified as a Medical Herbalist at age 26 after successfully completing professional qualifying examinations in plant medicine and a Bachelor of Science degree in Herbal Medicine from the University.

“I noticed that most of my seniors who had completed were not employed and my parent too were not financially sound. So, I decided to create my own employment with herbal medicines, starting with savings from my National Service allowance”, Enoch narrated.

From research, he realized that historically, it was a challenge getting good quality herbal medicines in Ghana. This is because standard operating procedures to document practices were absent as many traditional herbalists die with their knowledge without documentation, due to lack of formal education.

“I was determined to solve this problem by bringing in sustainable good quality, effective and affordable herbal medicines that stand the test of time”, he said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), traditional medicine backed with scientific methods, tools and guidelines can make a significant contribution to provide better access to medicines and achieving universal health coverage in Africa. In Ghana, about 70% of patients use herbal medicines, because these are accessible, available, affordable, culturally, and spiritually accepted, and have sociological values. So, the country has integrated traditional medicine and healing into the healthcare delivering system, to improve access to health services.  

A Volunteer Service with Mobile Clinic

“One day, I was very sad to see an 8-year-old boy with a chronic liver disease die, just because his caregivers did not pay attention and did not report the case to a health professional or facility in good time. I also witnessed a woman who died from kidney disease in a community and all these made me realize the extent  of work needed in the area of disease monitoring and prevention, so I started a mobile clinic in remote communities, using certified herbal medicines”.

As a certified Medical Herbalist, Enoch ventured into free community health sensitization, screening, giving referrals, and was managing some cases at a subsidized fee using certified herbal medicines from the Centre for Plant Medicines Research.

Partnerships

With the support of his lecturers at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), particularly Dr George Henry Sam, Enoch began researching and formulating herbal medicines right from his student days, through to his National Service times at the Department of Herbal Medicine at KNUST.  

He continued prototyping medicines from his kitchen after the national service but needed a standard production facility as part of requirements from the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) to get approval for commercial production. 

“I shared my vision with a friend, Edmund Amu, who is also a certified Medical Herbalist and he agreed to partner with me. With his support, we rented a facility from one of his relatives at a good rate”.

To realize the dream, Enoch and Edmund applied for support from the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) of the Government of Ghana, and received a grant. The fund, in addition to savings from the community volunteering case management services, was used to perform external examination of their prototyped products. They were also able to register with the FDA and got approval for two of their medicines, which gave birth to Kenoch HG Herbal Clinic Limited.

Thanks to support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Youth Authority (NYA), Enoch and Edmund were able to overcome the hurdle of equipping their production facility, which was a challenge after getting the FDA approval. UNDP and NYA carried out the Youth Innovation for Sustainable Development (YISD) Challenge, which supported young people with innovative business ideas with grants and business development services.  

“With the YISD support, we were able to equip the production factory. We bought the essential manufacturing equipment- a boiler, a reservoir with an automated mixer: which were locally made, a caping machine, and, also catered for the packaging. Now, we have the capacity to produce 2000 bottles of herbal medicines per production batch. Initially, we could produce only 25 bottles per production batch with our kitchen pots”, Enoch said.

In about two years of commercial production, Kenoch HG Herbal currently operates two clinics, one in Accra and the other in Techiman. They currently supply products to Government health facilities including the herbal clinics of Eastern Regional Hospital, Bekwai Municipal Hospital and more than 50 pharmacies and herbal shops across the country.

“The business development support under the YISD challenge was helpful in rethinking our business ideas. This also helped us to re-strategize our marketing approach. We started by giving out free trials to the hospitals and after they tried, they then called us for more supplies”, said Enoch.

The company’s certified products include Kenoch Bakta Fight Mixture which is produced to strengthen the body immunity to help fight bacterial and fungal infections, and Venoplus, an immune system booster they noted help with the proper function of the pancreas. The two young herbalists have 25 new prototyped herbal products which are yet to go through certification.   

“Most customers like the Kenoch products and buy these often because they said it works for them,” Alex Amankwa Adadei, a Herbal Pharmacist in Techiman stated.

With a standard production line, Kenoch HG Herbal currently employs 13 workers. Though business was good, sales have slowed down due to the impact of COVID-19. The vision of the two young entrepreneurs is to scale up production, so they can take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, to supply to other African countries. With more partnership, they can get a standard laboratory, complete installation of the current production plant with more equipment and acquire a distribution van for mass commercial services.

An integrated approach is needed to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supporting young entrepreneurs will help unlock innovative solutions towards sustainable development.

 

Cancel Africa's Debt; "Restructure Global Financial Architecture” – President Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo receiving pleasantries                                Photo credit: Gov.gh

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is calling for the restructuring of the global financial architecture so it can respond better to the needs of Africa, as well as the cancellation of debts owed by African countries, in the wake of COVID-19.

 Taking his turn to address the Summit on Financing African Economies, in Paris, France, on Tuesday, 18th May 2020, President Akufo-Addo noted that, the Bretton Woods Conference, which took place as World War II drew to a close, created a global financial architecture which, over the last 77 years, has proven to be unfavourable for Africa.

 According to the President, the economies of Europe, America, and Asia having grown significantly during that time, whilst those of Africa have not, attributing collateral damage from the Cold War, inequity in the global economic system, an economic relationship built on power and resource grab, as well as leadership and governance issues on the African continent, as issues confronting the continent.

 “These challenges have resulted in a global economic system that has proven to be incapable of supporting lives and livelihoods, and allocating sufficient long-term resources to support Africa's economic transformation,” President Akufo-Addo said.

 He noted further that Africa's development finance cost does not reflect its economic fundamentals, credit, or default cost, citing the case of Ghana where the country’s sovereign debt is more expensive than that of the similarly-rated Belarus, which pays some one hundred (100) basis points less than Ghana.

 The structural inequities confronting African economies, the President stressed, has been worsened by COVID-19, evidenced by the fact that a mere 2% of the 1.3 billion vaccine doses administered globally, at the end of April, were in Africa.

 “The pandemic has also ensured that the total fiscal deficit of Africa rose from 4.7% of GDP in 2019 to 8.7% in 2020; overall debt levels are also estimated to have increased from 57% of GDP in 2019 to 70% in 2021. Without the ‘fiscal room to breathe’, Africa could truly become ‘the forgotten continent, and that is why there is urgent need for comprehensive debt relief and debt cancellation,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

 He continued, “Just as the Bretton Woods institutions helped to rebuild the post-war global economy, and rekindled international economic cooperation, seventy-seven (77) years ago, there is now a historic opportunity to reset the global financial system's economic rules to give African countries an equal chance at development, in the wake of the pandemic.”

 The President, thus, proposed two solutions at the conference to help address the situation confronting the continent of Africa.

 Beyond the two pillars announced by President Macron, President Akufo-Addo suggested a third pillar, which should focus on the restructuring of the current global financial architecture to provide for access and equity to long-term finance to support economic transformation in Africa.

 “This should include the establishment of an African Stability Mechanism, akin to the European Stability Mechanism. The African Stability Mechanism will be a permanent firewall for Africa to safeguard and provide instant emergency access to financial assistance for countries in financial difficulty,” he added.

 The second solution proposed by the President is the bridging of the immediate liquidity and potential insolvency issues confronting the continent and its financial institutions.

 “I urge the IMF to on-lend twenty-five to thirty percent of new six hundred and fifty billion dollars (US$650 billion) SDRs, to support low and vulnerable middle-income countries before the 2021 annual meetings, increase IDA funding to strengthen the balance sheet of the World Bank, replenish the African Development Bank and Afreximbank to support investment in green investments, facilitate trade, and support the private sector to create jobs and build back better,” he added.

 With Africa, in 2050, becoming home to a quarter of the world's population, more than half of the global youth population, and, potentially, having a GDP of some twenty-nine trillion United States dollars, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that “it is, thus, in our collective interest to create the conditions that will enable such a development to be of benefit to the entire globe.”

Kofiasare@rocketmail.com/gov.gh

FDA allay fears of Covishield vaccination: Says benefit far exceeds risk

CEO of Food and Drugs Authority,  Delese Mimi Darko

Information from countries that have deployed millions of the second doses of Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (Covishield) has shown that side effects reported after the second dose of the jabs were milder with less frequent reports as compared to the aftermath of the first dose. In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Foods and Drugs Authority, Delese Mimi Darko, it was clear that Ghana’s vaccination programme against covid-19 happens to be the best and most effective way reducing deaths and severe illnesses against the pandemic.

Whilst encouraging the continued use of the vaccine, a joint Vaccine Safety Review Committee set up by the authority is urging those that are scheduled to receive their second dose of Covishield as planned by the Ghana Health Service beginning today May 19,2021 to prepare and take the second jab when the deployment begins. The Committee which has the mandate to review all reported side effects after vaccination held its meeting last Friday to assess reports received based on information currently available from the FDAs safety monitoring activities of Covishield as well as information from international sources.

 As contained in the statement, the joint committee says it was satisfied with its work and would recommend the continued use of the vaccine since the benefits far exceeds any risk the vaccine may pose. It said the authority will continue to monitor the safety of Covishield vaccinations and any other approved vaccine that will be deployed to fight the pandemic.

As of Thursday May 5, 2021, the Expanded Programme on Immunization had administered Eight Hundred and Fifty One Thousand, 647 doses of Covishield vaccine in Ghana with few mild side effects being reported. The common side effects which include pain at the injection site, headache, chills and fever are resolved within a day or two, hence the need for the general public to erase or put at rest any negative thought and misconceptions on the dose.

 

FDA Rel/Kofiasare@rocketmail.com/

AUCC and Knowledge Innovations announces Ghana’s first training course in Financial Technologies (FinTech) and Innovations.

 

The Sam E. Jonah School of Business (AUCC) and Knowledge Innovations are set to equip Ghanaian professionals with knowledge in Financial technologies in a three-day online training programme from 23rd to 26th June, 2021. The course, Professional Certificate in Financial Technologies (FinTech) and Innovations is designed to help participants take an advantage of the ever-growing Fintech market and innovate.

The course is tailored made for decision-makers, key management staff and senior executives from the Banking sector, Regulatory agencies, Public Service delivery, Finance, Micro finance & credits companies, Savings and loans firms, Credit union, Pension, FinTech Companies, Research Institutions and Donor Agencies.

The course delivery formats shall be live sessions with Presentation of key concepts by Course Directors/Facilitators, Discussion through the use of trigger questions, Group discussion, Review of articles, Case studies and Guest Speaker presentations.

Commenting on this course, Mr. Samuel O. Sackey, the Business Development and Admissions Manager at AUCC who is also the coordinator for short courses said “Participants are assured of learning and comprehension of how the fintech industry is structured and gain insight into future trends and development as well as discover the latest trends and development in the fintech industry to enable them rise and stay on top of the competition.”, he added.

Mr. Martin Awagah ,faculty director at Knowledge Innovations added, “the training will provide insights into emerging technologies like mobile money services, pension tech, insurance tech, machine learning, big data, and artificial intelligence and the discovery of new ideas on how professionals can utilize the power of Fintech to drive business growth and profitability.”

FinTech is shaping our financial system’s foundation, bringing in its wake innovations and changing how end-users interact with financial services. The global FinTech market is valued at over USD 309.98 billion, with ever growing number of operators worldwide offering a variety of services. Innovations in FinTech is creating new opportunities for companies and driving new business model for existing ones. Therefore, recent entrants and existing companies are obligated to invest in strategy, human capital, and resources, which are needed for them to take advantage of numerous fintech opportunities.

The course faculty and guest speakers are made up of exceptional and world-class thought leaders drawn from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, the Caribbean and Nigeria who have come to the course with both in-depth theoretical and practical experiences to ensure the learning journey is supported with the strategic insights you need to succeed in a rapidly evolving FinTech industry.

Source: AUCC Sam Jonah School of Business

COP hands over 300-bed capacity prison infrastructure to inmates at Ejura

In partial fulfilment of its Corporate Social Responsibility, the Church of Pentecost has officially handed over an expanded 300-capacity Ejura Camp Prison to the Ghana Prisons Service after an inaugural ceremony held at Ejura Nkwanta in the Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region. The Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Derry, was present to grace the occasion. 

The project valued at the cost three million Ghana credits is expected to ease congestion and bring some relief to the inmates. 

 

 The expanded project which was in pursuant of the service’s 10-year strategic plan in 2018 commenced with the construction of a one cell to fifty inmates block came to a standstill due to financial constraints. 

 

In view of this the service took steps to acquire an old structure that served as a clinic for renovation which in the latter became the holding cell and Administration block for the first batch of inmates dispatched from Kumasi. 

 

Realizing the difficulty in making up for the desired finances to complete the project, it sought the assistance of other benevolent organizations which yielded no results. Through the distress call, the Church of Pentecost responded positively and resolved to bare  almost the entire cost of the expansion works with the aim of giving back to the community. 

 

The project, now the Ejura Camp Prisons has been built to specification and standards of the Ghana Prisons Service. It began 3-years ago and has the capacity to house between 50-300 inmates at a goal due to the expansion. The edifice can boast of an well resourced administration block with two dormitories, an infirmary, a lodge for visitors, a convertible auditorium for social and  church activities and skills training workshop. There is also a football field for inmates'  recreation, a toilet and other ancillaries. 

 

Addressing the gathering to officially inaugurate the project, an official of the State Protocol at the Presidency who doubles as the Chief of Ejura, Barima Osei Hwedie, hinted that the land was given out to the management of the Ghana Prisons Service at no cost and wished that the youth of the area would be made to benefit from the project by way of employment. 

 

For his part, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye,  re emphasized the church’s commitment to providing for the wellbeing of those in need. He added that the church has dedicated itself to that cause and has over the years extended its benevolence in the provision of  social services not only to the Ghana Prisons Service by the Ghana Police Service and the state in general. 

 

The Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Patrick Darko Missah, who acknowledged the gesture recounted the long bond of  partnership between the service and the church, stressing that the level of  support from the church has come to cement that bond which he hoped could be sustained for years to come. 

 

The Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Derry who was the guest of honour expressed government’s desire to partner faith based institutions in complementing its development efforts, which he noted was key to actualising the public-private partnership agreement. He urged other institutions to emulate the gesture for the sake of growth and development. 

 

Source: kofiasare@rocketmail,com

 

 

Caleb's Arrest: Apologetic GJA President begs for forgiveness over comments

Mr. Roland Affail Monney, GJA President 

President of the Ghana Journalists Association, GJA, Roland Affail Monney says the degree of intimidation against the entire staff and management of CITI FM by National Security Operatives  in their attempt to cause the arrest of its reporters, Caleb Kuda and Zoe Abu Baidoo Addo was an affront to their freedom as journalists.

“The intrinsic value and inherit dignity of the two as human being were blatantly abused”.
Whilst calling for an end to attacks, threats and hostilities against media practitioners, Mr Monney challenged the Committee of Enquiry set up by the Ministry of National Security to expedite action by running a full scale investigation into the issue devoid of any impartiality.

He added that findings and recommendations should also be implemented with  urgent celerity to give meaning to the country’s motto mantra “the land of freedom and justice”. According to the GJA President, the “massive” invasion preceding the  conduct of the national security operatives should not be entertained since it could exert a significant chilling effect on the media landscape.

Briefing the media in reaction to his earlier comments made via an Accra based radio station Joy Fm, which he described as “misimpression” Mr Monney remorsefully admitted that he erred by being insensitive to the plight of the affected journalists.

He however condemned the attack and expressed his deepest apology for his ‘scanty” assumptions, stressing that he is not in anyway justifying the excessive force and intimidatory tactics against the victims.

 Explaining further, Mr Monney indicated that his earlier submission which sought to condemn over the attack on the two went unnoticed but rather swept under the carpet while his comment on Caleb’s “ethical breach” and style was overly highlighted, obviously to achieve certain sensational ends.

He noted that as former school leader and an advocate of justice, it is only important, fair and healthy for a free society like ours to allow for varied viewpoints to be manifestly venerated and  not maliciously castigated.

Story by GBCs Isaac Asare

Sacked MMDCES: Ministry debunks claim

 

The office of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council has des credit claims on stories making waves via social media handles to the effect that all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives MMDCEs are to vacate their post and hand over to their respective Coordinating Directors by close of Thursday May 20,2021. 

 

The development has sparked varied reactions from section of the public including political actors and pundits with some describing the said move as harsh and unacceptable. The Ministry of  Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development by this assertion  has issued a disclaimer instructing all MMDCEs to disregard such unsubstantiated statements and remain at post as per the Presidential Directive referenced SCR/DA 39/314/0 on January 11, 2021. 

 

Signed by the Chief Director, Ms Felicia Dapaah and copied to the Chief of Staff, the directive is advising the general public to stop peddling falsehood in order not to misinform others. 

 

Below is a copy of the disclaimer 

 

                 Copy of the disclaimer 

                 Story by : GBCs Isaac Asare

UER: Muslims Urged to Give Zakat-Fitr to the less privileged

 Orthodox Muslims and other muslim sects including the Ahmadis, Tijanias, and Alhasuna-Wal Jamal today converged on the various mosques across the region to offer prayers to Allah for a successful fasting season instead of the usual NAFAC grounds. The change was to enable Muslims adhere to the covid-19 safety protocols. 

The prayers were observed at the various mosques under a strict covid-19 safety protocol.  

At the central Mosque in Bolgatanga, capital of the Upper East region, Muslims were advised to tolerate another people’s faith. It was observed that Ramadan is a tool to fight the forces of Satan, social exclusiveness, intolerance of dissenting opinions and therefore promote the love for every human being irrespective of religious, political, ethnic or whatever differences. 

The Upper East Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Yusiff Adams, said the ability to tolerate each other’s views constitute Jihad in Islam. He explained that Jihad is not the suicide bombing or attacking of innocent people in the name of Islam, as they witness every day around the globe. 

He said Jihad is promoting peace, logic and practice moral and spiritual uprightness. He prayed for the President and his Vice and appealed to residents in the region and the country at large to live in harmony.

Speaking to GBC NEWS, the Deputy Upper East Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Mohammed Tahiru Saeed, reminded Muslims to adhere strictly to the virtues of the Holy Prophet Mohammed and be inspired by the spirit of unity and social belonging to resist temptations.

 He however, implored Muslim youth to refrain from all negative tendencies to change the long-held perception that Zongo youth are violent and indiscipline. 

 Addressing the congregation, the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, called on Muslims in the region to give Zakat fitr to the less privileged in society. He reiterated government’s commitment to improving the lives of people that resides in Zongo communities in the country. 

Mr. Yakubu described the month of Ramadan as a tool to fight the forces of the devil. 

All present were other religious faith in the region to share in the joy of their Muslim brothers and sisters.

GBC NEWS                                         

Bolgatanga : Sudden Hike in Foodstuffs due to Covid

A visit to the market in the Bolgatanga Municipality revealed that prices of goods had been increased astronomically due to the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the end of the one month Ramadan being one of the pillars of Islam.

 

A cost of guinea fowl sold at forty Cedis  is now increased by one hundred percent and sold at eighty Cedis. 

Those bought at thirty-five Cedis were yesterday being purchased between sixty and seventy Cedis. Some of the Muslims were surprised about the sharp increase of the prices of goats, sheep and guinea fowls and appealed to traders to refrain from using seasons to sell things at cut--throat prices to their customers.

 

GBCs Isaac Asare

UER: Students of Bolgatanga Sirigu SHS agitate over inadequate school infrastructure

 

         Aggrieved students pouring out their displeasure

Students of Bolgatanga Sirigu Senior High School yesterday stormed the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to register their displeasure over what they described as total neglect and unfair treatment on the part of the government and the school authorities to address their existing infrastructure deficit faced by the school after numerous calls.   

They said the school was lagging behind in terms of adequate school infrastructure including furniture and accommodation which are supposed to create an enabling environment for effective teaching and learning. According to them, the school on the contrary is faced with infrastructure challenges, thereby hampering academic work.

They also expressed concern over congestion at the school with authorities resorting to the practice of combined class especially for the final year students to have tuition for their core subjects while their electives are often taking care of later. Speaking to GBC URA Radio in Bolgatanga, they lamented that the situation was affecting the final year students who sit in the classroom without observing the social distance protocol.

 The students presented their petition to the Municipal Education Director, Estella Kyeebo in the presence of the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Joseph Amiyuure Atura.

 In reaction, Madam Kyeebo said although the the timing for the protest was wrong considering the situation the country finds itself, they should be rest assured that the petition will be forwarded to the Regional Director of Education for consideration. She advised the irate students to employ other alternatives in seeking redress and not resort to protests since such actions could escalate to violent behaviours. 

For his part, the Municipal Chief Executive, disclosed that even though it is not within the mandate of the assembly to put up infrastructure for Senior High Schools, he as an indigene has initiate the commencement of a 3-Unit Classroom Block for the school with financial support by GETFund to ameliorate its infrastructure deficit. 

Mr Amiyuure Atura again pledged to give the school a facelift and further see to its logistics and infrastructural needs. He reiterated the existence of the global pandemic of COVID 19 and discouraged the practice of massing up to protest as it is a recipe for spread of the virus.

 

GBCs Isaac Asare                 END

Negotiations on demand for salary increment underway: PSWU

 

The National Officers of the Public Sector Workers Union, PSWU, of the Trades Union Congress, TUC is calling for calm among members of the umbrella body as renewed negotiations with government are ongoing to resolve the issue of low wages within the the public sector. The assurance was given when leadership met yesterday to dispatch with the business of the union. 

The concern of members about delays in negotiations of the National Minimum Wage, NMW, and Base Pay for the year was central to the issues discussed at the meeting. This is against the background of recent tax increments and hikes in levies and fuel prices, which undoubtedly has been a major contributory factor to the rising cost of living, thus increasing pressure on the relatively low wages within the sector. 

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Bernard Adjei, and copied to National Executive Council Members as well as its staff, Divisional and Branch Executives raised valid points indicating its resolve and true commitment to the resolution of the National Executive Council, NEC passed on March 4, 2021 relating to the subject matter.

 The statement stressed that though call for the meeting involving the National Tripartite Committee to commence negotiations on the minimum wage is quite debatable, negotiations is currently underway following the level of displeasure expressed during the May Day Celebrations, with particular reference to the union’s inability to assure salary increases for 2021.

 It said leadership attaches great importance to the clarion call and have to that effect met to discuss concerns for immediate redress.  For the emphasis of clarity, all the umbrella unions of the PSWU unanimously demanded an increment in salaries, same of which was communicated on May 6, 2021 to the Secretary General of the TUC, a position which is expected to reflect in all engagements with government and other key stakeholders. 

PSWU per the proposed salary increment is working with the leadership of the said public sector unions within the TUC to press home its demands with the expectation that the issues will be resolved and concluded at the shortest possible time.  It is by this assurance calling on members to remain composed while it takes steps to pursue these concerns in furtherance of NECs position.

 

GBCs Isaac Asare/ PSWU Rel 

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Information Minister Reacts to Perceived Culture of Silence in Ghana

 

              Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah

The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has described as false the perception being held by a section of the public to the effect that there is a return to the culture of silence in the country is not true.

Responding to  questions at an interactive session with Journalists at Wa in the Upper West Region, Mr. Nkrumah said government has rather been creating more conducive atmosphere for the media to thrive. He cited the passage of the Information Act as one of the commitments of government to enhance media freedom.

The Information Minister said people need to be tolerant of views they disagree with instead of branding it as culture of silence.

On  the closure of some radio and television stations by the National Communication Authority, NCA  for lack of authorization, the Information Minister said that should not be misconstrued as a return to the culture of silence.

GBCs Isaac Asare

GJA Slapped With A Writ Ahead Of Upcoming Elections

The Ghana Journalists' Association, GJA has been ordered to appear before an Accra High Court within eight days following a writ against it by one Caroline Boateng. 

Ms Boateng, the plaintiff is claiming an order against the President of the GJA, Dr. Roland Affail Monney, the Executive Council and the Election Committee of the association. 

She is also restraining the executives  from holding themselves as officers.  

The writ issued yesterday by Emmanuel Maurice Ankrah who doubles as lawyer for the plaintiff  is further seeking for the appointment of an Interim Management Committee.

To this effect, the plaintiff is asking the court to declare all actions of the Ghana Journalists' Association from the 17th of November last year to date null and void.  

The new development has been greeted with mixed reactions from a section of the media with some describing it as needless and unfortunate especially at a time when all prospective candidates are through with their respective filing of nominations awaiting the date of the election. 

Story by GBCs Isaac Asare