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LPG dealers to stage massive demo Monday

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The Ghana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Dealers Association is red-alert to stage a massive demonstration against the Government in what they describe as government’s refusal to put in place the ‘Cylinder Re-circulation Model’ over the years.

It has been noted that the association has on countless occasion drawn the attention of successive governments to deal with pertinent issues confronting the industry and has no more time to accommodate Gov’t. They therefore would hit the street on Monday, May 12.  

Cylinder Re-circulation is a system whereby the LPG Bottling Plants will be sited away from congested commercial and population centers and will procure brand, maintain and fill empty cylinders to be distributed to customers and households through retail outlets.
The system also paves way for consumers to exchange their empty cylinder with a filled one at the exchanged point.

Speaking in an interview with Kaakyire Ofori Ayim on Atinka  AM Drive  Thursday, the National Vice President of the LPG Dealers Association, Johnson Owusu mentioned that their intended action stems from the fact that Gov’t is bent on implementing the system in a hasty manner without adequately putting in place the necessary measures.
Governments, over 15 years has been relaxed in their approach where they could fix these measures fully before its operation. 

According to him, having been operating in the sector for the past 30 years, they fear for the sustainability of the Cylinder Re-circulation Model done in a haste. And therefore the purpose for which it is done will be defeated.

He further explained that the safety and reliability of the system must be ensured adequately, thus the safety mechanisms have not been fully implemented.

And that even at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), there are limited staff to check and regulate the system well.

Ghana |Atinkaonline.com |Patrick Ofoe Nudzi 
   
 

Ursula accuses IMANI of misinformation over $89 m contract

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The Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, is accusing IMANI Africa of misinforming the general public  over a contract the ministry signed with a Haitian company last year.

The Communications Ministry  signed the contract with GVG/Kelni to deal with revenue losses and simbox fraud in the telecom Industry.

However, IMANI Africa boss, Franklin Cudjoe has alleged that the $89 million contract is a careless duplication of jobs and a needless drain on the country’s scarce resources.

Mr Cudjoe  said  Subah and Afriwave were awarded similar questionable  contracts under the NDC administration to perform similar and that it is strange that the NPP government is repeating what it criticised then. 

However, the ministry has denied the allegation in a statement released Friday.

The minister said the contractual obligations of the parties are clearly defined, adding that  KelniGVG has issued a performance bond to demonstrate its commitment to deliver the Solution to meet the requirements of the Implementing Agencies (GRA and NCA). 

“Under the BUILD, OPERATE, MANAGE and TRANSFER model, the contract signed has a clear roadmap and deliverables. The installation of the Common Platform is in progress and the Central Monitoring System is fully equipped. The Installation is expected to be operational before the end of July 2018,” the statement said.

Mrs Ekuful  said  government is committed to transparency and the provision of the necessary protection for every “Ghanaian in the use and verification of their hard-earned Cedis, so, that we may as a nation reach the  target  of  self-sustenance,  taking  Ghana  Beyond  Aid;  by  plugging  all  leakages  and diversion of our revenue. As the President has said consistently, THIS IS NON NEGOTIABLE”.

Below is the full statement: 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON PLATFORM: SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT

The attention of the Ministry of Communications (MoC) has been drawn to an article released by IMANI Ghana, containing a litany of misinformation about the ministry, its mandate under the law and its conduct in fulfilment of such mandate.

The MoC, by this statement, would like to set the records straight.

As of 2009, the National Communications Authority, (NCA) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) had different regulations in accordance with their mandates to enhance oversight and revenue generation monitoring activities. As a result, each agency contracted different service providers in 2010 to achieve their objectives. In 2013, the government consolidated these regulations in the Communications Service Tax (Amendment) Act, 2013 (Act 864) to benefit from the synergy of using a single platform.

The  Act  clearly  stipulated  that  a  common  platform  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  monitoring revenues,   including   revenues   accruing   from   levies.   For   this   purpose,   the   Ministry   of Communications  (MoC),  the  Ministry  of  Finance  (MoF),  the  NCA  and  the  GRA  have  held several   meetings   to   agree   on   the   way   forward   for   oversight   and   revenue   assurance   in telecommunications.

For  the  purposes  of  clarity,  it  is  important  to  establish  the  timeline  of  events  that  led  to  the signing   of   the   contract   between   the   Government   of   Ghana,   through   its   Ministries   of Communications  and  Finance  and  KelniGVG,  a  Ghanaian  company,  for  the  provision  of oversight and revenue assurance monitoring.

• Subah  Infosolutions  was  contracted  by  GRA  in  2010,  to  oversee  the  tax  revenue monitoring activities from the Telcos. The contract was renewed with an expanded scope in  2014  for  a  five-year  (5)  term,  renewable  annually. To  the  best  of  our  knowledge, 

despite  having installed  the  SUBAH  Solution,  GRA  was  still  depending  on  Operators’ declarations for revenue monitoring purposes and did not have real time information on telecoms traffic volumes.

•  Afriwave was also licensed in 2016 by NCA, to provide an interconnect clearing house in

monitoring  both  domestic  and  international  traffic  volumes  and  the  accounting  of  the Surtax  on  International  Inbound  Call  Termination  (SIIT)  returns  and  fight  against  the SIMBOX  fraud.  The  licence  was  primarily  for  the  provision  of  interconnect  traffic routing, settlements and  billing. Afriwave failed  to deliver on licensed services per the requirements  of  the  Electronic  Communications  (Interconnect  Clearinghouse  Services) Regulations, 2016, L.I. 2234 resulting in an amendment of the licence in 2017 to restrict them to interconnect services only.

• Due to the lack of clarity regarding the implementation of the law on the establishment of a common platform, the NPP administration held a stakeholders forum on Tuesday, 21st February,   2017   chaired   by   the   Senior   Minister.   The   Ministers   of   Finance   and Communications  were  both  present  in  addition  to  relevant  stakeholders  including  all mobile operators, Subah and Afriwave. After all the presentations, it became clear there was duplication of efforts by both Subah and Afriwave while none of them was providing the real time traffic monitoring solution required for effective revenue assurance in this sector.  They  both  depended  on  Call  Detail  Records  {CDRs}  provided  by  the  various mobile operators, information which was freely available to the NCA. The government of Ghana was also paying both entities essentially for no work done. The  outcome of the consultation  process  was  for  the  NCA  to  amend  the  Interconnect  Clearinghouse  (ICH) Licence to restrict them to clearing hose operations and for GRA to abrogate the contract with  Subah.  This  would  pave  way  for  the  establishment  of  the  common  platform  in accordance with the law for proper revenue assurance.

• A new procurement process was launched, sanctioned by the MoC and MoF, in accordance with the law, to select a suitable vendor to meet the requirements defined by the NCA and GRA and in December 2017, the contract was awarded to a Ghanaian entity, duly registered under the laws of the Republic of Ghana called KelniGVG Limited. KelniGVG was initially incorporated in October 1995. The award was made in full compliance with the relevant laws in Ghana, unlike the contracts awarded to both Subah and Afriwave.

•   The current implementation of the common platform has resulted in monthly savings of over US$1.1million to the State. 

It must be made clear that the MoC  and the MoF jointly collaborated on all the processes and signed a new contract for the implementation of the Common Platform in accordance with their procurement guidelines and the provisions of the Law.

Also, prior to this new arrangement, all relevant stakeholders were made aware of the fact that previous contractors’ services, namely that of Subah Infosolutions and Afriwave relating to traffic and revenue assurance monitoring were in effect, TERMINATED. There can therefore be no duplication as alleged by Imani. Furthermore, the KelniGVG mobile money monitoring system will monitor ALL mobile money transactions on the various platforms both on each network and between networks. The interoperability framework launched by HE the vice president facilitates and monitors transactions between the various operators and the banks. Between the two systems, the government will have complete visibility on total volumes and values of mobile money transactions in Ghana and derive the appropriate tax revenues from them.

The Ministry of Communications would like to assure Ghanaians that the necessary due diligence was carried out during the processes that led to the selection of KelniGVG. A lot of care was taken not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

The contractual obligations of the parties are clearly defined. KelniGVG has issued a performance bond to demonstrate its commitment to deliver the Solution to meet the requirements of the Implementing Agencies (GRA and NCA). Under the BUILD, OPERATE, MANAGE and TRANSFER model, the contract signed has a clear roadmap and deliverables. The installation of the Common Platform is in progress and the Central Monitoring System is fully equipped. The Installation is expected to be operational before the end of July 2018.

The risk  of  losses  on the  international  incoming  calls  can  be  fairly estimated  to  be  more than $150,000   for   the   three  months   even   while   the   Solution   is   not   yet  fully  launched.

The equipment being installed by KelniGVG is for monitoring only. They are purely passive and will not disturb the functioning of operator systems. Similarly, there will be no violation of the Data and Privacy Laws of Ghana resulting from KelniGVG services. All the staff working on the project  have  signed  Non-Disclosure  Agreements  in  accordance  with  global  best  practice  and standards.   We   insist   on   the   full   and   effective   application   of   the   laws   of   the   land.

It is normal for a company like KelniGVG which is assisting Government regulators to verify revenues and promote transparency in any sector to be unpopular with institutions which benefit from and take advantage of the lack of systems that provide such transparency and visibility and to be attacked. We will plug these revenue gaps, and provide the Government with revenue to provide  critical  infrastructure  for  development.  This  is  the  promise  that  this  Government  has made and intends to deliver on.

The government is committed to transparency and the provision of the necessary protection for every Ghanaian in the use and verification of their hard-earned Cedis, so, that we may as a nation reach the  target  of  self-sustenance,  taking  Ghana  Beyond  Aid;  by  plugging  all  leakages  and diversion of our revenue. As the President has said consistently, THIS IS NON NEGOTIABLE.

 

 

 

Signed

Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful

Minister of Communications.

 

 

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Isaac Nuamah Yeboah 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Isaac Nuamah Yeboah

In the pants of a woman

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In the pants of a woman is a product that is not for everybody’s consumption. In there is a world that belongs only to them. In the pants of a woman is a pleasure that is not for everyone’s leisure. Deep down inside the pants of a woman is a private space… not a public property!

It’s amazing how others assume that the body of a woman is for their sexual pleasure, thus, must have it at all cost when they want it. You wonder if others come from Pluto when they assume that the content in the pants of every woman is for their satisfaction; even at the discomfort of the said woman.   

We are living in times that make everyone exposed to a myriad of dangers clothed in human skin. Our daughters and mothers are especially exposed to people whose heads are used for everything except thinking. From the harsh economic conditions to all the frenzy that goes on on social media, our women are now more exposed to rapists and rape apologists more than they were before.

According to a six-year statistics from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, 1,856 women were reportedly raped between 2011 and 2016. In 2011 alone, a woman was averagely raped each day of the year. Mind you, for every reported rape case, there are two or more others that were never reported for stigmatization sake!

Our society aids and abets rape. Most rapists find our society a safe haven because we hand to them a lifeline when we condemn victims and stereotype them. It will amaze you the overwhelming number of women who have had to gloss over their abuse because they couldn’t stand society’s mockery had they reported. And… that’s how society conspires with rapists to be in business!

In this 21st century, we still have so-called level-headed people writing off rape cases because victims were in skimpy clothes. Assuming that someone’s skimpy clothes is the cause of rape is like assuming that every robbery case should be excused because victims were probably flaunting their money on the street. Even if people flaunt their money, it is their money. If they expose their body, it is theirs. Robbery, just like rape, has no excuse!

Justifying a rape case because the victim was in the perpetrator’s premises is like admitting that anyone has the permission to drive away any car they see in their premises. Such a Stone Age mindset!  Rape is a crime… and has no excuse whatsoever even if the victim was parading naked! 

Every woman’s body is their body― it belongs to them alone. Until one is given permission, it is an abuse― a crime. Our men must know that sexual abuse has no excuse. In the pants of a woman is their privacy― deep in there is a part of them that is strictly private.

It’s about time we protected our women and children. It’s about time we made our daughters and sisters understood that no one can get into their pants without their permission. It’s high time we made them know that no one can steal the content in their pants without their consent. We need to make them know that it is a part of their body, not an extension of public property.

We have to let our daughters know that trust makes them vulnerable. It’s about time we explained to them that they can’t trust anybody any more than they trust themselves because almost every single rape case was perpetrated on the beds of those victims, at least, had an iota of trust for. Oftentimes, those they trust are the same to thrust a spear into their hearts.

Our daughters should be wary on social media. Not everyone can be a friend. Not everyone is worth engaging in a conversation. A lot of evil people are prowling around. Rapists hide behind accounts and lure others into their haven. They warm their way into their hearts and find a way of seducing them. They ply their trade so well that before they know, they are already victims.

While we protect our women, we need to empower them as well. We need to empower our girls to report rape cases. We need to strengthen our mothers to voice out any form of sexual abuse meted out to them. It is not a norm to be raped neither is it a norm to have it unreported. Our women should be strong enough not to bottle up any form of abuse!

Empowerment begins with shoving away every form of stigmatization heaped on victims. If we want to have a society where rapists and their apologists are exposed and punished, we should not verbally abuse the sexually abused. If we ever wish to live in a society which is rid of pedophiles and their kind, we should be brave enough to confront the perpetrators and not the victims.

Every woman is at risk because men whose lust has no bounds abound. Men who would pounce on anyone in skirt are all over place. No one should be allowed to walk away after selfishly abusing another because they are vulnerable. Our girls are at risk in their schools and even in our homes. Our mothers are, too. Every woman is at risk!

As much as we protect them, we should let them know that they should never be silent on any hints of sexual abuse. They should earn our confidence and not be suppressed by the fear of their abusers. When we get into the hearts of our daughters, no one can “break” into their pants.       

In their pants is a home. Only a burglar breaks in!

The writer is a playwright and Chief Scribe of Scribe Communications (www.scribecommltd.com), a writing company based in Accra. His play TRIBELESS is on Saturday, June 16th, 2018 at National Theatre.

 

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo '120% fit' for Real Madrid v Liverpool

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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit for the Champions League final against Liverpool in a week's time, says manager Zinedine Zidane.

Ronaldo, 33, has not played since spraining his ankle during the El Clasico draw with Barcelona earlier this month but could feature against Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday.

Real will attempt to win their third straight Champions League title when they meet Liverpool in Kiev on 26 May.

"Right now he is 120%," said Zidane.

"He is fine. If Cristiano is 120% that's fine with me."

Zidane added Ronaldo, who will captain Portugal at this summer's World Cup in Russia, is available for the match at Villarreal as Real try to finish second behind rivals Barcelona.

They are currently three points behind Europa League winners Atletico Madrid, who face Eibar on Sunday, but have a far superior goal difference.

Gareth Bale scored twice in a 6-0 thrashing of Celta Vigo on Saturday and got the equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Barcelona, but Zidane would not be drawn on whether the Wales forward had played himself into contention to start in Kiev.

"You can say he's playing better because of the goals he has scored, but he has been training well," Zidane said.

"The most important thing is to see everyone in good physical shape. That's what I care about."

Former France and Real Madrid midfielder Zidane, 45, said it would be "huge" for his side to win the Champions League for a third consecutive year, which would see him join Carlo Ancelotti and Bob Paisley as the only manager to win three European titles.

Ancelotti won the 2003 and 2007 titles with AC Milan before leading Real Madrid to the 2014 trophy, while Paisley won the European Cup with Liverpool in 1977, 1978 and 1981.

"It would mean a lot of things," said Zidane. "It would mean we have been doing our job well and that my message has been getting through to the players and the staff.

"It's great to start my managerial career at this level but for me the most important final of the Champions League is this one, not the last one. We have to give it everything."


BBC

Uganda's 'unemployable' ex-MPs 'to get $26,000 payment'

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A Ugandan parliamentary committee wants former legislators to receive a one-off payment of Uganda Shillings 100m ($26,000; £20,000).

Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga told the state-linked New Vision newspaper the payment was to "recognise the lawmakers' contribution to the development of the nation".

She said that the MPs had already been given $8,000 but that President Yoweri Museveni had said that the amount "was too little".

Ex-lawmaker Othieno Akika said it was difficult for former MPs to get jobs. Meanwhie, his one-time colleague Angelo Drani is quoted as saying he and his fellow politicians are "in our wee hours of our lives and requesting you to give us assistance".

Lawmakers who served from 1962 – 2001 are set to benefit from the payment but it is unclear how many they are.

The proposal needs to be approved by President Museveni.

BBC

'I have rich record in youth development, mentorship'- Alabi

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An aspiring NDC Presidential Candidate, Prof. Joshua Alabi, has stated that he has a rich record in youth development, mentorship and grooming during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra.

Prof. Alabi was speaking on Asuogyaman Fm, a radio station in the Eastern Region about his ambition to lead the NDC and Ghana.

When asked whether he will give opportunities to the youth to be in leadership positions under his tenure as President, he responded, "I have always wanted young people to aspire to greater heights. I became a Minister in my 30s and I performed creditably well. Besides, I work with a dedicated team of young people and I have full confidence in them."

"When I was the Vice Chancellor, I was unhappy that my students only limited themselves to the positions of Treasurer and Financial Controller in the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS)."

He continued, "hence, I encouraged, motivated and pushed them to aspire to the highest student office in Ghana and even Africa. As a result, out of the over 70 tertiary institutions in Ghana, UPSA alone produced three NUGS Presidents and two Secretary-Generals of the All Africa Students' Union (AASU) under my tenure as Vice Chancellor."

Prof. Joshua Alabi added that "many people don't know about my track record in youth development.  I know how to invest in the youth and help them into leadership."

The NDC Presidential Candidate aspirant noted that he has also been a mentor to many young people who were groomed under his tutelage over his 35years in public service, who can be found in various fields of endeavour in Ghana and beyond.


Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
 

Fire officers demand “One District, One Fire Station”

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Senior officers of the Fire Service Department in the Northern Region are pushing for the establishment of one district, one fire station across the country.

Speaking at an event organized by Ministry of Trade and Industry in Tamale Thursday, the Sagnarigu Municipal Chief fire officer, Mr. Adogoba Newton, said the devastating effect of fire cannot be downplayed and that government should consider setting up fire stations in all the districts in the country.

He argued that the One district, one factory policy should include one fire station each considering the huge distances between the few fire stations in the Northern Region.

Mr. Newton was optimistic that fire outbreaks can easily be dealt with if the proposal is adopted by the government.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Nigerian students 'tied to cross and whipped' for being late

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Three people have been arrested in Nigeria for allegedly tying late students to crosses and flogging them with horsewhips on a Nigerian roadside.

The three – including the headteacher – were taken into custody after a police officer stumbled across the incident in south-western Ogun State.

Pictures show at least two young people – one boy and one girl – tied to a makeshift crucifix with green string.

A police spokesman described the punishment as "a barbaric act".

Local reports say they were being punished for being late.

The officer – named only as Livinus – tried to intervene, asking the school's owner to free the teenagers. When the owner of the school in Ayetoro, 145km (90 miles) north-west of Lagos, refused, the officer decided to take action – only to be forced back.

"When I tried to untie the pupils, the proprietor and his teachers beat me up," he told Nigerian newspaper Punch. "Before I returned from picking handcuffs from my car, they had grabbed a friend who was with me… and beaten him up with a horsewhip."

The suspects were eventually arrested after back-up arrived.

Ogun State police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed to the BBC the principal, owner and another teacher were arrested and are likely to be charged.

He added: "The act is no longer a corrective measure, it is a barbaric act, it is not acceptable and it will not be tolerated."

BBC 

Ghanaians most hardworking immigrants in the US – Report

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A report analysing the work and job skill among immigrant groups in the United States of America has identified Ghanaians in the US as the most hardworking people.

Although it noted that Africans were generally more hardworking and skilled than immigrants from other parts of the world, immigrants from countries such as Bulgaria and Guatemala were among the most hardworking people in the US.

African countries that featured in the top 11 listen included Kenya (3rd), Ethiopia (4th), Nigeria (8th) and Liberia (9th).

The report was produced by Bloomberg’s Justin Fox, a famed American financial journalist from the 2016 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2016, to counter White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s comments that most undocumented immigrants are not easily able to assimilate into the United States, into its “modern society.”

Other subjects touched by the Justin Fox’s report was the educational level of immigrant groups, ability to speak English and hard work, which were key factors John Kelly used to highlight his point that the US could not integrate the immigrants.

The report said, of the many immigrant groups in the US, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Nepal were the countries with the most number of its immigrants enrolled in higher education in the US after Saudi Arabians.

It said the four countries also had the most number of its immigrants employed in the US.

On the level of education of immigrants in the US, the report named India, which has over 2.1 million immigrants in the US as highly educated, having at least a bachelor’s degree.

Egypt, which 152,000 immigrants in the US placed 5th on the level of education of its national there while Nigeria, which has over 260,000 immigrants placed 8th.

Kelly argued in a recent radio interview that most undocumented immigrants are “not people that would easily assimilate into the United States, into our modern society.” He said,

They’re overwhelmingly rural people in the countries they come from — fourth, fifth, sixth grade educations are kind of the norm. They don’t speak English, obviously that’s a big thing. They don’t speak English. They don’t integrate well, they don’t have skills. They’re not bad people. They’re coming here for a reason. And I sympathize with the reason. But the laws are the laws.

Citifmonline

NCCE has ‘serious resource constraints’-Deputy Chair

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The Deputy Chairperson in Charge of Finance and Administration at the National Commission For Civic Education (NCCE), Ms. Kathleen Addy, has disclosed that the Commission is facing  serious resource constraints, making it difficult to discharge its mandate effectively.

The Commission has the mandate to educate citizens on their rights and responsibilities. However, it has come under attack in recent times for allegedly failing to execute its mandate as required by the 1992 Constitution.

Speaking to Atinka News Thursday during the Constitution Week Celebration at the headquarters of   Ghana Immigration Service, Ms. Addy said, even though the Commission is doing its best to execute its mandate, it would do much more if the needed resources are provided by government.  
   
The theme for the celebration is, “Our Nation, Our Heritage: Consolidating Ghana’s Democratic Gains”.

She was, however, hopeful that government will extend the necessary assistance to enable the commission do its work to the satisfaction of Ghanaians.
 
The Deputy NCCE chair commended Ghanaians for the smooth transitions have taken place in the Fourth Republic so far, but said one or two amendments could be made to Constitution going forward to improve governance.  

Commenting on corruption, she said Ghanaians have a collective responsibility to fight the canker.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Hannah Obeng
 

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