Category: NEWS UPDATES

1.7% applicable rate to be charged on all electronic transaction

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has indicated that government will place a levy on all electronic transactions, known as the Electronic Levy, as a means of widening the tax net.

According to him, it has become clear that there is an enormous potential to increase revenue from taxes by bringing into the tax bracket transactions being undertaken in the informal sector.

He indicated that COVID-19 contributed to the acceleration of the digitalization drive of Africa and data from the Bank of Ghana has shown a growing trend in online trade thus increasing the value of digital transactions from February 2020 and February 2021 alone to 120%.

He made the declaration on the floor of parliament while delivering the 2022 budget and fiscal policy statement on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.

The budget presentation is in line with Article 179 of the 1992 constitution.

Addressing members of parliament, the finance minister said that, “after considerable deliberations, government has decided to place a levy on all electronic transactions to widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector. This shall be known as the “Electronic Levy or E-Levy.”

He continued that “electronic transactions covering mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments and inward remittances will be charged at an applicable rate of 1.75%, which shall be borne by the sender except inward remittances, which will be borne by the recipient”.

Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta was quick to note that portions of the proceeds from the E-Levy would be used to support entrepreneurship, youth employment, cyber security and road infrastructure.

He stated that the “electronic tax is one and we shall all pay”

November 17, 2021
2022 Budget ‘No public sector worker was laid off when COVID-19 struck’ – Ken Ofori Atta

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, has revealed that the Government has not laid off any public sector worker when the country was struck with the Covid-19 pandemic.

He made the revelation in Parliament on Wednesday November 17, 2021 when he was reading the Budget and financial estimates for the 2022.

A research conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank on May 26 and June 17 2020 revealed that during the lockdown in 2020, businesses were negatively impacted.

According to their report, some “770,000 workers representing some 25.7% of the total workforce had their wages reduced and about 42,000 employees were laid off” during the partial lockdown.

However, the Minister stated that none of the public sector workers was affected.

“Under the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme (CAPBuSS), Ghana Enterprises Agency provided 302,001 successful applicants across various sectors and regions with loans amounting to GHȼ523.11 million.

“Mr. Speaker, we also ensured payment of our obligations to contractors and provided payroll support to some State-owned Enterprises to guarantee jobs.

“Thankfully, our President led and acted, decisively and intelligently and his leadership paved the way for many other countries in Africa and beyond.”

November 17, 2021
The 40 Days Celebration of the Late Legendary Highlife Musician

Legendary highlife musician Nana Ampadu who has thrilled Ghanaians with lots of hit songs had his 40 days celebration currently at the police Depot in Tesano.

The music icon was said to have died on Tuesday, September 28 after he battled with an illness that made him bedridden for a while until his demise. Scores of sympathisers thronged the Tesano Police Depot in Accra to mourn with the family of highlife legend, Nana Kwame Ampadu.

This was a 40-day observation in honour of the musician. Players from the creative arts industry including Akosua Agyapong as well as traditional rulers were present to commiserate with the family. Photos from the ceremony have exclusively reached your most comprehensive news portal, Dikoder.com, and have been published below for your consumption:

SEE ALSO: Celebrity Lifestyles And Mental Illness The Case Of Funny Face.

BUY AFROBEATZ || Shop

November 8, 2021
I WISH WE EAT WHAT WE GROW AND EXPORT THE SURPLUS – PRU WEST MP

I WISH WE EAT WHAT WE GROW AND EXPORT THE SURPLUS — PRU WEST MP

Farmers have heeded a sigh of relief as Ghanaians are to eat our own farm produce and export the surplus to our neighbor countries.

Speaking to the media at World Rural Women Day at Prang in the Pru West District of the Bono East Region, the Member of Parliament for double as the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways Honourable Jalula has said, the restrictions played on Ghanaians during the Covid-19 pandemic, the closure of land and sea borders encouraged us to eat what we grow and compel us from exporting what we grow in Ghana.

Hon. Jalula pleaded on the good people of Ghana to we what we grow “I wish we this should be the future of our dear country Ghana where we eat what we grow and export the surplus” Pru West MP lamented.
He also added that Pru West District has achieved a lot during the Covid-19 pandemic.

SEE ALSO: Ghana is broke; it Will be Madness to Employ People into the Public Sector- Kwesi Pratt Tells

Madam Gladys Adusah popularly known as Nana Serwaa Kru the Women Leader in the Middle Zone of the United Nations Development Programme has also advised Rural Women who are into Farming to put more effort in farming that they shouldn’t give up for being farmers because farming is not a curse “some farmers wards are doctors, MPs, DCEs Nurses, etc” Madam Gladys Adusah has said.

She added that farming is a business so let’s all put much effort into it to make it successful.
Furthermore, Madam Gladys Adusah has said Rural Women Farmers need to appreciate ourselves for we did a lot to help the Nation.

Madam Gladys advised Rural Women Farmers across the board to form and join Associations and Register at both District level and with UNDP so that when the need arising they would get help.

The program was sponsored by numerous Companies like Samaline who donated Solar spraying machines to support the Rural Women Farmers.

Story and Filed by: Mavis Davor || Shop@Torsaa

October 28, 2021
I DON’T THINK ABOUT POLITICAL LIFE ALONE BUT MY SALVATION.

I DON’T THINK ABOUT POLITICAL LIFE ALONE BUT MY SALVATION IS ALSO IN MY HEART EACH AND EVERYDAY

The MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT* for KOMENDA, EDINA, EGUAFO ABREM (KEEA) HON.SAMUEL ATTA MILLS
Has donated electrical bulbs for his people to brighten the street and every corner in his municipal.

In an interview, when he was asked why he decided to do that for his people? he said” it’s not only about political life that we think off, we think of our salvation, many people are suffering but am doing my best to help, I know that one day we will be called upon to give an account to whatever we are doing on Earth, there is nothing wrong in helping people, am doing most of the donation out of my own pocket without common fund you will never know who you help today, maybe that person will be your angle one day”

SEE ALSO: H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Must Take the blame for Wasteful and Worthless Presidential Tour of the Central Region

He added that” what I have realised is, the government does not have enough work or job for all graduate and students coming out from the various tertiary and SHS schools, the payroll is felled up, so if you are sitting down now waiting for the government to help you, I think you need to look for another way out to help yourself.

There is enough job for everybody, it’s not only buying and selling but agriculture and tourism are also all ways out to get money and fend for yourself and relatives, most of the people who come to my office to seek for job and means to eat, their appearance and the kind of phones they use says that they are not serious in life and not in need of any help.

Story by Mavis Davor || Shop@Torsaa

October 28, 2021
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI TOGETHER WITH EDUBIASE TRADITIONAL COUNCIL ORGANIZE BREAST CARE AWARENESS

ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI TOGETHER WITH EDUBIASE TRADITIONAL COUNCIL ORGANIZE BREAST CARE AWARENESS

Anglogold Ashanti, Edubiase traditional council, Adansi south district assembly, and New Edubiase government hospital today organize breast and prostate cancer screening and awareness to the people of New Edubiase and Adansi south of Ashanti Region.

SEE ALSO: Ghana is broke; it Will be Madness to Employ People into the Public Sector- Kwesi Pratt Tells

According to them, it is important to know the status of your breast and prostate cancer.

Story by: Mavis Davor || Shop@Torsaa

October 28, 2021
BREAST IS A GREAT SOURCE OF MEN’S HAPPINESS – QUEEN MOTHER SAID

BREAST IS A GREAT SOURCE OF MEN’S HAPPINESS – QUEEN MOTHER SAID.

Every October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), a national campaign to raise awareness for this cause. Come and join us at our virtual events from wherever you are!

This year’s BCAM theme focuses on buddying up with one another because no one should fight cancer alone.

Addressing the media after the program, the queen mother for Edubiase Traditional Council Nana Akua Dwum II pleaded with women to take very good care of their breasts.

SEE ALSO: Pass The Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Without Delay

On the above said, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine in collaboration with Aga health Foundation, Adansi South District, Adansi South District health Directorate, and Edubiase Traditional Council this morning organised Grand Durbar for Breast and prostate cancer Awareness at Edubiase Community Center.

Moreover, Nana Akua Dwum II added that breasts serve as a source of happiness to men, especially during s3x.

Story by: Mavis Davor || Shop@Torsaa

October 28, 2021
Angry health workers wage a Demonstration war against the Government

Angry health workers wage a demonstration war against the government over unpaid accommodation allowance, others:

The Ashanti Regional Health Workers Association has threatened to embark on strike if their conditions of service are not improved.

The Association says they have been treated unfairly by their employer and it was time for them to demand better conditions of service.

. SEE ALSO: Establish a State Farms to Feed The Country

They alleged that since 2017 their uniform allowance, fuel, risk, accommodation, books, and research allowances have not been paid.

They said the failure on the part of the government to pay these allowances he noted has brought untold hardship on their members.

Chairman of the Association, Emmanuel Osei Gyamfi said they are disappointed in the government for how they have been treated.

They want their allowances paid or they will lay down their tools.

Shop@torsaa

October 28, 2021
Hon. Queenstar Pokuah Advocate for Health Care in her Constituency

Hon. Queenstar Pokuah Advocate for Health Care in her Constituency

Member of Parliament for the Agona East Constituency in the Central Region, Queenstar Maame Pokua Sawyerr has reiterated her pledge to ensure that her constituents get access to quality health care.

The MP who was a former deputy Cemtral Regional Minister indicated this at an event to unveil a medical van to her constituents Wednesday at Agona Faahwia.She said the van was expected to provide residents in deprived areas within the constituency access to health care.

SEE ALSO: H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Must Take the blame for Wasteful and Worthless Presidential Tour of the Central Region

According to her, the living conditions of the elderly in society are a reflection of how society cares for them hence it is incumbent on all to care for the aged in their families and communities at large. She said the van was expected to provide residents in deprived areas within the constituency access to health care.

Hon. Queenstar Maame Pokuah Sawyerr-Mrs Writes:

I prayed, Smiled, and shouted…

The Maame Pokuah Health Scheme (MPHS) is still moving from Village to Village providing Health care and medication. I am glad the Scheme is being supported by all especially GOD. I gladly smiled when this young lady who was very sick could be treated,advice, and discharged two hours after the Health TEAM put all their expertise to play

Thank you my MPHS TEAM….Thank GOD for everything as always

AWESOME GOD waoooo …My GOD is good always

Shop@Torsaa

October 27, 2021
Establish a State Farms to Feed The Country

Open Letter To: The President and Minister of Agriculture

One would have thought that a country that depends hugely on importation of its basic necessities for survival as in food stuffs( rice, sugar, maize, poultry ,milks etc) will be combing every corner to address the issues permanently, but alas, some powerful people are making dollars out of the situations hence must be left to enjoy to the detriment of the nation GHANA.

Former president Dr Kwame Nkrumah used to establish state farms across the country, of which, my district, Central Tongu (Adidome) had not less than five (5) of those farms eg Gbedemah Farms, Amen Farms, Russians Poultry and Rice Farms ,Ameworlor Korfe Farms etc. But today , none of those farms are working though one could see their residues there as evidence with the vast lands.

Today, the Planting and Rearing for Food and Jobs initiative has offices across the country but without state farms to operate. It is just there and their cars being used to conveying caskets for big men and women in the districts whiles we are short of food stuffs. We are not thinking critically as a nation to find solutions but rather creating only avenues we can use to create and loot the state to share for our generational wealths.

We have huge numbers of prisoners across the country that can be used to farm in these state farms when established . What is needed is means of transport system to be conveying them to the farms to work to feed Ghana.Products from the Farms will as well be used to feed them without government necessarily allocating feeding budgets to the prisons.Today, we having over 1 million youth who are struggling to join the various security services ,yet only less than 5000 can be picked annually if I am right.

The big question is why can’t the government recruits them into the security services and then use them to farm to feed the country? This is using a stone to killing two birds,thus, Reducing graduates unemployment, maximising food security and minimising huge cost of food importations. Rural Enterprise Support program being sponsored by World Bank have been trying to help youth in agribusiness,but unfortunately the packages don’t go to the selected qualified candidates who passed through their training programs.

I was part of over 43 qualified and selected individuals in my district whose packages came in 2018 June but we were shortchanged by politicians for their businesses.* How sad it is, like by now those 43 selected youth are doing greatly in Poultry and Piggery farms in the district. NB: That was only my district, same fate might have been suffered by other qualified and selected youth in other districts.

So you see, most of our leaders not helping the growth of the country at all through youth developmental policies and projects.There must be strict rules and guidelines put in place to ensuring that when these state farms are established , managers and directors of the various farms won’t shortchange the nation by stealing and recording less than actually produced.

I am guided by misfortunes from how state fertilisers are being channeled to individuals farms ,also selling many for wealth. The government must be serious to swiftly deal with recalcitrant appointees and employees who will sabotage the farms by looting the logistics meant for the farms and individual farmers.

Adidome Agriculture Farm Institute just like others, has many sophiscated farming tools yet can’t boast of just two acre plots of farms , yet the machines will be left to rot , how sad.Ghana can develop when we appoint common sense people into governments than greedy people with many certificates.

Let us rise and build the country for the future.We must do away with get rich quick mentality through dubious means. Africa Ghana can develop when our leaders put the continent and the nation first.

God bless us all

Bismark Kwabla Kpobi

Concerned Development.

bismarkkwablakpobi@gmail.com

October 27, 2021
Pass The Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Without Delay

God bless the Hon Speaker Bagbin for such welcoming address. May you live long to be blessings to GHANA and Africa. We are solidly behind you and the MPs who are boldly in sponsoring and supporting the Anti-LGBTQ+++ Bill 21.

We are proud of you and we won’t stop praying for you by giving our support to the Anti-LGBTQ+++ Bill.Your decisiveness , firm leadership and solid position on the LGBTQ+++ activities is something all future leaders must aspire to acquire in Ghana and Africa, you are an inspiration.

Let there be no room for delaying the Bill passage at all, and never condone any sabotages, be it from any kind of person anywhere. Expose any such moves by any greedy and anti country person.Our societal norms and the sovereign sanctity of Ghana must be protected forever.

God bless you all Bismark Kwabla Kpobi

Advocate Against LGBTQ+++ Activitiesbismarkkwablakpobi@gmail.com

October 27, 2021
Just In: Funny Face referred to Accra Psychiatric Hospital

Popular comedian Funny Face has been referred to the Accra Psychiatric hospital by the Kaneshie District court for examination.He was refered on Wednesday October 20.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVQQJbwvIBe/?utm_medium=copy_link

October 20, 2021
Ghana is broke; it Will be Madness to Employ People into the Public Sector- Kwesi Pratt Tells

Managing Director of The Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Junior, has said that putting more people on the public payroll will be tantamount to madness.

According to him, Ghana is broke, and the public sector is choked.

He also said the state is spending 60% of the total national revenue on public sector emoluments and it is spending more than 60% of its resources on debt servicing so it will be impossible for the government to employ more people into the public sector.
His comments follow comments by Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta that have been criticised by a section of the public.The Minister recently told some graduating students that the state cannot employ new workers since its payroll is full so they must venture more into entrepreneurship.

Kwasi Pratt Junior said he believes the Minister of Finance spoke the truth concerning the state of the country’s economy.“What I find funny is that we are faced with this situation but public speakers and people who speak for government are still talking about the fact that the economy is improving,“ the Managing Director of The Insight newspaper said.
Kwesi Pratt claims the economy is not improving, describing it as stagnating and not capable of resolving the unemployment problem the country is facing.“We have come to a conjecture where if we don’t borrow, we can’t pay public sector workers and that is the truth about the state of the economy and I’m gladdened by the fact that the Minister of Finance is starting to tell us the truth of the state of the national economy,” he said.He made the comments when on Good Morning Ghana on Wednesday, October 20, 2021.

October 20, 2021
H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Must Take the blame for Wasteful and Worthless Presidential Tour of the Central Region

*For Immediate Release

From: Central Region NDCTo:

All Media HousesDate : October 20, 2021

The Central Regional NDC has taken notice of a two-day profligate and wasteful Presidential visit by HE. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo which started from Monday, 18th October, 2021 and ended on 19th October, 2021.

Whiles we appreciate the President of the Republic for the visit to our Region, we believe his coming has been a bewildered, spontaneous and reactive one needlessly occasioned by the rousing welcome which greeted John Dramani Mahama during his “Thank You Your” of the Region on Friday, 15th October 2021.

The politically expedient tour which has brought humiliation to the President is incontrovertible in the last minute negotiation by Hon. Alan Kyeremateng with K.T Investment Company Ltd, a Chinese lubricant factory at Gomoa Akotsi in order to rebrand and classify it under 1D1F initiative to score undeserving and unmerited political points in the Gomoa East District. This act of sheer deception and bad faith must not be countenanced by a leader who must demonstrate candour and high levels of integrity as expected of his office.Obviously, Nana Addo’s government substandard performance so far has reflected in the cold reception the good people of Central Region accorded him.

This is an ample testament to why he could not muster the courage to speak on infrastructure after President Mahama threw a challenge to him on project accountability debate.It is the height of embarrassment that whiles President John Mahama could tout his achievements in the form of transformational project he delivered during his media engagement with Cape Fm which was synchronized across the region, President Akuffo Addo though in his second term is still inspecting and cutting sod for piecemeal projects.

We are not surprised to hear from the President that Komenda Sugar Factory will work again whiles he could not go there to assess the state of dilapidation. He has soon forgotten he came to tell us he has given approval for strategic investor to take over the factory, since 4th June, 2020 and now we are being told that, the so-called strategic investor, Park Agrotech Ghana Limited could not fulfill the conditions hence, the government is discontinuing with the arrangement. It is incontestable that President Akuffo Addo have deliberately refused to access the $24.5 million meant for the production of sugarcane because they have no intention to operationalize the factory.Where is the commitment of President Akuffo Addo if indeed he mean well for the people of Central Region?.

It’s also shocking to note that, HE Nana Akufo Addo could look into the face of the people of Central Region as a whole and Cape Coast in particular to state that he didn’t promise us a harbour. We want to know whether HE. Nana Akuffo Addo is running a parallel administration with his Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia or they belong to the same administration? Stemming from the fact that on 22nd August 2020, HE. Dr. Bawumia promised orally “The Central Regional capital of Cape Coast will for the first time see the construction of a harbour and an airport”.

It was a clear promise from the governing New Patriotic Party to the people of Central Region that should they be given the mandate to run the affairs of the country for another four- year term that infrastructure will be given to the region. Again, we refer HE. Nana Akufo Addo to the NPP’s 2020 Manifesto, which captures this famous deceitful promise in page 160, part 4 line 6. Though, we are dismayed about this blatant denial of sacrosanct promise, it is indisputable that deception has become the hallmark of HE. Nana Addo/Bawumia’s government. We want to assure him and his NPP party that they will pay dearly for deceiving us in the next general elections.Again, in Assin South President Akufo Addo did sod-cutting for the construction of the Nyankomasi Ahenkro – Assin Jakai road.

It is a matter of fact that this particular road has been captured on their infrastructure delivery tracker as having been constructed. Also, Hon Ntim Fourduor, MP for Assin South Constituency, has on a number of occasions said on national platforms that he has constructed this same stretch of road and touts it as part of his achievements. So why the sod cutting again? The most bizzare spectacle was Presidential convoy of over 45 Toyota Land Cruisers which came with the HE. Akuffo Addo to commission a CHPS Compound, a Community Police Station, Community Centre, a school library, and a decorated Traffic Light intersection which was first initiated by the former Member of Parliament, Hon. Mike Hammah.

The unforgettable blunder was the renaming and recommissioning of the Winneba roundabout now reconciliation roundabout, with a statue of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and J.B. Danquah exchanging pleasantries, which obviously indicates the President’s lack of appreciation of Ghana’s history. The question is when did Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and J.B. Danquah met in our history in Winneba to warrant the naming of the so-called “reconciliation roundabout”. This reveals their treachery and hoodwinking attitude of the Nana Addo led NPP. The truth of the matter is, like his numerous failed promises he has made over the years and across the country, the people in the area, and for that matter Assin South Disstrict do not believe the president’s promise to construct the road. This in our view is an insult to the conscience and sensitivity of the good people of Central Region as we expected government to have demonstrated integrity in delivering its appetizing campaign promises.

It suffices to add that a non performing and incompetent President is the one who comes to important regional capital like Cape Coast to inspect engineering laboratories and workshops being constructed by the Ministry of Education despite unsustainable debt hole his government has plunged the country into and it resultant unbearable economic hardships on suffering Ghanaians through imposition of needless taxes.

It is clear the Akufo Addo/Bawumia government is bereft of developmental projects as urine has evaded the proverbial chicken and must take the blame for the wasteful and worthless Presidential tour of the Central Region.Signed Lawrence Kwesi Ghartey DRCO.

October 20, 2021
Ghana Police Storms Rev. Eastwood Anaba’s Church Over Robbery

Timely and accurate storming of the Ghana Police Service at the Fountain Gate Chapel stopped an ongoing day light robbery of the Church.

According to Angel TV News, some notorious Armed robbers entered Reverend Eastwood Anaba’s church called The Fountain Gate Chapel.

Kwadwo Dickson explained that, the Police Patrol team reportedly received an emergency call from the Ablekuma resident pastor detailing how the robbers entered the church. ” When the Police arrived, the Armed robbers reportedly had arrived in a Nissan pick up and started looting all the valuables in the church.” Kwadwo Dickson explained.

” I’m still wondering how the pastor got wind of the robbers. Perhaps he saw it in a vision as he called the police emergency Patrol team for action” Kwadwo Dickson narrated.” Immediately the police arrived at the church, the Armed robbers tried to run away. However the emergency police Patrol team managed to arrest one person. The remaining have been declared wanted ” Kwadwo Dickson added.We’re hoping and praying that those who escaped will be arrested to face the full rigours of the laws.

October 20, 2021