Director for Hybrid Leading-Edge Ltd. Co., Dr. Sheikh Abdul-Muhsin Baafi,has pleaded on government to harness Information Technology (IT) in the fight against corruption.
He premised his call on the litany of challenges Ghana faces currently vis-a-vis combating of corruption and the management of national data.
Dr. Baafi,who doubles as an Islamic Scholar asserted that the onset and proliferation of IT has come with unique opportunity that can address the situation.
Dr. Sheikh Abdul-Muhsin
Per his recommendations, an Electronic Procurement System is a perfect IT tool.
On the foregoing, he advised government to implement a centralized, web-based e-procurement platform.
“The platform should be an open bidding processes where all tenders will be published online with clear specifications and evaluation criteria.”
Dr. Baafi also suggested Audit Trails, Automated Evaluation, Supplier Databases, Integration with Financial Systems etc.
Under Audit Trails, he schooled that every transaction will be recorded, creating an auditable trail that can be easily reviewed.
Touching on Automated Evaluation, Dr. Baafi admonished government to use software to automate the evaluation of bids, reducing human bias.
The IT expert cum Islamic Scholar underscored that, the above recommendations if heeded and implemented will significantly reduce collusion, bribery, and inflated contracts.
He also named implementation of digital payment systems through the promotion of the use of mobile money, online banking and digital wallets for government transactions as an excellent antidote against corruption.
“I recommend that digital payments should be gradually mandated for public services, such as payment of utility bills, taxes, and government fees.
All digital transactions should be recorded and made traceable, making it easier to detect suspicious activities.
Government should also reduce its reliance on cash, which is a major facilitator of corruption.
This can be achieved through the implementation of systems where all government salary payments are done digitally, and all government purchases are paid from bank accounts.”
His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, has, by Executive Instrument (EI), in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), declared Monday, March 31, 2025 and Tuesday, April 1, 2025 as public holidays.
Consequently, the National Executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has postponed this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association from the originally scheduled date on Monday, March 31, 2025 to a new date on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. The time and venue remain the same – at 11:00am at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra.
The AGM, which is the highest decision-making body of the Association, is scheduled pursuant to articles 34(f) and 34(a)(ii) of the GJA Constitution 2004, and will address the following agenda:
To discuss the General Secretary’s Annual Report;
To discuss the audited accounts of the Association to be presented by the National Treasurer;
To discuss regional reports, and
AOB
All members in good standing as of December 31, 2024, are entitled to attend the AGM. Members in good standing, with the exception of honorary and student members, shall have the right to vote at the AGM.
The National Service Authority has released the first batch of Trained Teachers from Accredited Teacher Training Colleges to commence their National Service at various Educational Institutions across the country.
All deployed Service Personnel MUST log onto the Authority’s website at www.nss.gov.gh to check their placements and print their appointment letters for endorsement from their designated User Agencies.
All Service Personnel MUST begin their National Service on April 2, 2025. Regional validation processes at all NSA Regional Centres across the country will begin on March 26, 2025 and end on April 11, 2025.
The NSA reminds the public that per the National Service Authority (Act 1119) 2024, every Ghanaian citizen who has attained the age of eighteen (18) years or more and has completed an Accredited Tertiary Institution is MANDATED to undertake national service to the State.
The NSA commits to strengthening partnership with Ghana Education Service, CHASS and Private Schools around the Country to minimize the shortfalls in learning outcomes, especially in rural communities.Best wishes to our Service Personnel. Serve well!
Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi have announced the suspension of all surgical cases with immediate effect due to a water shortage that has hit the hospital since last week.
In a memo dated March 25, 2025, the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association informed management the action is in the best interest of patient’ safety and security.
“This memo is to formally inform management of the decision taken by the Orthopaedic and Emergency Directorate to temporarily halt the admission of new patients until the availability of water is restored,” the memo read in part.
According to the Association, the directorate is faced with severe challenges due to an ongoing water shortage. This, the doctors say “has significantly affected the provision of essential healthcare services”.
It noted that though water is a critical resource in maintaining hygiene, conducting surgical procedures, and ensuring patient care and safety, the resource is in short supply at the facility, compromising patient care in general.
“Despite efforts to manage the situation, the current lack of water has reached a critical point, compromising both patient safety and healthcare delivery,” said the memo.
Chairman of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA), Dr Michael Leat, who apologised on behalf of his colleagues over the impact of their action, said the Association will continue to attend to existing cases.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and kindly request management’s urgent intervention to address the water crisis. The directorates will continue to manage existing patients to the best of our ability, while prioritizing safety and hygiene,” he said.
The association, however, called for alternative water sourcing options while receiving regular updates on the water situation.
Meanwhile, management of KATH explains the Ghana Water Company Limited is yet to restore water supply to the hospital since the curtailment of service last week.
“We are at the moment depending on alternative sources which have proven inadequate due to the huge volumes of water required for our operations on daily basis.
“At the moment, apart from KATH own sources, the GNFS, KMA and the GWCL are pitching in with alternative supplies but they are not enough to meet our operational needs. We are in constant touch with the Regional office of the GWCL to expedite the repair works which occasioned the cessation of water supply to the hospital,” said the Public Relations Directorate.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticized President John Dramani Mahama for failing to fulfil his campaign promise to repeal LI 2462, the regulation that permits mining in forest reserves.
In the lead-up to the 2024 elections, John Mahama pledged to revoke the entire Legislative Instrument. However, the government has instead laid before Parliament an amendment that revokes only the president’s power to grant licenses for mining in forest reserves, rather than a full revocation.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, March 26, NPP Communications Director Richard Ahiagbah expressed concern over the ongoing destruction of forest reserves.
Richard Ahiagbah
“The list of our forests that are being raided by these NDC galamseyers, who have been emboldened by the president’s campaign overtures, is just astonishing, and this is an unprecedented situation.
“The government must use every necessary resource to gain control of the situation. One of the key actions in this direction is the revocation of LI 2462. The president promised he would do this during his campaign, so we are reminding him to fulfil that promise,” Ahiagbah stated.
Victims of the recent devastating fire at Adum in Kumasi have rejected a donation of 1,500 bags of rice, 800 boxes of cooking oil, and soap provided by the Interior Minister and Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak.
The donation, intended to support those affected by the fire, which destroyed several properties and left many businesses in ruins, has sparked controversy following the victims’ decision to refuse the items.
a scene from the Minister’s visit
The affected traders expressed their dissatisfaction with the aid, stating that the donated goods do not align with their immediate needs, as they require financial assistance and business support to begin their recovery.
Accra, March 26, 2025 – Scancom PLC (MTN Ghana) wishes to remind its Shareholders of its 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) which will be held in person at the Accra International Conference Center and virtually via www.mtnghagm.com on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 11:00 GMT.
MTN will reimburse Shareholders on MTN’s network who incur charges. Shareholders without smartphones may participate in the AGM by dialing +233244300025, entering the access code 8000, or entering the conference PIN 056789.
A unique token number has been sent to Shareholders by email and/or SMS to grant access to the AGM. Participation through the virtual link will be free for all Shareholders on MTN’s network.
The agenda for the AGM is as follows:
To receive and consider the Audited Financial Statements together with the reports of the Directors and Auditors thereon for the year ended December 31, 2024;
To declare a final dividend for the year ended December 31, 2024;
To re-elect or appoint Directors of the Company:
3.1 To re-elect Sugentharen Perumal as a Director;
3.2 To re-elect Fatima Daniels as a Director;
3.3 To re-elect Ebenezer Twum Asante as a Director;
3.4 To re-elect Tsholofelo Molefe as a Director; and
To appoint Nosisa Fubu as a Director.
To approve Directors’ fees for the financial year 2025; and
To authorize the Directors to fix the remuneration of the Auditor for the financial year 2025.
Shareholders have the option to appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf. The proxy does not need to be a Shareholder of the Company. A copy of the Proxy Form can be downloaded from www.mtnghagm.com, and must be completed, signed, and sent via email to info@csd.com.gh as soon as possible and no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.
A copy of the 2024 Audited Financial Statements will be available at www.mtnghagm.com.
Voting during the AGM will be conducted electronically by dialing USSD code 8990#.
For further information about this year’s AGM, shareholders may contact info@csd.com.gh or call 0302 906 576 or 0303 972 254. Shareholders are reminded to bring their Ghana Card for identification.
End.
Media Contacts:
Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe
Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer
By Master Abdul Faraj Yezid Timtoni Wumbei – REIGNING CHILD SANITATION DIPLOMAT
Tamale, 24th March 2025.
Government must maintain and increase focus on supporting poor households to gain access to improved toilets to eradicate open defecation and preserve the quality of Ghana’s water resources.
While most stakeholders have been discussing water conservation and protection of our water bodies especially against illegal mining on the occasion of this year’s World Water Day on the theme ‘Water Conservation: Let’s make it our way of life,’ I wish to draw the attention of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) to the fact that open defecation also plays a devastating role in preserving the quality of our water resources.
World Water Day, which was commemorated on 21st March at a national forum in Accra, was led mainly by the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing (MWRWH) and its responsible agencies and discussions focused mainly on conserving the water resources. What was missing, however, was that there was little or no mention of access to toilets and open defecation, which also play a crucial role in preserving water quality of both surface and groundwater, and even water at the household level.
Without meaning to question why there was no focus on open defecation, I wish to remind the MLGCRA, which has recently resumed responsibility for sanitation, that with just 25% of the population having access to improved household toilets and the current rate of open defecation still around 17% of the population, the volumes expected from preserving water resources may mean little to the health of the people.
Open defecation, which occurs mainly because of lack of decent toilet facilities in homes and institutions, directly contaminates water resources through run-offs and wind-blown dust into surface water, and infiltration into groundwater sources with faecal matter.
Even the containers that people use to fetch water from streams and wells, and also to store water at home, if contaminated with faecal matter, will transfer pathogens into water sources and cause diseases among the people.
Children are usually the most vulnerable groups to the effects of water contamination through poor sanitation and open defecation. Children care very little about playing in run-off water, drinking contaminated water directly with little care about handwashing and hygiene. The resultant infections can cause stunting, loss of school hours, and even deaths through preventable diseases like cholera, intestinal worms, and typhoid.
On account of this, I wish to remind the new sanitation sector ministry to maintain focus on on-going sector interventions such as the Community-led Total Sanitation programme mainly in rural communities and small towns, and the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project mainly in low-income urban communities, and scale them up to other areas not yet covered.
These interventions seem to be the most proven solutions in recent years to the challenge with access to toilets and open defecation and they need sustained government interest, support, and upscale.
In addition to these on-going sector initiatives, the ministry may also introduce a more intensive public education on the need for improved household and institutional toilets and the dangers of open defecation.
This education must also be intensive in schools through collaboration with the Ministry of Education, where every Ghanaian child must be targeted and groomed while they are still young so that they may not grow with that habit.
The new ministry should also support child centered initiatives such as the School Sanitation Solutions Challenge and the Child Sanitation Diplomat campaign organized by World Vision Ghana, Kings Hall Media, Zoomlion Foundation, GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, and the GES/SHEP.
This intervention seeks to involve children in finding sustainable solutions to sanitation challenges around them while they are still young. It is through this programme that some of us are able to let our voices and opinions about sanitation be heard and also demonstrate our creative ideas.
I will finally seize this opportunity to congratulate Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim on his appointment as the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and by implication, the sector minister for sanitation, with the hope that he will prioritize programmes and projects that directly deliver access to improved household and institutional toilets to accelerate eradication of open defecation.
END –
Editor’s note:
The Child Sanitation Diplomat is a sanitation champion identified through the annual School Sanitation Solutions Challenge.
This national contest on sanitation seeks to identify and groom a sanitation conscious future generation through a nationwide competition that is open to all pupils from class six to JHS two. The overall winner is designated as a Child Sanitation Diplomat and supported to embark on a one-year mentorship and sanitation campaign project.
The programme was originated by World Vision Ghana and Kings Hall Media and currently organized in collaboration with the Zoomlion Foundation with support from the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate and the Ghana GES/SHEP.
Master Addul Faraj Yezid Timtoni Wumbei from the Grace Holy Child Academy in Tamale won the 5th and 2024 edition of the Challenge and is currently undertaking his one-year campaign as the reigning Child Sanitation Diplomat.
Contacts for further information
Yaw Attah Arhin (World Vision Ghana): 0244713332
Frank Ofosu-Appiah (Kings Hall Media): 0246565063
Parliament on Wednesday, March 26 passed a bill to abolish the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy).
The move to abolish the tax has been widely welcomed by many Ghanaians. The bill will now be sent to President John Mahama’s desk for assent.
The E-Levy was introduced in 2022 by the elsewhere NPP administration. It was designed to impose a 1.5% tax on electronic transactions such as mobile money transfers, bank transfers, and online payments.
Dr.Ato Forson,Finance Minister
While others argued that the levy would help generate revenue for infrastructural development, it faced significant opposition from the public, businesses, and political figures who expressed concerns about its impact on digital transactions and the economy.
Since its introduction, there have been protests and public outcry, with critics arguing that it disproportionately affected low-income earners and the unbanked population.
The bill’s passage through Parliament marks a significant step towards scrapping the levy, but its future now lies in President Mahama’s hands.
President Mahama and the NDC promised to abolish the tax and made it a huge campaign message ahead of winning the December 2024 general elections.
When the question was put in parliament, there was not a single dissenting voice challenging the move to outlaw the tax.Source: Albert Kuzor
The leading telecommunications company in the country, MTN Ghana, on Wednesday, 26th March 2025, ignored a heavy rain to donate a big ram, food items and assorted drinks worth GH¢10,000, as well as electronic cash of GH¢10,000 to the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Zakaria, for the celebration of this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr.
Mr. Simon Amoh making presentation to Ashanti Chief Imam’s representative
Mr. Simon Amoh, a Senior Manager of MTN General Trade, Northern Sector, made the presentation on behalf of the company on the premises of Kumasi Central Mosque.
The donation was received by
Ustaz Ahmed Seidu, Executive Secretary at the office of the Regional Chief Imam.
Mr. Amoh, who was accompanied by Mrs. Charity Darko and other top MTN officials, commended Sheikh Zakaria and the entire Muslim community for fasting and praying for Ghanaians
According to him, the annual donation of MTN Ghana is aimed at renewing the relationship between the company and the Muslim community.
Mr. Amoh also pledged the commitment of the company to support the Muslim community at all times, adding that a similar donation was being made in other parts of the country.
He said MTN Ghana was excited to support Muslims after having several days of fasting and prayers.
Mr. Amoh seized the opportunity on behalf of MTN Ghana to express their condolences to the Muslim community for the demise of Sheikh Abdul Moomen Haroun, who was the Regional Chief Imam.
Besides, he wished the current Chief Imam and his deputies well in all their endeavours.
“MTN is very grateful for your loyalty for all this years and we’ll continue to work with you and support all your activities,” he said.
On behalf of the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Ustaz Ahmed Seidu heaped praises on MTN Ghana for its annual donation to support the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr.
He said they always remember MTN Ghana and the entire nation in their prayers.
According to him, the company has been a very good friend of the Chief Imam and the entire Muslim community.
He prayed for MTN Ghana to continue to be the leading telecommunications company in the country for the citizens to enjoy good services.
He advised Muslims, especially the youth, to comport themselves during the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration.
