Gov’t to provide incentives for auto makers

By Eugene Davies

…as trade, nance ministries to engage on Customs Act

US$750m loans will impact economy positively –John Kumah

By Eugene Davies

A Deputy Minister of Finance, John Kumah, has stated that the outstanding loans close to US$750 million which has been approved by parliament will stabilize the troubled economy.

According to Mr. Kumah, the loans will help the economy in terms of government priorities and commitments, adding that reforms are necessary to achieve e ciency in the country’s nancial administration.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has said that he intends to engage the Finance Ministry on the Legislative Instrument(L.I) announcing the e ective date of implementation for all outstanding commitments in the provisions of the Customs (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 1014).

The Act seeks to provide incentives for automotive manufacturers and assemblers registered under the Ghana Automotive Manufacturing Development Pro- gramme provide import exemptions for the security agencies and o cers of the security agencies and for related matters.

It intends to discourage the importation of second-hand vehicles and encourage the assembling of automobiles in the country.

In a speech read for him at the commissioning of the newly built state-of-the-art Rana Motors Assembly Plant in Accra, Mr Hammond said the decision will signi cantly scale up production to full or optimal rates of capacity utilisation for the companies.

“This is a fundamental provision also for major investment in local component manufacturing to start, as con rmed in my rst few engagements with potential investors on the proposed Component Manufacturing Policy which seeks to incentivise local suppliers and component manufacturing,” the minister added.

Partnership

He expressed dissatisfaction that the country is yet to attract a component manufacturing rm, claiming that it is not in Ghana's best interest. Mr Hammond referred to his visit to assembly plants in operation, and hoped that the country graduates to a Complete-Knocked-Down assembly, “where almost all components are not only assembled locally, but a substantial proportion, at least 30 to 40 percent initially, consists of components and parts manufactured in Ghana for assemblers and the after-sales

“They are positive loans that will impact the economy” he told the parliamentary press corps on Tuesday when parliament reconvened from their break to give green light to the loans.

Parliament on Tuesday approved seven loan agreements totaling $750 million to enhance public sector reforms, food security, COVID-19 response measures and digital acceleration agenda.

The facilities which were approved during an emergency

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The District Health Director of the Birim North District in the Eastern Region, Ms Stella Konadu Owusu, has commended Newmont Africa for the consistent support towards healthcare delivery in the district. “New- mont Africa remains a reliable partner in providing quality healthcare for the people in the district and adjoining towns”, she stated.

Ms Owusu made the comments at a ceremony where o cials of

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, has urged all journalists and media houses to uphold the highest level of integrity and professionalism.

Speaking at the commemoration of this year’s World Press Freedom Day at the International Press Centre in Accra, he said “We will not hesitate to call out any journalist or media organization that indulges in agrant violations of professional ethics and standards. This is in view of the recognition that press freedom and indeed all other forms of freedoms go with responsibility and the duty to re spect public sensibilities, human dignity and public interest.”

He also added that the GJA, along with MFWA, GIBA, and PRINPAG, recently urged the government to amend certain provisions of the Electronic Communications Act and the Criminal Code, speci cal ly Section 208 of the Criminal and Other O ences Act of 1960 (Act 29).

“As critical stakeholders in the media industry, we cannot remain unconcerned as these laws are used to arrest citizens

By Eugene Davies