Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly (WGMA) in the Greater Accra Region, Mr Patrick Kwasi Brako Kumor, has declared that he was ready to collaborate with technocrats and assembly members to bridge the social and infrastructure development gap between the municipality and the rest of the country. 

Mr Brako Kumor indicated that he sees his appointment and subsequent confirmation by the assembly members as a move to address issues relating to illiteracy, food insecurity, poor healthcare delivery, human insecurity, inadequate water and sanitation, poor road network, fallen standard of education and the creation of employment opportunities for the youth.

Mincing no words, the Weija-Gbawe MCE entreated the residents in the area to cooperate with the assembly by paying their levies and keeping the municipality clean at all times.

He stressed that “we are working together with the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, MrsTina Mensah, traditional authorities and others to make Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly move “beyond common fund.”

He also vowed to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in him, adding that he intends to tap from the varied and diverse expertise of the assembly members as well as the technocrats to accelerate development in the assembly, which was recently carved out of the Ga South Municipal Assembly.

Mr Brako Kumor gave these assurances while he was speaking in an exclusive interview with Today after he assumed office on Monday, September 3, 2018.  According to him, he was currently undergoing briefing on administrative processes and procedures of the assembly which was in fulfillment of Article 243(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 20(1) of the Local Government Act 2016 (Act 936) to be abreast of what needs be done and what knowledge and skills he was also bringing on board to restructure the assembly.

“So far, l observed that all the department heads and staff of the assembly are happy about my appointment and are willing and ever ready to work with me, because they are very happy to have some one like me who has energy, pride and expertise to change the status quo of the assembly to make it one of the best assemblies in the country.”

According to him, he noticed during the meeting and debriefing processes that most of the departments of the assembly lacked more working logistics.

The unfortunate development, according to the MCE, has made the workers find it extremely difficult to work effectively to give their best to the people, assuring that after the meetings with the department heads were done, those working logistics would be provided to enhance efficiency of their works.

He stated that he would be part of the workers who will go on the ground to mobilise revenue for the assembly.

“I am not an arm chair person so l would be visiting all the seven electoral areas within the municipality periodically to find workable solutions to their problems.”

The MCE lamented the poor road infrastructure in the area.

That, he said, was posing a great risk to commuters, and gave the assurance that he would coordinate with the Department of Feeder Roads and the sector ministry to have those roads tarred to open up the area.

Later, Mr Brako Kumor together with his delegation went to the Mallam Zongo Central Mosque in Accra for special prayers of thanksgiving to Allah for His guidance and protection.

The special prayers were offered by the leadership of the Muslim community led by the Chief Imam of the Mallam Zongo Central Mosque.

Among those who accompanied him were the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Mrs Mercy Quansah, together with some members of staff and some constituency executives of the NPP.

Story: Freeman KORYEKPOR AWLESU

An Accra Magistrate Court has issued a warrant for the immediate arrest of a trader and self-employed woman, Marabel Darko, 56, for issuing a fake cheque. 

The suspect, Marabel Darko, is alleged to have issued the fake cheque to the complainant, which was dishonoured at the bank. She has since gone into hiding.

She is dark in complexion, and stands at five feet, four inches (5,4”) tall.

Madam Darko was last seen in a black top and jeans at Tuba and Kaneshie on 10th November, 2017.  She is believed to be hiding in Accra, Tuba, Kaneshie or La.

According to a statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Accra Regional Police Headquarters signed by its Head, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, anybody with information Madam Darko’s whereabouts should report to the Accra Central Police station or call telephone numbers 0302662517, 0242502044, Police Hotline 191, and the Police Crime Fighters MTN/Vodafone Toll Free Number, 18555.

Story: News DESK

Over 490,000 newly admitted senior high school (SHS) students will today commence the journey of the much talked about double-track system as they begin a new academic year.  

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government introduced the double-track system this year to deal with infrastructure challenges, which faced the introduction of its flagship programme—the Free SHS last year.

According to government, the policy (double-track system) was the most viable alternative to solve the issues of congestion and overcrowding witnessed in the first year of the free SHS.

It is reported that the 2017/2018 academic year, which marked the start of the free SHS policy, saw the admission of over 90,000 junior high school graduates.

And it is estimated that this academic year, 2018/2019, over 180,000 students are expected to gain admission necessitating the implementation of the double-track system.

The system is structured in such a way that half of the students admitted (Green track) into a school will commence the semester with continuing students.

The Green track students will then vacate after about two months giving room for the Yellow track to come in for the start of their academic year and then after two months would be joined by the Green track students at a time when the continuing second and third-year students have gone on vacation.

The complexity of the system has caused apprehension among both school administrators and parents as registration of students who gained admission began in some schools yesterday.

Story: Kofi OWUSU TAWIAH

Writer’s email: kofi.tawiah@todaygh.com

Member of Parliament (MP) for Bongo constituency, Edward Bawa, is on the tail of the embattled Managing Director (MD) of Bulk Oil Storage Transport (BOST) Company, George Mensah Okley, calling for his suspension over what he described as the unlawful payment of some $3 million to Springfield Energy.

He also called for the suspension of the MD’s Deputy, John Kojo Ankoful.

The MP in a statement signed and issued yesterday alleged that the two officers ordered the payment against the legal advice from BOSTs external lawyers.

George Mensah Okley was said to have been misguided by the Director of Finance, Mr John Kojo Arkoful, in paying the said amount in July and August 2018.

Springfield Energy brought its product to BOST’s tank farm in 2013 October for storage. Part of the product could not be accounted for.

Springfield Energy took advantage of this loss and made a claim $20,226,717.75 which was far more than the actual quantity lost. This was at a time when Mr. John Kojo Akoful, now the head of finance, was the acting M.D. of BOST.

On November 18, 2015, Springfield Energy filed a writ against BOST at an Accra High Court, claiming the recovery of $ 20, 226,717.75 for their lost products at the Interest rate of 19% from October 2015 till the final payment of the principal; loss of profit of $3,420,000.00.

When Mr Awuah Darko assumed office as the MD of BOST, he studied the

documents on this case and challenged all the claims of Springfield.

He subsequently engaged Ernst and Young Audit Firm to audit the transaction to ascertain the actual quantity of products lost.

Ernst and Young found out that the actual quantity of product lost was worth $ 11, 104, 143.2.Both BOST and Springfield agreed and accepted this finding.

A summary judgment was later awarded to Springfield for its claim by the Accra high Court. At this point Mr. Awuah Darko engaged external lawyers to fight the case.

BOST filed a stay of execution at the court to enable them appeal against the judgment.

The high court granted it partially and ordered the payment of the cost of actual product lost as ascertained by the auditors and agreed by both parties. This was $11,104,143.29.

On December 20, 2016, BOST under Awuah Darko paid the said principal amount of $11,104,143.29 through a Five Year Term loan from Fidelity Bank.

The remaining unresolved issue of the 19% interest rate being claimed by Springfield on the principal is still pending at the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Springfield in September 2017, under Mr. Alfred Obeng’s tenure as M.D, approached BOST to have the matter settled out of court.

The Head of Finance, Mr. John Kojo Ankoful, (under whose tenure as acting MD when this product loss was occasioned), and the Head of Legal Department, Mrs Harriet Amoah negotiated the settlement agreement of $9 million with Springfield.

This was supposed to be the interest on the principal ($11,104,143.29). Alfred Obeng ordered the payment of $4million as part of the $9 million interest payment before the settlement agreement was even signed.

This took place on September 10, 2017 without the presence or advice of the external lawyers who were handling the case in court.

According to the statement, the Head of Legal Department, Mrs Harriet Amoah then sent the Settlement agreement to the External Lawyers for their perusal and in a response via email the external lawyers clearly advised against further payment to Springfield because Springfield in the opinion of the lawyers, was not entitled to an amount of$9 million as interest payment.

The statement added that as a result of this advice, the settlement agreement was not executed. BOST made it clear to Springfield that they cannot claim interest on their products and at the same time loss of profit on the same product.

Against the legal advice of BOST’s external lawyers, George Mensah Okley, the MD and John Kojo Akoful, the Head of Finance, were said to have ordered the payment of an additional $3 million as interest payment.

While calling for a full audit of the systems at BOST, Mr. Bawa recommended a full-scale investigation into circumstances leading to the payment.

He said the two officers who allowed the payment against legal counsel must be made to step aside.

Story: Kofi OWUSU TAWIAH

Writer’s email: kofi.tawiah@todaygh.com

AGRICULTURE continues to remain the mainstay of the Ghanaian economy because it is the sector that employs the largest percentage of our workforce.  This same sector provides raw materials to feed many of our local industries.

ADDITIONALLY, Ghana earns foreign exchange by exporting agricultural products.

THIS clearly makes its one of the most important sectors of the Ghanaian economy. 

SADLY, many of our farmers whose hard work contributes to the development of this country have not been well catered for. 

BESIDES a national award scheme that rewards deserving farmers on a yearly basis and occasional subsidised farm inputs, there are basically not many incentives to encourage many of the farmers from continuing to give off their best.

THERE is even the bigger problem of seeking for financial assistance from the banks which situation sees the banks demanding for huge collaterals.  

THE above, among other factors, has prevented many of our farmers from venturing into large-scale production.

THIS is where Today is highly excited at the news of the central government’s announcement of a yet-to-be-established GHC500 million facility with the objective of supporting the growth and development of agriculture.    

PRESIDENT Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made the announcement while speaking at the 2018 Africa Green Revolution Forum, a platform for global and African leaders to fashion out an actionable plan to enable the growth of African culture.

KNOWN as the Ghana Incentive-Based Risk Sharing Agricultural Lending Scheme, President Akufo-Addo disclosed that the scheme would be managed by the central bank—Bank of Ghana (BoG).

AND its aim, according to the President, would be to reduce risks of investments and promote agriculture financing.

IN fact, this facility represents a huge boost for the agricultural sector.  Certainly, it will be a facility that farmers can tap into to enhance their operations.

WHILE commending the Akufo-Addo administration for having this vision to support Ghanaian farmers, we believe when the scheme becomes operational, measures would be put in place to ensure that the farmers benefit.

OFTEN, institutions/persons put in charge of some of these schemes tend to put various weird impediments of the beneficiaries. 

IT is, therefore, our expectation this scheme will inure to the benefit of our hard working farmers.

An armed group has stormed the headquarters of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) in Libya’s capital, Tripoli.

Security forces clashed with the armed men at the landmark building in the centre of the city, and blasts and gunfire could be heard, witnesses say.

Last week, the UN announced a truce between warring militias had been agreed in the capital.

An UN-backed government is nominally in power in Tripoli.

However, militias occupy much of the rest of the country.

An NOC member of staff, who said he had jumped out of a window to flee, told Reuters news agency three or five gunmen were shooting inside the building and several people had been shot.

The NOC chairman, Mustafa Sanallah, has been safely evacuated, a witness quoted by Reuters added.

Rescue services are at the scene to treat the wounded coming out of the building.

It is not yet clear who carried out the attack.

Libya’s oil sector, which is central to the economy, has been repeatedly disrupted by violence since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in 2011.

Earlier this month, there were clashes between rival armed groups, and Tripoli has also seen occasional militant attacks.

The recent violence has forced thousands of people to flee to nearby towns or seek shelter in other parts of the capital, while many more remain trapped inside their homes.

In May, the Islamic State group claimed a deadly attack on the national election commission offices in the capital. –BBC

Doctors at the hospital where Jair Bolsonaro is being treated say the far-right Brazilian presidential candidate’s health has “improved markedly” since he was stabbed at a campaign rally on Thursday.

They said he is spending more time out of bed but is still fed intravenously.

Mr Bolsonaro, 63, suffered a deep and life-threatening wound to his intestines and lost 40% of his blood.

A 40-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the attack.

Local media reported that the man, Adelio Bispo de Oliveira, told investigators that he was acting “on God’s orders”. Police said they would investigate his mental health.

He was grabbed by supporters of Mr Bolsonaro immediately after the attack and manhandled and beaten before being taken into police custody.

Polls suggest Mr Bolsonaro is the favourite to win the first round of Brazil’s presidential elections on 7 October with an estimated 22% of the vote, if former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva cannot run.

Lula is serving a 12-year jail sentence for corruption and has been barred by Brazil’s highest electoral court from running but his legal team has said it will appeal against that decision.

But while opinion polls put Mr Bolsonaro ahead if Lula is taking out of the equation, they also suggest that the far-right candidate would not fare that well were the elections to go into a second round, which happens when no candidate gains more than 50% of the vote.

Mr Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party (PSL) is a divisive politician whom some analysts have compared to US President Donald Trump.

His homophobic and misogynist comments have caused outrage among many Brazilians but he enjoys the backing of millions of evangelical Christians who praise his anti-abortion stance.

Mr Bolsonaro remains in intensive care and could take two months to recover, meaning he will not be able to return to the campaign trail before the election.

On Sunday, he missed a TV debate between the presidential hopefuls in which the candidates condemned the attack on Mr Bolsonaro.

Left-wing candidate Ciro Gomes called it an “act from somebody who is not of sound mind” and former finance minister Henrique Meirelles who is running for the governing Brazilian Democratic Movement said it was “an absolutely reprehensible attack”.

While Geraldo Alckmin, the candidate for the centrist Brazilian Social Democracy Party, also expressed his solidarity with Mr Bolsonaro in the wake of the attack, he said during the debate that it was time to focus “on the issues that matter to the people of Brazil”. –BBC 

French police detained a man who wounded seven people in a knife attack in central Paris late on Sunday, police and judicial sources said yesterday, adding there was no initial indication the incident was linked to terrorism.

The attacker, who one police source said was from Afghanistan, stabbed tourists and passersby along the Bassin de la Villette, a popular outdoor canal area in the northeast of Paris where many people gather on warm evenings.

Among those stabbed were two British tourists, a judicial source said. They and two others remain in hospital with severe wounds, although they are not thought to be life-threatening.

Witnesses cited by French media said a group of men playing boules threw heavy metal balls that are used in the popular game at the attacker, with one hitting him on the head and stalling him.

Thierry, a witness quoted on BFM TV, said a group of people then assailed the attacker.

“Someone with a wooden stick smashed him across the knees and he fell to the ground,” he said. “Loads of people arrived, some were saying ‘kill him’ but one guy who was pinning him down said ‘no, the last thing we must do is kill him.’”

Police and ambulance crews arrived on the scene shortly afterwards, witnesses said, and the man was taken into custody.

While the motives for the attack remain unclear, a judicial source said it did not appear to be akin to other attacks carried out by Muslim militants in Paris in recent years.

“Police didn’t find any initial indication the attack was linked to terrorism,” the source said. “But the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office is following how the investigation proceeds closely.”

Paris has suffered a number of militant attacks since November 2015, when a series of coordinated strikes by Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers killed 129 people in the capital, an assault planned by the Islamic State and its adherents. –Reuters

Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalise the annual School Health Screening exercise.

This means beginning this academic year, over 490,000 newly admitted SHS students will be screened.

According to the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, the screening include; medical history and general physical examination; hearing assessment, oral health screening, STI screening, TB screening, nutrition assessment, laboratory examination (full blood count), and urinalysis.

Disease surveillance, sanitation, health education and other health-related activities will also be done.

A valid NHIS Card and weighing card to assess the immunisation status of the students, will be required to facilitate smooth implementation of the process.

“The School Health Screening will help the country to compile health records of its students to influence policy decisions.

Management of the health facilities would be engaged to give priority to school children who report to the hospital for healthcare services”, Dr Nsiah-Asare stated.

He noted that all schools will be aligned to a health facility to ensure the schools have functional sick bays, and complicated medical conditions detected will be referred to the hospital for further management.

In the last academic year, the GHS, in collaboration with the GES, screened 294,256 SHS students.

Pupils entering basic level for the first time (Kindergarten and primary school) this academic year 2017/2018, will also be screened in the next round of the health screening exercise.

Story: Gottlieb BAAKO

Writer’s email: gottlieb.baako@todaygh.com

Some youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have admitted to attacking the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Francis Kinsgley Ato Cudjoe, over the weekend, in Ekumfi in the Central Region.

According to the youth the attack on Mr Ato Cudjoe, who is also the MP for Ekumfi, was in reaction to unfulfilled promises made to the people of the area by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2016 election.

Mr Antwi Aidoo, the leader of the irate group that launched the attack, admitted yesterday that they were members of the NDC.

“The attack was as a result of the numerous unfulfilled promises they made to us. They cannot take us for a ride anymore.”

In a reaction, Mr Francis Nketia, Head of Election and Research of the NPP said that the action of the youth must be condemned by all.

“We all have to condemn this action by the NDC youth. I expect the NDC to raise the bar as far as politics is concerned. Hooliganism in politics must not be countenanced at all,” he said.

Meanwhile, the MP, Francis Ato Cudjoe has blamed the attack on his life by some youth of the area over the weekend on the NDC.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, the MP and District Chief Executive for the area were seen being whisked into their cars at Eyisam, the district capital, with a mob chasing after them.

The MP who doubles as deputy fisheries minister noted that even though the video was an exaggerated piece, it did not give a good impression about the political situation in the area.

He said not only was the place he was attacked an NDC stronghold, but the youth seen in the video are all NDC members.

“The whole incident is exaggerated. To suggest that I was being lynched and I was forced into my car is not true. It was an NDC orchestrated thing. Ekumfi is an NDC stronghold but we did some serious work there. So when we started talking they started saying ‘away NDC, bring NPP’. They say we have destroyed their work because they are into galamsey. After everything and we were going, they started banging the car with things and the DCE got out of the car and told them to stop,” he said.

He stressed that their claim that he promised to get them jobs was not true as the youth who attacked him did not have the qualification to gain work in the formal sector.

In an interview with the NDC’s Constituency Secretary for Ekumfi, Edward Acquah, he denied that the irate youth were NDC members.

He said “Ghanaians generally are disappointed and frustrated following the failure of the NPP administration to fulfill their promises, especially in the area of job creation”.

Story: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH

Writer’s email: franklin.asare-donkor@todaygh.com

Dean of the School of Communication Studies, at the Wisconsin International University College, Professor Kwame Karikari, has jabbed government over its profligate spending on the political class.

And that as a country he said, if “we continue to waste money on politicians as seen by successive governments, the majority of the populace will continue to be beneath the poverty ladder, and the government’s vision of “Ghana beyond Aid” (GBA) would be a mirage.”

He noted that the gargantuan expenditure on appointees, parliamentarians and other institutions like the Council of State and some traditional leaders was just outrageous.

‘To mention but a few, their salaries, rent allowances, the fleet of cars at the Presidency, the ministries, per diems from frequent travels. As if that is not enough, the cost of maintenance of these vehicles, cost of fuels by all appointees, cost of utility bills has bedeviled the country over the years”, he averred.

Addressing the media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the “Assessment of Key Commitments and Policy Propositions of the NPP government on Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Measures by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Prof. Karikari underscored the “cry” of government on the wage bill.

According to him, usually, the government turns its attention to civil servants of being the cause and obviously forgetting the expenses it does on politicians.

He made reference to a loan facility that was secured by the Parliamentary Service from the Societe General Ghana (SGG) Limited with the Government of Ghana as the Guarantor – a credit facility of $22.5 million (approximately GHC96.3 million) for the purchase of official vehicles for all the 275 Members of Parliament (MPs). This was in 2017.

He quizzed: “Why won’t people in politics walk and exhibit modest life in their day-to-day activities? And why is it that if I’m a laborer who stands and wins elections and enters into government or Parliament, I must drive in a V8 whilst I was a labourer I could not purchase a bicycle?”

“And that countries like Denmark, Sweden and the even UK where we go borrowing to run our economy that is not the way their politicians waste money”, he added.

In those countries, he explained further that “cars are only bought for the Prime Minister and the opposition leaders. MPs buy their own vehicles”.

To this end, he urged the media and civil society organizations to keep the government in check.

Story: News DESK

The Auditor-General has uncovered almost a billion cedis lost to the state of Ghana through financial irregularities perpetrated by some top officials and management in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The details of the irregularities formed part of the 2017 Auditor-General’s Report, which included revelations of how millions of cedis of internally generated funds were not paid into state coffers.

There were also revelations that a total of GHC103,000, 000 had so far been lost to the state because assorted items were taken from the GRA, Customs bonded warehouses without paying duties and taxes.

The Auditor-General had recommended that the Commissioner-General recovers the unpaid duties together with its associated penalties.

He also recommended that the resident Customs Officers are sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others.

Under the Health Ministry, the Auditor-General found that two budget management centres and seven health institutions as at 30th June 2016 collected maintenance fees totally GHC476,000 but paid only GHC212,000 to the state leaving more than GHC200,000 outstanding.

This happened at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The Auditor-General had asked management to pay the difference into the public fund, failure of which they’ll be surcharged.

At the Ministry of Agriculture, the Auditor-General found that many of the people given state purchased agricultural machinery on hire-purchase failed to make payments totaling more than GHC1.6 million.

One of the biggest financial losses to the state was discovered at the GRA. The Auditor-General found that a total of GHC103,000,000 had so far been lost to the state.

Pix: Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Auditor-General

Physician assistants in Ghana are on strike at the outpatient departments (OPDs) in the various hospitals in the country over government’s delay in resolving issues bothering them including salary discrepancies.

A statement from the leadership of the Ghana Physician Assistants Association directed “all physician assistants nationwide to effective yesterday, September 10, 2018, withdraw all Out Patients Department (OPD) services as outlined in our road-map.”

The statement jointly signed by the Association’s President and acting General Secretary, Alhaji Chief Imoro Bandana II, and Peter Eyram Kuenyefu, said the decision had become necessary because government and the sector agencies “have not shown any commitment to resolve the numerous problems presented.”

The Association in the statement cited its main concerns as salary discrepancies, obsolete job description, poor conditions of service, career progression/advancement/specialization for physician assistants, financial clearance for both public and privately trained physician assistants, internship allowance, NHIS medicine list among others.

“All members are to adhere to the 1^st phase of the earlier road-map outlined. Leadership will not entertain any form of intimidation of its members by superiors,” the statement warned.

The physician assistants embarked on strike in April 2018 in protest of the arrest of their colleague allegedly connected to the death of four persons at the New Semchi Health Centre.

The four allegedly died after receiving some injections.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) identified a Disease Control Officer, as the one who administered the contaminated injections to the patients, leading to the deaths.

But the Ghana Physician Assistants Association declared a nationwide sit-down strike at the time claiming there was a cover-up. Their colleague was eventually released by the police.

Story: Edward BLAGOGEE

Writer’s email: edwardblagogee@gmail.com

Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has called on the Judicial Council to be bold and punish judges who administer bad judgments.

According to the association, bad judgments make it difficult for the citizenry to repose confidence in the judicial system of the country.

Speaking at the 2018/19 Annual General Conference of the Association in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, President of the Bar Association Benson Nutsugbi also commended the judicial council for reverting the process of promoting and recruiting judges to the old system that acknowledges experience instead of written exams.

“We, however, wish to pray that the judicial council should take bold steps to strengthen the High court bench. The practice of assigning court of appeal judges as additional High court judges in most cases to handle perceived high profile cases entrenches the perception of a weak High court bench.

“…there’s the urgent need to sanction judges who deliver truly atrocious judgment not befitting of the high office of a High court judge. We as a bar will ensure that persons recommended by the association to the bench are of proven integrity and standard befitting the high office,” he said.

Mr. Nutsugbi also praised the Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo for visiting the various courts around the country to ensure that justice is delivered from the appropriate environment.

President Akufo-Addo and a host of other key dignitaries attended the conference which was being held on the theme: “The impact of Technology on the Practice of Law: To move with the changing time.”

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, in a speech said government had undertaken projects to digitising and automate the judicial system in Ghana to enhance efficiency in justice delivery.

Story: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH

Writer’s email: franklin.asare-donkor@todaygh.com

Government is not going to organise extra classes to augment the regular double track system so that students on vacation can be engaged, according to the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.

The double track system creates a calendar of two semesters in a year for the SHS 1 class, containing 81 days per each semester and 41 days of vacation for a sandwich class.

Over 8,000 teachers are being recruited to handle the sandwich classes, so teachers are not to be deprived of their holidays.

Under the new system, teaching hours are increased from six hours per day to eight hours per day.

Teaching hours are expected to increase from 1,080 hours per year under the current single-track system, to 1,134 hours per year under the proposed double-track system.

Government had also indicated that the system will last for between five to seven years, to allow it address the accommodation challenges in the various SHSs after which the schools will revert to the normal education calendar.

The Ghana Education Service (GES), last week, disclosed that it will organise extra classes for Senior High students who will go on break, so that even whiles on vacation or awaiting their turn to go to school, they do not gallivant about.

Deputy Public Relations Officer of GES, Isaac Asiedu Odei, in an interview on Accra based TV3 disclosed that the extra classes would be held in church halls, community centres and private schools across the country for students on vacation.

But Dr Adutwum, flatly dismissed the suggestion.

The deputy minister, in an interview on Peace FM was emphatic that, “it is not government’s policy to organise vacation classes for students. It is the parents’ duty and responsibility and government is not going to take that away from them.”

Describing the PRO’s comment as ‘a slip of tongue,’ Dr Adutwum believed the new system will offer students more instructional and contact hours with teachers.

Story: News DESK

On the Ghana Stock Exchange

Trading activity on the local bourse ended on a negative note with the Composite index and the Financial stocks index losing 26.47 points and 29.18 points to peg at a YTD return of 11.29% and 15.21% respectively. CAL led the list of gainers with GHS 0.20 to trade at GHS 1.30. EGH, on the other hand, topped the laggards’ list shedding off GHS 0.47 at week close.

Trading activity in terms of volumes on the stock market increased by 212.47% in the week under review. The total volume of shares traded rose by 4.8 million. The total value of shares traded decreased by 0.01% week on week. The top 5 most actively traded stocks in terms of volumes last week were MTN.GH, CAL, EGL, ALW & GOIL. TOTAL is tipped to record marginal gains on the local bourse this week whereas GOIL, BOPP, and FML are likely to shed off some pesewas based on the closing bid and offer prices at the end of last week’s trade.

On the Ghana Alternative Market

Trading activity on the Ghana Alternative Market was hushed as no shares changed hands

On the Currency market

 The Cedi depreciated marginally against the Dollar, the British Pound and the Euro at the end of last week’s trade. The local currency exchanged at a mid-rate of GHS 4.7524 to the USD, GHS 6.1463 to the GBP and GHS 5.5003 to the EURO at week close. GN research analysts posit that; the Cedi is poised to lose value marginally on the forex market in the short-term. The GCFM Cedi index, a measure of the holistic performance of the Cedi on the interbank market now records a year-to-date depreciation of 5.66%.

By GN RESEARCH

Lost, a video by Jehoshaphat Kwame Agbee was the Overall Best Video in the MTN Shortz Challenge, an MTN Ghana initiative to help creative minds monetise their creativity.

He took home GHC5,000 at a colourful ceremony that award other winners of the challenge at the MTN House, Ridge-Accra.

The initiative, which was launched in Ghana on the 8th August, 2018 had nominees who entered the competition with short video contents which included comedy, podcasts, animations, games and films.

The Kafui Danku, Nabil and Edem Kumordzi panel after scrutinising all the 367 entries received submitted a list of winners to the organisers.

Though the selection process was tedious, the panel delivered on their mandate.

Winners of the remaining categories are to receive a GHC6,000 each.

Receiving his prize, Jehoshaphat Kwame Agbee admonished Ghanaian youth to be creative, innovative and be ready to seize opportunities as and when they come.

Speaking at the event, Senior Manager, Products, Services and Marketing at MTN Ghana, Bless Sefenu Agordjo, expressed delight at the huge response after the challenge was launched.

He noted that the MTN Shortz is a platform designed to empower customers digitally and serve as a reference point for them to access short video content like comedy, animation, podcast, games and films.

Mr Agordjo said they also held workshops during the challenge to help content developers acquire the needed skills to produce competitive videos that can sell in the global space.

He congratulated all the winners for taking up the challenge to showcase their creativity.

“All the winning videos will be uploaded on the MTN Shortz portal to enable interested persons download,” Mr Agordjo added.

He urged all persons with creative abilities and talents to take advantage of the digital space, to be innovative, showcase their good work and make money.

MTN Ghana after awarding the deserving content creators pulled up a surprise by adding a GHC1000 each to the already stated amount.

Winners couldn’t hide their excitement as they readied their MTN Mobile money accounts for the transfer.

The rest of the winners included Best games category, which went to Mosquito Defense by Kwaku Tabiri.

Below are the rest of the winners:

Games Category – Mosquito

Podcast – Don’t be shy by Lady M

Best Animation – Child Trafficking by Barry Issah

Most Funny Video Category – Audition by DNA Multimedia

Most Trending on Social Media category – Respiration a street quiz by GHBuzz.

Story: Prosper A. Kwaku SALASSY

Directors and staff at the headquarters of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in Accra, from the 27^th of August to the 7^th of September, this year, had duly been registered by the National Identification Authority (NIA) for a national identity (ID) card, also known as the Ghanacard.

Receiving his card on the first day of the registration exercise, Director-General of GES Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa thanked the Government of Ghana for the initiative to have the identity of citizens properly documented and urged all staff of the Service to get registered.

“I have also got my card and I thank the Government of Ghana and National Identification Authority for it. I urge all staff of Ghana Education Service (GES), especially those of us at the headquarters, to take advantage of this two-week pilot registration exercise with us here, to get this all-important national ID card”, he said.

With the ongoing pilot exercise for the staff of the various ministries, departments and agencies, which is billed to last for three months in Greater Accra Region, the NIA, with valid documents, including birth certificates or Ghanaian passport and other supporting documents like the Voter’s ID card, NHIS card, SSNIT card and a driver’s license, intends to register Ghanaian citizens within a year for a sole ID card, the Ghana card, for transactions where identification is required.

Story: Education DESK

The Ghana Education Service (GES), with the support of the World Bank and the Ministry of Education, recently organised a five-day workshop at Tesano in Accra for mathematics, science, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teachers of some senior high schools (SHSs) in the country.  

Opening the workshop, the Deputy Minister of Education (in charge of General Education) and the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, said government would continue to build the capacity of teachers to be effective in the performance of their duties.

“The Akufo-Addo-led NPP government wants the best of education for children and citizens and would continue to build the capacity of teachers for you to be effective in the performance of your duties,” he said.

The Director for Secondary Education Division of GES, Dr. Mrs. Angela Tena Mensah, in a welcome address, urged the participants to take active part in all activities and discussions at the workshop for improved learning outcomes of students in their subjects.

The workshop, which was organised under the Mathematics and Science for Sub-Saharan Africa (MS4SSA) programme of Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP), sought to train 125 mathematics and science teachers, with five teachers from each of some 25 low-performing schools as a pilot, with skills in teaching mathematics, science and ICT, including materials science, robotics and energy conservation methods, using presentations, project-based learning modules and group activities.

Story: Today CORRESPONDENT

The acting Asokore Mampong Municipal Coordinator of Non Formal Education Division (NFED) has advised learners at the division to study seriously if they also want to have a taste of free education.

Mrs Grace Appiakorang said any of them who is serious with her studies can register for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and go further to the senior high school (SHS) level.

She said there were many university graduates whose first taste of education was through non-formal education, but with hard work and zealousness they climbed higher the ladder of education and are now also referred to as graduates.

“Apart from becoming graduates, some of our past learners have also become office workers who can read and write very well. If they have reached these levels, it is not too late for you too”. She encouraged the learners.

Mrs Appiakorang was speaking at the first-ever reading and writing contest organised by the non-formal education division office of the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly to herald the International Literacy Day which was held on Saturday, September 8,2018.

The celebration was on the theme: “Empowerment through literacy and skilled development.”

The acting municipal non-formal coordinator expressed joy that many of them who started the class were unable to write any of the alphabets but can now even write their names and read simple English sentences.

“I am very happy at the rate of improvement knowing that many of our learners are learning to read and write English.

…even if you don’t want to go higher in education, what you learn from here will help you in your homes, trading and relationship with  people”. She emphasized.

Mrs Appiakorang thanked the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon Alidu Seidu, for his immense support to the non-formal education office in the area, stressing that  ‘with your continuous help we believe next year’s celebration will be bigger than this.

There are six learning centers with about 20 learners in each center in the municipality.

Two representatives were selected from each of the centers to participate in English and arithmetic contest as part of celebration of the day.

Apart from the top three participants who received awards for exceptional performances, every other participant received an award.