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Annual Ramadan Lectures: Muntaka Calls for Proper Upbringing of Children in Communities
He stated that good nurturing and teaching will help them become responsible, bringing peace and security to communities, as public safety emanates from individual and community safety.
Muntaka urged Muslim Leaders and Zongo Chiefs to promote peace, security, and social responsibility, noting their crucial role in guiding youth and fostering compassion and justice.
He called on them to address issues like drug abuse, which fuels insecurity. “Let us work together to create opportunities and guide our youth towards success,” he said, quoting the Prophet’s saying, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim”.
The Interior Minister stressed inner peace and collective responsibility in promoting public safety, highlighting government efforts to address security challenges. He emphasised education and vocational training in empowering Zongo communities, citing the Quran’s verse, “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (Suratul Al-Ra’d 13:11).
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, urged Muslims to do away with evil deeds and obey Allah’s commands to live in peace.
He prayed for all Muslims and wished them a happy Ramadan, saying the blessings of the holy month would bestow peace, security, prosperity, and stability in Ghana.
The event was organized by the National Mosque and Hudai Foundation, in collaboration with the Office of the National Chief Imam. The event was organized by the National Mosque and Hudai Foundation, in collaboration with the Office of the National Chief Imam.
Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem has today revealed in Parliament that special audit has uncovered over payments for transportation of grains in respect of the dry spell expenditure.
According to the Deputy Minister, Under the Farmer Food Relief and Recovery Programme, a transportation company was contracted to transport 134,000 metric tonnes of maize and rice to farmers across the country at a contract sum of GH¢115.2 million.
Even though the company transported only 35,000 metric tonnes which should have costed GH¢30.9 million, the company was paid GH¢50 million.
In addition to this payment, the company was given 7,311 metric tonnes of rice equivalent to 14,622 bags of 50kg rice, which amounts to GH¢11.7 million in lieu of cash for no work done. This brings total payment to GH¢61.7 million.
As a result, the Auditor-General accordingly rejected an amount of GH¢65.2 million that was requested by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as additional payment to the said transport company.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, has revealed that thousands of tonnes of food supplied under government’s 2024 dry spell intervention cannot be accounted for after a special audit.
According to him, the audit found discrepancies in the supply of rice and maize purchased by the Government of Ghana to support farmers and vulnerable communities affected by the dry spell.
He explained that government paid for 34,000 metric tonnes of rice to help address the impact of the dry spell. However, records from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture show that only 24,000 metric tonnes were received and distributed.
He noted that about 10,000 metric tonnes of rice remain unaccounted for even though the full quantity had already been paid for by the state.
The deputy minister also disclosed that government had contracted a company to supply 100,000 metric tonnes of maize as part of the intervention.
He said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture submitted Stores Receipt Advice as proof that the full quantity of maize valued at GH¢771.2 million had been delivered. The document was presented to the Ministry of Finance to facilitate payment.
However, the audit revealed that only 11,900 metric tonnes of maize were actually supplied and distributed.
He further stated that the Stores Receipt Advice used to support the payment was accompanied by a checklist certified by the internal auditor of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The findings form part of a special audit conducted to review government expenditure related to the dry spell response in 2024.
By Jacob Aggrey
