Prez Nominates New MCE for Keta; As Yormewu Moves To Anloga District

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March 14, 2019

Godwin Edudzi Effah, New MCE for Keta. [(C)Photo Facebook]

By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com|

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has nominated Mr. Godwin Edudzi Effah as the new Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Keta Municipal Assembly.

Mr. Effah, an accountant with the Ghana Education Service (GES) was nominated alongside five others to head the six newly created municipal and district assemblies in the country, which include the Anloga District Assembly.

The nomination, which was in accordance with Article 243(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 20(1) of the Local Government Act, Act 936, was contained in a statement issued by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, on Wednesday, March 13.

When confirmed, Mr. Effah will replace the current MCE, Mr. Seth Yormewu, who has been moved to the newly inaugurated Anloga District Assembly as its first District Chief Executive.

The Anloga assembly was carved out of the Keta municipality after several requests from stakeholders including the Awoamefia of Anlo, Torgbui Sri III who argued that, the municipality has become too large for effective administration, as it was the only assembly with two large constituencies; (i.e. Keta and Anlo) in the region.

On Tuesday, February 19, 2019, the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa inaugurated the Anloga District Assembly on behalf of the president under Legislative Instrument (LI) 2372 of 2018.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

GJA, Foreign Partners to Promote Media Freedom in Ghana

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Volta Online

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March 14, 2019

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GJA and Partners — GJA Prez, Affail Monney, 4th from left

By: Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has held discussions with two foreign media partners on areas of collaboration to promote media freedom in Ghana.

The GJA and its partners – Open Society Foundations (OSF), based in London, and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) are also exploring opportunities for the capacity-building of Ghanaian journalists to enhance the effective discharge of their watchdog mandate.

These initiatives were the outcome of a meeting held between the National Executive of the GJA and officials of the two foreign partners at the Ghana International Press Centre (GIPC) in Accra Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

The foreign delegation were the Programme Officer (Independent Journalism) of OSF, Edward Pittman, and the Senegal Country Officer of OSIWA, Ms Hawa Ba.

The GJA National Executive members present at the meeting were the President, Affail Monney, Vice President, Mrs Linda Asante-Agyei; General Secretary, Kofi Yeboah, and National Organising Secretary, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour.

Also in attendance were the Tema Chapter Chairman of the GJA, Dominic Hlordzi and the GJA Project Consultant, Kojo Mpraim.

Mr Monney highlighted the critical role the media continue to play in the deepening of the country’s democracy and promoting national development.

He said over the years, particularly under the Fourth Republic, Ghana had enjoyed enormous media freedom, culminating in the country being ranked first in Africa in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters without Borders.

He however, noted that some recent developments, especially attacks against journalists, threaten to undermine press freedom in the country.

Mr Monney therefore, welcomed the move by the GJA and its foreign partners to work towards promoting media freedom in the country.

He also appealed to the foreign partners to support the capacity-building of journalists in Ghana towards a successful coverage of the general elections in 2020.

Responding to questions by Mr Pittman and Ms Ba on investigations into the killing of Ahmed Husein-Suale, a member of the Tiger Eye PI team who was shot dead by unknown assailants, the GJA President said the police were still investigating the matter.

He said the GJA had undertaken a number of activities to mount pressure on the police to expedite the investigations, adding, “we are keeping a keen eye on the investigative ball.”

On his part, Mr. Pittman assured the GJA of the readiness of OSF to help promote media freedom in Ghana through capacity-building programmes.

Source: GJA

VR GWCL Cautions against Indiscriminate Felling of Trees along Water Bodies

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Volta Online

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March 14, 2019

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By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Volta Regional Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has cautioned the citizenry against unlawful felling of trees along river banks and other water bodies saying, such activities destroy the water bodies.

The Regional Human Resource Manager, GWCL, Mrs. Juliana K. Amponsah-Asiamah in an interview with Voltaonlinegh.com said unlawful cutting of trees along water bodies could result in the drying up of those resources.

To Mrs. Amponsah-Asiamah, the trees provide shades that protect the water bodies from the sun to keep them ever fresh and from being dried up.

According to her, it was important for the citizenry to make conscious efforts to preserve freshwater resources wherever they are found because these waters are treated and distributed to homes and industries for use, without which life would be unbearable.

The National President of Ladies Association, GWCL was speaking ahead of the upcoming World Water Day to be held on March 22 on the theme, “Leaving no one behind”.

The Day is an annual UN observance day that highlights the importance of freshwater. The day is celebrated around the world and is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Mrs. Amponsah-Asiamahdisclosed that the Day would take workers of the regional GWCL to the company’s headworks at Hohoe for a tree planting exercise as a means of sustaining the freshwater there.

Speaking on the theme for this year’s celebration, she admitted that although access to potable water is a human rights issue and every person in Ghana needs to have access to clean water, financial constraints among other things continued to hinder their operations and the realisation of their vision.

“We’re trying. For us, it’s our wish to get water to everyone but it is boils down to a lot of things that are hindering our core mandate of production and distribution of potable water to customers in urban areas of the country.”

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Volta Region NDC Hardest Hit by Dr. Kwabena Adjei’s Death–James Gunu

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Volta Online

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March 13, 2019

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By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Volta Regional Secretary for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), James Gunu has disclosed that the party in the region was the hardest hit by the news of the passing away of its former Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei.

Mr. Gunu said the region had lost some dedicated members from the land to death in a spate of few weeks with some yet to be buried and to add another (demise of Dr. Adjei) to the already unfortunate situation was just too much for the party.

The former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akatsi North who was speaking to Kofi Gamor on West FM morning show, West Breakfast Drive on Wednesday following Dr. Adjei’s death on Tuesday morning at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, said the region was already grieving the departure of some compatriots.

“Recently, we lost Benjamin Dagadu, a former Deputy Minister of Energy who we’re yet to bury. Not long after that, a former Minister and Member for Parliament of Adaklu, Hon. Steve Akorlie passed on. We went to commiserate with the bereaved family who are yet to set a date for his burial service. Three days later, Maxwell Ajumako, former DCE for Krachi East also passed away and his one-week celebration will be held in Accra this Saturday.”

“Just as we’re settling in on all these, our former Chairman, Dr. Adjei also died. All this is difficult for us as a party and we don’t know how we’ll be handling the situation,” he lamented.

The Regional Secretary requested that the state honours Dr. Adjei with a state funeral for his immense contributions to the country’s democracy and development.

Mr. Gunu said the “great trees in the party that we look up to have fallen” and asked for prayers for the families of the deceased and the NDC for God’s protection.

He called on party members to remain strong in these trying times and forge ahead in unity for victory in 2020 because that was the only thing that would give solace to their departed comrades who had demonstrated their commitment to the party and would have loved to see it wrest power from the ruling party.

Meanwhile, the National Executives of the party have declared a 3-day mourning for the late Dr Adjei where all party flags would fly at half-mast and as well, all party activities suspended.

This affected the party’s planned activity to induct John Mahama as its flag bearer on Wednesday.

Before his death, Dr Kwabena Adjei was a member of the Council of Elders of the NDC, a former Member of Parliament for Biakoye Constituency, a former PNDC Deputy Secretary for Volta Region and Former PNDC Deputy Secretary for Industries, Science and Technology.

He also served as Minister of Lands and Forestry, Minister of Food and Agriculture and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Nkwanta South MP Calls on Gov’t to Resource NADMO

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Volta Online

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March 12, 2019

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MP, Mr. Kini donating the items to Nana Okugye

By: Benjamin Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Member of Parliament (MP), for Nkwanta South in the Oti Region, Geoffrey Kini has urged government to resource the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) sufficiently to enable it discharge its duties effectively.

According to Hon. Kini, he was unhappy about the recent happenings where NADMO officials would visit communities to assess disaster situation without being able to give victims some relief items.

The Lawmaker made the call when he donated several bundles of roofing sheets among other relief items to rainstorm victims at Nyambong.

Over 300 people including a 95-year old woman were displaced after heavy rainstorm on Thursday evening ripped off the roofing of their buildings, thus, forcing them to put up with friends and relatives.

Speaking to Voltaonlinegh.com, Nana Borfule Okugye of Guan-Akyode Traditional Area on behalf of his people thanked the MP for his kind gesture and swift response to their call at such a crucial time.

She called on other philanthropists and agencies to come to their aid to enable the victims repair their houses so as to live a normal life.

Meanwhile, some of the victims who received the relief items expressed gratitude to the MP for the support and appealed to other individuals and groups to also support.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Former NDC Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei Passes on

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Volta Online

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March 12, 2019

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By: Voltaonlinegh.com |

A former National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Adjei has passed on.

He died Tuesday morning at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, formerly Ridge hospital, a reputable source of the party confirmed to Myjoyonline.com.

The politician, who was the chairman when the NDC won power in 2008, had been battling with a protracted sickness first reported in the media in August 2015.

He died three days after marking his 76^th birthday on March 9, 2019.

Dr. Adjei graduated with a PhD in Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK in 1973.

He ventured into politics in 1978, getting elected as a Council Member of the Jasikan District Council in the Volta region.

The Psychology lecturer’s political decline began after 2014 after he lost his National Chairmanship post to Kofi Portuphy.

It ended his bid for a third tenure after first winning the position in 2005 while the party was in opposition. He was re-elected in 2009.

Dr. Kwabena Adjei popularly called “Wayo Wayo” is remembered for his controversial August 2010 comment “there are many ways of killing a cat.”

He said it in response to the serial losses the NDC government suffered in court under late President Mills.

Dr. Kwabena Adjei’s Political Profile

1978/1979: Elected Council Member: Jasikan District Council, Jasikan, Volta Region, Ghana
1979-1981: Parliamentary Candidate Biakoye for the Popular Front Party

1986-1987: PNDC Deputy Secretary (Deputy Minister of State) for the Volta Region, Republic of Ghana
1987-1992: PNDC Deputy Secretary (Deputy Minister of State) for Industries, Science & Technology, Republic of Ghana

1998/1992: Member of Committee of Secretaries (The PNDC Cabinet)

1992: Key Member since the founding of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1992
1993/1996: Member of Parliament (MP) for the Biakoye Constituency, Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana
1993/1994: First Deputy Majority Chief Whip: Parliament of the 4^th Republic of Ghana
1994: Majority Chief Whip: Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana

1994: Deputy Minister for Lands & Forestry: Republic of Ghana

1994/1996: Minister for Lands & Forestry: Republic of Ghana

1996/2000: Member of Parliament (MP) for the Biakoye, Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana
1997/1998: Cabinet Minister for Lands & Forestry, Republic of Ghana

1998: Cabinet Minister for Food & Agriculture, Republic of Ghana

1998/2000: Leader of the House (Majority Leader), Parliament of 4^th Republic of Ghana
1998/2000: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, 4th Republic of Ghana

Chairman of Business Committee, Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana

Member of Select Committee, Parliament of the 4^th Republic of Ghana

2001/2004: Member of Parliament (MP) for the Biakoye Constituency, Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana.

Member of Finance Committee, Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana

Member of Health Committee, Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana

2005: National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)

2009: Chairman of Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund)

Source: www.myjoyonline.com

[Article] Mega Discount Online Store Ghana Expands Its Products Range & Introduces New Retail Shopping Experience

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Volta Online

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March 12, 2019

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By: Mazen Damaj |

Mega Discount Online Store Ghana has expanded its products range and introduced new retail shopping experience aimed at delighting customers.

User Friendly Shopping Experience

Mega Discount Store, an e-commerce retailer in Ghana which can be accessed at www.mega-gh.com, has expanded its collections range and introduced a new ordering & delivery system.

The online store offers a wide range of products which are easy to order online and delivered to your doorsteps anywhere in Ghana.

You can find products from drones, phone cases, phone accessories, apparel, dental care, car and motorcycle accessories, sunglasses, fishing accessories and watches.

Also, there are adult toys, GPS, smart phones, cameras and all the latest in electronic gadgets you can think of.

Express Delivery Service

Ordering a product on Mega is an easy process. You see it, place an order and get it delivered on time.

Mega offers 2 shopping systems: Cash on Delivery (24-hour delivery) and Pre-Order (10 days delivery-upfront payment) for items not available in local warehouse and requiring that it be shipped and delivered directly to customers.

Mega offers several payments method: Cash on Delivery, Mobile Money & Paypal.

Customers can reach customer support service 24 hours a day by messenger or what-app chat from the homepage.

Mega warrants all sold products and provide an after sale return policy stated on the home page.

The Mega team is increasingly winning the trust of online shoppers as more and more Ghanaians are shopping from the comfort of their homes for all kinds of items.

Online Affiliate Marketing Programme

As an online store & retailer, Mega will soon be providing an “Online Marketing Affiliate Programme” where any individual can join and work as an online sales executive and make money online by promoting Mega products on social media and earn a commission in return.

Mega regularly do what is termed “Fire Sales” with up to 50% discounts, hence the name Discount Store.

Customers get instant notifications by SMS when the sales are on while a new section is also being introduced for stocks liquidations to enhance shopping experience

On Customer Satisfaction Guarantee, Mega is determined to ensure customer satisfaction at all times during shopping process.

NB:Writer is with Mega Discount Online Store team

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Protect a Child now-NGO Calls

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Volta Online

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March 12, 2019

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By: Tabitha Kugbonu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Faith Baptist Child Development Centre (CDC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in collaboration with Compassion International Ghana has charged society to help protect the Ghanaian child from abuses to enable children become future leaders of the nation.

This call came over the weekend during a ceremony held to celebrate the importance of protecting children as part of activities to mark Ghana’s 62nd Independence Day celebration at Mafi-Zongo in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.

The celebration which was under theme “Protecting the Future Leaders through Christ to Unearth their Potentials”, saw massive attendance from surrounding communities.

The children receiving teaching on identifying their rights in society

Faith Baptist Child Development Centre has been working for the past 6 years in communities around the Mafi-Zongo Electoral Area including Mafi-Zongo, Mafi-Amerika, Manase, Avukorpe, Adiekpe, Korpedeke, Seva, Kpedzeglo and Mawoekpor with the aim of educating children on identifying their rights and responsibilities in the society.

The partners, Compassion Internal Ghana, an NGO interested in the wellbeing of children since its presence in the area, had among other things, built ultra-modern latrine, simulation rooms for babies and mothers to help reduce maternal mortality at the Mafi Health Centre and championed a campaign to reduce all forms of abuses against children.

Speaking to Voltaonlinegh.com, the Project Director for Faith Baptist CDC, Jah-Rule R. J. Gozzah disclosed that over 326 children were benefiting from the NGO and their main aim was to get the children out of poverty.

In explaining what happens at the Centre, Mr. Gozzah said they identified the various challenges the children faced and categorised them to receive the needed support including provision of teaching and learning materials, health screening and medical reviews, socio-economical needs as well as taking care of their spiritual welfare.

He emphasised that children needed to be protected from things that threatens their welfare so that they could become useful in the future.

Officials from the District Department of Social Welfare were also present and taught the children on safe and unsafe places that could affect their lives and urged them to focus on their studies to become great men and women in the future.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Gov’t Aims at 100% Power Penetration-Energy Minister

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Volta Online

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March 11, 2019

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By: Voltaonlinegh |

Minister of Energy, John Peter Amewu has said government is aiming at 100 percent electricity penetration and to also ensure that there is affordability.

According to Mr. Amewu, currently, about 83 percent of the population have access to power adding that a lot would need to be done to achieve that goal of universal access.

He was speaking at a forum on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in the oil and gas sector organised by the American Chamber of Commerce Ghana (AmCham).

The Minister put the nation’s power demand at 2,600 megawatts and said it was presently generating close to 5,000 megawatts.

He indicated that Ghana was paying between US$30 million and US$35 million for the excess capacity and projected that by year 2020, “this could reach in excess of US$400 million per annum”

“There was a higher capacity and higher excess charges and that was why no PPAs were going to be signed,” he explained

He announced that 11 of the PPAs had been put on hold and that other producers were also taking another look at their rates.

Mr Amewu underlined the government’s unswerving determination to ensure that there was transparency in the oil and gas industry.

Source: www.energymin.gov.gh

Gov’t Announces Measures to Make Ghana an Easier Place to Do Business

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Volta Online

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March 11, 2019

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By: Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced 10 measures introduced by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies over the past nine months in an effort to improve on the country’s business environment.

A multisectoral technical team from across government agencies presented the ambitious business reform plan to key stakeholders at Labadi Beach Hotel.

The planned reforms are within the framework of the World Bank Group’s Doing Business Report, which provides objective measures of business regulations for local firms in 190 economies and selected cities at the sub-national level.

The reforms will cover starting a business, obtaining construction permits, getting electricity, trading across borders, and resolving insolvency.

“These reforms are further demonstration of government’s commitment to removing the obstacles that have long kept businesses in Ghana from reaching their full potential. We aim to unleash the Ghanaian entrepreneurial spirit and open our doors to the world” Dr. Bawumia said.

The Doing Business Report has become the global benchmark for measuring how friendly countries are for businesses. The “zero-sum ranking” fosters keen competition among countries as those that do not reform faster than their peers can go down in the ranking even if their business environment does not change.

Ghana is ranked 114^th in the 2019 ranking, up from 120th in 2018.

IFC Country Manager for Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, and Togo, Ronke-Amoni Ogunsulire said “through our work in advising government in over 80 countries globally and over 30 in this region, we know that having the commitment at the highest level of leadership is one of most important ingredients of the reform agenda,”

“With the appropriate reform structures in place, efficient coordination and accountability mechanisms, Ghana has the right formula to succeed and implementing an investment climate conducive to growth of businesses,” she added.

Ghana’s reforms which will take effect between March and June 2019 include:

For companies applying to register without a TIN number, the TIN number will now be generated automatically online at the point of application;
Launch of a mobile app and an online platform for the ease of filing tax returns; Individuals will be able to file their taxes online by April 2019
Implementation of an electronic justice system that allows the automated serving of court process with speed and ease;
Removal of the requirement for a commissioner of oaths in registering a company when the Companies Bill is passed;
Merger of all four starting-a-business application forms: TIN application, SNNIT application, Business Operating Permit application and Business Registration forms;
Automation of the application for Business Operating Permit along with instant online issuance following payment;
Reduction and automation of the steps to getting electricity;
Automation of the construction permit system along with instant online issuance following payment;
Reduction in physical examination of containers through the use of risk engine;
Government is working towards the passing of the Insolvency Bill and the Companies’ Bill into law by Parliament.

The objective of the Doing Business Stakeholders workshop was to engage and create awareness within the private sector which is ultimately the beneficiary of the ambitious reforms introduced by the Government of Ghana.

Source: www.presidency.gov.gh