“First and foremost, President Akufo-Addo richly deserves the apology because he as President earned his legitimacy through the ballot box and not the gun. Secondly, the President is the current custodian of the people’s power.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”3DutvkHRcksEU5FFlH27hgYP7EZd766P”]Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the supposed treasonable comments by Mr. Anyidoho, Mr. Amfo-Sefah said Koku ought to show maturity through remorse.

He added that an apology from Mr. Anyidoho would deodorize the political atmosphere which he badly polluted with his comments.

Mr. Anyidoho is currently on bail after he had been released from Police custody following investigations into his comments.

Speaking on an Accra-based radio station last Tuesday, Mr. Anyidoho allegedly made certain security threatening comments that compelled the Bureau of National Investigations to pick him up for questioning.

To give his statement gravitas, he had referenced the 1972 overthrow of the Second Republic by former Military General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, that government had been led by Prime Minister K.A. Busia with President Akufo-Addo’s father, Edward Akufo-Addo, as ceremonial President.

According to Mr Anyidoho, that coup was a historical event that could repeat itself.

“The reference to that Acheampong coup was especially distasteful because in doing so, Mr. Anyidoho was citing a motivational example in the incitement of mayhem. And the fact that President Akufo-Addo’s father was a direct victim of that coup made it so distasteful,” he said.

The Tema West NPP Chairman brushed aside justifications that in the past there had been similar unfortunate declarations by people from both divides of Ghana’s politics, saying Koku Anyidoho’s throwback to a physical coup made his more dangerous.

He urged the NDC Deputy General Secretary to mitigate the mess he had already caused by apologizing to the President.

–

Source: GNA

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According to President Akufo-Addo, “we want to emphasize the importance of TVET, and redeem the misconception that technical and vocational education is inferior, and patronized only by less-endowed students.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”p2E79ANQyvEYVVSUw5ZGOCeOAXf624Bs”]It is with these goals in mind that Government has taken the decision to align and bring all public TVET institutions in the country under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education to streamline their curricula, and improve the co-ordination of their training.

A Deputy Minister for Education, Barbara Asher Ayisi, is, therefore, going to be specifically responsible, at the Ministry, for technical and vocational education.

President Akufo-Addo was speaking at the centenary celebrations of Asuansi Technical Institute, in Asuansi, in the Central Region.

The President told the gathering that Government is tackling the perennial infrastructure problems of the TVET sector.

Work, he said, will start soon on the construction of 20 modern TVET institutions in various areas of the country, together with the upgrading of some 35 National and Vocational Training Institutes as well as Colleges of Education that specialize in technology.

The President added that a major revision of the curricula of TVET schools is underway to make them relevant to the needs of Ghana’s changing economy.

“We recognise that science, technology and technical skills rule industry, and you rule yourself out if you are not appropriately equipped. Every child must be offered the opportunity to bring out her inherent talents for innovation. It is in the laboratories and workshops that young people get the opportunity to expand their imagination, and develop the skills that would equip them for the modern world,” he said

President Akufo-Addo continued, “We need to modernise all aspects of our lives, and we need skilled people to lead the modernisation process. If we are to transform the structure of our economy from one dependent on the production and export of raw materials, to a value-added, industrialised one, then students from technical institutions, such as yours, are crucial.”

Misplaced priorities?

Nana Akufo-Addo had earlier said his government will this year extend the free Senior High School initiative to cover technical and vocational institutions in the country.

However, in response to the developments in the sector, a former Deputy Minister of Education under the John Mahama administration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has observed that there are more pressing challenges confronting TVET having to do with infrastructure and patronage.

“The challenge confronting technical vocational education in our country is not an issue of affordability. It is about investing in the sector. TVET is very expensive. You need the tools. You need the equipment… they have not raised additional funds for TVET and that is really where we need to pay attention,” he said in a Citi News interview earlier in March.

He noted that monetary commitment from the Akufo-Addo administration’s first two budgets left a lot to be desired despite its pledges to the sector.

“The 2017 budget, the 2018 budget, the GETFund formula for 2018 did not address this. If we had not secured the $125 million, there would have been no funding for TVET… they are only relying on the $125 million we raised for the development of skills for Industry projects.”

“Secondly, how to re-brand… the challenge in our country is that the youth do not find TVET attractive so everybody wants to obtain grammar type education,” he added.

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

The post We’ll make Ghana a world-class TVET hub – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Today’s meeting comes weeks after the leaders of the political parties met the President in Accra to report on progress made so far.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2Q6IwcAlhBfjMtKB5KJd71YIAKcFMDdZ”]The 14 opposition parties suspended all forms of protests and demonstrations as agreed in their last meeting.

They are pushing for a return to the country’s 1992 constitution which imposes limits on presidential terms.

Faure Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005 when his father, Eyadema Gnassingbe, died. His father had ruled the country for 38 years.

There have been protests against the Togolese government in demonstrations that were in some cases met with acts of violence by state security forces.

The demonstrations were started by the main opposition PNP and CAP 2015, a coalition of five smaller opposition parties before expanding.

The 14 parties decided to suspend all forms of protests and demonstrations aimed at forcing President Faure Gnassingbe to step down,  following a meeting between President Nana Akufo-Addo and representatives of the government in Togo.

Support in Ghana

Their cause has gathered some support in Ghana notably from the Ghana-Togo Solidarity Movement, which is led by Bernard Mornah.

Just like protesters in Togo, Ghana-Togo Solidarity Movement supposedly fell foul of law according to Police.

In December 2017, Mr. Bernard Mornah, Chairman of Ghana’s People’s National Convention, PNC, and some members of the group were arrested for a supposed illegal protest against the continuous rule of Gnassingbe and his disrespect for Togo’s constitutional term limit.

He has complained that the Ghana Police Service’s frequent interruptions in their lawful protests only gives the impression that the government of Ghana is in support of Faure Gnassingbe’s ill-governance.

This is despite the government’s consistent assurances of its neutrality.

Mr. Mornah vowed that the movement will support Togolese citizens to ensure that Gnassingbe steps down.

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By: Sammi Wiafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo returns to Togo to continue mediation appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

With the CFAT described as “the largest free trade area created since the formation of the World Trade Organisation”, President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana has already indicated her readiness to host the CFTA Secretariat in Accra.

The coming into being of the CFTA, according to President Akufo-Addo, is one of the most important decisions the African Union will ever take.

“Fifty five years ago, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed to spearhead the struggle for liberation and de-colonization of our continent. Its triumph ushered us into the era of the African Union (AU), our continental body, which is now the champion of our collective interests in the global community,” he said.

The President continued, “The time is now right that we demonstrate strong political will to make the African Union an economic and political success, and to make the project of integration real.”

With Africa’s population set to reach some 2 billion people in 20 years time, President Akufo-Addo noted that an African Common Market presents immense opportunities to bring prosperity to the continent with hard work, enterprise and creativity, hence, the importance of the success of the Continental Free Trade Area.

“A working, common continental market has to be a very fundamental objective of all peoples and governments on the continent. Research has shown that countries or groups of countries with the largest share of world trade are located within regions with the highest levels of intra-regional trade. It is thus vital that the treaty works, and that the Continental Free Trade Area becomes reality,” he said.

An increase in trade, President Akufo-Addo explained, is the surest way to develop fruitful relations between African countries.

“An increase in trade is the surest way to develop fruitful relations between our respective countries. It will mean a rapid increase in exchanges of our agricultural, financial, industrial, scientific and technological products, which would enhance dramatically our attainment of prosperity, and the prospects of employment for the broad masses of Africans, particularly our youth,” the President added.

President Akufo-Addo appended his signature to the three legal instruments namely the Agreement establishing the Continental Free Trade Area; the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons; and the Kigali Declaration, which have brought the CFTA into being

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghana committed to free trade – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Although the courts established that the NDC administration never sought parliamentary approval for that agreement and ordered that to be done months after the two had been accepted in the country,Mr. Ablakwa says unlike the NPP, they consulted various stakeholders on the move before the men were brought into the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”LkGN7fYYc1soJuHC6032cjybZoHMiPKK”]The Minority has strongly condemned government’s decision to present before Parliament for ratification, a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation between Ghana and the United States, that will give the Americans some space in the country to set up a base for its military forces.

The Minority has argued that the deal was in bad taste and should therefore be withdrawn from Parliament to allow for deeper consultations and a possible review of some clauses.

But some Ghanaians have questioned the Minority’s moral right to take on government seeing the controversy that surrounded the hosting of the ex-Gitmo two who have now become a burden for the government.

Speaking on Eyewitness News,  Mr. Ablakwa refuted these claims, insisting that unlike this current deal, the previous government consulted key stakeholders, including political party leaders before sealing the Gitmo two agreement.

“I want to place on record that when we began negotiations with the Americans on accepting the Gitmo two deal, there were broad consultations. Indeed one of the conditions that we gave the Americans was that they ought to reach out to opposition leader, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. And if you recall, the office of the opposition leader issued a statement confirming that they were consulted except that they said that at the time they were consulted, it was virtually a bit complete and they believe that the Mahama administration had already accepted to receive the two”.

“We issued a public statement before the Gitmo two arrived. The honourable Minister signed a public statement unlike the government of the NPP that has failed to consult political parties. I don’t see how you can compare the Gitmo 2 agreement to the current arrangement which gives out our radio spectrum for free and does not allow us to check what will be brought into our country,”he told host of Eyewitness News, Umaru Sanda Amadu.

‘Details of agreement’

Among other things, the US military will be exempted from paying taxes on equipment they will bring to Ghana.

They will also be allowed to set up a telecommunication system on Ghana’s radio spectrum for free.

Although many Ghanaians have expressed resentment over the clauses of the agreement, the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, said the agreement is in the best interest of Ghana.

He said that the US personnel will only be given a few buildings to operate in, contrary to media reports that a portion of land was going to be allocated to them for the establishment of a base.

Mr. Ablakwa however believes this poses a major security threat to Ghana, given that the US military will be given unrestricted access.

“This is not about anti American sentiments. We love relations with the United States of America. As Ghanaian leaders we should also be thinking about Ghana first. We have seen all the terms in this agreement. We have seen how our radio spectrum is handed over free of charge at a time when Ghanaian companies are being hounded, people have lost their licenses and those who have defaulted have been fined heavily and yet the wealthiest nation is not to pay anything for our radio spectrum. There are larger security implications about having this permanent presence for this length of time.”

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

The post ‘You can’t compare ‘military base’ deal to Gitmo 2′ – Ablakwa appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The address is expected to capture the President’s vision for Ghana Beyond Aid, touching on key areas such as industrialization and infrastructure for the development of railways and precious minerals, and their impact on the private sector and business partnerships.

The summit, which is expected to be held from April 17 to 20, 2018, forms part of planned activities for the upcoming UKGCC London week celebration being organized by the UK – Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC).

[contextly_sidebar id=”zlnsiaPicagvnWyM89TtfzdHFb1UQwGd”]Aimed at promoting Ghana as a destination for businesses, the seminar is designed to create networking and partnership opportunities between Ghanaian and British business leaders.

The CEO of UKGCC, Mr. Tony Burkson said “the President’s vision for ‘A Ghana Beyond Aid’ is one that has captured the minds of many companies and investors in the UK. The expectation is that the President will use his keynote to elaborate on what role he expects the private sector and the investor community to play in this vision”.

According to him, “the President will also meet with senior business executives in the UK who have expressed interest in investing in Ghana”.

He added that “the stellar performance of the Ghanaian economy in the last year, particularly the stabilization of the macro-environment makes Ghana a top destination for investors looking for yield. It is my hope that Ghana will use the UK-Ghana Investment Summit and other events happening during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to show why it is the best place for any investor looking to deploy capital in Africa”.

A delegation comprising senior government officials and top Ghanaian business executives, led by the UKGCC, are expected to be present at the meeting. The government officials on this delegation will have the opportunity to bring to the fore government’s vision for Ghana in terms of development.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Akufo-Addo to speak at annual UK-Ghana investment summit appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The President said the creation of new districts will bring development to the doorstep of many and deepen Ghana’s democratic processes.

[contextly_sidebar id=”UmPFq2Aoy2TuOLsr6ZfvG8Vlv4eYvocp”]The government has received some criticism over the creation of 38 new districts and municipalities across the country.

But speaking before some Chiefs from the Upper West Region at a meeting on Monday, President Akufo-Addo affirmed that decentralization was key to development.

“We want the decentralization exercise to succeed, to really bring the government closer to the doorstep of people and that is the way we will get better governance in our country. We believe in it strongly and that is the reason for the enhancement of the district assembly and districts across the country,” he said.

The 38 newly created districts officially commenced work last Thursday.

This was after the passing of a Legislative Instrument allowed for their creation as well as the carving out of some municipalities from other assemblies, and the elevation of some existing districts to municipality status.

This was followed by the Electoral Commission undertaking a field study into the viability of the creation of more Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

The field study was to consider the population dynamics in the respective regions, the geographical or physical features of the areas, their economic viability, as well as ethnic and community interests.

It also considered social infrastructure and the centrality and accessibility of the capital.

Critique of new districts

President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, is one of the critiques of this attempt at decentralization,and has said the 38 newly created local assemblies were needless.

Mr. Cudjoe argued that some of the existing assemblies are already struggling and that government should have put measures in place to boost their capacities instead of bringing new ones on-board.

“There’s basic geographic information that tells you that even if you want to do these type of division, at least look for some agglomeration of activity. You assume that you have to create it before the activities come, no. The districts are barely $1.5 billion worth averagely. You need to build the capability of the existing ones,” he noted

The list of new districts:

• Ahafo Ano South West District Assembly

• Ahafo Ano South East District Assembly

• Amansie South District Assembly

• Amansie West District Assembly

• Atwima Nwabiagya North District Assembly

• Adansi South District Assembly

• Akrofruom District Assembly

• Adansi North District Assembly

• Adansi Asokwa District Assembly

• Obuasi East District Assembly

• Afigya Kwabre South District Assembly

• Afigya Kwabre North District Assembly

• Pru West District Assembly)

• Pru East District Assembly)

• Berekum West District Assembly)

• Assin North District Assembly

• Gomoa Central District Assembly

• Gomoa East District Assembly

• Asene Manso District Assembly

• Okere District Assembly

• Atiwa West District Assembly

• Atiwa East District Assembly

• Fanteakwa South District Assembly

• Fanteakwa North District Assembly

• Nanton District Assembly

• Bunkpurugu District Assembly

• Yunyoo District Assembly)

• Bolga East District Assembly

• Garu District Assembly

• Tempane District Assembly

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By: Sammi Wiafe & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo justifies creation of new districts appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The PPP wants the President to disclose how much he paid to the evicted persons as compensation as well as declare his assets to the public.

[contextly_sidebar id=”8AXLXZfptL4cAzJaISuuozIJUjlsBI3k”]Speaking a day after the eviction deadline had elapsed, the Director of Operations for the party, Nana Ofori Owusu, said the party was “consulting with lawyers to be able to take this case up.”

“We think that this is a clear case that we can test our constitution and the laws of the land. We are saying that public servants must declare their assets,” he stated on Eyewitness News.

Mr. Owusu argued that the President should have just allowed the state to cater for the compensation.

“When the state declares a place a security zone, it is the responsibility of the state to engage the people and relocate them. President Nana Akufo-Addo paying money out of his pocket is a sheer show of opulence.”

“If the state has declared the place a red zone, why is it that the President must pay out of his pocket? It is irrational. We cant understand this. How is it possible,” Mr. Owusu remarked.

Why Nana Addo paid the compensation

A statement from the president last week explained that the compensation packages were provided from the President’s own pocket because he had taken the view that the national purse should not be burdened.

The statement also said extensive consultations were undertaken between the Office of the President, National Security, and the traders and artisans, before the eviction.

This was in response to concerns that not enough notice was given before the eviction. The compensations were between Ghc3,000 to Ghc10,000, but the total amount paid is unknown.

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

The post Nana Addo paying evictees from his own pocket wrong – PPP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at a meeting with leaders of nomadic herdsmen communities of Fulani extraction, the President expressed concerns about the persistent clashes describing it as worrying.

[contextly_sidebar id=”PjQUQONqR6RXIPuzqJ0pTydwOUlLuKzH”]There have been a number of clashes between nomadic herdsmen and local farmers that have in some cases led to injuries, death and destruction of property.

Tensions escalated recently in the Asante Akyem North District of the Ashanti Region after four security personnel, including three military officers and a police officer, who had been deployed to the area to evict nomadic herdsmen and their cattle, were shot by an unknown assailant at Agogo.

The government had dispatched about 200 personnel drawn from the military and police service to the Asante Akyem North and Sekyere Afram Plains districts, to flush out nomadic herdsmen who were reportedly terrorizing farmers.

Hundreds of cattle were killed, while some of the herders and their cattle were evicted from the Asante Akyem North, into the Sekyere District.

Other incidents that occurred at Dwerebeafe, Aboyan and Mpeamu in the Kwahu East District between nomadic herdsmen believed to be of Fulani extraction and some farmers, reportedly led to the death of nine persons.

The President however reiterated government’s commitment to working with leaders of communities of nomadic herdsmen to bring these clashes to an end.

“It is important that I speak frankly to you. Everybody in this country has been disturbed by the activities of ‘Fulani herdsmen’. You hear about reports from different parts of the country, Volta Region, Ashanti Region is very disturbing and therefore finding a solution is one of the big concerns of my government. “

“When Kufuor was here ten years ago, he began to work hard to resolve the problem and unfortunately he had to go and the government went with him, but we are back and we are determined to find a solution that will protect everybody, the herdsmen, the cattle and the community in which they work because if we do not have the understanding of having to work together , it becomes very difficult. I want to thank you for the courage and sense of responsibility in coming here and this is commendable,” the President told the community leaders at a meeting at the Flagstaff House.

At the meeting, it was decided that a special task-force will be set up to ensure that persons fueling these clashes are dealt with.

“I am very encouraged by the offer of the task-force. They will work together in your community and the law enforcement agencies to make sure anybody who wants to misbehave is dealt with appropriately.”

“I feel very strongly the statement made by the spokesperson that there are herdsmen everywhere and whenever they misbehave they say Fulani Herdsmen and it is a pity that that should be the case and that is why we have to make sure the matter changes.”

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

The post I’ll permanently tackle farmer-herder clashes – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In the Ambassador’s view, President Akufo-Addo is “more visionary than some recent Ghanaian leaders.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”yua8RAVKO876k5VNshJALLDMHzlzlTQO”]Commenting on the Akufo-Addo administration’s ‘Ghana Without Aid’ agenda on online news portal, Ghanaweb’s 21 Minutes show, Mr. Jackson was optimistic that “Ghana will get beyond aid and I think it will happen sooner rather than later.”

In the interview, he noted that despite being a long-term plan, the one-district-one-factory policy is key to this vision.

“President Akufo-Addo’s vision of one-district-one-factory may not be realized within his first term or even his first term, if he get’s one. But the idea is exactly what is needed to get beyond aid; that you have to industrialize, that you build your industrial base, that you create jobs so that people do not want to trek across the desert and be potentially enslaved in Libya or even if they make it to Libya, drown in the Mediterranean.”

The one-district-one-factory initiative is intended to leverage the private sector to set up at least one medium to large scale industrial enterprise in each district of Ghana.

The government’s hope is that this will equip and empower communities to utilize their local resources in manufacturing products in a bid to increase agricultural and manufacturing output, reduce reliance on imports and increase the production of consumer goods and food availability.

For Mr. Jackson, the current administration’s willingness to rely on private sector for development is more critical to an economic turnaround.

“I think ex-president Mahama had a vision too, so I want to give him credit where credit is due, his emphasis was on infrastructure, which is very important – schools, clinics, hospitals, roads; President Mahama did a lot for this country,” he said.

But in the Ambassador’s view, President Akufo-Addo’s decision to “make the private sector the engine of growth rather than government being the driving force is how I see the difference between the two of them. Both of them had visions for the country, I think President Akufo-Addo’s vision of private sector-led growth is likely to create more jobs and propel the economy forward faster than the infrastructure investments, but the infrastructure investments were important.”

Ghana’s growth prospects

As evidence of the progress of the economy, President Akufo-Addo, during his 2018 State of the Nation address, cited the strong trajectory of the Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index in January 2018, which gained 19 percent in dollar terms, according to benchmarks tracked by Bloomberg.

The World Bank has also projected that Ghana’s economy will probably grow by 8.3 percent this year, which will be the fastest in the world in 2018.

The President said he expects these improving macroeconomic indicators to usher Ghana out of the International Monetary Fund programme later this year, after his administration extended the 2015 programme.

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

The post ‘Nana Addo more visionary than recent Ghanaian leaders’ – US Ambassador appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.