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Foreign Minister receives Swiss envoy

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The Swiss Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Mr. Philipp Stalder has presented his open letters to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor-Botchwey, to begin his role as the official representative and diplomatic liaison of Switzerland in the country.

He replaces Markus Nicklaus Paul Dugly whose service to his country ended last year.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Member of Parliament (MP) for Anyaa-Sowutuom, Ms. Botchwey received the ambassador’s open letters on Monday.

Welcoming him at a brief ceremony in Accra, she underscored the need for the two countries to explore more innovative ways to broaden the scope of the trade portfolio to include other non-traditional exports from Ghana.

This, she said was because gold and cocoa alone constituted over  95 percent of Ghana’s exports to Switzerland although Ghana was currently Switzerland’s largest trading partner in Sub-Sahara Africa with a trade volume of approximately $2.0 billion.

She thanked the Swiss for the assistance provided Ghana over the years including $2.6 million Remittance Grant Facility (RGF) signed in 2017 to reduce the cost of remitting money to Ghana from 12 percent of every $200 to five percent.

 “It is anticipated that high patronage of the formal process should with time raise the remittance figures and shore up Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves while cushioning the local currency, the Cedi,” Ms. Botchwey stated.

The minister underscored the importance of the new strategic partnership between the two countries whereby an amount of 75.0 million Swiss Franc was to be made available to Ghana for sector-specific projects.

The new Country Strategic Programme, she said underpinned the “Ghana beyond Aid” and focused on strong and accountable institutions that deliver effective public services and improve competitiveness and diversification of the economy.

Ms. Botchwey commended the immediate past ambassador for helping boost the relations between the two countries and pledged to support the new ambassador in the discharge of his duties, to strengthen Ghana-Switzerland relations.

BY TIMES REPORTER

Time for a Digital Roadmap For Ghana – VP Bawumia

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The Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has stressed the importance Government attaches to the ongoing digitization agenda, emphasizing that a digitized, formal economy is a crucial plank of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.

 
Citing the impact a number of such programmes have had on national development, Vice President Bawumia assured stakeholders in the technology sector of Government’s commitment to the digitization agenda, and urged them to partner Government as she pushes for a digitally-aware population.
 
Vice President Bawumia underscored the importance of a formal, digitalized economy and Government’s commitment to achieving this when he gave the keynote address at the Ghana Digital Roadmap Conference in Accra on Wednesday, 15th May, 2019.
 
The two day Conference, organized by the Ministry of Communications and under the theme “Moving Ghana Beyond Aid: Expanding the Local Digital Economy”, will review the almost 20 year-old ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD) Policy document in line with digital opportunities and generate ideas to develop a digital strategy and an implementation plan to establish Ghana as the leader in ICT innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2023. A working party, made up of government officials, the private sector and tech innovators is expected to incorporate any new ideas generated at the Conference and present a draft new policy document after a specialist retreat.
 
Vice President Bawumia pointed out that Ghanaian society continues to be largely informal, with access to services, targeting in the delivery of public services to those who need these services most (the elderly, the vulnerable, the deprived, and even pensioners) difficult, and in some cases depending on who you know.
 
“But with digitization, we are introducing new and more efficient ways of doing things. We are changing the way things are done in the affected institutions for the benefit of ordinary Ghanaians. From the onset of his government, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has concerned himself with building a new, efficient Ghana under the Ghana Beyond Aid vision, which is firmly anchored in leveraging technology for accelerated development. 
 
“In a well-functioning society, citizens don’t need to know someone or pay someone to get a passport, driving license and even access to water and electricity. We cannot build a fair and equitable society that runs on engines of bribes, ‘goro boys’ and ‘land guards,’ ” he declared.
 
“The ongoing mass registration for the national ID Card, popularly known as the Ghana Card, will have a major impact, because it will serve as a central database with linkages to the Ghana Revenue Authority, courts, the police, passport office, National Health Insurance, DVLA and more. Among others, this will make the provision of services much easier and better targeted, while eliminating the need to carry so many cards to access a service,” the Vice President emphasized.
 
The Digitisation Agenda, he maintained, is firmly on course. “We have implemented a Digital Property Addressing to provide a digital address to every location in Ghana. Digital Drivers licenses and digital vehicle registration have also been introduced. Mobile money payments interoperability has been implemented amongst telcos and between mobile money wallets and bank accounts.
 
“The digitization of the land registry is in progress. Passport applications are now online, and passport duration has increased from 5 to10 years. Renewal of NHIS registration via mobile phone has been a phenomenal innovation with an average of 70,000 renewals every week. The introduction of Paperless Port system has reduced the time to clear goods at the ports to less than 48 hours, and there are many more examples of what we are doing.”
 
Vice President Bawumia challenged the Conference attendees to diligently study the existing policy and come up with a “comprehensive, flexible digital roadmap that provides the blueprint for all actions that align our digital initiatives with the short-term and long-term vision of this government, clearly shows how we can grow our local ICT industry beyond the boundaries of Ghana while detailing how we can bridge the urban-rural divide by expanding digital services to rural and under-served communities.
 
“We believe that now is the time to take a critical look at our seminal ICT policy document, the ICT for Accelerated Development Policy, identify gaps and recommend changes required to provide the right framework to harness Ghana’s digital economy and also nurture our local ICT industry.”

President Akufo-Addo Presents Vehicles To Oti Regional Co-Ordinating Council

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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has presented eight (8) vehicles to the Oti Regional Co-ordinating Council, to help facilitate the smooth take-off of the newly created region.

The vehicles, which include 3 Nissan Patrol SUVs, and five pickup vehicles, were presented to the Oti Regional Minister, Hon. Kwasi Owusu Yeboah.

Speaking at a durbar of Chiefs at Dambai, capital of the Oti Region, on Wednesday, 15th May, 2019, President Akufo-Addo noted that the pledge he made in the run-up to the 2016 elections to create the Oti Region “was not to win votes from you, but I was convinced that, with the Oti Region, development would be accelerated than before.”

Having earlier inspected the site for the construction of the administration block for the Oti Region, President Akufo-Addo noted that, already, the head of the Local Government Service, Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, has selected the staff to work at the Oti regional coordinating council.

“So far, the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Regional Economic Planning Officer, Regional Agricultural Director, Regional Fire Commander, Regional Electoral Officer, Regional Human Resource Manager, Regional Internal Auditor, Regional Information Officer, Regional Commission on Culture Officer, Regional Land Use and Spatial Planning Officer, are all here at Dambai and have started work,” the President added.

To the pioneer local government staff, he urged them “to work hard and to begin on a sound footnote, so that everybody will know that they came to do their best for the Oti Region. I will pay particular attention to the work they will be doing in Oti”.

He added that “we have a development plan for all the six regions, and we are going to follow it exactly for Oti Region as well. I will ensure that there is an equitable distribution of infrastructural facilities in all parts of Oti Region.”

Touching on matters of interest to the Oti Region and to the Paramount Chief of the Krachi Traditional Area, Nana Mprah Besemuna III, the President noted a Dutch company called FDN Group has made a proposal to the Roads and Highways Ministry for the construction of a bridge over the Oti River.

“The pre-feasibility studies have been completed, the financial terms are being examined today at the Ministry of Finance, and the Roads Minister is waiting for ‘no objection letter’ from Finance before they can negotiate the construction agreement, which will be brought to Cabinet and then to Parliament for approval,” he stated.

Additionally, President Akufo-Addo stated that “should all these processes go according to plan, by the 4th quarter of this year, construction of the bridge over Oti River would have begun.”

At the same time, the President indicated that the construction of the road network in Oti Region will also begin soon, with the Jasikan to Dodo Pepesu road network set to commence in July this year.

“Dambai town roads, together with the roads in Krachi, are on the programme of the Minister. Your roads are dear to my heart, and I am working on them. Now, you have your own region, and we are determined to ensure that your developmental needs are accelerated,” President Akufo-Addo noted.

Earlier in the day, President Akufo-Addo President Akufo-Addo also inspected the 50 kilometre Nkwanta to Dambai Road, which is being constructed to City Construction Ghana Limited.

“Oti Region Shall Never Forget You” – Krachi Wura To President Akufo-Addo

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The Paramount Chief of the Krachi Traditional Area, Nana Mprah Besemuna III, has expressed the appreciation of the Chiefs and people of the newly created Oti Region to the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for fulfilling his 2016 campaign promise, and facilitating the creation of the Region.

According to the Krachi Paramount Chief, “We are most grateful to you, and assure you that your name will be engraved in letters of gold in the annals of the Oti Region.”

He continued, “As at now, we can only use our mouths to say thank you. Ayekoo, but God Almighty who rewards hard work, we are sure, will reward you at the appropriate time for your hard work in Oti Region. We shall never forget you.”

Nana Mprah Besemuna III made this known on Wednesday, 15th May, 2019, at a durbar held in honour of President Akufo-Addo at the Dambai, capital of Oti Region, on day two of the President’s working visit to the newly created region.

Describing the journey for the creation of the region as a “long and tortuous” one, the Krachi wura noted that “God works through his chosen men and women as vessels of positive change.”

In His own appointed time, Nana Mprah Besemuna III added that “He chose Your Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to effect the positive change for the people of the Oti Region and bring them to the Promised Land.”

He stated further that “every sincere indigent of Oti Region, regardless of political affiliation, believes and knows that, but for your exceptional courage and tenacity of purpose from the many intimidating factors that gathered during the struggle, the creation of our region would not have been realized.”

He was hopeful that the creation of the Oti Region will deepen the decentralization of governance, with all the related benefits in term of human and material development.

“We are confident that having kept you promises in the past, Your Excellency will ensure that the governance development policy for the new 6 regions, and for that matter, Oti Region, to spread development, as well as siting the heads of departments and agencies across the entire region to ensure equity, will be carried out to the letter,” he added.

The Krachi Wura noted that, as major stakeholders, “Nananom and JCC members will continue to play a very active and meaningful role in the development of the Oti Region.”

“Work On 54km Jasikan-Dodo Pepesu Eastern Corridor Road To Start From July” – President Akufo-Addo

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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says work on the 54 kilometre Jasikan to Dodo Pepesu stretch of the Eastern Corridor Road will commence from the 3rd quarter of 2019, that is from July.

According to President Akufo-Addo, an amount of $45 million has been earmarked, under the phase 1 projects of the $2 billion Government of Ghana-Sinohydro Master Project Agreement, for the construction of the Jasikan to Dodo Pepesu road.

Speaking at a durbar held in his honour at Jasikan, on Tuesday, 14th May, 2019, President Akufo-Addo recounted how, in 2016, he said he was yet to see the so-called “unprecedented infrastructural projects” touted by his predecessor, John Dramani Mahama.

“I stated, at the time, that, wherever I have been to, I never saw these so-called unprecedented infrastructural projects he (Mahama) claimed he had done. He (Mahama) responded by telling me that I was asleep, the reason why I hadn’t seen these projects.

“However, there has not been a single durbar across the country where I have been where the issue of the poor road network has been raised by the Chiefs and people,” the President said.

He continued, “We, as political leaders, must always be truthful to Ghanaians. Lies, inaccuracies and misrepresentations should not be the hallmark of political leaders. I will not say I have done the Hohoe-Jasikan-Dodo Pepeso road when, indeed, it has not been constructed. I will never say such a thing.”

President Akufo-Addo assured residents of Jasikan that they will not lack, in terms of development, in the aftermath of the creation of the Oti Region.

“We are going to make sure that there is an even spread of infrastructural facilities in the region. Every part of Oti will have their fair share of infrastructural development,” he said.

The President, en route to Nkwanta, stopped by Ntruboman Senior High School, where he presented a school bus and pickup vehicle to the school, in fulfillment of a pledge he had made to them.

President Akufo-Addo also cut the sod for the construction of the 12km Kpassa to Mama Akura Road; and also cut the sod for the construction of a classroom and dormitory block at the Nkwanta Senior High School.

Newspaper Headlines Wednesday 15th May 2019

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Newspaper Headlines Tuesday 14th May 2019

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Liverpool seek ‘perfection’ in bid to dethrone Pep’s Man City

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“If you are second you are nothing,” said former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly. But rarely can a runner-up have been more proud of falling just short than Liverpool in the Premier League this season.

Shankly won three league titles on Merseyside in the pre-Premier League era and built the foundations for two decades of dominance that endured even after he departed.

Yet even he could not conceive of amassing 97 points in a league season, let alone that mark only being good enough for second place.

Liverpool’s points tally was not just a club record, but the third-highest in Premier League history, behind only Manchester City’s 98 this season and City’s haul of 100 points in romping to the title last year.

Unfortunately for Jurgen Klopp’s men, it will be Pep Guardiola’s champions they have to beat again to end a 30-year wait for a league title next season.

Virgil van Dijk has been a huge influence for Liverpool this season

“As long as City are around, with the quality they have, the financial power and all that stuff, it’s not that any other team will pass them easily,” said Klopp, whose side lost only one league game all season, to City in January, and still missed out.

“You need to be very, very close to perfection to win the Premier League as long as this is the case.”

City’s wealth in the decade since the club was bought by Sheikh Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, has transformed the blue half of Manchester into serial winners.

– City cash –

Sunday’s title triumph was their fourth in the past eight seasons, but City have not always made the most of their new-found wealth, drifting under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini after previous title triumphs.

Guardiola is the point of difference. The Catalan has now won the league in eight of his 10 seasons as a top-flight coach in three different countries with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (left) and Sadio Mane shared the Premier League Golden Boot award with Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Worryingly for the competition, Guardiola insisted City will only get stronger next season.

But the notoriously intense Catalan also has a history of not overstaying his welcome.

Next season will be his fourth in Manchester, matching his longest managerial stint so far at Barca, after which he required a year’s sabbatical, citing exhaustion.

“I cannot deny I am so tired, but at the same time winning the title gives you a lot of energy,” said Guardiola on Sunday. “Winning is so addictive.”

Liverpool’s fate in the coming years may ultimately depend on how long the drug of winning sustains Guardiola at the Etihad.

There will also be a fear on Merseyside that Liverpool have come close before, most notably under Rafael Benitez a decade ago and Brendan Rodgers in 2013/14 and failed to take the next step a season later.

The stars may not align the same way next season. Huge goalkeeping errors from Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris kept Liverpool on City’s coattails with late winners.

City may have sped away into the distance had Riyad Mahrez not blasted a late penalty over the bar when the sides met at Anfield in a 0-0 draw in October, while the champions suffered shock defeats in December to Crystal Palace and Leicester thanks to wonder strikes from Andros Townsend and Ricardo Pereira.

However, unlike previous near misses when Xabi Alonso and Luis Suarez soon departed for Spain, this Liverpool side look built for the long term.

Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker have been tied down to long-term contracts.

Flying full-backs Andy Robertson, 25, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, 20, should only get better with age.

Big summer signings Fabinho and Naby Keita grew as the campaign went on and should kick on in their second season in the Premier League.

“We knocked on the door pretty hard this season,” said Robertson.

“They know we are here and hopefully here to stay now. Next season I am sure we won’t lose anyone and, if we replicate this season, we can’t ask much more.”

Sometimes, second is more than nothing.

 

Source: AFP

 

 

Man Utd face daunting task to recover former glories after dismal campaign

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Manchester City jetted back to the Etihad to celebrate their stunning Premier League title triumph but across town at Manchester United the lights had long gone out.

Pep Guardiola’s champions partied late into the night on Sunday in front of thousands of ecstatic fans after beating Brighton to win their second consecutive league crown, the first side to achieve the feat since United in 2009.

In that year Alex Ferguson’s side celebrated a third straight title as the undisputed kings of English football while City, less than a year after their Abu Dhabi takeover, finished a lowly 10th.

It is difficult to overstate the dramatic nature of United’s demise in recent years, which culminated in an embarrassing 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford at the hands of relegated Cardiff on Sunday.

United have finished outside the top four in four of the six seasons since Ferguson retired. This season the scarcely credible 32-point gap to their cross-town rivals left them as close to the relegation zone as the top of the table.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed a prolonged bounce after taking over the reins from Jose Mourinho in December, winning 14 of his first 17 games in all competitions.

Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial 

But, following an extraordinary comeback against Paris Saint-German to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, the wheels came off, with United winning just two and losing eight out of their final 12 games.

United ended up in sixth position — exactly where they were when Mourinho was sacked — and have had to watch as City were crowned champions, Liverpool and Tottenham reached the Champions League final and Chelsea and Arsenal set up a Europa League final meeting.

“We’re not a club which should end up sixth,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports. “That’s where we are at the moment, but we’re ready for it, the fans, supporters today too.

“It’s near embarrassing when you walk off the pitch clapping them and get the support we have. That’s the base of this club, the foundation is so great, we’ll come back again.”

– Bitter end –

Juan Mata is one of many who many United players who may have played his last game for the club.

“The feeling in the end is very bitter,” the out-of-contract Spanish midfielder said in his weekly blog on his website.

“None of us are satisfied with the general performance levels that we have offered, for one reason or another.”

United, with a bloated, underperforming squad, face a monumental challenge over the summer transfer window as Solskjaer plots how to turn around their fortunes and compete with City and Liverpool.

The wisdom of giving the relatively inexperienced Norwegian a three-year contract just over six weeks ago, a move that was followed by a dramatic decline in form, has been widely questioned by pundits.

Solskjaer’s squad needs a radical overhaul after years of poor spending and drift.

However, they also face a battle just to keep hold of some of those who could make a positive contribution going forward with David de Gea, Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba all out of contract in the next two years and holding out on signing new deals.

Hamstrung by their absence from the Champions League, United are reliant on their financial muscle to recruit new players and risk overspending in their desperation once more.

Alexis Sanchez, who apologised to fans for United’s season of underachievement, is a symbol of the club’s wasted millions.

The Chilean signed reportedly the most lucrative contract in Premier League history in January 2018 when joining from Arsenal, but United will struggle to get him off their books after another disappointing season, while the future of £75 million ($98 million) striker Romelu Lukaku also appears uncertain.

The clearout has begun with Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia leaving on free transfers, but Solskjaer admitted on Friday it would be “miraculous” for United to be challenging City and Liverpool for the title next season.

“For ourselves, the short-term focus in the league will be getting into the top four,” Solskjaer told BBC Radio 5 Live.

That limited ambition alone shows how far United have fallen since the days City lived in the Red Devils’ shadow.

 

Source: AFP

Balobia gets new Kindergarten Model School building

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The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kassena-Nankana in the Upper East Region, Mr. Williams Adum, has handed over a newly constructed Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) supported Kindergarten Model School building project at the cost ofGH¢249,670.55 for the people of Balobia in the Municipality.

Performing the handing over ceremony on Saturday  the MCE, stated that the project was part of the New Patriotic Party’s government  agenda to ensure that a very strong foundation was built for children to be groomed and grounded well  to  fit  very well in  the Junior High Schools,  the Senior High Schools, and the tertiary levels respectively.

He said it was the ruling government’s intention to roll out such model school project made up of classrooms, office accommodation and stores, public places of convenience for both the school children and teachers, furniture in addition to the mechanized borehole in many earmarked selected communities in the Municipality and across the country.

The MCE who urged the teachers to be very mindful of Kidnappers called on the management of the school and the entire community to take ownership of the project and ensure that it was regularly maintained to prolong its lifespan for more generation to benefit.

“This government under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo–Addo is very mindful of Community ownership and maintenance culture and will be very happy if you are able to take good care of this project and others initiated in your community,” the MCE urged.

Mr Adum stated that as part of the efforts of the Municipal Assembly to help complement government’s efforts in the education sector,  the Assembly this year would be procuring  1,000 School mono desks furniture to be distributed to schools in the area and added that last year  350 of them were distributed to some selected schools.

On the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), the MCE stated that the programme which had been scaled up to reach more schools in the area had led to high School enrolment and retention.

The MCE who paid unannounced visits to some of the GSFP Schools tasted some of the prepared meals for the school pupils’ and commended the matrons for their good jobs.

  The Headmistress of the Gaani MA primary School, Mrs Christiana Kennedy, who testified that the policy had actually led to high  School enrolment and retention,  said for the first day of re-opening of schools  350 pupils out of the total population of the 490  of the school attended school.

 The Matron of the GSFP in charge of the Gaani MA primary School, Ms   WasilaDramani, stated that the constant inflow of payments to her by the government had empowered her to always prepare balance diets for the school pupils.

The Municipal Director of Education of Education in charge of Planning, Mr Albert Adonnawura, who represented the Municipal Director of Education, Mr. EdmondAzuri, lauded the government’s efforts for supporting the education sector.

He gave the assurance that the Ghana Education Service would play its roles very well by ensuring that effective supervision and monitoring and periodic training programmes were initiated to help give the children a very good foundation.

FROM SAMUEL AKAPULE, BALOBIA

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