Monday, 19th September, 2022 (1)

Page 2

Ukrainian and international investigators have

been collecting evidence of war crimes

The European Union

presidency has called

for an international

tribunal over Russia's

invasion of Ukraine.

The call, from the Czech Republic

which currently holds the

rotating presidency of the bloc,

came after the discovery of hundreds

of graves in Izyum, a town

recently liberated by Ukrainian

troops.

Many are said to be civilians,

women and children among them.

"We stand for the punishment

US freight rail companies

and unions

representing their

workers have reached

a "tentative agreement"

to avert the first national

rail strike in 30 years.

The deal follows months of

back and forth negotiations and

20 hours of overnight talks on

working conditions.

President Joe Biden hailed the

outcome as "an important win for

our economy and the American

people".

The strike would have impacted

millions of Americans and cost

the economy an estimated $2bn

(£1.7bn) a day.

It would also have disrupted

passenger services, as many of

these trains run on tracks that

are operated and maintained by

freight carriers.

The agreement, which was

announced early on Thursday, ensures

that a strike that had been

due to begin after midnight on

Friday will no longer take place.

The deal includes a 24% wage

increase and $5,000 bonuses, as

well as changes to existing policies

on time off which had been a

crucial sticking point for workers.

"This is a win for tens of

thousands of workers and for the

dignity of their work," Mr Biden

said at a news conference. "They

earned and deserve these benefits,

and this is a great deal for both

sides."

"We reached an agreement

that will keep our critical rail

system working and avoid disruptions

of our economy," he added.

The resolution of the conflict

brought widespread relief as

many firms continue to grapple

with supply chain woes and had

been braced for further disruption.

"We're really excited about the

progress," Ford chief executive

Jim Farley told the BBC after the

of all war criminals," Czech Foreign

Minister Jan Lipavsky said.

Ukraine says it believes war

crimes have been committed

in Izyum, where 59 bodies have

been exhumed so far - with more

expected from the graves in a

forest at the edge of the city.

"In the 21st Century, such

attacks against the civilian

population are unthinkable and

abhorrent," Mr Lipavsky said.

"We must not overlook it. We

stand for the punishment of all

war criminals," he said.

DAILY ANALYST Monday, 19th September, 2022

"I call for the speedy establishment

of a special international

tribunal that will prosecute the

crime of aggression."

In his regular address on

Saturday evening, Ukrainian President

Volodymyr Zelensky said

investigators had discovered new

evidence of torture used against

the people buried in Izyum, in

Kharkiv region.

"More than 10 torture chambers

have already been found in

the liberated areas of Kharkiv region,

in various cities and towns,"

Mr Zelensky said.

He said the Russians would

have to answer "both on the battlefield

and in courtrooms".

On Thursday, EU Commission

President chief Ursula von der

Leyen said she wanted Mr Putin

to face the International Criminal

Court over war crimes in Ukraine.

First US rail strike in 30 years

averted with tentative deal - Biden

deal was announced. "Any delay,

like a real strike, even for a day

or two will have a tremendous

impact on an industrial company

like Ford. And even if it only lasts

for, you know, hours or a day, it

could have impacts for weeks to

come."

Heated contract negotiations

have been taking place for three

years between railroad management

and the dozen unions that

represent more than 100,000

workers.

Ten unions had agreed to the

most recent contract offer, but

until Thursday two of the largest

unions in the country - representing

the engineers and conductors

who make up two-person

train crews - held out.

They complained that staffing

shortages and workplace

attendance policies have created

punishing schedules for staff.

Workers say they are effectively

on call throughout the year,

with no paid time off in some

cases even if they are unwell or

have other personal emergencies.

More than one million Americans

worked on the railroads in

the 1950s, but the industry now

employs fewer than 150,000 people,

according to data from the

Bureau of Labour Statistics.

Cost-cutting has led to the

culling of some 45,000 jobs over

the last six years, putting pressure

on those who have remained in

their jobs.

Analysts had warned a strike

would result in supply chain

chaos and cost the economy more

than $2bn a day. In anticipation of

service interruption, the Amtrak

passenger rail service cancelled

all of its long-distance services

around the country for Thursday.

President Biden personally

called rail unions and companies

to try to broker a compromise

earlier in the week. Labour Secretary

Marty Walsh, a former union

leader himself, secured the deal

after the marathon talks.

The two holdout unions, BLET

and Smart, credited the duo and

other Democrats for "allowing for

an agreement to be reached across

the bargaining table, rather than

through legislation".

"The solidarity shown by our

members, essential workers to

this economy, who keep America's

freight trains moving, made the

difference," it added.

The agreement will now go

before union members for a ratification

vote.

The parties have also agreed

that, if the vote fails, there will be

a "cooling off period" before any

strike action is taken.

More than one million Americans worked on the railroads in the

1950s, but the industry now employs fewer than 150,000 people

Global News

Ukraine war: Grave sites

prompt calls for tribunal

over Russian killings

Russia claims it is fighting to

de-Nazify Ukraine, in a conflict it

still refers to as a "special military

operation" rather than a war.

It has not commented on the

burial sites at Izyum. Moscow

has previously denied targeting

civilians.

The discovery of the burial

sites came as Ukrainian troops

continue their counter-offensive

in the country's north-east, after

successfully recapturing territory

from Russia in recent days.

Russian President Vladimir

Putin said on Friday that

Ukrainian counter-offensives

would not change Russia's military

plans in the east of Ukraine.

The UK defence ministry says

Russia is intensifying attacks on

civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

"As it faces setbacks on the

front lines, Russia has likely extended

the locations it is prepared

The 250 Ukrainian troops

with the UN peacekeeping

mission in the

Democratic Republic

of Congo have returned

home to help fight Russian forces.

When the withdrawal of

Ukraine's aviation unit was

announced in March, diplomats

warned it could leave the UN mission

seriously short of helicopters.

These are vital in the fight

against the various rebel groups

based in the thick forests of eastern

DR Congo.

The eight Ukrainian helicopters

made up about a third of the

UN fleet.

Since the Russian invasion

in February, Ukraine had already

pulled out its troops from the

other UN peacekeeping mission

where they had been deployed.

Jacques Ndjoli, who serves on

DR Congo's parliamentary defence

committee, told the BBC the

withdrawal was relatively serious,

however he pointed out that

bringing peace to the country was

primarily the responsibility of the

to strike in an attempt to directly

undermine the morale of the

Ukrainian people and government,"

it said in its daily assessment

of the conflict.

But Mr Putin is failing "on all

his military and strategic objectives"

in Ukraine, UK Chief of the

Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony

Radakin told the BBC on Sunday.

Adm Radakin, however, urged

caution as "the likely result with

all of this is that it's going to grind

on for a long time.

"And that's why there's a

wishfulness when people jump to

conclusions that either President

Putin is weak and his power base

might be undermined, or that

Ukraine has gained some ground

and there's been a magnificent

action in the north-east.

"But it doesn't automatically

lead on to easy victories elsewhere."

Ukraine troops leave

DR Congo peacekeeping

mission Monusco

These were the last Ukrainian

troops in a UN peacekeeping mission

Congolese army.

As the Ukrainians left DR

Congo, the Brazilian commander

of the UN force, Gen Marcos da

Costa, said "their 10 years of immense

contribution" was greatly

appreciated.

The UN mission in DR Congo,

Monusco, is already under pressure

in the country.

It is widely criticised for failing

to do enough to restore peace

in the east, where numerous

armed groups have operated for

three decades, killing, raping and

looting the region's rich minerals

resources such as gold and

diamonds.

In July, 36 people, including

four UN peacekeepers, died when

protesters ransacked UN buildings

in cities in eastern DR Congo.

After 22 years in the country,

the mission is supposed to be

winding down but no date has

been set for its operations to end.

It is one of the largest and

most expensive of the UN's 12

peacekeeping missions.

DAILY ANALYST

Monday, 19th September, 2022 Page 3

MP’s house

disconnected again

Lower Manya Krobo MP, Ebenezer Teye Larbi

Galamsay

Chief arrested

Nana Anini Baffour,

Chief of Sefwi Elubo

in the Western North

Region, has been

arrested along with

his brother, Kwadwo Affi, for

illegal mining activities known

locally as Galamsay.

According to a police

statement, the suspects

were apprehended after an

investigation into a video that

circulated on social media

showing illegal mining activities

in some compound houses in

town.

Six other suspects are being

sought by police as part of ongoing

investigations, according to the

statement.

The full police statement is as

follows:

SEFWI ELLUBO CHIEF AND

HIS BROTHER ARRESTED; SIX

OTHERS BEING PURSUED IN

CONNECTION WITH ILLEGAL

MINING

1. The Police, on September

16, 2022, arrested the chief of Sefwi

Sefwi Elubo chief and his brother

Ellubo and his brother and are

pursuing six others in connection

with illegal mining in Sefwi

Ellubo township in the Western

North Region.

2. The suspects, Nana Anini

Baffour and his brother Kwadwo

Affi were arrested following

Police investigation of a video

circulating on social media

showing illegal mining activities

in some compound houses of the

town.

3. Investigation has so far

discovered dug-out pits from the

compound leading to the bedroom

of the chief’s brother. Four other

deep dug-out pits have also been

uncovered by the Police in other

houses in the same vicinity.

Investigation has further revealed

that the chief, his brother and six

other suspects who are on the run

are the main people behind the

illegal mining activities.

4. As investigation

continues, we would like to assure

the public that all those involved

will be brought to face justice.

Following a special

monitoring operation, a

team of military and ECG

personnel disconnected

over 50 households in

the Lower Manya Krobo District

from the national grid last Friday.

The households, including

that of Lower Manya Krobo

MP, Ebenezer Teye Larbi, were

discovered to have engaged in

power theft.

A combined team of ECG and

military personnel conducted

a special monitoring operation,

visiting several households in

Lolonyo, Kpong, and Odumase

Krobo, all in the Lower Manya

Krobo District, to investigate

reported cases of illegal

connections by some residents.

Over 50 households in

Lolonyo and Kpong were busted

for illegally drawing power.

According to the ECG

technicians, the perpetrators

had circumvented the meters

provided to them, while others

who did not have meters were

illegally drawing power from

their power lines.

At Odumase, the entire

household of the Lower Manya

Krobo MP, Ebenezer Teye Larbi,

was disconnected from the

national grid for the second time

after the team discovered he

had installed a new meter that

was not reflecting in the ECG

metering system.

Meanwhile, the ECG reports

that those found guilty will be

charged soon, with some likely

facing legal ramifications.

Frontpage Stories

A

40-year-old trader

identified as

Nana Sammy has

committed suicide by

allegedly drinking a

full bottle of weedicide after his

wife allegedly denied him sex and

hence got a broken heart.

The unfortunate incident

occurred at Assin Kyinaso in

the Assin South District of the

Central Region.

Information gathered

indicates the deceased had a

couple of misunderstandings

with his wife and eventually left

the marriage with the children.

Unable to deal with his

predicament, Nana Sammy

decided to end his life by gulping

down the weedicide.

Mr.Gyamfi, a brother of the

deceased in an interview said

that he had spoken with the

deceased a night before in which

Ade Coker takes a dig at govt

The Greater Accra

Regional Chairman

of the National

Democratic

Congress (NDC), Mr.

Joseph Kobina Ade Coker, has

taken aim at the Akufo-Addo

administration, stressing that the

government was instrumental

in collapsing many Ghanaianowned

businesses including

microfinance companies and

banking institutions belonging to

top members of his party.

He went on to buttress

his claim that the current

government played a leading

role in the collapse of Heritage

Bank Limited owned by former

Minister of Finance and Economic

Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor.

According to him, there are

evidences indicating that the

Akufo-Addo government ordered

the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to revoke

the banking operating license of

Heritage Bank Limited on January

4, 2019, and other large and small

micro financial institutions

owned by NDC members.

That move by the current

administration, he stressed,

rendered many of the workforce

of these companies jobless.

Speaking on Accra-based

Kingdom FM in Accra on Friday,

September 16, 2022, on crucial

national issues, Mr. Coker said

these non-existence companies

and micro-financial institutions

were doing well because of the

good business environment under

the erstwhile former Mahama-led

C/R: Trader, 40, poisons

himself after wife

allegedly denied him sex

NDC government.

He described Akufo-Addo’s

government as a “bag managers”

of the national economy amidst

the current economic challenges

facing the country.

He maintained that their

investigations have clearly

showed that that the collapse

of the various microfinance

institutions and banks was

political game hatched by the

current NPP government through

the central bank “because some of

the owners of these institutions

are members of the NDC.”

He argued that in the case of

Heritage Bank Limited at the time

of revoking its license, it was clear

the bank was financially solvent.

“And there was argument that

the person who formed the bank

was not using good monies to run

the bank,” he claimed.

the deceased disclosed to him his

unhappiness since his wife left

the marriage with the children.

The next morning as he was

passing by, he met the deceased

in a pool of vomit and faeces

with him lying in a recumbent

position.

When inquired, the deceased

confessed he had drunk poison

to end his life due to the pain

rendered by his wife.

He was rushed to Abura

Dunkwa Government Hospital

where he passed on.

Mr. Gyamfi however stressed

that the doctors are yet to

confirm to them whether their

brother died of the poison or

something else.

The case has been reported

to the Abura Dunkwa Police for

investigation.

Meanwhile, all efforts to get

the wife proved futile

"If his monies were not

genuine why didn't the

government call to ask to him to

bring good or genuine monies into

the commercial operations of the

bank,?" Mr. Coker quizzed.

But Mr. Coker averred that the

NPP government through the BoG

deliberately collapsed the bank

because it belonged to Dr. Duffuor,

who employed over millions of

workers.

He said the government

was even indebted to Heritage

Bank through various contracts

awarded to the bank through

the private public partnership

agreement.

He opined that at the time if

the government had paid its debts

to Heritage Bank, it would have

become financially solvent which

would prevent its license from

being revoked.

Joseph Kobina Ade Coker, NDC Greater Accra Regional Chairman

Page 4


“Queen Elizabeth

was an embodiment

of virtue”- Bawumia

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

The life and times of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II

provide great lessons in selfless public service and

leadership worthy of emulation in the modern era,

the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has

stated.

Speaking at a ‘Thanksgiving Service For The Life of Her

Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’, jointly organized by the Anglican

Communion, Ghana and the British High Commission

Dr. Bawumia, who represented President Akufo-Addo at

the event, recalled Ghana’s “historic” relations with the

Commonwealth and the Queen, before and even after Ghana

gained her independence in 1957.

“As a member of the Commonwealth, Ghana has had

an historic relationship with the UK, and by extension Her

Majesty the Queen. The passing of Her Majesty the Queen

has been received here with heavy hearts, prompting His

Excellency the President to direct that all official flags in

Ghana fly at half-mast for seven days.

“The highpoints of Ghana’s relationship with her majesty

were in the years 1961 and 1999 with her official visits. Indeed,

in her 1961 visit, a special high-life tune was composed in her

honour called Welcome Your Majesty.

“Her famous dance with Ghana’s first President and

influential Pan-Africanist, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah at a farewell

ball in Accra in 1961, was described by scholars as both

symbolic and significant to the Commonwealth.”

While acknowledging that the late monarch’s passing

came as a shock to the world, DrBawumia emphasized that

her 96-year-old long life and 70 years of reign as Queen of

the United Kingdom and the Realms and as head of the

Commonwealth are worth celebrating.

“Her Majesty the Queen showed remarkable leadership

in an era marked by strong anticolonial and independence

waves in the African continent (1950s and 60s). It is, therefore,

not surprising that under her reign the Commonwealth saw

such a huge transformation.

“In these roles (Queen of the United Kingdom and the

Realms and as head of the Commonwealth) Her Majesty had

a yeoman’s task of overseeing the transition of Great Britain

from the tensions of the post-World War II era, especially

the Cold War, playing an instrumental role in granting

independence to former British colonies, one of which is our

beloved Ghana, and contributing immensely to the relative

peace the world has enjoyed since the end of the second world

war.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate a great woman

who was an embodiment of virtue, courage and affection, it

is my prayer that God will accept her gentle soul to a peaceful

rest.

“Once again, on behalf of H.E. the President, Nana Addo

Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and all Ghanaians, I wish His Majesty

King Charles III, the Royal Family, the people of the United

Kingdom and the entire Commonwealth my deepest

condolences.”

In a short sermon, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese

of Accra, Rt. Rev. Dr. Daniel S.M Torto, urged Ghanaians to

embrace a life of service, noting that the late monarch’s

dedication to serving others had had a major impact on the

UK, the Commonwealth, and the rest of the world.

“Let us learn to serve. We must be of service to our nation.

Do not wait for someone to begin before you join. Be of service

to yourself, your family, and the nation at large.”

Heavy security hits

Odwira Festival

The celebration of the

Odwira festival by the

people of Akuapem Akropong

in the Eastern

Region, this year, was

rocked by the heavy presence of

armed military and police personnel,

DAILY Analyst can report.

Indeed, many of the residents

of Akuapem Akropong and patrons

of this year’s Odwira were

panic-stricken at the sight of the

very armed-to-the-teeth security

officers.

That development saw some

of the young people describe this

year’s Odwira festival as a “War

Festival” and not Odwira festival

which symbolises peace and unity

of the people.

On Monday, September 12,

2022, which marked the beginning

of the celebration, some of

the armed military and police

personnel accompanied the

Akuapem Banmuhene, Nana

Afari Bampo, to the sacred forest

(Powmu) where kings and queen

mothers have been buried.

That was not all; the heavily

armed soldiers and policemen

also accompanied the royals to

the sacred forest and in the procession,

a development that has

been labelled as a bad omen that

had destroyed the whole essence

of the purification rituals.

The presence of the armed

military and police depicted

the insecurity in Akropong due

to the protracted chieftaincy

dispute which the citizens blame

on the political influence of the

Akufo-Addo administration.

Many of the people who spoke

to DAILY Analyst narrated how

the people of Akropong celebrated

the Odwira in peace and joy in

the past with very minimal security

presence to check thieves

who normally took advantage of

the festival to commit crimes.

According to them, Akropong

had never experienced such a

situation during the celebration

of Odwira festival.

“We have never experienced

armed police accompanying our

royals to the sacred forest to usher

in the Odwira festival.

…This is a bad omen which

will be accompanied by curses,”

one elderly member of the royal

family warned.

They, therefore, called on

the government to bring lasting

peace to Akropong by remaining

neutral in the chieftaincy issue

and to stop the open support for

Kwadwo Kesse as the Okuapemhene.

They also demanded justice

for Eric Kwadwo Boafo who was

shot at the palace of Okuapemhemaa

on the 6th of August, 2022,

when she was observing the 40th

day of her Abusuapanyin.

Contrary to the normal

celebration where the Akropong

people lined up by the roadside to

hail the procession that returned

from the sacred forest with the

Odwira, in the situation this year,

the majority of the people of Akropong

became passive onlookers

when the Akuapem Banmuhene

who was under heavily armed police

guard led a procession from

the sacred forest.

An old lady who said she had

observed the Odwira festival for

the past fifty (50) years lamented

that she had never experienced

Odwira where armed policemen

who are not royals entered the

sacred forest and joined the

Odwira procession from the

sacred forest.

According to some opinion

leaders, this year’s Odwira lacked

the spiritual, social, and most

importantly the sense of unity of

the people.

Given the statement of the

Akuapem Traditional Council

that there will not be a durbar

of chiefs and that no chief will

mount a palanquin because of

the chieftaincy conflict, this

year’s Odwira was devoid of the

colour and pageantry associated

with Odwira festivals.

The statement by a frustrated

indigene summed up the armed

military/police presence in a

graphic way that, “even Ukraine

will not have this level of armed

military and police presence.”

The people of Akuapem Akropong,

which happens to be the

seat of the paramountcy of the

Akuapem people, have been celebrating

Odwira, which is a festival

for purification and the unity

of the people for many years.

The history of the Odwira fes-

tival credits the 19th Okuapemhene,

Nana Addo Dankwa I, who

ruled from 1811 to 1835 as the

Chief who initiated the Odwira

festival.

As the name of the festival

depicts, Odwira is a festival for

the spiritual purification and

cleansing of the Akuapem people

so that they can live in peace and

unity in the coming traditional

year.

Historically, the Odwira

festival was first celebrated in

October 1826, to mark the victory

of the people of Akuapem of the

Ashanti Army in the Katamanso

war in 1826. And since then, the

people of Akuapem have been

celebrating Odwira to date. The

festival attracts people and tourists

from all over the world.

And it has become a symbol

of unity and joy for the Okuapeman,

especially the people of

Akuapem-Akropong which is the

seat of paramountcy.

The celebration of the

one-week festival starts on the

Monday of Odwira Week with the

clearing of the path leading to

the ancestral burial grounds by

men of the royal families for the

ancestors to travel home safely to

join in the celebration.

This ceremony, which ushers

in the Odwira festival, is a highly

revered ceremony performed to

mark the beginning of the whole

Odwira festival. As part of the

ceremony to usher in the Odwira

festival, men from the royal

families return to the sacred

forest to fetch the sacred symbol

in the form of a prepared sacred

mixture, and present it to the

paramount chief to symbolise the

permission of the ancestors to

celebrate Odwira.

However, the enstoolment

of the current Okuapemhene

known in private life as Kwadwo

Kesse has been marked by violent

conflicts and litigation, and the

Akufo-Addo-led government has

been blamed for supporting the

enstoolment of Kwadwo Kesse

and its associated violence.

This violence that preceded

this year’s Odwira has marred

the beauty and purpose of the

Odwira festival.

DAILY ANALYST


Perspective

Ghana is a nation that

treats foreigners better

than its people

Everyone knows that

Ghana is the most

peaceful nation in

West Africa and that

it has the friendliest

people to foreigners of any nation

on the continent.

Although Ghanaians hate

themselves, the greeting "Akwaaba,"

which welcomes visitors

to Ghana is conspicuously

written at destination points at

the airport.

Ghana is ruled by tribalism

to such an extent that I occasionally

wonder what function

religion serves in this country,

despite the existence of countless

religious organizations and

church leaders.

No Ghanaian who commits

similar offenses abroad will go

free from penalty or incarceration,

especially in light of the

crimes the Chinese perpetrate

in Ghana with impunity.

The white man is frequently

accused of racism and prejudice

by an African or a Black man

in Europe or the United States

of America, but we need to ask

ourselves: How much do we love

each other here in Ghana? How

frequently do Ghanaians criticize

one another based on their

origins before entertaining foreigners?

If that isn't ignorance

or hypocrisy, it's craziness.

They have become very

sophisticated. The

older generation can't

easily understand

them. I must say, they

are very intelligent and talented

and can do so many things in

different ways. I am talking

about the current generation!

We have not been able to

appreciate and categorize their

abilities but continue to force

them to learn what may contribute

less to their interest and

abilities.

They feel their intelligence

are under utilised or redundant

and they use same on things

that are probably immoral or

unethical.

We don't need to clip the

wings of the current generations.

More opportunities

should be available for them to

explore and their abilities, interest

and intelligence categorized

and harnessed for national

development.

We are getting to an era,

whether we like it or not that

paper exams alone will prove

ineffective in assessing abilities

and intelligence of our younger

Africans are still looking

for their identity decades after

slavery. Black people continue to

experience suffering as if they

are not human beings in both

Europe and the United States of

America. The situation for Africans

should have improved, but

it never does because Africans

are split by tribalism and hatred.

Since the Europeans witness

what an African does to another

African, it inspires them to

harm Africans in several wicked

ways that go unnoticed.

A man who purportedly

claimed to be a municipal guard

for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly

was seen on film kicking

a woman. I have no idea what

Maame Achiaa, the victim, did

to deserve such horrific abuse.

How on earth could a man treat

a woman in such a way is the

question. Are there no appropriate

ways to call her if even she

has broken the law?

If a country's judicial system

is unsound, it may descend

into violence and criminality.

I never stop writing an article

about Ghana's corrupt judiciary

system. No matter how corrupt

the legal system is in Europe or

the US, it nevertheless provides

strong service to ensure that

criminals don't get away with

their crimes, because of this,

generation.

We have killed so many

talents by just thinking that everybody

should do well in paper

examination. That is far becoming

unrealistic especially when

we impose so many subjects on

different students with different

abilities and talents.

Through the current system,

intelligent and talented young

ones are frustrated. How can a

student score Bs in all his subjects

except English, where he

scores E8 and for which reason,

has his education truncated?

It is absurdity to allow such

students get frustrated for failing

just one subject which may

not be his interest area or which

may not play a significant role

in his carrier.

I think we can introduce

what we call "ability diagnosis"

in the early stage of our educational

system. That system

should be a therapic approach

handled by a team psychologists

who can use series of

psychological approaches/tools

to categorize students base on

abilities, interest and talents.

The approach can, in the future,

individuals, even politicians,

are imprisoned in developed nations

for their crimes.

Nothing works in Ghana

because people take advantage

of the weak foundation of

the judicial system to commit

significant crimes in our nation

with impunity. Why do we permit

foreigners to commit crimes

in Ghana without consequence

when Ghanaians cannot do it

elsewhere without facing jail

time?

Due to selfishness and tribalism,

the current government in

Ghana, which has irreparably

damaged this nation, keeps

gaining popularity. Akufo Addo

has the gall to say that he will

ensure that the NPP wins the

elections in 2024 despite his

tremendous corruption, which

includes the theft of COVID

funding, and despite not winning

the 2020 elections.

Such words pose a threat to

democracy because the president's

statement means that

even if he is not going to win the

2024 elections, as happened in

2020, he would still ensure that

the NPP.

No sane person in Ghana objected

to the president's careless

statement, not even the Attorney

General, Godfred Dame.

The attorney general, howproduce

a more sophisticated

human resource hub for this

country with unique abilities.

Intelligence should not be

measured on how proficient

some one speaks a foreign

language or how well one passes

examination when indeed,

the integrity and credibility of

examinations is being compromised!

We are confronted with a

ever, has taken action against

John Mahama, the former president

of Ghana, for criticizing

the judiciary over the wrongdoings

that are harming the

nation and its citizens. If these

occurrences go unchecked daily,

what can you as a Ghanaian expect

from the NPP government?

I'm very perplexed by the

damage that Akufo Addo's

administration has inflicted

on our country and its citizens.

They never bring up their inefficiencies,

which caused the

banks to fail, or the embezzlement

of public funds, particularly

the COVID funds that were

deposited in overseas accounts.

They don't discuss the

failed E-Levy, which resulted

in the loss of thousands of jobs

nationwide, nor do they discuss

the high unemployment rate or

the fact that patients, including

expectant mothers, die in

hospitals. Instead, what I hear

is the breaking of the 8th cycle.

Understanding contemporary

life and education

emerging change of behavior of

our current generation arising

from technological advancement

and globalisation. We

must think along those lines

or leave a century long behind

technology. The rapidity in the

change process needs a certain

radical, pragmatic and adaptive

approach. Our goals as a nation

may be fixed beyond a century

but any strategy that has a

This demonstrates Akufo Addo's

wickedness.

Akufo Addo has nothing to

give Ghana since he is an opportunist,

not a wise leader. His

wickedness has made him unpopular,

bringing him more disgrace

than prosperity, and it will

stay that way. My main concern

is the embarrassment that will

surround those who support

him and the additional harm

he will inflict on Ghana before

stepping down from office.

Since it's simple to conduct

shady business dealings with

foreigners to amass wealth, the

NPP administration treats them

better than Ghanaians. It is time

for Ghanaians who love their

country to ensure that foreign

criminals are deported and that

any foreigner acting suspiciously

is reported; this would help to

reduce corruption and criminal

activity in the nation.

Columnist: Joel Savage

lifespan of more than 15 years in

a technological driven global village

is an obsolete and "useless"

strategy.

In our African context, I see

that gap! Investing massively

into research will be a panacea

to handling the situation and

providing the benchmarks of

taking decisions that handle our

contemporary predicaments.

The situations are becoming

complex day by day. We must

chase this modernity or leave

our next generation a helpless

situation.

A thought from the street.

Denis Andaban

The village boy from DBI

Columnist: Denis Andaban

Page 6


Recruits advised to be

ambassadors of current

policing training model

Commissioner of Police

(COP), Mr Enoch

Adutwum Bediako,

Director-General of

Service at the Police

Head Office, has entreated Police

recruits to be disciplined in their

field of work as true ambassadors

of current policing training

model.

He charged them to work

hard and endeavour to comply

with the law they were obliged to

enforce to uplift the image of the

Service.

Mr Bediako, reviewing a

passing out parade of 194 Recruits

during a consultative forum

to collate inputs into the 2023

National Budget and Economic

Policy, organised in Tamale by

SEND-Ghana, a non-governmental

organisation.

It forms part of the organization’s

Monitoring for Financial

Savings project being implemented

in partnership with

Integrity Action.

The forum brought together

civil society organisations, persons

with disability and assembly

members, who identified health,

education and sanitation infrastructure

as some critical needs.

Mr Mohammed Da-ud Ansuar,

the Chairman of Social Service

Sub-Committee, Tamale Metroin

Ho, in the Volta Region

advised the recruits to conduct

themselves in appropriate

manner to gain public trust and

respect.

The Reviewing Officer noted

that “the public is our client” and

that it was important to exhibit

a high sense of professionalism,

civility and respect when dealing

with them.

This, he said, would

undoubtedly win the public

confidence and trust, and

they would willingly offer

the requisite information

and necessary support to the

Show more

commitment to democracy

– Governments advised

Service to carry out its mandate

effectively.

He said the current

Administration of the Service put

much premium on Police-Public

interactions by making client

management and customer care

a topmost priority in the police

training modules because it

recognised the importance of the

public in dealing with all forms

of crimes.

Mr Bediako said the Police

Administration was taking

pragmatic steps to weed out

miscreants and criminals

masquerading in Police uniform

from the Service to restore its

reputation and good image.

He warned the recruits

against misconduct, noting

that the Police Administration

would not countenance any act

of bribery, extortion, corruption,

and “worse of all police personnel

involvement in violent crimes

such as robbery.”

The Reviewing Officer said

the Police Service was confronted

with emerging crimes, terrorism,

cyber related crimes, new

policing challenges and changes

in the modus operandi of

criminals

This, he said, has increased

demand on the personnel of the

Service to deliver services that

were more diverse, complex,

skilled, and specialised to deal

with the current crime trends

and called for support from

to effectively deal with the

situation.

The recruits constituted the

second batch of trainees in 2022

and were successfully taken

through a six-month intensive

basic police training programme

to equip them with the requisite

knowledge and skills to be able

to respond effectively to any

COP Enoch Adutwum Bediako

situation.

They were taught subjects

including practical Police duties,

criminal law, criminal procedure,

service instructions, criminal

investigation, law of evidence,

professional policing ethics,

English language and report

writing, social psychology, child

friendly policing, musketry,

physical training, foot, and rifle

drills.

General Recruit, Issahak

Mohammed Mubarak was

adjudged the Overall Best

Recruit, scoring 1,027 marks out

of a total of 1, 300 representing 79

per cent, and was presented with

a baton of honour and a prize.

Professor Henry Kwasi

Prempeh, Executive

Director, Centre

for Democratic

Development (CDD),

says most citizens in West Africa

feel left out in democracy, as

some governments and leaders

circumvent constitutions to

abuse power.

He urged West African leaders

and Civil Society Organisations

(CSOs) to show commitment to

upholding democracy in the subregion

and not be complacent

about the “few” gains made in

the practice.

Professor Prempeh made

these remarks on the sidelines

of the launch of the West Africa

Democracy Solidarity Network

(WADEMOS) and Conference on

Countering Threats to Democracy

in West Africa.

The WADEMOS is a civil

society network committed

to strengthen and protect

democracy in the West African

sub-region.

The day of the launch also

mark the commemoration of

International Day of Democracy

by the United Nations.

Professor Prempeh said

majority of the citizenry wanted

more from democracy and not

just in the area of voting and

elections.

Most of them, he stressed,

where feeling betrayed due to the

undemocratic practices of some

governments and leaders.

He, therefore, urged West

African leaders to uphold the

principles of democracy and

fairness, including tenure of

office.

Professor Prempeh, who

is also Project Director of

WADEMOS, said the network

intended to mobilise and

coordinate the region’s prodemocracy

CSOs to help stem

democratic challenges.

He stressed that they would

be complementing the works

of governments and regional

organisations in this regard.

Dr Abdel Fatau Musah,

Economic Community for

West African States (ECOWAS)

Commissioner for Political

Affairs, Peace and Security, said

the CSOs had a critical role

to play in collaboration with

regional bodies in sustaining

democracy.

“We believe that the network

can position itself in building

synergies and act as watchdogs

on member states,” he added.

He stressed that ECOWAS

would continue to strengthen

peace and security in the region

through the support of its

stakeholders.

Give us adequate budgetary

allocation - Assemblies

Some assemblies in the

Northern and Savannah

regions have appealed to

the Ministry of Finance

to allocate adequate

resources in the 2023 Budget to

provide the needed sanitation

and health infrastructure for the

people.

They said water, sanitation

and hygiene (WASH), as well as

health facilities were in short

supply within their jurisdictions,

impacting on access to quality

health care and education.

The assemblies included the

Tamale Metropolitan, Savelugu,

Yendi and West Gonja Municipalities

and Tolon District.

These issues were raised

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo

politan Assembly, said there were

inadequate classroom blocks and

furniture leading to overcrowding

in the schools.

The metropolis also suffered

from inadequate supply of potable

water.

He, therefore, called on the

Ministry of Finance to allocate

enough resources in the 2023

Budget for the construction of

more classroom blocks, provision

of furniture, and water pumping

sites to address the challenges.

Mr Mohammed Muhaideen,

the West Gonja Municipal Health

Promotion, mentioned the lack

of a public hospital and potable

water as the major needs of the

area.

Mr Ahmed Zakaria, Tolon

District Disease Control Officer,

mentioned the lack of potable

water and inadequate health

facilities as some of their challenges.

Mr Mohammed Mumuni, the

Northern Regional Programmes

Manager of Send-Ghana, said the

huge infrastructure deficit at the

assemblies was very clear, which

needed to be addressed.

He observed that government’s

capital expenditure was

heavily funded by development

partners and called for changes

in that strategy, in terms of revenue

generation and expenditure,

to address the infrastructure gap.

He said the issues raised

would be harmonised and submitted

to the Ministry of Finance

to be considered in next year’s

budget, which would be presented

to Parliament in November.

Monday, 19th September, 2022

DAILY ANALYST

Page 7

PWDs calls for amendment of Disability Act

“We have women with

disability who go to seek

sexual reproductive

healthcare services when

they are pregnant and

are given wrong medications

and the foetuses in their wombs

are aborted simply because the

doctors cannot communicate to

them in accessible forms.”

Mr Alexander Bankole Williams,

Chairman of the Advocacy

Committee of the Ghana Federation

of Disability Organisations

(GFD), said whiles narrating the

ordeals of persons living with

disabilities in Ghana.

At a press conference in Accra

on Thursday, the GFD called on

the Government to expedite the

amendment of the Disability Act,

2006 (Act 715) to promote and

protect the rights of PWDs in the

country.

The Federation argued that

the law, in its current form, was

fraught with inadequacies and

did not conform to the dictates of

the UN Convention of the Rights

of Persons with Disabilities

GIS boss charged

officers to be

committed to duty

Mr. Kwame Asuah

Takyi, Comptroller-General

of the

Ghana Immigration

Service (GIS)

has charged officers of the Service

to be committed to duty in

ensuring the safety and security

of the country’s borders.

He implored the officers to be

disciplined, exhibit high level of

professionalism in the discharge

their duties to ensure that security

was tightened along the

borders and be alert of issues of

terrorism.

Mr Takyi said these on the

sideline of the President’s tour of

the Volta region to interact with

the officers at the Regional Command

to encourage them and to

listen to their concerns.

The Comptroller-General

entreated personnel to work hard

to uplift the image of the Service

and should avoid any conduct

that would dent the image of the

service.

Mr. Takyi observed some

visible infrastructural challenges

at the Command during the

interaction and urged the officers

to always ensure maintenance

(CRPD), ratified by Ghana in 2012.

The Federation argued that

Act 715 did not have any provision

on specific rights of children and

women with disabilities or any

relevant measures to deal with

their issues.

They said although Section

6 and 7 of the Act talked about

accessibility to the built environment

as well as goods and

services, the law had no Legislative

Instrument to spell out

the details regarding how those

rights ought to be accessed.

“It has no detail on the

specific right to life of persons

with disability particularly in a

country like Ghana where the

lives of children are being taken

away because they are born with

certain categories of disabilities,”

Mr Williams said.

“Our lives are not worth living.

It is too depressing to live

as a person with Disability in

Ghana,” he lamented.

Act 715 was passed by Parliament

on June 23, 2006 and reculture.

The Comptroller- General

expressed his extreme desire to

work assiduously to facilitate the

provision of more infrastructural

projects and reduce logistical

constraints through the corridors

of power.

He reiterated his occupational

desire to address concerns

of “affected officers who may

have respectively, experienced

an ‘error in judgment’ on unique

and identifiable cases; to petition

through the administrative channels

for redress.”

Mr. Takyi commended the

officers for their diligence and

hard work during the outbreak of

the novel coronavirus in protecting

the borders and ensuring

the safety and security of the

country.

Deputy Commissioner of Immigration,

Mr. Michael Kwadede,

Volta Regional Commander

thanked the Comptroller-General

for visit and wise counsel.

He said the officers were prepared

and working efficiently to

ensure effective management of

the borders.

ceived the assent of the President

on August 9, 2006.

The CRPD defines PWDs as

people who have physical or

sensory impairments that, when

combined with other obstacles,

prevent them from fully and effectively

participating in society

on an equal footing with others.

In Ghana, PWDs form eight

per cent translating to 2,098,138

of the population, according to

the 2021 Population and Housing

Census.

The census data indicates

that the percentage of the Ghanaian

population over the age of 65

years is 3.14 per cent (approximately

967,000 people).

Ms Mawunyo Yakor Dagbah,

National President, GFD, said the

Federation was available to provide

technical support towards

the re-enactment of Act 715.

“The disability movement

Let’s be Cybersecurity conscious

– CSA urges Ghanaians

The Cyber Security Authority

(CSA), the agency whose mandate

it is to regulate cybersecurity

in the country, has called

on Ghanaians to be cybersecurity

conscious amid recent

global cyber incidents that have

negatively affected individuals,

businesses, and other critical

information infrastructure.

Speaking at the media launch

of the National Cybersecurity

Awareness Month in Accra on

Wednesday, September 14, 2022,

the acting Director General of

the Authority, Dr. Albert Antwi-

Boasiako, said with the advancement

in modern technology and

the wide use of the internet,

cybercriminals have leveraged

the benefits of the internet to

carry out their activities more

covertly, thereby causing harm

to individuals and businesses in

the cruellest manner.

“While digitalisation is

bringing remarkable economic

and societal benefits to majority

of the global population, it is

worth noting that these technologies,

irrespective of the opportunities

they create, have inherent

risks such that when taken

advantage of by cybercriminals,

could have detrimental effects

on individuals, enterprises, soci-

will not countenance any delays

whatsoever so far as the process

of the amendment is concerned

as a simple review and subseeties,

and nations at large.

“Studies have shown that,

an increasing reliance on the

Internet has created more risks

and vulnerabilities and opened

up new possibilities for criminal

activity. The Global Risks

Reports 2022 indicates that

cybersecurity threats are growing;

malware and ransomware

attacks increased by 358% and

435% respectively in 2020. The

report also ranked cyber-attacks

as the seventh most likely and

eighth most impactful risk

facing businesses globally,” Dr.

Antwi-Boasiako said.

He said the rise in cybercrimes

globally has led the

Authority to intensify public

awareness and enhance publicprivate

sector understanding of

cybersecurity regulations, hence,

the reason behind its National

Cyber Security Awareness Month

(NCSAM).

The NCSAM, institutionalized

in October 2018 is the leading

event within the cybersecurity

space that seeks to educate

children, the public, businesses,

and government stakeholders on

cyber hygiene best practices.

This year’s celebration, under

the theme; “Regulating Cybersecurity:

A Public-Private Sector

quent amendment of Act 715 has

taken over ten years to get to this

point,” she said.

Collaborative Approach” will

help build synergies among all

relevant stakeholders to ensure

compliance with cybersecurity

regulations.

On her part, Deputy Minister

for Communications and Digitalisation,

Ama Pomaa Boateng

said though government has put

in place appropriate measures

for the attainment of a reliable

and robust digital economy,

the digital space is still prone

to varying cyberattacks which

must be a concern for all. She

said fighting cybercrime is a

collective responsibility and that

is why government is leading an

all-hands-on-deck approach to

combating the menace.

Touching on the need for the

public and private sector to collaborate

on the fight, Chief Executive

Officer of the Ghana Chamber

of Telecommunications, Dr.

Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, urged all

stakeholders to participate fully

in the month-long event. He said

for the awareness programme

to achieve its desired outcome,

the public and private sector,

faith-based organizations, Civil

Society Organizations (CSOs) and

the media should come on board

and educate its members on

cybersecurity.

Page 8

Health


Ghana declared the end

of the Marburg virus

disease outbreak that

was confirmed nearly

two months ago. It

was the first time the highly

infectious haemorrhagic fever

was detected in the West African

country.

Ghana’s Ministry of Health

made the declaration after no

new cases were reported over the

past 42 days, or two incubation

periods—the time between infection

and the onset of symptoms.

In total, three confirmed

cases, including two deaths were

recorded in the outbreak declared

on 7 July 2022 after laboratory

confirmation of the virus that

affected the country’s Ashanti,

Savannah and Western regions.

A total of 198 contacts were identified,

monitored and complet-

Ghana declares end of Marburg

virus disease outbreak

AngloGold Ashanti Health

Foundation screens citizenry

for various diseases

The AngloGold

Ashanti (AGA) Health

Foundation has

advised the citizenry

to avail themselves

of regular health screening

exercises.

This is a priority to be abreast

with the state of one’s medical

condition and wellbeing, which

is a prerequisite for a healthy

living, says Dr Justin Dakorah, a

Principal Medical Officer of the

Foundation.

According to him, the

majority of diseases, if diagnosed

early, could be treated effectively

at less cost, saying the citizenry,

therefore, had the responsibility

to go for regular medical checkups.

Dr Dakorah was addressing

the chiefs and people of

Nhyiaeso, near Obuasi, a

mining community in the

Ashanti Region, at a miniclinic

held under the auspices

of the AGA Obuasi Mine and its

partners, including the Health

Foundation, Obuasi Municipal

and Obuasi-East Health

Directorates.

More than one thousand

residents drawn from Nhyiaeso

and its environs benefitted from

the exercise.

Dr Dakorah said the

beneficiaries were screened for

malaria, hepatitis ‘B’, toothache

and oral health, hypertension,

diabetes, HIV/AIDS, eye diseases,

and other ailments.

They were also given free

medical consultancy and

medication based on one’s

health condition, he noted.

Mr George Owusu Ansah,

Senior Manager in-charge of

Environment, AGA Obuasi Mine,

said last year the Mine, through

the AGA Obuasi Community

Trust Fund, handed over a

fully furnished 16-bed capacity

Maternity Block to the Obuasi

Government Hospital.

The aim is to contribute

significantly to improving

maternal and child health

within the mining communities.

Mr Owusu Ansah said

available statistics had revealed

that over 70 per cent of the

Out-Patient-Department (OPD)

attendances at the AGA Health

Foundation were from the host

communities.

Consequently, the mining

firm would commit resources

to promoting the health and

wellbeing of the people in line

ed their recommended initial

21-day observation period which

was then extended for another

21 days out of an abundance of

caution by the Ghanaian health

authorities.

The health authorities, with

support from World Health Organization

(WHO) and other health

partners, swiftly rolled out outbreak

control measures, stepping

up disease surveillance, testing,

contact-tracing, clinical care as

well as raising public awareness

and working with communities

to support disease prevention

efforts. Marburg is a highly infectious

disease in the same family

as Ebola and has a high fatality

rate of between 24% and 88%.

“Marburg is a frightening

disease as it is highly infectious

and lethal. There are no vaccines

or antiviral treatments. Any

outbreak of Marburg is a major

concern,” said Dr Matshidiso

Moeti, WHO Regional Director for

Africa. “Despite having no previwith

its outreach programmes

and corporate social

responsibilities.

Mr Edmund Oduro Agyei,

Stakeholder Engagement

Superintendent, AGA Obuasi

Mine, advised the beneficiaries

of the mini clinic to take the

expert advice given them by the

team of health professionals

seriously.

Madam Margaret Yaa Manu,

the Obuasi Municipal Health

Director, lauded the mining firm

for providing many innovative

interventions to enhance the

physical wellbeing of the people.

Nana Amoanimaa Dede II,

Adansihemaa, cautioned the

youth to avoid promiscuous

lifestyles to prevent them

from contracting sexuallytransmitted

diseases.

ous experience with the disease,

Ghana’s response has been rapid

and robust. Lives have been saved

and people’s health protected

thanks to an effective disease

detection system that helped to

quickly identify the virus and

enabled prompt response to curb

the spread of infection.”

The Marburg outbreak in

Ghana was the second of its kind

in West Africa. Guinea reported

a single case in an outbreak that

was declared over in September

2021. In Africa, previous outbreaks

and sporadic cases have been

reported in Angola, the Democratic

Republic of the Congo, Kenya,

South Africa and Uganda.

Genomic sequence analyses

of the Marburg virus by Senegal’s

Institut Pasteur and the Noguchi

Memorial Institute for Medical

Research in Ghana suggest that

this latest outbreak is related to

the case reported in Guinea in

2021. However, further investigations

are needed to fully under-

Desist from blaming

the devil for your

sicknesses, and

seek healthcare

services early

to avoid complications, Dr

Kennedy Brightson, Medical

Superintendent of the Dodowa

District Hospital has admonished

the public.

Dr Brightson, who is also the

Chairman of the Greater Accra

Medical Superintendents said

most people resort to prayers and

other sources when faced with

some medical challenges only to

report to the hospitals when the

issue deteriorated.

He gave the advice in an

interview with the Ghana News

Agency in Prampram near Tema

during free health screening

for residents of Prampram and

Lakpleku in the Ningo-Prampram

District by the Greater Accra

Medical Superintendent group.

He said: “Satan is even tired

for being accused for causing

common sense diseases that can

easily be handled at the hospital,

a lot of them resort to prayers for

their medical issues.”

Dr. Brightson said it was

important for the public

especially patients to listen

to their health professionals;

waiting till the condition

deteriorate meant nothing

much could be done to save the

situation.

Touching on the health

screening exercise, he said it was

an initiative by the Members

of the Greater Accra Medical

Superintendents from the 23

public polyclinics and 14 hospitals

in the region to give back to

society and bring healthcare

closer to the people.

He said together with

other health officials during

stand the origin of the outbreak,

which may be due to a shared

animal reservoir or to population

movements between the two

countries. WHO is supporting

the health authorities to carry

out ecological studies to increase

understanding of the disease

and help anticipate and prevent

future outbreaks.

Resurgence of Marburg

can occur and WHO is working

with Ghana’s health authorities

to maintain surveillance and

improve detection and response

to potential flare-up of the virus.

Marburg is transmitted to people

from fruit bats and spreads

among humans through direct

contact with the bodily fluids

of infected people, surfaces and

materials. Illness begins abruptly,

with high fever, severe headache

and malaise. Many patients develop

severe haemorrhagic signs

within seven days.

Stop blaming the devil

for your sicknesses

– Dr. Brightson

the exercise provided free

consultation for Out Patient

Department (OPD) illnesses

such as blood pressure, diabetes,

malaria, and others.

They also provided free

laboratory services, ENT and

dental services, as well as

medications for residents at

the three outreach points at

Prampram Polyclinic, Lower

Prampram seaside, and within

the Lakpleku community near

Ningo.

The exercise also saw three

minor surgeries being conducted

at a newly commissioned theatre

at the Prampram Polyclinic,

as well as the registration of

children aged below 18 years, and

adults aged 70 and above unto

the National Health Insurance

Scheme.

He said apart from the

OPD cases seen during the

exercise, isolated issues of

Burkitis Lymphoma (tumour),

gynaecological issues, abdominal

masses, infected dog bite, and a

giant goitre were also handled.

DAILY ANALYST


Deforestation has

been an issue of

global concern for

many years. Deforestation

is a major

environmental concern because

of its adverse effects on ecological

sustainability, agricultural

productivity and overall quality

of life of the people. As populations

increase, there is a higher

demand for both forest products

and forest lands for development

activities. The Food and Agricultural

Organization reports that

only 4 billion hectares of the 6

billion hectares of forest that

existed about 8,000 years ago are

now available globally. Recent

estimates by the FAO suggests

that, globally, nearly 10 million

hectares of forest was lost between

2015-2020.

World leaders have attempted

to address this issue through

global conventions and goals, including

the sustainable development

goals. Unfortunately, these

substantial global committments

and investments in addressing

deforestation have not been effective.

Ghana is one of the countries

that has lost forest cover

at a high rate. Between 1990 and

2000, Ghana lost about 135,000

hectares of forest annually.

From 2001 to 2021, Ghana lost 1.4

million hectares of tree cover,

representing a 20% decrease in

tree cover since 2000.

Global Forest Watch (GFW)

reports that Ghana lost 60% of its

primary rainforest in 2018, which

was the highest in the world.

One third of Ghana’s land

area of 238,500 km2 was forest

at the start of the 1900s but now

forest covers only 35.1% of the

country . Forest resources are important

in Ghana because most

rural livelihoods are dependent

on it for food and ecological balance.

The causes of the loss of forest

cover are many. They include

human activities such as log-

Silence is never an option

when things are being

done improperly. This

preceding assertion is

the catalyst that has precipitated

me to pour my heart out

on the current repugnant state

of our WAEC organized examinations.

The deplorable state of our

West African Senior Secondary

Certificate Examination is one

which should give every lover of

education a great cause to worry.

Our educational system is

now bedeviled with the monstrous

urge to pass at all cost

hence most senior high schools

have the penchant of charting

the path of examination immorality.

ging, illegal mining and unsustainable

farming practices.

The government of Ghana has

over the years implemented a

number of policies and programmes

to reduce deforestation.

Still, it has remained a major

environmental problem. Programmes

were poorly planned

and carried out. They lacked

sufficient logistics, funding and

political commitment. Policies

changed as governments did.

In 2018, Ghana launched the

Youth in Afforestation programme.

Its aim was to restore

degraded forest cover through

reforestation, rehabilitation and

protection. The programme also

sought to create jobs for some

unemployed youth in Ghana. The

plan was to employ 65,000 young

people to plant about 10 million

tree seedlings of different

varieties across Ghana within

two years, with the option of an

extension based on satisfactory

results.

Little research has been

done on the Youth in Afforestation

programme. We did our

research to provide information

about what the programme had

contributed to forest resources

management. Our assessment

of its prospects and challenges

could be a guide for any necessary

reforms to achieve the

programme’s objectives.

In short, we found that the

afforestation programme did

create jobs in the agricultural,

industrial and service sectors of

the economy and help to conserve

the natural environment.

But there’s a need to minimise

political interference and ensure

that the requisite human, logistical

and financial resources are

in place. Otherwise the progress

won’t be sustained.

Youth in Afforestation

The current government of

Ghana introduced the Youth in

Afforestation programme in 2018.

Its challenges include financial,

logistical, institutional and for-

The receptivity of students

to pass via all sorts of crooked

means is one which is expeditiously

eroding confidence in

WAEC organized examinations.

Hence, WAEC is gradually becoming

a jocular institution since

their organized examinations

are marred with various forms of

disheartening malpractices.

A brigade of educational

hoodlums have infiltrated our

examinations ecosystem compromising

a lot of key officials

within our examinations architecture

charged with the mandate

to organize examinations of

high integrity.

The insatiable taste of most

WAEC officials has rendered them

a stooge of dishonesty thereby

est governance issues.

It has employed over 40,000

recruits since 2018. They are

engaged in planting, tending,

weeding, and thinning trees. But

there are serious concerns about

the sustainability of these jobs,

because sustainable funding

wasn’t planned. As per the initial

plan, the youths engaged in the

programme were to be employed

for a period of two years, with

the possibility of an extension

contingent on satisfactory outcomes.

Most of the forest districts

exceeded their targets from 2018

to 2019. Put together, 67.4 million

seedlings were planted as part of

the programme. This must be interpreted

with caution, though,

because it did not take into account

the seedling survival rates.

We found that the programme

established about 525 hectares

of forest in 2018 and 788 hectares

in 2019. Put together, the

programme restored about 1,313

hectares of forested areas within

two years of its implementation.

This indicates that the

programme has been effective

in restoring the country’s lost

forest cover.

Other afforestation programmes

in sub-Saharan Africa

have been much more efficient.

For example, the African Union’s

polluting our educational atmosphere

with various outrageous

grades. Now, empty heads even

pass out with As in chains.

Standard processes and protocols

which were otherwise strict

are now short-circuted to ensure

that students from senior high

schools who pay higher to some

rogue WAEC officials lay their

hands on the exams questions.

Sadly, in recent times students

even manage to enter the examinations

hall with smart phones. A

complete eyesore!

If the education ministry

doesn't take practical steps to

stamp out these rots currently

metastasizing at such an alarming

rate, no tertiary institution in

any serious academic jurisdiction

Green Wall initiative rehabilitated

3 million hectares of land

in Burkina Faso from 2007 to

2019 and 15 million hectares of

degraded land in Ethiopia. The

same initiative led to the restoration

of 5 million hectares of land

in Nigeria and Niger.

The lack of sustainable funding

resulting from change of

governments and a lack of political

commitment has led to other

problems such as inadequate

logistics and untimely payment

of salaries to employees.

We interviewed beneficiaries of

the programme and found that

40% of recruits and supervisors

complained about inadequate

logistics. Delayed salaries were

a complaint among 38% of the

beneficiaries interviewed.

Political interference appeared

to be the major institutional

and forest governance issue

confronting the sustainable

implementation of the Youth in

Afforestation Programme.

The Forest Services Division

is the implementing agency for

the programme and is responsible

for supervising the recruits.

But the division is not involved

in recruiting field officers. That’s

done by the Youth Employment

Agency, whose head is appointed

by the ruling party. Also, 60% of

the field officers interviewed

will recognize our WAEC certificates

any longer!

God Bless Our Homeland

Ghana

Opinion

Ghana’s efforts to employ young people

and regrow forests could work better

The falling standards of

WASSCE: The case of Ghana

said they got their appointments

through their members of

parliament, most of whom were

members of the ruling party.

The politicised nature of

the implementation process

threaten its sustainability, especially

when there is a change in

government.

Way forward

The rapid depletion of forest

resource continues to threaten

sustainable economic, social,

and ecological development in

Ghana. The current forest restoration

strategy adopted by the

government through the Youth

in afforestation Programme is

unsustainable. To move it from

rhetoric to reality, there is a need

to reduce political interference

and put the necessary human,

logistical and financial resources

in place.

The current approach should

shift to a community-based and

voluntary approach to forest restoration

and conservation. This

has been shown to work in the

Philippines, for example, where

students at elementary and high

school and college plant 10 trees

as a graduation requirement.

This initiative has resulted in

175 million new tree seedlings

being planted every year in the

country .

Kwadwo Nketia Sarpong

Kumankuma,a graduate student

at the University of Stavanger

and Ata Yeboah Senior co-authored

this article

Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior

Lecturer, Department of Planning,

Kwame Nkrumah University

of Science and Technology

(KNUST) and Owusu Amponsah,

Senior Lecturer, Department of

planning, Kwame Nkrumah University

of Science and Technology

(KNUST)

This article is republished

from The Conversation under a

Creative Commons license. Read

the original article.

Source: The Conversation

And Make Our Nation Great

and Strong

Columnist: Antwi Joseph

Page 10

Small and Middle-Sized

Enterprises (SMEs)

constitute an essential

part of the economic

ecosystem in all parts

of the world. Morden day SMEs

are genuine solvers of societal

challenges such as driving

regional growth, curbing

urban population, providing

employment and contributing to

environmental sustainability.

According to available data

from the Registrar General’s

Department, 92% of businesses

registered in Ghana are SMEs,

employing 70% of the population.

However, much has not

been talked about concerning

the plights of SMEs in Ghana,

The Chief Executive of

the Ghana Investment

Promotion Center

(GIPC), Yoofi Grant,

has noted that Ghana’s

exports to Canada have increased

significantly in the past 25 years.

According to him, Ghana’s

exports, including cocoa, rubber,

processed fruits, nuts, and

aluminium to Canada increased

at an annual rate of 9.51%, from

US$8.3 million in 1995 to US$72.2

million in 2020.

On the other hand, major

imports from Canada into Ghana,

such as heat, cars, used clothing,

excavation machines, and

poultry, increased by 8.97% in the

same period.

He called on Ghanaians

in the diaspora to come back

home and take advantage of the

opportunities available.

The GIPC boss was speaking

at the opening of the Ghana

Canada Investment Summit

(GCIS) in Toronto Canada, on

Thursday, September 15, 2022,

according to norvanreports.com.

Business

SMEs in Ghana require taxcapital

investment to Sustain

Business Growth – Economist

Yofi Grant, CEO of GIPC

which is tax-capital investment

decisions. SMEs in Ghana

operate in a tax space requiring

investment decisions to go

beyond raising only investment

capital.

In starting SMEs in Ghana,

entrepreneurs are often keen on

raising capital for the business

without recourse to future tax

liability that may arise and be

paid.

Businesses registered in

Ghana must operate within the

confinement of the income tax

Act 896, Value Added Tax Act 870,

the Revenue Administration

Act 915, Customs Act 891 and

their respective regulations.

Most SMEs in Ghana either

Ghana’s exports to

Canada outweigh

imports in the last

25 years – Yofi Grant

“It is our belief that by

the close of this summit all of

you will feel attracted to the

idea of coming back home not

necessarily to stay but to help

make Ghana stronger and better

through strategic partnerships

and long-term investments,” he

is quoted by norvanreports.com.

“Currently, the two-way

merchandise statistics between

Ghana and Canada has reached

over US$475 million, representing

a 71% increase over the figure

recorded in 2020,” he said.

“Clearly, trade between the

two countries is growing,” he

added.

Touching on why Ghana is a

good destination for investment

and business opportunities,

he noted that the country is

rich in resources such as gold,

manganese, bauxite, and even

lithium, with agriculture

being its bedrock and driving

industrialization.

“That is why we say – come

grow in Ghana – grow with

Ghana,” he added.


do not carefully evaluate the

impact of these tax laws on their

businesses or ignorantly trade at

the blind side of the tax laws in

Ghana.

The capital base of SMEs must

be tax absorptive in the early

stages of business development.

The early stages of most SMEs

development are characterized

by low turnover to cover the

cost of sales and administrative

expenses, high level of

receivables, bad debts, high

operational costs, competitive

market dynamism, low pricing

strategies etc.

However, for instance, the

VAT act does not relieve a VAT

registered person from VAT

liability for taxable supplies

regardless of whether the sales

were made on credit except for

exempt and zero-rated supplies.

Likewise, except for section 7 of

Act 896, the income tax Act will

not relieve a person from income

tax liability once income has

been earned.

Therefore, SMEs are

responsible for raising capital

above investment needs

deliberately. In some cases,

the cash effect of taxable

transactions lags while the tax

compliance period is shorter,

creating the tax financing gap.

Most SMEs frequently try to

finance this gap by filing returns

The Minister for

Communication

and Digitalization,

Ursula Owusu Ekuful,

has proposed that

financial technology (Fintech)

industry players should design

a common electronic payment

without payment, not registering

with the Ghana Revenue

Authority, or through short-term

borrowing.

Furthermore, having a capital

base that is tax absorptive

enough reduces tax and pension

contribution compliance risks,

which become a financial burden

on most SMEs in Ghana in their

early stages.

This means of planning is the

cheapest channel for meeting

statutory obligations for SMEs.

Moreover, the uncertainty in

the tax environment may render

SMEs into capital depletion if

the capital base is not taxed

absorptive. The recent VAT

amendment, which restricted

a flat VAT rate of 4% to retailers

within the annual threshold

of ₵500,000, means customers

have to determine whether to

buy from suppliers within this

threshold and pay VAT at 4% or

suppliers above the threshold

would have to absorb the

standard VAT rate of 12.5% to able

to serve the existing clients at

the current margin.

Statutory compliance is

card for Africa that will enable

payments to eradicate the usage

of international payment cards

such as Visa, Mastercard, etc.

According to her, Africans

must not be made to pay service

charges to these international

brands when Fintechs in Africa

costly; SMEs must endeavour to

avoid this risk and its associated

penalties and interest by

anticipating and projecting

such liabilities in their earlier

business cash flow projections,

especially during the uncertain

turnover period.

Again, Investors must

appreciate and understand

the statutory space within

which SMEs operate to

enhance compliance. Statutory

compliance requires proper

financial planning and

stakeholders’ support.

Failure to observe statutory

compliance can result in extreme

case criminal prosecutions

in Ghana and avoidable legal

charges that may even discolour

the organization’s image. The

Ghanaian tax laws are immune

to any explanations and excuses

or business difficulties regarding

payment of tax liabilities.

Author: Isaac Yalley,

Tax Economist at the

Institute for Liberty & Policy

Innovation (ILAPI) with Interest

in fiscal research and Public

Policy for economic freedom.

FinTechs urged to develop

international e-payment cards as

substitute for Visa, Mastercard – Ursula

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of

Communications and Digitalization

have showcased their ability to

create these innovations.

“Why can’t we develop our

own local and continental cards

and reduce the fees for our

people and also keep all of that

money within the continent

to finance our development,”

she asked according to

norvanreports.com.

“We have done it with mobile

money, and I believe we can do

it with e-payment and credit

cards,” she said.

The Minister made the call

when she delivered a keynote

address at the Ghana Canadian

Diaspora Investment Summit

in Toronto, Canada, organized

by the Ghana Investment

Promotion Center (GIPC) under

the theme, “Grow in Ghana, grow

with Ghana”.

Ursula also noted that

just like social media and the

internet were not so popular

some years ago, blockchain

currencies may become

very common in a few years,

therefore urging Africans to

start exploring the digital space.

“In the same vein,

cryptocurrencies that are now

illegal may very well become

the norm many years down the

line,” she said.

DAILY ANALYST


Andre Ayew to break

Asamoah Gyan's

record as Ghana’s

most capped player

Al Sadd star Andre

Ayew is only three

games away from becoming

Ghana's most

capped player.

The former Swansea City and

West Ham midfielder is currently

second, two behind current record

holder Asamoah Gyan (109),

and is set to catch his former

teammate this month.

Ghana will play pre-World

Cup friendlies against Brazil and

Nicaragua, and Ayew will play

in both games as the Black Stars

technical team approaches the

game with seriousness.

The two games will tie him

with Gyan, but he will surpass

the former Sunderland man

before the World Cup starts, as

the Black Stars have a friendly

against Switzerland scheduled.

Ayew made his 100th appearance

for Ghana in November

2021, scoring the only goal

against South Africa in a crucial

World Cup qualifying match in

Cape Coast.

“It’s been an honour of a lifetime

to play for my country and

a blessing to be able to get 100

caps. Thanks to all players and

coaches who have helped me all

the way. Thanks also to the GFA

and the Minister of Sports. God

bless our homeland Ghana and

make us Great and Strong,” said

Ayew after the game.

Ayew made his debut for

Ghana as a teenager in 2007

and has worked his way up to

captain the four-time African

champions.

Ayew has 23 goals to go along

with his 106 appearances.

With 10 goals, he is Ghana's

all-time leading scorer in the

Africa Cup of Nations.

Since his appointment as

captain in 2019, Ayew has shown

exemplary leadership that

should be emulated.

“I’ve always had pressure,

expectancy to deliver and lead –

ever since I was a kid,” Ayew said

in 2020.

Ayew led Ghana to become

the first and only African country

to win the World Cup at the

U-20 level.

It is still his greatest accomplishment,

and it motivates him

to aim for the main World Cup.

Ayew will captain Ghana

in Qatar, where the Black Stars

will attempt to become world

champions.

Ghana are in a difficult group

with Portugal. Uruguay and

South Korea.

Black Stars will begin their

campaign against Portugal on

November 24 before facing South

Korea four days later.

The African giants' final

group game is against Uruguay,

which Ghanaians see as a golden

opportunity to avenge their

quarter-final loss in 2010.

Vinicius Jr has said he

"won't stop dancing"

as he released an

emotional statement

in response to the

racist abuse he received from

the president of Spanish football

agents, Pedro Bravo.

When discussing the

Brazilian during a live broadcast

on controversial Spanish

channel El Chiringuito, Bravo

said: "You have to respect your

opponents. When you score a

goal, if you want to dance Samba,

you should go to sambodromo

in Brazil. You have to respect

your mates and stop playing the

monkey."

The Real Madrid ace has

since responded on Twitter,

releasing a powerful statement

via video that reads: "As long as

the colour of the skin is more

important than the brightness

of the eyes, there will be war.

"I have that phrase tattooed

on my body. I have this thought

permanently in my head. And

I have attitudes in my life that

turn this philosophy into reality.

"They say that happiness

bothers. The happiness of a black

Brazilian being successful in

Europe bothers much more.

"But my will to win, my smile

and the sparkle in my eyes are

much bigger than that. Don't

even try to imagine how much.

"They are dances to celebrate

the cultural diversity of the

world. Accept it! Respect it! Or

freak out… In any case, I will not

stop!

"I was a victim of xenophobia

and racism in one sentence. But

none of this started yesterday.

"Weeks ago, some people

started to criticize my

dancing. But the dancing is

not mine alone. They belong

to Ronaldinho, Neymar, Lucas

Paqueta, Griezmann, Joao Felix,

Matheus Cunha... Brazilian funk

singers and samba dancers,

Latin reggaeton singers, black

Americans.

"I come from a country

where poverty is very high.

Where people don't have access

to education. People often don't

have access to food!

Sports

'I repeat, racists: I won't

stop dancing!' - Vinicius Jr

"I don't usually come publicly

to rebut criticism. I am criticised

and do not speak. I am praised

and I do not speak either. I work!

A lot! On and off the field.

"I developed an app to help

educate children from public

schools. Without financial help

from anyone! I am building a

school with my name. And I will

do much more for education. I

want the next generations to be

prepared, as I am, to fight racists

and xenophobes.

"I always try to be an

exemplary professional and

citizen. But that does not

generate clicks, it does not engage

in social media. So the cowards

make up problems to attack me.

"The script always ends with

an apology or the typical 'I was

misinterpreted'. But I repeat

to you, racists: I will not stop

dancing. At the Sambadrome, at

the Bernabeu, wherever I want!

"With love and smiles from

someone who is very happy, Vini

Jr."

Many of Vinicius' team-mates

and friends have also come out in

support of the forward, including

Brazilian legend Pele and PSG

superstar Neymar.

Newcastle midfielder Bruno

Guimaraes, who has played

alongside the Real Madrid star

at international level, is another

to express his disgust at the

comments made by Pedro Bravo

and called for him to be arrested.

Franck Etouga officially leaves

Asante Kotoko to join Al-Masry SC

Cameroonian striker,

Franck Etouga Mbella

has officially completed

his transfer from Ghana

Premier League giants, Asante

Kotoko to join Al-Masry SC in the

Egyptian top-flight league.

Franck Etouga Mbella leaves

the Porcupine Warriors after

spending just a year at the Baba

Yara Sports Stadium where he

ended the season as the top

scorer of Asante Kotoko.

His 21 goals in the 2021/2022

campaign was instrumental in

helping Asante Kotoko to win

their first Ghana Premier League

title since the 2013/2014 season.

Real Madrid, meanwhile,

released the following statement

insisting that they will take legal

action against those responsible

for racism: "Real Madrid C. F.

condemns all types of racist

and xenophobic language and

behaviour in football, sport

and life in general, such as the

regrettable and unfortunate

comments made against our

player Vinicius Junior in the last

few hours.

"Real Madrid would like to

express its affection and support

for Vinicius Junior, a player who

regards football as an attitude

towards life through joy, respect

and sportsmanship.

"Football is the most global

sport there is and should be a

model of values and coexistence.

"The club has directed its

legal services to take legal action

against anyone who makes racist

remarks towards our players."

Vinicius has been a target of

racist abuse in Spain previously,

with the 22-year-old having

claimed he was abused during

a Clasico against Barcelona in

2021. He was also subjected to

alleged racist chants when facing

Mallorca in 2022, to which he

responded by dancing in front of

the opposition fans after scoring.

The Brazilian has been in fine

form this season, scoring five

and assisting three in his eight

appearances so far this term.

According to multiple reports,

Al-Masry SC paid $400,000 to

sign the red-hot striker from

Asante Kotoko.

Franck Etouga Mbella joined

the Porcupine Warriors before

the start of the 2021/2022 Ghana

Premier League after signing a

two-year contract.

"The Eighth Deal of the Green

Eagles ????????. Welcome to our

Cameroon international striker

Frank Etoga ????????, coming from

the Ashanti Kotoko club in the

Ghanaian city of Kumasi ????????

the stronghold of the Ashanti

tribes," Al-Masry SC posted on

their Twitter page.

Monday, 19th September, 2022 (1)

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