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Yesterday, July 13, 2020, I led a delegation to the Presidency to officially inform His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, our dear President about the sadden demise of Mr. Anthony Kobina Kurentsi Sam, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer and the final funeral rite to be held privately for him in his hometown at Anomabo in the Central Region on the 18th of July, 2020.

The Delegation comprised the respected wife and children of the late Hon. Anthony K.K. Sam, Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama, Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Hon. Joe Ghartey, Railways Development Minister, Hon. Kojo Acquah, Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Chief Executive Officer and other Distinquished Personalities. We were received by the able Vice President, His Excellency Dr. Alhaji Muhamadu Bawumia on behalf of the President.

On behalf of the President, His Excellency Dr. Alhaji Muhamadu Bawumia received the news and reiterated that the President and him were shocked at the initial announcement of Hon. Sam’s death but they could only leave all to God because he knew best. He, H.E. The Vice President on behalf of the President pledged total support for the wife and the family of our late Mayor a befitting burial ceremony and eulogised him for his selfless service to our Nation and The New Patriotic Party (NPP).
On my part, I thanked H.E. The Vice President for such a reception and the assured words of commiseration and support during and after the burial ceremony to the wife and children of late Hon. Anthony Kobina Kurentsi Sam.

Hon. Dr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, Western Regional Minister and MP Takoradi Constituency.

Chelsea put themselves in the driving seat to secure a Champions League spot with an unspectacular victory over relegated Norwich at Stamford Bridge.

Striker Olivier Giroud guided a header past Tim Krul on the stroke of half-time after Christian Pulisic created space for the cross on the right.

The Chelsea pair almost combined again in the second half but Pulisic could not guide Giroud’s chipped ball past Krul.

Victory strengthens Chelsea’s hold on third place, where they sit four points above Leicester and Manchester United, who both play on Thursday.

Norwich, who were relegated following a 4-0 thrashing by West Ham on Saturday, failed to record a shot on target during the match

The National Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B ) has challenged the NDC to give account on the youth focused policies and programs they (NDC) implemented in their 8 years in government and the impact such policies, if any, had in the lives of the Ghanaian Youth.

Speaking at a Press Conference dubbed “The Youth Must Know Series”, Nana B asserted that “the NPP Youth is giving the National Youth wing and the Communications Outfit of the NDC a one week ultimatum to tell the Ghanaian Youth, specific Youth-focused policies and programs that they implemented in their 8years administration and the impact it had in the lives of the youth of Ghana.”

“The policies of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia that have had far reaching benefits to the youth are over hundred. But for strategic reasons, I will list 60 of them:”

1. One District One Factory: over 58 factories out of the 181 under the 1D1F initiative have been completed and operationalized
2. NABCO: 100,000 young persons have been employed
3. Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has employed over 70,000 young people
4. YEA’s Job Center platform, Region Flagship Projects and the Artisan Directory has enabled thousands of young people across the country to secure sustainable jobs in the short to medium term.
5. Financial Support to one thousand athletes – a monthly stipends of Ghc500.00 to be paid to 1,000 athletes for a period of six (6) months.
6. Recruitment of 8,872 Teachers
7. Recruitment of 1,445 Non-Teaching Staff
8. Recruitment of 7,700 youth under Educational Support Programme under GES and YEA
9. Recruitment of 54,000 Nurses
10. Recruitment of 18,000 Other Health Workers
11. Recruitment of 1,174 Environmental Health Officers/ Assistants:
12. Recruitment of 2,700 Extension Officers
13. Recruitment of over 12,000 Security Personnel
14. Investment and Jobs under Ghana Automotive Development Policy – Volkswagen has commenced assembling cars in Ghana, Toyota, Nissan, Renault, Hyundai, Sinotruck and Suzuki to start very soon.
15. Hundred and five thousand three hundred and fifty (105,350) Job Creation in Cocoa
16. Eighty-Three Thousand (83.000) youth employed By Forestry Commission
17. Twelve thousand (12,000) start-ups and small business trained, 3,000 provided with funding to expand their businesses in order to create jobs under the Presidential Business Support Programme
18. Presidential Pitch: 40 young persons given financial support, 460 jobs created.
19. Equipping the Youth with Entrepreneurial Skills under NEIP – NEIP has trained 45,000 youth in Agricbusines, ICT, Trade and Commerce
20. Funding of Young Entrepreneurs under NEIP: A total of 9,350 businesses have been funded within 3 years
21. Campus Business Pitch Programme: building the entrepreneurship culture among students with the intention of catching them young to contribute meaningfully to the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda.
22. Rural Enterprise Programme (REP): A total of 3,833 new rural businesses were established whilst 4,727 direct jobs were created.
23. Green Business Initiative: 75 Greenhouses (Domes), 1,500 young graduates engaged.
24. Jobs under Incubation and Support Programme at Accra Digital Center: 150 start-ups supported, additional 200 ancillary jobs created.
25. Technology Transfer, Research and Product Development Programme (TTRPDP)
26. Technical and Vocational Skills Training – trained 11,662 persons in various vocational trades.
27. Jobs under Labour Department 2,250 persons in gainful employment
28. 1,438 Jobs under National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI)
29. Planting for Food and Jobs – 1.9 million people including the Ghanaian Youth have benefited from this program.
30. Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) – The programme aims to promote the export of tree crops including cashew, coffee, coconut, oil palm, mango, rubber and sheanut to increase export earnings. The youth of Ghana are beneficiaries of this novelty.
31. Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ): 321 youths trained in modern methods of aquaculture production. Over 1,200 direct jobs and 1,800 indirect jobs projected in 2020
32. Jobs at Fish Landing Sites: To ensure safe launching and landing of artisanal fishing, create and maintain hygienic environments and create potential job opportunities within the fishing communities
33. Free Basic Education Certificate Examination: Government absorbed the registration fees for 391,318 candidates from public Junior High Schools and 397,500 candidates from Public JHSs in 2020.
34. Free West African Senior School Certificate Examination: Ghc75 million used to pay for the WASSCE examination fees of the 313,838 students – the soon to be “Akufo-Addo Graduates”.
35. Free Learning Materials: By virtue of Free SHS, learning materials like core textbooks, supplementary readers, uniforms, house-cloths, house-dress, technical drawing equipment, PE kits, notebooks and exercise books are being supplied for free since 2017.
36. Double Track System – 520,000 Ghanaian Children get access to SHS
37. Unprecedented Infrastructure Projects in SHS and Basic Schools – 1,200 infrastructural projects in SHS and 557 at the basic.
38. Library Infrastrature Development for Academic Excellence: The construction of 2 libraries and renovation 10 existing libraries, including the Accra Central, Asokore and Hohoe libraries
39. The construction and establishment of Ten (10) Training Centres of Excellence for the Council for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (COTVET)
40. Restoration of Teacher Trainees Allowance: In 2020 fiscal year alone, Ghc357 million is being paid to 48,000 Teacher Trainees.
41. Restoration of Nursing Trainees Allowance: In 2020 fiscal year alone, Ghc336 million is being paid to 49,000 Nursing Trainees.
42. Scholarships for the youth: In 2019 alone, over 30,000 brilliant but needed students were given scholarship through the District Level Scholarship Scheme. It is projected that 60,000 students will be given scholarship in 2020.
43. Over 20,000 students trained under the Student Entrepreneurial Initiative rolled out by NEIP.
44. Enhanced Professional Image of Teachers through the introduction of Licensure Examination
45. Professional Allowance For Teachers: From this year, every Teacher will be paid Ghc1,200 annually as Professional Allowance.
46. Timely Payment of Salaries of Newly Recruited Teachers
47. Abolishment of Three (3) months Salary Pay Policy
48. Enhanced Teacher Motivation Package: In 2019 government disbursed GH¢52.6 million to SHSs and technical institutions for academic interventions and teacher motivation.
49. Restoration of Book and Research Allowance and a Bill in parliament to provide secure and reliable funding.
50. The curricula of Colleges of Education has been updated to ensure they produce graduates that would teach the well-equipped and critical thinking population we need to move the country forward
51. Construction of 10 ultra-modern and multi-purpose youth centers, with five thousand capacity, across the country by NYA.
52. The construction of astro-turf by the Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development across the country
53. Free water for all Ghanaians for 3 months (April, May and June).
54. Free Electricity for lifeline customers and 50% discount for other customers for 3 months (April, May and June).
55. Six Hundred Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc600 million) Coronavirus Alleviation Program Business Support Scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
56. Tax exemptions for 6 months for Front-line Workers.
57. Additional allowance of 50% of their basic salaries for 6 months for Front-line Workers.
58. Almighty Free SHS: 1.2 million children benefiting from Free SHS

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency has alleged that persons perceived to be his supporters are being attacked in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise.

The aspiring MP said agents of the NDC have been attacked in the presence of the police during the exercise.

“Official complaints have been lodged with the Police with no response to bring perpetrators to book thus far,” he added.

John Dumelo warned that his campaign team might head to court if the incumbent Member of Parliament for the constituency, Lydia Alhassan stays ‘indifferent” to these attacks.

“Should she continue to remain indifferent to the concerns raised that she has been made aware of severally, alternative reliefs within the confines of our laws will be sought by this Campaign team to ensure the protection of all constituents from acts of thuggery and hooliganism. ’”

Find below the statement from John Dumelo

The Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency has once again become a scene of violence and assaults. There have been persistent reports of physical abuse meted out to registration agents, sympathizers of the NDC, observers and innocent persons perceived to be supporters of the John Dumelo for MP 2020 Campaign.

Within the course of the on-going registration, agents of the NDC have been brutalized often in the presence of the police. Official complaints have been lodged with the Police with no response to bring perpetrators to book thus far.

The country is reminded of the painful incidents that took place during the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-elections which led to innocent people being assaulted in the constituency rendering some of them paralysed.

It is a national shame that the only crime of constituents that day, was their desire to exercise their voting franchise leading to the maiming and violence the whole nation witnessed.

Residents of the constituency will not forget the negative attention the happenings of that day as they played out in a government commission of inquiry. Every Ghanaian is aware of the recommendations and the refusal of government to act and allow the full rigors of the law to deal with individuals found to have inflicted violence on innocent citizens.

The John Dumelo for MP 2020 Campaign team wishes to serve notice to the sitting MP – Madam Lydia Alhassan, that it is her duty to promote peace and serenity in the constituency. Her campaign that is bound to fail must not be seen to tacitly approve and profit from the violence being perpetrated on the innocent constituents of Ayawaso West Wuogon in the on-going registration exercise. Should she continue to remain indifferent to the concerns raised that she has been made aware of severally, alternative reliefs within the confines of our laws will be sought by this Campaign team to ensure protection of all constituents from acts of thuggery and hooliganism. ’’And help us to resist oppressors rule with all our will and might’’. Thank You

Police in the Bono Region are investigating circumstances that led to the death of a 28-year-old man who was allegedly stabbed by men suspected to be supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Banda.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, the Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO), of the Bono Regional Police Command, Augustine Kingsley Oppong, said they will conduct thorough investigations before making any arrest.

“We have decided to let our investigator go down and gather all the pieces of information and inform Command as such. So we’ve not made any arrest yet. Our investigator will inform us of the next action we should take. People are asking whether there have been any arrest and why not now. In fact, we are gathering intelligence that will lead us to the right culprits so that we will not go and arrest some people and later release them that there is nothing against them.

Silas Wulochamey, a graduate teacher trainee from the Akim Oda Teacher Training College was allegedly accosted by the men at Banda Kabrono on Monday when he was returning from a visit to his pastor at Wenchi.

Some reports suggest that the stabbing occurred at a registration centre following an altercation between some New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters.

Meanwhile, there are media reports of tension between the two dominant parties in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise in Banda.

Regina Daniels’ husband, Ned Nwoko, has disclosed that he married all his six wives including Regina Daniels as virgins.

He said in an interview that he had made a vow to not marry anyone who is not a virgin.

“That is very important to me,” he said, adding that it was one of the things that affirmed his decision to marry his wife and actress Regina Daniels.

“When I met her, I didn’t even know who she was because I don’t watch movies, whether British, Nigerian or American. Also, I am not a social media person. Up until that time, I didn’t have Facebook or Instagram accounts.

“So, I didn’t know about Regina until she came to my house with her family on a tour. My house in the village (Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State) is a tourist attraction of sorts.”

“I liked her when I saw her, especially when I found out that she was from that place. I had always wanted to have somebody (a wife) from my side. We were introduced to each other and one thing led to another.

“That was when I found out she is a very decent girl. When I found out that she was a virgin, it reinforced my decision to marry her. I married all my wives as virgins.”

The actress, on her part, explained what it felt like being married to the 59-year-old.

“I feel free. I can do whatever I want, dress how I like, live my life the way I want to. My husband is always pushing me to be a better person. He wants me to be more exposed and see the world in a different way. As a matter of fact, there are many things I enjoy about the marriage that I cannot explain,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo today chaired a meeting of Cabinet from the Presidential Villa in the Jubilee House.

This is the 80th meeting of cabinet since Akufo-Addo formed his government.

The meeting was held virtually.

President Akufo-Addo on Sunday, July 12, 2020, was similarly seen in a live Facebook stream interacting with some members of the New Patriotic Party via social media platform Zoom.

The President is in self-isolation following close contact with a member of his cabinet who has tested positive for Covid-19.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako has said he will resign from his post if he fails to unseat the incumbent Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka.

According to him, winning every parliamentary seat in the region is part of his main agenda before he exits office.

“I will make sure I win every seat in the Ashanti Region for our great party.I will resign if NPP fails to win Asawase seat,” he told Wontumi TV

According to Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, the grounds has not been fertile for Hon. Muntaka and the NDC in the Ashanti region; and 2020 would be a year they would handover the Asawase seat to the New Patriotic Party.

“Whatever they do, nothing will stop us from winning all the parliamentary seats in the Ashanti Region”, he stressed.

Wontumi stressed that,“Hon. Muntaka and the NDC can do whatever they can, including indulging in propaganda and blatant lies, yet they will lose. The Asawase seat is for the NPP in 2020.”

“Muntaka Mubarak’s days as the Asawase lawmaker is numbered, saying “we shall uproot him like cassava.”

The NPP currently has 43 seats in the Ashanti Region while the NDC has four seats namely; Ahafo Ano North, New Edubiase, Asawase and Sekyere Afram Plains constituencies.

A joint statement from the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Health Service has said Accra Girls’ Senior High School has recorded the most cases of COVID-19 among senior high schools from the first report to date.

“As of 13 July 2020, a total of 314 persons (student and staff) from the School have been tested. Out of these, 55 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 while 259 persons tested negative”, the statement co-signed by the Directors-General of GES and GHS, respectively, Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa and Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said.

It said following the first report of COVID-19 cases in some SHSs in the

country on 6 July 2020, the GHS and GES instituted a number of measures to determine the extent of the outbreak and containment measures.

Actions taken so far:

• Identification and segregation of contact from other students

• Sample collection and laboratory testing of all contacts identified and

suspected cases

All confirmed cases have been transferred to designated national

treatment and isolation centres for management

• Restriction of number of students that attend dining at a particular time

• Enforcement of social distancing protocols, enhanced hand hygiene

practices and the proper use of the facemask

• Disinfection of the entire school has been carried out

• Adequate PPEs have been provided to health staff stationed in the school

• Education on COVID-19 prevention and control has been intensified within

the school

• Counselling and psychological support is being provided to the students

• The school has designated a quarantine and isolation centre

• Parents and guardians of affected student have been duly contacted • Staff of the school have been reassured

Similarly, the statement said “a few other schools have reported sporadic cases, which have not experience a surge. To prevent spread of COVID-19 in senior high schools across the country, similar measures are being implemented”.

The GES and GHS assured the public that “efforts are being made to ensure the safety of our staff and students”.

Meanwhile, Ghana has recorded 470 new OCIVD-19 cases, taking the national load to 24, 988, according to the Ghana Health Service as of Monday, 13 July 2020. The number of clinical recoveries has also gone up to 21,067.

The number of active cases has fallen to 3,782.

The death toll remains 139.

So far, the health authorities have conducted 331,366 tests with 121, 062 being from routine surveillance and 210, 304 from contact-tracing. Ghana’s positivity rate, so far, is 7.54 per cent.

Regional breakdown

Greater Accra Region – 13,690

Ashanti Region – 5,259 Western Region – 2,140

Central Region – 1,110

Eastern Region – 948

Volta Region – 418 Upper East Region – 282

Northern Region – 267

Bono East Region – 205

Western North Region – 200 Oti Region – 128

Bono Region – 107

Ahafo Region – 98

Upper West Region – 70 Savannah Region – 57

North East Region – 9

Businessman Ibrahim Mahama has sued the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, for defamation.

Former President John Mahama’s brother is seeking GHS5 million in damages.

Mr Mahama quoted Mr Antwi Boasiako as having made the following comments on Wontumi TV.

“He has bought a car; it is said he has bought a car for Hajia for Real. Then he has bought a house and given it to her in addition. Then, he has snatched Kenpong’s girl. Because the money that [he has], it was when we just came into power that his brother went and stole money for him. Do you understand?”

The businessman said in his writ that he interprets Mr Antwi Boasiako’s comments to men that he is “in possession of stolen wealth or money” and “tainted with stealing.”