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The National Labour Commission (NLC) on November 30, 2022 is expected to hold a discussion with the heads of the public university labor unions that are currently on strike.

Union members have been on strike for more than three weeks because, in their opinion, the government has failed to uphold the agreed-upon conditions of employment.

The implementation of the GH10.99 modified ex-pump rate, which will effect vehicle maintenance and off-campus allowances, has alarmed the unions.

Dr. Asare Asante Annor, National Secretary of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, said the unions are prepared to meet with the government in a statement to Citi News on behalf of the unions.

“So we are going to meet on November 30, 2022, two weeks ago, we were supposed to meet, but we couldn’t because both the employer and TUTAG requested for some form of extra time. However, over the last two weeks, we still have not been able to engage in any meeting, so we still haven’t found any solutions to the impasse.”

“The reasons why we still want to engage is the variations of the conditions of service, specifically the vehicle maintenance, has not come. So if government is able to prepare distribution, then we will be happy, and I’m sure our members too will be happy,”

University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Senior Staff Association (SSA), and Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) are among the numerous labor unions on strike

The government’s proposal to freeze employment in the Civil and Public services in 2023 has angered the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

The TUC believes the ruling is unjust because the government vowed not to do so

On Thursday, Ken Ofori-Atta, the finance minister, announced the government’s decision as one of numerous moves to rein in the spiraling public expenditure.

Joshua Ansah, the deputy TUC general secretary, expressed disappointment in the government over that decision in an interview with JoyNews on Friday.

“I am really disappointed about the freeze of employment in the civil and public services in 2023 because this is something that the TUC has spoken about it all this while.

“When the IMF team came to this country, we had the opportunity to meet with them and one of the issues we raised with them was about the freeze of employment that always becomes their conditionality anytime they access their programme, we were assured that that was not going to happen,” he stated.

The TUC will consider this matter with its Social Welfare Committee and take appropriate action, according to Mr. Ansah.

Below is the full text of the implementation of the Cabinet directives on 2023 expenditure measures

Mr Speaker, as a first step toward expenditure rationalisation, Government has approved the following directives which take effect from January 2023:

• All MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs are directed to reduce fuel allocations to Political Appointees and heads of MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs by 50%.

and fuel depots.

Accordingly, 50% of the previous year’s (2022) budget allocation for fuel shall be earmarked for official business pertaining to MDAs, MMDAs and SOES;

• A ban on the use of V8s/V6s or its equivalent except for cross-country travel. All government vehicles would be registered with GV green number plates from January 2023;

• Limited budgetary allocation for the purchase of vehicles. For the avoidance of doubt, the purchase of new vehicles shall be restricted to locally assembled vehicles;

• Only essential official foreign travel across government including SOEs shall be allowed. No official foreign travel shall be allowed for board members.

Accordingly, all government institutions should submit a travel plan for the year 2023 by mid-December of all expected travels to the Chief of Staff;

• As far as possible, meetings and workshops should be done within the official environment or government facilities;

• Government-sponsored external training and Staff Development activities at the Office of the President, Ministries and SOEs must be put on hold for the 2023 financial year;

Reduction of expenditure on appointments including salary freezes together with suspension of certain allowances like housing, utilities and clothing, etc.;

• A freeze on new tax waivers for foreign companies and review of tax exemptions for the free zone, mining, oil and gas companies;

• A hiring freeze for civil and public servants

No new government agencies shall be established in 2023;

• There shall be no hampers for 2022;

• There shall be no printing of diaries, notepads, calendars and other promotional merchandise by MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs for 2024;

• All non-critical projects must be suspended for the 2023 Financial year.

Oh Yeong-su, an actor best known for his work in the Netflix miniseries Squid Game, has reportedly been accused of sexual misconduct. He just won a Golden Globe for the role.

According to reports, the Korean star was not detained but rather discharged.

Variety said that Oh had been charged the previous day after hearing from prosecutors in Suwon, a city near to Seoul.

The 78-year-old Oh was charged with impropriety touching a woman’s body in the middle of 2017.

Oh got a complaint from the alleged victim in December of the previous year.

The investigation was purportedly closed by the police in April without any charges being filed before being reopened by the prosecutor’s office at the request of the accused.

Oh disputed the allegations throughout the probe, the paper said.

“I just held her hand to guide the way around the lake. I apologized because [the person] said she wouldn’t make a fuss about it but it doesn’t mean that I admit the charges,” Oh said in a statement to Korean broadcaster JTBC.

Oh played the oldest contestant in “Squid Game” on Netflix.

In addition to winning the Golden Globe for best supporting actor in a series, miniseries, or television film for his work, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series.

The 2022 World Cup host nation are close to elimination after Senegal’s 3:1 defeat  to Qatar put them in danger of losing two in a row and sending them home from their home World Cup.

The Team fought bravely, but if the Netherlands win against Ecuador later on Friday, they will be eliminated with one match remaining

Qatar made history by hosting the World Cup for the first time in this region, but they now have the unfortunate record of being the first home team to lose the tournament in the group stage, following South Africa in 2010.

For them to have any chance of competing in the tournament, Ecuador, who defeated them in the first game, must do them a big favor.

The country’s anti-corruption agency reports that Saulos Chilima, Malawi’s vice president, has been detained on suspicion of accepting payment in exchange for awarding government contracts.

In a statement, it is claimed that he was accused of receiving “and other stuff” from a British businessman worth $280,000 (£230,000).

Despite showing up in court, Mr. Chilima did not address the accusations.

In June, when he was initially accused by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, he had already lost his powers.

According to the report, he and 83 other Malawian officials engaged in corrupt business with Zuneth Sattar, a British businessman.

There are currently six allegations of corruption against Mr. Chilima.

Video from local media, according to the Reuters news agency, appears to show his supporters fighting with police as he entered the court in Lilongwe, the country’s capital.

Mr. Sattar, who was detained in the UK in October of last year, is currently free on bail.

He is charged with obtaining contracts for the provision of products and services through fraud by utilizing his contacts with senior Malawian politicians and government officials.

The contracts covered water cannons, food rations, and armored personnel carriers, the Financial Times reported in May.

Mr. Sattar has said he did nothing wrong.

As President Lazarus Chakwera’s running mate in 2020, Mr. Chilima assumed power.

During his previous campaign, he ran on an anti-corruption platform, pledging to put an end to years of corruption in government and to eradicate poverty in one of the world’s poorest nations.

“Corruption has the power to rupture a country and its people beyond repair. Corruption has the power to make a government lose its legitimacy over its people,” the vice-president is quoted in a 2021 Anti-Corruption Bureau newsletter as saying.

Source: BBC Africa

Osman Bukari of the Black Stars scored a late consolation goal in Ghana’s 2-3 loss to Portugal in their opening game of the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

After hitting the goal post, the winger celebrated in style with the well-known “Siuuu” goal celebration, which was developed by Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portuguese football legend.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal typically jumps, spins in midair, and lands while yelling “siuuu” after scoring.

In their group stage match against the Black Stars, Ronaldo showed off his “Siuuu” celebration after netting a debatable penalty to put the Portuguese team ahead 1-0.

Bukari’s goal celebration, unfortunately, was met with conflicting views on social media, with some people worried that it was disrespectful to Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Black Stars winger was accused of disrespecting Ghanaians by celebrating while aware that his team was trailing 3-2

Winneba chapter of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG-UEW) announces its 6th International Multi-Disciplinary Conference for Postgraduate Students

The University of Education, Winneba has since establishment been an excellent hub for leading academic development in education in Ghana and beyond. Among the numerous achievements of the University is the establishment of the Secretariat of the International Multidisciplinary Conference for Postgraduate Students.

The Secretariat organizes annual Research Conferences aimed at sharing ideas and experiences with the purpose of shaping policy and influencing practice across multiple academic fields.

Speaking to the Public Relations Officer Mr. Emmanuel Darko, he said “this year, I am leading the Conference under the theme “Change and digital transformation in the new normal: The role of the postgraduate student” scheduled to take place at the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana from 7^th – 9^th September, 2022.

The following are the sub-themes for the conference:

1. e-learning (mobile learning, online, distance education).
2. Science, Technology and Mathematics education for development
3. Emerging Technologies in Education
4. Adaptation to New Technologies
5. Constructive Alignment of Graduate Capabilities
6. Rethinking Pedagogies for the 21st Century
7. Innovation in ICT Infrastructure
8. Pedagogical Innovation in Education
9. Framing quality education for equitable learning
10. Teacher education for school improvement
11. Equity and Inclusivity in Education
12. Promoting good health and psychological wellbeing.
13. Learning and Teaching with Blended Learning
14. Trends and Issues in Education
15. Gender Parity, Equity and Balance

Submission of Abstracts

We hereby invite you to submit an abstract of not more than 250 words on any of the above sub-themes for paper presentation and panel discussion.

Please include a brief bio-data detailing the author’s name and institutional affiliation to the Organizing Committee via imcfps@uew.edu.gh

Format for Abstract Submission

All submissions must be in Microsoft Word, Times New Roman 12-point font, with a left margin of 3 cm and all other margins of 2 cm, in double spacing.

Full-refereed papers and working papers are accepted from prospective presenters.

Presentation Modes 

• Standard Presentation

Standard presentations are face-to-face, classroom-style presentations.

Standard presentations are scheduled for 20 minutes each. Your presentation should be a maximum of 10 minutes, with the remaining 10 minutes allocated for Questions & Answers.

• Virtual Presentation

Virtual presentations are online presentations. It is scheduled for 20 minutes each. Your presentation should be a maximum of 10 minutes, with the remaining 10 minutes allocated for Questions & Answers.

Deadlines for Submission

Abstract: 15^th August, 2022

Feedback on Abstracts: 20^th August, 2022

Payment of Conference Fee: 30th August, 2022

REGISTRATION AND CONFERENCE FEE

Registration Fee for Presenters include:

• E-brochure with abstracts for virtual presenters
• Certificate for presentation
• Participation in panel discussions
• Participation in social network

Additional Benefits for face- to-face presenters include:

• T-Shirts
• Note Pad and Pens
• Feeding
• Coffee Break

Registration fee for non-presenters include:

• Certificate for Participation
• Feeding
• Coffee Break

Payment of Conference Fee

Local delegates (Ghanaians only) could pay in advance into GRASAG-UEW Bank Account.

Bank Name: Ghana Commercial Bank Limited

Account Name: GRASAG-UEW

Account No: 3051130004584

For further information, please contact: 

Mr. Enock Yeng, Secretary:        +233(0) 248308616

Mr. Emmanuel Darko:                      +233(0) 544643882

The Ghana National Tanker Drivers Association has escalated its ongoing strike to include drivers who transport all forms of petroleum products.

The strike which began on Monday saw drivers who transport mainly LPG abandoning their trucks in protest of their treatment by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited and the National Petroleum Authority.

They have been unhappy with the continuous ban on LPG Stations under construction since 2017.

Some LPG marketing companies also shut down their stations in solidarity.

Following the government’s failure to address their concerns, the group says transportation of products such as Petrol, Diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene and petrol will be halted as well until their demands are met.

The Chairman of the association, George Nyaunu, said this escalation is necessary to stress their demands.

“We don’t want to take the country to ransom but with this indication… failing to address the issue, the white product drivers will also join,” he said.

The group was absent from a meeting with the National Petroleum Authority on Monday.

Source: citinewsroom

Afia Schwarzenegger has sued Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) for kicking her off a flight over alleged drunken behaviour.

According to a writ of summons making waves online, Afia is seeking compensation for her flight ticket, damaged luggage, cost of broken drinks and damages due to an alleged show she was coming to perform at in Accra but missed out on.

You may recollect that Afia Schwarzenegger was in the news for the wrong reasons once again several weeks back.

A video of her looking drunk and misbehaving on a KLM flight popped up online.

Afia was in an altercation with airline staff of a KLM flight.

She was angrily telling them she did nothing wrong whilst complaining over the moment being recorded.

The video popped up online with reports that Afia was drunk and was kicked off the flight due to her behaviour.

However, Afia is seeking five reliefs from KLM, to wit:

Refund of the sum of EUR2,934.18 or its cedi equivalent being the cost of the Plaintiff’s elite ticket.

Pay the sum of USD4,600.00 or its cedi equivalent being the cost of Plaintiff’s two (2) damaged bags.

Pay the sum of EUR312.00 or its cedi equivalent being the cost of the broken drinks.

Pay of a sum of GH48,000 being the amount paid to the Plaintiff to perform at a show in Ghana.

Compensation in the sum of TWO hundred thousand Euros

Source: .ghanacelebrities.com

The Upper West Regional Police Command has commenced investigations into the alleged murder of a private Security man, Mumuni Jartoe at Kpaguri, a suburb of Wa.

The deceased, 62, according to police report left home for work at Kpaguri on Friday, July 29, 2022 at about 8:00pm and did not return.

A search party was thus mounted for the deceased, amid police investigations.

On Sunday, July 31, 2022 at about 11:00 am the deceased’s body was discovered in a shallow grave in an uncompleted building opposite the stores he guards at Kpaguri.

“Body of deceased was exhumed with the assistance of the Municipal Environment Health Directorate and same conveyed to the Regional Hospital/Wa, where the Medical Doctor on duty confirmed subject dead,” Head of Public Affairs of the Command, Chief Inspector Gideon Ohene Boateng said.

The body has since been deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy.

source: kasapaonline