Minority rejects Platinum’s $23.9 million tax waiver request
General News of Wednesday, 19 February 2020Source: GNAMinority rejects Platinum’s $23.9 million tax waiver requestplay videoSpeaker of Parliament, Aaron Michael OquayeThe Minority in Parliament Tuesday rejected the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report to approve US$23,983,033, being tax waiver on materials, plant, machinery and equipment by Platinum Properties Limited. Furthermore claims that Pullman City Hotel was positioned to become Ghana’s largest and most distinguished hotel facility was not supported by the facts of the Committee’s report, Mr Jinapor said. Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, commenting on the Committee’s report, debunked assertions in the public domain that the President, on his own, granted a tax waiver to Platinum Properties Limited. “Because, Mr Speaker, in accordance with the Constitution, no President on his own has the power to grant a tax waiver to a company…” he added. Mr Nkrumah said if the Legislature was of the view that the company did not qualify for the tax waiver, The House was at liberty to reject it.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 20:15 UTC
Christian Council in GH¢145 million bribery storm
General News of Wednesday, 19 February 2020Source: GNAChristian Council in GH¢145 million bribery stormGeneral Secretary of the Council, Dr Cyril FayoseThe Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) on Tuesday denied receiving GH¢145 million from the Government or any other state institution to carry out election related activities towards the December polls. Fayose told the GNA that he, as the Spokesperson of the Council, had never spoken to any media representative about any missing money from the accounts of the CCG. We have not received any disbursement to that tune of GH¢145 million,” he said. He, however, explained that it was true the CCG undertakes election related programmes every election year to promote peace in the country but not with funding from the Government. Fayose said the CCG was expecting some funding from the Star Ghana Foundation and the Bread for the World, a German Organisation, to support its election related activities, but it was nothing close to the GH¢145 million.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 19:07 UTC
How Jinapor’s visit to the loo disrupted parliament
General News of Wednesday, 19 February 2020Source: www.ghanaweb.comHow Jinapor’s visit to the loo disrupted parliamentJohn Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu constituencyMember of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu constituency, John Jinapor disrupted parliamentary proceedings as he left the chamber to visit the loo after making a submission on the floor of parliament for the house to reject a request of proposed tax waiver for Platinum Properties Limited for the Pullman Accra Airport City Hotel and Serviced Apartments. Speaker, there is something known as investment decision – in taking investment decision there is something called investment appraisal. "Mr. Speaker, all these have not been met here. So, Mr. Speaker, I am going to call him that he should come back”, he noted. John Jinapor later came as he was cheered by his colleagues but then Speaker had ruled that his statement should be expunged from the records.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 18:56 UTC
Salmonella gizzard scare: Cook it, there’s nothing to fear – FDA
General News of Tuesday, 18 February 2020Source: www.ghanaweb.comSalmonella gizzard scare: Cook it, there’s nothing to fear – FDAGizzard is largely consumed by many people in GhanaThe Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has allayed fears about the toxicity of salmonella infested gizzard transported into the country. The Head of Corporate Affairs at the FDA, James Lartey explained in an interview with Citi News that cooking the infested gizzard thoroughly before consumption would kill the bacteria, salmonella. His reaction comes on the back of reports that three containers of salmonella infested gizzard made their way into the country. So, in actual fact, this is not something that we should even be worried about,” the Head of Corporate Affairs at the FDA," James Lartey said. Mr. Lartey further noted that the importers of the containers carrying the salmonella infested gizzard followed due process since they the appropriate certification.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 18:45 UTC
AU endorses Ghanaian for top intellectual property post
General News of Wednesday, 19 February 2020Source: GNAAU endorses Ghanaian for top intellectual property postFile photoThe African Union has unanimously endorsed a Ghanaian, Dr Edward Kwakwa, as the sole African candidate for the position of Director-General of the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). It oversees the negotiations that take place at the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore. The department also addresses how global issues such as climate change, public health, and food security affect innovation and intellectual property (IP). Dr Kwakwa was WIPO’s Legal Counsel from 2004 to 2016, and served in the Office of Legal Counsel for almost 20 years. It serves as the global forum that promotes innovation and creativity for the economic, social and cultural development of all countries through a balanced and effective international intellectual property system.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 18:45 UTC
Ghana must maintain double-track system – NMC Executive-Secretary
General News of Wednesday, 19 February 2020Source: GNAGhana must maintain double-track system – NMC Executive-SecretaryGeorge Sarpong, Executive-Secretary, National Media CommissionThe Executive-Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. George Sarpong, has appealed to Ghana’s educational policy-makers not to phase out the double-track system. “I suggest that we keep the double-track, and use the second-track for students from other African countries yearning for quality Ghanaian education at premium rates,” he noted. According to the NMC Executive-Secretary, proceeds from this initiative could be channelled towards sustainable financial support for the ‘Free Senior High School (SHS)’ concept, while also expanding the country’s educational frontiers. “Questions about teachers’ welfare, conditions of service, vacation periods within the double-track system, require sober discussions,” he remarked. The double-track system was introduced by the government to increase the uptake of more students in the various Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Ghana, to ensure all Ghanaian children had access to SHS education.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 18:11 UTC
I will revitalise CPP - Aspirant pledges
Politics of Wednesday, 19 February 2020Source: GNAI will revitalise CPP - Aspirant pledgesKweku Quansah (left) is poised to become CPP's National ChairmanMr Kweku Quansah, contesting the National Chairmanship position of the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP), has pledged to reinvigorate the Party by putting in place infrastructure to make it capable of winning the 2020 election. He explained that even though the CPP had been out of power for decades, its ideology remained relevant in the nation’s quest to achieve development. “What has driven me to this point is the need for the CPP to be revitalised, that is the revival of the CPP. Currently, eight aspirants have picked nomination forms to contest the six positions, namely; National Chairman (two); General Secretary (one); National Organiser (two); National Youth Organiser (one); National Women’s Organiser (one); and National Vice Chairman (one). Mr Paul Kwame Anaman, the Administrator, handing over the forms to Mr Quansah, urged him to rally the youth to bring vibrancy to the Party.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 18:11 UTC
Veterinary Unit excluded from animal products inspection at Tema Port
Business News of Wednesday, 19 February 2020Source: GNAVeterinary Unit excluded from animal products inspection at Tema PortFile photoThe Veterinary Regulatory Unit at the Tema Port has been excluded from the joint inspection management system set up to prevent the importation of coronavirus infected products into Ghana. He said, “At the moment, at the Tema Port, veterinary is not in charge of products of animal origin, ” adding that the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has been put in charge of animal and animal products which was hitherto his outfit’s responsibility at the port. He noted that the Unit had the necessary facility at its disposal to conduct all procedures involved in the screening and examination of animal and animal products so that such diseases transmitted through animals were detected and destroyed. Dr Bonnah said, the Veterinary Regulatory Unit currently issued import permits to importers of animal and animal products to protect the consumer and prevent the transmission of trans-border animal diseases. We have to know the disease situation of the place you are getting your animal products from.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 18:11 UTC
Sissala youth demand transfer of Forestry Commission staff over illegal Rosewood business
General News of Tuesday, 18 February 2020Source: starrfm.com.ghSissala youth demand transfer of Forestry Commission staff over illegal Rosewood businessPacked rosewoodSome youth in Sissala have barricaded the offices of the Forestry Commission in Tumu over what they say is official collusion in the latest harvest of rosewood under the guise of papal, a newly discovered exportable tree species. The President of the Youth group Issifu Alidu Napun said told the media “all attempts to meet the officials of the forestry division of the commission over the latest invasion of the Sissala East and west by illegal loggers have failed”. The MCE Mr Karim Nanyua has since moved in to hold an emergency meeting with the youth who claim harvest of rosewood and papal have resumed in large quantities in the area and want it stopped. The youth leader said “it is to forestall the already depleted vegetation starved of fona and fauna”. Rosewood harvest has left thousands of species including papal and other species destroyed until the ban early last year that saved the area of its operations.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 18:11 UTC
7 out of 21 coronavirus tests at Noguchi showed symptoms
General News of Tuesday, 18 February 2020Source: 3news.com7 out of 21 coronavirus tests at Noguchi showed symptomsProfessor William Kwabena AmpofoThe Head of the Virology Department of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Professor William Kwabena Ampofo, says seven out of the 21 cases tested for coronavirus showed symptoms as outlined by the Ghana Health Service despite all proving negative. For him, Ghana is safe for now but measures have to be put in place to fight the disease in case of an outbreak. He admitted that the symptoms of the coronavirus disease are hard to tell and there makes the viral disease hard to diagnose. It centered on the preparedness of Ghana in case of an outbreak of Covid-19. The Ghana Health Service has been at the forefront in the prevention fight of Covid-19, which first broke out in China’s Hubei Province in December, 2019.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 18:00 UTC
King Faisal, Legon Cities to honor game on Thursday
Sports News of Tuesday, 18 February 2020Source: GHANAsoccernet.comKing Faisal, Legon Cities to honor game on ThursdayLegon Cities FCGhana Premier League sides King Faisal and Legon Cities will honor their match day 11 game at the Len Clay Sports Stadium, the Competitions Department of the Ghana Football Association has announced. The game has been scheduled for Thursday, 20 February, 2020. The game was initially scheduled on Wednesday 19 February at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium which has been closed down for renovation. In a statement released by the FA indicating the change of venue, read, “The Ghana Football Association Competitions Department wishes to inform you that due to the closure of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium the above mentioned fixture would be played at the Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi on Thursday 20 February, 2020”King Faisal have accepted to play at the venue according to the club President Alhaji Karim Grunsah. Legon Cities are already in Kumasi for the game which comes off on Thursday.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 17:26 UTC
Some excavators went missing before Akufo-Addo took over power - Ekumfi MP
General News of Tuesday, 18 February 2020Source: www.ghanaweb.comSome excavators went missing before Akufo-Addo took over power - Ekumfi MPplay videoFrancis Kingsley Ato CodjoeMember of Parliament for Ekumfi Constituency, Francis Kingsley Ato Codjoe has said the Akufo-Addo government cannot be held entirely responsible for the missing excavators as some of them went missing before Akufo-Addo took over power. He asked the opposition party to give details of where they left Wontumi’s seized excavator during their regime. Wontumi’s excavators were seized. More importantly, we were in this country when people were dying in galamsey pit? He urged Akufo-Addo to penalize all who are proven to have been negligent or complicit in what may have gone wrong.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 17:18 UTC
‘I don’t listen to them' – Atletico Madrid’s Partey on handling racist abuse
Sports News of Tuesday, 18 February 2020Source: Goal.com‘I don’t listen to them' – Atletico Madrid’s Partey on handling racist abuseThomas Partey, Black Stars midfielderAtletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey has shed light on how he deals with racist abuse, stating he doesn’t give attention to it. The most recent incident saw Mali forward Moussa Marega targeted during FC Porto’s league match with Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal. It is not common practice for players to walk off the pitch, and Marega was brave enough to do this on Sunday. "It happens, but I just try to be myself, always, not to listen to them, and enjoy my game," Partey told CNN. As long as you don't give your mind to them, it will never affect you."
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 17:15 UTC
Ghana back to HIPC debt level – Kofi Bentil bemoans
General News of Tuesday, 18 February 2020Source: starrfm.com.ghGhana back to HIPC debt level – Kofi Bentil bemoansVice President of IMANI, Kofi BentilVice President of policy think tank IMANI, Kofi Bentil, has expressed concerns over the rising debt level of the country. Then God Blessed Ghana with Oil.10 years after debts were cancelled and Oil money came on stream, plus rebasing our economy which gave us more capacity, Ghana is back to HIPC levels of Debt. We seriously need to stop and redirect how we are managing Oil revenues,” Mr. Bentil took to Facebook to express his concerns. Last year, a senior member of the IEA, Dr. John Kwakye warned Ghana is moving into an unsustainable territory in debt accumulation. Bailouts to lenders during a cleanup of the banking sector and liabilities for excess power and gas that Ghana doesn’t consume have pushed up government debt.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 17:15 UTC
Parents call for Health Minister’s ‘head’ over coronavirus statement
Irene Callixta Songotu, who spoke on behalf of the parents added that they couldn’t believe that such an insensitive statement came from a senior member of parliament and a Health Minister of the country for that matter. “Access to basic necessities of life has become impossible yet the Minister of Health, a parent as well, is saying that all is well with our children. Some parents who spoke to GhanaWeb pleaded with President Akufo-Addo to rescue Ghanaian citizens by evacuating all those locked-up in Wuhan China. “We are asking the government to bring them (Ghanaian students) home, they are citizens of Ghana… they can hardly get food to eat, what he lives on is Lipton tea. All that we need is to get him back home safely,” says one of the traumatized parents, Mr. Joseph Ledlum.
Source:GhanaWeb
February 18, 2020 16:41 UTC