The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has commissioned a Community ICT Centre at Tolon, in the Northern Region.
The ICT Lab forms part of projects under the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications, (GIFEC), which help provide opportunities and facilities to bridge the digital gap in the country.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful commissioning the Centre said that, capacity building was the most important component of digitization and there is the need to equip institutions with the requisite tools to train people to gain the required knowledge relevant to technology in the society.
She called on the public to make the use of technology a necessity and utilize the skills impacted unto them.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to making ICT easily accessible to all communities in the country.
The CIC is equipped with:
▪︎15 computers
▪︎15 UPS
▪︎15 computer
▪︎Furniture
▪︎One Executive Office Furniture
▪︎A Projector
▪︎ One Television
▪︎Scanner
▪︎Photocopy Machine
▪︎ Printer
▪︎ Internet
RANGE OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CIC
●Free access to ICT facilities by school children
●ICT Training Services
●Entrepreneurial Training Programs solely for artisans, entrepreneurs, unemployed youth, or anyone interested in learning digitalisation in business.
●Secretarial Services
●Internet Services
●Conference/Training Room Rental Services
●E-Government Services
●Parcel Delivery, Pick-up, and E-Commerce Support Service
●E-Financial Services
●Photo studio services
●Hardware Repairs & Software Installation
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), has commended the Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Mr Osei Assibey Antwi for his sterling leadership since his appointment to the NSS office.
According to NUGS, Mr Osei Assibey’s outstanding performance as the head of NSS in his few months in office has brought about major positive changes in the lives of National Service Personnel in Ghana.
The National Secretary for NUGS, Mr Ransford Turge in an exclusive interview with OTEC News reporter, Jacob Agyenim Boateng, on Sunday July 30, 2023 described the former Kumasi Mayor as an open dynamic leader, who strives to achieve the best for his country.
“Mr Osei Assibey Antwi after assuming office as NSS Director has been operating an open door policy where he listens to all stakeholders in the NSS ecosystem and makes the best out of the suggestions he receives”
“He has never for once rejected NUGS attempts to meet him for round table discussions on issues affecting students and NSS personnel in the country”
“He always makes time for us, for the countless times we knocked the doors of his office, he opened and gives us the needed information we sought for, so if you see people commending government for the recent achievements at the NSS office, I think it is because of the current management “
Mr Ransford Turge was reacting to the recent increment of allowance for National Service Personnel in Ghana.
Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) on July 23, 2023, announced government’s approval for upward adjustment of monthly allowances for national service personnel from GH¢599.04 to GH¢715.57.
The increment according to NSS management came as a result of a series of engagements between the National Service Scheme, Fair Wages, and Salary Commission, and the Ministry of Finance.
Following the announcement, NUGS has commended government for the increment, adding that, it will help Ghanaian youth who will go for their National service duties to make ends meet.
History of NSS allowance increments
Government in December 2016 approved GHC559.04 to be paid to National Service Personnel as a monthly allowance (starting January 1, 2017).
The reviewed amount represented a 60 per cent increment of GH₵350 which personnel were receiving at the time.
In January 2014, the National Service Scheme allowance increased to GH₵350.00 from GH₵243.48.
The Education Ministry has announced that it would not interfere in any investigations being undertaken by any state institution interested in the recent bullying incident at Adisadel College in Cape Coast.
The Deputy Minister for Education, in charge of General Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who announced this explained that although the Ministry and the Ghana Education Service have their regulations on resolving issues, they would however not hinder any other state institutions interested in investigating the issue.
Hon.Ntim Fordjour
Rev. Ntim Fordjour announced this when he interacted with the staff and management of Adisadel College in Accra on Thursday.
Minister’s Entourage
The Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Director General of GES, Mr Stephen Kwaku Owusu, the Central Regional Director of Education, Mr Emmanuel Essuman and others
Rev. Ntim Fordjour explained that there was the need for all Ghanaians irrespective of age and location to understand that there are laws governing the behaviour and conduct of every Ghanaian so there was the need for people to be mindful of how they conduct themselves.
The laws must work
He stated that apart from the general laws binding all adults, there were also laws governing juveniles’ behaviour and therefore reminded all residents in the country to watch how they behaved at every point in time.
The Deputy Minister stated that “it is time all students across the country have a paradigm shift on bullying and general indiscipline, having in mind that every action has consequences under the law.
He urged the staff and management of the school to be extra vigilant and ensure high standard of discipline is established on the campus.
The Education Ministry and the Ghana Education Service have been offering a psycho-social counselling service to all the students involved in the recent bullying incident at Adisadel College in Cape Coast.
The move is geared towards making sure that all the seven final-year students involved in the incident had the right frame of mind to prepare for their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) scheduled to start next week.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Education, in charge of General Education, who disclosed this on Thursday said, the Psychologists who have been engaging the students would be with them for some time until they realize that they were okay.
He was addressing the students of Adisadel College on Thursday when he led a delegation from the Education Ministry and the Ghana Education Service to the school.
The delegation first met the school’s management, the counsellors and the seven students involved, the student body and later met the teaching and non-teaching staff.
Break the culture of silence
“This incident should lead to a change in the culture of silence in schools which makes it very difficult for students to report issues concerning them to their school authorities for fear of being intimidated”. Rev. Ntim Fordjour said.
He advised the students in the country to learn something from the bullying incident at Adisadel and make sure never again in the history of the country should any school record any such event and rather aim high to set excellent academic records for the school.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour reminded the students to be mindful of the need to be law-abiding and desist from practices which stood the chance of bringing them face-to-face with the laws of the country.
“We are here to encourage you to study hard, do not let the recent incident frighten you. Put it behind you and think about what the future hold for you”. He said.
The Deputy Minster reminded the students of the need to remain focused on their studies so they could excel in the upcoming examination.
Source: tntnewspapergh.com
The Coalition of Small Business Owners (CSBO) is urging Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to suspend the taxes imposed on Lottery and Sports Betting companies and their customers.
This follows the announcement of 20% and 10% taxes on the revenue of Lottery/Sports Betting Companies and winnings respectively.
According to the convener of the group, Justice Ayeh Donkor, the lottery and sports betting taxes are undermining private sector growth and collapsing businesses.
Since assuming office in 2016, the Akufo-Addo-led government has introduced about 22 taxes, this, the group argues has created a hostile business environment which is affecting the private sector.
“Government is becoming highly insensitive to the plight of businessmen in the country. The 20% and 10% taxes on Lottery/Sports Betting would go a long way to collapse the business of the National Lottery Authority and Lotto Marketing Companies,” he stressed.
In 2015, a withholding tax of 5%, under Act 896, was imposed on the winnings of a lottery.
In 2016, the Income Tax Amendment Act 907 exempted the first ¢2,592 while any excess winning above ¢2,592 was taxable at 5%.
But Mr Ayeh Donkor says, “The NPP then in opposition promised Lotto Marketing Companies to remove those taxes and even restore the Retailer Commission to 25% for the LMCS but the NPP Government has failed to honour these promises.”
He explained that in 2017, the National Lottery Authority made a proposal to the Ministry of Finance for the scrapping of taxes as a way of attracting more mainstream operators. The taxes were subsequently removed.
However, in 2023, the Government reintroduced the taxes now at a new rate of 20% on the company’s revenue and 10% on winnings respectively.
In view of this, the group is “calling on Ken Ofori-Atta and government to immediately suspend the 20% and 10% taxes imposed on Lottery and Sports Betting companies and winnings respectively.
“We shall resist these taxes at all cost and also demonstrate against the Government and Ken Ofori-Atta should the Finance Minister fail to address the issue during the Mid-Year Budget review”.
The Members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) on Friday,28th July,2023 unanimously passed a resolution to resume the collection of Property Rates which was recently given to Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The resolution according to the Assembly has been necessitated as a result of poor handling of Property rates collection by Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The Resolution was made during the 2nd Ordinary Meeting of the 4th session of the 8th Assembly of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) held at Prempeh Assembly Hall,Kumasi.
Hon.Patrick Kwame Frimpong,the Presiding Member(PM) of KMA said their decision would soon be communicated to Government and GRA.
The Presiding Member of KMA who doubles as Assembly member for Krofrom East Electoral area revealed that Property rates collection performance by the Assembly as at June, 2022 stood at Ghc 1,170.330.00 and as at December,2022 was Ghc 3,065,519.07..
He said the arrears as at June same year was Ghc 208,027.62 and Ghc 394,842.09 as at December,2022.
The total property rates collected or received plus arrears as at June,2022 stood at Ghc 1,378,357.62 .
The total property rates received plus arrears as at December,2022 was 3,450,361.15 respectively.
The PM said unfortunately,since GRA was given the mandate for the collection of the Property rates the Assembly had only received Ghc114,000 from GRA.
The amount,he disclosed hits the Accounts of KMA on Thursday,27th July,2023.
Hon.Patrick Kwame Frimpong,KMA PM
Speaking to The New Trust Newspaper after the meeting,Hon Frimpong said the members have taken a firm decision about the matter which is having serious negative impact on the running of the Assembly.
“We expect the Government to urgently revert the law to allow Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to collect the Property rates because GRA has failed woefully in the collection.
Our information indicates that,GRA after the mandate was given to them for property rates collection by the government has outsourced the function to a private Company to do the collection.
Even though,the earlier cautioned to the Government to Reconsider not amending the Law to permit Assemblies to continue the collection of the Property rates was ignored and the law was amended to allow Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to begin the collection of the Property rates.
But now that it is clear per available records that GRA has failed woefully in collecting the Property rates after several months now the best thing for GRA to do is humbly withdraw from the collection and allow MMDAS to continue the collection”.
The KMA PM who is in his Fourth term(16 years) in the Assembly explained that the current law as approved by Parliament supposed to remit 30% of the rate collected to the Assemblies whiles remaining 70% goes to the GRA and the Central government.
It is sad to note that almost all MMDAs have been denied of expected revenue as a result of the failure of GRA to collect the Property rates.
It is against the backdrop,we (members of KMA)within Greater Kumasi have resolved to resume collection of Property rates as soon as possible.
He said as for Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) we’re ready to pay the Central government’s share per the new arrangements if that is what the Central Government wants to help ensure that our Assemblies’ are not shut down due to lack of funds to run.
It’s Worthy to note that section 143 of the Local Governance Act 2016(Act 936) supports our position.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Act reads “District Assembly shall be the only authority to Levy rates for a District despite any customary law to the contrary.
Further more, section 161, subsection 3(c) of Act 936 also stated in part that “A rate collector shall pay the amounts collected to the District Assembly Concerned” and this shows transparency in the above sections of the Act.
“We can state unequivocally that most Assembly Members are still not convinced and comfortable with the new approach because it is against the Local Governance Act coupled with the failure of GRA to prove them wrong since they were given the mandate for the collection of the rates”.
Adding that “we also wish to bring to the attention of the general public and all stakeholders that MMDAs including KMA were not consulted or engaged on the new approach before and after the new approach was presented by the Minister of Finance,Hon Ken Ofori-Atta to Parliament”,he added.
Mr. Luqman Nuhu Mohammed Appiedu the former Ashanti Regional vice Chairman for Ghana National Association Of Garages(GNAG), has picked nomination forms to contest for the substantive Chairmanship position.
Nominations for the Ashanti Regional Primaries was opened on July,18th,2023 and closed on Friday July 28th ,2023 .
The contestants are expected to file or submit their forms within 10 days for vetting on Thursday 10th August,2023.
Mr. Luqman Nuhu Mohammed Appiedu(Right) receiving his nomination forms
The election is expected to come on Tuesday 5th September,2023.
The decision was approved by their National Executives and the committee for the elections.
The elected leaders from the impending election will steer the affairs of the Association or run the administrative work in the region for the next four years.
Mr Luqman Nuhu Mohammed Appiedu, the workaholic former vice chairman of Ghana National Association Of Garages, announced his intention to run the Ashanti Regional main chairmanship slot to lead the region after several calls on him to offer himself for the position.
Speaking to the media ,he said when given the nod he is expected to help improve the health facilities and also help to promote sanitation facilities for the members in the region.
That, notwithstanding, security was one of our major challenges but “we took it upon ourselves to ensure that the situation is well managed. Yes, we still need good leaders to champion the cause of Garages and I’m best Person to lead the Association.
As against the backdrop,the former Chairman of the Association appealed to the delegates to vote for him massively to enable him lead them as a humble source: tntnewspapergh.com
ING.Francis Addai-Numoh,one of the leading contenders in the governing New Patriotic Party ( NPP) Flagbearer Race has described himself as C-Ronaldo after picking number 7 in the balloting for Party’s Super Delegates conference to be held at the various Regional Capitals.
The leadership of the Party has fixed August,26 to hold Super Delegates conference to cut down the number of Flagbearer hopefuls from Ten(10) to Five(5) inline with the Party’s Constitution preceding the November 4 delegates conference .
The Former Member of Parliament(MP) for Mampong who picked No 7 during the balloting liked his Ballot position in the race to football legend C-RONALDO.
In Sports space, C-RONALDO is popularly known for his playing and scoring skills.
With more than 100 goals at international level, he is also the all-time top goalscorer. Ronaldo has played in and scored at eleven major tournaments; he scored his first international goal at Euro 2004, where he helped Portugal reach the final. He assumed captaincy of the national team in July 2008.
It would be recalled that Hon Francis Addai-Numoh during his campaign launched suggested that in his opinion, the prevailing circumstances of the Party now require a new face as the next Presidential Candidate. “The New Face to Win the 2023 NPP flag bearer election!”
He point out that the principal characteristics that the “New Face to Win” must possess.
” These characteristics will generate vibrant enthusiasm with the rank and file members of the Party. We are all poised for the revival, for the revitalization and for the rejuvenation of the NPP, and thereby enabling us together to ‘break the 8”.
I hope you can agree with me that these characteristics should include – to the very least:
Being a natural unifier.
Having an unblemished character and a history of service.
Bringing new energy and a fresh appeal to successfully harness the challenging times and opportunities ahead.
Mr. Chairman, a fractured party cannot win in 2024! It’s therefore crucial for all members to choose a candidate who is an unrelentless unifier – a leader who is not trapped in any factional exchanges! It is indeed disheartening to note that certain factions have been emerging for some time now in our Party.
And I’m not afraid to say this loud and clear: these factions, over time, are a phenomenon has seeped in and that frankly has no place in our Party. Simply put, such factions driven by political can only cause a devastating erosion of our relevance in the eyes of electors, who may then seek solutions elsewhere.
These factions, stemming essentially from a herd mentality, are reprehensible and ought to be discouraged if we seek to be appealing once again to Ghanaians.
It is therefore fundamental, to put it mildly, to dissipate all attempts that spark baseless factional fires ahead of 2024.
This, in my view, must be addressed and resolved as a priority. Unifying our members with an appealing program will ensure that each contribution under this flag is welcomed and celebrated. I would therefore invite all members of our Party to spearhead these efforts to help develop a sustained unity, which will then enable us all, as a renewed Party, to achieve great things together for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
So, to summarize, most importantly, we need a new wave, a new face, a face that represents a genuine movement that provides hope for those members who may have been disgruntled within the Party – we need a leader who can re-energise the grassroots for the arduous task of “breaking the 8”!
I think that by now many of you may be itching to hear a formal announcement as to who this candidate could possibly be. Let me throw the question back to you, my distinguished viewers and guests here today: If we agree that the minimal standards enumerated above are essential for winning 2024, that they are essential to “break the 8”, who then would you think this candidate could and should be, amongst all those who have shown interest to lead the Party?
THE CASE FOR HON. ING. ADDAI-NIMOH
In seeking to designate the flag bearer of the Party, and then to have this leader seek to win the trust of Ghanaians as President of Ghana – and please excuse me for seeming to be slightly “professorial” at this important point – but before you actually entrust such a responsibility upon an individual to lead our movement, may I suggest that each delegate ask the following three (3) fundamental questions:
Is the Candidate legally and constitutionally qualified for such a position?
Is the Candidate morally fit for such a position?
Is the Candidate physically and mentally sound for such a position, while having the experience and maturity to truly and efficiently serve the best interests of each Ghanaian?
In twi, we can say: “wo se, wo fata, na wo b3tumi ay3?”
I am humbled that my esteemed team has assessed my qualifications and motivations using these three criteria.
Driven by my personal conviction, also confident that my values and my professional background can be useful in shaping the necessary initiatives that will significantly improve our country, and coupled with the clarion call I’ve been receiving over these last years from our Party’s rank and file, and hearing from the wide consultations and sound advice from the elders of our Party:
I have thereby decided and am hereby officially announcing my candidacy to be elected the next flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party in the impending contest.
As you may know, this adventure is not novel to me. In 2014, when I made my first attempt to be the NPP flag bearer,
I came in 3rd. I recall how I combed through the nukes and crannies of this wonderful country, meeting many amazing people. Even though I did not win that time, I nonetheless had been given the opportunity to sponsor many orphan constituencies and volunteer groups – especially in the Volta region amongst others, and to help ensure the NPP was awarded the presidency in 2016.
Although I was somewhat sidelined in the appointments of the current NPP-led government of President Akufo Addo, I’ve remained loyal to our Party’s cause to which I have been dedicated since its inception.
It is worth noting that every success story has a failure portion or component so as to somehow make it complete – wouldn’t you say so? Domestically, the political life stories of Agyekum Kufuor, of Atta Mills and of Nana Addo are shining examples to me. Internationally, Barack Obama’s political life story is also a source of personal motivation.
So allow me to share with you my vision for NPP as we move forward together: having carefully thought through the critical next steps
. I promise four (4) things that I shall commit to throughout the mandate when elected:
I will continue to be an effective “results-oriented” unifier, while upholding and applying the values of Justice, of Mercy and of Honesty to support the rank-and-file members of the Party.
I will ensure that resources are fairly and equitably distributed among the rank and file of the Party, thereby encouraging wide participation and contribution of members to the renewal of the party.
I will ensure the construction of party offices in every constituency where there is none to date.
I will establish viable economic ventures in every constituency enabling them each to generate sustained income”. Source: tntnewspapergh.com
The New Trust Newspaper has gathered that there’s uneasy tension in the Consolidated Bank Of Ghana (CBD) over the appointment of a Kenyan,Thairu Ndungu as Deputy Managing Director-Operations CBG.
CBG is an Indigenous Ghanaian Universal Bank wholly owned by the Government of Ghana and licensed by the Bank of Ghana under the Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2013 (Act 930). With a corporate head office located in Accra, Ghana’s capital and largest city, CBG has about 114 branches spanning 13 regions across the country.
It would be recalled that few days ago,the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolgatanga Central in Upper East Region who doubles as the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliamentary Select Committee on Finance,Hon
Isaac Adongo in an interview with media in Parliament which was broadcast by Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) said CBD is now national disgrace.”CBD today is a symbol of National embarrassment”.
Hon.Adongo is demanding the immediate removal of the Kenyan who he alleged is been paid expartre salary which according to him is unnecessary cost to the nation.
The NDC MP’s concerns over the appointment of the Deputy Managing Director Operations has attracted overwhelming support of many bankers as well as key leading members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The leading members of NPP and some bankers who spoke to This Paper under condition of anonymity to avoid politicization of the issue have all called on the President,Nana Akufo-Addo to urgently intervene to remove the Kenyan of his post and appoint one out of many Ghanaians who equally qualified for the same position.
According to them,it is an insult and indictment on the part of Government to look unconcerned without immediately addressing the issue to allow it to escalate.
“It’s our own interest to address this matter as soon as possible before it gets out of hand.This is not NPP and NDC usual politics”,a ferious Leading member of NPP stated.
Adding that some of this mistakes of our government led by Nana Addo is avoidable and I wish it’s resolved as soon as possible. source:A News Desk Report
Short video of Hon Isaac Adongo’s interview with GBC
