by admin | Apr 1, 2025 | government, politics, politics and government, politics and law, security
By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, April 01, GNA – The New Patriotic Party Minority Caucus in Parliament has voiced serious reservations about various crucial security issues in Ghana.
They mentioned this involved the supposed baffling vanishing of 12 containers loaded with gold and money, potential drug smuggling involving private aircraft carrying cocaine and funds, as well as an allegedly pirated assault on a Ghanaian fishing boat.
At a press conference held in Parliament on Tuesday, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who serves as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Assin South and holds the position of Ranking Member on both the Interior and Defense Committees within Parliament, addressed members of the media. He raised a pertinent issue regarding concerns from Ghanaian citizens about whether the government, via National Security, planned to redirect the 12 containers filled with gold and cash, ultimately aiming to mislead the public later on.
He expressed worries regarding two supposed private aircraft: AirMed flight N823AM and Cavok Air, which arrived at Kotoka International Airport in March 2025 with questionable goods thought to include cocaine and money.
“We urge the National Security agency to disclose all details regarding the contents of the cargo transported by these two airplanes into the country, as well as what was loaded onto the same planes when they departed for Gran Canary,” he stated additionally.
Reverend Ntim Fordjour likewise voiced worry over a purportedly reported pirate assault on a Ghanaian fishing ship named “MENGXIN 1,” which took place within Ghana’s territorial waters on March 27, 2025.
As they pushed for a comprehensive inquiry into the event, the Caucus demanded that the government equip the Ghana Navy with the necessary number of Offshore Patrol Vessels to protect Ghana’s territorial waters.
As Ghana’s position as the second most tranquil nation in Africa was precarious, the Minority Caucus determined that it was crucial for the country to remain secure under President John Dramani Mahama’s guidance. They believed it essential to prevent the nation from becoming a refuge for piracy, narcotics smuggling, and financial fraud.
Mr. Kofi Amankwa Manu, the NPP Member of Parliament for Aktwima Kwanwoma and Deputy Ranking member of both the Interior and Defense Committees in Parliament, stated that this matter is a security concern requiring collaborative action. He emphasized that the minority party will contribute their share and urged all other parties involved to also participate actively.
Mr Amankwa Manu cautioned against politicizing Ghana’s security matters and urged for the appropriate focus to be given to them.
GNA
CAA
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by admin | Apr 1, 2025 | economics, finance news, government, news, politics
New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI):
Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman
highlighted on Tuesday that the fiscal affairs of both the nation and its states should transcend political influence.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘
NITI NCAER State Economies Forum
‘
portal
In New Delhi, Sitharaman emphasized the well-balanced strategy adopted by the government.
GST Council
, where treasury officials from different countries collaborate to boost income without excessively burdening residents.
Sitharaman said at the event, which unveiled the new data repository created collaboratively by NITI Aayog and NCAER, that concerning the nation’s financial matters—whether those of the central government or state governments—it should not be influenced by political considerations.
The
Finance Minister
stressed that increasing revenue is essential for significant developmental initiatives but should be carefully managed alongside responsible debt practices.
She stated, ‘Your objective is to acquire funds and boost revenue. You aim to secure a superior position so that you can consider implementing more significant developmental initiatives.’
Sitharaman warned of escalating global debt worries, emphasizing that even though India is leading as the quickest-expanding economy, managing debts continues to pose a substantial difficulty.
“Across the globe, wherever there is an effort to develop into a more rapidly expanding economy, there is also a significant challenge in managing debt levels. Nations have grown increasingly burdened with obligations,” she cautioned.
The minister praised the
GST Council
His methodology entails reaching collective decisions grounded in data analysis rather than political factors.
“Through the
GST Council
We can demonstrate that the tough appearance is indeed the realistic one,” she stated, noting that when finance ministers with varying political perspectives review the data collectively, “those distinctions disappear entirely.
That is why some people believe we are merely preaching to ourselves.
GST Council
But I’m pleased about this since ultimately, people are examining the realities in front of them and making a decision, a shared decision, because it’s one nation with one set of facts,” Sitharaman commented.
The event was also highlighted by Suman K Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog; BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog; and Poonam Gupta, Director General of NCAER.
The newly launched
portal
acts as an extensive database containing information over roughly three decades (from 1990–91 to 2022–23). This resource encompasses various aspects such as social, economic, and fiscal indicators, alongside research studies, articles, and insights from experts regarding state finances. Its purpose is to enhance comprehension of broad patterns including macroeconomic, fiscal, demographic, and socio-economic shifts in an accessible manner. Additionally, it addresses the requirement for centralized access to detailed sector-specific data.
The
portal
Will facilitate comparative analysis between individual state data and other states as well as national statistics, offering a crucial forum for policymakers, researchers, and other interested parties to participate in knowledgeable dialogues and deliberations. (ANI)
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by admin | Apr 1, 2025 | government, health and healthcare economics, healthcare and medicine, medicine and healthcare, public policy
New health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has committed to the full implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) while promising to eliminate fraudsters who he says are derailing the government agenda of prioritizing health for all.
When he assumed responsibility for the health portfolio, Duale stated that he has complete support from President William Ruto to ensure that the health sector improves for everyone’s benefit. He praised the groundwork laid by former Cabinet Secretaries Susan Nakhumicha and Deborah Barasa.
Duale asserts that certain people and organizations profited from the former NHIF system and are now hindering the adoption of the new Social Health Authority and Insurance scheme. He emphasizes his role as a bulldozer set to remove obstacles for those attempting to impede the government’s plans.
Duale has pledged to collaborate with labor unions to seek mutually agreeable resolutions that would move them from the streets to the boardroom, which he feels is crucial for addressing these matters.
The new CS asked for support from Kenyans, assuring them that the president’s pet project would work to solve the myriads of issues that have also led a majority to hold harambees to cater for healthcare.
Duale has announced an increase in the ICU and HDU limits to Sh28,000 daily, with the oncology limit being elevated to Sh550,000.
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by admin | Apr 1, 2025 | government, politics, politics and government, politics and law, public policy
Lucknow (
Uttar Pradesh
[India], April 1 (ANI):
Uttar Pradesh
Minister
Danish Azad Ansari
On Tuesday expressed backing for the
Waqf Amendment Bill
, indicating that Muslims are supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the suggested bill.
In discussions with ANI, Ansari stated that a typical Muslim holds the belief that
Waqf Amendment Bill
is vital for the growth of the Muslim community.
“A typical Muslim holds the belief that the
Waqf Amendment Bill
“is crucial for the progress of the Muslim community. It is astounding how certain individuals and political entities are neglecting the well-being of Muslims solely for their own benefits,” he stated.
“Some individuals object to this bill as it places land rights under waqf in the hands of a select few. The general Muslim population supports Narendra Modi,” said the BJP MLA.
The
Waqf Amendment Bill
Is anticipated to be presented in Parliament on Wednesday. The BJP released a whip to all its Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members on Tuesday, instructing them to attend Parliament on April 2 and 4, respectively.
Nevertheless, the opposition has actively voiced its criticisms regarding this issue.
Waqf Amendment Bill
The India bloc floor leaders convened in Parliament to deliberate on the strategy.
Waqf Amendment Bill
to be tabled tomorrow.
The legislation was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha last August, after which a Joint Parliamentary Committee led by Jagdambika Pal was established for additional review.
This legislation intends to revise the Waqf Act from 1995 with the purpose of tackling problems and hurdles associated with overseeing and handling Waqf property. The proposed amendment looks to boost the governance and stewardship of these assets within India. By addressing deficiencies found in earlier versions of the act, this new measure endeavors to refine the effectiveness of Waqf councils through various modifications. These include relabeling the statute, refining the terminology around waqf, streamlining the documentation procedures, and amplifying technological integration for maintaining Waqf data.
The Waqf Act of 1995, which was put in place to manage Waqf properties, has frequently faced criticism due to problems like poor administration, corruption, and unauthorized intrusions. (ANI)
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by admin | Apr 1, 2025 | government, political science, politics, politics and government, politics and law
On Tuesday, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the Kogi Central Senatorial District, called upon Nigerians to blame Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo, and former governor Yahaya Bello should she and her followers face any attacks.
Akpoti-Uduaghan sounded the warning in a posting on her official Facebook page.
She stated, “Dear residents of Kogi Central, I am looking forward to our tranquil Sallah festivities today.”
Nevertheless, if we encounter or are subjected to violence, Nigerians ought to entirely blame Governor Òdodo, Yahaya Bello, and SP Godswill Akpabio.
Her caution follows shortly after she asserted in a statement that she intends to proceed with her planned trip to her constituency during the Eid-al-Fitr holiday and the rally set for when she returns.
The senator additionally encouraged her followers to ignore rumors circulating that she has canceled her planned appearance.
Although emphasizing her legal duty as a legislator advocating for her constituents, the challenged senator urged her followers to gather together to join her in marking the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.
On Monday, the government of Kogi State imposed a ban on rallies and public meetings within the state due to ‘security concerns’.
The authorities halted fishing and similar activities, claiming these pursuits were responsible for the deaths of two individuals in Kasemiya, Katubo, and Umozu Ette—all within the Kogi Local Government Area in Kogi West—just recently.
Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo, who oversees information, stated that this step was taken to avoid any potential security breaches that could disrupt the stability of the state.
In a similar vein, the Kogi Police Command cautioned Akpoti-Uduagan against proceeding with her intended Sallah rally.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, indicated that the proposed assembly contradicts the state government’s recently imposed prohibition on political gatherings. This ban was declared on Monday.
In the meantime, videos allegedly showing a rally for the senator’s return began circulating on social media platforms.
At the time of submitting this report, Senator Bashir Haroon from Kogi State broadcasted a live video clip depicting thousands of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s followers—predominantly women—who were enthusiastically singing and beating drums in eager expectation of her arrival.
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by admin | Apr 1, 2025 | government, incident, military, news, politics
A prominent delegation headed by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, visited Kano State Government and the relatives of the 16 travelers reportedly killed in cold blood under mysterious conditions.
The governor of Edo was greeted upon arrival at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport by the deputy governor of Kano State prior to heading to a meeting with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Arewa PUNCH
learned that the Edo delegation plans to meet with the families of the killed hunters in Bunkure, Rano, and Kibiya local government areas as well.
This visit follows the recent horrific murders of 16 local hunters in the impacted regions, raising worries about the security issues in the area.
Previously, the Kano State Government had shown great sadness about the recent deaths of people from their state in Edo State. They urged everyone to stay calm and sent an important group of officials to meet with the Edo State Government to discuss this unfortunate event.
On Saturday, the state government issued a condemnation through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya. The attack, which resulted in the death of numerous individuals—primarily people from Kano State—was strongly denounced.
“This regrettable event has raised significant concerns among both the government and the residents of Kano State. We will remain steadfast until justice is achieved,” stated Waiya.
The individuals, en route from Port Harcourt to Uromi in Edo State, were reportedly assaulted under ambiguous conditions.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has sanctioned the prompt deployment of a senior team to Edo State with the aim of ensuring fairness for the victims and their relatives.
The group will convene with Edo State officials and law enforcement entities to pinpoint those responsible and guarantee their prosecution.
Moreover, they will meet with the leaders of the Hausa community in Edo State to address the current circumstances and provide suggestions for moving ahead.
“The people impacted, who were traveling lawfully, deserve justice. The Kano State Government is dedicated to safeguarding their rights,” said the governor.
In the meantime, the government of Kano State has asked citizens to stay calm and refrain from engaging in activities that might heighten the tensions.
It reassured the populace that every required diplomatic and legal step is being taken to properly handle the circumstances.
Additionally, the government offered its sincere sympathies to the relatives of those who passed away, and they prayed for the eternal rest of their souls.
“We stand alongside the families of those affected during this challenging period and remain committed to working closely with the appropriate authorities to prevent similar disasters from happening again,” the statement concluded.
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