Politics

Ghana may export power to neighbouring countries by 2020 if current reforms in the energy sector are completed, Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko has said.

The Minister said the country could be generating in excess energy capacity of 1,700 megawatts because of the many power plants being installed.

Speaking on the final day of the National Policy Summit 2017 at the Accra International Conference Centre Tuesday, the Minister said the excess power will be exported for the money to be invested in other sectors of the economy.

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has indicated that the national digital address system will be rolled out by July 2017.

In his announcement at the National Policy Summit on Monday, Dr. Bawumia stressed that the role of an address system in Ghana was mostly underestimated, but had the potential to be a key component for the growth of the economy

Government has revealed plans to anchor industrialization in the country on the establishment of ten new industrial parks.

According to Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, each of the ten regions would have one park with the requisite facilities and flexible land schemes to facilitate the setting up of industries.

This initiative which draws heavily on similar models from Asia, is expected to create thousands of jobs for Ghanaians.

The European Union has said it remains committed to the economic development of Ghana.

EU Ambassador to Ghana, William Hanna said the Union will continue its development cooperation with the new government focusing on sustainable development.

At the Europe Day reception in Accra last Tuesday, Mr Hanna said the EU’s bilateral and development programmes will be coordinated to promote prosperity among Ghanaians.

“This year, more and more, we are hearing the phrase ‘Ghana beyond Aid’ [and] I am encouraged by this concept,” he said.

Government will take measures to protect local businesses from foreign competitors, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta has said.

In response to concerns raised by the President of the Association of Ghana Industries , James Asare Adjei on competition from foreign investors at the maiden National Policy Summit, the Minister said there should be no apologies over government’s desire to see local companies flourish at the expense of foreign ones.

Supreme Court judge, Justice Sophia Akuffo has been confirmed as Ghana’s next Chief Justice.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told the media at a news conference at the Flagstaff House Friday, he considers the Justice as the best person to lead the judiciary at this time of history.

The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Sun Baohong, has assured the Government of Ghana of that country’s commitment to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Ghana and China.

Her Excellency Ms Baohong noted that Ghana was the second sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic relations with China, the first to receive China and that 5,000 Ghanaian students were, currently, studying in China.

She was speaking during a courtesy call on the Minister for Information, Mr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid in Accra.

The government has released an amount of over one hundred million Ghana Cedis for the payment of feeding grants for second cycle institutions.

The amount covers feeding arrears for about two out of the four outstanding terms.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the government is processing the claims for the other outstanding arrears for the two terms in question.

The non-payment of the arrears has affected the re-opening of most senior high schools especially in the three regions of the North.

The Ministry of Finance is hopeful that a US$2.6 million Remittance Grant Facility (RGF) secured from the Switzerland government will help bring down the cost of remitting money to the country from the current 12 per cent of every US$200 remitted to five per cent.

The reduction is needed to motivate more Ghanaian residents abroad to use the formal means in sending money back to their families and loved ones.

Senior High Schools in the three northern regions have delayed reopening indefinitely, JoyNews has learnt.

The three regions together have a total of 72 Senior High Schools that are managed by the Ghana Education Service.

The Heads say government’s failure to reimburse the outstanding feeding grants for four academic calendars, necessitated the action because they were hugely indebted to their suppliers.