De-monetizing politics: Majority Leader calls for a change in phenomenon of voting for all officials

Daniel Opare
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Since the re-introduction of multi-party democracy in 1992, Ghana’s democracy has been touted as one of the most outstanding democracies across the African continent. In the 28 years of practicing constitutional Democracy, the country has had seven presidential and parliamentary elections with power alternating between the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. In close to 30 years of Democracy in the country, a significant hiccup which has reared its head is the monetization of the country’s electoral politics.

It is in line with this growing but disturbing development that has led to a seminar by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) to De-monetize the electoral politics of Ghana. The theme for the seminar was “De-monetizing Electoral Politics, Strengthening Accountable Governance: Which way forward for Ghana”. 

The seminar saw panelists sharing various perspectives on how the sharing of money and freebies has become an integral part of our democracy. Majority leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, was of the view that the act of electing political officers to all positions have accounted for the monetization of our electoral politics. According to him, the phenomenon of election throughout has given polling station, local, constituencies executives of various parties a “king and queen makers” status thereby extorting money in the process.

He backed his suggestion with Article 55/5 of the Constitution which stipulates national executives of a political party shall be chosen or selected.

He observed that parliamentarians who excel in their constituencies and also in parliamentary duties should also not be subjected to elections and be protected. This according to him will reduce the elective process and its attendant demand for money every step of the way.

Making his submission, 2nd Deputy Speaker of parliament, Alban Bagbin, said some parliamentarians spend more than two years of their salaries to campaign. A situation he says does not auger well for Ghana’s democracy as these MPs will be forced to look for other avenues to recoup their monies. He queried why it was necessary to go for elections to fill every position in the public sphere. His question buttressed a point earlier made by the minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu.

Flagbearer of the Progressive Peoples Party, Bridgette Dzorbenuku was of the view that monocracy was gradually overwhelming the system as the major political parties are also being frustrated by the development just like the smaller political parties. She added that, the National Commission for Civic Education ought to be resourced adequately to educate electorates on the essence of elections rather than demanding for freebies from candidates. As part of the many ways of dealing with the canker, she added that political parties must be made to file their audited accounts.

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com|Bernard Lav

Gold smugglers busted at Aflao

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Four Ghanaians with Malian origins, were yesterday dawn busted at the Aflao border in an attempt to smuggle gold to neighboring Togo.


The 15kg gold with an estimated street value of about $1million was being transported to Togo by road in an attempt to evade tax and also go through customs procedures.

The dawn operation, according to a source at Aflao, was undertaken by a crack unit at the National Security.

“They have been monitoring these people for sometime new and it seems modus operandi of this syndicate, is to use the beaches before getting to the Aflao. border”, the source said.
What is intriguing, according to the source is that ” land borders remain closed so why are people still able to move to and fro freely?.

Gold smuggling syndicates embark on such illicit operations in order to also avoid rapatriation of a percentage of proceeds of sales of gold abroad thereby denying the State billions of dollars annually.
The four suspects, yet to be named are said to be in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations(BNI), to assist in investigations.

On July 14th, 2016, the Minerals Commission of Ghana issued a directive to govern the export of gold from Ghana by License Gold Exporters (LGE) other than holders of Mining Leases. These measures communicated by the Minerals Commission shall be in force until substituted by other procedures that may be prescribed in the future. They remain the only means to have a gold exported in Ghana by a licensed gold exporter (company).

These procedures include the following;

A Licensed Gold Exporter (LGE) who intends to export gold shall inform the Precious Minerals Marketing Company Limited (PMMC) in writing of its export plans at least two (2) working days before the planned weekly export.


The LGE shall submit the gold ore to be assayed by PMMC at a designated assay centre, together with all declaration documents, Packing List, and Invoice.


The PMMC shall determine the gold content of the gold ore presented by the LGE using the appropriate assay method as agreed by the LGEs, Minerals Commission, and the PMMC.


The PMMC shall prepare a report of analysis of the gold ore presented by the LGE and issue copies instantly to the Bank of Ghana (BOG), the Ghana Revenue Authority Custom Officer stationed at the Assay Centre and the Minerals Commission.


The PMMC shall invoice the LGE in respect of the assay at the agreed rate of 0.1% of the value of gold assayed, and the LGE shall pay the same to PMMC. The payment of this fee is without prejudice to any fee that may be charged by the Minerals Commission.


All Gold Buying Agents of the PMMC, before this publication, may continue to use their permits until the expiry of the present term of the license, and the PMMC shall not renew the same upon expiry. All such Gold Buying Agents should immediately contact the Minerals Commission for further directions regarding the use of their permits. All persons who desire to obtain licenses for buying gold shall apply to the Minerals Commission.


The GRA Customs Official at the Assay Centre shall inspect and supervise the sealing of the assayed gold ore with the Customs Division’s seal and endorse the Customs Declaration Form. The sealing of the assayed gold ore by the Customs Official shall be done in the presence of an authorized representative of the Assay Centre, who shall also affix the seal of the PMMC Assay Centre at the same time.


The LGE shall complete the required documentation at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) before exporting the assayed gold.


Under no condition shall gold ore be exported by LGE without the seals of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Government designated laboratory, i.e., PMMC, and accompanied with full documentation.


All LGEs shall submit monthly returns to the Minerals Commission in accordance with the terms and conditions of their license agreements

In September 2017, it emerged that the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), at the time, could not trace most of the companies involved in the export of $2.3 billion worth of gold in 2016.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service begun a probe into the matter which was said to involve about 145 companies.

The PMMC, which got its license revoked by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in September, was mandated to oversee the export of gold from the small-scale mining sector.

The law requires at least 80 percent of foreign currency earned from exports to be repatriated into the country.

Source: ABC News

MoE, GES Zoomlion Start 3rd Phase Of Disinfection Exercise in SHSs

Daniel Opare
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The Ministry of Education 9MoE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), in collaboration with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, has begun phase three of the national disinfection exercise of senior high schools (SHSs) across the country.

The seven-day exercise, which kick-started simultaneously yesterday with SHSs in four regions—Greater Accra, Central, Eastern and Upper West—was to pave way for the reopening of SHSs for Form Two students on October 5th, 2020.

It formed part of the government’s measures in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Greater Accra Region, some of the schools that were disinfected on the first day were Accra Wesley Girls’ High School, Ideal College, Sakama branch, St Mary’s Senior High School, and Accra Academy Senior High School.

Others were Achimota Senior High School, Osu Presbyterian Senior High School, St. Margaret Mary Senior High/Technical School and Wesley Grammar Senior High School.

Facilities disinfected in the schools included dining halls, assembly halls, administration blocks, libraries, ICT blocks, dormitories, bungalows, classrooms among others.

In addition to the Zoomlion disinfection crews, the company also used its atomisers to spray open spaces and surfaces of the schools.

At the Accra Wesley Girls’ SHS, the Assistant Headmistress (Administration), Mrs Gifty Korantemah, heaped praises on the MoE, GES and Zoomlion for the exercise.

She said the national disinfection exercises has helped a great deal in containing the spread of the virus, particularly in the SHSs.

From the Accra Wesley Girls’ SHS, the team moved to the Ideal College branch at Sakama in the Ablekuma North Municipal which saw the school’s facilities disinfected.

Speaking to journalists on the side-lines of the exercise in Wesley Grammar SHS, the General Manager, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Accra Zone, Mr Ernest Morgan Acquah, revealed that the exercise will cover 109 SHSs and Special Schools in the Greater Accra Region.

According to him, the third phase was strictly disinfection against the COVID-19 pandemic in the SHSs in the country.

He explained that it was crucial that a third disinfection exercise was carried out in the SHSs and basic schools, especially when the schools received final year students to enable them write their exit examinations.

“So looking at the interval that they finish their exit exams and the fact that the schools will soon be receiving another batch of students, it was key that we disinfect their environment to protect the children from the coronavirus,” he stressed.

He indicated that the cooperation so far between the various heads and his company has, once again, been excellent, noting “we have not faced any challenge since the beginning of the third phase of the disinfection exercise.”

While commending the government for its efforts in the fight against the virus, Mr Morgan Acquah urged parents to educate their children on the need to continuously observe the COVID-19 preventive protocols.

In the Central Region, Zoomlion disinfected St Augustine’s College, Wesley Girls among others on the first day of the exercise. 

Aburi Girl’s SHS, Ghana Secondary School, Koforidua Secondary Technical Senior High School, New Juaben Secondary and others were some of the schools the benefited from the exercise.

Meanwhile, regions including Northern, Savannah, Upper East, Volta Region, Western, Western North, Bono Region, Bono East and Ahafo will have their start today (Thursday, September 24).

Ghana | Attinkaonline.com

NDC exaggerating disparities in voter registration exhibition- Obiri Boahene

Daniel Opare
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The Deputy General Secretary for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahene, says the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is exaggerating disparities in voter registration exhibition.

The Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has criticized the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) for conducting the voter exhibition exercise within eight days.

He said this duration is woefully inadequate for such an important exercise which forms part of the preparation for this year’s elections.

The EC started the exhibition exercise on Friday, September 18 and it is expected to end on Friday, September 25, ahead of the December 7 polls.

“The NDC wishes to emphatically state that since the inception of the Fourth Republic, our otherwise respected EC presents to the people of Ghana such a malformed and anaemic register going into a major election.

“While we present to you impeccable evidence of anomalies on the provisional register, we will encourage Ghanaians to visit the exhibition centers to see for yourself the mess that the Jean Mensa and Bossman Asare-led EC has created” , Elvis Afriyie Ankrah said in a press statement.

Citing the Ashaiman Member of Parliament, Ernest Norgbey whose name was allegedly omitted from the 2020 provisional voters’ register and found in another register later, Nana Obiri Boahene said the act was to make the EC unpopular.

“  Let me put this thing on record and let me repeat that the NPP as party doesn’t need the support of the EC to win the elections. It will never happen. The track record o the PP from the 50’s till date speaks for us”, he added.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa    

Thank you for giving us identity – Oti Regional House of Chiefs to Akufo-Addo

Daniel Opare
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Members of the newly created Oti Regional House of Chiefs have expressed their profound gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for the creation of the region.

The Oti Region was created out of the Volta Region after an emphatic yes in a referendum last year, and the process was completed with an historic inauguration of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs by Vice President Bawumia on Tuesday September 22 in Dambai.

At the colourful inauguration, traditional authorities couldn’t hide their excitement and gratitude towards President Akufo-Addo, the man who made their dreams a reality.

“Thank you for giving us an identity with the creation of the new region,” the traditional authorities said during their address.

According to them, the creation of the new region has given them an identity, and they will remain thankful to President Akufo-Addo.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Bawumia said the creation of six new regions has redemarcated the administrative boundaries of the country and will help speed up development.

He added that the government of President Akufo-Addo is committed to bringing democracy to the people, and urged the chiefs to be part of the process, using their revered institution.

“As the President said in Goaso during the inauguration of the Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Government is determined to bring governance closer to the people, and expand the boundaries of democracy in our country.”

“We are counting on you to help shape and integrate yourselves into these developments. This way, the peculiarly Ghanaian contribution to the concept of governance, which emanates from the integration of royal, aristocratic institutions into the fabric of a republican, democratic framework, will be enhanced and strengthened to the benefit of the Ghanaian people.”

“I urge you to speak out and join Government’s fight against the ills of our society – corruption, and economic injustice, crime, the illegal mining menace, popularly referred to as galamsey. As Chiefs, you have a responsibility, as was done in the days of our forefathers, to help preserve our lands, water bodies and environment.”

As a new region, the Vice President assured the Chiefs of government’s readiness to build a new regional hospital as part of the Akufo-Addo government’s Agenda 111 health project.

The Vice President also updated the chiefs on the extent of development projects the Akufo-Addo government has undertaken in the region so far. “There are 299 projects being executed in the Region, with 159 completed, and the remaining 140 ongoing. These are projects in education, health, roads, water and sanitation, etc.,” Dr. Bawumia said.

“Together with flagship policies like the free shs, planting for food and jobs, one district one factory, one district one warehouse, one constituency one ambulance, NABCO, Zongo Development Fund, as well as the provision of free electricity and water, the people of Oti have seen a lot of development and improvement in livelihoods in less than four years under President Akufo-Addo. We therefore need to protect all these achievements as we seek to do more in the next four years with your support”. Dr. Bawumia stated.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Nurses suspend nationwide strike

Daniel Opare
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Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), has suspended its nationwide strike pending a meeting with government later today.

The nurses strike action was to agitate their delayed conditions of service.

more soon…

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Luis Suarez: Barcelona agree to sell striker to Atletico Madrid

Daniel Opare
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Barcelona have agreed to let striker Luis Suarez join La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid.

Suarez is not wanted at Barca and the Catalans were happy to release him for free, providing he did not join certain other top clubs.

The Uruguayan agreed terms on a reduced salary with Atletico after a move to Juventus fell through because of passport issues.

Barcelona chairman Josep Maria Bartomeu then blocked the deal because he did not wish to sell to a Spanish rival.

But, after meeting with Suarez’s representatives, the Catalan club have backed down, with the striker threatening to air his grievances to the media.

Atletico will have to pay a nominal fee of no more than 4m euros for the 33-year-old, which will be based on variables such as Champions League qualification.

Suarez will earn half of the 30m euros a year he was on at Barca at Atletico.

The move ends Suarez’s six-year career with Barca, during which he scored 198 goals in 283 appearances and formed one third of a feared front three with Lionel Messi and Neymar.

He joined the club for £74m from Liverpool in 2014 and helped them win four La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys and the Champions League and Club World Cup in 2015.

It also ends one of this summer’s long-running transfer sagas, which looked likely to result in the player ending up in Turin – a move that was dashed, according to Juventus directors, because of the amount of time it would have taken to secure Suarez an Italian passport.

BBC

Mortuary promise a request from Zongo communities- Agyenim Boateng

Daniel Opare
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The 2020 campaign Spokesperson for the  flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), James Agyenim Boateng, has said the mortuary promise by the party is based on requests from the Zongo communities.

This follows news that the flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama had promised that the next NDC administration will build more mortuaries in the Zongo communities.

According to the news item, John Mahama said the mortuaries will help preserve the dead in Zongo areas.

This promise has been criticized the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Reacting to the issue on Atinka FM’s AM Drive with host Ekourba Gyasi, Spokesperson for Mahama’s election 2020 campaign team said  the promise forms part of the numerous requests made by the Zongo communities to the NDC.

He added that the promise is part of intervention programmes which the NDC plans to put in place to develop Zongos and deprived communities when the next NDC takes over the governance in 2021.

James Agyenim Boateng said Mahama noted that the NDC government will facilitate the the establishment of mortuaries in accordance with Islamic custom and practices and collaborate with the Ministry of Health to set up focal teams responsible for procedures that are compliant with Islamic custom and practice at all public mortuaries.

He seized the opportunity to call on the general public as well as Muslims to disregard any such publication.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

Man wins lottery jackpot after using same numbers for 12 years

Daniel Opare
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A Missouri man who has been using the same set of lottery numbers for more than 10 years won a $50,000 jackpot — just two years after collecting a $19,000 prize.

Dan Dampf of Jefferson City told Missouri Lottery officials he has been using the same 10 numbers to play Show Me Cash since the game began in 2008, and his persistence paid off when the numbers 2-21-27-33-39 came up in the Sept. 8 drawing.

“It finally hit, so I was really excited,” Dampf said. “I was blessed that I finally won.”

He said the win wasn’t his first brush with lottery luck.

“Two years ago I was playing Pick 4, and I won $19,000, which was my biggest win ever,” Dampf said. “So [now], this was the biggest win I’ve ever had.”

Dampf said the jackpot will allow him to pay off his bills and buy some new woodworking equipment.

“It’s a new hobby I picked, so I’ll have something to do when I get closer to retirement,” he said.

UPI

One 'killed' in Cameroon anti-government protests

Daniel Opare
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A protester was killed and others injured in Cameroon during anti-government protests held across the country on Tuesday, according to the opposition party’s lawyer.

The lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, tweeted a video of a protester lying motionless.

He wrote: “We are receiving reports that at least one protester has been shot and killed by police in Douala [the country’s biggest city] and many others injured and arrested.”

The government had warned of a firm response to Tuesday’s protests called by opposition leader Maurice Kamto.

The demonstrators were calling for an end to the Anglophone crisis and a reform of the electoral code.

Mr Kamto has suggested if the two issues are not addressed, the protests will continue until President Paul Biya is forced from power.

Mr Biya has been in power since 1982. He was re-elected in 2018 in an election that Mr Kamto claimed he won.

BBC

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