Hundreds of security personnel, emergency service staff and Electoral Commission officials among others are taking part in the special voting exercise in 14 out of 16 regions. The two other regions, Eastern and Western will have their special voting on Thursday, December 5, following a ballot paper mishap that has compelled the Electoral Commission to order a recall and a reprinting of ballot papers for the two regions. According to reports from Joy News’ correspondents from various constituencies, the voting largely started on time at 7:00am with initial queues at some centres. However, as the day goes by, the queues...
BOG keeps policy rate at 27% to tame currency and inflationary pressures
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has maintained the policy rate at 27%. Holding the policy rate steady after it was lowered from 29% in September 2024 is aimed at anchoring inflation expectations and curbing exchange rate volatilities. The decision was taken after the committee reviewed the current economic developments in the country. “Inflation projections show a slightly elevated profile driven by high and unstable food prices, pass-through of previous exchange rate pressures, fuel prices and utility tariff adjustments. The price increases in food items have been steep in the course and together with a...
GFA owes Otto Addo and his backroom staff salary arrears – Asante-Twum
The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante-Twum, has disclosed that head coach Otto Addo and his backroom staff are owed several months of unpaid salaries. Speaking on Game Plan on Joy FM, Asante-Twum explained that the responsibility for paying the Black Stars’ technical team falls on the Ministry of Youth and Sports, not the GFA. “I am not sure of the exact duration, but there are salaries in arrears. We owe him [Otto Addo] a few months, and it’s not just him but also the backroom staff,” Asante-Twum said. He explained that, “It is the Ministry’s...
Mikki Osei Berko discloses why he might become a parliamentarian
Ghanaian actor and broadcaster, Mikki Osei-Berko has said in an interview with Joy Prime that he might go back to politics. When Mikki, who was an Assembly Member for the Ayidiki Electoral Area in Accra about 20 years ago, was asked by the host, Roselyn Felli, about the possibility of returning to politics but this time around as a parliamentarian, he replied “probably yes,” “Because I think there are so many things that our parliamentarians have not looked at. I feel that governance in this country has not been so creative, they only take taxes and borrow money. But I feel that...
Ghana’s public debt falls by GH¢46.8bn to GH¢761.0bn in October 2024
Ghana’s total public debt fell by GH¢46.8 billion month-on-month to GH¢761.0 billion in October 2024, the Bank of Ghana’ has disclosed in its Summary of Financial and Economic Data. In dollar terms, it went down by $4.2 billion to $27.9 billion at the end of October 2024. According to the report, the total debt is equivalent to 74.6% of Gross Domestic Product. The data showed that the external component of the debt went down between September 2024 and October 2024. It dropped by GH¢52.6 billion to GH¢453.7 billion, approximately $27.9 billion. This represented 44.5% of GDP. The external debt has...
Mahama to support traditional leaders in promoting festivals
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has reiterated his dedication to working with traditional leaders to promote Ghanaian festivals. He described this as a vital step towards boosting local economies, fostering cultural tourism, and celebrating Ghana’s rich heritage on a global platform. During a visit to the Ga Mantse’s palace on Thursday, November 28, Mahama made these remarks as part of his tour of the Greater Accra Region ahead of the December 7 general elections. The visit included a meeting with King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II and the Ga Traditional Council, where he received...
Mortuary workers declare another strike over conditions of service
Richard Kofi Jordan, General Secretary of the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG),has announced that all mortuary workers nationwide will embark on an indefinite strike starting on Thursday, November 28. The association’s declaration follows employers’ failure to fulfill some promises, including providing adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), settling unpaid salary arrears, and meeting commitments regarding bonuses and financial clearance for new staff. Mr Kofi Jordan urged his colleagues to halt their services at morgues across the country. “Mortuaries are closed across the country. We will continue to close the whole day. We are going to reject all those who die...
We are unfazed by PNC’s endorsement of NDC – NPP
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that it remains unfazed by the People’s National Convention’s (PNC) decision to endorse the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2024 elections. The PNC announced its endorsement of the NDC during a press briefing on Wednesday, November 27, following its disqualification from the presidential race by the Electoral Commission (EC) due to errors in its nomination forms. Speaking to Citi News on Thursday, NPP Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed dismissed the endorsement, claiming it does not reflect the views of the PNC’s grassroots members, as the decision was made solely by the...
Vacant seats saga: Afenyo-Markin and Ato Forson sign memos to Speaker as ‘Majority Leader’
Following the verdict by the Supreme Court on the declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant by Speaker Alban Bagbin, one would have expected that the controversy that arose over which party forms the Majority or Minority in Parliament would have been resolved. The verdict by the Apex Court on November 12, 2024 declared Alban Bagbin’s ruling of the four vacant seats as unconstitutional, giving credence to the Majority status of the NPP MPs in Parliament. Following the verdict by the Supreme Court on the declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant by Speaker Alban Bagbin, one would have expected that...
Investing in rice production could’ve created 294,000 jobs for NABCO beneficiaries – Awuah-Darko
Kwame Awuah-Darko, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has suggested that funds allocated to the National Builders’ Corps (NABCO) programme could have been more effectively invested in the agricultural sector, specifically in large-scale rice production, to create sustainable employment opportunities for Ghanaian youth. Mr. Awuah-Darko pointed out that since its inception, NABCO has benefitted over 100,000 people, each receiving a monthly allowance of GHC 700. Over three years, this has cost the government approximately GHC 2.5 billion. He argued that redirecting these resources toward land acquisition and supporting young people in rice cultivation could have generated long-term...