Day: January 9, 2024

The Vision for Alternative Development – Ghana (VALD-Ghana), an NGO, has recommended the implementation of robust code of conduct by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to safeguard public health policies from tobacco industry interference.

It noted that persistent industry interference in Ghana’s public health polices, as seen in the Tobacco Industry Interference Index, was an impediment to the effective implementation of tobacco control measures.

That, in effect, had undermined the nation’s public health goals, it said.

VALD Ghana observed this during the passage of the Excise Duty Amendment Act 2023 (Act 1093), a critical legislation to transition the country to a hybrid tax regime for tobacco products.

In a policy brief, titled: ‘Protecting Public Health: Safeguarding Ghana’s Tobacco Taxation and Regulation from Industry Influence’, copied to the Ghana New Agency, the NGO called on stakeholders to review the inclusion of tobacco as excisable product.

The stakeholders, it said, include the Ministry of Healt
h, Ghana Revenue Authority, Food and Drugs Authority, WHO Ghana, and civil society organisations, which should urgently meet to review the inclusion of cigarette as an excisable product, contrary to the Public Health Act (Act 851).

The policy brief revealed intricate network of industry-allied groups focused on misinforming the public against raising tobacco taxes and the active promotion of e-cigarettes through a comprehensive and elusive approach.

‘These industry strategies threaten Ghana’s public health priorities, necessitating immediate action to safeguard these critical public health policies from tobacco industry interests.’

‘Despite the gains that Ghana has made in relation to tobacco tax, the industry continues to undermine public health efforts,’ it stated.

It said the shift from ad valorem to specific or hybrid tobacco tax regimes had been successfully implemented in various counties, significantly reducing tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, consumption among the youth, and increasing gov
ernment revenue.

‘For example, Rwanda adopted an ad valorem tax based on the CIF or ex-factory price between 2001 and June 2015 and later supplemented it with a specific excise tax in July 2015.’

‘This modification in the tax policy was associated with a decrease in the consumption of tobacco products.’

‘In Colombia, tripling of the specific tax rate for cigarettes from 2016 to 2018 led to a 34 per cent reduction in consumption and doubled excise tax revenues earmarked for universal health coverage.’

The policy brief noted that tobacco remained an alarming public health challenge, globally, with the tobacco industry interfering in countries’ implementation of evidence-based policies to reduce its use.

This is outlined in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) – a global health treaty that Ghana ratified in 2004.

As outlined in the FCTC Article ‘6’ agreed by experts, raising tobacco taxes is a highly effective strategy for reducing its use and its harmful consequ
ences.

‘Structuring of tobacco excise taxes directly affects cigarette prices, their variation and further affects the smoking behaviour of people, thus promoting tobacco control measure.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Two persons accused of causing damage to a three-storey uncompleted building at Roman Ridge in Accra have been granted bail.

The first accused person, Bernard Arhin, a 68-year-old driver, was admitted to bail in the sum of GHC500,000 with three sureties, one of the sureties is to be justified.

Paul Quansah, a 51-year-old wheel loader operator, the second accused person, was admitted to bail in the sum of GHC200,000 with four sureties.

The court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah ordered the two accused persons to be reporting to the Police once every Wednesday.

They are to reappear on January 15, 2024.

Arhin and Quansah have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry and causing unlawful damage.

They have pleaded not guilty.

Two other accomplices – Kwabena Boateng Aidoo, aka Commander and one Gado, are said to be at large.

The case of the prosecution, led by Superintendent of Police Augustine Yirenkyi, is that the complainant Richard Kpakpo Allotey is the Managing Director of
an Estate Agency and a resident of Tantra Hills, Accra.

The prosecution said the two accused persons were residents of Amanfrom and Tema Community 24 respectively.

The prosecutor said in April 2019, the Complainant’s company purchased land from Savana Estate at Roman Ridge, Accra and obtained land title certificate from the Land Commission and in November 2019, obtained building permit from the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly.

In September 2023, the prosecution said, the complainant, however, realised that some unknown persons had trespassed on the land and locked the main gate to the property and kidnapped the caretaker.

It said a report was made to the Police at Kotobabi and the Police visited the scene and met Kwabena Boateng Aido, aka Commander, the Manager of Big Omen Company Limited, who claimed ownership of the land and allegedly locked up the property.

The prosecution said Aidoo was invited by the Police, but he failed to show up.

The prosecutor said on November 30,2023, Aidoo allegedly organise
d land guards and they entered the land and demolished portions of the uncompleted storey building on the land and assaulted the security man on duty.

It said on December 3, 2023, Aidoo mobilised some military and police personnel and some officials from the Lands Commission who ‘invaded’ the land.

The prosecution said the complainant petitioned the Greater Accra Police Command about the act.

The court heard that one William Hanson was arrested by the Police, and he said it was Kwabena Boateng Aidoo, who had engaged him.

On December 15,2023, the prosecutor said Arhin and Quansah recruited one Gado together with 10 landguards, two soldiers, with five motorbikes, a vehicle and wheel loaders, caused damage to the property at midnight.

The prosecution said at about 0100 hours, the complainant received information on the damage caused.

It said Arhin and Quansah were picked up by the Police, but his accomplices escaped.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Homeless victims of the Mbankolo landslide in Yaounde II, Centre region have said they are yet to receive a dime from the state despite news circulating that the Head of State, President Paul Biya disbursed the sum of FCFA 92 million to be shared among the victims.

They said the news was, adding that they were never given money to leave the Nkomkana party house and look for a home to restart or better their lives.

‘It is a rumor. No kobo has been given to us. We are still waiting for the promises made to be fulfilled. Since the announcement was made, we have not seen any state official with our eyes. We are still stuck in misery, frustration, and abandonment here at the party house’. Disclosed one of the victims at the party house.

Only families who lost loved ones received the financial gesture of the President, being the sum of FCFA Two million each. This was handed over to them by the governor of the Centre region, Naseri Paul Bea, who assured homeless victims their turn would soon come.

‘In the comin
g days, they will be handed money which is enough to enable them to leave the Nkomkana accommodation zone to rent a house for a better life.’ Assured Governor Naseri Paul Bea when he settled the deceased families.

While waiting, the homeless survivors continue to endure difficult living conditions at the party house accommodating women, men, children, and the old.

‘It’s not easy to live in this cluster. Our wish is that the promised financial gesture reaches us fast. I, for instance, can’t live here any longer.’ Another victim explained.

While they nurse hope, that their turn will soon come as promised, they keep managing the little support of the Yaounde II council since they lodged at the party house after the October 8 incident.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Coalition for Positive Impact, organisers of the Igniting Dreams Prize, has disbursed GHS38,500.00 to the Sixth Igniting Dreams (ID24) Prize winners during the awards ceremony held in Wa at the weekend.

The Northern Region-based C-CARE, a special education provider for students with specific academic challenges such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia, won the Gold Prize and received GHS12,000.00.

Gbentek Digital Solutions, an information technology start-up in the Upper West Region, won the Silver Prize and received GHS9,000.00, while the Bronze Prize of GHS7,000.00 went to Diva Farms, an organic vegetable production farm in the Northern Region.

The Locker Room Sports, a sportswear production and retail company, also in the Northern Region, came Fourth with a prize cash of GHS5,000.00.

The remaining participants of the pitch competition received GHS1,000.00 each with ZebillaFarms in the Upper East Region receiving the People’s Choice Prize of GHS1,500.00.

Out of the 138 youth-led businesses ope
rating within the five regions of northern Ghana that entered the award scheme, 10 outstanding businesses were shortlisted to pitch their businesses.

Mr Maazu Bayuoni, the Founder and President of the Coalition for Positive Impact (CPI), speaking at the Igniting Dreams summit, said the programme had impacted more than 1,500 young people and 30 young entrepreneurs in northern Ghana over the last five years.

‘Since our establishment, we have been able to reach out to over 1,500 young people across the Northernbelt and supported 30 young entrepreneurs with seed funding and business development training,’ he said.

He explained that the Coalition had mobilised over GHS100,000 in resources to provide funding support for young entrepreneurs to sustain their businesses.

These young entrepreneurs, through the Igniting Dreams programme, had been able to scale up their businesses and created over 300 job opportunities for other youths.

Madam Maria Johana Yuorpor, the Chairperson of the ID24 Planning Committee, spea
king at the opening of the pitch competition, encouraged young people to strive to make an impact on society and ‘not be too keen on the money aspect.’

She urged the participants to maximise the knowledge gained from the seminars/ trainings by the CPI to impact their lives and to have a rippling effect on society.

‘I always preach the gospel that let’s look more for the impact and not for the money. The money will come someway somehow when you least expect it,’ she noted.

Superintendent Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu (Rtd), the Member of Parliament for Wa West, said he supported the Igniting Dreams Prize initiative because of its potential impact on young businesses.

He said holding many degrees would be meaningless if those certificates could not impact the life of the holder and society, touting innovation, change, and entrepreneurship as the way to improve one’s life.

‘Many people who are rich today didn’t begin looking for money. Look for the social problem, provide an innovative solution to that problem an
d money will be chasing you,’ Mr Toobu advised.

The Sangu Delle Foundation, Noni Hub, Rabito Clinic, DLight Space, Girls Initiative Ghana, and Steward Reigns Photography supported the event, held on the theme: ‘Developing Northern Ghana through Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership’.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Nii Oboade Notse Odaifio Welentsi III, Vice-President of the Greater Accra House of Chiefs and Overlord of Nungua Traditional Area, has warned the public against imposters selling land by forging his signature and seals.

He noted that some of the imposters furnished unsuspecting public document allegedly signed in his name to unsuspecting clients and advised them to be cautious.

According to him, this fraudulent act has been going on for years and it was causing individuals to lose their life savings to these imposters.

He said the matter had been reported to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, with some suspects arrested.

Speaking via telephone, the Nungua Paramount Chief said the charlatans often forged his signature and the seal of the Traditional Council to deceive their victims.

He said recently, a Chinese investor was swindled through such acts.

The Police on January 1, 2024, nabbed one suspect, Felix Alabi Borwngmai, through police intelligence over illegal sale of land.

The su
spect allegedly had land documents purported to have been signed by the Paramount Chief of Nungua.

Borwngmai is said to have confessed that he had accomplices and that one of them was one Laryea, a.k.a stone, who is now deceased.

The suspect is alleged to have confessed that the deceased was the one who had been helping him to forge the Paramount Chief’s signature and the seal of the Traditional Council.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo says the Judiciary is ready to rollout learning packages through the Judicial Training Institute to sharpen the skills and knowledge of court reporters.

Journalists, she said, needed to understand the levels of the courts, how they worked, the cases to be handled by them, among others to enhance their reportage.

She said learning and presenting legal issues would help journalists bring out accurate reports whilst demystifying issues around the judiciary.

The Chief Justice said this during her maiden meeting with members of the Judicial Press Corps (JPC) and swearing in of new members in Accra on Tuesday.

She said information journalists gathered from the law court must promote national cohesion and not breakdown the country.

The Chief Justice encouraged the media to ask questions and not presume because no two cases brought before the courts were the same.

‘Be persons of learning and try to understand what actually happens in court and let’s be mindful of not misinformi
ng the public of what happens in court,’ she said.

She said there were 430 courts nationwide and that every court had its structure and levels and the cases they handled, hence the need for the media to understand all the structures and report adequately.

‘The Judiciary will do everything in its power to provide quality and timely information to enhance the work of the media,’ she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency