Seth J. Bokpe's Ghana Newsreel

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has been replaced by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Julius Debrah, in an expected ministerial reshuffle. The press release from the Flagstaff House announcing the change did not state reasons for the President’s decision to relieve the minister of his post. However, it appears public outcry over a number of recent happenings in the Local Government Ministry has cost the minister his job. Key among the issues are the award of contract for the supply of motorcycles for a street-naming project to an IT firm, Subah Infosolutions Ltd; the cutting down of centuries-old trees at the Aburi Gardens and the garbage that has engulfed Accra and other parts of the country. The release was silent on his new designation. President John Mahama is not obliged to give reasons for the reshuffle, but the appointments were done in accordance with Article 79(1) of the 1992 Constitution. Mr Opong-Fosu took office in Februar...

Although Allied Home Stores Limited (AHSL) failed to meet the criteria for the award of contracts for the supply of tyres to the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL) this year, the board, of the company, overturned the decision of an Evaluation Committee that scrutinized the bids submitted and recommended Rana Motors.        The board’s decision was on the basis that apart from value for money, the non-submission of an audited financial statement, the criterion used in disqualifying the AHSL’s bid, was not used as a benchmark for other companies that submitted bids. Board Chairman of MMT, Nana Ansah Sasraku According to the full Evaluation Report for the supply of the tyres, which has been made available to the Daily Graphic, the AHSL failed to comply with demands of the bid which deals with submitted financial reports (audited accounts) for the last two years, covering 2011 and 2012, to show its financial capability to execute the said contract. ...

It was a protest that failed before it even started but to add to the drama, two leaders of a group of Ho residents demonstrating against the government, for the deteriorating roads in the municipality, have collapsed. Reports indicate that the two men have been rushed to the Ho Regional Hospital.  A handful of Ho residents in the Volta region, Thursday called the bluff of the Volta regional Minister, Madam Helen Notoso as they protested over the poor road networks in the municipality. According to the aggrieved residents say they are tired of government’s failure to fix the bad roads in the area.  A placard carried by one of the protestors comically read “President Mahama, don’t take 2016 for granted, else (or) else, your World Bank would turn into Microfinance company. We love you so take action against the nation sabouters” One of the protest leaders  being sent to the hospital Another one read “Are Voltarians only voters? Then change...

The Rector of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Professor David Ofori-Adjei, has observed that the compulsory 60-year retirement age for medical specialists in the public service is taking a toll on the manpower the health sector requires for specialist training. He said it was therefore necessary to take another look at the issue, given that for certain categories in academia and the legal professions, provision had been made for those who had traversed the 60-year line.  “Some have wondered why medical specialists in the public service are put to pasture at an age when their practice, experience and knowledge has matured,” he said at the 11th Annual General Scientific Meeting (AGSM) of the college in Accra yesterday.  The AGSM is used to review the performance, prospects and challenges of the college. It also provides for the established tradition of admitting deserving individuals as members and fellows. This year’s programme had the theme: “Improv...

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has ordered the sale of all confiscated illegal timber seized from chainsaw operators. T he directive, however, does not include seized Rosewood. There is currently a ban on the harvesting, transporting and exporting of Rosewood. T he sector Minister, Nii Osah Mills, who gave the order when he visited the Forestry Commission (FC) Depot in Accra, urged the Commission to dispose of all the seized lumber based on existing guidelines and procedures. T he minister asked the FC to carry out the exercise with transparency, fairness and accountability. A t least 75 trucks carrying illegal timber have been impounded in the Greater Accra Region since October to date. Ban T he Ministry on October 21, this year placed a ban on the sale of chainsaw lumber ostensibly to control the destruction of the country’s forest. T he ban was to enable the ministry to review and streamline the processes of the confiscati...