The Daily Graphic wants a meaningful engagement between government and banks so that Ghanaians are not made to bear the burden of the Finsec levy. The paper is concerned that in the banks bid to enhance shareholders value, they will pass on the levy in the form of fee charges to customers. The paper entreats government to engage well with the banks so that there will be no increase in bank fees as it will discourage the cashless economy agenda. The paper equally appeals to the various banks to consider the proposed levy as their contribution to getting the economy out of the woods and ultimately their support to national development. Even though the Ghana Bankers Association has described the levy as hurtful to the industry, the paper asks the Association to consider sacrifices of the state having to spend twenty-one billion Cedis in strengthening the banking sector during the financial sector cleanup. The Daily Graphic entreats government to also show good faith by not making the levy a permanent one.
The Ghanaian Times joins the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu to appeal to government to intensify the fight against illegal mining otherwise known as galamsey. The paper is apprehensive that the wanton destruction of the environment by illegal mining operators if not immediately checked, will leave future generations to deal with survival problems. The Times is of the opinion that galamsey although has economic benefits for the illegal miners, the effects of their activities on the Ghanaian society far outweigh any benefits. The paper is worried about reports that galamsey activities lead to the destruction of large tracts of land and forests within a day and water bodies in an hourly basis. This the Times indicates has turned drinking water into clay and arable land unfit for farming, thereby threatening food security. The paper contends that the relentless war waged against galamsey by the President on his assumption of office seems to be failing or waning. It is therefore happy that the issue of galamsey has still not escaped the attention of prominent personalities such as the Asantehene, who is reported to have impressed on the President to up the fight against the galamsey menace.
