The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has told members of the black business community in the United States of America of the numerous investment opportunities existing in Ghana, as the country seeks to build back strongly from the ravages of COVID-19.

Delivering the keynote address at the “Africa Flagship Programme” session of the 45th Annual Legislative Conference of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday, 1st December 2021, President Akufo-Addo stated that “it is a great time to invest in Ghana, for the opportunities are bright”.

According to the President, despite the very real difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana is doing some things right, and sending out the right signals to the global investor community.

“Last year, 2020, Ghana recorded FDI of US$2.65 billion from two hundred and seventy-nine (279) projects. For 2021 alone, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) recorded FDI of nine hundred and seventy-three million dollars (US$973.38 million), from one hundred and seventy-three (173) projects for the first three quarters of the year, with large ticket projects in the pipeline to boost FDI flows by the close of year” he said.

Ghana, President Akufo-Addo stated in his address, was among the first countries, anywhere in the world, to put together a medium-term response strategy to address the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, and to outline an economic recovery, revitalisation, and transformation plan to build back better and stronger.

“We have identified the relevant sectors of the economy requiring the needed investment that will help accelerate the rebound and growth of the Ghanaian economy, as was witnessed in the immediate years before the pandemic struck, which saw, between 2017 and 2020, our average annual GDP growth rate of seven percent (7%) as one of the fastest in the world. We call the recovery package the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatampa’ Programme,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that the GH¢100 billion Programme, aimed at stabilising and revitalising the Ghanaian economy, has two phases, the Stabilisation Phase, which was implemented between July to December 2020; and the Revitalisation and Transformation Stage which is currently under implementation, and will end in 2023.

“We are focussing our energies on supporting commercial farming, and attracting educated youths into agriculture, building Ghana’s light manufacturing sector, fast-tracking efforts at digitisation, developing Ghana’s housing and construction industry, establishing Ghana as a Regional Hub, and strengthening the enablers of growth of our economy,” he said.

The President continued, “However, the most attractive and the greatest selling point of Ghana is and has always been her people, the Ghanaian people. The welcome that you find in Ghana, with all due respect to you at this gathering, is unique, and like none anywhere else.”

With President Akufo-Addo reassuring the investor community that Ghana remains a safe country, he reiterated his position that “Ghana is the safest country in West Africa. Our police and security agencies work hard to keep Ghana an open and happy place, where we are not embarrassed to see ourselves as each other’s keeper.”

He, thus, to the investor community that they can choose to invest in Ghana through the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre or set up as a Free Zones enterprise, stressing that his government has instituted a number of fiscal incentives for the investor depending on the nature of the activity or the location of the investment.

Touting Ghana’s democratic credentials, which has seen the country conducting 8 presidential elections in the twenty-eight (28) year period of the 4th Republic, the President indicated that investors are optimistic about the Ghanaian economy.

“We have done the heavy lifting required to transition our economy into a growth economy, and are now establishing sustainability and irreversibility. We are spearheading regional integration and cooperation in industrialising Africa, and currently hosting the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which comprises fifty-four (54) states, with a combined GDP of three trillion United States dollars (US$3 trillion),” he said.

Source richnews (Richard Mensah)

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has told members of the black business community in the United States of America of the numerous investment opportunities existing in Ghana, as the country seeks to build back strongly from the ravages of COVID-19.

Delivering the keynote address at the “Africa Flagship Programme” session of the 45th Annual Legislative Conference of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday, 1st December 2021, President Akufo-Addo stated that “it is a great time to invest in Ghana, for the opportunities are bright”.

According to the President, despite the very real difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana is doing some things right, and sending out the right signals to the global investor community.

“Last year, 2020, Ghana recorded FDI of US$2.65 billion from two hundred and seventy-nine (279) projects. For 2021 alone, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) recorded FDI of nine hundred and seventy-three million dollars (US$973.38 million), from one hundred and seventy-three (173) projects for the first three quarters of the year, with large ticket projects in the pipeline to boost FDI flows by the close of year” he said.

Ghana, President Akufo-Addo stated in his address, was among the first countries, anywhere in the world, to put together a medium-term response strategy to address the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, and to outline an economic recovery, revitalisation, and transformation plan to build back better and stronger.

“We have identified the relevant sectors of the economy requiring the needed investment that will help accelerate the rebound and growth of the Ghanaian economy, as was witnessed in the immediate years before the pandemic struck, which saw, between 2017 and 2020, our average annual GDP growth rate of seven percent (7%) as one of the fastest in the world. We call the recovery package the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatampa’ Programme,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that the GH¢100 billion Programme, aimed at stabilising and revitalising the Ghanaian economy, has two phases, the Stabilisation Phase, which was implemented between July to December 2020; and the Revitalisation and Transformation Stage which is currently under implementation, and will end in 2023.

“We are focussing our energies on supporting commercial farming, and attracting educated youths into agriculture, building Ghana’s light manufacturing sector, fast-tracking efforts at digitisation, developing Ghana’s housing and construction industry, establishing Ghana as a Regional Hub, and strengthening the enablers of growth of our economy,” he said.

The President continued, “However, the most attractive and the greatest selling point of Ghana is and has always been her people, the Ghanaian people. The welcome that you find in Ghana, with all due respect to you at this gathering, is unique, and like none anywhere else.”

With President Akufo-Addo reassuring the investor community that Ghana remains a safe country, he reiterated his position that “Ghana is the safest country in West Africa. Our police and security agencies work hard to keep Ghana an open and happy place, where we are not embarrassed to see ourselves as each other’s keeper.”

He, thus, to the investor community that they can choose to invest in Ghana through the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre or set up as a Free Zones enterprise, stressing that his government has instituted a number of fiscal incentives for the investor depending on the nature of the activity or the location of the investment.

Touting Ghana’s democratic credentials, which has seen the country conducting 8 presidential elections in the twenty-eight (28) year period of the 4th Republic, the President indicated that investors are optimistic about the Ghanaian economy.

“We have done the heavy lifting required to transition our economy into a growth economy, and are now establishing sustainability and irreversibility. We are spearheading regional integration and cooperation in industrialising Africa, and currently hosting the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which comprises fifty-four (54) states, with a combined GDP of three trillion United States dollars (US$3 trillion),” he said.

Source richnews (Richard Mensah)

The National Administrator of the Association of Parents Teacher Associations, Charles Adjetey Sowah has assured parents, guardians and the general public of their resolved to rally behind government and its state security agencies to bring discipline into all senior high schools across the country. According him its behooves on all stakeholders including parents to imbibed discipline and God’s fearing in their wards to avert the incident that happened in Kumasi causing the death of SHS Student. Citing its related development whereby students vandalism is in ascendancy in many senior high schools across the country. He indicated that there will be stakeholders consultative meetings to curb the phenomenon. Charles Adjetey Sowah was speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the Government Assisted Senior High Schools, Eastern regional Parents -Teacher Associations (ERPTAs) in Koforidua.

He stated the association will strengthened guidance and counseling unit and sections of all schools to enable the students understand and know their privileges and limits as they pursue the career through the educational system. He advised parents to play their respective role by educating their wards on their freedom limitations so they will not infringed on others privileges.

The Eastern regional chairman of the associations of PTAs, Rev Joshua Terkpenu on his stated that the association is moving towards a greater height from its traditional duties thereby initiating programs and policies which will enable them do things inline with international PTAs standards which includes giving scholarships to brilliant but needy students. He noted that gone are days when school management have direct impact on their activities but now the PTAs are autonomous just other independent bodies in the educational system who are stakeholders ensuring that students welfare is derived.

Source richnews

The NPP youth Organizer in Oforikrom constituency Ashanti region Micheal Sadick Adams has intended to address the undemocratic and unfair stance taken by the CEO of the NIA (Prof Kenneth Attafuah) in the recruitment of NIA officials to work within the Oforikrom constituency.

Addressing the media at the press conference, Please permit me to state clearly that we the NPP youth of Oforikrom have vowed to ensure that the NIA officials appointed by the CEO to work within this Municipality will never get the serenity and freedom to operate.

Michael Sadick Adams said, they have taken this stance not on any ill-intent, but based on the following justifications.
Firstly, ladies and gentlemen, Prof Attafuah says that not NNP member or executive shall be recruited for the data collection and mass registration exercise. We want to put it to him that NPP members/executives are Ghanaians and so if they possess the required qualifications and experiences, then nothing stops him from recruiting them.

We further state that he, Prof Attafuah is holding that high office by virtue of his affiliation to the NNP. Therefore, if no party member would be allowed to work with the NIA then he does not qualify to be the CEO of this noble institution. We entreat Prof Attafuah to reconsider his decision and do the needful.

He said to the media that, the data collection exercise would be more effective if the individuals who are tasked to do it in a given area know that particular area and its residents very well. It is therefore imperative the natives of Oforikrom Municipal are recruited to perform this exercise.

There are individuals within this Municipal who can perform this task very well. Why has Prof Attafuah decided to bring officials from elsewhere?.

Again, during the previous exercise, there are constituents who could manage registration centers and even perform additional duties. With all these individuals still in the Municipality, it beats our imagination that other people have been brought from outside the Municipal to do this same work. We also want to know why our qualified personnel here were not recruited to work in other constituencies.

Ladies and gentlemen, we want to conclude by reiterating that until the CEO of the NIA reconsiders his decision and recruits’ natives of Oforikrom Municipal for this exercise, we the NPP youth of Oforikrom Municipal will make sure that the NIA officials do not get the peace of mind and serene environment to operate in the constituency. Again, we shall close down the NIA office in the constituency until the CEO addresses our plight.

Source richnews

It has come to our notice that the government has proposed a new levy on sanitation and pollution as part of measures to enhance sanitation challenges in the country

The new levy that aims at salvaging the sanitation sector is welcome news to the office of Damak Sanitation & Health Watch by the government intentions to adopt a new dimensional approach to curb the situation.

Poor sanitation in Ghana according to statistics cost the country a whopping Ghc420 million annually which is 1.6% of the national Ghana Domestic Product (GDP).

The new levy which was announced by the then Caretaker Finance Minister, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu during the 2021 mid-budget reading said; the Sanitation and Pollution Levy of 10 pesewas will be incorporated into the proposed fuel levy…the idea was to help address issues of sanitation in the country.

The government led by the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has since assumption in an office pledged to make Accra the clean city in Africa but that foresight has never been a reality following the unavailability of logistics and funds.

Damak Sanitation & Health watch over the years expressed concerns about sanitation challenges in the country of which we organized press conferences amidst engaging health authorities in our bid to dialogue on strenuous measures to mitigate the situation but the problem seems not resolving.

The principal streets of Accra and Kumasi have been engulfed with waste in the glare of city authorities. Sanitation issues in our cities have become a health threat to the society of late calls for prudent stakeholders’ engagement.
However, the 10 pesewas levy proposed by the government, Damak Sanitation & Health Watch is in full support of the sanitation and pollution levy that aims at giving a new look in the sanitation sector because sanitation alone drains a huge sum of monies from the government coffers.

That notwithstanding, we believe it’s every Ghanaian interest to have a clean environment hence, we urged members of parliament, especially the minority to look beyond politics and forge towards implementing the levy to confront sanitation challenges in the country.

Damak Sanitation & Health Watch believes every Ghanaian health is our care thus urging all and sundry to as a matter of national interest approach issues relating to sanitation as a household property by confronting it in their capacities for better Ghana.

“We thus charge the government to also constitute reliable accessible road map to tackle waste management in all the MMDCEs in the country”.

Let us not forget, we want to use this opportunity to remind the public that the novel coronavirus is still with us and that, we should not lose our guard in observing the safety protocols and together, we conquer the deadly virus.

Source richnews

we need new Police Officers at Nkurakan Police Station, residents cry for help.

Residents of Nkurakan said” to Journalist ” “everyday and night robbers attack us” but no arrests have yet been made in connection with the attacks and robbery activities.

The Nkurakan residents said, “there is fear in the community. We’re not safe .”
“Even when you are in your room, you’re afraid someone would come and attack you, they said”.

The residents and the Opinion Leaders at Nkurakan in the Yilo Krobo Municipality is appealing to the Inspector General of police(IGP), the Eastern Regional Police Commander; and the Eastern Regional Minister to change some of the Nkurakan Police Officers.

They said “the work of the Police Officers in Nkurakan is not encouraging.

They added that some Criminals take advantage of this unsafe situation and steal people in the community. They cited theft cases and other acts of violence perpetuated by unknown persons they believed the Police Officers in the community would have dealt with ease.They
told Journalist that, they can’t sleep everyday and night; the crime rates is very high.

They alleged that some of the Officers are in connection with the thieves and criminals within the committee, that’s why they fail to cause arrest and prosecute people to serve as deterrent to others.

They said some of the Police Officers have been in the community for the past fifteen to seventeen (15 to 17) years now; they want them to be transfered for new faces.The high crime rate in the community includes breaking of peoples stores, stealing of motor bikes, stealing from mobile money vendors, stealing of Gas Cylinders and others.

The Assembly member for Nkurakan Hon. Thomas Aferdi Amponsah, said it is affecting the whole community because what is going on is very bad “we want new faces; the Police Officers at Nkurakan can’t protect the people at Nkurakan any longer.

Attached are recordings of some community members sharing their experiences and grievances with how the thieves and criminals are worrying them in the community.

Source: richnews

“We will remain ever grateful to you, our President; and to God for the rare gift of visionary leadership in governance and in administration that he has given you to serve this nation. It is without doubt that God has indeed ordained you to lead Ghana onto a path of self-reliance and economic freedom. Clearly, you are the Moses of our time.”

These were the words of Otumfuo Amoah Sasraku III, Paramount Chief of Twifo Hemang Traditional Area, when the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, paid a courtesy call on him today Tuesday, 19th October 2021, as part of his two-day working visit to the Central region.

Otumfuo Amoah Sasraku III applauded the President for his decision to embark on a tour of the country, adding that “irrespective of the remote nature of our communities and its nearly impassable roads, you are still able to touch base with us and offer solutions to our concerns.”

According to the Chief, “even in the absence of the luxury of time to state the life-changing interventions the President has instituted to the benefit of Ghanaians, I cannot be silent about the huge school projects that are dotted all around our communities; many of which are completed, whilst others are at varying stages of completion.”

He continued, “This exemplifies the President’s renown as an avowed proponent of universal education for our young ones. A lot has already been said about the Free SHS policy and Free School Feeding Programme. It is now a thing of the past to hear people ask for handouts to pay the school fees of their wards. This is a personal testimony and we are. The kids and their parents are therefore grateful”

Concluding, Otumfuo Amoah Sasraku III also mentioned the construction of Community Small Water Systems across the traditional area, to take care of the water and sanitation needs of the people, as yet another example of the achievements undertaken by President Akufo-Addo in the area.

Source: richnews

The Police have today, 19th October, 2021, arrested Kojo Owusu Koranteng, also known as Nana Dope and Eric Venator, alias Gangee, for allegedly spreading false information with the intention to cause fear and panic.

The arrest of the suspects is in response to the alleged circulation of false claims on the alleged gunshot attack on Shatta Wale.

Preliminary investigations by the Police reveal the widely reported gunshot attack on Shatta Wale yesterday Monday, 18th October, 2021 was a hoax.

Shatta Wale and one other person popularly referred to as ‘Deportee’ are currently being pursued for their possible involvement and knowledge of the circulation of false information with the intention to cause fear and panic.

No one will be spared if Police investigations point to their possible criminal culpability in this matter.

We want to caution any individual or group to desist from making false claims and engaging in acts, capable of disturbing the peace of the country because the law will come after you.

Source: richnews

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the policies and programmes initiated by his government, since taking office in January 2017, are bearing fruit. and have impacted the lives of all Ghanaians.

Speaking at the centenary celebration of the Ash Town Seventh Day Adventist Church, on Saturday, 16th October 2021, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that he came into office with the goal of improving the living standards of the Ghanaian people.

“After my first term in office, our achievements were visible for all to see, and that is why the Ghanaian people were good enough to repose their confidence in me again, and gave me four more years to do more for them,” he said.

Whilst acknowledging that life is still not easy as it should be, the President noted that there are solid reasons for all Ghanaians to hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Recounting the passage in Jeremiah 12:2, which says “You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit”, he told congregants at the Church that “likewise, the policies and programmes being implemented by my government have taken root, they are growing, and they are bearing fruit”.

President Akufo-Addo continued, “In this Church, at least, I am sure we have parents here whose wards are beneficiaries of the Free Senior High School policy. We have achieved a number of noteworthy successes, and even though the pandemic of COVID-19 has derailed temporarily our progress, we remain on course, and will build back Mother Ghana much strongly.”

Reiterating his vision for the progress and prosperity of Ghana, the President stated that his vision to build a Ghana Beyond Aid remains constant, adding that “with the help of the Church, I am confident that we can realise this vision”.

Centenary Celebration
Thanking Almighty God for the growth of the Ash Town SDA Church, President Akufo-Addo stated that, since its establishment a century ago, the Church has impacted positively not only on the lives of congregants, but also on residents of Ash Town and Kumasi.

“From humble beginnings, this Church has grown into what it is today – a dynamic and integral part of this community. You have lived up to the aspirations of the forebears of this Church, Edward Sanford and Karl Rudolph, who first came to the shores of the Gold Coast, first landing at Apam, moving to Cape Coast before spreading out to the Ashanti Region, and other parts of Ghana,” the President said.

He continued, “Successive priests and congregations are to be applauded for these achievements, and for the many years of service and fellowship to country. You have been a good example of what it means to love one another and give cheerfully to those in need, and I have no doubt that this legacy of ministry and compassion will long grace this Church”.

The President’s prayer was that the Church will continue, for the next one hundred years (100 years), to spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, win souls, and serve the people of Ghana and Almighty God.

He also asked congregants to “pray for me, the government and the people I have appointed to various positions, that we exercise our responsibilities with humility and integrity, and pray for Ghana, that she remains united and continues to strive for progress and prosperity.”

Source: richnews

The Manhyia Government Hospital in the Ashanti Region is bedeviled with inadequate space at the maternity ward, which is negatively affecting health care delivery.

In his speech, the Board chairman of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II foundation, Nana Prof. Oheneba Boakye- Adjei Woahene II, who was present at the program with some of his elders said, the day was important as well as the month because it is breast awareness month. He said the hospital has gotten a very great history and transformation since 1962. He added that the hospital became district hospital in the year 2000.
The Sub- metro has only two maternity rooms and this is woefully inadequate considering the high rate in delivery.
Board chairman of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, Nana Prof . Oheneba Boakye- Adjei Woahene II.

Board chairman of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, Nana Prof . Oheneba Boakye- Adjei Woahene II.

Manhyia Hospital Superintendent. Dr. Kamarudeen Korku Hussein also said, their mission as a facility is to improve the health status of the people of Manhyia south-metro through the provision of quality health care by well motivated staff, through leadership and management practices.

The maternity currently has only 16 beds and it is their hope to have it expanded to 50 bed capacity to avoid the congestion that is seen day in day out.
Manhyia Hospital Superintendent. Dr. Kamarudeen Korku Hussein.

Source richnews