Ghana Fuels Digital Growth through Data Strategy

 

The Data Protection Commission (ADC), operating under the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization (MoCD), recently spearheaded a two-day consultative stakeholder Validation Workshop in collaboration with Smart Africa, GIZ, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), along with other key partners to finalize Ghana’s National Data Strategy.

The two-day workshop, held at the Alisa Hotel from June 27-28, 2024, convened key stakeholders from the data ecosystems of Ghana and Benin. The participants shared experiences and insights, discussed challenges, and identified opportunities for their respective National Data Strategies. This workshop aimed to serve as a blueprint for the Republic of Benin, which is embarking on the development of its own National Data Strategy.

At the workshop's closing ceremony, Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mr. Charles Acheampong, speaking on behalf of Sector Minister Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, noted that Ghana, in partnership with GIZ and the Smart Africa Secretariat, developed the Continental Data Governance Blueprint.

 This blueprint, based on the African Union's Continental Data Policy Framework, offers clear strategies, model licenses, standards, and tools for African governments to adopt for effective data governance. Mr. Acheampong highlighted that Ghana is one of the countries implementing these measures to enhance digital skills, including data skills, through the Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA).

" Ghana has taken deliberate initiatives to digitalize the economy, believing that deploying critical IT systems and technologies acquired will best maximise the use of data by unlocking its potential, promoting data sharing, analytics, and reuse for the general public good.  With an increasing adoption of advanced technology in the management of data, the prioritisation of data governance is critical to the success of the digitization effort", he noted.

Mrs. Patricia Adusei-Poku, Executive Director of the Data Protection Commission (DPC), stressed the strategic alignment of Ghana’s National Data Governance Strategy with the country’s long-term National Development Plan and medium-term policy frameworks.

The strategy aims to achieve several key objectives: developing essential and sector-specific infrastructure, enhancing public access to data, establishing trust mechanisms across both public and private sectors of the economy, and fostering capacity-building initiatives for individuals and institutions. These goals are designed to strengthen Ghana's data governance framework and support its socio-economic development aspirations.

Mrs. Adusei-Poku also added that "good data governance strategy includes a well-designed governance program involving a Governance Team to steer the affairs and develop the data management standards and Data Stewards to implement, monitor, and enforce the related policies and procedures".

She highlighted the African Union's efforts in documenting various policies, with particular emphasis on the AU data policy.

 “African Union is documenting various policies, and the significant one in this discussion is the AU data policy. If anyone is listening to me who hasn’t downloaded the AU data policy, they should download it and see, because it details all the different project that has to happened in the region towards the digitalisation of the African continent to enable the free flow of data across the continent to power the single African market,” she urged.

 

Background

The validation workshop on Ghana's Data Strategy aims to bring together stakeholders to shape the country's future through data-driven initiatives. Focused on fostering innovation and informed decision-making, the workshop seeks to establish a collective vision for leveraging data as a strategic asset in national development.

Emphasizing inclusivity, it aims to engage diverse stakeholders from various sectors to ensure a broad spectrum of perspectives and knowledge sharing.

The workshop included a full-day technical session on June 27, 2024, where the national taskforce members conducted an in-depth review and finalized the draft data strategy. This was followed by a half-day main validation workshop on June 28, 2024, which was open to the public.

 This event marked a significant step in formalizing a comprehensive National Data Strategy for Ghana, reflecting collaborative efforts to harness data for sustainable  development and societal advancement.

 

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"I’ll extend presidential term of office to five years- Alan Kyerematen

 

Independent presidential candidate, Honorable Alan Kyerematen, has put forward a bold plan to increase the presidential term to five years and allow for the option of seeking re-election for a second term.

He made the statement during the official launch of his "Great Transformational Plan (GTP)" in Accra on Monday, June 24, 2024.

“We will amend Article 66 (1) to extend the term of the office of the President of the Republic, from four years to five years and be eligible for reelection for the second term. But under this arrangement no person shall have the right to be elected as president for more than two terms,” he emphasized 

During the launch, Mr. Kyerematen, leader of the Movement for Change (M4C), pointed out that the two main parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have extensively borrowed over the last three decades to finance their electoral promises. He argued that they have reached their limits in terms of skills and abilities and should not be re-elected.

“Both NDC and NPP have had the opportunity of being in charge of the country for the last 32 years. I believe in all sincerity that they have exhausted their competencies and capabilities and ought not to be retain in power.

“Between the two leading parties, they have over the three decades that they have been in power, resulted to extensive borrowing to finance their manifesto promises”, he said.

He stated that, with only five months remaining until the general election, citizens were still waiting for the manifestos of the two leading parties saying, “the culture of unrestrained borrowing is what has landed us into the ditch”.

Addressing the state of the economy, Mr. Kyerematen remarked that the current situation is a result of decisions made by our own actions.

“Whilst there may be a myriad of contributing factors, the tree that clearly stands out are; a failure of leadership, the divisiveness in our body politic and political space, our own unproductive attitude, behaviour and mindset as a people”, he stated.

 Mr Kyerematen said what was needed was a transformational leadership, a paradigm shifts in the governance system as well as a mindset change.  

“We have an opportunity in the General Election in December this year to cross that bridge, and move Ghana into a new era of peace and prosperity by electing me as the first Independent Candidate to become the President of Ghana.” 

The GTP, according to Alan Kyerematen "is a blueprint to Ghana’s economic transformation and outlines robust policy prescriptions and practical steps towards building an enterprise economy in the country."

Mr. Kyerematen also indicated that the introduction of the comprehensive policy framework, the GTP, aims to lead Ghana from instability to stability, growth, resilience, and ultimately prosperity.

He outlined that the GTP is structured around six interconnected clusters: Economic, Governance, Infrastructure, Social Services, Environment, Science, Technology, and Natural Resource Management, as well as Behavioural and Mindset Change.

Each cluster encompasses several pillars, thematic areas, and actionable policy recommendations. He emphasized that the GTP differs significantly from traditional party manifestos by offering precise, transparent, and action-focused policy solutions.

Speaking on Joy News, Duke Aaron Sasu, the Youth Leader and Spokesperson for the Movement for Change, urged Ghanaians to access the GTP booklet. He emphasized that it presents a comprehensive framework outlining how a presidential aspirant plans to advance the country's progress, marking the first of its kind.

According to him, what makes Alan different from the rest of the presidential aspirants is that “Alan lays down the what, the how, the why and the challenges and how those challenges should be addressed.

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Stonebwoy sues Baba Sadiq

 

Afro-dancehall star Stonebwoy, real name Livingstone Etse Satekla, has taken aspiring politician and entertainment critic Baba Sadiq (Sadiq Abdulai Abu) to court over comments made on his X page (formerly Twitter).

In a High Court writ filed on May 31, 2024, Stonebwoy, the reigning Ghanaian Artist of the Year, demands that Baba Sadiq delete the offending tweets and issue an unqualified apology for his comments.

Stonebwoy is also asking the court to award him damages of GHS 3 million for the harm which the tweets have caused to his reputation on the basis that Baba Sadiq acted maliciously and with intent to defame Stonebwoy by publishing statements that he knew to be false.

The lawsuit does not surprise those familiar with the tweets. Social media observers had voiced concerns about Stonebwoy's initial choice to ignore Sadiq's troubling remarks.

Sadiq's comments insinuated that Stonebwoy is a violent abuser of women, prompting widespread unease and ultimately leading to the legal action. Stonebwoy’s decision to take the matter to court reflects the serious nature of these accusations and the impact they have on his reputation.

The comments went viral and ignited heated discussions among fans and the general public because Stonebwoy has a long-standing record of championing women’s rights and has spearheaded several philanthropic activities aimed at supporting women.

The writ confirms that the Ghanaian icon is committed to protecting his hard-won reputation, as he has resorted to the legal system to vindicate his rights.

 

KiDi and Drew beef over TGMA award

 

The recent Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) sparked a public dispute between artists KiDi and Mr. Drew over the “Collaboration of the Year” award.

KiDi, alongside Stonebwoy, won the award for their song “Liquor,” beating out Mr. Drew’s “Case,” which featured Mophty, as well as other collaborations from Oseikrom Sikani, Amerado, King Paluta, FRA, and Akwaboah.

Mr. Drew expressed his frustration in an interview with 3music, arguing that his song was the most impactful in the category.

 He pointed out that “Case” featured an unknown artist and still managed to achieve significant success, suggesting that this should have secured him the award.

“No song was bigger or more impactful than ‘Case.’ To feature an artist that nobody knew and for the song to become that big and change both artists’ lives is the impact we are looking for. Isn’t that what collaboration means? It didn’t make sense to me,” Mr. Drew stated.

Despite his disappointment, he mentioned he has no ill feelings toward KiDi for winning the award.

KiDi responded to Mr. Drew’s comments with a sarcastic reaction video posted on X, seemingly mocking Mr. Drew's remarks. This post has since generated numerous reactions on the platform, adding to the ongoing debate among fans and the public.

The 25th Telecel Ghana Music Awards, held on June 1, 2024, was a notable event, with Stonebwoy clinching six trophies, including the coveted Artiste of the Year award.

 The awards ceremony highlighted the achievements of various artists in the Ghanaian music industry, but the controversy between KiDi and Mr. Drew has particularly captured public attention.

Mahama pledges to boost creative arts sector if elected president

  

John Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer, vowed to enhance the creative arts sector if elected president.

Amidst a meeting with industry members on June 7, he vowed to address existing challenges and revive initiatives stalled under the current administration.

Mahama urged the government to prioritize investments in the creative sector, emphasizing his commitment to implementing solutions.

He underscored initiatives initiated during his presidency that have been hindered. If elected, Mahama aims to improve conditions for the creative arts industry, offering reassurance and advocating for increased support from the government.

 “…we are going to find those solutions together. In the past we have tried to assist. We assisted to provide cars to some of you because some of you really were using trotro and other things to go around and so to protect your dignity, we asked the Ministry of Tourism to procure some cars fand distribute to you and it was just the first phase and we were going to do it in phases.

“Unfortunately, we left office and that programme has not been continued and I also hear that some of the cars were seized from you and I think it’s unfortunate,” Mahama told members of the creative arts sector in a meeting.

He continued: “Nkrumah believed in creative arts and he put money in the creative arts and I believe that government must put money into the creative arts.”

 

Ambulance case: AG advised to save himself

 

In a dramatic turn of events, the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has been advised to recuse himself from a high-stakes case involving a €2.37 million financial loss, currently unfolding at the High Court in Accra.

The recommendation came from Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe during the hearing on Thursday, June 6 ,2024. The judge stressed that removing the A-G from the case would help protect the integrity of the judicial process and bolster public confidence, ensuring that justice is perceived to be served solely within the courtroom.

Central to the judge's advice was a secret audio recording of a conversation between A-G Dame and Richard Jakpa, one of the accused in the ambulance case. The judge ruled that the contents of the recording was not related to the criminal proceedings. Specifically, she noted that Dame did not solicit Jakpa's help to strengthen the case against Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the primary accused.

Justice Asare-Botwe stated, "It is my considered view that it will be prudent to strongly advise the A-G not to be directly involved in the conduct of this case. This is one way of ensuring that the judicial process is protected and to gain public confidence and not give a perception that cases can be held at any other place except the court room."

However, the judge highlighted a portion of the audio where Dame suggested Jakpa seek a medical excuse, saying these matters fell under the General Legal Council's jurisdiction regarding lawyers' professional conduct.

Despite the ruling, Attorney-General Dame continued to lead the prosecution after the court session ended.

In an unrelated note, the case has drawn increased public scrutiny and media attention, adding pressure on the legal proceedings and the individuals involved. The coming days are expected to bring further developments as the trial progresses.

 

Free #FixTheCountry protesters”- Oliver Barker-Vormawor

 The Convenor of FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor has demanded the release of the protesters arrested at the Revolutionary Square.

Taking to his Facebook page, he claimed that three FixTheCountry activists were apprehended earlier that morning, despite having duly informed the police about the protest.

“Three FixTheCountry activists have been arrested for unlawful assembly. They have been held since morning.

“Their crime? They wrote a letter notifying the police of their protest. And Police said stop; and they said we don’t need police permission. So the police showed up to arrest them”, he wrote.

Expressing their frustration on Twitter, now X, the #FixTheCountry movement also called on the Ghana Police Service to release the arrested Ghanaian protesters.

The post on X read:

“A number of Young Ghanaians have been arrested at the Revolutionary Square where they were holding a protest, to remind Ghanaians about the conditions that led to the June 4th revolution.

“They duly notified the Police of the protest. There is no court order preventing the protest from going forth.

“The continuing opposition under this Government to the democratic right of protest, makes mockery of what we are without irony calling democracy.

“ Every day we expose our empty claims that life in Ghana today is any different from the military era. Release them now!

The Ghana Police Service is yet to inform the public about the claimed arrest.

About the June 4th Revolution protest

According to the movement, the protest was meant to commemorate the June 4th Revolution anniversary and remind Ghanaians of the conditions that led to the revolution.

The June 4th Revolution, also known as the June 4th Uprising, was a significant event in Ghana in 1979. It stemmed from a conflict between the lower ranks and officers in the Ghana Armed Forces, leading to widespread public frustration and misunderstandings within the army.

The June 4th Revolution of 1979, led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, was a pivotal moment in the country's political history. This revolution brought significant growth to many sectors of the country. One of its key benefits was restoring trust in the political system, which had been plagued by widespread corruption and nepotism under the previous administration.

Charterhouse to launch Ghana Music Hall of Fame Museum

 Charterhouse, the entity behind the Ghana Music Awards, declared the launch of a music hall of fame honoring Ghanaian musicians.

This revelation came from CEO Theresa Ayoade during her address at the 25th Telecel Ghana Music Awards.

Mrs. Ayoade revealed that the museum will be unveiled at the National Museum in the coming weeks, established to honor the contributions of Ghanaian musicians. She emphasized that this museum represents the “legacy of Charterhouse” and their ongoing commitment to the Ghanaian music industry.

Theresa Ayoade expressed profound gratitude to the partners, stakeholders, and collaborators of the Ghana Music Awards for their unwavering support over the years.

She highlighted the importance of this collective effort in making such initiatives possible and underscored the significance of the museum as a tribute to the rich musical heritage of Ghana.

The establishment of the music hall of fame aims to celebrate and preserve the achievements of Ghanaian musicians, offering a dedicated space to showcase their contributions and inspire future generations.

“To our sponsors, this journey would not have been possible without the corporate Ghana and tonight we say a heartfelt thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your support and a big thank you to all the sponsors who have been part of our journey.

“Our biggest thanks go to you, our fans who have been our biggest champion in this journey. Music is indeed one of Ghana’s biggest passion and your love for it has spurred the growth and talkability for it way beyond the night’s activity.

“Indeed your passion spurs us on to do better each year and by so doing you have made this the biggest annual event in Ghana by far,” she said on Saturday June 1.

This initiative marks a significant milestone in the history of the Ghana Music Awards and Charterhouse's enduring dedication to promoting and honoring Ghanaian music.

 

Stonebwoy Grabs Artiste Of The Year Again

 Multiple award-winning Reggae Dancehall artist and Chief Executive of Burniton Music Group, Livingstone Etse Satekla, known widely as Stonebwoy, won the top prize at the 25th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.

This is his second time winning the Artiste of the Year award, having first claimed it in 2015. The 'Into the Future' singer competed for the prestigious award against Sarkodie, Black Sherif, Kuami Eugene, King Promise, and Nacee for the year under review.

The event took place at the Grand Arena, Accra International Conference Center on 1^st June, 2024.

Stonebwoy’s achievements over the year have been outstanding, as he also won five other awards at the 25th TGMA. Recently, the superstar released "5th Dimension," his first studio album in three years.

Stonebwoy was the most awarded artist of the night, taking home awards for International Collaboration of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Reggae Dancehall Artist of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album/EP of the Year.

While receiving the award, Stonebwoy expressed his gratitude to the Bhim fans and announced he would embark on a tour with the award. He shared the joyous moment on stage with his friends and family, including his wife, Dr. Louisa Setakla, and said he was lost for words.

“I just want to say thanks to the Most High God. Thank you, mama, wherever you are, for showering your blessings upon your son. I wrote a long speech, but I am lost for words,” the musician said.

Stonebwoy also appreciated the other artists in the category for putting up a good fight and thanked his fans for their constant support.

Before he walked off stage, Stonebwoy appealed to the organizers, Charterhouse, to announce the results of the 2019 Ghana Music Awards.

The announcement was halted and eventually canceled after a fight broke out between himself and Shatta Wale, leading to their suspension for a year.

At the awards, the Best Hiplife Song was awarded to 'Y'ahite Remix' by King Paluta ft. Kuami Eugene. The Best Gospel Song went to 'Aseda' by Nacee.

Kofi Karikari ft. Eternity won Best Male Vocal Performance for 'You Are Great,' and 'Hold My Hands' by Queendalyn Yurglee won Best Female Vocal Performance.

The Best Highlife Song was 'Kweku Ananse' by Amerado, while Sarkodie won Best Hip Hop Song with 'Otan.' The Best Afrobeats Song went to 'Goodsin' by Olivetheboy, and King Promise won Best Afropop Song with 'Terminator.'

Kwesi Amewuga won Unsung Artiste of the Year, Kofi Kinaata's 'Efiekuma Love' won Best Reggae/Dancehall Song, Kuami Eugene was awarded Best Highlife Artiste, Strongman won Best Rap Performance with 'Dear God,' and Record of the Year went to 'Manodzi' by Stonebwoy ft. Angelique Kidjo.

The Best Music Video went to 'Cryptocurrency' by Kuami Eugene ft. Rotimi, Most Popular Song of the Year was 'Terminator' by King Promise, Best Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste was awarded to Black Sherif, Best New Artist went to King Paluta, Best Afrobeat/Afropop Artiste was King Promise, Nacee won Best Gospel Artiste, and Davido was named Best African Artiste.

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