According to him, government is working on a regulation that will give some state agencies the power to check and inspect total production of oil and gold before it leaves the country.

Speaking at the 69th Annual New Year School and Conference at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Dr. Bawumia bemoaned the practice where the nation is shortchanged in its natural resources.

“We are going to demand a transparent accounting of our natural resources that we are exporting.  For the most part, we are just told, we are exporting this amount of gold. How sure are we that is the amount of gold that is been exported. We have been told we exported so much of oil, how sure are we, that that is really the amount of oil that is coming out?” he queried.

Dr. Bawumia maintained that government will independently vet figures presented by oil and gold companies to make sure it corresponds with the actual situation on the ground.

“We are going to insist on a transparent accounting for our natural resources. We are coming out with some kind of regulations on this soon. In other countries for example, it’s really in the control of government until you export it, so that we know what it is. So we are going to talk with the mining companies and the oil companies,” he stressed.

He was optimistic the exercise will be a useful one that will help Ghana block leakages that result in the country losing its natural resources through export.

–

By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

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The latest figures from the Bank of Ghana indicate that, the country received 8.95 billion dollars from her exports in August 2017, compared to the estimated 7 billion dollars it spent on importing goods for the same period in 2017.

While the total exports represent a growth of 27.8% between August 2016, and the same period in 2017, total imports represents a drop of 12.27% within the one year period.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG)’s summary of economic and financial data indicates that, Ghana started recording positive balance of trade at least within the first quarter of 2017.

The country in August 2017, made 8.95 billion dollars in export revenue from cocoa, oil and gold altogether.

This represents 1.95 billion dollars more, compared to the 7 billion dollars the country earned for the same period this year.

Of the amount, revenue from oil exports went up by over 140 percent between August 2016 and the same period in 2017.

The country, in August 2017, raked in 1.68 billion dollars up from the 683 million dollars recorded in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, gold recorded the second highest growth of about 25 percent. Export revenue from the mineral went up from 3 to 3.79 billion dollars within the one year period.

However, cocoa recorded the least growth in export revenue of about 16 percent.

The cash crop raked in 1.99 billion dollars in August 2017, from the 1.72 billion dollars recorded in August 2016.

On imports, Ghana’s oil imports witnessed the highest drop of about 28 percent; from 1.2 billion dollars to 900 million dollars.

But non-oil imports such as food and other consumables amounted to 6.86 billion dollars, down from the 7.6 billion dollars between August 2016 and August this year.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

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[contextly_sidebar id=”kjKQGiRQ2r5LmRuEw7POiFThvTxgAh3q”]The suspect, Clement Danso Yeboah was arrested upon a tip off. The arrest brings to 10 the number of persons who have so far been arrested in connection with the incident.

Last month some aggrieved youth, numbering about five, stormed the town on motorbikes and shot indiscriminately at some residents resulting in the fatalities recorded.

Confirming the latest arrest to Citi News,Techiman Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Twumasi Ankrah indicated that the police is resolved to bring all persons connected to the crime to book.

“all the arrests have been made upon information and the arrest of Clement Danso Yeboah too was  made upon information to the police, he was arrested in Tuobodom, we had information about him sometime ago that he was staying in Techiman, …so yesterday in the evening that we got the information that he had come to Tuobodom town that is how we got him arrested,” he stated.

–

By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Sunday Okay, the convict pleaded not guilty to the offense but was found culpable after the trial.

Police Superintendent Emmanuel Akunnor, told the court that the ‘stuff’ compressed into six-cello taped slabs, were found hidden on a commercial SsangYong bus, when the Police personnel intercepted the vehicle at a check point at Nkawkaw near Abofuor on the Techiman-Kumasi highway.

[contextly_sidebar id=”yvRBJ9hAr7Rf7y5Tjz3BeftRVGfR2nIF”]This was on August 30, 2014, at about 1200 hours.

The bus with Registration Number AW 4049-14 was traveling from Techiman in the Brong-Ahafo Region to Accra, with Okay and other passengers on board.

Okay claimed ownership after questioning and together with the exhibits, he was handed over to the Drug Law Enforcement Unit for investigations.

The exhibits were then forwarded to the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) in Accra for forensic examination and a comprehensive report confirming the weight and the veracity of the substance as cannabis.

It was later returned to the Court on February 18, 2015.

A duplicate case docket was forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for study and advice.

An advice was received from the Attorney General’s Department on April 20, 2014 giving the green light for him to be charged with the offence.

He admitted ownership of the exhibits during investigations and claimed it was given to him at Techiman by a friend to be given to someone in Accra.

Source: GNA

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The three are, Sheriff Adams, also known as Alhaji Fresh, aged 31, Osei Kufuor, aged 32 and Kwabena Yeboah, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Vvq7XDtLFbg1EOnQgsMo2wgXiUKnfjKC”]The other accomplices, Kwadwo Francis, 35, and Edmund Bawuah, 27, were acquitted and discharge after the trial.

Superintendent Alhaji Maama Arhin, Brong Ahafo Regional crime officer said the three suspects were among six notorious robbers arrested by the Sunyani Police patrol team at the Yawhima Police barrier.

He said the Police upon a tip off, arrested the robbers in a taxi cab at 0300 hours on their return from an operation at Wenchi on Thursday February 26, 2015.

Alhaji Arhin explained that the gang tied up the watchman, broke into the premises and stole money and other items.

An unspecified amount of money, four mobile phones, two pistols, knives, a crow bar, a military uniform, cartridges and other offensive weapons were later found on them.

The Regional Crime officer disclosed that Adams and four others also on June 13, 2014, robbed Tonket Limited, a Nestle products distribution company in Sunyani and nearly killed the company’s accountant.

He said the five were arrested and remanded in prison custody for some time but were granted bail by a Circuit Court at Fiapre, near Sunyani.

Alhaji Arhin said the group after their bail later robbed some financial institutions in the region, including the Sunyani Agency of the Derma Rural Bank and the Bechem Agency of Bomaa Rural Bank.

Source: GNA

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According to the management, some unscrupulous persons have been parading themselves as staff of VRA selling stolen meters and connecting power illegally to persons.

[contextly_sidebar id=”aKGX2PcOsStf7etteANydK2R0Xv2lTu2″]Citi News’ Brong Ahafo Regional correspondent, Kwadwo Brefo gathered that the syndicate is depriving the Authority of millions of cedis.

At a press briefing, the area Manager of Techiman at the VRA station, Mr. Charles Yekunu cautioned residents against dealing with the criminals.

“We don’t sell meters, anybody who sells meters to them is a criminal and anybody who receives or buys those meters is also an accomplice. Therefore, if we get such people, we are not going to arrest or deal with the seller but the buyer as well.”

He added:  “We want you (the media) to get this information to them because they are not aware that even the buyers are also culprits, so that we can stop this menace.”

By: Selassie A. Amissah Mensah /citifmonline.com/Ghana

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[contextly_sidebar id=”wJJnLlBTT3WbyWnZqVNN7ZISMispG69O”]Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christopher Tawiah, Regional Police Public Relations Officer, briefing the press on Wednesday in Sunyani, said the suspect, besides living with his wife, was also dating one Mariam Takyiwaaa, mother of the deceased.

Takyiwaaa went to Kyere to demand the child’s health insurance renewal fees but he refused to give her the money and this resulted in a quarrel between the two.

In the process, the suspect snatched the baby, Anaase Agyemang, from the  Takyiwaa and hit his head on the ground.

ASP Tawiah said the mother’s shouts for help attracted neighbours but the suspect sensing danger fled.

The Assemblyman of Tekese, Clement Adjei reported the matter to the Police which led to suspect’s arrest.

He said Kyere is in Police custody in Sunyani for further investigations whilst the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Saint Mary’s Catholic Hospital at Drobo, pending autopsy.

Source: GNA

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The visit follows a similar one he performed in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions last week.

[contextly_sidebar id=”UYvJTnweI8izvZ5y3hjNHL26aWgJ62Kl”]An itinerary from the office of the President said he will inaugurate water projects at Fetentaa in Berekum and Ntotoroso in the Asutifi North District, and inspect a completed Polyclinic at Wamfie in the  Dormaa East District on Thursday.

On Friday, June 26, President Mahama will be expected to inaugurate a water system at Kajiji in the Sene East District, inspect on-going road works at Kwame Danso in the Sene West District.

He will climax his tour with the inspection of a completed Polyclinic at Bomaa in the Tano North District.

President Mahama is expected back in Accra on Friday.

Source: GNA

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Staff Sergeant Alhassan Hamid, 42, of the Sunyani Third Battalion (3BN) was sentenced accordingly when he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery.

[contextly_sidebar id=”rXP834CqtIg29RcprHm62cIszXX93tRE”]Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christopher Tawiah said that Hamid was among six hardened armed robbers arrested by the Sunyani Police Patrol Team at the Yawhima Police barrier.

He said the Police upon a tip off, arrested the robbers in a taxi cab at 0300 hours on their return from an operation at Wenchi on Thursday February 26, 2015.

The other suspects were Sheriff Adams, also known as Alhaji Fresh, aged 31, Osei Kufuor, aged 32, Kwadwo Francis, 35, Edmund Bawuah, 27 and Kwabena Yeboah, 32 years.

ASP Tawiah explained that the gang tied up the watchman, broke into the premises and stole money and items, and later dumped the watchman at the outskirts of the town.

He said an unspecified amount of money, four mobile phones, two pistols, knives, a crow bar, a military uniform, cartridges and other offensive weapons were later found on them.

ASP Tawiah added that Hamid and Francis were also identified by their victim, Tunguri Abu, an Ivorian, whom they robbed.

They stole his suitcase containing some valuable items including a Laptop computer and a cash of 1.5 million CFA Francs, when he arrived in Kumasi on Tuesday, February 24, 2015.

The Regional Public Relations Officer disclosed that Adams and four others also on June 13, 2014, robbed Tonket Limited, a Nestle products distribution company in Sunyani and nearly killed the company’s accountant.

He said the five were arrested and remanded in prison custody for sometime but were granted bail by a Circuit Court at Fiapre, near Sunyani.

ASP Tawiah said the group after their bail later robbed some financial institutions in the Region, including the Sunyani Agency of Derma Rural Bank and the Bechem Agency of Bomaa Rural Bank.

Source: GNA

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[contextly_sidebar id=”pl7iNrBa3qsmTpkGR3zZh4vjIuRdz7Jr”]The three reportedly poured a quantity of petrol on their victim, Kofi Mawuli, in a nearby bush at Kenyase around 1830 hours on Sunday May 3, this year.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr. Christopher Tawiah, briefing the Ghana News Agency, on Tuesday in Sunyani, identified the suspects as Kwame Manu, alias colour, 45, Felicia Adusei, 40 and Kenneth Obinim, 18.

He said the three suspects accused Mawuli of stealing their pig, explaining that they jointly arrested Mawuli and dragged him on the ground to sprinkle petrol on him but he (Mawuli) managed to escape when the suspects were in the process of searching for matches to execute their plan.

Mawuli then fled to the Kenyase Police Station with bruises and petrol all over his body to report the matter to the Police, adding that, the Police issued medical form for Mawuli to attend Saint Elizabeth Catholic Hospital at Hwidiem for treatment.

He said the victim later led the Police to the house of accused persons where they were arrested and charged with causing harm and attempted murder.

Source:  GNA

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