Day: June 12, 2024

The Embassy of Burkina Faso in Accra has been urged to do more and protect Ghanaian traders on the Ghana-Burkina Faso highways to deepen the bilateral relations between the two countries for mutual benefit.

Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister gave the advice when Mr David Kabre, the Burkina Faso Ambassador to Ghana paid a courtesy call on her in Sunyani.

The Regional Minister expressed concern about cases of recurring attacks and robberies on Ghanaians traders along the Ghana-Burkina Faso border lines and, therefore, underscored the need for enhanced security on the Ghana-Burkina Faso highway.

‘Both countries must do more to protect traders on the highway and to facilitate smooth economic activities between Ghanaian and Burkinabe traders,’ she stated.

She indicated that Ghana and Burkina Faso had long existing trade ties, saying protecting the traders would not only deepen bilateral relations, but also spur socio-economic growth and development of both countries.

Madam Owusu-Banahene
said she was optimistic that nothing could endanger the long-standing trade relations between the two countries and assured the government’s commitment and determination to protect Burkinabe nationals in Ghana.

Mr Kabre highlighted the objective of his visit, saying his two-day working visit would enable him to explore the economic prospects in the potential in the Bono Region.

Source: Ghana News Agency

According to a Justice Network Research, Ghana loses $1.4 billion per year because of illicit financial flows and taxation, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, first Deputy Speaker has mentioned.

He stated that the lost funds could do a lot for the country, ‘If we allow so much illicit outflow when our public needs, need to invest in public infrastructure, unfortunately, we will borrow and not provide services,’ he said.

Mr Osei-Owusu said on Tuesday at the official launch of the African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT) Ghana Caucus in Parliament House, Accra.

APNIFFT is a flagship programme coordinated by Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) with an overall objective to provide an opportunity for its members, the African legislators, to strategise, learn from each other and build their capacities in tackling illicit financial flows (IFFs) and tax injustices in the continent.

APNIFFT was first conceptualised in 2015 and eventually launched in 2017 by TJNA. Since its inception, APNIFF
T’s operational strategy has focused on national-level legislative interventions to combat the continent’s IFF issues.

This has been operationalised through country-based (National) parliamentary caucuses that now serve as a basic unit of engagement and mobilisation of Members of Parliament (MPs). These basic units then combine to form regional caucuses, based on membership of regional economic councils, to form the continental caucus.

The network currently boasts a total of 702 members from 41 countries in Africa.

It meets with MPs and members of Civil Society Organisations through capacity-building sessions and meetings to fast-track Africa’s conversation and action around illicit financial flows.

Mr Osei-Owusu, also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Bekwai said laws were not the weakest thing but their implementation.

He expressed concerns at the high level the continent was experiencing financial outflows which were perpetuating the kind of damage the slave trade had had done to Africa.

‘Illicit
financial flow is a global phenomenon, but a dire situation in the country not because of the staggering figures,’ he said.

He urged the members to develop interest to follow up on laws made to implement illicit outflow.

Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader, urged executives and members of the caucus to prioritise Ghana’s interests and work toward implementing policies that would reduce illicit financial flows and improve taxation practices.

Mr John Osei Frimpong, NPP MP, for Abirem Constituency, serves as the interim Chairman of Ghana’s Chapter, which has been active for two years.

He pledged the Caucus’ cooperation with like-minded legislators to combat illicit financial flows and tax injustice across the continent.

In all, 35 MPs have been entrusted with the responsibility of representing the Ghana APNIFFT Caucus.

The launch was a collaboration between the Parliament of Ghana and the APNIFFT.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Abubakar Tanko, an Ivorian, has been attacked by a mob for allegedly causing the disappearance of two men’s private organ at Kasseh in Ada.

He said his attackers dropped lighted polythene bags on him to burn him to death.

The incident happened after he approached Tayabu Eliazu and Assan Gariba, both Nigeriens, to seek help when travelling to Cote d’Ivoire from Benin.

Mr Tanko, narrating his ordeal to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said he pleaded with the mob to involve the Police, but they refused, stating; ‘I even told them to call on the chief of the area so I could explain myself better, but they molested me instead.’

He recalled how he ran to a man for rescue, but he pushed him to the attackers, who subjected him to beatings before the Police came to his rescue.

The GNA noticed that Tanko was struggling to open one of his eyes, and there were multiple scars on his body.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Joseph Atsu Dzineku, the Ada Divisional Police Commander, has disclosed that bo
th the victim and the suspects have been granted Police inquiry bail and would be reporting to the Police until investigations into the matter are completed.

He called on citizens to restrain themselves from putting the law into their own hands, noting that instant justice and mob attacks could lead to the killing of the wrong person.

He also reaffirmed that the law would not spare people apprehended as part of mob attacks.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs. Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State in Charge of Finance, is leading Ghana’s delegation to attend the 2024 edition of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Nassau, Bahamas, from June 12th to 15th, 2024.

She will deliver the opening remarks at the opening ceremony as well as the opening remarks for the plenary session on the theme: ‘Economic Transformation for Global Africa in a Polycrisis World.’

This was disclosed in a media statement signed by the public affairs unit of the Ministry.

The statement said the Minister and the delegation were expected to participate in several meetings and engagements, including charing meetings, holding bilateral talks, and many others.

‘Ghana currently chairs the Shareholders and Advisory Group, and the Hon. Minister of State will chair the shareholders meeting scheduled for Saturday, June 15. The delegation will also attend the statutory meetings, bilateral meetings, seminars, and plenaries, including the AfriCarib
bean Trade and Investment Forum,’ the statement said.

Afreximbank’s support for Ghana’s public and private sectors currently stands at US$1.761 billion, with another US$1.706 billion in transactions under consideration, the statement said.

Ghana is a founding member of the Afreximbank, having signed the agreement establishing the bank at its inception and ratified the same.

Ghana is also a shareholder of the Bank through the Bank of Ghana, holding 3,645 Class ‘A’ shares, which represent 2.41 percent of the Bank’s total shareholding.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a pan-African multilateral trade finance institution created in 1993 under the auspices of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance and promote trade within and outside Africa.

Source: Ghana News Agency