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President launches six-billion-dollar projects for bauxite mining and refinery

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Tuesday launched Ghana’s Integrated Aluminum Industry projects that would drive the full commercial but environmentally friendly exploitation of the country’s bauxite reserves.

 

This will serve as the key pillar for the national strategy for industrialisation.

 

The projects, estimated to require some six billion dollars to execute, will be one of the most audacious projects since Ghana’s independence.

 

They would largely be driven by private investors in partnership with the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC).

 

It will be implemented in four phases, with the first phase involving the expansion of the existing mine at Awaso in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal district of the Western North Region, and the building of a bauxite refinery.

 

The second phase will see the development of a mine and a refinery solution at Nyinahin-Mpasaaso  in the Atwimaa Mponua District in the Ashanti Region.

 

The third phase will also see the development of a mine in Kyebi in the East Akim Municipal District of the Eastern Region and a second mine at Nyinahin-Mpasaaso.

 

A refinery will also be built in the Atwimaa Mponua District in the Ashanti Region and Kyebi, respectively.

 

In the fourth phase of the projects, the VALCO smelter will be modernised and expanded to improve efficiency and increase capacity.

 

At a ceremony in Accra, President Akufo-Addo said the projects, which would be developed concurrently, were a major milestone in country’s industrialization drive.

 

He said the development was a testimony that the government had kept faith with the people of Ghana on its commitment to exploit the bauxite resources for the full benefit of the Ghanaian people.

 

The President said the integrated aluminum industry was at the heart of Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda, and that it would exact a significant impact on the development of the Ghanaian economy and jobs and create wealth for the people.

 

 

The projects, President Akufo-Addo pointed out, would also ensure the integration and value addition across the aluminum industry value chain, lead to the total development of other sectors of the economy, especially the strategic railway and port sector infrastructures, which would be needed for the transportation and efficient operation of the exportation of bulk items.

 

He said the execution of the four projects would lead to Ghana reducing its reliance on imported aluminum products, and see the country generating business ventures that would generate employment and high paying jobs for the Ghanaian people.

 

Thus, he has directed the ministries for Railway Development and Finance to work together to accelerate the realisation of the Western and Eastern railway network.

 

The President gave the assurance that the government would lend the support needed to make the aluminum industry globally competitive, and ensure that competitively-priced power was made available to meet the requirements of investment partners.

 

He also emphasised that the Government would spare no effort to ensure that mining activities connected with the industry was carried out in a responsible manner, with minimal footprints on the environment.

 

Investors and stakeholders would, therefore, be made to ensure that the projects were implemented in an environmentally sustainable manner.

 

“We believe that mining can be and must be done in a responsible manner. Government through its regulatory agencies will act to protect our environment at all times,” he said.

 

 

As part of the ceremony, the President witnessed the signing of an agreement between GIADEC and Rocksure International, a wholly owned Ghanaian mining services company, who would partner GIADEC to implement the second phase of the project.

 

Rocksure Internatiinal operates across Ghana and the West African sub-region, with expertise in mining and drilling services, as well as load and haulage.

 

The second phase  of the project, which is also referred to as Project Two, will see the production of five million tonnes of bauxite per annum, and the creation of more than 1000 direct and indirect jobs,

 

Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, noted that the projects were timeous, as the interest of the automotive manufacturers in the country made the integrated Aluminum industry more imperative.

 

He said his Ministry would ensure that the exploitation of the mineral resources were done in a responsible manner, and pledged a focused attention on the protection of the environment and biodiversity, while implementing the projects.

 

Mr Jinapor said the Ministry had started an aggressive afforestation programme to restore the lost forest cover and continued to wage a relentless war on illegal mining.

 

GNA

Veep’s mother laid to rest at Kperiga

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The late Hajia Mariama Bawumia, mother of Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was on Tuesday laid to rest at Kperiga, a community in Walewale, in the North East Region.
Many dignitaries including: high government officials, Members of Parliament, religious and traditional leaders attended the burial ceremony to pay their last respect to Hajia Bawumia who passed on in the early hours of Monday, September 13, 2021 in Accra, at 81.
Hajia Bawumia who was affectionately  called Maame, was born on September 15, 1939 and died two days to her 82nd birthday.
She was a native of Kpasenkpe, a community in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region, and was one of the first female students to gain admission into the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast, in the Central Region.
The three-day ‘Adua’ (Islamic funeral rites) of the late Hajia Bawumia would come off on Thursday September 16, 2021 at their family house at Kperiga.
The National Chief Iman, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, who was in attendance, prayed for peaceful rest for the soul of Hajia Bawumia.
An uncle to Dr Bawumia, Alhaji Sulemana Sapaka, recounted the loving and caring nature of his late sister, “Hajia Mariama was the third born of our parents, she was very kind to us. She was very instrumental in our education,” he said
He said news of his sister’s death came as a shock to the family, adding that “Up till now we are still mourning her death.”
Some residents in the community who trooped to the burial ground to mourn with the family, thanked Almighty Allah for the life of Hajia Bawumia for giving Ghana a Vice President.
They also prayed for her soul to rest well in the bosom of the Almighty Allah. “We shall miss her motherly love,” the residents told the Ghana News Agency.
Notable among some dignitaries who attended the burial ceremony were Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister for the Interior and Madam Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister for Fisheries and Acqua-Culture.
The rest are Mr Zakaria Yidana, the North East Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister,  Mr Mustapha Yussif, Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr John Boadu, the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Municipal and District Chief Executives among others.
GNA

Mahama to register as ‘’Polling Agent’’ in 2024 Presidential & Parliamentary Elections

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The 2020 Flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has said that he will register to become a Polling Agent of his party in the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2024.

According to him, any mistake the party will make at the Polling Station will go a long way to impact them in the election just as it happened in the last polls.

Mr. Mahama made the declaration in Kumasi at a forum of party Constituency and Regional Executives, losing Parliamentary Candidates, former NDC government appointees, the Ashanti Region’s Parliamentary Caucus and other affiliate organs of the party in the region.

The forum formed part of the ‘Thank You Tour’ of the former President.

He was accompanied by the National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, the 2020 Vice Presidential Candidate among other national party functionaries of the NDC.

Mr. Mahama noted that with the vast size and political dynamics of the Ashanti Region, it is advisable to devise a new strategy for effective and efficient management of the region to maximize votes during elections.

The former President commended the party in the Ashanti Region for working very hard to make Ashanti the 2nd votes earning administrative region behind the Greater Accra. This, he noted, was also due to the fact that the then Volta region had been split.

Mr. Mahama announced that in 2021, the NDC would organize congresses to elect new officers from the Polling Station to the national levels.

The national delegates Congress he said, would be used to examine the existing Constitution and policies of the party so as to position the NDC very well for the 2024 elections.

He entreated the  constituent bodies of the party to come up with new and better ideas for consideration.

Giving an overview of the elections in the Ashanti region in 2020, the Regional Secretary, Kwame Zu described as unfair, a strategy by the Electoral Commission to create more than 1,500 new Polling Centres about 2 months to the polls which in their view disadvantaged the NDC in organizing itself properly.

He said even though the Regional Executives fell short of their target for the election, the Region’s performance was an improvement over the 2016 polls.

There was an increase in the NDC’s Presidential vote tally from 542,000 to 653,000 while the number of Parliamentary seats won also shot up from 3 to 4.

 

Source: GBC

I’m not surprised about C. K Akonnor’s sacking; it was expected- A1 Radio’s Humul Khrusum Tahiru

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Humul Khrusum Tahiru, Head of Sports- A1 Radio

Head of Sports at A1 Radio, Humul Khrusum Tahiru, has stated that she was not surprised about the dismissal of Black Stars Coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor; describing his removal as one that was expected.

C. K Akonnor was fired as coach of the senior national team on Monday, after what many saw as a poor start to the 2022 FIFA World cup qualifiers.

In an interview on A1 Radio, Madam Tahiru pointed out that Coach Akonnor’s record with the Black Stars since his appointment had not been impressive.

“His sacking is something I was expecting. Because right from 2019 when he was given the nod after Akwesi Appiah failed to win a trophy for Ghana in Eqypt, we all knew that we needed a coach that was ready to turn the fortunes of the country around. And looking at C. K Akonnor’s 11 games he’s played so far with the Black Stars, and the results he’s gotten, it hasn’t been so impressive. So we all knew that at some point he would be sacked.”

Madam Tahiru further recounted how the Black Stars under Coach akonnor recently struggled before they were able to beat Ethiopia; and sufferred a 1-0 loss to South Africa in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian team is expected to face Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifiers next month.

Ahead of that, a three-member committee has been formed to immediately find a new replacement for C. K Akonnor.

Source: A1Radioonline.com| 101.1MHz| Ghana

UER: NCCE advises youth in Bongo against violent extremism

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The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has advised the youth in Bongo District of the Upper East Region against involving in activities of violent extremism to destabilize the country.

The youth were also advised to safeguard against being recruited by terrorist groups and movements to perpetuate crimes and violence to cause harm to human lives and property

Mr Pontius Pilate Baba Apaabey, the Upper East Regional Director of the Commission gave the admonishment at Bongo at an engagement with youth activists organized the NCCE on curbing violent extremism and its related activities.

It was held on the theme, “preventing violent and providing security to the Northern Border Regions of Ghana and had funding support from the European Union (EU).

The main goal of the project is to fight organized crime, promote respect for human rights and rule of law through equipping the youth with relevant information on violent extremism and radicalism and to guard them from being recruited to cause violence.

The engagement was therefore to augment participants’ understanding on peace building mechanisms and enhance their knowledge on community-based mechanisms for countering violent extremism.

The Regional Director noted that the youth needed to be aware of the existence of the organized violent crime groups that had the potential getting into the country from other countries in order to make inform decisions and not be allowed to be used by these groups for bad purposes.

The Regional Director noted that Ghana was bordered by countries in which terrorists’ activities ongoing which threatened the security of the country and the youth who were unemployed were mostly engaged to carry out such activities.

Mr Apaabey noted that the youth needed to take security of their areas into their own hands and be tolerant to promote peace in their respective communities and added that when there was peace there would be unity and development.

Ms Alice Ndego, the Bongo District Director of the NCCE noted that the terrorists’ group were rich and had the potential to use money to influence the youth into recruiting them and therefore the project was to build their resilience to withstand any temptation to be recruited.

The engagement was therefore to enable the youth be able to identify warning signals of violent extremism and serve as community ambassadors to educate their fellow youth to easily identify suspicious characters and report to the appropriate authorities.

“I therefore urge youth to be patriotic citizens and cultivate the culture of tolerance and non-violence and be ambassadors for peace to promote peaceful coexistence and shun violent extremism in Ghana,” she added.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Peter Akolmolga Adoone, the Bongo District Police Commander who took participants through what violent extremism is, its causes and prevention noted that curbing violence was a shared responsibility and the youth had a critical role to play.

The District Police Commander urged the youth to be vigilant and assist the police to combat crimes in their respect communities by sharing relevant information on criminal activities in their communities.

GNA

School bus driver jailed for fondling pupil’s breast

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A 41-year-old school bus driver who fondled the breast of a 10-year-old girl on board a bus at Adentan, has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by an Adentan Circuit Court.

Theophilus Laryea, charged with indecent assault, pleaded guilty with “explanation”.

The Court presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Awo Balokah held that Laryea’s explanations confirmed his plea of guilt.

The Court said in sentencing Laryea, it took into consideration some mitigating factors, including his quick admission of guilt, the fact that he had no previous conviction and the remorse displayed by him.

Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyo narrated before the court that the complainant is a network administrator and the victim’s aunty.

Police Chief Inspector Lanyo said the victim is a class four pupil of a school name withheld at Adenta.

Prosecution said Laryea was also a driver of the school.

Chief Inspector Lanyo said during the month of July this year, at about 2:55pm, the victim left her class to board the bus. Accused now convict, walked to her and fondled the victim’s breast.

Prosecution said the victim who was not pleased with Laryea’s conduct narrated her ordeal to the complainant who reported the matter to the school authorities.
According to prosecution, the school’s transport manager reported the incident to the Police and accused was arrested, cautioned and released on bail.

GNA

George Boateng leading the race for Black Stars coaching job

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Dutch-born former Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng is leading the race to become the next Black Stars Coach, a source close to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has told GNA Sports.

A three-member committee has been tasked by the Executive Council of GFA to announce a new coach for the Black Stars team within 72 hours after coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor’s sacking.

According to the source, the former Netherlands star has emerged a strong contender for vacant gaffer position and would likely be announced as the new coach of the Black Stars within the next 48 hours.

Boateng who is currently Aston Villa’s U23 coach would likely be handed the task of leading Ghana to the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations as well as the African qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Born in Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region of Ghana, Boateng moved to the Netherlands as a child having represented the Dutch national team with a stellar career in the English Premier League playing for the likes of Hull City, Middlesbrough, and Nottingham Forest.

Other contenders who have been linked to the Black Stars job include Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard, Borussia Dortmund trainer scout Otto Addo, Ghana’s current Technical Director Bernhard Lippert, and former national team manager Ibrahim Tanko.

The new coach for the Black Stars would lead the Black Stars in their upcoming African qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup against Zimbabwe in October.

GNA

SEND GHANA appeals to Government to pay LEAP grant regularly,timely

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SEND GHANA, a non-profit organization, has appealed to the Government to prioritise the payment of LEAP grant to enhance poverty reduction in the country.

Dr Emmanuel Ayifah, Deputy Country Director, SEND GHANA, said the undue and incessant delay in payment of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) grants were worsening the plight of beneficiaries.

He added that, the current delayed payment had resulted in the denial of income to 344,023 households made up of approximately 1.5 million Ghanaians who depended on it for their daily sustenance including orphans and vulnerable children, people living with severe disabilities, and elderly people without any support.

Speaking at a press conference organised by SEND GHANA, on the delay of the payments of LEAP grants to beneficiaries, on Tuesday in Accra, Dr Ayifah said the adverse effect of the delays in the LEAP cash grant payments were not farfetched.

The households, he explained, were poor because they did not have reliable and regular source of adequate income, hence, the promise of a bi-monthly income flow seemed very important in their budget, the LEAP beneficiary household’s budget could be thrown overboard where the expected cash inflows delayed.

The Deputy Country Director said, it could affect the nutrition, education and health of beneficiary household members, thus, rendering household members much more miserable than they were initially.

He said it behooved Government to place high premium on the LEAP grant payments and on effective and efficient social protection delivery now, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic since it could potentially worsen the widening inequality already present in the country.

“The public is quickly losing confidence in the effectiveness of the LEAP and other such social protection programmes to defeat poverty and address inequality, owing to rampant delays in paying beneficiaries grants,” he said.

Dr Ayifah said the Organisation had consistently urged the government to aggressively put in measures to address the continuous delays in the LEAP payments, however, it appeared that the calls had not elicited the necessary attention.

“In January 2021, the government combined the 69th and 70th cycle payments that went out to 333,967 LEAP beneficiary households, the 71st and 72nd cycle payments, due in March and May 2021, respectively, were delayed and paid together in June. The 73rd payment cycle was due in July, but our investigations revealed that beneficiaries are yet to receive their cash support. It is unclear when the 74th cycle, which is also now due, will be paid,” he said.

He urged the Ministries of Finance and the Gender Children and Social Protection to take decisive actions in the 2022 budget statement and economic policy, to improve social protection delivery including the Ghana National Household Registry, Financing for social protection interventions, Coverage of Flagship Social Protection Interventions and Social protection bill.

GNA

Ghanaians must be wary of violence extremists’ activities – Police

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Ghanaians have been urged to be wary of the activities of the violent extremists in neighbouring countries and take personal steps to safeguard the security of their respective communities.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Raymond Gai, the Talensi District Police Commander who made the appeal said the extremism recorded in the bordering countries threatened the peace and stability of the country and therefore it was imperative for all Ghanaians to be concerned in order to contribute to preserving the country.

The Police Commander made the call at Tongo in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region during an engagement organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for youth leaders in the district on curbing violence extremism and its related activities.

The event on the topic, “preventing electoral violence and providing security to the Northern Border regions of Ghana”, and had funding from the European union (EU).

The Police Commander bemoaned the reluctance of Ghanaians to question the presence of strange characters in their various communities and report suspicious characters to the appropriate authorities for investigation.

“People see strange people in their communities and yet they do not try to find out who they are, where they come from and what they do. Sometimes they even offer them accommodation without doing any background checks.

“Police can provide the necessary security they can but how long will police continue to provide effective security to all persons, so Ghanaians must take their personal security seriously and report suspicious characters to the opinion leaders like the Assembly Members, traditional authorities and the police for proper investigation and action,” he added.

Mr Pontius Pilate Baba Apaabey, the Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE, noted that the youth especially the elite were the most vulnerable and most of the times fell victim to the temptations of the influence of tbe violence extremists and the youth must be wary about it.

The Regional Director explained that the violent groups offered false alternatives to the vulnerability of the youth who mostly unemployed and urged Ghanaians to build resilience to desist their influence and work to safeguard the democracy that the country has practised for a long time.

Mr Apaabey therefore called on Ghanaians to value the diversity that existed in the country to ensure peaceful coexistence and sustainable development and noted that the diversity among Ghanaians should be as a tool that could be harnessed for accelerated development and peaceful coexistence.

Mr Frederick Amenga-Etego, a Member of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocesan Mediation Network, urged the youth not to allow conflict to divide them and rather work collectively for the sustainable development of their respective communities.

Ms Dorcas Atia, the Talensi District Director of the NCCE, noted the engagement was part of activities being undertaken to create awareness among youth to be able to identify warning signs of violence extremism and actions to be taken to curb such activities.

She said the project was working towards fighting against transnational organized crime, while promoting respect for human rights and the rule of law and also to equip the youth on the relevant information on violent extremism and radicalism, so that they guard against being recruited to cause violence.

“The youth are our future leaders and there is the need for them to exhibit spirit of patriotism, civic responsibility and social cohesion in their communities that they find themselves and also improve their knowledge and attitude on the culture of tolerance and non-violence to become ambassadors for peace,” she said.

GNA

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve”- Akonnor to Ghanaians

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Coach C. K Akonnor

Deposed coach of the Black Stars, Charles Kwablan Akonnor says he is grateful to Ghanaians for giving him the opportunity to serve his country.

The highly experienced gaffer had his contract as head coach of the Black Stars terminated by the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Monday.

In a Twitter post on Tuesday morning, C.K Akonnor wrote: “I’m grateful to H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Sports Ministry, my former boss Kwesi Appiah, the leadership of GFA, colleagues I worked with, players and Ghanaians for the opportunity to serve. Wishing the team all the best. Thank you Ghana.”

Akonnor’s record with the Black Stars since his appointment in January 2020, stands at four wins, four losses and two draws.

After this latest development, the Executive Council of the GFA has set up a three-member committee which includes GFA Vice President Mark Addo, Upper East Regional Football Association Chairman, Alhaji Salifu Zida and Dr. Randy Abbey to find a Head Coach and Assistant Coaches for the Black Stars within the next 72 hours.

The likes of George Boateng, Marcel Desailly and Herve Renard have all been linked with the Black Stars job.

GNA

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