Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, has reiterated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s commitment to abolishing the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy) and the COVID-19 levy.

This pledge, a key feature of the NDC’s 2024 manifesto, aims to provide relief to Ghanaians burdened by these levies.

Speaking on the matter, Madam Bawah Mogtari assured the public that the government remains resolute in its determination to deliver on this promise, emphasizing its dedication to easing the financial pressures on citizens.

“The E-levy has been a significant concern for many citizens. In a country where several banks have collapsed, some intentionally, mobile money services have become the main avenue for financial transactions. It is critical to ensure that this platform remains accessible and affordable for all. These levies will be scrapped,” Joyce Bawah made these remarks during an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show.

She expressed disapproval of the 1.5% rate of the levy, comparing it to other nations where taxes are limited to 0.5%.

In her view, the increased rate has rendered the levy burdensome for the average Ghanaian, emphasizing its wider consequences, particularly its effects on international development.

“For those who have no other options but to transact business using mobile money, this levy is not just inconvenient but stifling.

“Many development partners used to distribute resources through mobile money platforms. However, the introduction of the E-levy has disrupted these processes, adding unnecessary strain to an already fragile system.”

Additionally, Joyce Bawah questioned the continued collection of COVID-19 by the Akufo-Addo administration years after the pandemic had subsided.

“If we still have these levies in place and yet have not completed crucial projects like Agenda 111, we need to ask ourselves whether these levies serve their intended purpose..”

Dumsor: $90m needed to avert looming power crisis – GRIDCo report

…..
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Bernard Owusu-Twumasi Esq

The results of the last election were a clear call for change. Ghanaians voted overwhelmingly for it, delivering a decisive victory to President John Dramani Mahama with an extraordinary margin of two million votes.

This historic comeback not only signals a shift in political direction but also underscores the nation’s deep desire for transformation.

In response to the ex-president’s State of the Nation Address, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah of Ellembele aptly captured the frustrations of the electorate: economic hardship, unsustainable debt, and a collapsing currency.

These are the burdens the average Ghanaian seeks to overcome. The grim reality is this: in January 2022, the cedi traded at 5 GH₵ to 1 USD, yet by December 2024, it had plummeted to 15.5 GH₵ per dollar—an astronomical depreciation of over 300%. Despite this dire economic performance, the former president claimed to be leaving Ghana in a better state. Was this delusion, denial, or sheer audacity?

President Mahama now carries the monumental responsibility of addressing these bread-and-butter issues. However, his position as a one-term president offers him a unique advantage.

Free from the pressures of re-election, he has the opportunity to take bold, necessary decisions that past leaders shied away from.

With four years at his disposal, he can cement a legacy that rivals Ghana’s most iconic leaders, such as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and establish a governance standard future presidents will aspire to uphold.

While working to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Ghanaians, the president must not ignore the grave misdeeds of his predecessor’s administration. Accountability is essential.

Those who have looted and squandered the country’s limited resources must be held to account through due process. The president must invoke the law on willfully causing financial loss to the state, which provides a critical tool for addressing these offenses.

In the landmark Quality Grain case(The Republic vrs Ibrahim Adams, et al), Justice Kwame Afreh of blessed memory, emphasized that foreseeability is key to the intention and the action of the state actor to fall foul of the law.

The law applies not only when a state actor directly benefits from their actions but also when it is foreseeable that their decisions could harm the state. Any state actor who fails this test has a case to answer.

A relentless pursuit of looters, reckless state actor may stem the tide of impunity that has put the state at the mercy of ‘fortune hunters”.

In conclusion, I humbly urge President Mahama to act decisively and courageously.

He must seize this moment to correct the injustices Ghanaians have endured over the past eight years and rebuild trust in governance. May he lead with wisdom and boldness, and may God bless our homeland, Ghana.

Koku Anyidoho, President of the Atta Mills Institute and former Deputy General-Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed a reflective and composed reaction to the damage inflicted on the statue of the late President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills at Asomdwe Park.

In a post shared on social media platform X, Anyidoho revealed his emotional response to the act of vandalism while invoking faith and hope for the nation.

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A scene at the collation centre

Chaos erupted during the re-collation of election results in the Ablekuma North constituency on Wednesday, January 7, 2025, over the authenticity of pink sheets.

The exercise, meant to clarify results from some outstanding stations in the constituency triggered heated exchanges among polling agents and agents of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who accused the EC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of conspiring to rig the elections in favour of the NPP candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the Director of Elections for the NPP, Evans Nimako, emphasised the importance of adhering to legal procedures in resolving electoral disputes.

He reiterated that political parties had been directed to submit their copies of the Form 8A results, either in hard or soft copy, for verification by the EC.

According to him, this process is essential to maintain the integrity of the electoral outcomes.

“The public must allow the law to operate, we have 276 constituencies, of which 275 results have been declared. However, in Ablekuma North, seven polling stations are still pending due to unresolved issues,” he noted.

The EC temporarily suspended the collation process on Monday, January 6, due to unresolved issues concerning results from seven polling stations.

Out of 20 initially outstanding polling stations, presiding officers were able to authenticate 13 pink sheets submitted by the NPP.

This re-collation follows a High Court ruling that directed the EC to address the disputes and re-collate results in four constituencies, including Ablekuma North.

However, the process has only deepened tensions, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in the electoral process.

JKB/AE

You can also watch some videos of MPs ahead of their swearing-in

Nana Amoasi VII the Executive Director, Institute for Energy Security has finally declared the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not inherit dumsor.

According to Nana Amoasi VII, the NPP instead inherited an improved power generation system.

Former President Akufo-Addo in his last SONA boldly stated he is leaving the office of government with the lights on.

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Accra, Jan. 8, GNA –The MTN Ghana Foundation has brought joy to over 1000 basic school children in three regions during the festive season.  

The events, which took place at the Aburi Methodist School in the Eastern Region, Adzintem D/A Basic School in the Central Region, and Gethsemane Chorkor Basic School in the Greater Accra Region, featured an exciting lineup of activities.  

A statement issued in Accra by Samuel Bartels Acting Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, said these include musical chairs, dancing competitions, and poem recitals followed by a sumptuous feast of quality meals and refreshments.  

It said the excitement reached its peak as winners of the various activities were awarded prizes, while all participants, including tutors, received souvenirs.  

The events highlighted the MTN Foundation’s dedicated to supporting education and community initiatives as well as providing children with a memorable Christmas celebration and a chance to unwind during the festive season.  

Mr George Frimpong, Education Portfolio Advisor for the MTN Ghana Foundation, said, “It is thrilling to celebrate   

Christmas with children in our communities. As a Foundation, we are committed to sharing in the joy of the season with these children.”  

The school authorities expressed heartfelt gratitude to MTN Ghana Foundation for bringing the spirit of Christmas to life and wished the Foundation continued success in its community efforts.  

Since its establishment in 2007, the MTN Foundation has hosted annual Christmas parties for children in selected communities across Ghana, making a positive impact on the lives of young people.  

GNA  

Kwadwo Twum Boafo, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority has questioned the sincerity of immediate-past president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to extend an olive branch to the newly-installed John Dramani Mahama government.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Metro TV ahead of the swearing-in and inauguration of the Mahama government, Twum Boafo outrightly rejected the gesture by Nana Akufo-Addo, asserting that the move is devoid of honesty and ingenuity.

In rubbishing the decision by former President Akufo-Addo, Twum Boafo who is a victim of state-sponsored harassment and persecution, pointed out the ill-treatment of John Dramani Mahama and appointees of his erstwhile government as justification for his stance.

The respected NDC member stated that John Mahama himself was not left out of the mistreatment as elements of the NPP forced him out of the building that served as his residence while he was serving as president.

Twum Boafo argues that but for the humiliating defeat the NPP suffered in the 2024 elections, Nana Akufo-Addo would have made no such offer.

“Suddenly President Akufo-Addo says let’s forgive each other. When did he discover brotherhood? When he flat-out terrorized some of us, appointees of President Mahama including President Mahama himself. They threw out his (John Mahama) things. People were sent to turf out a former president out of his residents.

“Today he has discovered that we are brothers. After terrorizing us, he has now discovered brotherhood. It was the verdict of Ghanaians that made him discover brotherhood,” he said on Metro TV.

About Mahama’s second coming:

John Dramani Mahama has been sworn in as the President of Ghana at the Black Star Square in Accra.

This occasion follows his decisive victory in the general elections held on December 7, 2024, where he secured a commanding mandate from Ghanaians.

The event attracted a wide range of international dignitaries, including 21 Heads of State, diplomats, and representatives from various global organisations.

The Vice President-elect, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has also taken the oath of allegiance and the oath of Vice President, making her the first female Vice President in the country.

He becomes the first non-consecutive President in the Fourth Republic after a landslide victory in the 2024 presidential polls.

His closest contender, Dr Mamudu Bawumia, outgoing Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), polled 4,657,304 votes, representing 41.61 percent.

His massive victory takes him to historic realms of Ghana’s political history.

Mahama became President of Ghana from July 24, 2012, to January 7, 2017, following the death of President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills. His Vice Presidency lasted from January 2009 to July 2012.

The First Vice-Chairman of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Clement Boateng, has donated GH₵40,000 to support the reconstruction of the Kantamanto market, which was devastated by a fire on January 2, 2025, around 1 a.m.

During the donation, Mr Boateng emphasized the need for financial institutions to reschedule loan payments for traders affected by the fire.

He appealed to banks and other financial bodies to reconsider repayment timelines to ease the burden on affected traders.

He also urged Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies to allocate a portion of the funds collected from traders toward insurance schemes. According to him, this would provide a safety net against similar unforeseen events in the future.

“I will take this opportunity to appeal to the banks because I know that there are a lot of people here who have taken some facilities from the bank. So, I want to make an appeal to all the financial institutions that our members have taken facility from, to please reschedule their facility arrangement, so that the time that they are supposed to repay the facility will be extended for them to have some bit of respite.

“For some time now, we have not had a well-structured market in the country. Almost all the markets we have are made by the indigenes. This is the time for the government to collaborate with the private sector so that we can build more well-structured markets for Ghanaians to trade,” The Director of Communications of GUTA, Joseph Paddy added.

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The Founding President of IMANI-Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has responded to the viral image of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia bowing to President John Dramani Mahama during the inauguration ceremony for his second term.

The ceremony, held at Accra’s Black Star Square, was a grand display of Ghana’s democratic strength, featuring speeches, music, and cultural performances.

However, one particular moment gained significant attention: Dr. Bawumia’s respectful bow to Mahama.

The image, shared on Facebook, quickly went viral, sparking various emotions among Ghanaians.

Some praised the former Vice President for demonstrating humility, maturity, and statesmanship.

They highlighted how his gesture showcased respect for political opponents and promoted unity in a politically divided country.

The bow was seen as a reflection of Ghana’s political values, emphasizing mutual respect and democratic principles.

But in an interview on Adom FM’s, morning show, Franklin Cudjoe shared his perspective on the moment.

He explained that the bow was a true reflection of Dr. Bawumia’s character, rather than a carefully orchestrated act for the cameras.

“That’s Bawumia for you—he’s not arrogant, and he’s always respectful. His gesture was simply to show respect for Mahama. It’s not about putting on a show or pretending” he said.

He continued, “People should not read too much into it. This is just his nature—he values competition but respects others. He even conceded defeat earlier, which was also a gesture of grace.”

Mr. Cudjoe concluded by stating, “Bawumia has a bright future ahead of him, and I believe his actions reflect his genuine values.”

Mr. Cudjoe, further urged Ghanaians not to overanalyze the gesture but to appreciate it as a sincere reflection of Dr. Bawumia’s humility and respect for the nation’s democratic ethos.

President John Mahama says Ghana has the expertise and human resources necessary to address the ongoing energy crisis effectively.

Speaking on the matter, President Mahama acknowledged the challenges but expressed confidence in the nation’s ability to overcome them.

“There are a few surprises that have come up in respect of the energy sector, in respect of some aspects of governments decisions and things over the last seven years. 

“But I think that Ghana has the human resources to be able to deal with the situation and turn things around as quickly as possible,” he stated.

His remarks come in response to concerns raised by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Yapei-Kusawgu, John Abdulai Jinapor, who warned of a looming energy crisis due to insufficient fuel stocks for power generation.

Energy crisis: We have the personnel capable of dealing with the looming power crisis – @JDMahama #JoyNews pic.twitter.com/xe67qEp9zN

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) January 8, 2025

Mr Jinapor revealed that the outgoing Nana Akufo-Addo-led government had failed to procure the necessary fuel despite multiple warnings.

“If you look at the heavy fuel oil and diesel fuel, we don’t have enough to last two days. So, in two days’ time, we are likely to run out of fuel,” he warned.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has stated that the incoming government will require $89.90 million to purchase liquid fuel in the absence of natural gas.

According to them, this is crucial to ensuring that electricity generation companies can produce sufficient power to meet national demand.

The West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAGP), which supplies natural gas to the country, is scheduled to undergo a major maintenance work, known as pigging, and will be unable to supply gas to Ghana for nearly one month.

In a statement issued by GRIDCo, the maintenance of the gas pipelines from Nigeria to Ghana by WAGP was initially set to take place in October 2024. However, the previous government postponed the maintenance to January 2025.

According to GRIDCo, if WAGP proceeds with the maintenance, the country will face a severe power crisis, resulting in frequent power outages, commonly referred to as dumsor, as the power producers do not have sufficient liquid fuel to generate more electricity.

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.

In a stunning development, it has emerged that Nana Addo, the former president of Ghana, is accused of transferring a staggering 2 billion to a different account just a day before stepping down from office.

The alleged illegal transaction has raised significant concerns about the handling of state funds during his administration, with investigations already underway.Sources close to the matter reveal that the transfer, which took place on the eve of her departure from office, bypassed proper protocols, raising questions about its legitimacy.

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Zeqblog Blog of Wednesday, 8 January 2025

Source: Okine Isaac

NPP Secretary Attacked Over Alleged Use Of Party Vehicle In Ashanti Region

NPP Secretary Attacked Over Alleged Use Of Party Vehicle In Ashanti Region

Nsiah Boakye Andrews, the Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Offinso South Constituency in the Ashanti Region, is recovering from injuries sustained in an attack reportedly orchestrated by the Constituency Chairman, Joe Sala, and a group of individuals.

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The Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) has encouraged parents to provide their children with enough provisions for school.

According to the conference, this is to help with the feeding challenges in SHSs.

CHASS had requested the Ministry of Education to promptly disburse pending funds for the uninterrupted functioning of SHSs across the country, warning that unresolved financial shortfalls could disrupt academic activities and compromise student welfare.

A communiqué signed by CHASS National Secretary, Primus Baro, highlighted the financial challenges faced by schools, which persist despite previous communications and verbal assurances from the Minister of Education during a Zoom meeting on December 18, 2024, and appealed for an extension of the January 3, 2025 reopening date.

However, the Ghana Education Service (GES) later announced that it was in discussions with the Ministry of Education to expedite the resolution of issues brought forth by the leadership of CHASS and insisted that students were expected to report back to school on January 3, 2025.

Primus Baro, National Secretary of CHASS, told JoyNews in an interview on Wednesday, January 8, that the situation had heightened and the help of parents was needed.

He stressed that food supplies were not reaching the schools and in some cases, they were relying on the old practice of sending students what they had.

“I encourage parents, and I have already advised my PTA to this effect, to let their children bring food like gari, shito, and sugar to supplement whatever the school provides. I urge parents across the country, as the food situation has still not improved in the past two and three years, and it has worsened at this particular time.

“Food supplies are not reaching the schools. In places like the Upper West, Upper East, and Northern regions, apart from rice, the schools have no stable food supplies. Oil is completely unavailable. For example, in my school, I currently don’t have a single drop of oil, so my matron has been using margarine to replace oil for cooking. I don’t have maize or beans—only rice and some gari.

“We are still relying on the old practices of sending students with what they have, and that’s the only reason we allowed the students to return. Otherwise, the situation is still far from ideal,” Baro stated.