President Akufo-Addo has filed a petition to Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo demanding the removal of the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng.
Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu petitioned President Akufo-Addo to remove Mr. Agyebeng from his office.
The petition, dated April 30, 2024, claims procurement violations in the purchase of cars for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and charges Mr. Agyebeng with wrongdoing concerning judges and the administration of justice.
Mr. Amidu’s petition alleges infringement of people’ rights through arrests and detentions, violations of the right to information, and unlawful nominations to the OSP.
The impeachment process appears to be linked to a controversial press conference held by Mr. Agyebeng, during which he claimed that judges had conspired against him.
Mr. Amidu argues that these remarks constitute abuse of judges and bring the Judiciary into disrepute.
This development follows reports that Mr. Agyebeng refused demands to resign, choosing instead to hold a press conference to express his frustrations with his role.
Additionally, Mr. Amidu asserts that the Special Prosecutor abused the rights of individuals such as Cecilia Dapaah and Prof. Frimpong Boateng by arresting them.
Fidelity Bank, Ghana’s largest privately-owned bank, has signed a landmark agreement with Proxtera on to empower Small, and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the Ghana Integrated Financial Ecosystem (GIFE) Platform.
The agreement was signed Wednesday during the ongoing 3i Africa Summit, a major gathering focused on driving Africa’s growth potential.
GIFE, a collaborative effort between the Development Bank Ghana (DBG), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and the Bank of Ghana (BOG), with Proxtera as the digital infrastructure provider, aims to address these very challenges head on.
The platform provides MSMEs with a comprehensive digital solution for growth.
Nana Esi Idun-Arkhurst, Divisional Director, Retail and Business Banking at Fidelity Bank, and Mr. Saurav Bhattacharyya, Chief Executive Officer of Proxtera signed on behalf of their respective organisations.
Ms Idun-Arkhurst emphasised the crucial role of SMEs in Ghana’s economy, highlighting job creation and innovation.
She, however, identified challenges such as limited access to finance, customer reach, and essential business skills.
This lack of expertise, Ms. Idun-Arkhurst explained, hindered informed decision-making and sustainable growth.
“GIFE presents yet another opportunity for the bank to provide the needed solutions to today’s modern SMEs, helping them compete locally, regionally, and globally, in addition to all the programs, platforms, and solutions we already offer SMEs,” Ms Idun-Arkhurst said.
Ms. Idun-Arkhurst expressed the hope that all SMEs who signed up on the GIFE platform would have the unparalleled opportunity of positioning themselves to be a global player.
Ms. Idun-Arkhurst highlighted that Fidelity Bank looked forward to working with Proxtera to deepen the governance of Ghanaian SMEs, “and we will work with all the various stakeholders in the value chain to make this possible.”
Mr. Saurav Bhattacharyya, CEO of Proxtera, reiterated Proxtera’s commitment to the shared vision of empowering Ghanaian MSMEs. “We are dedicated to making GIFE a successful platform that fosters inclusive economic growth,” said Mr. Bhattacharya.
“Our collaboration with Fidelity Bank and other GIFE participants ensures that the platform meets the specific needs of Ghanaian SMEs.
“We have plans for continuous improvement and expansion of the GIFE platform, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for businesses well into the future, ” he said.
Fidelity Bank’s signing with Proxtera on the GIFE platform marks a significant step towards empowering Ghana’s SMEs.
“This collaboration demonstrates the Bank’s commitment to supporting the growth of this vital sector and contributing to a more prosperous Ghanaian economy for all,” he said.
The Anloga District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has announced plans to mark this year’s Constitution Week celebration with a lot of planned citizens engagements.
The Week to be held on the theme: “Together We Can Build Ghana, So Get Involved,” is an annual event being part of the Commission’s flagship programmes.
Togbi Hatsu III, the Anloga District NCCE Director in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the period would be used to educate Ghanaians on the importance of a peaceful elections, ensuring violence-free elections, and obedience to the statutes of the Constitution.”
He said citizens would be reminded of how the 1992 Constitution had lived to its relevance, and the need to always uphold the constitutional rule, among others.
It was also revealed that the Commission would embark on a three-day education tour in some basic schools across the district, starting from May 20 to 22.
Salo D/A Basic School, Agortoe Basic School, Agbatsivi Basic School, Adzato RC Basic School, Aklorfudzi Basic School, Tregui, Azanu, Beneadzi, Trekume, Bleamezado, and Sakome Basic Schools would be visited on May 20.
The second day of the exercise would see Atito Basic School, Kodzi Basic School, Fiaxor Basic School, Alakple Basic School, Genui Basic School, Akplorwotorkor Basic School, Atorkor Basic School, Atorkor BBC School, Eastridge School, Srogboe and Whuti EP Basic Schools as the next set of engagements.
Also, schools along the coast including, Tegbi RC, Afedome, Tegbi EP, Tegbi Agbedrafor and Tegbi Ashiata, Emmanuel school complex, Woe EP, Woe Salvation Army School, Woe Dziedzorve, Woe Aklorbordzi Basic school, ANSECO Basic School, Agorve Basic School, Dornorgbor EP Basic and Avete Basic Schools would not be left out.
Besides the basic schools, the team would engage other groups across the district.
The aims of the celebration, among others, are to reflect on the cornerstones of democracy, which is the bedrock of the Constitution, how far it had come, accessing the achievements of Ghana’s democracy, and the misfortunes associated with it.”
The Ghana Revenue Authority has denied claims of charging duties on imported vehicles in foreign currencies.
It said duties were calculated based on Customs Act 2015 (Act 891).
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, the authority said the claims that GRA calculated duties in foreign currency were misleading and should be disregarded.
“Duties and taxes are computed based on the value of vehicles from the country of origin. In addition to the cost of vehicles, insurance and freight charges must be added to form the basis for the calculation of duty and taxes.
The cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) values are quoted in international convertible currencies such as dollars, euros, pounds sterling, etc.,” the statement said.
The authority said cost, insurance, and freight values are then converted into Ghana cedis at the prevailing Bank of Ghana exchange rate.
Thus, rates of duty and other taxes are then calculated on the item in Ghana cedis and not quoted in foreign currency as it was speculated.
The authority entreated the general public to disregard the false information and urged all importers who have concerns about the calculation of customs duties and taxes to reach the GRA.
The authority further reiterated that the Customs Division imposed duties and other taxes strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act 2015 (Act 891).
Mrs Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh, Gender, Children and Social Protection Coordinator of the NPP Manifesto committee, has said that the party will mainstream disability issues in their manifesto.
She said every sector of the economy would be encouraged to include disability issues so that disability inclusion becomes part and parcel of everything we do as a country.
“Disability issues will be on the main menu and not be treated as a supplementary dish,” she said when the Gender, Children and Social Protection Committee of the NPP Manifesto committee met with the Manifesto Committee of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisation (GFD) to discuss issues of importance to them.
The Gender. Children and Social Protection Committee of the NPP Committee will prioritise social protection issues to facilitate the inclusion of persons with disabilities and children with disabilities in our development agenda.
Mrs Nerquaye-Tetteh, who particularly highlighted the importance of the inclusion of children with disabilities in development, said equal opportunities should start right from the beginning to change the mindsets of the populace about persons with disabilities.
She applauded the GFD for the development of the Disability Manifesto to guide political parties to include disability issues in their manifestos.
Mr Jeleel Auberon Odoom, Chairman of the GFD Manifesto Committee, urged the NPP Manifesto Committee to invest heavily in the implementation of Inclusive Education and explained that it will help regular children to become empathetic and supportive of children with disabilities.
He said even though Ghana has approximately 2.4 million people with disabilities, the effective implementation of disability- inclusive policies and programmes remain inadequate.
“Persons with disabilities continue to encounter significant barriers in accessing essential services such as education, healthcare, employment and social support,” Mr Odoom said and urged political parties to pay attention and commit to the concerns and aspirations of persons with disabilities.
The Lands and Mining Watch Ghana (LMWG), a civil society organisation has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene to restore the rule of law and to protect Ghana’s 10 per cent stake in the Adamus Resources.
“We are appalled by the revelation that Angela List, Group CEO of Nguvu Holdings Limited in collaboration with select individuals from political and security circles, has orchestrated a bold and illegal scheme to export gold allegedly valued at over seven million US dollars from Adamus Resources, a cornerstone of Ghana’s mining industry.
“This egregious violation of the law has been facilitated under the guise of the non-existence of the Interim Management Committee (IMC), in direct defiance of the consequential orders issued by the esteemed Accra High Court,” it stated.
The LMWG at a news conference addressed by Mr Solomon Owusu, the Convenor said the contempt displayed by Angela List and her cohorts towards the clear directives of the Accra High Court regarding the constitution of an IMC for Adamus Resources was deeply troubling.
“Despite the court’s unambiguous instructions, our investigation has uncovered no evidence of an appeal lodged against these orders. This blatant disregard for the rule of laws and the judiciary’s authority is unacceptable and demands immediate redress,” the organisation stated.
The LMWG said it was imperative that the government fulfilled its duty to protect its interests, particularly its substantial 10 per cent stake in Adamus Resources.
“However, the concerning indifference exhibited by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in addressing this matter promptly raises serious doubts about its commitment to upholding the nation’s sovereignty in the mining sector.
“Furthermore, the collusion of certain security agencies in facilitating the illegal exportation of gold, despite a pending injunction application, undermines public trust in the integrity of law enforcement institutions and calls for urgent investigation and corrective action,” it stated.
The LMWG said the conduct of the Attorney General’s office in providing questionable advice to Angela List and Nguvu Mining regarding the effect of an injunction application, was deeply troubling.
“Such interference in judicial matters undermines the independence and impartiality of our judicial system and erodes public confidence in the administration of justice. The Attorney General’s role is to uphold the law, not to circumvent it or undermine the authority of our courts.”
It stated; “In light of these egregious transgressions, LMWG urgently calls upon His Excellency the President of Ghana to intervene decisively and restore the rule of law in the mining sector.
“The President in these difficult times of massive depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi should be more concerned about how dollars which could have been used to shore the economy are shipped out of the country.
“The media, civil society organisations, and all stakeholders must unite in demanding accountability and transparency. It is imperative that those responsible for violating the law are held to account and that measures are put in place to prevent such flagrant disregard for court orders and national interests from occurring in the future.”
The LMWG noted that transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law are essential for the sustainable management of Ghana’s natural resources and the equitable distribution of their benefits among all citizens.
“We are therefore calling on the media as the fourth Estate of the realm to see this development as a call to duty to follow the court proceedings regarding this matter with eagle eyes to ensure that the country, Ghana is not short changed.”
Mr Jerry Boachie Danquah, Head of Marketing, Ghana Stock Exchange, has advised small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa to consider listing on stock exchanges for the longevity and capitalization of their businesses.
He said the unwillingness of African SMEs to allow partnerships through enlistments on their respective national stock markets deprived them considerable access to capital, resulting in the failure of their businesses.
Speaking at a panel discussion on bridging the gap between academia and industry on the third and final day of the 3i Africa Summit in Accra, Mr. Danquah stated that enterprises, particularly Unilever Gh Ltd and other prominent global corporations, have maintained their longevity by listing on the stock market.
He said observations gathered at the Ghana Stock Exchange showed that SMEs in Africa were emotionally attached to their businesses, which almost always resulted in their failure when the owner died.
“We advised them that one of the best ways to access capital and ensure the longevity of their business is to consider enlisting in the stock market. Once they are enlisted on the stock market, they will get the right board and systems that will ensure the longevity of their businesses,” he said.
The summit was organised under the theme “Unleashing Africa’s FinTech and Digital Economic Potential.”
It aimed to provide a platform for stakeholders from all industries to interact and encourage innovation across Africa.
Mr Danquah urged SMEs to adopt and implement prudent and robust financial and managerial practices to ensure the longevity and sustainability of their businesses. “It is imperative to incorporate basic accounting and bookkeeping practices to ensure creditworthiness and easy access to credit from financial institutions,” he said.
The government has committed to an ambitious vision to transform Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) into millionaire companies.
It intends to increase financing for SMEs in critical sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture and agro-processing, and manufacturing, while creating an environment to lessen the risk of commercial banks’ lending to SMEs.
The government would also champion the training of SMEs in business plan preparation, book keeping and basic systems in banking.
This is to build their capacities to understand and meet the conditions to easily access loans from banks, and grants from other development finance institutions for expansion and be able to repay the same.
Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Finance Minister, said this when he visited some SMEs at a special edition of the Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM), held on Wednesday, May 15, in Accra.
It comes on the back of a strategic partnership between the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), GEXIM, and GCB Bank to invest some US$200 million into Ghanaian SMEs.
He indicated that the government had taken the lead to support these SMEs with more funding through the Ghana Export-Import Bank, and Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA).
This move is to make the SMEs, which constitute about 92 per cent of manufacturing, 70 per cent of growth and provide 80 per cent of jobs, be at the centre of Ghana’s economic growth and stability, he said.
The support, the Minister said, would be given to SMES with “credible business plans, and are manufacturing, those who we can monitor their growth so that over the next 10 years, we can create millionaires out of them.”
He stated that the government had made interventions to address the risk of recovery of funds, which had seen some of the commercial banks coming onboard to lend to SMEs.
Dr Amin Adam noted there had not been any economy in the world that developed without the contribution of SMEs, hence, the government’s new focus to support them to thrive.
“As the global economic dynamics are no longer favourable in attracting large companies and Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), we need to learn to grow our economy from and within our borders and the SMEs really standout,” he said.
The Minister called for more institutional support to make the Tuesday market a permanent feature of the country’s commercial space.
“It is important for several reasons; the jobs that are created, the opportunity to grow entrepreneurs and manufacturing businesses, and the growth of our economy,” he said.
Some SMEs who spoke to the Ghana News Agency lauded the Tuesday market initiative as it opened them up to individual and corporate customers and investors.
They called for increased access to finance, which remained a major constraint for their expansion and commercialisation of some products, which were yet to be on the market on a larger scale.
Michael Acquah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Supreme Podz Industry Limited, an SME that produces fruit juice from cocoa pulps, summed the challenges of SMEs in the country.
“Our installed capacity is about two tonnes of production per day, but we’re currently doing 500 litres a day. What we need, like many other SMEs, is money to procure logistics and equipment to realise our full scale,” he said.
Ewuradwoa Ahoi, the CEO of made by Rawd, a beauty technology company whose products are made from shea also echoed that financial challenges remained a key hindrance to growth, expansion, and success of Ghanaian SMEs.
“Access to finance is a tedious task, so if the government is to support us more through innovative initiatives, we’ll be able to get our products out of Ghana because there’s demand for it,” Ms Ahoi said.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has directed an immediate reversal of the recent increases in the prices of cement.
He also directed that retail prices of cement were published by all manufacturers in the country to stop the continuous arbitrary increases in major building material.
In a statement issued by the Ministry and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, May 15, the Minister asked the Cement Manufacturing Development Committee (CMDC) to carry out the instruction without fail.
The statement reiterated the Minister’s earlier call for the Committee to work with cement companies to ensure uniform cement prices nationwide.
That is to be done by adopting a unified cement pricing mechanism similar to the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) adopted by the National Petroleum Authority for fuel retail in Ghana, the statement said.
The Committee, established under the Ghana Standards Authority (Manufacture of Cement) Regulations, 2023 (Ll 2480), is the regulator of cement manufacture in the country.
It is, therefore, responsible for promoting the manufacturing, wholesale and retail of cement and cement components.
Its membership includes representatives of cement manufacturers, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Institution of Engineers, MoTI, and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Fenice Metal Technology Limited Company, a Ghanaian cable manufacturer, says it would help the country to significantly cut down the importation of finished cable products through a vibrant import substitution strategy.
The Founder and CEO of Fenice, Mr Lu Changshou, said the company has developed an innovative technology that permits it to obtain refined copper from recycled material thereby reducing the country’s reliance on expensive imported copper rods.
Prior to the intervention, almost all local cable manufacturers had to import all the raw materials, especially the copper rod, from Europe.
Fenice Metal Technology Limited, which has set up the first copper recycling plant in West Africa, said it plans to expand its copper rod production from the current 600 tons per month to 1,600 tons per month over the next five years to meet demand of local cable manufacturers.
The CEO said the supply to local manufacturers would help them to save cost and bring down the price of their products to be able to compete favourably with the imported ones. This would also save the country millions of US dollars thereby augmenting government’s efforts to strengthen the dollar.
“Today in Ghana more than 80% of the cable is imported, while 20% is locally made. So, we have the intention of reversing this trend given the goodwill of the Ghanaian people towards Fenice”.
“We have the confidence that we are going to facilitate the same story here in Ghana just as we did in Nigeria. We are going to help the industry to achieve import substitution,” he said.
The CEO said while the plant had the capacity to produce 1,600 tons, the inability to access enough raw materials locally was stifling growth.
“But we are working on it and in the next few years, we expect to see growth,” he said.
“So, for now, due to the low availability of scrap for recycling, the maximum we can get is 600 tons monthly. But in the future, if the market is going well, we can import the scrap copper,” he added.
Mr Lu Changshou said there was the need to gradually get more market share from imported copper by enhancing quality and ensuring affordable price.
“So, we are very confident. We are very passionate. We will reach there,” the CEO added.
He said the company had the ambition of becoming the number one producer in the industry.
“And we don’t see the other cable factory as competitors. We see them as partners.”
He said although there was enough output from Ghanaian manufacturers, all of whom produce good quality cables, the business is currently affected by imported products mainly from India and Turkey. Some of these imported products do not meet Ghana’s stringent quality standards.
“For me, I just want to help the country to achieve import substitution. That is the only way that, let’s say, the country can work. We are here for the long haul, and we want to be part of the Ghana success story.”
“A country like Ghana cannot rely on importation. You cannot borrow money to spend.”
“You need to help yourself to achieve self-dependence in all the products, including cables. And by investing in the country, you are going to create a lot of job opportunities. You are going to generate a lot of revenue for Ghana.”
The Founder emphasised that his company specialises in manufacturing PVC insulated cables of all sizes. He highlighted the integration of state-of-the-art equipment and machinery, coupled with a distinctive production approach, as key factors setting their products apart. He asserted that their cables uphold high quality standards, having undergone rigorous testing and approval by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). Furthermore, he underscored their competitive pricing advantage, attributing it to their in-house production of copper rods, the primary raw material essential for cable manufacturing.
The company currently has around 100 workers, who are all accommodated at the factory site at Tsopoli in the Greater Accra Region.
“We could have more, but last year we had some challenges. They are trying to frustrate us. Thank God, we are strong enough to survive” he added.
The Founder urged the government to support local manufacturing companies and listen to their concerns and help resolve them.
There is also the need for the government to lift the high taxes on manufacturing companies, provide incentives to reduce the cost of doing business and make the environment conducive for growth.
He called on the government to ban the direct export of scrap copper to encourage value addition locally.
