Author: cnadmin

Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has called for more foreign investments in Ghana’s mining sector, saying, the sector has a lot of opportunities for investors.

He said the government was poised to partner foreign investors to improve the fortunes of the country’s mining industry, particularly in large scale mining and refinery.

Mr Jinapor said this during the China-Ghana Resources Innovation Roundtable engagement in Accra organised by the Chinese Embassy in Ghana.

The Minister said Ghana had benefited enormously from Chinese investments in its mining industry, and called for more cooperation and partnership between the two countries in the sector.

‘This roundtable is timely and apt as we commit to do more to upscale the mining industry for our mutual benefits,’ he stressed.

Mr Jinapor said Ghana and China had had a longstanding and historic relationship, adding that, the two countries must leverage that cordial relationship through the mining industry and become a powerhou
se of gold production.

He said the government was committed to ensuring the effective utilisation of the country’s mineral resources for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

He added that they had put in place policies and reforms which would go a long way to regulate and streamline activities of the sector for increased benefits to the citizenry.

Mr Lu Kun, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, said China was committed to green and safe mining and would continue to ensure that its mining cooperation with Ghana was a win-win situation for both countries.

He said China remained Ghana and Africa’s most formidable partner in trade and cooperation, adding that, the roundtable would cement that partnership and bring in more investors into the mining sector.

‘Our cooperation is growing stronger and China will continue to encourage Chinese investors to invest in Ghana,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The University of Ghana Co-operative Credit Union has held its Annual General Meeting at the University Campus.

The meeting brought together all members from the Junior,Senior, and Pensioners saving with the credit union.

In his report , Chairman of the Management Board Mr. Michael Asante Antwi said the period under review coincided with severe economic challenges experienced in Ghana.

Among them, he said was the depreciation of the credit against major foreign currencies such as the dollar, pounds and euros.

He said the total net income rose from 25,834,610.79 in 2022 to 42,291,095.36 in 2023. The net surplus rose in 2022 from 13,824,046.50 to 16,035,264.82 in 2023.

He added that the total asset rose from 203,273,823.87 in 2022 to 254,408,193.76 in 2023, noting that members deposit rose in 2022 from 127,289,180.94 to 156,142,950.39 in 2024.

On loans to members, he said it also rose from 123,550,032.02 in 2022 to 148,152,347.42 in 2023.

The Chairman said membership also rose from 9,232 in 2022 to 10,0
54 in 2023.

He said the financial period under review has been very eventful amidst the economic difficulties experienced in Ghana.

With the corporate and social responsibilities, the construction of a 50-bed capacity emergency centre at the University hospital to commemorate the 50th Anniversary celebration of the union, the technical team estimated that an amount of 1,500,000.00cedis will be required to complete the project and therefore implored Members to approve the additional request.

The Board Chairman said to enhance the growth of the Credit Union, they decided to admit spouses and adult children to join the the Legon Credit Union.

In attendance were the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, who commented on the growth of the union to grow from strength to strength.

Mr Romeo Odonkor, Deputy Internal Auditor represented the General Manager of Credit Unions Association Limited (CUA) and Mr) Daniel H. Kofi, the Regional Manager, (CUA) Limited Accra.

Representatives of Queen of Peace Cath
olic Church Credit Union, Madina and UPSA Credit Union were also in attendance.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Human Rights Court 1 has dismissed the interlocutory injunction application filed by Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG) and others against the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) over the approval given for the registration of 14 GMO crops for food, feed, and processing in Ghana.

The court presided over by Her Ladyship, Justice Barbara Tetteh-Charway in dismissing the application on Tuesday April 30, 2024, acknowledged the NBA’s diligence in executing its statutory mandate in ensuring the safety and regulatory compliance of GMOs crops within Ghana’s agricultural sector.

Food Sovereignty Ghana and others on April 10, 2024, filed the motion for interlocutory injunction to restrain the National Biosafety Committee and 4 others from ‘releasing into the Ghanaian ecosystem any GM product’.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the by the Public Relations Unit of NBA and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

The statement said the court also claimed that seeking information from the NBA would have averted t
he filing of the present application. The landmark ruling marks a significant milestone for actors in the biotechnology and agricultural innovation space and affirms that science-based functional biosafety systems are important to expand producer choice, inspire consumer confidence, facilitate trade, and promote agricultural research and development.

The ruling of the substantive matter is scheduled for Friday May 24, 2024.

‘The NBA wishes to assure Ghanaians that it remains committed to ensuring the safety of modern biotechnology in Ghana as well as continuous engagement with stakeholders in a transparent manner,’ the statement said.

The NBA is a government agency established by the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) to promote sustainable socio-economic development through the efficient and transparent regulation of modern biotechnology particularly Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

The Authority has the mandate to ensure the safe use, handling, and transportation of GMOs in the country and also provide
an adequate level of protection in the field of safe development transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organism resulting from biotechnology that may have an adverse effect on health and environment.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has educated tax payers within the Kinbu-Sub enclaves on its new online payment platform.

The tax payers were also sensitised to promptly file their monthly tax returns to avoid sanctions.

Mr Charles Essandoh Mensah, Assistant Commissioner, Kinbu Large Tax Office, said this at a tax clinic programme held at the GRA head office in Accra.

The programme is on the theme: ‘Helping You Get It Right.Filing Personal Income Tax Returns-Using the Taxpayers Portal.’

The month of April was set aside by the Authority to create awareness among organisations and individuals on the importance of filing their returns, paying taxes, and complying with the law.

The Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 895) and the Revenue Administration Act 2016 (Act 915) enjoined taxpayers to file their tax returns with the Commissioner-General, GRA, not later than four months into the next year.

Mr Mensah said the online payment system for filing tax returns had made it easier for ta
x payers to pay their taxes from the comfort of their homes.

‘In the past, when the online system had not started, we had our tax payers queue at their offices at the end of every month or tax filing period,’ he said.

That, he explained, necessitated the management of GRA to educate and encourage tax payers to file their taxes on the digital platform to address the situation.

He urged tax payers to visit any GRA offices for assistance when they face challenges in filing their taxes.

Reverend Charles Adomah, Internal Audit, Ghana Audit Service, expressed satisfaction about the seamless system, which he said was ‘very good and productive.’

Madam Sylvia Buadi, Tax Schedule Officer, Ministry of Interior, said the introduction of the online system of filing taxes was timely and appropriate in avoiding queues at the offices of GRA.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged the government to address the delays in the payment of pension contributions of workers to improve their welfare during retirement.

This was contained in a statement by the trades unions and read by Madam Felicia Kraja, Northern Regional Secretary of TUC at this year’s May Day celebrations in Tamale.

Madam Kraja said government owed the public sector second-tier schemes pension contributions to the tune of almost one billion Cedis as well as the first-tier contributions to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust

This year’s celebration was on the theme: ‘Election 2024: The Role of Workers and Social Partners in Securing Peaceful Election for National Development’.

Madam Kraja urged the government to come up with a way forward to address the situation.

She further urged the government to address the current intermittent power outages, which he indicated was affecting workers productivity and the country’s economy.

Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern R
egional Minister, urged labour unions to devote more time to their work to improve productivity to better the conditions of service for their members.

He advised workers to avoid lateness, absenteeism, pilfering and laziness, and said such acts affected productivity and the country’s development.

He gave assurance that the government was working together with the Security Services and the Electoral Commission to ensure fair, transparent, and peaceful elections this year.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Boni Foundation in partnership with the Assembly member of Alakple Electoral Area has donated some educational materials to pupils of Alakple Roman Catholic Basic School to support their teaching and learning.

The donation, worth about GHS15,000.00, included packs of exercise books, erasers, crayons, boxes of pencils, pens, and straight rulers.

Mr Benedict Agbolegbe, the Assembly member, presenting the items, said the aim was to ensure learners had access to the necessary educational materials to aid learning.

‘It is our ultimate goal to give support to where it is most needed, and today is a special day because my beloved pupils are major beneficiaries of today’s donations.’

Mr Jerry Deyegbe, the Chief Executive Officer, Boni Foundation, said the gesture was part of their civic social responsibility to bring smiles to the students.

The benevolence of the Foundation has been notable in the area over the years.

Mr Bernard Effa, Headteacher of the school, who received the items expressed gratitude to
the Foundation and the Assemblyman for considering pupils of the school for the donation.

‘These items will help augment parents’ efforts and promote education success for the pupils.’

Pupils present promised to put the items to good use.

Present at the donation ceremony was Madam Janet Kporku, Chairperson of the School’s Parent Teachers Association, who lauded the donors for the support to promote education in Alakple,’

The Alakple R.C. Basic School has a population of more than 500 pupils and a staff strength of about 10.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The husband of the woman allegedly shot on her farm at Adaklu Tevikpo in the Adaklu district has been arrested in connection with the case.

He was arrested at Mafi Dzroawodein the Ho West district on 23rd April 2024, and handed over to the Adaklu Ahunda Police.

Mr Eli Keti, Assemblyman of Adaklu Kpetsu Electoral Area disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

He said Kwame Ayew, the suspect, allegedly confessed that he shot his wife twice after his arrest.

Mr Keti said the suspect continued that on the morning of the incident, there was a misunderstanding between him and the deceased over the usage of a hoe.

He stated that the suspect continued that there were two hoes in their house, one old and one new and that he wanted to use the new one whilst the deceased also insisted on using that one.

The Assemblyman said the suspect stated that this brought a misunderstanding between the two and he got furious and allegedly shot his wife twice.

He continued that the suspect
allegedly disclosed that after the incident he drunk a weedicide to end his life and tried shooting himself with a gun but all failed.

Mr Keti said the suspect stated that he absconded after the incident until his arrest.

When contacted, Assistant Superintendent of Police Richard Atobrah, Adaklu District Police Commander confirmed the arrest of the suspect but declined any further comment.

The deceased, known as Maama was found dead with alleged gunshot wounds on her farm on 16th April, this year.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Hundreds of workers in the Upper West Region have marked this year’s May Day with calls on the government to take steps to improve the living conditions of workers in the country.

Addressing the celebrants in Wa on Wednesday, Mr Ibrahim Wemah, the Upper West Regional Chairman of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), called on the government to resolve the challenges in the labour front immediately or face the wrath of organised labour.

‘If you fail by the May 6, this year, 2024, if organised labour doesn’t receive any message from you, we will advise ourselves.

And if you don’t stop us, and our brothers in the education sector take the lead, by the 7th of May, if there is a strike, organised labour will join, and if we are joining the strike, our message will be two, one to the National Labour Commission and the other to our employer,’ he stated.

Mr Wemah explained that they would strike against the National Labour Commission for failing to act to resolve the friction between the organised labour and their em
ployer, the government and to also strike against the government for failing to follow the roadmap to solve their challenges.

He indicated that when organised labour eventually strikes, it would not call off the strike for negotiations but would continue to strike until their challenges were resolved.

Mr Godwin Gariba, the Upper West Regional Secretary of TUC, identified wrongful termination and dismissal from work, denial of employees’ right to form or join trade unions of their choice, workplace injuries and death and denial of justice of employees in disputes with their employers as some challenges workers in Ghana faced.

‘Wages are so low that you wonder how the employers who pay such wages feel when their employees earn such slave wages.

Because of the low wages many retirees are receiving monthly pensions that are so low that they cannot meet even the very basic necessities of life,’ he added.

Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Upper West Regional Minister, commended the leadership of organised labour and the
working class for exercising restraint in dealing with some of the labour issues despite occasional strike actions that raised concerns.

He observed that the invaluable services workers rendered, sometimes at high risk, had led to the growth of the nation’s economy and sustained development in all sectors over the years.

Mr Yakubu urged the workers to continue to exhibit the dedicated spirit of service to further enhance the growth and development of the country.

‘Workers’ agitations have centred on securing a living wage and better conditions of service and I would like to assure you that this Government remains very much committed to achieving this goal.

Leadership of organised labour should focus more on dialogue and negotiation rather than strike or other violent means,’ Mr Yakubu explained.

Mr Issahaku Tahiru Moomin, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, acknowledged the importance of a peaceful working environment in attracting investments, promoting entrepreneurship, and advancing social justice.

He
said creating a peaceful working environment was, however, not without challenges and encouraged the people to employ open dialogue and tolerance in dealing with such challenges including political divisions, economic disparities, and social tensions.

This year’s May Day celebration is on the theme: ‘Election 2024: The Role of Workers and Social Partners in Securing Peaceful Elections for National Development’.

It was observed in the region with a route march across some principal streets of Wa and climaxed at the Jubilee Park in Wa with a glamorous performance of the Dagaare traditional dance (Bawaa).

Some deserving members of the unions were acknowledged with citations and electronic gadgets such as television for their dedication to work and contribution to the growth of their respective unions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A 10-million Canadian Dollar project dubbed ‘Strengthening Investments in Gender Responsive Climate Adaptation’ (SIGRA) has been launched in Accra.

The overall objective of the five-year project (2023-2028) is to improve resilience of Ghanaians, particularly women, girls, and vulnerable groups through increased investments in inclusive and gender responsive climate adaption initiatives.

Under the SIGRA project, five districts, selected based on economic vulnerability and climate change risks, would be supported.

Two districts in the Volta and three districts in Northern Regions.

SIGRA has come at a time when Ghana has been affected by severe deterioration of climate change in her agriculture, livelihood, and food security.

Impact of climate change in Ghana has intensified from the coast towards Northern Savanah.

About 60 per cent of women employed in agriculture are faced with significant hurdles in accessing and controlling resources and assets along the agricultural value chain.

Speaking at the laun
ch of the SIGRA project, Mr Cyril Quist, a Principal Planning Officer, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), said the launch marked an exiting chapter of the long-standing engagement with Global Affairs, Cananda, and Cowater International, which began about three years ago.

Mr Quist said the SIGRA project would include the provision of technical assistance and support to strengthen governance and national system with key central level Ministries, Department and Agencies.

‘SIGRA would also support regional governance stakeholders in the Volta and Northern Regions, and it would strengthen the capacities of the targeted districts to plan and report on climate adaptation initiatives.’

He said additional activities of SIGRA would involve strengthening the participation and influence of women in governing decision making and climate adaptation issues.

According to Mr Quist, the project would focus on soil conservation, restoration, irrigation, forestation, land management and the promotion
of relevant climate change technologies, among others.

‘This is what we need right now in order to accelerate actions in achieving the goals of the SIGRA project.

‘It is our hope that all relevant actors and stakeholders would render their full support and technical expertise to the success of the SIGRA project,’ he added.

Harshita Bisht, Project Manager of SIGRA, said the project would strengthen capacities of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to support sub – national planning.

According to Madam Bisht, the SIGRA project would involve MDAs and Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to access climate finance.

She explained that grants up to 40,000 Canadian Dollar a year for a period of three years was up for beneficiaries who would design, implement, monitor, and report on gender responsive climate adaptation projects.

The SIGRA Project Manager stressed on the need to increase awareness at community level on gender inclusive adaptation.

She said SIGRA would increase capabil
ities around locally led climate finance as well as building on existing institutional systems and best practices to address climate finance gaps.

Dr Rose Mensah -Kutin, West Africa Regional Director of ABANTU for Development, in a presentation on Civil Society Organisations perspective on gender equality and climate adaptation in Ghana, said the impacts of climate change and gender had resulted in disruption of livelihood systems and displacement of communities.

That, she said had denied access to clean water and sanitation facilities and contaminated water bodies.

Source: Ghana News Agency