The facility has been closed to the public due to an electrical fault that has affected the offices’ printers.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YfCdlHO4QVXLSYoSd0U27mBlNxwJxDfy”]Citizens who visited the office to transact business on Tuesday were turned away by policemen manning the gates at the premises due to the situation.

Although officials are treating the situation as an urgent one and working to ensure regular work resumes, that will not be until Friday.

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Habib Tijani, told Citi News that the wiring and fire systems at the office are currently being fixed.

“When we got an impression of what happened, an inspection was done and quickly we are working on it. Hopefully, by Friday, everything will be restored because currently, we are working on the wiring at the same time we are working on the fire system. We have the Ghana National Fire Service who are working on the fire system.”

‘Corruption at the passports office’

A survey conducted by the Ghana Integrity initiative anti-corruption Consortium in 2017,  identified the passports office as one of the few government agencies where bribery and corruption is pervasive.

The survey, which was to assess citizen’s understanding of corruption, their perceptions and actual experiences of corruption, show that Ghanaians still perceived the passports office as well as the police service, political parties and the judiciary as being corrupt.

It however revealed that Ghanaians do not regard the payment of what is commonly called facilitation fee as a form of corruption.

Passport acquisition in Ghana

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has given indications that it intends to make the process of passport acquisition in Ghana easy and efficient, a departure from what can best be described as one of the most frustrating processes to go through in the country.

Despite promises by successive governments to improve the process, many Ghanaians are forced to pay bribes, pay exorbitant charges through middlemen popularly known as ‘gorro boys’ or queue as early as 3:00am each day to have their passport applications processed especially at the Accra application center.

The forms for regular application currently goes for GHS 50, and are expected to be processed within 4 weeks, whilst the forms for express applications are being sold for GHS 100, and are expected to be processed within 2 weeks, although the duration may slightly vary.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Citing a recent research conducted by People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements (PD) Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), he said: “As many as about 116 are still in their infantile stage, with some already fully developed slums.”

Dr. Anokye was presenting findings on a literature review and research methodology used in a study of three informal settlements in Accra yesterday [Wednesday].

They are Madina Zongo, Agbogloshie and Chorkor.

He said the project was intended to improve the socio-economic conditions of the informal settlers by strengthening their voices and improving access to justice and basic service.

“If we were to use the right based approach and people begin to know what rights they have, they can actually begin to hold duty bearers accountable and they can keep the fire on, as it were,” the lecturer added.

Addressing a national stakeholders workshop on the theme: “ Improving governance, voice and access to justice in Ghana’s informal settlements,” Dr Anokye said about 76 informal settlements in Accra had already developed into mature slums, which called for a two-pronged approach: preventive and curative approaches.

He attributed the fast development of informal settlements in Accra and other big cities to the inability of people to find affordable housing when they moved down in search of jobs, and the high cost of land that prevented people from owning their own houses.

Dr Anokye added: “when people migrate, they migrate for economic reasons.they come to eke out a living and they want to live close to the source of employment as possible.Anywhere far way would mean spending all their money on transportation.that will mean they will keep having slums around the core city centres because that is where the jobs are,” he said.

The study was supported by the Land Resource Management Centre(LRMC), people’s Dialogue on Human Settlements, KNUST and the International Development Centre of Canada.

To reduce this trend, Dr Anokye suggested that the government “must stimulate the market to supply housing that is affordable or ensure that we get a system where people can get access to build their own houses”.

He noted that even though there had been several drawing on house policies in the country, they had not been implemented.

The lecturer also called for a revision of the country’s housing strategies, where those who could easily afford would be targeted and supported to own houses.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Inner City and Zongo Development, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Sadique, said the Zongo Development Fund “this year and in the years to come will be the catalyst for transformation, the government envisage for Zongos and the inner city communities.”

He noted that the Ministry had developed a plan for a prosperous, inclusive and sustainably developed inner cities and Zongos on for thematic areas: infrastructures and sanitation, social and economic development, crime and security control and heritage and cultural promotion.

He added that that would be achieved through collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure that the envisage goals of transformation were reached.

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Source: Daily Graphic

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Organisers also sensitised the citizenry on the importance of cleanliness with placards with inscriptions such as “Say No to Filth,” “Be a Street Hygiene Ambassador,” “Make Ghana the cleanest in the World,” “A Clean Ghana, A Beautiful Ghana,” and “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” among many others championing the course.

On the choice of location, Evangelist Adoboe explained that SHA chose the location since it was one of the busiest public centres that attracted thousands of revellers in Accra. 

“This is our decision for organising the programme around the interchange to also sensitise the pedestrians and drivers on the importance of keeping the city clean. 

“Secondly, since thousands of people may troop in to shop and have fun at the mall especially during the holidays, there is a possibility of increase of waste around the interchange, hence our decision to contribute in keeping the environment clean”, Evangelist Adoboe said.

He also noted that, SHA were not there to only clean the place but to educate and therefore urged Ghanaians to live a clean lifestyle in their homes, on the streets and everywhere in the city of Accra. 

The President of SHA, Selorm Solomon Nyale, urged Ghanaians not to leave their civic responsibility solely to waste management firms but be involved to make the country clean adding that ”Let us also learn to make use of allocated dustbins at vantage points and desist form littering around,” he advised. 

One of the organisers, Jefferson Affordofe, said sanitation should be a priority in Ghana and that people should willingly support and practise proper sanitation habits.

He appealed to government to enforce policies regarding segregation of waste such that polythene bags, plastics and other waste materials that do not easily decay are separated from other waste.

Mr. Affordofe also advocated that paper bags should be used instead of polythene since paper decays faster and was less hazardous adding that “Dustbins should be quickly picked up by service providers as soon as they become full so that they do not begin to pollute the environment.”

Mr. Affordofe urged Ghanaians to adopt a new attitudinal change and adhere to government policies regarding sanitation, its enactment and enforcement of sanitation by-laws by District Assembles which ultimately would make Ghanaians conscious of their civic responsibilities, thus making Ghana the cleanest place in the world.


Source: GNA

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According to the Ghanaian-American Global Marketing icon, Uber has defined that purpose by using technology and service delivery to move people from one point to another with ease at an affordable rate.

“Uber is a future company. It is where technology is impacting not just what we do every day, but how we do it. For me, as I look at the world of Silicon Valley and corporate America and the larger world in general from a corporate and business standpoint, there are lots of ways in which communities are being shaped. I felt very strongly that Uber has a very large part of how that’s going to work and I want to be a part of that,” she said.

Saint John was speaking at the African Leadership Initiative West Africa, ALIWA Leadership Speaker Series, held on Thursday at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

ALIWA was launched in 2006 as a joint venture of the Aspen Institute, LEAP Africa (Nigeria), Databank Foundation (Ghana), and Tecno Serve.

ALIWA captures the energy, talent and the resolve of an emerging generation of leaders in Africa by employing time-tested method of text-based dialogue modeled after the Aspen Institute’s  renowned Henry Crown Fellowship program.

Dignitaries including Austrian-German-Ghanaian actor, Boris Kodjoe, Board Chairman of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, CEO of Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Kenneth Ashigbey, Esther Armah, British-born playwright, radio host and political commentator, and a host of others graced the event

About Uber

Uber Technologies Inc. is a global taxi technology company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States, operating in over 630 cities worldwide.

In Ghana, Uber is present in the national capital Accra, and the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi. Hundreds of drivers have jumped onto the platform to make a living either on full-time or part-time basis.

Founded in 2009, Uber  develops, markets and operates the Uber car transportation. In some cities, Uber also engages in food delivery mobile apps.

In recent times, there had been arguments about whether Uber was a transport company or a technology service provider.

Within Europe, that argument has been settled, after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Uber is a transport company.

The ride-hailing firm argued it was an information society service – helping people to make contact with each other electronically – and not a cab firm.

The case arose after Uber was told to obey local taxi rules in Barcelona.

Uber said the verdict would make little difference to the way it operated in Europe, but experts say the case could have implications for the gig economy.

An Uber spokesperson said: “This ruling will not change things in most EU countries where we already operate under transportation law.

“However, millions of Europeans are still prevented from using apps like ours. As our new CEO has said, it is appropriate to regulate services such as Uber and so we will continue the dialogue with cities across Europe. This is the approach we’ll take to ensure everyone can get a reliable ride at the tap of a button.”

In its ruling, the ECJ said that a service whose purpose was “to connect, by means of a smartphone application and for remuneration, non-professional drivers using their own vehicle with persons who wish to make urban journeys” must be classified as “a service in the field of transport” in EU law.

It added: “As EU law currently stands, it is for the member states to regulate the conditions under which such services are to be provided in conformity with the general rules of the treaty on the functioning of the EU.”

About Bozoma Saint John

Bozoma Saint John is the Chief Brand Officer at Uber, where she is tasked with telling stories of over million of riders and drivers partners across 600+ cities.

Over the course of her career, Bozoma “Boz” Saint John has earned a formidable reputation as a trailblazing marketing and advertising executive.

Most recently, Boz was the Head of Global Consumer Marketing for Apple Music and iTunes.

Before Apple,Boz was the Head of the Music and Entertaintment Marketing Group at Pepsi-Cola North America.

She also served as VP of Ashley Stewart, a women’s fashion brand as well as managed accounts at advertising agencies Arnold Worldwide and Spike Lee’s SpikeDDB.

By: Lawrence Segbefia & Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

Photos: Godwin A. Allotey

The post Uber is a ‘future company’ – Bozoma Saint John appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Assembly in a statement said the activities of these hawkers and traders contribute to littering along roads in the city.

Some of the focus areas for the decongestion exercise include Kaneshie Market Area, Odorkor-Kwashieman road, Nima Highway, Agbobloshie, Kwame Nkrumah Interchange and its environs.

The AMA said their activities were running contrary to the AMA hawkers bye-law of 2011, and section 117(1) of the road traffic regulations, 2012(L.I.2180).

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post AMA gives hawkers one week to relocate for decongestion exercise appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Ghana Revenue Authority embarked on a distress order to retrieve about 2 million cedis in tax arrears from the management of the Accra Mall.

The move was triggered after the company failed to pay the said taxes despite an expiration of the deadline about two months ago.

The amount, which is taxes owed in VAT, also followed an audit of the operations of the management of the mall by the GRA.

The Chief Revenue Officer, Debt Management and Compliance of the GRA, Wisdom Hetor, is confident the exercise will improve voluntary tax compliance.

“The audit covers between 2013 and 2015, but the demand notice was served on the 11^th of September 2017, and the final demand notice was served on the 26^th of October, 2017. So before this exercise, we have had several meetings with them to make sure that we collect the money from them, but they always give varied excuses so we have no other option than to come today to execute the mandate,”  he stated.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Accra Mall escapes closure over taxes appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

JHS pupils who made it to the top 50 of Level 1, converged on the venue to write an aptitude test, after which the best ten will be selected for the grand finale.

The Literacy Challenge was launched on July 19 for JHS pupils to write and suggest to the president of Ghana how to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa.

After entries were submitted, external examiners marked the scripts and selected the top 50 pupils for Level 2.

After the test, the 50 contestants were given certificates and medals, an amount of five hundred cedis each.

They will now be waiting for the outcome of the test, where the best ten students will be selected.

In the end, the overall winner is expected to receive an amount of Ghc10,000 and other prizes.

The Literacy Challenge is sponsored by Bic, Cowbell, Slydepay and Milky Magic and powered by Citi 97.3 FM.

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By: Jeffrey Owuraku Sarpong/citimfonline.com/Ghana
Follow @ojsarpong

The post Literacy Challenge Level II: Aptitude test held for 50 students appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The situation led to chaos and a near stampede at nearby areas.

Below is the information Citi FM has gathered so far concerning the incident.

1. The explosion occurred at the MANSCO gas station at Atomic Junction
2. The first explosion was heard at about 7:20pm
3. The fire caught an adjacent fuel station
4. A second explosion was heard about few minutes later
5. Some cars parked close by have been burnt to ashes
6. At least one person has been confirmed dead
7. Scores of injured people have been rushed to the Legon and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals
8. Residents of Bani and James Topp Nelson Yankah hall of the University of Ghana have escaped to safety
9. There is power outage at parts of the University of Ghana campus
10. There was a stampede at the Legon campus over the incident

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Atomic Junction Gas Explosion: What we know so far appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the prosecutor, Madam Patience Geraldo, Samuel Dodoe, 54, was summoned because of the absence of a toilet facility in his house at Mataheko.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WBXnTBpU5vJwWujFitd816NkEfcEOCgi”]According to her, the accused had acted contrary to the Public Health Act 851 (2012).

He pleaded guilty and was therefore fined 30 penalty units equivalent to 480 Ghana cedis which he paid to the court and was discharged.

The second case was that of Esther Opoku, a 42-year-old resident of Mataheko, who was summoned for the accumulation of refuse mixed with human excreta in her premises, acting contrary to section 56 A and B of the public health act 851 of 2012,

Esther Opoku pleaded guilty, and was also fined 480 Ghana cedis for her offense, and in default of payment, 6 months imprisonment.

The accused persons who appeared before the court last Friday, were issued summons on 6th September, 2017 by the Sanitary inspectors, popularly known as “Saman Saman” of the Ablekuma central sub-metro.

Her ladyship Linda Emmisah, said the people who were issued summons on the same day but failed to appear before the court had been re-summoned to reappear on Wednesday, 20th September, 2017.

She added that, if they fail to appear in court on the said date, then she would issue a bench warrant for their arrest.

The judge added that, the sanitary inspectors should follow up on people who appear before the court to be sure that they were abiding by the sanitation bye-laws.

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Source: AMA

The post Two persons fined GH¢480 each for sanitation offences appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

However, the process has been fraught with a few challenges resulting in students and parents left standing in long queues for extended periods of time.

With the students supposed to report back in a couple of days, the parents have thronged the schools to get their wards registered before classes commence.

At some schools in Accra, parents expressed their frustration with the slow registration process to Citi News’ Marrie Franz.

“I got here almost 7:00am and was told to sit in the Assembly Hall and wait. While we’ve been here, some parents have come to call their wards. We don’t know what’s going on but we think they’ve started. They told us they were using the numbers,” one parent said.

“When we reported, we were told that we had to take numbers before we’ll be attended to. They just gave us the numbers and paid no more attention to us,” another parent said.

“We came here around 4:30am, thinking that we’d be attended to quickly so that we could go to work. We can’t spend the whole day here. We saw a few people going upstairs and we thought they were getting VIP and protocol treatment. They’ve told us they are using the numbers and I’ve got a number now.”

One of the officials stated that, the process was going smoothly, but expressed concerns with the “impatience” of the parents.”

“We have to admit 500 people, we can’t do it at the same time,” she said

Kumasi

At the Kumasi Academy in the Ashanti Region, Citi News’ Hafiz Tijani reported that, many parents had braved the rains to arrive early in order complete their wards’ registration.

According to him, the process at the school had initially been tense, but the situation had calmed down with many parents able to register their children since then.

Bolgatanga

Citi News’ Frederick Awuni reported that, a few schools in the Upper East Region had not yet put up a list of the students who had been placed there.

Some parents also complained about the slow pace of the registration process.

“We were here very early, some of us are from very faraway places. I’m from Kintampo and had to sleep in Tamale to get to the school early,” one parent said.

However, the school assured them that their challenges would be addressed in time for them to complete the registration process.

Listen to the reports from Accra, Kumasi and Bolgatanga below

Accra – 0:00 minutes

Kumasi – 5:06

Bolgatanga – 8:23

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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