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“Okada” riding to be regularised by March – Transport Minister  

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Accra, Feb. 10, GNA- The Ministry of Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Lincensing Authority (DVLA) have commenced discussions to regularise the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes.   

The two are working together to review the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180), which currently bars the use of motorcycles as a form of public transport, popularly known as Okada.  

Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Minister of Transport, made the announcement when he paid a working visit to the Head Office of the DVLA in Accra on Monday.   

He also toured the Greater Accra Regional Office of the DVLA as part of efforts to abreast himself of the operations of the agencies under his supervision.  

In line with the campaign promise of President John Dramani Mahama, “Okada” riders would be trained and issued licenses to operate “freely”, he said.  

The review of the law would be done “as soon as possible” and assured that the regularisation process would commence by the end of the first quarter of the year.  

“We will commit to ensuring that within the shortest possible time we get it operationalised,” the Minister said, adding: “It is of serious importance to us.”  

The Road Traffic Regulations 2012 (LI 2180) explicitly prohibits the use of motorcycles and tricycles for commercial purposes, essentially barring their operation as a form of public transport.  

The law prohibits the use motorcycle or tricycle to carry fare-paying passengers.   

Nonetheless, the use of motorcycles and tricycles for commercial purposes is rampant across the country due to weak enforcement of the law.  

Mr Julius Neequaye Kotey, the Chief Executive Officer, DVLA, said the Authority was putting measures in place to operate 24-hours in compliance with the Government’s 24-hour Economic Policy.  

The DVLA had reserved a site at its Accra Regional Office to facilitate training and testing of “Okada” riders, 24 hours, to register all riders, he said.  

Interacting with some of the clients at the office of the DVLA, they raised concerns about the activities of middleman at the Authority and appealed to the Minister to take steps to address the problem to prevent illegal payments.  

Mr Nikpe acknowledged the problem and assured of leveraging technology to enhance DVLA’s operations and completely eliminate the activities of middlemen.  

Actress Nana Adjoa Lovia advocates collective action to address ‘sex for roles’ concerns 

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Accra, Feb. 10, GNA – Ghanaian actress Lovia Ansah, also known as Nana Adjoa Lovia, has underlined the need for stakeholders’ collective action in critically addressing ‘sex for roles’ issues in the movie industry. 

According to Nana Adjoa Lovia, the trend of ‘sex for roles’ has become alarming, undermining the credibility of the film business. 

Nana Adjoa Lovia, the CEO of Nakies Films Production, remarked in an interview that the worrying ‘sex for role’ issue has hampered genuine talent being unearthed. 

She also advocates for stronger regulations and support systems that protect female actresses from exploitation and setting up clear guidelines regarding casting processes. 

“For me, this is a very big challenge we have to deal with in the industry. Talented female individuals who may not be willing to engage in such practices find themselves at a disadvantage. 

“This can lead to a lack of diversity in storytelling and representation within films, as those who are selected based on personal relationships rather than skill,” she said. 

Nana Adjoa Lovia further noted that this unethical practice may deter aspiring actresses who may have the fear of having to compromise personal values or engage in behaviour in pursuit of their God-given talent. 

Asked about her journey in the movie industry, Nana Adjoa Lovia believes she has made a lot of progress over the years, having starred in some top Nollywood movies. 

“I have always wanted to be an actress, right from primary school. I was always taking the lead in school drama and right after school I went into acting. 

“The progress has been steady thus far, having featured on set with the likes of Mercy Johnson, Ngozi Ezeonu, Ray Okafo, and Walter Anga, among others,” she said. 

The acting prowess of Nana Adjoa Lovia has earned her massive following on social media, as she has risen to become one of Ghana’s prominent actresses. 

Court remands nine over alleged murder of cab driver 

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Tarkwa (W/R), Feb. 10, GNA-The Tarkwa District Court One has remanded nine accused persons into prison custody for allegedly murdering a cab driver in Akotom in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region.  

The accused persons, who made their third appearance in court, would be charged with conspiracy to commit crime and murder, but their pleas were not taken.  

They are expected to be in court on Monday March 3, 2025. 

Prosecuting   Police Sergeant Enoch Assan Donkor told the court presided over by Mr Charles Owusu Nsiah that the complainant was a businessman who resided at Huniso and the deceased Kwadwo Donkor alias ‘Chilling’ was his employee.  

Nana Kwabena Agyarko, 45, Evans Azure alias, Ampana, 40, Peter Kwamena Antwi, 34, Felix Atsu Davor, 38, Sampson Agbodojie, 30, Kojo Bonzy, 72, Stephen Owusu, alias Kofi Abanga, 38, Kofi Ampabeng, 38 and Lucky Mudoo, 30 are teacher, mason, drivers, and farmers were the accused persons.  

The prosecutor said aside Azure who resided at Camp, near Tarkwa the rest were residents of Akotom.  

He said on November 8, 2024, at about 0830 hours, the deceased left home with his taxicab for work but did not return.  

The complainant made several attempts to reach him, but it all proved futile, so he reported the matter to the police on November 9, 2024, around 1430 hours.  

It said while investigations were ongoing, the police had a tip-off that one Sheriffa, who is a suspect in the case and currently on the run, sighted the deceased at Akotom near her husband’s car and without any justification, raised the alarm that he was a thief. 

He said Sheriffa’s action attracted the accused persons and some youth in the community, who were currently at large to the scene.  

The accused persons accosted the deceased and Azure who was then passing by joined them and provided a rope and they tied the deceased against a nearby electric pole.  

Sergeant Donkor said the accused persons and their accomplices subjected the deceased to severe beatings with all kinds of objects which allegedly led to his death.  

According to him, when they realized Donkor had passed on, they placed the body in a tricycle and dumped him in a nearby bush along the Tarkwa-Bogoso Highway which was about 1.5 kilometers away from the Akotom community.  

On November 10, 2024, Agyarko, who was picked up to assist police in its investigations denied the crime, but later confessed and mentioned Antwi and others at large as his counterparts. 

He said Agyarko  later led the police to the bush and identified the exact place where they hid the body of the deceased, and it was retrieved though the body was in advanced decomposition state.  

The police arrested Azure on November 12, 2024, and he said Antwi and Davor were also involved, and both were apprehended from their hideout for interrogation.  

Sergeant Donkor added that police intelligence also revealed that the rest of the accused persons were part of those who committed the offence, hence they were all arrested. 

The prosecutor said after investigation a duplicate docket was prepared and forwarded to the Attorney General’s office at Sekondi for study and advice.  

Fiapre ST Thomas RC appeals for fencing for improved security

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Fiapre,(Bono),Feb.10 GNA- Mr Thomas Tang, the Headmaster of the Fiapre ST Thomas Roman Catholic Primary School in the Sunyani Municipality has appealed for support towards the fencing of the school.

He said the school needed to be fenced, not only to create a more conductive atmosphere to facilitate effective teaching and learning, but also improve security, by warding off criminals and stray animals.

In an interview with the media at Fiapre, near Sunyani, Mr Tang expressed worry that criminals used the school’s compound as sleeping and resting places and thereby mess there.

He said the facility now served as a ‘trade point’ for drug peddling, substance abuse and places of convenience for the criminals who undertook their activities on the compound at night.

Mr Tang said the criminals broke into the school’s canteen and made away with some consumables and other valuables and therefore called the public to support them to fence the school

Stanbic Bank engages diaspora community to explore investment opportunities in Ghana 

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Accra, Feb. 10, GNA -Stanbic Bank Ghana has hosted a diaspora engagement event, bringing together some individuals from the diaspora who have expressed strong interest in investing and settling in Ghana.  

The interactive session, held in collaboration with the Pan-African Leadership Institute (PALI), served as a platform to forge relationships, share insights, and explore opportunities for mutual growth.   

Head of Affluent Clients, Mrs. Margaret Obimpeh, emphasized the bank’s commitment to supporting the diaspora community.  

“This session allowed us to connect with individuals eager to integrate into Ghana’s economy. As a financial institution, we are exploring how we can partner with them to facilitate their settlement and investment plans. We see untapped opportunities in this space and are committed to creating solutions that will enable these individuals to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development,” she said.   

She further noted that the bank would use insights from the engagement to collaborate with key stakeholders, aiming to address the unique challenges faced by the diaspora community in navigating Ghana’s economic landscape.   

Speaking on the bank’s broader capabilities, the Head of International Private Banking and Diaspora Banking, Mr. Nana Owiredu-Gyamera, highlighted Stanbic’s extensive experience in providing financial solutions.  

“With over 160 years of experience and a presence in 18 African countries, Stanbic Bank is well-equipped to meet the personal and business needs of our clients. From current accounts and savings to business solutions and foreign exchange services, we are dedicated to supporting the financial aspirations of the diaspora community,” he said.   

On his part, the President and Co-Founder of PALI, Dr. Kofi Osei-Kusi, commended Stanbic’s exceptional role in the banking sector.   

According to him, the Institute aims to collaborate with the bank to engage with leaders in the diaspora who have a strong interest in Africa but are unsure where to start. He believed that by working together, they could bridge the gap and bring these leaders closer to the continent 

“We’re excited about the reception and the warmth that we’ve had, and we look forward to collaborating with Stanbic Bank to be able to engage with leaders in the diaspora. So many of whom have great interest in Africa but don’t know where to start from. We believe that together with Stanbic Bank we would be able to bring these leaders closer to the continent,” he said. 

Ghana must value cultural assets beyond economic worth – Kobby Mensah 

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Accra, Feb 10, GNA – Professor Kobby Mensah, the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTDC), has called for a structured approach to valuing Ghana’s cultural assets, including cocoa, folklore, festivals, and artifacts.  

He argued that while Ghana had benefited from cocoa’s economic contributions, it lacked formal recognition of its cultural and historical worth. 

A statement issued by Prof. Mensah and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday, proposed a formula to determine the value of a cocoa bean, summarised as the Sum of Total Use of Cocoa (STU), the Sum of the Total Use of Cocoa, denoting the number of years cocoa had existed, and number of years projecting its future existence.  

“… This formula aims to provide a quantifiable basis for assessing cocoa’s significance beyond its market price,” it said. 

“… Cocoa is more than just an economic product—it is deeply woven into the cultural and historical fabric of the country.”  

The statement commended the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts and the Ghana Tourism Authority for promoting cocoa as a valuable cultural asset through the National Chocolate Week celebration. 

It explained that the GTDC’s strategic vision under Prof Mensah’s leadership would focus on four key investment and development strands. 

These are; Investment in Tourism Physical Infrastructure, Developing world-class tourism sites and facilities; Investment in Human Capital, Strengthening capacity building within the tourism sector; Investment in Cultural Assets, Promoting and preserving Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, and Investment in Technology and Innovation, Leveraging digital transformation to enhance tourism experiences. 

It said: “By linking tourism with cocoa promotion, Ghana seeks to strengthen its brand identity on the global stage.” 

Prof Mensah’s advocacy for a structured valuation of Ghana’s cultural assets aligned with national and global conversations on heritage conservation and sustainable tourism.  

As Ghana innovates in tourism and cultural preservation, industry leaders and policymakers are calling for strategic approaches to ensure the country’s heritage assets are preserved and maximised for long-term socio-economic benefits, the statement noted. 

Complementary, alternative medicine practice fall under our mandate – TMPC

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Accra, Feb. 10, GNA- The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) says it has the power to regulate Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) practice in Ghana.

Their appeal follows a tragic incident, where a VIP bus traveling at high speed from Dambai to Kete-Krachi struck and killed a 17-year-old rider on the road.  

According to the youth, drivers, who use the road often speed through town without caution, endangering lives and claim this is not the first time such an accident has occurred.  

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr. Yondi Joseph, a concerned youth member, expressed frustration over repeated accidents caused by buses.  

“This is not the first time these VIP drivers have killed our young brothers with their reckless driving. They fail to slow down when passing through town, even though speed limits exist,” he lamented.  

He stressed the need for speed ramps, saying, “If drivers refuse to obey speed regulations, then authorities must help us by constructing speed ramps to prevent further deaths.”  

The youth believe that the installation of speed ramps will effectively slow down vehicles and reduce fatal accidents in the community. They are, therefore, urging the government and the Road Safety Authority to take swift action to address this pressing concern.  

Borae youths demand speed ramps after VIP Bus kills Rider  

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Kete-krachi (O/R), Feb 10, GNA- Residents of Borae, a community in the Krachi West Municipality of the Oti Region, are calling on the authorities to construct speed ramps in the area to curb reckless driving.  

Their appeal follows a tragic incident, where a VIP bus traveling at high speed from Dambai to Kete-Krachi struck and killed a 17-year-old rider on the road.  

According to the youth, drivers, who use the road often speed through town without caution, endangering lives and claim this is not the first time such an accident has occurred.  

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr. Yondi Joseph, a concerned youth member, expressed frustration over repeated accidents caused by buses.  

“This is not the first time these VIP drivers have killed our young brothers with their reckless driving. They fail to slow down when passing through town, even though speed limits exist,” he lamented.  

He stressed the need for speed ramps, saying, “If drivers refuse to obey speed regulations, then authorities must help us by constructing speed ramps to prevent further deaths.”  

The youth believe that the installation of speed ramps will effectively slow down vehicles and reduce fatal accidents in the community. They are, therefore, urging the government and the Road Safety Authority to take swift action to address this pressing concern.  

Residents urged government to honour Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui

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Anyako (VR), Feb 10, GNA-Residents in the Keta Municipality of the Volta region has appealed to the government to honour Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, the Paramount Chief of Amugo-Vego Traditional area for establishing a dialysis centre at Keta Municipal hospital.

This, according to the residents, would serve as a way of motivating other philanthropists, groups, and individuals to emulate same said that one major benefit of the dialysis centre was that it cut down transportation costs for chronic dialysis patients and reduce the stress of travelling far and joining long queues at referral centres for treatment.me for better healthcare delivery.

Mr Godfred Nyonator, a citizen of Abor, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said that the dialysis centre established at the Keta municipal hospital has served many dialysis patients from traveling far to other hospitals.

“The government needs to honour Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui, who single-handedly established this dialysis centre, which serve as a prompt emergency dialysis centre for in-patients at Keta hospital and other surrounding districts and municipalities hospitals,” he said.

He said that one major benefit of the dialysis centre was that it cut down transportation costs for chronic dialysis patients and reduce the stress of travelling far and joining long queues at referral centres for treatment.

“The government needs to honour Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui, who singlehandedly established this dialysis centre, which serve as a prompt emergency dialysis centre for in-patients at Keta hospital and other surrounding districts and municipalities hospitals,” he said.

He said that one major benefit of the dialysis centre was that it cut down transportation costs for chronic dialysis patients and reduce the stress of travelling far and joining long queues at referral centres for treatment.

Madam Adzo Fiator,a beneficiary dialysis patient, thanked Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui, who is also ‘Dufia’ of Anyako for the kind gesture which served over 200 patients in the area and noted that honouring him would be a step in the right direction.

“I think Togbi needs to be applauded by notable responsible authorities such as University of@ Allied Science (UHAS), University of Ghana, University of Science and Technology, Health Ministry, among others.”

The dialysis unit started operating on Thursday, August 15,2024 after an inaugural ceremony and has carried out a total of 238 sessions as at Friday, January 31,2025.

Statistics gathered by GNA from the daily activities of the dialysis centre indicated that a total of number of 55 dialysis patients, which comprised of 30 males and 25 females, respectively, attended and received medical care at the unit within the period.

Studies also disclosed that Ghana has been running haemodialysis service for the past 50 years, which was the most common modality for renal failure patients without sustainable kidney transplant programme.

The GNA learnt that the first renal registry in 2017 was 96.2 per cent on haemodialysis with 0.3 per cent on peritoneal dialysis and 3.5 per cent on kidney transplants with inequitable distribution of haemodialysis centres in the country.

Other residents believed that Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui should be honored for soley undertaking such a venture.

EU Deforestation Regulation: Fairtrade, partners launch project to boost farmers’ climate resilience and readiness 

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     Offinso Kyebi (Ash), Feb. 10, GNA – Fairtrade Africa, Fairtrade International and Proforest Africa, have launched a project to foster deforestation-free cocoa value chains in Ghana through regenerative agriculture in compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). 

The project, dubbed “Partnership for Deforestation-free Cocoa Supply Chains (P4DCG) will target 14,804 smallholder cocoa farmer families, government institutions, local authorities and the cocoa industry in three districts in the Ashanti, Eastern and Ahafo Regions. 

The Project is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and Fairtrade Germany. 

The P4DCG project will focus on skills development on climate smart agriculture, traceability systems, financial inclusion, gender equality and youth inclusion. 

 Expected outcomes are increased sustainable, deforestation-free cocoa productivity, market access and higher incomes. 

Ghana, the second-largest cocoa producer, has over 800,000 smallholder farmers who depended on cocoa. 

While vital for the economy, cocoa production drives deforestation due to extensive methods. 

 The sector faces challenges regarding compliance with the EUDR, which aims to reduce agriculture-driven deforestation. 

 Ghana’s cocoa farmers struggling with profitability and environmental degradation risk to lose EU market access due to potential non-compliance with environmental standards, threatening farmers’ livelihoods.  

Leveraging Fairtrade Africa and Proforest’s programmes in Ghana, the P4DCG project promises scalable solutions for sustainable, deforestation free cocoa production, focusing on dynamic agroforestry, climate adaptation, and enhanced market access through compliance with EU regulations, the project will build local capacities for broad, lasting impacts.  

It will also seek wider adoption of methods beyond targeted areas and sectors through robust partnerships and multi-stakeholder initiatives. 

Mr Edward Akapire, Head of Region, West Africa Region of Fairtrade, speaking at the launch of the project at Kyebi in the Offinso Municipality of the Ashanti Region, indicated that his outfit would work collaboratively with partners to support cocoa farmers in Ghana with a pathway to higher incomes. 

Partners would also ensure access to finance and utilize the potential of women and young people to contribute to the success of the project, he added. 

Mr Chris Oluoch, the Programmes Director of Fairtrade Africa, said Fairtrade Africa recognized the importance of farmers complying with the European Union Deforestation Regulation, hence the commitment of partners to address the farmers’ challenges.  

“Initiatives like the P4DCG project that target cocoa landscapes with the overall aim to transform the sector with regenerative, climate-resilient practices; align with Fairtrade Africa’s strategic goals of sustainable farming systems and transformed and strengthened producer organisations.” 

Mr James Parker, the Head of Programmes for Proforest Africa, emphasised the need for farmers to reintroduce regenerative agricultural practices to boost cocoa production, while complying with other international regulations like EUDR. 

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