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We would constantly watch the voter registration process to prevent rigging by the EC, NPP – NDC.

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Notwithstanding the party’s complaint against the Electoral Commission, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that it will closely watch the continuing restricted voter registration process.

On Tuesday, September 12, the NDC accused the Election Commission of making voter registration difficult in its strongholds.

The ongoing restricted voter registration aims to register more than 1.3 million people who have turned 18 since the last registration period in 2020.

The 21-day workout began on September 12 and will conclude on October 2.

Addressing the press, the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said members of the party will monitor the exercise to ensure that the process is not manipulated by the EC.

“We are ready, very ready but we care for the poor registrants who must cater for the costs and constraints of being registered to vote. We currently have our agents and officers in all 268 district offices of the Electoral Commission countrywide and we are keenly and actively monitoring the process.

“We will ensure that the manipulation of the EC and the NPP to rig the process are defeated and defeated soundly.”

Google antitrust trial: Tech giant denies exploiting position to seek monopoly

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Google has refuted claims that it is the most popular search engine in the world due to unethical business tactics, claiming that switching to a different provider just requires “literally four taps.”

The corporation is currently through a trial to determine if it is a monopoly, and one of its attorneys made the comments in court on Tuesday in Washington, DC.

The situation is a significant test of the authority of American authorities over the tech behemoths.

The case, according to the prosecution, is about “the future of the internet.”

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, as well as representatives from Apple will testify throughout the trial, which is scheduled to last 10 weeks.

Judge Amit Mehta, who was appointed to his position on the DC district court by former president Barack Obama, will decide the case – the biggest for the industry in 25 years.

The government’s lawsuit focuses on billions of payments Google has made to Apple, Samsung, Mozilla and others to be pre-installed as the default online search engine.

The US said Google typically pays more than $10bn a year for that privilege, securing its access to a steady gush of user data that helped maintain its hold on the market.

“Are there other distribution channels? Other ways of distributing search? Yes…. Are these as powerful as defaults? No,” Department of Justice lawyer Kenneth Dintzer said, addressing the judge. “The best testimony for that, for the importance of defaults, your Honour, is Google’s chequebook.”

When Apple first installed Google as the default search engine in 2002, no payments were involved, prosecutors said.

But by 2005, worried about its lead eroding, Google proposed to pay the company – later threatening to cancel payments if other firms got similar access, the government said.

The company also discouraged Apple from expanding its own search products and Samsung, which makes Android phones, from working with a company that used a different kind of search method.

“This is a monopolist, flexing,” Mr Dintzer said.

Google said it faced intense competition, not just from general search engine firms, such as Microsoft’s Bing, but more specialised sites and apps that people use to find restaurants, airline flights and more.

“There are lots of ways users access the web, other than through default search engines, and people use them all the time,” the company’s lawyer, John Schmidtlein, said.

“The evidence in this case will show Google competed on the merits to win pre-installation and default status, and that its browser and Android partners judged Google to be the best search engine for its users.”

Mr Schmidtlein said that despite Windows PCs being the number one used desktop and having Bing pre-set as the default browser, a majority of Windows users still opt to use Google – demonstrating Google’s superiority as a search platform.

The trial is the latest regulatory challenge to face Google, which recently settled another case over its app store brought by US states. The company is also facing a federal lawsuit over its advertising business and has found itself in the crosshairs in Europe, where it has been fined billions in monopoly cases.

The government has asked for “structural relief” if it wins – which could mean the break-up of the company.

The suit comes as artificial intelligence and new forms of search, such as ChatGPT, are providing a more serious threat to Google’s dominance than the company has encountered in years.

Source: BBC

August saw a reduction in inflation to 40.1% from 43.1%.

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From 43.1% in July 2023, the inflation rate fell to 40.1% in August 2023. This indicates that the overall price level was 40.1 percent higher in August 2023 than it was in August 2022.

Moreover, food inflation dropped from 55.0% in July to 51.9% in August.

For the first time this year, the rate of inflation for imported goods was less than that for goods made domestically.

Inflation for locally produced items was 42.4% while inflation for imported items was 36.2%

Government Statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Anim announced the figures on Wednesday, September 13. He noted that the decline in inflation was welcome news, but that it was too early to say whether it was a sustained trend.

The inflation rate is a measure of the rate at which prices are rising. A high inflation rate means that people’s purchasing power is declining, as they are paying more for the same goods and services.

JUSAG demands improved security, risk allowance for staff after Tamale attack

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After the recent attacks at the Tamale District Court, the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) needs better protection and some risk allowance for its personnel.

On August 28, several locals invaded the Tamale district court. When a guy was accused of distributing narcotics to young people, the enraged citizens stormed the Tamale district court.

A police officer was hurt as a consequence of the mob throwing stones at the court. During the incident, there was additional shooting between the Police and the Youth.

Since then, JUSAG has denounced this behaviour and called it cruel.

The Association has also demanded more court security and risk coverage for its members.

President of JUSAG, Mr Samuel Afotey Otu who made this call during the 2023 Judicial Service Staff Durbar and Open Forum in Cape Coast said, the incident is a wake-up call for its members to be considered for risk allowances.

“As members of the judicial service, it is our solemn duty to nurture and protect the justice system. We have the immense responsibility of shaping the future of our nation by upholding the principles of justice and the rule of law.

“As we do this and more, let us enhance security in our Courts to protect and safeguard staff, judges and magistrates and our clients.

“The recent incident of attack at the Tamale District Court is a wake-up call on the service to relook at our security protocols. It also sends a signal that all employees of the service are at risk.

“And with this inherent risk, provision of risk allowance should not be seen as too much for staff,” Mr Afotey Otu charged.

Government hints privatising Cocoa Processing Company, 16 other SEOs

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The Government has hinted of entering a public-private partnership to turn around the fortunes of some 17 State-Owned Enterprises, including the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC).

Although the names of all the entities were not given, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister, in responding to a question about the future of CPC, said government had considered some level of privatisation to make it profitable.

This comes on the heels of CPC’s cumulative $163.2 million losses in 14 years (2009 to 2022)-a company that the Government through the Ministry of Finance holds some 26 per cent shares.

“If you look at the SOEs, those that are joint venture partners do much better, and maybe that’s what’s needed to go forward. So, there will be more privatisation so that they won’t become a burden on government, while performing their primary task of production.” Mr Ofori-Atta said.

He said despite current economic hardship, the Government remained steadfast in investing and providing quality infrastructure, including roads and telecommunication to enable businesses thrive.

He said this in a media interview after a breakfast meeting with members of the Ghana Club 100 on public-private partnerships, and ways to bridge the gap between the public and private sector for sustainable economic development.

Speaking at the forum, Mr Edward Boateng, the Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), said the 17 companies had received Cabinet approval for their privatisation.

He expressed confidence in such collaboration making public entities work profitably, while creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and grow faster with less investment.

“That is why we want to collaborate with GIPC to see where we can bring foreign capital to help turn some of these entities around, by working with entrepreneurs and business people.” Mr Boateng added.

He explained that most SOEs had failed to entities had failed to be profitable because they were being managed with a “kiosk mentality, where people go into these entities and they manage them as their own little operations.”

However, through the implementation of the SIGA Act, there had been increased oversight responsibility over SOEs, making them more compliant and accountable, resulting in their growth, according to him.

“We’re working hard to change the narrative because when the narratives of the public sector changes, it basically trickles down to the private sector, which trickles down to increase in government revenues and others,” he said.

On the importance of PPP, he cited the Ada Songor salt project as a testament of collaboration, where the office of the President, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and SIGA worked together with the private sector for profitability.

“Through collaboration this entity (Ada Songor salt mine) has been turned over to a private entity and arguably, now the biggest salt winner, not only in West Africa, but Africa,” he said.

About 25 per cent of Ghana’s debt burden is attributed to non-central government operations, primarily from State Owned Enterprises such as COCOBOD and entities in the energy sector.

It is for this reason that the Government under the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) US$3 billion loan-support programme is seeking to improve operational performance of SOEs through management reforms and monitoring to foster more competition and efficiency.

The reform of SOEs would see the implementation of a policy, where there would be a cap on salary adjustment of employees, making them earn lower than negotiated base pay increase on Single Spine Salary Structure for each year.

Limited registration ongoing amid tension in Takoradi  

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The ongoing limited voter’s registration exercise in Takoradi has been characterized by tension between some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) over allegations of registering unqualified individuals including minors. 

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the Takoradi Sub-Metro registration centre, it observed that some people suspected to be supporters of the NPP had organised some students to register, with those believed to be members of the NDC raising concerns over the matter, resulting in a near scuffle between the two opposing groups.  

However, the police were at the scene to restore calm at the venue. 

Meanwhile, as of 1325hrs, 30 voters had been registered and issued with their cards, while others were in a queue waiting to be attended to.  

Mr Prince Acheampong, Takoradi Sub-Metro District Registration Officer, told the GNA that the situation was under control, and that the registration officials would work strictly according to the rules and regulations governing the exercise.  

At the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal registration centre, a total of 63 first time voters had also been registered and issued with their cards as of 1340hrs when the GNA visited the centre. 

However, the registration exercise had paused briefly due to network connectivity problems.  

Mr Fred Opare, the Electoral Officer at the centre, told the GNA that efforts were underway to resolve the challenge to resume the exercise.  

He said in the meantime, they were generating unique codes for the voters to switch from online to offline registration process.  

ECOWAS holds a Weapons and Ammunition Management Baseline Assessment  

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A Regional Workshop of Focal Persons on Weapons and Ammunition Management Baseline Assessment has been held in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, to deepen the role of national focal points and improve the security of countries in the region. 

Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, who was represented by Mr. Joseph Ahoba, Head of the Small Arms Division, highlighted the efforts being made by the Commission to implement the provisions of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons. 

In a working report obtained by the Ghana News Agency in Tema, Ambassador Musah outlined ongoing initiatives such as the marking of weapons in member states and tracking projects. 

He expressed the hope that the results of the workshop would serve as a basis for action and be communicated to relevant authorities at the end of the proceedings. 

The workshop provided a platform for participants to share their expertise and experiences on weapons and ammunition management and facilitated discussions on improving the security landscape in the region and strengthening national frameworks and strategies to combat illicit arms trafficking. 

General Delmino Segismundo Mota, President of the National Commission of Small Arms and Light Weapons of Guinea-Bissau, welcomed participants and acknowledged the support of his country’s partners. 

Mr. Paul Haltom, the Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmaments and Research (UNIDIR) Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme, expressed gratitude to ECOWAS for collaborating with the institution on the methodology for assessing the management and life cycle of weapons.  

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is an autonomous institution within the United Nations that conducts independent research on disarmament and related problems, particularly international security issues. 

Mr. Haltom emphasised that the contributions made by participants at the workshop would have a significant impact on improving the relevant roadmaps. 

The workshop, which was a collaboration between the National Commission of Small Arms and Light Weapons of Guinea-Bissau, UNIDIR, and ECOWAS demonstrated the commitment of the organisations to promoting peace, security, and stability in the region. 

Overall, the Regional Workshop of Focal Persons on Weapons and Ammunition Management Baseline Assessment was a significant step forward in enhancing the management and life cycle of weapons in the region. 

The results and outcomes of the workshop will play a crucial role in guiding future actions and strategies to ensure the safety and security of countries in the region. 

Guarantor system delaying registration process

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Mr Osei Kwadjo, Registration Officer at the Ledzokuku Municipal Registration Centre, has disclosed that the guarantor system was impeding the progress of the Limited Voters Registration exercise, which commenced today. 

The Electoral Commission has begun the registration of the Voter Identification card for persons who had turned 18 years and above and for persons who could not register during the registration exercise. 

The Ghana Card is the sole identity for the Registration and persons who do not have the card would need two registered persons to guarantee them for the registration. 

Mr Osei stated that a considerable number of applicants were opting for the guarantor system, which was holding down the registration process.    

He said the requirements for house numbering and digital address were also contributing to the slow pace of the registration process in the area.  

At the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly registration centre, hundreds of people, largely young people, had lined up to register. 

According to the Registration Officer, 30 of the 40 applicants used the guarantor system to register as of 1000 hours, whilst 10 used the Ghana card. 

“The guarantor system is delaying the process. If applicants have the Ghana card, we will only fill the form 1A, but without it, we must fill the guarantor form separately before filling the applicant form which takes too much time. 

“Information flow has been difficult. Some of them do not know their house address so we probe and get a landmark to help with the process. Additionally, the registration equipment also broke down in the early hours of the day due to poor network and contributed to the delay of the process,” he said. 

However, the registration exercise has been smooth so far.  The Police have also done their bit to control the large crowd.  

Political party representatives were also present to ensure a smooth registration exercise. 

Mr. Jonathan Adjei Adjetey, the constituency Youth Organizer for the New Patriotic Party, encouraged persons above 18 years to take advantage of the exercise to acquire a Voter Identification card. 

Elizabeth Nkansah, a polling agent for the National Democratic Congress expressed worry about the slow pace of the exercise due to poor network, saying, “Today is just the first day and we are experiencing this already.” 

Political party representatives were reportedly mobilising applicants from their homes to register and prepare for the impending District Level Elections 

The registration officials anticipated that about 100 applicants would be able to register by the end of the day. 

IGP’s lawyer requests for excuse of implicated officers 

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Mr Kwame Gyan, the Lawyer of Dr George Akuffo Dampare, Inspector General of Police Tuesday requested for the three implicated senior police officers to be excused from the proceedings during his client’s testimony in the ongoing leaked tape probe. 

Appearing before Parliament’s seven-member bi-partisan Committee public hearing, Mr Gyan explained that the request for the excuse of the implicated officers would not influence the proceedings and affect the integrity of the investigation thereby reflecting his commitment to a thorough and unbiased investigation. 

“It also underscores the importance of transparency and accountability, a fair and impartial examination of the evidence,” Mr Gyan said. 

Dr Dampare, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been invited by the Committee over some alleged events surrounding a leaked tape and the allegations made by two cited officer officers involved. 

Mr Dampare’s testimony, when furnished to the Committee, would serve as a pivotal role in the ongoing investigations. 

On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, a leaked audio recording, allegedly involving a Police Commissioner and a politician discussing a plot to remove IGP Dampare from the office went into circulation.  

Consequently, the Minority Caucus in Parliament called for a probe into the leaked tape. 

Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament therefore constituted the seven-member bi-partisan Committee to authenticate the audio and probe into the secret recording of an alleged plot to remove Dr Dampare, IGP from office ahead of the 2024 general election on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. 

The Committee was, therefore, charged to report back to the House on September 10, 2023, but that had not been successful due to the ongoing investigation. 

The leaked tape discovered a plot by three officers namely; Mr George Alex Mensah, Commissioner of Police (COP); Mr George L. Asare, Superintendent of Police, Mr Emmanuel Eric Gyebi, Superintendent of Police and Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, a former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remove the IGP from office.  

All four witnesses have appeared before the seven-member Parliamentary Committee probing the leaked tape. 

Meanwhile, during COP Mensah’s appearance before the Committee, accused the IGP of mismanaging the Police Service. 

He alleged that the IGP’s leadership had led to a decline in morale among police officers. 

COP Mensah also admitted to being involved in politics and working in the interest of a Political Party, although he did not disclose the Party 

His comments therefore aligned with similar sentiments expressed in the leaked tape, where he was heard saying that the IGP must be removed to ensure the victory of the NPP in the 2024 elections. 

Nonetheless, COP Mensah strongly denied the authenticity of the tape, claiming that it had been doctored and did not accurately reflect the original conversation with Mr Bugri Naabu. 

On his part, Superintendent Asare also noted that portions of the tape were doctored and accused the IGP of plotting the audio recording when he appeared before the committee. 

While Superintendent Gyebi denied any knowledge of knowing Mr Bugri Naabu before the Committee, Mr Bugri Naabu cited all three police officers as his accomplices when he testified before the Committee as the first witness in the ongoing probe.  

Parliament’s seven-member bi-partisan Committee chaired by Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South with Mr James Agalga, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Builsa North as the Vice-Chairman is investigating the veracity of an alleged leaked audio plotting the removal of Mr Dampare. 

The Committee is made up of three members each from the Majority and Minority sides of Parliament, and a technical person. 

Among the members are Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah, NPP MP for Okaikwei Central; Madam Ophelia Mensah, NPP MP for Mfantseman; Mr Eric Opoku, NDC MP for Asunafo South and Mr Peter Lanchene Tuobu, NDC MP for Wa West as members of the Committee; and Dr Isaac Lartey Annang, a lawyer and a human rights activist, is a technical person appointed by Mr Bagbin. 

Dampare denies alleged involvement in secret recording 

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Dr George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector General of Police says he was not with Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, a former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party to do a secret recording.  

He said: “I do not have any involvement in plotting a secret recording with the former NPP Northern Regional Chairman, the IGP said” 

Testifying on Tuesday, before Parliament’s bi-partisan seven-member Committee currently probing an alleged leaked tape Mr Dampare, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) denied the allegations that he was part of a conspiracy to secretly record conversations of the three implicated police officers. 

Mr Goerge Alex Mensah, Commissioner of Police (COP); Mr George L. Asare, Superintendent of Police, Mr Emmanuel Eric Gyebi, Superintendent of Police and Mr Bugri Naabu, also a Paramount Chief of Namong in the North East Region in the Mamprugu Kingdom are witnesses in the ongoing leaked tape following their voices on the tape. 

Parliament’s seven-member bi-partisan Committee chaired by Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South with Mr James Agalga, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Builsa North as the Vice-Chairman is investigating the veracity of an alleged leaked audio plotting the removal of Mr Dampare. 

On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, a leaked audio recording, allegedly involving a Police Commissioner and a politician discussing a plot to remove IGP Dampare from office circulated.  

Consequently, the Minority Caucus in Parliament called for a probe into the leaked tape. 

Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament therefore constituted the seven-member bi-partisan Committee to authenticate the audio and probe into the secret recording of an alleged plot to remove Dr Dampare, IGP from office ahead of the 2024 general election on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. 

The Committee was, therefore, charged to report back to the House on September 10, 2023, but that had not been successful due to the ongoing investigation. 

The Committee is made up of three members each from the Majority and Minority sides of Parliament, and a technical person. 

Among the members are Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah, NPP MP for Okaikwei Central; Madam Ophelia Mensah, NPP MP for Mfantseman; Mr Eric Opoku, NDC MP for Asunafo South and Mr Peter Lanchene Tuobu, NDC MP for Wa West as members of the Committee. 

While Dr Isaac Lartey Annang, a lawyer and a human rights activist, is a technical person appointed by Mr Bagbin. 

Mr Dampare highlighted his commitment to upholding the law and maintaining the integrity of the Ghana Police Service and expressed his willingness to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation, vowing to provide any necessary information or assistance to uncover the truth behind the leaked tape. 

The IGP told the Committee that some wild allegations made against him by the three police officers had caused severe pain to him and his family. 

COP Mensah told the committee when he appeared that the IGP plotted the recording of the audio with Mr Bugri Naabu, adding that his intel indicated that the IGP had the full unedited recording. 

Mr Bugri Naabu has been a major figure in the leaked tape. 

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