12/05/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Stephen Adei, has charged the government to take advantage of the global food shortage to double the country’s food production.
That, he said, could be achieved with good combination of policies including selective subsidies on initial capitalisation on production of rice, for example.
Prof. Adei made the call at the sixth congregation of GIMPA in Accra at the weekend.
Ninety-one graduands received various degrees, comprising Executive Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration, Executive Master of Public Administration, Master of Governance and Leadership, Executive Master of Governance and Leadership and Master of Development Management.
The graduands included Members of Parliament, captains of industry, public servants and chief executives of civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations.
On food shortage, Prof. Adei said if the rains went as predicted “we may have good harvest of local produce to cushion us”.
He noted that the country was not insulated from the pressures of imported inflation and pressures arising from the global food shortage and the unprecedented rise in oil prices.
He, therefore, cautioned the public “not to play games with these so we can find collective solutions to them”.
“I do not want to dwell on what could have been done such as hedging against oil price increases but as a nation we cannot sit down or wait for others to find solutions for us,” he stressed.
Prof. Adei commended the government for not pumping money into the system for short-term political gain.
However, he said, there was some evidence that the budget “could be in trouble”.
Prof. Adei said already inflation had inched up significantly.
That, he said, called for both fiscal and monetary policy authorities to work in tandem to ensure sustained prudent economic management.
“I believe in Ghana. I believe that our current political process will produce a good leader for Ghana this year. I believe we will weather the current national and global challenges,” he said.
Touching on leadership, Prof. Adei urged Ghanaians to work on their own performance and attitude and refrain from “cut throat” competition with others.
He said what GIMPA had sought to do in the recent past was to provide unique opportunity for the leadership of the country to add value to themselves and through them bless the nation with continuously improving management at all levels.
The Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers’ Council, Mr Kofi Mbiah, who was the guest of honour, commended GIMPA for providing well-class leadership training in the country.
He, however, asked the authorities of GIMPA to maintain the balance between change and continuity in their expansion drive, in order not to sacrifice excellence.
Mr Mbiah urged GIMPA to adapt their programmes to the needs of industry, and challenged the graduands to keep updating themselves with the ever-growing globalisation.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Jirapa and the Course Leader, Mr Edward Salia, noted that there would be more pressure on the facilities of GIMPA due to the increase in the number of students and the variety of courses offered.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to support GIMPA with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to meet its growing challenges.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Qatar NGO donates to 3 institutions
12/05/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Rabitat-Duat Muslimeen-Ghana, an Islamic non-governmental organisation, and its partners from Qatar has donated relief items worth millions of cedis to three institutions.
The beneficiary institutions are the Osu Children’s Home, the Accra Rehabilitation Centre and the Weija Leprosarium.
Items donated included rice, sugar, cooking oil, soap, toiletries and cash.
Officials of the Rabitat-Duat and their foreign partners interacted with the inmates.
The Resident Co-ordinator of Rabitat-Duat, Sheikh Hadir Iddris Adam, said the donation was to address the needs of the poor in society as commanded by Allah.
He gave the assurance the organisation would continue to support the institutions to offer improved services to their inmates.
The leader of the Qatari delegation, Sheikh Taais Muhammed, said his outfit would do similar donations at Togo, Benin and Senegal.
At the Osu Children’s Home, the Director of the Home, Mrs Comfort Asare, thanked the Rabitat-Duat for the gesture.
She urged other Muslim organisations to also come to their aid.
An official of the Accra Rehabilitation Centre, Mr Joseph Kojo Atigah, said the donation was the biggest that the institution had received from any institution.
He stressed the need for donors to complement government’s efforts since the government did not have the financial wherewithal to support all institutions.
Rabitat-Duat is an Islamic organisation made up of Islamic scholars. The other scholars present at the donation were Sheikh Hussein Abdul Rahman, Dr Bashir Adam, Sheikh Kamil Muhammed, Sheikh Hussein Rahman and Sheikh Salman Muhammed Alhassan.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Rabitat-Duat Muslimeen-Ghana, an Islamic non-governmental organisation, and its partners from Qatar has donated relief items worth millions of cedis to three institutions.
The beneficiary institutions are the Osu Children’s Home, the Accra Rehabilitation Centre and the Weija Leprosarium.
Items donated included rice, sugar, cooking oil, soap, toiletries and cash.
Officials of the Rabitat-Duat and their foreign partners interacted with the inmates.
The Resident Co-ordinator of Rabitat-Duat, Sheikh Hadir Iddris Adam, said the donation was to address the needs of the poor in society as commanded by Allah.
He gave the assurance the organisation would continue to support the institutions to offer improved services to their inmates.
The leader of the Qatari delegation, Sheikh Taais Muhammed, said his outfit would do similar donations at Togo, Benin and Senegal.
At the Osu Children’s Home, the Director of the Home, Mrs Comfort Asare, thanked the Rabitat-Duat for the gesture.
She urged other Muslim organisations to also come to their aid.
An official of the Accra Rehabilitation Centre, Mr Joseph Kojo Atigah, said the donation was the biggest that the institution had received from any institution.
He stressed the need for donors to complement government’s efforts since the government did not have the financial wherewithal to support all institutions.
Rabitat-Duat is an Islamic organisation made up of Islamic scholars. The other scholars present at the donation were Sheikh Hussein Abdul Rahman, Dr Bashir Adam, Sheikh Kamil Muhammed, Sheikh Hussein Rahman and Sheikh Salman Muhammed Alhassan.
2nd Phase Kaneshie Station rehabilitation begins
12/05/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
‘TROTRO’ and taxi drivers at the Kaneshie Market Lorry Station have been moved outside the station to make way for the rehabilitation of the station.
The drivers now park their vehicles on the roads outside the station, while others park on the main Kaneshie-Odorkor road.
The Accra Market Limited, operators of the Kaneshie Market Complex, moved the drivers outside the station on Monday, May 5, 2008, to start the second phase of the rehabilitation work.
The first phase, which involved site clearing, earth works, gravelling and crash rock filling, started in July 2006 and completed in April 2007.
The second phase, which involves the cleaning of the lorry station, sectional area patching and final sealing, started on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.
The management of the Accra Market Limited engaged the services of the Zoomlion Waste Management Company to clean the market and remove all foreign materials, including plastics and bottles.
According to Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera, the Managing Director of the Accra Market Limited, the gravelling would start by Friday, and that soon after, the final sealing would be done with bitumen and chippings.
He said a car park for customers, 26 offices and rest rooms would be put up for the leadership of the various stations, and indicated that the lorry station could take 100 33-seater buses and 20 taxi cabs at a go, he said.
Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera said initially the estimated cost of the project was GH¢106,000 but due to the delay in executing the first phase by the contractor, the company spent GH¢125,300 on the first phase of the project.
That, he said, had shot up the cost of the total project to GH¢170,000, and indicated that the first phase was financed with a loan from the National Investment Bank (NIB), while the second phase was being financed from the resources of the company.
Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera gave the assurance that the rehabilitation work would be completed by Sunday, April 18.
He said soon after, the drivers would be allowed back to the station.
According to Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera, his outfit was now losing revenue as some of the drivers had stopped coming to the area because of the fall in their business.
Besides, he said, those on the Kaneshie-Odorkor road paid their tolls directly to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera noted that the activities of the drivers created inconvenience to residents, and indicated that his outfit had already appealed to the residents to allow the drivers to use the roads for the time being.
He urged the drivers to comport themselves and refrain from indiscriminate hooting of horns or urinating everywhere.
“The residents are patiently tolerating us. So you do not have to do anything to add to their inconvenience,” Mr Kra-Gyamera requested.
There are over 700 trotro vehicles and about 40 taxi cabs using the station. There are 25 stations, plying in and outside the Kaneshie Market Lorry Station.
The inner routes include Abeka Lapaz, Nima-Maamobi and Achimota while the long distance include Kumasi, Nkawkaw, Agona Swedru and Suhum.
Passengers are seen moving from one area to the other asking drivers and conductors of the location of their respective stations.
Some of the drivers complained of low patronage due to the inability of many passengers to locate their respective stations.
According to Addo Blay, a ‘trotro’ driver plying Kaneshie-Madina, some of his colleagues had stopped coming to the station due to the fall in their income.
He said some passengers now picked direct vehicles to Circle to connect to their respective destinations to avoid the inconvenience of struggling to locate the vehicles to their various destinations.
Trading activities at the market has also gone down as many customers who use vehicles have stopped coming to the market as they do not have a space to park their vehicles, according to Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera.
The Kaneshie Market Lorry Station is noted for its poor state. It has big potholes and the place becomes muddy whenever it rains.
Drivers find it difficult driving while passengers get their dresses soiled with mud.
With the rehabilitation of the lorry station, drivers and their passengers are expected to be spared the agony of driving and walking in the mud whenever it rains.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
‘TROTRO’ and taxi drivers at the Kaneshie Market Lorry Station have been moved outside the station to make way for the rehabilitation of the station.
The drivers now park their vehicles on the roads outside the station, while others park on the main Kaneshie-Odorkor road.
The Accra Market Limited, operators of the Kaneshie Market Complex, moved the drivers outside the station on Monday, May 5, 2008, to start the second phase of the rehabilitation work.
The first phase, which involved site clearing, earth works, gravelling and crash rock filling, started in July 2006 and completed in April 2007.
The second phase, which involves the cleaning of the lorry station, sectional area patching and final sealing, started on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.
The management of the Accra Market Limited engaged the services of the Zoomlion Waste Management Company to clean the market and remove all foreign materials, including plastics and bottles.
According to Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera, the Managing Director of the Accra Market Limited, the gravelling would start by Friday, and that soon after, the final sealing would be done with bitumen and chippings.
He said a car park for customers, 26 offices and rest rooms would be put up for the leadership of the various stations, and indicated that the lorry station could take 100 33-seater buses and 20 taxi cabs at a go, he said.
Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera said initially the estimated cost of the project was GH¢106,000 but due to the delay in executing the first phase by the contractor, the company spent GH¢125,300 on the first phase of the project.
That, he said, had shot up the cost of the total project to GH¢170,000, and indicated that the first phase was financed with a loan from the National Investment Bank (NIB), while the second phase was being financed from the resources of the company.
Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera gave the assurance that the rehabilitation work would be completed by Sunday, April 18.
He said soon after, the drivers would be allowed back to the station.
According to Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera, his outfit was now losing revenue as some of the drivers had stopped coming to the area because of the fall in their business.
Besides, he said, those on the Kaneshie-Odorkor road paid their tolls directly to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera noted that the activities of the drivers created inconvenience to residents, and indicated that his outfit had already appealed to the residents to allow the drivers to use the roads for the time being.
He urged the drivers to comport themselves and refrain from indiscriminate hooting of horns or urinating everywhere.
“The residents are patiently tolerating us. So you do not have to do anything to add to their inconvenience,” Mr Kra-Gyamera requested.
There are over 700 trotro vehicles and about 40 taxi cabs using the station. There are 25 stations, plying in and outside the Kaneshie Market Lorry Station.
The inner routes include Abeka Lapaz, Nima-Maamobi and Achimota while the long distance include Kumasi, Nkawkaw, Agona Swedru and Suhum.
Passengers are seen moving from one area to the other asking drivers and conductors of the location of their respective stations.
Some of the drivers complained of low patronage due to the inability of many passengers to locate their respective stations.
According to Addo Blay, a ‘trotro’ driver plying Kaneshie-Madina, some of his colleagues had stopped coming to the station due to the fall in their income.
He said some passengers now picked direct vehicles to Circle to connect to their respective destinations to avoid the inconvenience of struggling to locate the vehicles to their various destinations.
Trading activities at the market has also gone down as many customers who use vehicles have stopped coming to the market as they do not have a space to park their vehicles, according to Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera.
The Kaneshie Market Lorry Station is noted for its poor state. It has big potholes and the place becomes muddy whenever it rains.
Drivers find it difficult driving while passengers get their dresses soiled with mud.
With the rehabilitation of the lorry station, drivers and their passengers are expected to be spared the agony of driving and walking in the mud whenever it rains.
Waste contractors ask AMA to pay them
12/05/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
PRIVATE waste management contractors have threatened to embark on a demonstration to demand the payment of the GH¢12.5 million owed them by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
The 17 members of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) gave the AMA a one-week ultimatum to pay the money, and threatened to suspend all their services if the assembly did not meet that deadline.
An executive member of ESPA, Mr Kwabena Kyei, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the waste contractors “are not intentionally taking an industrial action, but it is inevitable, since we do not have funds to operate”.
He said the GH¢12.5 million outstanding fee was an accumulation from last year that the AMA owed the waste contractors owed the AMA.
Mr Kyei said following the inability of the AMA to settle the arrears, the Central Government started paying the waste contractors from the HIPC and District Assemblies Common Funds with the anticipation that the AMA would pay the difference.
However, he said, since March this year, the government had not given the contractors any money, following the inability of the AMA to settle the difference.
Mr Kyei indicated that the cessation of the payment had affected their operations and landed them in financial difficulty.
He said the waste contractors owed their banks a lot of money because they could not get their money to pay back their loans.
More so, he said, due to the financial difficulty, the waste contractors were not able to pay the salaries of their workers, and that they could also not pay their fuel and spare parts suppliers.
As a result, Mr Kyei said, most of the vehicles used for the waste collection had broken down, thus affecting their operations.
“Our creditors are chasing us, salaries of our workers are outstanding for months, while most of our vehicles have broken down due to lack of maintenance,” he said.
Mr Kyei expressed worry that the whole Accra metropolis would be engulfed in filth if the AMA or the Central Government did not pay the contractors.
Besides, he said, there was the possibility of an outbreak of diseases in Accra as a result of the heap of refuse at the various markets, lorry stations and residential areas.
Mr Kyei said following the protestation of members of ESPA recently, the government had set up a committee chaired by the Chief Advisor to the President, Mrs Chinery Hesse, to look into the issue.
However, he said, “information reaching us indicates that they are not looking at the issue with the urgency it deserves”.
“So we are appealing to the Chief Advisor and her team to expedite action on our grievances,” he requested.
Refuse has piled up at various markets, lorry stations and residential areas in the Accra metropolis following the inability of the waste contractors to lift the refuse containers.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
PRIVATE waste management contractors have threatened to embark on a demonstration to demand the payment of the GH¢12.5 million owed them by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
The 17 members of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) gave the AMA a one-week ultimatum to pay the money, and threatened to suspend all their services if the assembly did not meet that deadline.
An executive member of ESPA, Mr Kwabena Kyei, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the waste contractors “are not intentionally taking an industrial action, but it is inevitable, since we do not have funds to operate”.
He said the GH¢12.5 million outstanding fee was an accumulation from last year that the AMA owed the waste contractors owed the AMA.
Mr Kyei said following the inability of the AMA to settle the arrears, the Central Government started paying the waste contractors from the HIPC and District Assemblies Common Funds with the anticipation that the AMA would pay the difference.
However, he said, since March this year, the government had not given the contractors any money, following the inability of the AMA to settle the difference.
Mr Kyei indicated that the cessation of the payment had affected their operations and landed them in financial difficulty.
He said the waste contractors owed their banks a lot of money because they could not get their money to pay back their loans.
More so, he said, due to the financial difficulty, the waste contractors were not able to pay the salaries of their workers, and that they could also not pay their fuel and spare parts suppliers.
As a result, Mr Kyei said, most of the vehicles used for the waste collection had broken down, thus affecting their operations.
“Our creditors are chasing us, salaries of our workers are outstanding for months, while most of our vehicles have broken down due to lack of maintenance,” he said.
Mr Kyei expressed worry that the whole Accra metropolis would be engulfed in filth if the AMA or the Central Government did not pay the contractors.
Besides, he said, there was the possibility of an outbreak of diseases in Accra as a result of the heap of refuse at the various markets, lorry stations and residential areas.
Mr Kyei said following the protestation of members of ESPA recently, the government had set up a committee chaired by the Chief Advisor to the President, Mrs Chinery Hesse, to look into the issue.
However, he said, “information reaching us indicates that they are not looking at the issue with the urgency it deserves”.
“So we are appealing to the Chief Advisor and her team to expedite action on our grievances,” he requested.
Refuse has piled up at various markets, lorry stations and residential areas in the Accra metropolis following the inability of the waste contractors to lift the refuse containers.
Remove this heap of refuse - Kaneshie traders
10/05/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
FOODSTUFF sellers at the Kaneshie Market in Accra have appealed to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to clear the heap of refuse close to the market.
According to the market women, the refuse had been there for the past two weeks.
The refuse, which is on the street close to the Kaneshie Post Office, generates bad odour, with flies hovering over it.
Some of the market women told the Daily Graphic that due to the heap of refuse at the market, coupled with the odour emanating from it, their customers had stopped patronising their foodstuffs.
According to them, the customers had now shifted to the Agbogbloshie Market, a situation which affected their income and general livelihood.
The market women blamed the AMA for not impressing on the contractors to collect the refuse.
They also accused residents of Kaneshie, Bubuashie and Mataheko of continuously dumping refuse into containers which were already full.
The foodstuff sellers said some of the residents dumped refuse on the street during the night.
This reporter saw some people dumping refuse there, in the full glare of the market women, while the women hurled insults at those people.
Alice Mensah, 30, a tomato seller, was bitter that the poor state of the market had driven her customers away, besides the stench she had to contend with.
“We do not sell anything now. The people come, but when they see the refuse, they move away. Some of them go to Agbogbloshie,” she lamented.
“Now some people say if you want to catch a disease come to the Kaneshie Market because of the heap of refuse here,” according to Agnes Maxwell, an onion seller.
When contacted, the Environmental Officer of the Kaneshie Market, Mr Israel Tetteh Aryee, said the contractor, J. Stanley Owusu, had told him that its inability to collect the refuse was due to the breakdown of its vehicles and the fact that the AMA had not settled all its outstanding indebtedness to the company.
Besides, he said, the roads leading to the Oblogo dumping site had gone bad following recent downpours.
“The situation at the market is so discouraging. Sometimes it takes about two weeks before the contractors come in to collect the refuse,” Mr Aryee said dejectedly.
According to him, the market sellers generated 22 tonnes of refuse daily, while the residents of Kaneshie, Bubuashie and Mataheko generated about 66 tonnes daily.
The Managing Director of the Kaneshie Market Complex, Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera, said his outfit had held several meetings with the AMA and the contractors on how to solve the sanitation situation at the market.
He said the AMA and the contractors always promised to ensure the regular collection of the refuse and indicated that they started well but failed to sustain the momentum.
On the dumping of refuse by residents, Mr Kra-Gyamera said initially his outfit had rejected that idea but said they later reached a consensus with the AMA that the residents should dump their refuse there, since they did not have refuse dumps in their areas.
Consequently, he said, the contractors increased the number of containers from two to five.
Mr Kra-Gyamera said the worry was that the residents and some market women continued to dump refuse into the containers even when they were filled up.
“The residents bring the refuse in wheelbarrows and Kia trucks in the night to dump it there,” he said.
Besides, he said, the contractors failed to collect the containers on time, allowing the refuse to spill over onto the street.
According to Mr Kra-Gyamera, the situation was compounded because members of the surrounding communities had failed to register with the AMA to have their refuse collected from house-to-house.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
FOODSTUFF sellers at the Kaneshie Market in Accra have appealed to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to clear the heap of refuse close to the market.
According to the market women, the refuse had been there for the past two weeks.
The refuse, which is on the street close to the Kaneshie Post Office, generates bad odour, with flies hovering over it.
Some of the market women told the Daily Graphic that due to the heap of refuse at the market, coupled with the odour emanating from it, their customers had stopped patronising their foodstuffs.
According to them, the customers had now shifted to the Agbogbloshie Market, a situation which affected their income and general livelihood.
The market women blamed the AMA for not impressing on the contractors to collect the refuse.
They also accused residents of Kaneshie, Bubuashie and Mataheko of continuously dumping refuse into containers which were already full.
The foodstuff sellers said some of the residents dumped refuse on the street during the night.
This reporter saw some people dumping refuse there, in the full glare of the market women, while the women hurled insults at those people.
Alice Mensah, 30, a tomato seller, was bitter that the poor state of the market had driven her customers away, besides the stench she had to contend with.
“We do not sell anything now. The people come, but when they see the refuse, they move away. Some of them go to Agbogbloshie,” she lamented.
“Now some people say if you want to catch a disease come to the Kaneshie Market because of the heap of refuse here,” according to Agnes Maxwell, an onion seller.
When contacted, the Environmental Officer of the Kaneshie Market, Mr Israel Tetteh Aryee, said the contractor, J. Stanley Owusu, had told him that its inability to collect the refuse was due to the breakdown of its vehicles and the fact that the AMA had not settled all its outstanding indebtedness to the company.
Besides, he said, the roads leading to the Oblogo dumping site had gone bad following recent downpours.
“The situation at the market is so discouraging. Sometimes it takes about two weeks before the contractors come in to collect the refuse,” Mr Aryee said dejectedly.
According to him, the market sellers generated 22 tonnes of refuse daily, while the residents of Kaneshie, Bubuashie and Mataheko generated about 66 tonnes daily.
The Managing Director of the Kaneshie Market Complex, Mr Kwaku Kra-Gyamera, said his outfit had held several meetings with the AMA and the contractors on how to solve the sanitation situation at the market.
He said the AMA and the contractors always promised to ensure the regular collection of the refuse and indicated that they started well but failed to sustain the momentum.
On the dumping of refuse by residents, Mr Kra-Gyamera said initially his outfit had rejected that idea but said they later reached a consensus with the AMA that the residents should dump their refuse there, since they did not have refuse dumps in their areas.
Consequently, he said, the contractors increased the number of containers from two to five.
Mr Kra-Gyamera said the worry was that the residents and some market women continued to dump refuse into the containers even when they were filled up.
“The residents bring the refuse in wheelbarrows and Kia trucks in the night to dump it there,” he said.
Besides, he said, the contractors failed to collect the containers on time, allowing the refuse to spill over onto the street.
According to Mr Kra-Gyamera, the situation was compounded because members of the surrounding communities had failed to register with the AMA to have their refuse collected from house-to-house.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Security personnel closed down a popular hotel
18/04/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
SECURITY personnel on Wednesday closed down the Greenland Hotel at Agona Swedru in the Central Region as a result of the inability of the management of the hotel to repay the remaining GH¢1.1 million which is part of a loan it took from the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB).
Sources close to the hotel indicated that the GH¢1.1 million was interest which accrued on an initial loan of about GH¢400,000
The security personnel, comprising four armed policemen and five bodyguards, in the company of some GCB officers, ordered the staff out of the hotel and locked up the facility.
A few people who were lodging in the hotel were not spared, as they had to relocate to other hotels in the area.
Only the security men were left behind to guard the hotel, under the supervision of the four police officers and five bodyguards.
When the Daily Graphic visited the hotel yesterday, its gates were still locked, with red bands around them.
Security men and some bodyguards were at the gate, apparently to resist any re-entry.
The security men, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were at the hotel about 10:30 a.m. when the GCB officials, in the company of the police, arrived.
They said some bailiffs showed them a court order for the closure of the hotel.
“The bailiffs presented the court order to close down the hotel so I could not prevent them,” one of the security men said.
He said the police officers ordered all the staff to move outside the hotel, after which they locked the gates.
“As I talk to you now, nobody is in the hotel. Operation is not going on,” he said.
The security man recalled that some time last year the GCB sued the management of the hotel for default.
A source close to the hotel indicated that it had received reservations from prominent people, including the visiting Spiritual Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Khalifatul Masih V, who is on a six-day visit to Ghana.
He said the closure would result in huge losses to the management, since all the foodstuffs and other ingredients in stock which had been locked up by the security men who closed down the hotel were likely to go bad.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
SECURITY personnel on Wednesday closed down the Greenland Hotel at Agona Swedru in the Central Region as a result of the inability of the management of the hotel to repay the remaining GH¢1.1 million which is part of a loan it took from the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB).
Sources close to the hotel indicated that the GH¢1.1 million was interest which accrued on an initial loan of about GH¢400,000
The security personnel, comprising four armed policemen and five bodyguards, in the company of some GCB officers, ordered the staff out of the hotel and locked up the facility.
A few people who were lodging in the hotel were not spared, as they had to relocate to other hotels in the area.
Only the security men were left behind to guard the hotel, under the supervision of the four police officers and five bodyguards.
When the Daily Graphic visited the hotel yesterday, its gates were still locked, with red bands around them.
Security men and some bodyguards were at the gate, apparently to resist any re-entry.
The security men, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were at the hotel about 10:30 a.m. when the GCB officials, in the company of the police, arrived.
They said some bailiffs showed them a court order for the closure of the hotel.
“The bailiffs presented the court order to close down the hotel so I could not prevent them,” one of the security men said.
He said the police officers ordered all the staff to move outside the hotel, after which they locked the gates.
“As I talk to you now, nobody is in the hotel. Operation is not going on,” he said.
The security man recalled that some time last year the GCB sued the management of the hotel for default.
A source close to the hotel indicated that it had received reservations from prominent people, including the visiting Spiritual Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Khalifatul Masih V, who is on a six-day visit to Ghana.
He said the closure would result in huge losses to the management, since all the foodstuffs and other ingredients in stock which had been locked up by the security men who closed down the hotel were likely to go bad.
Accra to experience sever floods
02/04/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
Severe floods will hit parts of Accra between now and August as a result of unusually heavy rains expected in the southern parts of the country this year.
The numerous choked drains, the poor lay out and the putting up of structures on water courses in the national capital are likely to make the situation worse, Mr Amos Narh, a senior meteorologist of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA), said, adding, “We just have to prepare for the worst.”
Mr Narh, who spoke to the Daily Graphic on Tuesday, said the rains would be accompanied by strong winds, thunder and lightning.
He explained that the expected rains would cause severe flooding, not only because of the continuous downpour but also because the rain water would have no way out of the city as a result of the poor lay out and choked drains.
He mentioned Avenor, Alajo, Sowutuom, Oblogo, Anyah, Santa Maria, Mandela and Weija as some of the areas that were likely to be hit by the floods.
Mr Narh cautioned against movement around electric cables and poles during rainstorms, pointing out that because of the expected strong winds, such electrical facilities could break down, while the roofs of buildings could be ripped off.
Describing last Monday’s rain in some parts of the country as only a 10th of the category of heavy rains expected, Mr Narh noted that it was scary to think that it was enough to cause so much flooding and destruction in parts of Accra.
One person was electrocuted at Osu in Monday’s floods, which Mr Narh said marked the beginning of the rainy season and indicated that the rains were experienced throughout the country.
He said other areas experienced rains heavier than Accra but did not experience any floods.
Accra-Airport recorded 41.2 millimetres (mm); Tema, 56.5 mm; Brong Ahafo, 20.3 mm; Kumasi, 35 mm; Koforidua, 9.9 mm; Yendi, 15.2 mm; Ho, 52.1 mm, and Akosombo, 46.8 mm.
Mr Narh expressed worry that people still built on water courses and low-lying areas, despite the inherent danger of their buildings getting flooded in the event of heavy rains.
“We are the causes of floods in Accra. It is our own doing,” he stressed.
The rains would peak in June and temporary break at the end of August, he said.
Mr Narh appealed to the media to help in educating the public on the need to desilt choked drains, abstain from dumping refuse into them and building on water courses.
It would be recalled that in June last year five people lost their lives in floods that hit parts of Accra. The casualties were recorded at Kwashibu, near Sowutuom, and Mallam.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
Severe floods will hit parts of Accra between now and August as a result of unusually heavy rains expected in the southern parts of the country this year.
The numerous choked drains, the poor lay out and the putting up of structures on water courses in the national capital are likely to make the situation worse, Mr Amos Narh, a senior meteorologist of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA), said, adding, “We just have to prepare for the worst.”
Mr Narh, who spoke to the Daily Graphic on Tuesday, said the rains would be accompanied by strong winds, thunder and lightning.
He explained that the expected rains would cause severe flooding, not only because of the continuous downpour but also because the rain water would have no way out of the city as a result of the poor lay out and choked drains.
He mentioned Avenor, Alajo, Sowutuom, Oblogo, Anyah, Santa Maria, Mandela and Weija as some of the areas that were likely to be hit by the floods.
Mr Narh cautioned against movement around electric cables and poles during rainstorms, pointing out that because of the expected strong winds, such electrical facilities could break down, while the roofs of buildings could be ripped off.
Describing last Monday’s rain in some parts of the country as only a 10th of the category of heavy rains expected, Mr Narh noted that it was scary to think that it was enough to cause so much flooding and destruction in parts of Accra.
One person was electrocuted at Osu in Monday’s floods, which Mr Narh said marked the beginning of the rainy season and indicated that the rains were experienced throughout the country.
He said other areas experienced rains heavier than Accra but did not experience any floods.
Accra-Airport recorded 41.2 millimetres (mm); Tema, 56.5 mm; Brong Ahafo, 20.3 mm; Kumasi, 35 mm; Koforidua, 9.9 mm; Yendi, 15.2 mm; Ho, 52.1 mm, and Akosombo, 46.8 mm.
Mr Narh expressed worry that people still built on water courses and low-lying areas, despite the inherent danger of their buildings getting flooded in the event of heavy rains.
“We are the causes of floods in Accra. It is our own doing,” he stressed.
The rains would peak in June and temporary break at the end of August, he said.
Mr Narh appealed to the media to help in educating the public on the need to desilt choked drains, abstain from dumping refuse into them and building on water courses.
It would be recalled that in June last year five people lost their lives in floods that hit parts of Accra. The casualties were recorded at Kwashibu, near Sowutuom, and Mallam.
Floods hit parts of Accra
06/04/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
Severe floods hit parts of Accra following a downpour at the weekend, destroying property and rendering dozens of people homeless at areas such as North Kaneshie and the Odawna Shopping Mall.
The rain water overflowed the choked drains at North Kaneshie onto the Nii Darku Street and entered adjoining houses, destroying property worth millions of cedis in the process. But no lives were lost.
The floods occurred barely a week after the forecast by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) of heavy rains in the southern parts of the country, including Accra, between now and August this year.
Some residents of North Kaneshie told the Daily Graphic that the main drain in the area could not contain the run off, mainly as a result of the presence of refuse, forcing the water into their homes and destroying the walls of some buildings. They blamed the V-shaped drain and a container along the drain as the remote causes of the flooding.
Some said they had to climb walls and buildings or run to nearby houses when the water reached window level.
“I was in the room with my family about 4:30 p.m. All of a sudden we heard an explosion and when we looked out it was the wall of our house which had collapsed. And within 15 to 20 seconds the house was flooded,” one of the victims, Mr Bala Saad, a public officer, told the Daily Graphic.
“We were confused as to where to go because the nearby houses had all been flooded. So we had to seek refuge in a nearby house which had less flood water,” he added.
Mr Saad’s personal belongings, including television sets, sound systems, computers, furniture, clothes and vital documents were all destroyed.
“The situation was devastating but I thank God that no life was lost,” Mr Saad, who was only in a vest, since all his clothes were wet, said.
One of the victims, Madam Anasthasia Asante, a trader, and her next-door neighbour, Mr Timothy Kazussah, an immigration officer, were holding shovels and other implements to clear the debris left behind by the flood and drying their items when this reporter visited the area yesterday.
“I have not eaten since morning. I started clearing the debris and drying my clothes since 5.00 a.m. Look at me, a woman, holding a shovel. I feel so sad about the situation,” Madam Asante lamented.
Mr Kazussah blamed the situation on the poor drainage system in the area and the fact that some residents dumped refuse into the drains.
“We had to block the main gate to the house to prevent the water from the street from entering the house. My friend, it was not easy,” the weary Mr Kazussah said.
Another victim, Mr Alex Adu Yirenkyi, a worker with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), whose personal effects were virtually destroyed, described the situation as “terrible” and said “all my property is at the mercy of the weather”.
He was, however, glad that the two dogs in the house escaped the flooding through their own initiative. One of them sought refuge on the dining table, while the other climbed the flower pot.
The last time the area was hit by a similar flood was in 1998 when two people lost their lives.
At the Odawna Shopping Mall, water from the nearby drain forced its way into the market and flooded some sheds, destroying some wares in the process.
The traders had to pack their wares and flee the market to save their lives.
Water-logged areas, including Weija and Oblogo, were the first to be hit by floods in Accra last Monday.
A visit by the Daily Graphic to those areas last Friday revealed that water had collected in some of the homes and rooms. Some of them had already packed their property on tables.
The residents said they could not move away from their areas, since they did not have alternative accommodation anywhere.
“I have stayed here for the past nine years but the flood started becoming serious last year. We just cannot do anything about it. We stay in it till it subsides,” Mr Maklin Kofi, a resident of Weija who had folded his trousers before he could enter his partially flooded room, said.
He said his room got flooded following Monday’s heavy downpour but the water had not subsided, since the area was water-logged.
Madam Mary Azaglo, who lived virtually in water at Oblogo, said she did not have any option and that she was used to the perennial hustle of getting her home flooded.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
Severe floods hit parts of Accra following a downpour at the weekend, destroying property and rendering dozens of people homeless at areas such as North Kaneshie and the Odawna Shopping Mall.
The rain water overflowed the choked drains at North Kaneshie onto the Nii Darku Street and entered adjoining houses, destroying property worth millions of cedis in the process. But no lives were lost.
The floods occurred barely a week after the forecast by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) of heavy rains in the southern parts of the country, including Accra, between now and August this year.
Some residents of North Kaneshie told the Daily Graphic that the main drain in the area could not contain the run off, mainly as a result of the presence of refuse, forcing the water into their homes and destroying the walls of some buildings. They blamed the V-shaped drain and a container along the drain as the remote causes of the flooding.
Some said they had to climb walls and buildings or run to nearby houses when the water reached window level.
“I was in the room with my family about 4:30 p.m. All of a sudden we heard an explosion and when we looked out it was the wall of our house which had collapsed. And within 15 to 20 seconds the house was flooded,” one of the victims, Mr Bala Saad, a public officer, told the Daily Graphic.
“We were confused as to where to go because the nearby houses had all been flooded. So we had to seek refuge in a nearby house which had less flood water,” he added.
Mr Saad’s personal belongings, including television sets, sound systems, computers, furniture, clothes and vital documents were all destroyed.
“The situation was devastating but I thank God that no life was lost,” Mr Saad, who was only in a vest, since all his clothes were wet, said.
One of the victims, Madam Anasthasia Asante, a trader, and her next-door neighbour, Mr Timothy Kazussah, an immigration officer, were holding shovels and other implements to clear the debris left behind by the flood and drying their items when this reporter visited the area yesterday.
“I have not eaten since morning. I started clearing the debris and drying my clothes since 5.00 a.m. Look at me, a woman, holding a shovel. I feel so sad about the situation,” Madam Asante lamented.
Mr Kazussah blamed the situation on the poor drainage system in the area and the fact that some residents dumped refuse into the drains.
“We had to block the main gate to the house to prevent the water from the street from entering the house. My friend, it was not easy,” the weary Mr Kazussah said.
Another victim, Mr Alex Adu Yirenkyi, a worker with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), whose personal effects were virtually destroyed, described the situation as “terrible” and said “all my property is at the mercy of the weather”.
He was, however, glad that the two dogs in the house escaped the flooding through their own initiative. One of them sought refuge on the dining table, while the other climbed the flower pot.
The last time the area was hit by a similar flood was in 1998 when two people lost their lives.
At the Odawna Shopping Mall, water from the nearby drain forced its way into the market and flooded some sheds, destroying some wares in the process.
The traders had to pack their wares and flee the market to save their lives.
Water-logged areas, including Weija and Oblogo, were the first to be hit by floods in Accra last Monday.
A visit by the Daily Graphic to those areas last Friday revealed that water had collected in some of the homes and rooms. Some of them had already packed their property on tables.
The residents said they could not move away from their areas, since they did not have alternative accommodation anywhere.
“I have stayed here for the past nine years but the flood started becoming serious last year. We just cannot do anything about it. We stay in it till it subsides,” Mr Maklin Kofi, a resident of Weija who had folded his trousers before he could enter his partially flooded room, said.
He said his room got flooded following Monday’s heavy downpour but the water had not subsided, since the area was water-logged.
Madam Mary Azaglo, who lived virtually in water at Oblogo, said she did not have any option and that she was used to the perennial hustle of getting her home flooded.
Man killed in the Accra rains
31/03/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A 32-YEAR-OLD fisherman was electrocuted at the Osu Castle Junction in Accra during the rainstorm that hit parts of Accra yesterday.
According to eyewitnesses, Emmanuel Adjetey Sowah, the fisherman, unknowingly held a signpost in an attempt to cross a flooded drain but got stuck to the post about 11.00 a.m.
Residents who rushed to the scene could not rescue him for fear of their also getting electrocuted.
The eyewitnesses told the Daily Graphic that an auto electrician, Ferdinand Amartey, switched off the main electric switch but that effort was too late to save Sowah.
Stunned residents of the area rushed Sowah to the La General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Osu District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ameyaw Afriyie, confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic and said the La Hospital authorities confirmed that Emmanuel had died as a result of electrocution.
He said the body would be conveyed to the Police Hospital mortuary and indicated that investigations were still ongoing.
When the Daily Graphic visited the deceased’s residence about 1:30 p.m., family members were seen wailing and mentioning Sowah’s name in awe. His two grandmothers, Esther and Florence Kudjo, could not stop crying, wondering why the young man should go instead of them.
Sowah’s sister, Lizzy Adjetey, said she was shocked at the news of her brother’s death because she had just given him GH¢5 upon his request that he had run short of money.
According to her, Sowah was returning home after he had accompanied his father on a family mission when he met his fate.
Sowah, the eldest of four siblings, left behind a wife, Lamiley, and two daughters, Ruth, nine, and three-month-old Caizer.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A 32-YEAR-OLD fisherman was electrocuted at the Osu Castle Junction in Accra during the rainstorm that hit parts of Accra yesterday.
According to eyewitnesses, Emmanuel Adjetey Sowah, the fisherman, unknowingly held a signpost in an attempt to cross a flooded drain but got stuck to the post about 11.00 a.m.
Residents who rushed to the scene could not rescue him for fear of their also getting electrocuted.
The eyewitnesses told the Daily Graphic that an auto electrician, Ferdinand Amartey, switched off the main electric switch but that effort was too late to save Sowah.
Stunned residents of the area rushed Sowah to the La General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Osu District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ameyaw Afriyie, confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic and said the La Hospital authorities confirmed that Emmanuel had died as a result of electrocution.
He said the body would be conveyed to the Police Hospital mortuary and indicated that investigations were still ongoing.
When the Daily Graphic visited the deceased’s residence about 1:30 p.m., family members were seen wailing and mentioning Sowah’s name in awe. His two grandmothers, Esther and Florence Kudjo, could not stop crying, wondering why the young man should go instead of them.
Sowah’s sister, Lizzy Adjetey, said she was shocked at the news of her brother’s death because she had just given him GH¢5 upon his request that he had run short of money.
According to her, Sowah was returning home after he had accompanied his father on a family mission when he met his fate.
Sowah, the eldest of four siblings, left behind a wife, Lamiley, and two daughters, Ruth, nine, and three-month-old Caizer.
Ghanaians celebrate Black Stars in a low key
10/02/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Black Stars’ thrashing of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday did not come with the usual fanfare in some parts of Accra.
The Black Stars beat the Elephants by 4-2 to lift the bronze at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament but many Ghanaians felt that the team deserved better.
They expressed the belief that the Black Stars could have beaten the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun if Coach Claude Le Roy had made the “right” selection and blamed him for tactical failure.
Previous wins by the Black Stars had been characterised by massive jubilations, with Ghanaians from all walks of life singing and dancing throughout the night.
Others too did their own thing by driving vehicles and riding motorbikes at high speed and tooting their horns to express their joy.
However, Saturday’s victory, although massive, did not stimulate fans to troop onto the streets to celebrate it.
Unlike the wearing of national colours that had preceded earlier Black Stars’ matches, only a few people wore the Ghana 2008 T-shirts, polo shirts and caps before and after Saturday’s match.
Information from areas, including Nima, Maamobi, Accra New Town, Kaneshie, Abeka and Madina, indicated that there was virtually no jubilation after the victory of the Black Stars against the Elephants.
Only a few fans came out to dance, amidst singing and dancing, at Alajo Down, while some drivers tooted their horns to express their joy at the victory.
There was an unusual mild shout of ‘goal’ after the Black Stars’ first goal, and when they went down by 2-1, many fans lost hope, with some making unsavoury remarks against the team.
Many of the fans could not watch the second half as they had lost hope that the Black Stars could come back and win the game.
When the equaliser came, courtesy Quincy’s exquisite goal, the fans heaved a sigh of relief and went back to watch the concluding part of the match.
Agogo’s goal boosted the morale of Ghanaian fans and Draman’s superb finish sealed the victory and brought consolation to the Black Stars and the fans.
“I just could not watch the second half. I knew we (the Black Stars) would lose the game,” Mustapha Ali, a staunch supporter of the Black Stars, told the Daily Graphic.
Some of the fans said the comeback spirit and subsequent win of the Black Stars in the match against the Elephants vindicated their criticism of Coach Le Roy’s “tactical failure” in the match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun.
For instance, they said the defensive role played by Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari in the semi-final match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun was a technical and tactical error.
True to their words, they said, the attacking role assigned Essien and Muntari in Saturday’s third-place match contributed significantly to the Black Stars’ victory against the Elephants.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Black Stars’ thrashing of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday did not come with the usual fanfare in some parts of Accra.
The Black Stars beat the Elephants by 4-2 to lift the bronze at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament but many Ghanaians felt that the team deserved better.
They expressed the belief that the Black Stars could have beaten the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun if Coach Claude Le Roy had made the “right” selection and blamed him for tactical failure.
Previous wins by the Black Stars had been characterised by massive jubilations, with Ghanaians from all walks of life singing and dancing throughout the night.
Others too did their own thing by driving vehicles and riding motorbikes at high speed and tooting their horns to express their joy.
However, Saturday’s victory, although massive, did not stimulate fans to troop onto the streets to celebrate it.
Unlike the wearing of national colours that had preceded earlier Black Stars’ matches, only a few people wore the Ghana 2008 T-shirts, polo shirts and caps before and after Saturday’s match.
Information from areas, including Nima, Maamobi, Accra New Town, Kaneshie, Abeka and Madina, indicated that there was virtually no jubilation after the victory of the Black Stars against the Elephants.
Only a few fans came out to dance, amidst singing and dancing, at Alajo Down, while some drivers tooted their horns to express their joy at the victory.
There was an unusual mild shout of ‘goal’ after the Black Stars’ first goal, and when they went down by 2-1, many fans lost hope, with some making unsavoury remarks against the team.
Many of the fans could not watch the second half as they had lost hope that the Black Stars could come back and win the game.
When the equaliser came, courtesy Quincy’s exquisite goal, the fans heaved a sigh of relief and went back to watch the concluding part of the match.
Agogo’s goal boosted the morale of Ghanaian fans and Draman’s superb finish sealed the victory and brought consolation to the Black Stars and the fans.
“I just could not watch the second half. I knew we (the Black Stars) would lose the game,” Mustapha Ali, a staunch supporter of the Black Stars, told the Daily Graphic.
Some of the fans said the comeback spirit and subsequent win of the Black Stars in the match against the Elephants vindicated their criticism of Coach Le Roy’s “tactical failure” in the match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun.
For instance, they said the defensive role played by Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari in the semi-final match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun was a technical and tactical error.
True to their words, they said, the attacking role assigned Essien and Muntari in Saturday’s third-place match contributed significantly to the Black Stars’ victory against the Elephants.
Ghana and US enjoy good diplomatic relations
17/02/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
GHANA and the United States of America (USA) have had cordial relations over the years. Areas of collaboration between the two countries include democratic governance, trade and international diplomacy.
The bilateral ties between Ghana and US have never been halted since Ghana’s independence in 1957. The relations have soured in recent times with the signing of trade and other diplomatic arrangements, including the Millennium Challenge Compact and extradition treaty. The recent visit of President George Bush to the country attests to the increased relations between the two countries.
The relations, have however, been seen by some critics as a master-boy relations, considering the size and powerful nature of US’s economy and military might as against Ghana’s small population and fragile economy. Nonetheless, they believe that the relations have thrived to the benefit of Ghana.
According to a US official report, “the U.S.-Ghana relations are excellent” and noted that Ghana had a pro-U.S., pro-business stance and playing increasingly significant role in regional peacekeeping.
It is worth-noting that relations between the US and Ghana have been either very open or cautious depending on the government in power over the years.
For instance, the relations between Nkrumah’s government and the US was good but cautious because of Dr Nkrumah’s alignment with the Soviet bloc on a series of issues.
Relations between the two countries was undermined after the overthrow of Dr Nkrumah in1966 , which the US CIA was accused of masterminding.
The National Liberation Council (NLC) government which was more closer to the US saw the bilateral relations between Ghana and US souring. Subsequent governments also continued with this relations.
The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government of former President J.J. Rawlings somewhat withdrew a bit from the US, but the relations rekindled after the country’s return to democratic rule in 1992.
This was evident in the visit of the former US President Bill Clinton to Ghana during the presidency of former President Rawlings.
The coming to power of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in 2001 further strengthened the bilateral relations between Ghana and the US, with some people attributing it to the personal relations between Presidents Bush and Kufuour. Some also see the elephant symbols of the Republican Party and NPP as a point of contact.
US’s support to Ghana dates back to the 1960’s when it collaborated with the United Kingdom and the World Bank to finance the Volta River Hydroelectric Project. The US has since been supporting Ghana in several areas.
The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) launched by former President Bill Clinton was a trade avenue to promote the local industry in Ghana and other beneficiary African countries.
In August 2006, the US and Ghana signed the Millennium Challenge Compact of $547 million. The five-year, anti-poverty programme aims to raise the income potential of farmers through increased production of high-value cash and basic food crops, an improved transportation network and development of food processing industries and handling facilities. The Compact also includes an initiative to improve access to education, water and sanitation, and electricity in rural areas.
The US was instrumental in supporting Ghana’s return to constitutional democracy in 1992. The US through its Agency for International Development (USAID), supported the elections and other democratic governance programmes.
The US-Ghana extradition relations are governed by the 1931 U.S.-U.K. Extradition Treaty. In 2003, Ghana signed a bilateral Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement with the United States.
According to the Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies of the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof J. E. Ayee, Ghana and US had enjoyed cordial relations since independence, and indicated that the tie was undermined by the 1966 overthrow of Dr Nkrumah as the USA CIA was accused of masterminding.
He said the relations picked up during the NLC government which was more inclined to the US government.
Prof Ayee said former President Rawlings was not favoured by the US government initially, but the relations eventually developed and culminated in the visit to Ghana of former President Bill Clinton.
He said the recent signing of the extradition agreement between the governments of Ghana and US, which required Ghana to extradite US officials to their country, marked a growth in the relations between the two countries.
Prof Ayee said President Bush’s visit to Ghana was significant as it meant that the US had endorsed Ghana’s democracy, meaning that “Ghana is in the good books of the US”. It will consequently boost the international image of Ghana as democratic state.
Besides, he said, the visit would promote bilateral ties between the US and Ghana, in the areas of trade, security and good governance.
Prof Ayee said the visit would offer Presidents Kufuor and Bush, who had worked together in the last seven years, the opportunity to say good bye to each other as they were ending their second and last terms in office.
A former diplomat, Mr K. B. Asante, agreed that the relations between the US and Ghana had been good over the years, but said, “America seem to get all that it wants” in that relation because of its size and economic might. Nonetheless, he said, “the US meant well in their relations with Ghana”.
He said the US had intervened in industry and services in the country, and mentioned the Workers Brigade as an example.
According to Mr Asante, Dr Nkrumah was cautiously friendly with the US, but was not antagonistic to that country.
The relations, he said, paved the way for the US to back Ghana to secure a loan from the World Bank to construct the Volta Dam.
He mentioned the AGOA and MCA as some of the contributions of the US to Ghana’s economy, saying that “the US are trying their best within their means”.
Mr Asante was against the reported plans by the US to establish a military base in Ghana since the country was not at war nor its security threatened.
He said the reported military base would only serve the national interest of the Americas, which had the tendency of disturbing African unity.
Mr Asante said it was Good to have President Bush visiting Ghana as it would afford the two Heads of State the opportunity to discuss bilateral co-operation.
The two Presidents have some connections as both the Republican Party of President Bush and the NPP of President Kufuor have the elephant as their symbol.
Besides, the two Presidents are seen to be trying to promote good governance and co-operating with other international bodies to make the world a better or safer place.
Presidents Bush and Kufuor are also in the final year of their two terms in office.
Presidents Kufuor and his counterpart are expected to discuss issues, including poverty, HIV and AIDS, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), African unity and regional security.
It is hoped that the discussions will further strengthen bilateral ties between Ghana and the US and consequently support the Ghana’s dream of attaining the middle-income status by 20015.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
GHANA and the United States of America (USA) have had cordial relations over the years. Areas of collaboration between the two countries include democratic governance, trade and international diplomacy.
The bilateral ties between Ghana and US have never been halted since Ghana’s independence in 1957. The relations have soured in recent times with the signing of trade and other diplomatic arrangements, including the Millennium Challenge Compact and extradition treaty. The recent visit of President George Bush to the country attests to the increased relations between the two countries.
The relations, have however, been seen by some critics as a master-boy relations, considering the size and powerful nature of US’s economy and military might as against Ghana’s small population and fragile economy. Nonetheless, they believe that the relations have thrived to the benefit of Ghana.
According to a US official report, “the U.S.-Ghana relations are excellent” and noted that Ghana had a pro-U.S., pro-business stance and playing increasingly significant role in regional peacekeeping.
It is worth-noting that relations between the US and Ghana have been either very open or cautious depending on the government in power over the years.
For instance, the relations between Nkrumah’s government and the US was good but cautious because of Dr Nkrumah’s alignment with the Soviet bloc on a series of issues.
Relations between the two countries was undermined after the overthrow of Dr Nkrumah in1966 , which the US CIA was accused of masterminding.
The National Liberation Council (NLC) government which was more closer to the US saw the bilateral relations between Ghana and US souring. Subsequent governments also continued with this relations.
The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government of former President J.J. Rawlings somewhat withdrew a bit from the US, but the relations rekindled after the country’s return to democratic rule in 1992.
This was evident in the visit of the former US President Bill Clinton to Ghana during the presidency of former President Rawlings.
The coming to power of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in 2001 further strengthened the bilateral relations between Ghana and the US, with some people attributing it to the personal relations between Presidents Bush and Kufuour. Some also see the elephant symbols of the Republican Party and NPP as a point of contact.
US’s support to Ghana dates back to the 1960’s when it collaborated with the United Kingdom and the World Bank to finance the Volta River Hydroelectric Project. The US has since been supporting Ghana in several areas.
The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) launched by former President Bill Clinton was a trade avenue to promote the local industry in Ghana and other beneficiary African countries.
In August 2006, the US and Ghana signed the Millennium Challenge Compact of $547 million. The five-year, anti-poverty programme aims to raise the income potential of farmers through increased production of high-value cash and basic food crops, an improved transportation network and development of food processing industries and handling facilities. The Compact also includes an initiative to improve access to education, water and sanitation, and electricity in rural areas.
The US was instrumental in supporting Ghana’s return to constitutional democracy in 1992. The US through its Agency for International Development (USAID), supported the elections and other democratic governance programmes.
The US-Ghana extradition relations are governed by the 1931 U.S.-U.K. Extradition Treaty. In 2003, Ghana signed a bilateral Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement with the United States.
According to the Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies of the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof J. E. Ayee, Ghana and US had enjoyed cordial relations since independence, and indicated that the tie was undermined by the 1966 overthrow of Dr Nkrumah as the USA CIA was accused of masterminding.
He said the relations picked up during the NLC government which was more inclined to the US government.
Prof Ayee said former President Rawlings was not favoured by the US government initially, but the relations eventually developed and culminated in the visit to Ghana of former President Bill Clinton.
He said the recent signing of the extradition agreement between the governments of Ghana and US, which required Ghana to extradite US officials to their country, marked a growth in the relations between the two countries.
Prof Ayee said President Bush’s visit to Ghana was significant as it meant that the US had endorsed Ghana’s democracy, meaning that “Ghana is in the good books of the US”. It will consequently boost the international image of Ghana as democratic state.
Besides, he said, the visit would promote bilateral ties between the US and Ghana, in the areas of trade, security and good governance.
Prof Ayee said the visit would offer Presidents Kufuor and Bush, who had worked together in the last seven years, the opportunity to say good bye to each other as they were ending their second and last terms in office.
A former diplomat, Mr K. B. Asante, agreed that the relations between the US and Ghana had been good over the years, but said, “America seem to get all that it wants” in that relation because of its size and economic might. Nonetheless, he said, “the US meant well in their relations with Ghana”.
He said the US had intervened in industry and services in the country, and mentioned the Workers Brigade as an example.
According to Mr Asante, Dr Nkrumah was cautiously friendly with the US, but was not antagonistic to that country.
The relations, he said, paved the way for the US to back Ghana to secure a loan from the World Bank to construct the Volta Dam.
He mentioned the AGOA and MCA as some of the contributions of the US to Ghana’s economy, saying that “the US are trying their best within their means”.
Mr Asante was against the reported plans by the US to establish a military base in Ghana since the country was not at war nor its security threatened.
He said the reported military base would only serve the national interest of the Americas, which had the tendency of disturbing African unity.
Mr Asante said it was Good to have President Bush visiting Ghana as it would afford the two Heads of State the opportunity to discuss bilateral co-operation.
The two Presidents have some connections as both the Republican Party of President Bush and the NPP of President Kufuor have the elephant as their symbol.
Besides, the two Presidents are seen to be trying to promote good governance and co-operating with other international bodies to make the world a better or safer place.
Presidents Bush and Kufuor are also in the final year of their two terms in office.
Presidents Kufuor and his counterpart are expected to discuss issues, including poverty, HIV and AIDS, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), African unity and regional security.
It is hoped that the discussions will further strengthen bilateral ties between Ghana and the US and consequently support the Ghana’s dream of attaining the middle-income status by 20015.
Commonwealth internal auditors attend workshop
18/02/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
PUBLIC sector internal auditors from 10 Commonwealth countries have begun a three-week programme in Accra that seeks to give them hands-on experience in internal audit practice.
The participants are using international best practice in internal audit and Ghana’s public sector as a case study. The programme involves presentations, field visits and debriefing sessions.
The internal audit exchange programme, the first of its kind in any Commonwealth country, is being organised by the Internal Audit Agency in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat. It is under the Commonwealth Secretariat’s thematic fellowship programme.
Commonwealth countries attending the programme are Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Tonga, Botswana, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Malaysia and Solomon Islands.
The Chief Director at the Office of the President, Mr Liberio Bazaa Tusoe, opened the programme yesterday and read a speech on behalf of the Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani.
Mr Mpiani urged the participants to make the most of the programme to enhance internal audit practice in the public sector of their respective countries.
“You can achieve this by sharing your country experiences and identifying which approaches and procedures work better in other countries and how they can be tailored to your own countries,” he stressed.
Mr Mpiani expressed the hope that the exchange programme would add value to their respective countries’ public financial management objectives.
He noted that since the onset of the new millennium, Ghana had embarked on “an ambitious” programme to reform its public financial management systems.
That, he said, resulted in reforms in the area of internal auditing in the public sector, saying that “we believe we have made significant progress by providing the appropriate legal framework, and developed a practical professional practice framework and human resource to ensure that internal audit supports government’s programmes to ensure public sector accountability and performance”.
Mr Mpiani commended the Commonwealth Secretariat for their technical and financial inputs and the Internal Audit Agency for organising the programme.
The Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency, Mr Patrick Nomo, stressed that the programme would afford the participants the opportunity to learn from one another while recognising their peculiar cultural environments and their common vision of reaching excellence in identified thematic areas.
He said Ghana had and experience worth studying in internal audit reforms in the public sector.
Mr Nomo said the Commonwealth Secretariat’s framework for Internal Audit Reforms was the only one in the world “and Ghana’s reforms are in full compliance with the framework”.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
PUBLIC sector internal auditors from 10 Commonwealth countries have begun a three-week programme in Accra that seeks to give them hands-on experience in internal audit practice.
The participants are using international best practice in internal audit and Ghana’s public sector as a case study. The programme involves presentations, field visits and debriefing sessions.
The internal audit exchange programme, the first of its kind in any Commonwealth country, is being organised by the Internal Audit Agency in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat. It is under the Commonwealth Secretariat’s thematic fellowship programme.
Commonwealth countries attending the programme are Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Tonga, Botswana, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Malaysia and Solomon Islands.
The Chief Director at the Office of the President, Mr Liberio Bazaa Tusoe, opened the programme yesterday and read a speech on behalf of the Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani.
Mr Mpiani urged the participants to make the most of the programme to enhance internal audit practice in the public sector of their respective countries.
“You can achieve this by sharing your country experiences and identifying which approaches and procedures work better in other countries and how they can be tailored to your own countries,” he stressed.
Mr Mpiani expressed the hope that the exchange programme would add value to their respective countries’ public financial management objectives.
He noted that since the onset of the new millennium, Ghana had embarked on “an ambitious” programme to reform its public financial management systems.
That, he said, resulted in reforms in the area of internal auditing in the public sector, saying that “we believe we have made significant progress by providing the appropriate legal framework, and developed a practical professional practice framework and human resource to ensure that internal audit supports government’s programmes to ensure public sector accountability and performance”.
Mr Mpiani commended the Commonwealth Secretariat for their technical and financial inputs and the Internal Audit Agency for organising the programme.
The Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency, Mr Patrick Nomo, stressed that the programme would afford the participants the opportunity to learn from one another while recognising their peculiar cultural environments and their common vision of reaching excellence in identified thematic areas.
He said Ghana had and experience worth studying in internal audit reforms in the public sector.
Mr Nomo said the Commonwealth Secretariat’s framework for Internal Audit Reforms was the only one in the world “and Ghana’s reforms are in full compliance with the framework”.
24/02/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Standards Board (GSB) has threatened to prosecute importers of used Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders, since the used cylinders are the main causes of explosion and fires in homes.
The Board said it would invoke the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1968 (2001) which states, inter alia, that in exercise of the powers conferred on the minister responsible for Trade and Industry, under Section 12 and 13 (a) of the Export and Import Act, 1955 (Act 503), the importation of used LPG cylinders is hereby prohibited.
The Director in charge of Testing Division of the GSB, Mr Kwabena Acheampong, told the Daily Graphic that, because LPG cylinders were always under pressure, they lost their capacity to contain much pressure after some time.
Therefore, he said, Europeans who were conscious of this development, discarded their cylinders after using them for some period for safety reasons.
However, Mr Acheampong said some unscrupulous Ghanaian importers bought and imported the used LPG cylinders into the country through unapproved routes.
The importers, thereafter, paint the cylinders to deceive customers into believing that they were either new or slightly used.
He said such cylinders could not contain much pressure and consequently “blast, catching fire, burning houses and destroying lives and property”.
To address the situation, Mr Acheampong said the GSB had intensified “destination inspection” at the entry ports to impound those cylinders, and indicated that Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) officers were collaborating with the Board to arrest such importers at the entry points.
Besides, he said, the Board’s surveillance team was engaging in market surveillance to identify and impound the cylinders, although he noted that identifying the used ones was difficult because the importers refurbished them as soon as they brought them into the country.
Mr Acheampong warned public officials who connived with business men to import used LPG cylinders into the country to desist from the act or face the law when arrested.
He also urged the public to refrain from patronising used LPG cylinders to ensure their safety, adding that “the GSB cannot guarantee the safety of the used LPG cylinders”.
Rather, he said, they should patronise locally made cylinders which were of high quality and safety.
Mr Acheampong asked the people to report anybody found trading in used cylinders “for the law to take its course” against them.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Standards Board (GSB) has threatened to prosecute importers of used Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders, since the used cylinders are the main causes of explosion and fires in homes.
The Board said it would invoke the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1968 (2001) which states, inter alia, that in exercise of the powers conferred on the minister responsible for Trade and Industry, under Section 12 and 13 (a) of the Export and Import Act, 1955 (Act 503), the importation of used LPG cylinders is hereby prohibited.
The Director in charge of Testing Division of the GSB, Mr Kwabena Acheampong, told the Daily Graphic that, because LPG cylinders were always under pressure, they lost their capacity to contain much pressure after some time.
Therefore, he said, Europeans who were conscious of this development, discarded their cylinders after using them for some period for safety reasons.
However, Mr Acheampong said some unscrupulous Ghanaian importers bought and imported the used LPG cylinders into the country through unapproved routes.
The importers, thereafter, paint the cylinders to deceive customers into believing that they were either new or slightly used.
He said such cylinders could not contain much pressure and consequently “blast, catching fire, burning houses and destroying lives and property”.
To address the situation, Mr Acheampong said the GSB had intensified “destination inspection” at the entry ports to impound those cylinders, and indicated that Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) officers were collaborating with the Board to arrest such importers at the entry points.
Besides, he said, the Board’s surveillance team was engaging in market surveillance to identify and impound the cylinders, although he noted that identifying the used ones was difficult because the importers refurbished them as soon as they brought them into the country.
Mr Acheampong warned public officials who connived with business men to import used LPG cylinders into the country to desist from the act or face the law when arrested.
He also urged the public to refrain from patronising used LPG cylinders to ensure their safety, adding that “the GSB cannot guarantee the safety of the used LPG cylinders”.
Rather, he said, they should patronise locally made cylinders which were of high quality and safety.
Mr Acheampong asked the people to report anybody found trading in used cylinders “for the law to take its course” against them.
Justice Prof Date-Bah lauds call-in programmes
27/02/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A JUDGE of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Justice Prof. Samuel K. Date-Bah, has lauded the concept of call-in programmes on radio stations and said they had deepened democratic governance in the country.
He said the call-in programmes allowed citizens to freely express their views on national issues and were able to influence government decisions.
According to him, the vibrancy of the media through the call-in programmes was an evidence of freedom of expression in the country.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah was delivering a lecture on: “Law, Liberty, Development and Social Justice” at the 41st J. B. Danquah Memorial Lecture in Accra on Tuesday.
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) instituted the lecture in 1968 in memory of Dr Danquah, a foundation member of the academy who died in prison in February 1965 fighting for freedom.
Described as the doyen of Gold Coast politics, Dr Danquah was a lawyer, scholar, journalist, philosopher, dramatist, novelist and statesman.
The series of three lectures are delivered by either a fellow of the GAAS or a distinguished non-fellow of the GAAS, and the areas considered include law, science and technology, environment, philosophy, human rights, medicine, good governance and the economy.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah said the media was the vital means of participating in the political discourse, and putting the government on check.
He noted that freedom of speech was pronounced in the country, saying that “freedom of speech is live and well in this country”.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah stressed the need for people to be given the opportunity to articulate their views in any legal decision.
That, he said, “lives the road to enhancing personal liberty” and guaranteed the rights of citizens.
He, however, reminded the people that freedom of speech and expression had limitations, such as national security and defaming the character of people, which must be observed.
On the right to assembly, Justice Prof. Date-Bah said per the country’s constitution everyone had the right to associate with any organisation that he or she deemed fit.
He stressed that every democratic state was in favour of peaceful assembly and indicated that balance was the key consideration.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah referred to several cases bordering on the liberty of individuals and said the judgements were illustrative of the vibrancy of constitutionalism in the country.
He said the 1992 Constitution recognised that the sovereignty of the nation resided in the people.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah, therefore, stressed the need for all relevant institutions to support the principle of protecting the liberty of individuals.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A JUDGE of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Justice Prof. Samuel K. Date-Bah, has lauded the concept of call-in programmes on radio stations and said they had deepened democratic governance in the country.
He said the call-in programmes allowed citizens to freely express their views on national issues and were able to influence government decisions.
According to him, the vibrancy of the media through the call-in programmes was an evidence of freedom of expression in the country.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah was delivering a lecture on: “Law, Liberty, Development and Social Justice” at the 41st J. B. Danquah Memorial Lecture in Accra on Tuesday.
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) instituted the lecture in 1968 in memory of Dr Danquah, a foundation member of the academy who died in prison in February 1965 fighting for freedom.
Described as the doyen of Gold Coast politics, Dr Danquah was a lawyer, scholar, journalist, philosopher, dramatist, novelist and statesman.
The series of three lectures are delivered by either a fellow of the GAAS or a distinguished non-fellow of the GAAS, and the areas considered include law, science and technology, environment, philosophy, human rights, medicine, good governance and the economy.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah said the media was the vital means of participating in the political discourse, and putting the government on check.
He noted that freedom of speech was pronounced in the country, saying that “freedom of speech is live and well in this country”.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah stressed the need for people to be given the opportunity to articulate their views in any legal decision.
That, he said, “lives the road to enhancing personal liberty” and guaranteed the rights of citizens.
He, however, reminded the people that freedom of speech and expression had limitations, such as national security and defaming the character of people, which must be observed.
On the right to assembly, Justice Prof. Date-Bah said per the country’s constitution everyone had the right to associate with any organisation that he or she deemed fit.
He stressed that every democratic state was in favour of peaceful assembly and indicated that balance was the key consideration.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah referred to several cases bordering on the liberty of individuals and said the judgements were illustrative of the vibrancy of constitutionalism in the country.
He said the 1992 Constitution recognised that the sovereignty of the nation resided in the people.
Justice Prof. Date-Bah, therefore, stressed the need for all relevant institutions to support the principle of protecting the liberty of individuals.
GBC unveils programmes for political parties
27/02/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) yesterday unveiled a number of programmes to help political parties contesting the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections to sell their programmes and manifestos on its radio and television stations.
At a ceremony to launch the programme details, representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the People’s National Convention (PNC), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and the United Love Party (ULP) were all given the guidelines for the various activities and assured of fair coverage.
The activities to be covered by Ghana Television (GTV) and Radio Ghana include national and regional rallies and a proposed presidential debate.
Political parties will also participate in Talking Point, Breakfast Shows and Adult Education on GTV.
The corporation has also proposed a ‘Face the Nation’ concept during which leading party members will face between four and six journalists to answer questions based on their manifestos and other national issues.
Consequently, GBC has constituted a five-member Political Broadcast Monitoring and Complaints Committee, chaired by a veteran broadcast journalist, Mr Akuamoah Boateng, to monitor and address complaints from political parties.
The Director-General of GBC, Mr William Ampem Darko, said the introduction of the guidelines was an attempt to put GBC’s network “to use so that the political parties can mount effective campaigns”.
He said the committee was to monitor the coverage and receive complaints from political parties and asked the various parties to lodge their complaints with the committee for redress.
Mr Ampem Darko gave the assurance that GBC would give fair coverage to all political parties and asked the parties to avoid creating unnecessary tension and sensationalism.
He said GBC would announce election results certified by the Electoral Commission (EC) but indicated that his outfit would not give accumulated results, since it could create unnecessary anxiety.
On the proposed presidential debate, Mr Ampem Darko said all flag bearers would be brought together for a presidential debate, adding that three nominated journalists would ask the questions, while the sitting arrangement would be decided by ballot.
However, the political parties could not arrive at a conclusion on the issue of the presidential debate, saying they would refer it to their respective party leaderships to deliberate on.
Mr Boateng said GBC would cover national rallies addressed by flag bearers and that the duration would not exceed four minutes. He, however, said additional programmes, such as spot adverts and documentaries, would be paid for.
Besides, he said, paid-for materials should reach GBC 48 hours before broadcast for vetting.
The GBC and the political parties agreed on eight national rallies and 10 regional rallies for each political party. They also concluded that political statements should be recorded to avoid character assassination and mischievous twist of facts.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) yesterday unveiled a number of programmes to help political parties contesting the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections to sell their programmes and manifestos on its radio and television stations.
At a ceremony to launch the programme details, representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the People’s National Convention (PNC), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and the United Love Party (ULP) were all given the guidelines for the various activities and assured of fair coverage.
The activities to be covered by Ghana Television (GTV) and Radio Ghana include national and regional rallies and a proposed presidential debate.
Political parties will also participate in Talking Point, Breakfast Shows and Adult Education on GTV.
The corporation has also proposed a ‘Face the Nation’ concept during which leading party members will face between four and six journalists to answer questions based on their manifestos and other national issues.
Consequently, GBC has constituted a five-member Political Broadcast Monitoring and Complaints Committee, chaired by a veteran broadcast journalist, Mr Akuamoah Boateng, to monitor and address complaints from political parties.
The Director-General of GBC, Mr William Ampem Darko, said the introduction of the guidelines was an attempt to put GBC’s network “to use so that the political parties can mount effective campaigns”.
He said the committee was to monitor the coverage and receive complaints from political parties and asked the various parties to lodge their complaints with the committee for redress.
Mr Ampem Darko gave the assurance that GBC would give fair coverage to all political parties and asked the parties to avoid creating unnecessary tension and sensationalism.
He said GBC would announce election results certified by the Electoral Commission (EC) but indicated that his outfit would not give accumulated results, since it could create unnecessary anxiety.
On the proposed presidential debate, Mr Ampem Darko said all flag bearers would be brought together for a presidential debate, adding that three nominated journalists would ask the questions, while the sitting arrangement would be decided by ballot.
However, the political parties could not arrive at a conclusion on the issue of the presidential debate, saying they would refer it to their respective party leaderships to deliberate on.
Mr Boateng said GBC would cover national rallies addressed by flag bearers and that the duration would not exceed four minutes. He, however, said additional programmes, such as spot adverts and documentaries, would be paid for.
Besides, he said, paid-for materials should reach GBC 48 hours before broadcast for vetting.
The GBC and the political parties agreed on eight national rallies and 10 regional rallies for each political party. They also concluded that political statements should be recorded to avoid character assassination and mischievous twist of facts.
Owners of Soldier Bar dismantle structures
02/03/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE owners of Soldier Bar, a popular brothel at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, yesterday pulled down parts of the structures used for their operation.
Observers described the dismantling of the structures as a ploy by the owners to avoid its imminent destruction by state agencies, following a visit to the area by some Members of Parliament (MPs).
When the Daily Graphic visited the joint, the owners had dismantled some of the cubicles used by sex workers, some of whom are said to be as young as 12 years.
They were seen holding hammers and other implements removing plywood and roofing sheets under the supervision of Odom Bens, the caretaker.
When this reporter asked of Thomas Okine, the owner of the bar, Odom said he travelled to Canada four months ago.
Odom denied that they used the cubicles for prostitution, and added that he only sold beer and operated a communications centre.
He insisted that those caught having sex in the cubicles in a recent police swoop in the area were all workers of Soldier Bar and its subsidiary water producing company, “One Love” at Adjiringano, who were there with their girlfriends.
Odom said they had 52 workers, but could not explain how all of them were caught in the act at the same time.
Neither Odom nor his supporting staff could produce a working permit or a registration form from the Registrar General’s Department for the brothel, which he claimed started operations 14 years ago. He, however, produced a membership certificate with the National Drinking Bar Operators Association, Ghana (NADB).
He said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) officials had come for the work permit and registration form for verification, but was not certain of the office or the names of the officials.
Odom denied that the dismantling of the cubicles was a camouflage and that it was done out of fear that the MPs who visited the place might call for the demolition of the brothel.
He said he carried out the exercise to send signals outside that the Soldier Bar was not into any sex work, and that it was purely a beer bar.
Odom accused owners of adjacent structures of engaging in sex work, and wondered why the blame was always on Soldier Bar.
The Parliamentary Caucus on Population visited the brothel last Friday and warned that it would not hesitate to close down or demolish the bar, reports Rebecca Quaicoe Duho.
The Chairman of the caucus, Madam Theresa Tagoe, and other members expressed their shock and disgust at the horrible conditions under which people, including children, practised prostitution there.
The brothel was in the news last December after more than 150 suspected prostitutes including children were rounded up by the police.
The parliamentarians were accompanied by some members of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the police, CID, Social Welfare and the Department of Children.
The brothel, which is situated behind the Airport-Circle taxi rank, has a drinking bar at its frontage with over 50 cubicles behind that has been operational for years with the young and old as patrons.
The cubicles, which are about 4 feet x 8 feet square, has only a make-shift bed and mattress in them with the doors, which are often locked when occupied, serving as the only ventilation.
It also has four smaller cubicles serving as bathrooms and toilets, which are also used by the prostitutes.
The area where the brothel is situated stinks and poses a health hazard to its occupants as it is near a big gutter.
Although there is a “stop work” notice, said to have been written by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), on one of the structures, business is still booming as the place is still operational.
The Chairman of the caucus, Madam Theresa Tagoe, in an interview said the caucus would meet tomorrow, to take a final decision which would be sent to Parliament for action to be taken on the place.
She said the brothel was dehumanising and did not understand why people would want to have pleasure in such places.
Madam Tagoe said it was the duty of the members to protect the interest of all people including children and, therefore, would not hesitate to recommend its demolishing.
She was of the view that raiding the place was not going to solve the problem but rather there was the need for concrete steps to be taken.
The Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of the Department of Children, Mr Peter Akyea, who was with the MPs, in an interview said three of the 14 teenage prostitutes detained during the raid in December, who were found to be pregnant after medical checks, and four others already with babies, have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into vocational training centres in their various communities.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE owners of Soldier Bar, a popular brothel at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, yesterday pulled down parts of the structures used for their operation.
Observers described the dismantling of the structures as a ploy by the owners to avoid its imminent destruction by state agencies, following a visit to the area by some Members of Parliament (MPs).
When the Daily Graphic visited the joint, the owners had dismantled some of the cubicles used by sex workers, some of whom are said to be as young as 12 years.
They were seen holding hammers and other implements removing plywood and roofing sheets under the supervision of Odom Bens, the caretaker.
When this reporter asked of Thomas Okine, the owner of the bar, Odom said he travelled to Canada four months ago.
Odom denied that they used the cubicles for prostitution, and added that he only sold beer and operated a communications centre.
He insisted that those caught having sex in the cubicles in a recent police swoop in the area were all workers of Soldier Bar and its subsidiary water producing company, “One Love” at Adjiringano, who were there with their girlfriends.
Odom said they had 52 workers, but could not explain how all of them were caught in the act at the same time.
Neither Odom nor his supporting staff could produce a working permit or a registration form from the Registrar General’s Department for the brothel, which he claimed started operations 14 years ago. He, however, produced a membership certificate with the National Drinking Bar Operators Association, Ghana (NADB).
He said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) officials had come for the work permit and registration form for verification, but was not certain of the office or the names of the officials.
Odom denied that the dismantling of the cubicles was a camouflage and that it was done out of fear that the MPs who visited the place might call for the demolition of the brothel.
He said he carried out the exercise to send signals outside that the Soldier Bar was not into any sex work, and that it was purely a beer bar.
Odom accused owners of adjacent structures of engaging in sex work, and wondered why the blame was always on Soldier Bar.
The Parliamentary Caucus on Population visited the brothel last Friday and warned that it would not hesitate to close down or demolish the bar, reports Rebecca Quaicoe Duho.
The Chairman of the caucus, Madam Theresa Tagoe, and other members expressed their shock and disgust at the horrible conditions under which people, including children, practised prostitution there.
The brothel was in the news last December after more than 150 suspected prostitutes including children were rounded up by the police.
The parliamentarians were accompanied by some members of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the police, CID, Social Welfare and the Department of Children.
The brothel, which is situated behind the Airport-Circle taxi rank, has a drinking bar at its frontage with over 50 cubicles behind that has been operational for years with the young and old as patrons.
The cubicles, which are about 4 feet x 8 feet square, has only a make-shift bed and mattress in them with the doors, which are often locked when occupied, serving as the only ventilation.
It also has four smaller cubicles serving as bathrooms and toilets, which are also used by the prostitutes.
The area where the brothel is situated stinks and poses a health hazard to its occupants as it is near a big gutter.
Although there is a “stop work” notice, said to have been written by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), on one of the structures, business is still booming as the place is still operational.
The Chairman of the caucus, Madam Theresa Tagoe, in an interview said the caucus would meet tomorrow, to take a final decision which would be sent to Parliament for action to be taken on the place.
She said the brothel was dehumanising and did not understand why people would want to have pleasure in such places.
Madam Tagoe said it was the duty of the members to protect the interest of all people including children and, therefore, would not hesitate to recommend its demolishing.
She was of the view that raiding the place was not going to solve the problem but rather there was the need for concrete steps to be taken.
The Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of the Department of Children, Mr Peter Akyea, who was with the MPs, in an interview said three of the 14 teenage prostitutes detained during the raid in December, who were found to be pregnant after medical checks, and four others already with babies, have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into vocational training centres in their various communities.
Probe the Hajj Council-FMC
06/03/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
ANOTHER Muslim organisation, the Federation of Muslim Councils (FMC) Ghana, has added its voice to calls for a judicial probe into last year’s Hajj organised by the Interim Hajj Management Committee.
The Ghana Muslim Students Association (GMSA), the Coalition of Muslim Organisations, the Ahlussunna Wal-Jama’a (ASWAJ) and the Federation of Muslim Associations of Ghana (FOMWAG) have all called for a probe into the Hajj.
The FMC again called for the dissolution of the National Hajj Council (NHC) with the formation of “a new broad-based body” to handle Hajj matters in the country.
The appeal was part of proposals, which the FMC said were crucial “given the depth of the crisis and the accrued loss of the pilgrims’ and taxpayers’ money”.
The General Secretary of the FMC, Mr Mohammed Kpakpo Addo, who made the call at a press conference in Accra on Friday, said “this breach of authority will no longer be tolerated in this religious community where we have clearly defined leadership structure and governed by operational system and procedures”.
There was a delay in the departure of pilgrims for Saudi Arabia last year due to the delay in the arrival of flights, and the pilgrims under the circumstances slept at the Aviation Social Centre for about 10 days before they were airlifted to Mecca.
Mr Kpakpo Addo mentioned undue political interference in Hajj affairs and the scramble for authority by the stakeholders on the IHMC as some of the contributory factors to the difficulties of last year’s Hajj.
He therefore asked politicians to refrain from meddling in Hajj matters and leave the management of Hajj solely in the hands of any organisation that would be mandated to do so.
Mr Kpakpo added, however, that “the FMC is not against state participation in the operations of Hajj, since the element of state protocol and regulations cannot be zeroed out of the Hajj. What we are against are those impositions that render the system and procedures useless”, he stressed.
According to Mr Kpakpo, the FMC, in collaboration with the office of the National Chief Imam and other Muslims there “is . . . the process of setting up a new broad-based national body to handle Hajj matters in Ghana as soon as practicable”.
He, therefore, asked the government for “its fatherly blessing” to the initiative, stressing that it was a constitutional demand on the government to do so and that it was proper the FMC to organise the rank and file of the Muslim Community to brainstorm on a workable solution to the Hajj issue.
Mr Kpakpo expressed dissatisfaction over the trying conditions of the pilgrims prior to their departure.
He commended the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, for calling for tolerance, unity and peace among Muslims in the face of the difficulties.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
ANOTHER Muslim organisation, the Federation of Muslim Councils (FMC) Ghana, has added its voice to calls for a judicial probe into last year’s Hajj organised by the Interim Hajj Management Committee.
The Ghana Muslim Students Association (GMSA), the Coalition of Muslim Organisations, the Ahlussunna Wal-Jama’a (ASWAJ) and the Federation of Muslim Associations of Ghana (FOMWAG) have all called for a probe into the Hajj.
The FMC again called for the dissolution of the National Hajj Council (NHC) with the formation of “a new broad-based body” to handle Hajj matters in the country.
The appeal was part of proposals, which the FMC said were crucial “given the depth of the crisis and the accrued loss of the pilgrims’ and taxpayers’ money”.
The General Secretary of the FMC, Mr Mohammed Kpakpo Addo, who made the call at a press conference in Accra on Friday, said “this breach of authority will no longer be tolerated in this religious community where we have clearly defined leadership structure and governed by operational system and procedures”.
There was a delay in the departure of pilgrims for Saudi Arabia last year due to the delay in the arrival of flights, and the pilgrims under the circumstances slept at the Aviation Social Centre for about 10 days before they were airlifted to Mecca.
Mr Kpakpo Addo mentioned undue political interference in Hajj affairs and the scramble for authority by the stakeholders on the IHMC as some of the contributory factors to the difficulties of last year’s Hajj.
He therefore asked politicians to refrain from meddling in Hajj matters and leave the management of Hajj solely in the hands of any organisation that would be mandated to do so.
Mr Kpakpo added, however, that “the FMC is not against state participation in the operations of Hajj, since the element of state protocol and regulations cannot be zeroed out of the Hajj. What we are against are those impositions that render the system and procedures useless”, he stressed.
According to Mr Kpakpo, the FMC, in collaboration with the office of the National Chief Imam and other Muslims there “is . . . the process of setting up a new broad-based national body to handle Hajj matters in Ghana as soon as practicable”.
He, therefore, asked the government for “its fatherly blessing” to the initiative, stressing that it was a constitutional demand on the government to do so and that it was proper the FMC to organise the rank and file of the Muslim Community to brainstorm on a workable solution to the Hajj issue.
Mr Kpakpo expressed dissatisfaction over the trying conditions of the pilgrims prior to their departure.
He commended the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, for calling for tolerance, unity and peace among Muslims in the face of the difficulties.
More people say no state funding of political parties
11/03/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A CROSS-SECTION of Ghanaians interviewed by the Daily Graphic yesterday unanimously condemned the proposed state funding of political parties.
Some of the 35 respondents randomly selected in Accra argued that it would be morally wrong for citizens to be made to pay taxes to fund the activities of political parties, at the expense of pressing national needs such as water, electricity, health and education.
Besides, they said, state funding of political parties would amount to pampering politicians and open the floodgates for more political parties to be formed, with the sole aim of benefiting from the fund.
In addition to a number of hawkers and business people, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Mr J.N.Y. Atopley, the Executive Director of Eanfoworld for Sustainable Development, an NGO, Alhaji Abdulai Alhasan, an executive union member of the Accra New Town Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union of the GTUC, Mr Ellias Agbemadu, a trotro driver at the Tema Station, Emmanuel Asigbe, and a public servant who declined to give his name were some of the people who reacted to the proposals made for the state to fund political parties.
The proposal was made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC), under the umbrella of the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). The proposal is to be launched today.
Mr Atopley likened a political party to a marriage which required adequate financial preparations and asked politicians to be fully prepared to fund their own political activities.
He said politicians were seeking political power and wondered why the larger Ghanaian population should pay taxes to prop them up to acquire power.
“I do not see why the state should fund political parties. The fund should rather go into addressing challenging national issues,” he stressed.
Mr Alhasan argued that political parties were supposed to be self-sustaining and indicated that their respective supporters should be made to pay dues to support their activities.
According to him, if party functionaries paid dues, they could “have a say” in the running of the parties, including the selection of individuals to serve in government.
Mr Alhasan said state funding of political parties would create an avenue for politicians to cash in on the country’s meagre resources for their own benefit.
For his part, Mr Agbemadu said a ruling party would abuse any system to fund political parties, as it would allocate more funds to itself, at the expense of the minority parties.
Besides, he said, many politicians were self-centred and that they did not think of the welfare of the larger Ghanaian society if they attained political power.
Mr Asigbe said he had lost trust in politicians, as they had failed to fulfil the numerous promises they made during electioneering.
He described political party activity as business and urged politicians to invest in their own activities and take personal responsibility of the outcome, whether “profit or loss”.
The public servant who pleaded anonymity expressed disappointment at the attitude of politicians who were only interested in promoting their welfare.
“I do not really understand our politicians. How on earth should the poor Ghanaian be made to pay money to fund political activities?” he queried.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A CROSS-SECTION of Ghanaians interviewed by the Daily Graphic yesterday unanimously condemned the proposed state funding of political parties.
Some of the 35 respondents randomly selected in Accra argued that it would be morally wrong for citizens to be made to pay taxes to fund the activities of political parties, at the expense of pressing national needs such as water, electricity, health and education.
Besides, they said, state funding of political parties would amount to pampering politicians and open the floodgates for more political parties to be formed, with the sole aim of benefiting from the fund.
In addition to a number of hawkers and business people, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Mr J.N.Y. Atopley, the Executive Director of Eanfoworld for Sustainable Development, an NGO, Alhaji Abdulai Alhasan, an executive union member of the Accra New Town Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union of the GTUC, Mr Ellias Agbemadu, a trotro driver at the Tema Station, Emmanuel Asigbe, and a public servant who declined to give his name were some of the people who reacted to the proposals made for the state to fund political parties.
The proposal was made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC), under the umbrella of the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). The proposal is to be launched today.
Mr Atopley likened a political party to a marriage which required adequate financial preparations and asked politicians to be fully prepared to fund their own political activities.
He said politicians were seeking political power and wondered why the larger Ghanaian population should pay taxes to prop them up to acquire power.
“I do not see why the state should fund political parties. The fund should rather go into addressing challenging national issues,” he stressed.
Mr Alhasan argued that political parties were supposed to be self-sustaining and indicated that their respective supporters should be made to pay dues to support their activities.
According to him, if party functionaries paid dues, they could “have a say” in the running of the parties, including the selection of individuals to serve in government.
Mr Alhasan said state funding of political parties would create an avenue for politicians to cash in on the country’s meagre resources for their own benefit.
For his part, Mr Agbemadu said a ruling party would abuse any system to fund political parties, as it would allocate more funds to itself, at the expense of the minority parties.
Besides, he said, many politicians were self-centred and that they did not think of the welfare of the larger Ghanaian society if they attained political power.
Mr Asigbe said he had lost trust in politicians, as they had failed to fulfil the numerous promises they made during electioneering.
He described political party activity as business and urged politicians to invest in their own activities and take personal responsibility of the outcome, whether “profit or loss”.
The public servant who pleaded anonymity expressed disappointment at the attitude of politicians who were only interested in promoting their welfare.
“I do not really understand our politicians. How on earth should the poor Ghanaian be made to pay money to fund political activities?” he queried.
More people say no state funding of political parties
11/03/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A CROSS-SECTION of Ghanaians interviewed by the Daily Graphic yesterday unanimously condemned the proposed state funding of political parties.
Some of the 35 respondents randomly selected in Accra argued that it would be morally wrong for citizens to be made to pay taxes to fund the activities of political parties, at the expense of pressing national needs such as water, electricity, health and education.
Besides, they said, state funding of political parties would amount to pampering politicians and open the floodgates for more political parties to be formed, with the sole aim of benefiting from the fund.
In addition to a number of hawkers and business people, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Mr J.N.Y. Atopley, the Executive Director of Eanfoworld for Sustainable Development, an NGO, Alhaji Abdulai Alhasan, an executive union member of the Accra New Town Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union of the GTUC, Mr Ellias Agbemadu, a trotro driver at the Tema Station, Emmanuel Asigbe, and a public servant who declined to give his name were some of the people who reacted to the proposals made for the state to fund political parties.
The proposal was made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC), under the umbrella of the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). The proposal is to be launched today.
Mr Atopley likened a political party to a marriage which required adequate financial preparations and asked politicians to be fully prepared to fund their own political activities.
He said politicians were seeking political power and wondered why the larger Ghanaian population should pay taxes to prop them up to acquire power.
“I do not see why the state should fund political parties. The fund should rather go into addressing challenging national issues,” he stressed.
Mr Alhasan argued that political parties were supposed to be self-sustaining and indicated that their respective supporters should be made to pay dues to support their activities.
According to him, if party functionaries paid dues, they could “have a say” in the running of the parties, including the selection of individuals to serve in government.
Mr Alhasan said state funding of political parties would create an avenue for politicians to cash in on the country’s meagre resources for their own benefit.
For his part, Mr Agbemadu said a ruling party would abuse any system to fund political parties, as it would allocate more funds to itself, at the expense of the minority parties.
Besides, he said, many politicians were self-centred and that they did not think of the welfare of the larger Ghanaian society if they attained political power.
Mr Asigbe said he had lost trust in politicians, as they had failed to fulfil the numerous promises they made during electioneering.
He described political party activity as business and urged politicians to invest in their own activities and take personal responsibility of the outcome, whether “profit or loss”.
The public servant who pleaded anonymity expressed disappointment at the attitude of politicians who were only interested in promoting their welfare.
“I do not really understand our politicians. How on earth should the poor Ghanaian be made to pay money to fund political activities?” he queried.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A CROSS-SECTION of Ghanaians interviewed by the Daily Graphic yesterday unanimously condemned the proposed state funding of political parties.
Some of the 35 respondents randomly selected in Accra argued that it would be morally wrong for citizens to be made to pay taxes to fund the activities of political parties, at the expense of pressing national needs such as water, electricity, health and education.
Besides, they said, state funding of political parties would amount to pampering politicians and open the floodgates for more political parties to be formed, with the sole aim of benefiting from the fund.
In addition to a number of hawkers and business people, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Mr J.N.Y. Atopley, the Executive Director of Eanfoworld for Sustainable Development, an NGO, Alhaji Abdulai Alhasan, an executive union member of the Accra New Town Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union of the GTUC, Mr Ellias Agbemadu, a trotro driver at the Tema Station, Emmanuel Asigbe, and a public servant who declined to give his name were some of the people who reacted to the proposals made for the state to fund political parties.
The proposal was made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC), under the umbrella of the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). The proposal is to be launched today.
Mr Atopley likened a political party to a marriage which required adequate financial preparations and asked politicians to be fully prepared to fund their own political activities.
He said politicians were seeking political power and wondered why the larger Ghanaian population should pay taxes to prop them up to acquire power.
“I do not see why the state should fund political parties. The fund should rather go into addressing challenging national issues,” he stressed.
Mr Alhasan argued that political parties were supposed to be self-sustaining and indicated that their respective supporters should be made to pay dues to support their activities.
According to him, if party functionaries paid dues, they could “have a say” in the running of the parties, including the selection of individuals to serve in government.
Mr Alhasan said state funding of political parties would create an avenue for politicians to cash in on the country’s meagre resources for their own benefit.
For his part, Mr Agbemadu said a ruling party would abuse any system to fund political parties, as it would allocate more funds to itself, at the expense of the minority parties.
Besides, he said, many politicians were self-centred and that they did not think of the welfare of the larger Ghanaian society if they attained political power.
Mr Asigbe said he had lost trust in politicians, as they had failed to fulfil the numerous promises they made during electioneering.
He described political party activity as business and urged politicians to invest in their own activities and take personal responsibility of the outcome, whether “profit or loss”.
The public servant who pleaded anonymity expressed disappointment at the attitude of politicians who were only interested in promoting their welfare.
“I do not really understand our politicians. How on earth should the poor Ghanaian be made to pay money to fund political activities?” he queried.
Political funding is relevant - Prof Bekoe
13/03/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Chairman of the Council of State, Prof Daniel Adzei Bekoe, has described as uninformed claims from a cross-section of Ghanaians that it will be wrong for citizens to pay taxes to support the activities of political parties in the face of other challenging national needs.
He stated that the passage of the Political Parties Bill and the Public Funding of Political Parties Bill into law would create a more friendly, liberal and flexible environment for the country’s political parties to ‘flourish’.
In addition, he said, when the laws come into being, they would contribute to the growth and consolidation of Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
Prof Adzei Bekoe, who is also the Chairman of the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), was speaking at the launch of the proposed draft Political Parties Bill, 2008 and the Public Funding of Political Parties Bill, 2008 in Accra yesterday.
The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev Dr Fred Deegbe, launched the bills and asked Ghanaians to read and discuss them intelligently.
The bills, drafted by the former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey and a legal luminary, Prof Kofi Kumado, have been accepted by the four political parties with representation in Parliament, namely the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC).
The proposed Public Funding of Political Parties Bill seeks to provide state and other public funding support for political parties, while the Political Parties Bill departs from the current Political Parties Act, 2000, Act 574, and wants the laws regulating the operations of political parties to be more liberal and friendly.
Prof. Adzei Bekoe said political parties “are not just electoral machines for achieving electoral victories but also act as leadership nurseries, public education institutions, avenues for national integration and skills acquisition during non-election years”.
He referred to Article 55 (3) of the Constitution, which requires that political parties are to “shape the political will of the people, disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character and sponsor elections to any public office other than to District Assemblies or lower local government units”.
Prof. Adzei Bekoe said the State until recently was silent on the subject, and political parties remained one of the most stunted and rejected political institutions in the country.
“Thus, poorly established and poorly maintained, political parties may not produce the best quality leadership, both at party and government level,” he stressed.
He said it was in an attempt to reverse this trend that the GPPP, an off-shoot of a collaborative effort between the IEA and the Institute of Multiparty Democracy of the Netherlands, initiated moves to have the bills enacted.
Prof. Adzei Bekoe said with the new bills, the powers of the Electoral Commission (EC) in relation to the issuance of final certificates of registration were curtailed and were now vested in the High Court, adding that a dissatisfied party had the right for an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
He said there was a relaxation of some rigid and inflexible criteria, which form part of the qualification for registration as a political party, such as the need to have in each district at least one founder member of the party, who is resident in the district or is a registered voter in the district.
He said the EC’s supervisory powers were reduced in relation to the financial accountability of political parties, and that with the new bills, audited accounts should be submitted to the EC only for general election year and bye-election year, and not every year.
The Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu, the Vice Chairman of the NDC, Mr E. T. Mensah, the Chairman of the PNC, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, the General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Kobina Greenstreet, and the Patron of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Dr Obed Asamoah, all supported the passage of the two bills into law.
They said the passage of the bills into law would ease the financial burden on political parties and consequently entrench the country’s multi-party democracy.
A Senior Fellow of the IEA, Brigadier General Francis A. Agyemfra (retd.), said in view of the ‘unique and important role’ political parties played in Ghana’s body politic and democratic practice, it was imperative that a congenial atmosphere was created for them to thrive and ensure that the laws regulating their operations were made liberal, flexible and friendly.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Chairman of the Council of State, Prof Daniel Adzei Bekoe, has described as uninformed claims from a cross-section of Ghanaians that it will be wrong for citizens to pay taxes to support the activities of political parties in the face of other challenging national needs.
He stated that the passage of the Political Parties Bill and the Public Funding of Political Parties Bill into law would create a more friendly, liberal and flexible environment for the country’s political parties to ‘flourish’.
In addition, he said, when the laws come into being, they would contribute to the growth and consolidation of Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
Prof Adzei Bekoe, who is also the Chairman of the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), was speaking at the launch of the proposed draft Political Parties Bill, 2008 and the Public Funding of Political Parties Bill, 2008 in Accra yesterday.
The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev Dr Fred Deegbe, launched the bills and asked Ghanaians to read and discuss them intelligently.
The bills, drafted by the former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey and a legal luminary, Prof Kofi Kumado, have been accepted by the four political parties with representation in Parliament, namely the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC).
The proposed Public Funding of Political Parties Bill seeks to provide state and other public funding support for political parties, while the Political Parties Bill departs from the current Political Parties Act, 2000, Act 574, and wants the laws regulating the operations of political parties to be more liberal and friendly.
Prof. Adzei Bekoe said political parties “are not just electoral machines for achieving electoral victories but also act as leadership nurseries, public education institutions, avenues for national integration and skills acquisition during non-election years”.
He referred to Article 55 (3) of the Constitution, which requires that political parties are to “shape the political will of the people, disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character and sponsor elections to any public office other than to District Assemblies or lower local government units”.
Prof. Adzei Bekoe said the State until recently was silent on the subject, and political parties remained one of the most stunted and rejected political institutions in the country.
“Thus, poorly established and poorly maintained, political parties may not produce the best quality leadership, both at party and government level,” he stressed.
He said it was in an attempt to reverse this trend that the GPPP, an off-shoot of a collaborative effort between the IEA and the Institute of Multiparty Democracy of the Netherlands, initiated moves to have the bills enacted.
Prof. Adzei Bekoe said with the new bills, the powers of the Electoral Commission (EC) in relation to the issuance of final certificates of registration were curtailed and were now vested in the High Court, adding that a dissatisfied party had the right for an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
He said there was a relaxation of some rigid and inflexible criteria, which form part of the qualification for registration as a political party, such as the need to have in each district at least one founder member of the party, who is resident in the district or is a registered voter in the district.
He said the EC’s supervisory powers were reduced in relation to the financial accountability of political parties, and that with the new bills, audited accounts should be submitted to the EC only for general election year and bye-election year, and not every year.
The Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu, the Vice Chairman of the NDC, Mr E. T. Mensah, the Chairman of the PNC, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, the General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Kobina Greenstreet, and the Patron of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Dr Obed Asamoah, all supported the passage of the two bills into law.
They said the passage of the bills into law would ease the financial burden on political parties and consequently entrench the country’s multi-party democracy.
A Senior Fellow of the IEA, Brigadier General Francis A. Agyemfra (retd.), said in view of the ‘unique and important role’ political parties played in Ghana’s body politic and democratic practice, it was imperative that a congenial atmosphere was created for them to thrive and ensure that the laws regulating their operations were made liberal, flexible and friendly.
President cautions youth against selfish politicians
30/03/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE President has advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used by self-seeking politicians to physically or verbally attack their perceived opponents during this year’s general elections.
They should realise that politics is not “a fight but a play” and that supporters of opposing political parties are not enemies.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, at the birthday celebration (Maulid Nabiyyi) of Prophet Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) organised by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, in Accra, on Saturday, President J.A. Kufuor noted that; “if someone belongs to another political party, it does not mean he is your enemy”.
The Maulid, attended by Muslims in and outside the country, was to recount the qualities of peace, patience, honesty, piety and righteousness of Prophet Muhammed.
President Kufuor was reacting to a reported clash between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, and those of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof Atta Mills, around the Chief Imam’s residence at Fadama, on Friday.
Reports indicated that Prof Mills and Nana Akufo Addo’s team had called on the National Chief Imam to show their solidarity which led to the clash between the supporters of the two camps.
The president reminded the youth that they were not ‘bulldozers”, to be used by politicians to cause mayhem during the elections and to be dumped after the elections.
He, therefore, asked the youth to beware of such people and rather pursue education in order to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, saying that “no matter the provocation, you have to be patient”.
He said Islam was a religion of peace and development and urged muslims not to allow politics to divide their united ranks.
He noted that the various political parties were in a contest to win political power, and stressed the need for winners to celebrate their victory with caution.
Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu in a speech read on his behalf, said Prophet Muhammed’s golden rule, enunciated more than 1400 years ago, “reflected the remarkable wisdom and foresight of this revolutionary teacher of all times”.
“If only humanity has allowed itself to be guided by that rule, a great deal of human right violations, the main cause of conflicts and wars would have been avoided. The protection of the welfare and rights of women and the under privileged was top most on his agenda. He was totally against racism and he is quoted as having said that ‘there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab or a white man over a non-white man except in righteousness”, he stressed.
Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu said the golden rule implicated peace and harmony in national affairs and international relations, and called for the respect of the rights and dignity of citizens irrespective of their tribe, gender or religion.
He thanked God for the prevailing peace in the country and prayed for the peace to be maintained before, during and after this year’s elections.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I. C. Quaye, who stood in for the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, reminded Muslims of Prophet Muhammed’s admonition to help one another in righteousness and piety but not in sin or rancour.
In a related development, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, has condemned the clash between supporters of Prof Mills, the NDC presidential candidate and those of the NPP presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, around his residence at Fadama on Friday.
“I condemn the unruly behaviour of the Muslim youth in no uncertain terms and call on Muslims throughout the country to exercise restraint and conduct themselves properly during the upcoming general election in December, 2008”, he said in a statement read on his behalf in Accra, on Saturday, during the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed (Maulid Nabiyyi).
The statement recounted that the presidential candidates of NPP and NDC had come to the National Chief Imam mainly to fraternise with him and the Muslim community on the occasion of the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed.
It said Prof Mills was the first to arrive at 11:30 am, and that as soon as he finished interacting with the National Chief Imam and was stepping out, Nana Akufo Addo also arrived.
“Supporters from both sides began casting insinuations and using abusive language on one another which resulted in confusion, argument and quarrelling”, the statement said.
However, it said, leaders of the two delegations conducted themselves properly and did not engage in any provocative acts which could have resulted in chaos.
“The act of violence and confusion was perpetrated by their supporters majority of whom were the Muslim youth”, it said.
The statement noted that the National Chief Imam, by virtue of his position “is non-partisan and will not openly campaign for any particular political party”.
In addition, it said “he will not show biases and preference to any individual political party in Ghana, and prays that Almighty Allah will choose the best candidate and party to govern this country after the December 2008 elections”.
In the statement Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu called on the leaders of all political parties not to allow their supporters to engage in acts that will destroy the relative peace in the country.
He also called on Imams and church leaders to dedicate the season of elections to preach peace, tranquility and exemplary conducts exhibited by Muhammed, Jesus and Abraham.
The statement denied media reports that some of the people were injured and others hospitalised as a result of the clashes and that “there is no iota of truth in the reportage and we are calling on those peddling the rumours to mention specific names and hospitals where the victims were sent to”.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE President has advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used by self-seeking politicians to physically or verbally attack their perceived opponents during this year’s general elections.
They should realise that politics is not “a fight but a play” and that supporters of opposing political parties are not enemies.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, at the birthday celebration (Maulid Nabiyyi) of Prophet Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) organised by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, in Accra, on Saturday, President J.A. Kufuor noted that; “if someone belongs to another political party, it does not mean he is your enemy”.
The Maulid, attended by Muslims in and outside the country, was to recount the qualities of peace, patience, honesty, piety and righteousness of Prophet Muhammed.
President Kufuor was reacting to a reported clash between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, and those of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof Atta Mills, around the Chief Imam’s residence at Fadama, on Friday.
Reports indicated that Prof Mills and Nana Akufo Addo’s team had called on the National Chief Imam to show their solidarity which led to the clash between the supporters of the two camps.
The president reminded the youth that they were not ‘bulldozers”, to be used by politicians to cause mayhem during the elections and to be dumped after the elections.
He, therefore, asked the youth to beware of such people and rather pursue education in order to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, saying that “no matter the provocation, you have to be patient”.
He said Islam was a religion of peace and development and urged muslims not to allow politics to divide their united ranks.
He noted that the various political parties were in a contest to win political power, and stressed the need for winners to celebrate their victory with caution.
Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu in a speech read on his behalf, said Prophet Muhammed’s golden rule, enunciated more than 1400 years ago, “reflected the remarkable wisdom and foresight of this revolutionary teacher of all times”.
“If only humanity has allowed itself to be guided by that rule, a great deal of human right violations, the main cause of conflicts and wars would have been avoided. The protection of the welfare and rights of women and the under privileged was top most on his agenda. He was totally against racism and he is quoted as having said that ‘there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab or a white man over a non-white man except in righteousness”, he stressed.
Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu said the golden rule implicated peace and harmony in national affairs and international relations, and called for the respect of the rights and dignity of citizens irrespective of their tribe, gender or religion.
He thanked God for the prevailing peace in the country and prayed for the peace to be maintained before, during and after this year’s elections.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I. C. Quaye, who stood in for the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, reminded Muslims of Prophet Muhammed’s admonition to help one another in righteousness and piety but not in sin or rancour.
In a related development, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, has condemned the clash between supporters of Prof Mills, the NDC presidential candidate and those of the NPP presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, around his residence at Fadama on Friday.
“I condemn the unruly behaviour of the Muslim youth in no uncertain terms and call on Muslims throughout the country to exercise restraint and conduct themselves properly during the upcoming general election in December, 2008”, he said in a statement read on his behalf in Accra, on Saturday, during the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed (Maulid Nabiyyi).
The statement recounted that the presidential candidates of NPP and NDC had come to the National Chief Imam mainly to fraternise with him and the Muslim community on the occasion of the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed.
It said Prof Mills was the first to arrive at 11:30 am, and that as soon as he finished interacting with the National Chief Imam and was stepping out, Nana Akufo Addo also arrived.
“Supporters from both sides began casting insinuations and using abusive language on one another which resulted in confusion, argument and quarrelling”, the statement said.
However, it said, leaders of the two delegations conducted themselves properly and did not engage in any provocative acts which could have resulted in chaos.
“The act of violence and confusion was perpetrated by their supporters majority of whom were the Muslim youth”, it said.
The statement noted that the National Chief Imam, by virtue of his position “is non-partisan and will not openly campaign for any particular political party”.
In addition, it said “he will not show biases and preference to any individual political party in Ghana, and prays that Almighty Allah will choose the best candidate and party to govern this country after the December 2008 elections”.
In the statement Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu called on the leaders of all political parties not to allow their supporters to engage in acts that will destroy the relative peace in the country.
He also called on Imams and church leaders to dedicate the season of elections to preach peace, tranquility and exemplary conducts exhibited by Muhammed, Jesus and Abraham.
The statement denied media reports that some of the people were injured and others hospitalised as a result of the clashes and that “there is no iota of truth in the reportage and we are calling on those peddling the rumours to mention specific names and hospitals where the victims were sent to”.
NADMO forms rapid team to tackle flood
09/04/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A RAPID response team has been formed by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to undertake emergency operations in line with the severe flooding which is predicted to hit parts of Accra.
This follows the forecast by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) that parts of the national capital will soon come under water as a result of heavy rains and poor drainage.
In his prediction, which was published in yesterday’s issue of the Daily Graphic, Mr Amos Narh, a senior meteorologist of the GMA, mentioned Avenor, Alajo, Sowutuom, Oblogo, Anyaa, Santa Maria, Mandela and Weija as some of the areas to be worst hit and called for serious preparations.
In response, the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Ben Brown, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that a team had been assembled from the Navy, the Air Force, the Police Service, the Fire Service, the Red Cross, Civil Aviation, the Ghana Health Service and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to provide rescue and other services wherever flooding might occur.
He said NADMO’s own study corroborated the GMA’s prediction that heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds, thunder and lightning, were expected in the southern parts of the country, including Accra.
Mr Brown said the Navy would rescue people stuck in floods, while the Air Force and Fire Service officers would rescue those to be caught in distressed situations.
He said the Ghana Red Cross Society and the police would provide first aid, while the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) would supply fire tenders and ambulances to convey victims to hospitals. The Ghana Health Service would also provide support services and supervise the treatment of flood victims.
Mr Brown said the aim of that collaboration was to ensure that flood victims did not suffer any fatalities and indicated that NADMO would supervise any rescue missions to ensure co-ordination.
He mentioned the downstream of the Densu River, comprising Oblogo, Tetegu, Mandela and parts of Panbros Block Factory, as well as the Lafa River on the hills of Anyaa and the whole of Sowutuom, Santa Maria and Mallam, as some of the flood-prone areas, in addition to Avenor, Alajo and Weija.
Five people lost their lives at Kwashibu, near Sowutuom, and Mallam when Accra was hit by floods in June last year.
Mr Brown said this year’s floods might be worse than last year’s as many more drains had been choked and people continued to build on water courses and in low-lying areas.
“This year, the floods may be worse because of the climate change, as the rains will be accompanied by strong winds,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said NADMO had impressed on the AMA and district assemblies to supervise the desilting of choked drains in their respective areas, saying that “we are putting the AMA and the district assemblies on their toes to ensure that the drains are cleared of silt as early as possible”.
Mr Brown urged all district assemblies to design their own disaster management plans to complement that of NADMO.
He warned residents to stay indoors whenever they saw the wind blowing and asked those on foot “to look for shelter”.
He advised motorists to step out of their vehicles and park away from electric poles, billboards, masts and trees during heavy downpours.
Mr Brown urged those in flood-prone areas to switch off the main electric switches, put their kids on tables and refrain from opening their doors whenever they were in a flood situation, warning that “if you open the door, you may slip off your feet”.
Those measures, he said, would protect them from getting washed away by the floods or being electrocuted as a result of faulty electric cables.
He again asked people residing in those areas to send their valuable items such as certificates to the police station, relatives or friends for safe keeping.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A RAPID response team has been formed by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to undertake emergency operations in line with the severe flooding which is predicted to hit parts of Accra.
This follows the forecast by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) that parts of the national capital will soon come under water as a result of heavy rains and poor drainage.
In his prediction, which was published in yesterday’s issue of the Daily Graphic, Mr Amos Narh, a senior meteorologist of the GMA, mentioned Avenor, Alajo, Sowutuom, Oblogo, Anyaa, Santa Maria, Mandela and Weija as some of the areas to be worst hit and called for serious preparations.
In response, the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Ben Brown, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that a team had been assembled from the Navy, the Air Force, the Police Service, the Fire Service, the Red Cross, Civil Aviation, the Ghana Health Service and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to provide rescue and other services wherever flooding might occur.
He said NADMO’s own study corroborated the GMA’s prediction that heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds, thunder and lightning, were expected in the southern parts of the country, including Accra.
Mr Brown said the Navy would rescue people stuck in floods, while the Air Force and Fire Service officers would rescue those to be caught in distressed situations.
He said the Ghana Red Cross Society and the police would provide first aid, while the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) would supply fire tenders and ambulances to convey victims to hospitals. The Ghana Health Service would also provide support services and supervise the treatment of flood victims.
Mr Brown said the aim of that collaboration was to ensure that flood victims did not suffer any fatalities and indicated that NADMO would supervise any rescue missions to ensure co-ordination.
He mentioned the downstream of the Densu River, comprising Oblogo, Tetegu, Mandela and parts of Panbros Block Factory, as well as the Lafa River on the hills of Anyaa and the whole of Sowutuom, Santa Maria and Mallam, as some of the flood-prone areas, in addition to Avenor, Alajo and Weija.
Five people lost their lives at Kwashibu, near Sowutuom, and Mallam when Accra was hit by floods in June last year.
Mr Brown said this year’s floods might be worse than last year’s as many more drains had been choked and people continued to build on water courses and in low-lying areas.
“This year, the floods may be worse because of the climate change, as the rains will be accompanied by strong winds,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said NADMO had impressed on the AMA and district assemblies to supervise the desilting of choked drains in their respective areas, saying that “we are putting the AMA and the district assemblies on their toes to ensure that the drains are cleared of silt as early as possible”.
Mr Brown urged all district assemblies to design their own disaster management plans to complement that of NADMO.
He warned residents to stay indoors whenever they saw the wind blowing and asked those on foot “to look for shelter”.
He advised motorists to step out of their vehicles and park away from electric poles, billboards, masts and trees during heavy downpours.
Mr Brown urged those in flood-prone areas to switch off the main electric switches, put their kids on tables and refrain from opening their doors whenever they were in a flood situation, warning that “if you open the door, you may slip off your feet”.
Those measures, he said, would protect them from getting washed away by the floods or being electrocuted as a result of faulty electric cables.
He again asked people residing in those areas to send their valuable items such as certificates to the police station, relatives or friends for safe keeping.
Selection of John Mahama is good-Kwesi Jonah
10/04/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A SENIOR lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Kwesi Jonah has described Prof Evans Atta Mill’s selection of Mr John Mahama to partner him for the December elections as “good decision” and “politically correct”.
He said Mr Mahama appealed to many Ghanaians from all political divide and that he could attract more people to the party.
Mr Jonah told the Daily Graphic ethnic and regional balance, gender and religious balance were some of the considerations for selecting a running mate.
However, he said, much of the debate on the running mate was centred on religion to the neglect of the other considerations.
“Unfortunately, people are looking at only one factor. The debate is deficient. Let us look at the factors in totality”, he said.
Mr Jonah who is research fellow at the Institute for Democratic Governance (IEDG) said it was only a few individuals who were calling for a Muslim to partner Prof Mills, and said majority of the party faithful were only interested in the party winning power.
He said the challenge for Prof Mills and Mr Mahama was to reach out to the former President Jerry John Rawlings “because information indicates that he is no pleased”.
Mr Jonah asked the two to explain to Mr Rawlings the basis for the choice and assure him that “the choice does not mean that they will not consult him”.
“They cannot afford to antagonise the founder who is a good fund-raiser”, he stressed.
Mr Jonah again urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives to assure Muslims that s the selection of Mr Mahama was not a marginalisation of Muslims, and that they would be fully involved in the decision of the party and their interests taken care of.
He asked those whose names were mentioned as possible contenders not to feel rejected but continue to play their role in the party.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A SENIOR lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Kwesi Jonah has described Prof Evans Atta Mill’s selection of Mr John Mahama to partner him for the December elections as “good decision” and “politically correct”.
He said Mr Mahama appealed to many Ghanaians from all political divide and that he could attract more people to the party.
Mr Jonah told the Daily Graphic ethnic and regional balance, gender and religious balance were some of the considerations for selecting a running mate.
However, he said, much of the debate on the running mate was centred on religion to the neglect of the other considerations.
“Unfortunately, people are looking at only one factor. The debate is deficient. Let us look at the factors in totality”, he said.
Mr Jonah who is research fellow at the Institute for Democratic Governance (IEDG) said it was only a few individuals who were calling for a Muslim to partner Prof Mills, and said majority of the party faithful were only interested in the party winning power.
He said the challenge for Prof Mills and Mr Mahama was to reach out to the former President Jerry John Rawlings “because information indicates that he is no pleased”.
Mr Jonah asked the two to explain to Mr Rawlings the basis for the choice and assure him that “the choice does not mean that they will not consult him”.
“They cannot afford to antagonise the founder who is a good fund-raiser”, he stressed.
Mr Jonah again urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives to assure Muslims that s the selection of Mr Mahama was not a marginalisation of Muslims, and that they would be fully involved in the decision of the party and their interests taken care of.
He asked those whose names were mentioned as possible contenders not to feel rejected but continue to play their role in the party.
EC calls for more domestic observers
10/04/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has called for more domestic election observers to monitor the country’s general elections.
He stated that domestic election observation had more advantages than international observation in that domestic observation was less costly, as “more observers can be deployed for the same amount of money”.
Besides, he said, domestic observation was suited for long-term observation of the electoral process, and while domestic observers had more intimate knowledge of the local situation.
Dr Afari-Gyan was launching a booklet, “Framework for Domestic Election Observation”, in Accra yesterday.
The booklet, written by the EC, with support from the Friedrich Ebert-Stiftung (FES), is intended to assist domestic observation groups to conduct their work in a professional manner.
It defines election observation and election monitoring and gives an insight into what to observe, how the observer is required to gather and interpret facts, report writing and the requirements for accreditation.
Dr Afari-Gyan said as Ghana was growing in its democratic march, foreign observers had shifted their attention from the country to troubled spots on the continent.
Therefore, there was the need to train local election observers to be able to observe the elections professionally, he said.
He said election observers were supposed to gather facts, not opinions or allegations, and interpret the facts for the purpose of making informed judgements about elections.
He said the judgement should be based on whether or not, on the whole, the election went well, noting that making such judgements “is not always easy”.
“In all likelihood, an observer group will notice irregularities of one kind or another in relation to an election. The group must then judiciously assess the ways in which the irregularities may have affected the eventual outcome of the election,” he said.
Dr Afari-Gyan said the booklet was written in simple language for easy reading and that it was meant to assist domestic observers to conduct their observation professionally and compete favourably with international observers.
“If the EC is expected to carry out its activities in a professional manner, then it stands to reason that the observation of those activities must also be done in a professional manner,” he stressed.
Dr Afari-Gyan charged the government, political parties, the security agencies, the media, the electorate and election observers to collaborate with the EC towards achieving free, fair and credible elections in December this year.
He reiterated the commitment of the commission to carry out its activities in a transparent manner and apply the electoral laws, rules and regulations “fairly and uniformly, without favour to a party or a candidate”.
While tasking the government to provide the needed resources for elections and refrain from abusing its incumbency, the EC Chairman also asked political parties to carry out clean campaigns devoid of violence and intimidation.
He urged the electorate to register and vote once and not prevent anyone from voting and challenged the media to report political events accurately.
“The security agencies must adopt a stance of zero tolerance for election-related violence, irrespective of its source,” Dr Afari-Gyan stated.
The Resident Director of the FES, Ms Kathrin Meissner, said Ghana had grown as a democracy and that international observers might shift their focus to the disputed areas on the continent.
She said the stakes were high for this year’s elections and indicated that to ensure that the democratic process was respected, “it is important that the elections are observed”.
She said election observation was crucial to promoting peaceful elections, hence the commitment of her outfit to the introduction of the booklet.
The Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Larry Bimi, who chaired the function, urged domestic election observers to read the booklet to be able to perform their task in a more efficient and credible manner.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has called for more domestic election observers to monitor the country’s general elections.
He stated that domestic election observation had more advantages than international observation in that domestic observation was less costly, as “more observers can be deployed for the same amount of money”.
Besides, he said, domestic observation was suited for long-term observation of the electoral process, and while domestic observers had more intimate knowledge of the local situation.
Dr Afari-Gyan was launching a booklet, “Framework for Domestic Election Observation”, in Accra yesterday.
The booklet, written by the EC, with support from the Friedrich Ebert-Stiftung (FES), is intended to assist domestic observation groups to conduct their work in a professional manner.
It defines election observation and election monitoring and gives an insight into what to observe, how the observer is required to gather and interpret facts, report writing and the requirements for accreditation.
Dr Afari-Gyan said as Ghana was growing in its democratic march, foreign observers had shifted their attention from the country to troubled spots on the continent.
Therefore, there was the need to train local election observers to be able to observe the elections professionally, he said.
He said election observers were supposed to gather facts, not opinions or allegations, and interpret the facts for the purpose of making informed judgements about elections.
He said the judgement should be based on whether or not, on the whole, the election went well, noting that making such judgements “is not always easy”.
“In all likelihood, an observer group will notice irregularities of one kind or another in relation to an election. The group must then judiciously assess the ways in which the irregularities may have affected the eventual outcome of the election,” he said.
Dr Afari-Gyan said the booklet was written in simple language for easy reading and that it was meant to assist domestic observers to conduct their observation professionally and compete favourably with international observers.
“If the EC is expected to carry out its activities in a professional manner, then it stands to reason that the observation of those activities must also be done in a professional manner,” he stressed.
Dr Afari-Gyan charged the government, political parties, the security agencies, the media, the electorate and election observers to collaborate with the EC towards achieving free, fair and credible elections in December this year.
He reiterated the commitment of the commission to carry out its activities in a transparent manner and apply the electoral laws, rules and regulations “fairly and uniformly, without favour to a party or a candidate”.
While tasking the government to provide the needed resources for elections and refrain from abusing its incumbency, the EC Chairman also asked political parties to carry out clean campaigns devoid of violence and intimidation.
He urged the electorate to register and vote once and not prevent anyone from voting and challenged the media to report political events accurately.
“The security agencies must adopt a stance of zero tolerance for election-related violence, irrespective of its source,” Dr Afari-Gyan stated.
The Resident Director of the FES, Ms Kathrin Meissner, said Ghana had grown as a democracy and that international observers might shift their focus to the disputed areas on the continent.
She said the stakes were high for this year’s elections and indicated that to ensure that the democratic process was respected, “it is important that the elections are observed”.
She said election observation was crucial to promoting peaceful elections, hence the commitment of her outfit to the introduction of the booklet.
The Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Larry Bimi, who chaired the function, urged domestic election observers to read the booklet to be able to perform their task in a more efficient and credible manner.
Chieftaincy institution still relevant
16/04/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A MEMBER of the Council of State, Mr Kwaku Kyei, has debunked claims that the chieftaincy institution is not relevant to the socio-economic development of the country, explaining that chiefs are the embodiment of unity, peace and the development of the country.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Freddie Blay, is reported to have intimated that the institution has no place in contemporary society.
But Mr Kyei, who was expressing his opinion on the issue to the Daily Graphic, said chiefs served as unifiers, as they brought their subjects together for development purposes.
For instance, he said, chiefs were able to mobilise their people to work as a family towards developing their communities.
Besides, he said, because of the reverence accorded chiefs, many people complied with the laws and regulations governing their respective areas.
“Without chiefs, there will be disorder in many towns, as the people will not obey the laws,” he stressed.
Mr Kyei said chiefs had played key roles in propelling the socio-economic development of their respective communities before the emergence of the colonialists.
He said chiefs served as administrators, arbitrators and initiators of development projects and that it was the colonialists and subsequent political rulers who undermined the powers of chiefs.
He noted that the problems associated with the chieftaincy institution were “man made” and mentioned political interference and problems associated with succession as some of the causes of chieftaincy disputes.
He advised individuals who had problems with their chiefs to iron their differences and restore the prestige of the chieftaincy institution in their respective areas.
Mr Kyei said the debate on whether the chieftaincy institution was relevant in contemporary times or not was a non-starter, since the institution was sacrosanct and connected to the lives of Ghanaians.
Chiefs are the custodians of Ghana’s customs and traditions and are the bedrock of Ghanaian culture. They are the custodians of land and traditional authority and they also provide leadership.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A MEMBER of the Council of State, Mr Kwaku Kyei, has debunked claims that the chieftaincy institution is not relevant to the socio-economic development of the country, explaining that chiefs are the embodiment of unity, peace and the development of the country.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Freddie Blay, is reported to have intimated that the institution has no place in contemporary society.
But Mr Kyei, who was expressing his opinion on the issue to the Daily Graphic, said chiefs served as unifiers, as they brought their subjects together for development purposes.
For instance, he said, chiefs were able to mobilise their people to work as a family towards developing their communities.
Besides, he said, because of the reverence accorded chiefs, many people complied with the laws and regulations governing their respective areas.
“Without chiefs, there will be disorder in many towns, as the people will not obey the laws,” he stressed.
Mr Kyei said chiefs had played key roles in propelling the socio-economic development of their respective communities before the emergence of the colonialists.
He said chiefs served as administrators, arbitrators and initiators of development projects and that it was the colonialists and subsequent political rulers who undermined the powers of chiefs.
He noted that the problems associated with the chieftaincy institution were “man made” and mentioned political interference and problems associated with succession as some of the causes of chieftaincy disputes.
He advised individuals who had problems with their chiefs to iron their differences and restore the prestige of the chieftaincy institution in their respective areas.
Mr Kyei said the debate on whether the chieftaincy institution was relevant in contemporary times or not was a non-starter, since the institution was sacrosanct and connected to the lives of Ghanaians.
Chiefs are the custodians of Ghana’s customs and traditions and are the bedrock of Ghanaian culture. They are the custodians of land and traditional authority and they also provide leadership.
Ghanaians urged to preserve the environment
26/04/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
GHANAIANS have been urged to preserve the country’s environment for the benefit of future generations.
The Cultural Affairs Officer of the Embassy of the United States of America, Mrs Dehab Ghebreab, made the call in Accra on Wednesday at an environmental festival at which films on the environment were screened.
The screening of the films, which was in connection with the World Earth Day, was organised by the Environmental Film Festival, a non-governmental organisation, and sponsored by the Embassy of the United States of America.
The films were meant as an outreach tool for queens drawn from all parts of the country, who would go back to their communities to educate their people on the importance of preserving the environment.
Mrs Ghebreab said there was only one planet that all human beings shared, hence the need for people to religiously guard it.
“We need to take care of the environment and leave it well for our children,” she stressed.
Mrs Ghebreab urged the public to desist from indiscriminately disposing of plastic bags after usuage and rather have non-disposal shopping bags.
She explained that the plastic bags were non-degradable and destroyed the ecosystem.
The Public Affairs Officer of the Embassy, Mr Chris Hodges, reminded the people that “change does not come from only the government”.
He, therefore, challenged the people to find ways of protecting the environment.
Mr Hodges expressed the hope that the queens, with their prestige in society, would educate their people on the need to preserve the environment and desist from acts that could degrade the environment.
The Co-Director of the Environmental Film Festival, Dr Kwesi Owusu, said Ghanaians in the past protected the environment through their beliefs and respect for the environment.
He said the film festival was an attempt to depict the impact of human activities on the environment and get the people to change their attitude towards it.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
GHANAIANS have been urged to preserve the country’s environment for the benefit of future generations.
The Cultural Affairs Officer of the Embassy of the United States of America, Mrs Dehab Ghebreab, made the call in Accra on Wednesday at an environmental festival at which films on the environment were screened.
The screening of the films, which was in connection with the World Earth Day, was organised by the Environmental Film Festival, a non-governmental organisation, and sponsored by the Embassy of the United States of America.
The films were meant as an outreach tool for queens drawn from all parts of the country, who would go back to their communities to educate their people on the importance of preserving the environment.
Mrs Ghebreab said there was only one planet that all human beings shared, hence the need for people to religiously guard it.
“We need to take care of the environment and leave it well for our children,” she stressed.
Mrs Ghebreab urged the public to desist from indiscriminately disposing of plastic bags after usuage and rather have non-disposal shopping bags.
She explained that the plastic bags were non-degradable and destroyed the ecosystem.
The Public Affairs Officer of the Embassy, Mr Chris Hodges, reminded the people that “change does not come from only the government”.
He, therefore, challenged the people to find ways of protecting the environment.
Mr Hodges expressed the hope that the queens, with their prestige in society, would educate their people on the need to preserve the environment and desist from acts that could degrade the environment.
The Co-Director of the Environmental Film Festival, Dr Kwesi Owusu, said Ghanaians in the past protected the environment through their beliefs and respect for the environment.
He said the film festival was an attempt to depict the impact of human activities on the environment and get the people to change their attitude towards it.
Armed robbers attacked ECG office
26/04/08
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THREE armed robbers attacked the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) office at Awoshie in Accra yesterday and made away with one computer, two system units and a generator estimated at GH¢2,700.
The armed robbers got to the office in a taxi at 2:00 am and started firing warning shots after which they beat up the two security men on duty and locked them up in a washroom.
They picked the computer and the system units from the prepaid vending office and the customer relations office, while the generator was taken from the fault room.
One of the security men, Benjamin Adjei, told the Daily Graphic that the armed robbers hit their heads and faces with their guns before locking them up.
He said he and his colleague, Churchill Melissa, sustained cuts on their faces and heads, and indicated that they had received a police form to go for a medical check-up.
Benjamin said when he attempted to shout for help the armed robbers, who were “neatly dressed”, threatened to kill him.
According to him, the armed robbers used concrete slabs to break into the doors to the offices to have access to the items.
Benjamin said the officers at the fault room heard of the robbery but were unable to come out for the fear that they might be killed.
He said the robbers sped off when they sensed that some residents were approaching the scene.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the ECG Accra West Region, Mr Eric Asante, the armed robbers attempted to break into the safe at the prepaid vending point but were not successful because the safe was made of a “hard” metal.
A source at the Odorkor Police Station confirmed the robbery incident to the Daily Graphic and said investigations were still ongoing.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THREE armed robbers attacked the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) office at Awoshie in Accra yesterday and made away with one computer, two system units and a generator estimated at GH¢2,700.
The armed robbers got to the office in a taxi at 2:00 am and started firing warning shots after which they beat up the two security men on duty and locked them up in a washroom.
They picked the computer and the system units from the prepaid vending office and the customer relations office, while the generator was taken from the fault room.
One of the security men, Benjamin Adjei, told the Daily Graphic that the armed robbers hit their heads and faces with their guns before locking them up.
He said he and his colleague, Churchill Melissa, sustained cuts on their faces and heads, and indicated that they had received a police form to go for a medical check-up.
Benjamin said when he attempted to shout for help the armed robbers, who were “neatly dressed”, threatened to kill him.
According to him, the armed robbers used concrete slabs to break into the doors to the offices to have access to the items.
Benjamin said the officers at the fault room heard of the robbery but were unable to come out for the fear that they might be killed.
He said the robbers sped off when they sensed that some residents were approaching the scene.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the ECG Accra West Region, Mr Eric Asante, the armed robbers attempted to break into the safe at the prepaid vending point but were not successful because the safe was made of a “hard” metal.
A source at the Odorkor Police Station confirmed the robbery incident to the Daily Graphic and said investigations were still ongoing.
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