Day: January 9, 2024

The Asokwa Circuit Court 2 in Kumasi has sentenced Senyah Poku and Yaa Serwaa of Senyah Poku Enterprise, an unlicensed foreign exchange bureau operating in Patase, Kumasi, to a fine of six hundred penalty units equivalent to GHS7,200.00 each.

The convicts pleaded guilty to ‘Conspiracy to Engage in the Business of Dealing in Foreign Exchange Without Licence’ and ‘Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Foreign Exchange Without Licence.’

The Ashanti Regional Police Command, Kumasi, in collaboration with the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department (OFISD) and the Security Department of the Bank of Ghana, investigated and arrested four persons dealing in foreign exchange without approval and a licence from the Bank.

The undercover investigation began on October 29, 2023, and concluded on December 3, 2023.

The other suspects awaiting trial are Adam Isak and Alhassan Nuhu of Macowasi Forex Bureau, another unlicensed foreign exchange bureau also operating on the KNUST Campus, Kumasi.

The OFISD, in c
onducting supervisory duties in Kumasi, detected certain anomalies in the Foreign Exchange (FX) market and their effective work and preliminary intelligence gathering, led them to several illegal/parallel foreign exchange market operators in the Kumasi area.

Ghana’s foreign exchange market is regulated by the Foreign Exchange Act 2006, Act 723. The Act cloaks the Bank of Ghana with all licensing, supervisory and regulatory authority.

According to Section 3(1) of the Foreign Exchange Act, 2006, Act 723, ‘A person shall not engage in the business of dealing in foreign exchange without a licence issued under this Act.’

Section 29(1)(a) of the Act further states that ‘A person who engages in the business of dealing in foreign exchange without a licence commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than seven hundred penalty units or a term of imprisonment of not more than eighteen months or both.”

According to the Bank of Ghana, dealing in foreign exchange without approval or a
licence is a punishable offence under the Foreign Exchange Act 2006, Act 723.

The Bank has consistently issued a strong caution to the public to desist from engaging the services of foreign exchange businesses operating without a licence.

The Central Bank has published on its website all registered financial institutions and urges the public to patronize and undertake business with only institutions licensed by the Bank.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The leadership of Ghana National Association of Garages (GNAG) has stated the readiness of the Association to fix all broken-down government vehicles, including ambulances and buses for free.

The Association said the gesture was its contribution towards the economic recovery of the country.

Mr Francis Tetteh, the Public Relations Officer of GNAG, told the Ghana News Agency that monies that would have been paid as labour cost to fix the vehicles should be channeled into other development projects.

‘We believe governance is a shared responsibility and as a trade Association, it is important we play our part. As an Institution with artisans – welders, mechanics, sprayers and electricians, we can service the vehicles,’ he said.

The Association, he said, had a well-structured system, offices and diverse membership across the country and that all members needed was for government to purchase the vehicle parts.

Mr Tetteh said when leaders of the Association visited the State Transport terminals, Ministries and
Agencies across the country, they saw broken down vehicles with faults that could be easily fixed.

‘Many vehicles have been parked at the offices for years due to out of serviced parts, including shafts, engines, gear boxes, suspension and body works,’ he noted.

Mr Tetteh said examples were the grounded buses at the Metro Mass Transit Limited office at Kanashie, and other parts of the country, Ayalolo terminals and Births and Death Registry.

While describing the phenomena as sad, Mr Tetteh said more worry was the??broken down?ambulances?recently purchased by the government.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed government’s support towards the construction of a Digital Youth Village to promote and boost digital entrepreneurship among the Ghanaian youth.

The Village, being constructed by the University of Ghana on a five-acre land, would be a centre of excellence for learning, innovation, and creativity, with the state-of-the-art information and technologies.

It would harness the potential of the Ghanaian youth in information communication technology (ICT) for accelerated socio-economic development.

The Vice President said government had allocated funds in the 2024 Budget towards its construction and that the first phase of the project would be completed by the end of this year.

Dr Bawumia announced this during the opening of the 75th Annual New Year School and Conference of the University of Ghana, in Accra on Tuesday.

The three-day conference, organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education, in collaboration with the ministries of Communications and D
igitalisation, Finance and Education was on the theme: ‘Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology and Embracing Humanism for Sustainable Development’.

The event provided a platform to engage stakeholders in the academia and civil society organisations in both public and private sectors to deliberate on pertinent issues affecting national development and proffer workable solutions to them.

Some of the recommendations and constructive criticisms from the annual conference have helped to shape public policies and promote good governance.

The Vice President noted that in this era of fourth industrial revolution, digital technology was an enabler to enhance productivity and revenue mobilisation for sustainable development.

To that end, he said, the Akufo-Addo-led government since assuming office in 2017, had implemented various digital initiatives, including the Ghana.gov portal, digital property addressing system, mobile money interoperability and payment system, paperless ports and electronic registration of
vehicles and lands.

Those initiatives, he said, were yielding amazing results, thus, deepening financial inclusion amongst the population and ensuring robust delivery of services for the citizenry.

The Vice President said using technology as an impetus would stimulate growth and development in all facets of the national economy and an important application of technology would involve the smart use of data analytics, leading to informed decision-making, predictive modelling, and proactive measures.

‘This unique blend of data-driven insights and real-time information allows us to quickly identify emerging trends, foresee future challenges, and create robust strategies for building resilience and sustainable development,’ Dr Bawumia noted.

He commended the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana for her bold initiatives on innovation and development and technology drive aimed at providing top-notch students’ experience on campus.

‘I have followed keenly the one-student-one-laptop initiatives, classroom m
odernisation and construction of hotspot comfort zones on campus to provide ideal locations for student relaxation.

‘These initiatives are commendable, and I urge well-meaning individuals and institutions to contribute generously towards these projects,’ the Vice President stated.

As a university committed to remaining relevant to global and national issues, the Vice President charged them to be at the forefront of knowledge production, leading to the development of groundbreaking and innovative technologies, tailored to respond to specific challenges.

He believed that ‘when humanism is harmoniously combined with the potential of cutting-edge technology, a well-balanced approach is formed’.

He added that by embracing humanism, ‘we will not only enhance our overall resilience but also establish a robust foundation, paving the path for sustainable development that is inclusive, compassionate, and unequivocally beneficial for all of humanity’.

‘The significance of fully adopting humanism lies in our shared
commitment to future generations, a way of life, a mindset, and a key to a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Paramount Chief of the Bawku Traditional Area, Zugraan Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, has graced the Fao festival of the Chiana Traditional Area in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.

The Paramount Chief, who was accompanied by Divisional Chiefs and Queen Mothers within the Kusaug Area, was escorted amidst heavily armed officers from both the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service.

The Fao festival is annually celebrated by the Chiefs and people of Chiana, to thank God and their ancestors for successful farming season.

This year’s festival was on the theme: ‘Creating awareness on climate change and environmental protection in the savannah zone: The role of cultural festival and community-based practices.’

Naba Azoka II, the Chairperson for the occasion in an address read on his behalf, thanked the Chiana Pio, Pe Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III, the Paramount Chief of the Chiana Traditional Area for the invitation to Chair the festival.

He said climate change was an iss
ue of global concern, and that the United Nations and all well-meaning international organizations worked to ensure that climate change was addressed.

The Zugraan in his contribution to the fight against climate change, said he equally identified with this key role to protect the environment.

‘In line with my commitment to protect the environment, I have appointed a Chief in charge of Environmental Protection and Land Degradation,’ Naba Azoka II, said, before his departure back to Bawku with his entourage, midway the festival celebration, owing to curfew hours in Bawku.

Pe Ayagitam III, in his address, noted that climate change and environmental degradation continued to devastate sources of livelihood of his people as experienced in many aspects of their lives.

‘Rainfall patterns have become unpredictable, our soils are less fertile and unsupportive of our crops, lands that were hitherto productive, have become less relevant in promoting farming which we depend heavily on as our source of income as a farm
ing community.

‘Bush fires, frequent storms, droughts and floods have become more rampant and destroying our sources of income and forests,’ the Chiana Pio, who is the President of the Region’s House of Chiefs, said.

He called on all stakeholders, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forestry Commission, the Ghana National Fire Service, and traditional authorities to collaborate to fight the menace of climate change crisis and environmental degradation.

The Chiana Pio used the occasion to reiterate the several appeals for peace in Bawku and said ‘It is sad that we see innocent lives lost on daily basis. The people have made their choice, there is no turning back. We have a Bawku Naba.

‘We cannot have a second have Bawku Naba. The Regional House of Chiefs, with me as President, endorse the fact that we have a Bawku Naba, and therefore, we plead with all to lay down their arms for peace,’ he said.

The President of the House extended the call for peace in the Bolgatanga Traditional Area and sa
id the House would soon meet with the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, Paramount Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area to ensure peace prevailed in Bawku.

Notable among Paramount Chiefs who graced the festival included the Navro-Pio, Pe Denis Aneakwoa Balinia Adda Asagpaare II, Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area, Pe Joseph Banapeh Afagachie, Paramount Chief of Nakong, Naba Anthony Anonsona Abisa Atasige, Paramount Chief of Mirigu Traditional Area, among others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

RippleCraft Agency, a student-led creative force, is to showcase its first project, the impactful ‘Beat The Pressure’ campaign video at the highly anticipated UniMAC Pitch Day on Friday January 12, 2024.

The campaign is aimed at addressing the pressing issue of hypertension, also known as high blood pressure.

UniMAC Pitch Day, hosted by the University of Media, Arts, and Communication – Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ), is a platform that brings together innovation and creativity, providing an opportunity for students taking up the Strategic Community Relations Course to present groundbreaking initiatives.

The campaign video, dubbed: ‘Beat The Pressure’, is a visually compelling and informative piece designed to raise awareness about hypertension and inspire positive behaviour changes.

A release issued to the Ghana News Agency, on Tuesday, in Accra, said the video creatively captured the heartbeat of modern life and seamlessly integrates practical advice on maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Ms P
aulina Hanson, Team Lead, RippleCraft Agency, said the campaign was not just about raising awareness, but a call to action for individuals to prioritise their heart health.

‘We believe that by leveraging creativity, we can make a meaningful impact on public health.’

‘UniMAC Pitch Day attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the campaign video and explore its innovative approach. The video will be showcased during a dedicated presentation by RippleCraft Agency, followed by a question-and-answer session for audience interaction’, she added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Mustapha Mohammed Demaliya, an artist at the People’s Art Execution and Training Village, Tamale, has made many paintings of chef Failatu Abdul-Razak and her cook-a-thon event to support her Guinness Book of Records attempt with his talent.

Mr Demaliya, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale on Tuesday, said his artwork site, located opposite the cook-a-thon venue, presented an opportunity to show Chef Failatu love beyond the cooking scene such that people, who passed by, could better appreciate her effort.

He said: ‘If we can’t support financially, we can support with our talents.’

The artist also made a painting of chef Failatu’s cooking depicting her cook-a-thon gesture as one that projected the country.

One of the paintings comprised an extension ofFailatu’s hand that held a ladle containing soup with a black star in it on a background of the colours of the National Flag.

Mr Demaliya said the paintings were an art of how the chef had cooked for hours relentlessly to portray the coun
try as a place with so many potentials.

Source: Ghana News Agency