President Mahama assures IPPs of Government support
Accra, 2:10PM
President John Dramani Mahama has assured Independent Power Producers (IPPs) of Government’s commitment and support for their operations.
He reiterated, the role of the IPPs was pivotal because the Government alone could not always leverage capital to put in the power generation that was required for the country.
The President gave the assurance during a meeting with IPPs in Accra.
The meeting was to afford the President the opportunity to listen to the IPPs, to hear from them the challenges they were facing in their operations.
I will champion fair pricing for cocoa farmers — Finance Minister-designate
Parliament’s Appointments Committee Vetting, 12:45PM
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson: As Minister of Finance, I will champion fair pricing for cocoa farmers. I have been biggest advocate for cocoa farmers and will work to improve their lot.
Government will work to cut off wasteful expenditures and the National Cathedral Project is one of them- Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister-designate, has stated.
President John Mahama meets National House of Chiefs
Accra, 12:12PM
President John Dramani Mahama on Monday held a meeting with the Members of the Steering Committee of the National House of Chiefs in Accra.
The meeting, which was at the instant of the President was to enable him update the Chiefs on a number of developments in the country.
It afforded him the opportunity to tap into the wisdom of Members of the National House of Chiefs.
“We must thank all of you (chiefs) and thank the almighty God for once again seeing Ghana through a successful election and I think that the way the whole world celebrated Ghana for the peaceful transition has added one more accolade in our caps as the beacon of democracy in Africa and it is something that we must all take a pride in.” – President John Dramani Mahama.
Government to bring back road tolls
Parliament’s Appointments Committee Vetting, 12:00PM
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson: The road toll will come back, [Government] will not run away from it. This will help raise revenue for road maintenance.
Government to establish Independent Debt Management Office
The government will establish an Independent Debt Management Office to report transparently on the country’s debt issues—Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister-designate, has stated.
Government will implement Careful Frontloaded Consolidated Agenda; will not hurt the vulnerable – Dr Cassiel Ato Forson
The Government will implement “Careful Frontloaded Consolidated Agenda” that will not hurt the vulnerable – Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister-designate, has said.
Fire guts compound house at Odomase; 9-Month-old baby burnt
Odomase, Sunyani West, 11:45AM
A nine-month-old baby was burnt to death when fire gutted a compound house at Odomase, the capital of the Sunyani West Municipality.
The Assisant Divisional Officer Grade One (ADO1) Kwame Adomako, the Bono Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service who confirmed the death to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani.
He said the sad incident happened around 0700 hours on Saturday January 11, 2025.
The cause of the fire remained unknown.
Government to abolish betting tax in first budget
Parliament’s Appointments Committee Vetting, 11:40AM
Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister-designate, says the Government will abolish the betting tax in its first budget.
The Government will also abolish the E-levy within 120 days of President John Dramani Mahama’s Administration, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister-designate, says.
Ministers of Finance must pay attention to economic development mandate of the Ministry
Ministers of Finance should not be at the Ministry just to pay people… [They] must pay attention to the economic development mandate of the ministry – Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance Designate
Ghana is not out of the woods yet — Dr Cassiel Ato Forson
Parliament’s Appointments Committee Vetting, 11:03AM
Ghana is not out of the woods yet — Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance Designate.
The government will establish an independent credit office to address debt issues.
“If you want to fix the Cedi and you fail to address the structural challenges we face as a country, you will fire-fight” – Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance Designate.
Atebubu Commercial drivers lay down tools; commuters stranded
Atebubu, Bono East, 10:50AM
Scores of passengers are stranded at the Atebubu lorry stations in the Bono East Region as commercial drivers lay down their tools.
The action of the drivers, the GNA learnt was to register their displeasure about the rising cases of armed robbery on the Atebubu-Kumasi highway.
Some of the stranded passengers, who spoke to the GNA, appealed to the government to tackle the recurring cases of armed robbery attacks on the highway.
Scrapping of betting, other taxes will not affect economy much — Minister of Finance Designate
Parliament’s Appointments Committee Vetting
“You put us on our toes when we were in Parliament, and I hope to do same constructively” – Abena Osei Asare, former Minister of State tells Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance Designate.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance Designate, hints at working closely with the AfDB, World Bank, and IMF to look for cheaper financing options for Ghana’s development.
Scrapping of betting and other taxes will not mean anything in a way that will affect the economy, if we’re to adjust from the expenditure side.” – Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance Designate.
Tax exemptions for One District One Factory (1D1F) should be put in the law for everyone to benefit” – Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance Designate
More than 700 shops razed to the ground in Techiman Central Market fire
Techiman, Jan 13, GNA – Parts of Techiman Central Market in the Bono East Region caught fire, razing to the ground more than 700 shops and stores.
Properties running into millions of Ghana cedis burnt to ashes during the fire which occurred around 2000 hours Sunday, January 12, 2025.
GNA