* Monday, 01 March 2010 | Sachet Water Not To Be Taxed * Source: Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning | The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) has taken note of debate on the implementation of the 20 per cent ad-valorem excise tax on “Distilled, bottled and other packaged water”.
The Act of Parliament (Act 787), which imposes the tax takes effect on Monday, 1st March, 2010. MoFEP seeks to state that the implementation of the tax does not include SACHET WATER.
As already explained, a committee constituted by the Minister of Finance is still engaging all stakeholders and operators of sachet water and will come out with its decision as soon as mutual understanding has been reached. MoFEP will keep the public informed accordingly.
ISSUED BY ABDUL HAKIM AHMED, MEDIA LIAISON MINISTRY OF FINANCE & ECONOMIC PLANNING
News Editor | | > BACK to TOP < | Government committed to welfare of the youth-Hammah * Source: GNA | Winneba (C/R), March 01,GNA-The Minister for Transport and MP for Effutu, Mr. Mike Hammah has reiterated government's commitment to the welfare of the youth in a bid to accelerate the pace of national development.
He noted that no nation can develop without a comprehensive youth policy because the youth is a formidable force to reckon with in the developmental agenda. Mr. Hammah was addressing students of the Tertiary Education Institution Network (TEIN) branch of the University of Education, Winneba at a forum in Winneba.
The theme for the occassion was: "Building consensus for better Ghana agenda" and was attended by members from the Pan-African Christian University College at Pomadze, Cape Coast Polyteachnic, Takoradi Polytechnic and the University of Ghana, Legon.
Mr. Hammah said among some of the interventions government had initiated to deal with youth unemployment in the country, are the ZOIL brigade and Youth in Agricultural programmes. The Minister said government has been trying to stabilize the economy since it assumed the office and assured that:" there will be a substantial growth of the economy this year". Mr. Hammah asked the youth to be patient and bear with government as she makes frantic efforts to address their concerns. The Deputy National Youth Organizer of the NDC, Mr. James Kofi Fonu, said a national forum will be held at Keta in the Volta Region, between March 18 and 21 this year, to collate views for a comprehensive youth policy in which youth employment will be the major focus. According to him, the policy document will come out with a strategic plan on study leave with pay for student teachers in tertiary institutions adding, "the youth will no longer be taken for granted in terms of employment".
The Central Regional Youth Organiser, Mr. Ato Amoah, advised the youth "to eschew laxity, selfishness and high expectations from government since such attitudes had the potential to divert government's attention from pursuing the better Ghana agenda".
The Municipal Chief Executive for Effutu, Nii Ephraim, said the previous administration dissipated the coffers of the assemblies and that the NDC government has been paying debts since it assumed office. Earlier in a welcome address, the President of TEIN, University of Education, Winneba, Mr. James Mahama, reminded the party to fulfil its campaign pledges as they will be accountable to Ghanaians one day. He called on the National executives to remember and see to the welfare of foot soldiers who campaigned for the party to win power in 2008. During an open forum, most of the students reminded government to fulfil its campaign pledge of giving student teachers in tertiary institutions study leave with pay. | | > BACK to TOP < | NPP Elects Collapsible Squad * Source: The Enquirer | Even though the New Patriotic Party (NPP) undoubtedly elected some of the Party’s most loyal and battle-tested big-wigs to steer the affairs of the party in the run-up to the 2012 elections, their track record in government will make some of the newly-elected executives scandal prone and very vulnerable.
Pundits are already drawing daggers in wait for the newly-elected Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, whose conduct as a government appointee sparked serious controversies which later became known as the Mormon scandal during the early days of the Kufuor administration.
In the run up to the last election, his insistence on holding on to a ministerial bungalow even after he quit government as a Minister of State and his underlying attempt to purchase the house at all cost was used against the Party, as their opponents used his case as a springboard to portray the NPP government as practicing “property grabbing democracy”.
Jake Obetsebi Lamptey can’t even speak his native Ga language neither can he speak any Ghanaian language except “Isha Allah” a Hawsa phrase which means by God’s grace. There a rumours within the NPP that sometimes in his presence some party people cast insults on him in local languages but he does not understand.
The next is Alhaji Moctar Musah Bamba, a party workaholic whose ability to excite the ranks of the party is unbeatable. He was elected as National Organizer at last Saturday’s National Delegates conference. Moctar Musa Bamba served as the Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs at the Office of the President and was involved in a scandal of mountainous proportions compelling the President to remove him from office.
A criminal investigation which was commenced by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service and the Bureau of Investigations was deliberately curtained and never concluded until the NPP exited office in 2008. Documents from the BNI investigations which is still in the possession of the Enquirer newspaper may bounce to the fore soon.
At the time when Bamba exited government, former President Kufuor said that the departure of Bamba was without prejudice to any investigations underway. There was also an issue regarding a visa scandal involving Moctar Musa Bamba and the Austria government. Details of the visa scandal may also bounce back when the political season begins.
The newly elected general secretary, Mr. Afriyie, popularly called “sir John” has staged what is by all standards a good fight, booting out an incompetent Ohene Ntow to annex the position of General Secretary. Sir John has a huge fan base in Kumasi, the tradition “world Bank” of the NPP. In Kumasi he is affectionately called “lawyer”. He is returnee from London. He is also a popular man with very close ties with Dr. Richard Anane, former Transport Minister. During the troubles of Dr. Anane, the newly elected General Secretary supported him and was one of the hatchet men who attacked the Enquirer’s editor-in-chief on behalf of Dr. Anane.
Sir John worked with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) but was booted out by the Office of the President following a story which involves former President Kufuor himself. Even though details of the case have never been made public, there are indications that it might cause a huge controversy for the NPP.
Ohene Ntow, John Boadu Booted Out
The National Delegates Conference of the largest opposition party in the country, New Patriotic Party (NPP) ended at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium with Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey elected as the Chairman while the incumbent General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow was booted out of office for a below par performance during his tenure.
Whilst Mac Manu found common sense to step down as the Chairman of the party after leading the failing team that sent the NPP to opposition, his compatriot, Mr. Ntow refused to learn from this honourable example and shamefully sought for re-election but his defiance was not enough to keep him in power. Mr. Ntow infamously known as “Shito Tse” was heavily trounced to defeat by Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie a.k.a ‘Sir John’ who polled 2,386 votes as against 918 by Mr. Ntow. In the same General Secretary race, Nkrabea Effah Darteh polled 431, Obeng Busia – 139 and Yaw Buaben Asamoah – 77.
Another member of the failing team who was hounded out of office is John Boadu, the youth organizer whose over-riding ego was punctured by the delegates at the Conference. John Boadu over-ambitiously decided to go for the National Organiser position but was whipped by Mocta Bamba whose ‘fraud’ record during his time as deputy minister for Presidential Affairs, will certainly haunt him and the party in general. Alhaji Moctar Musa Bamba polled 3,428 to win the National Organizer position, John Boadu polled 448 whilst Isaac Eduosar Edumaze got 75 votes.
Further, Jake won the keenly contested National Chairmanship position with 2,030 votes defeating Stephen Ayensu Ntim who had 1,804 votes. Sammy Crabbe, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey and Mr. Felix Owusu Adjepong polled 4,329 and 25 votes respectively n the same. For the position of the vice chairperson, Mr. Fred Oware led the pack with 2,964 votes while Sheikh T. B. Damba polled 1,798 to become the second vice-chairperson with Madam Sophia Horner-Sam becoming the third vice-chairperson with 1,743.
The position of National Treasure was given to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Trade Fair, Ms Esther Dzifa Ofori, who was unopposed. The contest for the Women Organizer position recorded the unexpected when young energetic Otiko Djaba collected 280 of the votes to whip her only contender, Ms Christine Churcher who polled 260 votes.
In the National Youth Organizer race, Mr. Anthony Anyega Karbo secured 273 votes to win the slot as against Mr. Stephen Amoah who went home with 192 votes to place second to Mr. Karbo. Pius Enam Hazdide managed with 145 votes while Michael Kwabena Ampong could not appeal to the delegates and was consoled with 15 votes. With 130 votes, Abubakar Sulemana became the Nasara coordinator. He was followed by Mohammed Aminu Ibrahim who obtained 30 votes with Ibrahim Tanko Maharaja Packing into his electoral basket 47 votes to place third. | | > BACK to TOP < | "This Is The Best Team We Could've Gotten" Says Kufour * Source: Myjoyonline | Ex-President Kufuor says the New Patriotic Party picked the best team at Saturday’s conference in Kumasi to lead the party to victory in 2012.
In an exclusive telephone interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, Mr Kufuor said the latest crop of executives “is the best team we could have gotten.”
Mr Kufuor said each of the elected personalities has special qualities and brings on board a wealth of experience to turn the party’s fortunes around in the next election.
“They are coming to form a leadership team; they are a team. Jake has got the experience, he’s the leader of the team and I tell you it is a formidable team we’ve got now,” he said.
He said although Mr Fred Oware, the First Vice-Chairman, was “a man who didn’t seem to have been in the mainstream of politics,” his statements at the Kumasi conference showed “he might have been what I will describe as a pocked politician.”
“And he’s got the personality, intelligence, and other experiences relevant to leadership. So I think he’s an asset.”
Ex-President Kufuor also gave a very positive testimony about Sheikh T.B. Bamba, the Second Vice-Chairman, whose political career he said started decades ago.
General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie bagged 2,386 votes to topple his predecessor Nana Ohene Ntow who polled 918 votes.
“Then you come to the General Secretaryship. Everybody has heard of Dr John, all over Ghana through the airwaves and I am sure you know him. He’s a lawyer, he’s an administrator. What do you need of a General Secretary? A good administrator who knows the terrain. He knows every bit of Ghana; very sharp, very eloquent [and] witty,” he said.
The ex-president described the new Women’s Organiser, Ms Otiko Afisah Djaba, as a refreshing addition. Ms Djaba polled 280 votes to beat her only contender Christine Churcher – a prominent member of the party – who polled 260 votes.
The NPP held the national conference with a view to uniting its energies to snatch power from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the next national polls, Mr Kufuor said.
He stood by her earlier assertion at the conference that divisions in the party were assuming the nature of personality cults, a situation he said was unhealthy for the party’s future.
Ex-President Kufuor also declared his full support for whoever emerges presidential candidate on the ticket of the party, stressing, he will always support the choice of the people.
“Once the party went about its business on a level-playing field, showing commitment and focus and unity, whoever comes up on top is my candidate and I’ll support him to win power,” he said. | | | > BACK to TOP < |
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| | Monday, 01 March 2010 | | Sachet Water Not To Be Taxed Government committed to welfare of the youth-Hammah NPP Elects Collapsible Squad "This Is The Best Team We Could've Gotten" Says Kufour RIGHT Nine (9) Top NPP Men To Face Trial CJA To Expose Corruption | _________________________________ | Your Opinions | Have Your Say!
| Archived News for 2010 | Go to 28.02.2010 | News Page was last modified on Monday, 01 March 2010 15:46:17 | 
| All about the Ghana Election 2008 | | | | * 01.03.2010 | Nine (9) Top NPP Men To Face Trial * Source: The Insight | At least nine top functionaries of the Kufuor administration will face trial in the next few months. Sources close to the investigative authorities claim that the functionaries are currently assisting state agencies which are looking into allegations of corruption and outright thievery.
Some of the agencies investigating the allegations are the criminal Investigations of the Ghana Police Service, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI). The matters being investigated include the inflation of project costs, state funds, which have not been accounted for, misappropriation of state funds, forgery and bribery.
The organizations which are being investigated include the National Olympic Committee, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, information and local government and the PSC Tema Shipyard in which Ghana has substantial shares. The security services are also busily investigating the murder of the Ya Na and his elders as well as the murder of Alhaji Issa Mobila, former Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
The sources told The Insight newspaper that in the case of the murder of the Ya Na and Issa Mobila, the Kufuor administration may not be directly implicated even though some officials in the administration may have serious questions to answer.
For example the order of the Northern Regional Security Council for the arrest and detention of Mobila at a military guardroom, when no state of emergency had been declared is being examined. In his last state of the nation address to Parliament, President John Evans Atta Mills promised that all corrupt officials will be made to face justice soon. He indicated that his government will not bow to political pressure to abandon the principles of probity and accountability.
Earlier in January, Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice said that her outfit will pursue corrupt public officials without any hesitation this year. From all indications it appears that there are interesting times ahead. | CJA To Expose Corruption * Source: The Insight | The Committee for Joint Action (CJA) is busily preparing to expose massive corruption in the public and civil service. Sources close to the CJA say the Committee will hold a press conference later in the week.
They told the Insight newspaper that the cases to be revealed include open and directed stealing of state resources, misappropriation and misapplication of funds. The CJA has led the crusade for public accountability for more than five years. The scandals it has exposed include corruption at the Ghana School Feeding Secretariat, the PSC Tema Shipyard and the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Only last month, the Ministry of Transport set up a Committee of Enquiry into the allegations of corruption at the PSC Tema Shipyard. The committee has already presented its report and the Government’s white paper is expected soon. | | . | | . | | . |
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