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Adutwum Inaugurates New School Projects In Bosomtwe.

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To promote effective teaching and learning in schools in his constituency in the Ashanti Region, the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has commissioned three newly built school projects in the area.

The newly constructed schools are the Amankwaadei D/A Primary School, Woarakese D/A Primary School, and Kuntenase Owne D/A Primary School.

All these state-of-the-art facilities represent the government’s commitment to providing quality education and creating opportunities for every child.

These schools are beacons of progress and hope for the children and the entire community.

Speaking at separate ceremonies before the commissioning of the projects, Dr. Adutwum said, “with these modern classrooms and resources, we equip the next generation to thrive in an ever-evolving world”.

“I want to express my gratitude to all who contributed to making this dream a reality, including our partners, contractors, and educators. Together, we continue to build a future where education transforms lives and uplifts communities,” he stated.

He reminded the people to have faith in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government since it would always provide the exact needs of the people.

Dr. Adutwum, who is also the Minister for Education, spent time enumerating the various projects and innovations brought to the education sector by the government.

He urged the people to vote massively for the NPP during the upcoming election, to continue with the provision of social amenities and other projects for the people.

The District Chief Executive for Bosomtwe District, Mr. Joseph K. Asumin, praised the government for the massive infrastructure projects undertaken with the view to improving the standard of living of the people.

Qualifying for 2025 AFCON is a bigger achievement than the World Cup, says Sudan assistant coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu.

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Assistant coach of the Sudan national team, Ignatius Osei-Fosu, says qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament is a greater achievement than qualifying for the World Cup.

Osei-Fosu, alongside Kwasi Appiah, steered the Falcons of Jediane to secure a spot in the AFCON tournament scheduled to be hosted in Morocco next year after finishing 2nd in Group F with eight points.

After four games in the World Cup qualifiers, Sudan has accumulated ten points and sits at the top of Group B as they aim to secure a place in the 2026 global showpiece.

Despite this, Osei-Fosu believes that leading Sudan to the 2025 AFCON would still be a greater achievement, even if they manage to secure a first-ever World Cup qualification for the Falcons of Jediane.

“I see qualifying for the AFCON as a greater achievement than securing a World Cup slot,” he told 3Sports.

Osei-Fosu further explained that, although Sudan sit in a strong position in their World Cup qualifying group, failing to qualify would not be seen as a failure, especially given the hope and belief they have restored in the nation.

“It will never be a failure on our part should we fail to qualify for the World Cup. At least we gave them some belief and hope,” he added.

Sudan will take on Senegal and South Sudan in the next round of the World Cup qualifiers in March 2025.

PNC declares support for NDC ahead of December polls.

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The People’s National Convention (PNC) has declared its support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the December polls.

The declaration comes after consultations with the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Functional Executive Committee (FEC) members.

Samson Asaki Awingobit, PNC National Chairman, made this known at a presser in Accra on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

“Nine days to the general election, the PNC not having a presidential candidate cannot sit neutral. For that matter, as a National Chairman, in consultation with the leader, we’ve invited NEC—that is, our regional representative made up of the Chairmen and regional secretaries, including FEC (Functional Executive Committee) members.

“…At the end of deliberation, we’ve discussed, and we collectively—the majority have declared that the PNC will throw our support to the NDC presidential candidate for the 2024 general election.”

Awingobit said the move was to ensure a collaboration between the PNC and the next NDC government.

“We have thrown our support so that the next government that will be formed by the NDC collaborated or supported by the PNC,” he said.

Headmasters will procure food for their students under NDC-Asiedu Nketia.

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The responsibility for the procurement of food items for Senior High Schools (SHSs) will return to headmasters of the schools under the next government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).  
The change will form part of proposed plans to review the Free Senior High School Policy to improve the quality of food students are being fed under the policy. 


Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, National Chairman of the NDC, who gave the hint, said the current situation where various suppliers were contracted to supply different foodstuffs was affecting the quality of food served in schools.

 
Speaking at a community engagement in the Suame Constituency as part of his retail campaign in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said the current arrangement was a ploy to milk the state through procurement.

 
“School authorities are compelled to feed the students a particular food for days because some suppliers have failed to deliver what they have been contracted to supply,” he alleged.  
He said school heads had no choice but to feed the children with whatever was available, denying the kids a balanced diet.

 
The policy, according to the National Chairman of the NDC, is good, but its implementation leaves much to be desired and stressed the need to review and make it better. 


Mr. Nketiah also reiterated the NDC’s resolve to abolish the double-track system to enable students to attend school simultaneously. 


“We are going to complete all the abandoned E-blocks and expand facilities in SHSs in our first year to accommodate all students at a go,” the National Chairman announced.

 
He wondered why such interventions were being misconstrued as cancellation of the policy and urged Ghanaians to reject such self-serving propaganda.

 
“We remain committed to the cancellation of the double track system and allow headmasters to procure food for their students to improve the policy,” he emphasised. 

Ghana ranked amongst Top 5 Visa Open Destinations.

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Ghana has ranked 5th on the latest Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI).

According to the document released by the African Union Commission in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), visa openness refers to the ease with which travelers can obtain authorization to travel to and enter a country, subject to final determination by the destination country’s immigration officials.

“The more visa-open a country, the easier it is for a traveller to visit that country” the report indicated.

However, there are different degrees of visa openness. A more visa-open country on the index Implies that the country in question has a generally more liberal or relaxed visa policy for visitors, meaning that visitors either do not need a visa to enter.

Also its territory, or can obtain a visa upon arrival as opposed to a visa-restrictive country requires visitors to obtain a visa before they travel. In such instances, visitors may be required to obtain a visa from an embassy, a consulate, or another source.

With a score of 0.868, Ghana has been ranked number 5 following closely behind a unique rank of four other countries including Benin, Seychelles, Gambia and Rwanda who are all ranked number 1 on the 2024 Visa Openness Index.

The report notes that the year 2024 witnessed important changes in AVOI scores. Of 54 countries on the continent, 17 have improved their AVOI score over the past year, building on the 15 countries that showed an improvement in the last edition. Twenty-nine (29) countries’ scores remain unchanged while eight countries score lower in this edition.

“Today, visa openness across Africa stands at its highest level since we began tracking it nine years ago in 2016. So far, 39 African countries have improved their scores, a testament to Africa’s shared commitment to ease travel and foster collaboration across borders”. Nnenna Lily Nwabufo – Vice President, Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery at the African Development Bank Group noted in her remarks about the latest index.

Despite the progress this year, the African Union says 2024 AVOI equally reveals some challenges. According to the Index, Many Africans still face significant visa hurdles when crossing into neighbouring countries, not only restricting access to opportunities for curious travellers, but also constraining the dreams of young entrepreneurs, and professionals.

According to the AU Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development Minata Samate Cessouma political will be needed to ease the cross-border movement of persons. “However, several countries remain reluctant, and the emerging success stories will hopefully contribute to further positive momentum overall. There remains a long way to go, and much room for progress on visa openness to translate into deeper and more progressive commitments on facilitating the movement of businesspersons and service providers across Africa’s borders”.

This year’s report also provided updates on the status Africa’s experience with e-visas.it noted that even though the number of e-visa portals has grown from 24 to 263 over the past year, there are several shortcomings.

“While most of the sites offer a relatively straightforward process involving the uploading of biometric information of the prospective traveller, submission of a passport- type or self-taken photograph, and certain other travel information (such as details of the travel itinerary or confirmation of air tickets and accommodation), others are more akin to an ETA and advise that the e-visa should first be obtained before making final travel arrangements” the report stated.

It further explained that this situation includes confirmed air tickets and accommodation, as the process sometimes requires the collection of an e-visa at the port of entry. This is done using proof of the travel authorization or entry letter previously obtained through the destination country’s e-visa process.

In some systems, the e-visa is issued for self-printing or storage on an electronic device, while others issue a quick response (QR) code that facilitates the collection of the e-visa at the port of entry—effectively merging an electronic travel authorization (ETA) with a visa-on-arrival process.

Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office at the African Development Bank Group, Joy Kategekwa, expressed her view that Africa will not achieve its development aspirations without regimes that promote mobility across the continent. Highlighting the continent’s wealth of historic attractions, she emphasized that visa restrictions should not hinder Africans from contributing to each other’s tourism revenues.

“Or industrialisation, as the continent looks to build the production houses to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),it is imperative that people can move – not only to bring skills into managing such operations but also to take advantage of the jobs that will be created.

The African Union is hopeful of the coming into force of the AU protocol on the free movement of people which was signed In March 2018, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a vast majority of African countries— thirty (30)—signing the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons. The Protocol adopts a progressive approach to free movement, in that it seeks to liberalize movement in three primary phases: the right of entry, the right of residence, and the right of establishment.

Free SHS: Probing expired rice scandal crucial for accountability – Ablakwa.

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The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for an independent investigation into the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) approval of the extension of the shelf life of 22,000 bags of rice distributed to secondary schools.

Despite the FDA’s assertion that the approval process adhered to regulatory standards and best practices, Ablakwa expressed concerns over the decision’s implications on students who consumed the rice.

Speaking in an interview with Citi News, Ablakwa said there is a need for transparency and accountability, urging both local and international audits of the FDA’s actions.

“They [FDA] have only conducted themselves in a manner that raises more questions. And that is why an independent inquiry into this matter is crucial. Perhaps, the only good thing about that press conference is that they are willing to subject themselves and their conduct in this whole scandal to investigation.

“And that is where we have to get to. It is really a shame that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is a leader who checked out long ago and so is taking no action.”

Your request is accordingly declined; Speaker tells leader of Government business.

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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in a two-page memo addressed to the Leader of Government Business in Parliament and MP for Effutu Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has turned down his recall petition.

Mr. Speaker in the memo noted that the House will resume sitting after the elections to complete all essential matters before a seamless transition to the 9th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and that, “I accordingly suggest that government prioritizes these businesses together with others not captured by your memo for consideration after the conduct of the General elections on the 7th of December 2024.”.

The memo dated 26th November 2024, SUBJECT: RE: REQUEST TO RECALL PARLIAMENT TO CONSIDER OUTSTANDING PUBLIC BUSINESS, noted that this season is for the Government, Parties, and both presidential and parliamentary candidates to present their manifestoes to the people and to account for and justify how the mandate given them by the voters for the four-year term of office has been applied to the benefit of the people.

He further stated that “bearing in mind the provisions of Article 296 (a) and (b) of the Constitution, 1992, and the closeness of your proposed dates to the general election, I am of the considered opinion, that it would not be in the national interest to interrupt the campaigns of members and parties by a recall to plenary sitting of Parliament.

Consequently, it will not be fair to exercise my discretion in favor of your request to summon Members of Parliament at this time to a two-day sitting”.

The Speaker’s write-up was in response to a memo on the above subject, which was received at the Office of the Speaker on Friday, 22nd November 2024, at a time when he was out of the office to honor an invitation outside Accra.
The memo calls on the Speaker to exercise his discretion, under Orders 57(3) and 58(4) of the Standing Orders of the House, to summon the House to sit for two days, Thursday 28″ and Friday 29″ November 2024, to consider twenty-two (22) items, all of which Leader of Government Business referred to as either outstanding public business or urgent Government Business.

But the Speaker, in response, mentioned that “as you may be aware, the performance of the functions of Parliament and the duties of members of Parliament extends beyond the plenary sittings of Parliament.

Again as you are aware, the parliamentary calendar acknowledges elections campaign periods”.

In the circumstances, I am neither inclined nor disposed to exercise my discretion in favour of your request”, the Speaker added.

Bawumia Outdoors Electric Buses For Metro Mass.

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In a historic event, the Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party and the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, commissioned the first batch of electric buses for Metro Mass Transit Limited, marking a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards a sustainable transportation system.

The ceremony, held on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Adenta, Accra, was attended by dignitaries, including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, and stakeholders in the transport industry.

Revolutionizing Public Transport

The introduction of electric buses is expected to revolutionize public transportation in Ghana, providing a cleaner, efficient, and cost-effective alternative to traditional diesel-powered buses.

The new buses will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also lower operational costs, making public transportation more affordable for citizens.

Dr. Bawumia emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that it is a proactive step towards creating a sustainable future for Ghana.

Key Features of the Electric Buses

The electric buses are equipped with advanced technology, including an electronic ticketing system, known as Tap n’ Go, which will help reduce revenue leakages and modernize bus services.

The buses will also be equipped with GPS tracking systems, ensuring the safety and security of passengers. Additionally, the electric buses will be maintained through a specialized unit that will provide technical support, driver training, and maintenance services.

Government’s Commitment to Sustainability

The commissioning of electric buses is a testament to the government’s commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.

The National Electric Vehicle Policy, launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2023, aims to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in Ghana.

The policy has ushered in a new era of innovation, driving the gradual decarbonization of the transport sector.

Benefits to Citizens

The introduction of electric buses is expected to have a positive impact on citizens, providing affordable and efficient transportation.

The reduced operational costs will enable Metro Mass Transit Limited to enhance services, lower transport fares, and invest in fleet renewal and expansion efforts.

The electric buses will also create new job opportunities in the maintenance and operation of the vehicles.

Challenges and Future Plans

While the benefits of electric buses are significant, there are challenges ahead.

The success of this initiative relies heavily on robust and continuous maintenance.

The government has assured that it will partner with educational institutions to train the needed workforce and provide specialized training in the maintenance and operation of electric vehicles.

Black Queens: Friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia at risk over unavailability of funds.

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The Black Queens’ international friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia are under threat due to a lack of funding.

Neither the Ghana Football Association (GFA) nor the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) has the $40,000 needed to organize the matches, per Joy Sports.

The friendlies were set for the November international window to help prepare the team for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). But financial challenges have put the fixtures at risk of cancellation.

Sources confirm that the $40,000 budget for both matches has not been secured. The GFA lacks the funds, and the Ministry has yet to approve the budget.

The Black Queens have not played since their July friendly against Japan. Head coach Nora Häuptle had hoped these friendlies would help evaluate the team ahead of next year’s WAFCON in Morocco.

Ghana secured their spot in the tournament by beating Namibia in the final qualifying round. They now face a tough group, including defending champions South Africa, Tanzania, and Mali.

This would be the Black Queens’ first Women’s AFCON appearance since 2018.

Zimbabwe seeks debt restructuring to unlock funding and rebuild the economy.

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Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa hosted creditors and finance executives on Monday to discuss plans for clearing the country’s $12.7 billion external debt and restructuring arrears.

With the nation’s debt representing 81% of its GDP, the task is daunting for a country with a history of financial crises, including hyperinflation and failed currency reforms.

Mnangagwa revealed that Zimbabwe is negotiating a Staff Monitored Program (SMP) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which would pave the way for key policy reforms. African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina expressed the AfDB’s readiness to provide financial support for these reforms and help clear arrears.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said timelines for debt restructuring would be clearer by mid-2025, once Zimbabwe secures bridge financing from lenders. Analysts warn that addressing arrears is crucial for the country’s economic recovery, as Zimbabwe currently cannot access funds from the IMF due to its debt situation.

Clearing arrears with major creditors, including the AfDB, World Bank, and European Investment Bank, is key to unlocking future funding. The IMF has been unable to provide financial support due to Zimbabwe’s unsustainable debt.

While the SMP would not include financial aid from the IMF, it would signal a return to sound economic policies. Zimbabwe’s debt situation remains complex, with a significant portion of the debt in arrears and penalties, limiting access to international financial assistance.

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