UK born Ghanaian, Sam Gyimah, has been made Universities and Science Minister of England in Theresa May’s government reshuffle.
The new minister mentioned in a tweet on his page that he is looking forward to taking up the new role and facing any challenge head-on.
“Off to my new role as Universities & Science Minister and looking forward to the challenges ahead – thank you for your excellent work @JoJohnsonUK. A massive thank you to all prisons & probation staff, particularly prison officers, for your incredible dedication & hard work”.
According to the BBC, Gyimah, who was born in Buckinghamshire but spent some of his childhood in his mother’s native Ghana, studied philosophy, politics and economics at Somerville College, Oxford.
He worked for Goldman Sachs for five years before opting for a career in politics and became Conservative MP for East Surrey in 2010.
He served as a government whip and was parliamentary private secretary to the former Prime Minister, David Cameron, from 2012 to 2013,
Sam Gyimah campaigned to remain in the European Union in the Brexit vote.
He was also prisons Minister, before taking up the post as Universities Minister on Tuesday
Mr. Gyimah’s role straddles the Department of Education and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
He replaces Jo Johnson, who has been made Transport Minister.
Mr. Gyimah, 41, will work alongside the newly-appointed Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, who is replacing Justine Greening.
The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho has alleged that the President of Ghana had a devilish encounter with an unknown people who engineered his victory in the 2016 General polls.
According to him, the devilish encounter of the President has had a bad omen on the country and there is, therefore, the need for the President to pray to God for the forgiveness of his sins in order to make things right for Ghana.
Koku who was speaking on Kumasi-based Abusua FM on the achievements of the Akufo-Addo led administration after one year of taking over the governance of the country indicated that nothing is happening under the NPP government.
He said:”Austine seriously nothing has happened in Ghana for the past 12 months since Nana Addo came into office if you ask me but let’s see what 2018 has for us”.
”But Nana Akufo Addo in 2018 should pray to God and ask him to forgive him for whatever sin he has committed, he should confess all the sins he committed which enable him to emerge victorious in the 2018 General elections ”.
When pushed to provide evidence to back his claims, the Deputy General Secretary said: “They the NPP only know what they did to win the elections”
“The corruption under Akufo Addo’s government for the past one year has been unprecedented than what we are made to believe that the NDC almost collapsed the economy with our incessant corruption accusations despite failing to provide a single evidence” he said.
“They are not constructing roads, they are not expanding anClassroomom blocks to enhance educational system in the country neither are they expanding the economy, businesses are collapsing is that what we really need” he asked.
Koku Anyidoho added “Nana-Addo’s one year administration is nothing good to talk about considering the finance minister’s $2.5 Billion bound which can’t be traced and who the subscribers were and all other issues of curruption including Bawumia’s Dgital Address System [DAS] and evening the beginning of this year this DVLA noise which my own younger brother Asiamah’s ministry has stopped it because it was meant to embarrass drivers in the country”.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo has indicated that the Court sitting on the case between the state and the NCA five will sit twice in a week.
The former Chairman of the National Communications Authority, Eugene Baffoe – Bonnie and four others are standing trial for causing financial loss to the country.
Speaking to the media after court proceedings, the Minister of Justice disclosed that the court has decided to sit on the case for twice a week although they pushed for five days for the sitting.
She indicated that the court decided on the two days because one of the accused persons would be attending hospital thrice a week due to bad health.
The full trial of the case of willfully causing financial loss to the state brought against former board chairman of the National Communication Authority (NCA), Eugene Baffoe – Bonnie and four others will begin from January 16, 2018 before an Accra Commercial High Court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo has said corrupt government officials under previous governments have not been prosecuted not because the country is waiting upon the Special Prosecutor but because her Ministry wants to follow due process in prosecuting such corrupt individuals.
She made this known when she was in court for the $6million National Communication Authority (NCA) trial Tuesday, January 9, 2018.
The Attorney General said: “It has never been the case that cases are not coming to court because we are waiting for the office of the Special Prosecutor. That is a perception which is wrong”.
“A case is not started merely because a docket has been submitted to the office. I think the expression that the investigators always use is that we have submitted the docket to the office of the Attorney General for advice. This is because investigations involve largely the gathering of evidence,” she said while explaining the process for trial.
She indicated that “For purposes of evaluation for prosecution, the Attorney General would have to study the docket and determine whether what is on the docket will warrant a prosecution. That at least will require the accused person to be called upon to answer. That is what it has been about”.
After a night of intense competition of beauty & brains, Awindago Sheila Anapoa has been crowned the QUEEN of KUSAUG . Miss Samanpiid 2017.
Sheila beat 6 other contestants to win the crown at this year’s MISS SAMANPIID 2017 event.
The runners-up were Jambeidu Widat (first runner-up) and Abdul Rahman Zeinab (second runner-up). The first three winners took home wonderful prizes which include a Motor Bike, Flat screen television and a table top fridge.
Miss Awindago Sheila Anapoa swept 5 category awards which include: Miss Catwalk Miss Eloquent, Miss Talent, Miss Photogenic and Miss Culture. while Miss Emeline Alayo won Miss Popularity and Miss Ayande Fidelia won Miss Personality.
The center of attraction in KUSAUG was at the Bawku Community Center, as the place was fully packed and some even standing outside just to support their favourite contestant.
The finale of the pageant witnessed performances from great Acts like Blacka Tee , Kano the POET, Goby Lyricx, Young Pop , Fataw Weezy , Magdaline and the cultural troupe .we witnessed great display by DJ LAST 2 & DJ Sivic on the turntable and the audience couldn’t help but dance throughout the night. as well as the red carpet was fun with interviews from Bra Quophy and was captured by Joseph Nyaaba Photography.
Contrary to assurances given by the former President, John Dramnani Mahama that monies have been set aside for the construction of the controversial Bolgatanga-Bawku road, the Upper East regional Highways Engineer has indicated that work on the road has come to a halt due to lack of funds.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama during a sod cutting ceremony to commence the construction of the road which has been in a deplorable state for years assured the people of the Upper East region that construction of the Bolgatanga-Bawku road will not be challenged financially.
According to him, “any delay would not be as a result of funding”.
But addressing the media in a media engagement forum, the Upper East regional Highways Engineer, Philip Samwini has indicated that work on the road has come to a standstill because there is no money.
According to him, the company constructing the road,Queiroz Galvao is currently keeping a few of its staff to keep watch over their machines while waiting on the government to release funds so they can be able to continue their work.
He said:”Usually with contracts like this the money doesn’t come at once. The contractor works to a stage, raises certificate and when they are paid they will go back to the site but then if money is not in, contractors as they are they have to manage the project. Managing it means that slowing down and maintaining a skeletal staff to keep the equipment there while the government looks for funds to inject into the system. They have slowed down because they do not have money now”.
Engineer Philip Samwini also indicated that the construction of the Navrongo-Sandema road has also stalled due to lack of funding but expressed his optimism that work may soon start on the various roads in the region following allocations made in the 2018 budget.
The Upper East Regional Police Command has apprehended armed robbers upon acting on Intelligence from the Prampram Police Command in the Greater Accra Region.
According to upper east regional police commander DCOP Dedjoe Redeemer the suspects Rufai Umoru aged 36 a Nigerian, Laryea Nevis aged 27, Stephen Botey aged 29, Adongbire Asampana aged 24, Mutaka Mohammed aged 29 and his wife were arrested at separate locations in Bolgatanga.
Briefing the media, DCOP Dedjoe Redeemer said items retrieved from the gang included four foreign pistols which were found on the gang leader Mutaka Mohammed who was arrested during an attempt to escape to Tamale, three Nokia phones, one Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy Duos, Inifinix Note, Techno tablet, Techno T349 and HP Lab top with its charger were retrieved from their hideout at Gambligo, a suburb of Bolga.
The Police say the retrieved items were identified as items stolen by the suspects in Prampram.
Suspects are being detained and are to be sent to Prampram for further investigation. Having interrogated suspect Mutaka Mohammed carefully, he told the Police that he came with three Nigerians from Prampram to the region to rob.
Suspect Mutaka Mohammed according to police led a team of investigators to King and Queens hotel in Bukere a suburb of Bolga and identified suspects Israel Edoh aged 43 and Mike Osuji Junior aged 48 as his gangsters who asked him to bring weapons to rob a gold businessman they said was keeping gold and cash in his house.
DCOP Dedjoe further assured of his outfit’s commitment to fighting crime in the region and called on residents to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of criminals.
TEERE, a local Non-Governmental Organization has donated assorted medical equipment to Bongo district hospital in the Upper East Region. The non-drugs consumables which can sustain the hospital for about a year include syringes, needles, and cannulas.
The donation came as a result of concerns raised with regards to lack of health facilities and inadequate wards of the hospital to accommodate patients during the first local governance forum organized by the NGO in Bongo district.
Chief Executive Officer of TEERE, Professor, Ephraim Avea Nsoh stated that the donation which costs the NGO and its partners in Germany GHc175,000 forms part of the NGO’s corporate social responsibilities.
The hospital currently accommodates children and adults in the same ward, a congested situation and contrary to health best practice. But Prof. Avea stated that TEERE and its partners are dedicated to pull resources to fix the current challenge.
“We made an estimate and sent to them [partners] and we decided to ask for the source of funding. We have had part of it to try and fix the children’s ward”
Pledging the NGO’s unflinching support to the district, Prof. Avea emphasized the need for effective collaboration from other stakeholders working in the district and beyond.
Prof. Avea thanked partners of TEERE, including International Children’s Health, Gerhard Lauth, Mr. Knapp, Dr. Kindermann and other volunteers for the support given the NGO and the district.
Medical Superintendent of Bongo district hospital, Dr. William Gudu extolled TEERE for the gesture shown the hospital in its numerous health needs.
“I want to seize this opportunity and thank TEERE so much. They showed interest in our main problem so far, as the kids ward is concern and they have indicated they will try their best and assist us when the children ward is completed”
Dr. Gudu on behalf of staff of the hospital pledged to use the items for its purposes “so that the community members will benefit from it”
The medical superintendent also called for support from other benevolent individuals and organizations to assist the hospital “so that Bongo hospital will be able to effectively assist the poor Bongo community”
The hospital was converted from a health center to a district hospital in 1996 without much infrastructure added. The hospital gets referral from 6 other health centers to serve the growing population of people within and outside the district. But in what could be a solution to the numerous challenges facing the hospital, Naba Baba Salifu, Paramount Chief of Bongo Traditional Area believes a newly constructed hospital for the district will help eliminate the many the many health challenges faced the district. According to Naba Baba Salifu a site has been earmarked for construction of a hospital which will befit the status of the district.
The chief applauded TEERE for its support in empowering citizens to demand accountability from duty bearers.
“People see TEERE as a more oriented development organization than an advocacy that is only out to look at issues and then spell them out for other organizations; you do not only support the Bongo district but I understand you are operating in other areas in the BONABOTO catchment area”
The Upper East regional Minister, Rockson Bukari has given a strong indication that the Upper East region will in 2018 be provided with a passport office to ease the hassle people from the region have to go through before securing passports.
He made this known during a media engagement by the Regional Coordinating Council attended by Municipal and District Chief Executives, coordinating directors, heads of security agencies, heads of state agencies and other stakeholders.
The regional minister indicated that the Jubilee Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre has been designated as the region’s passport office and is likely to commence operations in 2018.
On the day, the Minister also indicated that government intends to procure vehicles for all assemblies and regional coordinating councils for administrative purposes.
Mr. Rockson tasked all municipal and district chief executives to target three projects for effective implementation and completion.
