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his remarks follow the government’s announcement of the wage hike, which came after successful negotiations between the Labour Union and President John Dramani Mahama, who personally engaged union leaders to secure their backing for the adjustment.

this marks the second pay rise in less than a year, following a 23% increase in 2024 aimed at easing the burden of the rising cost of living.

speaking to Citi News, Mr Gamey stressed that salary increments should ideally be linked to productivity, a system Ghana has yet to fully implement.

“the issue is base pay—it should normally be based on productivity, but we are yet to get there as a nation. we are not fully practicing the performance management system in Ghana,” he noted.

according to him, the private sector responds better to such mechanisms than the public sector.

although he acknowledged that the 10% increase is fair under the circumstances, he would have preferred a different approach.

“i would have preferred it lower. even a 1% adjustment in public sector wages pushes the economy into a higher inflationary bracket, which ultimately affects all of us, including the beneficiaries,” he warned.

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Speaking at the Africa Business Forum 2025 on Monday, February 17, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mahama outlined strategic efforts to address key economic challenges, including cedi depreciation, high inflation, soaring interest rates, and a growing debt burden.

The forum, organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, was themed: “Moving from Potential to Prosperity: Activating Africa’s Regional Value Chain.”

Mahama stressed the need to analyze the root causes of Ghana’s economic crisis while implementing decisive measures, including a comprehensive debt management plan.

“In a crisis, the first thing you do is focus on stabilizing, and that is what we are focused on—bringing interest rates and inflation down, stabilizing the currency, and dealing with the debt overhang. That is where our focus is for now,” he stated.

He further emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying causes to prevent a recurrence.

“At the same time, we must analyze the factors that brought Ghana to this point and implement steps to ensure we do not end up in this situation again. That will entail strengthening the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Public Financial Management Act.

“We need to cut out waste and reduce corruption. These are some of the critical issues that must be addressed,” he assured.

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The decision comes after former U.S. President Donald Trump moved to shut down USAID, citing concerns over its use of taxpayers’ money for foreign aid.

The suspension is expected to have widespread economic consequences across Africa, with Ghana facing a revenue shortfall of $156 million.

Of this amount, $78.2 million will directly affect essential health programs, including malaria prevention, maternal and child health, family planning, and HIV/AIDS interventions.

Speaking at a town hall forum during the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday, President Mahama acknowledged the challenges posed by the funding cut.

However, he urged Africans to take proactive steps by boosting local food production and exploring alternative funding sources to mitigate the impact.

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Speaking at a press conference, Nana Amoasi VII, Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security, appealed to the President to issue a directive to halt all illegal mining operations across the country.

“We urge you to issue a bold directive to halt all illegal mining activities immediately to deter those who defy the law,” he emphasized.

Nana Amoasi VII also advocated for the repeal of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation 2022 (L.I. 2462) and called for stronger enforcement of existing mining laws to tackle the menace effectively.

The Chairman of the Civil Society Alliance, Dr. Steve Manteaw, joined the appeal, stressing the need to address corruption that fuels illegal mining.

“We want John Mahama to issue a bold statement in terms of how he intends to fight corruption in general, including corruption in the allocation of mining licenses,” he said.

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This visit aims to engage with constituents and reinforce his party’s message ahead of the upcoming elections.

During the tour, Mahama is expected to hold a series of rallies and meetings with community leaders, party supporters, and other stakeholders in the region.

The campaign is part of his broader strategy to mobilise support and outline his vision for the nation, focusing on key issues such as education, healthcare, and economic development.

The North East Region, which is known for its rich cultural heritage and agricultural potential, has been a focal point for Mahama’s campaign efforts.

He hopes to connect with the electorate on a personal level, addressing their concerns and showcasing the NDC’s commitment to improving the lives of Ghanaians in the area.

Source: Adomonline

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He also promised to review the current nursing trainees’ allowance system to address their concerns.

While addressing students at the Ntotronso Nursing and Midwifery College in the Ahafo Region, Mahama reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to waiving academic user fees for first-year university students.

“I know all the problems you have with your allowances and everything, and we are going to come and make things better for you. We will restore automatic posting so that when you graduate, you can secure a job as quickly as possible,” he stated.

“Your younger brothers and sisters who will come after you won’t have to pay any school fees in their first year,” he added.

Mahama also pledged to continue the construction of ongoing hospital projects to create employment opportunities for nursing graduates.

He encouraged the students to support the NDC in the upcoming December 7 elections.

“We will complete all the hospitals under construction so that we can employ as many of you as possible. As I’ve explained to your patron, I will create a proper program and come to speak to you again.

“But for now, I couldn’t pass by without saying a word. Keep your voting cards safe and on December 7, vote for change and the 24-hour economy,” he urged.

Source: Kwame Anum

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The Wenchi High Court ordered the state to pay GH¢270,000 to six individuals injured during the shooting at the Techiman South collation centre in the 2020 elections.

Speaking at a mini rally in Twimia Nkwanta, Bono East Region, Mr Mahama condemned the incident and promised to provide additional support to the victims if elected.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to investigate the event thoroughly and ensure that those responsible face justice.

“I was expecting the compensation to be higher than GH¢275,000, but I respect the court’s decision. When the NDC returns to power, we will ensure that the victims receive the necessary support.

“We will also investigate the incident and make sure the perpetrators are held accountable. For those who lost their lives, we will ensure their families are compensated,” he said.

Source: Adomonline

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According to him, this was evident in the entire political career of John Mahama, when he failed to implement a single policy to lessen the suffering of the citizenry.

Speaking at his maiden ‘Bawumia Host The Media’ engagement, held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, Dr Bawumia indicated that, unlike the opposition leader, he engineered and ensured the successful implementation of 33 policies as Vice President.

“I have a solid record of accomplishment as Vice President. At least, I can point to 33 separate policy initiatives. 33, that I have championed or initiated as Vice President. 33, yet my opponent can not point to one, just one single policy initiative as a Vice President. He can’t.

“So if you are serious about the problems of this country, at least you must think of something. You can not just be eating and going to sleep every day. You must think of something, you must be policy-oriented”, he said.

He noted that John Mahama, who is his biggest contender in the upcoming elections, cannot design problem-solving policies.

“I mean, we are put into public office to solve problems. You can not be there as MP, as Minister, as Vice President, as President and you don’t have a policy initiative, not one.

“You need your leaders to be problem-solvers. So you must have thought through problems and come out with initiatives to solve the problems. I can talk about 33 different initiatives, my opponent can not talk about one, and he wants to be given the mandate”, he stressed.

Dr Bawumia said he introduced the Gold for Oil (G4O) policy in 2022 to address Ghana’s declining foreign currency reserves and the increasing demand for dollars by oil importers.

He outlined the Zipline Drone delivery service system which had been nurtured into the biggest medical drone delivery service across the world, leading to an increase in access to medical consumables.

He also made peculiar mention of the Agenda 111 projects which seek to expand healthcare infrastructure to provide jobs and intensify healthcare delivery towards achieving universal health coverage.

Dr. Bawumia emphasized his digitisation agenda which saw the introduction of among others the digital address system, Ghana Card, mobile money interoperability, E-Phamecy Platform, and Ghana.Gov, a one-stop portal for local government agencies.

He said that digitising operations at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Electricity Company of Ghana, and Passport office has curbed corruption and increased revenue.

He added that he aims to introduce a blockchain government system where all operations of the government and data are tamper-proof to curb corruption in the public sector.

“What we want to do moving forward with fighting corruption is my proposal in the manifesto which is that our government must become a blockchain government. A blockchain government means that we operate on the basis that all transactions within the government space are locked and can not be changed.

“They should be traceable even if it is [after] 100 years, they should all be traceable. So you can not change anything within the government space”, he said.

He said his digitalization agenda was aimed at positioning the country to tap into the potentials of the fourth revolution to build a resilient and robust economy.

The Zongo Development Fund, expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme to cover sickle cell, kidney dialysis and cervical cancer patients, and the One Constituency One Ambulance are among the numerous initiatives introduced by the Vice President.

Dr Bawumia further touted the achievements of the government, indicating that it surpasses what Mr Mahama and the NDC achieved when in power.

He stressed that the Akufo-Addo government constructed roads, three times more than what the NDC did; adding that the education sector saw significant infrastructure improvement.

He said that the fishing sector witnessed the addition of two new fishing harbours, while some 180 astroturf have been constructed across the country to enhance sports development.

Source: Fred Quame Asare

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He urged them to work hard and actively contribute to ensure the country’s development.

“Congratulations to all who participated in the exercise. And to our newly elected Assembly Members across the country, let me remind you that we all have a responsibility to contribute and ensure that we get our decentralization right.” He said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Mr Mahama further reiterated his commitment to pay Assembly members an allowance if elected as President in the 2024 general elections.

“I remain committed, when voted as the President of Ghana in 2024, to begin paying allowances to all Assembly Members to help them carry out their duties” he said.

See post below:

I exercised my civic responsibility as a Ghanaian by voting in Tuesday’s district-level elections at the Bole District Assembly polling station.

Congratulations to all who participated in the exercise. And to our newly elected Assembly Members across the country, let me remind… pic.twitter.com/AaTOJZTbTq

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) December 20, 2023

Speaking to journalists after casting his ballot in the ongoing district-level elections in Bole on Tuesday, December 19, Mahama said the the presidential and parliamentary polls are more delicate hence the Commission must do well to prevent the technical hitches from occurring.

“Unfortunately I hear there are glitches in many places. I hope that the EC will get its acts together because we know that national, presidential, and parliamentary s are more emotive, and if people go to the polls on 7th December 2024 and some of these glitches occur it will lead to a lot of chaos and so the EC has to get its acts together” Mr. Mahama noted.

The Electoral Commission has rescheduled the district-level elections in some Electoral areas in the Eastern Region to Thursday, December 21 due to several technical challenges encountered at the start of voting on Tuesday, December 19.

The Commission assured votes in the affected areas that they will cast their ballots on the new date.

The poll carried out on 10th December 2023 with a sample of 5,488 respondents saw Mahama’s policy leading with 59.7% and New Patriotic Party’s Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s digitization economy following with 29.7%.

Independent candidate, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen’s Great Transformational Plan (GTP) for Ghana garnered 7.5% and 3.1% chose no policy from the sampled respondents.

The poll also showed John Mahama with a commanding lead in the race to become the next president. The unweighted poll shows Mahama at 61.1%, Mahamudu Bawumia, at 30.4% and Alan Kyeremanten at 6.9%.

However, when the poll is adjusted to reflect current party affiliations, JDM obtains 55.5%, DMB, 34.4% and AKK, 8.7%.

See results below:

The former Bank of Ghana governor disclosed that he will be a key member of the largest opposition’s 2024 election campaign to win power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He told Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Citi TV that he will definitely campaign for John Mahama “because he must win” and insisted that the NDC will definitely win the 2024 polls.

“I am confident that we are winning because we are working and the NPP has been on for seven years and has done little but our performance has been the best since independence. Between 2009 and 2012, our performance has been the best since independence.”

“Between 2009 and 2012, our indicators were first class. Interest rates were the lowest in forty years. Our GDP was 14.5% in 2011 excluding the oil sector.”

Dr Duffuor’s quest to lead the NDC ended when he withdrew from the flagbearer race.

He accused the leadership of the party of breaching a prior agreement and assurance given to the then-three presidential aspirants to resolve the issues raised about the register before the polls.

He also attempted to stop the May 13 primaries when his lawyers filed an interlocutory injunction against the polls but later backed down.

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Reports suggest that the likes of business mogul, Sam Jonah, former deputy chief of staff, Dr Valerie Sawyerr, founder of Ashesi University, Patrick Awuah and former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, stand the chance of replacing ProfessorOpoku-Agyemang as running mate.

Dr Asah-Asante indicated that though the individuals who are being mentioned are also qualified, Professor Opoku-Agyemang stands tall among them.

“The names that we have heard are all credible, Mr Mahama will be able to pick and pick the right person to lead the party. But I’m so surprised that people want Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang out, she’s a very important material, she’s somebody who has seen it all, and she’s someone who has what it takes to partner Mr Mahama. Apart from her, there are other good materials who can also do the work.

“They said she couldn’t match up with then running mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in what sense? That they were discussing economic issues and Professor Naana Jane Opoku -Agyemang couldn’t articulate clearly some of the issues,” he said on Accra-based Citi TV.

“Who is more knowledgeable than the professor? That she can’t learn anything, I challenge those people. The woman is worth her salt, and she can understand any subject. You don’t need an economist, we saw Dr Bawumia/Akufo-Addo combination and the economic results are here for us to see,” he added.

Former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, in a statement dated August 9, dissociated himself from speculations that he’s being considered as a running mate to the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress.

However, the party says the flagbearer is yet to make that appointment in consultation with the National Executive Committee and its Council of Elders.

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Quayson, the parliamentary candidate for Assin-North, is currently facing charges of perjury and forgery.

During a campaign event in the constituency, Mahama criticized the court’s approach, highlighting that even murder suspects are not subjected to daily trials.

He argued that Quayson had not committed any crimes such as murder or theft, and his case demonstrated political influence within the judicial system.

Mahama further questioned the basis of the allegations against Quayson, emphasizing that denouncing Canadian citizenship should not automatically lead to criminal charges.

He vehemently stated that Quayson would not be imprisoned.

In response to the trial schedule, Quayson’s lawyer, Tsatsu Tsikata, filed an application with the High Court requesting a review of the order.

The hearing for the motion is set to take place on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Previously, the High Court had ruled that Quayson’s trial must be conducted daily, starting from the same date.

Quayson’s lawyer had requested that the trial be postponed until after the Assin-North bye-election, scheduled for June 27, 2023. However, the court denied the request.

Quayson, who won the Assin North constituency seat in the 2020 general election, was expelled from Parliament following a directive from the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ordered Parliament to remove his name from its records after allegations of dual citizenship arose. The state subsequently filed criminal charges against him.

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We the members of the Aggrieved Customers of Gold Coast Fund Management who constitute over ninety percent (90%) of the entire customers of the forty-seven Fund Management Companies whose licences were revoked by the Securities and Exchange commission welcome the news of this goodwill assurance from the former President, we wish him well on his pursuit to presidency and we cling to this assurance as a light of hope even in times where  the Akufo Addo-Bawumia Government who brought us to our knees in this economic mess could be insensitive to our plight for the past five (5) years and not even a formal  response to the petition we submitted to Securities and exchange commission during our recent picketing. It should be on records that, the lock-up of our investments was mainly due to Government’s policy of a Financial Sector Clean-up Exercise in Ghana initiated in the year 2018 by the Akufo Addo-Bawumia Government.

We would like to clarify some misleading statements, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is peddling within the media space.

1. The SEC claims, “there is an ongoing Liquidation Case in the court which  government seeks to get an order from the court to sell the assets of the company (Blackshield/Gold Coast Fund  Management) we placed our Investments with, the money realised from the sales would top up what the government has made available to pay us in full”.

The above assertion by the SEC could not be the truth. After the validation of our investment claims by the PWC, the SEC presented a total validated amount of 8.5 billion Ghana Cedis as investment portfolio due for payment to clients of 47 regulated Fund Management Companies whose licences were revoked under the Financial Sector Clean-up Policy. The government then opted to use a Bailout package to pay back the locked-up investments, in simple terms, the government agreed to use taxpayers money to Bailout the investors and this necessitated the government to allocate 3.1 billion Ghana Cedis and 5.5 billion Ghana Cedis in the midyear 2020 and 2021 year Budget respectively as a Bailout package for Parliamentary approval and for further disbursement to pay each investor in full.

The Parliament duly approved both allocation totalling 8.6 billion Ghana Cedis which is in excess of 100 million Ghana Cedis of the 8.5 billion Ghana Cedis requested by SEC to pay the locked investments in full. 

After the approval of the first tranche of 3.1 billion Ghana Cedis, the GCB CAPITAL disbursed the money under the supervision of SEC and Registrar General Department (RGD) without any dire conditionalities.

We are now baffled that after the 5.5 billion Ghana Cedis was approved in the 2021 year Budget to complete our payment, the SEC is now bringing in a pointless conditionality of securing a Liquidation Order from court to sell the assets of the company and use the proceeds to top up the money which government has provided before it pays us. Meanwhile, the government has already provided money that exceeds the 8.5 billion Ghana Cedis SEC claims it requires to pay us in full. Therefore, contrary to the misleading from the SEC, the disbursement of the Parliamentary approved Bailout package has nothing at all to do with the ongoing Liquidation Order Case in court.

(For evidential purposes, attached to this RELEASE is a copy of the 2021-year Financial

Budget which has details of our claim. Kindly consider paragraph 86 and 87 respectively).

2. The SEC asserts that, there are clients of other defunct Fund Management Companies to be paid, in other words, “we are not the only affected clients to make noise”.

We would like to respond by challenging the SEC to publish summation list of the entire clients of the other 46 defunct Fund Management Companies and the sum of their investment portfolio for better argument. It is on records that clients of Gold Coast Fund Management constitute over ninety percent (90%) of customers who have their investment locked-up in SEC regulated institutions, hence; clients of Gold Coast Fund Management have suffered the greater loss and have the right to call for our payment. 

3. The SEC claims, the conditionality for our payment, thus, “Securing of Liquidation Order before the disbursement of the remaining Bailout package'” is government’s decision. 

We call on the government to rethink through the conditionality and as a matter of urgency rescind on the conditionality for the immediate disbursement of the approved Bailout package to the dying pensioners since over 800 of these pensioners are already dead for the past 5 years due to locked-up Funds. 

The Leadership of the Aggrieved Customers of Gold Coast Fund Management would like to use this medium to inform its members to get ready for a week long picketing which may happen spontaneously at the premises of the Securities and Exchange Commission,  Registrar General

Department and the Ministry of Finance at the same time. Details of the picketing would be communicated to you on our platforms. 

Signed

CHARLES NYAME 

(CONVENER FOR THE AGGRIEVED GOLD COAST CUSTOMERS)

Tel: 0247 222 613

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If Mahama wins in 2024 NPP will be in opposition for a long time…

Enough of the promises – Dr Kokofu slams Mahama

According to him, the opposition party can only win the 2024 polls as predicted by the Economic Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) if the party introduces an alternative.

“Not long ago, the Economic Intelligence Unit, they’ve been consistent in their predictions and projections for upcoming elections. Looking at their last report, they indicated that the National Democratic Congress stand a good chance. But their previous report also shows that NDC’s victory will only be possible if there is a change of the flagbearership

“With the current happenings, it seems that our old friend is most likely going to represent them again. And if they do that, I believe breaking the eight will be possible,” he said on Accra-based Peace FM.

Opposition party NDC is expected to hold its Presidential and Parliamentary primaries across all 275 constituencies nationwide on May 13, 2023.

Mr Mahama faces former Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr Kwabena Duffuor and former Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu in the flagbearership race.

However, many party officials, MPs and members have tipped the former President as the best candidate to represent the party in the much anticipated 2024 General Elections.

The governing NPP on the other hand has strong contenders who have served the party in various offices competing for the flagberearership position with the hope of ‘Breaking the 8.’

To him, even in presidential primaries, Mahama is unable to secure 100% votes, how much more during the general elections.

“Mahama is no threat to the NPP. If NDC likes they should skip presidential primaries and let Mahama go unopposed. Even when he was the only candidate in 2020, he got 92% of the votes how much more now that he has contenders” the NPP man scoffed.

Chairman Buttey indicated that, there is no banter between the NPP and NDC over the “True State of the Nation.”

Rather, he explained that, NPP National Chairman, Stephen Ntim’s response to NDC’s ‘True State of the Nation Address’ was to address the lies purported by the opposition party.

“No we will not respond to anything. But if you sit down and listen to the lies without responding, it makes people think they are true. That is why we came out with the true state of the whole show. So it’s not a banter between ourselves and the NDC. We only responded to the lies” he said on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, he said.

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NPP bars executives from contesting incumbent MP

NPP bars executives from contesting incumbent MP

Mr Mahama will on Wednesday morning address the University Community at a Convocation Ceremony.

He will later deliver the keynote at the Opening Celebration Dinner of the 500 CEO Summit in the form of a Q & A and meet various business and student groups.

Former president John Mahama is an advocate of the African Continental Free Trade Area who has been speaking and promoting economic growth in Africa and will join other leading American and World business leaders to discuss faith, business, and leadership.

Hs is expected to push for investment and the areas that require critical business partnership on the continent, and describe to American CEOs, how to get started doing business with Africa.

Mr Mahama will on Friday, October 7, deliver a lecture on “Reforming Institutions and Strengthening Legal Frameworks: The role of African governments” at the Howard School Court Room.

The lecture will be hosted by the Georgetown and Howard Universities.

Reacting to the report of the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), he said Mr Mahama, who was once the president of the country, was voted out because Ghanaians opined he underperformed.

He feels the Executives of the NDC are not helping where they should be working and organizing activities towards their victory in the 2024 election.

He said the only way the NDC would win the 2024 election massively is when they focus more on registering more youth into the party.

Also, the party should acknowledge the EIU report by going in for other members of the party who are capable of leading the party as flagbearers.

“We will have to work double if John Dramani Mahama still stands as the flag bearer of the NDC in the 2024 election. This is someone who was once the president of the country whose picture was in everybody’s office but was still voted out.

“I think the executives of the party are also disappointing the party, look the NPP has already started activities but the opposition party NDC is still quiet. They should by now have started engaging the grassroots and registering the youth for more votes,” he lamented.

He made the assertion on Adom TV’s Burning issues hosted by Akua Boakyewaa Yiadom

However, Dr Amakye Boateng, a Senior Lecturer of Political Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), speaking on the same platform, opposed the report of the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU).

He thinks the criteria for governance include experience and other qualities and he thinks the former president possesses all those qualities.

“I don’t support what the EIU report is saying because to be a president, requires some qualities which include experience and I think the former president of Ghana John Drama Mahama has them all,” he said.

According to him, the New Patriotic Party has banked all its hopes on the E-Levy, which is neither adequate nor viable as a sustainable response to the crisis.

Read the full post below:

There is no dispute that the Ghanaian economy is in deep crisis, a crisis marked by huge budget deficits, an unsustainable public debt, rising inflation, a rapidly depreciating currency, ever-rising cost of living, and a loss of confidence by both domestic and international investor communities.

The effects of these have been severe hardships and suffering for the people of Ghana, especially those within vulnerable groups. As a result of the horrendous low point we have now reached, it is very clear that urgent intervention is required to avert a total collapse of the economy.

Yet, President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Head of the Economic Management Team, rather appallingly, remain nonchalant in the face of this serious crisis and have limited their response to the imposition of very harsh and regressive tax measures, one of which is the E-Levy, which has been roundly rejected by the people of Ghana.

Like one drowning and yet clutching at mere straw to stay afloat, this government has banked all its hopes on the E-Levy, which, given the gravity and depth of the problems that have beset our economy, is neither adequate nor viable as a sustainable response to the crisis.

In the face of this serious crisis, government has also resorted to unhelpful political posturing over suggestions on how to stem the downward spiral, ensure discipline and help the economy to recover.

How come we do not have a much-needed Post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan that would lay down a firm blueprint for fiscal consolidation in the face of a worsening economic situation?

As I have indicated previously, the government must as a matter of urgency, borrow a leaf from our sound approach toward the challenges we faced in 2015. We immediately convened the Senchi Economic Forum at which we tapped the brains and expertise of a wide variety of knowledgeable people and stakeholders and built a consensus on our economic plan going forward.

The knowledge shared at Senchi crystallized into our Homegrown Fiscal Consolidation Programme, which we eventually presented to the IMF for support. The IMF agreed entirely with our homegrown strategy whose implementation restored stability to the economy and laid the strong foundations that this government, just as the World Bank in 2016 forecasted, profited from between 2017 and 2020.

But for the profligacy and also the reckless election-related expenditure in 2020, which undermined all the progress that had been made, our economy would not have taken the catastrophic nose-dive it has taken and left us all reeling under hardship.

The Akufo-Addo administration in 2020/21 received and misapplied the largest windfall or bailout in Ghana’s history: a $1 billion concessional facility from the IMF, another $1 billion in SDR allocation, $430 million from the World Bank, $250 million from the Stabilization Fund, Gh¢10 billion from the Central Bank. This amounted to a total of about Gh¢33 billion.

It is a pity that today, the NPP’s entire economic plan hinges on the passage of an E-levy expected to raise a little over Gh¢6 billion. How did we arrive here?

The government must swallow what is left of its pride and create a platform for urgent and constructive dialogue among stakeholders with the view to fashioning out a robust set of policy responses to the economic challenges before we get to the point of no return.

We in the NDC stand prepared to aid in the salvage effort because inaction is not an option in the face of disaster. The clock is ticking very fast and the time to act is now.

Cantonments- Accra.

Monday, February 07, 2022.

John Dramani Mahama

Founder of the Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, has challenged former President John Mahama to come out and clear the air on their relationship.

Mr Anyidoho, who is a former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in April 2021 alleged Mr Mahama hated him.

But according to him, he has nothing against the former President and will expect him to do the same.

Mr Anyidoho also maintains he never disrespected Mr Mahama as a Vice-President under the Atta Mills’ administration as purported.

“There is no way Prof Kofi Awoonor, the Chairman of the Council of State would have watched me disrespect the Veep. So who is going to tolerate Koku Anyidoho, disrespecting the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana and my own upbringing at home? I mean how?” he quizzed on Accra-based Okay FM.

In view of this, he will expect Mr Mahama who has been at the centre of the controversy or his aides to publicly settle the scores.

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“Today is 1st February, I beg former President Mahama, if I ever disrespected him, he should come and let the whole world know or his aide should come and give a particular instance,” he challenged.

Basically, the raging debate is shaping the diverging public opinions on the E-Levy for which reason the largest opposition party – the National Democratic Congress (NDC) – is facing humiliating defeat because right from the word go, the party opted to rely on empty noises and propaganda.

Anyway, it is their stock-in-trade.

Again, if it is not empty noises and propaganda sprees from the NDC, then it could be a deliberate misrepresentation or cooked facts just to mislead the public without considering the consequences.

Anytime, this legitimate question is asked: “NDC, where is the alternative to E-Levy” then they take offence to that.

At best, in an attempt to defend their position, they would engage in simplistic arguments such as Akufo-Addo-Bawumia led government should focus on fighting corruption and reduce government officials expenditure.

Throughout the debate on E-Levy, members of the opposition party have advanced their arguments on retrieval of certain GHc12.8 billion captured in a 2021 report released by the Auditor General’s Department, which they said is as a result of corruption.

In fact, members of the opposition party want the government to forget about the GHc6.9 billion from the proposed tax on electronic transactions by the end of 2022 and go for the so-called 12.8 billion corruption money.

The NDC should read and stop the propaganda. Out of the GHc12.8 billion captured in the Auditor’s General report, outstanding debts and challenges in retrieving loans from debtors accounted for GHc10 billion.

Since when did outstanding debts and retrieving loans from debtors become corruption?

Could NDC be deliberately lying or just want to be an enemy to development?

Other components of the GHc12.8 billion captured in the Auditor’s General report include tax irregularities, payroll irregularities, cash irregularities and procurement irregularities.
So why should a responsible opposition political party attribute a whooping GHc12.8 billion to CORRUPTION when in fact it is NOT?

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Let’s buy into the argument of the NDC members and grant that we have to block corrupt practices entirely and use the money to develop the nation. Former President Mahama had a better opportunity to set an example. Did he?

Did former President Mahama retrieve GH¢3.6 million Smartty’s Bus branding to develop the country?

Did former President Mahama retrieve GH¢32 million SADA paid to ACICL to plant five million trees or GH¢15 million on guinea fowls and use them for the development of this country?

Did former President Mahama make an attempt to retrieve Alfred Agbesi Woyome GHc 51.2 million to develop the country?

Can we take moral lessons from the brothel? Absolutely not.

The NDC is playing the ostrich here again because, in 2013, the government machinery under John Mahama over-spent its budgetary allocation by GH¢600 million.

The NDC and former President Mahama woefully failed this Country.

However, President Akufo-Addo is committed to providing solutions to the socio-economic challenges of this Country without necessarily relying on IMF bailout.

The E-Levy is the panacea to raise funds internally for the country’s development and become independent of IMF.

This was on Tuesday at his office at Cantonments, Accra to introduce himself as the new head of the EU Mission.

Discussions during the visit were centered on insecurity and the raging political instability in the West African sub-region due to coup d’états, banditry and terrorism.

Other issues included the state of the Ghanaian economy, the controversial E-levy, education, unemployment, government’s intolerance of dissenting views, the bastardisation of state institutions and constitutional review.

Mr Mahama in his welcome address thanked the EU for their continuous support to Ghana and wished the ambassador the best during his tour of duty.

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Present at the meeting were 2020 running mate, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia among others.

The delegation was present at Mr Mahama’s house to express the condolence of the Gbewaa Palace to the family following the death of his brother, Emmanuel Adam Mahama.

They were led by the Chief of Pishigu and a former Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Naa Alhassan Andani.

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Mr Mahama passed on on Friday, December 31, 2021, after a short illness.

He has since been buried at Bole in the Savannah Region in accordance with Islamic customs.

However, the Adua (final funeral rites) have been scheduled for January 30, 2022, at Bole.

Mr Momodu’s visit was to commiserate with him following the death of his brother, Emmanuel Adam Mahama.

He was received by Mr Mahama and his wife Lordina Mahama at their residence.

Mr Momodu who described himself as a close associate of the family offered prayers for the departed soul to rest in peace and also consoled the bereaved family.

The former President, on his part, expressed appreciation to Dele for his gesture as he recounted circumstances that led to Adam’s death.

Mr Mahama explained he was the first among his 18 siblings to die.

This follows former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s visit to Ghana for the same course on Monday.

Watch the video below:

This morning, I paid a condolence visit to the great Leader of Africa, former President of Ghana JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA, and his adorable wife, former First Lady of Ghana, LORDINA MAHAMA, to commiserate with the family over the sad passing of their Brother, MR EMMANUEL ADAM MAHAMA. pic.twitter.com/9JcRouoqoV

— Dele Momodu Ovation (@DeleMomodu) January 18, 2022

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This was to commiserate with him following the death of his brother, Emmanuel Adam Mahama.

Mr Obasanjo also said special prayers for Mr Mahama and his family.

Mr Mahama passed on on Friday, December 31, 2021, after a short illness.

He has since been buried at Bole in the Savannah Region in accordance with Islamic customs.

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However, the Adua (final funeral rites) have been scheduled for January 30, 2022, at Bole.

Mr Monari reportedly passed on on Monday night at the Nairobi Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

He was said to be battling multiple complications of his internal organs.

Reacting to the news of his demise in a Facebook post, Mr Mahama eulogised the deceased for his legal prowess as he shares a photo of him.

He noted that the late Monari was a loyal and true friend whose death has become a big blow to many.

Mr Monari was an advocate of the Kenya High Court and a Partner in Coulson Harney Advocates where he was the Head of Dispute Resolution and Arbitration.

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He is credited with complex civil litigation having handled a myriad of commercial, civil, judicial review, and constitutional briefs.

He also handled high-profile criminal briefs.

Read the full post below:

He has, therefore, described as an “absolute lie”, a claim by communicators of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) government that he sponsored the protest with ¢1.5 million.

The 2020 National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer expressed concerns about youth unemployment in the country when he addressed the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs on Tuesday while on a ‘Thank You’ tour of the region.

He said youth unemployment was a major problem in Africa, citing recent agitations by the youth in Nigeria to buttress his point.

“In Nigeria, they had the SASS movement – it was like a rebellion against police repression, but who are those who took part in the SASS movement? It was the unemployed youth. And the point is, let’s not think that if you are enriching yourself, you are safe.

“When the youth rise up, they think that everyone who is living a good life is one of the people oppressing them and that is why they cannot get jobs so if you are driving a nice car, they will break your glass and molest you,” he said.

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Mr Mahama said such a situation should not be allowed to occur in Ghana.

Touching on the #FixTheCountry Movement in Ghana, he added that although the youth involved in the movement did not engage in acts of vandalism, the government should not take their concerns for granted.

“And so, when government thinks that these young people; we must demonise them…it’s not because of NPP. It’s all of us. They are expressing dissatisfaction in our collective leadership, and the earlier we listen to them, dialogue with them, the better,” Mr Mahama said.

Mr Mahama denied claims that he sponsored activities of the #FixTheCountry movement.

“And the government communicators go and lie that I have given them [#FixTheCountry] £85,000 and I have given them ¢1.5 million for their demonstration. Absolute lie! Those old Machiavellian tactics don’t work. I haven’t given ‘fix it’ one single cedi,” he said.

Mr Mahama said he believed that the ruling government was only spreading those lies to create the impression that leaders of the #FixTheCountry Movement had collected money to detach the leadership from their followers.

According to him, he doesn’t comprehend why NPP gurus such as John Boadu, the party’s General Secretary will ask Mrs Mahama to refund her allowances while it’s evident she isn’t the only former First Lady living in the country.

In a Facebook post, Kwame A Plus said no one asked First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Second Lady Samira Bawumia to return their allowances after days of backlash, hence it’s not apt to ask Mrs Mahama to emulate the act.

Additionally, A Plus said the attack on Mrs Mahama goes a long way to prove that his husband, former President Mahama is the one they are after.

In a long piece on his Facebook page, A Plus further queried why the NPP will go after only Mrs Mahama when other former First Ladies such as Nana Agyemang Konadu Rawlings and Madam Theresa Kufuor among others were equally paid allowances.

Ghanaians know!! They are wise!! These tricks won’t work!!! If you don’t allow the wise people in your party to come back to communicate sense to the citizens, you’ll lose more in 2024, he said in the post.

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Read the full statement below:

Why attack Lordina and leave out former First Ladies? – A Plus

After giving everything including free water and electricity to Ghanaians, they voted massively against the NPP. The reason is that the citizens knew the electricity and water were a trick. That is why they voted against them.

Sadly, the many wise people who speak sense on behalf of the party have been sidelined by a bunch of people who take the wrong bus to school daily ? Even the mentally disturbed person at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital knows that they are dumb!!!

Nobody has asked the former and current first lady to return ALLOWANCES paid them. Kwame Nkrumah’s and Dr Hilla Liman’s families have always been taken care of by current and previous governments. Akufo-Addo has taken care of Nana Konadu big time. We all accept that they deserve some allowances.

What people are against is to make them Article 71 holders and give them back pay and ex-gratia.

Fortunately, the current first lady who is my personal person herself has rejected it. I love her, her sister planned my wedding. I’m very close to her family. I’m biased towards them, I won’t lie, but I was disappointed when I heard the news and I’m happy she made me proud.

Suddenly, these mof*s in NPP have come together to ask Lordina Mahama to return allowances (not salary) she received yet they are not asking Nana Konadu who has benefited from Nsawam to Cantonments to return allowances because the target is John Mahama.

Ghanaians know!! They are wise!! These tricks won’t work!!! If you don’t allow the wise people in your party to come back to communicate sense to the citizens, you’ll lose more in 2024.

NPP had the men!!! Now they have a boy’s brigade and are led by dadabee ??? who can’t slap them to stop fooling!!!

You can spend your day here insulting. I’m going to chill in Porto Rico. Will send you photos ok ??????.

His observations, he said, were based on interactions with the chiefs and people of the places he’s toured.

According to Mr Mahama who was speaking in an exclusive interview aired on Adom 106.3 FM Monday morning, a number of poor policies by the NPP will work against them.

“Our analysis show that we have a swing coming towards us and where the NPP thinks they have their footing, we see a positive shift towards us,” Mr Mahama said.

“If you look at the way they have handled this galamsey [illegal mining] issue, they have handled it disastrously and that can cost them especially in the gold-ming areas,” Mr Mahama said.

He said his party long realised that the force of arm wasn’t the ideal way of dealing with such illegal mining activities after they initially tried the model.

He said a better way to deal with the situation was to introduce incentives and bring better supervision into the space.

“He has failed miserably because the rivers are dirtier today than 2016 and there is more devastation of the forests, ” he said, asking President Akufo-Addo to resign per his own promise.

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Watch the video below for more:

Making an impact as the world marks ‘Global Day of Parents’, Mr Mahama shared posts of his memory of his late mother and father on his social media handles.

Posting first his mother, he recounted how she birthed, nurtured him with kindness and moulded him to be the great man he is today.

“In celebration of the Global Day of Parents, I want to honour the memory of the woman who made me who I am. You gave birth to me & nurtured me. I draw my patience, tolerance, kindness and humility from this great woman. May your kind soul continue to Rest In Peace,” he captioned.

Not forgetting his late father, whose footsteps he followed in his journey into politics, he showcased a rare photo of his father.

“It’s a Global Day of Parents. I honour the memory of the man who has made me who I am. I draw my education, communication skills, human relations and political instincts from this great man. May your gentle soul continue to rest in peace,” he said.