Ghana: Press zooms in on call on C/Wealth Parliaments to enact laws to combat terrorism, others

APA – Accra (Ghana)
The report that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has challenged Parliaments within the Commonwealth to enact strong legislation to curtail cross-border movement of illegal arms to combat terrorism is one of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Thursday.
The Graphic reports President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has challenged parliaments within the Commonwealth to enact strong legislation to curtail cross-border movement of illegal arms to combat terrorism.
He also urged legislators to propose heavy sanctions to offenders in a bid to stamp the phenomenon out.
“Combating terrorism requires a coordinated effort by all nations and stakeholders.
“Terrorism and violent extremism remain a phenomenon that threatens our very existence as individuals and collectively as nations,” the President told the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Accra yesterday.
The six-day conference, which began last Sunday with workshops, is discussing various topics relating to security, human rights, environment, economy, gender and other cross-cutting issues.
It is being hosted by Ghana’s Parliament under the patronage of the Speaker, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, who doubles as the President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
More than 500 parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and decision-makers from across the Commonwealth are participating.
The conference is on the theme: “The Commonwealth Charter 10 years on: Values and principles for parliaments to uphold.”
The newspaper says that the Chief Executive Officer of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, has voiced apprehension over the sharp surge in kidney-related illnesses, revealing that 17% of the Ghanaian population is grappling with kidney issues.
Dr. Ampomah disclosed that their registry indicated around 700 kidney patients who require consistent dialysis treatment.
During an interview on Citi TV yesterday, he emphasized the critical significance of early diagnosis and lifestyle adjustments, asserting that these measures can significantly extend the lifespan of kidney patients.
“In the entire country, the last registry showed that there were approximately 700 patients who needed regular renal dialysis across the nation. Around 17% of the population face kidney problems. This is a substantial figure. The average across the African continent is roughly 15%, but in Ghana, it’s about 17%. So we have 5 million of our population dealing with some form of kidney challenge. However, if diagnosed early, most of them can manage through lifestyle modifications. Early diagnosis is crucial, hence screening is vital,” he said.
Dr. Ampomah explained that kidneys were designed by nature with surplus capacity, allowing for individuals to donate a kidney and still maintain good health. A person can lead a healthy life with just one kidney, or even a portion of it. He affirmed, “If you are a healthy person, half of one kidney is enough to meet your needs.”
Addressing the adjustment in fees, he attributed it to fluctuations in the cedi rate and inflation, which have eroded the costs of consumables, compelling the hospital to operate at a deficit.
The Ghanaian Times reports that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has mobilised more than GH¢1 million through property rates from June to the first week of October this year.
Mr Ernest Adade, Head of Communication, Myassembly.gov.gh Project, who disclosed this during a stakeholder engagement at the Institute of Local Government Studies at Ogbojo, Madina, with Presiding Members at the weekend, said in order to rake in more revenue, hundreds of National Service Personnel had been deployed to the various assemblies to assist in the collection of property rates.
Myassembly.gov.gh is a unified common property rate online platform introduced by the GRA last year to make all payments of property rates cashless.
The platform would ensure inclusion and expand the payment bracket without necessarily increasing the rates while improving the overall collection.
The government announced in the 2023 budget statement and economic policy it would introduce property rates, and that responsibility has been given to the GRA to liaise with the assemblies to collect property rates from the assemblies.
Mr Adade urged those defaulting in the payment to do as soon as possible, adding, “Notice letters have been served to defaulters of property rate and the next step is to publish their names in newspapers and later send them to court to seek permission to sell their properties to defray the cost.”
Mr Adade indicated that the property rate was helping boost the revenue of some assemblies in the country.
“In fact, I know a district here that has gotten more than three times what it has ever collected. They’ve got more than three times already by the end of last month,” he stated.
The newspaper says that a group called “Ghana Football Stakeholders Forum” yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration against the leadership of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over their displeasure at the current state of football administration in Ghana.
Yesterday’s activity was attended by fans, players, administrators and club owners.
At the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) offices where they presented a petition which was received by Dr Osman Haruna Tweneboah on behalf of the Minister, the Forum called on the government to immediately call off the scheduled of the GFA elections slated for Tamale today.
Tagged “Rescue the GFA Demo,’ the protesters wielded placards which read “Our football is not clean—Kurt must go,” “Justice for Ashgold and King Faisal,” “Kurt allow competition,” “Football is not politics,” among others.
It was led by the President and Founder of the Ghana National Supporters Union (GHANSU), Abraham Boakye, alias ‘Oneman Supporter,gospel musicians, Isaiah Kwadwo Ampong, (Great Ampong), Nicholas OmaneAcheampong, President of Techiman City FC, Charles Kwadwo Ntim, (Mickey Charles).
The group gathered and marched from the Ako Adjei Interchange to the GFA offices and to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
En route to the Sports Ministry, they were joined by the President of Ashanti Gold, Dr KwakuFrimpong; owner of the Division One League side, New Edubiase United, Abdul Salam Yakubu, and his Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alex Ackumey.
After failing to meet any official at the GFA offices, to present a copy of the petition to, they continued to MoYS where they were received by Dr Tweneboah.
Addressing the media, the Spokesperson of the Forum, Mickey Charles, said they were calling on the government, as a matter of urgency, to act fast to stop the current GFA leadership from totally destroying football in the country.
“Mr Okraku cannot continue to disrespect the laws of Ghana and walk around freely with the threat of a FIFA ban, which is a hoax.”
According to him, he was concerned about Okraku’s blatant disregard for the rule of law and the continuous manipulation of the decisions of the judicial bodies of the GFA.
GIK/APA