By Iddi Yire

Accra, Jan 22, GNA – Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Finance Minister-designate, says he is deeply humbled and grateful to the Almighty God for the opportunity to serve Ghana as the finance minister.

In a statement, Dr Forson extended his heartfelt gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for entrusting him with that enormous responsibility, to Parliament for their confidence and support, and to the people of Ghana for their trust.

“As I assume this high office, I assure all Ghanaians that I am committed to serving with humility, integrity, diligence, and transparency,” the statement said.

“Together, we will work to bring down inflation, stabilise the cedi, create jobs, foster inclusive growth, and create opportunities for all Ghanaians.”

“Let me emphasise that Ghana is open for business. We welcome partnerships and investments that will drive sustainable development and prosperity for all.”

It said with unity, resilience, and hard work, Ghanaians could achieve great things for their beloved country.

“Thank you, and may God continue to bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong,” the statement said.

GNA

A man has admitted murdering his ex-girlfriend and her sister with a crossbow and their mother with a knife in an attack at the family home.

Carol Hunt, 61, was stabbed to death and Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, suffered fatal crossbow bolt injuries in Bushey, near Watford, on 9 July.

Kyle Clifford, 26, from Enfield, north London, changed his not guilty pleas to the murders during an appearance via video link at Cambridge Crown Court.

The three women were the wife and daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, and Louise was a former partner of the killer, who has denied a charge of rape.

Clifford, of Rendlesham Road, changed his pleas having denied murdering the three women during a hearing at the same court in December.

He has also now pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and possession of an offensive weapon.

Hertfordshire Police had been called by Hannah Hunt, who told officers she feared she was going to die as she had been shot and her sister and mother had also been attacked.

The 28-year-old was found in the main doorway of the house on Ashlyn Close and was still alive when officers arrived at about 19:10 BST.

Louise Hunt’s arms and ankles had been tied with duct tape and she had been shot by a crossbow.

Carol Hunt had stab wounds to her knee, hands, back and torso.

The attacks in the cul-de-sac sparked a manhunt which ended with Clifford being found injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield.

Clifford, who served in the military from 2019 for about three years, was taken to hospital as he had shot himself in the chest with the crossbow.

During the court hearing where he admitted the murders, Clifford denied a charge of rape in connection to Louise Hunt and he is due to stand trial on that charge at the same court later this year.

Mr Hunt and his other daughter Amy previously issued a statement following the incident, which said: “The devastation we are experiencing cannot be put into words.”

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play videoElizabeth Ofosu-Adjare has been nominated to serve as Minister of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry

Parliament’s Appointments Committee convenes today, January 22, 2025, to vet Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the President’s nominee for Minister of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry.

This marks the committee’s fourth sitting as they expedite the vetting process to enable President John Dramani Mahama to form his government.

Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Member of Parliament for Techiman North, was nominated by President Mahama on January 16, 2025, as part of a broader announcement of key appointments to his government.

Her nomination is seen as a critical step in shaping the administration’s agenda for trade, agribusiness, and industrial growth.

Ofosu-Adjare is a lawyer, international relations expert, and business executive with over 20 years of experience in legal practice and advocacy.

She has also served on several high-profile boards, contributing to the success of multi-million-dollar companies through her strategic leadership.

As Trade Minister-designate, she is expected to leverage her extensive expertise to revitalize Ghana’s trade and industrial sectors, with a particular focus on agribusiness development and fostering economic growth.

The vetting process provides an opportunity for Ofosu-Adjare to outline her vision for the ministry and respond to questions from the Appointments Committee regarding her qualifications, experience, and proposed policies.

Watch the stream below:

MA

The ETA fee is $30 (£24) and valid for 90 days

Kenya will allow citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without needing prior authorisation, according to a new directive by the cabinet.

Last year, Kenya introduced a “visa-free” policy that required most visitors to apply online for authorisation before leaving their country.

However the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which replaced the visa requirement for all visitors, was criticised as a “visa under another name”.

On Tuesday, a cabinet statement said the ETA would be dropped for “all African countries except Somalia and Libya – due to security concerns”.

It said this was part of “efforts to support open skies policies and tourism growth” and “promote regional integration and ease travel across the continent”.

Despite introducing the ETA, Kenya fared worse in the latest ranking of how open it is to visitors, dropping 17 places to 46th out of 54 nations in the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index.

Several African countries have tried to ease travel requirements for visitors from elsewhere on the continent in recent years, with studies showing it is often easier for citizens of Western countries to visit.

Earlier this year, Ghana said all African passport holders would now be able to visit without needing a visa. African visitors to Rwanda also do not need a visa to enter the country.

The move to facilitate travel within the continent is also being pushed by the African Union (AU).

Under the updated system, citizens of most African countries will be allowed to enter Kenya and stay ETA-free for up to two months.

Members of the East African Community, which include Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, can however stay for up to six months in line with the bloc’s policy.

Kenya also says it will introduce an enhanced process “allowing travellers to receive approval instantly” and a maximum processing time of 72 hours.

It is not clear when this will take effect. Several ministries have been tasked to propose guidelines within a week to improve “travellers experience at all Kenyan airports”, according to the cabinet statement.

Before the introduction of the ETA, visitors from more than 40 countries including several from Africa, were able to arrive in Kenya, get a stamp in their passport and enter without paying anything.

All travellers must now apply and pay for an ETA at least three days before their trip to Kenya, unless they are citizens of an exempted country.

The ETA fee is $30 (£24) and valid for 90 days.

The policy has faced criticism with some noting that it could make it more difficult for potential visitors to come to the country.

Kenya has indicated there was a security element to the introduction of the new system, with the government spokesman telling the BBC last year that it was necessary for vetting travellers.

The country has been targeted by al-Shabab jihadist militants from neighbouring Somalia in several notorious attacks.

On Tuesday, the government said it was also introducing a system that would enhance “pre-screening, strengthen security, and streamline passenger processing at entry points”.

Inflation continues to rise in recent times

Edward Kareweh, the former General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), has called for coordinated policy efforts among key ministries to address the structural challenges facing Ghana’s agricultural sector.

Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Kareweh emphasised the need for effective collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and other governmental bodies to enhance production, reduce food inflation, and tackle post-harvest losses.

According to Kareweh, the disconnect between production strategies and trade policies has hindered the sector’s growth.

He highlighted that increased agricultural production without a functional market often leads to a surplus, which results in post-harvest losses and financial setbacks for farmers.

“Before you produce, there must be a market particularly if it is not only for consumption but also for trade. The lack of a functional market remains a major challenge for agricultural production in Ghana,” he stated.

Kareweh suggested that reducing imports in specific food categories, such as maize, would create market opportunities for locally produced goods.

He also advocated for the establishment of processing facilities near farm gates as a practical solution to minimize losses and boost market efficiency.

The former GAWU leader acknowledged the government’s recent emphasis on agribusiness as a distinct policy focus under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

He expressed cautious optimism about this move, noting that the Ministry of Agriculture’s historical performance has been less than satisfactory despite its technical infrastructure.

Kareweh argued that the Ministry of Agriculture should undergo significant restructuring to address longstanding administrative inefficiencies.

“The Ministry of Agriculture needs to be restructured. There are serious administrative and bureaucratic bottlenecks that must be addressed. It is like a leaking bucket—you must mend the leaks before pouring in more water,” he said.

He further pointed out the ministry’s failure to deliver on flagship programs such as Planting for Food and Jobs, questioning its ability to manage large-scale agribusiness initiatives effectively.

Kareweh also linked the country’s persistent food inflation to inefficiencies in the agricultural sector. Citing consistent data from the Ghana Statistical Service, he noted that food inflation is a major driver of national inflation.

He stressed that reducing food inflation requires a coordinated approach involving the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Trade to ensure that policies are synergized and targeted.

“The government must address food inflation without creating risks like post-harvest losses. This requires a collective effort to stabilize the economy and make food affordable for consumers,” he added.

Kareweh urged the government to prioritize policy alignment and foster collaboration between agriculture and trade to create a sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

He called for pragmatic solutions that go beyond policy declarations, emphasizing the importance of implementation.

With post-harvest losses, inflation, and market inefficiencies continuing to affect the sector, Kareweh’s remarks serve as a timely call to action for policymakers to adopt a holistic approach in addressing Ghana’s agricultural challenges.

Watch as Parliament approves Haruna Iddrisu, Kwame Agbodza, Eric Opoku as sector ministers

Afetsi Awoonor takes office as BOST MD

The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has welcomed Afetsi Awoonor, a Veteran Energy Sector Executive with extensive Sub-Saharan trading experience, as its seventh Managing Director.

The appointment of Mr Awonoor by President John Dramani Mahama took effect on January 20, 2025, and he was expected to deliver a strategic shift at one of West Africa’s key oil infrastructure companies.

A statement issued in Accra said the transition was formalised during a handover ceremony at BOST’s Head Office in Accra, where outgoing MD, Dr. Edwin Provencal ceremonially transferred leadership responsibilities to his successor in what officials described as “an exemplary display of corporate governance practice.”

Mr. Awoonor brings nearly a decade of experience in the African oil and gas sector, most recently serving as Senior Partner at DOC Africa and Regional Head of Sales and Marketing at Convenio Energy, where he oversaw hydrocarbon trading operations across the Southern African Development Community region.

His appointment marks a return to BOST, where he previously served as Manager of Government Relations from September 2016 to April 2017.

Mr. Awoonor during the handover ceremony expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Provencal for his dedicated service and impactful leadership.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Provencal for his exceptional leadership. Under his guidance, BOST has grown to new heights, and I am honoured to carry the torch forward,” he said.

Mr Awonoor said his focus would be on further strengthening the company and fostering an environment of collaboration, innovation, and excellence as we drive the next phase of growth and success for BOST and the nation.

The new MD said his immediate focuswould also be on internal stakeholder engagement, with plans to directly engage with team members, as he highlighted his commitment to fostering a collaborative, congenial, high-performing work environment.

The appointment has received broad support from various stakeholders including BOST Senior Staff Union.

They pledged their “full support and cooperation to Mr. Awoonor and his leadership team as they work together to achieve the company’s strategic objectives.”

The Union said the appointment “demonstrates the President’s commitment to selecting highly qualified individuals to lead key institutions” in the country.

Similarly, the Ketu North arm of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in their congratulatory message, said “this critical designation is a testament to his unwavering dedication, loyalty, and exceptional competence.”

They also expressed “profound gratitude to President Mahama, for recognising and rewarding loyalty, hard work, competence, and merit through this crucial appointment.”

Other stakeholders, who supported the appointment are Weta Traditional Area Chiefs’ Council, The Volta Regional Youth Wing of the NDC.

Awoonor’s educational background includes an Executive Master’s in International Oil & Gas Leadership from the Geneva Graduate Institute and a Master’s degree in Oil and Gas Management from IFP School, both completed in 2015.

This technical expertise is complemented by his extensive practical experience in hydrocarbon trading and business development across sub-Saharan Africa.

Beyond his corporate role, Mr. Awoonor had demonstrated commitment to social development through the Afetsi Awoonor Foundation, established in 2023 to support human resource development in local communities, with particular focus on youth and women empowerment through training, mentorship, and entrepreneurship initiatives.

Watch as Parliament approves Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, John Jinapor and Dr. Dominic Ayine