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Christian council calls for a ban on galamsey

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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The Christian Council of Ghana has urged on government to take steps towards bringing a finality to illegal mining activities, commonly known as “galamsey.”

This call from the Christian Council comes as a result of the devastating effects of illegal mining on the environment, local communities, and the nation’s future.

These effects have reached critical levels, which is prompting various stakeholders to seek immediate and extensive actions to be taken against these actions.

Reverend Cyril Fayose, General Secretary of the Christian Council showed concern over the menace that illegal mining activities place on Ghana’s natural resources, especially its water bodies, farmlands and its ecosystem.

Reverend Fayose called for urgent attention to address the crisis, stating that the canker must be addressed immediately.

He called for more than just the usual criticism and reactive approach, highlighting that only a calculated and extensive strategy would satisfy demands in protecting Ghana’s future.

“I think there should be a total ban, at least if not a total ban, a moratorium for some time [on Galamsey] so that we sit back and think about how to proceed. There are two ways to proceed.

“One is a total ban on small-scale mining so that no one is allowed to do small-scale mining, just as we don’t allow anyone to mine in water bodies. But the other thing is if we cannot ban small-scale mining, at least the small-scale mining companies must be community-owned.”

Source: Obikyere Abigail Seyram, Communication and Media Studies Student, KNUST

GNAT calls for stakeholders involvement to tackle indiscipline in schools

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has urged for an urgent stakeholder involvement to create ways to tackle indiscipline in schools.

The association said, it’s imperative for parents, teachers, educational executives, civil society organizations, and school leaders to collaborate in addressing the issue of indiscipline for the betterment of the nation.

The recent behavior exhibited by students necessitates urgent action.

“We must convene a stakeholders meeting to address this issue promptly. Failure to do so may result in our future leaders catching us off guard,” emphasized Thomas Tanko Musah, the General Secretary of GNAT.

These remarks come in the wake of a tragic incident at O’Reilly Senior High School in Accra, where a final-year General Arts student lost his life after being stabbed during an altercation with a classmate.

The argument, which ensued after completing an examination paper, escalated into physical violence, leading to the fatal stabbing of Edward Borketey Sackey.

BY:Osei -Tutu Esther Kumah, Student, Kumasi Technical University (KsTU)

Walewale MP bows out from NPP parliamentary primary

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the current Member of Parliament for the Walewale constituency has formally withdrawn from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary re-run.

Hajia Lariba presented a letter to General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Frimpong Kodua, announcing her decision to step down from the contest which ended undetermined on Monday September 9, 2024, as the electoral process was interrupted by some unscrupulous individuals.

The High Court in Tamale declared the results of the January 27, 2024, preliminary election invalid and ordered the NPP to rerun the elections.

Subsequently, the party in a statement announced timelines of the re-run, which was earlier scheduled on Sunday, September 8 but was later postponed to Monday due to a funeral rite of a local chief in the constituency.

The conduct of the re-run primary between the present MP, Lariba Zuweira Abudu and Dr. Kabiru Tia Mahama was supervised by the Electoral Commission surrounded by heavy security.

Even so, the process was disrupted during the sorting process after voting had ended.

Gabriel Manu, the North East Regional Director in a media interview made noted that the winner of the election was not determined.

The EC stated that some of the ballot papers were damaged in a way that it could not determine the candidate who had won the polls.

In this regard, the Walewale MP Lariba decided to withdraw to keep the peace and unity in the Walewale constituency.

By Nelly Takyiwa Boateng, Student, Kumasi Technical University (KsTU)

NDC to stage a protest over voter register `discrepanciesʼ

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has disclosed a plan to hold a nationwide protest on September 17, 2024 if the Electoral Commission (EC) does not address issues of irregularities in the voters register before the December 7 general election.

The party made this remarks after the submission of the presidential nomination forms of John Dramani Mahama, the party’s flag bearer on Monday, September 9, 2024.

The NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia pointed out what he said was “several discrepancies” identified in the register.

He mentioned that the party had purposefully petitioned the EC to rectify the issues earlier, notwithstanding assurances from the commission, no concrete action had been taken.

Mr. Nketia raised the alarm that the integrity of the upcoming elections could be at risk if the EC fails to resolve the matter.

“Is it possible for a district officer anywhere to transfer names of voters to places they didn’t choose? And they are saying it is possible. If it is possible, then we are not safe,” he remarked.

He added that there should be a full audit of the EC’s IT systems, saying that the NDC has reached out to international development partners who are ready to provide funding for such an audit.

“We want an independent audit of the system,” he added.

Referring to the submission of the flag bearer’s nomination forms, Mr. Nketia said they have met all requirements and are hopeful that their candidate will go through the process easily.

“We are very confident of the eligibility of our candidate,” he said.

So far, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the governing New Patriotic Party has submitted his forms as well as Nana Kwame Bediako, an independent aspirant and Kofi Akpaloo of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG).

All forms submitted were received by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensah.

By Nelly Takyiwa Boateng- Student, Kumasi Technical University (KsTU)

FSHS: President Akufo-Addo advises affluent families to consider private schools

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

President Akufo-Addo has reiterated his support for the free SHS policy, advising wealthy families to consider enrolling their children in private institutions.

Speaking at the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Bar Association in Kumasi, the President noted that the policy is aimed at providing equal access to quality education for those who cannot afford secondary school fees.

“People who can afford to pay fees for the education of their wards should send them to fee-paying private schools,” the President affirmed.

“Public schools that are funded by the taxpayer should be free to all who will otherwise be unable to pay for their education,” he added.

Yaw Acheampong Boafo, President of the association, suggested that affluent parents contribute to the cost of the policy to alleviate the burden on the national budget, allowing the government to allocate more resources to those in need.

President Akufo-Addo commended the success of the Free SHS policy, noting a significant increase in the number of students enrolling in senior high schools since its inception, with approximately 5.7 million beneficiaries to date.

He expressed the importance of affluent families paying fees to ease the strain on the national budget.

The President expressed satisfaction with the continuous growth of the Free SHS policy, which has seen a steady rise in enrollment numbers each academic year compared to previous years.

Source: Osei -Tutu Esther Kumah, Student, Kumasi Technical University (KsTU).

GNFS commits to seeking justice for its officers

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has expressed complete disproval of assaults on its personnel, promising to pursue strict legal actions against perpetrators.

According to the service, fire fighters have been physically and verbally assaulted while going about their work.

In a statement released by GNFS on Tuesday, September 10, it explained how ADO II Abdul Aziz Annor, a fire fighters from the Ministries Fire Station on September 3, 2024, sustained a fractured ankle after being assaulted by a driver and his mate in Accra.

This happened while Annor was refilling the station’s truck at the La Palm T-junction. 

The perpetrators were arrested and granted bail on September 9, 2024, with court hearing scheduled for October 24.

Fire fighters from the Dansoman Fire Station also faced a similar situation two days after the incident.

Residents of Dansoman Roundabout verbally and physically attacked the fire fighters who were responding to a fire in their vicinity.

The fire fighters amist the attack, were able to sustain the fire with the help of additional fire trucks.

The GNFS  has stressed that assaulting fire fighters is a crime and perpetrators will be dealt with accordingly.

The service has guaranteed that it will provide the needed care for the injured fire fighter and take all required legal steps to ensure justice for all affected personnel.

Nonetheless, there is an ongoing investigation by the Dansoman Police on the matter in order to bring the culprits to justice.

The GNFS urged the public to support and accord all respect to its personnel, who risk their lives daily to protect the people and their community.

Source: Obikyere Abigail Seyram, Media and Communication Studies Student, KNUST.

Asantehene urges political parties to build trust and confidence to  ensure peaceful elections

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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asantehene otumfuo osei tutu II

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has admonished political parties to lessen their mistrust of the Electoral Commission and contribute to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

While recognising the need for increased vigilance by political parties, he stated the importance of restoring confidence between the Electoral Commission, the contesting parties and candidates.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed his view during a dinner with members of the Ghana Bar Association at the Manhyia Palace as part of the Association’s Annual General Conference.

The Asantehene stressed on the need to protect Ghana’s democratic values and urged citizens to place peace above violence during elections.

He said that he feels confident about the outcome of the elections for two main reasons, stating that Ghanaians have come a long way not by chance, but through the forces of history.

The King further stated that in the first quarter of a century of existence as an independent nation, the country has tried almost every system of governance envisioned by man.

“We have had a one-party state. We have had military rule of three different types and we have experienced democracy with the power of the people to choose their government through the ballot box.”

“However discreditable one may think of the people, I can see no circumstances in which Ghanaians will sacrifice the freedom of today, the prospect of changing their government by power of their thumb, for any other alternative.”

Source: Nelly Takyiwa Boateng, Student, Kumasi Technical University (KsTU)

Banks May Find it Difficult to Fully Digitize In The Next 5 Years – PWC

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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 In The Next 5 Years, Banks May Find it Difficult to Fully Digitize - PwC

PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), a leading professional services firm, has projected that it will take over five years for Ghanaian banks to fully transition into the digital space. Despite the increasing shift toward digital banking, PWC believes many customers still prefer face-to-face interactions with bank staff, slowing down the adoption of digital services.

Speaking after a meeting with key stakeholders in the banking sector, Vish Ashiagbor, the Country Senior Partner for PwC Ghana, highlighted the challenges. He pointed out that achieving a 95% digital penetration rate in the near term is unlikely due to several factors.

“The demographics of Ghana show that a significant portion of the population is still adjusting to the digital narrative,” Ashiagbor explained. “Beyond that, there’s the issue of network reach. While urban areas have better connectivity, many banking activities occur in agricultural, cocoa-producing, and mining communities where connectivity is less reliable. Digital banking depends heavily on infrastructure, and without improvements in education and network access, hitting that 95% mark will be difficult.”

During the meeting, PwC shared insights from its Banking Customer Experience (CX) survey and launched the first edition of the Ghana Banking Sentiment Index (GBSI). The survey, which gathered responses from over 4,700 banking customers, emphasized the need for banks to invest in technology that ensures 24/7 availability and seamless digital services. Additionally, customers stressed the importance of courteous, friendly employees in enhancing their banking experiences.

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China Hosts African Leaders at 2024 FOCAC Summit

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-
China Hosts African Leaders

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa landed in Beijing on Monday, ahead of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), marking a significant moment in China-Africa relations. As part of China’s largest diplomatic event since the pandemic, the red carpet was rolled out for Ramaphosa and other African leaders, who are expected to discuss deepening ties between China and the resource-rich continent.

China has invested billions in Africa, funding massive infrastructure projects while tapping into the continent’s abundant natural resources, such as copper, gold, lithium, and rare earth minerals. This partnership has made China Africa’s largest trading partner, with trade reaching $167.8 billion in the first half of 2023. However, China’s vast loans to African countries have sparked debates, as they have led to heavy debts for some nations.

During his four-day visit, Ramaphosa will attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and pay tribute to Chinese revolutionaries in Tiananmen Square. His visit will also include a trip to Shenzhen, China’s tech hub, as the two nations plan to sign agreements to strengthen economic and technical cooperation. Trade between China and South Africa soared to $38.8 billion in 2023.

China Hosts African Leaders

Chinese President Xi Jinping also met with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi to discuss China’s interests in the DRC’s natural resources, despite security challenges in the region.

Several other African leaders from Djibouti, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, and more arrived in Beijing to take part in the summit. The gathering comes at a time of increasing global competition between the US and China for influence in Africa, with Washington frequently criticizing Beijing’s influence on the continent.

As African leaders look to balance their relationships with the world’s superpowers, this forum serves as a crucial platform for fostering deeper cooperation and navigating the complexities of global politics.

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Almost 68M Affected With Severe Drought in Southern Africa

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-
Drought in South Africa

The devastating effects of an El Niño-induced drought are causing havoc across Southern Africa, with 68 million people—17% of the region’s population—in desperate need of aid, according to the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Elias Magosi, SADC’s executive secretary, shared this alarming figure during a meeting of heads of state in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, where leaders gathered to address the crisis and broader regional concerns.

Magosi highlighted that the 2024 rainy season has been particularly challenging, with delayed and insufficient rainfall exacerbating the situation. Countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi have declared a hunger crisis, calling it a state of disaster, while Lesotho and Namibia have appealed for urgent humanitarian support. Earlier in the year, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that Southern Africa experienced its driest February in 40 years, placing as many as 50 million people at risk of food insecurity.

This drought, one of the worst in recent years, is a result of the natural El Niño phenomenon combined with the rising temperatures caused by climate change. The warming waters of the eastern Pacific have disrupted global weather patterns, significantly reducing crop and livestock production throughout the region and triggering food shortages that threaten entire economies.

Drought in Southern Africa

In response to the worsening situation, SADC launched a $5.5 billion humanitarian appeal in May, yet the amount raised has fallen drastically short of the region’s needs. Angola’s President, Joao Lourenco, SADC’s outgoing chair, urged regional and international partners to increase their efforts to provide much-needed support.

As the drought continues to ravage Southern Africa, the call for global solidarity grows louder, as millions struggle to survive in the face of severe food insecurity and economic hardship.

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