PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Mahama’s hopes for 2014, speculation of cabinet reshuffle in Ghana press
Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama’s high hopes for 2014, increase in water and electricity tariffs and speculation of a cabinet reshuffle early in the New Year were some of the stories highlighted in Ghana during the week.
“President hopeful of new opportunities in 2014,” was headline of the state-owned Graphic on President Mahama’s statement at a national thanksgiving service organised in Accra by a women’s group, Aglow International-Ghana.
The newspaper said President Mahama assured Ghanaians that new doors of opportunities would be opened in 2014.
He mentioned economic growth and job creation for the youth as some of the changes that the nation would witness next year.
President Mahama said Ghana faced some challenges this year, including the eight-month election petition at the Supreme Court against his election in December 2012, electricity crisis, labour unrest and market fires.
However, he said, the economy had started producing positive results and indicated that members of his team would continue to work more aggressively next year to inject more pace into the growth of the economy.
President Mahama said despite the challenges the country faced this year, it witnessed relative peace, adding that this meant that God's favour was on Ghana.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to stay united and have faith in the ability of the nation to develop.
The state-owned Ghanaian Times carried the story under the headline “Pres: Better times ahead.”
It quoted President Mahama as saying there were better times ahead next year and urged the people to remain resolved and maintain their hope in the economy.
"I believe prophetically that God is going to open doors for the country next year," he said.
“Electricity, water tariffs go up,” was the headline of the Graphic on new rates of utilities to take effect next week.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced that the new tariffs will take effect from 1 Jan. 2014.
It said electricity tariff would go up by 9.7 per cent across board and water by 6.80 per cent, following the full implementation of the Automatic Adjustment Formula (AAF).
The statement said the current increase had been largely driven by movements in the exchange rates, inflation and demand variation.
“Massive cabinet reshuffle after X'mas,” was the headline of the pro-opposition Daily Guide, which said there was “a looming ministerial reshuffle that will sweep away some ministers in the John Mahama administration scheduled for January 2014”.
It claimed “reliable sources” had said the impending reshuffle was initially planned for December 2013, but was rescheduled for some unknown reasons.
President Mahama has travelled to the United Arab Emirates for a short leave and the newspaper said “it is believed that he will finalise his list while on vacation to stave off pressure”.
The newspaper said several ministers would be affected, including Minister of Health Hannah Sherry Ayittey, who may be "opting out voluntarily despite her relatively impressive stewardship at that Ministry".
The Daily Guide said other Ministers such as Mark Owen Woyongo, the Minister of Defence; Nii Armah Ashittey, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations and Florence Rachel Appoh, a Deputy Minister of Children, Gender and Social Protection,were on their way out.
-0- PANA MA/SEG 28Dec2013
“President hopeful of new opportunities in 2014,” was headline of the state-owned Graphic on President Mahama’s statement at a national thanksgiving service organised in Accra by a women’s group, Aglow International-Ghana.
The newspaper said President Mahama assured Ghanaians that new doors of opportunities would be opened in 2014.
He mentioned economic growth and job creation for the youth as some of the changes that the nation would witness next year.
President Mahama said Ghana faced some challenges this year, including the eight-month election petition at the Supreme Court against his election in December 2012, electricity crisis, labour unrest and market fires.
However, he said, the economy had started producing positive results and indicated that members of his team would continue to work more aggressively next year to inject more pace into the growth of the economy.
President Mahama said despite the challenges the country faced this year, it witnessed relative peace, adding that this meant that God's favour was on Ghana.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to stay united and have faith in the ability of the nation to develop.
The state-owned Ghanaian Times carried the story under the headline “Pres: Better times ahead.”
It quoted President Mahama as saying there were better times ahead next year and urged the people to remain resolved and maintain their hope in the economy.
"I believe prophetically that God is going to open doors for the country next year," he said.
“Electricity, water tariffs go up,” was the headline of the Graphic on new rates of utilities to take effect next week.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced that the new tariffs will take effect from 1 Jan. 2014.
It said electricity tariff would go up by 9.7 per cent across board and water by 6.80 per cent, following the full implementation of the Automatic Adjustment Formula (AAF).
The statement said the current increase had been largely driven by movements in the exchange rates, inflation and demand variation.
“Massive cabinet reshuffle after X'mas,” was the headline of the pro-opposition Daily Guide, which said there was “a looming ministerial reshuffle that will sweep away some ministers in the John Mahama administration scheduled for January 2014”.
It claimed “reliable sources” had said the impending reshuffle was initially planned for December 2013, but was rescheduled for some unknown reasons.
President Mahama has travelled to the United Arab Emirates for a short leave and the newspaper said “it is believed that he will finalise his list while on vacation to stave off pressure”.
The newspaper said several ministers would be affected, including Minister of Health Hannah Sherry Ayittey, who may be "opting out voluntarily despite her relatively impressive stewardship at that Ministry".
The Daily Guide said other Ministers such as Mark Owen Woyongo, the Minister of Defence; Nii Armah Ashittey, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations and Florence Rachel Appoh, a Deputy Minister of Children, Gender and Social Protection,were on their way out.
-0- PANA MA/SEG 28Dec2013
