Passport Office brings changes to meet modern trends - Director

The Director of Passports, Alexander Grant Ntrakwa, remembers his first day at work.

It was August 25, 2014. He had been assigned from the head office of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Accra.

"The way I saw the passport office, I said, there was no way I was going to work in that environment," he quickly processed his shock.

Zoo-like at its busiest, refugee camp at its slowest. Angry queues, insulted staff and screaming security officers.

Moving in and out of the building, trying to unofficially bridge the gap of

Minority charges Government to present handing over notes

The Minority in Parliament says it will no longer participate in any government business until the House is given copies of the handing over notes of the outgoing government.

Minority leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu says without the document it is difficult for Parliament to decide which business to transact and which not to.  

By the new Transition law, the Executive was expected to hand to Parliament a copy of the handing over notes one month to the elections. They were supposed to do same to the Administrator General.

At a press conference Thursday, the Minority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is alleging that

Laws will be enforced to save lives – Nana Addo

 President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo has called for better adherence to safety regulations in the country following a gas explosion at Labadi in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday.

The explosion, which occurred between the Labadi Cemetery and Trade Fair Centre, left at least five people dead.

There also at least 39 injured according to the Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Victor Bampoe, who toured some health facilities administering medical care to the injured after

SADA will be restructured to eradicate Poverty - Nana Addo

 President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed his commitment to restructure the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA). He said the yet to be rebranded Northern Development Authority (NDA) will serve as a catalyst to eradicate poverty in the three regions of the north. President elect, Nana Akufo Addo who is on a three-day “Thank you tour” of the three regions of the north was addressing the chiefs and people of Mamprugu traditional area at the Nayiri’s palace in Nalerigu.

He thanked the electorate in Northern Region for their overwhelming support at the December 7 polls. He touted his vice, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia as

Minority must reject ex-gratia if… – Sampson Ahi

 A member of Ghana’s Parliament on the ticket of the outgoing National Democratic Congress has challenged members of the New Patriotic Party in Parliament to reject their end of service benefits if they think President Mahama should not be passing last minute agreements.

The NPP have expressed concerns about President Mahama’s approval of fresh contracts and appointments despite having less than a month to vacate office and hand over power to president-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo in January 2017.

Though the NDC have argued that there is nothing wrong with such actions, the NPP think otherwise.

Parliament is currently deliberating on end of service benefits, salaries and emoluments of Article 71 office holders which includes

Mahama has set Nana Addo up to Fail - Atik

 “You don’t set your succeeding administration up to fail because if it doesn’t work, it affects all of us…Mr. President, I think you’ve done so well from the time you lost, the concession and so forth; I don’t think you want to destroy all that you have done with these rather avoidable mistakes you’re committing in the last few days", a leading member of the People's National Convention (PNC) has remarked.

Expressing worry over the Mahama government's last minute appointments of persons to key State institutions coupled with

Photos: Nana Addo, Bawumia visit victims of Labadi explosion

 President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo and his vice, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia visited victims of the Labadi explosion.

The explosion, which occurred between the Labadi Cemetery and Trade Fair Centre, has left 10 people dead so far.

 There are also over 40 persons receiving treatment for burn injuries of

Nana Addo in Western Region for thank-you tour

 President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, will today [Tuesday], be in the Western Region to thank the chiefs of people for their support and prayers in the just ended polls that resulted in his victory.

He will meet the Regional House of Chiefs at Sekondi before meeting some other identifiable groups in the region.

The visit to the region comes two days after he returned from

Missing bolts and nuts caused La gas explosion – Authorities

 The Ghana Fire Service says it preliminary investigations into the La gas explosion point to missing bolts and nuts on a tanker emptying gas at the station as the possible cause of the fire.

The Thursday incident at the Trade Fair Centre in Accra is said to have occurred when the machine emptying the gas into the containers on site caught fire and lighted the electric cables close to the gas station.

The Fire Service’s preliminary investigations confirm National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Moses Asaga’s revelation that

Upper West is part of the history that wiped my 2012 tears – Akufo-Addo

 President-Elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has expressed his profound gratitude to the people of the Upper West region for their support in the just ended national elections.

He said their massive endorsement for him in this year’s polls wiped away his tears of losing the 2012 elections.

Akufo-Addo added that the increase of the NPP’s parliamentary seats in the region from zero in 2012 polls to five in the 2016 election brought him great joy.

Addressing the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs in Wa, on Saturday, as part of his Thank you tour of the region, the President-elect “the saddest day of my life because, as a son of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition, I am fully aware that one of the founders of the tradition, the man who gave an example of selfless service to the people of our country, was no less a person than the late Duri Na, Chief S.D. Dombo. Indeed, our tradition bears his name as

We’ll complete National Identification registration in 2017 – Akufo-Addo

 President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has promised to complete the National Identification card registration in his first year.

He said the project would help his government’s decision to formalize the Ghanaian economy through national data.

His government would coalesce the various national identification documents such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Passport, and

Three bankers to face court action for fraud

Three former top officials of the Akyempim Rural Bank have been indicted for fraudulent activities from 2010 to the second quarters of 2015 that led to liquidity crisis of the bank.

The officials accused of masterminding the bankruptcy of the Bank are Mr Jacob Wellington Assan, General Manger, Mr Frank J. K. Baah, Operations Manager and Mr Nifah Owuba, Credit Manager.

Mr Alex Coffie, Interim Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank announced this at

GIMPA lecturers vow to strike over appointments

 Senior lecturers and administration officials at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) have served notice they will lay down their tools from February 1, 2016.

Officials at the Institute say they will not teach or enter marks on the school’s score entry system if various acting top positions in the school are not

Yahya Jammeh blasts Ecowas Mediators

 Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has hit out at regional mediators urging him to step down, saying he will not be intimidated.

The West African regional bloc Ecowas had called on him to honour his initial pledge to accept electoral defeat.

Mr Jammeh, who subsequently said the 1 December poll was flawed, added that he would defend his country if need be.

Ecowas had said

Failure to pass RTI Bill into law will cause financial loss to the State – Bagbin

 Majority Leader, Alban Sumana Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, says the failure of Members of the Sixth

Parliament of the Fourth Republic to pass the Right To Information (RTI) Bill into an Act will amount to causing financial loss to the State.

He believes a lot of resources have been spent by the State to facilitate the passage of the RTI Bill into law over the last three years.

However, failure by Members to ensure the smooth passage of the Bill, he noted, means all the resources the government injected into the facilitation process have

We cannot go out after humilating Defeat – Veep

Outgoing Vice President, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur says members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been unable to move past the party’s defeat in the presidential poll.

He says both NDC functionaries and supporters are

I pray Ghana prosper under Nana Addo – Koku Anyidoho

NDC’s Koku Anyidoho has extolled President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for delivering an adept speech during the party’s thanksgiving service held in Accra last Sunday.

The NDC’s Deputy Chief scribe told NEAT FM’s morning show host Kwasi Aboagye that he was pleased with Nana Addo’s speech as President-elect.

“Nana Addo said so many things during their thanksgiving service and he spoke very well. The election is over so we must focus on nation building,” he said. 

Thousands of supporters of the New Patriotic Party joined the President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to thank God for

My Government will shift focus from taxation to production – Nana Addo

 President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, has stated his administration will shift the focus of the country’s economic management from taxation to production in order to deliver progress to Ghanaians.

According to him, the vision of the incoming government is to build a fair and prosperous society in a democratic and united nation.

“To achieve this, we need a well-educated and skilled population, an efficient public service with strong institutions and a competitive economy that is capable of

Nigeria impounds on 'plastic rice' ahead of Christmas

 Nigerian customs service has intercepted 102 bags of rumoured plastic rice in Lagos after a tip off on Monday.

The plastic rice branded Beat Tomato Rice was in storage at the time of seizure and was ready for distribution during the christmas holidays in Ikeja, the state capital of Lagos State.

According to the chief of customs in Lagos, Mohammed Haruna, one person has been arrested in connection with the commodity and the distribution point of the seized plastic rice has been blocked for further

Gas shortage won’t bring ‘dumsor’ back – Power Ministry

The Ministry of Power is convinced that a possible cut in gas supply in the country won’t adversely affect the production of electricity.

According to the Deputy Minister of Power, John Jinapor, the country’s power producers can rely on crude oil to power the various power plants to adequately serve the energy needs of Ghanaians in the absence of gas.

The Deputy Minister made the remark in an interview on Eyewitness News in reaction to a letter the Volta River Authority wrote to GRIDCo informing it of a 15-day interruption in gas supply between February and March 2017.

The Authority in the letter further indicated that “power from Ameri Energy will also not be available during that period.”

Ghanaians have however expressed worry over the situation after enduring

Passport Office brings changes to meet modern trends - Director

The Director of Passports, Alexander Grant Ntrakwa, remembers his first day at work.

It was August 25, 2014. He had been assigned from the head office of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Accra.

"The way I saw the passport office, I said, there was no way I was going to work in that environment," he quickly processed his shock.

Zoo-like at its busiest, refugee camp at its slowest. Angry queues, insulted staff and screaming security officers.

Moving in and out of the building, trying to unofficially bridge the gap of

Osei Mensah must be appointed as Ashanti Regional Minister - Patriotic Women

 Former Member of Parliament for the Bosomtwe Constituency, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, has received massive endorsement to be made a Regional Minister as Ghanaians anxiously wait for the ministerial appointments under the incoming NPP administration.

The former MP was identified by the Patriotic Women Group of the New Patriotic Party as the perfect one to handle the needs and aspirations of the

NPP's sudden opposition to RTI bill Pathetic

Minority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says the rapid way government is conducting its activities few days to its handing over contravenes the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (845).

The NPP MPs want some necessary consultation to be done before it cooperates with the Majority.

The incoming administration has been resisting other government decisions claiming they ought to be consulted by the exiting government.

In a predictable response, Human Rights and pro-democracy groups are incensed.

"I am surprised. extremely surprised. I don't know what the agenda of the NPP is," Mina Mensah is dismayed.

She recalled that the Minority has for years accused the Majority of foot-dragging and

If you want money in my Government, join Private Sector - Nana Addo

The President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, yesterday sent a warning to people he would appoint in his administration that if they came in with the aim to make money at the expense of the state, then they should rather resort to the private sector where real money was made.

 

“I am going to repeat here something I have said several times. Those who seek to be in my government to make money are going to be disappointed. They will make money in the private sector, not in the public sector,” he stated.

Delivering an address at a post-annual general meeting (AGM) private sector forum of the Private Enterprises Federation (PEF) in Accra yesterday, Nana Akufo-Addo said under his government, the public sector would not compete with the private sector.

Gov’t will support, not compete, with private sector

“None of the people who are going to be working with me are going to be your competitors. Ours is the public sector, and you are the private sector. The former is meant to be a supporter, not a competitor, of the private sector. And that is how it is going to be,” he said to loud applause from the gathering.

He said the NPP, in view of its outlined programmes and policies, had an ambitious plan, adding that those plans were ambitious but deliverable.

“I believe they are deliverable programmes for my administration. These programmes will not be deliverable if you, the private sector, are not confident or able to play your crucial part,” he urged.

“You asked for a government that spoke your language and believed in the private sector; you asked for policies that supported rather than hindered your plans; you asked for a government that listened and worked with you rather than dictated to you; you asked for a government with a team of professionals able to deliver on our promises and you asked for transparency and accountability in government. You are getting it. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work,” he said.

National recruitment agency

Nana Akufo-Addo said his administration would work with stakeholders, including employers and trade unions, in an open and fair manner on employee welfare, as well as ensure living wages for all workers.

“We intend to develop, in collaboration with employers, trade unions, educational institutions and other state bodies, such as SSNIT, a database of the labour market with the view to establishing a National Recruitment Agency to serve as the primary source for channelling job openings to Ghanaians,” he said.

His government would also work with employers and

Minority threatens to boycott last minute agreements if..

Members of the Minority side in Parliament have served notice they may boycott the last minute approval of certain agreements which they say government is illegally pushing through.

According to the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the sheer disregard of the house in relation to handover notes in the ongoing transition process as a guide to business in the house and the tabling of new loans are unfortunate.

“… As I speak to you now handover notes have not been submitted to Parliament. Parliament has not been presented with handover notes from the

Mzbel dropped from 'All White Party' in Belgium

 Ghanaian musician Mzbel has been taken off the ‘All White Party’ event in Belgium due to some volume of accusation labelled against her personality.

Organizers of the event who had earlier billed the musician to perform along highlife legend Pat Thomas has rescinded their decision and took her off the event.

Although the organizers have not fully disclosed reasons for sidelining the singer at the time of their press release, it was widely via Facebook comments that,

Nana Addo must scrap Energy Sector levies as Promised – Jinapor

The Deputy Minister of Power, John Jinapor has challenged president-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo to ensure that he fulfills his promise of scrapping energy sector levies in the country.

“The NPP promised the people of Ghana that if they don’t want dumsor they shouldn’t vote for us. And now the people of Ghana had confidence in them, they voted for the NPP, they expect that

Government can’t use Kufuor’s ‘midnight’ appointments as justification – Amidu

 The referencing of last minute moves by the erstwhile Kufuor administration to justify the outgoing National Democratic Congress government’s recent last minute deals hold no substance, former Attorney General, Martin Amidu, has said.

“I disagreed with what President Kufuor did but the then President-elect and his Vice-President-elect decided to let it pass without testing their constitutionality or legality. Their decision cannot bind the incoming Government so massively voted for by We The People,” Mr. Amidu has stated in an article on the matter.

Some government functionaries have pointed to former President John Kufuor’s okaying of the Single Spine Salary Scheme with just a day to leave office in 2008, as justification for the government has taken following in the weeks leading up to the handover of power on January 7, 2017.

Nonetheless, Mr. Amidu has argued that

NDC cracks deepen as supporters demand Executives head

The National Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been asked to resign to pave way for an independent inquest into what led to the party’s embarrassing defeat in the just-ended general elections.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) defeated incumbent President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC with a margin of over one million votes in the December 7, 2016 polls, making the latter Ghana’s first one-term president.

The NDC 2016 Elections Coordinator, Kofi Adams, had accepted responsibility for the party’s abysmal performance at the polls, blaming the defeat on what he termed ‘IT failure.’

But addressing the media on Wednesday at its inaugural ceremony in Accra, the Crusade for Probity and Accountability (CPA), a pro-NDC think-tank, said

Judicial anti-corruption compact agreement signed

 A signing ceremony of the Judicial anti-corruption compact agreement, which aims at mobilising an army of anti-corruption crusaders in judicial systems worldwide has been signed in Accra. The compact agreement makes signatories to publicly express their abhorrence to judicial corruption while pledging their loyalty to the principles of professional integrity and ethical conduct in their various careers.

The Judicial anti-corruption compact agreement, an initiative of the International Bar Association, has been developed to mobilise stakeholders in the global effort to eradicate judicial corruption. Ghana is the first African Country to publicly commit to the compact. Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, the Chief Justice signed for the Judiciary, while Mr Justice Victor Ofoe signed for the Association of

Magistrates and Judges.

 Mr Benson Nutsukpi, President of the Ghana Bar Association signed for members of the bar. Addressing the ceremony, Mrs Wood said the signing of the agreement was significant in the annals of stakeholders in justice administration in Ghana noting that 2015 marked the darkest spots in the history of the judiciary in the country. 

According to her, the judiciary was rocked with bribery and corruption scandals involving Judges and Magistrates, confirming the reality of the perception that corruption was rife in the justice delivery.

 She said the incident nonetheless served as “a timely reminder” of the enormous task that the judiciary faced as an institution. Mrs Wood stressed the need to

Police recruits sacked and replaced with 'protocol' list

 Information reaching rainbowradioonline.com indicates that some recruits currently undergoing training at the various Police Training Schools are being dismissed and replaced with others.

According to our highly placed source, the recruits are being dismissed with no reasons assigned. 

The source also revealed that

COP Kofi Boakye & Wontumi hailed in Ashanti Region

The Youth Ambassadors of Ashanti, a pressure group fronting for the development and peace of the Ashanti Region, have commended the Regional Police Commander, COP Kofi Boakye and the NPP Regional Chairman, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, for their immense contributions towards the peace and development of the region.

The group noted that both the Police Commander and the NPP Chairman have shown exemplary leadership in their respective capacities and must be commended for their roles.

Whilst praising COP Kofi Boakye for instilling discipline and uplifting the image of the service in the region since assuming officer as the Police Boss, the group also

Photos: Black Queens demonstrate at Ministry of Youth & Sports over unpaid Cash

 Ghana's Black Queens are protesting outside the Sports Ministry over unpaid bonuses with each player owed $25,000.

Their protest is aimed at demanding their pound of flesh after finishing third at the 2017 Africa Women's Championship in Cameroon. They are yet to meet sector minister Nii Lantei Vanderpuye, who is reported to have been locked up in a meeting in parliament.

The players are owed several thousands in bonuses and per diems. Earlier the team converged at the Ghana FA where they vowed to get their money before leaving the office. The Queens shelved plans to demonstrate against the outgoing government but have gone ahead with their plans.

The ladies want to be taken seriously and will march to parliament to

Traders give wishlist to incoming Trade Minister

 Getting rid of foreign retailers and fulfilling promise to cut down VAT to 3 percent from the 17.5 percent, should be on top of the agenda of the Trade and Industry Minister designate, Alan Kyeremanteng.

This is the position of spare parts traders at Abossey Okai in Accra.

According to the spokesperson for the traders, Clement Boateng, they will only be competitive if such fundamentals are put in place.

“We expect that the GIPC which is the law enforcers for businesses partners with the Trade Ministry to enforce the laws and get rid of all foreigners in the retail business. By this, they will protect the indigenes as they will get their freedom to operate,” he explained.

The spare parts dealers plus other categories of traders have within the past few years complained bitterly about

Gbese Mantse must vacate his throne in a dignified manner - KB Asante

The former President of Ga-Dangme Traditional Council Dr K.B Asante has entreated beleaguered Gbese Mantse Nii Ayi-Bonte II to vacate his throne honourably to avoid being embarrassed by a section of the public especially the kingmakers.

The traditional ruler, prior to the December 7 polls vowed that he will relinquish his stool if outgoing President John Dramani Mahama loses the elections bearing in mind that traditional authorities are not supposed to engage in partisan politics.

The Chief of the Ga Traditional Area has been under pressure to

Video: There's no need for Office of Independent Prosecutor

 Chairperson of the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption, Daniel Batidam, says plans by the incoming government to establish an independent prosecutor’s office may clash with the Constitution.

Mr Batidam, who is President John Mahama’s advisor on corruption and governance says the proposal by president-elect Nana Akufo-Addo could face implementation challenges and instead work against the fight against corruption

“Before anybody thinks of creating another office they must bear in mind that the Constitution has prescribed who has the authority to do criminal prosecutions – and that is the Attorney-General,” he said on current affairs programme, PM Express on Wednesday.

The president-elect has as part of his incoming government’s crusade against institutional corruption, he will establish the independent prosecutor’s office to deal with the

Video: Peter Mac Manu dances to ‘Onaapo’

 The 2016 campaign manager of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Peter Mac Manu has disclosed that he loves the ‘Onaapo’ song composed by David Aja in support of President John Mahama’s re-election bid in the just ended presidential race.

“I know that song and I love it,” he said during an interview on the personality profile programme, Starr Chat Wednesday. After the show, Mr. Manu took to the floor to exhibit his dancing skills as his host Bola Ray wrapped up the show with the popular ‘Onaapo’ song.

Mr. Mac Manu also revealed that he is delighted and very fulfilled he was able to deliver a resounding victory to the NPP fraternity led by Nana Akufo-Addo. Akufo-Addo was declared by the Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday 9 December 2016, as winner of the 2016 presidential polls.

He polled 5,716,026 votes representing 53.85% in the 2016 elections to give him an edge over the ruling National Democratic Congress leader Mahama, who garnered 4,713,277 votes representing 44.40% of the total votes.

The NPP also swept the majority in Parliament with over 150 seats.

Second payments for DKM Microfinance depositors begins today

 About 41,000 depositors of DKM Diamond Microfinance Company are to receive their outstanding claims from today as the second round of payments gets underway.

This follows the completion of manual validation of the claims by the contracted firm, Price Water House Coopers, PWC. The Official Liquidator thus last week released the new list of verified claims for onward payment.

Some outraged customers of microfinance company have threatened to go to court over the amounts of money given them during the first reimbursement as they have been given paltry sums not close to what they invested in the company.

"We are going back to the court to fight this matter, take DKM assets, confiscate them by court order and sell them for the rest of our money," Leader of the Concerned Customers of DKM and Other Microfinance Companies, Maxwell Mahama told Joy News.

Following the Central Bank’s move in 2015 to stop the company and others from operating over concerns that there were violating the microfinance regulations, millions of cash deposited by the customers at DKM, God is love among other micro-finance companies were locked up.

However, according to the Special Aide to the Official Liquidator, Jones Ansah, the second round of payment starting Monday, December 19, would focus on those whose names never appeared on the list. 

It also includes those who received GH10 and GH20, he added. 

He noted "that DKM staff never keyed in all the names of their creditors. They keyed in part and left the other part."

Mr Ansah explained that this accounted for the frustrations of the liquidation process when PriceWaterhouseCoopers started the payment process. 

Concerned Teachers sack President, General Secretary for misappropriating Funds

 The Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) has dismissed its President, Mr Ernest Opoku, and the General Secretary, Mr Raymond Boakye Darkwa, for misappropriating GH¢413,988 belonging to the union.

Consequently, the Vice-President of the coalition, Mr King Ali Awudu, and the Deputy General Secretary, Mr Ako Forson, have been asked to step in as President and the General Secretary, respectively.

Addressing a news conference in Accra yesterday, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the CCT, Mr Samuel Antwi, said the decision was taken at the just-ended National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on December 18, 2016.

Discoveries

Recounting what led to the dismissal of the two leaders, Mr Antwi said the NEC had, in December last year, asked Messrs Opoku and Darkwa to step aside when the internal auditor’s report discovered that funds belonging to the union had been misappropriated.

Investigations by an external auditor, he said, confirmed the internal auditor’s report and further revealed that

Transition Act of Parliament cannot supersede the Constitution - Haruna Iddrisu

 Outgoing Labour and Employment Minister has vehemently defended the decision by functionaries of the Mahama led administration to award contracts and give appointments days after being voted out of government.

Haruna Iddrisu told Joy News the Transition Act of Parliament cannot supersede the dictates of the constitution.

Making reference to a JH Mensah Vrs Attorney General case, the Tamale South MP said the "acts done before or on the 6th of January are lawful."

He was responding to queries by members of the Transition team of the incoming administration about new contracts and appointments being dished out by

44 died in election-period accidents

 A total of 44 people died during Ghana’s electioneering period between 7 and 10 December, 2016. 100 accident cases were reported within the period with about 157 vehicles involved. The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) at a media briefing on Monday said, 2016 saw increased incidents of motor accident compared to figures in 2015.

 According to the Executive Director of the Commission, May Obiri Yeboah, about 2,000 motor accidents were recorded between January and November with about 1,400 people losing their lives. “In 2015 there were 1,448 road accidents in the country. In 2016 there were 1,990 accidents and about 1,200 injured persons…. on all the indicators the number of cases have been on ascendancy this year.” 

May Obiri Yeboah cautioned Ghanaians to ensure an accident-free festive season. 

“The year 2016 has been very challenging for

NPP to reconsider Afoko, Crabbe, Agyapong

The New Patriotic Party has rejected claims that the party is considering a reversal of the suspension handed to three of its executives.

Reports surfaced last week that the party was considering a revocation of the suspension of Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and Sammy Crabbe who were suspended in 2015 for working against the interest of the party. 

A Former NPP General Secretary, Ohene Ntow had told a section of the media that

Kennedy Agyepong to release names of corrupt Ministers

 Maverick Politician and lawmaker for Assin Central Constituency in the Central region, Kennedy Ohene Agyepong has promised to release a tall list of alleged corrupt ministers in the outgoing administration involved in shady deals.

He has therefore signaled all appointees in the Mahama-led administration to brace themselves for the biggest exposé in the coming days insisting that

Photo: Nana Addo mackerel hits Market

 The over zealousness of some supporters of the New Patriotic Party and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to associate almost everything with the win of the party is fast becoming interesting ahead of the investiture of the president-elect.

It was the claims of the ‘Onaapo’ music by an NDC sympathizer David Aza.

Which has become the

Man sues IGP, AG over wrongful Detention

Awudu Ali, an unemployed man, resident at Fiapre, in the Sunyani West District has sued the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General and two others for wrongful detention.

He is seeking an order from a Sunyani High Court to compel the defendants to compensate him in the sum of GH¢1 million for violation of his fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the 1992 constitution.

The other defendants include the Brong-Ahafo Regional Commander of the Ghana Prison Service and Corporal Adams Mamudu, a prosecutor at the Regional Police CID office in Sunyani.

An affidavit filed by Foster Akwasi Asante, counsel for the plaintiff and made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) noted that

Kufuor signed major last minute contracts - Mahama Ayariga

 Environment, Science and Technology minister Mahama Ayariga has rejected criticisms from the incoming NPP administration that the existing NDC government is making politically expedient decisions that could tie the hands of the new government.

Mahama Ayariga has stressed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government despite losing the 2016 general elections still has a mandate of the people to govern until the midnight of January 6, 2017.

It is therefore not wrong in law for the President to appoint a new heads for National Commission for Civic Education ( NCCE ) or the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) with a left-over mandate of 18 days to hand-over, the Bawku Central MP said.

Both appointees have security of tenure, meaning the incoming NPP government will not be able to review the decisions.

The NPP transition team, which has received handing-over notes from the NDC transition team, has raised alarm about recruitments into the security services, the dishing out of contracts to favourites and the sale of public assets.

The NPP has urged the government to consult before going ahead to make crucial decisions in line with best practices. It has also warned, it could be compelled to review decisions taken by the NDC after it is sworn in on January 7,2017.

Speaking to some of these concerns, Mahama Ayariga who is also Bawku Central MP said the NPP's complains may sound politically expedient but nonetheless not supported in law.

"The constitution says the President shall appoint....so up to the day he becomes ex-president he can do that. If you have an issue with that...your concerns might be legitimate in terms of politics but in law your concerns are clearly illegitimate. For me that is the

Western Region NPP demonstrate over Afeku's 'appointment'

There is uneasy calm in the Western Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on whether to propose the Member of Parliament (MP) elect for Evalue Ajomoro Gwira constituency Madam Catharine Ablema Afeku for any Ministerial appointment.

The reason has been a bone of contention for all the executives since her loyalty to the party is questionable due to her lingering fraudulent deeds in the past.

According to some members of the party in the region, Madam Afeku is indeed known to be an unstable politician whom they claimed was noted to have canvassed votes for herself and that of President John Dramani Mahama during her campaign, according an organiser at the regional level.

She is a dangerous woman, we knew what she did to Hon Isaac Osei prior to the 2012 presidential primaries of the NPP where she shamefully collected monies from the MP for Subin with the aim of supporting him but later went around to stab in his back by throwing her support for Nana Addo.

Madam Afeku didn't end it there where she did same to Alan Kweremanteng by collecting colossal amount of money and other items ahead of the 2008 presidential primaries.

The newly elected MP was also spotted in the constituency during her campaign where she was captured to have being telling the people of Evalue Gwira to vote 'skirt and blouse' saying that she knew that John Mahama has done very well in the area but they should vote for John Dramani Mahama and vote for her, even though the strategy worked for her but

I can deliver on Local Government Committee – Oko Vanderpuije

 Even before the Seventh Parliament is ushered into office and constitute into Parliamentary Committees, MP-elect for Ablekuma South, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, has given an indication where he can serve best.

The out-going Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra says having been in public administration for some good number of years, the nation will benefit a lot from his experience if he is put on the Select Committee of Local Government and Rural Development of Parliament.

“As a Mayor, I have experience in public administration so I will bring to bear my local governance experience to help prosecute government’s business. I can even serve on the

Rawlings disgusted by NPP Volta Chairman lies

 Former President Rawlings has described as “false and malicious” claims by the Volta Regional Chairman of the NPP, John Peter Amewu, that he was called by Mr. Rawlings when results of the general elections started trickling in.

The office of former President Jerry John Rawlings in a statement also noted that they were “disgusted and disappointed” at the NPP’s chairman’s claims. “To make such untruthful and absurd claims of a follow up telephone call which can easily be verified is foolhardy, imprudent, unbecoming of a political actor who is supposed to lead with

Dr Nduom begins ambulance service in Ghana

 GN Health Insurance Company Ltd, one of the 75 companies of Groupe Nduom has begun operating Ambulance Services in Ghana.

It is expected to among other tasks offer emergency medical service and administer emergency care to those with acute medical problems.

The GN Health Ambulance Service shall also provide a 24-hour response to medical and trauma related emergencies and interventions.

The chairman of GN Health Issah Adam noted “once again the President and CEO of Groupe Nduom, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, as well as the Senior Vice President, Mrs Yvonne Nduom and all the Directors are once more setting the pace in terms of providing

Dr. Akoto is the Best Minister to implement One District, One Factory

 A Pro-NPP Group, Three Northern Youths For Development says it is delighted at the news that the outgoing Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has been penciled for the Agric Ministry.

Some list making round on social media purported to be first batch of ministers under the incoming NPP administration puts the former MP and Agric economist, Hon. Dr. Afriyie Akoto, at the Agriculture Ministry.

According to the group, no individual in the NPP is more qualified to handle the Agriculture Ministry more than Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie who has an undisputable experience in Agriculture and issues related to Agro-economy.

In a statement issued and signed by its Coordinator, Halidu Suleiman, the group pointed out that with the incoming government's promise to undertake the One District, One Factory, a lot will depend on the efficiency of the Agric sector which still remains a critical contributor to the economy.

The group observed that

31 Ministries submit handover notes to Nana's Transition Team

 All 31 ministries have submitted their handover notes to the Joint Transition Team, with the exception of the Office of Government Machinery, the team announced after its sitting in Accra yesterday.

 

Last Wednesday, the Chief of Staff and Leader of the Government Transition Team, Mr Julius Debrah, gave an assurance that “by next Monday all the other ministries would have submitted their reports, so that the transition team would know how to proceed with its work”.

This was after the reports of only eight ministries — Finance, Lands and Natural Resources, Transport, Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Food and Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Defence and the Interior — had been submitted at the Joint Transition Team’s maiden meeting.

“Most of the handing-over notes minus the handing-over notes for the Office of Government Machinery are present here,” the Spokesperson for the government side of the Joint Transition Team, Ms Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, told journalists.

She explained that the reports covered all agencies and departments under the various ministries.

The ministries that have submitted their handover notes are Justice and Attorney General, Roads and Highways,  Employment and Labour Relations and Health.

Others are the Local Government Service Secretariat, Office of the Head of the Civil Service, Northern, Volta, Central, Brong Ahafo, Upper East, Upper West, Ashanti, Western, Eastern and Greater Accra regions.

The rest are the ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Education, Power, Petroleum, Water Resources, Works and Housing, Tourism, Gender and Social Protection, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Youth and Sports, Communications, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, as well as the Inter-Ministerial Committee of Decentralisation and the Department of Parks and Gardens.

Ms Tetteh also announced that the Member of Parliament-elect for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, had replaced Mr Mustapha Hamid as the Spokesperson for the incoming government’s side of the transition team.

Consultation mechanism

She said both sides of the team had agreed, during discussions, on a consultation mechanism by which they would engage each other “if there are any issues that are arising out of the handing-over notes or any other matters that are pertaining to the transition”.

“And should the need arise, we will invite you for briefings periodically, but it will be briefing that is done and called at the behest of our two co-chairs, who will then make any information available that they consider is important to be put in the public domain,” she said.

She said they had also agreed on a working framework, completed the handover of the notes and “at this time the transition team will

NDC's formal General Secretary dead

 Former General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress , Josiah Aryeh has passed away. Sources close to the party who confirmed his death to Citi News added that Mr. Aryeh passed away at the 37 Military Hospital on Monday. He had reportedly been on admission for sometime.

Mr. Aryeh was a professor of law and a teacher at the Ghana School of Law. He was 64 years old. About Josiah Aryeh Dr Aryeh was