General News of Wednesday, 28 April 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comFrank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip has disputed assertions of culture of silence being witnessed under the Akufo-Addo administration. Annoh-Dompreh views the current media landscape to be that of ‘Culture of Dissent’ where opposing views are freely expressed with no fear of victimization from the government. Social media giant Twitter recently stated its decisions to locate its Africa HQ in Ghana was partly informed by our freedom of expression credentials. When Manasseh Azure received death threats, the State provided him with personal police protection, underscoring the state's attitude,” he tweeted. He further argued that the crux of the conversation should be on what he has observed to be the "falling standards of journalism”.

Business News of Wednesday, 28 April 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Minister for Communication and digitalisation, Ursula Owusu Ekuful has stated that the government is putting measures in place to properly tax digital transactions in the country. Speaking on Ekosiisen on Accra-based Asempa FM, the minister noted that, it is time the country focuses its attention on taxing digital transactions to rope in some revenue to the state. The traditional sources of revenue that the government gets from Communication Services Tax is going down, the definition of what a communication tax is, needs to be reviewed in my opinion, because of the evolution of technology. "The traditional voice review is also going down because today, a lot of people are using data platforms. For voice communication, hence the need to have a tax policy that can be rolled out on digital transactions platforms,” she said.

The Ningo-Prampram MP and the Ablekuma West lawmaker have been trading words on social media with Sam George promising to haul Ursula before the Communications Committee to explain the details of the AirtelTigo deal. She expressed readiness to face the Communications Committee and disclose the full details of the deal to them. In his criticism, Sam George mentioned the Ursula’s eyebrow persons and Ursula did not disappoint with her reply. “I did the negotiations and signed the deal and I’m saying we closed the deal at 1 dollar. “I don’t buy my eyebrow pencil, I get it for free so in case he wants to know, I got it for free.

General News of Wednesday, 28 April 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comMonday, April 26, 2021, marked one year since President Akufo-Addo promised to build 88 new district hospitals across the country within twelve months. We will, this year, begin constructing 88 hospitals in the districts without hospitals,” he said. “A man promised to build one cathedral for God if he became president. That same man has promised to build you 88 hospitals in one year, and you're already complaining. Or what makes you think you're more important than God?

They said the completion of a decent toilet facility, could help improve personal and environmental hygiene amongst them. The Mmrantehene of Gyakiti, Kwadjo Agyei said the absence of a toilet in the community has accounted for the open defecation. Asked if there was a toilet facility in her home, she answered in the negative, boldly admitting that the entire household resort to the bush. With no refuse container for the people to dump their refuse into, they have no option but create a refuse dump close to their homes. The residents fear the situation could lead to an outbreak of diseases and therefore appealed to the Asuogyaman District Assembly to assist them in relocating the refuse dump or provide them with refuse containers.

Sports News of Wednesday, 28 April 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comIt has emerged that the government will spend at least $5.6million on the Black Stars’ qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup. Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif told CitiNews in an interview that each qualifying game will cost the country not less than $700,000. And besides that, the world cup qualifiers that we have to play, we will not spend less than $700,000 on each match. The Black Stars have been drawn in Group G of the penultimate qualifying round alongside South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. The Minister was clarifying the ‘$25million for Black Stars’ statement following the backlash from some Ghanaians.

Residents, most of whom do not have toilet facilities in their homes, have therefore resorted to the backward practice of defecating in surrounding bushes and in open spaces. They say the completion of a decent toilet facility, could help improve personal and environmental hygiene amongst them. Mmrantehene of Gyerkiti, kwadjo agyei said the absence of a toilet in the community accounted for the situation. With no refuse container for the people to dump their refuse into, they have no option but to create a refuse dump close to their homes. The Assemblyman and the residents feared the situation could lead to an outbreak of diseases and therefore appealed to the Asuogyaman District Assembly to assist them in relocating the refuse dump or provide them with refuse containers.

According to the drivers, the road was so terrible it was a pain driving on it. With the dusty road posing health challenges to road users and residents, he was worried that inhaling the dust was a bother. Madam Comfort Kwao who sells provisions by the dusty road also complained bitterly. She said, “What is important is for them to come fix the road for us, the dust is really worrying us. We plead with the government to come fix our road for us.”Jonathan Ayamdor is Assemblyman for Pupuni Electoral Area.

Regional News of Wednesday, 28 April 2021Source: Dimah Araphat, ContributorThe Member of Parliament for the Sissala West Constituency, Adams Sukparu Mohammad has supported Jawia community with 100 bags of cement to complete a health project it has initiated. Speaking to the media during the presentation, Mr. Adams Sukparu Mohammad said he considered it necessary to support the project started by the community to address the health concerns in the area. He has also assured the community of his continuous support in every step of the way until the facility is completed and furnished for use. Reacting to the gesture, the Assemblyman for Jawia-Lipleme, Salifu Gbemmie has expressed his excitement and gratitude to the MP to augment their efforts to put up a health facility to address the health needs of his people. Meanwhile, the MP together with his entourage has resumed his thank-you tour, visiting communities as part of plans to engage with the constituents and continue to rally their support in his first term as their Representative Parliament.

General News of Wednesday, 28 April 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Executive Director of the Media for West Africa Foundation (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah has faulted Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his slow commitment to bringing perpetrators of violence to book. This, the MFWA boss believes is responsible for the ‘culture of silence' in the country. His comments come on the back of business magnate, Sam Jonah’s claim that Ghana is witnessing a “culture of silence”. According to him, the president’s posture in dealing with recent acts of violence on the media is not encouraging. Mr Suleiman also called out the presidency for failing to take on some people because of their affiliation with the government.

Bishop Titi-Ofei has therefore charged young pastors in the gospel Ministry to at least, have a “skill to compete on the job market” in other to avert disappointments. “If you enter into ministry to get wealth then get ready to be disappointed because ministry has cost many their health. Below are the points raised by Bishop GideonTiti-Ofei:7 Reasons Why Many Young Pastors Suffer From Disappointed Expectations1. If you enter into ministry expecting to reap where you have not sown, then get ready to be disappointed because every harvest has an owner. If you enter into ministry to get wealth then get ready to be disappointed because ministry has cost many their health.

Business News of Wednesday, 28 April 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comTax expert, Dr Ali Nakyea, has advised the government to push the computation of the 5 percent levy on profit before tax on banks from the second quarter onwards. According to him, the financial sector recovery level will have severe implications on the sector hence the appeal. Speaking at a programme organized by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) on the implications of the tax policy per the 2021 budget on businesses in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic Dr Nakyea appealed to the government to consider the appeal of moving the implementation of the levy forward. "I wonder if my profit before tax is 100,000 and then I find the 5% so I have 5,000, I am to pay in quarterly instalment but you are saying I will start in the third quarter, are you dividing that amount over the three quarters or my first quarter is free? "It has implications because of COVID-19, it will be good you relieve me the first quarter and take the three quarter but even that one has not yet been set up so it is a good point we raise,” he said.

“ I was blind back then but now God has delivered me. All our brothers who I peddled falsehood against should have mercy on me. Even if I don’t mention your name and you remember that I have wronged you please forgive me today that God has delivered me,” she said. According to the NCA, the priestess had her TV stations running without fulfilling licensing requirements. She was arrested during the operation and arraigned her before a court after spending a day in cells.

Gabby prefers to term the current situation as ‘Culture of Bizzare Intolerance’ where he observed that some people do not want their views to be subjected to scrutiny. Gabby believes that the persons exhibiting such tendencies are not staying true to the tenets of democracy as democracy is birthed on the principle of ‘give and take’. Speaking about a Rotary event over the weekend, Sam Jonah bemoaned the culture of silence in the country. “What is baffling is that those who used to have voices on these things seem to have lost their voices. What we failed to tell the world is that some people lost their lives in the course of the election.”

General News of Wednesday, 28 April 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has on the basis of stated misconduct, terminated the appointment of Mrs. Cynthia Dapaah-Ntow, its Head of Legal Affairs. The move comes after an internal Disciplinary Committee implicated her in a bribery scandal involving a food supplement manufacturer last year. The memo read in part: “Management would like to inform Staff that effective 18th May 2021, Mrs. Cynthia Dapaah-Ntow, Head of Legal, will cease to be a staff of the FDA. "The decision was arrived at after Mrs. Cynthia Dapaah-Ntow was taken through the internal disciplinary process of the Authority, following a charge of misconduct levelled against her. “The Disciplinary Committee recommended to the Board that the appointment of Mrs. Cynthia Dapaah-Ntow is terminated.