- Accra, Nov. 07, AfricaNews -– Ms Petra Maria Amegashie, running mate of the People’s National Convention (PNC) presidential candidate, on Thursday criticized political parties contesting the December poll for lack of clear policies for the advancement, development and empowerment of women.
She said a PNC led government would create equal access for the participation in decision making of women in social, political and economic life of the nation and would legalize affirmative action.
Ms Amegashie said this during a dialogue for running mates of presidential candidates dubbed: “Women’s Dialogue on Elections 2008.”
It was organised by Women i…
- PNC led government to re-introduce probity and accountability
Accra, Nov. 6, AfricaNews -– The Peoples’ National Convention (PNC) on Monday said it will re-introduce probity and accountability into the national administration with the tradition of service with honesty as its hallmark.
“Probity and accountability would be an instrument to rid the national life of its present high levels of corruption that has seeped into almost every thread of the national fabric of our economy and social life,” Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama, PNC Presidential Candidate told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra as he embarks on a five-day tour of the Upper West re…
The present generation of Africa's leadership must re-think and design Africa's future on the basis of lessons learnt in the past and present. This is to address Africa being the weakest and poorest in the world 50 years after independence, the former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa said. - He noted that the “tardiness and slow response” of the international community to Africa’s plight, after the post colonial era, has served as a pointer that there was no fundamental interest in the development of Africa.
Mkapa expressed these sentiments when he delivered the first in a series of lectures at the eighth edition of the ‘Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectur…
- Accra, Nov. 6, AfricaNews – Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice Presidential Candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday spelt-out women agenda for Moving Ghana Forward.
He said in spite of the modest achievement of the NPP Government over the past eight years, which has transformed the fortune of women, the next NPP government would institute measures to drastically reduce maternal and infant mortality.
“NPP Government under the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will improve the quality and access to ante and post natal care, by addressing as a matter of priority, child mortality, morbidity, stunting and malnutrition,” Dr Bawumia stated at th…
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) an opposition party in Ghana has rolled out an agenda for women empowerment, promising to deal decisively with the socio-cultural beliefs that had barred a large section of women from earning income. - John Mahama, running mate of the party’s presidential candidate, said despite the positive steps the NDC government had taken in the past to deal with the problem through enactment of legislations and the adoption of an affirmative action policy, gender inequalities were still pervasive and gender gaps remained widespread.
He said the country’s quest for accelerated economic development and growth would remain mere wishes, unless attempts w…
- Accra, Nov. 6, AfricaNews -– The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday rolled out its Industrial Blue Print for funding development and the provision of essential services through efficient, effective and equitable taxation of all citizens based on the principles of affordability.
The NDC Industrial Blue Print focuses on improving tax revenue by introducing reforms in the tax administration, shifting from reliance on direct taxes to indirect taxes and enhancing tax incentives instead of introducing new taxes.
It will lead to the forging of partnership of equals between the government and the business sector to decide strategies for promoting and en…
- Ghana Government's claims of boom in housing sector is a hox - GREDA
Accra, Nov. 6, AfricaNews– Contrary to a statement by the government that there is a boom in the housing sector, the Ghana Real Estates Developers Association (GREDA) on Tuesday said there is rather a huge deficit in the sector.
Dr Alexander B. Tweneboa, President of GREDA, announced during an encounter between the private sector institutions and some political parties that “the deficit in the housing sector has increased from 500,000 last year to 750,000 this year”.
“Those who claim that there is a boom in the housing sector must be getting their figures from the wrong sou…
- Francis Ameyibor
Accra, Sept. 23, Africanews - HFC Bank (Ghana) Ltd. on Monday launched the “I Like” campaign to re-position itself to better provide banking services to meet customers’ expectations.
The campaign is emphasising the seven core values, which the banking public most desire from their banks and which cut across all customer expectations.
These are loyalty, freedom, future, security, truth, trust and options.
According to the Bank’s Acting Head of Marketing & Direct Sales, Mr Bekoe Palmer-Buckle, the “I Like” campaign is in recognition of the desire of the banking public for quality service from the banking indu…
- Accra, Sept. 23, Africanews -- The Ghanaian Vice President, Alhaji A;iu Mahama has revealed that about 43 per cent Ghanaians had no knowledge of information needed to plan for their personal finances, but exhibited strong knowledge of savings, profit and personal budget.
Quoting for a national survey on financial literacy, the Vice President said a number of Ghanaians do not have correct information on what they need for successful financial planning.
Alhaji Mahama made this known during the launch of
the countries maiden "Financial Literacy Week", on the theme: "Financial Literacy...Knowledge Is Money."
He stressed: "There is a large section of o…
The Ghanaian cedi fell significantly against the major currencies especially to the pound and euro pushing up the Gold Coast Securities (GCS)-Cedi Index by 0.97 points despite a slight appreciation against the CFA. - The Index, the composite measure of the value of the Ghana cedi against the four major currencies, went up at 116.01 points on Monday from 115.04 points last Friday. The year-to-date shows a deprecation of the cedi by 15.59 per cent, 15.05 per cent and 7.68 percent to the Dollar, the Euro and the Pound respectively, but indicates 13.06 per cent appreciation against.
The cedi gains value when the index goes down and it loses value when the index goes up. On a whole, the cedi…
- Accra, Sept. 23, Africanews -- Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama, flag bearer of the People's National Convention, has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for the hardship farmers are going through as a result of unfavourable policies.
Dr Mahama, who is on a four-day campaign tour in some parts of the Eastern Region, said mitigation measures announced by President John Agyekum Kufuor had only exacerbated the hardship of Ghanaians because of higher prices of foodstuffs.
The PNC flag bearer tagged as a Election 2008 third force told residents of Maame Krobo, a farming community in the Afram Plains of the Eastern Region, that, Ghana had the potential of ensuring…
Labour Unions in Ghana have expressed disdain and lack of confidence in the political and electoral processes leading to election 2008 and accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of poor management. Ghana is preparing for presidential and parliamentary elections in December this year. - The Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) said its comments stem from the continuous flashes of political and chieftaincy violence, destruction of life and property that had characterized campaigns in parts of the country. It also added the intolerant and blatant inflammatory language by leading politicians and the "apparent inability" of the electoral administrator to carry out its basic function raises d…
- By Francis Ameyibor
Accra, Sept. 3, Africanews-- Ghana's main opposition political party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday said the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had accumulated over 7.8 billion dollars (GH¢ nine billion, equivalent of about 90 trillion old cedis) debt over the last eight years in spite of debt relief.
Mr Fiifi Kwettey, NDC National Propaganda Secretary, at a press conference in Accra noted that the national debt from independence to 2001 was a mere 5.8 billion dollars or 4.1 billion cedis (41 trillion old cedis).
He therefore asked the Ghanaian electorate to reject the NPP at Election 2008.
The press conference dubbed &…
- by Francis Ameyibor
Accra, Sept. 3, AfricaNews -- Ghana's main opposition party the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday said the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had accumulated over 7.8 billion dollars (GH¢ nine billion, equivalent of about 90 trillion old cedis) debt over the last eight years in spite of debt relief.
Mr Fiifi Kwettey, NDC National Propaganda Secretary, at a press conference in Accra noted that the national debt from independence to 2001 was a mere 5.8 billion dollars or 4.1 billion cedis (41 trillion old cedis).
He therefore asked the Ghanaian electorate to reject the NPP at Election 2008.
The press conference dubbed “NDC…
- by Francis Ameyibor
Yendi, Sept. 3, GNA- Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama Flag bearer of the People's National Convention (PNC) on Wednesday called on northerners to resist attempts by political opportunist to use the three northern regions as bedrock for political violence.
"We must not allow disgruntle politicians to use the region for their selfish gains, divided we fall, united we stand... irrespective of our political affiliation, we must avoid the violent confrontation," Dr. Mahama stated at Yendi as part of a tour of the Northern Region.
The PNC Flag bearer also expressed concern about the recent political conflicts in some part of the Northern Region invo…
- by Francis Ameyibor
Ho, Sept 3, Africanews- – Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Ghana's Minister for Information and National Orientation, says the government would not compromise its authority and powers of maintaining peace, law and order in the country.
He therefore urged traditional chiefs to re-orientate their subjects to enable them help propel the country towards development.
Mr Asamoah Boateng, stated during a courtesy call on chiefs of Asogli at Ho, the Volta regional capital as part of a day’s official interaction with District Information Officers and District Chief Executives in the Volta Region.
He appealed to traditional rulers to call po…
Ghana and Switzerland have signed a 13-million dollar financial agreement on Wednesday. It is to improve energy distribution and good financial governance. Under the deal, 12 million dollars will be used to implement structural changes in the electricity sector. - The Minister of State for finance and Economic Planning, Anthony Akoto-Osei signed for Ghana and Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Nicholas Lang, initialed on behalf of his country. The agreement is also meant to provide the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) with technical support and to expand the national grid in the Central region to reduce poverty.
The second agreement worth one million dollars under the Good Finan…
Donors have renewed their commitment to help the private sector grow in order to play its role effectively as a partner in Ghana's economy, the Danish Minister for Development Assistance, Ulla Tornaes said on Wednesday. - She was speaking at a photo exhibition mounted by five Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund beneficiaries in Accra. The fund helps small scale businesses to boost their production in Ghana. She said the fund would fold up by 2009. The second phase of the project would, however, run for another five years so that many more people would benefit.
The occasion was also to afford the donors - US Agency for International Development (USAID), Danish Internationa…
The New Ghanaian Movement (NGM), a political think-tank, on Monday condemned politics of insults, intimidation and personality attack that are gradually creeping into Election 2008 campaigning. - "Politics of insults, personality attacks, accusations and counter accusations, especially between leading members and functionaries of New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) are unhealthy for the entrenchment of democracy in the country," Ms Ayishietu Addy, NGM
Deputy General Secretary, stated at a press conference in Accra.
The NGM press conference attended by five regional representatives was organized to highlight Election 2008 landmines, media coverage…
- Ghana Government to revamp starch factory
By Francis Ameyibor
Takoradi, Aug. 26, Africanews- The Government of Ghana said it was committed to reviving the Ayensu Starch Factory by making it more a sustainable venture that would not rely on raw materials from individual farmers.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister for Trade, Industry, President's Special Initiatives (PSIs) and Private Sector Development (PSD), said the factory’s survival must shift from being dependent on individual farmers output.
He said the company’s operation was halted mainly because of a misunderstanding that ensued between the management of the company and the farmers over the purchase pric…
Dr. Edward Nasigrie Mahama, flag bearer of the People's National Convention (PNC), on Tuesday announced that he would name his running mate in September and said the his choice would come from southern Ghana. - He said his running mate would be selected from the Brong Ahafo, Volta, Greater Accra or Ashanti regions to balance the political landscape as these four regions had been left out of mainstream political activity for Election 2008.
The PNC flag bearer told the AfricaNews in an interview that, in our party we view leadership as the servant of the people and my running mate should have the temperament, ability to listen and complement the President in all spheres of governorship…
- by Francis Ameyibor
Accra, July 30, AfricaNews - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday said that the electoral signs across the country are clear that the malfunctioning New Patriotic Party (NPP) will lose the December general elections on account of its mismanagement of the economy.
Mrs. Sabah Zita Okaikoi, a Legal Practitioner, in an interview with the AfricaNews declared: "the signs are very clear, people all over the country can no longer tolerate the betrayal of their interest by the NPP and they are crying for a democratic removal of the party.”
She said the government's mismanagement of the national resources has led to drastic reducti…
The Ghana Stock Exchange maintained its lead in the first half of 2008 among African Stock Markets with investors gaining more than 50 per cent in returns. - The GSE All-Share Index, the benchmark measure of performance of the bourse, moved up from 6,718.88 points at the beginning of January to 10,346.30 in June, representing a half year gain of 56.77 per cent.
This compares with a gain of a mere 5.76 per cent for the same period in 2007. The gain in the index at the half-year stage is above the prevailing annual interest equivalent on 91-day treasury bills of 16.3 per cent at the end of June, 2008. It was also above the June 2008, twelve-month inflation rate of 18.41 per cent.
Officia…
- NDC is unshakable in strategies to win Election 2008
by Francis Ameyibor
Accra, July 29, AfricaNews – The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday declared that the foundation of the party remains unshakable in the quest to recapture political power in the December polls.
“Our Election 2008 campaign strategy towards unseating the malfunctioning New Patriotic Party is resolute, issues focused, devoid of personality attacks and moving with the people,” Mr. Danny Annang, NDC Greater Accra Regional chairman told the AfricaNews after the presentation of ten compact laser multifunctional printers and accessories to the party.
The four-in-one printers&…
The People's National Convention (PNC) has offered Ghanaians abroad a duty free clearance regime, to motivate them to comeback home and contribute towards national development. - “I will offer all Ghanaians who have been abroad for at least six months or longer, duty free clearance of their goods and property and a PNC government shall assist those who want to relocate at a city of their choice in Ghana,” Dr Edward Nasigire Mahama, the party’s flag bearer for Election 2008 told Ghanaians in North America.
Dr Mahama and some leading member of the party who are on a campaign tour of America have so far touched based with Ghanaians, African-Americans and the African co…
- by Francis Ameyibor
Accra, July 25, AfricaNews – The Government has pledged has pledged 200,000 United State dollars to the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF).
The amount is to help finance the Foundation’s Strategic Medium-Term Plan (SMTP), 2007-2011, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, stated in a statement made available to AfricaNews in Accra on Friday.
The ACBF required an amount of 350 million US dollars to fully implement its strategic medium term plan. The 21 member countries had so far raised 200 million dollars.
In acknowledgement of the pledge, Dr. Edwin N. Forlemu, ACBF Ex…
