News
112 teachers, others honoured
Mr Samuel Asare-Brew presenting an award to a beneficiary
Teachers in the Abore Ebom Electoral Area in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region have been honoured for their diligent and dedicated services to the communities.
Also honoured were the District Director of Education (DDE), Ms. Phyllis Boateng, District Police Commander (DPC), Chief Superintendent Samuel Akom and the District Health Director (DHD), Bernard Badu-Bediako.
In all, 112 persons were honoured during the solemn ceremony that pulled traditional leaders, the clergy, educationists,among others, to grace the occasion.
They took home 32 inches plasma televisions, cylinders and certificates and citations.
The awards ceremony, which was under the auspices of the Assembly Member for the Electoral Area, Samuel Asare-Brew, further offered GH¢1,000.00 each to eight students who excelled in the recent Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to support their education.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Asare-Brew used the occassion to appeal to all parents and guardians to ensure that their wards go to school “consistently and punctually, do their homework, ensure they learn at home in the evening and support the teachers in their own small way with food produce, cash among others to motivate them.
“We cannot pay them, but at least we can appreciate them and partner with them as stakeholders”, he intoned.
Mr. Asare-Brew, also the District Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), urged the people to take advantage of the government’s Free Senior High School (FSHS) as well as the Free Technical Vocational Education (FTVE)to better their lot.
“It is refreshing to note that the government is keen on improving educational outcomes and will do whatever it can to make sure that every school going Ghanaian-child, at least receives free education to the SHS level. Education is the key to development and self-sustenance, take advantage of this,” he admonished.
Some teachers have faithfully taught for over 20 years, ensuring that Amansie West produced great men and women, and according to Mr. Asare-Brew “this cannot be overlooked”.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Manso
Nhyieso
News
NPP condems arrest of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the arrest and detention of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah by operatives of the National Security.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary, Justin Kodua noted that “This unlawful action by the marauding operatives of the National Security is the latest installment of the ongoing series of state-sponsored attacks on the media by the NDC government, in their desperate attempt to silence the media and curtail press freedom.”
According to the him, “The Party condemns in no uncertain terms this state-sponsored lawlessness and commends the many well-meaning Ghanaians who spoke loudly against this shameful conduct by the National Security. We also commend the young people and the team of lawyers who stormed the National Security Secretariat this evening to see to the release of the abducted journalist.”
“The NPP wishes to remind President Mahama and his government that the Ghana that was bequeathed to them on January 7, 2025, was a free country. It was the bastion of democracy, underpinned not only by the existence of functioning democratic institutions but also by our unflinching commitment to upholding press freedom as enshrined in Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution,” they added.
Read the full statement below
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 19, 2025
*NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY CONDEMNS THE UNLAWFUL ARREST OF VETERAN JOURNALIST, OKATAKYIE AFRIFA MENSAH BY NATIONAL SECURITY OPERATIVES*
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) condemns the unlawful arrest and detention by operatives of the National Security, of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, a veteran journalist, who has been critical of the John Mahama administration.
This unlawful action by the marauding operatives of the National Security is the latest installment of the ongoing series of state-sponsored attacks on the media by the NDC government, in their desperate attempt to silence the media and curtail press freedom.
The Party condemns in no uncertain terms this state-sponsored lawlessness and commends the many well-meaning Ghanaians who spoke loudly against this shameful conduct by the National Security. We also commend the young people and the team of lawyers who stormed the National Security Secretariat this evening to see to the release of the abducted journalist.
The NPP wishes to remind President Mahama and his government that the Ghana that was bequeathed to them on January 7, 2025, was a free country. It was the bastion of democracy, underpinned not only by the existence of functioning democratic institutions but also by our unflinching commitment to upholding press freedom as enshrined in Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution.
In line with this commitment, the country also went through the painstaking process of repealing the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law in 2001, a process that was spearheaded by the immediate past President, H.E Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, who was then the Attorney General of the Republic.
It is therefore completely repugnant and unacceptable for the John Mahama administration to be using State Security to intimidate political opponents as well as media personnel in a bid to silence all critical voices This, in fact, is an egregious affront to our democratic and constitutional tenets.
We call on the Ghana Journalist Association, the Media Foundation of West Africa, Civil Society Organizations, and all stakeholders to join us in demanding an immediate cessation of this tyranny and growing culture of state-sponsored attacks on the media.
Enough is enough.
…Signed…
JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG
GENERAL SECRETARY
News
We have built enough buffers to pay all DDEP obligations – Finance Minister Ato Forson
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has assured banks that the government has built sufficient financial buffers to meet all Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) obligations this year.
Speaking at a high-level meeting with over 22 Managing Directors of banks, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and restoring confidence in the financial sector.
“We do not intend to default,” Dr. Forson declared.
“All outstanding holdouts have been paid, and we have put in place the necessary buffers to ensure that every single DDEP obligation for this year will be met.”
The Minister explained that these buffers were created through fiscal discipline, strategic investment cuts, and prudent resource allocation.
As part of this approach, the government has reset goods and services expenditure to 2023 levels and is working to achieve a primary surplus of 1.5% to sustain economic stability.
He also announced plans to submit a fiscal responsibility rule to Parliament, which will set a debt ceiling that the Ministry of Finance cannot exceed.
This measure aims to prevent excessive borrowing and reinforce financial discipline.
Beyond ensuring timely DDEP payments, Dr Forson revealed that the government is taking deliberate steps to reduce reliance on the Treasury bill market.
By improving coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, the government aims to stabilize interest rates and ease liquidity pressures on the banking sector.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
