Wednesday, 15th September, 2021b

DAILY ANALYST
Wednesday, 15th September, 2021 Page 3
Frontpage Stories
Story: Serge Kojo Apaloo
The President, Nana
Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo, has stated
that the economy was
rebounding faster from
the ravages of the novel coronavirus
of 2019 (Covid-19), than
projected in the wake of the slow
rate of growth in 2020.
Speaking at the maiden
edition of the Presidential Business
Support in Accra yesterday,
President Akufo-Addo indicated
that the support offered by the
private sector, coupled with
effective management of the
Covid-19 crisis by government,
have seen the economy outperforming
her peers, and rebounding
faster than envisioned.
“After recording negative
growth in the second and third
quarters of 2020, the economy
recovered strongly in the fourth
quarter of the year, and well into
the first and second quarters of
2021, registering an impressive
growth rate of 3.1% in the first
quarter of this year, and 8.9% in
the second quarter,” he said.
He said, “The strong rebound
in growth, low inflation rates, the
stable currency, the strong reserve
position, and FDI flows are
clear indicators of our collective
desire to restore the Ghanaian
economy onto a path of sustained
stability and growth. We
will continue to strengthen and
deepen our engagement with the
private sector towards realizing
this goal.”
According President
Akufo-Addo, since 2017, his
government has implemented
Economy rebounding faster
from Covid-19 Impact
es subsequently denied journalists
access into the courtroom.
Reverend Isaac Owusu
Bempah and four others were
arrested after the circulation
of multiple videos containing
threats, and the brandishing of a
weapon, and the assault of some
police personnel.
Meanwhile the Ghana Journalists
Association (GJA) has
condemned the attack on journalists
at the Accra High Court
by men supposed to be members
of the Head Pastor of Glorious
Word Power Ministries Internapolicies
and programmes that led
to consistent economic growth
averaging 7%, making Ghana one
of the world’s fastest growing
economies.
Ghana, he indicated, has
become the leading recipient
of foreign direct investments
(FDI) in West Africa, and one of
the most attractive investment
destinations on the continent of
Africa.
But, following the onset of
Covid, which disrupted the global
economic order, the President
said the pandemic eroded the
significant gains made by the
Government in the management
of the economy.
“That notwithstanding, we
were one of the few economies in
the world to have recorded positive
growth, as the global economy
went into recession. We have
taken bold measures necessary
to stem the risk of a recession,
mitigate the negative economic
impact of the pandemic, and
significantly reduce its burden
on our population,” he said.
On the rationale for holding
of the summit, President
Akufo-Addo explained that these
consultative engagements with
tional, Rev Isaac Owus Bempeh.
Consequently, the GJA called
for a swift justice against what
it described as the “uncouth
men of Owusu Bempah.”
A statement issued and
signed by Affail Monney said
while GJA welcomed the apology
of the Police Administration and
assurance of future protection
for journalists, it charged the police
to ensure that the perpetuators
face the full rigours of the
law.
“While we welcome the
apology of the Police Administration
and assurance of future
protection for journalists, the
GJA principally holds the view
that the timely gesture of the
rebranded Ghana Police does not
and should not absolve the offenders
from tasting the biting
edge of the law as articulated by
Article 17(1) of the Constitution
which simply says no one is
above the law,” the statement
noted.
According to the GJA, the
media community is once again
enduring excruciating pain
following the shameful attacks
perpetrated by loyalists of the
Head Pastor of Glorious Word
Power Ministries International,
Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah, at the
premises of an Accra High court
where he is standing trial for aled
Ministers and relevant heads
of state institutions to participate
actively and fully in this important
Summit, and ensure that
there is constructive dialogue
between Government and the
private sector towards realising
our vision of a Ghana Beyond
Aid,” the President said.
Government’s commitment
to the structural transformation
of the Ghanaian economy,
he indicated that, since 2017,
Government has launched a
comprehensive and ambitious
programme for industrialization,
based on the Ten Point Industrial
Transformation Plan, the implementation
of which is being
coordinated by the Ministry of
Trade and Industry.
“This Plan, amongst others,
includes the One District One
Factory (1D1F) initiative, the new
Strategic Anchor Industries programme,
designed to diversify
our economy beyond cocoa and
gold, the development of industrial
parks and special economic
zones, the development of small
and medium-scale enterprises
(SMEs), and the establishment
of Business Resource Centres
(BRCs) and Technology Solution
Centres (TSCs) in various parts of
the country,” he said.
Police apologise to Journalists
Story: Prosper Kwaku
Selassy Agbitor
The Police Administration
has apologised to
journalists who were
harassed and prevented
from entering
the courtroom when the Head
Pastor of the Glorious Word
Power Ministries International
(GWPMI), Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah,
and four others, appeared
in court last Monday.
In a statement, the acting
Director-General of the Service,
ACP Kwesi Ofori, indicated that
a team was currently studying
the footage of the alleged assault
of some journalists to identify
the alleged perpetrators for immediate
prosecution.
He also gave the assurance
that the situation will not repeat
itself.
“We apologise unreservedly
for this inconvenience and wish
to give the assurance that journalists
will be fully protected
and allowed to do their work at
all times, including the subsequent
coverage of this case.”
“We will continue to do everything
possible to deepen the
cordial Police-Media relationship.”
There was drama at the
Circuit Court in Accra when
the Head Pastor of the GWPMI,
Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah,
arrived for a hearing on Monday.
Some of his church members
who accompanied him tried to
stop journalists from filming his
arrival.
Using insults and jostling,
they tried to disperse the media
outside the court.
They also tried to stop the
media from entering the courtroom,
which sparked a confrontation.
Police officers at the premisthe
private sector have been
convened as part of the Government’s
Public Private Dialogue
(PPD) framework, to help improve
the business environment
in the country.
He said, his administration
fully recognises that it was the
resilience and ingenuity of the
private sector that can guarantee
economic growth, create
substantial job opportunities for
Ghanaian youth, and strengthen
the country’s position as an
economic powerhouse in West
Africa.
“Consequently, I have direct-
leged assault and other offenses.
“With brazen impunity,
well- muscled men of the
church reportedly prevented the
court reporters from gaining
access to the room to perform
their legitimate duty and visited
mayhem on those who dared
them. All this happened at the
citadel of justice.
“While the landmark trial
travels its full throttle, we urge
the law and order community
not to allow the latest attacks
against journalists to be overshadowed
by the dominant
case or swept under the carpet.
Justice must manifestly and expeditiously
be done the victims
to amplify the message that no
one is indeed above the law.”
On Friday, March 15, 2019,
Owusu Bempah stormed the
premises of Radio XYZ in the
company of four gun wielding
thugs in search of a radio
presenter at the station. In the
process, the administrator and
staff of the station were molested.
Nothing punitive happened
to Owusu Bempah. On December
13, 2018, the same man of
God had apparently been driven
by red hot anger to vandalize
equipment at Hot FM. He walked
a free man thereafter. It is needless
to note that Owusu Bempah
and his followers did and said
anything with careless abandon
and naked impunity until the
air of untouchability surrounding
them was punctured with
the latest arrest.