Category: General

Nana Obrikitibi Amnadu Okordie I, Paramount Chief of Deloo Traditional Area of Bontibor in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, has appealed to the Government to fix the deplorable roads in the area. He said the bad nature of the roads was affecting economic activities and health service delivery in the area. Nana Amnadu Okordie was speaking during Kedesa festival, an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Bontibor, a farming community in Nkwanta South. The chief expressed worry about the stress pregnant women go through when in labour as the ambulance service found it difficult to provide timely and effective services to them due to the bad nature of the road. Nana Amnadu Okordie also complained about the neglect of the area by successive governments and appealed to the Government to fulfil the promises made to the people. The chief also used the festival to call for peace in the Nkwanta South Municipality, urging the people to give peace a chance. Nana Amnadu Okordie call ed on President Akufo-Addo to ensure peace and unity were restored among the people of Nkwanta by helping to stop the killings to aid development in the Oti region. Source: Ghana News Agency

Artists and craftsmen within the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Area have expressed concerns about the lack of governmental support in shaping the fortunes of their critical sector for national economic growth. The artists and craftsmen; predominantly utilizing wood, metals, and canes, create content reflecting past events, abstract occurrences, ancestral history, victories, challenges, and lessons for the present generation.? However, they faced challenges in adopting new technologies, upgrading workspaces, and acquiring the financial means to purchase materials to advance their craft. During a co-creation workshop organized under the auspices of the European Union-funded Twin Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSPP), the group leader lamented the lack of support systems for industry practitioners and the general attitude of Ghanaians towards indigenous arts and crafts.? The workshop aimed to develop strategies and market linkages, positioning the sector as a pillar of the 'Transactional Cultura l Exchange' component of the project. This multi-stakeholder initiative seeks to establish a lasting relationship between key stakeholders in STMA and the city of Palermo, Italy.? Mr. Isaac Aidoo, the TCSPP Coordinator, emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge to promote STMA, drawing inspiration from Palermo's success in the arts industry. Mr Ebenezer Ackom, the Metro Director for the Centre for National Culture, highlighted the deplorable working conditions of industry players and stressed the urgent need to uplift their status. He pointed out their crucial role in preserving culture and institutional heritage. Mr Francesco Champagna, the Honorary Consular for Ghana in the Sicily Region and President of the Ghana Sicily Business Forum encouraged artists to infuse meaning and historical information into their work. ?He urged them to tell stories, especially for the younger generation, enabling them to learn about past events and cultural heritage.? Source: Ghana News Agency

Finance Minister Sihem Namsia said on Sunday that the tax benefits granted to Tunisians residing abroad in their final return cost the state TND 1,700 million annually. Speaking during a plenary session held at the Bardo Palace to continue the examination of the articles added to the 2024 Finance Law, the minister pointed out that the benefits related to means of transport account for the lion's share of the benefits enjoyed by expats. Commenting on an article proposed by MPs to allow Tunisians residing abroad to benefit from tax advantages on car imports, Namsia said that "54% of cars imported by them are sold within a year", adding that the legal framework governing the advantages granted to this category has been amended several times to adapt it to their needs. The article proposed by the MPs allows Tunisians to benefit from tax concessions every ten years on the import or sale on the local market of motorcycles or tourist or professional vehicles, including off-road vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes . Namsia also suggested that "tax concessions for cars are regulated by decree and cannot be changed in the Finance Act". However, despite the minister's opposition, that article was adopted by the ARP with 100 votes in favour, 27 against and 7 abstentions. The MPs also adopted a new article (50) concerning the regularisation of the situation of construction workers aged over 45 and under 55, as well as a new article introducing a tax of 1 dinar on every kilogram of used clothing destroyed. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The election campaign for candidates in the local council elections has been ongoing since December 2, 2023 in the governorate of Siliana in the delegations of Kesra and Makthar. Candidate for the north Kesra constituency Faycal Ksibi presented his electoral programme in direct contact with citizens. Meanwhile, candidate Maha Sayari for the south Makthar constituency continued her campaign on social networks to publicise her election manifesto. Faycal Ksibi told TAP that he aims to create an irrigation zone to support the agricultural sector in the region, a weekly market, install new public street lighting, continue asphalting the remaining part of the Blalmia, Oueled Tlil and Ouled Nasr road, set up a youth centre and reopen the post office. Candidate Maha Sayari, for her part, voiced her intention to complete the outstanding projects and provide a suitable investment environment to encourage citizens to get involved in the investment effort to create jobs. She also promised to ensure that the spirit of transparency and shared collaboration between citizens and the local council would be anchored, by guaranteeing direct contact with citizens. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL), a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), has held a paralegal training for some community leaders and activists in salt and sand mining communities in the Greater Accra and Volta regions. The three-day training aimed at equipping the participants with basic legal knowledge and skills in mining and human rights laws to help identify and address instances of injustice and abuses within the various communities. Mr Augustine Niber, the Executive Director for CEPIL, said it was necessary to engage and build up focal persons, who would understand the work of human rights paralegals, the Ghanaian judicial system and alternative dispute resolution in the mining communities. He stated that the training included three modules of which the first session was held in August last year, and the others were held in November and December this year. M. Niber said refresher courses would be initiated yearly for the activists to keep them updated and also ensure that their communiti es were peaceful. Mr. Niber urged the participants to disseminate and impact others in their various communities to ignite citizens about their basic rights. He lauded the Ford Foundation for supporting the initiative and stressed that their gesture would yield positive results in the country. Mr Joel Degue, one of the participants, lauded CEPIL for the engagement and appealed that the initiative should be maintained and carried out in every region in the country. Mr. Degue indicated that the training was an eye-opener and had enhanced his professional expertise. He pledged his commitment as an environmental activist to document all issues of rights violations and advocacy on mining issues in his district. Source: Ghana News Agency