News
AMA pulls down structures at Jamestown beach for fishing harbour project
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Wednesday demolished more than 400 temporary and permanent structures at Jamestown beach to pave way for the construction of a fishing harbour.
The 60 million dollar harbour project is one of the major infrastructure projects of the government.
The Deputy Sub-Metropolitan Security Coordinator of Ashiedu Keteke, WO I Ansah told the Ghanaian Times, the project is expected to commence right after the demolition exercise.
According to him, the project is a Chinese grant and when completed would be of benefit to the whole country.
He said, the project is expected to be completed by the end of next year to enhance national development.
“It was supposed to start this March, but because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; engineers of the project had to wait. So by the end of this week, after we’re done with the demolition exercise, the project would commence,” he said.
WO I Ansah said, the AMA on April 14, 2020, issued a letter to notify the occupants of the structures to vacate the place, but they refused to comply.
“Letters have been distributed around, just that they are refusing to comply, you know how human institutions work, but we’ve no option than to clear the site for the contractor to start work,” he added.
Meanwhile, some of the affected victims who spoke to Ghanaian Times said, they were not informed of the exercise, and complained that, government should have relocated them before embarking on the project.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
