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Govt to roll out economic rescue programme—Finance Minister
The government is developing a three-year COVID-19 alleviation programme to be known as “The Ghana Cares Programme” to help rescue the economy from the clutches of the coronavirus pandemic.
The impact of the coronavirus disease on the Ghanaian economy could last for three years, the government had predicted.
“To address this, the President has directed the Ministry of Finance to come up with stabilisation and a revitalisation plan for the country.
“In this regard, the Ministry of Finance is developing a three-year COVID-19 alleviation and revitalisation of enterprise support programme; ‘The Ghana Cares Programme’ to help stabilise and revitalise the country’s economy.
“We are confident that this programme will lead us on a journey of achieving a Ghana Beyond Aid,” Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta told Parliament in Accra yesterday.
Mr Ofori-Atta made this known in an explanatory statement when he laid a report on the limit of borrowing by government under subsection (6) of Section 30 of the Bank of Ghana Act in the coronavirus emergency.
According to him, the Bank of Ghana had released GH¢5.5billion of a GH¢10 billion COVID-19 support fund in line with the emergency financing provisions under the Bank of Ghana Act, to deal with shocks that had accompanied the coronavirus pandemic.
The coupon rate, he said, was pegged at the prevailing monetary policy rate with a 10-year tenure and a two-year moratorium on both principal and interest payment.
Government, Finance Minister said remains unwavering in protecting lives and sustaining livelihoods and rebuilding the country’s agric and industrial sector so as to position the country on the path of growth.
“Mr Speaker, these are sobering times and a test of our own humanity and how to be our brothers’ keeper,” he preached.
Even as the country develops the ‘Ghana Cares Programme’, he said it was time burdens were shared for the common good of the country.
“Whatever stimulus package would help us claw back our five per cent GDP that we’ve lost, Mr Speaker, we intend to do it.
“It is a period of sacrifice; burden sharing and we have to avoid any spiritual stupor by ensuring that everyone is taken care of.
“In this vein, we would like to live on some of Gandhi’s principles – a period of three years of politics with principles, wealth that comes from work, commerce that is through morality, pleasure that is conscionable, education of character, science that has a human face and work that has sacrifice attached to it.
“We are confident that we will come out of this much stronger and much greater. So we remain more hopeful that our land will overflow with prosperity and we will leave no one behind as we build a greater society.”
The programme is a top-up to the GH¢1 billion Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme to cushion small and medium scale enterprises against the vagaries of the coronavirus pandemic.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could worsen the spread of misinformation across the world if not managed responsibly.
Speaking at the International Conference on Information Integrity in Paris, the President said AI tools such as deepfakes and synthetic media are increasingly being used to manipulate information and distort public perception.
He warned that the misuse of AI poses a serious threat to democracy, public health, and global stability, adding that protecting information integrity must be treated with the same urgency as national security and economic development.
“We are back to win the global war against misinformation and disinformation. Disinformation is not an abstract issue, it shapes elections, distorts public health responses, fuels conflict, and undermines the fight against climate change,” he pointed out.
President Mahama said false information continues to erode public confidence in science and government policy, even a decade after the signing of the Paris Climate Accord.
He noted that while AI presents huge opportunities for innovation and growth, it must be used responsibly to ensure that technological progress builds, rather than destroys, public trust.
“Our collective task must be to harness AI responsibly, promote transparency, and ensure that technology strengthens, not weakens, our societies,” he said.
The conference brought together world leaders, media experts, and technology innovators to discuss ways to protect information integrity and strengthen democracy in the digital age.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has announced a city-wide clean-up exercise scheduled for Saturday, November 1, 2025, as part of efforts to promote cleanliness and public health in the metropolis.
The exercise, which starts at 6:00 a.m., forms part of the government’s vision to undertake monthly nationwide clean-up activities.
It is expected to bring together residents, traders, and transport operators to help make Kumasi cleaner and more environmentally friendly.
According to the Assembly, the clean-up will focus on key parts of the Central Business District and surrounding areas.
The operational zones include Zoo Roundabout through Pampaso to Otumfuo Roundabout, Otumfuo Roundabout through Acheamfour Market, MTN Roundabout to St. Louis College, Otumfuo Roundabout to Dr. Mensah, Boss FM through Central Market, Asafo Interchange, and Asafo Market stretch, as well as Roman Hill Down through Aboabo Station to Alabar.
During the exercise, all trading activities and vehicular movement within these areas will be suspended to ensure smooth operations.
The KMA urged all traders, commercial drivers, and residents to comply with the directive and actively take part in cleaning their surroundings.
The Assembly announced that if traders and shop owners participate fully, the exercise will end at 11:00 a.m.
However, those who fail to take part will have their shops and trading activities remain closed until 2:00 p.m.
By: Jacob Aggrey
