Latest news with #JuliusDebrah
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Who be Sammy Gyamfi wey Ghana president dey under pressure to punish and why?
One goment official - Sammy Gyamfi dey face pressure for Ghana afta one viral video ova di weekend show how im dey count plenty dollar notes from im car wey im dash one controversial woman preacher. Inside di video wey bin dey trend, di CEO of di gold board and di popular preacher Nana Agradaa from one event bin dey chat wen dem take pictures near di goment official im car. Na so afta dem take di picture, she ask for money wia Sammy Gyamfi enta di car to count di dollar notes for her. Nana Agradaa bin dey shout say make di CEO give am all di dollar notes; afta she show di moni wey im collect from Sammy Gyamfi to di cameras. Many pipo don tok say wetin Sammy Gyamfi do dey "inappropriate" for pesin wey be goment official under President John Mahama wey tok say im no go tolerate opulence and luxury lifestyle from im appointees. Tori be say di kontri Chief of Staff Julius Debrah don summon Sammy Gyamfi to di seat of goment to answer questions about dis mata. Wetin dey inside di code of conduct Only last week, di president bin launch code of conduct for im public officers wey go regulate how dem dey behave for public office. Among oda tins, di president tok say "dis code na bold declaration of di standards we get to uphold as servants of di public." President Mahama also tok say "all political appointees get to avoid opulence wia dem get to be accountable for di use of public funds. "Dem for show humility and respect di citizens," di president tok during di launch of di document. Goment officials wey no comply wit di code of conduct fit face sanctions from public apology to dismissal. Sammy Gyamfi issue apology Afta pipo don put pressure on top di gold board CEO, im write apology on top im social media page. Sammy Gyamfi write say, "dis na kind gesture to fellow human being; like how I bin dey lend helping hand to di needy." "I tink say I just dey show kindness for private, I no sabi say dis tin go enta di public space. Dis na unfortunate and regrettable tin." Sammy Gyamfi add say, "I see how dis tin don vex party members, I dey apologise for dis unfortunate act of indiscretion." Despite dis, pipo still tok say make di president sanction am. Anoda reason dis tin dey vex most pipo na sake of di woman preacher (Nana Agradaa) wia Sammy Gyamfi dash di moni be controversial pesin wey bin tok say she repent from being fetish priestess to become woman of God. Pipo and ogbonge civil society groups wan make di president take action Na so many pipo dey tok say wetin di CEO of Gold Board Sammy Gyamfi do na wrong tin. Di Ghana integrity initiative (GII) tok say President Mahama need to take serious action for dis mata. Executive director Mary Adda say, "dis na opportunity for di president to show say im mean business. Im get to use dis mata to show say im dey committed to ethical governance." Oga for di IMANI center for policy and governance Franklin Cudjoe say, "dis na difficult tin. E dey clear say di moni dey above GHc 20k ($1,500). Sammy get to answer questions to us and di president." Members of im own party don dey tok say im no try for dis mata. Former NDC MP for Kumbungu Ras Mubarak bin write on top im social media say "you no fit justify dis mata, as public officer dey dash forex (dollars) especially at di time di cedi don dey do well, even if im earn di money, dis fit to affect di local currency and di economy." "Sammy Gyamfi im error of judgement fit cause lack of confidence for di cedi; such tins fit affect di value of di cedi," Ras Mubarak write. Pipo dey wait wetin di president go do about dis mata, sake of Sammy Gyamfi na ogbonge pesin wey help di goment win election. Sammy Gyamfi profile Oga Sammy Gyamfi na lawyer wey be national tok-tok pesin for di national democratic congress (NDC). During di campaign, im lead di party to fire di goment well well on top media platforms and oda places. Im criticize di former Akufo-Addo goment say dem spend di kontri moni on lavish lifestyles and oda tins. For di party, im na wetin sabi pipo describe as "darling boy". Afta di party win elections, di president bin appoint am as di CEO of di gold board. Since im become oga for di gold board, dem ban foreigners and oda pipo from trading for di local gold market for Ghana. Di only body wey fit deal for di trading of gold na dis gold board, wey dis na to "strengthen industry laws and for national benefits."
Zawya
02-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ghana's chip-embeded passport rollout begins
Monday 28th April, 2025 marked a historic day in Ghana's passport administration as Ghana officially begun the mass roll-out of the Chip-Embedded Passport and a full suite of progressive reforms designed to modernize passport acquisition, enhance security, and provide citizens with a better passport acquisition experience. The event, attended by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministers of State, Deputy Majority Leader, Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Heads of State Institutions, Chief Director and Directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Management of Biometric Travel Solutions (BTS), and other private partners, symbolized the end of frustrations linked to passport acquisition, such as long wait time, thousands of uncollected passports and a beginning of a new era for Passport Services. Speaking at the event, Hon. Ablakwa stressed that 'today symbolizes a reset and the ushering of a new era of modernization, convenience, and deep respect for Ghanaian citizens.' The Minister in his speech stated that 'as Ghana roles out its first Chip-embedded Polycarbonate (PC) biographical data-page passport, equipped with the highest latent and patent security inputs, the sector players, end users and regulators within the document security management setup are assured of robust security features that are almost impossible to forge'. The underlisted are to be noted when it comes to the new passport regime: Chip-Embedded Passport: Ghana will no longer issue the old biometric passports. All new issuances will have superior chip-embedded technology; 24-Hour Operations: The Passport Head Office would now open around the clock to better assist citizens; Courier Delivery: Ghana Post and Troskit would deliver passport to Ghanaians everywhere;, E-Tracking System: Applicants can trace the status of their passport applications from submission to delivery; Faster Turnaround Time: Regular applications will be handled in 15 working days, while expedited services will take only 5 working days; Reduced Application Fees: Cabinet has approved the reduction of application fees from GHS500 to GHS350, awaiting parliamentary approval; Ghana is meeting the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) requirements with the new security-enhanced chip-embedded passports. According to the ICAO, current passports will be outdated by 2030. The chip-embedded passport must be kept away from heat and liquids, it should be stored properly to prevent bending or damage, avoid inserting other chip-enabled cards into the passport and it should not be kept it in back pockets, where it could be bent or damaged. Citizens can call the 24-hour hotline on 0302 75 4200 for further information. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana.
