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Newspaper headlines review and other matters arising in Ghana.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 In some 24 minutes to the top of the hour,
00:02 thank you for joining us here on Joy News.
00:04 It's time for the news review,
00:05 and I'll be introducing my guest to you shortly.
00:07 But before we get into that,
00:10 yesterday I was listening to another story of a young man,
00:13 not even 40, who has prostate-related issues.
00:17 I keep saying it, you don't want to get there,
00:20 you don't want to be there and realize,
00:22 oh, I've become a statistic.
00:25 And that is why you ought to get yourself checked.
00:27 If you're a woman, maybe there are things going on
00:29 as far as your fertility is concerned,
00:31 and you think, oh, I'm not seeing any signs,
00:35 so everything is A-okay, only to find out someday,
00:38 maybe when you're trying to give birth,
00:40 that there have been many issues.
00:43 Don't wait, don't fall victim.
00:45 Make your way to Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic,
00:47 and they are offering you screening services
00:49 for prostate issues and fertility issues in women for free.
00:54 So why not take advantage of it?
00:55 You can locate them here in Accra
00:57 at Spintex opposite the Shell signboard.
00:59 That's Kumasi Kronuma,
01:00 we're here behind the Angel Educational Complex,
01:03 Takra De Anaji State, Temaa Community 22,
01:06 Techi Manhanswa, and Isiyama in Zuma.
01:08 If you'd like to reach them on phone,
01:10 which I seriously proffer you do,
01:12 the lines are 0244-867-068,
01:17 or 0274-234-321.
01:28 Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic, the end to chronic disease,
01:31 but just the start of the newspaper review.
01:34 Joining me, my senior man,
01:37 former president of the Ghana Journalists Association,
01:42 Afe Oboni.
01:42 Good morning, sir.
01:43 - Good morning.
01:44 - Thanks for coming.
01:45 - It's a pleasure.
01:46 - It's always beautiful, this part of my week,
01:49 when you come into the studio.
01:50 - Thank you.
01:51 - I love it.
01:52 And you know, the feel is different
01:53 when you are virtually connecting with us
01:56 and when you're here.
01:57 - Yeah, it's like a person to person contact.
01:58 - Yeah.
01:59 And who has been sewing your clothes, though?
02:01 - A young guy in our church,
02:02 I think he's about 10 times.
02:04 - Oh.
02:05 - Yeah.
02:06 - Oh, he's doing a marvelous job.
02:07 - Thank you so much for coming.
02:08 - What's his name, or do you know the name of his--
02:10 - His nickname is Oman.
02:11 - Oman.
02:13 At least we give a few shouts to Oman for doing a good job.
02:16 So right before we get into the papers,
02:18 two issues I want you to look at.
02:20 We spoke about the UTV incident.
02:22 Not too soon after that,
02:25 the political parties, in fact, another political party.
02:27 - Another political party.
02:28 - And it's interesting, it's NDC, MPP, all the,
02:31 well, they are the biggest parties,
02:32 but that one too decided to show us Pepe.
02:36 And then we had that female, you know,
02:39 journalist at City FM, City TV, assaulted.
02:42 That's one.
02:44 Then yesterday, you are,
02:46 you are much more of a senior citizen than I am.
02:50 Some of us look up to people like you.
02:52 Correct me if I'm wrong.
02:55 When a president is reading the oath of allegiance
02:59 to all of us, swearing in,
03:01 I hear things like, and I'll be this and that
03:03 to all manner of people and all of that.
03:05 So yesterday, when I heard Mr. President,
03:08 you know, in the Volta region talking about
03:10 if I were to pay attention to votes and stuff like that,
03:15 I shouldn't even be here because, you know,
03:19 you people don't vote for me.
03:20 And the way his references,
03:22 (speaking in foreign language)
03:23 and you, you, and I found it disrespectful.
03:27 I found it not dignified of the people,
03:29 especially when the people are already crushed.
03:32 - Traumatized.
03:33 - Traumatized.
03:35 And the seed of politics germinated there.
03:38 This is me.
03:40 I don't know what you think on those two issues.
03:42 - You know, the president did caution against
03:46 politicization of the whole disaster.
03:49 And, but he came across as someone
03:54 who rather do no politics.
03:56 That's how I saw it, because he said the area,
04:01 people in the area do not vote for him.
04:05 And so in essence, you know, he,
04:09 so I'm still wondering what informed the decision
04:16 to raise this issue of people in the area,
04:20 you know, who are against his party and all that.
04:22 I think should have gone straight to announcing
04:27 the relief message he had for the people in that area
04:30 instead of referring to politics.
04:32 Maybe he said it in a joke just to,
04:33 he said it just to serve as an icebreaker,
04:38 but did him across.
04:40 - He went on to re-echo that someday
04:43 they would vote for him and his party.
04:45 - And I felt it was just out of,
04:47 and sometimes I ask myself really,
04:50 do people script these things for him
04:54 or does he say them off the cuff?
04:56 Because honestly, the number of people
04:58 who reached out to me yesterday
05:00 expressing angst at those words,
05:03 and I could understand them.
05:05 So I actually, honestly, when people reached out to me
05:09 at first, I hadn't, you know, I had a long day yesterday.
05:12 I hadn't taken a look at it.
05:14 And I told them, "Oh, I doubt he said that.
05:17 I'm sure it's."
05:18 Then I went, so I came on our group page,
05:21 followed and then watched the video,
05:24 listened to the audio, and I was aghast.
05:28 I was really, wow.
05:30 - So I also listened with all consumer attention
05:36 and tried to square the tone of the message
05:42 and the substance of the message.
05:44 So I came to the conclusion that President Trudeau
05:47 raised the political issues.
05:51 We all know that voter regime is predominantly NDC.
05:55 And as I said, the truth of the matter,
05:59 it's not enough justification for saying it,
06:01 even though it is true.
06:03 What's the point in saying it at that time?
06:05 - And the City FM incident, the journalist?
06:11 - Um, um, NDC, many people have come to the conclusion,
06:16 but what happened at the NDC, Green Tarka, Regina incident,
06:23 has reinforced the perception that NDC and BP are the same.
06:31 This is the inevitable.
06:34 - This one happened just a few days after
06:36 - Just a few days. - we had been condemning.
06:37 - And the NDC had condemned the UTV act.
06:42 - NDC had condemned. - Can you imagine that?
06:43 - Interesting.
06:45 - In this instance, of course,
06:46 the NDC also came out to condemn this,
06:48 but you can't tell me that you're condemning something
06:51 and someone else is doing the same thing
06:53 within your party.
06:53 - Interesting, so fate has a way of exposing the two parties.
06:58 So we have a long way to go in punishing
07:03 perpetrators of attacks against journalists
07:08 in their line of duty.
07:10 And I also listened with disbelief
07:15 the fines imposed on the attacks who invaded UTV.
07:22 - Oh, the 2,400 or so. - 2,400.
07:26 - One person within the party will pay for them all.
07:30 - Certainly, yes.
07:31 - Like you're going to say a slap on the wrist.
07:32 - A slap on the wrist, a slap on the wrist.
07:35 So the hearts of evangelists of press freedom
07:40 and apostle democracy are bleeding profusely
07:46 from what the court did.
07:49 And it again reinforces the perception
07:52 that we are not serious in dealing surgically
07:56 this issue of attacks against journalists.
07:59 And the democracy, we suffice at the end of it all.
08:02 The media is in theory and rooted in practice
08:07 that democracy is impossible without the media.
08:10 And the Ghanaian media, whether you like it or not,
08:12 are the oxygen of our democracy.
08:14 So if our democracy strikes cause of arbitration worldwide,
08:18 it's because the media have brought this fact.
08:21 And why do you turn your guns on the very people
08:25 who get our democracy taken?
08:27 And then ensuring that all others
08:29 enjoy their fundamental human right.
08:32 So an attack against journalists
08:34 is not only an attack against the media,
08:36 but also an attack against the very soul of this nation.
08:39 So as we speak, the soul of this nation
08:42 is still bleeding from the attacks perpetrated
08:44 by the attacks who invaded UTV.
08:47 So we are also watching what will pan out
08:53 of the attacks who invaded the NDC primaries
08:58 at the Apatia quarters.
09:00 The courts should come and should show
09:04 that they are also concerned,
09:06 deeply concerned about attacks against journalists.
09:09 I believe if the attacks had happened to lawyers or judges,
09:14 the facts would have been different.
09:17 So we expect any perpetrator of attack against journalists
09:23 to be punished within the fullest extent possible
09:28 under the ambit of the law.
09:29 Well, we are where we are.
09:34 They would say the fourth estate,
09:36 the bastion of our democracy and all of that,
09:39 and then end up beating us.
09:40 We have numerous examples within, right here.
09:44 People who have been beaten, traumatized.
09:46 People who have been beaten now have Latifi Gissu,
09:50 my other colleague Emmanuel Ante.
09:52 You know, it's, and then we complain
09:58 when our press freedom rankings dip.
10:00 - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
10:01 - Anyway.
10:02 - As for next year.
10:03 - And it's going to continue dipping.
10:04 - Yeah, yeah.
10:04 - With all of this, it will continue dipping.
10:06 - Yeah, it will dip, yeah.
10:07 - Anyway, let's get into the papers.
10:09 I have the Daily Graphic, the Finder newspaper
10:11 and the Economy Times.
10:12 What do you have?
10:12 - The Disaster Times.
10:16 - Yeah, Ghanai Times.
10:17 - I see the Daily Guide as well.
10:19 - Yeah, Ghanai Times, Daily Guide.
10:21 - The New Crusading Guide.
10:22 - New Crusading Guide.
10:23 - Okay, so where are you starting from?
10:25 - Of course, the story of the moment,
10:27 the disaster in parts of the Volta and Eastern regions.
10:33 Certainly, a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions.
10:39 And we are told that 26,000 people have been displaced.
10:44 And NADMO has done everything within its capacity
10:48 to settle a number of them.
10:51 - With all its logistical constraints.
10:53 - Yes, but we are told that as many as 20,000
10:56 are yet to be--
10:57 - 6,000 have found somewhere to settle,
11:01 but 20,000, that's like a drop in the bucket.
11:04 That's like another four times the number.
11:07 - Four times the number.
11:08 And the President visited there,
11:10 and as you said, he was in the limelight of the media.
11:15 But the first shot of declaring a state of emergency,
11:19 which has been a clarion call of so many people,
11:21 including MP for Nongtong, Okuju-Toa-Mlakwa,
11:26 I believe the declaration of a state of emergency
11:31 would have given the states--
11:34 - Yeah, because then that triggers certain other actions--
11:39 and possibilities.
11:40 - Possibilities, yeah.
11:42 But we are told that the Ministerial Committee
11:44 will not end at distributing food items to the victims,
11:48 but they'll take a long look at how best to settle people
11:53 in the low-lying areas so that the disaster
11:56 will not visit them in the future.
11:59 But we have watched and prayed,
12:01 we expect the media to keep this issue on their front-burner
12:05 and push officials to match their promises with action,
12:10 nothing but action.
12:13 And we are also told that the nation has saved
12:16 as much as 36 million cities after payroll audits.
12:21 And this was the Ghana Times has highlighted
12:25 this on the front page.
12:27 And yesterday, Sami Jemfi of NDC was as strident
12:32 as ever in tearing to pieces the defense
12:38 by the Attorney General on the Niger-Maligny report
12:41 by Professor Fimpombo.
12:43 - What do you think of it?
12:44 Mention was made of Donald N. Tsua and certain things,
12:49 and whether even if the substance wasn't enough
12:54 to trigger certain court actions,
12:57 whether the response of it's empty,
12:59 it's nothing useful, and all of that,
13:02 was the way to go in a country
13:04 that supposedly is fighting Gallupsy.
13:07 What is your take?
13:09 - I'm inclined to believe that political interests
13:14 in this instance has overshadowed the need for justice.
13:19 And anti-corruption agencies, activists,
13:24 will not be satisfied by the act of clearance,
13:32 so to speak, by the Attorney General
13:38 and this again reinforces the perception
13:43 that we are not serious in fighting corruption
13:47 and fighting Gallupsy.
13:49 The fight against Gallupsy is far from being won.
13:54 We have a very long way to win the fight against Gallupsy
13:59 because we tackle it from the branch and not the root.
14:04 And the root approach will entail dealing with the financiers
14:08 dealing with well-known people who invade forest areas,
14:13 desecrate, feed farts on initial resources,
14:20 and then go scot-free because of the apollocate lineage.
14:24 So let's have--
14:24 - The same way those who assaulted the UTV staff
14:29 are getting a slap on the wrist.
14:31 It's the same story.
14:32 - Yeah, it's so disgraceful.
14:34 So disgraceful, it's so, so, so disgraceful.
14:37 - So what we are telling them is, you know what?
14:41 You can do Gallupsy once you're a party member.
14:45 There are ways of going about it.
14:46 Or if you want to go and assault any journalists
14:48 and all of that, batter them, do whatever.
14:51 I don't know, maybe we're waiting for someone
14:53 to lose some teeth or something.
14:56 Or worse, get maimed before we do something.
15:00 - I'm a swalee tied and four years on,
15:05 no one has been charged, let alone prosecuted.
15:10 - It's a disgrace.
15:12 - On two occasions, his Excellency President
15:14 said emphatically that the killers of Ameswale
15:20 will be found.
15:21 We were told some time ago by the police
15:23 that eight people had been arrested
15:25 in connection with Ameswale's murder.
15:28 But nobody had been prosecuted.
15:31 And again, this also, it's featured every year
15:36 in the Red Press Freedom Index reports.
15:40 And so we shouldn't be surprised if once again,
15:43 precipitously we decline on a new table
15:47 of free media systems in the world.
15:51 And I don't know what should be done
15:55 to unearth the killers of Ameswale.
15:59 We met the IDP about two years ago,
16:01 and he did promise that,
16:04 but he said a new unit had been created
16:09 to tackle some of these unresolved issues.
16:11 And two years down the line, nothing has happened.
16:15 So again, we expect the media,
16:18 you know, an attack against one journalist
16:21 is an attack against all journalists.
16:23 So as you said, we are under siege.
16:27 And we have weapons to fight back.
16:30 So we expect the media to mobilize
16:33 and then fight back the attacks
16:37 against our perceived enemies,
16:39 really perceived enemies.
16:41 - Anyway, any other stories you'd like to look at in there
16:44 before we get into the daily graphic?
16:46 - VRA, Assuring Flag Meetings,
16:50 and good news for Cicelya Dapa,
16:53 the other day she claimed that she was
16:58 suffering from lack of funds deficiency.
17:05 And OSP has run into aid by defusing
17:11 but three of her accounts,
17:14 we are saying five of her accounts,
17:15 but three are still under suspicion.
17:18 So we'll see what will pan out.
17:20 And then Crusading Guide, MPP tags,
17:23 and a convicted fine for, again,
17:26 this laughable false ruling.
17:29 And yeah, and these are the main stories
17:34 we have on the front pages of Daily Guide,
17:39 Crusading Guide, and Bad Bane News, again, in times.
17:43 - All right.
17:47 Anyway, so let's get into the daily graphic newspaper.
17:50 Budget won't increase public spending,
17:53 that's according to Ken Oforiata.
17:55 Nation hosts First Africa Cinema Summit in November.
17:58 Dam spillage, 26,000 displaced.
18:02 President pledges relief support.
18:04 And Utah calls for overhaul of accreditation regime.
18:07 Kicks against five new universities.
18:10 And there's payroll monitoring
18:11 saves nation over 190 million Ghana cities.
18:13 17 institutions in Accra,
18:15 weighs 36.11 million in five months.
18:19 So let's get into some of the details.
18:21 We've spoken about the situation in the Volta region
18:25 and the president's infamous comments.
18:29 We'll leave it there.
18:30 But let's get into bits about the economy and education.
18:35 So I'll focus on pages 13 and 16.
18:41 Budgets won't increase public spending, okay?
18:44 That's according to Finance Minister Ken Oforiata.
18:46 The government has given an assurance
18:48 that it will restrict itself to budgeted expenditure,
18:51 irrespective of 2024 being an electoral year.
18:54 The Minister of Finance Ken Oforiata gave the assurance
18:57 at a meeting in London yesterday
18:58 with holders of Ghana's international bonds,
19:00 said in spite of 2024 being an election year
19:05 or electoral year,
19:06 the government will stay within the IMF supported budget,
19:10 which would be presented to parliament later next month.
19:14 Four months after implementing the post COVID-19 program
19:17 for economic growth, back to IMF program,
19:19 Ghana's economy is beginning to see some stability
19:22 with GDP growth averaging 3.1%
19:25 in the first half of the year.
19:27 Inflation, which reached a 22 year high of 54.1%
19:31 to December 2022, has also declined to a 12 month low
19:35 of 38.1% in September.
19:39 These are the metrics that are used to measure,
19:42 at least, whether there is progress,
19:44 but the ordinary man will always tell you
19:47 that if you go out there, the price of fish,
19:50 the price of kenke, the price of everything,
19:53 is still, that's the problem with allowing your economy
19:56 to go bonkers, because when it does,
19:59 prices never go down, really.
20:01 So all these things that I've mentioned,
20:04 macro level, they look good,
20:07 but on the micro level, people are bleeding.
20:10 I really don't see the difference, me,
20:13 between when we're at 54.1% and now.
20:16 The dollar may have slipped to 11 point something
20:19 and be held constant from a high of about 16, 17,
20:23 but still, the cost of getting anything in this country
20:28 is absolutely inhibitive.
20:30 - The fact is that our economy is still buffeted
20:33 by cost of living crisis,
20:37 vitally bitter cost of living crisis.
20:40 Even with IMF to our rescue,
20:42 our economy is still on the ropes,
20:43 and this is a reality.
20:45 And as you said, as the mantra goes,
20:49 for never, more for never, prices of goods and services,
20:53 prices of basic goods and services do not come down,
20:57 they always rise up.
20:59 So it's not enough to ban these figures,
21:03 but what is important is the cost of living
21:07 of the Ghanaian, and many Ghanaians
21:09 are really under economic pressures.
21:12 So we need to focus our attention,
21:16 sharpen our focus on this crisis
21:20 and not play to the guy.
21:22 - Well, let's get into some other stories.
21:26 On that same page, payroll monitoring saves nation
21:28 over 190 million Ghana CDs.
21:31 And the public sector wage bill
21:33 has seen a significant reduction
21:34 since the commencement of the nationwide
21:36 payroll monitoring exercise in April this year.
21:40 The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has stated,
21:42 "The CEO of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission,
21:45 "Benjamin Arthur, at a press briefing in Accra yesterday,
21:47 "disclosed that data from the Comptroller
21:49 "and Accountant General's Department
21:50 "revealed that the total wage bill
21:52 "for just July and August reduced by 190 million Ghana CDs."
21:58 He explained that the wage bill for July
22:00 witnessed a 6% reduction over that of June,
22:03 resulting in a cost saving of 178.36 million.
22:07 Now 17 institutions in Ghana wasted 36.11 million
22:11 in just five months.
22:13 How will a country like this ever make any progress?
22:18 Look at this.
22:19 You remember there was a time when, shockingly,
22:22 the Finance Ministry, which is supposed to be
22:25 the center of, responsible, the citadel
22:29 of responsible financing processes and management,
22:34 itself had people on the payroll who were taking,
22:38 I think someone was taking almost 20,000,
22:39 another person about 13,000,
22:41 another person almost 10,000 for years.
22:45 And these people didn't even work there.
22:47 - And it's strange, again, it reinforces the point
22:51 that they didn't say they are not whiter than white,
22:53 no, pure than pure.
22:55 So, but workers,
22:57 come to look at it from a broad perspective,
23:01 workers are very aggressive in demanding what to do them.
23:05 And some of these workers are the perpetrators
23:09 of fraud against the state.
23:11 And again, this is a new one, it's clean,
23:13 we all falling short of the glory.
23:16 And so, whoever demands equity must come clean hands.
23:23 This is my synoptic.
23:24 - Not the synoptic gospel, but your synoptic comments.
23:30 Anyway, and then finally, the last story I'll do
23:32 from the daily graphic.
23:34 Utah called for overhaul of accreditation regime,
23:38 kicks against five new universities.
23:39 The University Teachers Association of Ghana
23:41 has kicked against the decision
23:43 by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission
23:45 to suspend the accreditation of new academic programs
23:48 for public universities in the country.
23:50 It has further criticized the intention of the government
23:53 to establish five new universities,
23:54 demanding that the funds be channeled into lecture welfare
23:58 and expansion of existing infrastructure among others.
24:02 I couldn't agree with them more.
24:04 Why?
24:05 We already have for our population,
24:07 we have a good set of public institutions,
24:10 but a number of them are facing severe challenges.
24:13 They are hemorrhaging,
24:15 you know, a number of them are quasi independent.
24:19 So they depend partly on government,
24:21 they do their own things, they have IGFs and all of that.
24:23 A lot of them, even the biggest ones,
24:25 including the University of Ghana are bleeding.
24:28 Why not focus resources on making those ones
24:32 even more world-class, even stronger,
24:35 and they will naturally,
24:37 because look at UG, UST and the others,
24:41 they pull along the smaller ones that are affiliated to them.
24:45 So in a way, they will now bring those ones
24:48 up to a certain level.
24:50 We always like starting new things
24:52 when even the old ones
24:55 have not been given the necessary support.
24:56 I agree with you, Tag on this.
24:58 - Yeah, I mean, sometimes we prioritize
25:00 quantity over quality.
25:04 But the reverse should be the case.
25:08 Quality should always come before quantity.
25:13 In everything, quality first, and not quantity.
25:18 - Well, let's get into your last paper.
25:22 Oh, okay, so you have,
25:23 were you done with the daily guide?
25:24 You started--
25:25 - Yes, I did daily guide.
25:26 We look at the level of fines imposed on the tax invaded.
25:31 And then some medium fees
25:34 tearing apart of attorney general's defense.
25:39 - Okay.
25:40 - And then, yeah, payroll, this we've done.
25:43 And then, so maybe you can,
25:47 contempt case, another interesting case.
25:50 We are to have a contempt case against EC
25:52 will be heard on November 24.
25:55 Again, Watchers of Democracy and Human Rights,
26:00 and press, Human Rights,
26:02 are all years, and we need to see
26:07 what verdicts will come from the court
26:12 on the contempt case slapped on against the EC.
26:18 EC officials claim that they were all in the field
26:21 to settle somebody to receive the contempt.
26:25 - Yeah, yeah.
26:30 And they directed that their lawyer--
26:31 - They directed the lawyer and all that.
26:33 And Jemaine said the EC,
26:36 a chairperson is a lawyer,
26:40 and a lawyer abiding citizen.
26:42 Many people disagree with her style,
26:46 but I know she means well for the good people of Ghana.
26:49 And I believe she will not dance,
26:54 she will dance to the dictate of the law
26:57 and not to do anything which will bring more discredit
27:01 to the under pressure EC.
27:03 - Ah, well, we'll see how that goes.
27:08 The final newspaper, for me,
27:10 I've got to the point where, for some things,
27:13 it becomes even difficult as a citizen
27:16 because I keep looking at what other countries are doing,
27:18 even countries we like to compare ourselves to in Africa.
27:21 I see what they are doing,
27:23 and then I come here and I look at certain things.
27:25 In recent times, I've been traveling quite a lot
27:26 within the sub-region.
27:28 And I keep asking myself,
27:30 apart from a few things that you would see here,
27:34 are we really that better?
27:36 And sometimes I get afraid,
27:39 and then I hear of the young people leaving in droves,
27:42 and it just breaks my heart.
27:44 It's such a departure.
27:45 I've also been reading some books recently
27:47 by Osagifo.
27:49 And when I contemplate his dream, his vision,
27:53 and then I look at where we are,
27:55 it breaks my heart.
27:58 - Osagifo, even in death, is the greatest gift,
28:02 political gift, the almighty God gave to the people of Ghana
28:06 even though he was a jester like Jesus Christ.
28:08 But with the confidence of time,
28:12 he's proven that he can face.
28:16 There's a very different between him and the rest.
28:17 - He is definitely primus inter pares.
28:19 - Yes, certainly, yes.
28:21 Certainly, yes.
28:22 Certainly, yes.
28:23 - Let's get into the Finder newspaper.
28:25 2024 budget should scrap three taxes,
28:28 reduce import duties.
28:29 That's according to Fabag.
28:30 There's also 16 UTV studio invaders
28:33 find 2,400 Ghana cities.
28:36 Signed bonds of good behavior.
28:41 Bravo, government.
28:42 (claps)
28:43 Bravo.
28:44 - The center continues to strike cause of laughter.
28:46 - No, this is a show of great, you know,
28:50 this is a great show of,
28:52 I don't even know.
28:55 This is a great show of will to deal with the situation
29:02 and ensure that the media has a voice
29:04 and is protected by the president
29:06 who is always touting the rule of law.
29:09 This is such a wonderful sign.
29:10 - Mr. President, bravo.
29:12 Bravo to you.
29:13 2,400 Ghana cities and then a sign,
29:16 you know, signed bonds of good behavior.
29:18 - The center's occupied an ignoble place in history
29:22 as one of the most laughable verdicts
29:25 ever pronounced by the court.
29:27 - Congratulations, Mr. President.
29:28 Congratulations, judiciary.
29:31 You've done a fantastic job.
29:32 You've done a great service to the Republic of Ghana.
29:35 - Great service.
29:36 - A great, no, they've done a great service
29:38 to the Republic of Ghana.
29:39 Of course, what you sow is what you reap.
29:43 - We pray that you don't reap.
29:45 - Government can save 36.1 million Ghana cities
29:49 in terms of compensation of 17 educational institutions.
29:52 That's the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
29:54 President sympathizes with flood victims.
29:57 And let me look at the story on page 11
30:01 because we've done most of the other stories.
30:04 And so the CEO of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission
30:10 Benjamin Althaei has said that government
30:11 has the potential of saving the national coffers
30:13 about 1.2% of its expenses from the payrolls
30:16 of 17 institutions in the educational sector.
30:19 He said a monetary exercise carried out
30:21 by the group on these 17 institutions
30:25 showed that government could save some 36.1 million
30:27 if it took measures to correct certain identified anomalies.
30:31 It ties into the other story I read,
30:33 but it also tells you about the things
30:35 we could do proactively rather than--
30:38 - Sure, sure. - Reactively.
30:40 To ensure that, I always say that even
30:42 with the Auditor General's reports and all of that,
30:43 with our system in the country,
30:45 it's after the fact when the thing
30:47 has been perpetrated, done, usually.
30:52 Why don't we have mechanisms in place
30:53 to stop the thing from happening
30:56 or even in the process of happening?
30:59 - Year after year.
31:00 - Do you remember the backlog and how now
31:03 they are even trying to catch up?
31:05 Because it's always retrospective.
31:07 It is never on the point of when the thing is being done.
31:12 So we'll always keep reporting,
31:13 oh, this person has done this,
31:14 and then we don't need to jail people.
31:16 We need the money to run the country.
31:18 - We need the money. - Simple.
31:20 - So what is chronically difficult for us as a nation
31:24 to prevent certain things from happening?
31:26 I don't think it goes, an ounce of prevention is better.
31:29 - Than a pound of tea. - Than a pound of.
31:32 - 2024 budget, scrap three taxes,
31:34 reduce import duties.
31:36 Fabax says, "The Food and Beverage Association of Ghana
31:38 "has called on the government to remove three taxes
31:40 "and levies imposed on food, juices, and drinks.
31:43 "These are COVID-19 levy."
31:45 I still can't think far
31:46 why we're still paying the COVID-19 levy.
31:48 From what I hear, we are the only country in the world
31:51 still paying the COVID-19 levy.
31:54 Another one to clap for this administration.
31:56 - And we are. - Thank you for the COVID-19.
31:56 - I heard that levy has been spending revenue
31:59 for the nation to plug certain loopholes.
32:02 - In this economy and where the people are.
32:06 So they say the COVID-19 levy,
32:07 the growth and sustainability tax,
32:09 and the expanded excise tax.
32:12 We have to go in just about some two minutes.
32:15 So I'll just read the headlines.
32:16 Economy Times, "Government Projects Higher GDP Growth
32:19 "For 2023," I already brought you that story.
32:21 "Policy Rate Tightening to Ease."
32:24 That's with a recent drop in headline inflation
32:26 by 200 basis points.
32:28 And if you are on a loan in any bank
32:30 or any financial facility, around this time,
32:33 - Hellish. - You would know that.
32:35 If there's something beyond hellish,
32:37 you would have experienced that.
32:39 Even people with fixed terms, surprisingly,
32:41 have had their terms tweaked.
32:43 And I'm like, wow, wow.
32:45 It's been crazy.
32:46 - So if the economy is doing well,
32:48 then it should reflect in the banking rate.
32:51 It's that simple as that.
32:53 - And Ghana's fiscal deficits,
32:54 the GDP to improve by more than half in 2023.
32:58 Well, I think we'll have to draw the curtains here.
33:00 Any final thoughts for us?
33:01 Phil Monek.
33:02 - Again, the landmark ruling by the court.
33:07 We applaud the Alakra.
33:08 - Akau Pao.
33:09 It has really touched you.
33:11 - Certainly, yes.
33:12 - 2,400 Ghana cities.
33:15 And signing a bond.
33:18 You know, I fear for this country.
33:20 We've become so politicized,
33:22 and I'm saying this post the ruling,
33:24 and anyone can take me on for whatever they think.
33:28 You remember the incidents
33:29 where a judge was chased out of her court?
33:31 Do you remember?
33:32 - Again.
33:33 - Do you remember that?
33:34 - Yeah, Nkumasi.
33:35 - You remember where seven youth were gunned down,
33:38 killed in cold blood in the Ashanti region?
33:40 - Sure.
33:41 - And later we're talking about compensation for them.
33:44 Impunity.
33:45 - Impunity.
33:46 - Has become the order of the day.
33:48 - And what about impunity?
33:49 If it's not tackled from the root,
33:51 then it ignites, you know,
33:54 every energizing cycle,
33:56 which then becomes hellishly difficult to uproot.
34:00 So,
34:01 it is back to the Lafabo,
34:05 vetted from the court.
34:06 - God bless our homeland, Ghana,
34:10 and make her great.
34:12 - And strong.
34:13 - And strong.
34:13 Thank you, sir.
34:15 - You're welcome.
34:16 - Thanks for coming.
34:17 - Thanks.
34:18 - And that's how we cap off the news review this morning.
34:19 This segment brought to you by Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic.
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34:53 Bringing us to the end of the news review
34:55 and the start of sports, up next.
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