Ghana Roundup: Budget approval, illegal operations, election preparations
Budget approval
Ghana’s parliament has approved the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy following a headcount on Thursday, December 7, 2023. Despite an initial resistance by Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Speaker, Alban Bagbin insisted that it was within his mandate to decide, according to local news outlet Myjoyonline. The budget was presented by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on November 15.
Election preparations
The Ghanaian police administration has reintroduced the National Elections Security Task Force to address election security issues in the upcoming district-level elections and the 2024 general elections. The task force comprising security and para-security agencies will ensure the conduction of a peaceful election and adequate security during the period. The Inspector General of Police who heads the task force said it would not compromise on the security of citizens, local news outlet Daily Graphic reported.
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Tourism potential
Ghana’s Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal has stressed the need to improve attractions and add value to the country’s tourism potential to maximise the experience of patrons, local news outlet GhanaWeb has reported. He also urged individuals to view Africa as a business opportunity rather than an undeveloped continent. He made these statements at the Ghana Tourism Investment Summit held in the capital, Accra on December 5, 2023.
Arrests
A Belgian national, Shalimar Abbiusi, who has been resident in Ghana and fronting a movement called the ‘New Force’ has been arrested by the Ghana Immigration Service. Abbiusi has been slapped with the charge of obtaining a student permit by false declaration after she emerged with a video claiming to be the spokesperson of the movement, according to local news outlet 3news. The New Force political group has been in the Ghanaian media lately with posters and billboards of a supposed new force that wants to challenge the existing political parties.
Illegal operations
The National Communications Authority (NCA) in Ghana has said that satellite internet service Starlink has been operating illegally in the country. According to the authority, the illegal operations of the company which belongs to Business Tycoon Elon Musk violate Section 3 (1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2008, Act 775. The NCA has therefore warned against citizens doing business with Starlink, local news outlet Myjoyonline reports. Starlink is a satellite-based internet service provider that provides connectivity to underserved areas, as well as competitively priced service in more urbanised areas.
