Category: General

Mr Rockson Abumba, the Union Chairman of the Meridian Ports Services (MPS) workers, has called for the alignment of their salaries to reflect the international rates and levies charged for services at the port.

Mr Abumba made the call when former president John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), interacted with industry players in the maritime and port sectors in Tema as part of his Greater Accra Regional Tour.

‘Our salaries are not matching international standards, but the charges at the port are international,’ he emphasised.

Mr Abumba said even though the salary was not good enough and it was making workers to depend on overtime allowance to cushion them.

However, the government was taxing their overtime allowance, stressing that ‘this overtime has also been taxed, so there is no escape route for the port worker.’

The union chairman appealed to Mr Mahama to consider putting in place a special package for the port worker, saying at some point in time, d
octors were giving special incentives when importing cars.

He added that bankers were also entitled to loans at minimal interest, indicating the need to get a similar incentive package for the port worker, whom he said sleeps in the port day and night to serve the nation.

According to him, the port could be likened to a human body, the heart of the nation, where revenue was generated and pumped to every sector of the economy, and in the nation, therefore the need to take good care of the workers at the port providing essential services to the country.

Mr Mahama, responding to the appeal, gave the assurance that if voted back into office as president, his administration would look at the issue and how best to make the port worker comfortable.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Twenty-one persons have so far been confirmed dead in a road crash around the Pra-River Junction along the Juaso – Nkawkaw road on Friday.

Preliminary investigation indicates that suspect driver Yaw Egyiri (deceased) was driving a Ford Transit Mini Bus from Konongo towards Accra with passengers on board.

A statement issued by the Ghana Police Service said on reaching a section of the road at Pra-River Junction area along Juaso – Nkawkaw motor road, he allegedly carelessly overtook some vehicles and collided head-on with an oncoming VW Sprinter Bus driven by a suspect driver yet to be identified, also deceased, with passengers onboard.

It said surviving victims were currently receiving medical attention at the Juaso Government Hospital, Stewards Hospital at Yawkwei, Konongo Municipal Hospital and Asante Akim Agogo Presbyterian Hospital.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the 21 deceased persons have been deposited at the Stewards Hospital mortuary at Yawkwei, Konongo Municipal Hospital mortuary and Juaso Government
Hospital mortuary for identification, preservation and autopsy.

The Police urged families with relatives, who may have travelled along the route where the motor accident occurred on Friday March 15 2024, and not been in touch to reach out to the Juaso and Nkawkaw Police commands for help in identifying the accident victims, including those who had passed away.

‘We commiserate with the affected families and we continue to entreat all road users to be disciplined, demonstrate a sense of humanity and adhere to road regulations to avoid such preventable accidents,’ it added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A former Deputy Defense Chief of the Ambazonia Defense Forces, a separatist group fighting in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, Ngong Daniel, also called Capo Daniel, revealed that his former group killed popular Anglophone Barrister Senator Kemende in Bamenda, North West region.

On January 11, 2022, armed ADF fighters attacked Barrister Kemende around the Nkwen neighborhood in Bamenda, North West region. They took away his car and left him struggling for his life.

Capo Daniel in a podcast dated Saturday March 16, 2024, revealed that the plan to kidnap the lawmaker was hactehd since by the group’s Norway based leader, Ayaba Chou Lucas.

On the day the Senior Barrister was killed, his attackers took away his car to their camp, Capo said, acknowledging that it is only when they discvered that Kemende’s car was in their camp that he knew the act was carried out by their men.

‘When they killed Kemende, our forces said they did not carry out the attack until when State forces invaded the camp and seized the car. I
did not know they killed…our leader Ayaba Cho had explained to me that they were going to kidnap Kemende, but I said it was not a good idea, he said ok. But I do not know if he went back to order for his kidnap or killing…Ayaba Cho said they should pick him up, I denied’ Capo Daniel said.

‘Nobody said anyhting when I asked the Presidential house,’ Capo said.

Capo was a strong advocate of the ADF and the AMbazonia Governing Council but last year left the group citing differences in position. He later announced the creation of Ambazonia Peoples Advocative Platform.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Pentecost International Worship Center (PIWC) in Takoradi, a subsidiary ministry of the Church of Pentecost (COP), has held a day’s trade exhibition for congregants to showcase their products and services to prospective clients.

The exhibition, dubbed: ‘Pent Market Day’, which was aimed at fostering community engagement and support local businesses, attracted a large turnout of both members of the church and other entrepreneurs.

It provided a chance for attendees to connect with local artisans and entrepreneurs geared towards forging new relationships and supporting small-scale businesses within the church.

The trade fair featured many stands displaying a wide range of products and services, including handmade crafts, artisanal goods, baked treats, and homemade delicacies.

Others were kitchen wares, clothing, security gadgets, ceramic products, building materials, furniture, electronics, and service providers like travel and tour, mobile money transactions, eye care, and beauticians.

In addition to t
he bustling marketplace, the event also provided live radio coverage where exhibitors talked about their products and services to attract more customers for their businesses.

Apostle Sylvester Arhin, Takoradi Area Head of the Church of Pentecost, who spoke at the event, encouraged the organisers and the leadership of PIWC Takoradi to extend the gesture to branches of the COP to help benefit other members in the various districts.

Pastor Selasi Amedeka, Resident Minister of PIWC Takoradi, said the church remained committed to nurturing and celebrating the talents of its members and would continue to serve as a beacon of inspiration and unity for all people.

He noted that the success of the exhibition had left a lasting impact on both organisers and attendees alike, with many already eagerly anticipating future events to be hosted by the church.

Mr Patrick Osei Akuoku, a member of the organising committee, who spoke with the Ghana News Agency, said he was thrilled to see such an overwhelming turnout for the
event.

‘It’s been wonderful to witness the incredible creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of our congregation on display today. Events like these not only support local businesses but also bring our community closer together,’ he stated.

Some of the prospective clients expressed their appreciation for the event, highlighting its role in promoting local content and fostering a sense of community spirit.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH) in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, has organised a send-off ceremony for its former staff who retired from active service between 2021 and 2023.

The ceremony was to honour and show appreciation to the 35 senior and junior retirees for their dedication, professionalism and exceptional contributions towards achieving the Hospital’s organisational goals throughout their years of services.

Each of them was presented with a citation, in addition to double-door, and table-top refrigerators for some of them, while others also got smart television sets.

Dr Joseph Kojo Tambil, the ENRH Medical Director, speaking during the ceremony congratulated the retirees for making a difference in the lives of the people they served during their illustrious careers.

He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Hospital’s management team to them for their long service, commitment and hard work to the Hospital and the country.

He said: ‘Today’s ceremony is for us to celebrate our colleague
s who have served this Hospital, the Ghana Health Service and indeed the Western Region for so many years and reached the compulsory age of retirement. We say we are grateful for your invaluable service.’

Speaking on welfare of current staff, Dr Tambil noted that management was taking steps to put in place good and favourable working conditions to help motivate them to work diligently and give off their best for the Hospital.

Mr Alfred O. Hughes, Chairman for the occasion, urged the retirees to take good care of themselves and engage in activities that would keep them healthy, saying; ‘retirement is not retardation.’

Madam Angelina Sagoe, one of the retirees, on behalf of her colleagues expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the ENRH for showing them love and sharing their joy.

She asked the current staff to continue to work tirelessly to leave good legacies when they also reached their retirement age.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has awarded a total of 70,000 US dollars grant to 18 women and youth-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to grow their businesses.

This falls under UNDP’s integrated MSMEs support programme aimed at improving the sustainability of these enterprises to advance job creation and economic growth.

Dr Angela Lusigi, the UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana, at the presentation of the awards, said the programme believed that supporting small businesses, particularly those owned by women and youth, was key to transforming the economy and unlocking the productivity of the informal sector.

The grant award, she said, forms part of a series of business development activities that close to 3000 participants had benefited over the past four years.

The participants of the integrated MSMEs support programme were drawn from six Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across Ghana.

They are Sagnerigu, Jomoro, Ketu South, Sefwi Wiawso, Kumasi, a
nd Kassena-Nankana West districts.

Over the years, UNDP has disbursed over USD 500,000 through various challenges such as the Youth Innovation for Sustainable Development (YISD) challenge, the waste recovery platform, and COVID-19 innovation challenge.

?The integrated MSMEs support programme included readiness support to those enterprises to leverage the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to trade across borders.

It also enhances the capacity of MSMEs in good corporate governance, created awareness among the businesses to prevent radicalization, and provided energy and resource efficiency support.

?Dr Lusigi noted that under a current District Innovation Challenge rolled out by UNDP in partnership with Absa Bank Ghana and Empretec Ghana, 300 businesses received training, coaching, and mentorship support on best business practices.

As part of the partnership, Absa Bank Ghana would grant access to loans for interested entrepreneurs out of the 300 MSMEs that participated in the District I
nnovation Challenge at low-interest rates, she said.

Ms Esther Nyamekeh, a Fashion Designer from Jomoro and beneficiary of the Grant, explained that she trained physically challenged persons to sew adding that the business development training had enabled her to register her business.

?She pledged to invest the funds into machinery to train more physically challenged persons to improve their living conditions.

Source: Ghana News Agency