Author: user user

Trader relief as old bottled water stocks exempt from tax stamps surrender order

Stocks of bottled water manufactured or imported before July 1, 2026 have been exempted from a directive requiring traders and manufacturers to surrender all unused excise stamps after the commodity was removed from the list of excisable goods through the Finance Act, 2026.

‘Taxpayers holding unused V4 excise stamps for bottled water as at 1 July 2026 are required to return the stamps to the Kenya Revenue Authority in accordance with these guidelines,’ the Kenya Revenue Authority said.

‘However, taxpayers should note that bottled water lawfully manufactured or imported and stamped before July 1, 2026 may continue to be sold with the affixed stamps.’

The exemption is expected to provide relief to traders and manufacturers who may now avoid the logistical challenges of a multiple-step procedure of surrendering unused stamps.

A schedule by KRA showed that those returning excise stamps would initiate the process by logging in to the Excise Goods Management System (EGMS). Upon submission of the excise stamps return request in the EGMS system, KRA shall process the application and either approve or reject the request.

This would be followed by a physical surrender of the paper stamps before any reimbursements would be processed.

Excise duty on bottled water was charged at Sh6.41 per litre until late last month, when it was abolished by the Finance Act, 2026.

This marked the end of nearly a decade of excise taxation on one of Kenya’s fastest-growing consumer products.

As an excisable product, every bottle of water sold in Kenya was required to bear an excise stamp to track production and confirm that the requisite tax had been paid.

An excise stamp is a revenue marker affixed to excisable goods to demonstrate that excise duty -popularly referred to as the “sin tax”- has been paid by the manufacturer.

The removal of the tax came against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding bottled water market, fueled by growing health consciousness, rapid urbanisation and persistent concerns over the quality and safety of piped water supplies.

The government first introduced excise duty on bottled water through the Excise Duty Act, 2015, as part of broader tax reforms aimed at widening the tax base and increasing domestic revenue collection. The move also reflected an expansion of excise taxation beyond its traditional focus on alcohol and tobacco to include selected non-alcoholic beverages and other consumer goods.

To safeguard revenue collection, KRA requires all licensed manufacturers and importers of excisable goods to purchase digital excise stamps, which are affixed to products before they leave the factory.

The stamps, administered through the EGMS, enable the taxman to monitor production volumes, verify tax payments and curb tax evasion and illicit trade.

Initially introduced for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, the digital stamps were later extended to bottled water, juices, soft drinks, energy drinks and cosmetics as the government intensified efforts to plug revenue leakages.

Climate resilience must drive country’s agricultural agenda

A new analysis warning that a Super El Niño could threaten 500 million farmers worldwide and wipe $342 billion from global agricultural output may sound like a future crisis.

For many Kenyan farmers, it is already today’s reality. The warning underscores a lesson the agricultural sector can no longer ignore: climate resilience is no longer an environmental add-on. It has become the foundation of agricultural productivity.

About 98 percent of Kenya’s agriculture is rain-fed, meaning a failed rainy season can determine an entire harvest.

Drought has already devastated livestock herds in Turkana and Marsabit, while climate stress in Tana River has reduced pasture, milk production and household food security. Families recovering from one climate shock are often hit by another before they regain their footing.

The old distinction between productivity and resilience no longer holds. Productivity depends on resilience, and so does access to finance. Farmers who cannot withstand climate shocks become riskier borrowers, making it harder to secure the credit needed to invest in their farms.

The effects quickly spread beyond the farm. Poor harvests reduce household incomes, affect children’s education and nutrition, and leave farmers without resources to buy inputs for the next season. Floods often destroy both crops and the roads needed to transport them to market, compounding losses.

Smallholder farmers produce up to 80 percent of the food consumed in sub-Saharan Africa. When their resilience weakens, the consequences ripple through food supplies, inflation and national economies.

Livestock-dependent communities face even greater risks. While crops may recover with better rains, rebuilding herds can take years. Protecting livestock through better animal health, water access and drought preparedness is therefore central to safeguarding livelihoods.

Kenya has already begun investing in locally led climate action, supporting community projects that strengthen agriculture, water and environmental management. The next step is to treat water harvesting, drought-tolerant crops, livestock health services, climate information, solar-powered cold chains and agricultural insurance as productive infrastructure rather than optional development projects.

Shantha Bandara reappointed SLCPI President as Chamber advances regulatory reform and patient access

The Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) has announced the reappointment of Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Ltd., Director and Chief Executive Officer Shantha Bandara as its President for the 2026/27 term at the Chamber’s 65th Annual General Meeting held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo.

The event was graced by Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, as Chief Guest, together with government representatives, healthcare partners, past presidents, member companies and other industry stakeholders.

Bandara’s reappointment provides continuity to a reform-oriented agenda that has strengthened the Chamber’s governance, ethical standards and engagement with policymakers and regulators. His renewed mandate will focus on converting the progress made during 2025/26 into practical regulatory improvements that support the availability, accessibility and affordability of quality medicines in Sri Lanka.

SLCPI represents more than 70 pharmaceutical importers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Its members account for over 90% of Sri Lanka’s private pharmaceutical market, while the wider industry directly employs more than 80,000 people and indirectly supports nearly 400,000.

Reflecting on the past year, Bandara said the industry had operated amid sustained domestic and global pressure. Exchange-rate volatility, disruptions to international shipping routes, rising freight, insurance, fuel and electricity costs, and constrained consumer purchasing power placed significant pressure on pharmaceutical supply chains and business viability.

Despite these challenges, SLCPI continued to engage constructively with the Ministry of Health, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority and other stakeholders, presenting evidence-based recommendations on pharmaceutical pricing, import licence renewals and continuity of supply.

A major achievement during Bandara’s first term was the adoption of new Articles of Association following extensive consultation, legal review and member engagement. The revised Articles provide a stronger constitutional foundation for the Chamber, clarify governance structures and reinforce member rights and responsibilities.

The Chamber also formally launched the SLCPI Code of Conduct, establishing a common framework for integrity, transparency, ethical pharmaceutical promotion and responsible business practices. The Code sets standards for engagement with healthcare professionals, regulators and industry partners, strengthening accountability and public confidence in the sector.

Commenting on his reappointment, Bandara said: ‘The past year was about strengthening the institutional foundations of the Chamber and ensuring that the pharmaceutical industry had a credible and constructive voice. The year ahead must be about translating dialogue into meaningful outcomes. Our priority is to work with the Government, the Ministry of Health and the NMRA to establish a regulatory and pricing environment that protects patient access while ensuring that pharmaceutical suppliers remain viable.’

He added, ‘When the pharmaceutical supply chain comes under sustained pressure, patients are ultimately affected through medicine shortages, reduced availability and fewer choices. Our advocacy is therefore not simply about the commercial interests of the industry. It is about protecting continuity of supply and ensuring that Sri Lankans have reliable access to safe, effective and quality medicines.’

The Chamber will also advocate for regulatory improvements informed by good practices in comparable emerging and neighbouring markets. The objective is to maintain appropriate oversight and quality controls while enabling the industry to operate efficiently and respond to national healthcare needs.

SLCPI will continue implementing its Code of Conduct, strengthening the Pharma Promoters Association and supporting greater professionalism and knowledge development among medical representatives and pharmaceutical professionals. It will also advance a platform for knowledge exchange, ethical discourse and regional collaboration.

‘No single stakeholder can address the challenges facing the healthcare system in isolation. Progress requires trust-based engagement between government, regulators, healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies and patient communities. SLCPI will continue to serve as a responsible and solutions-oriented industry partner, advocating with evidence, communicating transparently and placing patients at the centre of our work,’ Bandara said.

Under Bandara’s renewed leadership, SLCPI will continue working towards an ethical, resilient and professionally governed pharmaceutical sector that contributes to a stronger and more sustainable healthcare system for all Sri Lankans.

Book by Uzbek poet published in Azerbaijani language [PHOTOS]

A presentation ceremony for the Azerbaijani-language edition of “My Life Is a Letter” by Shukhrat Arif, Chairman of the Uzbekistan Journalists’ Union and a renowned poet and publicist, has been held at the Aghdam Mugham Center, AzerNEWS reports.

The event was organized as part of the 2nd International Festival of Young Poets of the Turkic World.

The presentation was moderated by Intigam Yashar, Chairman of the World Union of Young Turkic Writers and a poet-publicist. Among the attendees were Sultan Raev, Secretary General of TURKSOY and a writer; Salim Babullaoglu, Secretary for International Affairs of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union (AWU) and a poet; Musa Kazim Arican, Rector of Ankara Social Sciences University; Muhammed Enes Kala, Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Turkiye; Akmurad Rajabov, an official of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan; as well as distinguished literary and cultural figures from across the Turkic world.

The speakers emphasized that literary and cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have developed significantly in recent years.

They described the publication of Shukhrat Arif’s works in Azerbaijani as an importantic world, strengthen literary ties between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, introduce contemporary Uzbek poetry to Azerbaijani readers, and deepen literary and cultural cooperation among Turkic event for promoting the shared spiritual and cultural values of the two brotherly nations.

It was noted that the publication represents a valuable contribution to the literary integration of the Turkic world, the enrichment of mutual translation traditions, and the expansion of cultural cooperation.

The book “My Life Is a Letter” was published as a joint project of the World Union of Young Turkic Writers and the Regional Legal and Economic Awareness Public Union. The project’s main objectives are to promote the common spiritual heritage of the Turkic world, strengthen literary ties between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, introduce contemporary Uzbek poetry to Azerbaijani readers, and deepen literary and cultural cooperation among Turkic peoples.

The book was adapted into Azerbaijani by Shahmammad Daglaroglu (Soltanov), a member of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union, Chairman of the Ismayilli Writers Public Union, and poet-publicist, together with Akbar Goshali, laureate of the International “Alash” Literary Prize and a poet-publicist.

The editor of the publication is Akbar Goshali. The advisors are Arzu Baghirova, Chairperson of the Regional Legal and Economic Awareness Public Union, and Khasiyat Rustam, Editor-in-Chief of Uzbekistan’s “Kitab Dunyasi” (Book World) newspaper and a poet-publicist.

The literary reviewers are Salim Babullaoglu, Secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union and poet-translator, and Intigam Yashar, Chairman of the World Union of Young Turkic Writers. The project coordinator is Nilufer Latif, Deputy Chairperson of the Regional Legal and Economic Awareness Public Union.

During the event, participants were given a comprehensive overview of the author’s literary career, and selected poems from the book were recited.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the guests congratulated the author and expressed confidence that this publication would pave the way for new literary projects and further strengthen cultural cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Hadjipantela highlights initiatives during his first 2-years as MEP

The approval of pound 9.2 million in funding from the European Solidarity Fund to support fire-affected areas in Cyprus, efforts to recognise the rights of lawful landowners in the occupied areas through European Union policies and efforts are underway to establish a European Agency for Rare Diseases based in Cyprus, are among the initiatives undertaken by Cypriot MEP Michalis Hadjipantela (EPP, DISY), who presented on Thursday a review of his first two years in the European Parliament during a press conference held at the EU House in Nicosia.

According to Hadjipantela, over the past two years he has played a leading role in 40 parliamentary dossiers and served on six parliamentary committees, as well as making decisive contributions in the Plenary, through which he helped shape European policies, with tangible results for Cyprus and European citizens.

In particular, the DISY MEP noted that he had served as Rapporteur and Shadow Rapporteur on dozens of legislative and budgetary dossiers, representing the European People’s Party on issues relating to the economy, the European budget, public health, the environment, energy, taxation and the European Union’s strategic autonomy, while at the same time, he made 33 speeches in the Plenary, tabled 41 written questions, took part in more than 170 institutional meetings, organised 18 political events and participated in six parliamentary delegations.

Among his activities to date, he highlighted his appointment as Rapporteur for the European Parliament’s 2027 Budget, one of the European Parliament’s most important institutional dossiers, while also noting his active involvement in the negotiations on the new Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, which will set out the European priorities for the next seven years and the level of funding available to Member States.

He also described his involvement in the Annual Report on the European Banking Union as significant, as, in his capacity as Shadow Rapporteur, he succeeded in incorporating proposals that strengthen the protection of borrowers and primary residences, particularly for vulnerable households.

He added that migration was also one of the key pillars of his parliamentary work, as, in his capacity as Shadow Rapporteur on the budgetary assessment of European financial assistance to Egypt, he helped shape a strategy that strengthens stability in the region and addresses the root causes of migration flows, while at the same time, he actively participated in the dialogue on the new European Strategy on Asylum and Migration, emphasising the need for substantial support for frontline countries, such as Cyprus and Greece, through common European policies.

He further noted that his parliamentary work also included actions and initiatives on public health, civil protection, tax simplification, boosting the competitiveness of European businesses, the international role of the euro, the green transition, energy security and support for European industry.

With regard to Cyprus in particular, Hadjipantela made special reference to the approval of pound 9.2 million in funding from the European Solidarity Fund to support the fire-affected areas of Cyprus, highlighting the importance of utilising European instruments for the benefit of the country.

He also emphasised the initiatives he had undertaken in the European Parliament on behalf of displaced persons in Cyprus, proceeding to table an amendment to the Regulation on the Common Agricultural Policy 2028-2034 at the third consecutive stage, with the aim of incorporating the issue of displaced persons into the European legislative agenda, and calling for the recognition of the rights of lawful landowners in the occupied territories through European Union policies.

He also said that efforts are underway to establish a European Agency for Rare Diseases based in Cyprus, which is, moreover, the only Member State without a European agency on its territory.

Asked about the next MFF and the debate on the EU’s own resources, Hadjipantela said that there are two proposals from the European Parliament, the first concerning the taxation of betting companies and the second an increase in taxation on cigarettes, however, these will be the subject of negotiations with the European Council and the European Commission.

‘Our aim is to complete this process by the end of the year. We are mindful that there may be a change in the French Government and that developments regarding the 2028 budget may not be so positive. So the aim is to complete it by the end of the year. We in the European People’s Party have a special group that meets once a week to discuss the budget. We know where we need to go,’ he noted.

‘We are awaiting the Irish Presidency to table its proposals. In the European Parliament, we know what our own proposals are, we are firm in ensuring that we secure what we are demanding as the European Parliament. When this budget process began, the figures were much lower than they are at present, but through tough negotiations we managed to increase them, and I believe they will remain substantial,’ he added.

Asked about the annual report on the European Banking Union and the protection of borrowers and primary residences, Hadjipantela said that the report had already been forwarded to the European Central Bank and the European Banking Federation.

‘This proposal will be sent to the Association of Cyprus Banks in the coming days, we will inform them of this proposal and await their response as to what they intend to do in the future. Should we receive no response, when I visit the European Central Bank in September and meet with Lagarde, I will inform her that the Association of Cyprus Banks is not implementing this report passed by the European Parliament and I will ask what they intend to do,’ he noted in this regard.

Asked about the RescEU civil protection programme and whether there is a link with the European firefighting centre in Cyprus, the EPP MEP said that there certainly is.

‘We are working with the RescEU centre in Brussels to identify what we need here in Cyprus. At our suggestion, the budget for civil protection has been significantly increased, so that Cyprus, which has hosted this centre in recent months, may also benefit,’ he added.

Asked about the SAFE programme and Turkey’s insistence on participating in it, Hadjipantela said that in the questions they put to the European Commissioner for Defence, together with the other DISY MEP, Loukas Fourlas, regarding whether Turkey could participate in the programme, the response was negative.

He added that the opinion of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on European Defence Readiness with a view to 2030 and the ReArm Europe needs assessment includes an amendment of his own, co-signed by other MEPs, including the German Committee Chair, which explicitly states that companies whose ultimate beneficiary is of Turkish interest will not be able to take part in this programme, while in November 2025 a European Commission spokesperson stated that Turkey is excluded from SAFE.

‘Why do we in Cyprus keep insisting that Turkey is part of SAFE? Turkey may join SAFE provided there are certain developments in the Cyprus issue, and it is one of the bargaining chips held by both the European Union and our side,’ he stressed.

In response to a question regarding the initiative to erect a memorial in the European Parliament to the victims and missing persons of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Hadjipantela said that the resolution on the memorial is on the table, ‘but given that negotiations are underway to resolve the Cyprus issue, it is a matter we can address once the situation has become clearer.’ ‘However, the resolution is there and no one can question the European Parliament’s plenary session,’ he concluded.

Dambulla Sixers end Galle Gallants’ unbeaten run

A masterful batting display by Reeza Hendricks saw Dambulla Sixers beat Galle Giants by six wickets in the second game played at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday, and end their unbeaten run in the Lanka Premier League tournament.

Galle Gallants was the only team to win their first two games played at the SSC, but a change of venue seems to have deserted their luck.

Coming at the fall of the first wicket at 26, Hendricks ensured that he remained till the end to see Dambulla Sixers home with 23 balls to spare. He paced the chase perfectly to remain unbeaten on a 37-ball 64 that comprised 9 fours and a six.

The key was Hendricks’ stand of 69 off 47 balls with Marques Ackerman (35 off 25). They were allowed to play with minimal risk due to the 29 off 11 balls cameo from Pavan Rathnayake. The finishing touches to the win was put by Gulbadin Naib who slammed 20* off six balls that included three sixes.

However, the key to Dambulla Sixers’ win was done earlier with the ball when they tied down Galle Gallants at the death, picking up four wickets for 28 in the final four overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the bowlers with 3/39 bowling at the death. Galle Gallants finished on 178-8, definitely below what they had been targeting when Chamika Karunaratne (45 off 30 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) and Dasun Shanaka (20 off 10, 1 four, 2 sixes) were going strong adding 43 off 25 balls.

Apart from Farooqi, Ackerman also played a key role by getting rid of Charith Asalanka for 25 to break a dangerous stand of 64 off 37 balls with Sam Harper (40 off 22 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes). He also picked up the wicket of Sahan Arachchige for six in the middle overs that fetched 93 runs.

Hendricks was named Player of the Match.

Scores:

Galle Gallants 178-8 (20) (Sam Harper 40, Charith Asalanka 25, Chamika Karunaratne 45, Dasun Shanaka 20, Fazalhaq Farooqi 3/39, Marques Ackerman 2/27) vs. Dambulla Sixers 180-4 (16.1) (Reeza Hendricks 64*, Pavan Rathnayake 29, Marques Ackerman 35, Gulbadin Naib 20*)

Reform Is Not the Enemy – Why NAHCON Must Not Retreat

Every meaningful reform has its casualties. Not casualties in the literal sense, but casualties of convenience-those who have prospered under weak regulation, opaque systems, and institutional laxity. It is therefore unsurprising that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s (NAHCON) latest regulatory framework has attracted fierce criticism from sections of the Hajj industry. What is surprising, however, is the determination by some commentators to portray a long-overdue attempt at professionalising the sector as an assault on enterprise.

The recent critique titled ‘A Portrait of Confusion: Inside NAHCON’s War with the Hajj Industry’ is eloquently written, but eloquence is no substitute for sound analysis. Beneath its polished prose lies a familiar argument: that regulation is inherently oppressive whenever it demands higher standards. It is an argument that mistakes inconvenience for injustice and reform for repression.

The economics of regulation are straightforward. Markets that deal with vulnerable consumers-in this case, pilgrims investing their life savings to fulfil a sacred religious obligation-cannot be left to goodwill alone. Around the world, aviation, banking, insurance and healthcare all impose high entry thresholds because failure in those industries carries enormous human and financial consequences. Hajj operations belong in the same category. They are not ordinary tourism.

For years, Nigerian pilgrims have endured stories of abandoned accommodation, delayed visas, broken promises, inflated charges, poor welfare, and operators who disappeared once payments were collected. Every Hajj season has produced complaints that damaged Nigeria’s reputation internationally. To pretend that the previous system merely required ‘minor adjustments’ is to ignore years of documented failures.

Critics have focused almost exclusively on the ?250 million bank guarantee, presenting it as evidence of regulatory excess. Yet they conveniently overlook the purpose of such guarantees. A financial guarantee is not government revenue; it is a measure of financial capacity and consumer protection. Pilgrims deserve assurance that operators entrusted with hundreds of millions of naira possess the financial strength to fulfil their contractual obligations or absorb unforeseen shocks. Serious industries demand serious capitalization.

The argument that the requirement will reduce competition also deserves closer examination. Competition is valuable only when competitors are capable. An industry populated by numerous undercapitalised firms that cannot deliver promised services offers the illusion of choice rather than genuine competition. Quality matters more than quantity.

Equally revealing is the criticism of NAHCON’s insistence on documented operational experience. Experience requirements are hardly revolutionary. Airlines require demonstrated competence before receiving operating certificates. Financial institutions undergo rigorous licensing before accepting deposits. Healthcare providers must satisfy extensive accreditation before treating patients. Why should Hajj operators, entrusted with the welfare of thousands of Nigerians in a foreign country, be subjected to lower standards?

Some critics argue that the reforms exclude newcomers. That concern deserves discussion, but it is not an argument against reform itself. Regulatory frameworks can evolve to create supervised pathways for credible new entrants without abandoning rigorous standards. The answer is refinement, not rejection.

The circular also places strong emphasis on transparency, customer complaint resolution, staff certification, emergency response planning, accommodation verification, accurate record-keeping and periodic reporting. None of these requirements can reasonably be described as anti-business. They are, in fact, hallmarks of modern consumer protection.

Ironically, even the strongest critics concede that pilgrims have suffered fraud and exploitation. Having acknowledged the disease, they object to the medicine because it tastes bitter.

Certainly, NAHCON itself must continue to modernise. Digitising licensing processes, improving internal efficiency and reducing paperwork are legitimate expectations. Regulators cannot demand excellence from operators while tolerating inefficiency within their own institutions. Reform, to retain credibility, must be reciprocal. But administrative imperfections do not invalidate the necessity of raising industry standards.

What should concern observers is not that NAHCON has acted, but that such decisive action took this long.

The era of business as usual must end. The Hajj industry cannot remain a sanctuary for weak compliance, opaque financial practices and operators whose business models depend on regulatory loopholes. Neither should the Commission become an experimental ground where vested interests dictate policy through sustained public pressure whenever reform threatens entrenched privileges.

The real beneficiaries of these reforms are not large operators or small operators. They are the pilgrims-the retired civil servant who saved for decades, the farmer who sold livestock, the trader who invested a lifetime of earnings to answer a sacred call. Their interests must remain superior to every commercial consideration.

Regulation inevitably imposes costs. But the cost of weak regulation is almost always higher. Every abandoned pilgrim, every failed accommodation arrangement, every fraudulent operator and every avoidable hardship represents the price society pays for regulatory complacency.

NAHCON’s latest reforms are therefore best understood not as a declaration of war against the Hajj industry but as a declaration of higher expectations. The Commission has effectively announced that efficiency is now the governing principle, service excellence the benchmark, and pilgrim protection the overriding objective.

Those objectives deserve scrutiny, refinement where necessary, and faithful implementation. They do not deserve caricature.

The future of Nigerian Hajj administration will not be secured by defending outdated practices or romanticising an imperfect past. It will be secured by insisting that those entrusted with one of Islam’s most sacred obligations meet standards worthy of the responsibility they bear.

The message is unmistakable: the old order has run its course. Accountability has arrived. Service excellence is the new mantra. And no amount of resistance from vested interests should be allowed to derail a reform whose ultimate beneficiaries are the Nigerian pilgrims themselves.

New Tune For Double Track System

All is not well with government’s management of the educational system as the elapsing days are beginning to show.

Having condemned the initiatives of the previous government in the educational sector, especially the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy and the double track system intended to address the surge in senior high school admissions, many thought there was a game-changer up the sleeves of the grandmasters of propaganda when they shouted their voices hoarse on the campaign trail about something new in the horizon – hot air it has turned out.

Time has proven that there is absolutely nothing to write home about the high pitched noise.

Just when the countdown for the scrapping of the double track system is on the verge of commencing, a bombshell is announced – the promised date is shifted to a period when the current government would have exited Jubilee House.

Information reaching the public yesterday was that the much-trumpeted scrapping of the double track system, a campaign entry of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2024 polls, has witnessed a metamorphosis from 2027 to 2029.

In order words, the current political administration will live with the system for the rest of their tenure.

There must be something wrong which without doubt government is hiding from Ghanaians. Is that what scamming means?

It would be better to tell Ghanaians about the realities on the ground for which reason the campaign message cannot be implemented. For now, all other stuff transmitted to us by minders of government information will be taken with a pinch of salt.

Governance is about sincerity not propaganda. The double track scrap shift date made headlines as soon as it was released because of the confidence with which government assured Ghanaians they were going to scrap the system when they condemned the novelty.

It would be in order to simply announce that the double track system is going nowhere for the lifetime of the government and just shut up, period.

The reality of governance has soon dawned on the NDC having landed power through subterfuge and outright lies about their predecessors.

Within a year and a half at the helm, the unfeasibility of promised sugar-coated policies are becoming glaring and Ghanaians are learning the art of sieving the chaff from the grains, the hard way of course.

One thing for sure is that no apologies will be rendered to Ghanaians for the failed promises.

Whatever happened to the announced cabinet approved GHS3 billion educational expansion programme sourced from government revenues and newly secured international loans including a $300 million World Bank facility as a major intervention to scrap the double track system?

What informed the rushed announcement about a timeline? Of course it was part of their stock-in-trade propaganda to present themselves as better managers of government and earn a political leverage.

We have been injured once and are twice shy, the Community Day Schools easily coming to mind. Built in nearby bushes without proper thinking about accessibility for the target groups, they remain verifiable testimonies to irresponsible governance and unthoughtful management of the state kitty.

Where are we today with the Community Day Schools?

Donald Trump reportedly backs Infantino for next UN secretary-general

US President Donald Trump wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, according to a report by the New York Post, citing a source familiar with the matter, AzerNEWS reports.

The source said Trump believes Infantino is “respected by everyone around the world” and has a unique ability to bring people together.

The report comes after Infantino strengthened ties with Trump during this year’s FIFA World Cup, where the FIFA president made several public appearances alongside the US leader. In December, Infantino also presented Trump with FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize.

Current UN Secretary-General António Guterres is due to complete his second five-year term on December 31, 2026. Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, his successor must be recommended by the 15-member UN Security Council and approved by the UN General Assembly. Any of the Security Council’s five permanent members can block a candidate by exercising their veto.

Trump has frequently criticized the United Nations for what he considers its ineffective response to major international conflicts. Since returning to office, his administration has significantly reduced US funding for the organization and withdrawn from several UN-affiliated bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO).

Last year, Trump also established a US-led Board of Peace, prompting speculation that it could serve as an alternative mechanism for international conflict resolution. The White House denied those claims at the time.

Parents warned about student ‘exchange programme’ scam

The ‘exchange programme’ scam has become a growing concern among parents, with a reported rise in cases involving university students being lured to hotels where they are asked to persuade their parents to transfer money for a ‘bank book guarantee’.

The latest case involved a business administration student at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, who lost 699,900 baht to scammers before being rescued from a hotel on Monday, according to a university statement issued on Thursday.

Acting university president Khongsak Thiangtum also clarified that the student had not been kidnapped from the university’s campus in Chatuchak district, as had been reported previously, while outlining the sequence of events.

On Sunday afternoon, the student, whose year of study was not disclosed, received a call from scammers posing as representatives of the mobile operator AIS. The call was later transferred to another scammer claiming to be a police officer from the Muang Loei police station in northeastern Thailand.

The student was falsely told they had been implicated in a nationwide fraud network and was instructed to communicate via Telegram. The gang demanded 700,000 baht as proof of innocence.

According to the university, the student was threatened and pressured into lying to their parents about being selected for an exchange programme.

The parents said their child claimed to have received a scholarship to participate in a programme at New York University and requested money for a bank book guarantee.

Trusting their child, they made three transactions – 49,900 baht, 250,000 baht and 400,000 baht – on Monday.

After being alerted to the situation, the university determined that the claim was fraudulent and reported the matter to Phahon Yothin police, who launched a rescue operation.

Investigators later located the student at a hotel in the area.

The student was safely reunited with their parents, and later provided information to investigators at the Phahon Yothin station.

A similar scam was reported last week in Pathum Thani, where two Rangsit University students were rescued from a hotel after transferring a combined 900,000 baht to scammers.

Police are continuing their investigation. No arrests linked to the scheme have been reported so far.