Nana Addo Reigns As Ghana’s Most Influential Politician

Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo

Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) beat off competition from the likes of former Presidents Kufuor and Rawlings, Dr. Bawumia, Dr. Paa Kkwesi Nduom, Nana Konado Agyeman Rawlings and most importantly his major contender in the upcoming November elections to emerge as the 4^th most influential personality in Ghana in 2015.

This was contained in the current list of the first 100 most influential personalities released by e.TV Ghana, organizers of the annual Ghana’s Most Influential Awards. The list, which is made up of politicians, clergy, footballers, business people, entertainment personalities and journalists among others was released live on e.TV Ghana’s State of the Nation program.

This rating comes at a very crucial period in Ghana’s political space as the country prepares to elect a leader for the next four years for which Nana Addo is one of the main contenders. The fact that he is rated higher than the sitting president, John Dramani Mahama, heightens the tension between both camps and adds to the political excitement in the country. 

The dispute over which of the two flagbearer’s is ahead of the other in terms of popularity, influence, etc. is always an issue of contention between the two main political parties, NDC and NPP and even among many ordinary Ghanaians. This rating therefore gives room for pundits to make various analysis and projections about the upcoming elections.

In 2013 however, Nana Akuffo Addo was adjudged Ghana’s Most Influential Personality.

The Ghana’s Most Influential Awards is aimed at recognizing and celebrating the top 100 Most Influential Ghanaian personalities who have contributed immensely to the growth of our society in various ways -as voted by the general public.

Public nominations which was opened in November last year were scored 40 percent and the GMI Committee consisting of editors, producers, and representatives of audit firm PKF Accountant & Business Advisors scored the remaining 60 percent.

The LA Palm Royal Beach Hotel will host the grand ceremony on June 30 where the various personalities will be awarded.

Below is the list of Most Influential Politicians and how they came up on GMI list:

• Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo (4)

• Dr.Mahamud Bawumia (8)

• Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom (9)

• President John Dramani Mahama (14)

• Ivor Greenstreet (36)

• Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (39)

• Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (53)

• Samia Nkrumah (63)

• Dr. Ekwow Spio –Gabrah (66)

• Edward Doe Adjaho (71)

• Alfred Okoe Vanderpuiye (72)

• Dr Edward Mahama (73)

• Lordina Mahama (76)

Source: Global Media Alliance 

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Five Laws Were Deliberately Broken in Smartty's Deal – Ace Ankomah

Ace Ankomah

Renowned Lawyer, Ace Ankomah says that every applicable law was broken to ensure that Smartty’s Management and Productions Limited - the company at the centre of the bus branding saga – was awarded the contract.

Speaking on ETV Ghana’s 'State of the Nation' with Kwame Gyan, Ace Ankomah who is also a member of pressure group OccupyGhana said there was no properly written contract or proper public procurement approval for Smartty’s to go ahead and brand the buses.

“Everything was done to breach every possible applicable law just so that the contract was given to that entity. There was no document which contained the conditions of the contract. If you are going to steal our money at least give it to a first-year lawyer to draft a proper contract for you. That sham of a contract is the basis for paying GHC 3.6million of our money? This is a joke,” he stated.

Ace Ankomah stressed that at least five laws including; the Constitution, the Petroleum Management Law, the Procurement Act and Government Contracts Protection Act among other laws were broken to ensure that Smartty’s won that contract.

On April 13 a Human Rights Court gave its ruling in a controversial case brought by some members of OccupyGhana asking for full disclosure of government’s contract with Smarttys Production over the 116 branded Metro Mass buses.

A revelation that the rebranding of 116 buses cost the country the sum of GHC 3.6 million sparked a lot of controversies and public outrage, compelling the government to retrieve GHC 1.5 million from Smarttys Management and Productions Limited.

According to Ace Ankomah the whole sole sourcing and procurement process to award Smartty’s the contract involving the Office of the President, Public Procurement Authority (PPA), the Transport Ministry and Finance Ministry was a sham.

“If indeed the office of the President had no hand in all of these, why would the office of the President order the Attorney General to investigate the matter? Was it why they were refusing to release the AG’s report?” Ace Ankomah quizzed.

He called for a full investigation into the PPA and its connection to the Smartty’s bus branding scandal.

“The PPA ought to explain more to Ghanaians. How can they either by being asleep or being complacent, allow this to pass through their hands when it took the AG less than a week to determine that we were being duped on this contract. The PPA itself massaged and breached its own law to allow the payment,” he noted.

Ace Ankomah disclosed that both the Legal and Audit team of OccupyGhana would continue to work tirelessly to chase the money involved in the Smartty’s deal until they get to the bottom of the matter

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THIS LOVE BUSINESS

Setting:

 Amu’s chamber, dirty drapes hanging loosely down the windows, and partly covering the peeling paint of his walls. Clothes lay flung across the floor and on the single, mahogany bed with brown sheets and spreads. 

A smiling picture of a striking Esenam used to hang up there somewhere, and he used to worship it every sunrise. It was his single photo gallery, and all his friends were forced to see it upon entry. But something happened; he cannot exactly tell what, except to battle with his left and right conscience.

Amu’s soliloquy

“My love for Esenam had drained faster than food in a colander

Yes I adored her hips and curvy contours, Yehowah!

Her lips tasted like fire

Burning with the slightest touch…Liar!

Keep mute, right conscience!  Do not call me a liar

I loved Esenam with a desire

Not for curvy contours and luscious lips…never!

I speak of bells, gowns, and a priest at the altar”

“O laka l3”….daabi, mi laka ko l3, you know

I like fair women with tall legs and long hair, although

Esenam’s skin should glow

Have blue eyes and lashes that show

Whiter teeth and fuller lips or so

Maybe I was carried away, tonight will tell…”

Setting:

Esenam’s mirror; with her reflection staring at her, wanting to burst forth and slit her throat with a broken piece. She admired the nakedness of that young, dark woman in the mirror, who had grown slender for her lover, Amu. 

Esenam envied her curves…maybe her freedom, for she was stuck in the mirror and away from the work love burdens its captives with.

Esenam’s soliloquy

“How such brawny arms turned so old

And the red hot flame, go cold

Is best left a story untold

I loved him…Liar! You loved his apartment and the cars he sold

Even a gold ring does corrode

But first cut was deepest; I feel it in my node

Or maybe I should hold

Tonight will tell…

Tonight, somewhere around Osu

Amu threw on a crumpled polo shirt over faded jeans, paying little attention to the Nike sneakers caked in layers of mud and filth.  He chuckled and shrugged as he took his seat at the table of the eat-out where he first took Esenam. 

He remembered how he had ironed his shirt back then, and traced his trousers with the tip of the iron to avoid double-lines. Now he cared less, and as Esenam appeared, he realized she too could not be bothered.

There was no hug, no greeting…

“How long have you been waiting?” Esenam asked perhaps innocently, while hanging her bag on the seat and straightening her messed-up hair. Two months ago, she had braided the latest, most complex rasta with expensive Brazilian wig.

“What time did we agree on?” Amu retorted.

“Let us make this short,” Esenam advised.

“Don’t worry,” Amu cut in sharply. “I have better things doing with my time as well”

Esenam rolled her eyes in disgust at Amu’s sarcasm. She hated him for that.

“Oh, like milking cows?” she wanted to hit back at him, but realized it was not working, for he just blew his nose and feigned indifference.

“I realized that we are no longer compatible. Fine, we like the same food, the same music, can carry on a conversation for hours…” Esenam started. “But that connection is lost”

“Guess we were all attracted by the wrong elements,” Amu shrugged, and that was it. They hugged and locked each other in a passionless embrace for a second or two and parted.

As Esenam left the venue, she had Braa Kwami on her mind, and yes, his brawny arms, accent, the sleek Chrysler PT Cruiser he drives and his tall stature charmed her most. 

Amu was on his way to Odornaa, and then head on to Nima to meet Aisha, who had fascinated him three weeks earlier with her fair complexion, near-green eyes and a curvy frame crowned with well-greased lips, as though they had just been dipped in frytol.

‘Such vain cycle; this love businesses’, the wind sighed, but they both were ear-clogged!

Originally Written and Published in May 23, 2012 by Michael Thompson 

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Sarkodie Ranked Ghana’s Most Influential Entertainer

Sarkodie

Award winning rapper, Sarkodie, has been adjudged the most influential entertainment personality for the year 2015.

This was mentioned in the first 100 Ghana’s most influential (GMI) personalities list released by e.TV Ghana recently. The list, which is made up of politicians, clergy, footballers, business people, entertainment personalities and journalists among others was released live on e.TV Ghana’s State of the Nation program.

According to the annual research conducted by e.TV Ghana, Sarkodie –known in real life as Michael Owusu Addo, is the 25th Most Influential Personality in Ghana.

The ‘Take it Back’ singer beat the likes of Shatta Wale, Stonebowy, Yvonne Nelson, Abraham Attah, Samini and Abrantie Amakye Dede among others who fall in that category to emerge the most influential entertainment personality.

The Ghana’s Most Influential Awards is aimed at recognizing and celebrating the top 100 Most Influential Ghanaian personalities who have contributed immensely to the growth of our society in various ways -as voted by the general public-.

After public nominations were opened in November last year, the list was compiled and the review process started. Public nominations were scored 40 percent and the GMI Committee consisting of editors, producers, and representatives of audit firm PKF Accountant & Business Advisors scored the remaining 60 percent.

Nominees were rated on 5 key metrics and the results were collated and analyzed with the assistance of audit firm, PKF. They partnered with e.TV Ghana to authenticate the voting and weighting process. The various personalities will be awarded at the June 30 ceremony at the LA palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.

Below is the list of Most Influential Entertainment Personalities and how they came up on GMI list :

Most Influential Entertainment Personality

·      Sarkodie (Michael Owusu Addo) (25)

·      Abraham Attah (46)

·      Samini (Emmanuel Andrews Samini) (51)

·      Stonebowy (Livingstone Etse Satekla) (54)

·      Shirley Frimpong Manso (62)

·      KSM (Kweku Sintim Misa) (65)

·      Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr (Shatta Wale) (67)

·      Lydia Forson (70)

·      Abrantie Amakye Dede (83)

·      Bisa Kdei (Ronald Kweku Dei Appiah) (84)

·      Daddy Lumba (Charles Kwadwo Fosu) (93)

·      Yvonne Nelson (94)

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Live Inside and Win the Ride – A VERY different Reality Show

The Car

The introduction of the ‘Live Inside and Win the Ride’ (LIWTR) competition by Global media Alliance Broadcast Company, operators of YFM, Happy FM and e.TV has succeeded in transforming and remoulding the face of reality shows in Ghana because of its unique nature and the fact that it has not been tried in the sub-region before.

The concept behind the LIWTR reality show is to bring together five individuals from different backgrounds across the country to endure sitting together in a five-sitter Renault Logan saloon car for a period of up to 40 days. Along that period, contestants were evicted till there was one left. The ‘last man standing’ walked away with the ride. But to emerge winner, all contestants had to be tolerant, time conscious, cunning and most of all strategic to torment – without abusing – fellow contestants in order to get them out of the running.

As part of the rules of the competition, contestants have a 15 minute break every 3 hours during which they can do whatever they want. They are also allowed 2 hours on their phones per day. Based on these rules, a contestant faces eviction for lateness after breaks as well as abusing fellow contestants. A contestant may also voluntarily leave the car due to their inability to cope with the other car mates.

A brand new Renault Logan salon car housing the contestants was parked within the foyer of the West Hills Mall at Weija for the 40-day contest.

Ghana’s first Live Inside the Ride competition started with Abdul Malik Jaberl, Setor Jinadu, Vittor Faustinus Komla, Sarah Ayim and Ernestina Fiah on March 7, a day after Independence Day and ended on April 15 at the West Hills Mall, Weija with one contestant pulling a surprise on all patrons to emerge winner of the show. 

The Evictions 

On the first day of the LIWTR, retired security officer Vittor Faustinus Komla, the oldest contestant, suffered a premature eviction for not reporting on time after a break.

The Finalist interacting with Media 

The 61-year-old who was 10 seconds late after the first allocated 15-minute break in the competition, attributed his lateness to his failure to find his way back to the car at the West Hills Mall which cost him his chance of driving home the brand new Renault Logan. He lasted less than 24 hours in the captivating reality show which caused several of his fans to start a social media campaign to bring him back, but to no avail. 

Abdul Malik Jaberl, a 27-year-old entrepreneur, was also disqualified after he brought an ‘unhygienic’ item into the car. He was kicked out of the competition after an investigation found him guilty of placing the ‘unhygienic’ substance in the car, an act which according to organizers was against the rules of the competition.

The disqualification and eviction brought the number of  constants to three – Setor Jinadu, Sarah Ayim and Ernestina Fiah- remaining in the Renault Logan car, each hoping to emerge the ultimate winner of the 40-day competition.

The Drama

Setor Jinadu, one of the three finalists in ‘Live Inside and Win the Ride’ reality show vowed to kick out contestant Sarah Ayim from the competition but he failed to accomplish that.

Setor, junior brother of Coded of hiplife trio 4x4 and considered by patrons of the event as the ‘bad boy’ of the completion had since day one pulled various stunts to make the other contestants very uncomfortable. His main target had been 23-year-old model, Sarah Ayim.

The young model, who carved a niche for himself as the troublemaker of the reality show, pulled several stunts to make the other contestants as uncomfortable as possible. He targeted to kick out the two ladies by resulting to sleep naked in the ride during their 40-days stay in the car. 

 “If I don’t know how to drive, my brother wouldn’t leave his car for me. When I am going out (with a car), they (family members) give me a strong warning not to mess up (with the car). Annoyance is the most important part of this contest. You need to work on your temperament to fit in this contest and I started with a bad temperament. My temperament can’t go to the extent of throwing blows but I can go verbally bad,” Setor said during a media interaction. 

There was however confusion over who really is Setor’s girlfriend with over 3 beautiful ladies coming up to say he is their boyfriend. Setor on the other hand remained silent on who was actually his girlfriend or not. 

Sarah on the other hand remained firm throughout the competition, enduring all the stunts by her car mates. She appeared to have had her own game plan to stay in the competition and eventually win the car. 

Sarah, the Winner in the Car

To get things heated a bit, the family of Sarah moved to the West Hills Mall to warn Setor about his persistent tormenting of Sarah. “If I have been courageous to live with them, I think the public has noticed it and they will help me to win. I have learned about time management, how to control temper, people with different attitude and those who want to stab you at the back,” Sarah shares her experience inside the car. 

Ernestina who always took some minutes from her breaks to privately smoke some sticks of cigarette said she misses her 8-year-old daughter. “I have found myself where they -Sarah and Setor- are before so being with them is like living with siblings. Trust me, it’s not been easy. I have missed my daughter so much and want to be with her,” Ernestina shares her challenge.

The show received an appreciable level of corporate support with Premium Motors, MTN Pulse, Mentos and New York Sizzler sponsoring.

As the 40-day reality contest ended on April 15, Sarah Ayim (model), Sector Jinadu (model) and Ernestine Mawuse Fiah (Hairstylist) were the only contestants left to demonstrate their fortitude for the Renault Logan. Before the grand finale, Setor disclosed that he would use it to serve orphanage homes, Ernie would run her hairstyle business with it while Sarah would use it to run her ticketing agency.

Patrons enjoyed  with regular updates and live feed from the event on e.TV Ghana, YFM and Happy FM as well as on social media with the hashtag #liveinside.

On April 15, friends, family and patrons of the event received a shock of their lives after the results were collated. Sarah polled 75 percent votes with Setor and Ernestina splitting the remaining 25 percent unevenly. The overwhelmed Sarah was presented with the keys of the brand new car becoming winner of the maiden edition of the show.

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Danger At Anyaa As Petrol Stations Take Over Residential Areas

Residents of Anyaa School Junction in the Ga Central Municipality near Awoshie, a suburb of Accra, have raised red flags over the influx of filling stations in the area.

This, according to residents, could lead to another disaster if authorities do not take steps to stop the operations of these filling stations.

They have therefore issued an SOS to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) as well as the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovations and all bodies associated with issuing permits for the construction of commercial gas and fuel filling stations to ensure that they are not sited in residential areas, to come to their aid.

This follows the decision to site a gas/filling station in the locality, which poses a danger to residents.

A visit to the site recently confirmed that  two fuel filling stations- Excel Oil Company Limited and Strategic Energy Limited (SEL) – were situated in the middle of the residential area, with Glee Oil, another filling station, under construction on the same stretch.

The Environment, Science, Technology and Innovations Minister, Mahama Ayariga, recently ordered that all gas and filling stations in all residential areas be closed down following a gas station explosion at Dansoman in Accra.

However, this directive has not been adhered to by the EPA as it continues to grant licenses to petrol stations in residential areas.

The residents claimed that though the EPA had initially come round to prevent Excel Oil Company Limited from operating, they had allegedly falsified some documents that suggested that they (the residents) had given them permission to operate despite the risk the business poses to their lives.

They added that the EPA placed a 'stop work' notice at the construction site on September 16, 2015 but the warning was treated with contempt as work continued.

According to residents, Excel Oil Company Limited had been constructed directly on a waterway, which was likely to cause flooding in that area in the rainy season.

“The EPA shouldn't have given them permit and the GCMA shouldn't have also given them the building permit. They should have acquired a bigger plot somewhere that was not close to our residence. In case of any fire incident like what happened on June 3 last year, it will cause a lot of damage and even claim lives. We want the EPA and the other authorities to come out and tell us how those filling stations got their permits to operate because we feel where the filling stations are situated is unsafe,” a resident told the paper.

The tour of the area also revealed that the Excel Oil Company Limited was situated closely to a kenkey cooking house and two welding shops, even though these businesses depend heavily on naked flame for their operations.

NPA's regulation indicates that gas or fuel filling stations should be situated about 30.8 meters or 100 feet away from residential areas, but that was not the situation on the ground as the filling stations were less than 10 meters away from residences.

Another resident who appeared worried about the situation wondered how the EPA, GSA and NPA allowed the construction of filling stations in the midst of welding shops, houses, churches, shops, drinking spots, and banks among others.

She said their fear stemmed from the fact that most of the businesses operating around the filling stations used fire for their trades.

“How did these filling stations, especially Excel Oil Company Limited, secure permits to operate in a residential area and on a waterway close to a kenkey house and also surrounded by two welders? The authorities haven't learnt from what happened from the June 3 disaster that hit the country,” she added.

The issue of fuel and gas filling stations springing up in residential areas is currently an issue disturbing discerning Ghanaians. Some have said owners of these filling stations are top guns in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Excel Oil 

One of the pump attendants, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the manager had instructed them not to grant interviews or give out his number to any media house, said the filling station had secured all the necessary documentation and also had the backing of the residents to commence operations.

Glee Oil was also in the process of constructing a new fuel filling station just before the Excel Oil Company Limited.

However, various attempts to get the EPA to comment on the issue proved futile as appointments were ignored.

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‘Don’t Wipe Out JB Danquah’s Achievements’

Nana Addo launching the book

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has observed that there had been several attempts in the past to deliberately wipe out the achievements of JB Danquah from the political history of Ghana.

He said the intolerant stance in the politics of Ghana that characterized the early years led to a deliberate attempt to wipe out the significant role played by JB Danquah and others.

Nana Addo, who was speaking in Accra at the launch of a book entitled, ‘Things Every Child of Ghana Should Know About Dr. JB Danquah,’ written by Abyna-Ansaa Adjei, said among the various achievements, Dr. Danquah did a research and came up with the idea of calling this country Ghana (hitherto known as The Gold Coast).

The launch of the 72-page book – edited by Elizabeth Ohene, a seasoned journalist – coincided with the 51st anniversary of the death of Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, known as the doyen of Ghana’s politics.

The book, which is the  10th by the author, tells the story of Dr. Danquah’s life from his childhood, his years of academic excellence as a student in the United Kingdom, through his political career as a freedom fighter and politician until his death in the Nsawam Medium Security Prison on February 4, 1965.

According to Nana Addo, the book brought back vivid memories of Dr. Danquah’s personality as a dynamic and charismatic individual who wrote profusely and was never shy of arguments.

He also disclosed that though the book is meant for children, adults would also learn a lot from it and gain a better insight and impression of JB Danquah’s achievements.

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“Fifty-one years ago, JB Danquah died in the Nsawam Medium Security Prison under the most inconvenient conditions. So touting a figure was he that my proudest moment as a child was when he asked me to become Page-boy at his wedding to the love of his life, the beautiful Elizabeth of Sekondi. I am really astonished that Abyna has unearthed these pictures of me as a young child in this book which is meant for young children. This will be a remarkable testimony to our qualities of receipt because I never knew there was a record of that event,” Nana Akufo-Addo articulated.

He added that by researching and putting together the book, the author had taken the argument away from the life history of JB Danquah to unearthing so many unknown and unacknowledged facts about the man.

“The author backs up every statement about Danquah with evidence and does so in elegant simple prose,” he said.

The NPP standard bearer bought 1,000 copies of the book to be stocked in the various public libraries across the country.
Prof. Kumi Ansah-Koi, Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, reviewing the book, noted that the family of the late Dr JB Danquah are still victims of defamation and slander  due to the problem of mass ignorance and illiteracy .

He predicted that the book would go a long way to dispel the mass ignorance and illiteracy about Dr Danquah.

Abyna-Ansaa Adjei, the author, said she was inspired to write the book after she had been tasked to design the brochure for the 50th anniversary of Dr JB Danquah’s demise last year.

A good number of dignitaries and political bigwigs like Elizabeth Ohene, Freddie Blay, Ken Ofori-Atta, Alan Kyeremateng, Keli Gadzekpo,  Samuel Atta Akyea and Osafo-Maafo among others, turned up for the event.

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Kufuor Inaugurates Scholars Program

Kufuor presenting a certificate to one of the scholars

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has officially inaugurated the Kufuor Scholars Program (KSP) to provide specialized orientation through program mentorship, skills and experiential activities as well as annual stipends to young people in the tertiary level.

According to Mr Kufuor who is also the Chairman of the John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK)  Foundation, the KSP which was instituted  by JAK Foundation, was expected to produce leaders imbued with unwavering sense of patriotism; leaders who are innovative, problem solvers, creative thinkers and knowledgeable in their respective fields of endeavor.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the head office of the JAK foundation in Accra yesterday, Ex-President Kufuor said it had been his long cherished dream to nurture young people with ambition and leadership qualities.

“I am delighted because it has been my long cherished dream to nurture young people with ambition and leadership qualities, ready to assume the control of affairs of whatever industry they find themselves in.  This could be in politics, business, academia, sports, religion, culture, administration, health and technology among others,” he stated.

Over 500 applicants from tertiary institutions who were expected to have completed their first year course were screened by various intellectuals of high repute and great experience – independent of the foundation-. They were pruned to 50 and then to 20 and after another interview session 14 brilliant young applicants emerged.

Each of the 14 selected candidates would receive an annual stipend of GH¢10,000 for 3 years.

The former President urged the candidates to prove themselves worthy as missionaries and ambassadors to serve as the stems on which branches would grow for the good of the nation and the African continent.

“You will also have the opportunity to participate in programs of the foundation including seminars, lectures and direct interactions with renowned world leaders and achievers. This would be in the GH¢ 10,000 that would be paid to each of you annually for the 3 years that you enjoy the scholarship.”

Prof Baffour Agyeman-Duah, Chief Executive for the John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation noted that the program would prepare the 14 candidates to become responsible and effective leaders in any position they find themselves in the future.

The event brought together a host of personalities like Erling S. Lorentzen, Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo, Dr Pascal Brenya, Henry Baye, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor,  Kwadjo Mpianim and Dr Mary Chinery Hesse among others.

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Drivers Bare Teeth Over Insurance Premium Increase

Commercial drivers across the country have expressed frustration over the recent increase in insurance premiums, with some threatening to embark on a strike if nothing is done about the situation.

Charles Danso, Chairman of the Ghana Committed Drivers Association (GCDA), told Nii Ogbamey Tetteh that by the increment, commercial drivers were expected to pay GH¢357 for third party insurance, from a previous GH¢75, representing over 500 percent increase.

It would be recalled that in June, 2015, the GIA attempted to increase motor insurance premiums (third party) by 800 percent which was strongly rejected by Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) and GCDA, among other transport operation bodies.

Following negotiations between the Ministry of Transport, Road transport operators, the GIA and the National Insurance Commission (NIC), a mutually agreed incremental rate of between 240-260 percent was arrived at.

But the GIA earlier this year, increased the premium rate by over 500 percent.

“The recent percentage of increment in the insurance premium is more than 500 percent.  In fact the new insurance premium is affecting all commercial drivers and their car owners. This is not good, and is bad faith by the GIA,” Mr Danso said.

He said the various transport operators met with the GIA on Monday to kick-start the negotiation process but the GIA asked for some time to consult with the NIC and get back to them.

“We met them today and we are telling them to reduce it, the price is outrageous and we cannot bear it. We will be meeting with them in the middle of this week to conclude this matter. The insurance guys say they have to consult the National Insurance Commissioner herself so that they come back to the consultation table with them,” he added.

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Mr. Danso stated that if the GIA decides not to reduce third-party insurance premium, the transport operators would embark on a nationwide strike to protest against the insensitivity on the part of the NIC and Ministry of Transport.

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Reduce Corruption – Akua Kuenyehia

Prof. Akua Kuenyehia

Prof. Akua Kuenyehia, a retired judge of the International Criminal Court at The Hague in the Netherlands, says the peace in Ghana will be transient if the people do not work hard to reduce the level of corruption in the country.

According to the retired judge, Ghana needs to have low levels of corruption in order to attain sustainable peace.

Speaking at the maiden annual peace lecture of the Rotary Club of Accra-West, which is in collaboration with the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) in Accra on Wednesday, Prof. Kuenyehia stated that corruption would destroy the nation if the citizenry fail to do something about it.

“Corruption is a canker that will destroy us as a nation if we don’t do anything about it. You can talk all the peace you want but if you don’t deal with corruption, you are not going to get any peace or the peace will only be transient.   As a nation, are we prepared to face corruption? For sustainable peace in this country, we need to have very low levels of corruption. When you have low levels of corruption then you have a chance of making progress,” she said.

She added that corruption was a serious issue that Ghana and Africa as a whole must handle carefully.

“How do we correct some of these things? Unless we correct some of these nitty-gritty things, the peace that we are looking for sustainable development will elude us, and are we ready to sit in the same place marking time while other countries make progress around us? I believe that these are very serious issues that we need to look at,”   the President of MountCrest University College said.

She however added that despite the corruption that has engulfed the country, Ghana was an oasis of peace in the mist of turmoil in the sub-region and the African continent as a whole.

Prof. Kuenyehia also indicated that peace was one of the factors that attract investors into the country, adding that anything that would disturb the peace of a country would affect its economy as well.

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Elections

She urged Ghanaians to work hard to minimize factors that could inflame passions and spark violence in the upcoming elections slated for November 7.

“This is an election year and therefore the mantra is peace, we should avoid election violence or anything that will disturb the peace of this country.  I believe with the current economic conditions and lack of transparency in most cases, we should be very careful touting how peaceful we are and as we move towards the election month of November, each of us has an obligation to make sure that we try and minimize some of these factors that heighten disagreements. If you don’t do that, this is the kind of thing that could easier trigger violence,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Amos Amankwah, Rotarian President of the Accra-West Rotary Club, has said that the peace lecture would become a reference point on the Ghanaian calendar to serve as a reminder for individuals.

The event brought together various personalities including former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Eva Lokko, former PPP running mate, Prof Atukwei Okai, Vitus Azeem, Hackman Owusu Agyemang, La Mantse Nii Kpobi Tettey Tsuru III and Lt Col Eric Aggrey Quarshie, of Ghana Armed Forces PR Directorate, among others.

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