Monday Briefing: Pay tax if you want to feel economy, GNAT defends teachers at Ejisuman

Here are the stories that made the news Monday:

1. Pay tax if you want to 'feel' economy in pocket - Ken Ofori-Atta

Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta has challenged critics who are grumbling about not feeling the impact of the remarkable performance of Ghana’s economy in their pockets to show evidence of their tax returns. The soft-spoken economist cannot understand how critics will huff and puff over economy yet refuse to pay their taxes for the development of the country. At a media engagement, Monday, the Minister painted a rosy picture of Ghana’s economic performance in just a year of the Akufo-Addo government.

2. Businesses threaten shutdown over excise tax stamp

There is a growing opposition to the government’s excise tax stamp due to be rolled out on March 1, which local manufacturers have labelled a hasty exercise. Some business owners have threatened to shut down their plants if the government does not heed their calls to reconsider the implementation of the tax stamp. Starting Thursday, all manufacturers and importers of excisable products are expected to fix hologram stamps on their products before they are sold to consumers.

3. GNAT dismisses sexual harassment claims at Ejisuman SHS

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has questioned sexual harassment claims levelled against some teachers at the Ejisuman senior high school (SHS) in the Ashanti Region. GNAT General Secretary, David Acheampong has accused some opinion leaders in the area of manipulating the students to defame the teachers. At least 10 female students have appeared before an Investigative Committee set up by the Ghana Education Service over reported cases of sexual relations between students and teachers at Ejisuman SHS.

4. Family of 21-year-old shot and abandoned seeks justice

The family of the 21-year-old man allegedly shot and abandoned by the police at Pokuase on suspicion that he was a criminal, is demanding justice. Mother of Jonathan Odai Laryea has asked the police administration to investigate the incident and punish the officer responsible for her son’s shooting. Mr Laryea has been left to his fate after he was shot on February 5, 2018, at 9 pm while on his way to buy food. The bullet is still in his right leg three weeks after the shooting.

5. LPG operators withdraw from gov't committee on cylinder redistribution

LPG operators have withdrawn from a government committee set up to address the rising spate of gas explosions. The Association of the operators says their concerns have been ignored during a meeting of the Cylinder Re-distribution Policy Implementation committee. Ghana recorded its eighth gas explosion in three years when an explosion at a fuel station at Atomic Junction in Accra left seven dead and 134 injured.

6. $2m set aside to automate processes at Audit Service

Government has voted $1.5million for the automation of the auditing process in the country to make the Ghana Audit Service more responsive to the changing dynamics in the fight against corruption. An additional $500,000 has been allocated under the Public Financial Management (PFM) project to support the Service to train staff in the use of computer-aided tools and to build capacity for greater performance. The Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia announced these measures at the 8th Annual Accountability Lectures and launching of 2017 Financial Year's Audit organised by Service on Monday in Accra.

 7. NDC breaks rank with Nii Lante Vanderpuye over jailed Abuga Pele

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said it will be absurd for the party to overturn the conviction of former legislator for Chiana Paga, Abuga Pele. In a statement Monday, the General Secretary of the party Asiedu Nketia said since the NDC was the initiator of the conviction, it cannot turn around to pardon any person who has been convicted as a result. Mr Nketia's comments follow a statement purported to have been made by NDC Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo Constituency Nii Lante Vanderpuye which suggest Mr Pele who was convicted last week will be released if the party comes back to power.

8. Mahama Ayariga designs plan to save gov't $2bn

Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga says President Akufo-Addo can save the country at least ?2 billion each year, if he abolishes severely abused aspects of the Public Procurement law. The former appointee in the erstwhile John Mahama administration says his proposal is inspired by a revelation by President Nana Akufo-Addo that his regime saved Ghana approximately ?800 million last year, by rejecting requests for sole sourcing and restricted tendering. In his State of the Nation Address 2018, the president revealed that government turned down 43%  of the requests for single sourcing and rejected 52% of requests for restricted tendering procurements.

9. Mahama in Sierra Leone to chair series of meetings

Former President John Dramani Mahama has left Accra today for Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he will be leading a number of meetings aimed at ensuring a peaceful election and its aftermath in the West African Country. A statement signed by Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to Mr Mahama said, the former President will also lead the Commonwealth Observer Group to the Sierra Leone election. “[Mahama] will lead the discussions in a closed-door high-level breakfast meeting between the Presidential Candidates and their Running Mates, Commissioners of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) of Sierra Leone, Electoral Officials, Police Chief, Paramount Chiefs and Eminent Persons.” 

10. Attempts to silence students over Ejisuman sex claims underway 

Victims of sexual harassment at Ejisuman SHS in the Ashanti Region have been hauled before the school's disciplinary committee after they went public with their experiences. The girls have been accused of speaking to the media and leaving campus without exeats, Erastus Asare Donkor, who revealed the girls' stories, told Joy FM's Super Morning Show Monday. Ejisuman SHS has been preparing a report after the investigative committee ordered by the Ghana Education Service heard lurid stories of at least 10 girls who say they have been sexually harassed by teachers and non-teaching staff.

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