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NewsTranscript
00:00 Hello, good afternoon, welcome to join you today.
00:02 We're coming to you live from our studios in Kokum,
00:04 namely we're on DTT because we're free to on DSTV channel
00:08 four to one and Go TV channel one to five.
00:11 We are a home of independent, fearless
00:14 and credible journalism coming up this afternoon.
00:17 Thousands displaced, homes submerged,
00:20 properties including businesses destroyed
00:24 as a spillage of the Akon Sombodam continues.
00:27 We're live in Mpe, one of the worst affected communities
00:30 in the North Tone District of the Volta region
00:33 where an inter-ministerial committee
00:35 is visiting affected persons.
00:37 Scientists warn of possible presence
00:41 of some poisonous heavy metals in some food crops
00:44 and fish from mining areas in the country.
00:47 We have details in our latest hotline documentary,
00:50 Poison for Gold.
00:52 Plus, we'll take away the bragging rights
00:56 and the quarter stage of the ongoing
00:59 National Science and Maths Quiz.
01:00 Stay for the latest update from today's contest.
01:04 My name is Aisha Ibrahim, we're also live on Facebook,
01:07 YouTube, Instagram and X on join you zone TV.
01:10 My personal handle is @bananaaisha, please stay for details.
01:15 (upbeat music)
01:17 (alarm ringing)
01:20 An inter-ministerial committee is visiting communities
01:34 flooded as a result of the Akon Sombodam spillage.
01:37 Dozens of towns in the three-tone district
01:39 of the Volta region have been displaced,
01:41 leaving residents anxious.
01:43 Their homes, businesses and properties
01:45 have been submerged in the ongoing spillage.
01:48 Not more in collaboration,
01:49 well the Volta River Authority has been carrying out
01:52 rescue exercises to evacuate and relocate affected persons.
01:57 According to the Volta Regional Authority,
01:59 the spillage will not end any time soon
02:02 as the dam is still under threat
02:04 from excess volume of water it operates with.
02:07 The spillage began a month ago.
02:09 Volta Regional Minister, Archibald Lecha,
02:11 who received the inter-ministerial committee,
02:13 said intervention of the government targeted
02:16 at mitigating the impact of the spillage started long ago,
02:20 even before the commencement of the spillage
02:22 on the 15th of September.
02:25 He spoke to JOY News.
02:26 - I'm live here with the Volta Regional Minister,
02:30 Archibald Lecha, who is also visiting again.
02:35 Today, last week, he was here with the NADMO team,
02:38 and so we're all engaging to find out
02:40 what the itinerary for the day is like.
02:43 So what are we doing today here?
02:45 - Yeah, we were here yesterday,
02:49 and we are here again today.
02:51 The inter-ministerial committee formed by the president
02:55 is also in town.
02:56 They just landed, and I'm going to meet with them.
02:59 We may address the media, but for now,
03:02 we want to see what is happening.
03:07 And what I see this morning is the level is higher
03:12 than I saw the last time, so I'm getting worried.
03:15 Because we're supposed to pass a certain road
03:18 to the St. Kitts-in-Tobacco, but it was flooded.
03:21 So we are coming to take the boat here.
03:23 But the ministers have landed there,
03:26 and I'm going to meet them,
03:27 and then we think about what,
03:29 all the committee members are here,
03:30 the roads ministry, the health, energy.
03:33 We are all here to see how we can put our heads together
03:36 to address the concerns of the people.
03:38 - Who are those on that committee,
03:39 if you can share with us?
03:40 - We got the ministries of health.
03:43 You know, there are health issues here.
03:45 We have minister of roads and highways,
03:47 because we have road and bridge issues here.
03:50 And then we have ministries of energy.
03:53 We have problem with our transmission station there.
03:56 The minister of energy is here,
03:57 the minister of information,
03:59 minister of local government.
04:00 You know, the assemblies are also involved
04:02 in the relief exercise.
04:05 So all the supporting ministries are here.
04:08 Yes, I'm yet to meet with them,
04:11 but they are in town.
04:12 - Where you are keeping these affected victims,
04:15 the water keeps rising.
04:17 Is there any plan to evacuate them from St. Kizito,
04:20 for instance, to other higher grounds?
04:22 - Yes, yes.
04:23 We have plans.
04:24 We've identified some two or three other safe havens
04:28 where we'll be moving them to.
04:29 - Okay. - Yeah.
04:30 - All right.
04:31 Thank you so much.
04:32 So we'll be following you, Kaley,
04:33 to see how the day is going to pan.
04:34 So that was the Water Regional Minister,
04:37 Achebon Lecha, giving us some update of today's,
04:40 what we should expect today going forward here from Mepe.
04:44 - Now, there's a sense of despair lingering
04:47 in the three Nkontong districts,
04:49 especially the worst affected community, Mepe,
04:52 where over a thousand houses are submerged in floodwaters,
04:56 leaving residents very anxious.
04:58 Residents who are currently being housed
05:00 in the various schools in Mepe
05:01 are still battling with a lot of issues
05:03 that need to be urgently addressed
05:06 by the relevant authorities as they keep hope alive.
05:09 I have with me today, Hasmone.
05:11 - Residents who are currently being housed
05:16 in the various schools in Mepe
05:19 and its adjoining community are still battling
05:23 with a lot of issues that need to be urgently addressed
05:28 by the relevant authorities as they keep hope alive.
05:33 - At the St. Kizito School and the Roman Catholic School,
05:37 where one can only go by crossing the floodwater,
05:42 women were seen cooking for their families
05:47 while the men went about transporting items
05:51 to their safe havens.
05:53 Some of them have been speaking with Joy News.
05:57 (speaking in foreign language)
06:01 (speaking in foreign language)
06:05 - Here I am hosting almost 20 households.
06:22 And in each household, people in one household
06:26 is averagely, I can say, six in each household.
06:30 So when you want to take a creditor,
06:35 meaning about five to six households are in one room,
06:39 those who are sleeping outside are not part of it.
06:42 So today we pray to God, the army came for one intervention
06:47 that they were putting up their tents
06:49 so that some of the people can be sleeping in.
06:51 The people are greatly affected.
06:53 Food to eat, water to drink,
06:56 because the water has been polluted.
06:59 All the toilet facilities were taken out of the water.
07:02 So you could see, the refuge dumps were all taken.
07:06 So the people cannot get water to drink.
07:08 If you bring 1,000 bags of such water to get finished,
07:13 no water, no food.
07:16 We want them to have.
07:17 And we are not asking of already cooked food.
07:21 That you bring the food item, the people cook it.
07:25 We're providing food in, how do we call it, takeaway,
07:30 and asking two people to take one.
07:32 It's an eyesore.
07:34 But if they provide the food, the people, rice, oil,
07:37 the people can cook it themselves.
07:39 - Now we decided to visit other schools
07:42 where the affected residents are putting up
07:46 with their families in the night
07:49 just to assess the real situation on the ground.
07:53 And what we saw was really terrible and very sad.
07:58 Let's hear from them.
08:00 (speaking in foreign language)
08:04 (speaking in foreign language)
08:08 (speaking in foreign language)
08:12 (speaking in foreign language)
08:39 - Since the emergence of the flood,
08:42 houses have been submerged.
08:45 So, you know, accommodation for people
08:52 have become so difficult that I have to leave my shop
08:57 for colleagues to also relax,
09:03 since they have no place to sleep.
09:09 So for the past three days, they have been sleeping here
09:14 and work too is now halt.
09:16 Work is no more coming because of the submerged houses.
09:21 ECG thought it's wise to off the lights for safety reasons.
09:26 So we're asking that government should come to our aid
09:30 so that they can put things in place for us
09:33 to get back to our old time.
09:37 - And with the latrine submerged,
09:40 sanitary conditions are fast getting worse
09:44 and the fear of outbreaks is palpable.
09:49 Stella Kumuju is the Volta Regional
09:52 Environmental Health Officer.
09:55 - Environmental Health Officer Volta Region,
09:57 we came to assess the situation in North Corinth District,
10:01 precisely in the first town.
10:04 We came to where they said is a safe haven.
10:07 And so I asked to look at their toilets.
10:11 If you see what I saw, very terrible.
10:15 Even the path leading to the toilet is overgrown with weeds
10:19 and it will not encourage anybody to pass through.
10:23 Thanks to all well-meaning Ghanaians,
10:25 our development partners,
10:27 to come to the aid of people in the affected districts.
10:32 We can arrange for mobile toilets for them.
10:34 We can also arrange for digni-loo
10:36 or any type of toilets that is safe, convenient.
10:41 Because if we don't do this,
10:44 I fear that in the very near future,
10:47 we'll be recording outbreak of diarrheal diseases,
10:50 which also will be another disaster.
10:53 - Away from the town district,
11:00 scientists are warning of the possible presence
11:02 of some poisonous heavy metals in some food crops
11:06 and fish from mining areas of the country.
11:09 The Environmental Protection Agency found
11:12 high concentrations of mercury in fish
11:15 from the Tano River tested in 2022.
11:18 Similar tests conducted in some leafy vegetables and herbs
11:22 found that they absorb disturbing concentrations
11:27 of heavy metals.
11:28 These are contained in the latest hotline,
11:31 Trust Africa Multimedia Documentary, Poison for Gold,
11:35 produced by Erastus Asare-Donko.
11:37 Here are her sets.
11:39 (upbeat music)
11:41 - Thank you for joining us for this contest.
11:57 Please plan to be with us next time
11:59 when we bring you Pope John Minor Seminary
12:02 and Senior High School,
12:03 St. James Seminary Senior High School,
12:06 and Ebre Presbyterian High Technical School.
12:09 The National Science and Math Quiz
12:14 is proudly sponsored by the Ghana Education Service
12:17 in partnership with World PLC
12:20 and supported by Joy News, AT,
12:23 Prudential Life Insurance Ghana,
12:26 Web Southern Toothpaste,
12:27 Better Mouth,
12:28 Ghanaian Academic and Research Network,
12:31 Coronation Insurance,
12:33 Accra College of Medicine,
12:35 Academic City University College,
12:37 Cowbell,
12:38 Bell Beverages,
12:40 GTP,
12:41 Newmont, Ghana,
12:42 Africa World Airlines,
12:43 and YFM.
12:45 This has been a primetime production.
12:48 Bye.
12:49 (audience applauding)
12:52 (upbeat music)
12:54 - Well, there you have it.
13:04 Opokuwa Rikari Zedé.
13:05 They get to join their colleagues in the semifinals.
13:10 We can now go back to our story in Mepre.
13:13 Carlos Colonis, our man there,
13:16 he's monitoring events for us.
13:18 Carlos, what's the latest from where you are?
13:20 (silence)
13:22 Hello, Carlos.
13:26 - Yeah.
13:27 - What's the latest?
13:28 - All right, so I saw the latest is that the VRA
13:33 has been giving some details about the level of the water,
13:37 which appears to give some hope.
13:39 But fortunately, I have with me
13:41 the Deputy Chief Executive Officer
13:45 in charge of services at the VRA
13:48 to give us details of what the water levels are looking like
13:53 and what that means for this village, actually.
13:57 So you're live on Joy News.
13:59 Tell us, what's the level now?
14:00 - I've got this morning, 6 o'clock,
14:05 the level was 277.29.
14:09 That is the level that we've got.
14:13 I'm sure another data will come in around 12, 2 o'clock,
14:17 to know whether it's increasing or not.
14:19 So we normally collect the levels three times a day,
14:23 to make sure we are tracking the levels in the village.
14:26 - So it appears that for the past three days,
14:29 we are seeing some reduction in the inflow of water.
14:31 Give us a figure.
14:33 - Yes, for the past, I would say four days.
14:37 We started around 380,000, 80-plus thousand cubic feet.
14:42 We came to 350,000.
14:45 Yesterday it was 340 feet,
14:49 and today it's 286,000 cubic feet of water.
14:53 And the rise up today was 0.05.
14:56 Yesterday it was 0.1.
14:58 Today's trial was 0.03.
15:01 And the day prior was 0.04.
15:03 So for our data, we know that from mid-October
15:07 to the end of October, the water has to be,
15:09 and it's tracking back.
15:11 So there's a bit of comfort and confidence
15:14 that our data usually comes to play
15:16 that the inflow's reduced,
15:18 and the amount of the rise of the dam water reduced,
15:22 so at least we can safeguard the dam
15:25 and not uphold the dam.
15:27 - But why are you still spilling
15:28 if the inflow appears to be reducing?
15:31 - Okay, as I said, the rise is 0.05.
15:35 We are spilling 185.
15:37 The inflow was 280,000 cubic feet.
15:41 So we've got about 100,000 cubic feet.
15:44 I gave it 0.05.
15:47 If I should stop the spilling,
15:49 then I'm going to go to 0.01.
15:50 I have a room of only 0.21 feet
15:54 to reach the maximum operating level of the dam.
15:58 And I can't reach that one.
15:59 If I close the gate, within two days,
16:02 I will achieve that level.
16:04 Then what will happen, I have to open all the 12 gates
16:07 to make sure I sustain that 0.7.
16:11 I sustain it 2.7, 3.5.
16:14 For me, not to do that, I have to maintain this.
16:18 So I see negative rise of the lake.
16:21 If it's negative, I know that at least
16:23 the inflow and outflow, they are not much,
16:25 but I can start reducing the gate opening
16:28 to give a bit of relief down.
16:31 Of which I think, for the data, we are getting there.
16:33 - Finally, we are told that the VRA has set up a fund.
16:36 Tell us about that fund.
16:39 - We are citizens, and as a city, we work to the government.
16:43 And with this situation that we have in time,
16:45 we have to make sure the people affected
16:50 are relieved of all the stress that they are going through.
16:52 And for that, we have to ensure
16:56 that there's enough funds available
16:58 to make sure that people are comfortable and safe.
17:01 So we won't put a cap to the amount of money.
17:04 All that we want is that the people who are affected
17:07 have a bit of relief and comfort.
17:09 That is our main priority.
17:11 The life.
17:12 - Are they gonna start benefiting from the fund now,
17:15 or what?
17:16 You want clarity on that?
17:17 - The fund is to help NADBO in bringing out the relief
17:21 that the people need.
17:23 We are not a disaster management company.
17:27 We are working through NADBO to make sure
17:29 the relief goes to the people who are affected.
17:32 So that's what I think about that.
17:34 - Thank you so much for speaking to us.
17:36 That was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer
17:39 of the Bota River Authority
17:41 in the person of Engineer Kenneth Asa
17:44 giving us the details with regards
17:46 to what they are doing at the dam
17:48 and what we should expect going forward.
17:51 I start.
17:52 That is the details now with what is happening in Mepeh
17:57 concerning the spillage of the Akosombota.
17:59 - You have Carlos Kaloni with updates from Mepeh.
18:03 And as you can see on the screens,
18:06 there's actually no improvements
18:08 and residents are calling for help.
18:10 You heard earlier that there's a call for people
18:14 to come in to the aid of these people
18:17 because there's a possible outbreak
18:20 of cholera and diarrhea diseases.
18:22 So your contribution will be appreciated.
18:26 Now, scientists are warning of the possible presence
18:31 of some poisonous heavy metals in some food crops
18:34 and fish from mining prone areas of the country.
18:37 Environmental Protection Agency found high concentrations
18:40 of mercury and fish from the Tano River tested in 2022.
18:45 Similar tests conducted in some leafy vegetables
18:48 and herbs found they absorb disturbing concentrations
18:52 of heavy metals.
18:53 These are contained in the latest hotline
18:56 Trust Africa Media documentary,
18:59 Poison for Gold produced by Erastos Asaridonko
19:03 and Pierre Assad.
19:04 Irresponsible mining generates tailings,
19:09 a by-product of the sluicing process in extracting the gold.
19:14 These are done haphazardly without a recourse
19:18 to environmental safety and protection.
19:21 Consequently, the heavy metals in the tailings
19:25 are released into water bodies,
19:27 the soil, food chain, surface and groundwater.
19:32 This type of uncontrolled mining introduces
19:36 naturally occurring poisonous heavy metals
19:39 into water bodies like the pra.
19:41 The Environmental Protection Agency
19:45 in his research conducted on fishes
19:48 in the Tano River in 2022 revealed alarming levels
19:52 of mercury.
19:53 Dr. Jackson Ediya Nyantachi is the half original director
20:01 of the Environmental Protection Agency.
20:04 He spoke at a transformational dialogue
20:07 on small scale mining organized by the investor
20:10 of energy and natural resources, Sunyane.
20:13 - In fish samples that were taken from river Tano,
20:16 at the Tano area there,
20:18 I thought I was just doing something simple.
20:23 But when I realized the levels of mercury
20:25 in the fish samples, I became so alarmed.
20:28 I looked at the levels in the fish muscles
20:31 the head, the gills, the eye and the bones.
20:36 The highest concentration was in the gills.
20:38 The bones were also there.
20:39 So since then, I have stopped eating the head of the fish
20:43 as well as the bones.
20:44 I only eat the muscles and that is it.
20:46 - There's an actual link between heavy metal
20:50 found in the soil and food.
20:51 - Dr. Albert Kobunamensa is a research scientist
20:55 with a PhD in heavy metals in mine affected tailings
21:00 and soil, forest, water and land degradation.
21:04 He reveals the link between these poisonous metals
21:09 and food grown from these areas.
21:11 - I collected samples from Obuase,
21:14 areas that are contaminated with arsenic,
21:17 with cadmium, with lead and copper.
21:20 And we cultivated the soil in a pot in a greenhouse.
21:25 In fact, there were alarming concentrations
21:27 of heavy metal that were accumulated in the lettuce.
21:30 (soft music)
21:32 - In parliament, minority members are warning
21:47 that the marking and timely release of results
21:51 for the 2023 BEC and WASI is in limbo
21:54 due to government's failure to pay debt it owes
21:58 the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC.
22:00 The writing of the examination itself was threatened,
22:03 but government paid part of the debt in time
22:06 for the exams to proceed.
22:08 According to the minority spokesperson on education,
22:11 Peter Ntukotoy, there's an urgent need for government
22:15 to release funds to WAEC so as not to jeopardize
22:19 the marking and the release of results.
22:22 - You will recall that WAEC conducted two examinations
22:27 this year.
22:30 The first was for the basic education certificate examination
22:34 which we call BEC.
22:36 Then the second is the West African examinations WASI.
22:39 Now, the BEC was conducted in August.
22:46 And by now, marking should have been completed.
22:50 But as we spoke the other time, up to today,
22:54 government has not been able to release any money to WAEC
22:59 for the purposes of conducting and marking
23:04 and compiling of results of the BEC.
23:07 Gracefully, the examiners are on the process now
23:12 after the coordination, then they are marking.
23:17 Now, for the BEC, the budget was 98 million Ghana CEDIS.
23:22 And up to now, only about 20 million had been released
23:30 to get fund, sorry, to WAEC.
23:37 And the balance is there, which is outstanding.
23:40 WAEC had to go into credit agreements
23:46 with all the other suppliers.
23:49 Then when you come to the senior high school level,
23:53 even last year, they still owe them for the conduct
23:59 of the 2022 examination.
24:01 They have an arrears of 10.5 million to give to WAEC
24:06 for our records over here.
24:08 And my investigations have shown
24:10 that that money is still outstanding.
24:13 So if about 138 million is owed WAEC for the WASI,
24:18 I don't know what government is trying to tell us.
24:25 As a matter of urgency, government must release money
24:28 to WAEC for these purposes.
24:30 They need not less than 50 million Ghana CEDIS
24:34 for the marking of the BEC and the Ghana WASI.
24:38 - The minority says the entire academic calendar
24:43 for basic schools and the SHS could be thrown out of gear
24:47 if this situation is not remedied.
24:49 After COVID-19 already harmed the calendar.
24:53 - WAEC is finding it very difficult to have the morality
24:57 to convince the examiners that,
24:59 oh, mark for us, we'll pay you.
25:03 Because last year, it was this year they paid them.
25:07 So what is the guarantee
25:09 that you are going to pay very soon?
25:11 And that's why I say it is an issue of morality.
25:14 Then again, it is going to affect the release of results.
25:19 By now, they should have finished the marking.
25:22 And then the script checkers
25:23 will also have finished very soon.
25:26 But all that is delaying.
25:28 Meanwhile, the GES has a plan to revert the old system
25:33 so that by September, by October this month,
25:37 they could have gone back to school.
25:39 But as we speak now, it is not going to be possible.
25:42 Yes, because if this is the middle of October,
25:46 by the time they finish the examination,
25:49 the marking, compilation, then the release of results,
25:52 then the selection of candidates
25:56 for the various senior high schools,
25:58 I don't think they can finish all that
26:00 before the end of the year.
26:02 So definitely schools who,
26:05 first years who go to school
26:06 probably in January or February.
26:09 You have taken the responsibility from parents
26:12 that, "Oh, I want to pay for you."
26:14 That means you have the ability to do so.
26:17 So once you have done that,
26:19 parents have not come to beg you,
26:21 just make sure that you release money.
26:25 For me, if they say there's no money for it,
26:28 they are getting money for other frivolous expenditures.
26:31 Why can't they get money to pay?
26:35 It's a matter of priority and an ability
26:39 to go by the timetable.
26:41 Because other sectors have received money.
26:44 Why are you withholding money
26:46 meant for Ministry of Education and then WIAC?
26:50 - Well, health NGOs are warning
26:54 the persistent shortage of urgently needed drugs
26:57 and low awareness creation is hampering Ghana's fight
27:01 against mental diseases and other such ailments.
27:04 At an awareness creation campaign
27:06 within the Kaswa North sub-district,
27:08 a public health nurse there, Sara Sombida,
27:12 explained there is a growing number
27:14 of mental health patients who require immediate health.
27:18 There's more in this report.
27:20 - The NGO Emerge New Woman is leading a campaign
27:23 to intensify efforts at raising awareness
27:27 about mental health,
27:28 particularly women who are suffering mental diseases.
27:32 The initiative has been organized in major markets
27:35 across the country,
27:36 with the train stopping at the Kaswa market.
27:39 Speaking to the news team,
27:40 a nurse in the Kaswa North sub-district, Sara Sombida,
27:44 confirmed that the OPD cases are on the rise,
27:47 hence the need for more resources and heightened awareness.
27:52 - Once a while, we have the regional health directorate
27:57 coming in to help us with some aids to be able,
28:02 because medications given to mental patients
28:07 are mostly free.
28:09 It often comes, not regularly.
28:12 Sometimes there are shortages,
28:14 but it's due to the, maybe the number of people
28:18 who are being affected with that ill health.
28:21 That is why shortages come.
28:22 Yeah, we have a lot of patients in this municipality,
28:26 but most of the time,
28:27 since we do not have a specialist hospital
28:30 in the municipality,
28:31 we either take them to, refer them to ANCAFO,
28:34 where when the issue is stabilized,
28:37 we bring them back to the community,
28:39 and then we have community mental health nurses
28:41 who aid them to have responses of their health.
28:45 - According to the NGO and its partners,
28:48 the current economic situation in the country
28:50 could increase mental health cases.
28:53 It is against this background
28:55 that Emerge New Women has been screening
28:58 and educating these traders on mental health.
29:01 Lady May is founder of Emerge New Women.
29:04 - We're going round Ghana,
29:06 educating women,
29:09 sensitizing the general public on mental health,
29:13 'cause it's not an area that we particularly pay attention.
29:18 This is why we are doing that,
29:21 to educate people,
29:22 to be careful.
29:26 Emerge New Women is here to support everyone
29:29 who would come to our doorstep.
29:32 - A medical doctor working in partnership
29:34 with this NGO, Gideon Montgomery,
29:36 explained why it's urgent now more than ever
29:39 to put mental health on the national agenda.
29:42 - Worrying so much, there's a problem,
29:45 but you cannot talk to someone about it,
29:47 and as such, you keep it within yourself.
29:49 And if you consistently do that, it leads to depression,
29:54 because depression is the point where you have lost hope,
29:59 and you think that nothing can be done about your situation,
30:02 and you almost give up on yourself.
30:05 So we've gone through various towns in central regions,
30:08 sensitizing them about mental health,
30:10 and our goal is to ensure early intervention,
30:13 when people know what to do.
30:15 First of all, when people are aware of their mental health,
30:18 when they are self-aware,
30:20 they can begin to realize
30:22 when they are unconsciously engaging in processes
30:26 or thought processes that are detrimental to their body.
30:30 - Brandt Ambassador for Emerge New Women,
30:32 Stacey M. Watson, also advised Ghanaians
30:34 who have struggles with mental health diseases
30:37 to always speak to someone and seek help.
30:40 - We are all affected in a way or two
30:42 when it comes to mental health.
30:44 The fact that we go to bed at night and we don't sleep,
30:47 and we keep thinking about situations
30:49 that could have been, that haven't been,
30:52 it's a way of triggering our mental health.
30:54 So all I would say is that no matter what you're going
30:57 through, no matter the situation, just take a break.
31:01 Pause, look at your life, look at the people
31:04 that will be affected if your mental health
31:07 should go down the drain.
31:09 Look at the moments you're going to lose,
31:11 look at the years, the days.
31:13 And one thing you have to realize is when you're not well,
31:16 it affects your productivity.
31:18 So that means that you're not going to be able
31:20 to make regular income that can sustain your family.
31:23 - The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation has said
31:27 it is embarking on a mission to eliminate the lives
31:31 of Ghanaians, particularly those in underserved communities.
31:34 With an unwavering commitment to improving livelihoods,
31:37 JNPC Foundation says it has set out to touch the lives
31:41 of five million Ghanaians, promising a brighter future
31:44 for the nation.
31:45 The Sokwa Municipality and Adansia Sokwa District
31:49 are the latest in the Ashanti region to experience
31:52 the generosity of the national oil company,
31:55 Mahmoud Mwame Nuredine Hasmo.
31:57 - Ashanti region in perspective, I would say,
32:03 with a lot of confidence, that JNPC has been fair,
32:06 very, very fair to Ashanti region in terms
32:10 of giving out projects.
32:12 We are currently working in all 16 regions.
32:15 We started in western region as the enclave
32:18 of the oil production, and then we moved to other regions.
32:22 As we speak, in terms of all the projects that we do,
32:26 I mean, in this case, I'll add the astroturbs,
32:30 I'll add the boreholes, I'll add sanitary facilities,
32:34 and all.
32:35 Apart from the boreholes, that I know we've done
32:41 57 of them.
32:43 In terms of the fiscal structures, I mean the buildings,
32:47 we've done, putting everything together,
32:49 we've done about 68 projects in Ashanti region.
32:54 And in this, classroom blocks actually contribute
33:00 to about 43.
33:02 So we've done 43 classroom blocks in Ashanti region.
33:07 Then you add the sanitary facilities,
33:11 you add the astroturbs, I know we've done 10 of that.
33:14 And then other facilities.
33:17 - The Ghana Police Service says 16 accused persons
33:23 who invaded the United Television Studios at Sesano
33:27 in the Great Aqua region on 7th October have been convicted
33:31 and sentenced to a fine by the Atchimota District Court,
33:34 following a report by the management of UTV
33:37 and the Ministry of Information on 7th October
33:41 that the convicted persons had entered the UTV studios
33:46 and disrupted a live program.
33:48 The police proceeded to arrest them on the premises of UTV.
33:52 They were subsequently charged for being on the premises
33:55 for unlawful purpose and are in before court today,
33:59 the 16th of October.
34:00 The accused persons pleaded guilty to the charges
34:03 against them.
34:04 They were therefore convicted on their own pleas
34:07 and sentenced to a fine of 200 penalty units each,
34:11 which translates into a certain amount.
34:13 They were also ordered by the court
34:16 to sign a bond of good behavior.
34:19 We take a break, we'll be bringing you business shortly.
34:26 - Some have turned into a political show.
34:27 So if--
34:28 (dramatic music)
34:32 - Hi, good afternoon and welcome to the business segment
34:36 on Joy News Today with me, Pius Kodjobaka.
34:39 China and France have given some indication
34:41 of signing a memorandum of understanding with Ghana
34:44 to restructure the country's bilateral debt.
34:46 Finance Minister Ken Ufuriata disclosed this
34:48 on the sidelines of the annual IMF World Bank meetings
34:52 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
34:53 George Yaffe has the rest of the story.
34:55 - Speaking at a news conference in Marrakesh, Morocco,
34:59 the Finance Minister Ken Ufuriata was optimistic
35:02 about securing this financial insurance
35:04 based on the engagement he's had with China and France.
35:09 - Yes, we did meet with the French group who are co-chairs
35:14 and we also did meet with the governor
35:17 of the Central Bank of China, who is the co-chair.
35:20 And we are quite assured that they would be able
35:25 to deliver what the IMF is looking for
35:32 for the board meeting to be successful
35:34 in the third week of November.
35:36 So we'll still keep at it,
35:41 but we leave feeling quite assured
35:44 that what they did with financial assurances
35:46 in May of last year, they will come through
35:49 with the requisite documentation for an MOU for that meeting.
35:54 - The Finance Minister was also optimistic
35:57 about growing the economy by more than 2%
36:00 by the end of this year, based on some programs
36:02 that government is currently implementing.
36:05 - Yes, I think the fund expected us to do 1.5% by year end.
36:10 I think average for the first six months is 3.2%.
36:17 And therefore we expect it to be maybe closer to 2.5%
36:22 at the end of the year, which is really strong.
36:26 - The Finance Minister has also been talking
36:28 about how government is working.
36:30 Today were the concerns raised by the IMF
36:32 on the level of tax exemptions granted
36:35 to investors and businesses.
36:37 - As you know, we already went through Parliament
36:40 with this issue of tax exemptions
36:45 and how to make sure that they are relevant
36:49 to the agenda of at the same time,
36:53 getting investors in and also being able
37:00 to make sure that you don't give too much away.
37:02 And that's what will continue.
37:05 - On inflation, the Finance Minister was optimistic
37:08 that the current slowdown that we are experiencing
37:11 will be sustained based on other things
37:13 that government is doing together with the Bank of Ghana
37:16 to bring the situation under control.
37:19 - Energy negotiations with the IPPs continue.
37:24 There was an energy sector recovery program
37:29 that has been agreed on and the fund
37:33 has accepted the document.
37:36 So we are in good shape with that.
37:39 But so far, we've been able to keep the lights on.
37:44 There have not been any queues.
37:46 We have a pretty safe environment.
37:51 We are working with inflation in the right direction.
37:54 The currency quite stable over this period.
37:59 And growth being stronger than what the fund
38:02 thought it would be.
38:03 So as I say, we keep overcoming the hurdles.
38:09 And as long as we all invest in talking the country
38:13 up positively, I think that hope that is required,
38:17 you know, will manifest.
38:18 - From Marrakech, Morocco, where the annual IMF
38:21 World Bank meetings took place,
38:23 this is George Yaffe reporting for Joy Business.
38:28 - The government will soon roll out a new program
38:30 specifically targeted at creating more jobs
38:32 and sustaining the expansion of the economy.
38:34 The growth and jobs program is expected
38:36 to secure cabinet approval this week
38:38 to help guide its implementation.
38:40 Information Minister Kujo Pankruma
38:42 has been giving more details about the initiative
38:44 to Joy Business in Marrakech, Morocco.
38:47 - At the macro level, we are seeing the numbers
38:50 stabilizing, many acts.
38:54 When I be people at the ordinary level
38:57 and things will be social impact
38:58 of all these things we are seeing,
39:00 when are we gonna feel that impact?
39:02 But there are some who still think
39:03 that we are not feeling the impact.
39:05 - I mean, I think it's good to agree
39:09 as a first point that we're beginning to see
39:13 a turnaround in the numbers at the macro level.
39:15 Admittedly, when you talk of trickle-down economics,
39:20 it takes a while for it to trickle down.
39:24 And we're expecting that sooner than later
39:26 it will trickle down.
39:27 But I think the president's also been clear
39:28 that we need to quicken efforts that ensure trickling down.
39:33 That's why, for example, if you take growth,
39:36 growth is about how is the economy expanding
39:38 or gearing up productivity.
39:41 The target was about 1.5.
39:43 But I think the president was quite clear
39:45 that some efforts need to be put in place,
39:47 particularly in the area of agriculture, et cetera,
39:50 to ensure that it picks up faster than the 1.5.
39:52 Already we are seeing about a 3.3, 3.2.
39:56 Coupled with that also then means
39:58 that food price inflation will be tinkering down
40:03 a little bit.
40:04 And so the idea is to quicken it
40:07 so that it trickles down faster.
40:09 - And are we going to see anything change
40:11 or we are still going to be on the trajectory
40:14 because those past policy measures
40:17 have seen the macro numbers moving towards the direction
40:22 that Samir described, but that's good?
40:24 - I mean, I think you're going to see a deepening
40:27 of the measures that are bringing about the turnaround.
40:30 On the growth side, the president has asked
40:31 for a jobs and growth plan to be submitted to him.
40:34 I know the Ministry of Finance
40:36 and the related ministries have done a lot of work on it.
40:39 It should be signed off the coming weekend or so
40:42 at the cabinet retreat.
40:43 And then you'll see a deepening of the growth agenda
40:46 on the cost of living side,
40:48 which has been one of our biggest challenges as a country
40:51 in the last about one and a half years or so.
40:55 The central bank is continuing with its tightening policy.
40:57 They've been quite clear about that.
40:58 It's helping on the non-food side
41:00 and the rail sector side led by a Greek ministry
41:03 and transport ministry are also working to ensure
41:05 that on the food side,
41:07 they can also help to bring it down a little bit.
41:09 So again, that's where you see a deepening of the efforts.
41:13 And then if you go to the fiscal side,
41:15 we are clear that we want to keep the primary balance
41:19 in shape so that we're able to reduce the rate
41:22 of new debt accumulation.
41:24 I think if you look at the numbers
41:25 for the first two quarters of the year,
41:26 it tells you that again, we're on track on that
41:28 and there'll be a deepening of that as well.
41:29 So long and short is that you will see a deepening
41:32 of the efforts that are bringing about the turnaround
41:36 in the second, well, in the final quarter of the year.
41:40 - Tell me more about this jobs and growth document
41:44 that cabinet is set to give a green light to.
41:47 Why this?
41:47 Because some would say that the policies are already there.
41:50 It's about fast tracking and strict commitments,
41:53 hoping all the agencies to line to implement.
41:56 - Absolutely.
41:57 But if that was to hold,
41:59 then no government to even prepare an economic program
42:02 or a budget.
42:03 You need to always be examining the results
42:05 from what you are doing and seeing what you can do more of,
42:08 which is working and stop doing what is not working.
42:11 That's in that context that growth programmed at 1.5,
42:14 the president said, I need this thing to move faster
42:16 because growth comes with jobs usually
42:19 and jobs bring incomes to people.
42:21 Incomes allow people to have a higher quality of life.
42:24 So the president says, I'm seeing 1.5,
42:26 can we do better than 1.5?
42:28 What do we do?
42:29 You detail out the measures you need to take
42:31 and now you're beginning to see it.
42:33 Next year, what is it?
42:34 2.8, if nothing happens.
42:36 So what are you gonna do to move it from 2.8
42:38 to maybe three or 3.5?
42:41 Those are the additional measures that you need to take.
42:43 So it's in that context that he's asking us
42:45 to deepen all the measures that are being taken.
42:48 - Kujo Pankruman having that interaction
42:51 with my colleague, George Yaffe in Morocco.
42:54 Ending the business news on Joy News today
42:56 with me Pious Kujo Baka.
42:58 More after this break.
42:59 (upbeat music)
43:02 - News and that would also be it for the bulletin.
43:07 But before we go, let's check out the contest
43:11 on the National Science and Maths Quiz
43:14 in the quarter final that just ended.
43:18 Opokuware Osetusu and St. John's
43:23 just ended with Opokuware winning.
43:26 The second round will be with Pope John's Seminary
43:30 and SHS, St. James Seminary, SHS
43:34 and Ebru Presbyterian Church coming up this afternoon.
43:38 Log on to myjoenline.com for more of the news
43:43 and updates of the developing stories.
43:45 My name is Ayesha Ibrahim.
43:46 Do enjoy the rest of our programs.
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