Day: November 21, 2023

The Lands Commission has debunked suggestions by the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, that his official residence at Cantonments in Accra is being sold to a private developer.

The Speaker, on Monday, November 20, while speaking at the Speaker’s breakfast forum to mark 30 years of Parliamentary democracy in Accra, alleged that his official residence in Cantonment was almost sold to a private developer.

However, in a statement issued by Mr Benjamin Arthur, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission in response to the Speaker’s allegation, said at no point in time was the said property sold to a private developer by the Lands Commission and that it was unaware of any purported sale of the residence.

According to the Commission, the land in question was acquired in 1920 by a Certificate of Title, dated 7th June, 1920 for Government services and that since 2003, the land had been used as the official residence of the Speaker of Parliament.

It said by an application dated 15
th November, 2022, and numbered PS/LS/002/12/22, Parliamentary Service applied for a Certificate of Allocation to regularise the occupation of the land, which measured approximately 1.66 acres.

At its sixty-fourth (64th) Regular Meeting held on 22nd December, 2022, the Regional Lands Commission approved the application, after all statutory processes, including planning approval from the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly.

The Commission said on 14th February, 2023, it made an offer of allocation to the Parliamentary Service.

It said the Service accepted the offer, and after paying the requisite fees, a Certificate of Allocation, dated 28th April, 2023, was issued to it, stressing it was unaware of any purported sale of same.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to the prudent and efficient management of public lands in the national interest.

It said it would continue to promote effective land administration anchored on the highest standards of integrity, transparency and candour.

Source: Ghana News
Agency

The National Media Commission (NMC) says it will take final action against Accra-based Onua FM if the media outlet fails to take responsibility over broadcast the Commission deems ‘inciteful’.

The Commission last week issued what it termed as ‘final caution’ to Onua FM to retract and apologise for ‘directly insulting’ the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and other Commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

The NMC also directed the station to apologise to the Ghanaian public for the use of vulgar language and asked the management to put measures in place to ‘stop the dangerous behaviour of the station’.

In a letter dated November 21, 2023, and addressed to the Board Secretary of Onua TV/Onua FM , the NMC said it would take action against the station if it failed to comply with its orders by Friday, November 24, 2023.

‘We consider your letter a red-herring strategy to avoid taking responsibility for your actions. Yet, we are prepared to extend our deadline to Friday, November 24, 2023, after which we may
act without any further reference to you,’ the letter signed by Mr George Sarpong, Executive Secretary, NMC, said.

The Commission explained that it had the power ‘to take all appropriate measures’ and that mediation and settlement constituted an ‘inexhaustive list of tools’ the Commission may use to achieve its object.

‘Ordinarily, we would not say more beyond this. However, since this is the second time you have willfully submitted yourselves to a misreading of the law, we feel obliged to point out to you that the law could not have intended that when we are faced with a broadcaster inciting mutiny within the Armed Forces as you are doing, we should be constrained by complaints settlement procedures,’ it said.

In December 2021, the Commission cautioned the station over what it deemed as ‘unprofessional and inciteful’ broadcast.

The NMC, in a statement issued by Mr George Sarpong, the Executive Secretary, to management of the FM station, said it was concerned about a particular broadcast by the station in
, which ‘Captain Smart called for insurrection against the State of Ghana and its institutions.’

That, it said, ‘by all standards, crossed the line of robust and critical broadcasting and transformed the radio station into a megaphone of war.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The international world has been asked by the Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODE) to reflect on, and step-up efforts to realise Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Six at the commemoration of World Toilet Day in 2023.

According to M-CODe, there is not much time left for the world to accomplish the SDGs, especially Goal 6, Target 2, which calls for ending open defecation and ensuring that everyone has access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene, with a focus on the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.

In a statement signed by Mr. Francis Ameyibor, M-CODe National Convenor, in honour of November 19, 2023, as World Toilet Day, the coalition noted that the world community had less than seven years to meet the set goals in 2015.

To fulfil the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improve the world by 2030, ‘we need accelerated action concerted by state and non-state actors to achieve the objectives,’ Mr. Ameyibor reminded world leaders of their commitment i
n 2015.

He expressed worry that, far too often, the international community spent more money organising fanfare to mark international events for the political elite class while excluding the plight of the masses.

‘Let’s rewrite the history and use such funds to create worthwhile community projects that serve as examples for such incidents in the future. The monies towards organising another public show event to mark 2023 World Toilet Day should go towards building toilets,’ he suggested.

According to a United Nations estimate, 3.5 billion people lack access to adequate toilets, and 419 million people still ‘open defecate.’

Under these circumstances, diseases spread widely, killing 1,000 children under the age of five every day. This global catastrophe puts everyone’s health and the environment at risk, but it especially affects women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.

‘To change the narratives, we need action, not flowery ceremonies,’ he said.

He added: ‘We are currently in the final countdown to 2030
.

‘We need to move quickly with development if we want to ensure that everyone has access to clean water and toilets by 2030. Human rights include the freedom to use clean water and proper sanitation, both of which are necessary to protect the environment and public health.

‘We now want far faster responses, and everyone is accountable for keeping their commitments.

‘Let’s talk about the significant connection that exists between toilets, water, and menstruation. Fix leaky waste and water pipelines, file complaints for sludge dumping, empty full septic tanks, and refrain from flushing food waste, oils, chemicals, and prescription drugs down the toilet or drain.

‘By doing whatever you can, World Toilet Day 2023 aims to expedite progress. Find out about the issues, act right away, and inform your networks about the campaign.’

The topic ‘Accelerate Change’ aims to remind everyone that the world is not on track to achieve SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation for everyone by 2030.

Mr. Ameyibor exhorted all co
ncerned parties to unite and demand rapid reform.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Asokore Mampong Rural Bank (AMRB), will continue to develop innovative products and strategies to stay on top as the preferred rural bank in the Ashanti region.

Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah, Asokore-Mamponghene and Board Chairman of the bank, who stated this said the bank was poised to lead the competition in the rural banking sector with attractive and innovative products for its customers.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi, he said the bank which was started five years ago was growing due to the prudent financial management, innovative products and hard work of the management and staff of the bank.

He said despite the economic challenges in the financial sector, the bank was able to make a profit of GH?349,310 to close the year 2022.

This significant figure, according to him, was achieved through prudent management and hard work by stakeholders of the bank.

Nana Ansah Debrah said the economic environment had been challenging to financial institutions in the country as the cou
ntry’s macroeconomic performance worsened.

This was more crucial when the government announced Domestic Debt Exchange programme (DDEP).

Additionally, the astronomical rise of inflation levels increased the cost of borrowing making it difficult for individuals to access credit facilities.

‘The Ghana Cedi also saw its worse depreciation in decades, compelling businesses to purchase other currencies at a store of value’, he said.

He said that total asset of the bank increased by 22.2 per cent on the previous figure of GH?17.5million to GH?21.4 million by the end of 2022.

He added that the total deposits of the bank also grew by 18.68 percent reaching GH?19.88 million.

The Board Chairman said the bank had a mission to promote the socioeconomic growth of the communities and had thus, spent an amount of GH?5, 080 on corporate social responsibilities.

The Board Chairman urged stakeholders and customers to continue to have faith in the bank for better prospects and services.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Obed Quaye, the Assemblyman for the Ashiboi Electoral Area, has organised a clean-up exercise at Community One Site Five to help rid the community of filth.

Mr. Quaye, who is a two-term assemblyman, together with personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and residents weeded the area, and desilted and washed all drains in the area.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, he said the exercise was an annual affair that also created awareness on sanitation-related issues.

He said it was also in line with the Greater Accra Regional Minister’s ‘Clean Your Frontage’ initiative, which mandated residents to clean their immediate surroundings.

He encouraged residents to join in such exercises instead of politicising them, as diseases emanating from poor sanitation do not discriminate based on political, religious, or ethnic affiliations.

On his achievements, the assemblyman who is seeking a third term told the GNA that apart from discharging his core assembly duties, he had three things he wanted to do
for the community before becoming an assemblyman.

According to him, to promote quality education among learners in his area, he lobbied the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the GHANAL to put up a library building for the Twedaase Primary School.

He added that he was instrumental in getting the Assembly to construct one unit three-classroom block for TMA Day Care 2, located at Site 7/10.

According to him, he pushed for that when there were reports of a lack of ventilation due to crowding of pupils in the existing classroom blocks at the school.

Mr. Quaye added that over his two terms in service, he annually provided mathematical sets to Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates in the four schools in his area to motivate them in their exams.

He said the second thing he had tackled was to personally and with the support of the assembly enhanced visibility in his area, noting that he became an assemblyman when the area could boast of only four street- lights but currently had 120 of them
.

He said this had led to a reduction in thefts and attacks on residents in the evening as it used to be, adding however that he was considering forming a watchdog committee in the area to ensure that miscreants don’t take advantage of the absence of residents in the morning to break into their homes.

On health, he said he had facilitated and paid for the registration of children in the area onto the National Health Insurance Scheme, as well as organised a series of sporting activities to aid residents’ health.

He said he provided skilled training and lobbied for a number of youth to gain employment in some institutions in Tema to help boost their livelihoods.

Mr. Quaye appealed to the electorates in Ashiboi to fully participate in the December 19, 2023, district-level elections to re-elect him as their representative at the assembly to champion the needed development.

The Ashiboi electoral district comprises Tema Community sites three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and 10, as well as the Mankoadz
e enclave, and has an estimated 20,000 residents.

Source: Ghana News Agency