News
A ‘Soldier’ at 5
Young Michelle in her military uniform
Even at the age of five, little Michelle Asamoah knows that it is important to fight for her country to defend her citizens and maintain peace and security.
Based on this, she is determined to be an officer of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) specifically with the Military Police when she grows.
Young Michelle disclosed this in an interview with The Spectator on Friday while returning from school in her ‘military outfit.’
Walking majestically, probably rehearsing for what the future throws at her, to the admiration of people that met her, she responded with confidence to questions posed by this Reporter.
As the traffic lights went red, many drivers and passengers in the various vehicles around the Base Ordnance Depot at El-wak near the 37 lorry station could not help but admire young Michelle both from far and near.
Although she appeared to be an ‘officer’ of few words, she was straight to the point with her views.
The second year Kindergarten pupil of the Base Ordnance Depot Basic School located at El-walk in the Greater Accra Region said she admired soldiers and hopes to become one in future.
Her mother, Ms Belinda Nsiah Acheampong, a resident of Accra Newtown who accompanies her to and from school said she had observed her child’s interest in the profession and would give her the full support.
She said her daughter’s teacher had informed her (Ms Acheampong) that they were treating a topic about careers and each child was required to dress up in the profession he or she wished to part of.
And since young Michelle had made it known to everyone around her an ambition to become a Military Officer, her appearance in a military attire came as little surprise to all.
In an interview with her father, Michael Yaw Asamoah, a Librarian, he said he was happy his daughter has chosen that path and was encouraging the spirit of patriotism in her to enable her achieve her goal.
He disclosed that while growing up, he also had dreams of becoming a military officer but that had not materialised and so he was happy that his daughter had chosen the path.
He expressed optimism that with the right push from her parents and the grace of God, she would be what she desired to be to contribute her quota to the development of the nation.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Akosombo Dam to assess the impact of a fire incident at a substation operated by the Ghana Grid Company.
The fire is reported to have caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts from the national power grid, affecting electricity supply in parts of the country.
During the visit, he inspected ongoing restoration works and received briefings from engineers on efforts to restore power. He commended them for what he described as a swift and professional response to the situation.
According to him, the government remains committed to restoring stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
He added that steps are also being taken to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Ghana Grid Company has not yet provided a detailed timeline for full restoration, but work is ongoing to bring affected systems back on stream.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, says he and his deputy have publicly filed their annual tax returns to demonstrate leadership and encourage compliance among citizens.
In a facebook post, he explained that the move was meant to show that public officials must lead by example when it comes to fulfilling civic duties.
“Leadership must be demonstrated, not declared,” he said.
He commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contribution to national development, noting that tax compliance plays a key role in sustaining government activities.
According to him, paying taxes is both a legal and moral responsibility. He stressed that all citizens, including public officials, professionals, and businesses, are equal before the law and must meet their tax obligations.
He added that tax revenue is essential for funding key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The minister praised the Ghana Revenue Authority for its work, especially during the ongoing Tax and Good Governance Month in April. He said the initiative helps to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance.
He urged the authority to intensify public education and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and improving transparency.
He further encouraged individuals and businesses that are yet to file their returns to do so promptly, adding that support systems and digital platforms are available to assist them.
He said building a strong tax culture would strengthen the country’s economy, improve accountability, and promote fairness in society.
By: Jacob Aggrey
