Today's Front Pages [March 22, 2016]

Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Kofi Wampah, says reducing the policy rate, which currently stands at 26 percent, is not on the cards as long as government continues to record high deficits and inflation remain above its threshold.

BUREAUCRACY HARMING BUSINESSES IN AFRICA – KOFI ANNAN

The former United Nations General Secretary, Kofi Annan, has bemoaned the perennial frustratingly long processes that African businesses go through before getting permits and licences to engage in economic activities, which he believes encourages corruption.

PUBLIC SPENDING UNDER CHECK

Parliament has passed a new public legislation – Public Procurement Act (2015) – as part of efforts to strengthen the regulations regarding the purchase of public goods and service in a manner that promotes.

CHANGE MAHAMA, SAYS KUFUOR

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor thinks the time has come for Ghanaians to show President John Mahama and his NDC government the exit, having failed to alleviate the plight of the people.

HOW ISIS BOY WAS KILLED

Nazir Nortei Alema, who made the headlines when he surprisingly joined ISIS last year, is dead, his Islamic funeral attracting massive turnout at Osu last Sunday.

ADB CLEARS AFENYO MARKINS

The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) has denied bribing Alexander Afenyo Markins, MP for Effutu, to abandon a case he was pursuing in court against the bank’s Initial Public Offer.

NO FEAR OVER SPY BILL – ADJAHO

The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, has given the assurance that due diligence would be done in considering the controversial “Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages Bill 2015” to ensure that an individual’s right to privacy is not abused with the passage of the bill into law.

BOG’s POLICY RATE FAILS; 4-YEAR TREND ANALYSIS REVEALS

Over the last four, the Bank of Ghana has raised its policy rate by 1,250 basis points, in a failed bid to contain inflation and rein in prices of goods and services in the country.

POWER: 450MW LOST; INCREASED SUPPLY FROM IVORY COAST CRITICAL

The shutdown of FPSO Kwame Nkrumah for maintenance, which is expected to last for two weeks, coupled with limited gas from Nigeria for Sunon Asogli Power Plant, has knocked off some 450 megawatts from electricity generation.

VEEP LAUNCHES 64 CHPS COMPOUNS TODAY

Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur will join the people of the Upper West Region at Nadowli Kaloe to launch a Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) policy today.

3 SOUTH AFRICANS ARRESTED FOR ACTS LIKELY TO COMPROMISE NATIONAL SECURITY

Three retired South African police officers have been picked up at Agona Duakwa in the Central Region for allegedly engaging in activities with national security implications.

DON’T FEAR SPY BILL

Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, has assured Ghanaians that the Spy Bill will be scrutinized in an open and transparent manner.

WOMEN TRADE SEX FOR PROPERTIES

One in five people in Ghana and other parts of the world report having paid a bribe for land, with shocking revelations where women say they are forced to trade sex for property rights, according to research by a top global anti-corruption watchdog.

POTENTIAL BUYERS SHOW INTEREST IN BARCLAYS

Barclays Africa said there is no lack of interest from buyers seeking a stake in the bank as it is prepared to reduce its 62.3 percent holding to less than 20 percent.