The Ashanti Regional Director of National Road Safety Authority Madam Sambiat Owiredu is warning drivers about the dangers of careless driving.
She made this statement on July 23 ,2021 in an interview with Sikka Fm News Editor ALHASSAN Muhutaru on the recent road crashes in our major highways .
“As Road Safety Officer it is my responsibility to improve road safety. This is a responsibility I take very seriously. I have made it clear that I won’t tolerate take any careless behaviour from drivers on our roads.
I am steadfast in my commitment to working with our Police and DVLA as partners in the fight against avoidable accidents on our road . She urge all drivers and riders to pay attention when they are behind the wheel to further reduce deaths and serious injuries across Ghana .
“about over 4 in 10 of all motoring offences here include careless driving. It remains true that one lapse in concentration could ruin your life, or that of another innocent person, forever. As road users and car drivers we all make choices and we all have influence.”
She concluded by saying , “Every one of us has a role to play in preventing deaths and injuries on our roads. Just as with speeding, drink or drug driving, using a mobile phone while driving or failure to wear your seatbelt, if you drive carelessly, you run the very real risk of killing or seriously injuring yourself, your passengers or some other innocent person.”
“One wrong decision or one moment’s inattention as a road user can instantly change lives forever. Think about the consequences to yourself and your family if you were involved in a serious collision because you weren’t paying attention. How would you feel if your actions resulted in someone losing their life?
Mr. Abass Imoro, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU), has stated that the majority of crashes are caused by careless human error.
He said the high rate of road crashes could be attributed to non-compliance with simple basic road regulations. “Most accidents are caused by reckless human behavior. We need to obey road safety regulations to reduce road crashes in the country.
Laws are respected in countries where road crashes have been reduced; when people break them, they are punished,” he said.
According to Mr. Imoro, statistics show that human error was responsible for 80% of road crashes .
In an interview with Sikka Fm’s News Editor Alhassan Muhutaru , Mr. Imoro stated that, per Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) regulations drivers in town are supposed to drive at a speed limit of 50 km/h, but most drivers exceed the limit .
He, therefore, urged drivers to be cautious on the road by avoiding excessive speeding, wrongful overtaking, drunk-driving, fatigue and regularly undertake maintenance of their vehicles.
As part of our commitment to bridge the gap between government appointees and the Party, the general secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party NPP Lawyer Justin Frimpong Koduah hosted Hon. Mustapha Ussif, Minister for Youth and Sports and Member of Parliament for Yagaba Kubori Constituency, at the headquarters of the New Patriotic Party on Thursday September 22, 2022.
The Paramount discussion were the need to create more youth-centered interventions and opportunities for the country’s youth as the Party’s seeks to win a-historic third consecutive general elections in 2024 (break the eight).
We remain committed to mobilising the rank and file of our great Party to retain power and make the NPP the most dominant and attractive political force in Ghana.
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assistance Government is seeking from the International Monetary Fund will not affect flagship pro-poor policies being implemented by Government.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the ongoing pro-poor policies are at the heart of Government’s since 2017, and remain non-negotiable items of the country’s public expenditure, and, as such, will not be affected by Ghana’s re-engagement with the IMF.
Describing it as a relatively easy assurance to give, the President referred to the statement by the IMF Country Director who indicated that an initiative like the Free SHS programme cannot be sacrificed on the altar of a programme with the IMF.
“So, all our minds are going in the same direction, and I’m very, very confident that these programmes especially the FreeSHS, FreeTVET programme will emerge from the programme with the Fund intact,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 5th August, 2022 during an interview on UAR Radio in Bolgatanga, at the start of his working visit to the Upper East Region.
“I think there is something that a lot of people are forgetting. When we came into office, we were into an IMF programme in 2017. In fact before we exited the IMF, Free SHS was introduced in the September of my first term in office, a whole nine months of my coming under an IMF Programme. So, it is already been accommodated within the thinking of the Fund programme for Ghana.”
He added that, “It is (Free SHS) not as if it is something that we had to wait to exit the programme before we brought it. We brought it at the time we were and under an IMF Programme, and I will find it very illogical for us to have a programme we started under an IMF programme and because we are going to have a new one sacrifice it. That doesn’t make sense, and it will not happen.”
On how to ensure that Ghana does not go back seeking for assistance from the IMF, he noted that the structural transformation of the Ghanaian economy from its current dependence on the production and export of raw materials to one of value addition and industrialization is the way to go.
“That is why we’ve had this emphasis on industrial transformation coming out of the 1D1F Programme and certain other targeted industrial transformation measures that we’ve taken in the automotive industry in enhancing the value addition our strategic mineral resources like our bauxite, iron ore, etc. Those are the real keys to a future robust Ghanaian economy – that we will have an economy that is self-sufficient in the sense that the basic needs of the people are produced by Ghanaian production”, he said
President Akufo-Addo continued, “So, it is important that we, in Ghana, we keep our eyes on two factors. To continue the process of structural transformation of our economy that will give us more independence, more robust and a more resilient Ghanaian economy, and, at the same time, make provisions for these exogenous interferences that every now and then are just bound to happen”, he recommended.
He reiterated that “the measures that we are taking now to build the strength of our economy, will make it more and more difficult for us to have that dependency and need for reliance in future.”
Border Infiltration President Akufo-Addo, in his remarks, also appealed to residents of the Upper East region to assist Government and the security agencies in the country to curb incidences of border infiltration in the area.
According to the President, government and the security agencies will need, “the active cooperation of the population for us to make the security response as effective as possible and that’s why the National Security Ministry has proposed this slogan “See Something, Say Something”, which is basically about involving the community, the population in the work of the security and intelligence agencies.”
He continued, “It is much better for us to invest such resources that we have in preventing the terrorist menace being imported in the country than fighting it once it is here. The cost of that is astronomical in terms of the disruption of social activities.”
Five speed boats procured by government to aid in the fight against illegal mining has been deployed on some river bodies to clamp down on illegal mining activities polluting the water.
The river bodies include Ankobra, Pra, Birim and Black Volta.
According to Minister of Land and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the boats would be used by the security agencies to patrol the river bodies for a 24 hour period.
Commissioning the speed boats yesterday at Beposo in the Shama District, he said, the deployment of the equipment would complement the activities of Operation Halt II to remove illegal miners from water bodies.
He explained that the new measures by the government have been necessitated by some recalcitrant people engaging in illegal mining by conniving with both locals and foreigners, to outwit our security agencies to pollute the rivers.
“Indeed, there are some who have resorted to mining in the night with armed guards, when the security agencies have finished their operation. We have engaged all the sixteen Regional Ministers and their Regional Security Councils, to take these matters up and deal with them upfront,” the Minister added.
Earlier, he noted that the government, as part of efforts to promote sustainable small scale mining, revamped the Community Mining Scheme and developed an Operational Manual to set standards for their operation. Mr Jinapor added that so far, a total of 34 of the Schemes have been commissioned since last year, with an additional 11 ready to be commissioned in the coming days.
He said the government further introduced a National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), which includes reclamation, afforestation and reforestation as a substitute to illegal mining.
Additionally, 100 mercury-free gold processing equipment, known as Gold Katcha, he said, were acquired to provide an alternative means of extracting the gold without polluting the water bodies and the natural environment.
The Minister called on all Ghanaians support government’s interventions to curb illegal mining by reporting persons involved in the activities.
Nana Kwamina Wienu II, Chief of Yabiw and Acting Paramount Chief of Shama Traditional Area, noted that illegal mining had become an impediment to Ghana’s development saying that “we, the citizens have unfortunately taken delight in destroying our environment.”
He urged the government not to relent in using all legal means to clamp down on the menace and pledged the support of the chiefs in the implementation of policies to fight the canker.
He decried the water supply challenges which the community faced due to the activities of illegal mining in the River Pra.
Nana Wienu urged the government to strengthen the community scheme and make it possible for everyone to participate.
Parliamentary Select committee on Defence and Interior Chairman Hon Kennedy Agyapong
The Defence and Interior committee of Parliament has has recommended to Parliament to set bi-partisan committee to conduct further investigation into Islamic SHS demonstration in Kumasi.
The recommendation of the committee came up when it presented its report on fact-finding directive on the police shooting incident at the Islamic school in Kumasi.
Explaining the contents of the report to the media, the chairman of the committee and MP for Assin central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong said, the committee has recommended for further probe into the issue because, there were conflicting reports between the police and the teachers of the school.
He Said, the police in their report said, they never entered the premises of the School but the Defence and Interior committee were able to collect some live bullets from the school.
Newly Elected NPP National Secretary, Lawyer Justin Frimpong Koduah.
Great men and women of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), l wish to express my profound appreciation and gratitude for the honour and responsibility bestowed on me, following my election as the General Secretary of the NPP.
I am by the same medium expressing my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to my campaign team for their hard work, dedication, loyalty, vigilance and optimum commitment. I say a big thank you for making our collective dream a reality.
Reflecting on the just ended National Delegates Conference of the party, my biggest inspiration does not arise from my electoral victory but the lifetime memory that thousands of party executives and loyalists, journeyed several hours to the national capital, abandoning the comfort of their residential beds to stay awake and battle mosquitoes while voting on the night and dawn of the election.
That, men and women more knowledgeable and with greater years of membership and service to the party, chose me as their General Secretary, inspires me further.
Guided by the Akan adage, “Nnam dodo) nsei nkwan”, to wit, varieties of meat do not compromise the delicacy of a soup, l promise to be General Secretary for all members of our dear party; bringing on board, the old and young, rich and poor, and harnessing their collective ideas and energies in the party’s quest to winning a historic third consecutive general election (breaking the eight).
Justin Frimpong Koduah
I pledge to work together with other elected executives to restructure the party in response to concerns raised by the grassroots during our campaign engagements. Greater emphasis would be placed on accommodating and resourcing the party’s youth and women and make them indispensable stakeholders for current and future endeavors.
Like the five fingers of the human hand, we can best function when we work together. I therefore, entreat all and sundry to put on their boots and reach out to the nooks and crannies of the country in our bid to recapture lost parliamentary seats and secure another victory in 2024. I salute all contestants for their bravery and tenacity.
Indeed, the journey across the country was no easy task. More , there are no losers and winners in the dictionary of the NPP as we remain the offsprings of a single womb. Let us, therefore, put aside the little differences that arose during the campaign and electioneering period, work together and make history in 2024.
Some artisans at the Suame Magazine in the Suame Municipality of the Ashanti region today, Monday, July 18, 2022, hooted and pelted their Member of Parliament Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu with sachets of water for allegedly denying them development.
The MP who is also the Majority Leader of Parliament had gone to inspect the abandoned Suame highway which the artisans said had claimed one life due to its deteriorated nature.
It would be recalled that the artisans last Friday blocked the highway and demonstrated against the MP and the government for not ensuring that the road was fixed.
They warned of another demonstration today if the contractor does not return to the road to have it fixed.
The contractor has returned to the road which the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs had gone to inspect today.
The angry artisans upon hearing of the arrival of the MP thronged the highway and started hooting, pelting him with sachets of water, and subsequently chased him away.
The Suame legislator who was accompanied by the Municipality Chief Executive for the area, Mr. Maxwell Ofosu Boakye, and some party members had to run and seek protection on top of a storey building at Suame Tarkwa Makro.
The artisans are still gathered in front of the building and chanting although police have been deployed to the scene to calm down nerves.
The Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency the Central Region Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has congratulated the party for organising a peaceful conference and the newly elected executives for emerging victorious.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has urged the new executives to bring their fellow competitors together to foster unity and work for the victory in the 2024 general elections.
In a statement signed by Ken ‘4’ president 2024 said, “… I urge our new national officers to reach out and bring on board their fellow competitors who were not victorious on the day. This is the only way we can forge ahead, as a united party, in our quest to restore hope to Ghanaians. I reiterate, once again, my appeal to all former executives to stay engaged in the activities of the Party”.
It added, “This is a clear display of confidence and determination to rise up for the next challenge that will soon hit the NPP to break the ‘8’ “.
The new executives were elected at the party’s just-ended national delegates conference, which started on Saturday, July 16, and ended on the morning of July 17, 2022, at the Accra Sports stadium.
Organised under the theme, ‘Holding Together, Working Together’, the conference saw over 40 candidates vie for 10 positions with over 6,000 delegates participating.
Aside from the National Women’s Organizer and Nasara coordinator who retained their positions, all the eight other slots were filled by fresh candidates of the respective races.
Here is the list of the new executives:
Newly elected NPP national Executives
Mr. Stephen Ntim- National Chairman Danquah Smith Buttey – 1st Vice Chairman Rita Asobayire- 2nd Vice Chairman Alhaji Masawuud – 3rd Vice Chairman Mr. Justin Frimpong Koduah- General Secretary Henry Nana Boakye- National Organiser Kate Gyamfua-National Women Organiser National Nasara Coordinator- Abdul Aziz Haruna Futah National Youth Organiser-Salam Mohammed Mustafa Treasurer – Dr Charles Dwamena.
His Excellency Former President of the republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama was accused previously by NPP party executives for seeking for financial assistance from International Monetary Fund [ I M F] when he was in office as the president from 2012 to 2016. NPP party gurus declared that, they have the capable men to rule the country and generate the needed revenue from the country internally without seeking for financial support from the International Monetary Fund I.M.F.
Few hours ago, information coming across all news handles shows that, the current NPP Government is going to seek financial assistance from IMF just like how John Dramani Mahama did when he was in office as the president of Ghana.
Honorable Kennedy Agyapong has reacted to the recent IMF bailout and made a bold statement concerning the wish of Former President John Dramani Mahama. According to Honorable Kennedy Agyapong, the wish of John Dramani Mahama is to see the current NPP Government going for financial support from IMF and his wish has been fulfilled.
“This is a shame on us [NPP]. We talk a lot and now we are going to IMF for Support. John Dramani Mahama’s wis.
RICHNEWS.COM 