Category: General

Defense Minister Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul has said the real people who make better impact on peacekeeping are women, and sending more women to peacekeeping will improve the peacekeeping performance and operation.

According to him women are better placed to access children and women who are suffering during peacekeeping since they understand both children and women better who suffer the most during conflict period.

“Unless we want to engage in peace enforcing the real people to be sending to peacekeeping are our women as they represent fifty-two percent in our communities we should increase their peacekeeping representation from fifteen percent to forty percent”.

He further pointed out contributing towards a statement on the floor by his Deputy to mark the International Day for Peacekeeping that, when women are in action, it is more encouraging and was proud of Ghanaian women who served in peacekeeping operations.

“Ghanaians women show dedication and professionalism, they have made Ghana proud and receive a lot of praise as the UN Secretary General’s any time they talk about Ghana they talk about our ability to bring peace to the world, Ghana should be able to export peace to the rest of the world”.

He gave, the example of Ghana’s peacekeeping role in South Sudan, Lebanon, Congo and Liberia and added that in Liberia, Liberians preferred to identify with the Ghanaian contingent and further said the praise would not go to only women but all Ghanaians peacekeeping troops.

The United Nations celebrate Ghana because when they pulled out of Rwanda  the Ghanaian contingent stayed and made a lot of sacrifices despite the fact they knew the danger of staying behind.

Mr. Nitiwul emphasised the importance of peace in Ghana by pointing out the nation cannot be exporting peace by getting our troops to keep peace in the world when we do not have peace.

That is why I keep saying the Ghanaian troops are for everybody, the only time one would have problem with them is when one falls foul of the law  in that case they would do their work and do it effectively.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah has cautioned against using her name to defraud unsuspecting Ghanaians on social media.

A statement issued by the Ministry had revealed that it has come to the attention of the Minister that quite a number of people are falling victim to some fraudulent persons purporting to be her on social media.

“I wish to emphatically state that I have no dealing with the management of the supposed page its content activities and engagement with the general public, members of the general public must also note that I do not solicit nor provide any protocol opportunities to people on social media”.

And urged members of the public to disregard any persons trying to extort money or use her name for any unscrupulous and unwarranted activities.

“I am also advising these perpetrators to desist from this scheme of defrauding by false pretense, as their mode of operation contravenes the laws of Ghana”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Akoto Afriye has said he was taken out of contest with the issue that went viral that food has become cheap in this COVID-19 pandemic such that a bunch of plantain is going for three Ghana cedis (GHc3).

According to him since the issue broke up weeks ago it is the first time he is commenting on the issue, adding he was not prepared back then.

Given the opportunity to clear the air, he pointed out that looking at the records two years ago plantain prices were so low and nobody can deny or challenge that, since those of them from the Ministry are the ones who keep prices in the market.

“We have the record to show that a bunch of plantain was four cedis here in Accra and nobody can deny that”.

When questioned on food security after the lockdown was lifted he pointed out that he was one of the first Ministers in the current administration to go to the five forest regions to see for himself what impact COVID-19 has had on farms.

“I did not see anything to get me worried rather I was more encouraged, my visit to the Eastern Region Atiwa East at Nkwakwa there is a number of young people planting rice I was amaze so when I came to Accra I said there is galamsey of rice planting going on”.

Again, these you people in Bono East, Ahafo and Ashanti Regions are taking opportunity offered by this government as it has subsidized fertilizers and high price of maize which gives them a lot of yield.

The Food and Agriculture Minister emphasized that the country is planning to produce maize in large quantities in other to export to its neighbors in the sub-region, where in the value chain more jobs would be created.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its forty-fifth year celebration, Speaker of the fifth Legislature, H. E. Sidie Mohammed Tunis has said the legislature shall play its role towards post COVID-19 recovery.

Accord to him the Legislature would have a response strategies by collaborating with an enacting policies to support sister institutions in the execution of COVID-19 related programmes for the benefit of citizens in the sub-region.

In a statement, the Speaker noted that he is aware the Commissions and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) have initiated various response to curb the spread of the pandemic in member states.

“Given the resilient nature of our people, there is no doubt that we will bounce back and make a full recovery in the no distance future, and for that to happen we urge governments of the sub-regional states to be mindful of the need to commit to protecting livelihoods and investments, and in the key sectors of our economies by identifying ingenious ways of injecting liquidity as a lifeblood to stimulate our economies”.

Hence the need to redesign the Community budget and programs to reflect changes envisaged by the effects of the pandemic on the economies of Member states.

“Our West African dreams, as handed down to us by the founding fathers of ECOWAS, forty-five years ago, armed with the tool of hope and faith in God, West Africans shall prevail against any obstacle, in brotherhood and oneness”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Clerk of Ghana’s Parliament, Mr. Cyril Nsiah has cautioned the media in the House against going after the names of lawmakers and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19.

According to him anybody who has not gone for the test should do so if the person wants to continue accessing the premises of Parliament.

“Journalists, MPs, Staff’ and visitors when the result comes out positive the national team that conducted the screening would contact the individuals directly, and you the journalists when you test positive your names and media house would not be published”.

He emphasized that the team that conducted the test last week would come back to the House today and Friday, when he addressed the media together with Majority Leader on the positive confirmed cases of lawmakers and staff.

Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mrs Kate Addo on her part pointed out to the media that results of lawmakers would not be trickling down to the House but rather would go to the individuals who tested positive.

“If you need clarification come to us, we recognize that as media houses you have your sources, but as an institution we are very cautious from the start to keep lawyers, journalists and visitors safe”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com