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VRA endorses campaign on punctuality

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The Lead Punctuality Crusader of Punctuality Ghana Foundation (PGF), Mr Emmanuel Amarquaye, has stated that revenue mobilisation in the public sector will improve significantly if only public institutions are punctual in meeting targets for service delivery.

According to him, failure on the part of many public institutions to deliver services timely to their clients is a major contributory factor to their inability to improve on their internally generated funds (IGFs), as well as contribute significantly to the national kitty.

Mr Amarquaye made the remarks at a punctuality awareness and education campaign organised by the management of the Volta River Authority in Accra yesterday.

“Ghana’s economic transformation thrives on our ability to generate funds internally and this can only be made possible when punctuality is tied to productivity.

“Public institutions must deliver services on time to encourage their clients to pay more for the service when needed.

I use the Lands Commission as an example where people are willing to pay for services but are not getting them, and this comes at a loss to both the institution and the government,” he said.

Given the current circumstances, Mr Amarquaye proposed that modern clock-in devices be installed in all public institutions to improve on punctuality and accountability.

Punctuality campaign

The ‘Punctuality awareness and education campaign’ is aimed at promoting punctuality in all spheres of national life.

It is also to reinforce President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s call for punctuality and the need to do away with the canker of lateness to official and public functions.

At yesterday’s ceremony, the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Services at the VRA, Mr Bernard Kofi Ellis, together with the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Engineering and Operations at the VRA, Mr Emmanuel Osafo, led the management of the company to endorse the campaign.

The campaign has already been endorsed by some leading public figures and officials, including the Minister of Inner City and Zongo Development, Mr Mustapha Hamid; Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye; Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Ignatius Baffuor Awuah; immediate past Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, and the President of UT Holdings, Mr Prince Kofi Amoabeng.

VRA’s endorsement

In a speech read on his behalf, the Chief Executive Officer of the VRA, Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, explained that the VRA decided to endorse the campaign because the campaign’s objectives were in line with its core values which included accountability, commitment and integrity.

He said even though the company had always applied the principles of punctuality and hard work in its service delivery duties, it would sustain the culture in order for it to achieve its development agenda to the full.

GraphicOnline

Africa Cup of Nations: What to look out for on day 20 in Egypt

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And then there were eight.

We have reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations following some exciting, dramatic and, in some cases, surprising last-16 ties in Egypt.

The hosts are gone – knocked out by South Africa – but the likes of Senegal, Algeria, the Ivory Coast and debutants Madagascar remain.

With two games taking place, here is what to look out for on day 20…

Who’s playing?

Having beaten Uganda in the last 16, Senegal are in action in the first quarter-final tie, against Benin, who beat Morocco on penalties to go further than they have ever gone in the competition to date. That tie kicks off at 17:00 BST.

At 20:00, three-time winners and defeaters of Cameroon in the first knock-out round Nigeria take on South Africa, who surprisingly eliminated the hosts Egypt on Saturday.

Africa Cup of Nations last-16 results

  • Morocco 1-1 Benin (Benin win 4-1 on penalties)
  • Uganda 0-1 Senegal
  • Nigeria 3-2 Cameroon
  • Egypt 0-1 South Africa
  • Madagascar 2-2 DR Congo (Madagascar win 4-2 on penalties)
  • Algeria 3-0 Guinea
  • Mali 0-1 Ivory Coast
  • Ghana 1-1 Tunisia (Tunisia win 5-4 on penalties)

The quarter-final draw

  • Senegal v Benin – 10 July, Cairo
  • Nigeria v South Africa – 10 July, Cairo
  • Madagascar v Tunisia – 11 July, Cairo
  • Ivory Coast v Algeria – 11 July, Suez

Players to watch

Senegal v Benin

Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane has scored three times – and missed two penalties – in three games
Sadio Mane
National team: Senegal Position: Forward Club: Liverpool Age: 27

Senegal’s undoubted star is forward Sadio Mane, who recently said he would give up this season’s Champions League win with Liverpool if it meant Senegal could win their first Africa Cup of Nations.

One of four players to score three goals in this Afcon, despite missing the opening game through suspension, he has taken himself off penalty duties after missing kicks in successive games.

Nigeria v South Africa

Odion Ighalo (right)
Odion Ighalo
National team: Nigeria Position: Forward Club: Shanghai Greenland Shenhua Age:30

With three goals in four games so far, striker Odion Ighalo is the man to watch for Nigeria.

The former Watford striker, who currently plays for Chinese club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, enjoyed arguably his finest moment in a Super Eagles shirt on Saturday, scoring twice and setting up another goal in the 3-2 win over rivals Cameroon to reach the last eight.

What are the big stories of the day?

Senegal have never won the Africa Cup of Nations, but with Sadio Mane in their team anything is possible, especially with favourites and hosts Egypt already eliminated.

In their way are first-time quarter-finalists Benin, who have drawn all four games at the tournament, including their last-16 penalty shootout win over Morocco.

“People see Benin as a surprise package, no. We have been observing them since the group stage. They have a compact team and play very well,” Senegal’s Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly told Goal.

South Africa are unlikely to have won over many fans in Egypt after their victory over the hosts in the last 16 – a result that saw coach Javier Aguirreswiftly sacked by the seven-times winners.

However, it does leave many wondering how far the 1996 champions can go in the tournament, after they stumbled into the knockout rounds courtesy of a group stage that saw them score just once and claim one win.

The quarter-finals sees them face a familiar foe in Nigeria, who they met in qualification for the tournament, with South Africa claiming a 2-0 win in Uyo before a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg.

Nigeria, who came through Group B in Egypt in second place, having won two of their three games, also won a semi-final tie between the two at the 2000 Afcon – the last time South Africa made it beyond the last eight.

BBC

Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire to legislate cocoa producer price

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Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have agreed to legislate the minimum producer price to be paid to cocoa farmers as a means to safeguard their income.

The two countries agreed to pay farmers a guaranteed minimum price of 70 per cent of the floor price of $2,600 per tonne.

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Chief Executive of Cocobod told a press conference on Monday, that farmers would be entitled to bonus payment when the achieved average gross Free On Board (FOB) price at the end of the cocoa season is between the minimum of $2,600 ($2,700 Cost Insurance Freight (CIF) – $2,900 ($3,000 CIF).

He said the countries agreed that a stabilization account be created under the Cocoa initiative of both countries and provided for in the Charter.

In this respect, two accounts would be set up for each country within the secretariat in Accra where any extra value above $3,000 CIF or $2,900 Gross FOB of the Achieved Weight Average will be deposited.

Mr Aidoo said the only mandate for which monies could be disbursed from the account was for the sole purpose of supporting the Achieved Weight Average if it falls below $2,300 CIF or $2,200 Gross FOB.

“It is instructive to note that, this new arrangement fixes a constant $400 for each tonne of cocoa from the two countries. So for example, with the 900,000 metric tonnes of cocoa produced last year, it would have fetched about $360 million dollars from the upper level of the supply chain to us here in Ghana at the lower level of the cocoa value chain,” he explained.

GBN

Komenda Sugar Factory still sits idle

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The delay in naming a strategic investor to help revamp the ailing Komenda Sugar Factory has deepened the woes of the establishment.

Currently, the $60-million factory located at Komenda in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) municipality in the Central Region is wasting away, as it is overgrown with weeds resulting from three years of lying idle.

The harsh weather conditions and the salty breeze from the Atlantic Ocean that lies about three kilometres from the factory have triggered rapid corrosion of the metallic parts of machinery at the factory.

During a visit by the Daily Graphic to the factory last Thursday, it was observed that weeds had virtually taken over the premises, making it a haven for rodents and reptiles.

The rusty metallic parts of machines indicated that further delay in putting the factory to use could lead to additional costs in terms of repairs and replacement of those parts

At the cane yard, for instance, the cane table which drops sugar cane into the conveyor belt during processing was rusted.

The cutter, which receives sugar cane from the conveyor belt for processing, and the vaporisation chamber had not been spared, as they were also dusty and lay idle.

When the Daily Graphic got to the site about 12 noon, there was very little human activity going on. Just a few of the core technical staff, comprising agronomists, engineers and mechanics, had gathered for a meeting. Security men were, however, around to protect the property.

Residents concerns

The state of the factory is a major source of worry for residents of the municipality, who have called on the government to expedite action on naming a strategic investor to revamp the dormant factory.

According to them, the dormant state of the factory had robbed many of them of their sources of livelihood, a development which had in turn negatively affected business activities in the area.

They also said the continued neglect of the factory defeated the government’s One-district, One-factory (1D1F) industrialisation policy.
One of the residents, Abusuapanyin Ebow Jones, described the state of the factory as an eyesore and called for immediate steps to revamp it.

“The people of KEEA were so happy when the factory was inaugurated by the previous government in 2016 because it created a lot of employment opportunities and brought life to the catchment area.

“The businesses of our youth and women started soaring and we all heaved a sigh of relief, but now we are in sorrow because the factory has been left idle and grasscutters have taken over, instead of human beings.

GraphicOnline

Businessman accuses Keta Municipal Hospital of selling drugs under NHIS

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Michael Asare, a Keta-based businessman has accused the Keta Municipal Hospital of allegedly selling drugs and services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to subscribers of the Scheme.

He said the practice was undermining government’s policy and denying the poor access to healthcare services and called on the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service to investigate the facility and stop the practice.

Mr Asare told the Ghana News Agency that in November last year, his wife went to the facility for assisted delivery and was asked to pay GHC400, with some drugs not receipted, though paid for.

He alleged that his wife was charged for theatre, laboratory and anaesthesia top-ups and drug fees to the tune of GHC234.50, though they were all covered under the NHIS.

Mr Asare said on January 02, this year, he visited the facility for malaria treatment and again was charged a drug fee of GHC4.00.

He said he was also charged GHC11.00 for fasting blood sugar, which is also under the NHIS and that one receipt for anaesthetic services had the name, Cynbert Enterprise and not the name of the Hospital.

Mr Asare said in May, this year, he took his foster daughter to the Hospital for a sprained wrist and made to pay GHC40.00 for scan, drug fee of GHC14.00 and GHC29.00 for flucloxacillin, all said to be covered under the NHIS.

He alleged that checks of claims submitted by the Hospital at the NHIA indicated that the Hospital submitted claims covering the bills he already paid for.

Meanwhile, Dr. Asare-Bediako Kwasi, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, said Mr Asare was “simply asked to pay the difference in the cost of the drug at the market price.”

He said the Hospital explained to him that due to pro-longed reimbursement by the NHIS, clients were being asked to pay top-ups so that the facility could continue to provide services.

“We are all working towards the success of NHIS but due to some challenges we are compelled to ask patients to pay some top-ups and official receipts are given. I must say it is not true that we asked Mr Asare’s wife to pay GHC400.00. Never. Not true,” the Medical Superintendent said.

An official at the Municipal Health Directorate who spoke to the GNA on anonymity said the situation was a system problem and that co-payment had been deferred at all health facilities following the allegation.

The source said Mr Asare was given official receipts except in only one case where the receipt was questionable and that authorities at the Municipal Health Directorate were handling that case.

It said health facilities had been directed to depend on medicines from the regional medical stores and not drugs from the open market to avoid billing NHIS clients for drugs covered under the Scheme.

Ghanaweb

Nduom sues Finance Minister, 3 others

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The Ghana Growth Fund, a subsidiary of Groupe Ndoum, has sued the Finance Minister over debts that have left it unable to pay investors’ funds.

Included in the suit is the Attorney-General, Minister for Roads and Highways and Agyakot Company Limited.

Lawyers for Ghana Growth Fund Limited, which invests the money on behalf of Gold Coast Fund Management, are demanding the recovery of ¢4,416,719.37 being the total face value of the accrued but unpaid interim payment certificates due the fourth defendant, Agyakot Company.

This will enable Agyakot Company to pay the Fund debts owed it.

The suit represents the first set of separate suits that the Company will be embarking on, to ensure debts owed it by government are paid.

Counsel for the Fund, Justice Srem-Sai, told Joy Business their clients have been stretched thin.

“We have exhausted all other avenues. It was never our first choice to go to court but unfortunately, if all other approaches don’t work, we are entitled to go to court. At this point, we are very confident that this is the only option that will get the government and the contractors to honour their obligation to us.

“Because of this default from government and the contractors our client is also finding it a bit difficult to honour its obligations towards its depositors,” the lawyer said.

Gold Coast Fund Management has been in the news for its inability to pay clients’ invested capital and the interest accruing on same.

Ghanaweb

‘Be involved in Assembly election’

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Very Reverend Father Michael Kwaku Boahen, the Parish Priest of the Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, has advised the citizenry to eschew all negative tendencies that has the potential to undermine the peace, security, unity, growth and development of  communities.

He urged them to be involved in the Metropolitan Municipal District Assemblies (MMDAs) election to select responsible assembly members who would pursue the growth, development and welfare of their communities.

Very Rev Fr Boahen who made the admonition in a town hall meeting said the church’s way of encouraging its members and the citizenry was to get involved in local governance and to also remind them of their civic responsibilities.

Organised by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Asuoyeboa Saint Peter’s Parish of the Catholic Church in collaboration with the Kwadaso Municipal Assembly, it was on the theme, ‘Community participating in local governance for rapid and sustainable development’ and was to sensitise the church community on their roles and responsibilities as the citizenry and the need for them to take interest in the work of the MMDAs.

Dr Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso Constituency in the Ashanti Region, reiterated that the MPs’ share of the District Assembly Common Fund be scrapped to relieve them of the additional responsibilities of undertaking development projects in their constituencies.

He suggested that the MPs’ share of the fund should be given to the MMDAs, in order to give the MPs enough time to concentrate on their core mandate which is to make laws for the country.

“The chunk of the funds allocated to MPs has been used to offer scholarships and not really injected into the physical development of the communities and I believe that if given to the assemblies, the funds can be put to better use.

“Since there is no constitutional backingto the MPs’ shareof the Common Fundcoupled with the fact that the MPsare not development agentsthat responsibility shouldbe reverted to the MMDAsand the fund scrapped,” Dr Nuamah stressed.

GhanaianTimes

Newspaper Headlines Wednesday 10th July 2019

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Veep commends private tertiary institutions in the country

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Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, the Vice President, has commended private universities in the country, for complementing the efforts of the state towards providing quality tertiary education.
 

He said private universities emerged at a time when public universities could only admit 60 per cent of the potential intake.

The Vice President said this at the 25th Congregation and 40th anniversary of Valley View University at Oyibi in Accra.

He said whilst the world suffered challenges such as unemployment, global warming, poverty and a number of others, higher education held the key to finding solutions to most of these problems.

The Vice President said this was because, such education produced creative thinkers, who basically were most needed in any society that craved for progress.

He said Valley View University had done a great job in promoting tertiary education in the country over the years, adding that, the democratic structuring of the university had also prevented incidents such as rioting by students, which was highly commendable.

The Vice President also commended the university for putting in measures that made it possible for students who needed to work and earn, in order to finance their education to do so, and said it was an initiative that was worth sharing with other universities.
 
He commended the university for improving from having a student population of less than 20 when it commenced in 1979, to over 9,000 students in present times.

The Vice President assured Valley View University and all other private universities in the country that the government highly appreciated their efforts, and would put in all measures to ensure their progress.

“As you celebrate your past, dedicate your efforts towards a prosperous future,” he added.

Vice President Bawumia, urged the graduates to be ambassadors of positive change in the society with the skills they had learnt.

“Keep in mind that a diploma or degree is just a tool. It is only how you use these tools and conduct yourselves that would count,” he said.

The Vice President urged them to carry excellence, integrity and service everywhere, adding that it was important to remain faithful and true to God and the society they were supposed to serve.
 
“Go out into the world and be sincere with your output, so your positive impact is felt not only in Ghana, but the world over,” he said.

Professor (Prof) Daniel Kwame Bediako, Vice Chancellor of the university, said he was confident that the graduates were ready to improve upon the lot of Ghana and the entire African continent.

He noted that if Ghanaians and Africans as a whole, focused their energies on effecting progress on the continent from within, “we shall find ourselves creating an Africa beyond aid, to borrow the words of His Excellency the President of the Republic”.

Prof Bediako said it was his prayer and belief, that through God’s guidance, the graduates would successfully brave through life, in spite of its challenges.

The first session of this year’s congregation for the university presented a total of 2,040 graduands from seven countries for the award of degrees and diplomas.

Out of this number, 1,885 are undergraduates and 155 postgraduates with 1,275 being male and 765 female.
 
A total of 897 were presented with certificates during the Sunday ceremony, while the rest would be presented on July 14 in Kumasi and July 21 in Techiman.

The university, which commenced in 1979 with less than 20 students, now boasts of a student population that stands over 9,000.

GhanaianTimes

‘Cherish your citizenship’ – Akufo-Addo speaks against non-Ghanaians getting Ghana card

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President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has admonished Ghanaians to cherish their nationality and citizenship and should not help non-Ghanaians to obtain the National ID card, the Ghana Card. 

“Let us cherish our nationality, let us cherish our citizenship. Don’t let any of you be party to trying to get the Ghana card for people who are not Ghanaian. A lot of the time, it is our own people who are leading this exercise of getting non-Ghanaians our Ghana card,” he said. 

Addressing a meeting of members of the Ghanaian community resident in Paris on Monday, July 8, 2019, as part of his 3-day official visit to that country, the President indicated that the ‘Ghana Card’ provides certain benefits, such as access to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to Ghanaians. 

“We are trying to make sure NHIS works for Ghanaians, and we are adding non-Ghanaian population to that only strains the service. I don’t think Ghanaian taxpayers should be subsidising our healthcare for others. I say this with the greatest of respect to those who are not Ghanaian, but if you have the card, then you have the access,” the President said. 

He, thus, urged Ghanaians to be vigilant in making sure that only Ghanaians get the card. 

“These elections that we have, some people want to translate Ghanaian elections into West African elections. We have not yet gotten to a situation where Togolese, Ivorians, Malians can vote in Ghana elections. That should not be the case. The elections should be for Ghanaians, and, if all of us are vigilant, we can make sure that that is the reality,” President Akufo-Addo added.

President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has admonished Ghanaians to cherish their nationality and citizenship and should not help non-Ghanaians to obtain the National ID card, the Ghana Card. 

“Let us cherish our nationality, let us cherish our citizenship. Don’t let any of you be party to trying to get the Ghana card for people who are not Ghanaian. A lot of the time, it is our own people who are leading this exercise of getting non-Ghanaians our Ghana card,” he said. 

Addressing a meeting of members of the Ghanaian community resident in Paris on Monday, July 8, 2019, as part of his 3-day official visit to that country, the President indicated that the ‘Ghana Card’ provides certain benefits, such as access to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to Ghanaians. 

“We are trying to make sure NHIS works for Ghanaians, and we are adding non-Ghanaian population to that only strains the service. I don’t think Ghanaian taxpayers should be subsidising our healthcare for others. I say this with the greatest of respect to those who are not Ghanaian, but if you have the card, then you have the access,” the President said. 

He, thus, urged Ghanaians to be vigilant in making sure that only Ghanaians get the card. 

“These elections that we have, some people want to translate Ghanaian elections into West African elections. We have not yet gotten to a situation where Togolese, Ivorians, Malians can vote in Ghana elections. That should not be the case. The elections should be for Ghanaians, and, if all of us are vigilant, we can make sure that that is the reality,” President Akufo-Addo added.

“My own belief is that we should make sure that this process is completed for everybody before we bring the election overseas. We all know that there are people holding our papers who are not necessarily Ghanaian. It is not a secret, and we shouldn’t be dishonest about it and deny it. It is a fact,” he added. 

President Akufo-Addo continued, “If this process of giving each of us an identity card is what is going to be able to determine who is and who is not a Ghanaian, I think that we should have that process completed before we can bring the overseas vote into play.” 

On the controversial matter of the proposed building of a new Chamber of Parliament, the President stated that “I am happy to announce to you also that the matter has been brought to a conclusion… I hear that today the PRO of Parliament announced that it has been suspended. So there it is!” 

Ghanaweb

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