Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022

DAILY ANALYST
Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022 Page 3
Help Africa recover from
impacts of COVID-19,
Russia-Ukraine war
President Akufo-
Addo has appealed
to the international
community to increase
its efforts to help
developing countries withstand
the devastations caused by the
deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at the 15th edition
of the European Development
Days (EDD) in Brussels, Belgium,
on Tuesday (21 June), Akufo-Addo
emphasized the need for the
global community to increase
efforts to help developing
countries to safeguard their
economies from the dire effects
of COVID-19.
The President also pointed
out that developing economies
have had their plights further
worsened by the raging
Russian/Ukrainian conflict, a
development, he said, is having a
toll on only Ghana and Africa in
Judges debunk
ex-gratia claims
Judges and magistrates in
the country have denied
being beneficiaries of the
controversial ex-gratia
which is paid to so-called
Article 71 officeholders after their
end of service.
A section of Ghanaians
directed their anger at all Article
71 office holders after reports
indicated that they all take exgratia
including members of the
Council of State.
However, the Association of
Magistrates and Judges of Ghana
(AMJG) has rubbished the claims
in a statement signed by its
president Justice Henry Anthony
Kwofie
“The Association of
Magistrates and Judges of
Ghana (AMJG) has followed the
discussions on the payment
of Ex-Gratia to some Article 71
office holders and has noted with
dismay the false and malicious
allegation that judges of the
Superior Courts (Supreme Court,
Court of Appeal and High Court
Judges) are paid ex-gratia at the
end of every four (4) years.
particular but also many of the
developing countries.
He further revealed the deadly
effects of the ongoing Russian
invasion of Ukraine on African
economies and what lies in stock
for developing countries, citing
a recent United Nations report
estimates that seventy percent
(70%) of Africa’s economies are at
severe risk from the Russian war
in Ukraine.
“The World Bank also tells us
that, subsequent to the conflict,
the number of poor people in
sub-Saharan African countries
would rise from four hundred
and thirteen million (413 million)
to four hundred and sixty-three
million (463 million) this year,
an increase of fifty million (50
million) persons,” he stressed.
“In the midst of this, eighteen
(18) African economies have
experienced credit downgrades,
“The AMJG would like to
state without any equivocation,
whatsoever that, that allegation
is false and baseless,” he said.
“ That, the salaries of
Superior Court Judges ie.
(Supreme Court Judges, Court
of Appeal Judges and High
Court Judges) are determined
once every four (4) years by His
Excellency the President on the
recommendation of a Committee
appointed by the President under
Article 71(1) of the Constitution
1992,” he explained.
“That, if increases are
effected in the salary as a result
of the recommendations of the
Committee, the judges are then
paid arrears of salary commonly
called Back pay arising from the
back-dating of the salary increase.
“ This arrears of salary or
back pay are accordingly paid in
a lump sum or installment. This
has been the situation since 1996.
The Association maintained
that no Superior Court Judge is
or has ever been paid ex-gratia
every four years as being wrongly
stated in the media.”
even when all economies are
suffering adverse fallouts from
last year’s pandemic, and we, in
Africa, are also facing the risk
of so-called “taper-tantrums”,
as investors exit our markets,
thereby exacerbating the
increasing cost of borrowing,” he
said
Ḣe said that at the moment,
support for non-IMF programme
countries to alleviate the debt
burden is limited, as the initial
facility designed by the G20
countries to offer respite to
economies with elevated debt
challenges – the Debt Service
Suspension Initiative (DSSI) – has
expired since December 2021, and
has not been renewed.
In these trying times,
President Akufo-Addo observed
that an amount of six hundred
and fifty billion (650 billion)
Special Drawing Rights (SDR),
approved for the IMF in August
2021, which was meant to provide
significant relief, has seen Africa
Frontpage Stories
receive a total of only US$33
billion (about 5 percent).
Moreover, the promise to
reallocate some US$100 billion
of the SDR allocations to African
economies, agreed to at the Paris
Summit in May 2019, has so
far yielded about US$36 billion
in pledges as of April 2022, he
indicated.
“Then, there is the matter
of the “African Risk Premium”,
when African entities are
borrowing from the market,
which increases the cost of
capital, and which must be
addressed, especially as Africa
Dwumfour’s ‘welfare’
message captures delegates
The frontrunner in
the upcoming Ghana
Journalists Association
(GJA) elections, Albert
Kwabena Dwumfour’s
promise to promote the welfare
of journalists, is really capturing
the minds of delegates across the
country.
Candidate Dwumfour recently
outlined a 12-point agenda to
transform the association and also
make it more attractive.
He says if wins power, he
will work towards affordable
accommodation for members
and has already initiated
discussions on the project with
some estate developers and some
banks. Beneficiary journalists
will be required to pay monthly
installments while the banks pay
upfront.
Dwumfour also intends to
finalize the unionization agenda
to fight for better remuneration
for journalists - public and private.
He has also promised to
organize regular refresher courses
and training for journalists
adding that local and abroadarrangements
have already been
made with some top universities
across the globe.
Some delegates told the Daily
Analyst that, journalists deserve
better and that any candidate that
puts the welfare of journalists at
the top will get their votes
According to them, candidate
Dwumfour tops them all when
it comes to the welfare of
journalists.
After touring the Tema and the
Eastern Region on Monday, many
delegates bought into Dwumfour’s
welfare message and promised to
vote for him on Friday.
Meanwhile, Albert Kwabena
Dwumfour picked the number 3
spot on the ballot paper ahead of
the upcoming elections slated for
June 24, 2022.
The balloting was done on
Monday at the International
Press Center with all the three
candidates in attendance.
Dave Agbenu picked number
1 whilst Gayheart Mensah, was
number 2 in that order.
The Director of Elections at
EC, Dr Siriboe Quarcoo who is the
supervisor of the GJA elections
noted that with the balloting
done, all is set for the GJA
elections slated for Friday (June
24, 2022).
According to him, the EC will
work on printing the ballot papers
provides the highest return
on investments obtainable
anywhere, and has a good record
of debt repayment,” the President
said
Ṫhe combined effects
of the debt situation, rising
interest rates, and rising cost
of living are resulting in severe
macroeconomic and financial
instability, the President stated,
adding that “what is clear, he
pointed out, is that the ensuing
damage cannot be cured so easily
with the limited fiscal tools at
our disposal and national policy
adjustments,” he added.
and make them ready ahead of the
elections.
He later advised all the
candidates to intensify their
campaigns stressing that “it is a
campaign that wins elections, EC
doesn’t make any candidate win
elections”.
Mr. Albert Dwumfour told
journalists that ballot number 3
represents God the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
“God has already fought
the battle for us. My campaign
team has always been saying the
battle is the Lord’s and this is a
testimony that God’s miracle is at
work”, Mr. Dwumfour emphasized.
Mr. Dwumfour later entreated
all his supporters to remain
resolute and stand firm as they
campaign rigorously until sweet
victory is delivered on Friday.