News
Bawumia promises to construct tertiary institution in Builsa North
The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has promised to construct a nursing training college in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region if given the nod to become president.
“A tertiary institution in this district is something that I want to promise you as president; I will make sure you have it…” he told the Sandem-Nab, Paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area, Nab Azaksuk Azantilow.
Dr Bawumia, who called on the Paramount Chief at his Palace on the first day of his tour to the region, made the promise when Nab Azantilow repeated his appeal for a tertiary institution, among other projects, in the Traditional Area.
Nab Azantilow said despite several appeals including a cold system for the Sandema Hospital, which did not run mortuary services, none of those appeals had received any “sympathetic consideration.”
“We indeed have a site for the establishment of a nursing training college, which stalled due to lack of funding. My people and I will prioritise your votes and hope that you will take this into account, and you shall be rewarded in return,” he said.
In further response to a request to have the Chieftaincy Act reviewed to give power to chiefs to adjudicate cases, the flagbearer said: “In fact, it is part of my manifesto, that we are going to amend Section 63 of the Chieftaincy Act to empower the chiefs.”
Dr Bawumia said his presidency would ensure that the chieftaincy institution was brought closer to the government.
“To do this, we also want to resource the chiefs. We want to pay living allowances to our overlords, paramount and divisional chiefs,” he said.
He added queen mothers would also be paid “living allowances” to help in the administration of the chieftaincy institution.
“Nab, we have a lot of things to do, but I will be in a position to help if you make me president of the Republic of Ghana, I will be able to do a lot, and if you bring Thomas Alonsi to be Member of Parliament for Builsa North, together, we will be able to do a lot,” he said.
Dr Bawumia was accompanied by some Ministers of State, former government appointees, national and regional party executives, and members of parliament.
They included Mr Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister for Defence; Mr Mustapha Ussif, the Minister for Youth and Sports; Mr Ambrose Dery, former Minister for the Interior; Alhaji Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, Upper East Regional Minister; Mr John Boadu, former General Secretary of the NPP and Madam Tangoba Abayage, former Upper East Regional Minister.
“We indeed have a site for the establishment of a nursing training college, which stalled due to lack of funding. My people and I will prioritise your votes and hope that you will take this into account, and you shall be rewarded in return,” he said.
In further response to a request to have the Chieftaincy Act reviewed to give power to chiefs to adjudicate cases, the flagbearer said: “In fact, it is part of my manifesto, that we are going to amend Section 63 of the Chieftaincy Act to empower the chiefs.”
Dr Bawumia said his presidency would ensure that the chieftaincy institution was brought closer to the government.
“To do this, we also want to resource the chiefs. We want to pay living allowances to our overlords, paramount and divisional chiefs,” he said.
He added queen mothers would also be paid “living allowances” to help in the administration of the chieftaincy institution.
“Nab, we have a lot of things to do, but I will be in a position to help if you make me president of the Republic of Ghana, I will be able to do a lot, and if you bring Thomas Alonsi to be Member of Parliament for Builsa North, together, we will be able to do a lot,” he said.
Dr Bawumia was accompanied by some Ministers of State, former government appointees, national and regional party executives, and members of parliament.
They included Mr Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister for Defence; Mr Mustapha Ussif, the Minister for Youth and Sports; Mr Ambrose Dery, former Minister for the Interior; Alhaji Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, Upper East Regional Minister; Mr John Boadu, former General Secretary of the NPP and Madam Tangoba Abayage, former Upper East Regional Minister.
The rest were Madam Vida Akantagriwen Anaab, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area; Mr. Anthony Namoo, the Regional Chairman of the NPP; Mr. Arimeyaw Somo Lucky Basintale, West Mamprusi MCE; Mr. Danladi Abdul-Nashir, former MCE for the East Mamprusi Municipality; Mr. Fuseini Nurudeen, the North East Regional Chairman of the NPP, among others.
Source:GNA
News
National Service Authority goes cashless
The National Service Authority (NSA) has announced a mandatory transition to a cashless payment system.
This initiative aligns with the government’s drive to modernize revenue collection.
In a statement, NSA noted that effective immediately, all user agencies and stakeholders are directed to make all payments,
including the 20% and 10% administrative service charges, through the GHANA.GOV platform.
This shift to digital payments offers greater transparency, convenience and accessibility for those working with the NSA.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read the full statement below
News
Greater Accra Regional Minister calls on traders to operate within designated spaces to ease congestion
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has called on traders in the city to operate within designated spaces to ease congestion and maintain cleanliness in market centres.
Speaking with traders at the Kaneshie Market on February 4, 2025, during a tour of selected market centres to assess sanitation challenges, reinforce government commitment to address indiscriminate refuse disposal, and improve market conditions, the minister called for collaboration between traders and local authorities to address sanitation and maintain order.
She assured the new government’s commitment to addressing urban challenges and improving market conditions in Accra as part of its broader agenda for a cleaner city.
“We are here to engage you in a conversation about our mission to improve cleanliness in Greater Accra. We are taking into account the conditions of the roads, your problems, and your suggestions. Most walkways have been taken over by traders instead of serving their original purpose, which leads to traffic congestion. We want to understand your challenges so that we can find the best way to assist you,” the Minister stated.
The Minister who was accompanied by officials from the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council ( GARCC) led by the Chief Director of the GARCC, Mrs. Lilian Baeka, some staff from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA) and other sister assemblies in the Region used the opportunity to enquire about the state of waste disposal within the market and the efficiency of refuse collection by the assemblies.
“Does it take long for the refuse to be collected after it is gathered? These are some of the issues we want to address,” she added, inviting traders to share their thoughts.
The President of the Greater Accra Markets Association, Mrs. Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan who welcomed the minister, expressed gratitude for the visit and assured traders commitment to rally support behind her as a woman in leadership.
”In the market, we face numerous challenges we wish to discuss. There are various groups of traders with some selling at the top, others beneath, while some can be relocated, others should be removed. However, we must follow due process to ensure that people’s livelihoods are not affected. She cannot do it alone, and we are ready to support her efforts,” she stated.
She noted that efforts to regulate trading activities, especially on the Kaneshie overhead footbridge, had proven difficult despite continuous engagements with the police.
Madam Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan identified street trading as a major concern, explaining that it had significantly affected business inside the main markets.
“Our major problem is those selling outside. Because of them, the market is now dry. Almost everyone has moved onto the streets. They are our brothers and sisters, and we want them inside the market. There are a lot of vacant spaces they can occupy,” she said.
On sanitation, she remarked that significant progress had been made, stressing that previously, the Kaneshie market was associated with rubbish, but the story had changed for good.
