Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, attributes a significant decrease in kenkey prices to the abundance of maize in the market, a result of the successful implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme (PFJ).

In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, March 13, the Abetifi MP noted a general reduction in kenkey prices across the country, with an average price of GH¢2 observed in some areas.

However, he acknowledged slight variations, mentioning the possibility of finding kenkey priced between GH¢2 and GH¢5.

Dr Acheampong emphasised efforts to boost rice production through partnerships with companies like Yara, leading to a surplus of rice in various regions.

Additionally, he highlighted a surplus of maize on the market, which has contributed to the reduction in kenkey prices.

Assuring the public, Dr. Acheampong stated that his administration has successfully managed to reduce food inflation nationwide.

Encouraging farmers to participate in the registration process, he emphasised the importance of boosting food production and improving agriculture within the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme (PFJ Phase 2).

The Ministry of Agriculture launched a nationwide registration of farmers on Tuesday as part of PFJ Phase 2, initiated in August last year.

This phase aims to establish an input-credit guarantee system for farmers, addressing challenges encountered during the program’s initial phase.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has issued demand notices to hospitals with outstanding bills, warning of disconnection from the national grid if payment is not made within 72 hours.

A total of 91 health facilities across the country are in debt to the ECG, with a combined outstanding amount of GH¢261 million.

Several prominent hospitals, such as the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital, and Ridge Hospital in the Greater Accra region, Komfo Anokye and Manhyia Government Hospitals in the Ashanti region, Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta region, and Kibi Government Hospital in the Eastern region, are among those facing potential disconnection.

This action is part of ECG’s broader strategy to recover customer debts and bolster its operational capacity.

In an Eyewitness News interview with Selorm Adonoo on Citi FM on Tuesday, Ashanti Region ECG’s Communications Manager, Grace Garshong, stated that this was the company’s final option.

She noted that the company had regularly issued these facilities with their bills and communicated with them, but they had still not settled their debts.

“We have now given them demand notice after they have received their bills for some time. And it is after 72 hours that if they do not pay we will do the disconnection. …This is almost like the last resort before disconnection. We’ve spoken to them; they have received several bills already and on our bills, we give a time that you will have to come and pay, and they haven’t.”

“That is why we didn’t even go ahead to disconnect them outright, but we have given them the demand notice so that at least it will give them the 72 hours respite before we take any action…If they don’t come at all, that is when the last resort, we be the disconnection.”

Meanwhile, below are some of the hospitals likely to be disconnected by ECG.

Volta region Total GHc15, 163,879

Kpeve Government Hospital GHc750, 147.70
Ho Municipal Hospital GHc 1,247,730
Ho Teaching Hospital (3 meters) GHc5,808,989
Hohoe Municipal Hospital GHc2,472, 043
Keta Municipal Hospital GHc410, 983
Ketu South Hospital GHc1, 706,390
Sogakope District Hospital GHc1, 437,822
Worawora Government Hospital GHc1, 329,767

Accra East Region Total GHc66, 643,680.32

37 Military Hospital GHc33, 477,392.71
Police Hospital GHc6, 109,568
Dodowa District Hospital GHc 3,629,966
Pantang Hospital GHc5, 342,310
Lekma Hospital GHc2, 602,464
La General Hospital GHc642,954
University of Ghana Hospital GHc2, 249,767
Achimota Hospital GHc2, 502,589
Kwabenya Hospital GHc10, 086,666

Tema Region Total GHc8, 227,299.48

Community 22 Polyclinic GHc720, 245
Akuse Govt Hspt GHc1, 723,768
Battor Hspt GHc1, 837,613
General Hspt GHc242, 078
Kpone Health Center GHc379, 520
Ministry of Health GHc378, 864
Municipal Health GHc112, 375
Poly Clinic Nungua GHc414, 589
Sege Polyclinic GHc393, 680
Somanya District Hspt GHc1, 352,341
Urban Health GHc672, 222

Accra West Region Total GHc55, 782,569.71

Bortianor Polyclinic GHc442, 468
Korle Bu Teaching Hspt GHc10, 216,075
Nsawam Hspt GHc2, 814,584
Oduman Polyclinic GHc713, 520
Ridge Regional Hspt GHc41, 595,921

Central Region Total GHc21, 313,839.75

Ankaful Psychiatric GHc2, 225,745
Cape Coast Municipal Hspt GHc2, 351,591
Central Regional Hspt (Two meters) GHc7,048,927
District Hospital GHc 1,592,822
Trauma Hospital Winneba GHc1, 418,389
Twifo Praso New Hspt GHc (Two meters) GHc5,826,432
Winneba Govt Hspt GHc849, 929

Eastern Region Total GHc21, 031,322

Abirim Dist Hspt GHc1, 266,455
Government Hspt GHc2, 204,650
Asamankese Hspt GHc1, 202,252
Begoro Govt Hspt GHc987, 753
Ministry of Health GHc1, 289,724
Kibi Govt Hspt (Two meters) GHc2,947,367
Government Hspt GHc6, 941,454
Koforidua SDA Hspt GHc314, 752
Kwahu Govt Hspt GHc1, 879,985
St. Dominic Hspt GHc1, 996,924

Ashanti Region Total GHc50, 045,753.72

Agogo Hspt GHc3, 290,722
Konongo Govt Hspt GHc2, 066,549
Kumawu Dist Hspt GHc217, 879
Mamhya Govt Hspt (Two meters) GHc2,026,944
Mampong Maternity Hspt GHc299, 775
Bekwai Dist Hspt GHc2, 721,858
Government Hspt GHc1, 908,530
Fomena Govt Hspt GHc300, 360
Obuasi Govt Hspt GHc1, 022,440
Atonsu Govt Hspt GHc2, 860,326
Bibiani Govt Hspt GHc1, 279,540
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hspt GHc (Two meters) GHc27,265,226
SDA Hspt Kwadaso GHc506, 361
St. Patrick Hspt Offinso GHc2, 248,319
Suntreso Govt Hspt GHc2, 030,915

Western Region Total GHc22, 312,253

Bogoso Hospital (Two meters) GHc497,828
Takoradi Hspt (Two meters) GHc3,509,295
Tarkwa Govt Hspt (Three meters) GHc9,499,254
Tarkwa Hspt Apinto GHc2, 391,983
Wassa Dunkwa Hspt (Two meters) GHc294,996
Government Hspt (Two meters) GHc1,708,108
Nsuaem Hospital GHc169, 220
Kwasimintim Hospital GHc1, 547,022
Essikado Govt Hspt GHc780,780
Elubo Hspt (Two meters) GHc271,993
Akwantombra Hspt GHc184, 219

A former Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Samia Yaba Nkrumah, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not to give his assent to the controversial anti-LGBT+ bill.

Samia Nkrumah spoke out against the bill, denouncing it as excessively “harsh and unjust.”

She emphasized that the bill could potentially exacerbate divisions within the Ghanaian society.

She urged President Akufo-Addo to exercise caution before endorsing the legislation, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and education-focused approach.

“I pray the president does not sign it or assent to it. I believe it is a brutal, harsh, and unjust law, and we don’t need it. We are against rape, paedophilia, against all these situations that people seem to be terrified of gays, and I think we need to educate ourselves.

“But most importantly, I don’t support anything that brings division and torments the people of Ghana. We are all Ghanaians, and we need to protect and take care of each other,” myjoyonline.com quoted her to have said in an interview with Daily Graphic.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has stated that assenting to the anti-LGBT+ bill will be on hold until after the determination of a pending case at the Supreme Court.

Speaking at a meeting with the diplomatic community at the Peduase Lodge, he mentioned that a private citizen has challenged the bill’s constitutionality at the Supreme Court.

He, therefore, urged the diplomatic community that Ghana will not turn her back on her enviable, longstanding record of human rights observance and attachment to the rule of law.

According to the president, he is aware of the anxiety voiced by members of the diplomatic community about Parliament’s passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.

The bill has generated a flurry of reactions internationally and nationally.

On March 4, 2024, the Ministry of Finance advised President Akufo-Addo against signing the Anti-LGBT+ Bill into law, warning that such action could result in significant repercussions for the country’s financial support from international organizations such as the Bretton Woods Institutions.

The statement also highlighted concerns that the expected US$300 million financing from the First Ghana Resilient Recovery Development Policy Operation (Budget Support), currently awaiting Parliamentary approval, might not be disbursed if the bill is signed.

President Akufo-Adoo said, “In the circumstance, it would be, as well, for all of us to hold our hands and await the decision of the court before any action is taken.”