Connect with us

General News

Corruption at Passport Office: Minister fires overstayed officials

Published

on

Corruption at Passport Office: Minister fires overstayed officials

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has raised concern over the Passport Office’s ongoing extortion and corruption.

As a result, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey has relieved personnel seconded to the passport office of their duties.

The Minister has instructed that these individuals not report to work on Monday, August 21, 2023, since they have been changed.

Notably, she advised staff who had worked at the Passport Office for more than a year to take time off as part of sanity-restoring procedures.

“Everybody who has been here for more than one year, from Monday on, please do not come back because you have been changed. We want to restore some sanity. Every time politicians are corrupt, meanwhile, it is some public civil servants who will do things that shouldn’t be done, and then they will be put on politicians,” she directed.

This came after the Minister visited the passport office on Monday and voiced her outrage at the unjust procedures that personnel there subject applicants to.

She regretted the fact that the Ministry was able to digitise the passport acquisition procedure because of the collaborative efforts of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

However, some people purposefully use the system to their advantage.

The Minister intimated that investigations into the illicit actions had begun, with certain identities already being mentioned.

She stated that the investigations revealed the existence of a network that was collaborating with Passport Office staff and that she was astounded by the prevalent belief that only politicians and her ministry were involved in corruption.

“It is disheartening that while blame is often laid at the feet of politicians, it is, in fact, some public servants who engage in these wrongful acts, which are then mistakenly attributed to politicians,” she lamented.

She also stated that investigations into the “goro boys,” who prey on applicants with the assistance of office workers, are still active and progressing.

The Minister stated that she believes there is coordination with certain Passport Office workers since these outside actors cannot function alone.

As a result, she has issued a warning to anyone found guilty that they would face legal action as a deterrent to others.

Continue Reading

General News

The Foreign Affairs Ministry cautions against travelling to Northern Mali

Published

on

By

"The Ministry remains committed to the safety of Ghanaians and will provide updates on the security situation in the region under reference in due course," the statement went on to say. The Foreign Affairs Ministry reminded the people to always prioritise their safety when travelling.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has advised Ghanaians not to travel to certain areas of Northern Mali.

In an official statement, the Ministry underlined recent security concerns along critical routes connecting Mali and Niger, notably in the Gao and Ansongo regions of Northern Mali.

The Ministry mentioned incidents of terrorist activity targeting travellers along these routes.

“The Ministry remains committed to the safety of Ghanaians and will provide updates on the security situation in the region under reference in due course,” the statement went on to say.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry reminded the people to always prioritise their safety when travelling.

Find the statement below:

WhatsApp Image 2024 04 26 at 19.20.01 712x1024 1 jpeg
Continue Reading

General News

Gov’t settles on blue and white as new paint for basic schools

Published

on

By

He also announced the replacement of the brown and yellow outfits. "We are modifying the uniforms of public elementary schools across the country. The yellow and brown that you see now will go. Reformation is coming to a community near you, and you will witness it." The education minister expanded, saying that this project is part of the government's attempts to demonstrate to critics that its concentration is not exclusively on secondary education.

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, has declared that the government intends to repaint all public basic schools in blue and white, replacing the present brown and yellow.

This programme is part of a rebranding campaign to improve the appearance of the institutions.

Dr Adutwum went on to say that this is only one of several initiatives targeted at revitalising and improving basic education in the country.

“We’re moving to blue and white. We are painting all of the schools to give them an appealing appearance. This is the revolution Ghana deserves, and it is on its way,” the minister said at a “The free SHS tale” discussion in Accra on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

He also announced the replacement of the brown and yellow outfits.

“We are modifying the uniforms of public elementary schools across the country. The yellow and brown that you see now will go. Reformation is coming to a community near you, and you will witness it.”

The education minister expanded, saying that this project is part of the government’s attempts to demonstrate to critics that its concentration is not exclusively on secondary education.

Continue Reading

General News

We’ve not been paid GH¢1 billion; KPMG’s assertion is false – SML

Published

on

By

SML further stated that KPMG's inability to mention that 31.5 percent of the total GH¢1,061,054,778.00 taken as taxes provides a very uneven "impression of the relationship between the compensation, investment, and other related costs." "SML believes that KPMG's failure to include GRA taxes of 31.5% taken before payment, interest payments of 32% plus SML's investment repayment, and other taxes/duties over the period creates an unbalanced impression of the relationship between compensation and investment and other related costs. This omission is really deceptive.

Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML) denied receiving GH¢1,061,054,778.00 for a revenue mobilisation contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

President Akufo-Addo ordered KPMG to audit the contract between the GRA and SML on January 2. KPMG’s findings revealed that SML received a total of GH¢1,061,054,778.00 from 2018 to date.

However, Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd responded by denying the charges, noting that KPMG reported the amount “without reference to the investments made and the taxes paid” during the review period.

“KPMG quotes a figure as compensation to SML. It is interesting to note that this figure is quoted without reference to the investments made and the taxes paid by SML over the period within the consolidated contract

“The compensation of GH¢1,061,054,778.00 stated by KPMG is inaccurate.”

SML further stated that KPMG’s inability to mention that 31.5 per cent of the total GH¢1,061,054,778.00 taken as taxes provides a very uneven “impression of the relationship between the compensation, investment, and other related costs.”

“SML believes that KPMG’s failure to include GRA taxes of 31.5% taken before payment, interest payments of 32% plus SML’s investment repayment, and other taxes/duties over the period creates an unbalanced impression of the relationship between compensation and investment and other related costs. This omission is really deceptive.

Continue Reading

Trending

Optimized by Optimole