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$2m spent on $3bn Sky Train project but feasibility studies inconclusive – Auditor-General 

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Government is said to have spent some $2 million on the Sky Train project.

This, according to the Auditor-General, was executed through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund’s acquisition of 10 ordinary shares in the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Ai Sky Train Consortium Holdings, valued at the said amount.

This monumental infrastructure announced by President Akufo-Addo had its plan drafted back in 2017.

But an assessment of GIIF’s risk management issues reveals that the policy is still in the draft stage The feasibility studies which will better inform the project economics and required approvals from the Cabinet of Ghana and the Parliament of Ghana are still not conclusive,” the Auditor-General said.

These were contained in the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana for the year ended 31 December 2021.

In 2018, Africa Investor Holdings Limited incorporated a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in Mauritius to establish the Ghana Sky Train Limited to develop the Accra Sky Train Project through a Design, Build, Finance and Operate arrangements.

Already, the Minister for Railways Development, John Peter Amewu hinted that the incumbent government will not be able to provide Ghanaians sky trains as earlier indicated.

According to him, even in a few years to come, this project cannot be implemented because it requires a significant amount of capital and government does not have the fiscal space to absorb such a facility.

“It is not possible to be done now. I don’t see any sky train being done in the next 3 to 4 years. There is not going to be any sky train in the country. It is not possible,” he said in an interview in November 2021

Prior to Peter Amewu’s comments, Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, during the ministerial vetting process, indicated that processes are still ongoing for government to construct the sky train project as a means of transport in the country.

At his vetting on February 23, Mr Asiamah told the Appointments Committee chaired by Chairman Joseph Osei Owusu that his office together with Railways Ministry had engaged various prospective developers who had expressed interest in constructing the project.

But 2021 report by the Auditor General indicated that not much has been seen in terms of feasibility studies regarding the project.

The A-G said it has already advised the management of the Fund to take steps towards “finalisation and approval of the risk management policy by the Governing Board for implementation.”

The report subsequently urged management to “continue to monitor the feasibility of the investment in the SPV and make the necessary provisions based on the outcome of the feasibility studies.”

Meanwhile, despite receiving the money in February 2019, the SPV, Ai Sky Train Consortium Holdings, is yet to obtain a licence for “Aeromovel Technology’ required for the Sky Train project.

GIIF was found to not have certificates of ownership for the equity investments in three companies totalling ¢146.6 million.

“We advised Management to take steps to obtain the appropriate certificates for all its investments.”

In November 2019, government signed the concession agreement with South African firm Africa Investment (Al) at a cost of $3 billion.It was geared toward reducing traffic congestion in Accra with construction expected to commence in January 2020.

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Good news for teachers: 1 teacher, 1 laptop

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His remarks came after the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) expressed reservations about the Ghana Smart School Project, which debuted on Monday, March 25, 2024. According to GNAT, since 2021, when the government launched a similar scheme for teachers dubbed as the "1 Teacher 1 Laptop" project, over 100,000 instructors in public schools have yet to receive theirs. However, Dr. Adutwum, a teacher himself, told teachers that his Ministry has their best interests at heart and will never fail them. He indicated categorically that the instructors will receive their computers by the end of June.

Teachers in public schools will receive the laptops promised by the government in 2021 by the end of June 2024.

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, said this on Adom FM’s morning broadcast, Dwaso Nsem, on Tuesday.

“I can tell you that the instructors will receive their computers by the end of June, as promised. They’ve already met with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and are figuring out how to get their laptops,” he said.

His remarks came after the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) expressed reservations about the Ghana Smart School Project, which debuted on Monday, March 25, 2024.

According to GNAT, since 2021, when the government launched a similar scheme for teachers dubbed the “1 Teacher 1 Laptop” project, over 100,000 instructors in public schools have yet to receive theirs.

However, Dr. Adutwum, a teacher himself, told teachers that his Ministry has their best interests at heart and will never fail them.

He indicated categorically that the instructors will receive their computers by the end of June.

Speaking about the Ghana Smart School Project, Dr. Adutwum emphasised its significance as a component of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, which aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning in public second-cycle schools.

He stated that these tablets, packed with necessary textbooks and previous questions, will be great instructional aids, improving students’ access to information critical to their academic endeavours.

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Create your own ‘dumsor’ timetable – Energy minister to critics

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However, speaking to media at the launching of the NPP campaign team in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Opoku Prempeh urged detractors to create their own timeline if required. He questioned the point of defining a timeline since ECG said that there is no such strategy in place. "Ask those who desire it to bring it, if any. I have not seen any timeline. The ECG claims there is no timeline coming; why do you wish to bring one, and for what purpose? Why would someone wake up and want wicked and awful things for the country? You can't inform the individual when it's unplanned."

Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has challenged those lobbying for a load-shedding timeline from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to submit their own proposals.

His statements came amid the country’s current electricity issues, particularly in the Greater Accra Region, which affect both residents and companies.

Despite rising calls for a systematic load-shedding plan, ECG has maintained its opposition to creating one, citing the lack of a formal “dumsor” scenario and so judging a timetable unnecessary.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and numerous important personalities have repeatedly urged ECG to give a timeframe. They also urged the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to address the present power situation.

However, speaking to the media at the launching of the NPP campaign team in the Ashanti Region, Dr Opoku Prempeh urged detractors to create their own timeline if required.

He questioned the point of defining a timeline since ECG said that there is no such strategy in place.

“Ask those who desire it to bring it, if any. I have not seen any timeline. The ECG claims there is no timeline coming; why do you wish to bring one, and for what purpose? Why would someone wake up and want wicked and awful things for the country? You can’t inform the individual when it’s unplanned.”

Dr. Opoku Prempeh told the public that measures are underway to solve the difficulties facing the electricity industry.

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Deputy CHRAJ Commissioner reported dead

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Mr Quayson was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Commission in August 2005, overseeing the Commission's anti-corruption duty, as well as public education and research. He joined the Commission as a senior legal officer in 1993, having previously served as a legal officer at CHRAJ's predecessor organisation, the Office of the Ombudsman, from 1987 to 1993. He was the Western and Central Regions' regional director prior to his appointment as Deputy Commissioner. He also headed the National Working Group that established Ghana's National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) and served on the Commission that oversees its implementation.

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has confirmed the death of Richard Ackom Quayson, its Deputy Commissioner.

Mr Henry Ashley, the Director of Human Resources and Administration, signed a notification on behalf of the Commissioner on March 22, 2024, announcing the death.

The letter, which was sent to the GNA, read: “It is with a heavy heart that we inform members of staff of the death of our Deputy Commissioner (APR), Mr Richard Ackom Quayson, who passed away unexpectedly on the 21st of March 2024, after a short illness.”

Mr Quayson was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Commission in August 2005, overseeing the Commission’s anti-corruption duty, as well as public education and research.

He joined the Commission as a senior legal officer in 1993, having previously served as a legal officer at CHRAJ’s predecessor organisation, the Office of the Ombudsman, from 1987 to 1993.

He was the Western and Central Regions’ regional director prior to his appointment as Deputy Commissioner.

He also headed the National Working Group that established Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) and served on the Commission that oversees its implementation.

He was a lawyer by profession, specialising in human rights promotion and protection, administrative justice, and corruption prevention and investigation.

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