A/R: Passenger allegedly receives hot slap for recording Police Officer in Bantama

It was a very unpleasant situation at the Unity junction in Bantama as a female passenger received a hot slab from one Corporal from the Sofoline police in the Ashanti Region. 

The incident which occurred few hours ago started when the MTTD crossed a trotro driver who was heading to Sofoline. The driver stopped his vehicle and after checking his vehicle, the community police realized the trotro driver had overloaded the vehicle. 

The Community Police personnel then informed one female Corporal who asked the driver to hand over his driver's license, but the driver declined stating that anther police officer had seized the card. The female officer then commanded the driver to unseat the passengers and follow her to the police station.

Whiles arguments were going on between the two, one of the passengers, who is around forty years of age decided to record what was happening but unfortunately, her phone was snatched by the community police and handed to his boss. 

The woman angrily rushed to the Corporal to collect her phone and this led to a scuffle between the two and unfortunately, she got slapped by the female officer. 

Regina Sulemana, the victim in an interview with the media disclosed that she was only recording the driver who made a comment that the police and drivers are friends because the latter give the former GHC 2 and GHC 5 bribes. 

Madam Regina affirmed that the female officer indeed slapped her, and she wanted to retaliate by slapping her in return, but she was separated by the crowd. 

The victim, who refused to reveal her identify but is believed to be a senior police officer working in Accra hinted that she is heading to the Greater Accra Police Command to report the police officer because her conduct is unlawful, and she might eventually lose her job as a result. 

…..MAD. REGINA…..

Approach 2022 budget with national agenda in mind – Minority told

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has asked the Minority in Parliament to approach the debate on the 2022 budget statement from nationalists perceptive.

He indicated that the budget contains policy proposals which seek to tackle the fundamental challenges facing the country hence, must be approved.

The Ofoase Ayirebi legislator added that, they want to have a conversation with Minority during the debate on the budget.

He added that, the house should approve the economic proposals in the budget.

Members of Parliament from the Minority side of the House have accused their counterparts from the Majority of holding Parliament hostage over their lack of numbers.

This comes three clear hours after the advertised 10 am of sittings to begin.

With the debate on the budget expected to be climaxed today, the nation is on tenterhooks over whether the policy document will be approved or rejected.

Already the Minority MPs have served notice they will reject the document due to the introduction of “obnoxious” taxes, which they argue will further compound the hardship of the ordinary Ghanaian.

On the other hand, the Majority argues the budget portends hope as it will create millions of jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

….OPPONG NKRUMAH…..

 

#FixTheCountry organizers disappointed after protestors were denied access to parliament

Organisers of the #FixTheCountry protest against aspects of the 2022 budget have said they are disappointed in the Police for not allowing all the protestors entry into the premises of Parliament.

The protestors were stopped by the Police at the entrance, and only five of them were allowed entry into the premises to present their petition to the House.

They had started the protest march from the Tema Station near the Hockey Pitch in Accra, with a plan to climax it with a petition to Parliament.

One of the leaders, Ernesto Yeboah in an interview with the media claimed that the police had earlier agreed that they would be granted entry into parliament once they were not more than 500.

But Majority Leader in Parliament who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu receiving their petitioned explained why only five of the leaders were allowed entry into the premises.

According to him, they would have come through the Public Affairs Director to the Speaker ordinary before they could be granted permission into the premises.

He added that, everybody who visits the parliament is a quest to the Speaker and is only him (Speaker) who grants permission of them to enter.

Scores of Ghanaians today embarked on a protest in Accra as part of the #FixTheCountry demonstration to reject portions of the government’s budget statement and economic policy for 2022.

According to the protestors, aspects of the 2022 budget on taxation are a hindrance to the progress of Ghanaians.

Some of them cited the Electronic Transaction Levy of 1.75% as an example of taxes that will hurt the economy and bring more hardship to Ghanaians.

…..OSEI BONSU….

#2022 budget: Minority fumes at absence of majority in Parliament

The Minority in Parliament has fumed at the absence of the Majority Members of Parliament in the House as it prepares to give its final vote on the passage of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government.

Addressing the media at parliament two hours after the advertised starting time for sitting on the day, the MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, expressed disappointment in the fact that not even a single member of the majority caucus in parliament was present as of that time.

He questioned if the MPs on the other side were no longer interested in imposing the hardships they had lined up in the budget.

According to him, “This press conference has been called at exactly nine minutes past twelve. We as conscientious Members of Parliament, who have been sent to parliament by our constituents to do government business and make sure that the ultimate interest of this country is protected, know that today, we must have the conclusion of the budget debate.

He added that, it is now nine minutes past twelve and not even one member of the NPP has shown up in the Chamber.

He stressed that, “The Minority is serious, fully in our numbers in the Chamber, the Speaker is ready to commence business of the House but notice getting to him by the Clerks at table indicate that no member of the NPP is present”.

He questioned them (Majority) if they are no longer interested in the passing the budget or they are no longer interested in imposing the hardships they want on Ghanaians, they should come and let them take the budget because this is serious business, two hours past the starting time of parliament, what are they waiting for?

…..SAM GEORGE…..

 E-Levy will hamper growth of government’s E-pharmacy project – PSGH

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has joined calls for the downward revision of the proposed Electronic Transaction Levy, also known as E-Levy.

According to the Vice President of the Association, Mr. Kwabena Offei Asante, the proposed E-Levy at 1.75% threatens the viability of the government’s proposed e-pharmacy project, which will be dependent on the use and integration of electronic payment systems to pay for services.

Speaking to the media, he said, plans are in progress to provide pharmaceutical care electronically, through the e-pharmacy project and this will enable more people in more places to access pharmaceutical services using their electronic devices such as mobile phones to position us on the path to attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“However, he believes that the total charges on e-transactions, especially mobile money transactions, should be reviewed downwards.

He added that, they are “concerned about the 1.75% levy on electronic transactions above GHS100 in addition to the network/system imposed charges (usually between 1%-2%),” which if not reviewed downward will, “hamper the development and growth of electronic services including e-pharmacy in Ghana.”

….MR. KWABENA FIRST…..

Mr. Kwabena Offei again to appealed to the government to exempt the pharmaceutical industry from restoring the benchmark value.

….MR. KWABENA SECOND…..

 

 

Speaker suspends sitting over Majority Caucus’ absence in the chamber

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, says he was not informed that the Majority were having a Caucus meeting.

Even though the NDC Caucus protested against the suspension, the Speaker resolved to suspend the House.

According to him, he has just been inform that the Majority side wants to have 30 minutes meeting of the caucus and they have alleged that he was informed; that definitely is untrue.

He added that, “I was informed early in the morning that both caucuses were having meetings that I am aware of. However, nobody came to inform me that they (Majority) were having a caucus meeting, so that is why I came to preside only to realize there was nobody on their side.”

Members of Parliament from the Minority side of the House have accused their counterparts from the Majority of holding Parliament hostage over their lack of numbers.

This comes three clear hours after the advertised 10 am of sittings to begin.

With the debate on the budget expected to be climaxed on Friday, November 26, 2021, the nation is on tenterhooks over whether the policy document will be approved or rejected.

Already the Minority MPs have served notice they will reject the document due to the introduction of “obnoxious” taxes, which they argue will further compound the hardship of the ordinary Ghanaian.

On the other hand, the Majority argues the budget portends hope as it will create millions of jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

…..SPEAKER…..

 

NSMQ 2021 – Presec, Ketasco and Prempeh College battle for trophy

It is the grand finale of the 2021 National Science and Maths Quiz and PRESEC-Legon, Prempeh College and Keta SHTS are ready to battle for the covetable trophy.

The three schools who have showed outstanding performance prior to today have pledged to once again give a splendid performance. It is a clash of the titans.

Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School wants a seventh trophy but KETASCO says it won’t give this mouth-watering opportunity to grab its first trophy.

Prempeh College is battling for a fifth trophy.

Asekyerehene, Professor Nana Mensah Bonsu who is a former student of Prempeh College speaking on behalf of Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu II wished all the competitors all the best.

According to him, Science and Maths is one of the difficult subjects in the schools but thanks to NSMQ, this subject has inspired a lot of students to study these two subjects

He added that, Otumfour wish to congratulate them for hosting the NSMQ in the Ashanti region for the first time.

….NANA MENSAH BONSU…..

 

 

BUSINESS

Atuabo shutdown: There’s enough gas to avoid dumsor – Ghana Gas

The Ghana National Gas Company Limited (GNGCL) has said it will not shy away from routine engineering and maintenance of machines and equipment at its Gas Processing Station at Atuabo in the Western Region.

The Company insist that engineering and maintenance works are only to guarantee the integrity of its processing plant and will continue to do so in accordance with international best practices.

“So how a section of the public feels that when we off the Atuabo Gas Plant then the nation returns to having power outages, this cannot be true. I have stated that there is a system in place which gives us the opportunity to have Gas from ENI, that’s a combination of Atuabo, ENI and an additional one which gives us extra gas to generate electricity for Ghanaians.

Head of Corporate Communications for GNGCL, Ernest Owusu Bempah speaking to the media said, despite the fact that they have off the Atuabo Gas Plant, there is still gas that would not bring any challenge to Ghanaians with respect to power generation.

The Ghana National Gas Company in October this year shut down its processing plant to Atuabo to allow for routine engineering and maintenance works

The scheduled 14-days works is inconsistent with previous shutdown and this is to enhance the capacity for uninterrupted productivity while prolonging the lifespan of machines and equipment.

The Head of Corporate Communications for the Ghana Gas Company assured that there are other reliable options available in terms of gas supply for power generating plants in the country.

….OWUSU BEMPAH…..