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CETAG Calls Off Strike: Colleges of Education To Return To Normalcy

By
Ivy Hollys
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CETAG strike

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has called off its strike. This decision was announced in a statement released on Tuesday, August 20.

The association has given the government up to October to resolve all the issues raised, warning that if the government does not adhere to the agreed road map, the association will resume the strike at the end of October 2024.

The breakthrough agreement comes after weeks of intense negotiations amidst the strike, which started on June 14. The deal, which will be ratified by CETAG’s council within the week, paves the way for the end of the prolonged strike that has disrupted academic activities in all 46 colleges of education.

CETAG initiated the strike in response to the government’s failure to implement agreed-upon arbitral awards and improve conditions of service for its members.

In the statement, CETAG revealed that during an emergency virtual National Council meeting held on August 20, 2024, members unanimously agreed to call off the strike with immediate effect.

Calling Off The Strike

In calling off the strike, parts of the statement read:

1. The frozen July 2024 and August 2024 salaries shall be paid together at the end of August 2024.

2. That the offline migration of the staff shall be completed at the end of August 2024.

3. The offline migration data shall be sent to all 46 colleges of education for verification by individual staff before processing by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) in September 2024.

4. That, payment after migration will reflect in October 2024 salaries, and that the parties shall meet to agree on the payment plan for all arrears immediately.

5. That, the nomenclature to be used for migrating senior members of the teaching staff shall be assistant lecturer, lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, and professor in line with the affiliate universities’ scheme of service.

6. That, compensation for all-year-Round work done in 2022 shall be paid by the end of August 2024, and 7. That, all holders of researched master’s degrees shall be migrated as assistant lecturers,” it added.

The leadership of CETAG is demanding migration to university status, which the government has agreed to do.

According to the leadership of CETAG, they took the decision to call off the strike based on the commitment they received from the office of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

“We are pleased that the government has finally listened to our concerns and agreed to meet our demands.

“We believe this agreement marks a new beginning in our relationship with the government and paves the way for a more collaborative approach to addressing the challenges facing our sector.”

Following nearly two months of strike action, students and staff at Ghana’s colleges of education can now anticipate a return to normalcy.

Irrigation of a Hectare of Farmland Costs $40,000—GIDA

By
Ivy Hollys
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Irrigation

The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) has revealed that it currently costs approximately $40,000 to develop an irrigation scheme for a single hectare of farmland. 

Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle, acting CEO of GIDA, Ing. Richard Oppong-Boateng, revealed that it currently costs approximately $40,000 to develop an irrigation scheme for a single hectare of farmland. 

Farmers in the five northern regions are struggling with the impact of the ongoing drought, which has been worsened by over two months of no rainfall. Ing. Oppong-Boateng explained that the current land area that has been irrigated is woefully inadequate compared with the total of 1.9 hectares of irrigable land.

He further disclosed that GIDA is currently undertaking other initiatives in an attempt to increase Ghana’s irrigable land space.

“Per the decree, we are supposed to identify water resources in the country that are suitable for irrigation, and we have done close to 19,000 hectares of irrigable land. We have 1.9 million hectares, but if you add the private irrigation farms, now we have done about 220,000 hectares, which is a little over 12 percent of our potential of 1.9 million hectares.

“Since last year, there has been upscaling, and as I speak now, we are rehabilitating some irrigation schemes, and if you put all that we are doing this year together, we are doing close to 5,000 hectares.” He expressed optimism, saying, “If we keep up with this momentum, I am sure that we will be able to do about 700,000 hectares in the next 5 to 10 years.”

He further reiterated the significant cost involved, stating that it requires about $40,000 to irrigate one hectare of farmland.

Voter’s Exhibition Exercise Begins Today

By
Ivy Hollys
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voter

Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) has launched its nationwide voter exhibition exercise, starting today, August 20, and running until August 27. 

Dr Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, explained during a press conference on Monday, August 19, that the exercise offers voters the opportunity to update the voter register. 

He said, registered voters can request the inclusion of omitted names, object to names in the register, and request the removal of deceased persons.

He urged registered voters to actively participate in the exercise to help the Commission create a credible voter register for the 2024 general elections. The exhibition also allows citizens to object to the names of minors and foreigners, as well as individuals who are not residents in the electoral areas where they registered.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that the nationwide voters exhibition exercise will start from August 20 to 27.

According to the Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Bossman Asare, the exercise is to help voters locate their respective polling stations.

This way, on December 7, he said it would be easier for individuals to go to their centre to cast their ballot, thereby making the process stress-free.

Speaking at a press briefing on August 19, registered voters can request the inclusion of omitted names, objection to names of voters in the register, removal of names of deceased voters from the register, replacement of poor quality or damaged voter ID cards from the register, correction to wrong spelling of names, and amendment to other registration details, among others.

“The exhibition exercise also provides an avenue for qualified citizens to object to the names of minors, and foreigners. By minors, we mean those who are not 18 years old.

In addition, qualified applicants can object to the names of persons who are not residents in the electoral areas where they registered.”

“The commission is again entreating all registered voters, especially those who registered in the 2024 limited registration exercise at the district offices of the commission and selected electoral areas, as well as during the mop-up exercise, to visit the exhibition centres to ascertain whether they were assigned to the correct polling stations or not,” he said.

The Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, also noted that police officers will be deployed to ensure that order prevails at the various voter exhibition centres.

“We urge the public to patronise the exercise. Go there if you are very concerned, and if there is any security concern, speak to our officers on the ground, and we will deal with it humanly in a way that will satisfy everybody.”

We Spent $3m for All Africa Games Coverage—Sports Minister Reveals

By
Ivy Hollys
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13th african games

Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has confirmed that the government has made a full payment of $3 million to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for coverage of the 2024 All African Games held in Accra.

The Minister disclosed this during a Public Accounts Committee meeting on Monday, August 19, 2024.

The confirmation came in response to a query from Samuel George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, who sought clarity on the state of payments to GBC. “You had an arrangement with GBC to cover the All African Games. 

sam george on african games

Can you share with this committee how much that coverage was for and whether payment has been made?” George asked.

In response, Minister Ussif confirmed, “Yes, GBC was the official broadcaster for the 13th All African Games, and I can confirm that full payment has been made to GBC. The amount was in excess of $3 million.”

Samuel George highlighted the importance of the question, noting that many technicians who worked on the All African Games had yet to receive their payments.

He indicated that the Public Accounts Committee would address the matter with GBC during their next appearance before the committee to understand why the technicians had not been compensated despite the payment to the broadcaster.

GH¢61bn in Loans Given To State Agencies Not Recovered: Auditor General’s Report

By
Ivy Hollys
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Loan

A recent Auditor General’s Report has revealed a significant issue in the government’s recovery of loans receivables, with an alarming GH¢61 billion still outstanding. 

This represents a staggering 99.93% of the total loan receivables for the year ending December 31, 2023.

The Auditor General’s review identified that, out of GH¢63,384,527,594 in outstanding loans, only GH¢43,450,428.00 representing, 0.07%—was recovered during the review period.

This poor recovery rate has been attributed to the absence of a debt collection strategy and a lack of follow-up actions by the Controller and Accountant-General (CAG) to ensure that these covered entities repay their debts.

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, the Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Adjei, explained that a committee has been established to oversee the recovery of the debt.

The report further notes that these loans have remained in government books for extended periods without any clear recovery plan or policy in place.

The report further notes that these loans have remained on government books for extended periods, with no clear recovery plan or policy in place. The Auditor General warned that if the government fails to act, these debts could eventually be written off, depriving the nation of vital resources needed to fund its programs.

The report calls for urgent action to create and implement a comprehensive debt recovery strategy to address this pressing issue.

Bank Of Ghana: Loan

Background 

In March this year, banks in Ghana wrote off GH¢4.33 billion as bad debt for 2023. The bad debt was categorized under loan losses, depreciation, and other financial impairments. 

According to the Bank of Ghana, this sharp reduction in 2023 is attributed to banks reporting lower impairments on financial assets during the year.

This number, although high, reflected a significant 79.2% decrease compared to 2022.  In 2022, bad debt amounted to an estimated GH¢20.8 billion.

In 2021, the Finance Ministry was also unable to recover monies given out as loans to some public sector workers ¢11,005,582.

The Auditor-General uncovered this in its report on the country’s public accounts for ministries, departments, and agencies for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Per the report, the Auditor-General directed that the Ministry take steps to recover the said amounts.

Portions of the document read, “We recommended that the Chief Director of the Ministry should liaise with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to have the outstanding amounts deducted from the salaries of the staff involved.” 

In that same year, a total of ¢17.4 billion in financial irregularities were flagged by the Auditor-General in its report, which was submitted to Parliament for the 2021 financial year. 

Youth Unemployment Rate in China Increases to 17.1%

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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china youth unemployment

China’s youth unemployment rate surged to 17.1% in July, marking the highest level this year, according to official data. This comes as the world’s second-largest economy grapples with several significant challenges, including a heavily indebted property sector, soaring joblessness among young people, and increasing trade tensions with the West.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who oversees economic policy, emphasized the importance of addressing the struggles faced by companies. Speaking on Friday, he urged that struggling businesses be “heard” and their “difficulties truly addressed,” as reported by the state news agency Xinhua.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

The unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), saw a significant jump from June’s 13.2%. This increase highlights the growing difficulties young people in China face in securing jobs. The metric previously peaked at 21.3% in June 2023, after which authorities paused the publication of these figures. Later, they revised their methodology to exclude students from the unemployment data.

In May, President Xi Jinping underscored the need to tackle youth unemployment, calling it a “top priority.” The rising unemployment among young people reflects broader economic struggles, including dampened industrial production and weakening consumer demand.

For those aged 25 to 29, the unemployment rate in July stood at 6.5%, slightly up from 6.4% in June. The overall unemployment rate for the workforce was reported at 5.2%. However, it’s important to note that these figures only cover urban areas, leaving out the broader picture of employment across the country.

Broader Economic Concerns

The new unemployment data comes on the heels of other disappointing economic indicators from Beijing. Industrial production growth in July slowed to 5.1%, down from 5.3% in June and below analyst expectations. This slowdown occurred despite recent government efforts to stimulate growth.

Youth Unemployment

Adding to the economic woes, demand for bank loans contracted for the first time in nearly two decades, further signaling weakening economic activity. Internationally, China faces mounting challenges as the European Union and the United States ramp up trade barriers to protect their markets from what they perceive as unfair competition from low-cost Chinese products.

What’s Next?

China’s economic struggles are a cause for concern, not just domestically but also globally. As the country navigates these headwinds, the rising unemployment rate, particularly among its youth, will be a critical issue for policymakers to address. With global trade tensions and internal economic challenges mounting, China’s ability to manage these issues will have far-reaching implications.

The Chinese government will likely need to implement more targeted measures to boost job creation and economic activity. As Premier Li Qiang highlighted, addressing the challenges faced by businesses and ensuring they are supported during these tough times will be essential. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether these measures can stem the rising tide of unemployment and help stabilize the economy.

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St. Monica’s Principal Urges Graduates to Be Agents of Change

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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The Principal of the St. Monica’s College of Education at Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region, Dr. David Okyere Korankye, has encouraged the newly graduated students to demonstrate behaviors that contribute to the development of the nation.

He advised the students to serve as mentors while guiding their own students to become responsible citizens and future leaders.

Dr. Korankye emphasized the importance of the graduates realizing their role in shaping the future of the country by instilling values of development in the younger generation.

“As they are going out, we have admonished them to know that they are going to raise the future of this country by training our little ones so that they will have the mind towards development in this country. We’ve also spoken to them about the moral standards of this country and we’re hoping that they should be the agents of change,” he said.

During an interview with the media at the college’s 15th graduation ceremony, the Principal also urged the graduates to leverage modern technology, including IT, to enhance their effectiveness in their work.

Despite the college’s successful 15-year journey in training thousands of students nationwide, there are challenges hindering smooth academic operations.

Dr. Korankye identified issues such as inadequate accommodation and lack of a spacious auditorium as major concerns.

He mentioned that construction of a 300-capacity hostel and a multipurpose auditorium began in 2012 but remains incomplete, causing disruptions to student life and academic pursuits.

The Principal further expressed concern over the ongoing CETAG strike, which has disrupted teaching and learning activities, leaving students in a difficult situation.

He called on the government to address the challenges faced by the teachers to facilitate their return to the classrooms.

Dr. Korankye also urged CETAG to engage in constructive dialogue with the government to resolve the issues and resume academic activities in the colleges.

The Vice President of the SRC, Esther Gyamfi, noted the negative impact of the strike on students’ educational journey, leading many to leave campus due to financial constraints and lack of academic activities.

She appealed to the government to resolve the situation promptly.

The best graduating student, Vester Yeboah Fordjour, echoed the concerns about the CETAG strike and urged government intervention to address the issue immediately to resume academic activities.

Fidelity Bank reassures customers of financial strength amid economic challenges

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

The Management of Fidelity Bank Ghana has moved to allay fears among its customers regarding the stability of the bank amidst the ongoing economic challenges faced by financial institutions.

With a track record spanning over 18 years, the bank emphasized its commitment to professionalism, robust corporate governance, and risk management practices aimed at fostering liquidity and resilience against external shocks.

Addressing concerns of potential collapse, the bank categorically refuted speculations and affirmed its strong financial position and operational stability.

In an interview with Orange Business News following a meeting with journalists in Kumasi, Atta Yeboah Gyan, the Deputy Managing Director of the bank, noted the concerns arising from the collapse of several local banks in the past five years.

This has led to apprehension among customers of the remaining local banks.

Despite being founded by a Ghanaian, Mr. Gyan indicated that their bank is actively competing with international banks and currently holds the 5th position among the 23 banks operating in Ghana.

“We have done so by running the bank as a professional institution and also strengthening our corporate governance and risk management practices, and so we want to assure the general public that if you’re banking with Fidelity, there’s no cause for you to fear,” he said.

“The bank is strong, our capital base is strong, we are run by professionals, we are owned by Ghanaians who are not going anywhere, and so the public should be rest assured and continue to have the confidence that, we will work with them to support them to grow their businesses,” he added.

In a bid to further engage with the community, the bank has spent huge amounts of money on its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives over the years, focusing on education, health, women empowerment, climate resilience, agriculture and support for SMEs.

Fidelity Bank’s commitment to community impact was underscored by Mr. Gyan, who emphasized the bank’s belief in driving positive change and improving lives in the areas it serves.

Despite facing challenges in 2022 due to a government-led debt restructuring plan, which resulted in a GH¢518 million loss, the bank rebounded in 2023 with a profit of GH¢1.17 billion.

This resurgence was attributed to the bank’s resilience, effective risk management practices, and digital innovation at the core of its strategic approach.

With over 80 branches nationwide, Fidelity Bank Ghana has solidified its position as a key financial institution, dedicated to supporting its customers and contributing to the communities it operates in.

Rwandan Government Shuts Down Over 5,600 Churches

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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Rwandan Government Shuts Down Over 5,600 Churches

Over 5,600 churches in Rwanda were closed down by the government for a variety of reasons, including 100 local churches African culture heavily incorporates religion. Churches have become hubs for answers and assistance, maybe because most African nations are still developing.

But this has also resulted in the growth of religious institutions, the majority of which, according to critics, are less spiritual and more transactional, giving little to no thought to the safety and security of their adherents.

In Rwanda, Christianity is the most common religion. With over 45% of the population identifying as Catholic and 35% as Protestant, Catholicism and Protestantism are the two most common denominations in Rwanda. Out of the total population, 5% identify as Catholics and 35% as Protestants.

Rwandan Government Shuts Down Over 5,600 Churches

Recently, President Paul Kagame’s administration in Rwanda took an unimaginable step. More than 5,600 churches were targeted by the government, 100 of which were cave churches. And why is it the case? the transactional character of many houses of worship and the disregard for safety and health laws, such as inadequate soundproofing.

The action is part of a two-week statewide operation by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), which started on July 29th, according to Rwandan media outlet The News Times. According to RGB Chief Executive Usta Kaitesi, the bulk of the impacted faith-based organizations lacked basic infrastructure, appropriate cleanliness, and safety norms, while a few others were conducting business unlawfully.

“This is an ongoing nationwide operation for those churches that remain non-compliant with the law. As RGB, we are not deterred by any effort in the pursuit of having proper standards of places of worship. The idea is that people should understand that these are not healthy ways of worship.

“This is not just about non-compliance with the law; it also puts the lives of the worshippers at risk. Worshippers should not be exposed to hazards. According to the faith of most Christians, God is omnipresent; why should a worshipper risk their life inside a cave?” Kaitesi said on the public broadcaster RBA.

Rwanda passed a law in 2018 demanding that places of worship run in a structured and secure manner. It outlaws the use of loud public speaker systems and mandates theological training for all preachers prior to their appointment to a church. This is a step toward making sure worshippers are safe and peaceful.

While charismatic pastors lead Pentecostal churches all throughout Rwanda, some of them are large and draw large crowds of worshippers every Sunday because they execute prophesies and miracles. Conversely, there are some small, substandard buildings that were constructed without the required planning authority.

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NDC Zongo Youth Caucus gears up to secure votes in Ashanti Region

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

The Ashanti Regional Zongo Youth Caucus is making strides in mobilizing and organizing themselves to garner support and enhance the party’s chances of winning more votes in the region.

Confident in their ability to capitalize on the current economic challenges, the group aims to achieve over 30 percent of the votes in the NPP stronghold.

By uniting young individuals from various Zongo Communities in the region, the caucus is optimistic about the opposition NDC’s prospects in the 2024 elections, citing appealing policies such as the 24-hour economy initiative.

During an event aimed at rallying Zongo Youth for Victory in Kumasi, Abdul Basit Yusha, the Ashanti Regional Communication Officer for the Zongo Youth Caucus, expressed the youth’s dedication and commitment to the party’s cause, signaling a potential victory for the opposition.

Yusha noted that the caucus is relentless in their efforts to engage and mobilize people within the Zongo Communities in the Ashanti Region to actively contribute to the party’s success.

Yusha encouraged the Zongo youth to exercise restraint to maintain peace and stability throughout the electoral process.

Former Vice Chairman and ex-Ambassador to Saudi Arabia under Mahama’s administration, Alhaji Saeed Sinare, identified the Ashanti Region as a key battleground for the NDC in the upcoming election and stressed the need for early mobilization.

Alhaji Sinare underscored the importance of vigilance at polling stations to prevent any potential electoral malpractice and stated the NDC’s determination to secure a fair outcome.

Criticizing the current Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government as incompetent, Alhaji Sinare pointed to economic challenges such as currency depreciation, high unemployment rates, and inflation as evidence of the administration’s failures.

He endorsed former President John Mahama’s policies, including the 24-hour economy, as effective solutions to address the country’s pressing issues.

Alhaji Saeed Sinare expressed confidence that the NDC’s performance should exceed 30 percent, citing the uninspiring appeal of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh as the NPP’s flagbearer and running mate, respectively.

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