9/17/07
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE German government has committed GH¢42.4 million to Ghana to support the country’s economy, agriculture and decentralisation efforts for 2007 and 2008.
The commitment consists of GH¢31.2 million financial co-operation and GH¢11.2 million technical co-operation.
That raises the total German development co-operation to Ghana since independence in 1957 to more than GH¢840 million.
The recent commitment was the outcome of a two-day Intergovernmental Negotiations on Development Co-operation in Accra between Ghana and Germany from September 13 to 14, 2007.
The Ghanaian-German bilateral development co-operation is derived from the Ghana Growth and Poverty Strategy (GPRS II) and implemented within the framework of the Ghana-Joint Assistance Strategy signed by all principal development partners.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, signed the minutes of the two-day meeting on behalf of the government, while the Head of the German delegation and Head of Department of Central Africa, part of West Africa and Madagascar, Mr Niels Breyer, signed for his country, in Accra last Friday.
The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Prof. George Gyan-Baffour, said the facility would support the national budget and decentralisation efforts.
He said the amount would be channelled towards ensuring economic development, with the focus on agriculture.
For instance, Prof. Gyan-Baffour said, the government would extend credit facilities to farmers at the grass root level, promote the marketing of agriculture produce and rehabilitate roads in farming areas.
He said the assistance was also to promote good governance, and financial and legal areas of the economy.
Mr Breyer said the negotiations had further deepened the relations between Ghana and Germany, as the delegates “showed real partnership, and had intensive, frank and fruitful discussions”.
He said Ghana had achieved a remarkable feat in its development drive, and said “Germany is happy to be part of it”.
Mr Breyer said the German government looked forward to two years of stronger co-operation with Ghana, and reiterated the commitment of his government to continuous negotiations with Ghana.
A joint press statement by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the German Embassy in Ghana, said new commitments were made to secure an annual contribution to Ghana of up to GH¢8 million annually.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
GCB DONATES GH¢200 MILLION TOWARDS GRAPHIC GOVERNANCE DIALOGUE
9/17/07
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Raymond Baxey
THE Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) yesterday presented a cheque for GH¢20,000 (¢200 million) to the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) towards the organisation of the Second Daily Graphic Governance Dialogue.
The dialogue, to be organised by the GCGL, provides a platform to highlight governance issues in Africa with the view to improving the quality of life of the people. Issues to be discussed include political, social, economic and corporate governance.
This year’s dialogue, which is on the theme: “Accelerating Regional Integration for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development”, is scheduled for September 25-26, 2007.
The Managing Director of GCB, Mr Lawrence N. Adu-Mante, who presented the cheque to the Managing Director of GCGL, Mr Ibrahim Awal, said the gesture was part of GCB’s social responsibility and in line with its desire “to see democracy entrenched in Ghana and other parts of Africa”.
“We are happy to be part of this year’s Daily Graphic Governance Dialogue and through this donation, it is our hope that the relationship between GCB and Graphic will continue to grow from strength to strength,” he said.
Mr Adu-Mante stressed that as the lead and the largest commercial bank in Ghana, GCB could not sit aloof when issues of regional integration and wealth creation were going to be discussed in Ghana and Africa, especially when no other institution like its partner, GCGL, was organising it.
Besides, he said, the dialogue was going to identify strategic goals, objectives and actions to facilitate an effective common market within the ECOWAS sub-region.
Mr Adu-Mante said the participants would be exposed to the opportunities of a common currency and steps to achieve it, identify barriers to attracting investment, explore mechanisms for promoting investment and to examine the lessons of the European Union (EU) with the view to using them as a guide to the West African integration process.
“The topics are dear to us GCB because increased investment, common currency and common markets revolve around GCB’s core business. It is for this reason that the Board and Management of GCB have decided to donate GH¢20,000 towards the successful organisation of this year’s dialogue,” he said.
Mr Awal said as the biggest media house in the country, GCGL felt duty-bound to contribute towards sustaining the macroeconomic environment in the country and Africa as a whole.
He said GCGL had more than two million readers daily, and the management used the publications to support efforts at promoting good governance and sustaining the macroeconomic environment in the country and on the African continent.
Mr Awal said this year’s theme was chosen against the backdrop that Africa had a large market and the need to contribute towards exposing the market potential of the continent with the view to creating wealth and achieving sustainable development.
He thanked the Board and Management of GCB for the gesture, and expressed the hope that the relation between GCGL and GCB, as well as their co-operation towards the Governance Dialogue, would be further strengthened in the coming years.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Raymond Baxey
THE Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) yesterday presented a cheque for GH¢20,000 (¢200 million) to the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) towards the organisation of the Second Daily Graphic Governance Dialogue.
The dialogue, to be organised by the GCGL, provides a platform to highlight governance issues in Africa with the view to improving the quality of life of the people. Issues to be discussed include political, social, economic and corporate governance.
This year’s dialogue, which is on the theme: “Accelerating Regional Integration for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development”, is scheduled for September 25-26, 2007.
The Managing Director of GCB, Mr Lawrence N. Adu-Mante, who presented the cheque to the Managing Director of GCGL, Mr Ibrahim Awal, said the gesture was part of GCB’s social responsibility and in line with its desire “to see democracy entrenched in Ghana and other parts of Africa”.
“We are happy to be part of this year’s Daily Graphic Governance Dialogue and through this donation, it is our hope that the relationship between GCB and Graphic will continue to grow from strength to strength,” he said.
Mr Adu-Mante stressed that as the lead and the largest commercial bank in Ghana, GCB could not sit aloof when issues of regional integration and wealth creation were going to be discussed in Ghana and Africa, especially when no other institution like its partner, GCGL, was organising it.
Besides, he said, the dialogue was going to identify strategic goals, objectives and actions to facilitate an effective common market within the ECOWAS sub-region.
Mr Adu-Mante said the participants would be exposed to the opportunities of a common currency and steps to achieve it, identify barriers to attracting investment, explore mechanisms for promoting investment and to examine the lessons of the European Union (EU) with the view to using them as a guide to the West African integration process.
“The topics are dear to us GCB because increased investment, common currency and common markets revolve around GCB’s core business. It is for this reason that the Board and Management of GCB have decided to donate GH¢20,000 towards the successful organisation of this year’s dialogue,” he said.
Mr Awal said as the biggest media house in the country, GCGL felt duty-bound to contribute towards sustaining the macroeconomic environment in the country and Africa as a whole.
He said GCGL had more than two million readers daily, and the management used the publications to support efforts at promoting good governance and sustaining the macroeconomic environment in the country and on the African continent.
Mr Awal said this year’s theme was chosen against the backdrop that Africa had a large market and the need to contribute towards exposing the market potential of the continent with the view to creating wealth and achieving sustainable development.
He thanked the Board and Management of GCB for the gesture, and expressed the hope that the relation between GCGL and GCB, as well as their co-operation towards the Governance Dialogue, would be further strengthened in the coming years.
Journalists urged to be guided by truth
9/20/07
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
PANELLISTS at a roundtable discussion on the media and the pursuit of truth have challenged journalists to be guided by truth, the ethics of their profession and the country’s Constitution in their reportage.
The observance of those tenets, they said, was crucial to protecting the sanctity of the journalism profession.
Furthermore, it would save journalists from unduly damaging the reputation of innocent persons, creating tension in the country and consequently falling foul of the law.
The Editor-in-Chief of the Supreme Court of Ghana Law Reports, Dr Seth Y. Bimpong-Buta, the Chairman of the National Commission (NMC), Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, the President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), Dr Letitia E. Obeng, and the Resident Director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), Ms Kathrin Meissner, made the call on Wednesday at a roundtable discussion organised by the GAAS, in collaboration with the FES.
The roundtable discussion, the first in the series, was to establish the essence of truth in journalism practice, limitations to the freedoms of speech and expression, the role of the NMC in ensuring the pursuit of truth by journalists and whether the pursuit of the truth had turned the media into tyrants.
Speaking on the topic, “The Media and the Pursuit of Truth: The Role of the National Media Commission”, Mr Adu-Gyamfi wondered whether journalists could be asked to do evidence-based journalism where “the writer commits himself/herself to only matters for whose existence he can submit proof before reasonable men and women”, as applied in the law profession.
He said the media constituted every democratic society’s best opportunity for feedback on itself and reflected the nobility and failings of society.
He stressed that the media could call all the people to action, either to reaffirm their good behaviour or work on their weaknesses, and they could also mobilise citizens to actions that furthered the aspirations of the people.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi said it was for that reason that the Constitution made elaborate provisions for the freedom and independence of the media.
He said the media could keep that position of trust “only and only if they keep the banner of truth”.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi said the NMC was mandated, among other things, to promote freedom and independence of the media and the highest journalistic standards.
He said the freedom should be used in promoting positive societal ends, saying that “the freedom must be used to showcase what is positive about society and encourage members of society to live lives worthy of praise”.
Mr Tetteh, who spoke on, “Has the Pursuit of Truth Turned the Media into Tyrants?”, noted that democracies, established or emerging, depended on the consent of an informed citizenry and the news media were a primary source of the information people needed to govern themselves.
He said to ensure that journalists were able to provide that information, many countries had established legal protections for a free press and said the 1992 Constitution guaranteed the freedom and independence of the media.
He said journalists in a free society not only had certain legal protections but also had responsibilities.
Mr Tetteh said in almost every case journalists were required to provide accurate and fair reportage, without outside influences, and said in democratic societies the news media performed an additional function as watchdogs of the activities of the executive and judicial arms of the government.
“They (the media) have kept democracies viable by giving voice to the voiceless, ensuring that the ruling majority cannot trample on the rights of a minority,” he said.
Mr Tetteh said Ghanaian journalists were doing well, but added that like any human institution, they sometimes faulted and admitted their failings and made amends.
He said the duty and responsibility of the media was to establish the truth, saying it was in recognition of this that Article One of the GJA Code of Ethics states that “The duty of every journalist is to write and report the truth bearing in mind his/her duty to serve the public.”
Mr Tetteh said the two words that came up for scrutiny and which the media had no choice but relate to constantly in their work were “truth” and “facts”.
He said the credibility of the press was linked to its commitment to truth, the pursuit of accuracy, fairness and objectivity and the distinction between news and advertising.
He said the attainment of those goals and respect for ethical and professional values might not be imposed but were the exclusive responsibility of journalists, saying that “we as journalists must bear in mind that ethical journalism is essential to the long-term success of the news media”.
Mr Tetteh commended the media for exposing wrongdoing in society and arriving at the truth through information and education.
However, he said, in spite of the GJA Code of Ethics and other instruments and documents, such as the NMC Guidelines for the Print and Electronic Media, there were excesses and mistakes which many media observers considered rather too elementary to be pardoned.
Dr Bimpong-Buta, who spoke on the topic, “Limitations to Freedom of Speech and Expression”, said the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, including freedom of the press and other media, within the meaning of Articles 21 (1)(a) and 162(1) of the 1992 Constitution, was one of the core attributes and the very embodiment of a truly democratic system of government.
Equally, he said, the limitations to the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression “is an indispensable attribute of a truly democratic society” and stressed that journalists were accountable not only to God but also the law in the performance of their duties.
Quoting several articles in the Constitution, judgements, opinions and reports on the limitations of the freedom of speech and expression, Dr Bimpong-Buta indicated that the freedom of speech and expression was not absolute.
For instance, he said, Article 21(1)(a), which guaranteed “freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media”, was subject to the provision in Article 21(4)(c) and (e).
Furthermore, Dr Bimpong-Buta said the right of the media to freedom of speech and expression and the right to publish any information about any person was subject to a limitation under Article 162(6), which required the media to publish a rejoinder by any person who lodged a complaint against the publication of any statement.
He mentioned the Criminal Libel and Sedition Law, the law of contempt of court and the tort of defamation as some of the laws that limited the freedom of speech and expression before the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution.
Dr Bimpong-Buta supported the repeal of the law of libel, since it put a person in jail when he could be made to pay adequate compensation to the aggrieved person.
However, he said where a public officer was defamed in the performance of his public duty, it was not right for him to resort to civil claims to maintain and safeguard his reputation, unless all the legal expenses incurred in prosecuting the civil claim for libel would be borne by the government or the state institution where he worked.
He said the avowed objectives of the GJA to promote high journalistic standards and media accountability would effectively be achieved only when media practitioners bore in mind that their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression was subject to limitations under the law.
Ms Meissner said the quality of reportage in the country was mixed, with some journalists presenting quality stuff and others just giving poor quality work.
She asked journalists to pursue the truth at all times, especially during next year’s general election.
Dr Obeng, who chaired the function, stressed the need for the media to uphold the truth at all times, since that was necessary to entrench democracy and promote the socio-economic development of the country.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
PANELLISTS at a roundtable discussion on the media and the pursuit of truth have challenged journalists to be guided by truth, the ethics of their profession and the country’s Constitution in their reportage.
The observance of those tenets, they said, was crucial to protecting the sanctity of the journalism profession.
Furthermore, it would save journalists from unduly damaging the reputation of innocent persons, creating tension in the country and consequently falling foul of the law.
The Editor-in-Chief of the Supreme Court of Ghana Law Reports, Dr Seth Y. Bimpong-Buta, the Chairman of the National Commission (NMC), Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, the President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), Dr Letitia E. Obeng, and the Resident Director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), Ms Kathrin Meissner, made the call on Wednesday at a roundtable discussion organised by the GAAS, in collaboration with the FES.
The roundtable discussion, the first in the series, was to establish the essence of truth in journalism practice, limitations to the freedoms of speech and expression, the role of the NMC in ensuring the pursuit of truth by journalists and whether the pursuit of the truth had turned the media into tyrants.
Speaking on the topic, “The Media and the Pursuit of Truth: The Role of the National Media Commission”, Mr Adu-Gyamfi wondered whether journalists could be asked to do evidence-based journalism where “the writer commits himself/herself to only matters for whose existence he can submit proof before reasonable men and women”, as applied in the law profession.
He said the media constituted every democratic society’s best opportunity for feedback on itself and reflected the nobility and failings of society.
He stressed that the media could call all the people to action, either to reaffirm their good behaviour or work on their weaknesses, and they could also mobilise citizens to actions that furthered the aspirations of the people.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi said it was for that reason that the Constitution made elaborate provisions for the freedom and independence of the media.
He said the media could keep that position of trust “only and only if they keep the banner of truth”.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi said the NMC was mandated, among other things, to promote freedom and independence of the media and the highest journalistic standards.
He said the freedom should be used in promoting positive societal ends, saying that “the freedom must be used to showcase what is positive about society and encourage members of society to live lives worthy of praise”.
Mr Tetteh, who spoke on, “Has the Pursuit of Truth Turned the Media into Tyrants?”, noted that democracies, established or emerging, depended on the consent of an informed citizenry and the news media were a primary source of the information people needed to govern themselves.
He said to ensure that journalists were able to provide that information, many countries had established legal protections for a free press and said the 1992 Constitution guaranteed the freedom and independence of the media.
He said journalists in a free society not only had certain legal protections but also had responsibilities.
Mr Tetteh said in almost every case journalists were required to provide accurate and fair reportage, without outside influences, and said in democratic societies the news media performed an additional function as watchdogs of the activities of the executive and judicial arms of the government.
“They (the media) have kept democracies viable by giving voice to the voiceless, ensuring that the ruling majority cannot trample on the rights of a minority,” he said.
Mr Tetteh said Ghanaian journalists were doing well, but added that like any human institution, they sometimes faulted and admitted their failings and made amends.
He said the duty and responsibility of the media was to establish the truth, saying it was in recognition of this that Article One of the GJA Code of Ethics states that “The duty of every journalist is to write and report the truth bearing in mind his/her duty to serve the public.”
Mr Tetteh said the two words that came up for scrutiny and which the media had no choice but relate to constantly in their work were “truth” and “facts”.
He said the credibility of the press was linked to its commitment to truth, the pursuit of accuracy, fairness and objectivity and the distinction between news and advertising.
He said the attainment of those goals and respect for ethical and professional values might not be imposed but were the exclusive responsibility of journalists, saying that “we as journalists must bear in mind that ethical journalism is essential to the long-term success of the news media”.
Mr Tetteh commended the media for exposing wrongdoing in society and arriving at the truth through information and education.
However, he said, in spite of the GJA Code of Ethics and other instruments and documents, such as the NMC Guidelines for the Print and Electronic Media, there were excesses and mistakes which many media observers considered rather too elementary to be pardoned.
Dr Bimpong-Buta, who spoke on the topic, “Limitations to Freedom of Speech and Expression”, said the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, including freedom of the press and other media, within the meaning of Articles 21 (1)(a) and 162(1) of the 1992 Constitution, was one of the core attributes and the very embodiment of a truly democratic system of government.
Equally, he said, the limitations to the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression “is an indispensable attribute of a truly democratic society” and stressed that journalists were accountable not only to God but also the law in the performance of their duties.
Quoting several articles in the Constitution, judgements, opinions and reports on the limitations of the freedom of speech and expression, Dr Bimpong-Buta indicated that the freedom of speech and expression was not absolute.
For instance, he said, Article 21(1)(a), which guaranteed “freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media”, was subject to the provision in Article 21(4)(c) and (e).
Furthermore, Dr Bimpong-Buta said the right of the media to freedom of speech and expression and the right to publish any information about any person was subject to a limitation under Article 162(6), which required the media to publish a rejoinder by any person who lodged a complaint against the publication of any statement.
He mentioned the Criminal Libel and Sedition Law, the law of contempt of court and the tort of defamation as some of the laws that limited the freedom of speech and expression before the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution.
Dr Bimpong-Buta supported the repeal of the law of libel, since it put a person in jail when he could be made to pay adequate compensation to the aggrieved person.
However, he said where a public officer was defamed in the performance of his public duty, it was not right for him to resort to civil claims to maintain and safeguard his reputation, unless all the legal expenses incurred in prosecuting the civil claim for libel would be borne by the government or the state institution where he worked.
He said the avowed objectives of the GJA to promote high journalistic standards and media accountability would effectively be achieved only when media practitioners bore in mind that their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression was subject to limitations under the law.
Ms Meissner said the quality of reportage in the country was mixed, with some journalists presenting quality stuff and others just giving poor quality work.
She asked journalists to pursue the truth at all times, especially during next year’s general election.
Dr Obeng, who chaired the function, stressed the need for the media to uphold the truth at all times, since that was necessary to entrench democracy and promote the socio-economic development of the country.
WEAN THE NATION OF WORLD BANK CONDITIONALITIES-OFFMAN
9/27/07
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A former President of Mauritius, Mr Karl Auguste Offman, has urged the government to wean Ghana from the conditionalities of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and rely on the country’s natural resources and expertise to develop the nation.
He asked the government to tell the WB and the IMF not to impose any conditionalities on the country whenever they were extending financial assistance to the nation, since the conditionalities mostly went contrary to the country’s development needs.
Mr Offman, who was delivering a special public lecture at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Wednesday, said the success story of Mauritius was made possible by the firm decision of that country’s government not to accept any conditionalities from the IMF and the WB whenever they were offered financial assistance.
His 50-minute lecture on, “Outlook for Africa: Possibilities of Social and Economic Development for Our Time and Future Generations”, which he delivered extempore, was greeted with a standing ovation by the students and dignitaries, including the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who was the guest of honour; the former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings; the Chairman of the University of Ghana Council, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof Clifford N.B. Tagoe, and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies, Prof Joseph R.A. Ayee.
Mr Offman is being hosted by the University Of Ghana as part of the African Presidential Archives and Research Centre (APARC), a Boston University-based research centre which brings together former democratically elected African Heads of State, public and private sector experts, as well as faculty and students of selected African and US universities to deliberate on issues affecting Africa’s democratisation and free market reforms.
Mr Offman noted that God had blessed Ghana with mineral and natural resources, as well as fertile land, fish-endowed sea and educated people, and wondered why the country was still underdeveloped.
He urged Ghanaians not to be doubtful about the future of the country, saying, “You have everything that God can bless a country with.”
Besides, Mr Offman said, the country was enjoying political stability and economic growth, while the conflict situation on the continent had also reduced significantly.
He asked the government to invest in education and small-scale industries.
Mr Offman said Ghana and Africa as a continent could take the good aspects of Western democracy but should not necessarily adopt the whole system, since Africa’s system was different from that of Europe.
He asked Ghana to take a cue from the rapid development of China, with its huge population of about 1.3 billion, based on its communist ideology.
Mr Offman said recent trade agreements, such as the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, had no “hope” for Africa.
He, therefore, called for the strengthening of South-South co-operation between Africa and Asia, which he said was significant for propelling the socio-economic development of Africa.
Touching on Mauritius, Mr Offman said his government offered partially free education and totally free medical care to the citizens, created avenues for people to own houses and cut taxes on items such as washing and grinding machines and television to ease the burden on citizens.
He said the government encouraged teamwork for the creation of wealth and shared the wealth among the citizens, indicating that 44 per cent of the national cake was given back to the citizens.
Prof Tagoe, who chaired the function, said the success story of Mauritius could be described as a miracle and noted that Mauritius was about 10 years ahead of Ghana in terms of development.
He stressed the need for Ghanaians to identify their potential and focus on developing that.
Mr Oteng-Gyasi asked the students to be guided by discipline in all their dealings, since that was one of the secrets behind the success story of Mauritius.
Prof Ayee said since its inaugural meeting in 2003, APARC had organised annual conferences, during which a wide range of issues had been deliberated and recommendations made available for the consideration of African governments and their development partners.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A former President of Mauritius, Mr Karl Auguste Offman, has urged the government to wean Ghana from the conditionalities of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and rely on the country’s natural resources and expertise to develop the nation.
He asked the government to tell the WB and the IMF not to impose any conditionalities on the country whenever they were extending financial assistance to the nation, since the conditionalities mostly went contrary to the country’s development needs.
Mr Offman, who was delivering a special public lecture at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Wednesday, said the success story of Mauritius was made possible by the firm decision of that country’s government not to accept any conditionalities from the IMF and the WB whenever they were offered financial assistance.
His 50-minute lecture on, “Outlook for Africa: Possibilities of Social and Economic Development for Our Time and Future Generations”, which he delivered extempore, was greeted with a standing ovation by the students and dignitaries, including the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who was the guest of honour; the former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings; the Chairman of the University of Ghana Council, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof Clifford N.B. Tagoe, and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies, Prof Joseph R.A. Ayee.
Mr Offman is being hosted by the University Of Ghana as part of the African Presidential Archives and Research Centre (APARC), a Boston University-based research centre which brings together former democratically elected African Heads of State, public and private sector experts, as well as faculty and students of selected African and US universities to deliberate on issues affecting Africa’s democratisation and free market reforms.
Mr Offman noted that God had blessed Ghana with mineral and natural resources, as well as fertile land, fish-endowed sea and educated people, and wondered why the country was still underdeveloped.
He urged Ghanaians not to be doubtful about the future of the country, saying, “You have everything that God can bless a country with.”
Besides, Mr Offman said, the country was enjoying political stability and economic growth, while the conflict situation on the continent had also reduced significantly.
He asked the government to invest in education and small-scale industries.
Mr Offman said Ghana and Africa as a continent could take the good aspects of Western democracy but should not necessarily adopt the whole system, since Africa’s system was different from that of Europe.
He asked Ghana to take a cue from the rapid development of China, with its huge population of about 1.3 billion, based on its communist ideology.
Mr Offman said recent trade agreements, such as the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, had no “hope” for Africa.
He, therefore, called for the strengthening of South-South co-operation between Africa and Asia, which he said was significant for propelling the socio-economic development of Africa.
Touching on Mauritius, Mr Offman said his government offered partially free education and totally free medical care to the citizens, created avenues for people to own houses and cut taxes on items such as washing and grinding machines and television to ease the burden on citizens.
He said the government encouraged teamwork for the creation of wealth and shared the wealth among the citizens, indicating that 44 per cent of the national cake was given back to the citizens.
Prof Tagoe, who chaired the function, said the success story of Mauritius could be described as a miracle and noted that Mauritius was about 10 years ahead of Ghana in terms of development.
He stressed the need for Ghanaians to identify their potential and focus on developing that.
Mr Oteng-Gyasi asked the students to be guided by discipline in all their dealings, since that was one of the secrets behind the success story of Mauritius.
Prof Ayee said since its inaugural meeting in 2003, APARC had organised annual conferences, during which a wide range of issues had been deliberated and recommendations made available for the consideration of African governments and their development partners.
NIMA NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH GROUP MAKES STRIDES
9/28/07
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A number of suspected criminals and dealers in narcotic drugs at Nima in Accra have been flushed out from their hideouts by the members of the Nima Neighbourhood Watch Group.
The operation was carried out by the group in collaboration with personnel of the Nima Divisional Police Station.
The members of the group operate during the day and in the night to ensure that suspected criminals do not converge behind public places of convenience to smoke Indian hemp, cocaine or other narcotic drugs or hatch out any criminal plans.
The Nima District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Idrissu Abu Yakubu, and the Nima Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Angwubutoge Awuni, in separate remarks commended the group for its efforts at ridding the community of criminals and restoring sanity in the area, and contended that the activities of the watch group since its formation barely a year ago had forced most of the suspected criminals out of Nima.
In a show of appreciation to the Nima Police, the Ayawaso Council of Muslim Chiefs on Wednesday organised a forum at the Nima Police Station to honour Chief Superintendent Awuni for his support to the watch group and to call for further co-operation between the police and the group in the fight against crime in the area.
The chiefs presented a letter of appreciation to Chief Superintendent Awuni, part of which read “we have noted with satisfaction the reduction in the crime rate at Nima, and this feat has been achieved with the support of the police”.
DSP Yakubu said he was “enthused about the formation of the watch group” and its efforts at fighting crime and ensuring the security of residents, stressing that “If everybody takes over his security, the criminals will not have a field day”.
He advised members of the watch group to send suspected criminals to the police station for investigation and appropriate legal action.
He stressed the need for the members of the watch group to let the rule of law prevail, since no investor would invest in the country if his or her security was not guaranteed.
Chief Superintendent Awuni thanked the chiefs for the recognition and reiterated the commitment of the police to collaborate with the neighbourhood committee in its activities.
He warned that with the support of the neighbourhood group, the police would not allow the criminals “to have a field day”.
Chief Superintendent Awuni credited the members of the neighbourhood group for flushing out the suspected criminals in the area, indicating it was they who started it and called in the police to assist them.
He urged the members to sustain their activities and continue to co-operate with the police in their efforts at fighting crime in the area.
The Chairman of the Ayawaso Council of Muslim Chiefs, Chief Imoro Baba Issa, said there had been “a drastic change of situation at Nima” courtesy the activities of the members of the watch group.
He commended members of the group for their voluntary service, saying that, “they have stopped sleeping to ensure that their fellow citizens are protected”.
The Chairman of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee, Mr Ibrahim Amadu Jibril, appealed to chiefs and other opinion leaders to desist from intervening on behalf of suspected criminals since that obstructed the work of the watch group.
He reiterated the commitment of the members of the watch group to continue to rid Nima and other surrounding areas of Maamobi and New Town of criminals.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A number of suspected criminals and dealers in narcotic drugs at Nima in Accra have been flushed out from their hideouts by the members of the Nima Neighbourhood Watch Group.
The operation was carried out by the group in collaboration with personnel of the Nima Divisional Police Station.
The members of the group operate during the day and in the night to ensure that suspected criminals do not converge behind public places of convenience to smoke Indian hemp, cocaine or other narcotic drugs or hatch out any criminal plans.
The Nima District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Idrissu Abu Yakubu, and the Nima Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Angwubutoge Awuni, in separate remarks commended the group for its efforts at ridding the community of criminals and restoring sanity in the area, and contended that the activities of the watch group since its formation barely a year ago had forced most of the suspected criminals out of Nima.
In a show of appreciation to the Nima Police, the Ayawaso Council of Muslim Chiefs on Wednesday organised a forum at the Nima Police Station to honour Chief Superintendent Awuni for his support to the watch group and to call for further co-operation between the police and the group in the fight against crime in the area.
The chiefs presented a letter of appreciation to Chief Superintendent Awuni, part of which read “we have noted with satisfaction the reduction in the crime rate at Nima, and this feat has been achieved with the support of the police”.
DSP Yakubu said he was “enthused about the formation of the watch group” and its efforts at fighting crime and ensuring the security of residents, stressing that “If everybody takes over his security, the criminals will not have a field day”.
He advised members of the watch group to send suspected criminals to the police station for investigation and appropriate legal action.
He stressed the need for the members of the watch group to let the rule of law prevail, since no investor would invest in the country if his or her security was not guaranteed.
Chief Superintendent Awuni thanked the chiefs for the recognition and reiterated the commitment of the police to collaborate with the neighbourhood committee in its activities.
He warned that with the support of the neighbourhood group, the police would not allow the criminals “to have a field day”.
Chief Superintendent Awuni credited the members of the neighbourhood group for flushing out the suspected criminals in the area, indicating it was they who started it and called in the police to assist them.
He urged the members to sustain their activities and continue to co-operate with the police in their efforts at fighting crime in the area.
The Chairman of the Ayawaso Council of Muslim Chiefs, Chief Imoro Baba Issa, said there had been “a drastic change of situation at Nima” courtesy the activities of the members of the watch group.
He commended members of the group for their voluntary service, saying that, “they have stopped sleeping to ensure that their fellow citizens are protected”.
The Chairman of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee, Mr Ibrahim Amadu Jibril, appealed to chiefs and other opinion leaders to desist from intervening on behalf of suspected criminals since that obstructed the work of the watch group.
He reiterated the commitment of the members of the watch group to continue to rid Nima and other surrounding areas of Maamobi and New Town of criminals.
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