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NewsTranscript
00:00 - Hello, good afternoon, welcome to Joy News.
00:01 Today we're coming to you live from our studios
00:03 in Kokomlelewe on DTT because we're free to air
00:06 on DSTV channel 421 and GoTV channel 125.
00:10 Joy News is your home of independent, fearless
00:14 and credible journalism.
00:15 Coming up this afternoon,
00:17 WIAC to review scripts of over 22,000 candidates
00:21 amid allegations of mass cheating
00:23 in the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination
00:28 as entire results of 42 candidates are canceled.
00:33 Also, President Ekofo Ado nominates three more persons
00:39 to go on to the Supreme Court after appointing 15
00:43 in the last seven years.
00:44 We are live in Parliament
00:46 where the first deputy speaker made the announcement.
00:49 Also, Family of Missing Senior Learns Commission's
00:53 Officer Rhoda Lynn Darko offers 100,000 cities reward
00:57 for information on the whereabouts of their relative.
01:01 Plus, condition of access routes around the Stoldo-Bitebe-Lamte
01:05 interchange construction has grown worse
01:08 with mortgages and businesses around the facility
01:11 bearing the brunt.
01:12 We have updates from that side.
01:14 We have business, sports, world news and showbiz
01:18 coming up this afternoon.
01:19 We're also live on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram
01:22 and X-Spaces via Joy News on TV.
01:24 My personal handle is @denanaaisha.
01:27 Please do stay for details.
01:29 (upbeat music)
01:37 Many thanks for choosing us nine communities
01:51 along the Angkor River in the South Tongue District
01:54 of the Volta region with over 8,000 residents
01:57 face a significant health crisis
01:59 due to weeks of lack of potable water.
02:02 The Angkor River, the sole water source for residents
02:06 and Ghana Water Company's main intake
02:08 is severely polluted from the Akosombo Dam spillage
02:12 rendering it unusable even for toilet flashing.
02:15 Carlos Coloni visited that community
02:17 and has filed this report.
02:21 - According to them, due to the spillage
02:23 of the Akosombo Dam, the water has become very turbid.
02:28 - The Angkor River has been the sole source of water
02:32 for over 8,000 residents in nine communities
02:36 within the Agave traditional area
02:39 in the South Tongue District of the Volta region
02:42 for centuries.
02:43 The Ghana Water Company's Keseve Headway
02:46 also depends on this water body to supply many towns
02:49 in the Greater Accra region.
02:51 However, heavy pollution caused by the Akosombo Dam spillage
02:56 has left residents without alternatives for weeks.
02:59 - First of all, it's the water that we use.
03:02 But now we are not using it because the water has spoiled.
03:06 Even they say that we should not use it to wash bread.
03:10 Even to wash our clothes, we are not using it
03:14 because we don't have water.
03:15 So what we need is the government to help us
03:19 to get water for us.
03:22 Maybe even our kids, they don't have water to drink.
03:26 The ones that do use to wash their clothes don't get some.
03:30 So we are just begging the government to come help us
03:34 because the pipe is not coming.
03:37 So we use pure water.
03:39 And sometimes you don't have anyone at all to wash it.
03:43 - What do you think the government can do
03:45 to solve this problem for you residents?
03:48 - Okay, we need help.
03:49 We need a water tank or pure water.
03:53 - There are some people who do not get money
03:56 to buy pure water.
03:57 They just boil this water and then put it down
04:03 about 40 to one hour before they take drink
04:08 or preparing food, which is very bad.
04:12 But our kids, they don't know nothing.
04:18 If they are thirsty, they just go and fetch it and drink.
04:22 - From the river? - Yeah.
04:23 (speaking in foreign language)
04:27 - The assembly member for the Jetokwe Electoral Area,
04:36 Amos Akoli Afedo, emphasizes the urgent need
04:40 for water storage facilities in each of the nine communities
04:44 to prevent a health disaster.
04:47 So tell us the number of communities
04:48 that actually depend on this water.
04:50 - We are having nine communities.
04:54 They are Kuchunu, Jetokwe, Mate Kofwe, Tuwe, Dunu Kofwe,
04:59 Ajuyi Kofwe, Mate Kofwe, and then Akit Kofwe.
05:05 - So all the Kofwes depend on this water?
05:08 - Sure, yeah.
05:09 - For what and what?
05:10 - They have uses for bathing, drinking, washing.
05:15 There are so many uses.
05:18 - So for some days now, what can you tell us
05:20 about the state of the water?
05:21 - Okay, about three weeks ago of the flood,
05:26 you could see that the water has changed.
05:30 And then you can't even enter.
05:33 If you enter, there is a rashes attached.
05:38 So you can't even enter.
05:43 You can't even use the bath.
05:44 You can't even use it to wash your hands.
05:46 So it's a problem.
05:49 - So which water source do these people depend on
05:53 for their domestic use now?
05:54 - For now, I'm supplying them pure water.
05:58 - What is it that you want government to do
06:00 under the circumstance?
06:01 Because looking at the state of the water now,
06:03 it tells you, we don't know how long this is gonna stay
06:06 and the rashes that come with the usage of this water.
06:09 So what permanent solution do you want government
06:11 to do for you people?
06:12 - Thank you for reminding me about that.
06:14 What I personally need my community is,
06:16 we need polytank.
06:17 Polytank for the nine communities
06:21 for which I can go to the assembly
06:24 or go to the fire service
06:26 and then brought some this thing,
06:29 let's assume.
06:30 - The portable water?
06:32 - The portable water so that I can pour it
06:35 inside for the community to use.
06:37 Yeah.
06:37 - Okay, so that's the demand from the assembly member
06:40 for the Jetokwe electoral area.
06:43 He's appealing to the authorities to,
06:45 as a matter of agency, provide these nine communities,
06:50 each with a polytank or a water storage facility
06:54 where portable water can be stored in there
06:57 for the residents in these communities to use.
06:59 Because according to them,
07:01 the use of this very water you see here
07:03 is so dangerous to residents.
07:05 And they want this done as a matter of agency
07:09 to save lives of this resident here
07:12 in the South Tongue District of the Vought region.
07:16 Reporting from Jetokwe here in the South Tongue District,
07:19 my name is Carlos Kaloni.
07:21 What joins us?
07:22 - Back here in Accra,
07:24 President Ekofuadu has nominated three new persons
07:28 to go on to the Supreme Court
07:30 following the retirement of some judges recently.
07:33 The three, Henry Kofi, Yawasari Daku, and Ejeifrin Pong
07:37 are all currently justices of the Court of Appeal.
07:40 If confirmed, President Ekofuadu alone
07:43 would have appointed 18 Supreme Court judges,
07:46 the biggest number by any president in Ghana's history.
07:49 Listen to First Deputy Speaker Joseph Ossehusu
07:52 reading a letter from President Ekofuadu
07:55 seeking parliamentary approval for his nominees.
07:58 - On the 4th of May, 2023,
08:01 and Justice Joseph Dutchey on the 8th of June, 2023,
08:06 there are now 13 justices of the court,
08:09 including the new Chief Justice,
08:11 Mr. Justices Getukunu.
08:13 In order to fill these vacancies
08:16 and reach the full complement of the court,
08:18 I instructed the Attorney General and Minister for Justice,
08:23 Mr. Godfrey Yobuadami,
08:28 of my intention to appoint to the Supreme Court
08:30 subject to the satisfactory conclusion of the processes
08:35 set out in Article 1442 of the Constitution,
08:40 the following persons.
08:41 One, Justice Henry Anthony Kofi,
08:46 justice of appeal.
08:47 Two, Justice Eao Assari Daku,
08:52 justice of appeal.
08:54 And three, Justice Richard Ejeifrin Pong,
08:58 justice of appeal.
08:59 On 27 July, 2023,
09:03 the Judicial Council advised me
09:06 by letter under the hand of the Council Chairperson,
09:10 Chief Justice Getukunu Esabasaki Tokunu
09:14 of the suitability of my nominations of these persons
09:17 for appointment to the Supreme Court.
09:20 Upon receipt of the Judicial Council's advice,
09:22 and in accordance with my duty under Article 1442,
09:25 I consulted with the Council of State
09:28 by submitting the names and curricula
09:30 of the nominees for appointment to the court.
09:35 The Council of State has, by a letter dated
09:39 11 August, 2023, notified me of the successful completion
09:44 of the consultation process.
09:47 And therefore, in accordance with Article 1442
09:51 of the Constitution, seeking the approval of Parliament
09:54 for the appointment of the nominees
09:56 as judges of the Supreme Court,
09:59 their CVs are attached.
10:01 I am fully satisfied that each of these persons
10:04 is duly qualified and eminently fit
10:07 to discharge the functions of a justice of the Supreme Court.
10:11 - Your other Deputy Speaker, Joe Sawuso,
10:17 announcing that appointments.
10:20 To other stories, the West African Examination Council
10:23 is investigating the scripts of more than 22,000 candidates
10:27 in what the Council describes as mass cheating
10:30 in the 2022 BEC exams.
10:34 Over 600,000 candidates from over 18,000 participating
10:38 schools entered the examination this year.
10:41 Director of Public Affairs, John Kapi,
10:43 and Executive Director of the Institute
10:45 for Education Studies, Dr. Peter Ante,
10:49 have been speaking on this,
10:51 and they spoke earlier on Jewish News Desk.
10:54 - It's possible for us to be able to go into all of that
10:59 and be able to come out with the veracity
11:02 of the allegations or otherwise.
11:05 And so, yes, going forward, we'll see what we can do
11:07 to make sure that things are fluid
11:09 and people get to understand better what we are doing.
11:11 - I'm grateful, gentlemen, for joining us.
11:13 John Pate is Director of Public Relations at WIAC
11:17 and Dr. Sieving, Peter Ante of WIAC.
11:21 Sieving Peter Ante of WIAC
11:24 is the Executive Director of the Institute
11:27 of Education Studies.
11:31 Now, let's get on to...
11:32 Apologies for that inset.
11:40 We'll bring you the right one
11:43 where you have John Kapi and Dr. Ante
11:46 reacting to what has happened with the BEC results.
11:50 So, let's get on to other stories.
11:51 Administrative Officer and Mother of two,
11:53 Rhodalyn Amwa, has gone missing for more than two years.
11:57 Her husband, Dr. Wilberforce Agri
11:59 of the Petroleum Department of KNUST,
12:01 is on trial at the Kumasi High Court
12:04 accused of kidnapping his wife.
12:06 Now, the family of 32-year-old Rhodalyn
12:09 has announced a hundred thousand Ghana Cedis reward
12:12 for information leading to the location of their relative.
12:16 On her main area, visited the family house
12:18 where devastated relatives remain hopeful
12:22 to see their missing family member.
12:24 My father, my daughter Rhoda,
12:32 got missing in 2021, August.
12:38 A tearful and distraught mother
12:40 seeks access to finding her missing daughter
12:43 described as a breadwinner of the family.
12:46 Cecilia Obinua Appiah,
12:49 the mother of Mrs. Rhodalyn Amwa Dako,
12:51 is a former headmistress of the Kromo Girls Senior High School,
12:55 currently on retirement.
12:58 Traumatized by the disappearance of her daughter,
13:00 she looks up to a divine intervention to soothe her anguish.
13:05 It has been two years of sorrow,
13:09 two years of expectation,
13:12 expecting that I'll get up one day
13:15 and I'll hear that Rhoda has come.
13:20 I've waited and waited and waited
13:23 and it's two years plus now
13:26 and to no avail.
13:29 It has not been easy at all as a mother.
13:32 The angels of God, I'm praying that they bring her
13:37 from wherever Rhoda has been kept to me
13:42 so that it will be a Christmas bonus for me.
13:47 Police prosecutors told the Asokwa District Court in 2022
13:52 their preliminary investigations linked Dr. Wilberforce Agri
13:56 of the Petroleum Department of KNUSC
13:59 to an altered kidnapping note.
14:02 Police also accused him of using his wife's phone
14:05 to distribute text messages
14:07 from a spot near his KNUSC campus home.
14:10 But he was discharged by the court in February 2022
14:14 and subsequently re-arrested
14:16 to face new charges at the Kumasi High Court
14:19 where he was subsequently granted bail.
14:22 Two other suspects, Justice Appiah and Yao Amuatin,
14:25 said to have sold and bought a phone
14:28 belonging to Mexican Rhoda Lynn Amuadaco,
14:31 are also standing trial.
14:32 But the family of Rhoda Lynn is courting public support
14:36 to help find the accused man.
14:39 I am appealing to Ghanaians and so on my knees
14:44 that whoever has heard of where Rhoda has been kept,
14:50 whoever had a clue as to where Rhoda is
14:54 and whoever was involved in Rhoda's kidnap,
15:03 please you should all let me know.
15:09 Help me find Rhoda.
15:12 Madam Obinua says the family will reward anyone
15:16 who volunteers information to help locate her daughter.
15:20 When you have any information
15:23 that will lead us to the whereabouts of Rhoda,
15:27 please you can use these numbers.
15:31 0535631278.
15:37 This is the second number.
15:39 0535583513.
15:46 Whoever helps us to find Rhoda,
15:52 we have a hundred thousand Ghana cedis ransom for that person.
15:59 Meanwhile, the Kumasi High Court is expected to hear the case
16:02 on November 13, 2023,
16:05 after suffering several adjournments.
16:07 From Accra, for JOY News, my name is Ohime Nteria.
16:12 We can now go back to our earlier stories
16:17 where over 22,000 scripts of candidates
16:21 is being investigated by WAEC.
16:23 John Kapi, who is a manager of public affairs at WAEC
16:29 and Dr. Peter Ante, who is executive director
16:32 of the Institute of Education Studies,
16:35 have been reacting to this.
16:36 They spoke with me earlier on JOY News Desk.
16:40 What has happened to the previous year's information
16:43 that they gave us?
16:46 I think that would give us an idea of what is really going on.
16:51 Because I know that some of these students
16:53 whose results have been upheld,
16:55 they are holding on to, depending on the investigation,
16:58 the outcome of the investigation.
16:59 Some of them would still go through.
17:01 Some of them might be able to purge themselves
17:05 out of whatever situation that they find themselves.
17:08 Some of them would definitely have their results canceled.
17:11 So what was the situation last year?
17:14 How many results after investigation were canceled?
17:17 How many were given the go-ahead to assess their results?
17:23 I think that that would give us an idea
17:26 of the improvements in the system.
17:30 For those who have had challenges
17:32 and who have had their results withheld
17:34 in terms of examination work practices,
17:37 I believe that that is the way to go.
17:41 We keep talking about examination work practices.
17:43 And this year, we have had a series of interactions
17:46 with WAEC and with my big brother on various platforms.
17:49 And they have agreed that the examination work practice,
17:55 what happens during the examination
17:57 is what is now coming up falsely,
17:59 because they have tried to deal with the issue
18:02 of pre-examination work practice.
18:04 That is the leakage of questions.
18:06 And of course, in Ghana, we have not had serious issues
18:09 with post-examination work practice.
18:10 That is, examiners tempering with scripts.
18:13 So the focus now is more on during the exams work practice.
18:21 And the various mechanisms that have been put in place
18:25 to deal with that particular situation
18:27 is what he's talking about, like the serialization
18:30 and the randomization that he's talking about,
18:33 which is one of the ways to prevent in-house
18:40 exams work practice.
18:41 But it seems that we need to tighten our belts
18:46 in terms of that area.
18:48 And I was a little bit surprised that he
18:50 said that WIEC employs GES staff.
18:56 But so far as you engage somebody,
18:58 the person becomes one of your own.
19:00 And if the person is found culpable with anything,
19:03 it's the contract that you have with the person that
19:07 is being reached.
19:07 So we can still say that their contracted staff have
19:12 been found to be engaged in some of these in-house examination
19:16 work practice.
19:16 And the more we cut down on them,
19:20 the higher we'll be able to raise
19:23 the bar when it comes to dealing with these challenges.
19:26 But so far as--
19:27 and I've said on other platforms-- so far
19:31 as the desire to get to a good school
19:35 is still there, people will engage in more practices.
19:38 It is up to us to make it costly for those who do that.
19:41 And I think one of the ways we can do that
19:43 is to give updates as to what has happened
19:47 with the investigations that we said
19:49 we were conducting previously and what's
19:53 the way forward has been.
19:54 And then we can now publicize what is happening this year
19:58 so that next year we'll give the people an update.
20:01 Although maybe we might have done it during the year.
20:03 But when you are releasing these results
20:05 and you have people's results being withheld for lasting,
20:08 and we have had instances where people's results have been
20:11 held, and they have been back and forth,
20:12 and so on and so forth with WAEC.
20:14 So they should give us an update.
20:16 What happened to those results that were held,
20:20 those that were released without problems,
20:22 those that were canceled outright, and all those things.
20:24 And then we can go ahead and talk
20:26 about what is happening now.
20:28 Mr. Kapi, and thankfully we still have him here,
20:33 your response to the issues that Dr. Peter-Auntie is raising.
20:38 Number one, the invigilators, the people
20:40 that you contract to invigilate who
20:44 are found culpable in some of these malpractices,
20:47 and two, the update of the previous ones
20:50 we've had to deal with.
20:53 Right, so first of all, with the invigilators and supervisors,
20:58 you know, WAEC has a contract with the Ghana Education
21:01 Service.
21:03 Now, for the teachers are told that invigilation
21:07 and supervision is part of their job.
21:10 And so whatever we give to them is
21:12 something like a little pittance for refreshment, you know.
21:19 And so we really do not pay them a fee
21:22 for invigilating and supervising the examination for us.
21:25 And so, well, you could say, fine,
21:27 we are in contract with them, and therefore--
21:29 but by and large, then in that case,
21:31 we could also say that the Ghana Education Service should also
21:35 be held responsible, because those are their employees.
21:38 All right, but that's just an aside.
21:40 I think that we need to-- going forward,
21:42 we need to be able to bring some sanity, especially
21:45 on the part of the teachers.
21:46 We have reported a number of them.
21:48 Some were sanctioned.
21:50 Some were reduced in rank.
21:52 You know, I don't have the statistics in front of me
21:54 right now.
21:55 But every year for teachers who are found culpable,
21:58 we report them to the Ghana Education Service.
22:07 A coalition of concerned Zongo chiefs and youth
22:10 in the Asawase constituency of the Ashanti region
22:14 has accused Vice President Dr. Baumea
22:17 of not delivering on his promises made
22:20 to Zongo communities, citing instances
22:23 of unattended social vices within their communities.
22:27 The aggrieved constituents expressed disappointment,
22:31 questioning the interests of Dr. Baumea
22:34 in the development of Zongos.
22:35 The concerned Zongo chiefs and youth of Asawase
22:38 say future elections will be based
22:41 on the aspirants' wishing of positive change and not
22:45 empty promises.
22:46 Ghana's political terrain is taking
22:51 major historical turns.
22:54 For the first time in the nation's history,
22:56 the presidential candidates of the two
22:58 prominent political parties hail from the regions of the north.
23:01 However, a common trend among political candidates
23:04 is the political promises that never see the light of the day.
23:08 President of the concerned youth of Asawase, Umar Harris,
23:12 is calling on the Vice President, Dr. Muhammadu Baumea,
23:15 for failing to address critical economic reforms
23:18 and social justices in many deprived Zongo communities.
23:22 When he speaks, he lies.
23:24 The second is, when he makes a promise,
23:27 he don't keep his promise.
23:28 He breaks his promise.
23:31 These are the sayings of the holy prophet Muhammad.
23:33 And today in Ghana, in the political landscape of Ghana,
23:37 any time our own brother, his Excellency Dr. Mahmoud Baumea's
23:41 name is mentioned, then everybody
23:43 is attributing lies to his name.
23:45 And it has become synonymous of his name.
23:48 They promise our northern sisters and brothers
23:50 who migrate from the north to come and work here.
23:52 The Kayah precisely called that he
23:55 was going to build a housing for them
23:57 so that they will stop sleeping outside.
23:59 Today, seven years in--
24:01 The condition of the Stoldobeche-Vilamte Interchange
24:04 Project in Accra is worsening for users and those
24:08 doing business within the Abusokai, Kaneshi,
24:11 and Graphic Road enclave.
24:13 Gaping potholes, dust during dry conditions, stagnant water,
24:18 and mud during wet conditions are making life unbearable
24:22 for road users and traders.
24:24 My colleague Kwesi Kwatinga-Dye returns to the project site
24:28 four months after our last visit and finds
24:30 that the condition is deteriorating.
24:34 Here is his report.
24:36 The Obeche-Vilamte Interchange is the main access road
24:39 to the central business district of Accra.
24:42 It is also the access road to the famous Abusokai spare parts
24:46 market, as well as Ghana's premier and biggest health
24:49 facility, the Kolebu Teaching Hospital.
24:52 President Akufuwado cut sword for the construction
24:55 of the $135 million project in October 2019
25:00 to help ease traffic and reduce commuting time
25:03 to the hospital and other parts of the city.
25:06 But the poor state of the road is negating this objective.
25:11 The halting of the project is believed
25:13 to be in relation to Ghana's IMF program.
25:16 Since the situation has been worsening,
25:18 potholes here have become bigger,
25:21 making it almost impossible for drivers
25:23 to maneuver the roads under the interchange.
25:26 This results in huge traffic jam around the area.
25:29 [CRASHING WATER]
25:32 The situation has been worsened by muddy conditions
25:41 and stagnant waters collected in these gaping potholes.
25:44 [CRASHING WATER]
25:55 Road users say this is affecting travel and business.
25:59 Drivers say they are forced to incur huge maintenance
26:03 costs due to the damage caused to their vehicles.
26:06 [MUSIC PLAYING]
26:10 The situation is even worse for those
26:35 who trade within the enclave.
26:37 Both wet and dry conditions have some impact on them.
26:41 [MUSIC PLAYING]
26:45 [MUSIC PLAYING]
26:47 [MUSIC PLAYING]
26:51 [MUSIC PLAYING]
26:54 [MUSIC PLAYING]
26:58 [MUSIC PLAYING]
27:01 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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27:07 [MUSIC PLAYING]
27:11 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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27:24 [MUSIC PLAYING]
27:28 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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27:38 [MUSIC PLAYING]
27:41 [MUSIC PLAYING]
27:44 [MUSIC PLAYING]
27:49 The nature of the road is not very good to us.
27:52 It does not help us in any way, especially
27:54 with those trading around the area full of dust.
27:59 And the road itself is not very good.
28:01 So we don't feel comfortable here.
28:03 So we are pleading to the government through this media
28:07 that they can accelerate their work
28:10 so we can also get some relief in the course of time.
28:13 The dilapidated roads at the interchange
28:16 has become very treacherous to navigate, posing
28:19 risks to drivers and passengers.
28:21 The users are calling on government
28:23 to ask a stopgap measure, grade, and regularly water the road
28:27 as they await the final completion.
28:30 Kwesi Adai-Kwarten reports for JOYNEUS.
28:32 We're still live on JOYNEUS today.
28:37 We'll take a break and we'll return to this business.
28:39 [MUSIC PLAYING]
28:45 Hello, and welcome to the business segment.
28:48 My name is Emma Davis.
28:50 Economist Professor Lord Mensah predicts introduction
28:53 of taxes in the upcoming 2024 budget
28:57 as a measure of generating revenue.
28:59 He explains the current economic structure
29:02 does not allow government to invest in the informal sector
29:06 as a conduit of generating more revenue.
29:09 Already, business groups have tabled the number of taxes
29:12 they either want scrapped or reviewed in the 2024 budget.
29:17 Speaking to JOY Business, Professor Mensah
29:19 stated that the budget must strike
29:22 a balance between election year spending
29:25 and fiscal responsibility as required by the IMF.
29:30 You see, the situation Ghana finds itself in,
29:34 we need a budget that will strike
29:36 a balance between fiscal responsibility
29:38 that the IMF requires of us, and then also
29:41 the excesses that election year comes with.
29:45 We know very well that when it gets to election year,
29:48 overspending is a problem.
29:50 So from where I sit, yes, I expect government
29:55 to, as part of the fiscal responsibility structures
29:59 that we've adopted with the IMF, to introduce some taxes
30:05 to increase revenue here and there.
30:07 Because looking at the economic structure as we speak now,
30:11 government cannot invest anymore into informal revenue
30:16 generation as we speak.
30:18 So I can tell you that, yes, we need a budget that
30:22 is going to strike a balance between election year spending
30:26 and then fiscal responsibility as required by the IMF.
30:33 The problem is that we've gotten agitations,
30:36 and we all understand that there seems
30:39 to be that kind of tax fatigue in the economy, a situation
30:43 where businesses are going down as a result of tax
30:47 being increased.
30:48 And the way taxes are feeding into prices,
30:53 prices not being able to come down, keeping inflation high.
30:56 These are all things that needs to be taken into consideration.
31:00 And I can tell you that the finance minister has no option
31:04 than bringing some new taxes or repackage
31:08 some taxes to generate the necessary revenue that
31:13 is required.
31:14 But then also, we should also appreciate
31:16 that there could be some shocks as we go into the 2024.
31:22 I'm expecting the finance minister
31:24 to provide kind of contingency to some of these shocks
31:28 in case we are not able to rake in as expected.
31:31 But I can tell you that there will
31:35 be possibility of new taxes.
31:37 Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Communication
31:43 and Digitalization, Amma Pumar Buateng
31:46 says government is on course to push for the Ghana
31:49 digital economic policy.
31:51 The policy, according to the deputy minister,
31:53 is to digitize fiscal revenue collection,
31:56 support cashless society, and improve online education
32:01 delivery.
32:01 According to her, government will
32:03 seek to invest in the national fiber network backbone
32:07 to expand and improve internet connectivity.
32:10 She was speaking at the third edition of the Ghana Digital
32:13 Innovation Week.
32:16 The digital revolution is not merely
32:19 about adopting new gadgets.
32:22 It is about transforming industries, governance,
32:26 and society itself.
32:29 Through technology, we enhance efficiency,
32:33 empower our citizens, and connect with the world.
32:38 That is why we have developed the Ghana digital economic
32:42 policy, which is to be laid before cabinet for approval.
32:50 This policy is building upon the foundations
32:54 laid by the ICT for accelerated development policy
32:58 that was developed in 2003.
33:02 This forward-looking policy zeroes in on vital areas,
33:07 including digital infrastructure,
33:10 data-driven innovation, entrepreneurship,
33:14 data protection, user privacy, cybersecurity,
33:19 digital literacy, and skills.
33:22 It is a comprehensive approach that
33:25 ensures inclusivity and economic growth for all.
33:31 Today, we stand at the cusp of a new era, an era that
33:37 beckons us to think bigger, aim higher, and dream
33:41 beyond conventional boundaries.
33:43 We must also remain vigilant about the ethical implications
33:47 of technology.
33:49 As we innovate, we must do so responsibly,
33:53 ensuring that the benefits of technology
33:56 are harnessed for the collective good
33:58 while safeguarding against potential pitfalls.
34:04 That's all for Business.
34:05 My name is Emma Davis.
34:06 For more business news, do log on to myjoyonline.com.
34:10 Up next is sports.
34:11 Please stay.
34:12 Let's do sports now on Joy News today with me,
34:20 Mufti Abo Nabila Abdoulaye.
34:22 Joy Sports can report that the government of Ghana
34:24 has rejected the request of the Ghana Football Association
34:27 to sack Black Stars head coach Chris Hilton.
34:30 Sources at the Ministry of Youth and Sports
34:32 tell Joy Sports that the GFA made a request
34:35 to the Minister of Youth and Sports,
34:37 but that request was rejected.
34:39 There were also efforts to lobby to have the ministry
34:43 rescind their decision not to back the GFA part
34:47 company with Chris Hilton.
34:48 However, those efforts have all fallen into dead ears
34:52 as the government of Ghana insists
34:55 that Chris Hilton would stay on as head coach
34:57 of the senior national team.
34:59 Chris Hilton already has announced
35:00 his squad for the World Cup qualifiers
35:02 against Madagascar and Comoros that
35:05 are expected to happen on 17th and 21st of November.
35:10 And we'll have details of this unfolding story on game plan
35:15 later this afternoon when journalists
35:16 on Joy 99.7 at 1.15 PM.
35:19 But let's take a look at the Black Stars squad Chris Hilton
35:22 has called up after the failure of the Ghana Football
35:25 Association to secure the approval of government
35:27 to part company with him.
35:29 Jojo Wolakot is making a return to the team,
35:32 having missed out a place during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
35:36 There's also a place for Richard Ofori and Lawrence Atizigou,
35:40 who has manned the post since November 2022.
35:43 For defenders, there's Ali Rousaidou and Dennis Odoi
35:48 also makes a return.
35:49 Gideon Umesa is in there.
35:50 Abdel Fattah Ohamed of Midyama FC also makes the squad.
35:54 Kasim Adams of Hoffenheim is in there.
35:57 Nicolas Opoku, Daniel Amathi makes a return.
35:59 And Abdul Moumi is also part of the squad that
36:03 have been called up by Chris Hilton.
36:04 For midfielders, Baba Idrisou makes a return.
36:06 He missed out on a place in the FIFA World Cup
36:09 last year due to injury and hasn't
36:11 been able to nail a place in the Black Stars squad.
36:15 But he's been given an opportunity to redeem himself.
36:18 There's a place for Majid Ashumero, Abdul Samet Salis,
36:21 Edmond Ardo, and Mohamed Kudus, as well as Andre Ayoub.
36:26 These are the midfielders called up by Chris Hilton.
36:29 For the wingers, Ousmane Boukhari,
36:30 Joseph Paine-Sol, Enes Ndioma, Jordan Ayoub, and Kamal
36:34 Dinsouliamana.
36:35 And then the forwards are Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenya.
36:38 These are the players who have been called up by Chris Hilton
36:41 for the World Cup qualifiers against Madagascar and Comoros.
36:44 The game against Madagascar will be happening
36:46 at the Babaya Sports Stadium on November 17,
36:49 while the other game against Comoros
36:51 will be happening in Morovia, which
36:55 is going to be in Liberia.
36:56 Because Comoros, they do not have a certified facility
37:00 to be able to host a World Cup qualifier.
37:03 Thomas Partey has not been called up
37:05 because he suffered an injury at Arsenal,
37:08 and he's likely to be out for the rest of the year.
37:12 And just media reports yesterday said that he underwent surgery,
37:18 and he's likely to be out for the rest of the year.
37:20 And that also means that there's a possibility he will not
37:23 be available for the African Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire.
37:26 The competition is going to start on January 13
37:30 all the way to February 11.
37:32 And if Thomas Partey is not able to fully recover
37:36 by the end of the year, it means that he will not
37:38 be available for the Black Stars for a tournament
37:41 where Ghana is seeking to end about 42 years of waiting
37:45 to lift the trophy.
37:46 That's your SportsCenter.
37:56 We do have more sports stories on myjoyonline.com.
37:59 And as I mentioned, do not forget
38:01 to join the Jory Sports team on Jory 99.7
38:05 as you come your way with Game Plan.
38:06 Elsewhere, the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital
38:18 is difficult from a humanitarian perspective.
38:21 But from a military perspective, Israel
38:23 has been straightforward about what they will do, take action.
38:27 The Israeli military says it has warned Hamas
38:29 that we're going to do it and we will do it.
38:34 The Israelis have also opened up the main road
38:36 that connects northern Gaza to the south
38:39 for several hours a day, which they
38:41 say will allow people in the north, including
38:44 those at Al-Shifa, to evacuate.
38:47 When I went into Gaza a couple of days
38:49 ago with the Israeli army, they continuously
38:51 made the point that Hamas hides themselves
38:54 behind the civilian population.
38:56 It's an old tactic of insurgencies
38:59 in asymmetric warfare to hide away and swim
39:02 in the sea of the people, an official note.
39:06 That does it for World News.
39:07 Up next is Showbiz.
39:09 And let's get into what is happening
39:17 in the world of entertainment.
39:18 So there's still been the talk about Ghanaian artists
39:21 filling stadiums outside on other continents
39:26 and in other countries.
39:27 Well, Fancy Garam, in a conversation with Andy Dusty,
39:29 says if artists from this part of the world
39:32 or from this country, Ghana, are going
39:35 to fill stadiums and the O2 arenas,
39:37 they first have to invest in themselves
39:39 before they can think of filling those particular places.
39:44 It had come up that, yes, Ghanaians were struggling
39:46 to fill stadiums outside.
39:48 But the fans you have, I'm very sure a lot of them
39:51 are out there.
39:52 Do you have plans of playing at any stadium
39:58 outside the country?
40:00 Yeah, so let me say, we all go through that kind of bigger
40:05 concert out there, but we need to get people
40:08 that will invest in our craft, make sure we reward them
40:12 with our songs.
40:14 And then whether they like it or not,
40:16 they will listen to our songs.
40:17 Because this is what we are getting here.
40:20 If you sleep with, you like it or not, you will hear them
40:23 our songs.
40:24 So by force, you start to sing the song,
40:28 because it is always ringing in your ear.
40:30 And all these things is about investing and promoting it
40:34 to the globe, so that when the people get to know your songs
40:38 and then fall in love with you, you can equally do the same
40:41 thing as they are doing.
40:42 So the only thing Ghanaians are lacking,
40:45 we just need serious investors to invest in our craft.
40:51 All Ghanaian artists need investors
40:53 to invest in their craft.
40:54 Well, Leng Saini, DSL, also released his EP,
40:58 Back to the Roots, yesterday.
41:00 But before he released it, he had a listening session,
41:02 which almost turned into an event.
41:05 This is what happened at the Jamrock.
41:07 [MUSIC - LENG SAINI, "BACK TO THE ROOTS"]
41:08 [MUSIC - LENG SAINI, "BACK TO THE ROOTS"]
41:20 The Back to the Roots EP listening by Leng Saini, DSL,
41:24 almost turned into a mini show at Jamrock at the Oak Plaza.
41:28 The four-track EP is heavily tainted by reggae.
41:32 While talking to the artist himself,
41:34 he said he grew up on reggae because his father
41:38 introduced him to it.
41:39 My dad introduced me to reggae music.
41:42 And when I was listening, growing up,
41:44 I listened to the Bob Marley, the Peter Tosh, and all this.
41:46 And these are messengers that always speak good
41:50 into the people's life.
41:52 Patrons who came there at Jamrock
41:54 couldn't actually sit down but stand and dance
41:56 through all the four performances that DSL had.
42:01 Mr. Logic, Lally and Loda, Moe Spence, and a few others
42:06 who were there, actually shared their candid opinion
42:09 on the Back to the Roots EP.
42:11 You know, DSL, it's already in the name.
42:14 His stagecraft is like 100.
42:17 See my accent?
42:18 Yes, it's 100.
42:20 Like the song, especially the first song I heard,
42:23 with the music video, the music video was so clean.
42:26 And it inspired and it brought out the meaning of the song
42:29 even more.
42:30 I really like the message behind the song.
42:32 I can't wait to hear the rest of the EP.
42:34 I'm so excited.
42:35 The first one, the first song he sung,
42:37 actually, I don't know the title
42:38 'cause they didn't tell us the title.
42:40 Oh my God, actually.
42:41 But the EP's out.
42:42 It's called Back to the Roots EP, guys.
42:44 It's out right now, go and stream it.
42:46 And the song is just, it speaks to the soul
42:48 and it makes so much sense.
42:49 - And that is how we wrap up on Entertainment Jove's here
42:57 on the segment on Join You Today.
42:59 The name is Ibrahim Binbako and Aisha Bai.
43:00 - And my name is Aisha Bai.
43:02 That's how we wrap up the bulletin.
43:04 Log on to myjournalline.com.
43:05 There's more of the news and updates
43:07 of all the developing stories.
43:09 Do enjoy the rest of our program.
43:16 Bye, daddy.
43:17 (upbeat music)
43:21 (upbeat music)
43:23 (upbeat music)
43:26 (alarm ringing)
43:29 (alarm ringing)
43:32 (upbeat music)
43:35 (upbeat music)
43:37 (upbeat music)
43:40 (upbeat music)