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Oppong Nkrumah establishes Hydro Fund to solve recurring floods.

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Ghana has taken a huge step towards tackling its recurrent housing and flooding issues by launching the Built Environment National Conference on Housing and Hydrology (BENCHH) 2024.

The three-day event, hosted at the Labadi Beach Hotel, was formally inaugurated by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Works and Housing, who also unveiled the Ghana Hydrological Fund, a critical project aimed at reducing flood risks and enhancing water management across the country.

Addressing a broad assemblage of government officials, industry experts, and development partners, Minister Oppong Nkrumah underlined the essential need for sustained financing to address Ghana’s flooding challenges, effectively announcing a GHS 1.5 million in seed money.

“Government through the Ministry of Works and Housing has prioritised an allocation of 1.5 million Ghana Cedis as seed money for the fund,” he announced, calling upon all stakeholders, including development partners, to contribute towards the success of the fund, highlighting its role in expediting essential projects such as drainage construction and dredging.

The Minister underscored the severity of Ghana’s flooding problem, particularly during the rainy season, exacerbated by inadequate drainage infrastructure and the escalating impact of climate change. He revealed that only 2% of drainage channels in the Greater Accra Region, requiring concrete lining, have been addressed, reflecting the urgent need for comprehensive action.

This, he said the fund aims to provide a structured financial mechanism to expedite necessary projects like drainage construction and dredging help address the country’s flooding problems head-on.

Beyond flooding, Minister Oppong Nkrumah addressed Ghana’s housing deficit, currently standing at 1.8 million units. He acknowledged challenges in affordable housing programs due to funding limitations and project delays, exacerbated by unfinished projects from previous administrations. The Minister advocated for robust public-private partnerships, offering incentives to private developers to undertake large-scale affordable housing projects.

During the three-day BENCHH 2024 conference, discussions will include regulatory reforms and the establishment of a Works Inspectorate Unit to ensure adherence to building and safety standards. The Ministry aims to present comprehensive reports on government initiatives, achievements, and challenges, seeking input from stakeholders on innovative approaches.

Minister Oppong Nkrumah expressed confidence in the outcomes of BENCHH 2024, highlighting the potential of collaborative efforts to drive tangible progress in Ghana’s built environment sector. He urged participants to actively engage in discussions and contribute their expertise towards crafting actionable strategies that address the nation’s housing and hydrology challenges comprehensively.

Election 2024: Let’s safeguard the courts, EC to avert turmoil – Peace Council encourages the public

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The National Peace Council has issued a caution against involving the courts and state institutions in politically sensitive talks.

The Council feels that such engagement jeopardises the integrity of these institutions, causing a drop in public trust and potentially upsetting the nation’s peace.

During a Peace Dialogue with stakeholders in Accra on Tuesday, Ernest Adu Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Peace Council, urged the people to support state institutions in their efforts to maintain peace, underlining the need of these institutions being neutral.

“Last Sunday, the president of the Bar Association made a clear statement that politicians should not bring politics into our judicial system. Cases go to court. You either put up a good case or not. And if you lose a case, you don’t go to the media and start making noise. You know, get a good case.”

“We’ve had situations where the government has lost cases, haven’t we? We’ve had it. So if we’ve had those situations, why do we then think that every case that somebody loses is because somebody has paid somebody? So we keep getting all these things and it gives the judiciary bad publicity.”

“But I think that the institutions of peace and justice in this country must be protected and when I talk about [them] I talk about peace council, electoral commission, the judiciary.

“These institutions must be protected. The public must know that if we run these institutions down, there’ll be trouble. You know, these are things that everybody must be worried about once we see these things going on. And we think we need to rise and defend these institutions,” he stated.

Election 2024: Bawumia gaining acceptance among first-time voters – Global InfoAnalytics

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According to a recent survey performed by Global InfoAnalytics, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is earning strong support among first-time voters.

This pattern, according to the polling agency, suggests a shift in voter opinion, particularly among the younger population, as the 2024 election approaches.

Musah Dankwa, Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, said in a media interview that the study sampled over 7,000 responses and discovered that a significant majority of young people believe Dr. Bawumia is the best choice to govern Ghana.

Musah Dankwa stated that the NPP flagbearer’s recent statewide campaign tour has not only reenergized the party but has also played an important role in increasing his popularity.

He further emphasised that first-time voters will be the deciding factor in the upcoming December general elections.

“If you look at the polling numbers in detail, you would see that Bawumia’s gain largely came from first-time voters. In the April poll, he [Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia] was losing by quite a bit but at the moment, he is at par with Mahama on first-time voters.

“That is where he drew his numbers from and they are now at 44 percent each so what I can say is that this election will be about the vote of the young voters. Whoever is able to win the minds and hearts of first-time voters will win this election.”

I’II accept ministerial appointment from Mahama – Nana Yaa Jantuah

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Nana Yaa Jantuah, the former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has expressed her wish to serve in the future administration of John Dramani Mahama if he wins the 2024 general elections.

In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Face to Face on Channel One TV, the former General Secretary of the CPP ruled out the idea of accepting a cabinet position if Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP flagbearer, wins the election.

Nana Yaa Jantuah asserted boldly that, having seen and worked with leaders from both the NPP and the NDC, she had a thorough awareness of their respective strengths and shortcomings.

“I don’t hate the UP tradition, but I have worked with everybody, and I know who is good, sincere, honest, and if you are juxtaposing, I know who cares, I know who doesn’t trick and I know H.E Mahama, I have actually known him for 30 years, and he is a good man.

“Sometimes if I hear some of the things they say about him in public, I wonder who they are talking about, because it doesn’t fit his personality,” she said.

Nana Yaa Jantuah clarified that she has not considered defecting to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), reaffirming her allegiance to the CPP, stating that she remains committed to the CPP’s ideals and objectives.

“I haven’t thought about it yet, I’m still with the CPP, and I believe the CPP has a good brand,” he told host Umaru Sanda Amadu.

England’s talisman Jude Bellingham exudes CR7 “confidence” and the same drive for improvement as the Portuguese GOAT.

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According to former England player Wes Brown, Jude Bellingham has “the same thing” as Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of confidence and drive for improvement.

The Real Madrid midfielder saved the Three Lions from certain defeat in their last-16 match against Slovenia by displaying traits akin to those of Cristiano Ronaldo. Bellingham’s incredible overhead kick with just seconds remaining in the match broke the tie and put England in position to win in extra time.

Former Manchester United defender Brown, who once played alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford, has told the Euro Thrash podcast of Bellingham being cut from the same cloth as the Portuguese superstar: “I don’t think it is arrogance, I just think it is confidence. Cristiano Ronaldo had the same thing. He would get a lot of stick early on and he would come in the next day and be like ‘ok, I will prove them wrong’. He knew he was going to make mistakes but ultimately would focus on what he’s doing regardless of a missed chance, missed tackle. He would say, ‘This is football and I am just going to get better and better’. Jude shows that. He also shows his frustration at times because he knows he is capable of doing something like that. He’s not been in every game, he’s not been in every moment and for me, but without Jude’s goal, we’re out.”

  • mainoo(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTUREBellingham, who has just turned 21, is not the only youngster thriving for England. United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is doing likewise at the age of 19, with Brown adding on a fellow product of the Red Devils’ famed academy system: “He has come in and he’s done what he does at United. He is very calm, wants the ball anywhere, not afraid to play it forward and get involved and run forward into areas. If you are a United fan, you wanted him in there from the beginning but I think Gareth [Southgate] has seen that performance and gone ‘I’ve got a player’. He’s very comfortable and he’s very different to [Conor] Gallagher in that sense. I think he settled England, he’s got a nice rhythm with [Declan] Rice in there and it’s working better with Kobbie rather than Gallagher.”

England are now readying themselves for a European Championship quarter-final clash with Switzerland. Bellingham – who won La Liga and the Champions League with Real in 2023-24 – will be looking to deliver more moments of magic in Dusseldorf on Saturday.

Israel attaches a power connection to the Gaza facility to increase drinking water supplies.

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Israel’s military claimed Tuesday that it has connected a power cable to a large desalination plant in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to give more drinking water to Palestinian inhabitants of the war-torn territory.

According to a statement released by the Israeli military and COGAT, the organisation for civilian cooperation with the Palestinians, the power connection runs straight from Israel to a United Nations-managed desalination plant in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, preventing Hamas from using the new energy source.

Production will increase fourfold to 20,000 cubic metres of drinking water per day, according to the statement.

That is far from enough to supply the population of Gaza, which has been devastated by nine months of war.

“The increase in supply of water is a further step taken to support humanitarian efforts for Gazan residents, and to prevent contamination and outbreaks of disease during the summer months,” the statement said.

Israel has been under growing international pressure to allow in more aid and supplies to relieve the humanitarian crisis.

The UK election offers optimism to first-time immigrant voters.

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Prathesh Panjak and other immigrant voters are delighted to vote for the first time in a British election on July 4, hoping to impact change in the place they have chosen to call home.

The opposition Labour Party is largely predicted to win by a landslide, succeeding Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party, which has held power for 14 years.

Refugees and immigrants from Commonwealth nations, mostly former British Empire areas like Nigeria, India, and Malaysia, can vote in British elections.

Panjak, 27, who came to Britain in February last year, said he was excited to cast his vote after missing the election in his native India.

“In my country, they don’t allow people from other countries to vote … I came here on a student visa, but they are giving us an opportunity, like British citizens,” said Panjak who works part-time as an ambassador at his university in Manchester, northwest England.

Teh Wen Sun, a 33-year-old Malaysian student from Salford, not far from Manchester, said she did not see much difference between the two main parties, but she was keen to vote for a party that is more receptive to immigrants.

Immigration is an electoral battleground in Britain, with Sunak promising to cut net migration levels if the Conservatives win, amid concern from many British voters that it was too high and put excessive pressure on the state-run National Health Service, housing and education.

Sunak has since tightened visa rules and made international headlines for a policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Oyinkansola Dirisu, 31, a support worker from Manchester who came to Britain in 2022, said she was looking forward to voting for Labour, and said she wanted whoever won power to make it easier for people like her to move to Britain.

Others, like Esther Offem, 26, who came from Nigeria last September, are still undecided: “None (of the parties) have done much in the areas that I’m most interested in. But at the moment, I would probably go for the Conservatives … I’m not sure yet.”

Minority boycotts vetting of the Deputy Trade Minister-designate.

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Members of the Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Appointments Committee have boycotted the vetting of the Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry.

Kofi Ahenkorah-Marfo, the Deputy Trade and Industry Minister-designate, is scheduled to be vetted today, July 2, but according to a press statement issued by Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, he and his colleagues will not participate in the process.

Minority members claim that present economic conditions make it hard for them to participate in the screening process.

The caucus also referenced the relocation of foreign corporations from Ghana, indicating such cases warrant a reduction in government size rather than an expansion.

“We are again unable to support this nomination by President Akufo-Addo at this time because our country has gone through (and continues to go through) very difficult periods, including the crippling economic crisis, food insecurity, debt default as a result of excessive borrowing, corruption in government and wasteful and reckless expenditures.

“With ordinary Ghanaians going through excruciating hardships and businesses relocating from Ghana as a result of the high tax regime created by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, one would have expected the President to downsize his already large government. This would have sent a signal to the people that the President was mindful of the economic realities and was willing to do things differently to restore the needed confidence in the economy.”

The Minority members further stressed that “We will not, and cannot, take part in a decision to further burden the already suffering Ghanaian, especially when the president is unmindful of the financial consequences of his bloated government.”

Russian Ambassador Nebenzya advises against delivering armaments to Ukraine.

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Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya told reporters that Russia is “discouraging” all nations from providing guns to Ukraine, adding that “I presume that the decision that might be taken on the issue may of course have certain political consequences.”

The Russian Ambassador addressed to media today (July 1) on the Security Council’s July agenda, as his country serves as President of the Council for the month.

The Russian Ambassador addressed reporters’ queries in his official capacity.

Asked about Afghanistan, Nebenzya said, “Taliban is de facto authorities on Afghanistan, and we’ve been saying consistently that you have to recognize this fact and deal with them as such. Because whether you like it or not, but this movement is running the country now. And you cannot simply ignore that.”

Asked about how far Russia is from removing Taliban from the sanctions list, Ambassador Nebenzya said, “I cannot tell you a definite answer. But I heard some talks about it. But generally speaking, it is good that Taliban was finally invited to Doha this time.”

Asked about the geopolitical divide and Security Council reform, the Russian Ambassador said, “indeed the developing world, the so-called developing world or rather global south is, in particular Africa is underrepresented in the Security Council, while the collective West that I will call, is overrepresented there, which does not reflect the current state of world geopolitics. So these processes are happening. It is painful for some of them, but they will continue to shape the geopolitics for the future to come.”

Asked about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ambassador Nebenzya said, “So the panel of experts, instead of trying to find ways within their mandate and expertise, how to engage and encourage the talks between the major protagonists, it enjoyed itself in producing reports with really laughable things which are not the core of the problem on the Korean Peninsula.”

Mauritania’s President Ghazouani re-elected

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President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania has been re-elected for a second term after winning the nationwide poll on Saturday.

He won the first round by a considerable margin, receiving 56.1% of the votes.

His primary opponent, anti-slavery campaigner Biram Dah Abeid, earned 22.1% of the vote and is contesting the results, claiming fraud.

On Monday, the country’s independent electoral body validated the results, which showed a 55% turnout of the 2 million eligible voters.

The constitutional court will now study the figures before delivering the final outcome.

Taghioullah Ledhem, a spokeswoman for CENI, the country’s independent election authority, indicated that no detections have been made and no complaints have been filed.

However, several opposition candidates have taken a different stance.

The commission consists of representatives from political parties, with its president appointed by the government, leading to accusations of collusion with Ghazouani’s regime.

Abeid, claiming to be the true victor, denounced the provisional results as an “electoral coup d’état” to benefit Ghazouani.

He accused the electoral commission of fraudulently awarding Ghazouni thousands of votes “out of nowhere.”

Abeid, speaking from his residence in Riadh, urged civil disobedience against the government and appealed to the military and security forces not to be manipulated by the government against the people.

He emphasized that the battle is not over, asserting that the people will continue to resist until the end.

Despite allegations of corruption and mismanagement from his opponents, Ghazouani, a former army chief, remains popular among Mauritanians who view him as a symbol of stability.

The election occurred amidst regional instability, with neighboring countries experiencing military coups and jihadi violence.

Mauritania boasts abundant natural resources such as iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, gold, oil, and natural gas.

The country is set to become a gas producer with the anticipated launch of the BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyin offshore gas project on the Senegal border by year-end.

However, nearly 60% of the population lives in poverty, primarily engaged in farming or informal employment.

Due to limited economic prospects for youth domestically, many are seeking opportunities in Europe, and some are even attempting to reach the United States via Mexico.

Ghazouani’s victory solidifies Mauritania’s position as a key ally of the West in a region plagued by instability and violence.

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