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Joy News Prime (15-11-23) || Tollbooth Workers picket road ministry: Toll workers want government to fulfil promise of reassigning them
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TVTranscript
00:00 This is Join News Prime with me, Carlos Kelone.
00:09 Coming up, Finance Minister announced 220 million cities to deliver relief items to
00:15 victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage in 2024 budget as a top government effort at dealing
00:20 with the country's economic challenges.
00:22 The government has budgeted an amount of 220 million to support the relief phase for the
00:32 communities affected by the Akosombo spillage.
00:38 But the minority are not impressed, describing the budget as empty.
00:42 This government is leaving behind a budget that is dead-red.
00:48 You are leaving behind an economy that is overtaxed.
00:53 You are leaving behind an economy that is seeing hyperinflation.
00:57 Arrested and Caution will tell you about how someone employed told both workers who picked
01:02 camp at Rotemini Street in Puge for their employment spent days in prison.
01:07 I prefer to sleep here than get into the house because the pressure is too much on me.
01:14 Now we don't have any respect in our families.
01:18 And Ghana's woodworkers are battling a range of health problems caused by a silent
01:22 killer, wood dust.
01:23 We have a special feature for you.
01:25 Then you have the very fine smallest particles that go deep down.
01:31 I'm afraid of the wood dust.
01:35 I'm afraid of the wood dust.
01:40 I'm afraid of the wood dust.
01:45 Thank you so much for joining us here on Joinis Prime.
01:48 Now government has allocated 220 million cities to deal with the floods caused by the spillage
01:53 of the Akosombo Dam.
01:55 MPs in the Volta region led by North Tongue MP Samuel Okwujetu-Ablakwa have demanded a
02:00 resettlement and compensation package for victims.
02:03 However, this 220 million announced in the 2024 budget is mainly for relief packages.
02:10 Now the minister also detailed that the government is doing to ameliorate the sufferings of Ghanaians.
02:15 Our parliamentary affairs correspondent Kwaku Asante has more in the following report.
02:20 So that is how both sides of the house jeered and cheered when finance minister Ken Oforiata
02:26 concluded the 2024 budget.
02:29 The minority clearly not enthused with the measures outlined by government to deal with
02:34 the economic slump, whilst the majority believe this is the stage, this is where things begin
02:39 to turn around.
02:40 The finance minister says Ghana's economy will now be valued at $1 trillion from the
02:45 $219.5 billion they recorded in 2017.
02:50 The 2024 budget is even more significant because we crossed, Mr Speaker, the $1 trillion gross
02:57 domestic product mark for the first time in our economic history.
03:01 Let me repeat, Mr Speaker, Ghana's economy under President Akufo-Addo in 2024, final
03:09 year in office, is projected to be valued over $1 trillion in 2024 from the $219.5 billion.
03:21 But more importantly, one of the key issues this government has introduced in this 2024
03:27 budget is that $220 million is now budgeted for the communities that were affected by
03:33 the Akosumbo Dam spillage.
03:36 Government has budgeted an amount of $220 million to support the relief phase for the
03:44 communities affected by the Akosumbo spillage, as well as floods upstream in the Otisavana
03:53 and Bono East regions.
03:57 But one thing that stood out also is that the finance minister, Ken Ofuriata, told parliament
04:01 that this government has created 2.3 million jobs.
04:06 We have created $541 million in 169 IDF 1D1F enterprises to scale up value addition and
04:14 provide 140,000 additional jobs.
04:17 And we have created, Mr Speaker, over 2.3 million jobs in the private sector and public
04:24 sector.
04:25 Approximately 900,000 in the private sector and 1.4 million in the public sector.
04:31 But in terms of the numbers in this budget, one of the key things is that government expects
04:35 to raise 176.4 billion Ghana CEDs in revenue in 2024 and it is projected that it will spend
04:43 $226.7 billion.
04:46 That is about $50 billion in terms of the deficit, but government will be seeking to
04:50 close them back in terms of the revenue mobilisation.
04:53 The general hospital also came up.
04:55 Mr Speaker, total revenue and grants is projected at 176.4 billion Ghana CEDs, 16.8% of GDP
05:09 as we move towards our 18% target.
05:13 And this is underpinned by permanent revenue measures, largely tax revenue measures amounting
05:19 to 0.9% of GDP.
05:23 Mr Speaker, total expenditure is projected at $226.7 billion, 21.6% of GDP.
05:33 The 2024 budget is now set to be debated from next week Monday when Parliament concludes
05:38 work on the post-budget workshop.
05:41 But there were no mention of new taxes.
05:43 When this budget was about to be presented, we had a lot of things about new taxes set
05:48 to be introduced.
05:49 But the Finance Minister has not announced any.
05:51 In the coming days we will see if there will be bills that will come to Parliament by way
05:57 of taxes.
05:58 We'll be looking forward to seeing that.
06:00 But also there have been no blanket removal of taxes.
06:04 Government of course has committed to zero VAT rates on sanitary pads that will be imported
06:10 and actually manufactured locally.
06:13 And MPs are now set to debate it from Monday and the Speaker says it will be a showdown.
06:19 Reporting for Join News, Kuku Asante, Parliament House, Accra.
06:24 But the minority say they are completely unimpressed by the budget, describing it as empty and
06:29 a killer budget.
06:30 Dr Kishel Atufosen is minority leader.
06:33 Mr Speaker, this government is leaving behind a budget that is debt riddled.
06:41 It's leaving behind an economy that is overtaxed.
06:44 You are leaving behind an economy that is seeing hyperinflation.
06:49 You are leaving behind an economy that is seeing high food inflation.
06:54 And you are leaving behind an economy that is seeing high monetary policy rates.
06:59 I think that is not enough, Mr Speaker.
07:02 This government is leaving behind an economy with high lending rates.
07:06 You are again leaving behind an economy with high unemployment rates.
07:10 Mr Speaker, I say again that is not enough.
07:13 You are leaving behind a misery index that has never been witnessed in this country publicly.
07:19 In fact, you are leaving behind a misery economy.
07:23 In other words, a witchery economy.
07:26 Mr Speaker, to conclude on this matter, let me say that they are also leaving behind an
07:33 economy where we are seeing massive and uncontrolled corruption according to the country's official
07:41 conference.
07:42 Mr Speaker, this is the scorecard of this government.
07:49 This is the legacy they are leaving behind.
07:52 And so most importantly, I am not surprised that today, you are here reading the budget
07:59 alone.
08:00 Where is the governor of the Bank of Ghana?
08:01 Nowhere.
08:02 Where is the vice president?
08:03 Nowhere.
08:04 But let me say, they cannot abandon you.
08:05 You did this with them.
08:06 And so they are the faces of destruction and you are part of it.
08:07 Bye bye.
08:08 Bye bye, Mr Minister.
08:09 Bye bye, MPP.
08:10 This is your scorecard.
08:11 Thank you, Mr Speaker.
08:12 Thank you, Mr Speaker.
08:12 But even before the debate will start next week, Monday, the majority say they will expose
08:38 the NDC's poor record on the economy.
08:41 Alexander Afenyo-Maklen is deputy majority leader.
08:44 The figures cannot be toyed with.
08:47 Dr Atufosun, let me remind you that your government could not implement a single, a single landing
08:59 beach project.
09:00 You came into this house with a loan.
09:05 You chickened out and you came to the capit.
09:08 This government has successfully heard the cries of the fishermen and we have constructed
09:15 12 landing beach sites.
09:16 You come from the Central Region.
09:17 You have not been able to do that for the people of Central Region.
09:18 And you are telling him that he has underperformed?
09:19 Hey, Atuf!
09:20 Hey!
09:21 Hey, Dr Afenyo-Maklen!
09:22 Hey, Atuf!
09:23 Are you saying that you as a deputy finance minister, you are not doing enough?
09:24 Is that what you are saying, Mr Speaker?
09:44 The NDC has been in the same NDC with its old men.
10:12 We have managed to keep the lights on.
10:16 We inherited the situation where children could not go to secondary schools.
10:26 We are ready for you today, tomorrow, any other day.
10:33 Now the finance minister Ken Ufureta has declared Ghana's economy has turned the corner.
10:38 He announced a raft of tax reliefs in 2024 budget, including scrapping of taxes on locally
10:44 produced sanitary pads and exemptions for medical consumables.
10:48 This according to the finance minister is part of a broader tax review regime aimed
10:52 at giving some relief to the private sector in the medium to long term.
10:56 Now delivering the 2024 fiscal year budget statement to parliament a while ago, the finance
11:01 minister announced a zero tax rate on other products, including local fabrics, imported
11:06 electric vehicles and locally assembled vehicles and agri-machineries.
11:09 Mr Speaker, tax reliefs.
11:14 Our approach to tax policies since 2017 was to give significant relief to the private
11:20 sector until expenditure pressures from 2020 required a more aggressive approach.
11:27 It is important to note that in the short term fiscal sustainability requires that we
11:33 improve our tax ratios significantly, otherwise our long term competitiveness will be reduced.
11:39 As we all know, our country's 13% tax to GDP ratio is far below our peers.
11:46 Our target is 18 to 20% and we are on course for 16% hoping to be achieved this year.
11:53 In that regard, it is difficult to implement all the structural reforms and tax reliefs
11:59 needed to immediately lower and/or eliminate certain tax handles.
12:04 However, I assure this august House that we have heard, we believe in lower taxes as a
12:10 government for industry and we are working aggressively with the GRA and to be cemented
12:17 with the standing committee of the Mutual Prosperity Dialogue.
12:21 Mr Speaker, further to the above, the following reliefs have been prioritised for implementation.
12:31 To extend, Mr Speaker, the zero rate of VAT on locally manufactured African prints for
12:38 two more years.
12:40 Mr Speaker, to waive import duties on the import of electric vehicles for public transportation
12:46 for a period of eight years.
12:49 Mr Speaker, to waive import duties on semi-knocked down and completely knocked down electric
12:54 vehicles imported by registered EV assembly companies in Ghana for a period of eight years.
13:02 Mr Speaker, to extend zero rate of VAT on locally assembled vehicles for two more years.
13:08 Mr Speaker, to zero rate VAT on locally produced sanitary pads.
13:14 Mr Speaker, to grant import duty waivers for rare materials for the local manufactured
13:20 sanitary pads.
13:22 Mr Speaker, to grant exemptions on the importation of agricultural machinery equipment and inputs
13:29 and medical consumables, raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry.
13:35 Mr Speaker, a VAT flat rate of 5% to replace the 15% standard VAT rate on all commercial
13:43 properties will be introduced to simplify administration.
13:49 To address the negative externalities of plastic waste and pollution, government will review
13:56 and expand the environmental exercise duty to cover plastic packaging and industrial
14:02 and vehicle emissions.
14:05 Mr Speaker, the Sam Duty Act 2005 Act 689 has not been reviewed since its enactment
14:12 in 2005.
14:14 To realign the rate of current economic realities, government in 2024 will review the rates and
14:19 fees for stamp duties.
14:21 The bunds subject to ad valerium taxes will be expanded while the specific rates will
14:28 be reviewed.
14:29 Mr Speaker, a simplified tax return will be introduced as a means of promoting voluntary
14:38 compliance as part of the modified taxation scheme for individuals in the informal sector.
14:45 This approach will make it easier for taxpayers to fulfill their tax obligations to the state.
14:52 Now highlighting the performance of the economy in the 2023 fiscal year, the Finance Minister
14:56 said the city as of November 2023 has been stabilized after a 6.3% depreciation in the
15:03 eighth month.
15:04 The city has stabilized against the US dollar since early 2023, with a year-to-date cumulative
15:17 deprecation of 25% compared to 54% in 2022.
15:25 Specifically, Mr Speaker, the city has only depreciated by 6.4% on a cumulative basis
15:35 since February 2023, compared to 53.9% over the same period in 2022.
15:45 The stability of the city largely reflects the positive impact from the restoration of
15:51 economic activity, including robust economic growth, improvement in the current account
15:57 position, improvement in forest liquidity following the IMF-ECF inflows, Bank of Ghana's
16:03 domestic gold purchase program, reduced speculative forex demand, as market confidence rebound.
16:13 Now in his projection for 2024, government has announced a $176 billion cities revenue
16:19 target against a $226 billion cities expenditure.
16:23 Total revenue and grants is projected at 176.4 billion Ghana cities, 16.8% of GDP as we move
16:36 towards our 18% target.
16:40 And this is underpinned by permanent revenue measures, largely tax revenue measures amounting
16:46 to 0.9% of GDP.
16:51 Mr Speaker, total expenditure is projected at $226.7 billion, 21.6% of GDP.
17:01 This projection reflects a reduction of 6.1% of GDP in total expenditure commitment basis
17:11 compared to the outturn in 2022.
17:15 This large decrease comes from the combination of fiscal consolidation efforts of 4.9% of
17:22 GDP, reflecting an adjustment in revenue of 1.1% point in primary expenditure by 3.9%
17:31 points of GDP.
17:34 Now 10 things you should know about the 2024 budget.
17:38 I have been joined by our joint news researcher and data analyst Isaac Kofi Eje to give us
17:43 a power summary of the 2024 budget.
17:46 So tell us, what are the 10 key takeaways from this particular 2024 budget?
17:51 So I think let's start from the general hospital where the people of Laos should be happy at
17:57 the moment because they have been included in the budget.
18:00 The government is saying that the financing will come from the national budget.
18:05 And then also the contractor is supposed to resume work by next week, not even by next
18:11 week, they use the word next week.
18:12 And let's look at a second item, which is the sanitary pad tax.
18:17 We are going to have a 0% rate and import duty with us for raw materials of the locally
18:22 manufactured sanitary pads that will be implemented.
18:26 So it simply tells you that things that we import locally from outside to actually work
18:32 on sanitary pads materials will enjoy some 0% VAT.
18:37 That's also positive news because we've been talking about this.
18:39 Third one, covered this story extensively.
18:42 So I saw probably you'd be happy that the people are finally getting something.
18:47 Exactly.
18:48 They've quoted this amount, 220 million Ghana CDs in the form of relief that government
18:54 is going to give to the people of the communities affected by the floods.
18:58 The fourth one is those in the fine print industry, which is the African print industry.
19:05 Local things that we wear, we love to wear them on Fridays and other special occasions
19:08 and even regular days right now.
19:10 They are also going to enjoy the 0% VAT rate.
19:14 The extension is for two additional years and there's some positive news there.
19:18 Fifth one is the ninth economy boost.
19:22 Remember when the former president, Mahama, spoke about 24-hour economy?
19:27 Exactly.
19:28 Now we are going to have a ninth economy, which is supposed to improve the public-private
19:34 sector partnership and then also boost the economy in 2024.
19:37 The sixth one is DDEP, domestic debt exchange program.
19:43 The finance minister says it is concluded.
19:47 Now the only thing we are working on and waiting for is external debt restructuring.
19:53 We have concluded the DDEP.
19:56 Seventh is the external sector outlook.
20:00 This is very important because this is where most of the shocks and how the economy will
20:04 fare in 2024 will come from.
20:06 The external sector hinges on negotiations with external creditors.
20:12 An IMF supported program, Cocoa Syndicated loan, continuation of gold for oil program,
20:18 mining inflows and second tranche of the IMF deal.
20:21 It tells you that these are some of the sources that we are going to use to shore up the budget,
20:26 make the city stable and all of those things in 2024.
20:29 And it's currently actually hinged on negotiations that we actually have with external creditors.
20:35 Let's look at the eighth one, which is the financial sector support.
20:39 So we've been talking about NIB and other financial institutions in distress.
20:43 Government said they are going to provide $4 billion to address the challenge.
20:48 The ninth one is on the international funding support where we are anticipating the reflection.
20:55 So we are actually expecting $2 billion.
20:57 And that $2 billion comprises of the amount, the second tranche and other funding we are
21:01 expecting from the IMF and the World Bank, Cocoa Syndicated loan.
21:05 By the end of the year, which is 2024.
21:07 No, this year, we should be expecting some $2 billion to hit our accounts.
21:16 And the last one is expenditure surge.
21:20 Now you hear the finance minister say we've reduced the deficits.
21:24 But if you look at the total expenditure in 2024, that's actually gone up by, so we are
21:31 going to spend an additional amount of $21.4 billion in 2024.
21:37 So these are 10 takeaways from the budget.
21:41 I'm sure other things may strike other people.
21:43 But these are top 10 takeaways.
21:45 Thank you so much.
21:46 Kofi Ejei is with our research team here.
21:48 We are also working the lines to get some economists to speak to this budget so they
21:53 can give us some details with what we should expect come 2024.
21:58 But moving on, some tollbooth workers who picketed the road ministry to push for their
22:02 employment were arrested by the police and cautioned.
22:06 This was because the police said they did not have the permit for their action.
22:11 You'll recall two years ago, they all lost their jobs when the finance minister announced
22:15 the abolition of road tolls.
22:17 Now the government promised to reassign them, but still today, many of them remain jobless.
22:22 On the second anniversary of their dismissal, the tollbooth workers, many with physical
22:27 disabilities, passed the night at the ministry, fighting off mosquitoes.
22:32 Evelyn Gadri and Mohamed Rahmat Rashad told Joy News Features news editor Jojo Kobunaa
22:38 that they would rather die in front of the road ministry than idle at home.
22:50 We can't go home.
22:52 Some of our members are dead.
22:54 We came in the morning, but we've not met the minister.
22:58 So we are waiting until he comes and then does the needful.
23:04 I prefer to sleep here than get into the house.
23:10 Because the pressure is too much on me.
23:11 My children and the family members, we don't have any respect in our families because of
23:19 the work that they took from us.
23:22 We've been coming here and the minister told us that they will pay us until they reassign
23:26 us.
23:27 Later, he said, he said this is a financial loss to the state.
23:32 And we said, ah, you said this in the public.
23:36 And we've been here several, we have, we've had interactions with you.
23:39 You told us that you will pay us.
23:41 Now you've changed your mind.
23:42 You said it's a financial loss to the state.
23:44 We don't understand.
23:45 They are saying that we should go.
23:46 And we say we will not go.
23:47 Then we will sleep here until we get good news from them.
23:55 The ministry doesn't want to help with the work.
23:59 Most of us, we have acquired skills.
24:03 And they told us that they will pay us until they reassign us.
24:08 That payment, they can establish the persons living with disability who have skills among
24:13 us.
24:14 So we want them to establish us.
24:17 The job, if it comes and we get the chance to work there, we don't have problem.
24:24 But for now, what we are asking is for, they should give us the areas so that we can go
24:29 and establish ourselves and stop coming here.
24:32 It's not easy.
24:33 It's not easy.
24:34 It's not easy for me.
24:35 For me, part of it is not easy for me.
24:36 For me, part of it is not easy for me.
24:37 For me, part of it is not easy for me.
24:50 Well Joy News understands they were picked up by the police and cautioned to continue
24:54 their action only when they have a permit.
24:57 Now, we have been joined by Evelyn Gadri.
25:00 So Evelyn, your quest to demand employment led you to being arrested.
25:05 What's your next line of action now?
25:13 The minister said to me, we went to the police station.
25:18 Yeah.
25:19 Hello?
25:20 Hello, police, can I?
25:23 Yeah, proceed.
25:24 Hello?
25:25 Evelyn, we can hear you.
25:30 So go ahead.
25:31 So tomorrow morning, we'll go back to the ministries and then, the minister said he
25:44 will meet us.
25:46 So tomorrow morning, we'll go there.
25:48 All right.
25:49 So have you also heard anything about your reassignment as you were promised in the past?
25:55 Is that the reason why you're going to meet the minister?
25:58 No.
25:59 No, we've not heard anything.
26:05 So tomorrow morning, five of us, tomorrow morning, five of us are going to the minister.
26:12 The executive members, we are five.
26:14 We will meet the minister tomorrow morning.
26:17 So after that, we know what to do.
26:19 I believe you are taking this action on behalf of your members.
26:23 Can you tell us across the country, the total number of these workers who are actually not
26:30 working in their home?
26:35 Yes, we are about 381.
26:42 Yeah.
26:43 381.
26:45 88.
26:46 Yeah.
26:48 388.
26:49 Yeah.
26:51 So, how many of you went to picket the ministry, if you recall?
27:04 It's not a picketing, but the minister said, "Any time we can come there, for we the PWDs."
27:12 Okay.
27:13 So yesterday, we went there to find out how far is our arrest.
27:20 Because he said he's going to pay us until reassignment.
27:24 So yesterday, we went there.
27:27 So today, but unfortunately, this morning, they didn't let us enter the ministries.
27:37 So they nearly, they even beat us.
27:41 Yeah.
27:42 I can say that because they assault us with their gates.
27:48 You know that gate, the entrance, where the car pass.
27:53 Who assaulted you?
27:54 Especially me.
27:55 Because my people, they were behind me.
27:57 So they said they won't...
27:59 You said?
28:00 The security men.
28:01 The security men over there.
28:04 The security men, they were eight, but only four people, four security men.
28:12 They didn't allow us to enter.
28:14 So we pitched at one corner.
28:17 So as soon as we saw that V8 cars, they were entering, then we followed the car.
28:24 And they locked me with their gates.
28:26 Seriously, I can't move.
28:29 They locked me with their gates.
28:30 I cannot even move.
28:31 So they hit my head with the gates.
28:33 As I'm talking, I'm feeling very, very bad, bad pains.
28:39 I cannot even do anything.
28:42 That's our money.
28:44 But tomorrow, when you get to the minister, we'll say everything.
28:48 We just do this.
28:50 So clearly, what are your demands?
28:53 Can you list them for us to understand clearly?
28:55 If you meet the minister tomorrow, what demands are you going to make?
29:03 We need our arrest because we know that the toll, we don't know when the toll is coming.
29:09 The money, the money, today, Friday is two years since the toll was closed.
29:16 So we want our money to find something to do to cater for ourselves and our children.
29:23 We have children to cater for.
29:25 And now we are in very big pain.
29:28 Some of our members have committed suicide because of this incident which happened.
29:37 So do we know how much government actually owes?
29:39 I tried to do it.
29:41 I tried.
29:42 Yes, even our salary is 700.
29:48 So it's 16,800.
29:51 Yeah, 16,800.
29:53 700 times 24.
29:56 700 times 24.
29:59 It will be 16,800.
30:03 Okay, so these are your demands.
30:10 You're appealing to the government to pay this money to you.
30:14 And you are making the claim also that some of your members have actually committed suicide
30:19 as a result of sitting at home.
30:22 And so when you meet the minister tomorrow, these are some of the demands you're going
30:26 to put forward.
30:28 And so we'll be following up on this particular story.
30:30 Thank you so much for talking to us here.
30:33 We are so, so grateful for your time.
30:36 All right, moving on.
30:40 Chief Justice, Justice Getro Tocono, has described the administration of Inspector General of
30:45 Police, Dr. George Akufo-Dampari, as extremely inspirational.
30:49 According to her, he has not only transformed the police service, but also rebranded it
30:54 positively to the admiration of other public institutions, including the judiciary.
30:58 Now she's therefore urging the IGP, Dr. George Akufo-Dampari and Steve to continue with the
31:03 good work in keeping Ghana safe while assuring the judiciary supports to ensure law and order
31:09 in the country.
31:10 There's more in this report by my colleague Samuel Mbura.
31:14 So we'll bring this story to you soon after the break.
31:16 Stay with us.
31:17 Welcome back and thank you so much for staying with us.
31:44 Now, President Akufo-Addo has described former President John Mahama's quest to return to
31:49 power as deceitful.
31:51 He says it is impossible for John Mahama to assume a new leadership posture when voted
31:56 as president in December 2024.
31:58 And Akufo-Addo believes voting for the former president will further stifle development
32:02 in the country.
32:03 He spoke at the inauguration of a library named after him in the Bantama constituency.
32:08 My colleague Nana Yawjima has more in the following report.
32:12 According to the president, the government of the National Democratic Congress and that
32:16 John Mahama failed to deliver on its mandate.
32:19 He believes there is no evidence that the former president would do better when voted
32:24 again.
32:25 Nana Akufo-Addo therefore cautions the electorates against falling for what he terms as deceptions.
32:41 We are going to the polls again.
32:42 The one who couldn't perform has returned as a changed person seeking for votes.
32:47 How do you do that?
32:48 We have given the mandate but you couldn't perform.
32:57 How do you return claiming you have changed?
32:59 You haven't.
33:00 You are only trying to deceive us.
33:03 Will you agree to vote for him?
33:04 We won't do that.
33:05 We won't do that.
33:14 The president wants the electorates to assume tribal and religious differences and vote
33:20 Dr. Mahama Dubaomia for his competence.
33:23 He also campaigned for a second term for the Bantama MP Francis Asensu-Bwache.
33:29 The vice president, Mahama Dubaomia, MPP4, Asade Nyonyam, and Pijano.
33:43 The MPP have elevated Dr. Mahama Dubaomia to take my place as flag bearer and pleading
33:48 with everyone not to disturb the party.
33:51 In this country we don't care about your tribe or religion.
33:54 We only care about your people.
34:03 All that matters to us is an individual competence, truthfulness and hard work.
34:08 Those are the factors we consider to vote.
34:11 Also it will hurt me for the Bantama constituency to throw Asensu out of parliament.
34:16 I am not going to vote for Asensu.
34:28 The MP constructed the community library and technology hub for the Bantama community.
34:34 The facility, named after Nana Odudankwa Akufuadu, is expected to help improve literacy and ICT
34:42 knowledge among children.
34:44 Asensu-Bwache is Bantama MP.
34:53 We have to help the young ones get equal opportunities with others so they can compete globally.
34:59 That's why I've decided to help every community get a library and technology hub.
35:12 For Joy News, Nanaia Otima, Kumasi.
35:16 Organised woodworkers are battling a range of health problems caused by a silent killer,
35:21 wood dust.
35:22 Environmental scientists are calling on company owners and woodworkers themselves to understand
35:27 the risks they face and put in place measures to protect them.
35:30 They say protective equipment and workplace safety and training are crucial to prevent
35:35 a growing problem of acute and chronic land disease in woodworkers.
35:39 On Alisa Frimpong Explores.
35:42 Fifty-three-year-old George Buatin has been a carpenter for more than 25 years.
35:49 He says his hands are the most important part of his body.
35:55 They are his tool to get the job done every day and he is extremely careful to protect
36:01 them.
36:02 But hands aren't the only part of his body at risk as a carpenter.
36:23 Exposure to dust and chemicals in the course of everyday work can damage an even more critical
36:29 part of a carpenter's body, the respiratory organs.
36:35 That's according to the head of the respiratory unit at the Konfuanoche Teaching Hospital
36:40 in the Ashanti region, Dr. Divine Amenuke.
36:44 The fine sawdust have got different sizes in terms of the type of food that is used,
36:54 whether it's hard or soft, and with those ones, the relatively bigger ones tend to settle
37:01 more in the mouth and nose area to the throat.
37:08 Then we have other ones that go a bit deeper down into the upper part of the chest.
37:16 And then you have the very fine smallest particles that go deep down into the deep aspects of
37:24 the smallest parts of the teeth that send air from your nostrils deep down into your
37:30 lungs.
37:31 Wood dust is an unavoidable by-product of most joinery or carpentry tasks.
37:38 At George's workshop at Fumisha in the southern Ghanaian city of Kumasi, dust flies every
37:44 time workers cut, drill, plane or sand a piece of timber.
37:50 Workers and their bosses know the hazards.
37:54 Wood dust was first labeled as a hazardous substance by the Control of Substances Hazardous
38:00 to Health Act passed in 2002.
38:04 The law required workers to protect themselves by wearing gears to cover their eyes, nose
38:10 and mouth.
38:12 But workers like George say the gear makes it hard to breathe.
38:17 Though he has asthma that requires medication and regular trips to hospital, he's still
38:22 not willing to wear the mask.
38:24 I don't know if I can wear a mask.
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