Why Should Ghanaians Complain About Extra 10% Tariff Increment? - ECG Quizzes

The Electricity Company of Ghana appears bemused by consumers raising hell over additional charges on electricity tariffs which came to light this week. ECG says the increment is meant for developmental projects and sees nothing wrong for government to slap Ghanaians with additional taxes to develop the nation. On Thursday, it was revealed that power consumers will be charged 69% in electricity tariff instead of the 59.2% recent upward adjustment announced by the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC). Documents in possession of Peacefmonline.com clearly indicates that apart from the 59.2% increase, PURC directed the service provider, to charge an additional 10%, resulting in a cumulative hike of 69% beginning 1st January, 2016. A letter signed by the Executive Secretary of the PURC Samuel Sarpong states that the charges comprise a 5% increase approved by Parliament for a street light levy and another 5% billing for the national electrification charge. When news of the additional became public, Ghanaians hit the roof in anger calling the government and PURC insensitive and defunct. But Public Relations Manager for the ECG, William Boateng, believes the increment is in order. Explaining why his outfit is charging an extra 10% more instead of the 59.2% recent upward adjustment announced by the PURC, in an interview with CITI FM, he said “I do not understand the reason why most Ghanaians are bitterly complaining about the additional 10% increase in electricity tariffs since it was publicly announced by the company.”  According to him, the Energy Sector Levy Act (Act 899, 2015) deals with this; “Public lightening levy which is 5% per kilowatt hour of electricity charged on all categories of consumers, would be collected by the ECG and payment would be made to the Ministry responsible for power and electricity distribution companies.” The purpose for this particular levy is to support payment of energy consumed by traffic lights, street lights, public lights and highways to support investment and maintenance for these sectors by the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies and would also be used to cater for replacement of street lights destroyed by hit and run motor vehicles, he said. Additionally, he told ‘Eyewitness News’ that the other half, is for National Electrification Scheme Levy, which is also 5% per kilowatt hour of electricity charged on all categories of consumers and its purpose is to provide funding support for national electrification programmes to improve access to electricity, under ECG collection. It would be paid to the national electrification fund, which has effectively been created. So basically these are the two levies which have increased the cost of electricity by another 10% effective 1st January 2016. He added that Ghanaians should take note of these increase and stop blaming the ECG for stealing their units.

Source: Elizabeth Semiheva/Peacefmonline.com

Flagstaff House now ‘dumping ground’ for non-performing ministers – NPP activists

A member of the communication team of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Boakye a.k.a Nana B has accused President John Mahama of turning the seat of government, the Flagstaff House into a ‘dumping ground’ for ineffective ministers or those accused of wrong doing.

According to him, the alacrity with which such ministers are reassigned to the Office of the President which is now a safe haven, is very worrying and unacceptable.

President John Mahama in his latest reshuffle on Monday reassigned Interior Minister Mark Woyongo who has come under a lot of public flak lately to the Presidency as Minister of State.

Mr Woyongo was criticized heavily for publicly stating that he was not privy to details surrounding the acceptance into the country of the two ex Guatanamo Bay Cell detainess, whose presence in Ghana has sparked a lot of controversy. Several political experts were of the view that he goofed in his answer, hence losing his position in the latest reshuffle has come as no surprise to many.

Contributing to a discussion on Peace FM Tuesday, Nana Boakye recountered how President Mahama was quick to reassign former Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah to the Office of the President in the wake of his alleged acts of corruption during Ghana’s participation at the 2014 World Cup tournament.

“This trend is very worrying, you’ll recall that soon after Ghana’s world cup debacle where Hon. Afriyie Ankrah reportedly ensured the wanton dissipation of the tax payers money, President Mahama took him from the sports ministry to the Office of the President, at a time Ghanaians were calling for his prosecution.  Why does the president re-assigns such appointees to the Presidency, for what… for them to continue the same mess they were doing” he asked?

Nana Boakye added: “A reshuffle is in the offing, and that will be done by Ghanaians during the November 7 Presidential election. Ghanaians will reshuffle President Mahama out of office as punishment for the hardship he has made us suffer.”

Source: Kasapafmonline.com

AUDIO: Akufo Addo FINALLY Speaks On Gitmo Ex-Detainees Saga

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has described the ongoing saga involving the arrival into Ghana of two Guantanamo Bay detainees as yet another example of the failure of leadership on the part of President Mahama. According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the law, as contained inSection 35 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2008, (Act 762), prohibits the transaction into which President Mahama has entered with the United States government. In addition to this, the President’s decision not to consult the relevant stakeholders in the country, so as to assuage the fears of Ghanaians, has resulted in heightened levels of fear amongst Ghanaians. Had President Mahama done the needed consultations, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that the “Ghanaian people may well have been spared the disquieting anxiety, in this time of justifiably heightened fear of global terrorism, that we are being led by a President who, ostensibly in the name of compassion, prefers to ignore laws designed to defend the most sensitive area of all, our nation’s security.” The NPP flagbearer made this known when he delivered a tribute in honour of the late Alhaji Alhassan Bin Salih in Wa, at an event of homage held on Tuesday, January 19, 2016. According to the NPP flagbearer, President Mahama’s failure in showing leadership in this matter “is a sad example of his belief that he is answerable to no one, not even to the laws of the Republic, like s.35 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (Act 760), which, as President, he is sworn to uphold.” Section 35 (1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2008, (Act 762), states that “The Director of Immigration or an officer authorised by the Director shall not grant an endorsement or authority to permit a person to enter this country if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the person is, will or has been involved in the commission of a terrorist act.” “Since he claims that only Presidents Rawlings and Kufuor have the right to criticize him, I would have wished that he had found it worthy to consult both of our two former national leaders before he took this grave decision that has consequences for us all,” he said. To this end, Nana Akufo-Addo admonished all Ghanaians, regardless of their political or religious affiliations, to “refrain from introducing religious divisions into the debate, for the issue at stake is not a religious one.”

Source: Peacefmonline.com

I commit myself to a Nana Addo presidency in 2016 – Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah

Newly elected parliamentary candidate of the opposition NPP in the Ofoase-Ayirebi Constituency of the Eastern Region, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, says his whole campaign will be geared towards a Nana Akufo-Addo presidency in 2016.

In a statement released Sunday evening, Oppong-Nkrumah said getting the party’s flagbearer to be president after the 2016 elections was paramount, adding he would commit himself to the task.

“Our common objective as true patriots should be to improve our party’s fortunes in December 2016 and thereby take Nana Akuffo Addo to the Flagstaff house.

This is the task to which I commit myself and the task I believe we can fulfill working together.”

In a poll held Saturday, he won by some 219 votes beating his closest contender John Obiri-Yeboah who managed 145 votes. The other contestant Bright Asamoah Acquah had 54 votes.

By: Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana

By: Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana

Saul Was A Terrorist…But God Had Mercy On Him – Ablakwa To Bishop Bonsu

The Deputy Minister in Charge of Tertiary Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has described as ‘unfortunate’ remarks by the Head of the Catholic Bishop Conference, Bishop Osei Bonsu. Bishop Osei Bonsu in response to President John Mahama’s comment on the former Guantanamo detainees; that Ghanaians should show compassion on the two said even though there is the need to show compassion, ‘compassion must be balanced with common sense’. "My Christian compassion is there and we need to be compassionate for people in need and try to help people but we have to balance compassion with common sense. If you know that somebody is a risk to the nation, you can't say that because of compassion we are going to take him. Then we may as well open our prisons and let out all the criminals” he said. A lot of government communicators have taken the Bishop to the cleaners for making such a comment. Speaking during a panel discussion on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji, Hon Ablakwa asked the Bishop to retract his remarks. “The comment from the Bishop Bonsu was most unfortunate …that he expects the President to balance compassion with common sense? It is not right for a Bishop to speak to the President that way….i thought his language was unfortunate…he should think about it and retract it” According to the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, there is the need to have compassion on the Gitmo ex-detainees because God had mercy on Saul who a ‘terrorist’ and later got converted and became Paul. “… Saul (in the Bible) who later became Paul was a terrorist…he was killing people…he was on his terrorist enterprise when he met … if you read Acts 9:1-31 and I am surprised the leadership of the church, Bishop Bonsu has forgotten all about these” he added.

Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com

In 295 Days Nana Addo Will Be Declared Prez...Bawumia Declares

The Running mate to the New Patriotic Party flagbearer for the 2016 general elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has declared that the party's flagbearer, Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo will be elected president of the Republic in just about 295 days. "Judging from the people present here and their commitment, i am left with no doubt that the new Patriotic Party will assume power in the upcoming general elections," Dr Bawumia said. Speaking at the fund raising ceremony of the Ashanti Regional Branch of the New Patriotic Party at the Baba Yara stadium, he reiterated that the Mahama-led NDC administration has failed to make life comfortable for Ghanaians and judging from the way things are going, there is no hope for the people of this country. However, he said, "when the New Patriotic Party assumes power come 2016, we will restore hope to the people of Ghana and also clean up the mess the NDC government has created. "In this regard, I entreat all Ghanaians to vote massive for the New Patriotic Party during the elections," he added. The ceremony which started very late saw quite a number of party faithfuls in attendance. Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Mr.Bernard Antwi Bosiako expressed his appreciation to the National leadership of the party for gracing the occasion and also supporting them to achieve their purpose. Though the number is quite significant, all tickets were sold and that was our core target, he noted. In attendance was the flagbearer of the party, Nana Addo Danquah Akuff- Addo, Acting National Chairman Mr.Freddie Blay, Acting General Secretary who doubles as the National Organizer and Operations Director for the 2016 general elections, Campaign Manager Peter Mac Manu, Minority Leader Hon.Kyei Mensah Bonsu among others.

Source: Isaac Owusu/Hello FM

'Kayayei’ Donate Ghc 5,000 At NPP’s Fund Raising

Speaking in the Akan dialect, she said “We don’t want Nana Addo to go for any money to end up in the Woyomi Saga”. The head porters, several of them homeless, recently had their makeshift structures razed by fire. According to Kumasi-based Ultimate FM, Hajia Adiza Zongo Pioneer alleged on radio that the fire was sparked by some elements in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to punish the head porters when they announced their intentions to support the NPP’s fund raising event. Head porters, mostly found in Ghana’s busy cities,  largely struggle to make a living for themselves. Majority of them are homeless as their dreams of travelling down south to make ends meat are often not realized. The head porters have in recent times criticized President Mahama’s performance, saying his administration has made life extremely difficult for them. They are particularly displeased because in their view, President Mahama, who is a northerner, should care more about their plight and make life better for them. As part of the exercise, MPs in the NPP’s stronghold region alone donated Ghc 50,000 among several other donations. The stadium was filled with members of the party clad in party colours. In attendance was the Flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, his Running Mate Dr. Bawumia, and other bigwigs of the party. Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, said there was the need to raise funds to support Nana Addo’s campaign, as has been done for previous candidates who led the party.

Source: citifmonline.com

To NPP Members, Akufo Addo Never Errs...He’s A Saint Before Their Eyes - Gen. Mosquito

General Secretary of NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah

Apart from Jesus Christ who was perfect in his ways on earth, the General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has sarcastically rated the 2016 Presidential Candidate of NPP, Nana Akufo Addo as having similar traits. According to General Mosquito as he is affectionately called, Nana Akufo Addo is considered a saint in the eyes of the NPP and so every mistake under his leadership should be attributed to others and not him. The NDC Chief Scribe’s made this remark when he was asked to comment on the NPP’s insistence for a new voters’ register despite the decision of the Electoral Commission to maintain the current voters’ register for the 2016 election. Making mockery of the NPP’s three times Flagbearer, Asiedu Nketiah on Okay Fm’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show said that “under Nana Addo, NPP has never accepted defeat and so this is their normal practice; leave them alone”. “He (Nana Addo) has never admitted any wrongdoings in his life; he is a perfect being and so allow them to continue with the insistent demand for a new register without admitting that they have a problem”, he mocked. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com.gh/E-mail: bigdallas1985@gmail.com

I Made A Mistake...Multiple Registration In Ashanti Not 200,000 - EC Boss

Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei The Electoral Commission of Ghana has clarified that the number of suspected multiple registrations in the Ashanti region is not 200,000 as earlier stated by the Chairperson of the commission. According to the commission the figure is rather for total registrations for the region in 2014. Mrs. Charlotte Osei has thus corrected the figure for suspected multiple registrations for the Ashanti region as being 14,651. The opposition New Patriotic Party questioned the basis upon on which Mrs. Osei arrived at the earlier figure from the party’s stronghold. Responding to the decision of the EC to maintain the existing electoral roll for the November polls, campaign manager for the NPP, Mark Manu slammed the EC boss for the factual inaccuracies. “She (Charlotte Osei) made the bold statement that the EC has identified in Ashanti region alone, 200,000 names which are on the multiple registration list…this disclosure is again very strange. “The EC in its response to the NPP claimed in page 23 that 150,000 names had been identified as multiples nationwide. How is it possible therefore for the EC to identify as much as 200,000 names in the Ashanti region alone?” He queried. The NPP cited this and a number of other reasons to accuse the EC boss of towing the propaganda line of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). “The NPP hereby serves notice that, it remains totally dissatisfied with the response from the EC and reiterate its conviction that only a new credible voter’s register will guarantee us free, fair and transparent elections” the former party Chairman added. However, in an earlier interview on Morning Starr with Robert Nii Arday Clegg, the EC boss admitted she mixed up the figures concerning multiple registrations in the Ashanti region. “I made a mistake with the figures and I think it’s really important that we clarify it and we put it on record. With regard to the suspected multiple registrations which are on the exception’s list. “For the Northern region for instance we have…about 83,000 people registered and we have suspected multiples of 8169, Upper West region; 24,000 registered with suspected multiples of 2,279 still in the process of adjudicating. Volta region; 52,000 plus registrations with suspected multiples of 4,000, Western Region; 91,000 registrations, suspected multiples of 7,000 plus. Central Region; 92,000 registrations, with suspected multiples of 5,968. Greater Accra; 162,000 registrations, suspected multiples of 11,555, Upper East region; 35,849 registrations suspected multiples 2977. “Eastern; 93,000 registrations, 5,490 suspected duplicates, Ashanti region; 200,559 registrations not multiples and 14,651 suspected multiples, it’s still the highest but it’s not 200,000. And then Brong Ahafo is 89,000 registrations 6,964 suspected multiples” the EC boss explained. She added, “But again, to be clear the multiple registrations are not in the actual register. They are on an exception’s list and as we adjudicate and take a final decision then they are either deleted totally out or the ones that pass the test of credible, legitimate registrations are now added to the register.”

Source: Starrfm

Ghana Cannot Return Gitmo Detainees; It’s A Done Deal - US Embassy

The United States Embassy in Accra has explained that it would not be possible to return the Guantanamo detainees which government has accepted to accommodate in Ghana for two years. Many Ghanaians have expressed disagreement with government’s decision on the detainees and have asked that they should be returned but some have however welcomed them and insisted they should be accepted on humanitarian grounds. In an interview on Accra based radio station, Citi FM Friday morning, the Public Affairs Counselor of the US Embassy in Ghana, Mr Daniel Fennell said returning the two men is out of the question since it was a done deal. “I just don’t see that as a possible eventuality, I think this is a positive movement, Ghana is showing leadership, it makes the world safer and better, and it is very little risk to it and we appreciate their leadership, we appreciate their partnership,” Mr Fennel said. There have been arguments and confusion over who was to finance the upkeep of the detainees whilst in Ghana. The confusion emerged when the producers of the television programme, Hot Issues posted a 1:30minutes interview between host Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr and Mr Fennel as a promotional video on Facebook. The programme is scheduled to be aired on TV3 on Saturday January 16, 2016 at midday. In the interview, Mr Fennell reiterated his comments which suggested that Ghana and the US were sharing the costs for the upkeep of the ex-detainees. He had made a similar comment earlier in the week in another interview with Richard Sky on Citi FM. This however contradicts what had earlier been put out by Ghana government that there were no financial commitments on the part of Ghana. In the interview on Citi FM Friday morning Mr Fennell apologized for his earlier comments said the US will provide the financial support whilst Ghana provides the infrastructure and men [security] for the upkeep of the ex-detainees. “…on the cost issue, the United States is bearing the cost … that are necessary to upkeep the detainees that were brought from Guantanamo Bay and the Government of Ghana is in charge of the infrastructure they are in command, and their personnel are in charge of monitoring and so we are infact, if there’s any payment necessary we are the ones that are providing that support so that Ghana doesn’t bear additional financial cost as a result of doing this,” Mr Fennell said. “If I cause any confusion with my private statement, I apologise. In fact the statement I have heard from the Deputy Minister, Felix are absolutely correct, he spoke correctly and very well and I apologise if I caused any confusion by muddying the issue,” Mr Fennell said. He said the United States would not want Ghana to be “out of pocket” on this issue and is therefore contributing money for the upkeep of the prisoners. What was said earlier on Hot Issues Mr Fennell had earlier stated on the television programme: “It’s a shared expense…we are contributing some for the monitoring and upkeep of the individuals. We are contributing some money towards that and the government of Ghana is making all the arrangements and taking care of them.” On the Hot Issues programme, when the host Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr. asked whether government was using tax payers’ money to take care of the former Guantanamo inmates, Mr. Fennel said “I think so” saying “is that so difficult to imagine that Ghana would pay for something that is happening in Ghana?” “I think it’s laudable and we should be proud of Ghana,” he added. Mr. Fennel also said the security of the former detainees is also “a shared cost.” “The government of Ghana under the constitution is responsible for the security of everything in Ghana so they are keeping track at it, they are better at it, they are smart and we think they are doing an excellent job,” he noted. He apologized for his previous comment and said it was misunderstood. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1dDAjb6Two" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Source: Daily Graphic

Nayele Pops Up Again...Threatens To Release Video That Will Cripple Prez Mahama's Gov't

In spite of its commendable performance over the last three years, President John Dramani Mahama and his NDC administration in the coming days will face its severest scandal test should incarcerated cocaine goddess, Nayele Ametefe, carry through an intended threat. A source close to Nayele Ametefe, also known as Angel Adu Gyamfi, who is currently serving eight year jail term in the United Kingdom for carrying 12 kilos of cocaine into the Kingdom, sayS she is threatening to release an explosive X-rated video that is likely to bring the Mahama government on its knees. Even though the Mahama administration has survived plethora of scandals since its inception, the impending embarrassment, our source says, will dwarf and possibly, obliterate all the achievements chalked by the National Democratic Congress government in the last seven years. The cocaine goddess, The aL-hAJJ is reliably informed, is threatening to let out damning sex tapes involving a prominent Chief Executive of a sensitive and major state enterprise and an influential member of the governing party who, despite assurances of securing her freedom after her arrest, has since abandoned her. The said CEO, described as haughty and snobbish and who in recent times suffered bad press, the source revealed, had turned the stunning Nayele into a “night nurse” to the extent that, even the night before her arrest, they had several bouts of sex. Another dependable source close to the jailed Ghanaian/Australian drug dealer told The aL-hAJJ that Nayele has been incensed for being used and dumped by the said CEO who our investigations revealed recently traveled to the UK to plead with her after information hit him that the jailed cocaine baroness was threatening to release the videos. “Nayale is mad at him (the CEO). She feels used and dumped. After turning her into sex machine with the assurance that he will protect her, he abandoned her after her arrest. The most painful aspect is that he slept with her the night before Nayale was arrested,” the source revealed. The source added that “Nayele has several sex videos with him and she has threatened to make them public to avenge what that man did to her. Nayele will not go down alone; that, I can tell you for a fact.” The married under pressure CEO, who is a very powerful official in the Mahama-led NDC government and was also rumored to be eyeing the running mate slot for the November elections, this paper has gathered, has been in long standing amorous relationship with Nayele until her arrest on the night of November 2014 at the Heathrow airport in UK. Reports are that most of the “special” treatments Nayele was accorded during her numerous foreign travels was facilitated by this CEO ‘boyfriend’ who had turned her into a sex slave with a promise she would be adequately protected to avoid arrest for her illicit trade. The Ghanaian/Austrian cocaine dealer was on January 6, 2015 sentenced to eight years and eight months on her own plea by the Isleworth Crown Court in London after she pleaded guilty to carrying 12 kilos of cocaine to the United Kingdom. Briefing the court, lawyer for the single mother of three noted that, Nayele came into contact with powerful people in 2004 and her life changed dramatically. She travelled extensively with influential people as their companion, he stated.

Source: Al-Hajj