December 26, 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Executive Director of the Eanfoworld for Sustainable Development, an NGO, Alhaji Alhasan Abdulai, has urged the police to intensify security patrols during this festive season to prevent burglary, highway robbery and car snatching in the country.
He asked the police to “mount formidable patrol teams in towns and villages, especially in areas such as banks, forex bureaux and markets that are prone to robberies”.
Alhaji Abdulai who made the call at the annual review meeting of the organisation mentioned the Accra-Kumasi, Accra, Wa, Tamale and Bolga roads as areas prone to highway robberies.
He also cited remote neighbourhoods and bungalows as some of the areas frequented by robbers.
Alhaji Abdulai called for special security training for the police and drivers to enable them to resist burglars and robbers.
Besides, he said, “the vehicles, homes and buses could also be equipped with security features to ward off burglars and robbers”
Alhaji Abdulai noted that the police had decided to beef up security during the Christmas holidays, and indicated his trust in the ability of the police.
He appealed to the police service to act promptly on complaints lodged by victims of armed robberies to further boost the image of the Ghana Police Service.
Alhaji Abdulai called for the setting up of special security teams to fish out those manufacturing guns in the country, since that was crucial to reducing crime in the country.
He commended the government for achieving infrastructural development, good governance, freedom of speech, and for tolerating opposing and minority views.
Alhaji Abdulai wished the government, the legislature, the judiciary, security forces as well the media, religious bodies, civil society organisations, farmers and medical staff long life and prosperity in the coming year.
Friday, December 28, 2007
3 Dead pilgrims identified
December 28, 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE three Ghanaian pilgrims who died during this year’s Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been identified.
A source close to the Interim Hajj Management Committee gave their names as Hajia Maryama Ishak, from Kumasi, Alhaji Adams Alhassan, from Tamale, and Alhaji Abdulai Alhassan, from Bawku.
According to the source, Hajia Maryama died on the flight from Accra to Dubai, and indicated that the pilgrims were not aware of her state till they made a transit at Dubai.
Alhaji Adams died in Jeddah, while Alhaji Abdulai died in Mecca. All of them were between the ages of 70 and 80.
The deceased, who died through natural causes, were part of the 2,700 Ghanaian pilgrims that performed this year’s Hajj.
Muslims believe that whoever dies while performing Hajj dies as a martyr, and that God will grant him or her paradise.
The dead are buried with their white cloth used in the performance of the Hajj.
Therefore, some Muslims, especially the old, pray to God to take their souls while performing the Hajj.
Some three million Muslims from all over the world converge on Mecca to perform Hajj annually.
Indonesia leads the pact with more than 100,000 pilgrims, followed by India, Turkey and other Asian countries. In Africa, Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest number of pilgrims, sending more than 60,000 pilgrims every year.
Despite their huge numbers, those countries do not go through difficulties before, during and after the Hajj as they have the expertise in all the operational aspects, such as airline and transportation of the Hajj.
However, in Ghana, where only between 2,000 and 2,700 pilgrims perform Hajj, the pilgrims go through difficulties before, during and after the pilgrimage due to the lapses of those handling the Hajj operations.
This year was no exception as the Ghanaian pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia after the closure of the Jeddah Airport following the delay in the arrival of their flights.
Information reaching the Daily Graphic also indicates that the pilgrims are uncertain about their return journey home.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE three Ghanaian pilgrims who died during this year’s Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been identified.
A source close to the Interim Hajj Management Committee gave their names as Hajia Maryama Ishak, from Kumasi, Alhaji Adams Alhassan, from Tamale, and Alhaji Abdulai Alhassan, from Bawku.
According to the source, Hajia Maryama died on the flight from Accra to Dubai, and indicated that the pilgrims were not aware of her state till they made a transit at Dubai.
Alhaji Adams died in Jeddah, while Alhaji Abdulai died in Mecca. All of them were between the ages of 70 and 80.
The deceased, who died through natural causes, were part of the 2,700 Ghanaian pilgrims that performed this year’s Hajj.
Muslims believe that whoever dies while performing Hajj dies as a martyr, and that God will grant him or her paradise.
The dead are buried with their white cloth used in the performance of the Hajj.
Therefore, some Muslims, especially the old, pray to God to take their souls while performing the Hajj.
Some three million Muslims from all over the world converge on Mecca to perform Hajj annually.
Indonesia leads the pact with more than 100,000 pilgrims, followed by India, Turkey and other Asian countries. In Africa, Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest number of pilgrims, sending more than 60,000 pilgrims every year.
Despite their huge numbers, those countries do not go through difficulties before, during and after the Hajj as they have the expertise in all the operational aspects, such as airline and transportation of the Hajj.
However, in Ghana, where only between 2,000 and 2,700 pilgrims perform Hajj, the pilgrims go through difficulties before, during and after the pilgrimage due to the lapses of those handling the Hajj operations.
This year was no exception as the Ghanaian pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia after the closure of the Jeddah Airport following the delay in the arrival of their flights.
Information reaching the Daily Graphic also indicates that the pilgrims are uncertain about their return journey home.
Lawyer sues Hajj Committee
December 28, 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
AN Accra legal practitioner, Mr Daniyal Abdul-Karim, has sued members and advisors of the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) on his behalf and on behalf of all the pilgrims for a breach of contract.
Abdul-Karim who withdrew from embarking on this year’s pilgrimage (Hajj) following the delay by the Hajj Committee to secure flights to airlift the pilgrims, prayed the Commercial Division of the High Court to slap punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages against the members and advisors of the Hajj Committee for negligence.
A statement of claim dated December 20, 2007, requested the court to direct members of the Hajj Committee to refund the $2,300 to all the pilgrims who could not make it to Saudi Arabia.
It asked for general damages against the members of the Hajj Committee for breach of contract.
The statement also requested a declaration pursuant to Article 15 of the 1992 Constitution that the overall treatment given to the pilgrims at the makeshift camp set up by the IHMC near the airport was degrading, dehumanising and that the pilgrims were subjected to treatment which detracted from their worth and dignity as human beings.
It also asked the court for “such further and other relief” as it might seem fit.
On the breach of contract, Mr Abdul-Karim’s solicitor, Solomon Korli, said the IHMC was unable to provide aircraft at the times agreed upon (on or about December 7, 2007) until after the expiry of the official closing date of the King Abdul-Aziz Airport in Jeddah on December 14, 2007.
The solicitor said the defendants “would not have been able to transport one pilgrim but for the intervention of the government which negotiated and secured an extension of the closing date of the Jeddah Airport and arranged for additional aircraft to augment the number secured by the defendants outside of the agreed time frame”.
He indicated that as the closure of the Jeddah Airport was imminent, some pilgrims called off the trip altogether while others made alternative arrangements and travelled to Saudi Arabia by themselves.
“Notwithstanding the non-availability of any aircraft within the time frame and in rapid succession, the defendants negligently caused the pilgrims to camp in Accra under very appalling conditions. When the aeroplanes finally arrived, the entire boarding process was chaotic as pilgrims were compelled to part with various sums of money for boarding passes and were further compelled by the absence of order to struggle to board them in order to secure seats on the aircraft” the solicitor said.
He argued that the members of the Hajj Council failed to take reasonable care in preparing for the Hajj and that if the members had acted prudently, they would not have failed to procure adequate aeroplanes to transport all the pilgrims in good time to perform the Hajj.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
AN Accra legal practitioner, Mr Daniyal Abdul-Karim, has sued members and advisors of the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) on his behalf and on behalf of all the pilgrims for a breach of contract.
Abdul-Karim who withdrew from embarking on this year’s pilgrimage (Hajj) following the delay by the Hajj Committee to secure flights to airlift the pilgrims, prayed the Commercial Division of the High Court to slap punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages against the members and advisors of the Hajj Committee for negligence.
A statement of claim dated December 20, 2007, requested the court to direct members of the Hajj Committee to refund the $2,300 to all the pilgrims who could not make it to Saudi Arabia.
It asked for general damages against the members of the Hajj Committee for breach of contract.
The statement also requested a declaration pursuant to Article 15 of the 1992 Constitution that the overall treatment given to the pilgrims at the makeshift camp set up by the IHMC near the airport was degrading, dehumanising and that the pilgrims were subjected to treatment which detracted from their worth and dignity as human beings.
It also asked the court for “such further and other relief” as it might seem fit.
On the breach of contract, Mr Abdul-Karim’s solicitor, Solomon Korli, said the IHMC was unable to provide aircraft at the times agreed upon (on or about December 7, 2007) until after the expiry of the official closing date of the King Abdul-Aziz Airport in Jeddah on December 14, 2007.
The solicitor said the defendants “would not have been able to transport one pilgrim but for the intervention of the government which negotiated and secured an extension of the closing date of the Jeddah Airport and arranged for additional aircraft to augment the number secured by the defendants outside of the agreed time frame”.
He indicated that as the closure of the Jeddah Airport was imminent, some pilgrims called off the trip altogether while others made alternative arrangements and travelled to Saudi Arabia by themselves.
“Notwithstanding the non-availability of any aircraft within the time frame and in rapid succession, the defendants negligently caused the pilgrims to camp in Accra under very appalling conditions. When the aeroplanes finally arrived, the entire boarding process was chaotic as pilgrims were compelled to part with various sums of money for boarding passes and were further compelled by the absence of order to struggle to board them in order to secure seats on the aircraft” the solicitor said.
He argued that the members of the Hajj Council failed to take reasonable care in preparing for the Hajj and that if the members had acted prudently, they would not have failed to procure adequate aeroplanes to transport all the pilgrims in good time to perform the Hajj.
Ghanaian pilgrims stranded in Mecca
December 27, 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
Two thousands seven hundred Ghanaian Muslims pilgrimage to Mecca are uncertain about their return journey home.
Sources close to the Hajj Committee confirmed to the Daily Graphic that one of the pilgrims died on the flight from Accra to Dubai while two others died in Jeddah and Mecca at different stages of the journey through natural causes.
The identity of the three are being withheld until their relatives back home are informed.
Some of the pilgrims told the Daily Graphic via telephone that the members of the Interim Hajj Management Council were holding series of meetings with the airline operators on the dates for the airlifting of the pilgrims.
Sources close to the Hajj Committee said the original date for the return journey was January 7, 2008, but that date changed following the failure of the airline operators to lift the pilgrims on the first agreed date of December 7, 2007.
The sources said the Hajj Committee and the airline operators initially agreed that the pilgrims would spend about five weeks in Saudi Arabia.
However, the sources said, because the pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia just when the Hajj rites started, they could not go to Madina or spend any day before the start of the pilgrimage to make up for the days.
The sources said now that the pilgrimage was over, the pilgrims did not understand why they should be made to spend some weeks there to make up for the five weeks.
Some of the pilgrims told the Daily Graphic that they were supposed to visit Madina and spend three days there as part of the package, before they return home.
However, they said, they were unable to go to Madina because they were not sure of the time they would be coming back home, since they were supposed to move to Jeddah.
The Ghana Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr Rashid Bawa, was reported to have said the pilgrims would stay for six weeks but the aircraft liaison officer of the Hajj Committee, Alhaji Shams Kwakwa, refuted that claim.
He insisted that the airline operators were ready to fly the pilgrims back home on the agreed date of January 7, 2008 and that the Hajj Committee members were still having meetings with them on that issue.
Some 2,700 Ghanaian pilgrims are performing this year’s Hajj. They went to Saudi Arabia after the closure of the Jeddah Airport due to the delay in the arrival of their flights.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
Two thousands seven hundred Ghanaian Muslims pilgrimage to Mecca are uncertain about their return journey home.
Sources close to the Hajj Committee confirmed to the Daily Graphic that one of the pilgrims died on the flight from Accra to Dubai while two others died in Jeddah and Mecca at different stages of the journey through natural causes.
The identity of the three are being withheld until their relatives back home are informed.
Some of the pilgrims told the Daily Graphic via telephone that the members of the Interim Hajj Management Council were holding series of meetings with the airline operators on the dates for the airlifting of the pilgrims.
Sources close to the Hajj Committee said the original date for the return journey was January 7, 2008, but that date changed following the failure of the airline operators to lift the pilgrims on the first agreed date of December 7, 2007.
The sources said the Hajj Committee and the airline operators initially agreed that the pilgrims would spend about five weeks in Saudi Arabia.
However, the sources said, because the pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia just when the Hajj rites started, they could not go to Madina or spend any day before the start of the pilgrimage to make up for the days.
The sources said now that the pilgrimage was over, the pilgrims did not understand why they should be made to spend some weeks there to make up for the five weeks.
Some of the pilgrims told the Daily Graphic that they were supposed to visit Madina and spend three days there as part of the package, before they return home.
However, they said, they were unable to go to Madina because they were not sure of the time they would be coming back home, since they were supposed to move to Jeddah.
The Ghana Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr Rashid Bawa, was reported to have said the pilgrims would stay for six weeks but the aircraft liaison officer of the Hajj Committee, Alhaji Shams Kwakwa, refuted that claim.
He insisted that the airline operators were ready to fly the pilgrims back home on the agreed date of January 7, 2008 and that the Hajj Committee members were still having meetings with them on that issue.
Some 2,700 Ghanaian pilgrims are performing this year’s Hajj. They went to Saudi Arabia after the closure of the Jeddah Airport due to the delay in the arrival of their flights.
Last batch of pilgrims leaves for Mecca
December 18, 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE last batch of Ghanaian pilgrims numbering about 400 left Accra for Jeddah at about 5:40 p.m. yesterday to perform the pilgrimage, after an 11-day ordeal at the Aviation Social Centre.
That covered the whole 2,700 Ghanaian pilgrims who secured their visas as approved by the Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities to perform this year’s Hajj.
The pilgrims used six flights comprising three by 747 KABO Airlines and three by Tristar Airlines.
Few of the pilgrims had earlier on left with the Emirate Air and Egypt Air following the delay in the arrival of the flights.
The last flight, the 747 KABO Airline with 505 capacity, covered all Ghanaian pilgrims, and even accommodated some Ghanaians who secured their visas in neighbouring Benin, as well as some Beninois nationals.
The airlifting of all the contingent of the Ghanaian pilgrims is described as a miracle by members of the Interim Hajj Management Committee, Hajj agents and some pilgrims.
The first batch of 362, all of them part of the 499 who could not embark on the journey last year, who were supposed to leave on December 5, 2007, started sleeping outside the Aviation Social Centre on December 6, 2007 and the other pilgrims also added to the number.
Reports of the arrival of flights kept flowing from the Hajj committee and the government for about one week, but no flight arrived until the very last Friday, December 14, when the Jeddah Airport was officially supposed to be closed, that the ALAMA Airline, which was contracted by the Hajj committee to airlift the pilgrims, brought in one aircraft.
Following pleas by the government and the operators of ALAMA Airline, authorities of the Jeddah Airport extended the deadline for the closure for Ghanaian pilgrims to Sunday midnight and further extended it to Monday midnight.
Some of the pilgrims lost hope at a point and left for their various homes, but their agents recalled them to embark on the pilgrimage when the flights started arriving.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE last batch of Ghanaian pilgrims numbering about 400 left Accra for Jeddah at about 5:40 p.m. yesterday to perform the pilgrimage, after an 11-day ordeal at the Aviation Social Centre.
That covered the whole 2,700 Ghanaian pilgrims who secured their visas as approved by the Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities to perform this year’s Hajj.
The pilgrims used six flights comprising three by 747 KABO Airlines and three by Tristar Airlines.
Few of the pilgrims had earlier on left with the Emirate Air and Egypt Air following the delay in the arrival of the flights.
The last flight, the 747 KABO Airline with 505 capacity, covered all Ghanaian pilgrims, and even accommodated some Ghanaians who secured their visas in neighbouring Benin, as well as some Beninois nationals.
The airlifting of all the contingent of the Ghanaian pilgrims is described as a miracle by members of the Interim Hajj Management Committee, Hajj agents and some pilgrims.
The first batch of 362, all of them part of the 499 who could not embark on the journey last year, who were supposed to leave on December 5, 2007, started sleeping outside the Aviation Social Centre on December 6, 2007 and the other pilgrims also added to the number.
Reports of the arrival of flights kept flowing from the Hajj committee and the government for about one week, but no flight arrived until the very last Friday, December 14, when the Jeddah Airport was officially supposed to be closed, that the ALAMA Airline, which was contracted by the Hajj committee to airlift the pilgrims, brought in one aircraft.
Following pleas by the government and the operators of ALAMA Airline, authorities of the Jeddah Airport extended the deadline for the closure for Ghanaian pilgrims to Sunday midnight and further extended it to Monday midnight.
Some of the pilgrims lost hope at a point and left for their various homes, but their agents recalled them to embark on the pilgrimage when the flights started arriving.
First batch of Ghanaian pilgrims leaves Dec 7
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE first batch of 362 Ghanaian pilgrims, all of them part of the 499 who could not embark on the journey last year, are expected to leave for Saudi Arabia at dawn today to perform the pilgrimage (Hajj).
In all, 2,700 Ghanaians are expected to perform this year’s Hajj, which starts on December 18, 2007.
The Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) has contracted ALAMA Airline of Libya to airlift the pilgrims with two aircraft. The bigger aircraft with a 467-passenger capacity is expected to make three trips, while the smaller one, which takes 362 passengers is, on the other hand, expected to make four trips.
Meanwhile, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Accra had declined to give visas to 300 other prospective Ghanaian pilgrims, claiming that it had exhausted the 2,700 quota for Ghana this year.
The embassy had already issued 2,700 visas and returned the passports of the remaining 300 pilgrims to the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) on Thursday.
The Chairman of the IHMC, Ustaz Seidu Ahmed, told the Daily Graphic that his outfit thought that the quota was 3,000 and worked towards it, but the Saudi Embassy officials said they received instruction from the Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities that Ghana’s quota had been pegged at 2,700.
He said his outfit had written a letter through the Ghana Ambassador to Saudi Arabia requesting the extension of the quota.
Ustaz Ahmed said the Ghanaian diplomats had informed the committee that the letter had reached the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj Affairs, and was hopeful that they would receive favourable response.
Besides, he said, there had been some intervention moves from “high levels” to get the Saudi Arabian authorities to increase the quota.
Ustaz Ahmed indicated that the 300 prospective pilgrims who could not secure the visas had paid just before the October 10, 2007 deadline for the payment of Hajj fares.
He gave the assurance that if the committee failed to secure the visas for the 300 prospective pilgrims, the committee would refund their monies to them.
Reports indicated that about 500 would-be pilgrims could not secure the visas, but he insisted that only 300 people had paid to the committee.
The acting Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Hajj Agents Association, Alhaji Issah Umar Suleiman, confirmed to the Daily Graphic that the Saudi Arabian Embassy had refused the visas of 300 prospective pilgrims who had paid through them.
He, however, appealed to the relevant authorities to intervene to have the quota increased in order to guard against disappointing the 300 would-be pilgrims.
THE first batch of 362 Ghanaian pilgrims, all of them part of the 499 who could not embark on the journey last year, are expected to leave for Saudi Arabia at dawn today to perform the pilgrimage (Hajj).
In all, 2,700 Ghanaians are expected to perform this year’s Hajj, which starts on December 18, 2007.
The Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) has contracted ALAMA Airline of Libya to airlift the pilgrims with two aircraft. The bigger aircraft with a 467-passenger capacity is expected to make three trips, while the smaller one, which takes 362 passengers is, on the other hand, expected to make four trips.
Meanwhile, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Accra had declined to give visas to 300 other prospective Ghanaian pilgrims, claiming that it had exhausted the 2,700 quota for Ghana this year.
The embassy had already issued 2,700 visas and returned the passports of the remaining 300 pilgrims to the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) on Thursday.
The Chairman of the IHMC, Ustaz Seidu Ahmed, told the Daily Graphic that his outfit thought that the quota was 3,000 and worked towards it, but the Saudi Embassy officials said they received instruction from the Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities that Ghana’s quota had been pegged at 2,700.
He said his outfit had written a letter through the Ghana Ambassador to Saudi Arabia requesting the extension of the quota.
Ustaz Ahmed said the Ghanaian diplomats had informed the committee that the letter had reached the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj Affairs, and was hopeful that they would receive favourable response.
Besides, he said, there had been some intervention moves from “high levels” to get the Saudi Arabian authorities to increase the quota.
Ustaz Ahmed indicated that the 300 prospective pilgrims who could not secure the visas had paid just before the October 10, 2007 deadline for the payment of Hajj fares.
He gave the assurance that if the committee failed to secure the visas for the 300 prospective pilgrims, the committee would refund their monies to them.
Reports indicated that about 500 would-be pilgrims could not secure the visas, but he insisted that only 300 people had paid to the committee.
The acting Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Hajj Agents Association, Alhaji Issah Umar Suleiman, confirmed to the Daily Graphic that the Saudi Arabian Embassy had refused the visas of 300 prospective pilgrims who had paid through them.
He, however, appealed to the relevant authorities to intervene to have the quota increased in order to guard against disappointing the 300 would-be pilgrims.
"Arrest Hajj Council members"
December 10, 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of members of the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC), following the four-day ordeal which 2,700 would-be Ghanaian pilgrims have gone through at the Kotoka International Airport.
Mr Bartels gave the order when he visited the stranded pilgrims at the Aviation Social Centre in Accra yesterday to sympathise with them.
The would-be pilgrims have been sleeping in deplorable conditions at the place since last Friday, awaiting the committee to secure flights for them to fulfil their life-long dream of performing the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.
This year’s Hajj starts on Tuesday, December 18, and the Jeddah Airport is expected to be closed by Friday, December 14, but neither the members of the committee nor the agents seem to be sure of when the aircraft to airlift the would-be pilgrims will arrive in the country.
Mr Bartels described as unpardonable the failure of the committee to secure the flights for the pilgrims after it had taken $2,300 from each of them.
He recalled that the Hajj Council was unable to airlift 499 pilgrims to perform last year’s Hajj and that those people were yet to embark on the trip this year.
The minister noted that the Jeddah Airport might be closed by Friday and wondered how the committee could secure the flights to convey all the 2,700 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia before the deadline.
He warned that “we (the government) will arrest the members of the committee, investigate them and put them in jail if found guilty”.
He promised that the government would retrieve all the money paid by the would-be pilgrims from the committee members and give it back to the disappointed pilgrims.
Some of the pilgrims appealed to the government to intervene and secure flights for them.
One of the stranded pilgrims, Madam Ayisha Ibrahim, from Kumasi told the Daily Graphic that she had been forced, under the circumstances, to sleep on a polythene bag, which had affected her body, since she had direct contact with stones.
Madam Fuseini Iddrisu from Tamale was sad about the situation and was not sure about her fate.
The committee moved the pilgrims within the premises of the Aviation Social Centre on Sunday and erected tents, bathrooms and mobile toilet facilities for them.
However, some pilgrims felt that those facilities were just slightly better than their previous situation outside the centre.
Food sellers are in full-time business, as they are making brisk business.
Sources close to the committee indicated that the ALAMA aircraft from Libya which was contracted to airlift the pilgrims might not be able to fulfil its contractual obligation and that the committee had secured two flights from Saudi Arabia with about 500 capacity to airlift the pilgrims. Each flight is expected to go on three occasions before the closure of the Jeddah Airport.
The aircraft were expected to arrive by 1:30 p.m. yesterday but by press time the flights had not yet arrived.
Meanwhile, members of the committee were reportedly engaged in an emergency meeting outside their offices yesterday on how to guarantee the arrival of the flights.
Later, a press statement signed by Mr Bartels said the government had set up an emergency task force made of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate whether or not “monies paid by the pilgrims have been transfered for the chartering of aircraft to airlift the pilgrims”.
It said the task force was also to find out whether arrangements for the pilgrims’ accommodation had been made, whether arrangements had been made to receive them at the Jeddah Airport in Saudi Arabia.
The statement said the task force would also establish whether the 499 pilgrims who could not perform the pilgrimage last year were being given priority this year.
Meanwhile, it said, the government had through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the Saudi Arabian Government for an extension of the deadline of the closure of the Jeddah Airport to enable the Interim Hajj Management Committee to complete arrangements to airlift the pilgrims to that country.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of members of the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC), following the four-day ordeal which 2,700 would-be Ghanaian pilgrims have gone through at the Kotoka International Airport.
Mr Bartels gave the order when he visited the stranded pilgrims at the Aviation Social Centre in Accra yesterday to sympathise with them.
The would-be pilgrims have been sleeping in deplorable conditions at the place since last Friday, awaiting the committee to secure flights for them to fulfil their life-long dream of performing the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.
This year’s Hajj starts on Tuesday, December 18, and the Jeddah Airport is expected to be closed by Friday, December 14, but neither the members of the committee nor the agents seem to be sure of when the aircraft to airlift the would-be pilgrims will arrive in the country.
Mr Bartels described as unpardonable the failure of the committee to secure the flights for the pilgrims after it had taken $2,300 from each of them.
He recalled that the Hajj Council was unable to airlift 499 pilgrims to perform last year’s Hajj and that those people were yet to embark on the trip this year.
The minister noted that the Jeddah Airport might be closed by Friday and wondered how the committee could secure the flights to convey all the 2,700 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia before the deadline.
He warned that “we (the government) will arrest the members of the committee, investigate them and put them in jail if found guilty”.
He promised that the government would retrieve all the money paid by the would-be pilgrims from the committee members and give it back to the disappointed pilgrims.
Some of the pilgrims appealed to the government to intervene and secure flights for them.
One of the stranded pilgrims, Madam Ayisha Ibrahim, from Kumasi told the Daily Graphic that she had been forced, under the circumstances, to sleep on a polythene bag, which had affected her body, since she had direct contact with stones.
Madam Fuseini Iddrisu from Tamale was sad about the situation and was not sure about her fate.
The committee moved the pilgrims within the premises of the Aviation Social Centre on Sunday and erected tents, bathrooms and mobile toilet facilities for them.
However, some pilgrims felt that those facilities were just slightly better than their previous situation outside the centre.
Food sellers are in full-time business, as they are making brisk business.
Sources close to the committee indicated that the ALAMA aircraft from Libya which was contracted to airlift the pilgrims might not be able to fulfil its contractual obligation and that the committee had secured two flights from Saudi Arabia with about 500 capacity to airlift the pilgrims. Each flight is expected to go on three occasions before the closure of the Jeddah Airport.
The aircraft were expected to arrive by 1:30 p.m. yesterday but by press time the flights had not yet arrived.
Meanwhile, members of the committee were reportedly engaged in an emergency meeting outside their offices yesterday on how to guarantee the arrival of the flights.
Later, a press statement signed by Mr Bartels said the government had set up an emergency task force made of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate whether or not “monies paid by the pilgrims have been transfered for the chartering of aircraft to airlift the pilgrims”.
It said the task force was also to find out whether arrangements for the pilgrims’ accommodation had been made, whether arrangements had been made to receive them at the Jeddah Airport in Saudi Arabia.
The statement said the task force would also establish whether the 499 pilgrims who could not perform the pilgrimage last year were being given priority this year.
Meanwhile, it said, the government had through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the Saudi Arabian Government for an extension of the deadline of the closure of the Jeddah Airport to enable the Interim Hajj Management Committee to complete arrangements to airlift the pilgrims to that country.
First batch of pilgrims leave
November 28, 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE first batch of Ghanaian Muslim pilgrims are to leave for Saudi Arabia on December 7, 2007 to perform the pilgrimage (Hajj).
The date was fixed by the Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities, the body responsible for approving the dates that various countries are supposed to start arriving for the pilgrimage.
About 2,800 Ghanaians are expected to perform this year’s Hajj, which starts on December 19, 2007.
The Interim Hajj Management Committee has contracted ALAMA Airline of Libya to convey the pilgrims with two aircraft. The bigger aircraft with a 467 capacity is expected to make three trips, while the smaller one is, on the other hand, expected to make four trips.
A member of the committee, Alhaji B.B. Daddah, told the Daily Graphic that the 499 would-be pilgrims who could not embark on the pilgrimage last year would be the first to be airlifted.
He said so far the committee was about 75 per cent through with documentation and that by December 7, 2007, all the documents would be ready.
The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Gado Mohammed, asked prospective pilgrims to bear with the members of the committee, since it was the Saudi authorities who had the final say on when the flight was supposed to start arriving at the Jeddah Airport.
He said the members of the committee were equally anxious to see the smooth take-off of the pilgrims, saying that "we are praying that it will go through successfully".
"With the amount of work done so far, we believe that by the time of departure, everything will be okay", Alhaji Mohammed said.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE first batch of Ghanaian Muslim pilgrims are to leave for Saudi Arabia on December 7, 2007 to perform the pilgrimage (Hajj).
The date was fixed by the Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities, the body responsible for approving the dates that various countries are supposed to start arriving for the pilgrimage.
About 2,800 Ghanaians are expected to perform this year’s Hajj, which starts on December 19, 2007.
The Interim Hajj Management Committee has contracted ALAMA Airline of Libya to convey the pilgrims with two aircraft. The bigger aircraft with a 467 capacity is expected to make three trips, while the smaller one is, on the other hand, expected to make four trips.
A member of the committee, Alhaji B.B. Daddah, told the Daily Graphic that the 499 would-be pilgrims who could not embark on the pilgrimage last year would be the first to be airlifted.
He said so far the committee was about 75 per cent through with documentation and that by December 7, 2007, all the documents would be ready.
The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Gado Mohammed, asked prospective pilgrims to bear with the members of the committee, since it was the Saudi authorities who had the final say on when the flight was supposed to start arriving at the Jeddah Airport.
He said the members of the committee were equally anxious to see the smooth take-off of the pilgrims, saying that "we are praying that it will go through successfully".
"With the amount of work done so far, we believe that by the time of departure, everything will be okay", Alhaji Mohammed said.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Poultry prices to go up
Friday, December 7, 2007-page 31
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
POULTRY farmers in the country have predicted a sharp rise in the prices of live birds this Christmas season following increases in the prices of poultry feeds and inputs.
For instance, a bag of wheat bran has been increased from GH¢2.50 to GH¢4.50 while 50 kilogrammes of maize now sell at GH¢14.50 instead of Gh¢12 just a month ago.
Currently, one live bird sells at between Gh¢4 and Gh¢7.
The farmers expressed worry at the rise in the prices of the poultry feeds and inputs, arguing that it would compel them to increase the prices of live birds to meet their production cost.
That, they said, would kill the local poultry industry in favour of imported frozen chicken.
According to Mr Emmanuel Quaye, a poultry farmer at Odorkor in Accra, he had no option but to pass on the additional cost to consumers in order to break even.
Another poultry farmer who pleaded anonymity was utterly angry at the increases since it had the potential of affecting production of live birds.
That, he argued, was a way of strangling local poultry farmers to the advantage of their foreign counterparts.
A sales personnel at the Ghana Co-operative Poultry Farmers Association, Mrs Beatrice Asare, admitted that the increase in the cost of poultry feeds and inputs would have adverse effects on poultry farmers.
She, however, indicated that the rise in the cost of the poultry feeds and inputs followed the general economic situation in the country.
Meanwhile, consumers have expressed worry at the possible increase in the cost of live birds during the Christmas season.
A trader, Mrs Margaret Lamptey, asked the authorities to consider reducing the cost of poultry feeds and inputs to guard against the possible increases in the prices of live birds.
She hinted that she would resort to buying a small goat or frozen chicken should the price of poultry product rise sharply.
Mr Wiafe Oheneba, a shoe dealer, said he might switch to other meat sources if the price of live birds shot up.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
POULTRY farmers in the country have predicted a sharp rise in the prices of live birds this Christmas season following increases in the prices of poultry feeds and inputs.
For instance, a bag of wheat bran has been increased from GH¢2.50 to GH¢4.50 while 50 kilogrammes of maize now sell at GH¢14.50 instead of Gh¢12 just a month ago.
Currently, one live bird sells at between Gh¢4 and Gh¢7.
The farmers expressed worry at the rise in the prices of the poultry feeds and inputs, arguing that it would compel them to increase the prices of live birds to meet their production cost.
That, they said, would kill the local poultry industry in favour of imported frozen chicken.
According to Mr Emmanuel Quaye, a poultry farmer at Odorkor in Accra, he had no option but to pass on the additional cost to consumers in order to break even.
Another poultry farmer who pleaded anonymity was utterly angry at the increases since it had the potential of affecting production of live birds.
That, he argued, was a way of strangling local poultry farmers to the advantage of their foreign counterparts.
A sales personnel at the Ghana Co-operative Poultry Farmers Association, Mrs Beatrice Asare, admitted that the increase in the cost of poultry feeds and inputs would have adverse effects on poultry farmers.
She, however, indicated that the rise in the cost of the poultry feeds and inputs followed the general economic situation in the country.
Meanwhile, consumers have expressed worry at the possible increase in the cost of live birds during the Christmas season.
A trader, Mrs Margaret Lamptey, asked the authorities to consider reducing the cost of poultry feeds and inputs to guard against the possible increases in the prices of live birds.
She hinted that she would resort to buying a small goat or frozen chicken should the price of poultry product rise sharply.
Mr Wiafe Oheneba, a shoe dealer, said he might switch to other meat sources if the price of live birds shot up.
GWCL suspends demolition exercise
Friday December 7, 2007-Back Page (page 48)
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) yesterday suspended its planned demolition of unauthorised structures on its land at Weija in Accra.
The suspension was to enable the GWCL to investigate complaints by some property owners that their houses earmarked for demolition were outside the company’s land.
Consequently, surveyors of the GWCL have begun surveying the area for a possible demarcation, according to the Chief Public Relations Manager of the GWCL, Mr Michael Agyeman.
He recalled that some of the property owners whose houses were destroyed had also raised objection that their houses fell outside the property of the GWCL.
Therefore, Mr Appiah said, this time round the company wanted to avoid any complaints during the demolition exercise.
“We (the GWCL) want to be sure that we do the right thing,” he stressed.
Mr Appiah would not say when the exercise would resume, and indicated that it would restart after the investigations.
A 61-year-old retiree of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ms Victoria Quaye, whose house was affected during the demolition exercise, told the Daily Graphic that she had spent all her life savings to put up the building.
Besides, she said, she had contracted loans from the bank to complete the building with the hope that she would rent some of the rooms to offset her loan.
Ms Quaye, who looked demoralised and described herself as a single parent, appealed to relevant authorities to consider her plight and assist her to rebuild the house.
The GWCL last Thursday destroyed houses it had demarcated as illegally sited on its land in the area.
The affected families looked on helplessly as their buildings were being destroyed. That was barely 72 hours after the announcement by a combined team of the police and military to reclaim land at the Weija Dam site from alleged squatters.
Supported by heavily armed national security officials, the GWCL had marked out about 2,000 buildings sited within the catchment area of the Weija Dam.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) yesterday suspended its planned demolition of unauthorised structures on its land at Weija in Accra.
The suspension was to enable the GWCL to investigate complaints by some property owners that their houses earmarked for demolition were outside the company’s land.
Consequently, surveyors of the GWCL have begun surveying the area for a possible demarcation, according to the Chief Public Relations Manager of the GWCL, Mr Michael Agyeman.
He recalled that some of the property owners whose houses were destroyed had also raised objection that their houses fell outside the property of the GWCL.
Therefore, Mr Appiah said, this time round the company wanted to avoid any complaints during the demolition exercise.
“We (the GWCL) want to be sure that we do the right thing,” he stressed.
Mr Appiah would not say when the exercise would resume, and indicated that it would restart after the investigations.
A 61-year-old retiree of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ms Victoria Quaye, whose house was affected during the demolition exercise, told the Daily Graphic that she had spent all her life savings to put up the building.
Besides, she said, she had contracted loans from the bank to complete the building with the hope that she would rent some of the rooms to offset her loan.
Ms Quaye, who looked demoralised and described herself as a single parent, appealed to relevant authorities to consider her plight and assist her to rebuild the house.
The GWCL last Thursday destroyed houses it had demarcated as illegally sited on its land in the area.
The affected families looked on helplessly as their buildings were being destroyed. That was barely 72 hours after the announcement by a combined team of the police and military to reclaim land at the Weija Dam site from alleged squatters.
Supported by heavily armed national security officials, the GWCL had marked out about 2,000 buildings sited within the catchment area of the Weija Dam.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
ADB supports poverty reduction project
Page 47, Dec 6 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
National attention will switch towards Wa in the Upper West Region tomorrow as Ghanaians celebrate farmers,the men and women who constitute the backbone of the national economy.
It will be the 23rd in the series of the ‘Farmers Day’, a day specially set aside for Ghanaians to stand united to recognise and decorate farmers from all corners of the country, for the important role they continue to play in the national economy.
The first national Farmers Day was celebrated on Friday, December 6, 1985 at Osino in the Eastern Region. The package for the first best farmer comprised only two machetes, a pair of Wellington boots and a preset radio. The value of the awards has improved from year to year, moving from the very first one to bicycles, power tillers, tractors,pick-ups and finally to a three-bedroom house since 2002.
Now, the overall best farmer receives a three-bedroom fully-furnished house, the second best farmer takes a double cabin pick-up while the third best farmer gets a tractor and its accessories, in addition to cash prizes.
For tomorrow’s event, President John Agyekum Kufuor will deliver the keynote address on the theme, “Ghana@50: Progress and Challenges of Sustainable Agricultural Development”.
The theme, according to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest A. Debrah, seeks to give policy makers, fishers, farmers and other stakeholders the opportunity to take stock of the developments in the agricultural and fisheries industries since independence 50 years ago.
The Nandom Naa, Naa Dr Chiire Puobe Puoure VII, will chair the function, while the Catholic Bishop of the Wa Diocese, Rev. Dr Paul Bemile, the Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Issahaq Yakubu, and the Teng Dana of Wa are to respectively usher in the event with Christian, Muslim and traditional prayers.
The day will be marked at various places in the other regions and districts in honour of the hardworking farmers there.
Several organisations have donated items and cash worth millions of cedis towards the celebration.
When the Daily Graphic visited the Ministry of Food and Agriculture yesterday, some officers had already left for Wa while others were packing the remaining items, including refrigerators, television sets, machetes and Wellington boots, into a truck ready to leave for Wa.
Farmers and fishermen are to satisfy certain requirements before they are selected as best national farmers and fishermen by Agricultural Extension Agents who monitor and assess their activities at the district and regional levels.
Diversified and integrated farming operations, scale of operation, knowledge of husbandry practices, environmental awareness and relevant practices and identification of farming problems and innovation are some of the criteria considered.
Other criteria include good records keeping, adaption to new technology, farmer’s role in his community and general impression of farmer and farm.
For fishermen, their knowledge of the fisheries laws, safety at sea, conflict management, post-harvest activities and environmental management are some of the criteria used in selecting them for the position of best fishermen.
Thereafter, the selection committee tours the regions and visits the farms and fishing communities from one region to another. A regional best farmer and a regional best fisherman and their respective two runners-up are selected for each region. From the best farmers and best fishermen of the 10 regions, the National Best Farmer/Fisherman is selected after thorough screening.
Ghana’s agricultural sector is still the largest sector of the Ghanaian economy since independence. For instance, the agricultural sector employed about 56 per cent of the economically active population and contributed about 36 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 52.8 per cent of export earnings in 2006.
The agricultural sector contributes 10 per cent to government revenue, provides adequate food and raw materials to meet growing demand of the economy and plays a very crucial role in controlling inflation, according to a Ministry of Food and Agriculture document.
There are four main sub-sectors, namely crops and livestock, cocoa, fisheries, forestry and logging. It is estimated that the crops and livestock sub-sectors contribute 63 per cent to the agricultural GDP, the cocoa sub-sector 15 per cent, while the forestry, logging and the fisheries sub-sectors add the remaining per cent.
Agriculture is a labour-intensive sector and continues to be the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. However, the country still depends on the small-scale farmer, whose productivity regarding the size of acreage is low.
The government is putting measures in place to change the trend and launch the 'Green Revolution’, which has transformed agriculture in some countries in the world.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
National attention will switch towards Wa in the Upper West Region tomorrow as Ghanaians celebrate farmers,the men and women who constitute the backbone of the national economy.
It will be the 23rd in the series of the ‘Farmers Day’, a day specially set aside for Ghanaians to stand united to recognise and decorate farmers from all corners of the country, for the important role they continue to play in the national economy.
The first national Farmers Day was celebrated on Friday, December 6, 1985 at Osino in the Eastern Region. The package for the first best farmer comprised only two machetes, a pair of Wellington boots and a preset radio. The value of the awards has improved from year to year, moving from the very first one to bicycles, power tillers, tractors,pick-ups and finally to a three-bedroom house since 2002.
Now, the overall best farmer receives a three-bedroom fully-furnished house, the second best farmer takes a double cabin pick-up while the third best farmer gets a tractor and its accessories, in addition to cash prizes.
For tomorrow’s event, President John Agyekum Kufuor will deliver the keynote address on the theme, “Ghana@50: Progress and Challenges of Sustainable Agricultural Development”.
The theme, according to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest A. Debrah, seeks to give policy makers, fishers, farmers and other stakeholders the opportunity to take stock of the developments in the agricultural and fisheries industries since independence 50 years ago.
The Nandom Naa, Naa Dr Chiire Puobe Puoure VII, will chair the function, while the Catholic Bishop of the Wa Diocese, Rev. Dr Paul Bemile, the Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Issahaq Yakubu, and the Teng Dana of Wa are to respectively usher in the event with Christian, Muslim and traditional prayers.
The day will be marked at various places in the other regions and districts in honour of the hardworking farmers there.
Several organisations have donated items and cash worth millions of cedis towards the celebration.
When the Daily Graphic visited the Ministry of Food and Agriculture yesterday, some officers had already left for Wa while others were packing the remaining items, including refrigerators, television sets, machetes and Wellington boots, into a truck ready to leave for Wa.
Farmers and fishermen are to satisfy certain requirements before they are selected as best national farmers and fishermen by Agricultural Extension Agents who monitor and assess their activities at the district and regional levels.
Diversified and integrated farming operations, scale of operation, knowledge of husbandry practices, environmental awareness and relevant practices and identification of farming problems and innovation are some of the criteria considered.
Other criteria include good records keeping, adaption to new technology, farmer’s role in his community and general impression of farmer and farm.
For fishermen, their knowledge of the fisheries laws, safety at sea, conflict management, post-harvest activities and environmental management are some of the criteria used in selecting them for the position of best fishermen.
Thereafter, the selection committee tours the regions and visits the farms and fishing communities from one region to another. A regional best farmer and a regional best fisherman and their respective two runners-up are selected for each region. From the best farmers and best fishermen of the 10 regions, the National Best Farmer/Fisherman is selected after thorough screening.
Ghana’s agricultural sector is still the largest sector of the Ghanaian economy since independence. For instance, the agricultural sector employed about 56 per cent of the economically active population and contributed about 36 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 52.8 per cent of export earnings in 2006.
The agricultural sector contributes 10 per cent to government revenue, provides adequate food and raw materials to meet growing demand of the economy and plays a very crucial role in controlling inflation, according to a Ministry of Food and Agriculture document.
There are four main sub-sectors, namely crops and livestock, cocoa, fisheries, forestry and logging. It is estimated that the crops and livestock sub-sectors contribute 63 per cent to the agricultural GDP, the cocoa sub-sector 15 per cent, while the forestry, logging and the fisheries sub-sectors add the remaining per cent.
Agriculture is a labour-intensive sector and continues to be the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. However, the country still depends on the small-scale farmer, whose productivity regarding the size of acreage is low.
The government is putting measures in place to change the trend and launch the 'Green Revolution’, which has transformed agriculture in some countries in the world.
Farmers' Day at Wa tomorrow
Page 49, Dec 6, 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
National attention will switch towards Wa in the Upper West Region tomorrow as Ghanaians celebrate farmers,the men and women who constitute the backbone of the national economy.
It will be the 23rd in the series of the ‘Farmers Day’, a day specially set aside for Ghanaians to stand united to recognise and decorate farmers from all corners of the country, for the important role they continue to play in the national economy.
The first national Farmers Day was celebrated on Friday, December 6, 1985 at Osino in the Eastern Region. The package for the first best farmer comprised only two machetes, a pair of Wellington boots and a preset radio. The value of the awards has improved from year to year, moving from the very first one to bicycles, power tillers, tractors,pick-ups and finally to a three-bedroom house since 2002.
Now, the overall best farmer receives a three-bedroom fully-furnished house, the second best farmer takes a double cabin pick-up while the third best farmer gets a tractor and its accessories, in addition to cash prizes.
For tomorrow’s event, President John Agyekum Kufuor will deliver the keynote address on the theme, “Ghana@50: Progress and Challenges of Sustainable Agricultural Development”.
The theme, according to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest A. Debrah, seeks to give policy makers, fishers, farmers and other stakeholders the opportunity to take stock of the developments in the agricultural and fisheries industries since independence 50 years ago.
The Nandom Naa, Naa Dr Chiire Puobe Puoure VII, will chair the function, while the Catholic Bishop of the Wa Diocese, Rev. Dr Paul Bemile, the Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Issahaq Yakubu, and the Teng Dana of Wa are to respectively usher in the event with Christian, Muslim and traditional prayers.
The day will be marked at various places in the other regions and districts in honour of the hardworking farmers there.
Several organisations have donated items and cash worth millions of cedis towards the celebration.
When the Daily Graphic visited the Ministry of Food and Agriculture yesterday, some officers had already left for Wa while others were packing the remaining items, including refrigerators, television sets, machetes and Wellington boots, into a truck ready to leave for Wa.
Farmers and fishermen are to satisfy certain requirements before they are selected as best national farmers and fishermen by Agricultural Extension Agents who monitor and assess their activities at the district and regional levels.
Diversified and integrated farming operations, scale of operation, knowledge of husbandry practices, environmental awareness and relevant practices and identification of farming problems and innovation are some of the criteria considered.
Other criteria include good records keeping, adaption to new technology, farmer’s role in his community and general impression of farmer and farm.
For fishermen, their knowledge of the fisheries laws, safety at sea, conflict management, post-harvest activities and environmental management are some of the criteria used in selecting them for the position of best fishermen.
Thereafter, the selection committee tours the regions and visits the farms and fishing communities from one region to another. A regional best farmer and a regional best fisherman and their respective two runners-up are selected for each region. From the best farmers and best fishermen of the 10 regions, the National Best Farmer/Fisherman is selected after thorough screening.
Ghana’s agricultural sector is still the largest sector of the Ghanaian economy since independence. For instance, the agricultural sector employed about 56 per cent of the economically active population and contributed about 36 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 52.8 per cent of export earnings in 2006.
The agricultural sector contributes 10 per cent to government revenue, provides adequate food and raw materials to meet growing demand of the economy and plays a very crucial role in controlling inflation, according to a Ministry of Food and Agriculture document.
There are four main sub-sectors, namely crops and livestock, cocoa, fisheries, forestry and logging. It is estimated that the crops and livestock sub-sectors contribute 63 per cent to the agricultural GDP, the cocoa sub-sector 15 per cent, while the forestry, logging and the fisheries sub-sectors add the remaining per cent.
Agriculture is a labour-intensive sector and continues to be the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. However, the country still depends on the small-scale farmer, whose productivity regarding the size of acreage is low.
The government is putting measures in place to change the trend and launch the 'Green Revolution’, which has transformed agriculture in some countries in the world.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
National attention will switch towards Wa in the Upper West Region tomorrow as Ghanaians celebrate farmers,the men and women who constitute the backbone of the national economy.
It will be the 23rd in the series of the ‘Farmers Day’, a day specially set aside for Ghanaians to stand united to recognise and decorate farmers from all corners of the country, for the important role they continue to play in the national economy.
The first national Farmers Day was celebrated on Friday, December 6, 1985 at Osino in the Eastern Region. The package for the first best farmer comprised only two machetes, a pair of Wellington boots and a preset radio. The value of the awards has improved from year to year, moving from the very first one to bicycles, power tillers, tractors,pick-ups and finally to a three-bedroom house since 2002.
Now, the overall best farmer receives a three-bedroom fully-furnished house, the second best farmer takes a double cabin pick-up while the third best farmer gets a tractor and its accessories, in addition to cash prizes.
For tomorrow’s event, President John Agyekum Kufuor will deliver the keynote address on the theme, “Ghana@50: Progress and Challenges of Sustainable Agricultural Development”.
The theme, according to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest A. Debrah, seeks to give policy makers, fishers, farmers and other stakeholders the opportunity to take stock of the developments in the agricultural and fisheries industries since independence 50 years ago.
The Nandom Naa, Naa Dr Chiire Puobe Puoure VII, will chair the function, while the Catholic Bishop of the Wa Diocese, Rev. Dr Paul Bemile, the Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Issahaq Yakubu, and the Teng Dana of Wa are to respectively usher in the event with Christian, Muslim and traditional prayers.
The day will be marked at various places in the other regions and districts in honour of the hardworking farmers there.
Several organisations have donated items and cash worth millions of cedis towards the celebration.
When the Daily Graphic visited the Ministry of Food and Agriculture yesterday, some officers had already left for Wa while others were packing the remaining items, including refrigerators, television sets, machetes and Wellington boots, into a truck ready to leave for Wa.
Farmers and fishermen are to satisfy certain requirements before they are selected as best national farmers and fishermen by Agricultural Extension Agents who monitor and assess their activities at the district and regional levels.
Diversified and integrated farming operations, scale of operation, knowledge of husbandry practices, environmental awareness and relevant practices and identification of farming problems and innovation are some of the criteria considered.
Other criteria include good records keeping, adaption to new technology, farmer’s role in his community and general impression of farmer and farm.
For fishermen, their knowledge of the fisheries laws, safety at sea, conflict management, post-harvest activities and environmental management are some of the criteria used in selecting them for the position of best fishermen.
Thereafter, the selection committee tours the regions and visits the farms and fishing communities from one region to another. A regional best farmer and a regional best fisherman and their respective two runners-up are selected for each region. From the best farmers and best fishermen of the 10 regions, the National Best Farmer/Fisherman is selected after thorough screening.
Ghana’s agricultural sector is still the largest sector of the Ghanaian economy since independence. For instance, the agricultural sector employed about 56 per cent of the economically active population and contributed about 36 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 52.8 per cent of export earnings in 2006.
The agricultural sector contributes 10 per cent to government revenue, provides adequate food and raw materials to meet growing demand of the economy and plays a very crucial role in controlling inflation, according to a Ministry of Food and Agriculture document.
There are four main sub-sectors, namely crops and livestock, cocoa, fisheries, forestry and logging. It is estimated that the crops and livestock sub-sectors contribute 63 per cent to the agricultural GDP, the cocoa sub-sector 15 per cent, while the forestry, logging and the fisheries sub-sectors add the remaining per cent.
Agriculture is a labour-intensive sector and continues to be the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. However, the country still depends on the small-scale farmer, whose productivity regarding the size of acreage is low.
The government is putting measures in place to change the trend and launch the 'Green Revolution’, which has transformed agriculture in some countries in the world.
362 cases recorded in nine districts
Page 31, Dec 5, 2007
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
NINE District courts in Accra have settled 362 cases between January and October this year under the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.
The district courts referred 191 cases back to the traditional courts while 13 cases are still pending.
A source at the ADR Secretariat, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Accra on Monday, said 90 per cent of the cases were each mediated and settled under two hours.
The cases included civil and minor criminal cases, such as debt recovery, land, family and community disputes as well as minor assaults.
The ADR mechanism started on a pilot project in District Courts in Accra in 2005 and institutionalised as part of the country’s justice system in October, this year.
The programme was extended to the three northern regions of the country on Monday(today).
The ADR programme advocates peaceful resolution of differences through dialogue. It also spearheads community and collective approach to disputes resolution in society and community through the courts.
The source said the ADR programme had proven to be one of the most suitable ways of making justice accessible to the poor in the country.
It noted that ADR system was free, voluntary, informal and faster for persons with cases before the courts, stressing that “medium to low income earners are able to access justice at the courts through ADR”.
It stressed that the ADR mechanism had reduced the backlog of cases in the courts and consequently enhanced access to justice in the country.
According to the source, recruitment of mediators had been completed in the Western, Central, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions pending their training.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
NINE District courts in Accra have settled 362 cases between January and October this year under the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.
The district courts referred 191 cases back to the traditional courts while 13 cases are still pending.
A source at the ADR Secretariat, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Accra on Monday, said 90 per cent of the cases were each mediated and settled under two hours.
The cases included civil and minor criminal cases, such as debt recovery, land, family and community disputes as well as minor assaults.
The ADR mechanism started on a pilot project in District Courts in Accra in 2005 and institutionalised as part of the country’s justice system in October, this year.
The programme was extended to the three northern regions of the country on Monday(today).
The ADR programme advocates peaceful resolution of differences through dialogue. It also spearheads community and collective approach to disputes resolution in society and community through the courts.
The source said the ADR programme had proven to be one of the most suitable ways of making justice accessible to the poor in the country.
It noted that ADR system was free, voluntary, informal and faster for persons with cases before the courts, stressing that “medium to low income earners are able to access justice at the courts through ADR”.
It stressed that the ADR mechanism had reduced the backlog of cases in the courts and consequently enhanced access to justice in the country.
According to the source, recruitment of mediators had been completed in the Western, Central, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions pending their training.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Trust Bank to expand network
Tuesday, December 4, 2007-page 34
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Trust Bank Limited (ttb) is to expand its branch network in the country to further provide quality banking services to its customers.
Consequently, the management of ttb will open four outlets before the end of this year.
The Managing Director of ttb, Mr Isaac Owusu-Hemeng, who made this known at the end-of-year customer cocktail in Accra on Friday, said management was also taking steps to improve on the bank’s customer and service by engaging well-trained front line young executives.
The cocktail was to afford the platform to inform customers on the operations of the bank and solicit suggestions from customers, with the view to channelling a mutually beneficial cause for the bank.
Mr Owusu-Hemeng said his outfit was making efforts to ensure that ttb was “technologically ready” to join the National Switch and Smartcard Payment System (E-Zwitch) being rolled out by the Central Bank early next year.
“This system will enable ttb to join the nationwide shared ATM platform that will enable you to use our branded cards on all ATMs within Ghana as well as at point of sale terminals in all accredited retail shops,” he said.
Mr Owusu-Hemeng assured the customers that ttb was pursuing strategic steps to ensure that it was well positioned to take advantage of the growing business opportunities created by the positive improvement in the present macro-economic environment.
For instance, he said, ttb was entering into a strategic alliance with another financial service provider aimed at ensuring its long-term sustainability and profitability to meet the growing needs of customers.
He said despite the huge challenges faced by the banking sector this year (2207), ttb performance for the year was consistent with its budget projections and expected to meet the year end profit targets.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Trust Bank Limited (ttb) is to expand its branch network in the country to further provide quality banking services to its customers.
Consequently, the management of ttb will open four outlets before the end of this year.
The Managing Director of ttb, Mr Isaac Owusu-Hemeng, who made this known at the end-of-year customer cocktail in Accra on Friday, said management was also taking steps to improve on the bank’s customer and service by engaging well-trained front line young executives.
The cocktail was to afford the platform to inform customers on the operations of the bank and solicit suggestions from customers, with the view to channelling a mutually beneficial cause for the bank.
Mr Owusu-Hemeng said his outfit was making efforts to ensure that ttb was “technologically ready” to join the National Switch and Smartcard Payment System (E-Zwitch) being rolled out by the Central Bank early next year.
“This system will enable ttb to join the nationwide shared ATM platform that will enable you to use our branded cards on all ATMs within Ghana as well as at point of sale terminals in all accredited retail shops,” he said.
Mr Owusu-Hemeng assured the customers that ttb was pursuing strategic steps to ensure that it was well positioned to take advantage of the growing business opportunities created by the positive improvement in the present macro-economic environment.
For instance, he said, ttb was entering into a strategic alliance with another financial service provider aimed at ensuring its long-term sustainability and profitability to meet the growing needs of customers.
He said despite the huge challenges faced by the banking sector this year (2207), ttb performance for the year was consistent with its budget projections and expected to meet the year end profit targets.
NGO to collaborate with Barclays Bank
Tuesday, December 4, 2007-page 29
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Eanfoworld for Sustainable Development, an NGO, will collaborate with Barclays Bank to undertake clean-up exercises and offer free medical check up for the residents of Nima and Maamobi.
The Executive Chairman of Eanfoworld, Alhaji Alhasan Abdulai, said the free medical check up would particularly target the aged and orphans in the two communities.
He was addressing residents of Maamobi, a suburb of Accra, at the forecourt of the Barclays’ new branch in the area.
The meeting jointly organised by Eanfoworld and Barclays Bank and attended by chiefs, Imams, traders,women and youth organisations, was to inform the people on the operations of the bank.
Alhaji Abdulai said his outfit would seek the assistance of assemblymembers, chiefs, women and youth organisations in the organisation of the programmes.
"We shall also engage in counselling on business and health issues. This is because we believe that good health is tied to productivity", he said.
He said Eanfoworld had planned a customer's forum on regional basis to be addressed by the managing director of Barclays Bank and her assistants, as a way of making the people "healthier and happier, and drawing closer to Barclays Bank".
Alhaji Abdulai urged Muslims to cultivate the habit of saving since that was crucial to their survival as a people.
According to him, they could use their savings to fund their children's education, maintain personal hygiene and keep their surroundings clean to guard against the emergence of diseases.
"Savings culture is the route to individual and national development", he said.
The Head of Customer Service in-charge of Retail of Barclays, Mrs Margaret Takyi-Micah, said Barclays had been in existence for 300 years in the world and 90 years in Ghana, and had enriched the experience and security of the bank.
She, therefore, asked the people to save with the bank to reap the numerous benefits that the bank offered.
The Maamobi Branch Manager, Ms Christie Amoah, metioned savings, current accounts, business account, instant, high rate savings and high rate account as some of the products of the bank.
The Chairman of the Ayawaso Council of Muslim chiefs, Chief Imoro Baba Issa, who chaired the function, stressed the need for the people to save their money at the bank to avoid losing their money through robbery or any other means.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Eanfoworld for Sustainable Development, an NGO, will collaborate with Barclays Bank to undertake clean-up exercises and offer free medical check up for the residents of Nima and Maamobi.
The Executive Chairman of Eanfoworld, Alhaji Alhasan Abdulai, said the free medical check up would particularly target the aged and orphans in the two communities.
He was addressing residents of Maamobi, a suburb of Accra, at the forecourt of the Barclays’ new branch in the area.
The meeting jointly organised by Eanfoworld and Barclays Bank and attended by chiefs, Imams, traders,women and youth organisations, was to inform the people on the operations of the bank.
Alhaji Abdulai said his outfit would seek the assistance of assemblymembers, chiefs, women and youth organisations in the organisation of the programmes.
"We shall also engage in counselling on business and health issues. This is because we believe that good health is tied to productivity", he said.
He said Eanfoworld had planned a customer's forum on regional basis to be addressed by the managing director of Barclays Bank and her assistants, as a way of making the people "healthier and happier, and drawing closer to Barclays Bank".
Alhaji Abdulai urged Muslims to cultivate the habit of saving since that was crucial to their survival as a people.
According to him, they could use their savings to fund their children's education, maintain personal hygiene and keep their surroundings clean to guard against the emergence of diseases.
"Savings culture is the route to individual and national development", he said.
The Head of Customer Service in-charge of Retail of Barclays, Mrs Margaret Takyi-Micah, said Barclays had been in existence for 300 years in the world and 90 years in Ghana, and had enriched the experience and security of the bank.
She, therefore, asked the people to save with the bank to reap the numerous benefits that the bank offered.
The Maamobi Branch Manager, Ms Christie Amoah, metioned savings, current accounts, business account, instant, high rate savings and high rate account as some of the products of the bank.
The Chairman of the Ayawaso Council of Muslim chiefs, Chief Imoro Baba Issa, who chaired the function, stressed the need for the people to save their money at the bank to avoid losing their money through robbery or any other means.
Ashaiman, Adenta to be separate municipalities
Tuesday, December 4, 2007-Back Page (page 48)
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE President, in consultation with the Electoral Commission (EC), has replaced the Executive Instrument (EI) establishing the Adenta Assembly with another one creating the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly and the Adenta Municipal Assembly.
The Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said the Legislative Instrument (LI) establishing the new metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies had also been withdrawn from Parliament.
He said the President’s decision to separate the two areas was in line with due process and demonstrated that Mr Kufuor was a listening President.
According to him, the withdrawal of the LI had given the government an opportunity to consider some areas of concern, with the view to addressing those concerns.
Explaining the rationale behind the withdrawal, Mr Adjei-Darko said it did not mean that the districts would no longer be created.
Rather, he said, it was because his ministry could not distribute enough copies of the LI to the Members of Parliament (MPs) nine days after laying it, contrary to parliamentary procedure which required copies to be distributed to all MPs two days after laying the LI.
He attributed the delay in the distribution of the copies to the inability of the Assembly Press to print enough copies of the LI because it was at the same time printing the budget statement.
Mr Adjei-Darko said he took the decision to withdraw the LI and re-lay it this week after discussions with the Parliamentary Subsidiary Legislation Committee.
Meanwhile, he said, following the withdrawal of the LI, the EC had despatched its officers to take another look at three places where there had been protests over the siting of the capitals of the new districts.
He said the ministry would wait for the advice of the EC before sending the LI back to Parliament, adding that the EC could not influence the decision of the government.
President J.A. Kufuor last month by an LI created 25 new districts, three municipalities and upgraded 26 existing districts to municipalities while Tema and Cape Coast have been raised to the status of metropolitan assemblies.
After the announcement, a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, argued that the creation of the new districts, municipalities and metropolitan assemblies by the government was illegal since it was the EC which was mandated by the Constitution to demarcate and create new areas.
The issue also came up in Parliament, and the Minority in Parliament questioned the genuineness of the LI laid before the House which sought to give legal backing for the creation of the new districts and municipalities.
They expressed worry that though the instruments were not ready, they were laid before the House.
The Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Osei Aidoo, indicated that the instruments were shown him before they were laid before the House and that since they had already been laid, they could come into effect after 21 days.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, however, disagreed with the claim and said since the instruments were not properly laid, they could not be effective after 21 days.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE President, in consultation with the Electoral Commission (EC), has replaced the Executive Instrument (EI) establishing the Adenta Assembly with another one creating the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly and the Adenta Municipal Assembly.
The Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said the Legislative Instrument (LI) establishing the new metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies had also been withdrawn from Parliament.
He said the President’s decision to separate the two areas was in line with due process and demonstrated that Mr Kufuor was a listening President.
According to him, the withdrawal of the LI had given the government an opportunity to consider some areas of concern, with the view to addressing those concerns.
Explaining the rationale behind the withdrawal, Mr Adjei-Darko said it did not mean that the districts would no longer be created.
Rather, he said, it was because his ministry could not distribute enough copies of the LI to the Members of Parliament (MPs) nine days after laying it, contrary to parliamentary procedure which required copies to be distributed to all MPs two days after laying the LI.
He attributed the delay in the distribution of the copies to the inability of the Assembly Press to print enough copies of the LI because it was at the same time printing the budget statement.
Mr Adjei-Darko said he took the decision to withdraw the LI and re-lay it this week after discussions with the Parliamentary Subsidiary Legislation Committee.
Meanwhile, he said, following the withdrawal of the LI, the EC had despatched its officers to take another look at three places where there had been protests over the siting of the capitals of the new districts.
He said the ministry would wait for the advice of the EC before sending the LI back to Parliament, adding that the EC could not influence the decision of the government.
President J.A. Kufuor last month by an LI created 25 new districts, three municipalities and upgraded 26 existing districts to municipalities while Tema and Cape Coast have been raised to the status of metropolitan assemblies.
After the announcement, a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, argued that the creation of the new districts, municipalities and metropolitan assemblies by the government was illegal since it was the EC which was mandated by the Constitution to demarcate and create new areas.
The issue also came up in Parliament, and the Minority in Parliament questioned the genuineness of the LI laid before the House which sought to give legal backing for the creation of the new districts and municipalities.
They expressed worry that though the instruments were not ready, they were laid before the House.
The Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Osei Aidoo, indicated that the instruments were shown him before they were laid before the House and that since they had already been laid, they could come into effect after 21 days.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, however, disagreed with the claim and said since the instruments were not properly laid, they could not be effective after 21 days.
Ankaful Maximum Security Prison nearing completion
Saturday, December 1, 2007-Bac Page (Page 32)
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Paul Akweterh Mensah
WORK on the first maximum security prison in the country, located at Ankaful in the Central Region, is 70 per cent complete.
Part of the 2,000-capacity prison is expected to be completed to be operational by December this year.
The complete project, comprising five blocks of prison cells - administration, gate lodge, kitchen and officers’ flats - is expected to be completed by June next year.
Security features of the prison include strong metal doors, concrete windows and thick walls studded with piercing metals.
The project, estimated at ¢150 billion, is being executed by BARRY’s Limited, a local construction firm, with AESL as the consultants. Work on the project officially commenced in July 2005.
The Central Regional consultant to the project, Mr Joseph Afful, was briefing journalists on the progress of work on Thursday during a working visit of the project by the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mr William K. Asiedu, and members of the Ghana Prisons Service Council.
He mentioned the fixing of metal gates, windows and fittings as some of the outstanding work on the project.
The contractor, Alhaji Issah Barry, gave the assurance that his outfit would complete the construction of two of the five blocks of cells by December, this year, as agreed with the government and would finish the entire project by June next year.
The Director-General said the maximum security prison would take only prisoners with long-term sentences.
He said the focus would be on rehabilitation, and indicated that vocational training such as tailoring, carpentry, soap making, electricals would be offered while those interested in formal education would be assisted to sit for senior high school examinations.
Mr Asiedu said one significant aspect of the maximum security prison was that inmates would not be allowed to go outside to engage in community work.
He said the Institute of Industrial Research was engaged to treat the excreta and generate biogas out of it for cooking purposes.
Mr Asiedu declined to give his assessment of the project, but insisted that the Ghana Prisons Service Council would convene a meeting to come out with a statement on the progress of work.
Earlier, the team visited the Awutu Camp Prison where they inaugurated a-120 capacity dormitory funded by the Prisons Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) and constructed by the officers and prison inmates at ¢670 million.
Mr Asiedu said the Council had adopted Awutu as a model camp to initiate good practices which would be replicated at all the camp prisons in the country.
He appealed to the Prison Service Council to continue to support the service to enable it upgrade all camp prisons and also rejuvenate their agricultural activities.
A member of the Prisons Service Council, Sir Samuel Kofi Asubonteng, commended the officers for their efforts and reiterated the commitment of the Council to improving the state of the country’s prisons.
The officer in charge of the Awutu Camp Prison, Chief Superintendent Francis Omane-Addo, said the camp was committed to equipping the inmates with employable skills.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Paul Akweterh Mensah
WORK on the first maximum security prison in the country, located at Ankaful in the Central Region, is 70 per cent complete.
Part of the 2,000-capacity prison is expected to be completed to be operational by December this year.
The complete project, comprising five blocks of prison cells - administration, gate lodge, kitchen and officers’ flats - is expected to be completed by June next year.
Security features of the prison include strong metal doors, concrete windows and thick walls studded with piercing metals.
The project, estimated at ¢150 billion, is being executed by BARRY’s Limited, a local construction firm, with AESL as the consultants. Work on the project officially commenced in July 2005.
The Central Regional consultant to the project, Mr Joseph Afful, was briefing journalists on the progress of work on Thursday during a working visit of the project by the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mr William K. Asiedu, and members of the Ghana Prisons Service Council.
He mentioned the fixing of metal gates, windows and fittings as some of the outstanding work on the project.
The contractor, Alhaji Issah Barry, gave the assurance that his outfit would complete the construction of two of the five blocks of cells by December, this year, as agreed with the government and would finish the entire project by June next year.
The Director-General said the maximum security prison would take only prisoners with long-term sentences.
He said the focus would be on rehabilitation, and indicated that vocational training such as tailoring, carpentry, soap making, electricals would be offered while those interested in formal education would be assisted to sit for senior high school examinations.
Mr Asiedu said one significant aspect of the maximum security prison was that inmates would not be allowed to go outside to engage in community work.
He said the Institute of Industrial Research was engaged to treat the excreta and generate biogas out of it for cooking purposes.
Mr Asiedu declined to give his assessment of the project, but insisted that the Ghana Prisons Service Council would convene a meeting to come out with a statement on the progress of work.
Earlier, the team visited the Awutu Camp Prison where they inaugurated a-120 capacity dormitory funded by the Prisons Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) and constructed by the officers and prison inmates at ¢670 million.
Mr Asiedu said the Council had adopted Awutu as a model camp to initiate good practices which would be replicated at all the camp prisons in the country.
He appealed to the Prison Service Council to continue to support the service to enable it upgrade all camp prisons and also rejuvenate their agricultural activities.
A member of the Prisons Service Council, Sir Samuel Kofi Asubonteng, commended the officers for their efforts and reiterated the commitment of the Council to improving the state of the country’s prisons.
The officer in charge of the Awutu Camp Prison, Chief Superintendent Francis Omane-Addo, said the camp was committed to equipping the inmates with employable skills.
First Hajj pilgrims to leave Dec 7
Friday November 30, 2007-page 34
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE first batch of Ghanaian Muslim pilgrims are to leave for Saudi Arabia on December 7, 2007 to perform the pilgrimage (Hajj).
The date was fixed by the Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities, the body responsible for approving the dates that various countries are supposed to start arriving for the pilgrimage.
About 2,800 Ghanaians are expected to perform this year’s Hajj, which starts on December 19, 2007.
The Interim Hajj Management Committee has contracted ALAMA Airline of Libya to convey the pilgrims with two aircraft. The bigger aircraft with a 467 capacity is expected to make three trips, while the smaller one is, on the other hand, expected to make four trips.
A member of the committee, Alhaji B.B. Daddah, told the Daily Graphic that the 499 would-be pilgrims who could not embark on the pilgrimage last year would be the first to be airlifted.
He said so far the committee was about 75 per cent through with documentation and that by December 7, 2007, all the documents would be ready.
The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Gado Mohammed, asked prospective pilgrims to bear with the members of the committee, since it was the Saudi authorities who had the final say on when the flight was supposed to start arriving at the Jeddah Airport.
He said the members of the committee were equally anxious to see the smooth take-off of the pilgrims, saying that "we are praying that it will go through successfully".
"With the amount of work done so far, we believe that by the time of departure, everything will be okay", Alhaji Mohammed said.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE first batch of Ghanaian Muslim pilgrims are to leave for Saudi Arabia on December 7, 2007 to perform the pilgrimage (Hajj).
The date was fixed by the Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities, the body responsible for approving the dates that various countries are supposed to start arriving for the pilgrimage.
About 2,800 Ghanaians are expected to perform this year’s Hajj, which starts on December 19, 2007.
The Interim Hajj Management Committee has contracted ALAMA Airline of Libya to convey the pilgrims with two aircraft. The bigger aircraft with a 467 capacity is expected to make three trips, while the smaller one is, on the other hand, expected to make four trips.
A member of the committee, Alhaji B.B. Daddah, told the Daily Graphic that the 499 would-be pilgrims who could not embark on the pilgrimage last year would be the first to be airlifted.
He said so far the committee was about 75 per cent through with documentation and that by December 7, 2007, all the documents would be ready.
The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Gado Mohammed, asked prospective pilgrims to bear with the members of the committee, since it was the Saudi authorities who had the final say on when the flight was supposed to start arriving at the Jeddah Airport.
He said the members of the committee were equally anxious to see the smooth take-off of the pilgrims, saying that "we are praying that it will go through successfully".
"With the amount of work done so far, we believe that by the time of departure, everything will be okay", Alhaji Mohammed said.
Medical Association suspends strike action
Thursday November 29, 2007-page 50
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has suspended its intended strike over distortions in salary relativities and general conditions of service.
This follows an agreement reached by the leadership of the association and the government last Tuesday.
The President of the GMA, Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful, who announced this at a press conference in Accra yesterday, said the government acknowledged that there "are distortions in the relativities and that serious efforts will be made to correct them at the level of the Fair Wages Commission".
He said the government had reinstated fuel allowance, which would be paid effective November 2007.
Besides, Dr Winful said, house officers' salary would be "promptly" keyed into the Accountant-General's database for payment to affected house officers to be effected in December 2007.
According to him, subsequent meetings had been scheduled to culminate in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the GMA and the government on December 19, 2007.
The MoU, he said, would spell out the various steps to be taken to correct the distortions in the salary relativities and the general condition of service of doctors.
Dr Winful described the agreements as satisfactory and progressive and pledged to continue to act in the "best interest" of the membership of the association and the general public.
"Stay cool and continue with your work and have faith in the leadership," he urged the doctors.
The Vice-President of the GMA, Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, said the GMA was not interested in strike, since it impacted negatively on patients, doctors and the government, stressing that it would be used as a last resort.
"It is better for the government to negotiate when the situation is calm than when it becomes a crisis," he said.
The GMA, at its annual conference in Takoradi from November 6-10, 2007 drew up a road map of action to impress on the government to correct the distortions in the salary relativities and improve on the conditions of service of doctors, saying that if it failed to do that, the members would embark on a strike.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has suspended its intended strike over distortions in salary relativities and general conditions of service.
This follows an agreement reached by the leadership of the association and the government last Tuesday.
The President of the GMA, Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful, who announced this at a press conference in Accra yesterday, said the government acknowledged that there "are distortions in the relativities and that serious efforts will be made to correct them at the level of the Fair Wages Commission".
He said the government had reinstated fuel allowance, which would be paid effective November 2007.
Besides, Dr Winful said, house officers' salary would be "promptly" keyed into the Accountant-General's database for payment to affected house officers to be effected in December 2007.
According to him, subsequent meetings had been scheduled to culminate in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the GMA and the government on December 19, 2007.
The MoU, he said, would spell out the various steps to be taken to correct the distortions in the salary relativities and the general condition of service of doctors.
Dr Winful described the agreements as satisfactory and progressive and pledged to continue to act in the "best interest" of the membership of the association and the general public.
"Stay cool and continue with your work and have faith in the leadership," he urged the doctors.
The Vice-President of the GMA, Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, said the GMA was not interested in strike, since it impacted negatively on patients, doctors and the government, stressing that it would be used as a last resort.
"It is better for the government to negotiate when the situation is calm than when it becomes a crisis," he said.
The GMA, at its annual conference in Takoradi from November 6-10, 2007 drew up a road map of action to impress on the government to correct the distortions in the salary relativities and improve on the conditions of service of doctors, saying that if it failed to do that, the members would embark on a strike.
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