Should we pay spouses of Speaker and CJ too? - Sam George asks
He is quoted by Peace FM as saying, government might as well include the spouses of the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice given that they also lead specific arms of government. He announced that he will take the matter to court in due course. "Are we also going to say that the spouse of the Chief Justice, the spouse of the Speaker must also be paid? Already they get allowances, they get protection from the state at the expense of the taxpayer and I don't have a problem with that..." he submitted. Former president John Dramani Mahama has also said he disagrees with the move and that government was wrong to try sneaking presidential spouses into Article 71 office holders, who are the specific category of people a presidential committee on emoluments can address.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 10, 2021 05:48 UTC
Why world's biggest plane came to Ghana
The plane reputed as one of the world’s largest aircrafts did not take too long to be back on the runway and heading further down the continent. According to details via AviationGhana.com, the aircraft landed successfully in Ghana at around 4:00pm from Leipzig in Germany. GhanaWeb sources at the Ghana Airports Company Limited said the cargo plane had made a technical stop in order to refuel before completing its journey. "The world's largest aircraft, the Antonov-225, with a consignment of medical equipments and materials landed at the Hosea Kutako International Airport this afternoon. The world's largest aircraft, the Antonov-225, with a consignment of medical equipments and materials landed at the Hosea Kutako International Airport this afternoon.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 10, 2021 05:48 UTC
24-member Council of State offered $3.4million car loan - Report
According to reports, the 24-member Council of State made request for cars to carry out their duties. It, however, appears that the loan offer for the Council of State has evaded the public’s eye with that of the MPs taking dominance. Yesterday I saw in the papers that another facility is been taken by the executive to acquire official vehicles for members of the council of state. So if the agreement is that we are given a loan to purchase official vehicles, I think it is very wrong. “All they hear is that MPs are taking loan to buy vehicles.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 10, 2021 05:03 UTC
Not all official benefits can be extended to your wife – NDC man to Akufo-Addo
General News of Saturday, 10 July 2021Source: ghanaguardian.comThe Communication officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Savannah Region, Malik Basintale has charged the Akufo-Addo-led government to reject recommendations to pay monthly salaries to his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and wife of the Vice President, Samira Bawumia. Parliament in 2019 approved a recommendation by a five-member committee which was set up in June 2019 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to review the remuneration of Article 71 officeholders. The Prof Yaa Ntiamoah-Baidu-led committee recommended for the spouses of the president and his vice to be paid monthly like cabinet ministers. But commenting on the issue that has generated controversy on social and traditional media, the vociferous NDC spokesman indicated the Akufo-Addo government was on a mission to enrich a few family and friends of the first family of the country. “The fact that you are an Article 71 Officeholder does not guarantee that your wife can also enjoy your benefits,” Basintale told King Nicholas on Inside Politics on Power FM.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 10, 2021 01:15 UTC
FULL TEXT: First Lady’s Salary- John Mahama disagrees
General News of Saturday, 10 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comFormer president John Dramani Mahama has spoken about the raging debate around plans to pay emoluments to spouses of the president and his vice. The distinction must be made, however, that this is separate from allowances payable to spouses of the President, Vice President, former Presidents, former Vice Presidents and former Heads of State. This seems like an attempt to sneak the First and Second Ladies into the article 71 office holders’ group. If this proposed Independent Emoluments Committee is established, the Commission will not only stop the practice of setting up a new emoluments committee every four years and coming up with varying recommendations but will ensure that salary administration in Ghana is rationalized and equity is brought into the system. One of the groups targeted for addition was spouses of public office holders including the President, Vice President, Ministers among others.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 10, 2021 00:33 UTC
Rescind your decision and make your appearance - Nana Akomea to family of Kaaka
The family of the late social activist, Ibrahim Mohammed, popularly known as Macho Kaaka, notified the Interior Minister of their decision not to honor an invitation to appear before the three-member committee of inquiry. But, Nana Akomea thinks otherwise. "If they are listening, we will urge them to rescind their decision. And this committee's work is the first step in achieving that aim, identifying in an organized manner, what led to the killing of their family member and who possibly could be behind that death," Nana Akomea said. Nana Akomea was speaking on Metro TV's Good Morning Ghana and was monitored by GhanaWeb.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 19:41 UTC
1st and 2nd ladies salaries: NDC emotionally frustrating Ghanaians – Bibi Bright claims
She said the NDC has managed to corrupt the minds of Ghanaians into thinking that the payment of salaries to the first and second ladies is a sinful act. The decision of the increment in the salaries of the first and second ladies has been met with negative responses from Ghanaians on social media. They have described as inappropriate the increment of their salaries, particularly at a time when citizens are ‘crying’ for the country to be fixed. "For the records, the spouses of the President and Vice President of the United States of America are not paid any salary by the State. According to her, now that the president has proposed the payment of salaries which will be taxed just like other civil servants, the opposition wants to corrupt the minds of Ghanaians.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 19:30 UTC
Demoting military officers good but they must face the law - Adam Bona
General News of Friday, 9 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com• Security Expert, Adam Bona has said that the military officers who assaulted civilians in Wa must face the law• He said demoting them is good but not sufficient to serve as a deterrent to others• This follows the demotion of military officers who assaulted civilians in the capital of the Upper WestSecurity Expert, Adam Bona, has described the punishment meted out to the military officers who assaulted some civilians in Wa as a step in the right direction. Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb's Amos Ekow Coffie, Mr Bona said,"I congratulate the Defence Minister for taking this bold step. But these their own internal punishments, demoting people within the security services including the military is one of the punishments officers go through. The Staff Sergeant has been reduced to Corporal rank, a Corporal has been reduced to Private rank, and the Sentry on duty who was a Lance Corporal has been reduced to a Private,” he said. BackgroundOn Thursday, July 1, 2021, a video showing armed soldiers beating some residents of Wa on the street went viral.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 18:45 UTC
Here is how the cedi is performing against major foreign currencies as of July 9
Against the Pound Sterling, the cedi is trading at a buying price of 7.9998 and a selling price of 8.0084 as compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 7.9396 and a selling price of 7.9481. The Euro is trading at a buying price of 6.8562 and a selling price of 6.8630 as compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 6.7959 and a selling price of 6.8026. The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.4054 and a selling price of 0.4058 as compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 0.4018 and a selling price of 0.4022. The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 71.1550 and a selling price of 71.2968 as compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of a buying price of 71.2923 and a selling price of 71.3651. For the CFA, it is trading at a buying price of 95.5788 and a selling price of 95.6736 as compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 96.4274 and a selling price of 96.5225.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 18:33 UTC
BizTech: We took a tour of a vehicle assembly plant in Ghana and here's what we found
For this reason, the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commissioned the Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing plant, a vehicle assembling plant which will assemble vehicles locally in the country. Speaking on GhanaWeb's BizTech programme, Factory Manager at the vehicle assembly plant, Futoshi Seko, gave an insight to the various stages of production lines for vehicles and the challenges encountered thus far. “The assembling plant has six major compartments; the logistics, inspection unit, spraying and the others but focus more on the assembling point. It is where the job is done and so once we get that done then we are half way through,” he told Amos Ekow Coffie. This is done carefully to before the car is sent to the customer,” he added.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 17:48 UTC
Prices of global commodities as of July 9
Business News of Friday, 9 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com• The price of crude oil dropped down on the commodities market today at a unit price of +1.38• Cotton went up on the market today to sell at a unit price of +0.51• Coffee also stood at a price unit of -1.25On the commodities market today, July 9, 2021, the price of crude oil is seventy-five dollars, fifty cents ($75.50) as compared to yesterday’s trading of seventy-three dollars, fifteen cents ($73.15) to close the 26th trade week of the 2021 fiscal year. Gold is trading at one thousand, eight hundred and nine dollars, five cents ($1,809.05) as compared to yesterday’s trading of one thousand, eight hundred and sixteen dollars, ninety-eight cents ($1,816.98). Cocoa is trading at two thousand, two hundred and sixty-six dollars ($2,266.00) as compared to yesterday’s trading of two thousand, two hundred and sixty-seven dollars ($2,267.00). Coffee on the other hand is trading at one hundred fifty dollars, eighty cents ($150.80) as compared to yesterday’s trading of one hundred and forty-nine dollars, seven-five ($149.75). Cotton is trading at eighty-seven dollars, eighty-four cents ($87.84) as compared to yesterday’s trading of eight-six dollars, sixty-three ($86.63).
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 17:15 UTC
Govt committed to making substantial investments in education expansion - Ntim Fordjour
“In this year’s budget, the government has further committed substantial investment into infrastructure expansion but the duty of serving humanity is when all come together, particularly the private sector, to augment the efforts of the government. I salute the leadership of Cargill and challenge all others in the private sector to do the same and to up the scale. “In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goal 7, the opportunity for access to quality education for all has been created through this Cargill project and no one will be left behind,” he said. John Ntim Fordjour made this known at a groundbreaking ceremony of the Cargill Schools Project at Adjei Kojo in the Tema West Constituency. As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cocoa-growing communities, prevent child labor and invest in education, the Cargill Schools Project’s new facilities will provide an estimated 700 children with access to education.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 16:52 UTC
Unusual price hikes of building materials likely to impact cost of rent – Construction Chamber
Business News of Friday, 9 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com•The Construction Chamber is warning of a price hike in rent should the unusual trend of pricing for building materials continue to increase•The Chamber says government needs to come up with workable solutions to address this immediately•The price of building materials have spiked over the past five months of this yearThe unusual price hikes of building materials are likely to affect the cost of rent in the country should a solution not be found soon; the Ghana Chamber of Construction has cautioned. Already, some members of Parliament have expressed worry over the cost of building materials with the House set to probe and come up with an attainable solution to the price hikes. In an interaction with Citi Business News monitored by GhanaWeb, Cherry said the unusual price hikes over the past five months this year is adversely having an impact on contractors undertaking building projects. “Honestly speaking, we have taken a key interest in the issue, that’s the reason we took the pains to petition parliament. Because a time is coming if we are not careful you cannot rent or buy a house because of this challenge,” Emmanuel Cherry said.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 16:52 UTC
Connect Namongbani to national grid - Residents to government
Regional News of Friday, 9 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.comCorrespondence from Northern Region :Residents of Namongbani in the Saboba District of the Northern Region have appealed to the government to extend electricity to their area. The Namongbani electoral area consists of five communities including, Namongbani, Jamoni, Tanjenmeli, Yakal, and Gbanjiko'ado. He said even though electricity poles have already been dotted around the area since 2016, they are yet to be hooked to the National grid. “My electoral area has been there since 1992 and we have been voting, but not even one community in the electoral area is connected to the National grid," he explained. “As a result of this, the schools in the area sometimes run out of students, and it's worrying," he lamented.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 16:18 UTC
Customs GRA officers directed to begin adjustment of freight rates
Business News of Friday, 9 July 2021Source: www.ghanaweb.com•The GRA Customs Division has directed its officers at the ports to adjust freight rates at the ports•GUTA has kicked the move and described as worsening the plight of the trading community•The adjustment of the freight rates at the ports will certainly impact on duties at the portsThe Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has tasked its officers at the ports to begin an adjustment of freight rates. The move has already been kicked against by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) as they believe it will worsen the plight of the trading community. “It has been observed and verified that freight rates from Asia have increased astronomically. Freight rates applied to imports from Asia are therefore to be adjusted as follows: 20-footer container at least US$3,000 – 40-footer container at least US$5,000-Refrigerated container US$8,000,” the letter stated. The adjustment of the freight rates at the ports will certainly impact on duties as it will affect the calculation of imports duties into the country.
Source:GhanaWeb
July 09, 2021 15:45 UTC