Mahama’s ‘amateurish policies’ destroyed our economy – Akufo Addo

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Mahama’s ‘amateurish policies’ destroyed our economy – Akufo Addo
Nana Akufo-AddoFlag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says “amateurish and panic financial policies” coupled with bad leadership of the Mahama-led government has destroyed the country’s economy.
He said Ghanaians workers have over the years been promised better times ahead and a better Ghana, yet, they are now confronted with low wages, rising cost of living, economic hardshis and job loses among others. In a May Day message to Ghanaian workers Sunday, Nana Akufo-Addo said “the introduction of amateurish and panic measure financial policies, have destroyed our economy. Ghanaians, and most especially workers, are bearing the full brunt of the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy”. Below is the full statement The New Patriotic Party and I wish to extend our deepest gratitude to all Ghanaian workers, both in the formal and informal sectors, for their hard work and contribution to Ghana’s development, on the occasion of May Day. This year’s celebration is coming at a crucial time when Ghanaians are preparing to go to the polls to elect a President who will manage effectively the affairs of the nation for the next four years. Year after year, especially over the last 7 years, workers have been promised “Better Times Ahead”, “A Better Ghana”, only to be confronted with the stark reality of today’s Ghana under President Mahama – low wages, rising cost of living, deteriorating living conditions, economic hardships, and job losses as a result of collapsing businesses brought about by an unfavourable economic environment, amongst others. Our economy is in decline, evidenced in the last year’s 3.9% growth rate, the lowest in 15 years. Ghana, a country blessed with an abundance of human and natural resources, is where she is today because bad leadership, coupled with the introduction of amateurish and panic measure financial policies, have destroyed our economy. Ghanaians, and most especially workers, are bearing the full brunt of the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy. In spite of these difficulties, my message on Workers’ Day to the anxious Ghanaian workforce, once again, is this: stay faithful to the Ghanaian enterprise, Ghana will work again. We, in the NPP, remain committed to the enhancement of the dignity of the Ghanaian labour force, by providing competent and progressive leadership that will bring about the transformation of our national economy, driven by Ghanaians for the good of Ghanaians. It is through rapid industrialisation and value-addition that our economy can create the needed pool of good jobs with good pay across Ghana to enhance the dignity of Ghanaian labour. The NPP is resolute in its commitment to building a society of opportunities for the Ghanaian people, which will provide good education; good skills, good jobs and good pay for all its citizens. In this election year, the security and unity of our country are crucial and we appeal humbly to each and every one of us to say and do things that will keep our politics healthy, clean, and constructive. Maintaining law and order is key and we must all encourage those tasked with this duty, to do so professionally, without fear or favour. Maintaining a safe and peaceful environment necessary for the progressive programmes and policies that we have for the people of Ghana is of the utmost importance for us in the NPP. We salute Ghanaian workers on this day and wish you God’s blessing. We have all to remember that it is only by the hard work of all of us that we can build a bright future, the Ghana of our dreams. Join the NPP in our quest to bring change to our country and prosperity for our people. May God bless the Ghanaian worker! May God bless Ghana! ……signed…… Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo 2016 NPP Presidential Candidate By 3news.com|Ghana

‘We’re nonpartisan but highly political’ – Kofi Asamoah

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Mahama TUCOrganised labour has warned it will not allow any trade union in the country to be used to promote the political agenda of a particular political party as the nation goes to the polls on November 7.
Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, Kofi Asamoah, told Ghanaians workers “we do not expect any trade union to be used to promote the interest of any political party”. Addressing workers at this year’s May Day celebration in Wa in the Upper West Region Sunday, he asked workers to allow themselves to be used by any political party, noting “ Your jobs will not be secured by fighting on behalf any political party neither will your pay and working conditions be improved by engaging in political violence”. He assured Ghanaians workers that organised labour would remain nonpartisan as it has been over the years but said that does not mean they will be apolitical “In fact we are highly political as workers’ organisation. Therefore as the nation approaches elections, organised labour will maintain its presence and make political statements all of which are intended to ensure the peace of the nation is preserved,” he said. Mr. Asamoah said they would engage their members to refrain from comments that could threaten the peace and stability of the nation during the elections. The Secretary General also underscored the urgent need for workers and their unions to dedicate themselves to free, fair and peaceful elections in November while drawing attention to critical election related issues. “I’m optimistic that no matter what happens in November 7 the skies will not fall. Ghana must remain united and strengthened for the task ahead. But optimism is not enough; there are real issues that need to be addressed by all stakeholders including the EC, Government, the political parties, media and citizens Simmering mistrust He observed a simmering mistrust between the Electoral Commission and some political parties and other stakeholders ought to be looked at before the November elections He said while organised labour appreciates the enormous task ahead of the EC and the efforts made so far, “We call on the Electoral Commission to remain resolute and faithful to its constitutional mandate.” “The Commission must jealously guard its independence and neutrality. At the same time, in guarding its independence, the Commission must remember that it remains subject and accountable to the people of Ghana,” he reminded the Commission Unnecessary controversies Mr Asamoah further charged the Commission to strive to avoid what he termed unnecessary controversies as the nation prepares for the election “It is absolutely necessary that in an election year the commission avoids unnecessary controversies. It must be seen to be absolutely impartial. The commission should work diligently to build confidence in itself. A compromised electoral process is a recipe for electoral disaster. We must avoid this by all means,” he advised. But he said the government has a crucial role to play in ensuring a free, fair and peaceful election by discharging its obligations to the Electoral Commission. President’s responsibility He said the President has a responsibility in making sure the election is conducted peacefully, saying “It is your responsibility as the president of the country, and indeed it can be of highest honour to see Ghana through this election peacefully. He added: “This is especially so when you are a candidate in the election. Your wish like those of all other candidates is to win the elections. But … overseeing peaceful elections in which Ghana wins will be a far greater win for you, regardless of the outcome. He said organised labour expects political parties to exhibit maturity in their utterances and activities, adding, “They must not only demand fairness from others, they must also exhibit fairness” “We expect the competing parties and their presidential candidates to address important social and economic issues” which he mentioned as the unbearable cost of living, the huge unemployment, poverty, housing, sanitation and transportation. “They have to tell us how they are going to take Ghana out of the failed IMF\World Bank-sponsored policies. This political season offers opportunity to have that debate. These opportunities should not be wasted” By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana

ENi Ghana to generate 1,000 megawatts of power daily

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ENi Ghana to generate 1,000 megawatts of power daily
3139e6d71c98d35a9129d608dff94114_L President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday said the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) integrated oil and gas project in Sanzule in the Ellembelle District would generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity daily.
The project, being undertaken by ENi Ghana, an Italian International Company, would also produce a non-associated gas of 180 standard cubic feet per day for a period of not less than 20 years. This would be tied in to Ghana gas 110 km 20 pipeplines to deliver gas to the Aboadze and Tema power enclaves. President Mahama was speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the commencement of work on the onshore gas receiving facility at Sanzule in the Western Region. He said ENi Ghana, the operator of the OCTP oil and gas project, in collaboration with Vitol Upstream Ghana Ltd and the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC), which were non-operating partners, had joined forces to deal with the energy crisis which had reduced to the barest minimum. President Mahama commended ENi Ghana for making the largest investment in the oil and gas sector of Ghana and the West African sub-region in the last 59 years. He tasked the company to create more jobs for the youth, especially those in the catchment area, and allow the 2013 Local Content and Participation Policy to guide its operations. President Mahama said it was the intention of government to make the Western Region the new growth pole of Ghana as more industries and new opportunities continued to emerge in the area. He urged the Petroleum Commission to ensure that safety standards were adhered to as they produced gas to power the nation and boost industrialization. Government would, therefore, mainstream technical and vocational education and expedite action on the conversion of polytechnics into technical universities to produce the required manpower to feed the oil and gas industries. The Minister for Petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the project had the potential to develop and change lives of residents of Sanzule and the entire nation. He thanked the World Bank and the IFC for their partnership to ensure the success of the project. On the Local Content Policy, Mr Armah said out of the 7,000 workforce employed so far in the oil and gas sector, over 5,000 were Ghanaians and over 150 indigenes from Sanzule have been employed by ENi Ghana Ltd. The Minister said the Sankofa Oil Company had joined the league of oil companies in Ghana to create 100 jobs thereby reducing the unemployment rate in the country. The Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Laura Carpini, said Italy and Ghana would deepen partnership in a win-win situation to make a turning point in Ghana’s economy. The Managing Director of ENi Ghana, Mr Fabio Cavanna, said the facility would generate 80,000 barrels of oil a day and provide 1,500 indirect jobs to Ghanaians. He said gas would be explored and treated at Sanzule by Ghana Gas and to Aboadze for a 20-year period with support from the World Bank. Mr Cavanna said ENi Ghana was in league with partners in the Jubilee Field to ensure that the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah was restored. Source GNA

Kenya sets fire to huge ivory stockpile

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Kenya sets fire to huge ivory stockpile
kenya
More than 100 tonnes of ivory was stacked up in pyres in Nairobi National Park where it is expected to burn for several days. The ivory represents nearly the entire stock confiscated by Kenya, amounting to the tusks of about 6,700 elephants. Some disagree with Kenya’s approach, saying it can encourage poaching. Before igniting the first pyre, Mr Kenyatta said: “The height of the pile of ivory before us marks the strength of our resolve. “No-one, and I repeat no-one, has any business in trading in ivory, for this trade means death of our elephants and death of our natural heritage.” Does burning actually destroy ivory? The burning comes after African leaders meeting in Kenya urged an end to illegal trade in ivory. Experts have warned Africa’s elephants could be extinct within decades. But some conservationists have expressed opposition to the ivory burn in Kenya, the biggest in history. They say destroying so much of a rare commodity could increase its value and encourage more poaching rather than less. Botswana, which is home to about half of Africa’s elephants, is opposed to the burn and its president did not attend the event in Nairobi. Demand for ivory comes largely from Asia, with the main trafficking route being through the Kenyan port of Mombasa. Africa is home to between 450,000 and 500,000 elephants but more than 30,000 are killed every year for their tusks. Tanzania has lost 65% of its elephant population in the past five years. The Kenyan ivory pyres are seven times the size of any stockpile destruction so far, and represent about 5% of global ivory stores. Some 1.35 tonnes of rhino horn will also be burned. The street value of the ivory to be destroyed is estimated at more than $100m (£70m), and the rhino horn at $80m. “We don’t believe there is any intrinsic value in ivory, and therefore we’re going to burn all our stockpiles and demonstrate to the world that ivory is only valuable on elephants,” said Kitili Mbathi, director general of the Kenya Wildlife Service. Source BBC

Peace Council debunks ‘statement’ condemning Dr Bawumia

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Peace Council debunks ‘statement’ condemning Dr Bawumia
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante
The National Peace Council has denied issuing any press statement condemning the New Patriotic Party’s vice presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on his ‘religious inflammatory’ comment.
Dr Bawumia is reported to have urged Muslims to support him because he is a Muslim, adding “another major issue that I want to bring to the attention of the people is that; if we look at the Flagstaff House today, it does not reflect the people of Ghana in terms of religion”. Following from that, a statement purported to be coming from the Council and signed by Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante circulated on social media Monday in which it condemned utterances of Dr Bawumia. The said statement described the utterances as “unfortunate, irresponsible, unwarranted and a recipe fir chaos if allowed to go without condemnation” However, speaking on 3FM Monday, Rev. Asante said he had not issued any statement whatsoever on behalf of the Council but was unsure if any such statement had been issued by any of the Regional Peace Councils. He said as far as he is concerned as the Council has not issued any statement on Dr. Bawumia’s comments, neither has he in his personal capacity issued any statement on that. “Any statement purporting to go round as a statement from the National Peace Council may not be. If it is a statement coming from the Regional Peace Council, that’s a different thing, I have not yet been informed”. By Mercy Dalyne Lokko 3FM 92.7|tv3network.com

Talented Kidz season VII set for thrilling final Monday

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talented kidz beta Eight contestants will on Monday battle it out at the National Theatre in Accra for the ultimate prize of TV3’s Talented Kidz.
Louisa Robertson, Abraham Quaye, Central A/G Band, Kidie Roayal Band,Action Boys, Winston Jojo Danquah, Unique Dancers and Kurt Ansah Frimpong are the final eight contestants who have in the few weeks demonstrated their skills to earn them a place in the grand finale. This final of this year’s event is expected to be exciting. This year’s competition saw contestants all the ten regions. The contestants were grouped into 28 and the best survived evictions in the 13-week thriller. Monday’s show start at 4:00pm would be attended by hundreds of Ghanaians who have followed the competition right from its inception. Tickets are being sold for GH20. By Nana Afrane Asante|3news.com|Ghana

Ghanaian crowned first ‘Miss Africa Continent’

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Ghanaian crowned first ‘Miss Africa Continent’
Miss Ghana, Rebecca Asamoah, is crowned the first ever Miss Africa Continent in Johannesburg, South Africa on April 30, 2016
Miss Ghana, Rebecca Asamoah, is crowned the first ever Miss Africa Continent in Johannesburg, South Africa on April 30, 2016
Barefoot, wearing traditional costumes including animal hide skirts and elaborately beaded headdresses, the contestants strutted the stage before Ghanaian Rebecca Asamoah was crowned the first ‘Miss Africa Continent’.
The 24-year-old dental hygienist beat 11 finalists drawn from an original list of 40 contestants from across the continent in the inaugural pageant at Johannesburg’s Gold Reef City casino on Saturday night. Runner-up was Michelo Malambo of Zambia, while South Africa’s Jemimah Kandimiri was placed third. The swimsuit contest was also a departure from the beauty contest norm, with contestants wearing black t-shirts and tight shorts while dancing barefoot to music such as “Africa” by Mali’s legendary afro-pop musician Salif Keita. The pageant is the brainchild of South African film producer Neo Mashishi, who says it aims to empower young African women. “This is the first ever Miss Africa Continent,” said Mashishi, adding that it had been five years in the making. “This is about Africa, we are selling Africa to the world, and we are proud to be Africa”. “The way everything was done was African, we didn’t emulate anything from Miss Universe, or Miss World,” he said. Asamoah, who wore braids, entered the stage in a traditional Ghanaian Ashanti gold-coloured beaded crown and then returned in a evening dress made from the country’s trademark kente cloth. She walked away with a grant to study business management at Monash university in Johannesburg. Runner up in the 2015 Miss Ghana competition, Asamoah said she wanted to see young people help uplift the continent. “There are a lot of things to be fixed in Africa — water, education, environmental issues,” she told AFP. “My main concern is the empowerment of youths… so we can work hand in hand and put our continent in the best place it should be.” In the weeks running up to the event, the 12 finalists embarked on a series of pre-pageant activities, including showing off their culinary skills in cooking traditional meals from their native countries. Ultimately, the organisers hope to involve the continental body, the African Union, “so our winner can play a role in uplifting Africa”and spearhead campaigns to fight Africa’s woes such as malaria, poverty and xenophobia. Source AFP

Untimely release of funds a major challenge at EC – Charlotte Osei

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Untimely release of funds a major challenge at EC – Charlotte Osei
Charlotte Osei
Charlotte Osei
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei is optimistic the commission’s five-year development plan will help wean itself from depending on government for funds. This has become necessary due to the inability of the Finance Ministry to release funds timely to support projects by the Commission, she noted. Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issue Saturday, Mrs. Osei identified delay in the release of fund as a “big challenge”. “Release of budgeted funds on time is always a major challenge…it has always been a challenge,” she reiterated. The Chairperson of the Commission said her outfit has been engaging the Finance Ministry on the importance of releasing funds on time. That notwithstanding, she said, “things are on course” for the Commission to hold yet another successful general elections this year. “When it comes to the strategic plan, we have a massive support from the donor community…but also one of the key things we are looking at in the strategic plan is to also manage the dependence on GoG (government of Ghana) funding and how it affects our timetable. And also look at how we can generate some of our own funding…to support some of our own activities so that the delays and the impact of delayed funding to our activities can be minimized.” MANUAL VERIFICATION Even though the verification machine has a 99% work rate, there is a one percent chance that someone might be rejected, she conceded. She said the Commission will therefore meet the inter-party advisory committee (IPAC) to agree on how to manually verify eligible voters who might be rejected by the machine. Also, she stated that each polling station would be allocated with two machines to avoid a repeat of last general elections where malfunctioning machines forced the extension of voting day to two. With enhanced and tested software, she said, each constituency would be provided with 12 backup machines as well. ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION Madam Charlotte Osei indicated that the Commission would roll out elaborate plans, in consultation with IPAC, to clean the register, which some groups, notably the NPP, have called for a total scrap. Results would be published at the polling station before being transmitted electronically to the coalition centre, she stated. This year’s election is likely to be held on November 7. BIAS It is uncommon to have opposition parties labeling the Electoral Commissioners especially its chairman of being in bed with the government of the day. Her predecessor, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan had his fair share of such tagging from the two major political parties – NPP and NDC – depending on the side of the coin they were. But Madam Osei told Kwesi Pratt Jnr. host of TV3’s Hot Issue that the “bias tag” has never affected her work or any of the six other commissioners “We just do what we believe is right, what we believe is fair,” she pointed out, “we won’t get the job done if we focus on criticism”. Rather, she said, the commissioners keep an eye on the implication of the decision they take and the legal ramification.   Story by Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana  

Iraqi PM orders arrest of protesters

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Iraqi PM orders arrest of protesters
The Shia protesters had unfurled banners inside parliament during their occupation on Saturday
The Shia protesters had unfurled banners inside parliament during their occupation on Saturday

Iraq’s Prime Minister has ordered the arrest of Shia Muslim activists who stormed parliament in Baghdad on Saturday.

Haider al-Abadi said those who caused damage and attacked police should be brought to justice. The demonstrators, supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, were angered by delays in approving a new cabinet. They are now camped out near parliament, demanding a change in government. Protesters have accused the government of neglecting much-needed reforms, as it struggles with its campaign against the so-called Islamic State group and declining oil revenues. IS, a Sunni Muslim group that controls parts of western and northern Iraq, claimed a twin suicide bombing on Sunday that killed at least 33 people and wounded more than 50 in the southern town of Samawa.

Fears of a Shia rift: Analysis by Ahmed Maher, BBC News, Baghdad

Many Iraqis believe the crisis has unveiled deep divisions between the Shia political parties that could lead to armed confrontation between some of the Shia brigades which were formed after the collapse of large units of the Iraqi army in the summer of 2014. Leaders of these powerful Shia brigades have ordered reinforcements to Baghdad to help secure the capital, along with the Iraqi army and security forces. In parliament, some leading Shia parties have locked horns over their share in the new cabinet line-up. Many prominent Shia politicians, like former Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, are highly critical of Shia cleric-turned-politician Moqtada Sadr. Mr Maliki said change could not be achieved through “intimidation or the occupation of the Green Zone”. Many Shia Iraqis see Mr Sadr as a leader for their uprising. The fear of a rift between Shia factions rift will stoke instability in Iraq, which is already at war with IS. And the crisis will alarm key allies like the US, which count on a stable, strong government to defeat IS.
Supporters of Mr Sadr want MPs to push through plans to replace ministers with political affiliations with non-partisan technocrats. Powerful parties in parliament have refused to approve the change for several weeks.

‘We need new faces’

Mr Abadi issued his arrest order after touring the Green Zone on Saturday. The zone, a highly fortified area 10 sq km (3.9 sq miles) in size, is home to key government buildings and foreign embassies. It is ringed by blast walls, some of which were toppled by the protesters as they breached the zone for the first time in weeks of civil unrest. There are no indications that any actual arrests have taken place. Saturday’s occupation of parliament came after MPs again failed to reach a quorum to vote on the cabinet changes. After the protest, demonstrators set up camp outside the parliament, and many were still there on Sunday. “We need new faces not the old ones,” female protester Shatha Jumaa, a 58-year-old surgeon who described herself as a secularist, told the Associated Press news agency. She said she wanted the current government dissolved and replaced by a small interim administration whose job would be to amend the constitution and to prepare for an early national election.

Corruption burden

Mr Abadi, who came to power in 2014, has promised to stamp out corruption and ease sectarian tensions. Iraq’s system of sharing government jobs has long been criticised for promoting unqualified candidates and encouraging corruption. The government is carefully balanced between party and religious loyalties but the country ranks 161st of 168 on corruption watchdog Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index. Few details were immediately available about the double bombing in Samawa. Police say the blasts came within minutes of each other, the first outside a local government office, the second at a bus station. IS said it had targeted police in the mainly Shia town, about 240km (148 miles) south-east of the capital. The country has been riven for years by deadly sectarian violence between the Shia majority and Sunnis.

Who is Moqtada Sadr?

Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr speaks during a news conference in Najaf, south of Baghdad, 30 April 2016
The Shia cleric and his militia group, the Mehdi Army, gained prominence after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. galvanising anti-US sentiment. Mr Sadr’s followers clashed repeatedly with US forces, whose withdrawal the cleric consistently demanded. An arrest warrant was issued for Mr Sadr in 2004 in connection with the murder of a rival cleric. His militia was also blamed for the torture and killing of thousands of Sunnis in the sectarian carnage of 2006 and 2007. Mr Sadr fled to Iran during that period. In 2011, Mr Sadr returned from his self-imposed exile to Iraq, taking a more conciliatory tone and calling for Iraqi unity and peace.     Source: BB

Govt is not privatizing ECG – Mahama reassures

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Govt is not privatizing ECG – Mahama reassures
ECG President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated government has no intention whatsoever in privatising the Electricity Company of Ghana as is being feared by many.
Addressing workers at this year’s May Day celebration in Wa in the Upper West Region, he allayed the fears of the agitating workers, saying “let me restate ECG is and will remain a wholly owned state enterprise” Per the second compact of the Millennium Challenge Account signed by the Government in August 2014, the ECG is set to be leased to a private company for up to 30 years. Among other things, the move seeks to ensure reliable power supply for domestic and industrial use, improved transparency and independence in the setting of regulated tariffs by the PURC, and improve ECG’s creditworthiness to enable it acquire additional generation capacity from IPPs without, or with limited, recourse to government guarantees. Many experts, including the workers of the ECG, have viewed the move as a privatisation of the country’s main power distributor, and are thus kicking against the move. Workers at the May Day parade in Wa carried placards and banners urging the government to stop what they termed “ECG Concession”. But President Mahama on Sunday told Ghanaians his “government has no intention of privatising ECG” noting that the government’s agreement under the MCA compact is to leverage private sector participation. “Government agreement under the Millennium Challenge Compact is to leverage private sector participation at the client level to assist in resolving client complaints and revenue collection,” he said. He assured the ECG workers and organised labour that there will be no retrenchment of staff, saying, “There will be no worker retrenchment occurring as a result of this reform.” By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana
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