Several labour unions in the country began the year with nationwide strike actions.

Members of the Certified Registered Anaesthetists on January 1, withdrew their services. A letter co-signed by the President, James Nwinsagra and General Secretary, Frederick K. Kporxah explained that they took the decision because members have not been duly licenced.

The Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) on January 5, embarked on a strike action over government’s failure to pay all outstanding arrears relating to their professional development allowances.

The Union, however, at the close of Wednesday agreed to suspend its strike action after an emergency meeting at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations that involved TEWU, the Employment Ministry, Ghana Education Service (GES), Ministry of Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).

Also, on January 5, business activities at Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) depots in Kumasi came to a halt on after cocoa carriers embarked on a sit-down strike. The carriers withdrew their services due to the refusal of the companies and their mediators to raise their salary over the last five years. 

Members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) on January 6, laid down their working tools indefinitely.

On January 4, Government commenced its vaccine mandate exercise; a measure implemented to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Individuals who were unable to prove their vaccination status were not allowed into the premises of some public institutions.

The Ministry of Health was among the institutions that forbade persons without their vaccination card from entering its premises.

During the week, the Multimedia Group (MGL) organised a remembrance service for the late General Manager of Joy Brands, Elvis Kwashie.

Presenter of Joy FM’s A Walk with Jesus, Pastor Ato Acquah delivered some words of encouragement, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, a former colleague of the late General Manager, urged the gathering to emulate the unique leadership skills of Mr. Kwashie.

JoySports Editor, Nathaniel Attoh paid glowing tribute in a heartfelt elegy which left many. including himself, in tears. The Multimedia Choir also rendered some soothing tunes to honour their beloved General Manager.

At a remembrance service on Wednesday, the family spokesperson, Joshua Dzidzorm announced that the funeral rites for their beloved will begin from February 18 to 20.

Government, last year, announced that effective Tuesday, January 4, 2022, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will begin the implementation of its policy directive on the reversal of the reduction of benchmark value of imports on 43 selected items.

Following opposition from the National Democratic Congress, Vehicle and Assets Dealers Union among others, government suspended the benchmark review reversal until Thursday, January 6, according to a credible source at the Ghana Revenue Authority.

The NDC wants government to completely withdraw the reversal of benchmark value policy at the ports.

Also, the SIM card re-registration exercise directed by the Ministry of Communications during the course of the week resulted in long queues of subscribers standing in the sun for several hours before being attended to.

Subscribers who bemoaned the stressful process urged the telecommunication companies to introduce a much better way of re-registering SIM cards.

Reports reaching JoyNews revealed that the delay was as a result of challenges with the registration systems.

The MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George called out the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ministry of Communications to explore avenues that could help expand the process of the SIM re-registration.

Following this, the NCA has announced measures to ease the human congestion. The Authority announced “the deployment of various ad-hoc registration points at various public areas including lorry parks, churches, mosques, etc to ease the congestion at the customer care centres”. 

It also indicated that temporary locations at various government or state owned enterprises including NCA Regional Offices, Community ICT Centres established by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), including nationwide post offices will be created.