According to him, the initiative will equip journalist with specialized training and skills about diverse subject areas relevant in aiding journalist to become independent and neutral arbitrators of government policies and dealing in the  ‘public court of opinion’.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4DxpTzIdTSlwDHm2ZOHL5TC5fL2Jrb88″]

Mr Hamid said situations where most journalists depended on only politicians to comment on issues bordering the country without having a fair understanding of the problems do not help the citizenry in decision making hence the initiative.

He disclosed this at a media engagement with journalists in the Upper East Region on Friday.

Even though the minister did not disclose when the initiative will commence, journalist across the country will be selected to be trained by international institutions and organisations.

“So I am begging journalist to upgrade their knowledge but on our part as government, we have resolved that we will help you in that endeavor.

we are currently in talks with so many interested international bodies and trading organizations to once a while allow us(government) to pick some of our journalist across the country for training so that journalist can get the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge”.

“Frankly, I admit that many journalists in our country cannot afford the money to undertake such training and upgrading themselves. So we believe that as a government we should have a contribution towards this course so that we can have journalists who have informed themselves and therefore capable of moderating and writing on national issues”.

Mr Hamid added that the scraping of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) levy in the second cycle institutions by the government was to prevent heads of SHSs from using the “backdoor to charge monies that will almost look like fees”.

He also hinted that the government in the coming weeks would launch the ‘One Village One Dam’ project where hundreds of communities in the three regions of the north would witness the construction of dugouts for dry season farming.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Information Minister, earlier this week, suggested that that the Minority in parliament were behind the leak of the document.

While denying responsibility, the Minority described the Information Minister as being ignorant of the workings of Parliament.

The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues said members of the Minority only got their hands on the report after it was leaked to the public.

He also intimated that it was no big deal that it was leaked since it was going to be a public document anyways.

“Three hours after it had been laid, I called the clerk at the table asking why we still don’t have copies in our pigeon hole? I was the first [member of the Minority] to be given a copy on Tuesday. By Monday, were we not already having this document?”

“If those documents were not meant for the public, they know the procedure to use. But it was laid and distributed in the pigeon holes. So how can you be saying leaks? Meanwhile, this thing was in the media on Monday. The document came to Parliament on Tuesday. So on what basis are you trying to shift attention and say the Minority has done this and that?”

The Minister of Defense, Dominic Nitiwul, on Tuesday, laid before Parliament the document seeking to ratify an agreement for space around the Kotoka International Airport, which will serve as a camp for some US military forces in Ghana.

If approved, the agreement will among other things, exempt the US government from paying taxes on equipment that is brought to Ghana.

They will also be given the chance to set their own telecommunication system and be allowed to use Ghana’s radio spectrum free of charge.

Protest from Minority

The Minority has kicked against this agreement, calling on the government to withdraw the agreement saying it is not in the best interest of Ghana.

The Minority on Thursday blocked the laying before Parliament, the report of the Joint Committee on Defence and Interior and Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, on the agreement.

In a brief protest between the two sides in Parliament on Thursday, the leadership of the Majority said the report was ready to be laid before the House to allow for debate.

However, the Minority disagreed insisting that the report wasn’t ready.

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye subsequently ruled that the laying of the report should be skipped until the two sides could come to a consensus on it.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We didn’t leak US ‘military base’ agreement – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

As part of the ongoing ‘Operation Calm Life’, the government has also said there will be increased surveillance of financial institutions, including banks, forex bureaus and other microfinance companies.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6yH5Wn4pxbYFoObddG9sbBux5ZHlIAq6″]Speaking after Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia called an emergency meeting with top security officials on Thursday, the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, said the CCTV cameras will be linked to a national operation command centre.

In the increasing spate of robberies, financial institutions have emerged as consistent targets for robbers.

In the Spintex road area alone, about 20 forex bureaux have been robbed in just 2018.

A Lebanese man was also robbed and killed after he after he had just withdrawn GHc 200,000 from the bank in the Tema Industrial Area.

All these are in addition to the attacks on mobile money vending spots in some major cities which have left a number of fatalities.

Outlining the measures to better protect financial institutions and their patrons, Mr. Hamid said “there will be enhanced surveillance on financial institutions, forex bureaus and money vending points across our cities.”

“Government also directs that all financial institutions take steps to install CCTV camera on their premises. The government will roll out a programme to link all these CCTV cameras to a national operation command centre,” the Information Minister added.

Other moves from government

In response to the recent robbery and murder cases, the government has said that:

• There will be heavy military and police presence in major cities across the country starting from today [Thursday, March, 1].
• There will be surgical operations in certain areas of the countries based on intelligence to flush out criminals and suspected criminals.
• That the Ministry of Energy has been directed to accelerate the pace of its cities and communities lighting programme in order to light up our cities and communities in especially crime-prone areas.
• The security personnel will crack down on citizens using mounted sirens on vehicles illegally.

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

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This was announced by the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, after Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia called an emergency meeting with top security officials on Thursday following the increased crime wave.

Mr. Hamid said the ongoing operation ‘Calm Life’ aimed at combating criminal activities in all parts, “has been enhanced with immediate effect.”

Among the interventions from the government, he said there will be “heavy military and police presence in our major cities across the country starting from today [Thursday, March, 1].”

Mr. Hamid also said “there will be surgical operations in certain areas of our countries based on intelligence whose purpose shall be to flush out criminals and suspected criminals.”

“We are therefore calling on the public not to panic or be nervous when they find police and military teams in their various areas. They mean no harm. They will harm no person that are going about their lawful duties and they are only in search of criminals and suspected criminals,” the Information Minister added.

COP Dampare, 10 others reassigned

These interventions come amid the major reshuffle at the top of the Police hierarchy as DCOP George Akuffo Dampare, Director General of Police Operations, was among 10 others reassigned by the Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu.

DCOP Dampare has been moved to head the Research and Planning Department of the Police Service and he is to be replaced immediately by the Eastern Regional Police Commander, COP Simon Afeku.

Whilst the reasons for the latest reshuffle are unknown; it comes at a time when the police service has come under severe criticism following the increased insecurity.

Other interventions from government

In response to the recent robbery and murder cases, the government has also said:

• There will be enhanced surveillance on financial institutions, forex bureaus and money vending points across our cities.
• That all financial institutions take steps to install CCTV cameras on their premises.
• That the Government will roll out a programme to link all these CCTV cameras to a national operation command centre.
• That the Ministry of Energy has been directed to accelerate the pace of its cities and communities lighting programme in order to light up our cities and communities in especially crime-prone areas.
• The security personnel will crack down on citizens using mounted sirens on vehicles illegally.

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

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According to the government, the deal for the purchase of the cars, signed with Amalgamated Securities Limited could not be abrogated, hence the decision to accept the cars.

[contextly_sidebar id=”GVnLhQlWasAooFTJZtsdIm3V1LgI0IR2″]”Government is bound by the terms of the contract signed with Amalgamated Securities Limited. Abrogating the contract may incur significant liabilities for government,” Information Minister Mustapha Hamid said at a press conference on Tuesday.

He added that, they had successfully renegotiated with the Security company to bring down the cost incurred by the nation for the cars by about three hundred thousand dollars.

“Government has however made sure to obtain maximum gain for the public purse, and also for ensuring the security of the state. We have reduced the number of vehicles ordered from 43 to 34, which is nine short of the original number. In place of the nine, we have acquired 100 Toyota Corolla cars for use by the Police Service in line with our commitment to retool the Police Service to enable them play effectively, their role of protecting the Ghanaian people.We have done all this with a total amount of US$ 8.8 million,” the Information Minister added.

43 cars down to 34

Citi News had reported that Government over the weekend took delivery of 34 cars for the presidency, ten of which have bullet resistant exterior.

The contract for the presidential fleet was awarded by the John Mahama administration barely a week before they left office.

The original number of cars ordered was 43. The New Patriotic Party administration, which had attempted to cancel the entire contract but failed due to certain clauses in the contract, managed to reduce the number to 34.

Back in June 2017, some NDC officials accused the NPP administration of playing double-standards, after news about the presidential fleet emerged, despite an order by President Nana Akufo-Addo, halting the purchase of new vehicles.

The government then explained that it could not be blamed for the presidential fleet because the order had already been placed by John Dramani Mahama administration before they exited office after the elections in 2016.

‘NPP wanted the cars’

Former NDC appointees including Dr. Clement Apaak, who worked at the presidency, suggested that the cars were ordered upon the request of the NPP government during the transition period, a claim the government vehemently denied.

Dr. Apaak noted that, the Mahama administration agreed to the request by Nana Akufo-Addo’s side of the transition team because they had raised concerns about the incoming President’s security.

While the parties argued over the matter, Citi News sighted a letter signed by the then Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, authorizing the purchase.

This letter was signed two days before then-President; John Mahama, inaugurated the Presidential transition team, which he co-chaired with then President-elect, Nana Akufo Addo.

This revelation contradicted the NDC’s claims that the NPP made the request during the transition period.

Earlier documents sighted by Citi News revealed that, the contract for the new cars for the Presidency was specifically awarded by the Mahama government on the 3rd of January, 2017, to Amalgamated Security Services LTD.

The two-paragraph letter authorizing the purchase was dated December 9, 2016, whereas the transition team was officially inaugurated on December 11, 2016.

The letter noted that, the deal was authorized by the outgoing Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, to take note of the decision to purchase the 43 vehicles “for necessary action accordingly.”

The letter also clearly stated that, the outgoing government had “decided to acquire some vehicles for the incoming administration”.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking to Citi News on Thursday at the Kotoka International Airport on the sidelines of Bawumia’s return to Ghana after being on a medical leave for the past 12 days, Hamid said he was hopeful the Vice President will have enough rest so that he does not break down.

[contextly_sidebar id=”iVxcMwvL8c8XqAjhRLVBbumkDJX13aPf”]“We know that he’s a workaholic; he’s been working so hard. This is a man who sleeps just about three or four hours out of 24 hours, but we hope that this time in spite of the enormous work that has to be done, that he will be urged to slow down a bit and take a rest,” he added.

Dr. Bawumia, who’s the Head of the government’s Economic Management Team, left Ghana for the United Kingdom on Friday January 20; after the Presidency revealed that he had taken ill a day before on January 19, and had undergone medical tests.

According to a statement signed by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the trip became necessary following the advice of Dr. Bawumia’s doctors.

The Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, later explained that, the decision to fly Dr. Bawumia to the UK was to ensure that he was kept away from visitors who may disturb his rest and recuperation period.

The controversies

On January 27, during his medical leave, a video emerged of the Vice President taking a stroll on the streets of London with his wife, Samira Bawumia.

At a point in the video, the Second Family stopped to interact with a Ghanaian national who ran over to greet them.

Whilst many were excited to see the Vice President in the video, others suggested it was stage-managed to give an impression that he was well, and that government was in reality concealing the true details of his health status from the public.

Some likened the video to the incident where the late President Atta Mills who appeared physically ill, at one-time trotted at the Kotoka International Airport when he had returned from a trip outside, to give an impression that he was healthy.

Others later shifted the argument to the fact that, it was not prudent for the Vice President to have been strolling the streets of London without security, a claim that was dismissed by some government spokespersons.

The video also came at a time the Minority in Parliament had called for full disclosure on the health status of the Vice President.

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, however described the Minority’s call as “hypocritical and preposterous”.

Bawumia returns 

He however returned to the country on February 1, 2018, where he received a rousing welcome from President Akufo-Addo and his wife as well as some government functionaries.

Mustapha Hamid, who could not hide his joy over Bawumia’s return said “We are all very excited that he’s come back. He is healed and hearty, at least that is what we can see and we believe that he’s going to come back and continue his work again.”

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post ‘Workaholic’ Bawumia only sleeps 4 hours – Mustapha Hamid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Dr. Bawumia took ill on Friday morning, and was given medical attention in the country, but left for the UK upon the advice of his doctors.

The government is yet to indicate the exact ailment the Vice President may be battling.

This has prompted some public speculation, with members of the Minority in Parliament calling for full disclosure on the health status of the Vice President.

But according to Mustapha Hamid, Dr. Bawumia “is doing very well”.

Speaking at a press conference to provide updates on the health status of the Vice President, he said, “he [Bawumia] is doing very well. The Chief of Staff and other senior government officials have been talking to him.”

Although Mustapha Hamid could not give the exact date for the return of Dr. Bawumia, but said, “God willing, he will be back home shortly to resume his duties.”

He had earlier explained that the idea of flying Bawumia to the UK was to ensure that he was kept away from visitors who may interfere with his rest and recuperation period.

“When he is in Ghana, people will come from his village; from Walewale, from Gambaga. Wherever he is in Ghana, people will still besiege him to visit him. Even me, I would think that if I don’t go and visit him, he may think that Mustapha didn’t come and see me and etc.”

“Normally, when you are outside their reach, then you are able to rest properly and have a total recovery because if you are here and you are getting medical attention, people will still besiege your house or your hospital bed or whatever,” the Information Minister stated.

Come clean on Bawumia’s health – Minority

The Minority in Parliament on Sunday registered its displeasure over the government’s communication on the health of the Vice President.

Following the swearing in of the Prof. Oquaye as the acting president of the of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia, the minority leader,  Haruna Idrissu said the governments’ handling of the “sensitive matter” was not the best.

“Mr. Speaker, we are not happy with government communicators at the office of the Presidency. Mr. Speaker, it is a sensitive matter. I could be ill myself, but Mr. Speaker, they should communicate well. I have sighted a letter where they say he is on Medical leave. What medical leave? Words matter,” he said.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, the decision was to ensure the Dr. Bawumia was kept away from visitors who may hamper his rest and recuperation period.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4ghwtFuHnTMkQLMvkaQXX72HWJ7QLSri”]Dr. Bawumia left Ghana for the United Kingdom on Friday night on medical leave after the Presidency indicated that he had taken ill earlier in the day and was undergoing medical checks.

A further statement from the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, indicated that the trip became necessary following the advice of Dr. Bawumia’s doctors.

The statement did not specify if the trip was for rest or further medical attention.

The government faced some criticism for flying the Vice President, with some indicating that it was an indictment of Ghana’s healthcare system.

But speaking to Citi News, Mustapha Hamid explained that the move was simply to keep the Dr. Bawumia from well-wishers who would also serve as a hindrance to his recovery.

“When he is in Ghana, people will come from his village; from Walewale, from Gambaga. Wherever he is in Ghana, people will still besiege him to visit him. Even me, I would think that if I don’t go and visit him, he may think that Mustapha didn’t come and see me and etc.”

“Normally, when you are outside their reach, then you are able to rest properly and have a total recovery because if you are here and you are getting medical attention, people will still besiege your house or your hospital bed or whatever,” the Information Minister stated.

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

The post Bawumia is in the UK to rest – Hamid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Disputing claims by Former President John Mahama that he left ‘a sea of vehicles’ for the Akufo-Addo administration, Mr. Hamid said the current administration came to meet only 179 vehicles.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ZajnV5dLfpjtZLWsun2bnjBxfeGSbLZG”]”The vehicles that they handed over to us, per the documents they themselves compiled and gave to us are 179,” the Minister stated on Eyewitness News.

But beyond the 179, he said a number of vehicles were sold to government officials at the time.

NDC Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel George, had previously indicated that about 271 of vehicles possibly thought to be missing were purchased by some officials of the past government.

Staffers and state officials are allowed to purchase vehicles which have been in use for two years and longer.

Mr. Hamid noted that, the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, listed among other vehicles, 52 Hyundai i10s left for the Akufo-Addo administration, but “I am telling you on authority that we haven’t seen a single Hyundai i10 vehicle.”

He also said there was documentation to the effect that Julius Debrah sold a Nissan Sentra vehicle to a staffer in the VIP protection unit two days before the handing over on January 7, 2017.

“It would seem to me that even though these vehicles were in the hands of their officials, they proceeded to sell them off to their officials whilst giving us a list and pretending that those vehicles were available,” Mr. Hamid said.

The Akufo-Addo administration put in place a task-force to retrieve missing state cars, and the Information Minister said the committee was “still compiling” a list.

The saga of the missing cars at the Presidency was revived after Mr. Mahama refuted allegations that members of his administration stole cars from the presidential fleet during an interview on GTV on Tuesday.

The controversy started in March 2017, when the Director of Communications at the Presidency alleged that over 200 vehicles from the presidential car pool were unaccounted for following the change of government.

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

The post You didn’t leave over 400 cars – Hamid replies Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is despite assurances from government that the bill will be passed soon. The bill was laid before Cabinet after the last Parliament failed to pass it, although the passage has been pending for over a decade.

[contextly_sidebar id=”PkDfZj3l1gBzTTkUW8aBfh03Z0bH3TDo”]As Ghana marks the Silver Jubilee of democratic rule under the fourth Republican Constitution, the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), has criticized successive governments over their failure to pass the bill.

The Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid, however told Citi News Cabinet will discuss the bill again, before taking it back to Parliament.

“Cabinet has proposed to have a special session to look at this particular bill because of the importance that it has before we then pass it and take it to Parliament…The bill is before Cabinet. It will be discussed. If you ask me when I will not be able to say, but I am sure pretty soon the Cabinet Secretary will get a day when the entire Cabinet will retreat in order to look at this bill properly and then when we have a final consensus on it, we can then take it to Parliament.”

The Right to Information Coalition Ghana, however feels government is only paying lip service and not doing enough to have the bill passed.

“In fact, when Parliament passes it and it has been sent to the presidency for him to assent it, I will believe it because at the beginning of last year [2017], the Minister of Information made a promise. The Vice President had said the President has also made comments on it, yet the bill is in Cabinet and has not yet moved. They can say whatever they want to say. Maybe the Coalition is cynical because we have heard it before. In the previous NPP administration there was a serious back and forth until the NDC came, and moved it to Parliament and even there, it stayed in Parliament for a very long time. It has now reverted back to Parliament. A  whole one year, the bill has not moved from Cabinet to Parliament. It is just paying lip service to the whole thing, so for me, I will think that they are not serious about the passage of the bill.”

About RTI

The bill is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the country’s 1992 Constitution, and recognized as a right under International Conventions on Human rights.

The bill as it has been drafted, is to give substance to Article 21 (1) (f) of the Constitution which states that, “All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society”.

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By: Marian Ansah & Eugenia Tekorang/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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