Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Listen to Orange FM Live
Home Blog Page 119

E-Gates cost $1.7 million, not $240 million—GIS 

By
Ivy Hollys
-
E-gates

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has refuted false claims on social media that the recently commissioned electronic gates (e-gates) at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), cost the nation $240m.

In a press release issued on Thursday, December 19, 2024, GIS stated emphatically that the installed e-gates at the KIA, cost the nation $1.7 million and not $240 million. The statement further explained that the GIS is implementing a new integrated border management system known as “Immigration 360” at all of the nation’s entry points and seized the opportunity to present in detail various components and costs of the integrated border management system, which has the installation of the e-gates as a component of the system.

“The Ghana Immigration Service is implementing a new integrated border management system known as “Immigration 360. The system seeks to fully automate passenger processing and data management at all forty-eight (48) approved entry/exit points to Ghana and other operational commands. The new system seeks to address challenges with sovereignty, interoperability, and other inadequacies associated with the existing systems installed at twelve (12) approved borders,” said the press release.

“It is inaccurate that the e-Gate system installed at the KIA cost a total of $240 million dollars. The e-Gate system alone (comprising 15 units of e-Gates with accessories), which form part of the border management system being installed at KIA, costs $1.7 million (i.e., $1,760,479.80).”

With regards to the $240m being mentioned, the Ghana Immigration Service explained it is for the entire cost of phases one and two of the border management system at all of the nation’s 48 entry points, including installations, maintenance, licensing, and taxes.

“The $240 million referenced in the circulating article on social media is in relation to the whole cycle cost of the project (including the initial implementation cost of $94,664,374.57),” the statement said.

“The $240 million includes two (2) periodic wholesale upgrades of the critical components of the system and cost of maintenance and licenses over the 10-year cycle of the project. The first upgrade type is in three (3) replacement cycles of key components of the system. The second upgrade type is two (2) 5-year upgrade cycles within ten (10) years to replace major components of the technical infrastructure. This is to ensure a refresh of the system at all times and to ensure the handback of a brand-new system at the end of the ten-year period.”

“After accounting for VAT and other taxes, the total comes to $274 million, which includes maintenance and hands-on support services over a ten-year period to guarantee the system is operational around the clock.”

Source: Joynewsonline

Anti-corruption team (ORAL) Launches Platforms to Collect Information

By
Ivy Hollys
-
Operation recover all loot (ORAL)

Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), set up by President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s has unveiled secure platforms to gather information.  The platforms are designed to facilitate public reporting of suspected acts of corruption.

Multiple channels have been established to ensure inclusivity for diverse preferences. The team also assured the public that all information provided would be treated with discretion and processed quickly. 

On Friday, December 20, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson for Mahama’s Transition Team, announced the initiative in an official circular.

Reports can be submitted through a toll-free number (0800 900 111), the official website (www.oralgh.org), or via email (public@oralgh.org). The transition team assured that these platforms prioritize security and confidentiality to protect informants from any risks of reprisal. The transition team guaranteed confidentiality to bolster public confidence in the initiative.

The ORAL team was launched on Wednesday, December 18, with Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as its chairman. The ORAL initiative is part of a comprehensive strategy to combat systemic corruption and financial impropriety in the public sector.

See the circular below: 

ORAL team on launch of corruption platforms

Election 2024: Akufo-Addo’s loyalty cost his party- Nana Yaa Jantuah says

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

Nana Yaa Jantuah, the former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party, has attributed the New Patriotic Party’s electoral loss to President Akufo-Addo’s loyalty to his appointees.

She pointed out that despite calls for a reshuffle during challenging times, the President chose not to make any changes.

In 2022, many Ghanaians, including members of the NPP, urged President Akufo-Addo to replace his ministers, particularly the then Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta.

However, he remained unconcerned to these requests, which Nana Yaa Jantuah believes significantly contributed to the party’s heavy defeat in the recent elections.

Speaking on the Orange Sunrise, she also commented on Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s candidacy, stating that he began to lose support the moment he was selected as the party’s candidate.

She argued that the party’s unity was compromised, leading to disarray that ultimately affected Bawumia’s chances.

“Bawumia started losing the moment he was chosen, because that’s when the front broke. You cannot go to war with a divided front. The party was broken into three factions: Alan, Kennedy, and Bawumia himself. Kennedy only later came to show his face; didn’t you see his body language?” she told host Alfa Ali.

Free SHS students voted against NPP- CPP Former General Secretary claims

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

Former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party, Nana Yaa Jantuah, has stated that beneficiaries of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy played a significant role in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the recent elections.

She claimed that despite the party’s attempts to entice these beneficiaries with financial incentives to vote for the NPP, many ultimately chose to reject the governing party.

“Their free SHS made them lose, the people who went and voted against them were the free SHS students whom they gave money to go and vote but they still voted against them,” Nana Jantuah disclosed.

Speaking with Alfa Ali on the Orange Sunrise, Nana Yaa Jantuah expressed her belief that Ghanaians are discerning and that monetary incentives alone cannot sway their mindsets.

She also criticized President Akufo-Addo’s decision to commission numerous projects during the election campaign, suggesting that this move overshadowed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

She also pointed out that the failure to complete the National Cathedral project contributed to the party’s poor performance in the elections.

Ghana Secures $316M in FDI During First Three Quarters of 2024

By
Ivy Hollys
-
fdi funding

Ghana secured $316 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the first nine months of 2024, reflecting its strong investment appeal.

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) disclosed this in its Third Quarter Report, which registered 108 projects worth $325.88 million.

Local investment contributed $9.88 million of the total, indicating significant foreign interest alongside domestic participation in Ghana’s economy.

Of the 108 projects, 85 were wholly foreign-owned, valued at $303.49 million, representing 78.7% of all registered projects.

Joint Venture partnerships between Ghanaian and foreign entities accounted for 23 projects, representing 21.3% of the total. This brings estimated  investment value of US$22.39 million.

Initial capital transfers into the country during this period amounted to US$22.1 million, signalling significant investor confidence. The manufacturing sector emerged as the top recipient of foreign investments, securing the highest number of projects and the largest FDI inflow.

It attracted 55 projects and received an FDI value of US$190.7 million, cementing its role as a key driver of Ghana’s industrial development. The liaison sector followed with FDI inflows of US$76.3 million, while the general trade sector recorded US$21 million in investments.

The sectoral breakdown of the 108 projects highlights a strong focus on industry and services. After manufacturing 55 projects, the services sector secured 27 projects, followed by general trade (11 projects), export trade (7 projects), agriculture (3 projects), tourism (2 projects), and building and construction (2 projects). Liaison services rounded up the list with one project.

The robust inflows into Ghana’s manufacturing sector reflect the country’s strategic focus on industrialization and job creation.

Read also: IMF Warns of Risks to Ghana’s Recovery and Stability

 Akufo-Addo Petitioned to Remove Chief Justice Over Alleged Incompetence

By
Ivy Hollys
-
nana addo and chief justice

Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, a citizen of Ghana, has petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for alleged misbehavior and incompetence.

The petitioner, in a letter dated December 17, noted that “The legal basis of my petition is Article 146 (1) of the 1992 constitution of the republic of Ghana [the constitution]. 

For the avoidance of doubt, my petition focuses on stated misbehavior and incompetence related to the Chief Justice’s administrative functions as head of the judiciary responsible for its supervision and administration under Article 125 (4) of the constitution.”

Article 146 (1) stipulates that a Justice of the Superior Court or a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehavior or incompetence or on the ground of inability to perform the functions of his office arising from infirmity of body or mind.

The petitioner said his petition does not arise from the Chief Justice’s exercise of her judicial functions. “Accordingly, the petition does not challenge any decisions, orders, or directives issued by the Chief Justice in the performance of her duties as a justice of the Supreme Court, including those made to enforce judgments, decrees, or orders in cases she has adjudicated.”

The petitioner indicated, for instance, that the Chief Justice’s elaborate scheme of requesting the president to appoint specific judges and later presenting the names for the Judicial Council’s approval subverts the constitutional scheme and converts both the council and president into rubber-stamping her preferred judges.

“When the petition is being considered at any stage, members of the Judicial Council will be subpoenaed to testify on the matter,” he added.

The petitioner further noted that there have been reported incidences of the Chief Justice’s direct interference with duly constituted panels with no explanations or public interest reasons for so doing.

“We consider the reconstitution of panels to be beyond the Chief Justice’s administrative power and amounts to a direct interference with the impartiality and independence of duly constituted judicial panels,” he added.

Source: Citinewsroom

Mahama Appoints Five-Member Team to Lead ‘Operation Recover All Loot’ (ORAL) Initiative

By
Ivy Hollys
-
Operation recover all loot (ORAL)

President-elect John Dramani Mahama has named a five-member team to spearhead Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL). The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) anti-corruption initiative.

The ORAL program, a cornerstone of Mahama’s campaign and part of his 120-day social contract agenda, focuses on combating corruption and reclaiming looted state resources.

A circular dated December 18, issued by the Office of the President-elect, confirmed the team’s composition and outlined its mandate.

ORAL aims to strengthen governance, enforce accountability in public institutions, and recover misappropriated funds to support Ghana’s national development.

The ORAL team members are:

  1. Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa – Chairman
  2. Mr. Daniel Domelevo – Former Auditor-General
  3. COP (Rtd.) Nathaniel Kofi Boakye
  4. Mr. Martin Kpebu – Private Legal Practitioner
  5. Mr. Raymond Archer – Investigative Journalist

Operation Recover All Loot was first introduced on September 4, 2024, during protests organized by NDC-affiliated groups at the Ministry of Finance. The protest was attended by civil society groups, students, and private citizens.

The protests highlighted concerns over alleged financial mismanagement under the outgoing Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration.

The ORAL initiative aims to rebuild public trust in state institutions and address systemic financial impropriety across the public sector.

Read also: Ghana Faces Billions in Revenue Loss if E-Levy and COVID-19 Tax…

Supreme Court Dismisses Challenges to Anti-LGBTQI Bill

By
Ivy Hollys
-
Supreme Court-Ghana
Supreme Court-Ghana

The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed petitions challenging the constitutionality of Ghana’s controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

The seven-member panel, led by Justice Lovelace Avril Johnson, rejected claims by journalist and lawyer Richard Dela Sky and advocate Amanda Odoi.

Mr Sky had sought a declaration that the bill, which has sparked intense national debate, was null and void. However, the court rejected his petition, upholding the constitutionality of the legislative process for the proposed anti-LGBTQI legislation.

The court ruled that the bill, yet to receive presidential assent, cannot be subjected to judicial review as it is not enforceable law. The bill, widely criticized by human rights groups, seeks to criminalize activities promoting LGBTQI advocacy, including funding and indirect support.

If enacted, individuals supporting LGBTQI initiatives could face penalties, sparking intense national and international debate on human rights issues.

Proponents argue the bill is essential to safeguarding Ghanaian cultural and family values, which they believe are under threat. Critics, however, view the bill as discriminatory, claiming it infringes on freedoms of expression, association, and equality under the law.

In addition to Sky’s petition, equality and inclusion advocate Amanda Odoi filed a separate legal challenge. Both Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky argue that Parliament had failed to meet the quorum requirements outlined in Articles 102 and 104 of the Constitution during the legislative process, which they claimed rendered the bill’s passage unconstitutional.

Their petitions sought to have the bill declared invalid on these grounds. However, the Supreme Court dismissed both petitions, stating that the bill had not yet become law.

Justice Lovelace Johnson clarified that until a bill receives presidential assent, it does not constitute an enacted law, and therefore cannot be subject to judicial review of its constitutionality.

The court’s ruling emphasized that legislative processes cannot be challenged on constitutional grounds until they result in enforceable law.

Read also: Supreme Court to Deliver Judgment on Anti-LGBTQI Case On December 18

Fraud: US Court Jails Two Ghanaian Nationals 

By
Ivy Hollys
-
fraud in ghana embassy in Washington DC

An American Judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee Thomas A. Varlan, has sentenced two Ghanaian nationals to prison for internet fraud and money laundering.

The convicts are 34-year-old Wigbert Bandie, who hails from a village in Northwestern Ghana, and 30-year-old Adam Khadijah from Bole in the Savanna Region of Ghana.

Wigbert was sentenced to 63 months in November 2024 for various roles in exploiting connections to convince individuals to send them money via wire, cheque, U.S. mail, and package delivery services.

Adam Khadijah, on the other hand, was sentenced to 30 months in jail.

As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Bandie pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 and 1343.

Following his incarceration, Bandie will be on supervised release for three years. Brandie was also ordered to repay $2.18 million in restitution to the 11 victims in this case.

The two convicts were facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and money laundering. One other person, Mubarak Braimah, is still on the run.

It is alleged that from June 22, 2019, through December 31, 2019, the defendants conspired to defraud victims through romance scams, obtaining money under false pretences.

Wiggy Bandie and Mubarak Braimah allegedly targeted victims via social media, impersonating individuals overseas seeking relationships. They convinced victims to send money for shipping fees, promising profits from non-existent gold shipments. Khadijah Adam and Wiggy received these funds from the victims.

In one case, Wiggy Bandie, also known as “Kimberly McIntosh,” posed as an heiress to gold bars in Singapore, deceiving Richard Coleman, a Knoxville resident, into paying shipping fees.

Bandie created fake documents, including a memorandum of understanding for a 40% share of the gold, which Coleman signed. Mubarak Braimah, pretending to be a liaison for a fake shipping company, facilitated the scam, defrauding Coleman of $73,550.

Wiggy Bandie was arraigned on November 27, 2023, was offered a plea bargain involving repayment and a six-year jail term, which he declined.

Source: Joynews

Police Arrest Man Who Allegedly Beheaded Okada Rider at Gomoa Afransi

By
Ivy Hollys
-
police arrest shariff abdulai

The Agona Swedru Divisional Police Command has apprehended the man who allegedly beheaded the Okada rider at Kwame Adwen, a village near Gomoa Afransi in the Gomoa Central District of the Central region.

The suspect, Augustine Ankomah, also an Okada rider in his 30s, was said to have attempted to sell a human head to a Togolese woman at Kwame Adwen, the same village where the murder occurred.

According to sources at Swedru Divisional Police Command, the suspect went to the woman on Saturday, December 14, to inform her that he had a human head for sale.

The police source said the woman, in turn, informed a herbalist (name withheld for security reasons), who is also a resident of the village, that Ankomah told her that he had a human head for sale.

The source said that based on the information, the herbalist gathered some youth and went to ambush the house of the Togolese, and in the process, Ankomah, true to his word, showed up with the head.

It said that the herbalist and the youth arrested the suspect and identified the head as Kwame Fosu, who was allegedly murdered six days ago. Ankomah and his alleged accomplices were handed over to the police for further investigations.

The police sources said the suspect had been sent to the Winneba police cells.

He would be arraigned before a court today, Monday, December 16, 2024.

1...118119120...172Page 119 of 172

Recent Posts

Email: info@focus1mediagh.com