Former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, aka Asabee has dismissed rumours that he fought with Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin over a lady he (Asabee) eventually married.

According to him, his wife Zuleika who was a student leader at the Ghana Institute of Journalism never had an intimate relationship with  Mr Bagbin hence he couldn’t have fought the veteran politician over her.

Rumours were rife years back that there was bad blood between the two politicians over beautiful Zuleika. Media reports had it that the tension between the two got to a head resulting in a fight between them.

However speaking to Bola Ray on Starr FM, Hon. Asamoah Boateng stated that Alban Bagbin whom he respects has been his friend of many years and couldn’t have fought him under any circumstances.

“It is not true, Alban is a friend of mine. This came in the newspapers, there was one headline news in Daily Guide to that effect, I went to Gina Blay (Publisher of Daily Guide Newspaper), and said hey Gina you never interviewed me on this one. The problem in Ghana unfortunately…when they see somebody with a woman they think something is going on. He’s a good friend of mine, when we were in parliament Alban was holding the fort for the NDC (Minority Leader) and we used to respect him because it wasn’t easy for him at all.  As I have said because she was a student leader at GIJ, they drifted to leadership so people thought she was his girlfriend but it wasn’t true.”

Mr Asamoah Boateng has three lovely kids with his wife Zuleika.

By: Newstube24.com

The post I never fought Alban Bagbin over my wife – Asabee appeared first on NewsTube24.

President John Mahama has said he prefers losing the December 7, election than reversing his position stance on the cancelled teacher trainee allowance.

Teacher trainees across the country have pressured the Mahama-led administration to restore the allowance claiming the absence of it has worsened the economic situation.

The ruling National Democratic Congress has maintained that scrapping of the allowance affords the state the opportunity of expanding educational infrastructure and increase the provision of required educational materials for effective teaching and learning.

However the opposition New Patriotic Party flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo has slammed the decision and has pledged to restore the allowance if he wins the 2016 elections.

In a tweet Thursday, the President who is currently campaigning in the Central region, emphasized that he would not reverse the decision on groundsTeac of principle.

“On the matter of trainee teacher allowances, better to lose on principle than win using falsehood. We’ll not reverse the decision”.

By: Newstube24.com

The post I prefer losing than restoring teacher trainee allowance – Mahama appeared first on NewsTube24.

Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Prof. Dominic Fobih has said Ghana’s educational system will be destroyed if President John Mahama should go ahead and make tertiary education free.

According to him, not even developed countries such as UK, USA and Canada run a free tertiary education system as it is not practicable, adding that President Mahama should learn from the difficulties he’s had with even providing facilities for his promised free Senior High School education policy.

President John Dramani Mahama while addressing students of the University of Cape Coast as part of his five-day tour of the Central Region on Wednesday hinted of plans by his government to make tertiary education free, should the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP improve. 

““I wish to assure you that, as Ghana’s GDP continues to grow and as you continue to make wealth, we will continue to make tertiary education progressively free so that you pay less fees. In the meantime; we are investing heavily in tertiary education in order to make the teaching and learning experience good for you.”

He said his administration has committed to investing heavily in tertiary education to ensure an improvement of the quality of graduates that are churned out of the schools.

The promise by the president follows the controversy that has attended his administration’s implementation of the ‘free secondary school education’ policy.

While government has parted itself on the back for the move, the opposition however claim there remains an element of cost in secondary school education.

Speaking to Kasapa News, Hon. Prof. Fobih who is also the MP for Assin South, stated that President Mahama by his pronouncement has shown that he doesn’t understand what the cost sharing policy introduced in the universities during the 90s is all about, adding that there were good reasons for asking parents to support government in paying for the education of their children.

He said President should resource the Students Loan Trust with adequate funds instead of ‘wasting’ it on a policy which will not feasible.

‘If he has money he should support the Student Loan, because the money given the students is woefully inadequate, what will GHC 500 do for a tertiary student, when we all know how expensive tertiary education is. It can even pay for user fee and parents are having things tough. There’s no money for GETFund, support to education from the fund is not the best, you haven’t been able to do anything about that  and yet you want to introduce free tertiary education.”

By: Newstube24.com

The post Mahama’s free tertiary education policy will destroy Ghana’s education – Prof. Dominic Fobih appeared first on NewsTube24.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the cancellation of  the procurement process for the Election Results Management System (ERMS) for the electronic transmission of results in the upcoming 2016 elections.

A statement released by the commission and signed by the EC Head of Communications, Eric Dzakpasu, said the two IT firms shortlisted for the ERMS, Scytel and Smartmatic, failed to meet the criteria required for the transmission.

“After a careful assessment of the technical demonstration and evaluation of the technical and financial proposals, the evaluation panel was not satisfied with any of the tenderers,” the statement said.

the statement pointed out that the EC, had concerns about the technical ability of the tenderers to perform the project satisfactorily after it scrutinized their bids.

The Commission thus said it would rather “augment its internal capacity to deploy a modest results collation and transmission system for election 2016.”

Below is the full statement

CANCELLATION OF TENDER FOR ELECTION RESULTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (ERMS)

The Commission wishes to announce the decision to cancel the tender process for the procurement of the Election Results Management System (ERMS) for the 2016 elections.

As part of the procurement process which began from March 2, 2016, two vendors out of three shortlisted companies, qualified for technical demonstration and financial evaluation of their bids.

After a careful assessment of the technical demonstration and evaluation of the technical and financial proposals, the evaluation panel was not satisfied with any of the tenderers. The panel’s conclusion was influenced by the following:

1. There was observed failure to meet the technical criteria and major deviations from the administrative criteria.
2. There was also concerns about the technical ability of the tenderers to perform the project satisfactorily.
3. The tenders submitted showed the need to significantly revise the scope of the project.

For the above reasons, the Commission endorsed the unanimous recommendations of the evaluation panel and has decided to discontinue the project.

Accordingly, the Commission will augment its internal capacity to deploy a modest results collation and transmission system for election 2016.

This system has been utilised successfully in the four parliamentary by-elections conducted by the Commission since July 2015. The system would be finetuned and demonstrated to the political parties and other stakeholders involved in the elections results collation process before the December 7, 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Signed: ERIC KOFI DZAKPASU Head of Communications

The post EC cancels tender for e-transmission results (ERMS) appeared first on NewsTube24.

The New Patriotic Party’s running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has said President John Dramani Mahama cannot continue to blame the 2012 Election Petition which lasted for eight months for the poor economic performance in his first year in office.

President Mahama, has repeated several times that Ghana’s economic situation would have been far better had it not been the uncertainty that was occasioned by the election petition case.

The largest opposition NPP contested the results of the 2012 election at the Supreme Court, claiming the results were rigged in favour of President Mahama.

Mr Mahama in one of his speeches said: “When I took over in 2013, our friends took us to the court over the 2012 election.Almost the entire first year was wasted. We were uncertain about the outcome so it stalled the development of the country. They were there counting pink sheets, we counted pink sheets for almost a year. Despite that, we were able to undertake a lot of projects. This means we could have done more.”

However addressing a lecture on the state of the economy in Accra on Thursday, themed: ‘The State of the Ghanaian Economy – A Foundation of Concrete or Straw’, Dr. Bawumia stated that, the year 2013 in which the election petition case heard was Mahama’s best in terms of economic performance since he assumed office.

“President Mahama since he was sworn into office after the 2012 election, 2013, the year of the election petition, represents his best economic performance,” he added. Dr. Bawumia backed his claim with available data on the economy, saying they contradict President Mahama’s claims. “The table on the screen shows that contrary to the claims by the president, except for the fiscal deficit, on virtually every single indicator such as GDP growth, inflation, exchange rates, exports, Eurobond interest rates, debt to GDP ratio, and so on, the performance of the economy in 2013 was better  than 2014 and 2015. The president’s argument therefore does not hold water and therefore the election petition cannot be blamed. The Mahama government had the best Eurobond rate of 7.875 percent in 2013, and that shows that investors in the international community had relatively more confidence in the Ghanaian economy in 2013, than in the years after.”

“How the 2013 petition is the cause of the failure of the government is as explainable as the dwarfs in causing exchange rate depreciation. What is more interesting is that, at the time of the election petition hearing, the president told the country that the petition had no effect on his work,” he added.

The post Election petition not cause of your poor performance – Bawumia tells Mahama appeared first on NewsTube24.

Government has condemned as “despicable” claims by first vice chair of the New Patriotic Party F.F Anto suggesting that President John Mahama must be shot for boldly seeking a second term in office.

“Government takes a serious view of the NPP Vice Chairman’s comments on Abusua FM and wishes to condemn the opposition party’s constant resort to hate speech. Hate speech, plotting violence and calls for murder must not have a place in our politics,” a statement signed by Communication Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah said.

The NPP Vice Chair-F.F Anto told Abusua FM in Kumasi that the President having the confidence to seek for a second-term in office amidst the bleak future set for the Ghanaian economy as a result of poor management  must be hanged or sent to the shooting range.

But the Communications minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah reacting to those claims said the utterances of the NPP firebrand ought to be taken seriously against the backdrop of “previous failed assassination attempt on President Mahama and the fact that only recently the NPP imported three South African Mercenaries to engage in secret training for some hooligans under the now known operation; code named ‘Assaulting the Pillars of Power’.”

Below are details of the statement


GOV’T CONDEMNS NPP 1ST VICE CHAIRMAN FOR HATE SPEECH The attention of

Government has been drawn to some despicable and unimaginable comments attributed to the First Vice Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), F. F. Anto, indicating that President John Dramani Mahama deserves to be hanged or killed at the shooting range for seeking a second term as President.

The NPP Vice Chairman is also quoted by news reports as making reference to the shooting to the death of a former Head of State, General I. K. Acheampong, and indicating that what befell him is what President Mahama deserves. Government takes a serious view of the NPP Vice Chairman’s comments on Abusua FM and wishes to condemn the opposition party’s constant resort to hate speech. Hate speech, plotting violence and calls for murder must not have a place in our politics.

The NPP Vice Chairman’s death wish for the President is particularly striking if you recall a previous failed assassination attempt on President Mahama and the fact that only recently the NPP imported three South African Mercenaries to engage in secret training for some hooligans under the now known operation; code named ‘Assaulting the Pillars of Power’.

We believe elections are about counting heads and not cutting heads. Government is therefore advising the NPP and all political actors to engage in progressive and 21st century politicking and not what divides and inculcates the resort to violence in our people.

Government is calling on the National Peace Council and the security agencies to increase their alertness and vigilance in order to ensure the early identification and isolation of such backward incidents likely to be perpetrated by men and women, who should know better as we have observed in this Issued in Accra on Thursday, September 8, 2016. index case to forestall an escalation of tensions in our beloved country particularly as we inch closer to the December 7 general elections.

Signed: EDWARD K. OMANE BOAMAH (DR.) (Minister)

The post Gov’t condemns F.F Anto’s Kill Mahama comment appeared first on NewsTube24.

Finance Minister, Seth Terkper has accused the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) running mate for the 2016 elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of being disingenuous with some of his facts and figures presented on the economy for his lecture which he delivered Thursday, September 9, 2016.

He said Dr. Bawumia deliberately chose figures that paints a gloomy picture of the economy, which he argued is not the exact situation on the grounds.

Dr. Bawumia at the lecture titled, ‘The State of the Ghanaian Economy – A Foundation of Concrete or Straw’, Dr. Bawumia criticized government’s appetite for borrowing.

He predicted the country’s debt in dollar terms to be close to $42 billion by the end of December 2016.

“By the end of 2008 following the adoption and implementation of the HIPC initiative, the government’s policy framework of fiscal discipline, the country’s debt to GDP ratio, had declined from 189% in 2000, to 32% of GDP by 2008. Indeed from independence in 1957 to 2008, Ghana’s total debt was 9.5% Billion Cedis; however; in the last seven years alone under this NDC government, Ghana’s total debt has ballooned from 99.5 billion cedis to 100 billion cedis in 2015; and a 105 billion cedis by May 2016. In fact, 66% of Ghana’s debt from independence; has been accumulated under the presidency of John Mahama in just the last three and half years.”

But the Finance Minister reacting to  Bawumia’s claims in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM revealed among other things that President Mahama’s administration within the three and half years borrowed 66% of Ghana’s total debt stock since independence.

According to Mr. Terkper, it is far fetched for the NDC to borrow 39.9 billion US dollars as cited in the paper delivered by Dr. Bawumia since that literally equates to Ghana’s GDP in real terms.

“If indeed the NDC borrowed 39.9 billion dollars then we are at 70 percent even if I grant you 70 percent of GDP which is bellow 40 , then Ghana’s debt  will be 28 billion dollars. Either you have a record performer of the NDC with paying debt in real terms from Dr. Bawumia’s 47 billion to 28 billion that will be a record, or as I said Dr. Bawumia is using information selectively. When it suits him he holds the cedi to the dollar constant, when he goes on attack against the NDC he relaxes that principle,” he said.

The post Bawumia used information, figures selectively on the economy – Terkper appeared first on NewsTube24.

The Peoples National Convention (PNC) has said it will not hesitate to go to the Supreme Court if the Electoral Commission (EC) fails to review downwards its excessively high filing fees for both Presidential and Parliamentary nominations for the 2016 elections.

Presidential candidates are to pay Gh¢50, 000 as filing fee which is 500 per cent increment  of the amount charged during the last election in 2012.

At an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting Thursday, the EC also pegged the nomination fees for Parliamentary candidates at Gh¢ 10,000 as against the Gh¢1,000 paid in the last elections. The new figure is a 1,000 per cent increment from the previous amount.

The Electoral Management Body has slated September 13 for both presidential and parliamentary candidates to pick nomination forms from the Electoral Commission. The forms are to be submitted between September 29 and 30, 2016.

Majority of the parties, especially the smaller ones have protested the figure, claiming it’s a ploy to disqualify them from contesting in the upcoming December 7 elections, but the Deputy Public Relations Officer EC, Yusif Ayuba has rejected that claim saying the Commission has no such intention.

“The Commission has always encouraged smaller political parties to participate in elections in this country. The Commission does not think that pegging the filing fee at GHC 50,000 will necessarily prevent smaller parties from contesting. If you are a political party and have structures on the ground the Commission thinks that you should be able to raise money to contest.”

However speaking on Citi FM Eye Witness News, General Secretary of the PNC, Atik Mohammed stated that the EC by its move is pushing the party into an arena where extra ordinary means ought to be employed to keep it afloat and that is counterproductive to deepening Ghana’s democracy.

“The EC should have been the last institution to want to be part of this arrangement of making politics or our democracy for that matter a commodity for the highest bidder.”

He added: “The qualifications to become a candidate are very clear and every body knows. Why do you want to erect impediments in the way of people who ordinarily have the best to offer for this country. We are going to protest with every vehemence we can command against this move and if it fails, I’m sure the Supreme Court is there to interpret the Act…what really constitute the qualification for one to become either a Parliamentary or Presidential candidate.”

Atik noted that the PNC would have been comfortable with a filing fee of GHC 1,000 for Parliamentary Candidate and GHC 5,000 for Presidential Candidate, an amount he said ordinarily should be reasonable.

The post EC ‘Killer’ filing fee: PNC to go to court appeared first on NewsTube24.

Veteran Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, believes the excessively high filing fees being charged Presidential and Parliamentary candidates by the Electoral Commission (EC) for the 2016 elections if maintained will sow seeds for corrupt activities by which ever party wins power.

He believes the politicians having spent such huge amount will definitely find an illegitimate way of getting back their monies from the state.

Presidential candidates are to pay Gh¢50, 000 as filing fee which is 500 per cent increment  of the amount charged during the last election in 2012.

At an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting Thursday, the EC also pegged the nomination fees for Parliamentary candidates at Gh¢ 10,000 as against the Gh¢1,000 paid in the last elections. The new figure is a 1,000 per cent increment from the previous amount.

The Electoral Management Body has slated September 13 for both presidential and parliamentary candidates to pick nomination forms from the Electoral Commission. The forms are to be submitted between September 29 and 30, 2016.

Majority of the parties, especially the smaller ones have protested the figure, claiming it’s a ploy to disqualify them from contesting in the upcoming December 7 elections, but the EC has rejected that claim.

However, Kwesi Pratt has condemned the EC for their unreasonable move, describing it as unacceptable.

He wondered why the EC whose budget is fully taken care of by the tax payers money should set the filing fee so high to rake in some money.

“From what I know, the political parties pay the nomination fees of their candidates, only few candidates are able to pay for themselves.  Can you imagine 275 constituencies, and you tell parties such as APC, PNC, CPP and the rest to pay GHC 10,000 per parliamentary candidate and also pay GHC 50,000 for Presidential. If a party spends such huge amount of money and wins power, don’t you think the politicians will recoup their investments…and how are they going to recoup this investments. Already, there’s a discussion calling on government to subsidize activities of political parties, we’re not done with that, then all of a sudden the EC slaps this amount on the parties. I don’t think that this is acceptable at all.”

He added: “Meanwhile, all the budget of the Electoral Commission is catered for with the tax payers money, not even a dime spent is raised by the EC itself, all they do is budgeted for and they receive the money. They even receive support from donors so what are they taking this monies for,” Kwesi Pratt quizzed.

By: Newstube24.com

The post EC’s “outrageous” filing fee: Winning party will ‘steal’ back monies paid – Kwesi Pratt appeared first on NewsTube24.

A Deputy Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Anthony Abayifa Karbo has slammed what he describes as the excessively high filing fees being charged Presidential and Parliamentary candidates by the Electoral Commission (EC) for the 2016 elections.

According to him, the EC’s actions are unjustified especially when it has already secured funding of the elections from the state, adding that the Commission doesn’t need monies from political parties to run the December 7 polls.

He believes the politicians having spent such huge amount will definitely find an illegitimate way of getting back their monies from the state.

The Electoral Commission has set the filing fees for Presidential candidates at  Gh¢50, 000 which is 500 per cent increment  of the amount charged during the last election in 2012.

At an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting Thursday, the EC also pegged the nomination fees for Parliamentary candidates at Gh¢ 10,000 as against the Gh¢1,000 paid in the last elections. The new figure is a 1,000 per cent increment from the previous amount.

The Electoral Management Body has slated September 13 for both presidential and parliamentary candidates to pick nomination forms from the Electoral Commission. The forms are to be submitted between September 29 and 30, 2016.

Majority of the parties, especially the smaller ones have protested the figure, claiming it’s a ploy to disqualify them from contesting in the upcoming December 7 elections, but the EC has rejected that claim.

However, Anthony Karbo called on the EC to reverse its actions as it’s an institution that is supposed to be in the interest of the public that it serves.

“The EC is not a profit making organization and what at all will they be using these monies for. Are we paying for them to run this election when they’ve gone to Parliament to collect close to GHC1 billion for conducting elections. What is this business of Parliamentary candidates, having to pay GHC 10,000, which means the smaller parties may have just handful of candidates to contest the election.”

He added: “The EC Boss and the other Commissioners should take their time, clearly this is a no…no. The EC is supposed to be a public institution working in the interest of the public. The EC gets money from foreign donors, the likes of UNDP support them. The USA and he UK also fund some of their activities so why demand such huge monies.”

By: Newstube24.com

The post Election 2016 filing fees: EC ‘extorting’ monies from political parties to run elections – Karbo appeared first on NewsTube24.

The Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur has mocked NPP running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia asking him to revisit his basics in economics after the latter asserted in his recent public lecture that government is spending more money to refinance debt than it spends on productive assets.

Speaking at the launch of the Gt. Accra Zonal campaign at Ashaiman in Accra yesterday, Mr. Amissah Arthur expressed his disappointment to the Economists and former Deputy governor of the Central Bank.

Dr. Bawumia delivering a paper on the theme ‘ State of the Economy; A foundation of Concrete or Straw at his public lecture last week blamed the governing NDC  for reckless borrowing, over-pricing government contracts and widespread corruption. He chided government for spending more on interest obligations than capital expenditure.

“To put the interest payments on the debt in context, we should note that the entire allocations in the 2016 budget to the Ministries of Roads and Highways, Trade and Industry, Food and Agriculture, Water Resources, Works and Housing, Youth and Sports, and Ministry of Transport amounted to a total of GH¢2.1 billion. Interest payments in 2016 (GH¢10.5 billion) would be five times what was allocated to these six key ministries combined,” he said.

But the Vice President responding to  Bawumia’s claims said the NPP running mate won’t get away with the misinformation and lies he told during the public lecture insisting that at the appropriate time Bawumia would be schooled on the real state of the economy.

“How can you say that we pay interest more than capital expenditure. It’s that capital expenditure’s money that we’re paying as interest. So this one it’s a simple thing in primary school you learn it… You don’t pay interest if you have not borrowed money. So you cannot come and say that interest payments have exceeded capital payments.

He added “We shall correct him and teach him the things that he doesn’t know which he thinks he knows”

The post I’ll school Bawumia in real economics – Amissah Arthur appeared first on NewsTube24.

The governing National Democratic Congress(NDC) has extended its “warmest felicitation” to Muslims across the country on the occasion of Eid ul-Adha – the Muslim feast of sacrifice.

A release signed by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia said: “While congratulating Muslims on this occasion, the NDC wishes to commend them for their selflessness and commitment towards unity and peaceful co-existence among all faith in the country.”

The party said it would continue to “associate” with this special occasion as it provides the opportunity for Muslims throughout the world to pray for peace, tolerance and Allah’s blessings, irrespective of colour, religion, creed and tribe for the development of the nation.

The NDC reiterates its call on this occasion to all Ghanaians to “unite in the country’s quest to pool resources towards the transformation of the country” and to avoid acts that could disturb the existing peace in the country, especially as the nation prepared for December’s presidential and parliamentary elections, the statement added.

The full statement is published below:


NDC COMMENDS MUSLIMS FOR SACRIFICES

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) extends its warmest felicitation to Muslims on the occasion of Eid ul-Adha.

Eid ul-Adha is a feast of sacrifice recognised as one of the major events on the Muslim religious calendar.

The NDC will always associate with this special occasion as it provides the opportunity for Muslims throughout the world to pray for peace, tolerance and Allah’s blessings, irrespective of colour, religion, creed and tribe for the development of the nation. While congratulating Muslims on this occasion, the NDC wishes to commend them for their selflessness and commitment towards unity and peaceful co-existence among all faith in the country.

The NDC reiterates its call on this occasion to all Ghanaians to unite in the country’s quest to pool resources towards the transformation of the country. Also, we urge Ghanaians not to entertain any act that has the tendency to disturb the peace currently prevailing in the country especially as the country goes to the polls at the end of the year.

The NDC is convinced that Allah, in His merciful nature, would accept the prayers and sacrifices of our brothers and sisters and also bring our pilgrims back home safely.

We wish Muslims and all Ghanaians both home and the Diaspora a happy and fruitful Eid ul-Adha.

Signed
Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
General Secretary, NDC.

The post Eid ul-Adha: NDC salutes Muslims appeared first on NewsTube24.

The Mahama-led government has dismissed claims by ex President J.A Kufour that it deliberately blocked Ghana from becoming a financial hub in Africa, including the plan to establish an off-shore bank in the country.

The former Ghanaian leader at a Joy FM Thought Leadership event in Accra recently said his administration put in place pragmatic steps within the financial sector to see this dream being realized, but sadly successive governments failed to see through some of the policies he initiated as  President.

“If the election of 2008 had come my way, that is if my side had won, then the many things we put on course would have matured. For instance at that point we had secured the partnership of Barclays International to do an off-shore banking here in Ghana. We set up offices, we made all the laws and if that project had been maintained and sustained perhaps much of the monies from Southern Europe and the continent of Africa would be here. Ghana would be managing the hard currencies of our neighbourhood and as far as the fields of Europe.”

He added: “But because my party didn’t win, within a year after our losing, the succeeding regime just canceled the agreement. That hurts, I couldn’t understand it then…and I can’t understand it now, because it would have added to the good of our economy.”

But speaking on TV3’s Business Focus programme, Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper stated that the NDC government did not sabotage the process, adding that the Kufour Administration rushed with the idea which eventually caused problems for Ghana.

“The way that policy was handled led to Ghana being blacklisted for money laundering and we had to take laws to Parliament. As we speak today Ghana is being monitored. If you hasten with certain policies, that is the outcome, that is because the regulatory framework that was required to put that in place wasn’t put in place and by 2009 Ghana was being blacklisted. Ghana was going to be managed as a tax haven but things were not done well.”

By: Newstube24.com

The post NDC didn’t sabotage Ghana becoming a tax haven dream – Govt replies Kufour appeared first on NewsTube24.

The event, arranged as a prelude to the main launch of the Manifesto on Saturday September 17, at Sunyani is expected to give to the general public an insight into the focus areas of the NDC’s plans and promises for the next four years.

The event billed for today will be held at 7:00pm at the State Banquet Hall, State House, Accra.

A statement signed by Joyce Bawah Mogtari, spokesperson for the NDC’s 2016 campaign team said: “With the ‘Green Book’ effectively outlining the key policies we have implemented and the projects arising out of these policies, President Mahama will use the occasion to explain his vision for the next four years, and provide details of the key interventions he will be implementing in his second term.

The  main launch of the NDC manifesto is scheduled to come off in the Brong Ahafo Region, and will be attended by representatives of International Organizations, the Diplomatic Corps, Business Associations and Youth Groups as well as party faithfuls.

The post Mahama outlines highlights of NDC manifesto today appeared first on NewsTube24.

The controversial Founder and Leader of Glorious Word International, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, has revealed that there are some elements in the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) who are plotting to kill the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Some stalwarts in the elephant family, especially, those around the flagbearer, he added, are also planning same but warned that whoever tries to do such a thing spiritually, will incur his wrath.

According to him, those plotting Akufo-Addo’s death have tried on several occasions in the spiritual realm to achieve their objective but God has always protected the opposition leader from such trappings.

The running mate of Akufo-Addo, he noted, is also a target.

“There are some people who want to eliminate Nana Addo from this earth. But God has revealed those people to me. I have already spoken to some people to be on the lookout so that whatever vehicle Nana Addo sits in for his campaign will be well protected. The same goes to Alhaji Bawumia”.

“The food and water that Nana Addo will eat should also be placed under a strict watchful eye. Wherever he holds a rally should also be well protected because some people can run into the crowd with a car to kill him. So, his bodyguards should be on the alert”, he warned.

The controversial pastor was speaking in an interview with Accra-based Okay FM on Tuesday when he made these revelations.

In his view, the upcoming presidential election is not for President Mahama and the NDC sensing danger about defeat are trying all manner of strategies to “kill Nana Addo” so that “they can clinch victory.

Rev. Owusu Bempah also warned that if measures are not place to ensure total security during the Special Voting Day, chaos will befall the country.

The post AUDIO: NDC, NPP big boys plotting Akufo-Addo’s death – Rev. Owusu Bempah appeared first on NewsTube24.

The striking members of the Government Hospital Pharmacists Association(GHOSPA) have threatened to withdraw emergency services within 10 days if government does not respond to their concerns.

GHOSPA declared an indefinite strike last week accusing the National Labour Commission(NLC) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission(FWSC) of failing to address discrepancies in their market premium payments.

The NLC filed a suit at the Labour division of the High court seeking to compel striking members of the Ghana Hospital Pharmacist Association(GHOSPA) to call off their strike.

The NLC describes their action as arbitrary and illegal hence the decision to sue them to call off the strike.

But at a Press Conference today, the National President of GHOSPA, Agyeman Badu said his members will not relent on their demands.

“This strike is our last attempt to send the message clear that we’ve endured enough of the inequity and injustice. It is interesting to note that since we started this strike, the NLC has rushed to court and sued GHOSPA… Be that as it may we want to assure the NLC that GHOSPA is ready and we are determined to meet them in court.

GHOSPA said it will deploy additional measures to intensify their strike after the 10 working days if government refuses to reach a middle ground with them on their demands.

The post We’ll withdraw emergency services within 10 working days – GHOSPA warns appeared first on NewsTube24.

President John Mahama has indicated that a percentage of the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) from petroleum revenue will be used in funding the National Health Insurance Scheme during his second term in office beginning 2017.

According to him, this move will ensure prolonging the life span of the scheme and also make it more efficient to serve the needs of the public.

The idea for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana was conceived by former president John Kufuor who when seeking the mandate of the people in the 2000 elections, promised to abolish the cash and carry system of health delivery. Under the cash and carry system, the health need of an individual was only attended to after initial payment for the service was made. Even in cases when patients had been brought into the hospital on emergencies it was required that money was paid at every point of service delivery.

Upon becoming president, former president Kufuor pushed through his idea of getting rid of “cash and carry” and replacing it with an equitable insurance scheme that ensured that treatment was provided first before payment for Ghanaian citizens. In 2003, the scheme was passed into law. Under the law, there was the establishment of Ghana National Health Insurance Authority which licenses, monitors and regulates the operation of health insurance schemes in Ghana. Like many countries in the world, Ghana’s health insurance was fashioned out to meet specific needs of Ghanaian citizens.

Speaking during the highlights of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto in Accra, President John Mahama expressed his administration’s commitment to improving the National Health Insurance.

“When the actuarial study for the National Health Insurance was conducted it indicated that based on the funding sources that had been identified, the National Health Insurance scheme will last a certain number of years. We have long since passed that period that was designated. It was said that after that period the National Health Insurance will collapse, it has not collapsed, it has even gone beyond the period it was intended. It means that we need to rework the sustainability of the National Health Insurance and so we are going to look for sources of funding for the National Health Insurance beyond the two and the half percent VAT and workers contribution and premiums.”

By: Newstube24.com

The post Petroleum Revenue will fund National Health Insurance scheme from 2017 – Mahama appeared first on NewsTube24.

President John Dramani Mahama this evening mounted the podium at the State Banquet Hall in Accra and told Ghanaians in a live nationwide broadcast event that his government will in the next four years prioritize mental health care by ensuring strict implementation of the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846).

Under such strict implementation, he said his administration will be seeking to construct two additional psychiatric hospitals to augment the existing ones when given the mandate to govern the country a second time.

One of the facilities, he noted, will be constructed in the Ashanti Region to serve psychiatric patients in the middle belt while the other will be constructed in the Northern Region to serve those in the northern belt.

The Accra Psychiatric Hospital, the President added, will be moved from its current location to Pantang with the existing Pantang Mental Hospital upgraded into a first class mental facility.

Delivering highlights of the NDC manifesto 2016, President Mahama said the three existing mental hospital facilities in the country is not enough and expressed the belief that the proposed two additional hospitals when constructed will relieve the pressure on the existing ones and serve the people better.

Currently the only psychiatric hospitals in Ghana are the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Pantang Mental Hospital and Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital.

The post NDC will construct two mental hospitals when voted into power – Prez Mahama appeared first on NewsTube24.

President John Dramani Mahama has promised to construct new sports stadia in the remaining five regions that do not have such a facility when voted into power to govern the country a second time.

The Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Volta Regions, according to the President will each benefit from such a facility during his second term in office.

President Mahama made this pledge when delivering highlights of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto 2016 at the State Banquet Hall in Accra on Tuesday evening.

The first gentleman of the land commenting further said one of the community-based Senior High Schools in each of the ten regions of the country will be selected and developed into a center of excellence in sports.

“It will be a secondary school but all the young people who show excellence in sports will be brought to that secondary school and so there will be ten of them in the regions – they will compete in athletics, and all the sports against each other and we will draw young talents from there to feed the national teams”, he noted.

The Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, President Mahama added, will be refurbished to serve as a sports and educational center for young people.

The post NDC Manifesto: We shall construct new sports stadia in five regions – Prez Mahama appeared first on NewsTube24.

President John Mahama has slammed Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo Addo for playing cheap politics with the water situation at Damongo in the Northern Region.

According to him, had he not been a selfless leader, he wouldn’t have done the Kyebi Water system which is in Nana Akufo Addo’s hometown when Damongo which is his backyard lacks adequate water.

The overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbon Wura Tuntumba Bore Essa I, told the NPP Flagbearer when he called on him at his Palace during tour of the Northern Region that the major concern of his people is the lack of potable drinking water.

He said residents of Damongo have been faced with the situation for years, and appealed to Nana Akufo-Addo that “when Ghanaians give you their mandate, our request to you is that you help solve this problem of unavailability of water.”

Supporters of the NPP were excited at the Chief’s comment as it was seen by many as an indictment on President John Mahama as he has failed to give his people one of the basic necessities of life.

But speaking during the presentation of highlights of the NDC election 2016 Manifesto in Accra, Tuesday night, President Mahama stated that he is not driven by parochial interest when in the provision of developmental projects across the country.

” I heard someone doing politics with the Damongo water situation, If were not selfless, I would have done the Kyebi water project when Damongo needs water.”

He explained that the table content of the Damongo area has made the provision of potable water in the area difficult, but added that his administration remains committed to finding a solution to the area.

“So when you g to Damongo and play politics because it is my backyard without understanding what the issues are, then is just petty politicking you are doing.”

By: Newstube24.com

The post I’m selfless…I’ve done water project in Kyebi ahead Damongo – Mahama tells Akufo Addo appeared first on NewsTube24.