News
President Mahama calls on Japanese companies to invest in Ghana
President John Dramani Mahama has urged Japanese companies to invest in Ghana, saying the country is open for business and offers a strategic gateway to West Africa and the African continent.
He made the call at a high-level Presidential Investment Forum held in Yokohama, Japan, on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9).
The forum, which brought together more than 100 Japanese companies, was organised by the Centre in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness, and the Japan External Trade Organisation.
President Mahama said Ghana was ready to support Japanese investors with fast-track approvals, sovereign guarantees, blended financing frameworks, and access to industrial sites.
He encouraged Japanese firms to enter into local content and technology transfer agreements to help train Ghanaian workers and managers.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr Simon Madjie, highlighted Ghana’s transformative economic agenda and pointed to two flagship programmes, the Big Push Agenda and the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Development Programme, as key drivers of investment.
He added that Ghana had introduced investor-friendly measures, such as streamlined approval processes, one-stop investor services, revisions to the GIPC Act to remove minimum capital requirements for foreign investors, as well as access to sovereign guarantees and industrial sites.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Director of the Public Health Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has urged Ghanaians to remain vigilant and observe good hygiene during the flooding and rainy season to prevent a cholera outbreak.
According to him, although flooding in some parts of the country has subsided, the risk of cholera remains because the conditions that promote the spread of the disease still exist.
“The risk of cholera still exists,” Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe said, explaining that cholera is closely linked to unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation.
Speaking on 3 FM on Thursday, he cautioned the public against becoming complacent a few days or weeks after the floods, stressing that people should continue to be careful about the food they eat and the water they drink.
“I want to urge Ghanaians to be careful what we eat and drink. Let’s not assume that because the flood came last week, we can lower our guard,” he said.
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe noted that countries with access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation have largely eliminated cholera, adding that Ghana still has challenges in those areas.
He therefore advised the public to maintain high standards of personal hygiene, especially by washing their hands regularly with soap and clean water.
According to him, handwashing remains the most effective and affordable way to reduce the spread of cholera and other infectious diseases.
“The most cost-effective intervention is handwashing with soap and water,” he said.
According to him “That does not depend on whether there are floods or not. Make sure you wash your hands regularly with soap and water.”
He called on Ghanaians to maintain clean surroundings and practise proper sanitation to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks during the rainy season.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Supreme Court has dismissed all four suits challenging the removal of Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkonoo from office as Chief Justice.
The court delivered its rulings earlier this morning, ending the legal challenge at the domestic level.
This follows last week’s judgement by the ECOWAS Court, which also rejected applications seeking to overturn Justice Torkonoo’s removal.
Each of the four cases filed at the Supreme Court argued against the processes that led to Justice Torkonoo’s exit. The court, however, found no legal basis to grant relief and dismissed each application in its entirety.
In a brief statement by the Deputy Attorney-General Jusrice Srem-Sai after the rulings, he expressed appreciation to the legal team.
“Gratitude to our team of State Attorneys and members of staff,” he posted on Facebook, acknowledging their role in defending the state’s position through both ECOWAS and Supreme Court proceedings.
Background
Justice Gertrude Torkonoo was removed from office as Chief Justice following proceedings initiated earlier this year.
The move triggered multiple legal challenges, including four separate suits at the Supreme Court and petitions before the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
Both courts have now ruled against the challengers.
Last week, the ECOWAS Court dismissed the regional applications, and this morning’s Supreme Court decision closes the matter in Ghana.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
