News
‘Restore pontoon service at Tsyome-Sabadu’
The collapse of pontoon services at Tsyome-Sabadu has become a major disincentive for farmers in the area as they are compelled to leave their produce to rot on their farms, due to the lack of transport to convey their produce to the market.
The farmers who mostly cultivate yam, cassava, sweet potatoes, pepper, garden eggs, okro, tomatoes and other vegetables have therefore appealed to the government to as a matter of urgency restore pontoon services in the area.
The assemblyman for the area, Mr Amedor Senyo Dzamposu who disclosed this to the ‘Ghanaian Times’ here on Saturday said the people of Tsyome-Sabadu were displaced from their old town by the Volta River, Tsyome-Tornu, as a result of the construction of the Akosombo Dam in 1964.
That, notwithstanding, they maintained their fertile farmlands at the old site, eight kilometre away, said the assemblyman.
He said that it was initially easy for the farmers to transport their crops to Kpando and beyond with the vibrant pontoon services on the river.
However, with the recent collapse of the pontoon services, the farmers could no longer market their produce and that was unleashing hardship on them, as well as the entire community.
According to Mr Dzamposu, the farmers could not convey their massive harvests to the community by foot, and so they only brought home what they consumed.
He revealed that some uncompassionate middlemen took advantage of the situation and turned up on the farms to purchase the crops at ‘next-to-nothing’ prices.
“Now, some farmers are so frustrated that they want to give up tilling the soil,” the assembly man told the ‘Ghanaian Times’.
Similarly, he said, local fishermen who could no longer sell their stock left them to rot, in the absence of market.
Mr Dzamposu said that farming and fishing were the mainstay of the Tsyome-Sabadu, “but we are now losing our livelihood.”
Apart from the collapse of the pontoon service, he said that the 11 kilometre road from Tsyome-Sabadu to Awate where there was market for crops, was in a deplorable state; and that was not helping matters for the local farmers.
The assemblyman renewed his appeal to the government to intervene as a matter of urgency, to restore pontoon services in the area and also fix the roads.
FROM ALBERTO MARIO NORETTI, TSYOME-SABADU
News
New BoG governor can’t engage in official duties – Afenyo-Markin to Mahama
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin has raised concerns over the assumption of official duties by Dr. Johnson Asiamah as Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The former Deputy Governor was recently nominated by President John Dramani, on January 31, 2025, to serve as Governor, pending approval by the Council of State.
This follows a formal request by the current Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, to proceed on leave ahead of his retirement on March 31, 2025.
However, in a letter to President Mahama dated February 4, Minority Leader raised serious concerns with Dr. Asiamah’s assumption of office in the absence of the Council of State.
“Your Excellency, it is my considered view that Dr. Johnson Asiamah should refrain from engaging in official duties at the Bank of Ghana until his nomination has been duly approved by the Council of State. While awaiting confirmation, he can seek any necessary briefings outside the formal assumption of office,” the letter noted.
He added, “I trust that due attention will be given to this matter to uphold the integrity of our institutional processes.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read full statement below
News
Bagbin lifts suspension of four MPs
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has lifted the suspension of four Members of Parliament (MPs) who were suspended after a clash during the vetting session on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The altercation occurred between Minority and Majority MPs, escalating tensions in Parliament. The disagreement reached a peak after the suspension of the four MPs, triggering a debate over whether the vetting should proceed on January 31, 2025.
Following the suspension, the Minority MPs walked out, leaving only the Majority to continue with the vetting of nominees, including that of MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who had already undergone several hours of questioning by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The lifting of the suspension comes after a review of the incident. The four MPs – Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Jerry Ahmed Shaib and Alhassan Tampuli – are now expected to resume their parliamentary duties as normal. The move seeks to restore order in Parliament following the disruptions.
This was after both the majority leader and minority leader appealed to the Speaker of Parliament to lift the ban on the four MPs.
Alban Bagbin said, “So I have lifted the suspension order. I do so instantly and takes effect immediately. The affected Hon. Members are permitted now to enter the precincts of the house. I must say they actually complied with the orders.”
He assured that the investigations will continue, and the House will have the opportunity to make a decision.
He commended the security agencies for their support.
Source : Citinewsroom.com
