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Jinapor blames Anto-Aboso quarry explosion blamed on policy failure

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John Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu, has blamed the explosion at a quarry site managed by some Chinese nationals in the Shama District in the Western Region on policy failure.

The devastating explosion on Saturday night killed five individuals and injured many more. Night labourers, reported to be of both Chinese and Ghanaian origin, were among those killed, with several suffering serious burns.

In a statement, the Minerals Commission confirmed that the quarry was operating without sufficient permits.

The Commission’s mine inspectors had noticed that the company was conducting nighttime operations, presumably to avoid detection by Commission inspectors and the local task force, which included police and members of the Sand Winners and Quarry Association.

The MP wondered why the quarry company was allowed to operate without the requisite permits, bemoaning the lack of enforcement to ensure that companies comply with the country’s laws.

Speaking on the Point of View on Citi TV, hosted by Selorm Adonoo, the legislator took a dig at the regulators for failing to ensure that the quarry company acquired the license.

“I believe that we have enough laws and regulations, the problem is the enforcement. Certainly, this happened in a district, and to talk of a quarry, it’s not an underground activity. And so this idea that they were operating in the night baffles me. How did they get electricity, how did they get ECG to connect them to the grid? You might go and check, and you will be surprised to know that the district assembly had been taking taxes and levies from this company.

He stressed, “I will be very surprised if this company has been operating without paying the assembly levies. It’s clearly a policy failure, it’s clearly an enforcement failure and impunity. Foreign nationals just come to Ghana and begin to do whatever they want, and when they are arrested, politicians have the audacity to tell us that look, there’s nothing to gain from prosecuting these foreign nationals”.

He suggested that the incident is handled at the national level since the region keeps recording explosion.

“Even with Appeatse explosion, nobody was prosecuted, no punitive measure, except the fine, then these foreign nationals believe that even if they break the law, what they will do is pay a fine. I’m not too sure this matter ought to be handled at the regional level, it should be escalated at the national level, especially since this is not the first time we have witnessed this kind of explosion,” Jinapor opined.

He lamented over the report, which will eventually not be put into use to prevent future occurrences.

“My worry is that this investigation will generate a report that will gather dust and in about some few months or years to come, we will come back to discuss another explosion,” he added.

The regional minister has set up a committee to investigate the incident.

This incident marks the second explosion to strike the Western Region in less than two years, following a similar tragic event that occurred in Appeatse in January the previous year.

OccupyBoGdemo: Police to Provide Protection for Minority Protest

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The Ghana Police Service has officially stated that it would provide security for the forthcoming #OccupyBOGDemo on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023.

The Minority caucus in Parliament is organising this rally to demand the resignation of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and his deputies, citing concerns over mismanagement inside the Central Bank.

The Accra Regional Police Command issued explicit instructions and expectations for the demonstration in a letter to the Minority Caucus.

The demonstrators, according to the letter, must stick to the planned path, which includes the following significant locations: Adabraka Ridge Roundabout – National Theatre Traffic Light – High Court Complex Traffic Light – Atta Mills Highway – U-Turn to Independence Square.

These directions were in accordance with the route specified in the caucus’s letter, marked as Number OW/PH/23/0005, dated 11th September 2023.

Furthermore, the police have underscored the importance of maintaining peace and order throughout the demonstration. They have called on the organizers and participants to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner before, during, and after the protest to ensure there is no breach of peace or public safety.

The Minority on Monday announced for the second time the suspension of its planned protest to occupy the premises of the Bank of Ghana to demand the resignation of the governor and his deputies.

The decision to postpone the protest according to the minority comes after the Police failed to mark out safe zones for the protest.

Minority leader Cassiel Ato Forson while addressing the media said the picketing has been temporarily called off For public safety.

Akufo-Addo on the battle against corruption: “I’ve taken the boldest actions since Independence.”

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The anti-corruption record of the administration under President Akufo-Addo has been defended, with some of the measures being the most robust since Ghana gained independence.

On Monday, September 11, at the University of Cape Coast’s 2023 Ghana Bar Conference, President Akufo-Addo stated that he has not defended any of his appointees who have been accused of misconduct.

“I accepted the invitation to speak here in order to take advantage of this occasion to place, once again, my government’s record on corruption for public scrutiny. It will show that my government has undertaken, arguably, the boldest initiatives since our nation attained independence, nearly sixty-six (66) years ago, to reform and strengthen the capacity of our institutions to tackle corruption in the public sector.

“What I have done is to show you that my government has fought and is fighting corruption not just in high-sounding words, but, actually, in concrete deeds. We have shunned mere exhortations and showy denunciations of unproved corruption. It has been a holistic approach. We have made institutional reforms, we have enacted additional, requisite laws, and we have resourced more adequately the accountability organs of the state. Our fight against corruption has been grounded on legislative, financial and institutional action, and not on mere lip service.”

The president also said he is aware that some people have criticized his approach to fighting corruption, saying that he is too slow to act on allegations of wrongdoing. However, Akufo-Addo said he believes that it is important to follow due process, even if it takes longer.

“It is not my job to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing, or of engaging in acts of corruption. That is the job of the courts and the law enforcement agencies. My job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant enquiry and action, including, if necessary, the suspension of the affected official, pending the conclusion of investigations.

“That is exactly what has been done since I assumed the mantle of leadership on 7th January 2017. The latest episode involving the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, is evident for all to see.”

EC commences Limited Voter Registration 

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The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has commenced the limited voter registration exercise across the country. 

The 21-day exercise, which will run until October 2, 2023, will enable the Commission register new voters onto the electoral roll ahead of the December 19 District Level Elections.  

The Exercise, which is in accordance with Article 45 of the 1992 Constitution, is taking place at the 268 District Offices of the Commission. 

It would afford Ghanaians who have attained the voting age of 18 years since the last registration in 2020 and others who are more than 18 years but could not register during the last registration exercise, to do so.  

The GNA observed that the exercise had begun smoothly at the Amamorley Electoral Area within the Trobu Constituency, Ga North, at 0810 hours, with many people queuing to register. 

At the Ablekuma North District, where the exercise was yet to begin due to network concerns, many applicants had lined up at the EC’s office in the municipality to get registered. 

District EC officials say they are waiting for the signal from network providers. According to them, the online registration system would allow them immediately to identify double registration. 

Some of the applicants, including students in uniform, told the GNA that they had arrived at the venue as early as 0600 hours. 

The Dormaa Central Municipality had a dismal turnout, with only three persons registering one hour after the activity began. 

More to follow… 

AfDB and ECOWAS deepen collaborative efforts on regional integration  

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The African Development Bank (AfDB) has met Mr. Abdel-Fatau Musa, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, to foster collaboration and discuss projects and plans regarding regional integration within the framework of the AfDB’s strategic plan. 

The meeting, held at the ECOWAS Niger House Office in Abuja, served as a platform for the AfDB delegation to engage Mr. Musa and gain insights into the progress of various initiatives under his direction. 

The delegation met the different directorates of the Department for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, highlighting the mutual commitment to regional integration and stability. 

The AfDB delegation expressed their commitment to providing continued support to ECOWAS in its efforts towards regional integration and stability in a statement made available to the Ghana News Agency in Tema after the meeting. 

They reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to leveraging its financial expertise and resources to contribute to the socio-economic development of ECOWAS member states. 

Mr. Musa commended the AfDB for its unwavering support and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to discuss the project status and plans. 

He emphasised the significance of close partnerships between ECOWAS and development institutions like AfDB in achieving the region’s strategic objectives. 

Looking ahead, both parties agreed to maintain open lines of communication and collaboration to ensure the effective implementation of projects and initiatives. 

They expressed their optimism for a strengthened partnership and a collective drive towards a more integrated and secure region. 

The AfDB delegation also met with Commissioner Professor Fatou Sow Sarr of the ECOWAS Department of Human Development and Social Affairs to discuss the progress and plans of an ongoing project as part of the bank’s regional strategic plan. 

The meeting aimed to review the status of the project and address any challenges or bottlenecks encountered during its implementation. 

Prof. Sarr expressed her appreciation for the AfDB’s continued support and highlighted the crucial role of these collaborative efforts in promoting regional socio-economic development. 

She praised the constructive dialogue during the meeting and the commitment of both parties to ensuring the success of the project. 

As part of its regional strategic plan, the AfDB remains steadfast in its mission to promote sustainable development in Africa. 

The bank recognises the importance of human development and social affairs in achieving this objective, and collaborations such as this meeting with the Department of Human Development and Social Affairs in Abuja are vital in realising these ambitions. 

Moving forward, both parties will work closely together to address the recommendations and action points agreed upon during the meeting. 

The AfDB delegation and the Department of Human Development and Social Affairs are confident that their shared commitment to the project’s success will result in tangible development outcomes that positively impact the lives of the region’s population. 

Farmers in Central Region commends government on new cocoa price  

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Cocoa farmers across the Central Region have commended the government for the historic increase in the producer price of cocoa ahead of the start of the 2023/2024 cocoa season. 

Beaming with smile, Mr Daniel Armah, a 35-year-old farmer at Twifo-Mampong in the Twifo Atti-Morkwa District said, “Government has surprised cocoa farmers.” 

He told the Ghana News Agency that the move had indirectly ensured that all cocoa farmers to better enjoy the fruit of their labour. 

“Hurray, the increase in cocoa price for the 2023/2024 cocoa season from GH¢800.00 per bag to GH¢1,308.00 per bag is our historic single spine.”  

“This is a big boost to enriching farmers to end pervasive poverty in the sector. For now, it is a duty call on us to maintain our farms well to earn more.  

“At this time, no one should regard cocoa farming as a poor man’s business because we are equal to those on single spine and must be accorded all privileges as such,” Mr Armah stated. 

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Saturday, September 9, announced a new cocoa price at the opening of the 2023/2024 cocoa season at a forum in Tepa in the Ashanti Region. 

The new price moved the commodity per tonne from GH¢12,800.00 to GH¢ 20,943.00, representing a 63.5 per cent increment of the previous one. 

The new price is the highest in the sub-region in the past 15 years and is meant to improve the livelihoods of the farmers and for a fair and remunerative price for their efforts. 

Mr Yaw Adobah, a former Chief Farmer at Subin in the Upper Denkyira West District, said the new cocoa price would encourage the youth to accept cocoa farming as a lucrative venture. 

He, therefore, urged the youth to take up cocoa farming instead of engaging in risky ventures such as illegal mining, hard drugs, robbery and chancing none existing white-collar jobs. 

He said cocoa farming had many prospects to change their lives as well as guarantee them sustainable livelihoods rather than those “illegal trades” which were injurious to their health. 

In the Assin South District, a 40-year-old mother of four and a widow, Madam Diana Otabil,  described the new price as ‘a relief to all farmers in these troubling economic times” as they sort for alternatives to stay afloat.  

To her, it was the surest way of redistributing the national wealth equally regardless of one’s occupation, gender, and location. 

She, however, called on the government to subsidise farm inputs to boost agricultural production. 

“The rising cost of farm inputs as well as fertilisers, agrochemicals, insecticides among others,” she said, were hampering efforts to increase cultivation, hence the urgent need for the subsidies. 

Mr Joshua Amoah Duodu, a farmer at Abaasa in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District, said the significant increase in the producer price of the crop combined with other interventions in the sector, would help to enhance their livelihoods tremendously. 

He called on the government to speed up road construction work in farming communities to ease commuting challenges and exorbitant increase in transport fares. 

Visually impaired persons with music talents also excel – Pianist  

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The founder and pianist of Humble International Band, Mr. Reuben Atsu Amani, has praised the outstanding performances of musically talented blind people in the music industry and has made a plea for assistance so that they will succeed in life through their performances. 

He said in addition to himself as the pianist, engineer, and guitarist, the energetic musical group also includes two singers, a male and a female, who are visually challenged. 

He reaffirmed in an interview with Ghana News Agency’s Tema Entertainment Desk that the Humble International Band was founded on May 12, 2012, with the intention of enlisting additional musically inclined visually challenged people. 

I started this group after realising that most of my visually challenged friends were interested in music and that many of them performed at bus stops, he continued. 

He stressed that the goal of launching the band, which plays as “Combo Live Band” on special events, was to demonstrate that visually impaired people can excel if they have a talent, not just by performing on the side of the road. 

“We are a visually challenged band, but everyone in the group has also pursued careers in school in addition to playing music”. 

When the Humble International Band performed for the President of Ghana at the University of Ghana’s 70th anniversary celebrations in 2019 and was formally introduced to the President after their performances, the blind graduate pianist claimed that this was their greatest accomplishment. 

He said the band had played on a variety of media platforms and at gatherings for other well-known people held at their homes, such as professional programmes. 

He said their services were reasonably priced. As a result, he listed some of the difficulties the band faced, including money and logistical issues, among others, since the least amount of money they received enabled them to update their musical equipment every two to three years as well as for transportation. 

He said the blind also had other disabilities, particularly discrimination in society, but they never let it demotivate them, but kept pushing forward. 

“We have roughly 24 songs to work on as a band, including gospel tunes, and the group has a patriotic song with an official video on YouTube that was developed in 2020, he said. 

He said the band’s reputation in the industry is good because it consistently produces high-caliber work, something he as the founder doesn’t compromise on. 

He said that because each person has a unique function in God’s creation, they should always love and be inspired by themselves, even if they have disabilities because that doesn’t stop them from succeeding in life. 

Christians urged to pay taxes 

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Right Reverend Dennis Debukari Tong, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale, has urged Christians to pay taxes regularly as a way of fulfilling their civic responsibilities.  

He said, “If the church wants to be a voice for the voiceless to demand for the rights of the vulnerable, then we must contribute towards the development of the nation by paying our taxes.” 

He made the call while delivering a sermon in Tamale on the theme: “Those in Authority.” 

Right Reverend Tong said government and state authorities that existed were established by God, according to the book of Romans chapter 13:1 and must be obeyed by Christians. 

He said Christians must as well contribute their quota to the development of the country as they demanded for jobs for the youth, good schools and hospitals, and reduced utility tariffs. 

He encouraged Christians to be involved in electoral procedures and avail themselves for leadership positions. 

He said it was time for a change of the mindset of people that politics was a dirty game, saying with the involvement of good Christians in partisan politics, this could be made clean 

AngloGold Ashanti empower women in vocational skills

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About 35 women at New Dokyiwa, a farming community in the Obuasi Municipality, have successfully completed the first in the series of vocational skills training programmes rolled out by AngloGold Ashanti and the Obuasi Municipal Assembly.

      The women, who had already formed a cooperative known as ‘Dokyiwa Women’s Cooperative’ were trained in baking, confectionery and soap making with the aim of enhancing their prospects for sustainable income generation and economic empowerment.

       The training session, which spanned a period of nine days, provided the women with essential knowledge and hands-on experience in the baking and soap making industries.

      Speaking at the close-out session of the programme dubbed “Livelihood Enhancement Programme for Women”, Mr Daniel Arthur-Bentum, the Economic Development Superintendent of AngloGold Obausi Mine, said the programme was part AGA’s 10-year development plan to promote sustainable livelihoods within its host communities. 

     “We believe that empowering women is an essential step towards achieving that goal.”

     He said with the training received, the women would be better placed to take charge of their own future and be economically independent.

     Mr Arthur-Bentum further stressed that the training was held on the heels of a financial literacy training programme organised for female traditional leaders and vocational skills development projects in hair dressing, dressmaking and other skill areas to build the capacity of women in their host communities.

    He said through the Obuasi Mine’s Enterprise and Skills Development Centre, the women who had successfully gone through the training would receive support in developing individual business plans and strategies to promote and sustain their businesses.

       “We will support them with the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority’s approval processes including labelling of their products, good food manufacturing processes, registration and licensing “.

      Mr Stephen Tecku, Obuasi Municipal Coordinating Director, said it had been the wish of every government to employ as many people as possible but that had been an uphill task, hence the need for the Assembly to leverage on its partnership with the private sector, including AngloGold Ashanti, to provide skills development training for the people.

      He said the training was intended to empower the women economically and make them financially independent, stressing that, it was incumbent on them to put the training into good use by commercializing their products.

     “The Assembly together with AGA is planning to establish you properly but that can only be done when you also commit yourselves into making good use of the training”, he stated.

      Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to the Media, lauded AngloGold Ashanti for the training.

     They said they would put the training acquired to good use for the benefit of themselves and their families.

Govt increases cocoa price – Bag up from GH¢800 to GH¢1,308 – Tonne now GH¢20,943 from GH¢12,800

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The government has increased the price at which it buys a bag of cocoa from GH¢800 per 64 kilogramme (kg) bag to GH¢1,308. 

The 63.5 per cent increment also translates to GH¢20,943 per tonne of raw cocoa beans, up from GH¢12,800 per tonne.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who announced the new price at a durbar of chiefs and cocoa farmers at Tepa in the Ashanti Region at the weekend, said the new price “is the highest to be paid to cocoa farmers across West Africa in over 50 years”.

The President said the government decided to open the cocoa season in September instead of the usual October. 

“We know the farmers will be sending their wards to school at this time, it is prudent to sell cocoa to meet such expenditures than to borrow at higher interest rates, when the cocoa is readily available,” President Akufo-Addo explained.

Jubilation

The announcement last Saturday effectively ushers in the 2023-2024 cocoa season.

The new price was met with spontaneous applause and shouts of joy by cocoa farmers who were at the durbar.

Out of excitement, they tried to mount the President’s podium in appreciation of the new price.

The security detail had a hectic time controlling the crowd and the process truncated the President’s speech. 

The depreciating value of the cedi has compelled some of the farmers to smuggle their produce out of the country into either Cote d’Ivoire or Togo.

The increase in the producer price for the commodity is to address some of the challenges facing the cocoa sector such as smuggling and illegal mining. 

Low international price

President Akufo-Addo said until recently, the price of the commodity on the international market had remained relatively low and made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In spite of that, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the government had been taking very hard decisions to increase the producer price of cocoa, he added. 

The President added that the increment was also equivalent to $1,821 or 70.5 per cent of “gross free on board (FOB)” price per tonne of cocoa beans.

Cocoa prices have increased steadily from GH¢7,600 per tonne in 2016 to GH¢12,800 in 2022.

President Akufo-Addo explained that the decision to increase the producer price in the face of low international market price, “has had adverse impact on COCOBOD’s financial performance.”

“However, the sustainability of the entire industry hinges on a well-remunerated producer who is willing to invest in the business,” he said.

The President said the cocoa industry was witnessing unprecedented transformation under his administration, with the introduction of the productivity enhancement interventions that had positively impacted the sector.

He said COCOBOD had implemented a number of transformational projects that “are having positive impacts on productivity, incomes and climate resilience.”

President Akufo-Addo explained that the positive impacts recorded would not have been possible without the hard work and determination of cocoa farmers.

“They remain the most reliable stakeholders in the entire cocoa value chain,” he said.

Smuggling

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, said in the last two years, smuggling of cocoa beans to neighbouring countries had been a major challenge facing the sector.

That, he said, greatly affected the nation’s production capacity and blamed commercial entities for the practice.

Dr Acheampong said the entities who had not contributed anything to the sector smuggled the beans out of the country.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, however, assured the nation that the government was working hard to stop the smuggling very soon, stressing “I will not disappoint Ghanaians.”

Aside from that, Dr Acheampong said illegal mining was another challenge that was threatening the sustainability of the cocoa sector.

He appealed to the cocoa farmers not to be lured by illegal miners to sell their farms for illicit small-scale mining as the cocoa sector was very important to the economy.

Traceability

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, said the European Union had introduced a new law that would ban any cocoa beans that could not be traced from entering its market, with effect from January 1, 2025.

He, however, added that through the Cocoa Management System where all cocoa farms and farmers were being registered, the country was ready to comply with that law.

Progress

The CEO said the progress in the country’s cocoa industry confirmed the dedication and hard work of cocoa farmers, the support of the government and the steadfast commitment of all stakeholders.

“As we stand at the cusp of another cocoa season, it is crucial that we not only celebrate our achievements, but also look ahead with a sense of responsibility and purpose and approach our farming business more professionally,” Mr Aidoo said. 

He, therefore, called on all to continue the collective efforts and remain committed to the productivity enhancement programmes, sustainable farming practices and the responsible use of resources.

On behalf of the farmers, Mr Aidoo thanked the President for the new producer price and expressed the hope that it would help address the smuggling and illegal mining which were posing a threat to the sector.

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