The total volume exchanged on the secondary bond market for Government of Ghana bonds rebounded by 19.01% week-on-week.

This reflected a market turnover of GH¢205.18 million.

The bond exchanges recorded for the week remained evenly spread across the front and the tail end of the LCY yield curve.

There were about 8% of transactions at the belly of the curve.

Analysts expect the February 2024 end-of-month portfolio adjustment by pension fund managers to augur favourably for bond exchange this week.

Meanwhile, yields fell sharply in February 2024 as the strong money market liquidity outweighed any upside risk from the unexpected uptick in the January 2024 inflation.

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Former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper has advised that to alleviate pressure on government budget, all Free SHSs should adopt day schooling exclusively.

According to him, the entrenched legacy of Free SHS in the system should transform a day school system rather than a boarding school system.

Speaking during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on March 4, he emphasised that no advanced country implements free secondary education with a boarding system.

“Tell me which advanced country has a free secondary education which comes with boarding with all fees and everything paid…the public schools are all day. Have not seen the old style boardination when government takes all the responsibility it is in enormous” he added

Mr. Terkper emphasised the advantages of Free SHS but recommended adopting a day system for students to ease the pressure on the government, considering the extensive responsibilities in education.

He said free SHS is a legacy, therefore it is important maintaining it, suggesting the government could have made boarding students pay to share responsibilities and ease the burden on the government.

The former Finance Minister emphasizes that with education being extensive, expecting the government to bear the entire responsibility of free SHS might not be beneficial for Ghana’s economy, especially considering its low-income status.

“Even the advanced countries do it through a day school system,” he said.

Background

Joy News sources have confirmed an acute shortage of food items in many Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country.

For months, parents, teachers, and stakeholders have raised concerns about the alleged shortcomings of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, specifically regarding the provision of three daily hot meals to SHS students free of charge.

After over seven years of policy implementation, President Akufo-Addo during the 2024 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Tuesday, February 27, emphasised the transformative impact of the Free SHS policy.

He called for an end to arguments against the policy, stating that its success should be acknowledged, and efforts should focus on improving it.

“Mr Speaker, Free SHS might be labelled by its detractors as a mere political slogan that must be demonised, but it is, in fact, a transformative programme that has broken myths and liberated minds.

“I am proud that the NPP government, under my leadership, has been able to bring this transformative policy into our education system.

“Mr Speaker, I believe the success of the Free SHS has answered its critics and the arguments about it should cease, and we should simply concentrate on finding ways to improve it.”

However, fresh details uncovered by Joy News suggest serious defects that could undermine the effective implementation of the Free SHS policy.

The Sissala East Municipal Director of Health Services in the Upper West region, Clifford Veng, has expressed worry over the lack of a mortuary for the Sissala East Municipal Hospital.

He stated that the lack of a mortuary at the facility forces authorities to keep corpses in undesignated places at the facility sometimes in same wards with patients and staff.

Clifford Veng disclosed this during the 2023 health performance conference of the Sissala East municipality at Tumu.

“When death occurs at the municipal hospital, the dead are supposed to be separated from the living immediately but in the case of our municipality, the situation is different.

“Corpses stay over 24 hours in undesignated areas pending the time relative will come for them,” he revealed.

He added, “When there is a death, some families need to preserve the deceased for some time to allow them to prepare adequately for the funeral rites hence the need for mortuary services with its benefits in the municipality.”

The 2023 Sissala East Municipal Health Sector performance review was held on the theme; ‘Of fostering collaboration: engaging stakeholders in reducing maternal and perinatal mortalities through a resilient healthcare system.’

Clifford Veng commended health workers and their stakeholders for the progress made over the years in delivering quality service to the people enumerating some successes chalked.

The Sissala East Municipal Director of Health Services opened up on the activities that they undertook during the year in review under review.

He said they conducted breast screening for adolescent girls in schools for early detection and management of cancer.

According to him, they also collected data to enumerate foreign migrants whose presence is increasing by the day affects resource allocation and their influx tends to affect the indicators that they have tirelessly worked to achieve over the years.

Apart from the challenge of not having a mortuary in the municipality, Clifford Veng also pencilled two other issues.

The municipal hospital X-ray machine is obsolete and as a result, now malfunctioning thereby producing poor quality imaging.

He mentioned the inadequate laboratory services for the people in the Sissala East.

The municipality has only three laboratories to take care of the hospital, eight health centres, a polyclinic and 52 community health planning(CHPS.

He pleaded for more laboratory survives to be established in the municipality.

Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive, Fuseini Yakubu Batong spoke of the unwavering commitment of government and the Sissala East municipality to improving the quality of health service delivery in the municipality..

Ghanaian musician and politician, Rex Omar, has expressed his willingness to accede to a political position if he is given the opportunity.

He made this statement in an interview on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z on Saturday, March 3, 2024.

Rex Omar, a staunch member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), explained that he would gladly accept the appointment if the task falls within his ambit.

“I will [accept a political appointment] because now I think I am of age and I think if I am given any appointment that is within my capacity, I will be able to contribute positively to the development of this country,” he told the host Kwame Dadzie.

Asked if he would want to hold a position at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, he answered that “when we get to that road, we will cross it because at the end of the day, all these positions are political appointments and so long as you are smart and intelligent and you know what is going on in this country, wherever they put you, you can deliver if you really want to.

Expressing his opinion on the state of Ghana’s democracy, the ‘Abiba’ hitmaker said governance of the country will be better if the term for the presidency is reviewed.

He said the current 4-year term is not enough for any government to make a meaningful impact on the economy.

“Because America does elections every four years, we also jump on the bandwagon but the question is, America’s democracy is over 200 years. We just started, okay. So look at our situation,” he said.

He suggested that a six-year term would give room for the government in power to perform creditably.

“I think it [the four years] is too much. I would have wished if we can go six years in one term. Because if you are given six years you use one year or one and half years to set up your government. If four years, five years you are not able to do anything it means you can’t do anything. There is no need for you to go for a second term.

The whole situation is, look at our scenario. After election, the first year is now that the government is being formed, the appointments and all these things. By the time the government settles to actually start to roll out its programme, you are getting to two years,” he added.

Rex Omar rose to prominence in 1989 with the Aware Pa album which also included the track, Wodofo Ne Hwan? Following this, in 1992 he formed Nakorex together with fellow highlife artistes Nat Brew (now Amandzeba) and Akosua Agyapong, the group’s name being an acronym made up of the first letters of each member’s name.

He later pursued a solo career, released great albums, performed in and outside Ghana, won a number of awards and earned nomination in Kora Awards in 2004.

Rex Omar has been hugely involved in activism for the music industry and has been instrumental in intellectual property administration.

The Principal of Margret Marquart Catholic Nursing Training College in Kpando in the Volta Region has urged graduates of the school to remain in Ghana and contribute to its development.

Francisca Nana Arthur said this while speaking in an interview with Adom News at the school’s 1st graduation and 4th matriculation ceremonies in Kpando

The college, which started on March, 15, 2021 with 49 students comprising 15 males and 34 females, now has a student population of 330 students, comprising 252 females and 78 males.

46 students of the first batch have graduated.

As the college enrolled its 2nd and 3rd batch of students and graduated the first batch of the school, she urged the graduates to stay in the country to work for mother Ghana as health practitioners.

She stressed that, everyone has a duty to contribute to the nation’s progress.

“It will be unlawful for the government to spend on you as health practitioners and after graduation, you leave your country to another country therefore, love your country and don’t be in a hurry to abandon it to go and develop another country” Ms. Arthur said.

The principal underscored the importance of integrity in the healthcare profession, emphasizing the value of truthfulness and integrity.

She urged the students to be fair, avoid discrimination and treat everyone with respect and dignity.

The overall best student, Fiakorme Bright Kweku in his address encouraged the students to be courageous and learn hard to achieve their aims and dreams in life.

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Reflecting on my journey through Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), I’ve come to recognize the profound impact that lighthearted memes and casual jokes about mental health can have on those who struggle with such conditions.

While memes often aim to bring levity, they can inadvertently trivialize the severity of mental health issues.

Imagine experiencing a stroke and losing control of your body—similarly, grappling with mental health challenges can feel like navigating a mind beyond your command.

Despite increased awareness about mental illness, there remains a pervasive lack of comprehensive understanding.

My personal journey began in February 2021, when I lost my father, Seidu Osman suddenly. The shock was overwhelming, leaving me unable to comprehend his absence.

Despite a complicated relationship, the reality of being fatherless hit me hard—I mourned the loss of future milestones we’d never share.

As I struggled to cope, I withdrew from social interactions, masking my pain to appear strong for my grieving mother, Mariam Ibrahim.

It wasn’t until I found myself isolated during school vacations that I realized something was amiss. I recognized I wasn’t depressed, but I certainly wasn’t okay.

After researching my symptoms, I discovered I was experiencing PTSD—a condition triggered by traumatic events.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.

The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions.

Symptoms may include nightmares or flashbacks, avoidance of situations that bring back the trauma, heightened reactivity to stimuli, anxiety, or depressed mood.

With the support of my sister, Samira Ibrahim who played the role of counselor, I began to navigate the complexities of my mental health.

However, fallout with a childhood friend in August 2022 reignited my struggles, prompting my sister to seek professional help.

Unfortunately, my mother’s lack of understanding made seeing a psychologist challenging.

Undeterred, we took matters into our own hands, seeking alternative methods to manage my symptoms.

Through self-education and guidance from supportive friends, I embarked on a journey of self-medication and coping mechanisms.

Despite the hurdles, my experience underscores the importance of taking PTSD seriously and providing adequate support and treatment to those in need.

There’s a pressing need for society to move beyond superficial awareness and engage in meaningful discussions about mental health disorders like PTSD.

By prioritizing education, de-stigmatization, and access to affordable treatment options, we can create a more supportive environment for individuals living with PTSD.

Reflecting on my experience, I urge readers to contemplate the impact of memes and lighthearted approaches to mental health.

While momentarily soothing, they often fail to acknowledge the severity of our struggles.

Together, let’s foster a culture of understanding and compassion—one where those grappling with mental health challenges can find the support they need to heal and thrive.

Farida Seidu is the writer of this article; she is a national service person with Adomonline.com.

The headmaster of Sokode Secondary Technical School (SOCTECH), Isaac Kofi Dzidzienyo has appealed to government to assist the school with infrastructure to help improve teaching and learning in the school.

According to him, the lack of classroom blocks, laboratories and ICT gadgets is negatively affecting the academic activities in the school.

He said due to the lack of classroom blocks, they have converted the school’s dining hall into a classroom that houses over 600 students.

Mr. Dzidzienyo made this call during a visit to the school by Adom News correspondent, Odehyeba Owusu Job.

The headmaster, therefore, seized the opportunity to appeal to the government, NGOs, individuals, stakeholders, and other benevolent organizations to come to the aid of the school by supporting them with computers and other laboratory equipment to help teaching and learning.

The former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged party members to work hard to win and retain power in the December general elections.

According to him, the NPP’s mantra of breaking the 8 is a must therefore, urged the party to work effortlessly towards that vision.

John Boadu specifically tasked the Regional and constituency Chairmen to work tirelessly to ensure the party retains power in the elections.

He made this call when he joined the NPP parliamentary candidate for Fanteakwa North Constituency, Kwame Appiah Kodua, party executives, and members in Begoro of the Eastern Region for a thanksgiving service after a successful parliamentary primary held in the area ahead of the general elections.

For his part, the parliamentary candidate for Fanteakwa North constituency, Kwame Appiah Kodua pledged to retain the seat for the NPP come December 7.

He also promised a violence-free campaign and appealed to party members to keep focused and work hard to win the polls.

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A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alfred George Kojo Thompson, has raised concerns about the potential consequences of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.

He questions if Ghana is prepared to face the economic repercussions of passing such a Bill since the country is still dependent on external support from the IMF.

Mr. Thompson speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Monday urged Ghanaians to consider all the consequences of passing the Bill and to focus on finding ways to address the issue at hand.

He indicated that, the repercussions of the Bill will affect Ghana’s economic future and self-sufficiency rather than political parties.

“Let us ask ourselves if we are ready to face the full consequences of passing the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill. Are we self-sufficient to the extent that we don’t need external help? We are still at the IMF, so it tells you that at the end of it all we are still dependent on IMF. If IMF says they are redrawing their support for Ghana, we won’t be also to sustain ourselves. Ghanaians have to be aware of all these consequences.

“We will have to face the full effect of our actions. It’s not about NPP and NDC. Yes, we are against LGBTQ+ activities but we have to look at how we can address the problems,” he said.

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Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev. Dr. Eric Adu-Gyamfi, has said the Council is taking neutral position regarding the recent passage of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill by Parliament.

He stressed their role as a mediator and highlighted the significance of impartiality in addressing such sensitive issues.

In an interview with Accra-based TV3 on Sunday, March 3, Rev. Adu-Gyamfi reiterated the Council’s impartial stance, despite receiving inquiries from stakeholders on the matter.

“We don’t have a position on the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill because we are mediators, we don’t take sides on issues like this. There are several issues that have come to us that people expected us to take sides, but realised it was important to remain neutral when they later came for conflict resolution.”

“We are waiting to see how things will unfold,so we know whether to mediate or intervene in the event of a conflict,” he said.

On February 28, 2024, Parliament approved legislation criminalizing LGBTQ activities and prohibiting their promotion, advocacy, and funding.

The Bill if approved by President Akufo-Addo will prosecute individuals found guilty of such acts and could face imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 3 years, while those involved in promoting or financing such activities could be sentenced to 3 to 5 years in prison.

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Former President John Mahama is in Abeokuta, Nigeria at the invitation of former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo to chair the launch and presentation of his new book titled, “The Art of Leading: Unconventional Wisdom from Biblical Leaders.”

Mr. Mahama will also be the Special Guest of Honour at a Grand Lecture at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library on March 05, to commemorate the 87th birthday of the former Nigerian President.

The lecture will be attended by many world leaders, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados and HE Danilo Turk, former President of Slovenia.

While in Nigeria, Mr Mahama, who is leading the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the 2024 elections, will also be the Special Guest of Honour at an event honouring Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank.

Dr Adesina will be presented with the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership at an awards presentation ceremony.

The theme for the ceremony is “Transformational leadership and good governance: Lessons from the Awolowo example.”

The father of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South Constituency in the Upper East Region, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has passed away.

Mr. Asikisimi passed away on March 3, 2024, at his home in Sandema.

This was announced in a Facebook post by the family spokesperson, Hon. Dr. Clement Apaak.

He said further details about his father’s funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.

During this difficult time, he has requested privacy for his family and urged the public to respect their grieving process.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of our father, Mr. Paul Asikisimi. Mr. Asikisimi passed on in the early hours of March 3, 2024, at his home in Sandema. He was surrounded by loved ones and immediate family when he transitioned peacefully. “

“The family will announce details of his funeral at the appropriate time. We call on the general public to respect the privacy of the family at this sorrowful time.”

See post below:

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The Electoral Commission (EC) has scheduled an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting for Thursday, March 7.

This is to address critical issues concerning the upcoming December 7, 2024 general elections.

In an official communication dated March 1, 2024, Deputy Chairperson for Corporate Services at the EC, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, invited political parties to the IPAC meeting.

Each party is requested to send three representatives.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 10:am in the IPAC room of the Electoral Commission and will focus on finalizing the Election 2024 programs.

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Nikki Haley has defeated Donald Trump in the Republican primary in Washington DC.

This is her first victory over the former President in the 2024 campaign to become the Republican presidential candidate.

She lost in South Carolina, her home state. But she is the first woman to win a Republican primary in US history.

Mr Trump however has a huge lead over Ms Haley and is likely to face Joe Biden in the November election.

The BBC’s US partner CBS reports that Ms Haley will receive all 19 Republican delegates who were up for grabs in Washington DC, giving her 43 delegates nationwide – well behind Mr Trump’s 247.

Ms Haley, a former US ambassador to the UN, won 62.9% of the vote, to Mr Trump’s 33.2%.

It is seen as a largely symbolic win, as the capital is a heavily Democrat-leaning jurisdiction, with only about 23,000 registered Republicans in the city.

Local party officials said 2,035 Republicans participated in the primary, the Washington Post reported.

Ms Haley’s campaign national spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said: “It’s not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos”.

The Trump Campaign, however, was quick to dismiss Ms Haley’s win, calling her the “Queen of the Swamp”.

“While Nikki has been soundly rejected throughout the rest of America, she was just crowned Queen of the Swamp by the lobbyists and DC insiders that want to protect the failed status quo. The swamp has claimed their queen,” Trump Campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said.

Mr Trump has dominated every state primary or caucus so far in the Republican campaign, and is poised to win more delegates this week, on Super Tuesday, when voters in 15 states and one US territory will nominate their candidate. It is the biggest day of nominating contests, with 874 Republican delegates’ support at stake.

Ms Haley has vowed to stay in the race until at least 5 March, when thousands of people in will cast their votes on Super Tuesday.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has paid glowing tribute to former President John Agyekum Kufuor for starting the construction of the University of Ghana Stadium, which was commissioned on Friday to host the African Games 2023.

The Kufuor government started the construction of the stadium in 2003, but subsequent administrations abandoned the project.

As part of the infrastructure to host the 13th African Games in Ghana, the government resumed construction, re-grassing it and changing the athletics tracks to World Athletics-certified tracks, as well as a standard warm-up athletics tracks beside the stadium.

Speaking at the commissioning of the stadium on Friday, March 1, 2024, Dr Bawumia acknowledged the immense contribution of President Kufuor’s Government, and other stakeholders.

“I am particularly excited about the completion of the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, with added facilities, due to its chequered history.

“As we all know, the construction of this stadium started under the government of His Excellency President J. A. Kufuor over 15 years ago,” he noted.

“However, the construction of this stadium was completely abandoned by successive governments, until our government assumed office and decided to resume construction and the result is the beautiful edifice we are commissiong.

“I would like to thank former President Kufuor, for his vision to build a stadium for University of Ghana, the GETFUND for providing the initial funding, to the University of Ghana and to all those who have played various roles to ensure the completion of the stadium.”

Dr Bawumia added that as the University of Ghana celebrates its landmark 75th Anniversary, “there could not have been a more fitting monument for the Anniversary.”

“This has come at the right time; to host the African Games and also as a befitting legacy to the University and its community,” the Vice President added.

Some 170 people including women and children have been “executed” in attacks on three villages in Burkina Faso, a public prosecutor has said.

Aly Benjamin Coulibaly appealed for witnesses to help find those who attacked Komsilga, Nordin and Soro.

Separately, army chiefs warned of the increased risk of attacks by militants, “including attacks on urban centres”.

The country’s army seized power in 2022, but more than a third of Burkina Faso is controlled by insurgents.

Mr Coulibaly said he had launched an investigation into the village attacks in Yatenga province on 25 February.

The AFP news agency reported that dozens of women and children were among the dead.

It was not known which group was behind the attacks.

They are not believed to be related to other recent violence – attacks on a church as well as a mosque and army bases – elsewhere in the country.

On Friday, the country’s army chief warned soldiers to stay vigilant due to an increased risk of suicide attacks by militants.

He said there were also “fears of a series of large-scale attacks” against security forces in cities.

Humanitarian workers say Burkina Faso is one of the world’s most-neglected crises.

Years of rampant insecurity has forced more than two million people from their homes, and the UN estimates that a quarter of all children under five have stunted growth resulting from hunger.

The military seized power two years ago promising to win the battle against rebels, yet the violence continues.

“The epicentre of terrorism has now conclusively shifted out of the Middle East and into the central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa,” said the Institute for Economics and Peacepicentere earlier this week.

The Sahel includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger among other nations.

President of the Accra College of Medicine, Professor Afua Adwoa Jectey Hesse has urged medical professionals to remain in the country and contribute to its rapid development.

She stressed that everyone had a duty to contribute to the nation’s progress, stating, “Love your country and don’t be in a hurry to abandon it to go and develop another country.”

Professor Hesse made these remarks during a White Coat ceremony held to induct students at the School of Medicine and Pharmacy of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, Volta Region, into their clinical year after successfully completing their pre-clinical training.

Addressing the theme, “The Path to Entrepreneurial Excellence in Healthcare,” she challenged the students to cultivate a mindset that would enable them to create job opportunities for themselves rather than relying solely on the government.

The President underscored the importance of integrity in the healthcare profession, emphasizing the value of truthfulness and integrity, stating that “what is right is right and what is wrong can never be right.”

She urged the students to be known for their fairness and to avoid discrimination based on social status or financial means, encouraging them to treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Furthermore, Professor Hesse advised the students to continuously add value to themselves, strive for excellence, and embrace creativity to seize opportunities that come their way.

Professor Lydia Aziato, Vice-Chancellor of the University, emphasized the importance of ethical principles in healthcare, noting that the white coat symbolized professionalism, compassion, and purity. She urged the students to dedicate themselves to their studies and training to acquire the necessary skills to become proficient healthcare workers.

Additionally, Prof. Aziato appealed for support to complete the University’s laboratory complex during the event.

Flights at Port-au-Prince airport in Haiti’s capital have been disrupted for the second straight day by heavy gunfire nearby, as the Caribbean nation grapples with surging gang violence and political instability.

The US Embassy in Haiti issued a security alert on Friday, warning of gunfire and disruptions to traffic near the domestic and international terminals of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, as well as surrounding areas including a hotel and the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police.

“The US Embassy is temporarily halting travel of official US personnel to the airport and instructing any US personnel at the airport to remain there,” the embassy said.

It comes a day after shootings erupted across Haiti’s capital, forcing flight cancellations and killing at least four people during an attack on a police station.

American Airlines said Thursday it had suspended its daily service between Miami and Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince.

“We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed,” spokesperson Laura Masvidal told CNN.

Haitian airline Sunrise Airways told CNN that it suspended “all flights until further notice to ensure the safety of passengers, ground crews, and aircraft.”

Rapid gunfire near the airport had “caused damage to some aircraft and endangered users” of the domestic terminal, according to Sunrise Airways.

A US flight carrying dozens of Haitian deportees was also canceled, according to a source with knowledge of the operation and a lawyer for one of the deportees.

Immigration lawyer Philip Issa told CNN on Friday that his client was removed and taken back to detention facilities after boarding the plane in Miami Thursday.

“It’s baffling that we’ve continued to deport people to Haiti when the conditions are so dire,” he said, while also complaining that US authorities had failed to provide food to the detainees or let them out since 4 p.m. the previous day.

CNN has reached out to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.

Surging gang violence

Haiti has been gripped by a wave of unrest and gang violence in recent years.

Warring gangs control much of Port-au-Prince, choking off vital supply lines to the rest of the country. Gang members have also terrorized the metropolitan population, forcing some 200,000 people to flee their homes amid waves of indiscriminate killing, kidnapping, arson and rape.

Some 1,100 people were killed, injured, or kidnapped in January alone, in what the United Nations called the most violent month in two years.

More than 8,400 people were victims of such violence through last year, according to a report from the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BIUH).

Waves of crime and violence began to sweep across Haiti following the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

Public frustration has mounted against Prime Minister Ariel Henry for his failure to put a lid on the unrest, especially after he failed to hold elections supposedly slated for last month, citing the escalating violence.

On Wednesday, Henry told other Caribbean nations’ leaders during a regional summit that he would hold polls no later than August 31 next year, his first confirmation on when a vote will finally go ahead.

Leaders from the CARICOM regional bloc – a political and economic grouping of 20 developing countries and mostly island states – said they agreed to dispatch a team to assess the electoral needs of Haiti.

A powerful Haitian gang leader said gun fights that broke out across Port-au-Prince on Thursday were aimed at overthrowing Henry’s government, multiple media outlets reported.

Jimmy Cherizier, known as “Barbecue,” said in a video shared on social media that the battle will “not only topple the Ariel [Henry] government,” but “change the whole system,” according to international news agencies and Haitian media. CNN cannot independently verify the video’s authenticity.

An attack on Bon Repos Police Station, north of Port-au-Prince, on Thursday left at least four people dead and three wounded, a security source told CNN.

Three other people were injured in separate attacks across the capital – one at the airport, a second near a prison in downtown Port-au-Prince, and a third inside the prison, the security source said.

The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo has outlined the National Democratic Congress (NDC) commitment to implementing an advanced digitalization system for Ghana if elected, surpassing current efforts led by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

During a public lecture organized by the Coalition for Restoration (CFR) at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on February 28, 2024, Mr Adongo stressed the need for a digitalization strategy that minimizes human intervention in public service delivery, reduces corruption, and combats crime.

Mr. Adongo criticized the government’s digitalization agenda as limited to “stand-alone improvement tools,” arguing that it has not significantly addressed corruption or improved efficiency.

“You said John Mahama was using manual rudimentary systems and you have come to digitalise. If you have come to digitalised, shouldn’t you be better than John Mahama in corruption perception? Your best, 43 is John Mahama’s worst – 43,” he stated.

Describing digitalization as the integration of digital technologies across society and the economy, Mr. Adongo highlighted its potential to enhance security systems, stimulate economic growth, and foster innovation.

He contrasted the NDC’s proposed digitalization system with current practices, envisioning a model akin to European standards, where police could access comprehensive public records during routine stops.

The lecture aimed to analyze Ghana’s economic performance under the current administration and outline the NDC’s proposed solutions, should they win the 2024 General Election.

Mr. Adongo credited past NDC administrations for transformative communication and infrastructure projects, pledging to implement economic interventions to bolster resilience, create jobs, and prioritize local participation across key sectors.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of responsible borrowing practices to prevent adverse impacts on citizens holding government bonds.

The Minority in Parliament has taken on the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for disconnecting the legislative arm of government from the national grid.

The Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Governs Kwame Agbodza was not enthused about comments by ECG boss, Samuel Dubik Mahama.

He indicated that, Parliament has not been able to pay electricity bills because the government has not released money to Parliament.

“The ECG boss was on TV yesterday boasting that they were doing their job by putting off people’s lights and Mr. Speaker I don’t think that is right. Parliament does not generate IGF, so we don’t have any extra money to pay ECG. If Parliament has not paid ECG, it’s simply because government have not released money to us,” he said.

Mr. Agbodza who is also the Minority Chief Whip urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin to asked the ECG boss to apologise.

But Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the ECG boss told him the disconnection was not deliberate.

Going forward, he said leadership would engage ECG management on the matter to prevent a recur.

“I think that leadership would have to engage the management of ECG on this matter. I also followed up on the interview but he refused all allegations. The House should be assured that we will follow up on this matter,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Minority also called for a briefing by the Minister for Energy, Mathew Opoku Prempeh on the recent electricity crisis.

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• Ghanaians don’t need ‘dumsor’ timetable – ECG [Audio]

The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama has apologised to Ghanaians for not effectively communicating the issues surrounding the recent power outages popularly called ‘dumsor’.

Mr. Mahama explained that, the power outages were caused by a maintenance issue and not due to a lack of fuel or generation capacity.

He acknowledged that, the company failed to communicate the issues effectively and asked for forgiveness.

Mr. Mahama speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, assured Ghanaians that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure that such outages do not recur in the future.

“We failed at communicating the issues but we are pleading for forgiveness. At that time, we were hoping that the issues would be resolved soon. The company isn’t happy with the lights going off so we are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen. We work with machines which can be disappointing sometimes. It was purely a maintenance issue, it has nothing to do with a lack of fuel or generation capacity,” he said.

The ECG boss also acknowledged the intermittent power outages in the Ashanti region.

He apologized to the people of the region and explained that, the outages were caused by an underground cable fault.

“Let me use this opportunity to apologise to the people of the Ashanti region. We had an underground cable fault in the region and someone had built on the particular place that was faulty so we had to make several adjustments which delayed the process,” he clarified.

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The Volta and Oti Regional Commander of Ghana Prisons, Raphael Tuekpe, has appealed to philanthropists and private individuals to support the facility.

The prison, according to him, is facing acute infrastructural and logistical challenges, which are affecting its operations and the upkeep of inmates.

In an interview with Adom News correspondent Odehyeba Owusu Job, DDP Raphael Tuekpe said although the government is doing its best for the inmates by providing them with food and other logistics, it is not enough.

He therefore appealed to the general public, churches, NGOs and other benevolent organizations to come to the aid of the Service by providing them with food and other logistics.

He made this appeal when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ho Central, Edem Kofi Kpotosu donated stationeries worth GH¢7,000 to the inmates at Ho Central Prisons.

On his part, the NDC parliamentary candidate called on the general public to support the upkeep of inmates since the designated ¢1.80p feeding fee for each inmate by the government was woefully inadequate.

Mr. Kpotosu said if the public can support the facility with cash or items throughout the year,  it will help improve the general well-being of prisoners.

He cautioned people not to always perceive inmates in a bad light.

“Once they find themselves there it is a correctional facility  but not a condemned facility so it’s always a step in the right direction to come around and show love Mr. Kpotosu said.”

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National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ho Central, Edem Kofi Kpotosu has donated stationery worth Gh¢7,000 to the Central Prison inmates to enhance teaching and learning.

The donated items include exercise books, pens, markers, among others.

Speaking in an interview with Adom News, Mr. Kpotosu said the donation is aimed at helping the inmates access education and improve their living conditions.

The Deputy Director and Commander of Ghana Prisons for Volta and Oti Region, Raphael Tuekpe, who received the items also told Adom News the donation was timely.

He expressed gratitude to the parliamentary candidate and was hopeful that the donation would be of great assistance.

He further appealed to institutions and development partners worldwide to come to their aid for speedy educational development.

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The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama has given the assurance that the company has enough installed power to supply businesses and households in the country.

He acknowledged some distribution challenges leading to recent outages, noting that the company was embarking on various maintenance operations and investing to ensure that Ghanaians had uninterruptible electricity for use.

“Right now, there is no supply issue; if there is to be any outages, it will be a local fault, which people must inform ECG staff immediately for them to fix it,” Mr Mahama said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday, March 1.

He, therefore, encouraged Ghanaians to help the ECG provide better services to all consumers by paying their bills promptly, adding that debt owed by consumers is affecting ECG’s operations.

When asked about the debt consumers owed ECG, he said: “At the moment, we’re on an exercise, so I can’t speak to the figure now, but even if you owe us GHS5, it will have an impact on us because it will add to the commercial loses. Payment is the way to go, so just pay your bills.”

Commenting on outages that were experienced across the country last week, the Managing Director said, ECG carried out such an operation to urgently save the country’s gas plant, worth some US$200 million.

“The gas plant had an emergency; the gas valve needed to be replaced, and because it is gas it took some time to replace. So, if you make a mistake and there is a fire outbreak you will lose an asset that is worth US$200 million,” he said.

He encouraged individuals and businesses to inform ECG when they put up new buildings so that the company could take the necessary steps to connect them properly to the national grid.

“People are building more houses, which comes with more electricity demands and new industries are also springing up, putting more demand on the grid, which is the main reason for us having an overload on the system,” he said.

“There are overloads in the system because we’re growing so fast, but it’s not a supply issue, but it’s attitude that has taken us to where we are now. We’re not able to inform ECG of our building projects for ECG to work towards it,” Mr Mahama said. 

“We’re in almost all the major cities, doing what we call intensification, especially in the new areas that are coming up for the middle-income families, including Tse-Addo, and Oyarifa, so we have no supply issues,” he said.

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Independent presidential aspirant and founder of the Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has promised to make Central Region, the new international financial services center across West Africa if elected President.

The move, he stated will position the region to be at par with Greater Accra and Eastern regions.

Alan Kyerematen made this commitment during his visit to Kasoa New Market on March 1, 2024.

He urged the people to for the first time ignore both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and vote massively for his movement to win power.

“Central Region has voted for the NPP and NDC for almost 32 years yet there is not enough development in the region. If I am voted into power, the Central region will become the new financial services center not only for Ghana but for the whole of West Africa. We have to get something that will also make the Central region rise among regions such as the Greater Accra and Eastern,” he said.

Watch video below:

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Former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nana Yaa Jantuah has said the current power outages, popularly called ‘dumsor’ is worst than what pertained in the erstwhile Mahama administration.

According to her, during Mahama tenure, the issue was with capacity but what is happening now is the Akufo-Addo government’s inability to buy gas to power the thermal plants.

the reason for the power outage is the low finances of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

“The power crisis now is even more dangerous than former President Mahama’s regime. Mahama has been able to solve the capacity issue so what is left for the NPP government to do is provide finances for the plants to be deployed. There is no electricity because the ECG’s finances are low,” she said in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Friday.

Nana Yaa Jantuah urged ECG to develop a load shedding timetable to reduce the pressure on grid.

“Because they don’t want to accept that this is dumsor, they take the lights out from a bulk supply point and that affects vast areas. If we had a timetable, the lights would go off from the transformers which would not affect a lot of areas” she added.

ALSO READ:

Ghanaians don’t need ‘dumsor’ timetable – ECG

ECG boss justifies disconnection in Parliament [Listen]

Dumsor: I nearly collapsed in elevator – Parliamentary staffer

The General Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), William Boateng has said Ghanaians don’t need a schedule for the ongoing power outages.

He explained that, there are working around the clock for a stable power supply soon.

Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem on Friday, Mr. Boateng said the current power outages is due to some technical issues with the generation company.

“We are having discussions and we don’t need a timetable. There are technical issues with the generation company so it is not permanent. We are expecting that the power will be stable as we go forward so a timetable isn’t needed,” he assured.

The ECG General Manager also explained that, a timetable is only required when ECG has been given an agreed quantum to shed.

He urged Ghanaians of ECG’s commitment to finding a permanent solution to the challenges.

“The timetable is only needed when the ECG has been given an agreed quantum to shed. We are pleading with Ghanaians that we are still working to resolve the issues and will inform the public in due course” Mr. Boateng added.

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The former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana emphasised the importance of President Akufo-Addo’s signing of the Anti-LGBTQ Bill.

According to Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, it is a matter of national concern requiring his decisive action.

He stated that while not all Ghanaians oppose LGBTQ+ rights, a significant consensus exists among traditional leaders, faith-based organizations, Christians, Muslims, and civil society groups against it.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Dr. Opuni Frimpong said Parliament has discussed and passed the bill, so President Akufo-Addo signing the bill is crucial for the nation.

“We are in election season; if the president keeps waiting at parliament, it will receive a national response. If the President does not sustain the process, and even if there is a long break before you are aware, the conversation will change, and the way we do things here will become political, and it would not help anybody,” on March 1, 2024.

Dr. Opuni-Frimpong expressed concern about moral issues dividing Ghana.

The clergyman further emphasized that while anyone could take LGBTQ matters to court or Parliament again, President Akufo-Addo must sign and complete the process.

“Ever since the past two and a half years, the issue has gone to Parliament. You realized that people became a bit calmer, and that is the cohesion I am talking about. Not everybody agrees, but there is a level of cohesion. If we wait a little bit, then the decision would come: which party would support it, which party does not support it, which MP supports it, and which MP does not support it.

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The Chief Executive of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), John Awuah, has said that there must a direct link between reduction in interest rates and improved economic environment.

He cautioned that banks cannot be forced to bring interest rates down when the economic fundamentals do not support such moves.

“Instances where the economy had turned around with some variables improving, the banks did moved quickly to review their rates. We should not try and get to that era where interest rates are forced down when it is not backed by the economic fundamentals”, he warned.

Mr. Awauh disclosed this on PM EXPRESS BUSINESS EDITION with host George Wiafe.

He argued that banks have always responded by reducing interest rates any time other macro-economic indicators improve.

“There have been several examples in the past which showed that when all these factors that influence interest rates drop, the banks have gone ahead to revise their rates”, he maintained.

Policy rate reduction and inflation rate   

The Monetary Policy Committee at its first meeting on January 23, 2023, cut the policy rate by 100 basis points to 29.0%. The inflation rate since July 2023 witnessed some significant drop until that marginal spike in January 2024.

Recalling some instances where the banks have reduced interest rates, Mr. Awuah pointed out that in times when the indicators have improved, financial institutions have used variable rates on loans.

“You should check with anyone who secured a facility at a variable rate and you realise that commercial banks in question have change their rates”, he added.

High interest rates and impact on commercial banks

The Bank of Ghana pegged average interest rates by the end of December 2023 at around 30.19%, from 25.51% in December 2022.

However, some analysts have described the rate as high posing financial challenges to businesses.

Responding to assertions that banks profit from high interest rates, Mr. Awuah argued that the high interest rates rather lead to high default rates.

“I don’t think it’s fair to link the profits that commercial banks are making purely to the high interest rates”, he stressed.

“For instance every, GH¢100 given out by commercial bank there is a likelihood that GH¢20 will not be paid back”, he added.

Interest rates in Ghana

The interbank weighted average rate remained well-aligned within the policy corridor by the end of 2023.

The weighted average rate increased to 30.19% in December 2023 from 25.51% in December 2022, in line with the monetary policy rate and supported by adjustments made in the cash reserve ratio.

The average lending rates of banks eased marginally to 33.75% in December 2023 from 35.58% a year earlier.

New Patriotic Party (NPP) members in the La Dadekotopon constituency have said they would not allow the party to impose a parliamentary candidate on them.

According to them, the selection of a parliamentary candidate should be done through a competitive process rather than imposition.

This comes on the back of speculation that the party leadership intends to declare and impose a “certain person” as the PC on the constituents.

The group at a press conference said a fair and respectful contest is the only viable way to foster unity to break the eight-year cycle.

The NPP members also stated that “taking a decision of imposition would deny the people of La the right to choose their own PC.”

“We hope and believe the party led by the National Chairman, Regional Party led by the Regional Chairman and Secretary will not fail the aspirations of the NPP fraternity in the La Dadekotopon Constituency to be involved and be part of the choice of their PC. We also will urge our Constituency Chairman for La Dadekotopon to assist and ensure that the right decision is taken” they added.

The City of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of America (USA), has officially declared March 2nd to be “Burna Boy Day” in recognition and celebration of the Nigerian musician’s contributions.

This was announced in an official statement by the Boston City Council, signed by Councillor Ruthzee Louijeune.

It highlighted Boston’s commitment to celebrating cultural diversity through various events, festivals, and community initiatives, acknowledging Burna Boy’s contributions as emblematic of this commitment.

“Boston’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating culture and diversity is evident in the range of cultural events, festivals, and community initiatives that showcase the city’s multicultural landscape; and Burna Boy’s legacy serves as a reminder of possibility, reminding us to continue amplifying voices that have long been silenced or overlooked; Now, therefore be it.

“That March 2, 2024, is designated Burna Boy Day in the City of Boston.” the statement read.

See statement below:

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The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has expressed dissatisfaction over President Akufo-Addo’s address on the conflict in Bawku.

President Nana Akufo-Addo in his State Of the Nation Address (SONA) expressed deep concerns regarding the expenditure incurred in resolving the Bawku conflict.

The President lamented that, the funds could have been invested in other developmental projects but were instead being used to ensure security in and around Bawku in the Upper East Region.

But, debating on the Address on the floor of the House, Mahama Ayariga said he expected the President to address the plight of residents who suffered from alleged military brutalities.

However, the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr Stephen Amoah, stated that, President Akufo-Addo demonstrated empathy and gave a sense of hope in his State of the Nation Address.

According to him, the Akufo-Addo administration has seen an improvement in the fight against corruption after initiating pragmatic measures to fight against the menace.

Dr. Stephen Amoah made these remarks during the debate on the floor of Parliament.

Touching on the issue of unemployment, the Nhyiaeso MP claimed, during the COVID-19 pandemic, government continued to pay public workers while private sector workers were losing their jobs.

He further argued that, the government through various policies is curbing the issue of unemployment.

Four people have lost their lives to Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in the Upper West region, with a total of 18 cases reported since January 2024.

Deputy Upper West Regional Director of Public Health, Dr. Collins Boateng Danquah confirmed this in an interview with the media.

He said five out of the 11 Municipalities and districts in the Upper West region have reported cases of the disease.

The Wa Municipality has reported the highest incidence, with six reported cases, followed by the Nandom Municipality and Wa West district, each recording four cases respectively.

The Jirapa Municipality reported three cases, while the Nadowli-Kaleo District has the lowest with only one case reported.

Dr. Collins Boateng Danquah stressed that, bacterial meningitis constitutes the predominant global burden of the disease.

He said in the Upper West region, children and the elderly, who have compromised immune systems, are particularly vulnerable.

Dr. Danquah urged the public to swiftly report symptoms like headaches, fever, neck pains, high temperatures, convulsions, and vomiting to the nearest health facility.

He further urged adherence to safety protocols such as regular handwashing and avoiding crowded areas.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service is proactively engaged in surveillance to promptly detect and treat cases.

The Minority in Parliament has urged the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to promptly release a schedule for the ongoing power outages commonly referred to as ‘dumsor’, to allow citizens better organize their daily activities.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament, the Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu, John Jinapor, said the persistent denial by government officials regarding the existence of load shedding could no longer suffice.

“We are reliably informed that dumsor will continue today at 12:00 and it’s only fair that Ghanaians are made aware,” he fumed.

Mr. Jinapor who is also the Minority spokesperson on Energy stated that, government is facing financial challenges which has hindered its ability to procure sufficient fuel to power certain thermal plants.

This, in turn, he added has resulted in challenges with electricity generation.

“The best this government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his vice Dr Mahamudu Bawumia can do is to publish the schedule of the ongoing dumsor so people can plan their lives,” he said.

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Residents of Anyaa Sowutuom in the Ga Central Municipal District of the Greater Accra Region are infuriated with government over the deplorable nature of their roads.

They are threatening to boycott this year’s elections if their demands are not met.

They argue that, despite the area being a stronghold of the NPP, all efforts to persuade government to fix the roads have been unsuccessful.

Agitated residents who shared their frustration on The People’s Forum, a segment on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, declared their intention to demonstrate against government.

“If you don’t fix our roads, we will demonstrate like never before. This is an NPP stronghold yet they have done nothing for us. If they don’t come and fix the road, we won’t vote in the elections. For the past four years since they constructed the gutters, they have not come back to the area,” an angry resident said.

Those who have decided to vote said they will vote massively against NPP.

“NPP has dominated the area for over 20 years. We will change that this year and vote for the NDC. The dust is badly affecting us, everyday people are being carried to the hospital. My sister lost her life 2 weeks ago because she inhaled this dust and has affected her lungs. I am an NPP person but I won’t vote again,” another person lamented.

They have, therefore, called on the government to prioritize the repair of the roads with utmost urgency ahead of the general elections.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has condemned President Akufo-Addo over what they describe as a “deliberate omission” of flood victims during his recent State of the Nation’s Address (SONA) to Parliament.

According to the group, the glaring oversight of the 40,000 vulnerable victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage reflects a “deliberate lack of empathy and commitment to the well-being of the countrymen.”

In a statement released on February 29, the NDC urged President Akufo-Addo to promptly address the issue and prioritise the needs of those affected by the flood disaster and tidal waves.

They further demanded that, the President takes immediate steps to provide relief aid, rehabilitate affected communities, and implement sustainable measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

Press release below:

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Thousands of supporters of Hajia Habibata Shani Mahama, a parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have taken to the streets of Yendi in the Northern region to demand a re-run of the parliamentary primaries held last month in the constituency.

This follows a disruption that occurred during the counting of ballots after voting in the January 27 parliamentary primaries.

Spokesperson for supporters of the MASLOC boss, Alhaji Mohammed Kpermsin said any decision by the party, other than a re-run would not be accepted.

He said they have given the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) a 7-day ultimatum to organize a re-run in the constituency or face their wrath.

Meanwhile, NPP leadership is still investigating the matter for the way forward.

Watch video below:

Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Stephen Adei, has criticised President Akufo-Addo’s efforts in addressing corruption.

According to the economist, President Akufo-Addo has not effectively tackled the issue.

In assessing President Akufo-Addo’s anti-corruption endeavours in comparison to those of previous presidents, the Economist gave the President a rating of five.

According to Prof. Adei, merely establishing anti-corruption institutions is insufficient; rather, the crucial factor lies in the determination to combat corruption.

During an interview on the JoyNews AM Show on Thursday, February 29, Prof. Adei emphasised the need for more comprehensive measures to address corruption under the current administration.

“I will rate him (President Akufo-Addo) about what other presidents had done and in that case, I will rate him five because I think he went upfront with these institutions and other things but did not follow through.”

“For example, I think no matter whatever institutions you establish, if the President who is the head of State says that when you smell corruption, you are going to be out of my sight, if you don’t do that, you can never tackle corruption,” he said.

Executive Director of the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), Benjamin Boakye says the public needs more information about the power outages to plan their lives and adjust accordingly.

Mr. Boakye said that the recent power outages have been caused by a combination of factors, including the shutdown of some power plants and a shortage of fuel.

Speaking on JoyNews, he stated that some of the plants relied on by the country are unable to provide stable power because there is a shortage of fuel.

“Some of the plants are down and you should know, working with the engineers, what the timelines look like for them to come back on stream. So tell us what the timelines look like and let people plan their lives,” he said on February 29, 2024.

Mr Boakye pointed to a management crisis within the power sector.

 He said that the Energy Commission needs to ensure that all the systems are working properly, as any failure in one part of the system can affect the entire system which would result in power outages.

According to him, Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), the company that manages the power grid, is not investing enough in updating and expanding the grid.

He stated that the growing population and development in the country is increasing the demand for power and in order to meet this growing demand, the government and GRIDCo need to make significant investments in expanding and strengthening the grid.

“If that investment is not happening, you will always have challenges and the tricks will keep happening and they don’t get the money to be able to sustain the investment in the grid.”

In addition, the executive director also stated that exports are being cut which is sustaining the state institutions.

 “So it is the export revenue that they use to pay salaries and survive and now that export revenue is not there because there is shortfall, they have to cut export and meet domestic demand so they don’t have money. The cash flow is impacted and that would affect GRIDCo and GRA even worse because they are not going to get the revenue they need to be as functional as we need them to be and that is a big problem,” he said.

Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has charged members of his campaign and manifesto teams to execute their duties with a united front to ensure victory in the 2024 general election.

The 2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said unity was crucial to the success of the Party in the elections.

“We are very aware that one of the keys to victory for NPP in 2024 is unity. It’s the most important key to victory. And so, putting together these committees we have taken cognizance, listening to advice of our elders to make sure that we do not leave anyone behind,” the Vice President said when he officially unveiled the committees in Accra on Wednesday, February 28.

The Campaign Committee is chaired by Dan Kweku Botwe, a former Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, while Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, a Member of Parliament for Suame, chairs the Manifesto Committee.

Dr Bawumia said the NPP had the ingredients to win the elections come December 7, indicating that the Party had the message, and the vision to propel the country towards economic growth.

He explained that, since the Party assumed office in 2017, it had outperformed its main opponents – the National Democratic Congress, in every sector.

“In terms of record, our record is superior, and we are going to put it out there for public scrutiny,” he said, adding that the vision of the Party had been “clearly laid out, and it will be reinforced by the manifesto”.

“We know where we want to take the country. We have the vision, and we have the idea, and we are trying to implement them,” he added.

The Vice President said the NDC had a “very blurred vision that they really don’t know where they want to take us that they are announcing promises of things that we have already done”.

Dr Bawumia said the formation and inauguration of the Campaign and Manifesto teams indicated the Party’s commitment to hit the campaign ground running.

“We have not wasted time in putting together our campaign team, we have not wasted time in putting together our manifesto teams and we are not going to waste any time in getting to campaign around the country,” he said.

Mr Botwe, Chairman of the Campaign Committee, said the goal of the team was to execute a campaign that would win the NPP the majority seat in Parliament and elect its Flagbearer as the President for the next four years.

To achieve that, he assured the Flagbearer and leadership of the Party of their commitment to work together with discipline and in a coordinated manner.

He also promised that they would use all resources available, both internally and externally, to ensure a successful campaign.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Chairman of the Manifesto Committee, urged members to put the interest of the Flagbearer and the Party above their personal interest.

“We are here to contribute our quota to shaping his (Dr Bawumia) own vision, and to work towards a common cause of winning the presidential and general election of December 7, 2024.

“Let everybody be part of this enterprise, a very noble one,” he urged.

Stephen Ntim, Chairman of NPP, tasked the committees to remain focused and avoid squabbles to ensure the Party achieved its objectives.

He pledged the Party and the Flagbearer’s readiness to provide support, logistically to ensure successful execution of their mandates.

The United States (US) Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer has condemned the passage of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill by Parliament.

According to her, the Bill infringes upon the basic human rights of Ghanaians and undermines their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press.

This was contained in an X post on the official page of the U.S. Embassy in Ghana on February 29.

The US Ambassador also stated that the Bill, if enacted, would affect Ghana’s economy and international reputation.

See tweet below:

"I am saddened because some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT. The bill Parliament passed takes away not only their basic human rights but those of all Ghanaians because it undermines their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of… https://t.co/DgCJ7qkpPl

— U.S. Embassy Ghana (@USEmbassyGhana) February 29, 2024

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The Deputy Minister-designate for the Energy Ministry, Collins Adomako-Mensah, has announced that the government is taking proactive measures to resolve the recent power disruptions experienced across the country within the next two weeks.

Former Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor has expressed apprehension regarding Ghana’s electricity generation capacity, challenging President Akufo-Addo’s assertion in Parliament of uninterrupted power supply over the past seven years.

The Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) has attributed the recent intermittent power outages to insufficient fuel supply and plans to collaborate with Independent Power Producers to identify solutions.

However, in an interview with the Parliamentary press corps on Wednesday, February 28, Mr. Adomako-Mensah assured the public of the government’s unwavering commitment to addressing the issue promptly.

He acknowledged the recent power outages and emphasised that efforts are underway to rectify the situation within the next two weeks.

“I admit that for the past two or three weeks, there have been some power outages, but it is interesting that the two-week power outages are causing the Minority to have a press conference. I am yet to fully settle into the [Energy] Ministry, but the little interaction that I have had with the officers in the Ministry before my vetting is that this should be taken care of in the next two weeks,” he said.

Dancehall artiste, Epixode has expressed willingness to create campaign songs for any political party that approaches him.

According to the musician, he will not hesitate to take such an offer regardless of the polarised nature of Ghanaian politics.

However, Epixode said he will reserve the right to compose the song devoid of interference from the political party.

He indicated that, he would only engage in projects that promote and inspire hope in the Ghanaian populace “not necessarily politics”.

Speaking on Joy Prime’s Celeb Biz, the dancehall artiste said; “There are disadvantages, but it is work. It’s only in this part of the world that celebrities are found wanted for making their political affiliations public. But if a political party comes to me for an anthem knowing that the message is positive, I would do it. Not to give the people hope and later be disappointed.”

Watch video below:

Parliament’s Appointments Committee is scheduled to vet the newly nominated ministers and deputies from Tuesday, March 5, to Tuesday, March 12.

Departing from his customary practice of maintaining ministers for prolonged periods, President Akufo-Addo conducted a significant cabinet overhaul in response to mounting pressure from various political parties, civil society groups, and even members of his own party.

This reshuffle, announced on Wednesday, February 14, affected approximately 12 current ministers, including 10 cabinet members and two regional ministers. Notably, Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta was among those removed from their positions.

President Akufo-Addo nominated certain deputy ministers to substantive ministerial roles, while others only migrated from one ministry to new ministries, and it is these individuals who will undergo the vetting process.

The timetable is outlined below:

Tuesday, March 5:

9 am: Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
10 am: Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources
11 am: Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development
12 pm: Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
2 pm: Darkoa Newman, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection

Thursday, March 7:

9 am: Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Health
10 am: Titus Glover, Minister-designate for the Greater Accra Region
11 am: Fatimatu Abubakar, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Information
2 pm: Daniel Machator, Minister-designate for the Oti Region

Friday, March 9:

9 am: Dr Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
10 am: Sylvester Tetteh, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Information
11 am: Charles Acheampong, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation
12 pm: Adelaide Ntim, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Health
2 pm: Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Health Ministry

Monday, March 11:

9 am: Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development
10 am: John Kobina Sanie, Deputy Minister-designate for the Energy Ministry
10 am: Collins Adomako Mensah, Deputy Minister-designate at the Energy Ministry
12 pm: Dr Prince Hamidu Armah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Works and Housing Ministry

Tuesday, March 12:

9 am: Kingsley Nyarko, Deputy Minister-designate for the Education Ministry
10 am: Festus Awuah Kwofie, Deputy Minister-designate for the Employment and Labour Ministry
11 am: Akwasi Konadu, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
Noon: Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Development

Former Ghana Blackstars captain, Asamoah Gyan has said that he is not worried about the criticisms he has received, following his appointment to serve on Dr Mahamadu Bawumia’s 2024 campaign team.

Asamoah Gyan says he has no concerns with what has been said about his affiliation with the New Patriotic Party.

He said this at the inauguration of the NPP’s Campaign Team for the 2024 general elections, at Alisa Hotel, when quizzed about the thoughts of his critics.

“They have their own opinions, I have been there [before]. I have been to stadiums, been booed in front of 80,000 people, I am used to it.”

“At the end of the day, the work shows. Sometimes, you go to the enemy’s territory and you come out with applause. I have confidence in myself and I know what I can do to help. I am here to help because of my 20 years of experience. I can’t just sit at home and keep it. I have to share with the new generation to benefit from it.

“At the end of the day when everything is said and done, we see what we did or what we couldn’t do. The criticisms will come. It is also good for me personally and for my team to push harder…”

Watch video below:

Background

Asamoah Gyan, earlier this month, was named on the Manifesto Committee of the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer for the 2024 elections to serve as the lead for the “Youth and Sports” manifesto sub-committee.

The former Ghana international is expected to contribute his knowledge on to the sports aspect of Dr Bawumia’s manifesto.

His acceptance to serve on Bawumia’s team has been received with mixed reactions from Ghanaians with some criticising the former Sunderland man.

The committee has been tasked to carry out a thorough review of the party’s previous manifestos from the 2016 and 2020 elections.

President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has said President Akufo-Addo subtly jabbed Vice President, Dr. Bawumia over his driver’s mate analogy during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament on Tuesday.

He said the President assuming full responsibility for the economic woes is a jab on Dr. Bawumia.

“The President taking full responsibility is coming on the back of conversations about Bawumia being the driver’s mate. If you critically look at his statement, he was subtly jabbing Bawumia” in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Wednesday.

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As part of activities to mark International Mother Language Day, the La Municipal Office of the NCCE in collaboration with UNESCO, Ghana Book Development Council, and the La Municipal Education Directorate (LaDMEO) organized a reading festival in the Ga language at the La Enobal Junior High School (JHS)

The day is celebrated on the 21st of February each year and has also been approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

This seeks to promote multilingual education in the mother tongue and is seen as a tool to cause social and inclusive transformation among the youth.

The Municipal Director of the NCCE in La, Emmanuel Mettle in his welcome address observed with grave concern the inability of the English Language to bridge the literacy gap and was thus imperative to formulate policies for the inclusion of Ghanaian Languages to promote better understanding in teaching and learning.

Mr. Torgbor Squire who served as a resource person for the program took the children through the forms of greeting in Ga as well as the brief history of the various traditional Ga towns.

He led the pupils to read a book captioned ‘Nileegbe 6”.

During the reading session, he explained certain keywords in the story and also urged them to make conscious efforts to observe punctuation when reading.

Mr Squire implored the students to always express themselves in their mother language since it was a reflection and sustenance of Ghana’s culture.

The program was held under the theme “Multilingual Education Is A Pillar of Intergenerational Learning”

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), popularly called stroke, has been identified as the leading cause of death at the Eastern Regional Hospital for the past three years.

This was revealed at the 2023 Annual Performance Review held in Koforidua by the medical superintendent at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw.

Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw noted that hypertension, premature birth, pneumonia, heart failure, kidney disease, chronic liver cirrhosis, liver disease, septicalmiaseptsis birth and asphyxia are also among the causes of death at the hospital.

He stressed on the need for public education and campaigns to raise awareness on these diseases and the steps that people can take to prevent them.

Dr Ampaw said, “we did mention that CV or strokes are the number one cause of mortality in the Eastern Regional Hospital and did also allude to the fact that when you look at the data, there is a shift in the pattern of mortality from communicable diseases, as we had, to non-communicable diseases.”

“What that means is that what kills people is not something that can be transferred to others. Lifestyle diseases such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and others have now taken the lead,” he added.

In response to the region’s health challenges, Dr. Ampaw stated that the hospital has taken steps to train staff members and address gaps in the healthcare system.

He indicated that the hospital is speeding up the process to replace some of the experience health workers who have left the institution to ensure quality healthcare service is provided.

Background

This comes after the Ghana Society of Cardiology said the high incidence of stroke among young people is being driven by unhealthy lifestyle choices and a lack of exercise.

The Society is intensifying its efforts to educate the public about the risks of unhealthy lifestyles and the importance of regular physical activity.

It is also advocating for individuals to get regular checkups to screen for cardiovascular diseases.

At an annual general scientific meeting, held in Accra on February 22, 2024, the Vice President of the Ghana Society of Cardiology, Dr. Francis Agyekum, said that cardiovascular diseases often go undetected because they are not associated with symptoms.

President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe wants boarding schools to be abolished.

He said Ghana should shift away from boarding schools towards a more localized, community-based education.

Franklin Cudjoe further called for boarding schools to be abolished.

“We should abolish boarding schools in Ghana. It’s outdated; instead, we should transition towards localized schools. In the UK, students attend schools within their vicinity, leading to concentrated efforts to develop and ensure quality education in the area. Banning boarding schools is the only way we can develop community-based schools” he said on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Wednesday.

The IMANI boss reiterated his call for a comprehensive review on the free Senior High Schools (SHS) policy.

“The condition of our Senior High Schools is bad. Students are living like refugees in our boarding schools. Therefore, a total review of the free SHS system is necessary” he added.

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Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the murders of well-known South African rapper Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA, and his close friend, celebrity chef and entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motshoane.

The two were gunned down outside a restaurant in Durban a year ago, in a killing that shocked South Africans.

Police said hitmen were paid to target AKA but no motive was revealed.

In his career, he had a string of hits including with Nigeria’s Burna Boy.

The suspects, all aged below 36, are due to appear in court on Thursday.

“It was clear that AKA was monitored from the airport and Tibz was not the intended target in the murder on Florida Road in Durban,” Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, said in a press briefing on Tuesday night.

“We know they were paid for this,” Lt Gen Mkwananzi added.

He said that the accused men played different roles in the plot to kill AKA.

The suspects who are behind bars include two gunmen who fired several rounds at the victims, three spotters who followed AKA from Durban’s airport, someone who sourced the firearms which were used in the ambush, as well as the mastermind.

Some of the suspects are also linked to other murder cases which are unrelated to these killings.

The police announced the arrest of six of the suspects on Tuesday evening. A seventh suspect was arrested on Wednesday morning, police told the BBC.

Police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said the seventh man was a 30-year-old South African citizen originally from KwaZulu-Natal province, and was believed to have been a spotter.

The two accused gunmen were found in a hideout in neighbouring Eswatini following a raid which was carried out by Interpol at the weekend.

They appeared at a magistrate’s court in Eswatini on Tuesday. Plans are under way to extradite the duo to face murder charges in South Africa.

Exhibits recovered during the arrests include four vehicles, firearms linked to the the murders of AKA and Motshoane and empty cartridges.

Police Minister Bheki Cele acknowledged that the killings of AKA and his friend, which was caught on CCTV cameras, disturbed many people in the country, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

“I hope South Africans will sleep better after this,” he said.

Reflecting on the motive that minister said it will “come out in court”.

“We are all interested to know what the motive was. It is very clear that it was not a case of someone waking up in the morning angry. You can see that in the build-up and co-ordination.”

AKA began his musical career as part of the rap group Entity before he launched his solo career, winning several awards in South Africa for his music.

He was also celebrated internationally, with several nominations for awards from Black Entertainment Television (BET) and MTV Europe. He received a posthumous honor at the BET Hip Hop Awards last year.