SARPONG'S BLOG

Eight-member delegations from Japanese Embassy in Accra and JICA headquarters in Japan have paid a courtesy call on Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance at his office in Accra. The team, led by H.E Kaoru Yoshimura, Ambassador of Japan to Ghana, included Mr. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Executive Senior Vice President, JICA-Tokyo and Mr. Noriaki Sadamoto, First Secretary, Japan Embassy. Mr. Ofori-Atta expressed gratitude to Japan for the decades of cooperation with Ghana in various sectors of the economy. The Minister said the government was committed to stabilizing the macro economy, strengthening revenue collection and ensures value for money in government contracts. He said government was also implementing measures to re-profile the country’s debt, all these measures were aimed at freeing fiscal space for growth and jobs. Mr. Ofori-Atta took the opportunity to invite investors from Japan to take advantage of the peace and security in the country and partner government to make ...

Friends of the Nation (FoN), a socio-environmental advocacy NGO based in the Western Region of Ghana has commended the Government of Ghana for ratifying the Minamata Convention on Mercury. According to the NGO, this signifies the commitment of the Government to reduce and eliminate the use of mercury in Artisanal and Small scale Gold Mining (ASGM) and mercury-added products. A statement signed by Mr. Donkris Mevuta, the Executive Director of FoN also congratulate the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and all other stakeholders for this important milestone. “It is noteworthy that on March 23, 2017, Ghana deposited its instrument of accession to the Minamata Convention, thereby becoming the 40th future party of the Convention,” he added. He mentioned that as the country prepares its National Action Plan (NAP) on ASGM under the Convention, “FoN calls on the Government to adopt a participatory appr...

GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION GROUP LIMITED Abayateye N. Felix 2. Ablordeppey Samuel Doe Kwame 3. Acheampong Hannah Amoah 4. Adjei- Mensah Eugenia 5. Adombila Maxwell Akalaare 6. Adu – Gyamerah Emmanuel 7. Agyei Emmanuel 8. Agyeman Nana Konadu 9. Ahiabor Gabriel 10. Aklorbortu Moses Dotsey 11. Alhandu Abdul- Hamid 12. Alhassan Zakaria 13. Amenuveve Vincent Kobla 14. Amoh Roselind 15. Ampratwum- Mensah Akwasi 16. Anane Mary 17. Appiah Salomey 18. Ardayfio Rosemary N.K 19. Arku Jasmine 20. Asare Ernest George 21. Ashigey kenneth 22. Asiedu – Addo Shirley Tawiah 23. Asmah Kobina Vincent 24. Assel Kweku Gyesi 25. Azu Vance Tetteh 26. Baneseh Mabel Aku 27. Bentil Harriette Naa Lamiley 28. Boadu Ayeboafoh Yaw 29. Boadu Kwame Asare 30. Boateng Caroline Nana Dapaa 31. Bokpe Seth Joseph 32. Bonney Emmanuel Adine 33. Bonsu Abigial 34. Bonsu Adwoa Serwaah 35. Buckman – Owoo Jayne 36. Dapatem Donald 37. Dery Severious Kale 38. Donkor Salome Judith 39. Doreen Andoh 40. Duah Kofi 41. Duodu Samuel Kwaku 4...

Some staffs of the Graphic Communications Group have petition the Election Dispute Adjudication Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) concerning their grievances covering issues affecting the association. The staffs of the company seeks some clarification on the mandate of the current executives of the association. BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT (Not edited) Dear Sir, DISPUTE ABOUT THE MANDATE OF THE EXECUTIVES OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION AND THE LEGALITY OF THE GJA ELECTIONS OF 2017 We the undersigned write to place before you our grievances covering issues affecting the Ghana Journalist Association, and we hasten to add that our grievances are placed before you in furtherance of our constitutional duty under Article 11 (e) of the 2004 Constitution of the Ghana Journalists Association. We first of all seek clarification on the mandate of the current executives of the Association to be in office and take decisions to affect the wellbein...

Some staffs of the Graphic Communications Group have petition the Election Dispute Adjudication Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) concerning their grievances covering issues affecting the association. The staffs of the company seeks some clarification on the mandate of the current executives of the association. BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT (Not edited) Dear Sir, DISPUTE ABOUT THE MANDATE OF THE EXECUTIVES OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION AND THE LEGALITY OF THE GJA ELECTIONS OF 2017 We the undersigned write to place before you our grievances covering issues affecting the Ghana Journalist Association, and we hasten to add that our grievances are placed before you in furtherance of our constitutional duty under Article 11 (e) of the 2004 Constitution of the Ghana Journalists Association. We first of all seek clarification on the mandate of the current executives of the Association to be in office and take decisions to affect the wellbe...

RE: CONSTITUTIONAL BREACHES FOR GJA ELECTIONS 2017 Accra-March 20, 2017- The Campaign office of our Candidate Lloyd Evans wishes to point out to the general public some misinformation purportedly put out since the story about the disqualification of our Candidate Lloyd Evans was first put out last Friday, March 17, 2017. First, the rule of natural justice was not adhered to. Team Lloyd Campaign was of the opinion that a written copy of the disqualification of our candidate would have first be made available to us before the rush to the public to announce their decision. Team Lloyd however, is yet to  get a written a copy of the statement from the Press Centre. The Chairman of the Election Committee has noted on some radio interviews that our candidate can appeal his disqualification through the Adjudicating Committee for redress. We wish to point out to the Chairman of the Election Committee that the very same rules and regulations of the GJA, which mandates t...

Inflation has dropped from 13.3% in January, 2017 to 13.2% in February, 2017, recording a percentage point decrease of 0.1. According to Mr. Baah Wadieh, the acting Government Statistician, the food and non-alcoholic beverages group recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of 7.1%. This is 0.1 percentage point higher than the rate recorded in January 2017 which was 7.0%. Five subgroups of the food and non-alcoholic beverages group recorded inflation rates higher than the group’s average rate of 7.1%. The non-food group recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of 16.4% in February 2017, compared to the 16.6% recorded for January 2017. Six subgroups recorded year-on-year inflation rates higher than the group’s average rate of 16.4%. Transport recorded the highest inflation rate of 23.3%, followed by Recreation and culture with 22.8%, Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance with 22.5%, Education with 19.6%, Clothing and footwear with 17.8% and Health with 1...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong  sarpong007@gmail.com Statistics from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has revealed that interest rate charged on loans and credit advances and interest paid on deposits by banks have reduced to 26.9 per cent and 11.6 per cent respectively. According to the BoG, Annual Percentage Rates (APR) of interest charged on loans and credit advances was 26.9 per cent, a drop of 0.7 percent from the 27.6 percent recorded for the month of January. Meanwhile, average Interest (AI) paid on deposits by banks reduced from 11.9 percent as at January 31st, 2017 to 11.6 percent during the reporting period. A statement from the central bank said the reduction covers 31 banks. The central bank said this data is based on figures available as at 28th February, 2017. The bank said the APR is the true interest rate banks and non-bank financial institutions charge the public on loans and advances. “It reflects the true cost of borrowing and includes charges and commissions levied b...

                                               Mr. Kwame Jantuah- Vice Chair, PIAC By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com The 2016 report of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) on the management of the petroleum funds from Ghana’s crude oil is in its final stage. According to PIAC, the draft will be ready in a week time after which the tech - nical team of PIAC will review the content of the final report. The 2016 PIAC report will take into consideration the quantity of barrels of crude oil Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) lifted on behalf of the country during the year. The report will also publish the amount of revenues accrued from the sale of Ghana’s quota of crude oil from the Jubilee Field and TEN, including the sale of gas managed by the Ghana National Gas Company. The committee is established under the Petroleum Reven...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), the mandated body to monitor the use of Ghana’s oil revenues has been asked to go to court to seek strict compliance of the laws covering accountability of oil funds in the country. According to Dr. Steve Manteaw, the Campaign Coordinator for ISODEC and a member of the PIAC , it’s time for PIAC as a body to consider going to court to compel institutions responsible for managing Ghana’s oil revenue to answers some questions concerning the expenditure of oil funds. He pointed out that there are several recommendations made by the PIAC in its past reports on management of petroleum revenues, and a lot of these recommendations has received no positive response from the institutions concerned. He disclosed this to the Daily Express at a three-day workshop on Interrogating the 2016 Semi Annual PIAC Report at Koforidua in the Eastern Region. The workshop was organized by the Instit...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com Binatone Ghana will soon introduce a new fan which has a digital sound system onto the Ghanaian market. Mr. Venu Babu, the Managing Director (MD) of Binatone Ghana said “the ITAL-1660 looks more like a work of art than a product and we are just three (3) months away from launching the Music Fan.” According to him, Binatone always make sure that quality and affordable products are introduced onto the Ghanaian market. “We are so excited to have this cutting edge products brought to the African and Ghanaian consumer. Products that are designed for the local needs at prices our customers can afford,” said Mr. Babu in a statement issued by the company and copied the Daily Express. The statement said Binatone which have been in West Africa for 45 years and already a household name in Ghana, is known for making high quality everyday use electrical appliances, backed by a nationwide 2 year warranty. It said with a constant desire to bri...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com Ghana will play Nigeria in Binatone International Skate Unity Soccer Cup at the Independence Square in Accra. The unity match will be the second time the two countries will be meeting and the match will take place on Sunday 19th of March 2017. Binatone Ghana and International Federation of Skate Soccer (IFSS), a non-governmental organization dedicated to the development of the physically challenged members of the society are organizing the unity match. According to the organizers of the game, Independence Square was chosen because they needed a bigger space where the players can move smoothly. “The large space of the Independence Square gives us more area to accommodate viewers and increase the playing area to 40m x 20m. The main event is a 7-a-side game that will last for a total of 90 minutes,’ the organizers noted. The Daily Express understands that, the upcoming skate soccer will bring together some of the best ...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com As part of celebrating International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8, 2017, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called on the government to honour various campaign commitments made to Ghanaian women as captured in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) party’s manifesto. The institution called on the government to ensure the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill as early as possible. It called on the government to “appoint over 30% women as Chief Executives in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs); reactivate and strengthen the Gender desks at all Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs), MMDAs to give more recognition and focus to women and gender issues in the design and implementation of public policies and programs.” The think-tank body said the day was celebrated under the theme: “Be Bold for Change” and it presented a unique opportunity for government and all well-meaning Ghanaia...

The Bank of Ghana has closed down two financial institutions in the country. This was after the central bank investigation revealed that the two companies were operating without approval. The two companies were Agro Development Fund Services Limited (ADFSL) and Hebron Financial Investment Limited (HFIL). The Daily Express gathered that the ADFSL was asked to stop operating after the central bank realized the institution had not been licensed to take deposit from the public. A statement from BoG said the ADFSL continued to operate despite the orders from the Bank of Ghana. It however closed down ADFSL’s operation until further notice. The Bank of Ghana said that the ADFSL is located at Asufufu, opposite the Sunyani Traditional Council in the Brong Ahafo region. “The decision to close down ADFSL is in furtherance of section 20(2) (g) of the Banks and Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930). Bank of Ghana has investigated ADFSL thoroughly and has concluded t...

Nestlé’s Maggi Cooking Caravans are travelling through Central and West Africa to provide nutritional expertise, culinary hygiene advice and healthy eating cooking tips to consumers and ‘Maggi mammies’. Nearly 3.7 million consumers of whom over one million are Maggi mammies which includes women sellers in the open markets in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal are learning about balanced nutrition and cooking safety. In Ghana, the company has organized a series of consumer engagement forums to educate consumers on the proper usage of its Maggi bouillon. They are doing this through interactive cooking demonstrations, women’s forums, group discussions and presentations on micronutrient fortification to combat the prevalent global problem of micronutrient deficiency, in which children and women of childbearing age are particularly at risk. Shared benefits In Côte d’Ivoire for example, more than 15,000 Maggi mammies are currently...

Nestlé and International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) have deployed the first ever private sector child labour monitoring and remediation system. The event took place at a launch ceremony in Ashanti Bekwai of the Ashanti Region. Speaking at the launch which took place in Ashanti Bekwai of the Ashanti Region, the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager of Nestlé Ghana, Mrs. Ama Amoah said Nestlé believe that there is no place for child labour in the company’s value chain. She mentioned that Nestlé as a company is committed to “enhancing the quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. We do this by ensuring happy healthy lives for individuals and families, by building resilient communities and caring for the planet. We are guided by the values of respect, for self, others, diversity and the future.” In Ghana, through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan, Nestlé has built three (3) schools, and eight (8) bore holes in communities within the Eastern and Ashanti regions. Nes...