Ghana Roundup: IMF debt relief terms, mysterious candidate, parliament to sue president
Mystery presidential candidate unveiled
Ghana's political landscape witnessed an intriguing turn as Nana Kwame Bediako, a prominent businessman known as "Cheddar," revealed himself as the enigmatic presidential candidate featured on billboards across major cities. His unmasking occurred at a convention featuring populist figures like Peter Obi and Julius Malema, sparking government concerns about a burgeoning youth-led movement. Cheddar emphasized focusing on the message rather than the messenger, presenting himself as a 'messiah' aiming to rebuild Ghana and Africa. The unveiling took place on January 7 after months of speculation and a stealth campaign known as 'The New Force.' Speaking on his reception thus far, he said, "They are just looking at the glittery part and who is the star and all of that. Don't just concentrate on the messenger; you need to concentrate on the message; hence, that's why I came with a mask. Because I was asking the country, which one are you choosing? Are you choosing the face that you want to find? Or you are going to look for the message that this person is bringing?" He told Joy News.
Turning plastic waste into fuel
The Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) at the University of Ghana, with support from the French government, has unveiled a groundbreaking solution to address plastic waste. A pyrolysis plant has been developed, capable of converting plastic waste into high-value fuels and chemicals, Graphic Online has reported. The initiative aims to combat the plastic waste menace while creating sustainable job opportunities for youth. The plant, successfully tested at the university, will be installed in Osu, contributing to Ghana's circular economy of green plastics. “By doing so, the project aims to make a significant contribution to the development of Ghana's green plastics circular economy and reduce the menace of single-use plastic waste and marine plastic litter,” said the Director of the IAST and Principal Investigator of the Valoplastique Project, Prof. David Dodoo-Arhin.
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GH¢203m ($16m) lost to fire incidents in 2023
Ghana faced a significant economic and human toll due to fire outbreaks, with close to GH¢203 million ($16 million) lost between January and November 2023. Statistics from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) revealed 5,219 fire outbreaks during this period, causing 196 fatalities and injuring 1,498 individuals. The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of fires, emphasising the need for preventive measures, Local media Graphic Online reports The GNFS is considering implementing the amended Fire Prevention Act to enhance safety measures. The PRO of GNFS, Timothy Osafo-Affum, said, “About 70 percent of fires that occurred last year were as a result of human error. These are the types of fires that we want to reduce, even if we can’t prevent all, but the challenge is that people are not ready to change their attitude. “During this time, the weather is very dry, and it is easy to have a fire break when heat comes into contact with materials such as paper, clothes, and dry leaves. People need to be more cautious in their homes and offices around this time,” the PRO added.
Parliament to sue President Akufo-Addo
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, announced the intention to take legal action against President Akufo-Addo regarding his refusal to sign certain bills, including the Witchcraft and Armed Forces Bills. Bagbin emphasised that determining the constitutionality of actions lies with the Supreme Court, not the President. The bills were declined due to their financial implications, prompting parliamentary action to contest the president's decision. The determination of any unconstitutionality is the sole purview of the Supreme Court, not the President. Hence, if there were concerns about Parliament acting beyond its constitutional authority, i.e., acting ultra vires, the appropriate course of action would be an action before the Supreme Court, not an executive declaration of unconstitutionality. Again, the constitutional discretion vested in the presiding officer of Parliament, as per Article 108 and subject to Article 296, suggests that any allegations of misuse of this discretion should be contested in a court of competent jurisdiction rather than being pre-emptively adjudicated upon by the president," Bagbin is quoted by local media, Joy News.
Debt relief terms
Ghana has received a draft term sheet on debt relief from official creditors, including the Paris Club Group and China. This development is crucial for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to disburse $600 million to Ghana, Joy News reports. The debt restructuring efforts, initiated in December 2022, aim to restructure up to $5.4 billion of bilateral debt. The IMF board is set to convene, and successful debt rework is essential for further financial support.
