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Government is acquiring new presidential aircraft-Defence Minister

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Government is already in the process of acquiring a bigger jet for use,” he said at a press briefing at the Jubilee House on Monday.

Mr Arhin was answering a question on whether the government intended buying a bigger aircraft to accommodate the President and his entourage on official foreign trips as the current presidential jet had proven inadequate for the purpose.

He explained that the move to get a bigger fit-for-purpose aircraft was part of a cost saving measure on the travels of the President and other key state functionaries.

Mr Arhin did not give the specifics of the aircraft deal, but said the Defence Minister would shed light on the development at the appropriate time.

The President’s foreign travels have generated discussions on the airwaves and on social media lately, with some Ghanaians asking why the President has to fly in hired private aircrafts when the country owned a functional presidential jet.

But the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul told Parliament that the configuration of the current Presidential jet, a falcon 900EX purchased during the era of former President John Kufuor, did not meet the travel needs and security of the President.

“This aircraft will carry a load of 11 persons minus the crew. When this aircraft is travelling to the eastern part of the USA or Asia, it will not load a crew of more than eight plus the luggage. So it depends on where it is going.

“Secondly, I have also said the aircraft has to do refuelling stops, and also in this COVID-19, when you are travelling to multiple destinations like the president’s recent travel, the Falcon couldn’t have been taken because he would have had to do technical stops which are not desirable, and when he is travelling with more than 20 people like he has been doing for business trips that brought huge sums of money for this country, he will need more than just a Falcon, otherwise, the others would have to go a day ahead before the president to prepare themselves,” Nitiwul stated.

Former President Kufour before leaving office in 2008, made provisions for the procurement of two aircrafts for the Ghana Air Force, which included a larger jet for use by the President and his delegation on state travels. But the deal was however abrogated by the Mills administration.

According to the Defence Minister, if that arrangement had held, that bigger aircraft would have been deployed for the strategic lifting of troops, and could be reconfigured into presidential jet for the president’s travels to save the country the huge amounts spent for delegation who traveled ahead of the president.

He told a private radio station in Accra that since the cancelation of the deal for acquisition of the bigger aircraft by the Mills administration, the country had spent in excess of USD 50 million on official trips of the government.

Touching on the issues arising from the appointment of Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Mr Arhin dismissed the allegation that some of the MMDCE’s nominated by the President were not originally shortlisted for those positions.

He said the claim by some civil society organisations (CSOs) that about 44 per cent of the MMDCEs were not recommended by the three-member committee that vetted their nominations, and 10 per cent of the nominees did not apply for the positions, was false.

The Communications Director stated that those allegations were based on a supposedly leaked report on the nominees shortlisted for the MMDCE positions.

“I can say on authority that that report was not the report that was submitted to the President,” he said, adding that the President was not bound by any law to resort to any report to hire or fire his appointees.

“He is not bound by the recommendations of any report. He decides what he has to do,” he said, stating emphatically that the President was satisfied with his appointments and unruffled by the threats that some of his appointees would not secure the two-thirds majority votes to gain approval of their local assemblies.

“It is a human institution so we expect that there would definitely be agitations. If at the end of the day, voting is conducted and a nominee is rejected, the President can renominate that person on two occasions.

“If on all the two occasions that person is rejected, the Constitution gives him the power to present somebody else. Agitation is a normal phenomenon of human life,” he said.

Mr Arhin also indicated that President Akufo-Addo had begun a process to assess the work programme of his ministers for the rest of 2021.

He explained that the consultative meeting with the Ministers will ensure they were in tune with the President’s agenda for his second term in government.

Mr Arhin said the President was scheduled to embark on a week’s tour of the Eastern and Ashanti Regions from Friday,
Source:GNA

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GENERAL NEWS

Faithful Hearts Foundation Launches Sanitary Pad Initiative to Reduce Girls’ School Absenteeism in Danchira

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Research conducted prior to the intervention revealed that approximately 80% of parents in Danchira are peasant farmers living under difficult economic conditions. As a result, many families are unable to consistently afford sanitary pads for their daughters. This situation forces a significant number of girls to miss school during their monthly menstrual cycle, negatively affecting their academic performance, confidence, and overall wellbeing.

Speaking at the event, the organizers emphasized the central message of the outreach:

“The Education of the Girl Child Is Not Negotiable.”

Menstruation, a natural biological process, has become a barrier to education for many girls due to poverty and limited access to menstrual hygiene products. Faithful Hearts Foundation believes that no girl should be denied her right to education because of her period.

The sanitary pad distribution formed part of a broader advocacy effort to promote dignity, health, and uninterrupted learning for girls in underserved communities. Beneficiaries received essential menstrual hygiene materials, helping to reduce absenteeism and promote safer hygiene practices.

The event also marked the official launch of Faithful Hearts Foundation, a humanitarian and empowerment-focused organization established to:

* Raise and mentor girls of school-going age
* Support access to education and skills training
* Empower widows and orphans to live dignified and productive lives.

The Foundation is committed to creating long-term impact through educational support, mentorship, training programs, and community-based interventions that address both immediate needs and structural challenges.

Community leaders, parents, teachers, and beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting its relevance and potential to positively transform the lives of girls in Danchira.

Faithful Hearts Foundation calls on stakeholders, development partners, donors, and well-meaning individuals to support its mission of building a future where girls are educated, empowered, and able to reach their full potential regardless of their economic background.

About Faithful Hearts Foundation

Faithful Hearts Foundation is a Ghana-based nonprofit organization dedicated to raising, mentoring, educating, training, and empowering girls of school-going age, while also providing support to widows and orphans. The Foundation operates with a strong commitment to dignity, compassion, and sustainable community impact.

Signed:
Rev. Agnes Owusu
Director

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Urgent Medical Appeal: Help Save The Life Of Nurse Cindy Oppong Afriyie

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In every community, there are people who dedicate their lives to caring for others. Today, one of those heroes urgently needs our help.

Mrs. Cindy Oppong Afriyie, a committed and compassionate Senior Community Health Nurse at Amasu Health Center in Dormaa Municipal, has been diagnosed with End-Stage Kidney Disease — a life-threatening condition that now requires urgent medical treatment and a kidney transplant to save her life.

For years, Cindy has faithfully served patients with love, kindness, and professionalism. She has comforted the sick, cared for the vulnerable, and stood as a source of hope for many families during difficult times. Sadly, she is now battling for her own life.

Her condition has rapidly deteriorated, leaving her weak and dependent on continuous medical care. Doctors have confirmed that she urgently needs a kidney transplant in India and post-operative treatment, a process that comes with overwhelming medical expenses.

The total amount needed for her treatment and surgery is Seven Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 700,000).

This appeal is therefore being made to friends, family, colleagues, organizations, philanthropists, churches, and the general public to support Mrs. Cindy Oppong Afriyie in any way possible. No contribution is too small. Every donation brings her one step closer to recovery and another chance at life.

How You Can Support

Bank Transfer

Bank: Fidelity Bank
Branch: Adum Branch, Kumasi
Account Name: Portia Afriyie Oppong
Account Number: 1400272522813

Mobile Money (MoMo)

Number: 0240459094
Account Name: Portia Oppong Afriyie

 

Beyond financial donations, we also ask for your prayers, encouragement, and support during this difficult time. Together, we can help give Cindy hope again.

A woman who has spent her life saving others deserves the opportunity to live and continue her noble service to humanity.

Let us unite as one people and show compassion in action.

Together, we can save a life.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support.

 

 

Written By: Cofy Dela

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