President John Mahama has stated that many young Ghanaians have aspirations that must be supported, a commitment reflected in the government’s Adwumawura programme, which aims to help realise those ambitions.

According to him, “Across Ghana, from our bustling cities to our quiet rural communities, young men and women nurture big dreams. They have powerful ideas, and they possess an unstoppable drive to build better lives for themselves. However, these dreams deserve more than just applause; they deserve action, they deserve opportunity, and they deserve committed support.”

The President added, “It is with this conviction that I made a bold promise ahead of the 2024 election: to prioritise the welfare, economic empowerment, and development of our youth through carefully crafted interventions, including the Adwumawura programme.”

He made these remarks in Kumasi on Monday, 28th April, where he officially launched the initiative.

Mr Mahama described the programme as being just another policy initiative, but as “a declaration of faith in the extraordinary potential of our Ghanaian youth.”

He emphasised that the programme represents the government’s “commitment to nurturing their ideas into thriving enterprises that will drive our nation’s progress.”

The Adwumawura programme is an initiative under the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP).

It is designed to provide start-up capital to young entrepreneurs, offer financial support to existing but struggling ventures, and deliver coaching services to business owners.

The government aims to create 10,000 youth-led businesses each year over a four-year period.

The President expressed optimism that the initiative would help close the unemployment gap and stimulate economic growth through the development of indigenous businesses.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu as the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, according to a statement released on Monday, April 28, 2025.

The appointment is in accordance with Section 17 of the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612) as amended.

Mrs. Asante-Asiedu is a Chartered Banker with a strong background in corporate leadership. She previously served as Group Head, Retail Banking at Access Bank Ghana PLC.

Her educational qualifications include an MBA in Marketing from GIMPA Business School (2021), an MA in Journalism Studies from Cardiff University (2005), and diplomas in Journalism (Ghana Institute of Journalism, 1997) and Politics and Public Affairs Reporting (International Institute of Journalism, Berlin, 2000). She also holds the designation of Chartered Executive Banker (CIB-Ghana, 2024).

Read Also: Bank of Ghana does not expect to declare a loss this year – Dr Asiama

Additionally, Mrs. Asante-Asiedu has participated in executive programs at several institutions, including Said Business School at Oxford University (2023), Wharton School (2015), and Marquette University’s Les Aspin Centre (2003).

The announcement was made by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications.

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Cash theft was the most common crime perpetrated, with 274 staff (75%) implicated in 2024

The recent Bank of Ghana (BOG) 2024 Fraud Report reveals that the number of staff involved in fraud at Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs) increased by 33%, from 274 in 2023 to 365 in 2024.

Cash theft was the most common crime perpetrated, with 274 staff (75%) implicated in 2024, which is up from 211 (77%) in 2023. Although the percentage declined slightly, the actual number rose.

Concerns are being raised due to the consistent and steady increase in staff involvement in fraudulent activities within these financial institutions. In total, 155 staff were dismissed by Banks and SDIs. Of these dismissals, 83 staff (54%) were due to cash theft related fraud.Financial literacy courses

The report notes that only 155 staff, representing 43% of the 365 staff involved in fraudulent activities, were dismissed. This suggests that other implicated staff may be exonerated or given lesser punishments. The difficulty in recovering potential losses due to prolonged legal proceedings also leads institutions to stop pursuing cases.

To address this issue, the BOG has issued directives to Banks and SDIs. These include strengthening internal controls and staff due diligence mechanisms during recruitment, reinforcing continuous in-house training on professional conduct, and ensuring the prosecution of culprits to act as a deterrent. Banks and SDIs are also required to strengthen disciplinary policies and foster a culture of zero tolerance for fraud.

Aside from the directives from the BoG to the Banks and SDIs, e-Crime Bureau strongly recommends that financial institutions urgently implement comprehensive digital monitoring solutions that leverage artificial intelligence to detect unusual employee behavior patterns in real-time.Financial literacy courses

Furthermore, organisations should establish independent whistleblower channels managed by third parties to overcome the cultural barriers that often prevent colleagues from reporting suspicious activities, as peer reluctance to report misconduct remains a significant blind spot in existing fraud prevention frameworks.

Financial institutions must additionally put internal control mechanisms to the test in order to establish their levels of adequacy to prevent, detect and respond to activities that result in the fraud occurrence. This will inform the required amendments to address new modus operandi being adopted by employees.

Banks must develop comprehensive awareness engagement programmes for clients which will enable them understand the levels of risk exposure through the sharing of regular cyber/financial crimes intelligence on the potential loopholes that could result in human compromises that will to the fraud.

Overall, this report is coming at a crucial point that should stair a broader industry collaboration and a deeper assessment of the regulatory regimes that exist in tackling insider related fraud that clearly have a potential of destabilizing the gains being made in other critical aspects of the financial system.

By Christopher Tetteh

Goaso, (Ahafo), April 28, GNA – Dr James Ankomah, the Medical Superintendent of the Goaso Municipal Hospital, has appealed for new refrigerators at the facility’s mortuary for body preservation.

He said all the refrigerators at the mortuary were obsolete experiencing mal-functioning and consistent repair works.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Goaso, the regional capital, Dr Ankomah said the mortuary required new refrigerators as soon as possible, saying “our refrigerators are too old to preserve bodies”.

He said the frequent repairs works on the refrigerators were draining the coffers of the hospital, worrying that “sometimes we have spent not less GHC30,000 for repairs”.

“The mortuary is even too old, and we need a new facility to preserve the bodies well”, Dr Ankomah stated.

GNA

DEN/CA

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, Ghana will once again observe May Day as a statutory public holiday. As is customary, many workers will leave their offices by noon on Wednesday, with some not returning until the following Monday. This pattern, common for holidays falling on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, results in significant productivity losses.

These midweek holidays disrupt workflows, as employees often extend their time off by traveling or taking additional unofficial leave, effectively turning a single holiday into a multi-day break. To address this challenge, we should consider realigning our public holidays to fall on Mondays, fostering long weekends that boost both economic activity and worker well-being while minimizing disruptions to productivity.

The Economic Cost of Midweek Holidays

The problem of midweek holidays is not unique to May Day. When holidays like Founder’s Day, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, or Constitutional Day fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, some employees may take the adjacent Monday or Friday off, creating an extended break. For instance, a Tuesday holiday might prompt workers to leave early on Monday or not return until Wednesday, while a Thursday holiday could lead to absences stretching into the following Monday.

This behaviour, while understandable, reduces productive hours, disrupts business operations, and strains economic output. Public holidays falling midweek can reduce GDP contribution from sectors like manufacturing and services by up to 2% for the affected week, as businesses face lower output and increased absenteeism.

Economic Benefits

Beyond boosting productivity, realigning holidays to Mondays offers social and economic benefits. Long weekends provide workers with opportunities for rest, family time, and travel, improving mental health and work-life balance. Studies from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that extended weekends reduce workplace stress and burnout, potentially lowering healthcare costs.

Economically, the tourism sector could see significant gains, as Ghanaians are more likely to visit local attractions or hometowns during long weekends. For instance, a 2023 study by the Ghana Tourism Authority found that domestic tourism spending increased by 12% during three-day weekends compared to single-day holidays. This additional revenue could support small businesses and create jobs in rural areas

Learning from Global Practices

Several countries have successfully addressed this issue by scheduling public holidays on Mondays, creating long weekends that benefit both workers and the economy. In the United States, holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day are fixed on Mondays, ensuring minimal disruption to the workweek. Similarly, Canada observes holidays such as Victoria Day and Canada Day on Mondays when they do not fall on their exact dates. The United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand also adopt this approach for holidays like Bank Holidays and Anzac Day. Research from the OECD shows that long weekends encourage domestic tourism and consumer spending, with countries like Australia seeing a 5-7% increase in retail and hospitality revenue during such periods. For Ghana, aligning holidays with Mondays could stimulate demand in tourism, retail, and transportation sectors, as workers use the extended weekend to travel or engage in leisure activities.

Balancing Tradition and Flexibility

Not all holidays can or should be shifted. Fixed-date holidays tied to cultural, religious, or historical significance—such as New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and Farmers’ Day—must remain on their designated dates to preserve their meaning. However, other holidays, including Constitutional Day, May Day, Republic Day, Founder’s Day, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, are more flexible and could be realigned to Mondays without losing their significance.

For example, Constitutional Day, currently observed on January 7, could be moved to the second Monday in January. May Day could become the first Monday in May, Founder’s Day the first Monday in August, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day the third Monday in September. Such changes would create predictable long weekends, reducing the likelihood of employees taking additional days off and ensuring a more consistent workweek.

Way forward

To implement this reform, Parliament could amend the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 986) to designate specific Mondays for these movable holidays. The precedent already exists: Farmers’ Day is fixed as the first Friday in December, demonstrating that holidays can be scheduled for consistency. A similar approach could be applied to other holidays, with clear guidelines ensuring that fixed-date holidays remain untouched.
the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture could promote domestic tourism packages tied to these long weekends, maximizing economic impact.

NB: The writer is an economist, lawyer, and a public policy advocate. He is the West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International. He can be contacted via email: [email protected] or www.cuts-accra.org

The stand-off between Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, Ronen Bar, has further intensified, with each man accusing the other of lies or inaccuracies in sworn depositions.

Netanyahu announced the dismissal of Bar last month, but the attorney general and the opposition have appealed against the move to the Supreme Court, which has effectively frozen it for now.

On Sunday, Netanyahu issued an affidavit for the court, in which he described Bar as a liar.

It followed an affidavit from Bar a few days earlier, in which he had accused the prime minister of demanding personal loyalty and ordering the Shin Bet to spy on anti-government protesters.

The confrontation has further exposed the deepening rifts in Israeli politics and society between the right-wing and hardliners supporting Netanyahu and the more liberal elements in the country, who took to the streets to protest against the government’s moves to curb the powers of the judiciary for many months before the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks that sparked the Gaza war.

It centres on Netanyahu’s insistence that he fired the Shin Bet head for professional failures.

Bar has countered by saying that his dismissal was motivated by political and personal considerations.

In his affidavit last week, the spy chief said that it was “clear” that if there were to be a constitutional crisis, Netanyahu would expect him to obey the prime minister and not the courts.

He also said Netanyahu had put pressure on him to use the Shin Bet to spy on Israelis leading or providing financial support to anti-government protests.

Many in Israel reacted with alarm, saying it was evidence of what appeared to be an unprecedented effort to overstep the powers of the domestic intelligence agency.

Now in his affidavit, which functions as a form of rebuttal, Netanyahu in his turn excoriated the Shin Bet head.

“The accusation according to which I allegedly demanded action against innocent civilians, or against a non-violent and legitimate protest during the protests of 2023, is an absolute lie,” he said.

Netanyahu also trained his sights on the security failures in the lead-up to and during the 7 October attacks, saying that Bar bore “massive and direct responsibility” for them and had “failed in his role as chief of Shin Bet and lost the confidence of the entire Israeli government as far as his ability to continue to manage the organisation”.

Bar immediately responded in kind in a statement, saying Netanyahu’s affidavit was “full of inaccuracies, biased quotes and half-truths aimed at taking things out of context and changing reality”.

To make its ruling on the dismissal of Bar, the Supreme Court may have to make a choice between which of the two conflicting affidavits it deems to be more credible.

Or the court may seek to defuse the crisis to some extent by finding a mechanism and a date by which Bar might agree to step down,

But the issues which have been exposed in the fierce recriminations between the two men have once again focused attention on the increasing bitterness between opposed sections of Israeli society.

These have been further exacerbated by the ever-growing fault line between those who support Netanyahu and his hard-line government in wanting to continue the war in Gaza to eliminate Hamas at all costs, and those who believe the fate of the living Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas must be put first, even if it means ending the war.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Flag of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)

Political scientist, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has reinforced the view that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 general elections was primarily due to economic mismanagement and the arrogance of power.

His remarks follow admissions by the NPP’s 2024 Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who recently outlined several reasons for the party’s electoral loss.

Speaking during the launch of his nationwide ‘Thank You Tour’ at the Takoradi Technical University, Dr Bawumia cited the high cost of living, the refusal to reshuffle government officials, the controversial E-Levy, the domestic debt exchange programme (DDEP), and internal divisions as key factors.

He also dismissed claims that religious biases were the primary cause of the defeat.

Reacting on the Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Dr Asah-Asante said the factors mentioned by Dr Bawumia were long known to the public and had been consistently highlighted by political analysts.

He emphasised that the NPP’s defeat was rooted in widespread indiscipline in managing the economy, coupled with an unwillingness to heed advice.

According to him, the economy was problematic, which needed to be fixed, but the NPP ignored all calls.

Dr Asah-Asante stressed that in Ghanaian politics, the economy remains the number one factor influencing voter behaviour.

He said, “I think those who are saying that this was really, they were spoken to about this and they all advised along fell on their deaf ears, they are right. Right, in the sense that these were things that we pointed out. That there’s a problem about the economy, they said, no, everybody is facing economic problems, and that let’s even look at Russia and Ukraine.”

They attributed every problem to Russia and Ukraine. What is even laughable is the fact that they forgot or they refused to admit that some of the problems, even though I can see that, yes, you still have some of the problems attributed to a Russian-Ukraine crisis.”

“But what about the one that they themselves caused? That one, they were not honest to admit that. So they pushed everything to Russia and Ukraine, and people were telling them about the way they mismanaged the economy. The way they were indisciplined with their financial dealings. The way they were not ready to accept ideas in the area of economics, and the rest of them,” he said.

He continued: “And what I think now, I mean, the reality has gone on there now. There’s always a reward and punishment, and when they give you what is good and you refuse, you are punished. When you make use of it, you are rewarded. And that is going to help you to champion your cause. That’s it. All that Dr Bawumia is saying, we know already. And people like us saw that and we started talking about it.”

Dr Asah-Asante noted, “If you look at my conversation, I’ve always said that if you read the literature about voter choices, things that influence voters in this country, there are a number of them. And number one is the economy. Irrespective of somebody’s political ideology, political inclination and whatever they believe in, the economy is paramount to every Ghanaian voter. So when the economy goes down, it’s going to affect everybody. And people vote, number one, based on what?

“Because, when the economy improves, it influences every part of the Ghanaian political space. It rubs off on everybody and improves the lives of everybody. So once you allow the economy to slip through your fingers, you are gone, and you are oblivious to that fact. Most of the things you said were basically things which are economic in nature. So it tells you that the economy was problematic. They needed to fix that. They forgot about that.”

Media personality Ola Michael

Media personality Ola Michael has accused some Nigerian movie producers, particularly Bimbo Ademoye, of using her recent outburst about Ghanaian TV stations pirating her movies as a calculated strategy to promote her work.

In a discussion on United Showbiz on April 27, 2025, Ola Michael pointed out that Nigerians are “number one” when it comes to pirating movies.

He recalled a time when Nigerians were known for pirating films from Ghana and other African countries during the peak of the Ghanaian movie industry.

Ola Michael emphasised that Nigerians are partly to blame for the decline of the Ghanaian movie industry.

“After watching her video, I saw someone doing PR for her film. When the Ghana movie industry was thriving, you could go to some African countries and find Nigerians pirating our movies at the roadside. If you want to know who is good at piracy, it’s the Nigerians,” he said.

He also advised Ghanaians not to make themselves available to be used by Nigerians for publicity purposes.

According to him, Bimbo was wearing a T-shirt while ranting about the piracy issues, which he believes is evidence that she was, in fact, promoting her movie.

Ola Michael further added that the day after Bimbo’s outburst, having successfully garnered attention for her movie, she began counting the increase in views for that particular film and noted the rise in her subscribers.

“In the video, she attacked people who supported her movies and spoke about her new film. She was wearing a T-shirt promoting her movie. The next day, she talked about how her subscribers had increased,” he added.

“They’re capitalizing on this to market their movie. Before Omoni Oboli released her movie, she did something similar. Omoni did the same thing a week before releasing her movie, and surprisingly, her viewers and subscribers grew,” he concluded.

Watch the video below:

Movie Piracy: Nigerians don’t care about us; they are using us to market their movies. – Ola Micheal#UnitedShowbiz pic.twitter.com/F6ZFVluSOp

— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) April 26, 2025

JHM/EB

Meanwhile, watch as frustrated Ghanaians speak out on poor network challenges

Justice Nwosu-Iheme of a FCT High Court Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday, April 28, sentenced the husband of late Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.

Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased (his wife) on April 8, 2022.

The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.

Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge.

The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.

In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5, respectively.

The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.

The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.

Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel, Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus, pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.

Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.

The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Richard Nii-Armah Quaye is a Ghanaian businessman

The Founder and Board Chairman of Bills Micro-Credit, Richard Nii-Armah Quaye, has announced his retirement from his executive roles.

He made the announcement on April 28, 2025, during a press conference in Accra.

According to him, the decision is part of his commitment to creating more business opportunities for young people in Ghana and beyond.

Addressing the press, he said, “In my dream, I see a future where the young people of Ghana have woken up, joined forces, and pooled our resources and skills together to take over the economic fortunes of our country.

Among us, there are those who have financial resources and those who possess unique skills and promising businesses that require funding and proper guidance.

“We must come together so that we can invest together, build together, and win together. This is the only way we will be able to build businesses that can compete, survive, and thrive on both the national and global stage. This dream is possible and can be achieved in record time.”

Nii-Armah Quaye is now expected to assume the role of President for his next venture, RNAQ Holdings.

He said, “I am ready to lead this cause and bring this dream into reality, as I have demonstrated over the past few years that it is possible for us to work together and win together.

“As I begin my retirement from all my businesses in Ghana and other countries as CEO and Board Chairman, I want to focus my time and energy on leading this vision—bringing together young people with financial resources and young people with amazing skills and early-stage businesses—to do this on a larger scale and trigger the economic revolution that will make our nation great and stronger.

Yes, my only aspiration is to see us thrive economically as a nation; I have no political ambitions whatsoever.”

This move is expected to mark a leadership transition for Bills Micro-Credit while offering a glimpse into the vision behind RNAQ Holdings.

Quaye’s retirement brings to a close a significant chapter in the story of Bills Micro-Credit.

Under his leadership, the company has steadily grown into a recognisable player in Ghana’s microfinance sector, expanding access to short-term financing for small businesses and individuals typically underserved by traditional banks.

Richard Nii-Armah Quaye recently underwent a tax assessment by the Financial Intelligence Centre following his highly publicised 40th birthday celebration, which drew significant attention on social media.

In response, Bills Micro-Credit Limited issued a statement distancing itself from Quaye’s personal financial activities, emphasising that it operates as an independent legal entity and does not fund his private purchases or events.

SSD/MA

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Dr Bonaa, seated second from left during a panel discussion

The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Dr Adam Bonaa is leading Ghana’s delegation to the Twelfth Meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Firearms (WGF), which opened today, April 28, 2025, in Vienna, Austria.

The high-level meeting, convened under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, brings together member states and international stakeholders to advance efforts against the illicit manufacture and trafficking of firearms. This year’s agenda focuses on the role of the UN Firearms Protocol in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and criminal justice responses.

In a strong show of Ghana’s commitment to global peace and security, the Acting Executive Secretary during a key session, delivered a presentation titled “The Contribution of the Firearms Protocol to Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Efforts: The Ghana Experience.”

His presentation highlighted Ghana’s national strategies for firearms control, including the commission’s work on weapons marking, arms stockpile management, weapons destruction, the legal framework on firearms, and public education campaigns.

He made a compelling case for integrating the Firearms Protocol into regional peace and security frameworks and called for increased cross-border collaboration to tackle the root causes of firearms trafficking.

Speaking ahead of the session, Dr Adam Bonaa emphasized the importance of aligning local actions with global standards.

“Small arms proliferation is not just a national security issue—it is a regional and international concern that threatens development, destabilizes communities, and prolongs conflicts. Ghana remains firmly committed to the full implementation of the Firearms Protocol and to sharing our experiences in support of international cooperation,” he stated.

The two-day meeting will also review criminal justice responses to firearms-related offenses and assess progress in implementing the Firearms Protocol across member states.

Ghana’s participation underscores its leadership role in West Africa on issues of arms control, peacebuilding, and organized crime prevention.

The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons continues to engage actively in global forums to promote a safer, more secure, and peaceful society through effective arms regulation and international cooperation.

GA

President John Mahama has restated his government’s commitment to developing the Entrepreneural abilities of Ghanaian youth.

He said the launch of ‘Adwumawura’, an Akan word which means “the job owner” is testament to this commitment.

“The Adwumawura programe, which we are launching today, is a flagship fulfilment of that promise I made in the campaign of 2024. The adwumawura programme is not a mere policy initiative. It is a declaration of faith in the extraordinary potential of the Ghanaian youth. It is our commitment to nurturing their ambitions and translating their ideas into thriving enterprises that will drive our nation’s progress. The adwumawura programme seeks to stimulate youth employment, entrepreneurship and innovation across key sectors of our economy,” he declared at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi on April 28.

According to him, “Our goal is to create at least 10,000 Ghanaian youth-owned businesses every year over a 4-year period.”

He used the launch to throw light of the relevance of the programme to prospective and existing youth entrepreneurs.

“This initiative will provide business development training. So, if you have your business or you want to establish a business, you will be trained on how to a manage a business. A lot of businesses fail because the promoters of the businesses do not understand how to manage a business,” he said.

President Mahama added that, “The programme will also provide access to funding. Most young people have good ideas, but they don’t have access to capital. The programme will provide coaching and mentorship. And so, for some of those you saw on the documentary, these are young entrepreneurs who have already established their businesses and so when we help you under the adwumawura programme, we will assign you to one of these entrepreneurs who have experience in running a business to guide and support you so your business can also grow.”

“We will also provide technological support and access to equipment and machinery. Somebody establishes a business, but he needs some machinery to enhance his productivity, and he cannot afford the equipment. Adwumawura is there for you. To help you buy your equipment. Adwumawura will also help with market access and facilitation. You will get support in how to market your product so that you can grow your business. And we will also have 367 days a year of comprehensive business advisory services. Once you set up your business it does not mean Adwumawura will leave you like that. If you have any problem, you can always come back and describe what your problem is, and they will support you to go forward,” the President explained further.

He assured that, “These businesses will be selected, if your business is not selected this year, it may be selected next year,”

Watch: Playback: Mahama launches ‘Adwumawura’ initiative

By Laudia Sawer

Tema, April 28, GNA – Mr Joshua Teye Agudah, the Assemblyman for the Dade Agbo electoral area in the Tema Metropolis, has called on the government to reassign portions of the Zoomlion sanitation contract to assembly members.

The contract between the government of Ghana and Zoomlion Ghana Limited had recently come under scrutiny, generating public discussion.

Issues with the contracts that had been criticised covers alleged overpayments and unexecuted ones, as well as discrepancies in workers’ compensation.

Mr Agudah, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), stated that Mr Malik Basintale, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), should reassign some portions of the contracts to the metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to be given to assembly members and unit committee members.

He said this in reaction to Mr Basintale’s declaration not to renew the existing sanitation contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, if the current wage structure for sanitation workers remained unchanged, criticising the current arrangement, where workers received GH¢250 monthly, while Zoomlion retained GH¢600 as management fees from the GH¢850 allocated per worker, describing it as exploitative and unjust.

Mr Agudah said portions such as street cleaning and drainage desilting could be handled by the assembly members, who would engage community members to take up such works in their electoral area.

“The majority of the assembly members cannot work under any company due to the pressure and problems in our communities, and we are less empowered in the area of sanitation; this will do us good and the country as a whole.”

He added that they could supervise the work and ensure fair pay because they are community members and sanitation agents.

GNA

LS/CAA

Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa

China remains committed to fostering peaceful international relations and a fair, rules-based global trading system, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tong Defa has said.

Speaking at a media engagement in Accra, Ambassador Tong emphasised the importance of diplomatic cooperation, mutual respect and economic inclusiveness while condemning rising global protectionism and unilateral tariff policies, particularly those of the United States.

He stressed the need for dialogue and mutual respect in international relations, warning against the rise of unilateralism and economic coercion.

The Ambassador described the tariff hikes as violations of the global multilateral trading system and said that such actions threaten the foundations of international cooperation and pose risks to global economic stability.

According to him, the new U.S. tariff policies target over 180 countries and regions, including vulnerable Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with some Chinese products facing tariffs as high as 145% – and in certain cases, like solar panels, over 3,000%.

“This severely infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, violates World Trade Organisation rules, undermines the rule-based multilateral trading system and disrupts the global economic order.

“The Chinese government strongly condemns and resolutely opposes such moves. By taking such actions, the United States defies fundamental laws of economics and market principles, disregards the balanced outcomes achieved through multilateral trade negotiations…and weaponises tariffs to exert maximum pressure for selfish interests. This is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying,” he stated.

Multilateralism

He however called for multilateralism and collaboration in shaping the future of international relations.

“There are no winners in tariff wars. International affairs should be addressed through consultation, not coercion. The future of the world must be decided collectively,” he stressed.

He urged countries to uphold the principles of fairness, justice and mutual respect in global governance and to stand on the right side of history.

“As the second-largest economy and second-largest market for consumer goods, China is committed to opening ever-wider to the world, no matter how the international situation changes. We will continue to advance high-standard opening-up.

“We will steadily expand institutional opening-up in rules, regulations, management, and standards. We will implement high-standard policies for trading, investment, liberalisation and facilitation. We will foster a first-class market-oriented, law-based and internationalised business environment. We will share our development opportunities with the world to achieve mutual benefits,” he stated.

Support for African Trade and Development

Ambassador Tong also spoke of China’s continued support for African development, particularly in the area of trade.

He cited the country’s decision to grant 100% zero-tariff treatment to all LDCs with diplomatic ties to China – including 33 African nations. This, he noted, makes China the first G20 member to offer such comprehensive preferential access.

In addition, China has signed bilateral investment treaties with 34 African countries and double taxation avoidance agreements with 21 of them.

“China is not only opening up to the world but also sharing development opportunities, especially with our African brothers and sisters,” he said.

Neighbour diplomacy

Ambassador Tong also took the opportunity to highlight key takeaways from the recently held Central Conference on Work Related to Chinese Neighbouring Countries, in China.

That conference emphasised the critical role of neighbouring countries to development, prosperity and security… and called for the building of a “community with a shared future”.

Ambassador Tong explained that China will deepen cooperation in various fields – including economic integration, infrastructure, security and cultural exchange – while maintaining the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

He also pointed out that, following the conference, President Xi Jinping embarked on successful visits to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, signalling the country’s resolve in strengthening regional ties.