AM News || NIA staff petitions governing board to review and reverse ground for his dismissal
AM News with Samuel Kojo Brace on JoyNews (24-8-23)
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Transcript
00:00 Good morning and let's do AM news now.
00:02 A staff of the National Identification Authority, NIA, has petitioned the governing board of
00:07 the authority to review and reverse the grounds for his dismissal.
00:12 This is coming barely a week after the NIA dismissed 10 of its staff for abuse of office.
00:18 One of them is Martin Akua, who says his only crime was reporting to work earlier than usual
00:24 to register the usually overwhelming Ghana applicant, Ghana card applicant.
00:29 My colleague Michael Ashley has more.
00:32 The National Identification Authority has dismissed 10 staff members following investigations
00:37 into allegation of misconduct, extortion of funds from Ghana card applicants.
00:43 Excerpts of a statement from the National Identification Authority announcing the dismissal
00:48 of some of its staff for misconduct, extortion and manipulating the registration system for
00:53 personal gain at some of its offices, including the Lankwantena Municipal Office.
00:59 The allegations against the dismissed officers included demanding and accepting unauthorized
01:05 fees from Ghana card applicants, as well as manipulating and registration system for personal
01:12 gain.
01:13 Some of the affected people are fighting off these claims.
01:16 In Madina, we had a peculiar issue because we were occupying the offices of the Ghana
01:23 Revenue Authority.
01:25 Martin Akua is one of those rejecting the grounds for his dismissal.
01:29 As a team, we needed to have a strategy on how to decongest the small space we were given
01:37 in the GRA office.
01:39 So it required that we come in a bit early to take care of those two appointments.
01:44 The GRA applicants were coming in to get Ghana card instead of 10.
01:50 And bosses sending through applicants through me to assisting registering and issuing Ghana
01:55 cards.
01:56 I must put on record that I never instituted that early working hours for my personal gains.
02:04 I did it purposely to decongest my office because the office was a small space given
02:09 us by GRA and they were constantly on me that Ghana card applicants are taking over the
02:15 entire office and they were not hiring any office for Ghana card applicants.
02:19 It's the office they've given me a space.
02:21 And so it was so wrong.
02:23 My applicants had taken over the office.
02:24 Prior to his dismissal, he stayed home for nearly 14 months after he was interdicted
02:29 in April 2022.
02:32 It was very difficult coupled with the present economic situation in the country.
02:37 I have a wife, I have a family who sometimes depend on me and so it was very unbearable.
02:44 It took every fiber of me out.
02:46 I was devastated as it was my only crime was starting work earlier than 8 a.m.
02:53 Martin has petitioned the NIA Governing Board to investigate and review the grounds for
02:58 his dismissal.
02:59 So I've requested the authority to send me a copy of the record of proceedings.
03:06 And I've again gone on to petition the NIA Governing Board.
03:10 I'm trusting in the abilities and the competencies of the NIA Governing Board to come through
03:14 for me.
03:15 And so the cases with the NIA Governing Board, they have not even acknowledged receipt of
03:19 my letter, but I'm still believing in their competencies and abilities to come through
03:23 for me.
03:24 Martin plans to seek redress if the Governing Board fails to respond soon.
03:29 For JOYN News, Michael Ashali.
03:34 The government has launched a seven-year project to reduce poverty and improve access to social
03:39 economic infrastructure.
03:41 Local government minister Dan Botre, who announced a $24 million plan, reviews that his effort
03:47 will ensure accountability.
03:48 There's more in this report by Jacqueline and Sumayya Bua.
03:52 To reduce rural poverty issue in Ghana, the government in the year 2014 launched phase
03:58 one of the integrated rural development, the project which ran for seven years aimed at
04:04 improving agricultural productivity and improve socioeconomic infrastructure.
04:10 Based on the success of the phase one, government has launched phase two of the project, which
04:15 will cost $24 million.
04:18 The phase will facilitate job creation and improve access to socioeconomic infrastructure,
04:24 such as schools, rural clinics, sanitation facilities, amongst others.
04:28 The minister for local government, decentralization and rural development, Daniel Botre, said
04:35 to avoid misappropriation of funds, government will increase social accountability measures.
04:41 This project, as we said, even though I was elaborating too much on the part of the monies
04:47 that are used to pay for project management.
04:51 I suspect the reason why they do that is to cure the very thing that you are talking about.
04:58 The assemblies have their staff already, from MC, coordinator, engineers, planners.
05:02 But the project allows for employment of extra or external consultants who validate all the
05:10 plans that they bring.
05:11 So in all these projects, I can testify that in the project one, there was value for money.
05:17 All projects that were started were completed.
05:19 He further revealed that most organizations and NGOs are unable to account for the cost
05:25 involved in projects, which results in non-continuity of most projects in rural areas.
05:30 You have the flexibility.
05:33 Some of them allow you to even rehabilitate or continue existing projects.
05:37 But it's all because of accountability.
05:39 That's the issue.
05:40 If you take funding from project A, or let's say project A, to build a school building,
05:45 and you get to the roofing level and you don't finish.
05:48 What funding source gives you money?
05:51 How do you convince the second funding source that you use their money to complete the first
05:56 one?
05:57 So you come and you commission a classroom block, then you say that we got funding for
06:01 both project A and project B. That's why it comes back to the assembly.
06:04 That's why I've been emphasizing the role of district assemblies.
06:09 Whoever you are, and the law says that they're supposed to coordinate projects of even NGOs.
06:13 You cannot say that I'm an NGO.
06:14 I've entered the district.
06:15 I'm going to do what I like.
06:17 No, it's wrong.
06:18 The CEO of the Social Investment Fund, Justice Mensah Amankwasti, said that one component
06:24 of the project will ensure that rural communities have access to credit facilities to encourage
06:30 the growth of small and medium enterprises.
06:33 Some of the remote centers are quite difficult to access.
06:37 So when we send these projects there, it will go a long way to transform their life.
06:44 Where we have the macro finance, where we are also talking to some of the banks that
06:49 can reach out to the interior, as Honorable is saying.
06:52 We don't want to hold on to just the center of the desert capital.
06:57 We want to go inside.
06:59 The second phase of the Integrated Rural Development Project is expected to end in the year 2027.
07:06 For JOIN News, Jacqueline and Suma Yeboah.
07:12 The National Communication Authority has launched a digital audio broadcasting technology, which
07:17 will alleviate some of the challenges by traditional radio.
07:20 Minister for Communication and Digitalization, Ursula Oso-Ekufo, says the new platform will
07:25 usher in a real choices for listeners.
07:28 She was speaking at the launch in Accra.
07:30 There's more in this report.
07:33 Over the years, frequency modulation has become a critical medium for communication, entertainment,
07:39 and information dissemination in Ghana.
07:42 As Ghana's population continues to grow, the demand for FM radio stations has surged.
07:48 The Minister for Communication and Digitalization, Ursula Oso-Ekufo, revealed that in the year
07:55 2022, the National Communication Authority gave authorization to 707 FM stations to operate
08:02 in Ghana, but less than that number is currently operating.
08:07 With the rapid development of radio and TV industry and its convergence with telecommunications,
08:14 it has become necessary to ensure the quality of broadcasting services do not deteriorate.
08:22 Statistics indicate that as of the end of 2022, the NCA had authorized 707 FM stations,
08:32 out of which 513 are in operation, a very congested field.
08:38 According to the project director of the digital audio broadcasting, Bernie O'Neill, the radio
08:44 landscape in Ghana is congested, which has placed the advent of the new audio platform
08:49 in Ghana.
08:50 That congested FM issue that we heard mentioned, on Ghana there's over 700 stations that are
08:57 licensed to be on FM, and I think there's over 500 that are on air.
09:01 So there's just nowhere to go for broadcasters to innovate.
09:04 And as I was saying, radio is under threat from all the new online services that are
09:10 being offered.
09:11 So radio must keep up and it must digitize as well.
09:15 The DAB is a radio technology which will ensure transmission of digital audio content over
09:21 airwaves and the trial has already commenced in Accra and Kumasi.
09:27 For JOYN News, Jacqueline Ansomaye-Yabua.
09:29 Finding places to charge your phone when the battery runs down can be a daunting task.
09:40 Though sometimes a nearby store comes in handy, it might be reluctant to share the power.
09:45 What if there's a charging station where a 50 Pesos coin can give you 30 minutes of
09:50 charging time?
09:51 The Srinyani Technical University students have come up with such innovation.
09:54 Live on FM Square C, Debra speaks with Fidawz Abdul Karim for Tech Thursday.
09:59 Geeks.
10:00 Okay, this one, it works like this.
10:05 When you get there, all you need is a coin.
10:12 And it takes you 50 Pesos one city and two cities.
10:18 And the lights here, 50 Pesos is blue, one city is yellow and two cities is green.
10:25 So when you get there, you slot in your coin like this.
10:29 If the coin has entered, it gives you the minute you should charge.
10:36 And this one, 50 Pesos gives you one minute to charge.
10:38 As you can see, my phone is on, which means it's charging.
10:41 So when the time is up, it will disconnect automatically.
10:44 So when you want to charge it for one minute, you have to slot in one city.
10:49 As you can see, I have one city here.
10:51 You remove your phone.
10:52 If not, it will not charge.
10:53 You slot in your one city.
10:54 As you can see, it has entered.
10:55 Plug your phone and it gives you one minute to charge.
11:07 That's a wonderful innovation there.
11:08 Now to other stories.
11:10 We have a story from the city of Dambai.
11:15 The city of Dambai is a city of the capital of the country.
11:20 The city of Dambai is a city of the capital of the country.
11:25 The city of Dambai is a city of the capital of the country.
11:28 The city of Dambai is a city of the capital of the country.
11:31 The city of Dambai is a city of the capital of the country.
11:34 The city of Dambai is a city of the capital of the country.
11:37 As of August 2020, most of the culvert works were done by city construction.
11:41 As of August 2023, this is the state of affairs of Dambai town roads.
11:47 Even the very street leading to the residence of the regional minister is that terrible.
11:53 This is as a result of works abandoned by the contractor due to financial and contractual issues.
11:59 The study school is a cause for worry for residents at the regional capital.
12:04 The road should have been completed in 2020 but has been left till now that gravels have been poured on it.
12:16 The state of the road is really worrying. We are asking government to fix it.
12:20 The road should have been completed in 2020 but has been left till now that gravels have been poured on it.
12:21 The road should have been completed in 2020 but has been left till now that gravels have been poured on it.
12:22 The road should have been completed in 2020 but has been left till now that gravels have been poured on it.
12:23 The road should have been completed in 2020 but has been left till now that gravels have been poured on it.
12:24 The road should have been completed in 2020 but has been left till now that gravels have been poured on it.
12:25 The road should have been completed in 2020 but has been left till now that gravels have been poured on it.
12:26 The road should have been completed in 2020 but has been left till now that gravels have been poured on it.
12:27 The road should have been completed in 2020 but has been left till now that gravels have been poured on it.
12:40 It is really worrying us. How to move from the other side to transact any business is a challenge.
12:46 How to commute from home to my shop is a problem.
12:49 The mud you see now is the same dust you see during the dry season.
12:52 The mud you see now is the same dust you see during the dry season.
12:57 The mud you see now is the same dust you see during the dry season.
13:03 The minister's car is a problem.
13:07 The car is a problem.
13:10 The minister's car is a problem.
13:13 That's the minister's car.
13:15 The muddy gravel is making things worse.
13:17 Pregnant women could have miscarriage or even die if they want to access health facilities in the area.
13:23 If they want to fix the road, then they must do it well.
13:26 If they want to fix the road, then they must do it well.
13:28 Even the minister cannot go to his residence.
13:30 Even the minister cannot go to his residence.
13:32 Even the minister cannot go to his residence.
13:34 Even the minister cannot go to his residence.
13:36 Even the minister cannot go to his residence.
13:38 Even the minister cannot go to his residence.
13:40 The minister cannot go to his residence.
13:47 The minister cannot go to his residence.
13:49 The minister cannot go to his residence.
13:51 The minister cannot go to his residence.
13:53 The minister cannot go to his residence.
13:55 The minister cannot go to his residence.
13:57 The minister cannot go to his residence.
13:59 The abandonment of works and sites in the region has led to the stall of works on two critical roads in the region.
14:07 The affected roads are Damae, Tunkwanta and Jasekanturara.
14:11 A visit to the sites saw empty environments and the evacuation of all machinery.
14:17 Joshua Nguyenam Makubu is the Othio regional minister.
14:21 This is the street leading to his residence.
14:25 He says he shares in the sentiments of residents.
14:28 I am a citizen before I am a regional minister.
14:33 In just the same way any other resident of Othio region or user of the roads you have just mentioned will feel, I feel much the same way.
14:46 Jasekanturara, Nkwanta, Dambae, Dambae Township roads, they were all under the same contractor, City Constructions.
14:58 It was on site until work came down somewhere around 2022.
15:05 I had a couple of engagements with the doors.
15:08 Even a time they brought in a document for me to sign for extension of contract which I did.
15:14 And then they said it was in the rainy season, they were waiting when the rain subsided they would come back to site.
15:20 But before I realised they had started packing items.
15:25 He is also appealing to residents to be patient while the process to resolve the challenge continues.
15:31 I appreciate what we go through on a daily basis.
15:34 Just be a little bit patient with me and support me in prayers.
15:38 At least if you have any idea, my office is always open.
15:42 Let's talk and see how we can move together.
15:45 Peter Hassanu, 4Joy News.
15:53 Now to the Upper West now and the Regional Minister Dr Hafiz Bin Salih is worried about how late staff of the various assemblies report to work.
16:03 He describes this as a drawback to the work of the assemblies and is asking the Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives to instil discipline in their duties.
16:13 Dr Bin Salih made a statement at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council's meeting.
16:19 The Regional Coordinating Council per Article 255 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana mandates the Council to meet at least twice in a year where key issues bordering on the region are discussed and solutions provided to them.
16:36 One major challenge which Upper West Regional Minister Dr Hafiz Bin Salih saw as a drawback to the region's development is the attitude of staff of some district assemblies in the region to work.
16:49 Performance monitoring report of the local service for 2022 has brought a canker in this region to the fore. The report indicates that lateness is endemic in districts closer to the regional capital.
17:11 Officers report to work late and close early in their districts, thus Ndolikeliu, Wawes and Dafiyema Busu-Essa. This unpopular practice must stop.
17:25 I charge the respective Municipal and District Chief Executives and their coordinating directors to instil discipline in their offices.
17:37 Another issue which also came to the fore was in the education sector. Whereas candidates in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination have upped the ante, improving on their past rate in the last three years, results in the Basic Education Certificate Examination, BCE, continue to take a loose dive.
17:58 The three-year trend of regional WASI performance in the core subjects is as follows. English Language, 20-22, 30%, 20-21, 44%, 20-22, 45%.
18:17 On the other hand, the overall performance in the Basic Education Certificate Education consistently declined, as indicated in the table below. 20-20, 49%, 20-21, 48%, 20-22, 36%.
18:41 The Senior East District of the Borneo East Region has for some time now been performing poorly at the BEC and SSE levels.
19:02 This according to the DCE for the area GK Kofijima is largely as a result of weak supervisions and the lack of competitions among schools from the Basic to the Senior High School level.
19:22 To change the narrative, the District Chief Executive organized quiz and reading competitions for all schools across the district.
19:32 This system is going to force my quality teachers to be able to teach so that we can improve academic performance of our students. And then we are also of the view that once the teachers come into this program, and then some of them fall into the last position, some fall into the middle position,
19:55 unfortunately those who have it will fall under the first position. It will force teachers, it will force students to learn that teaching and learning will improve teaching and learning in our district.
20:07 He sees the competition, which is the first of its kind in the district, would prepare the pupils to pass their exams as well as prepare them to reach high highs in future.
20:18 If we are able to raise the image of education, everything will follow. Because if we want to get good assembly members, we want to get good teachers, we want to get good nurses, we want to get good ministers, good presidents, then it must start from education.
20:31 And it has to start from primary level, GHS to SSE level. When we get all this, it means that the district within the track of an eye will change.
20:39 Some of the competing students lauded the organizers of the contest and called for its continuity.
20:45 I'm very delighted about this program. In fact, I'm a Formula 1 student. After the program, we are the second. In fact, the way the program takes place, in fact, I'm very delighted.
21:02 He's doing his best, he's trying. We are begging him that this should not be the first and the last. He should try organizing mainly for us to compete with each other.
21:12 Acting President Anchi Domhena of the Nkomi Traditional Area, Nana Osro Kunkure III, is optimistic that the effort would lead to the upgrade of general academic performance of the peoples in the area.
21:24 I'm the first of its kind. This administration, we are putting things together. We are putting one more effort together to upgrade in the form of performance.
21:49 We are not going to buy schools. We are not going to buy schools. We are not going to buy schools. We are not going to buy schools. We are not going to buy schools.
22:00 The DCE further noted that the competition would be made an annual festival to assess the performance of both teachers and students across the district.
22:09 I mentioned that without this kind of assessment, it would be difficult for us to know whether or not the teachers are performing, the students are learning. So we are going to make it an annual festival.
22:19 Every year, we are going to organize it for the reading competition for the primary school, GHS, speech competition, and then the SHS level debate.
22:29 [crowd cheering]
22:31 Anna Sabit, join us.
22:34 [crowd cheering]
22:38 And that's how we wrap up this bulletin. There's more news on myjoyonline.com. News review is up next.
22:46 [music]