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• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• September 10, 2024
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• 2 minutes Read

Lariba Abudu withdraws from Walewale NPP primary

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• August 25, 2024
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• 3 minutes Read

We are working with police to bring stolen BVD matter to rest- EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) says it is working with the police to bring the matter of an unauthorised person in possession of the Commission’s Biometric Verification Device (BVD) to rest.

In a statement signed by Mr Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman, Operations, the Commission said: “A stolen BVD cannot jeopardise the integrity of the 2024 Elections,” and stated its resolve to address the concern.

The EC said the stolen BVD was nothing more than an off-the-shelf device and could not be used to compromise an election without the necessary technical and security protocols.

It said five laptops, which formed part of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) Kits were stolen from its stores in April 2024.

The Commission said five BVDs were also vandalised. It said two BVDs were stolen from the Tarkwa Nsuaem District and North Tongu District respectively during the December 2023 District Level Elections (DLES).

The Commission said it undertook deliberate process of “preparing” a biometric verification device for any election ensuring that only devices prepared for a particular election could be used for that election.

“This process is robust and is not vulnerable to manipulation. The possession of a BVD that has not gone through this rigorous process that is yet to happen for the 2024 election does not affect the integrity of the election,” it said.

The Commission urged the public to note that the voter verification application had been designed such that it would only work with data that had been prepared, audited, encrypted, and signed by a Secure Process.

It said access to that process had been highly restricted and without access to the Secure Process, voter data could not be generated to work with the BVD.

“The Data that is loaded onto the BVDs are set to be activated for a particular Election Day. A stolen BVD, therefore, cannot work in the December 2024 Elections,” the Commission stressed.

It said the BVD, as part of its start-up process, would check for the integrity of the data that had been loaded onto it and if the voter data on it had been altered in any way, the start- up process would be halted and the BVD would not work.

The Commission added that the activation of the BVDs would involve the use of activation codes that could only be downloaded from the EC’s Secure System and that system had been restricted to election officials with the right access credentials.

“A BVD without its activation code cannot be used for the verification of voters. The data that is loaded onto the BVD must conform with the details of Voters on the voters register for each polling station,” it explained.

It said since the voters register for polling stations for the 2024 General Election would be different from previous elections, any data on a BVD that was activated for a previous election would not conform with the voters register at the particular polling station on December 7, 2024.

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• July 4, 2024
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• 1 minute Read

52,133 candidates participate in TVET exams

The Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) has announced the commencement of this year’s May/June Certificate II exams for TVET students across Ghana.

The examinations, which began on July 1st, will continue until August 2nd, 2024, with a total of 52,133 candidates participating.

According to a press release  signed by Albert Opare, Head of Corporate Affairs at CTVET, the candidates include 37,558 males and 14,575 females. This year’s exams will once again feature the serialization of questions, a measure introduced last year to curb cheating.

The examinations cover a wide range of technical and vocational subjects, including Certificate II, Erstwhile NVTI Certificate II, and various technical certifications such as Technician Part I, Technician Part II, and Technician Part III. Additionally, students are being tested in Diploma, Diploma in Business Studies (DBS), and Advanced level examinations.

CTVET emphasised its ongoing efforts to enhance TVET assessment through a national quality assurance system. This system accredits training providers, facilitators, assessors, and internal verifiers to deliver and evaluate competency-based training programs.

The Commission expressed optimism that the students would perform well, enabling them to advance academically or successfully enter the workforce.

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• June 20, 2024
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• 3 minutes Read

$260m World Bank support for energy sector

The World Bank has approved a $250 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and an additional $10 million grant from the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESRP) to support Ghana’s energy sector.

This is to support a 4-year Ghana Energy Sector Recovery Programme for Results (PforR) to improve the financial viability of electricity distribution and increase access to clean cooking solutions.

The PforR will provide financing directly to energy sector utilities to implement capital expenditure programmes, and complement regulatory and policy reforms of the energy sector supported under the World Bank’s Development Policy Financing series and the ongoing IMF Extended Credit Facility Programme for Ghana.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Finance Ministry indicated that the Clean Cooking Component of the Programme would increase the access of Ghanaian households, schools and businesses to Liquified Petroleum Gas for domestic and commercial use.

“The  PforR will provide direct incentives to subsidize the cost of stoves and accessories,” it said.

On the benefit of the ESRP, the Ministry explained that it would have an impact on consumers, which includes market development, affordability, energy access and equity, health and environmental protection against air pollution, and associated health risks.

The Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme provides knowledge, technical assistance, and advisory services to help countries enhance their institutional capacity and implement sustainable energy solutions. 

Portions of the statement quoted Robert Taliercio, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, as saying that “through this important results-based financing, the World Bank is committed to supporting the recovery of Ghana’s energy sector and its financial sustainability.”

“The operation aims to strengthen revenue collection and improve the quality of energy supply through investments in prepaid metering and the commercial and meter management systems of distribution utilities,” it added.

For the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, the government is grateful for the support that will help the country attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),  particularly Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

“Our quest to achieve financial viability in electricity distribution and increasing access to clean cooking solutions is essential for building sustainable energy systems that support economic development, improve public health, and protect the environment while promoting energy access and equity for all,” he was quoted to have said.

He added: “Our access to sustainable energy is not just about powering homes and businesses, it’s about empowering communities, protecting the environment, and fostering inclusive and sustainable development.”

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• May 7, 2024
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• 4 minutes Read

Senior Minister underscores need for public sector reforms

The Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, says public sector reforms are still not an option for the public sector of Ghana, but a necessity.

He noted that it would help the government respond to the fast-growing environment and society’s needs, and position it competitively on the global stage.

It is in this direction that he advised the government to ensure that Ghana’s public administration system is brought to date and made innovative.

“In the light of the global financial crisis, governments all over the world, including Ghana, are compelled to work with less resources, hence there is a need to continue and sustain public sector reform initiatives and programmes without compromising the quality-of-service delivery,” he said.

“We need to redefine the role of the public sector to enable it serve as the needed catalyst for a competitive private sector and an improved service delivery to the citizens,” he added.

Mr Osafo-Maafo said this at the opening of the ongoing first phase of the National Stakeholders Dialogue on Public Sector Reforms in Cape Coast yesterday.

The Senior Presidential Advisor also referred to and commended the efforts of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who launched the National Public Sector Reforms Strategy (2018-2023) in August based on the government’s new direction to make the public sector effective, efficient and responsive to the citizens and the private sector.

This was in response to the failure of successive governments to align key sectors of the economy with the needs of the citizenry and the private sector for purposes of efficient service delivery and job creation.

“Following the launch of the NPSRS, which was estimated to mobilize funds of about $170 million, the World Bank provided a $32 million credit facility to kickstart the implementation of the NPSRS, 2018-2023, through the Public Sector Reform for Results Project (PSRRP),” he said.

“To further ensure the continuity and sustainability of the activities and initiatives pursued over the last four years, the Public Sector Reform Secretariat under my office has also engaged Pricewaterhouse Coopers to review the National Public Sector Reform Strategy. Our expectation is that the new Strategy will consolidate the results achieved under the PSRRP and build upon them going forward,” he added.

Mr Osafo-Maafo further indicated that the “review and evaluation which will ultimately culminate in the development of a new National Public Sector Reform Strategy for the period 2025-2030, will provide valuable learnings on what has been achieved, what areas of the reforms need more attention, what areas are no longer relevant and to identify the gaps in the strategy because of organisational change or external/contextual changes and emerging issues.”

The PSRRP is an initiative of the Government that aims to help 13 selected entities, comprising frontline service delivery institutions, central management agencies and some ministries to improve efficiency and accountability in the delivery of their services.

In her remarks, the Director of General Administration at the Public Sector Reform Secretariat, Mrs Thelma Ohene-Asiamah, outlined lessons learned from the implementation of past reforms.

“Reform initiatives were unable to fully achieve their intended objectives due to several reasons. For instance, most of these reforms were supply driven. The past reforms were also not informed by any comprehensive national public sector reform strategy,” she said.

“In view of this, coordination of the reforms was weak as it fell short of the following: availability of reform policies and guidelines; prioritization, target setting and sequencing; and monitoring and evaluation. Reform coordination in terms of reform alignment and harmonization was also unsatisfactory,” she added.

Mrs Ohene-Asiamah also disclosed that “lack of continuity in the implementation of public sector reforms was one of the most important drawbacks in previous reforms. Changes in government and leadership in reform entities led to the incompletion and re-prioritization of reforms.”

“Reform outcomes of most of the past reform initiatives had minimal linkage and integration with the planning and budgeting frameworks. Besides, budgetary resources for these reforms were inadequate. This contributed to the failure to institutionalize reform outcomes into mainstream activities, which in turn, led to the truncation of reform implementation and prevented its continuity and sustainability,” the Director pointed out.

The three-day event is organised by the Public Sector Reform Secretariat in collaboration with the World Bank.

The aim of these Dialogues is to engage cross-sectoral stakeholders to take stock of the implementation of the National Public Sector Reform Strategy (NPSRS) and the key reforms undertaken in the public sector between 2018-2023.

This phase seeks to solicit your inputs for the review of the NPSRS which elapsed in December 2023 and court your ownership and support for the development and implementation of a new NPSRS for the period 2025-2030

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• May 6, 2024
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• 4 minutes Read

Commemorative stamp to honour Otumfuo unveiled

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, in collaboration with the Ghana Post, over the weekend, unveiled a commemorative stamp to honour the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s enduring legacy and significant contributions to national development, peace, and cultural preservation.

The ceremony, which took place  at the Manhyia Palace, attracted many dignitaries, including government officials, traditional leaders and citizens from across the nation.

Speaking at the launch of the Asantehene Commemorative Stamp at Manhyia, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, extolled the wise and visionary leadership of the Asantehene.

She emphasised the significance of the occasion in bridging the gap between Ghana’s revered traditions and the opportunities of the digital age.

She underscored the role of communication and digitalization in safeguarding the nation’s cultural legacy.

“In today’s world, where digital technology reshapes every aspect of our lives, emphasising the importance of harnessing these advancements to preserve and promote Ghana’s rich cultural heritage.

“My Ministry, in collaboration with various stakeholders, has embarked on initiatives designed to digitize our historical documents and cultural artifacts, ensuring that they are preserved for future generations and accessible to the world,” she said. These projects, she explained, aim not only to preserve but also to make Ghana’s culture a cornerstone of the digital economy, transforming heritage into a living, interactive experience that educates and inspires both young and old.

She highlighted specific initiatives, including Ghana Post’s role in adapting to global technological shifts. She said Ghana Post had introduced significant technological advancements, integrating digital solutions to enhance customer experience and expand service offerings.

She indicated that this includes digital financial services for seamless transactions and e-commerce platforms supporting local businesses by broadening their market reach.

The Minister emphasised the continued relevance of stamps in the digital age, highlighting their role as storytellers and educational tools. 

She added that commemorative stamps, such as the one unveiled for the 25th anniversary of Otumfuo’s reign, serve to connect generations, and foster national pride and identity. She noted that through digital platforms, these stamps find new life, reaching global audiences and showcasing Ghana’s rich history and vibrant culture on the world stage.

She stressed the need for collaboration in the era of digital transformation. She said the Ministry was actively seeking partnerships to drive forward the digital agenda, enhance cybersecurity, and increase internet connectivity in rural areas, ensuring that no Ghanaian is left behind in the journey towards a fully digital Ghana.

The Minister reaffirmed the commitment to leveraging technology for cultural preservation and enhancement, acknowledging the profound impact of Asantehene’s leadership in preserving Ghana’s heritage while embracing the future.

She thanked all involved in bringing the project to fruition, and expressed gratitude to the people of Ghana for their continued support of digital initiatives, concluding with blessings for the nation.

For his part, the Managing Director of Ghana Post, Bice Osei Kufuor, described the 25th anniversary as a very important and historic day in the annals of Ghana Post’s history and in the history of the Universal Postal Union.

He said it is a historic day because “we have the singular honour and pleasure of playing a key role in the Silver Jubilee anniversary of a king of global repute, Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II, with the unveiling of a Commemorative Stamp.”

“This is the making of the Lord. I am exceedingly happy that history has been favourable to me at this point in time, occupying the office of Managing Director of Ghana Post, offering me the opportunity with my hardworking team to be a part of this momentous occasion,” he said. 

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II’s 25th Anniversary caught the attention of the Ghana Post Stamp Advisory Committee and my Board, after which I immediately instructed our Philately department to commence internal and external channels of honouring our great king with a commemorative stamp to celebrate his sterling and quality leadership which transcends boundaries,” he indicated.

The MD said he took immediate steps to inform the global postal services umbrella, the Universal Postal Union, and partners of the intent to celebrate His Majesty Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II on his Silver Jubilee.

According to him, he took these steps to ensure that the stamp did not become only a Ghana Stamp but an international one, championed by Ghana Post and partners, including some members of the UPU Consultative Committee.

He mentioned that the stamps include a Definitive Stamp meant for postage and a Crypto Stamp (a collector’s item that can be traded as an NFT, first time in Africa).

He also mentioned that it includes a VIP Stamp Box with Authentication (a limited collector’s item). He said it has a Royal Stamp Frame and ten different stamp products of Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II (which are 1 out of 1 collector’s items for auction).

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 29, 2024
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• 2 minutes Read

Free SHS impacts over one million students

The Minister of Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum, says the government has made positive strides in senior high school education, enrolling 1.4 million students from an initial record of 800,000 in 2017.

The initiative, he stated, had led to improvements in the West African Senior Secondary Examinations test scores, of which the average performance improved from 38.73 percent in 2006 to 69.73 percent in 2023.

The government has also enrolled 505,489 SHS and TVET students for the 2023 academic year.

Dr. Yaw Adutwum said this at a programme dubbed “The Free SHS Story” on the theme, “Free SHS Shaping Minds and Changing Lives.”

Highest beneficiaries/ investments 

The Minister said the highest beneficiaries of the Free SHS policy were from the five northern regions, adding that the government would continue to work hard to consolidate the gains made in the educational space for future generations.

Dr. Adutwum reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving education, saying, “education must change the socio-economic fortunes of the nation.” He added that the policy was anchored on three key values; access, equity, and quality education.

“It is the desire of the government to ensure that no student is left behind in attaining universal access to quality education,” he said.

The Education Minister said the government had made investments in the sector, including retooling schools like Kumasi High School, Aflao Community SHS with modern educational facilities to improve learning outcomes.

“We have selected 12 SHS schools to offer aviation and aerospace courses to increase STEM education in the country,” he said.

He said the construction of Accra STEM School was ongoing to provide quality education to students, ensuring the commissioning of the facility before the end of the year.

“We are transforming our schools to be fit for purpose and enhance teaching and learning,” he added.

The government, he said, had started constructing middle Junior High Schools (JHS) and community schools from kindergarten to the JHS level with science laboratories and equipment.

He commended the efforts and resilience of the staff of agencies under the Ministry for playing a crucial role in the advancement of education.

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 25, 2024
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• 3 minutes Read

“Reintroduce Fiscal Responsibility Act”- Senior Presidential Advisor

In an effort to tackle cost overruns during election year, the Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has proposed that the government reconsiders the introduction of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

He said elections in the country, since the inception of the Fourth Republic Constitution, had been characterised by budget overruns where the governments spent beyond their budget.

“To me, it is such a serious problem that we need a law on fiscal responsibility. In some countries, if you spend more than a certain percentage in the previous year’s expenditure, the Minister of Finance gets into trouble. The whole idea is to ensure that you spend within your budget and the figure they use is 5%,” he said.

“I think that in Ghana we should certainly implement this Fiscal Responsibility law very well because when you create distortions in the economy, people would be called upon to tighten their belt and that means hardship and we should avoid it,” he added.

The Senior Presidential Advisor said this on the sidelines of the Open Government Partnership (OGP)- Construction Sector Transparency (CoST) Initiative Stakeholder Meeting in Accra.

Parliament suspended the implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 (Act 982) in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Act charges the government to ensure that the overall fiscal balance on a cash basis for a particular year does not exceed a deficit of five percent of the gross domestic product for that year.

Mr Osafo-Maafo noted that these budget overruns were usually caused by promises made by politicians in an election year; therefore, most projects in that period were unbudgeted for.

“A budget is simply your total expenditure and total revenue. If you are not able to match additional revenue, you don’t go in for additional expenditure because there’s going to be cost overrun and that creates a lot of distortions in the economy,” he explained.

“So, in every election year except one, we have a situation where we have serious cost overruns and this cost overruns is arising out of political promises which brings about pressure. In the cause of it, government literally carry out a lot of unbuddgeted programmes that is the source for cost overruns and it create problems. A country works responsibly with a budget and you should obey your budget,” Mr Osafo-Maafo added.

Touching on the OGP-CoST initiative, he said it promotes transparency, participation, and accountability in the delivery of infrastructure projects.

“This is done through multi-stakeholder working, disclosure of data, an independent review known as CoST assurance, and social accountability,” he said.

The project has been piloted in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly. Through the project, he said, the Assembly earned a strong reputation for transparency and accountability as one of the sub-national OGP members.

Mr Christiaan Poortman, the Board Chairperson for CoST, said his outfit aimed at enhancing capacity, promoting effective governance in local infrastructure projects, and fostering engagement with stakeholders.

He said Ghana’s hosting of the 51st CoST Board Meeting in Ghana underscored the collective commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance in infrastructure development.

Source: newsworldgh.com