Government has released   a portion of state lands at the Ridge Residential Area in Kumasi to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. According to the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, the release has been made to the Asantehene on behalf of and in trust for subjects of the Golden Stool. A letter dated May 18, sighted by Myjoyonline.com indicated that the gesture is pursuant to the issuance of “Executive Instrument 432 of 2021 by Government in respect of Redevelopment of Sector 18 of Kumasi, which was published in the Ghana Gazette on 31st December, 2021.” The letter, addressed to “All Public Institutions – Ashanti Region”, was signed by the Chief Director of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, Mrs. Emelia Ayebeng Botchway, on behalf of the Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah. Read full details of the letter: This is to inform Public and State Organizations about the issuance of Executive Instrument (E.1.) 432 of 2021 by Government in respect of Redevelopment of Sector 18 of Kumasi, whi...

The General Legal Council, GLC, has decided to admit the 499 law students who were denied entry into the Ghana School of Law, according to their lawyer. This was revealed after a crunch meeting between leaders of the aggrieved 499 law students, the Attorney General, and representatives from the General Legal Council on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The 499 law students were failed in the law entrance exams after a new quota system was initiated by the General Legal Council. After protests from the students including a lawsuit, the Attorney General recommended that the GLC admits the students. Speaking to the media, lawyer for the aggrieved students, Martin Kpebu, said the students are however yet to be informed when their admission will take effect. Mr. Kpebu said the admission will be “subject to some modalities as to when these students will commence the course.” “The subcommittee of the GLC that we met this evening will go back and report on the contents of these deliberations we ha...

The Ministry of Roads and Highways has directed the immediate discontinuation of the collection of tolls on all public roads and bridges across the country. This order according to a statement signed by the sector Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Attah is to take effect from Thursday, November 18, 2021, at 12:00am. It follows the announcement by the Finance Ministry of the scrapping of tolls on all public roads. “The Ministry of Roads and Highways hereby directs the cessation of the collection of road and bridge tolls at all locations nationwide.” Police personnel from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) are to be stationed at various toll booths to provide security. In the meantime, the statement has urged motorists to obey the instructions of the security agents. “The motoring public will be advised of further measures in due course”, the release further said. The government has announced the abolishment of tolls on all public roads in the country. This was announced in the 2022 ...

The government, as part of strategies to widen the country’s tax net, has announced an Electronic Transaction Levy. It will be a 1.75 percent charge on all electronic transactions. This fee, according to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is to enhance financial inclusion and protect the vulnerable. Transactions covering mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments, and inward remittances will have the levy imposed on them and will be borne by the sender. “After considerable deliberations, the government has decided to place a levy on all electronic transactions to widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector. This shall be known as the “Electronic Transaction Levy or E-Levy”, Ken Ofori-Atta said on Wednesday, during the presentation of the 2020 Budget in parliament. However, the levy will be waived for transactions that amount to GHS 100 or less in a day or approximately GHS 3,000 per month. The government says portions of revenue collected from the levy will be us...

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has assured President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, that going into the December 7, polls his record in office “will speak for him”. He made this known on Monday, when President Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace, at the commencement of a three-day working visit of the Ashanti Region. Addressing a durbar held in honour of the President, the Asantehene thanked the President for his continuous visit to Manhyia, both as leader of the opposition before the 2016 elections and as President of the Republic. To this end, he stated that “Your good works in office will speak for you going forward into the election. We, in Asanteman, remember, we do not forget. Asanteman will, therefore, remember your good works on election day. All I can offer you is prayers and blessings.” Even though Chiefs and traditional rulers are not to engage in partisan politics vote, the Asante noted that “we vote. We will vote based on the good works of...

The Ghana Police Service has cautioned the public against participating in a planned demonstration against the US in Ghana over the killing of George Floyd. According to the police, the organizers have not informed them about the demonstration which was scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2020. It said the restrictions against large public gatherings, rallies and demonstrations due to COVID-19 does not permit such action and so persons interested in participating in the demonstration must “disregard” the call for them to join. “The attention of the Accra Regional Police Command has been drawn to an intended demonstration against the United States trending on social media and slated for 2nd June, 2020.” “The command wishes to state that it has not been notified of any demonstration on the above heading. Moreover, the restriction on public gatherings, demonstrations and rallies among others to contain the COVID-19 are still in force and the public is being advised to disregard the “open call”...

The prosecution in the case where founder and leader of International God’s Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim is facing some criminal charges has prayed the court for more time. The prosecutor, DSP Sylvester Asare told that the court they are still investigating the matter and will need some time to be able to complete it and make their case. Bishop Obinim has been charged with forgery of documents and publication of false news contrary to sections 208 and 159 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29). On the last appearance in court, the famed religious leader was granted bail with three sureties, one to be justified. The case has been adjourned to the 20th of July 2020. Prior to today’s [June 1, 2020] sitting, Obinim was in police custody for almost three days after he failed to meet a 100,000 bail granted him by an Accra Magistrate Court. Citi News gathered that while in custody Obinim was on admission at the police hospital for treatment and was discharged on Friday, May 19, 2020 b...

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has eased the restrictions imposed on religious activities in the country. He announced this on Sunday, May 31, 2020, during his tenth address to the nation on measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus disease. During the address, the President directed religious activities to commence beginning June 5, 2020, with only a maximum of 100 persons in a church or mosque. “As I stated in my May Day address, I’m now in a position to outline the roadmap for easing safely the restrictions. Ours is going to be a fazed approach involving a selective list of public gatherings based on the risk profile, socio-economic effect and most importantly, our capacity to enforce, respond and prevent a flare-up in our number of infections. With effect from Friday, 5th June, we will begin stage one of the process of easing restrictions. An abridged format for religious services can commence. Twenty-five percent attendance with a maximum number of congregan...

The Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Identification Authority (NIA) will soon resume their registration exercises following the lifting of the ban on public and social gatherings by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Nana Akufo-Addo in an address on Sunday urged such bodies to adhere to safety protocols during their activities. “…Statutory bodies such as the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education, and the National Identification Authority, whose activities were exempted from the outset from these restrictions, must conduct their activities in accordance with social distancing and the necessary hygiene and safety protocols,” he said. President Akufo-Addo, on March 15, 2020, banned all public gatherings including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, church activities, and other related events as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country. The National Identification Authority which was organis...

Schools across the country have been reopened solely for final year students as part of measures to ease restrictions in Ghana’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his 10th televised address to the nation said the move is to prepare and enable the students to take their final examinations. According to him, the reopening is with the appropriate enhanced safety protocols and social distancing adherence. Final year university students are expected to resume school on Monday, June 15, 2020. “All final year students of educational and training institutions, which are being managed by Ministries other than the Education Ministry, are to return to school on 15th June to complete their exit examinations”, the President said. Whereas final year SHS students return to school on Monday, June 22, 2020, their counterparts in Junior High Schools will go back to school on Monday, June 29, 2020. “From Monday, 15th June 2020, the decision has been taken,...

The Ashanti regional chairman of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo has challenged a claim by the Food and Drugs Authority that local masks can protect clinicians against the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the health expert, after several research, there has been no prove that the said masks can protect health workers who engage directly with Covid-19 patients from contracting the virus. “There’s been several research conducted that cloth masks do not protect one from either bacteria or viral infection. “And indeed even the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention made their own recommendations and their recommendation is that this cloth masks should not be used by clinicians,’ he said on Top Story Friday. The claim comes after the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital asked the medical team to use cloth masks after the GMA requested to be provided with materials, including the N95 face masks to facilitate their work as well as ensuring their safety. Dr. Kwasi Baido...

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) says it has arrested officials of digital payment marketing and promotions firm, Payboy. A statement from EOCO on Friday said Payboy Company Limited does not have the license from either the Bank of Ghana or the Securities and Exchange Commission to perform the services it purports to offer. “The General Public is advised to be circumspect when dealing with companies or individuals if it involves financial commitments,” EOCO cautioned. “Investigations are ongoing,” it added. The arrest goes to further fuel the infamous Menzgold saga. The gold dealership firm said on May 19 that it had appointed Payboy to facilitate payments with their clients. Menzgold’s over 10,000 customers invested in gold collectibles with a subsidiary of the firm in a scheme that promised up to 10% monthly returns. The SEC ordered a shut-down of their operations after investigations revealed they were taking cash deposits illegally. Since September 2018, clients’ moni...

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says some of the over 200 Ghanaians who returned from Kuwait over the weekend have tested positive for coronavirus. Director of Public Health at the Service, Dr Badu Sakordie during a press briefing on Thursday said he has been informed that some of the returnees have tested positive but will wait for official confirmation of the exact number. “There are indications that some of them have tested positive. We will follow up and when we have the full report, we will share appropriately,” he said. Prior to this, tests conducted on the returnees by Kuwaiti health officials were negative. The Director of Media and Communications for Operation Covid-19 safety, Osei Bonsu Dickson who revealed this to JoyNews when they arrived in Ghana on Saturday, May 23, however, indicated that another round of tests would be conducted on them. They are the first batch of citizens resident abroad who have applied to be brought back home following the outbreak of the coronavirus...

The 24 year-old security man, Bless Amedegbe aka Don Dada Bless, is facing a charge of assault on a public officer as well as False Communication, contrary to Section 76(1) of the Electronic Communication Act, 2008 (Act 775). He instigated the public on social media to burn the house of President Akufo-Addo and also kill police officers enforcing Covid-19 measures has been granted bail in the sum of GHC100,000, with two sureties. He has, however, denied the offences. Amedegbe, is said to have taken the action because he believed the global pandemic was a hoax. Sergeant Sarpong said in April this year, after the President announced the restriction of movement order in the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas, Amedegbe took video shots of himself and circulated same via YouTube and WhatsApp Platforms, inciting the public to defy the President’s Executive Orders on the lockdown. The Prosecution said the accused described the President’s social distancing directive as a ...

This brings to six, the total number of cases reported in the country. This was announced by the government at a press briefing to update citizens on the outbreak of the Novel 2019 (COVID-19) in the country. The government said three of the cases were recorded in Accra while one other was recorded in the Ashanti Region. The Director of Public Health at Ghana Health Service, Dr Badu Sarkodie who provided updates on the country’s cases said the new cases were also imported into the country. He said two of the cases were confirmed on 13th of March 2020 while the other two were confirmed on 14th March, 2020. Cases confirmed on 13th March 2020 Dr. Badu Sarkodie said; On Friday, 13th March, 2020 two more cases were confirmed as COVID-19. They reported in two regions. One each from Ashanti Region and the other Greater Accra Region. “The first is a 56-year old man, a Ghanaian who returned from a trip in the UK on the 4th of March. He stayed in UK for 10 days and came back...

BREAKING NEWS The Ministry of Health has announced that two cases of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Ghana. The cases, according to the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, were confirmed on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

Two foreign nationals on Wednesday reported at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital having developed some symptoms suspected to be  coronavirus . The patients, a Chinese and an Argentine who have been living together in the country for some days, have been isolated at the facility while blood samples taken have been sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), for further analysis. Greater Accra Divisional Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Winifred Baah revealed on the PM Express on JoyNews Wednesday. Dr Baah explained that the Chinese left the home country for Ghana sometime in September 2019 while the Argentine, who was in Shanghai, joined the Chinese in Ghana in January. “They’ve all developed some symptoms that fit the case definition [but] it doesn’t mean they have the disease,” he clarified. He said another round of testing is expected to be conducted on the two nationals Thursday. He explained that the patients ...

Authorities in Cote d'Ivoire have tested the first person on the African continent for the Wuhan coronavirus, Cote d'Ivoire’s Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene said in a statement Sunday.  An Ivorian student who traveled from Beijing to Abidjan experienced symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and difficulty breathing, the ministry said. The student was moved to a safe location on arrival at the airport and is currently under medical observation, the ministry said. Authorities believe it is a case of pneumonia and not coronavirus, but the final diagnosis will be made after the analysis of the tests results, the ministry said. The ministry urged residents not to panic, to maintain proper hygiene and to visit the closest health center in case of fever, cough or breathing difficulties.

Guinean Naby Keita scored a 90th-minute penalty as Asante Kotoko claimed a 2-1 victory against fierce rivals Hearts of Oak in Accra on Sunday.