Inflation rate for January 2019 falls to 9.0%

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In January 2019, the year-on year inflation rate was 9.0%, as compared to a 9.4% rate recorded in December 2018.

The monthly change rate in January 2019 was 1.0% compared to 1.1% recorded in December 2018, this was announced by the acting government statistician, Mr. David Kombat, in a press conference today.

He explained that the year-on-year non-food inflation rate for January 2019 was 9.5% as compared with the rate of 9.8% recorded in December 2018.

The acting statistician added that the year-on year rate for January 2019 was 8.0%, compared with 8.7% recorded in December 2018, while the year-on year non-food inflation rate (9.5%) is 1.5% points higher than the food inflation rate (8.0%).

In January 2019, the year-on year inflation rate for imported items (10.8%) was 2.5% points higher than that of locally produced items (8.3%).

The main price drivers for the non-food inflation rate were transport (13.4%), clothing and footwear (12.8%), recreation and culture (12.7%), furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance (11.25) and miscellaneous goods and services, while the prices for food inflation rate were coffee, tea and cocoa (12.4%), fruits (10.0%), meat and meat products (9.8%) and mineral water, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices (9.3%).

Four regions (upper west, Brong Ahafo, Western and Ashanti) recorded inflation rates above the national average of 9.0%.

Upper west region recorded the highest year-on year inflation rate of 10.8%, followed by Brong Ahafo region (9.9%) while the upper East region recorded the lowest year-on year inflation rate (7.7%) in January 2019.

The January 2019 rate of 9.0% is the lowest since January 2013.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Hannah Obeng

Takoradi: Man escapes lynching after wife accuses him of kidnapping own daughters

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A man believed to be in his 40s on Wednesday escaped lynching at Effiekuma, a suburb of Takoradi after his estranged wife accused him of kidnapping his own children.

The man whose name was given as George, a Ghanaian, had apparently given a divorce notice to his Sierra Leonean wife. George had reportedly gone to pick his children from their mother, when an alarm was raised by the woman that the children, all female, were being kidnapped.

More soon

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Builsa North: Local Business Associations supported with start-up kits

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Eight members from three Local Business Associations (LBA) in the Builsa North District of the Upper East Region have been supported with various start-up kits under the Rural Enterprise Program.

The beneficiaries, made up of 4 masons, an auto-electrician and 3 carpenters, were presented with tools and other equipment to aid in starting up their business operations.

The items were given to the beneficiaries at a consultative meeting held in Sandema. In attendance were the District Chief Executive, Chiefs, industry players and members of the Local Business Associations in the district.

The meeting was aimed at deliberating on the challenges stifling the growth of business in the area and identifying lasting solutions for them.

Head of the Builsa North District Assembly Business Resource Centre (BRC), Akeeda Roger Awimbe, in his speech explained that the presentation is part of intervention put in place by the Resource Centre to address the challenges artisans in the district go through in acquiring the requisite tools and equipment to startup businesses after training.

According to Mr. Akeeda, the lack of capital, tools and equipment has been identified as one huge hurdle pulling back the development and expansion of businesses in the district. He was however hopeful the items will soften the burden on artisans and support them to become self- employed.

 “The startup kits are tools and equipment that are going to help the clients to work. Mostly, these clients after undergoing their training in carpentry, masonry, wielding or blacksmithing have the challenge in acquiring requisite tools and equipment to kick start their business. So we as a business resource centre have identified them and written to the rural enterprise program to support them with these kits so that they start something on their own”. He said.

Mr. Akeeda enumerated a number of challenges marring the smooth operations of the program and appealed for assistance from the district assembly and government.

The Builsa North District Chief Executive, Afoko David Amoabil, who made the presentations urged beneficiaries to make meaningful use of the startup kits so as to benefit society.

He stressed that government is committed to the cause of promoting and supporting small and local business in the area. He also made the assurance that the assembly will make the business environment in the district very favourable and supportive.

One of the beneficiaries, Asangalisa Fidelis expressed his excitement. According to him, the items have come at a time they are most needed and will greatly help him in his carpentry business.

He appealed for more support from government.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Senyalah Castro

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer concedes PSG are on a different level to Manchester United

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer conceded PSG are on a different level to Manchester United after the French side ran out comfortable winners at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer lost for the first time as United caretaker manager as Paris Saint-Germain ran out 2-0 winners in the Champions League last-16 first leg with Paul Pogba sent off late on.

Presnel Kimpembe turned home at the far post from an Angel Di Maria corner, before Kylian Mbappe finished off from another Di Maria assist, giving United a huge task to overcome.

It would have been more but for some fine goalkeeping from David de Gea.

Solskjaer, who had won 10 of his 11 games in charge before this clash, admitted his team were a step below the French champions.

He said: "Today we weren't at the level. This was a level up from what we've played against. We've had a great run, we came into this game in a great frame, on great form, but of course this was a big step up.

"There is a reason behind them being one of the favourites for the Champions League. That's the level we need to aim for at this club."

None of the previous 34 teams to lose the first leg of a Champions League knockout match at home by two or more goals have progressed to the next round.

Despite the huge task facing his side in Paris, Solskjaer feels the chance of qualification is still alive.

"At this club you bounce back, you have to bounce back," he said.

"We are in a difficult tournament, whoever you play against, but our bread and butter is the league and then the FA Cup against Chelsea, there's so many games to play for.

"When we go down there to Paris, we'll give it a go. Of course it's a difficult, difficult mountain to climb but it's not impossible, if we get to half-time with a 1-0 lead that's what we've got to look for."

Sky Sports

Nigeria stampede: Deaths at Buhari rally in Port Harcourt

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A number of people have been killed and injured in a stampede at a campaign rally for Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, local officials say.

The incident happened at a stadium in the southern city of Port Harcourt when the crowd surged towards a gate after President Buhari's speech.

Nigeria holds an election on Saturday in which Mr Buhari is running for his second term.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is seen as Mr Buhari's main contender.

The incident happened after President Buhari delivered his speech shortly after 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium, local media report.

Most of the victims are reported to have fallen and been trampled as the crowd tried to force its way through a partially locked gate to follow Mr Buhari as he left the arena.

Injured people were taken to a nearby hospital.

Mr Buhari's office later said that the president had been informed about "the tragic deaths of several members of his All Progressives Congress (APC) party in a stampede".

BBC

Irate Salaga youth burn NPP party office over new regional capital

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Some irate youth have reportedly set ablaze the constituency party office of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to reports, this act of violence is as a result of government's decision to make Damongo the Regional Capital of the newly created Savannah Region.

The youth have reportedly pulled down all bill boards with pictures of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Audio: Rawlings blasts Kufuor for not promoting family planning 

 

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has attacked his successor, John Agyekum Kufuor, for encouraging Ghanaians to give birth to more children when the latter was president of the country.

Speaking to NDC supporters at Ashaiman on Tuesday, the former PNDC Chairman recalled how Mr. Kufuor rather encouraged baby boom when the country was doing well in promoting family planning. 

"I remember when we were doing well as we were preparing for elections and I would be campaigning about family planning and HIV/AIDS. Kufour went about encouraging Ghanaians to give birth to more children,” he said.

The outspoken former leader noted that he was surprised to note that Mr. Kufuor was only doing that for votes, an intention he (Rawlings) described as selfish and backward. 

"I want my people to be rich and have enough… there would never be enough when you bring forth uncontrollably," Mr. Rawlings emphasized. 

He urged Ghanaians to adhere to strict family planning methods to control birth as one surest step of mitigating the impact of economic hardships associated with uncontrolled birth. 

According to him, uncontrolled birth is a major precursor to poverty which is plaguing Ghana and the entire African continent.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Edward Sebbie
 

Jospong partners Hungarian firm to solve sewerage problems in Kumasi 

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Work will soon begin on the construction and installation of an ultra-modern waste water treatment plant to solve perennial faecal waste disposal problem in Kumasi and surrounding communities.

The 1000m3 plant is a joint project between Ghana and Hungary and will be executed by Sewerage Systems Ghana, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group and Pureco Limited of Hungary.

The 13 million euro facility, which is based on a robust technology to be provided by Pureco Limited, a Hungarian water resource technology engineering firm will also have the capacity to turn waste water into compost for agricultural use.

In a colorful event to break the grounds for the construction of the plant at Adegya near Kumasi, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong expressed his appreciation to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his dedication to the construction of the plant by releasing 130 acres of land for the construction of the facility and other related ones.

   

He said the plant which will be managed by Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong group when completed will serve as a research center for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to undertake research activities for innovations in waste water treatment.

Dr. Agyepong hinted that feasibility studies have been conducted to construct similar plants in Takoradi, Tamale and Tema respectively.

The Hungarian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Adreas Szabo, in his remarks expressed his delight for the partnership, describing it as the first of its kind for a Hungarian company to sign a contract with a Ghanaian company to undertake such a huge project.

He said the project will be funded by Hungary’s Exim bank and the Jospong Group.

The Deputy State Secretary for Export Development of Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E Isvan Joo also hailed the project and cited it as the first waste water treatment plant to be constructed in sub-Saharan African.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea who spoke at the ceremony commended Jospong for his great vision for the country.

He said “one does not need the whole nation to change the nation, all you need is one man and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong is changing things in this country”.
Government commitment to Sanitation  

The Deputy Minister of Sanitation, Hon. Michael Gyato in a speech read on behalf of the substantive Minister, indicated that the government since assuming office, has taken steps to prioritize environmental sanitation by establishing the Ministry of sanitation to ensure that Ghana becomes a clean nation.

He said the government is keen on achieving the Sustainable Development goal on sanitation hence the need to bridge the huge infrastructural that exist in liquid waste treatment to help eventually stop open defecation.

Nana Baffuor Agyei Fosu Twitwiakwa II, Ananta Hene and representative of the Asantehene who chaired the brief ceremony said it was the hope of Otumfuo that ventures like this will make Kumasi the real garden city and return Kumasi to its former glory!

He commended the Jospong Group and its founder/Executive Chairman for is visionary innovation adding, “The Asanteman Council will continue to support such ventures to realise the dreams of our forefathers”.

Also present at the ceremony was the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Osei Mensah, some members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives from the region, some chiefs and representatives from the Zongo communities among others
Background of project .

The Executive Chairman of the Jospong group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong and the Chief Executive Officer of Pureco, Mr. Balint Horvath signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November, 2017 for the construction and installation of sewerage and waste water plants in Kumasi.

The project, which is expected to be completed next year is being funded by the Hungarian Exim bank with other financial contribution from the Jospong group.

The Plant which will be managed by Sewerages Systems Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong group forms plans by the company to properly manage waste in all 10 regions of Ghana.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 
 

Private company partners Gov’t to construct affordable housing made of polystyrene concrete

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Solin, a private company from Hungary with expertise in providing polystyrene concrete technology housing systems, has partnered Government of Ghana to construct affordable housing project – using polystyrene concrete technology

This follows a partnership agreement between the governments of Ghana and Hungary through Solin, to commence the construction these affordable houses for Ghanaians across the country.

The project, which will seek to bridge the housing gap among Ghanaians, will provide a fast and cost effective affordable houses based on a polystyrene concrete technology to ultimately construct 10,000 housing units for Ghanaians.

Speaking at the official sod-cutting ceremony for the rapid housing technology in Accra yesterday, the Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea, gave the firmest of assurances that there will be ‘no governmental bureaucracy’ in the way of the project.

He said this affordable housing project could not have come at a time when the country was faced with a housing deficit of 1.7 million units.

 “We cannot have a sane society if people do not have a decent homes of abode,” he said

The above challenge, Mr Atta Akyea, who doubles as the member of Parliament for Abuakwa South Constituency, averred, has been the headache of the Akufo-Addo administration.

Against this backdrop, the works and housing minister described the intervention of the Hungarian in addressing Ghana’s housing deficit as a ‘miracle’ of a sort. 

In the wake of the intervention, he disclosed that the government will create a mortgage regime that will make it affordable for Ghanaians to own houses.

He, therefore, encouraged Ghanaians to lend their support to the success of the project, cautioning against any propagandist tendencies.

“We should embrace this modern technology with so many prospects for Ghana as it will help wipe our housing deficit,” he said.

According to Mr Atta Akyea, there project encompasses a factory component in the background.  

The intervention of Solin will pave way for many factories to be built across the country, which will feed the construction companies with the materials for the building, he stressed. 

This, he said, dovetails into President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s One District, One Factory (1D1F) project, aimed at providing employment for Ghanaians.

He commended the Hungarian government, Solin and Sino Africa Development Company for the initiative.    

Again, the minister spoke highly of the Hungarian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. András Szabó, who he admitted had become a personal friend.

For his part, Ambassador of Hungary to Ghana, András Szabó, said the project could not have come to fruition without the support of government of Ghana and Sino Africa Development Company Limited.

He explained that the project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the government of Ghana with Solin mandated to finance and build affordable housing units for Ghanaians which will subsequently be absorbed by Government to citizens on flexible and affordable terms.

Solin, he said, has plans to establish a factory in Ghana to aid government’s 1D1F initiative to locally produce the materials needed for the construction of these rapid technology houses. 

When the factory is set up and the materials produced locally, the company will annually construct 2,000 housing units for Ghanaians, he went on to disclose.

Later, Mr Atta Akyea and His Excellency Andras Szabo commissioned a sample 3-bedroom housing unit constructed by Solin on the Spintex road in Accra

Meanwhile, the developer and technology provider, Solin, has identified a local partner, Sino Africa Development Company Limited, a construction company, to undertake all civil works to meet the local construction standards and also transfer the technology unto the local partner.

 

 

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Government denies sidelining Nkoranza over siting of Regional capital

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The Minister for Regional Reorganisation and Development, Dan Botwe, and his Deputy, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah have denied sidelining the Chiefs and people of the Nkoranza Traditional Area in the naming of the capital for the newly created Bono East Region.

Speaking on GBC’s ‘Behind the News’, Deputy Minister for Regional Reorganisation  and Development, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah said the Ministry is not involved in choosing a regional capital for the new region.

Mr. Korsah expressed surprise as to why such accusations will be levelled against the Minister and the Ministry.

He said discussions have been held and the will of the people will be paramount.

Demonstration

The Chiefs and people of the Nkoranza Traditional Area say if Nkoranza is not named as the capital of the newly created Bono East Region, they will not vote for the NPP in the 2020 General Elections.

The Adontenhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, Nana Okofo Agyepong, said this in a speech read on his behalf after a demonstration at Nkoranza on Monday.

The demonstration was organised in reaction to concerns that Nkoranza was sidelined in the process of creating the new regions.

The Nkoranza Traditional Area is one of the largest in Bono-Ahafo, covering four political administrative districts. Nkoranza is consequently one of the Cities hoping to be named capital of the Bono East Region.

However, Monday morning residents organised a demonstration to among others protest against what they see as deliberate sidelining of Nkoranza in the entire Region creation process. The Demonstration lasted a couple of hours.

The Protesters carried placards with inscriptions like “Nkoranza has been sidelined for too long”, and “Dan Botwe you are biased”. The Chiefs addressed a News Conference which followed the demonstration.

The Chief of Buaben, Nana Owusu Damoah Ameyaw, read a statement signed by the Adontenhene of Nkoranza, Nana Okofo Agyepong.

He said the People of Nkoranza perceive a well-orchestrated plan to sideline Nkoranza in the Region creation process and naming of a regional capital.

They maintain that Nkoranza was not invited to about four major meetings in the Region creation process, while the Minister for Regional Reorganisation also failed to visit Nkoranza during visits to the area. He said the biggest evidence of a conspiracy against Nkoranza is denial of the Sector Minister that he never received a petition from the area asking that it be considered for hosting the regional capital. They also had a warning for the ruling NPP Government.

GBC