akoliwasco: March 2017

Friday, 31 March 2017

Near-brawl in Parliament as Ayariga reluctantly apologizes for bribery claims

There was a kerfuffle in Ghana’s Parliament Thursday evening after a member of the Minority side was found guilty of contempt of the House in a bribery allegation. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmaker for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga was indicted by a 5-member ad hoc committee after he alleged the chairman >> more

Thursday, 30 March 2017

Ghanaian Women must aspire to be head coaches – Priscilla Adubea

Priscilla Adubea, a member of the National Women Football team, the Black Queens, has said, female coaches in the country must aim at heading the various national women football teams in Ghana.

In an interview with the GNA Sports, Adubea, a sensational goal poacher for the Black Queens, said, women’s football has come of age and it was time some players aspire to be high profile coaches after their career adding that, it was possible for them to be successful.

“I do not have any problem with men coaching female football teams, I think in terms of tactical or technicalities there would be nothing different if a man or a woman is the head coach.

“The trend is changing in women football now. The women are taking over managerial positions, which I think is the best thing to do.

“Sometimes there are problems that female players find it difficult to discuss with their male coaches because of shyness or fear, although we have welfare managers who are women.

“I think there are times, you don’t want to talk anyone apart from the coach, but if they are men it becomes very difficult. So it would be prudent to have women coaches around us, they can understand us better.

“I want to urge women to aspire to be coaches, perhaps after their football career, men coaches are dominating in Ghana because we do not have many women coaches in the system. Women should understand that it is possible for them to become better football coaches, maybe in future, we would have women handling our national teams.

“I always feel proud to see competent female coaches when we play international competitions or friendly games, especially the Germans head coach, Steffi Jones, she inspires me a lot and also the Nigerians’ Florence Omagbemi.

“That is the new development now and I want to tell my colleagues that it is about time we took over the game in Ghana. The authorities must also try to give us the chance and the needed support.” She noted

Sannie: Why Ghanaian coaches don't succeed

Sannie: Why Ghanaian coaches don't succeed

Ghana Football Association communications director Ibrahim Sannie Daara says local coaches do not receive the necessary support when in charge of the Black Stars. The spokesman was reacting to current calls for the appointment of a native to fill

» read more

Mills’ handlers were unwilling to act when he was dying – Cadman Mills

Dr Cadman Mills, twin brother of late President John Evans Atta Mills has revealed how handlers of the late Leader, due to political expediency were unwilling to fly the ex-President out of the country for treatment when it was obvious that he was ‘dying’. He recounted how he couldn’t even >> more

Monday, 27 March 2017

Cristiano Ronaldo tops football rich list

Cristiano Ronaldo

France Football Magazine have revealed the top five highest earning players and managers during 2016/17.

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the football rich list after earning a mind blowing €87.5m in the last year.

The Portuguese striker’s arch rival claimed second place after pocketing around €76.5m, according to France Football Magazine.

Meanwhile, Barcelona team mate Neymar claimed third place on the rich list with €55.5m.

The figures that have been calculated take into account gross salaries, bonuses and advertising revenues the players and managers have accumulated over the last 12 months.

Ronaldo alone has countless deals and business ventures helping him land top spot including ongoing sponsorships with the likes of Nike,Tag Heuer, Sacoor Brothers and Monster headphones.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho leads the pack as the highest earning manager in Europe after claiming €28m.

Graph produced by France Football Magazine showing the top five highest earning players

Graph produced by France Football Magazine showing the top five highest earning managers

His Manchester neighbour Pep Guardiola earned €14.5 last year and sits four places behind his Premier League rival.

France Football are set to release a 12-page pull-out on Tuesday detailing the salaries of even more players from around the world.

Get a life - Nana Akua tells critics

For the critics who enjoy making disparaging remarks on social media about the perceived failed acting career of Nana Akua Addo, she has one message for them— ‘get a life’.

“Yes, get a life. I’m living my life as a fashionista on Instagram and that is getting me a lot of attention and contracts and I’m proud of that,” the mother of two told Showbiz in an interview on Wednesday.

Nana Akua had been chided for her bad sense of fashion not too long ago. It was very common to see her at glamorous events sporting a pair of ripped jeans teamed with extra-long hair extensions, over the top make-up among others.

But it seems the Destiny’s Child actress has traded her outrageous dress sense for style making her one of the stylish celebs in the country. She received a lot of praise for her outfit at the recently held African Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA) in Nigeria.

Nana Akua who obviously is enjoying her new status as a stylish person admitted that although she has not been active on the screens, her fashionista lifestyle has been very rewarding.

“I had been acting for so many years but it didn’t pay off that much until I found my new love in fashion. It has brought me a lot of attention in the industry that acting didn’t bring and it is paying more for me.

“Just last month, I was invited to the AMVCAs as a guest and it was definitely not because I’m on top of my acting career but because I know how to slay. Let me ask a question, ‘where were all those making noise about being actresses. Were they invited’?” she queried.

Talking about her movie career, Nana Akua said her absence from the screens wasn’t because she wasn’t a good actress but the “system has made most actors jobless”.

“The English movie industry is no doubt at a low point. This is the reason I have not been active on our screens. Tell me, how many English speaking movies did Ghana produce last year?

“This has rendered most of us jobless and even affected our performance at award schemes. For two years now, Ghana hasn’t made any meaningful impact at the AMAAs and AMVCAs.

“I was at the AMVCAs this year and we didn’t pick even a single award. This is the reality we are facing now. This inspired me to build my brand around fashion and I haven’t regretted toeing that path”, the mother of two added.

Nana Akua who has featured in movies such as Destiny’s Child, Blood, Wanna Be, Rain, Speechless, Never Again, Anokwa and Tears said she is happy about actors becoming producers.

According to her, this has also become necessary because of the dwindling fortunes of the movie industry and applauded her colleagues who have taken the bold step to own their productions.

Nana Akua started acting over six years ago. She has produced two movies—Wannabe and Nukuli. She won the Miss Ghana Germany pageant in 2005 and was the second runner up at the Miss Malaika pageant in 2005.

How BBC reported Gerard Nus verses GFA protest

A former member of Ghana's coaching team, Gerard Nus, has ended his sit-in as the football association settled his bonuses.

He has told BBC Sport the matter is now over despite not being paid in full.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) however said it "finally managed to raise the funds to pay all his outstanding bonuses on Saturday."

He had been refusing to leave his Accra hotel since the end of the Africa Cup of Nations in early February.

"Thanks to all people of Ghana. Great memories always from this passionate football country," Nus posted on his Twitter feed.

The Spaniard finally returned home from Ghana on Monday.

"All of this was more about having principles and claiming for the right things more than the money itself," he explained.

"I'm just happy to see my family now."

According to the GFA statement there were disagreements over who should settle payments to the hotel where Nus had been staying.

The situation was resolved between and the hotel on Sunday enabling him to return home.

When Nus started his protest in February the GFA had explained "that at the end of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations the entire technical team could not be paid their bonuses on time because of financial difficulties.

"The GFA engaged the staff to explain the difficulties, urging them to go home and be paid later when the money is available.

"Along with head coach Avram Grant, they all agreed and went home but Nus insisted on staying for as long as it takes to receive his money."

Kwame Nsor scores 14th goal of the season for in Portuguese second-tier

Former Ghanaian youth striker Kwame Nsor's red-hot form in the Portuguese second division continued on Sunday afternoon as he netted his 14th goal of the season for Uniao Madeira in a 1-1 draw with Vizela at the Centro Desportivo da Madeira Stadium.

Nsor, 24, scored for his side in the fifth minute but they were pegged back in the 40th minute by a strike by Carlos Fortes.

Despite Madeira's dominance, Vizela held on for a vital point away from home.

Nsor is on a season-long loan at Madeira from French club FC Metz during the transfer window.

Nsor now has 13 league goals and 1 in the domestic cup to his name. His goals see Madeira perched comfortably in 7th place on the league log

Ghana's Man Utd Fosu-Mensah idolises Michael Carrick

Netherlands-born Ghanaian defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah has revealed his admiration for Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick.

The United youngster believes adding the understanding of the game that Carrick posseses will improve his game.

Fosu-Mensah, 19, has impressed for the club since making his debut under former manager Louis Van Gaal.

He believes filling the shoes of Carrick who is about to bow out of the game would be a great achievement.

In an interview, Fosu-Mensah said "Well, not a trick but the understanding of the game that Michael [Carrick] has.I would love to add this to my game and I think it comes with age and experience, though

Friends of late coach Kofi Nti raise funds to bring body to Ghana

Friends of late coach Kofi Nti raise funds to bring body to Ghana

Friends of the late Ghanaian coach Kofi Nti who died at church in the United States are raising funds to export his body back to his mother in Ghana. Kofi Nti’s friends in Virginia confirmed that their departed pal collapsed and

» read more

Six aid workers killed in an ambush in South Sudan - UN

Six aid workers killed in an ambush in South Sudan - UN

Six aid workers have been killed in an ambush in famine-hit South Sudan, the ...
Read more

Bongo district smallholder farmers exploit indigenous farming technologies

Some Smallholder farmers in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region are exploiting indigenous farming technologies to preserve their food stuff for storage and treat their livestock of diseases and pest.

This came to light at the launch of a new Food Security Project, dubbed “Promoting Local Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security (Proli-FaNS)” at the Bongo-Soe Community in the District.

Mr Azure Yaw, a 38-year-old farmer demonstrated to the gathering how he used the back of a tree to produce a liquid concoction to cure his pigs from the African swine disease.

Another 39 -year-old woman farmer, Madam Akurugu Atambire, also demonstrated how she used the back of a shea tree to preserve and store her Bambara beans.

For Nsomah Azure, she said she could not afford to buy the usual chemical that is often used to preserve millet, so she resorted to using thatch grass and it worked perfectly.

The three-year Project which is aimed at strengthening the innovations capacity of rural communities particularly rural women farmers to help increase food production and nutrition security, is being jointly implemented by the Association of Church Based Development Projects (ACDEP) and the Navrongo –Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Office (NABOCADO) with funding support from the German Government through MISEREOR, a Catholic Organisation also in Germany.

Reverend John Manu, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, who launched the project at Bongo-Soe on Friday said formal research and development technologies and interventions had often ignored the creativity and innovations of farmers as well as the values of local assets.

He called on Scientists to integrate the innovations and creativity of local farmers into their research to help boost agriculture.

He said the Multi-Stakeholders’ approach adopted by the project would help sustain the farming and called on the farmers to take advantage of government’s Planting Food for Jobs and the fertilizer and seed subsidy interventions to help improve on food security and their livelihoods.

The National Project Coordinator of Proli-FaNS, Mr Joseph Nchoh, explained that the Prolinnova-Ghana, an NGO affiliated to Prolinnova network, a Global NGO, which is promoting local innovation in ecological- oriented agriculture and natural resource management is the lead implementing agency in Ghana.

Dr Ayembilla Joseph, the Human Development Coordinator of NABOCADO, said over the years, his outfit had implemented some projects in the Bongo District using local innovations of farmers which helped many communities to cope with climate stress situations thereby leading to the improvement of food and nutrition security.

“This is as a result of experiences and useful lessons made during the implementation of projects such as the Participatory Innovations Development, the Local Innovation Contest and the ongoing Sustainable Agriculture Practices Programme (SAP) in the area which reached out to 11,485 beneficiaries made up of 8,943 males and 2,542 females in eight communities in the Diocese”, Dr Ayembilla said.

The Paramount Chief of the Bongo traditional area, Naba Baba Salifu Lameyaarum, lauded the efforts of both the funding agency and the implementors of the projects and impressed on the beneficiary communities to take advantage of the project.

Mr Azure Yaw, one of the farmers demonstrating how he used herbs to cure the African swine diseases in pigs.

Will Joe Dodoo get a first team chance under new Rangers coach?

Mark Warburton did not give talented Ghana striker Joe Dodoo a chance at Rangers - but will Pedro Caixinha?

As Chelsea’s reborn wing-back Victor Moses will undoubtedly attest, the arrival of a new manager offers the possibility of a clean slate.

Therefore Pedro Caixinha’s arrival at Rangers could give a number of the players excluded by Mark Warburton the chance to prove their worth next season and at the top of that list is Dodoo.

The sprightly striker set the bar high on his senior debut. Almost impossibly so. Netting a hat-trick and assisting the other in a 4-1 battering of Bury in the EFL Cup in August 2015, Leicester City looked to have a star on their hands.

Less than a year later, however, he was on his way to Ibrox after his contract expired at the King Power. And, from a ratio of three-in-one on his senior bow, Dodoo is now averaging one-in-three at Rangers and was somewhat unfairly frozen out by Mark Warburton after Christmas.

Making his first appearance since December in Caixinha’s first game in charge, however, the 21-year-old should have a much more important role under the famously forward-thinking Portuguese.

Blessing opens account for Swope Park Rangers

Ghanaian youngster Latif Atta Blessing opened his USL scoring account in a 3- 1 win for Swope Park Rangers. The 21 year old Sporting Kansas forward dropped to the lower tier in the US after struggling for game time with his parent club but needed just one game to launch his first of the season.

The 2015/16 Ghana Premier league golden boot winner shot his side into the lead after conceding the first goal of the game. The then Dansoman based goal hub , dispatched a neat finish from inside the box after been put through by Daniel Sallaoi on the hour mark.

Mark Andrews opened the scoring for OKC Energy on the road to Swope just to 23 minutes into the game. The host however pulled parity with 4 minutes to recess through Park Maher before Latif shot the home side in front on the hour mark. Daniel Sallaoi then rounded off the scoring on the 70 minute mark to add emphasis to the score but the media traffic had already been hijacked by their Ghanaian import, Latif Atta Blessing , who stole the show all night long.

Fatau Dauda dropped to the bench in Enyimba’s 1-0 win over Rivers United

Veteran Ghana goalie Fatauda Duada was dropped to the bench as his side picked up their first three points in four games.

This is the first time the goalkeeper was absent from the starting line-up since joining the team from the Africa Cup of Nations in February.

Dauda, had been in post for the iconic Nigerian club but lack of victories for the club meant the second choice goalie was given a chance to stake a claim in the team.

The experienced Ghana goalie will be hoping that he returns to the team as soon as possible because it was stated in his contract that he was going to be the number one goalkeeper for the club this season.

I've regretted changing too many ladies in life - Nautica

Ghanaian singer, Nautica, has confessed being the kind of guy who used to mess up in relationships.

In his recent interview, Nautica who admits changing girls like that of a clothing line says despite the fun it was for him, has regretted being that kind of guy.

I used to change girls like every month because they were always throwing themselves at me. I don’t blame them because i always told and showed them what they want to have, and on top of that, my fresh look. I think Im matured now and realizing this, i shouldn’t have taken advantage of that.

Truth is, I met good girls, wifee materials and motivational ladies yet I didn’t see these good side in them because i thought i had a lot of ladies to choose from even if i should loose any. – Nautica stated

I've regretted now because these ladies had what it takes to forever stay in my life but because they didnt experience that good side of love i have, they see me as an EVIL experience to date – Nautica added

Nautica believes a time will come when he will make it up to them because he is a changed young man now.

He also stated he will be releasing 2 new songs soon, including the much awaited Akakabensem

I am still grateful - Yvonne Okoro

Yvonne Okoro

Actress cum producer Yvonne Okoro may not have won any award at the recently held fifth Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards held in Nigeria but she is not ashamed of that.

Having been nominated in six categories for her movie Ghana Must Go, one would have expected that she would bring home at least two awards to make Ghana proud.

Speaking to Showbiz last Friday, the pretty actress said she is grateful to God for the nominations having been the only nominee from Ghana, “I am still very grateful because everyone wants to win but at the end of the day, there is something to be proud of,” she said.

Yvonne added that she is not disappointed at the no show because being nominated alone is something to be proud of, “I am still happy I made it to the nominations, winning would have been awesome but for your work to be recognised is a great feeling,” she said.

With Ghana Must Go out of the way, Yvonne is now working on the Season Two of her cooking programme, Dining With ….. which will hit the screen in June.

According to Yvonne, the Season Two will be called Dining With, Cook and Braggart, “every season will have a different name, season one was called Dining With … Yvonne and the second is Dining With, Cook and Braggart so we will have a different name for every season.

The show is presented by Yvonne who brings celebrities to her kitchen to cook and have a chit-chat as they go along.

The first season had the likes of Nigerian musician 2Face Idibia and his wife Annie as well as actress Beverly Afaglo and her musician husband Eugene Baah better known as Choirmaster

John Dumelo hot over missing cars

National Security operatives have swung into action to retrieve the V8 Toyota Land Cruiser in possession of popular movie actor John Dumelo. The operatives caught the actor, who was part of the failed campaign to get John Mahama elected for a second time as president, with a vehicle belonging to the state, >> more

Manchester City tells Nasri to find new club

Nasri's Man. City career is reportedly over

Samir Nasri's Manchester City career is over and a permanent move to Sevilla appears unlikely, Goal understands.

The France international had appeared to have won over City boss Pep Guardiola last summer but there is now no chance of him returning to the Etihad Stadium as City are ready to entertain any offers for the midfielder, who is currently on loan at the Primera Division club.

Guardiola had sent Nasri to train away from the first team after he had reported for pre-season training overweight, and City later made the midfielder available for a transfer as they looked to move on several players who have no place in the Catalan's plans, such as Wilfried Bony, Joe Hart and Eliaquim Mangala.

But a loan move to Spain nearly broke down in late August when Guardiola made it known that he would like Nasri to stay, only for the former Arsenal man to force through the deal as he wanted first team football, rather than a squad role in Manchester.

Despite Guardiola's u-turn, it has now been decided that Nasri does not feature in City's plans for next season, and it was reported on Monday morning that he has sold his luxury mansion in Cheshire.

Sevilla have an option to buy Nasri for €25 million, but a permanent switch to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is thought unlikely, despite his desire to stay.

The Spanish club would find it difficult to stump up such a sum in addition to taking on the Frenchman's salary, which is in the region of €7m.

It does appear that's Sevilla will sign Jesus Navas this summer, however.

Navas is out of contract in June and sources close to Sevilla suggest the terms of a free transfer are all in place.

The winger left his childhood club for City in 2013 and a return has long been on the cards.

There have been questions raised over the 31-year-old's suitability to the playing style of coach Jorge Sampaoli, but his standing among club officials and supporters, as well as need to bring in homegrown players for a European campaign, would trump any such concerns.

Meanwhile, City look increasingly likely to lose Tosin Adarabioyo when his contract expires this summer.

The club and the young centre-back's agents have been in a contract stand-off in recent months and an agreement currently seems unlikely.

It is believed the 19-year-old's representatives are holding out for an up-front sum before a contract, with improved terms, is considered.

Adarabioyo has been on City's books since he was five years old and is a member of Guardiola's first-team squad for the current campaign, though he has been unable to break into the Catalan's starting XI.

Ghana Football Association officials to appeal FIFA ban

Isaac Addo, acting FA General Sec, and Nanabanyin Eyison, a member of the GFA’s Executive C'ttee

What was supposed to be harmless and genuine quest for information might have landed two top officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in trouble per Papua New Guinean laws on sexual harassment.

Isaac Addo, the acting FA General Secretary, and Nanabanyin Eyison, a member of the GFA’s Executive Committee and also chairman of the management committee of the national female Under-20 team, are battling to clear their names of charges of sexual harassment brought against them by the Ethics Committee of FIFA, following protests from two liaison officers during a workshop for the 2016 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup (WWC).

A GFA source told the Graphic sports that the world football governing body, has handed the two FA officials bans from football activities, with Mr Addo slapped with a nine-month ban and Mr Eyison banned for six months.

The Graphic Sports understands that the two accused FA officials have also been barred by FIFA's confidentiality clause, on the Code of Conduct, from commenting publicly on the issue until a finality has been brought to the matter.

They have, however, appointed attorneys who, at the moment, are handling the case in Zurich, headquarters of FIFA, to overturn the suspensions.

Contrary to the media reports and speculations that had gone viral on social media, information available to the Graphic Sports as of yesterday suggested that the two men were not in any way physically or verbally involved in sexual harassment but rather passed comments in the local dialect which were considered sexist per the laws of Papua Guinea.

The two men were in Papau New Guinea together with the Black Princesses' coach, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, for a workshop ahead of the WWC.

The charge brought against them by FIFA was one from the team liaison for Nigeria whom they met alone in an elevator. A source close to the accused explained to the Graphic Sports that one of the Ghanaian officials asked the complainant if she was not afraid to be alone in an elevator with three strange men given the incidents of rape in Papua New Guinea.

It was further alleged that the Ghanaian official also sought the opinion of Ghana's Team Liaison Officer, as the only female with Ghana's delegation, on why Ghana's team had done well at the global under-17 level but were yet to break through at the under-20 level.

Further comments that the accused claimed they thought were jokes were considered sexists by the complainant and she subsequently lodged a complaint with FIFA.

The third charge was another complaint from Ghana's liason officer, who claimed the FA officials spoke in their local dialect and laughed when they saw her in the lobby and she felt they had looked at her butt and reacted in that manner.

The attorney for the two men also refused to confirm to this paper on whether the two men had been banned, saying they were unhappy about the manner the issue had been twisted, finding their clients guilty before the final charge.

However, a lawyer, Nana Bi Kissi Asiedu, quite knowledgeable in Papua New Guinea laws, said he was not surprised at the charges given the stringent laws on sexual, sexist harassment in that country.

"What may pass for fair comment in Ghana is considered offensive in Papua New Guinea, so it comes as no surprise.

"The two men may have fallen into trouble for the cultural differences between Ghana and Papua New Guinea on the idea of sexual harassment and FIFA may be looking at the issue per the PNG law where the incident may have occurred."

Ex-Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah 'paralysed' by Herbert Addo’s death

Kwesi Appiah saddened by Herbert Addo's demise

Former Black Stars coach, Kwesi Appiah poured out his condolences after finding out of the passing away of Herbert Addo who left this world on Friday.

Addo, who died in Accra on Friday after a short-illness, has attracted a lot of messages from people who came into contact with him.

Al Khartoum coach Appiah would not be left out of the thousand who have been shaken by the news of Addo’s passing last week.

''I was very sad to hear the death of Coach Hebert Addo, he was someone we the up and coming coaches learnt from,” he said.

“I personally learnt a lot from him, and it is very sad to see him join his ancestors.

The late Herbert Addo

“He left a good legacy and may his soul rest in peace, I know Ghanaians will remember him for his good works for the country.”

Accra sports stadium in ruins

The 40,000-seater Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra is fast deteriorating and could serve as a death trap to patrons of the facility painstaking investigations by mynewsgh.com have revealed. A looming disaster awaits the nation if managers of the facility

» read more

I wept just to see Mahama – NDC MP

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Yunyoo constituency has revealed he was reduced to tears in his attempt to meet former President John Mahama at the flagstaff House. Hon. Joseph Naabu Bipoba said aides of Mr. Mahama prevented him from seeing the then president when he had >> more

Saturday, 25 March 2017

President Akufo-Addo courts investors, outlines programme for economic transformation

President Akufo-Addo

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has outlined his programme for the social and economic transformation of the country, and is therefore urging investors and CEOs of the largest African and international companies to invest in Ghana.

This programme of social and economic transformation, according to President Akufo-Addo, is hinged on restructuring the governance institution of the country, modernising agriculture to enhance its productivity, a clear industrial policy, and rationalising the financial sector so that it supports growth in agriculture, and growth in manufacturing and industry.

This, in the view of the President, is the way a resilient Ghanaian economy can be built, “a Ghana beyond aid; a Ghana capable of mobilizing its own material and human resources to build a strong economy capable of generating prosperity for the mass of its people, a Ghana no longer dependent on handouts and charity.”

The President made this known on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, when, together with the President of Senegal, President Macky Sall, addressed a presidential panel at the 5th edition of the Africa CEO Forum, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Despite inheriting “an economy confronted with significant challenges” – challenges which include a 74 per cent debt-to-GDP ratio; a growth rate of 3.6% in 2016, the lowest in the last 23 years; erratic power supply; declining agricultural and industrial growth rates; widespread unemployment – President Akufo-Addo indicated that the people of Ghana voted emphatically for him to change their circumstances and the direction of the country.

To this end, he told the Africa CEO forum that his government has introduced measures to stimulate growth in the private sector, a monetary policy that will stabilise the currency and reduce significantly the cost of borrowing, and a raft of tax cuts to bring relief to businesses.

“These interventions will lower the cost of doing business and shift the focus of our economy from taxation to production.

We are confident that, as businesses recover and expand, corporate taxes will be reduced to promote further re-investment and private sector expansion, all within a framework of a stable macro-economy, as we tackle the 9% deficit.

We have committed ourselves to reducing the deficit to 6.5%, with a further reduction in the next year. We are putting in place strong measures to increase revenue mobilisation, by plugging leaks and reforming the existing tax exemption regime,” he added.

On the delivery of stable, affordable power, “which is critical to the success of our efforts”, President Akufo-Addo stated that by the end of 2018, the current production of crude oil of 150,000 barrels a day will increase to 250,000 a day, and the current output of gas will move from 150 million scfs to 250 million scfs.

This, he indicated, “will enable us to generate from our gas resources 1,000 megawatts of electric power, up from the current figure of 400 megawatts. There are significant opportunities for investing in our oil and gas sector, both in the upstream and downstream markets.

We expect to augment our energy supply by increasing the proportion of renewable energy in the national generation mix.

We will also develop solar and wind mini-grids through public private partnerships… and, thus, pave the way, hopefully, for large investments in our energy sector to support our drive for rapid economic development.” On bridging the infrastructural deficit in the country, President Akufo-Addo revealed that his government intends to embark on an aggressive public private partnership programme to attract investment in the development of Ghana’s road and railway infrastructure.

“We are hopeful that, with solid private sector participation, we can develop a modern railway network with strong production centre linkages and with the potential to connect us to our neighbours to the north, i.e. Burkina Faso, and west, i.e. Cote d’Ivoire,” he explained.

Touching on the transformation of the Ghanaian economy from an exporter of raw materials to a value-added one, he noted that apart from the 1-District-1-Factory, government, in partnership with the private sector, will develop strategic industries out of the country’s abundant natural resources of bauxite and iron ore.

Additionally, he added that his government will establish a Bauxite/Aluminium Development Authority to assemble the relevant financial resources for the systematic exploitation and development of the country’s bauxite resources.

“By the same token, we have decided to exploit our substantial iron ore and manganese deposits, situated in the Western and Northern regions of our country, to build an integrated steel industry to serve the needs of our country and region. An appropriate Development Authority will also be the focus of this project,” he said.

On tackling the issue of widespread corruption, the President indicated that this phenomenon requires a sincere and effective policy of both identifying and punishing acts of corruption, and, more importantly, putting in place mechanisms that discourage public and private actors from engaging in such acts.

“We are in the process of setting up by Act of Parliament an Office of Special Prosecutor, which will be independent of the Executive, to investigate and prosecute offences of corruption of public and private delinquents, past and present,” he said The teachings of the Public Procurement act, he stressed, will be adhered to “so we can depart from the practice of sole sourcing in the award of contracts that has been the bane of our recent history.”

Comments:
This article has 6 comment(s), give your comment

Promoted stories