The Information Minister was justifying a suggestion by the Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo to the effect that, government would consider reviewing the Petroleum Revenue Management Act to allow for the use of the Heritage Fund to finance the free SHS policy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”sRBFX8PZH7ue7Z677rPcLXkwx0dstFYj”]The proposal by Mr Osafo-Maafo attracted some criticism and was followed by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta refuting the suggestion and saying “we are financing the Free SHS education without looking at the Heritage Fund.”

Despite the contrasting remarks from the two ministers, Mr. Hamid insists that there was no contradiction from government.

“The reason why I say there is no contradiction is that from 2008 when President Akufo-Addo mooted the idea of Free SHS, he said that he wanted to use the oil money to fund free SHS.”

He explained President Akufo-Addo’s reasoning saying: “in his [President Akufo-Addo’s] view, oil resources run out, but if you have an educated population, you have quality human resource, that is not a resource that runs out. Indeed he has said consistently that countries like Singapore, Malaysia have all gotten to where they are because of education.”

“He believed at the time that every citizen of Ghana should have the benefit of the oil money. Now how are you going to have the benefit of the oil money? You are going to have the benefit of the oil money if it is put directly to your benefit in educating you,” Mr. Hamid explained.

He spoke further of President Akufo-Addo’s vision of democratising wealth in the country “by ensuring that every child who goes to secondary school will go on the benefit of the oil money.”

“Now the Heritage fund is oil money. The stabilisation fund is oil money. Whatever components of the oil money we have divided into segments is still oil money,” Mr. Hamid asserted.

Section 10 (1) of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815), established the Heritage Fund, which is to serve as an endowment for future generations, and which cannot be touched unless after 15 years of its establishment.

With this in mind, Mr. Hamid surmised that if government was to spend the Heritage fund on the free SHS policy, it would not fall foul of the spirit behind the act.

“You are looking in the next 10 or 20 years to have an entirely educated population and once you do that, your future is guaranteed. Whichever way you look at it, spending oil money on education is guaranteeing the future which is the purpose of the Heritage Fund. Heritage means the future and you are educating your future population.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nothing wrong with Heritage Fund for free SHS – Hamid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on the Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News, Mr. Hamid, who had been a spokesperson for Nana Addo before he became President, said he is convinced serving as the President’s Spokesperson for ten years, would have qualified him to take up another challenge instead of the current position which will still require him to be a communicator.

“To be very honest with you, it is not something that I would have loved to do. Why because I mean of course in life you want to over periods of time take up other challenges so ten years on the job, I thought would have been enough for me to take up another challenge… so my first choice would not have been to be Minister for Information and Presidential Spokesperson.”

He was however quick to add that, he knew why the President chose him for that position, saying “…I also understand him. The fact that I am the person he is sure about, that I understand his thinking on any issue at any time and so on…If I were in his shoes that is what I would have done. I will stick with what I know.”

He further stated that, he did not lobby for the position.

“No I did not ask him, I did not lobby. I guess that the fact that I have spoken for him for ten years, speaks volumes of the fact that he is satisfied.”

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, appointed Mustapha Hamid, as his Minister nominee for Information while announcing the third batch of Ministers nominee at the Flagstaff House on Thursday.

This announcement follows a similar one on Tuesday and Wednesday, which saw persons including Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West constituency, Ursula Owusu, the National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Otiko Afisa Djaba and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey being appointed as Minister for Communications, Minister for Gender and Social Protection and Foreign Affairs Minister respectively.

In all, Nana Addo has announced the names of 36 persons for various ministries. He however explained that six of the nominees will serve as Ministers of State at the presidency.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post I would’ve preferred ‘another challenge’ – Mustapha Hamid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

President Nana Addo made the announcement while announcing the third batch of Ministers nominee at the Flagstaff House on Thursday.

This announcement follows a similar one on Tuesday and Wednesday, which saw persons including Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West constituency, Ursula Owusu, the National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Otiko Afisa Djaba and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey being appointed as Minister for Communications, Minister for Gender and Social Protection and Foreign Affairs Minister respectively.

In all, Nana Addo has announced the names of 36 persons for various ministries. He however explained that six of the nominees will serve as Ministers of State at the presidency.

Profile of Mustapha Hamid 

Mustapha Abdul-Hamid is 45 years old. He holds a Diploma in Education, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies and a Master of Philosophy Degree, also in Religious Studies, all from the University of Cape Coast.

He is presently a Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Cape Coast, where he specializes in the areas of Islam & Gender and Political Thought in Islam.

Prior to taking up teaching, he worked in the media in various capacities as Editor of the High Street Journal, Editor of the Statesman newspaper, News Editor at the then Choice FM and Strategy 4 Planning Manager at Media Majique & Research Systems.

He has published widely in many prestigious academic journals around the world. In politics, he was National Youth Organiser of the NPP from 2002-2005. He has been Spokesperson for the President from 2007 to date. He is married with five children.

Below is the list released for Thursday:

1.Minister for Planning  – Prof. Gyan Baffour (MP for Wenchi)

2.Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts – Catherine Ablema Afeku (MP for Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Constituency)

3.Minister of Information – Mustapha Hamid

4.Minister for Special Development Initiative – Mavis Hawa Koomson (MP for Awutu Senya East)

5.Minister of Youth and Sports – Isaac Asiamah (MP for Atwima Mponua constituency)

6. Minister of Fisheries– Elizabeth Afoley Quaye (MP for Krowor)

7. Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs – Kofi Dzamesi

8. Minister of Aviation – Cecelia Dapaah

9. Minister of Inner cities and Zongo Development- Abubakar Boniface Siddique

10. Minister of Business Development- Awal Mohammed

11. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs – Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu (MP for Suame and Majority Leader)

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Mustapha Hamid is Information Minister nominee appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, Mr. Naabu was offered a brand new V6 Mitsubishi, a brand New V8 Land Cruiser and GHc 3.3 million to resign from his party, and paint the NPP Flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, as divisive, a dictator and an anti-northerner ahead of the elections.

Addressing a press conference today [Tuesday], Mr. Hamid said, “according to the President, Bugri should paint Akufo-Addo as a rabid anti-northern person who could never be trusted to advance the people of the north… he was supposed to say that Akufo-Addo was knocking the head of one northerner against the other.”

Mr. Hamid expressed surprise at the extent he says the NDC could go in their quest to malign Nana Akufo-Addo and hold onto power.

As he was almost moved to tears during the delivery; a voice was heard from the crowd telling him not to cry.

Watch an excerpt of the press conference below showing an emotional Mustapha Hamid call on Ghanaians to rescue their country.

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Video: Nana Akufo-Addo Facebook page

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mustapha Hamid ‘cries’ over Mahama’s alleged bribery [Video] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.