Page 31 (lead) Jan 30/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called on the Australian government to relax its visa acquisition processes for well-meaning Ghanaians, including business-minded people who want to visit that country.
He said there had been many complaints about the cumbersome visa application process at the Consular Section of the Australian High Commission in Accra and noted that if the process was made easier, both countries would benefit.
Alhaji Mahama made the call yesterday when the outgoing Australian High Commissioner in Ghana, Mr Jonathan Richardson, paid a farewell call on him at the Castle, Osu.
He said the relationship between the two countries dated back to Ghana’s independence and indicated that the sharing of ideas and businesses would go a long way to strengthen the bond between their peoples.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghana had enjoyed a stable environment with the advent of the Fourth Republic, adding, “Our economy is fast improving and our democracy is also thriving.”
The Vice-President said it was against that background that the country had invited foreign investors, including Australians, to show greater interest in Ghana’s economy.
“We know the Australians are already into mining, among other sectors, but we know they can do more to accelerate the growth of the country,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama entreated the outgoing High Commissioner to be Ghana’s ambassador to tell the Ghana story to enable Australians to invest in the economy.
Mr Richardson, for his part, said he had enjoyed a good working environment while in active duty in the country and
pledged to do his best for Ghana, even while he was back in his home country.
Also at the Castle was the outgoing Libyan Ambassador, Mr Mohammed Al Gamadi, who said Ghana and Libya had a lot more to do to ensue that the African Union Government became a reality.
The Vice-President, for his part, said Ghana would do its best to ensure that the dream of its first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, of seeing Africa as one materialised.
He wished the two envoys well in their future endeavours.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
'Dr' Asemfofro apologises to Prez
Page 3 Jan 28/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
AN ardent critic of the Kufuor administration, Mr Osei Yaw Nketia, a.k.a. “Dr” Asemfofro, has apologised to President J.A. Kufuor for the harsh words he used during the last People’s Assembly held in Sekondi in the Western Region a couple of weeks ago.
“Upon second thought about the way I spoke to our leader I realised that I did not behave well and I told the President I was sorry and asked for forgiveness,” he told the media shortly after he emerged from the President’s private residence in Accra yesterday.
“Dr” Asemfofro, a 51-year-old trader at Kantamanto, seizes the least opportunity to directly chastise the President, usually using harsh words.
His attitude is believed to have created many enemies for him and he is accused of showing gross disrespect for the President.
The press was not allowed into the residence of the President but Asemfofro told the media later, “I was surprised at the way he received me and counselled me as a father.”
He said he had used harsh words in asking questions during the assembly and that before meeting the President he had expected the President to be unfriendly.
“But he received me and cracked jokes with me as if nothing had happened and I feel relieved now,” he said.
According “Dr” Asemfofro, the President expressed regret at the way he (Asemfofro) had carried himself at the assembly, adding, “I take whatever he said in good faith and promise not to do that again.”
He said he requested the President to ensure that people did not pester him because of his stance, saying that he had regretted his actions and would not repeat them.
“Dr” Asemfofro, who was in the company of his eldest son, said he believed in democracy and was appreciative of the way the President had made it possible for people to express themselves freely.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
AN ardent critic of the Kufuor administration, Mr Osei Yaw Nketia, a.k.a. “Dr” Asemfofro, has apologised to President J.A. Kufuor for the harsh words he used during the last People’s Assembly held in Sekondi in the Western Region a couple of weeks ago.
“Upon second thought about the way I spoke to our leader I realised that I did not behave well and I told the President I was sorry and asked for forgiveness,” he told the media shortly after he emerged from the President’s private residence in Accra yesterday.
“Dr” Asemfofro, a 51-year-old trader at Kantamanto, seizes the least opportunity to directly chastise the President, usually using harsh words.
His attitude is believed to have created many enemies for him and he is accused of showing gross disrespect for the President.
The press was not allowed into the residence of the President but Asemfofro told the media later, “I was surprised at the way he received me and counselled me as a father.”
He said he had used harsh words in asking questions during the assembly and that before meeting the President he had expected the President to be unfriendly.
“But he received me and cracked jokes with me as if nothing had happened and I feel relieved now,” he said.
According “Dr” Asemfofro, the President expressed regret at the way he (Asemfofro) had carried himself at the assembly, adding, “I take whatever he said in good faith and promise not to do that again.”
He said he requested the President to ensure that people did not pester him because of his stance, saying that he had regretted his actions and would not repeat them.
“Dr” Asemfofro, who was in the company of his eldest son, said he believed in democracy and was appreciative of the way the President had made it possible for people to express themselves freely.
LEAP scheme is sustainable
Pg 39 (lead) Jan 28/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
AN economist of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Dr Robert Darko Osei, has indicated that the proposed Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) scheme, under which the extremely poor and vulnerable would be provided financial support to meet their basic needs, is feasible and sustainable.
Under the scheme, which is a component of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS), the government has proposed to pay between GH¢8.00 and GH¢15.00 to extremely poor households in the country every two months to enable them to engage in self-sustaining income generating ventures to support themselves and their dependants.
Reacting to concerns about the sustainability and feasibility of the scheme in Accra, Dr Osei said “the scheme will not be problematic at all because of the comprehensive measures put in place to ensure its success”.
Consequently, he called on Ghanaians, particularly politicians, not to politicise the programme at the expense of the poor and vulnerable in the country.
Dr Osei said systems had been designed and put in place to ensure that the true beneficiaries got the money.
According to data from the Ghana Statistical Service, extremely poor people in the country live on about 50 cents per day.
Dr Osei said a special software had been designed to ensure that all the information gathered was duly processed to select those who truly qualified as potential beneficiaries.
He said the system had been so designed that there could not be any political manipulations.
Dr Osei said those who worked on the programme had learnt a lot from the experiences of Brazil, South Africa and Kenya, which is just about to begin implementing its programme.
On the financial sustainability and of the programme, he said, “The programme only targets the bottom 20 per cent of the extremely poor households in the country and the amount to be spent on them was nothing we should worry about at all.”
In the first year of the programme, 15,000 in 50 districts of the country have been targeted and the total expenditure for that year will be GH¢8 million.
The second year will cater for 35,000 also in 50 districts while 50,000 households in 70 districts would be reached.
In the fourth year, 100,000 households in 138 districts would benefit while the final year will cover all the 230 districts.
In the final year, GH¢26 million will be spent and this, he said, constituted only 0.1 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Meanwhile, a sensitisation workshop on the scheme has been held at Koforidua, reports Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua.
The Project Co-ordinator of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS), Mrs Angela Asante-Asare, said the scheme, the first of its kind to be implemented in West Africa, would be carried out on a pilot basis over a five-year period between 2008 and 2012.
The amount, which would be paid through recognised payment agencies, including the Ghana Post, would be supervised by the Department of Social Welfare under the auspices of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment.
The workshop, which was, among other things, aimed at sensitising the participants to understand the concept and objectives of the scheme, was attended by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, municipal and district chief executives, the presiding members of the assemblies and officials of the Department of Social Welfare.
According to the Project Co-ordinator of NSPS, the beneficiaries would comprise mainly extremely poor citizens aged above 65 years, caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS and children with severe disabilities.
Others, she said, would include extremely poor subsistence farmers and fisher folks, persons with severe disabilities without productive capacity, and pregnant and lactating women with HIV/AIDS, among others.
According to her, it had been estimated that 880,000 households in the country were extremely poor and did not have the capacity to meet their basic nutritional needs.
Mrs Asante-Asare said the LEAP scheme, which would enable the country to meet certain requirements of the Millennium Development Goals relating to education, health and gender equality, would help the beneficiaries to have adequate access to affordable healthcare services, education, secured income, employment and food security.
“The scheme is expected to also help reduce child labour, help the beneficiaries to engage in self-sustaining income generating ventures as well as link them to complementary services, including social security services, to enable them to contribute their quota to national development,” she added.
As part of the conditionalities to qualify for the programme, Mrs Asante-Asare said, the beneficiary households would be required to comply with conditions such as enrolling and retaining all children of school age in public schools, registering with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), registering newborn babies between 0-18 months with the Birth and Death Registry and pregnant women attending post-natal clinics.
“To remain on the scheme, we should also ensure that no child is trafficked or engaged in any activities constituting the Worst Forms of Child Labour,” she added.
As part of measures to ensure the successful implementation of the scheme in the 21 districts across the country, Mrs Asante-Asare expressed the preparedness of the NSPS to organise workshops for staff of implementing agencies including the DWS, MMDAS, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations.
Mr Affram Asiedu reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing poverty among the populace and mentioned the introduction of the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme, free transportation for schoolchildren, and micro finance scheme and the LEAP scheme as some of the interventions to that effect.
The regional minister, who expressed the preparedness of his outfit to give the necessary support to ensure the success of the programme in the region, urged the participants to ensure the success of the scheme in their respective districts to better the lots of the poor.
In a presentation on the concept and practice of social protection, Dr Evan Ahiadze of the NSPS, said since poverty had a multi-dimensional implication on the country’s socio-economic development, the scheme would bring on board the marginalised segment of the population to engage in self-sustaining activities to support themselves and their dependants.
“As a nation, we have a moral obligations to support the under-privileged to enable them not only to have equal access to education, healthcare services and social security but also to contribute their quota to national development,” he stressed.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
AN economist of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Dr Robert Darko Osei, has indicated that the proposed Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) scheme, under which the extremely poor and vulnerable would be provided financial support to meet their basic needs, is feasible and sustainable.
Under the scheme, which is a component of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS), the government has proposed to pay between GH¢8.00 and GH¢15.00 to extremely poor households in the country every two months to enable them to engage in self-sustaining income generating ventures to support themselves and their dependants.
Reacting to concerns about the sustainability and feasibility of the scheme in Accra, Dr Osei said “the scheme will not be problematic at all because of the comprehensive measures put in place to ensure its success”.
Consequently, he called on Ghanaians, particularly politicians, not to politicise the programme at the expense of the poor and vulnerable in the country.
Dr Osei said systems had been designed and put in place to ensure that the true beneficiaries got the money.
According to data from the Ghana Statistical Service, extremely poor people in the country live on about 50 cents per day.
Dr Osei said a special software had been designed to ensure that all the information gathered was duly processed to select those who truly qualified as potential beneficiaries.
He said the system had been so designed that there could not be any political manipulations.
Dr Osei said those who worked on the programme had learnt a lot from the experiences of Brazil, South Africa and Kenya, which is just about to begin implementing its programme.
On the financial sustainability and of the programme, he said, “The programme only targets the bottom 20 per cent of the extremely poor households in the country and the amount to be spent on them was nothing we should worry about at all.”
In the first year of the programme, 15,000 in 50 districts of the country have been targeted and the total expenditure for that year will be GH¢8 million.
The second year will cater for 35,000 also in 50 districts while 50,000 households in 70 districts would be reached.
In the fourth year, 100,000 households in 138 districts would benefit while the final year will cover all the 230 districts.
In the final year, GH¢26 million will be spent and this, he said, constituted only 0.1 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Meanwhile, a sensitisation workshop on the scheme has been held at Koforidua, reports Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua.
The Project Co-ordinator of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS), Mrs Angela Asante-Asare, said the scheme, the first of its kind to be implemented in West Africa, would be carried out on a pilot basis over a five-year period between 2008 and 2012.
The amount, which would be paid through recognised payment agencies, including the Ghana Post, would be supervised by the Department of Social Welfare under the auspices of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment.
The workshop, which was, among other things, aimed at sensitising the participants to understand the concept and objectives of the scheme, was attended by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, municipal and district chief executives, the presiding members of the assemblies and officials of the Department of Social Welfare.
According to the Project Co-ordinator of NSPS, the beneficiaries would comprise mainly extremely poor citizens aged above 65 years, caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS and children with severe disabilities.
Others, she said, would include extremely poor subsistence farmers and fisher folks, persons with severe disabilities without productive capacity, and pregnant and lactating women with HIV/AIDS, among others.
According to her, it had been estimated that 880,000 households in the country were extremely poor and did not have the capacity to meet their basic nutritional needs.
Mrs Asante-Asare said the LEAP scheme, which would enable the country to meet certain requirements of the Millennium Development Goals relating to education, health and gender equality, would help the beneficiaries to have adequate access to affordable healthcare services, education, secured income, employment and food security.
“The scheme is expected to also help reduce child labour, help the beneficiaries to engage in self-sustaining income generating ventures as well as link them to complementary services, including social security services, to enable them to contribute their quota to national development,” she added.
As part of the conditionalities to qualify for the programme, Mrs Asante-Asare said, the beneficiary households would be required to comply with conditions such as enrolling and retaining all children of school age in public schools, registering with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), registering newborn babies between 0-18 months with the Birth and Death Registry and pregnant women attending post-natal clinics.
“To remain on the scheme, we should also ensure that no child is trafficked or engaged in any activities constituting the Worst Forms of Child Labour,” she added.
As part of measures to ensure the successful implementation of the scheme in the 21 districts across the country, Mrs Asante-Asare expressed the preparedness of the NSPS to organise workshops for staff of implementing agencies including the DWS, MMDAS, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations.
Mr Affram Asiedu reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing poverty among the populace and mentioned the introduction of the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme, free transportation for schoolchildren, and micro finance scheme and the LEAP scheme as some of the interventions to that effect.
The regional minister, who expressed the preparedness of his outfit to give the necessary support to ensure the success of the programme in the region, urged the participants to ensure the success of the scheme in their respective districts to better the lots of the poor.
In a presentation on the concept and practice of social protection, Dr Evan Ahiadze of the NSPS, said since poverty had a multi-dimensional implication on the country’s socio-economic development, the scheme would bring on board the marginalised segment of the population to engage in self-sustaining activities to support themselves and their dependants.
“As a nation, we have a moral obligations to support the under-privileged to enable them not only to have equal access to education, healthcare services and social security but also to contribute their quota to national development,” he stressed.
'Allow auction of goods at ports'
Pge 47, Jan 28/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Ghana Auctioneers Association has called on the government to allow its members to resume the auction of goods at the ports, particularly Tema, where a large number of uncleared containers have created congestion.
The association said denying the entire members of their duty on the grounds that some of them were engaged in fraudulent practices was not the best and asked that those involved should be dealt with individually and not at the expense of the entire association.
A spokesman for the association, Nana Kofi Agyekum, who is also the owner of Global View Mart Limited, told the Daily Graphic that the association had been up to its responsibility by raising money for the state through the auction of goods at the ports and resolved to continue with its duties in a transparent manner.
Other members of the association who were present at the interview were Mr Thomas T. Atinga of T.T. Mart; Mr Muniru Ben Kasim, Yakamata Mart; Mr Tutu Baffuor, Baffuor Mart; and Mr Atsu Nulako of Mystic Mart.
Five members of a group, which used all machinations to deliberately stop the general public from participating in the auction of overstayed containers at the Tema Port, were arrested last year.
The syndicate, which has also formed an association known as Ghana Customs Auction Bidders/Buyers Association (GCABBA), with the motto, 'Bid Wisely', was said to have denied the state several billions of cedis in revenue.
Those arrested were P.C. Mensah, an executive member of the association; Yaw Marfo, Kofi Owusu, Felix Boadi and A.A. Kodie.
According to the Executive Director of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), Mr Harry Owusu, the syndicate was arrested by a special government task force set up to oversee the sale of overstayed containers at the Tema Port.
The task force — set up three months ago and comprises members from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS); the RAGB; Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA); and the Ministry of National Security — is also mandated to decongest the port.
He said the attention of the association had been drawn to a number of lapses by some unscrupulous persons whose activities were undermining its image and noted that members were on the alert to expose such miscreants.
Nana Agyekum said the auctioneers were ready to work under the strict supervision of the task force, adding that “we are open to any form of monitoring of our activities to ensure maximum transparency”.
He said CEPS recently organised an intensive training programme for the association to further equip auctioneers with the requisite skills and competence to be able to deliver better.
“We welcomed the training programme and we were full of praise for CEPS. Therefore, we find it strange that at this time when our services are needed more at the port, we have been denied the opportunity,” he added.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, at the tail end of last year undertook a tour of the Tema Port and noticed how containers had choked the ports.
The containers, which were under seal, and most of which belonged to companies such as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), had rusted such that the contents were exposed.
Nana Agyekum said the association was ready to help decongest the ports if members were given the go-ahead to resume auction at the Tema Port.
He said the association was not in any form conniving with what he termed the ‘so called Bidders association’ “because we do not know them”.
He again challenged the authorities to come clean with any evidence of the allegation that the auctioneers were in league with the bidders association to deny the state its needed revenue.
Nana Agyekum said the association had put in a request to auction the goods the Finance Minister saw at the ports to decongest the area.
Mr Atinga said they had made several attempts to meet the RAGB boss to deliberate on the matter but this had proved futile because Mr Owusu would not avail himself of the meeting.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Ghana Auctioneers Association has called on the government to allow its members to resume the auction of goods at the ports, particularly Tema, where a large number of uncleared containers have created congestion.
The association said denying the entire members of their duty on the grounds that some of them were engaged in fraudulent practices was not the best and asked that those involved should be dealt with individually and not at the expense of the entire association.
A spokesman for the association, Nana Kofi Agyekum, who is also the owner of Global View Mart Limited, told the Daily Graphic that the association had been up to its responsibility by raising money for the state through the auction of goods at the ports and resolved to continue with its duties in a transparent manner.
Other members of the association who were present at the interview were Mr Thomas T. Atinga of T.T. Mart; Mr Muniru Ben Kasim, Yakamata Mart; Mr Tutu Baffuor, Baffuor Mart; and Mr Atsu Nulako of Mystic Mart.
Five members of a group, which used all machinations to deliberately stop the general public from participating in the auction of overstayed containers at the Tema Port, were arrested last year.
The syndicate, which has also formed an association known as Ghana Customs Auction Bidders/Buyers Association (GCABBA), with the motto, 'Bid Wisely', was said to have denied the state several billions of cedis in revenue.
Those arrested were P.C. Mensah, an executive member of the association; Yaw Marfo, Kofi Owusu, Felix Boadi and A.A. Kodie.
According to the Executive Director of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), Mr Harry Owusu, the syndicate was arrested by a special government task force set up to oversee the sale of overstayed containers at the Tema Port.
The task force — set up three months ago and comprises members from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS); the RAGB; Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA); and the Ministry of National Security — is also mandated to decongest the port.
He said the attention of the association had been drawn to a number of lapses by some unscrupulous persons whose activities were undermining its image and noted that members were on the alert to expose such miscreants.
Nana Agyekum said the auctioneers were ready to work under the strict supervision of the task force, adding that “we are open to any form of monitoring of our activities to ensure maximum transparency”.
He said CEPS recently organised an intensive training programme for the association to further equip auctioneers with the requisite skills and competence to be able to deliver better.
“We welcomed the training programme and we were full of praise for CEPS. Therefore, we find it strange that at this time when our services are needed more at the port, we have been denied the opportunity,” he added.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, at the tail end of last year undertook a tour of the Tema Port and noticed how containers had choked the ports.
The containers, which were under seal, and most of which belonged to companies such as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), had rusted such that the contents were exposed.
Nana Agyekum said the association was ready to help decongest the ports if members were given the go-ahead to resume auction at the Tema Port.
He said the association was not in any form conniving with what he termed the ‘so called Bidders association’ “because we do not know them”.
He again challenged the authorities to come clean with any evidence of the allegation that the auctioneers were in league with the bidders association to deny the state its needed revenue.
Nana Agyekum said the association had put in a request to auction the goods the Finance Minister saw at the ports to decongest the area.
Mr Atinga said they had made several attempts to meet the RAGB boss to deliberate on the matter but this had proved futile because Mr Owusu would not avail himself of the meeting.
Weija Water Works to be completed mid-year
Pg 58 (lead) Jan 28/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE expansion works on the Weija Head Works to supply an additional 15 million gallons of water daily to the people of Accra will be completed by the middle of this year.
The project, dubbed the ‘West/East Link’, is to increase the water supply in Accra from the present average production of 90 million gallons a day to 105 million gallons.
The Communications Manager of Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), operators of the country’s urban water systems, Mr Stanley Martey, told the Daily Graphic that similar projects in the other regions such as Brimsu, Sekyere Hemang, Baifikrom and Kwanyako all in the Central Region, Dalun in the Northern Region and Barekese in the Ashanti Region were ongoing to improve water supply to the urban areas of the country.
Supply of potable water in the urban parts of the country has been a major challenge to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in recent times as a result of the inability of the company to expand its facilities to meet the growing demand for water.
The present demand for water in Accra alone stands at more than 140 million gallons a day. The population of Accra is also said to be growing at about four per cent per annum while the water supply only increases at less than 2 per cent per annum.
The Communications Manager said the company was concerned about the serious impact of the water situation on the country and gave the assurance that “we are working round the clock with the GWCL and the Ministry of Water resources, Works and Housing to undertake programmes aimed at improving water delivery in the country.
Mr Martey said boreholes were being drilled and mechanised at Taifa, Dome, Pokuase, Tantra Hills, Ashongman and Agbogba, all in Accra; Berekum and Nsuatre in the Brong Ahafo Region; Wa in the Upper East and locations in the Volta and Western regions.
He explained that all these were being done to improve the intermittent water shortages and delivery situations in parts of Accra and other parts of the country.
Mr Martey cautioned consumers on the use of water during the dry season, saying that any reckless use of water was bound to create shortages.
“It must be emphasised that during this season, a number of consumers resort to the use of treated water for keeping lawns green and commercial washing of vehicles, among others,” he said.
Mr Martey stated further that “with the onset of the harmattan and the dry season, there have been some interruptions with water supply and rationing programme in Accra and some parts of the country”.
He said it was also during this period that the harvest of rain water was not possible, hence the resort to treated water for all manner of activities.
Mr Martey said in the event, there was pressure on the limited water available, which causes low pressure and no flow in some areas, particularly areas located on high elevations.
He said it would serve the interest of all if consumers would cease the watering of their lawns and washing of their vehicles with treated water.
Mr Martey asked consumers to shut all taps when not in use, repair leakages in their homes, check overflowing reservoirs and dripping taps and report all person who illegally connect water to their homes.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE expansion works on the Weija Head Works to supply an additional 15 million gallons of water daily to the people of Accra will be completed by the middle of this year.
The project, dubbed the ‘West/East Link’, is to increase the water supply in Accra from the present average production of 90 million gallons a day to 105 million gallons.
The Communications Manager of Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), operators of the country’s urban water systems, Mr Stanley Martey, told the Daily Graphic that similar projects in the other regions such as Brimsu, Sekyere Hemang, Baifikrom and Kwanyako all in the Central Region, Dalun in the Northern Region and Barekese in the Ashanti Region were ongoing to improve water supply to the urban areas of the country.
Supply of potable water in the urban parts of the country has been a major challenge to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in recent times as a result of the inability of the company to expand its facilities to meet the growing demand for water.
The present demand for water in Accra alone stands at more than 140 million gallons a day. The population of Accra is also said to be growing at about four per cent per annum while the water supply only increases at less than 2 per cent per annum.
The Communications Manager said the company was concerned about the serious impact of the water situation on the country and gave the assurance that “we are working round the clock with the GWCL and the Ministry of Water resources, Works and Housing to undertake programmes aimed at improving water delivery in the country.
Mr Martey said boreholes were being drilled and mechanised at Taifa, Dome, Pokuase, Tantra Hills, Ashongman and Agbogba, all in Accra; Berekum and Nsuatre in the Brong Ahafo Region; Wa in the Upper East and locations in the Volta and Western regions.
He explained that all these were being done to improve the intermittent water shortages and delivery situations in parts of Accra and other parts of the country.
Mr Martey cautioned consumers on the use of water during the dry season, saying that any reckless use of water was bound to create shortages.
“It must be emphasised that during this season, a number of consumers resort to the use of treated water for keeping lawns green and commercial washing of vehicles, among others,” he said.
Mr Martey stated further that “with the onset of the harmattan and the dry season, there have been some interruptions with water supply and rationing programme in Accra and some parts of the country”.
He said it was also during this period that the harvest of rain water was not possible, hence the resort to treated water for all manner of activities.
Mr Martey said in the event, there was pressure on the limited water available, which causes low pressure and no flow in some areas, particularly areas located on high elevations.
He said it would serve the interest of all if consumers would cease the watering of their lawns and washing of their vehicles with treated water.
Mr Martey asked consumers to shut all taps when not in use, repair leakages in their homes, check overflowing reservoirs and dripping taps and report all person who illegally connect water to their homes.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Western Union launches $50m package
Business pg Jan 24, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Western Union Company in collaboration with its foundation has launched a $50 million package to empower migrant families to send more money to their friends and relatives back home.
Christened, “Our World, Our family”, the initiative which is also aimed at helping migrant families to stay connected, overcome barriers and realise their dreams will be carried out through intensive education and global economic opportunity programmes.
At a news conference in Accra to launch the initiative, Mr Khalid Fellahi, the Regional Vice President, Africa, of the company said the move formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
“Once we take from our customers, we also need to pay back and this time it is about encouraging migrants to have a bond of relationship between them and their families,” he said.
“’Our World, Our Family’ will help leverage the impact of remittances, one of the world’s most powerful forces for economic development,” Mr Fellahi said.
Ghana’s annual remittances have $2 billion in the early 2000s to $4.78 billion as of the end of 2007.
The present figure, a large percentage of which is through the Western Union money transfer system, is said to be far in excess of what the donor community gives to Ghana as aid.
Mr Fellahi, who was flanked by other high-profile executive members of the company, including Ms Karen Jordaan, Marketing Director, Mr Paul Foster, Vice-President, Marketing, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, and Aida Diarra, said the company had a lot of measures in place to curb the practice of money laundering .
“We have built international recognition and that is why we spend several millions of dollars to curb such a practice. We have a special outfit on its own which ensures that any such practice is checked,” he added.
Mr Fellahi said it was part of the company’s medium to long-term plan to have automatic teller machines (ATMs) to dispense money to its customers.
He said that was part of a grand plan by the company to roll out products to meet the taste, request and aspirations of its customers.
“We need to ensure that our customers are served with the money sent to them from their relations without any hassle,” he added.
Mr Fellahi said the company was also negotiating with the GSM mobile service operators to explore the possibility of money transfer through the phone.
He described the idea as unique and one which fell in line with efforts by the company to bring its services even more closer to the doorstep of its customers.
Mr Foster, for his part, said the corporate social responsibility initiative was geared towards ensuring that people succeeded wherever they found themselves.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Western Union Company in collaboration with its foundation has launched a $50 million package to empower migrant families to send more money to their friends and relatives back home.
Christened, “Our World, Our family”, the initiative which is also aimed at helping migrant families to stay connected, overcome barriers and realise their dreams will be carried out through intensive education and global economic opportunity programmes.
At a news conference in Accra to launch the initiative, Mr Khalid Fellahi, the Regional Vice President, Africa, of the company said the move formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
“Once we take from our customers, we also need to pay back and this time it is about encouraging migrants to have a bond of relationship between them and their families,” he said.
“’Our World, Our Family’ will help leverage the impact of remittances, one of the world’s most powerful forces for economic development,” Mr Fellahi said.
Ghana’s annual remittances have $2 billion in the early 2000s to $4.78 billion as of the end of 2007.
The present figure, a large percentage of which is through the Western Union money transfer system, is said to be far in excess of what the donor community gives to Ghana as aid.
Mr Fellahi, who was flanked by other high-profile executive members of the company, including Ms Karen Jordaan, Marketing Director, Mr Paul Foster, Vice-President, Marketing, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, and Aida Diarra, said the company had a lot of measures in place to curb the practice of money laundering .
“We have built international recognition and that is why we spend several millions of dollars to curb such a practice. We have a special outfit on its own which ensures that any such practice is checked,” he added.
Mr Fellahi said it was part of the company’s medium to long-term plan to have automatic teller machines (ATMs) to dispense money to its customers.
He said that was part of a grand plan by the company to roll out products to meet the taste, request and aspirations of its customers.
“We need to ensure that our customers are served with the money sent to them from their relations without any hassle,” he added.
Mr Fellahi said the company was also negotiating with the GSM mobile service operators to explore the possibility of money transfer through the phone.
He described the idea as unique and one which fell in line with efforts by the company to bring its services even more closer to the doorstep of its customers.
Mr Foster, for his part, said the corporate social responsibility initiative was geared towards ensuring that people succeeded wherever they found themselves.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Akufo-Addo, artistes get together
Politics (lead) Jan 19, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reached out to personalities in the entertainment industry with a pledge to revamp the sector as one of the key players in the development of the country.
According to him, without entertainment, the country would be a boring place to live in, hence the need to make the sector more vibrant, both locally and internationally.
Nana Akufo-Addo made the pledge when he hosted a large gathering of personalities in the entertainment industry to a buffet lunch at his father’s residence at Nima in Accra on Thursday.
As early as 11.00 a.m., some of the personalities, including Mac Tontoh of Osibisa fame, Grace Omaboe of Obra fame, Tic Tac, Amakye Dede the Iron Boy, aka Serious, C.K. Mann, Apeatus and the Music Man, Kojo Antwi, began arriving to tumultuous welcome by some enthusiastic fans and supporters of their host.
The other entertainment personalities were Ben Brako, Bishop Bob Okala, Amy Newman, Charles Amoah, Emmanuel Armah, Mark Okraku Mante of TV3 Mentor fame, the controversial Faizal Helwani, Agya Koo, X Doe and Nana Ampadu.
Some politicians who joined in the fun were Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Dr Arthur Kennedy, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, among others.
Thrilled by the size of the gathering, Nana Akufo-Addo said those in the entertainment industry deserved a lot of respect and recognition, as pertained in other parts of the world, because of their contribution to the uplift of the soul of the people.
He said although in Ghana many people loved Ghanaian music and also watched Ghanaian movies, those in the industry were still not being given their due.
“Should God do me the honour to become the next President of the land, this will be a thing of the past and it is against this background that I invited you here to give you that assurance,” he added.
Nana Akufo-Addo said the industry needed restructuring and pledged to tackle the problems from the top when he got to the Flagstaff House, the new seat of government, next year.
“I will make you to realise your dreams, just like your counterparts in other countries, because you really deserve that,” he said, amidst wild cheers from the entertainers.
He prayed that the year would be a good one, not only for politicians but the country as a whole.
In response, Nana Ampadu, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said he and his colleagues appreciated the invitation and promised to be there for him whenever they were called upon for their support in any form.
He said they were all of the belief that Nana Akufo-Addo stood for the poor and marginalised and asked for blessings upon his campaign in his bid to win the general election in 2008.
After the speeches and other solidarity messages, the musicians took turns to entertain the gathering with some spectacular performances.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reached out to personalities in the entertainment industry with a pledge to revamp the sector as one of the key players in the development of the country.
According to him, without entertainment, the country would be a boring place to live in, hence the need to make the sector more vibrant, both locally and internationally.
Nana Akufo-Addo made the pledge when he hosted a large gathering of personalities in the entertainment industry to a buffet lunch at his father’s residence at Nima in Accra on Thursday.
As early as 11.00 a.m., some of the personalities, including Mac Tontoh of Osibisa fame, Grace Omaboe of Obra fame, Tic Tac, Amakye Dede the Iron Boy, aka Serious, C.K. Mann, Apeatus and the Music Man, Kojo Antwi, began arriving to tumultuous welcome by some enthusiastic fans and supporters of their host.
The other entertainment personalities were Ben Brako, Bishop Bob Okala, Amy Newman, Charles Amoah, Emmanuel Armah, Mark Okraku Mante of TV3 Mentor fame, the controversial Faizal Helwani, Agya Koo, X Doe and Nana Ampadu.
Some politicians who joined in the fun were Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Dr Arthur Kennedy, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, among others.
Thrilled by the size of the gathering, Nana Akufo-Addo said those in the entertainment industry deserved a lot of respect and recognition, as pertained in other parts of the world, because of their contribution to the uplift of the soul of the people.
He said although in Ghana many people loved Ghanaian music and also watched Ghanaian movies, those in the industry were still not being given their due.
“Should God do me the honour to become the next President of the land, this will be a thing of the past and it is against this background that I invited you here to give you that assurance,” he added.
Nana Akufo-Addo said the industry needed restructuring and pledged to tackle the problems from the top when he got to the Flagstaff House, the new seat of government, next year.
“I will make you to realise your dreams, just like your counterparts in other countries, because you really deserve that,” he said, amidst wild cheers from the entertainers.
He prayed that the year would be a good one, not only for politicians but the country as a whole.
In response, Nana Ampadu, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said he and his colleagues appreciated the invitation and promised to be there for him whenever they were called upon for their support in any form.
He said they were all of the belief that Nana Akufo-Addo stood for the poor and marginalised and asked for blessings upon his campaign in his bid to win the general election in 2008.
After the speeches and other solidarity messages, the musicians took turns to entertain the gathering with some spectacular performances.
Mahama to ensure equitable distribution of wealth
Politics Jan 19, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has pledged to ensure an equitable distribution of the national cake.
He said it was only fair that the wealth of the nation was shared equally among the people, not enjoyed by a few.
Dr Mahama made the pledge when he visited members of the Christian Council of Ghana in Accra on Thursday.
“We have all worked for our wealth and we must all enjoy it equally, according to our contributions,” he said.
Dr Mahama, who was recently overwhelmingly elected for the fourth time as the leader and flag bearer of the PNC at its last congress, said the wealth of the country was presently being enjoyed by a few.
“It is against this background that we need a selfless leader who will think about all of us,” he said.
He wondered how some of the former ministers of the ruling party were able to fund their campaigns across the country and also paid GH¢25,000 as nomination fees.
He said the ruling party had displayed wealth it did not have seven years ago and called on Ghanaians to vote for him to care for them.
Dr Mahama said so long as Ghana continued to have slums because of poverty, while others displayed affluence, crime and other forms of corruption would exist.
He debunked speculations that the PNC was a small party and could, therefore, not win power, saying, “It is through the votes of the people who say so that the party can grow bigger to win power and do what the people want.”
Dr Mahama said the suffering of the people must end and noted that he was the only one among the other candidates who was capable of doing so.
He commended the council for its role in ensuring peace in the country and called for continuous prayers for him as he journeyed across the country to canvass votes for his bid.
Rev Dr Fred Degbey, the President of the council, thanked the PNC flag bearer for the visit and noted that the council was prepared to receive any other candidate.
He said the council played a crucial role in the governance of the country, although it was not partisan, and pledged its commitment to continue with its advocacy programmes.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has pledged to ensure an equitable distribution of the national cake.
He said it was only fair that the wealth of the nation was shared equally among the people, not enjoyed by a few.
Dr Mahama made the pledge when he visited members of the Christian Council of Ghana in Accra on Thursday.
“We have all worked for our wealth and we must all enjoy it equally, according to our contributions,” he said.
Dr Mahama, who was recently overwhelmingly elected for the fourth time as the leader and flag bearer of the PNC at its last congress, said the wealth of the country was presently being enjoyed by a few.
“It is against this background that we need a selfless leader who will think about all of us,” he said.
He wondered how some of the former ministers of the ruling party were able to fund their campaigns across the country and also paid GH¢25,000 as nomination fees.
He said the ruling party had displayed wealth it did not have seven years ago and called on Ghanaians to vote for him to care for them.
Dr Mahama said so long as Ghana continued to have slums because of poverty, while others displayed affluence, crime and other forms of corruption would exist.
He debunked speculations that the PNC was a small party and could, therefore, not win power, saying, “It is through the votes of the people who say so that the party can grow bigger to win power and do what the people want.”
Dr Mahama said the suffering of the people must end and noted that he was the only one among the other candidates who was capable of doing so.
He commended the council for its role in ensuring peace in the country and called for continuous prayers for him as he journeyed across the country to canvass votes for his bid.
Rev Dr Fred Degbey, the President of the council, thanked the PNC flag bearer for the visit and noted that the council was prepared to receive any other candidate.
He said the council played a crucial role in the governance of the country, although it was not partisan, and pledged its commitment to continue with its advocacy programmes.
Poku's House beseiged
Jan 18, 2008 Page 63
Story: Albert K. Salia & Charles Benoni Okine
FORMER national security chief, Mr Francis Poku, and members of his household were yesterday besieged by heavily armed policemen, who prevented them from going out or receiving visitors.
It took the intervention of the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen J. B. Danquah, for the personnel of the Critical Incidence Response Team, drawn from the Ghana Police Service, to withdraw from Mr Poku’s residence.
Soon after, a new group of armed policemen were brought in but the Director-General of Police Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Timbillah, also came in to instruct the armed men to leave, and some of them had to sit in his car.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Office of the President, Castle, Osu, said “after Mr Francis Poku was relieved of his position as Minister of National Security on Saturday January 12, 2008, the national Security Council, as is routine and in conformity with world-wide practice, initiated a process of debriefing and completing a handover procedure”.
The statement, signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, said “this morning, Mr Francis Poku’s security detail, which was a military detail, was replaced with the police as is the norm with all ministers”.
It expressed surprise that the detail met some pressmen on the premises, who apparently misunderstood their presence and carried the news in an exaggerated fashion, calling the incident a “house arrest”.
“This statement is to confirm that Mr Francis Poku is NOT and has not been under house arrest, and that the events of this morning have been the routine workings of National Security, Mr Francis Poku as a security professional himself is very much aware of these routine procedures,” it said.
It assured the nation that the on-going events are in the best interest of the country.
Earlier, when Daily Graphic got to the scene, Mr Poku, who was accompanied by his children, had attempted to come out of the gate to usher his elder brother, sister and other relatives into the house, but was prevented by the armed policemen with the explanation that they had not received any instructions from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Acheampong, to allow Mr Poku out or allow anyone into the house.
Mr Poku reacted angrily, saying, “I do not take instructions from the IGP”, and ushered in his guests.
From his demeanour, Mr Poku looked well composed and unperturbed by the events around him and the scores of curious journalists who had gathered around his residence capturing every movement, including the movement of security men coming in and going out in different cars.
An army officer, who seemed worried about the high degree alert of the armed policemen, advised the journalists to move away from the residence so that they were not caught up in any mishap should the unexpected happen, a warning which made some of the journalists develop goose pimples and began looking for safe positions.
In the heat of the events, Mr Poku told the Daily Graphic on phone that the armed policemen came into the house at about 8:30am claiming they were under instructions not to let him or any member of his household leave the house.
He said he was told that his bodyguards and other security detail had also been withdrawn.
He said when he asked the reason for the restriction on his movement and that of his household, the policemen said they did not know.
“My brother, I have nothing to hide,” he stated.
Mr Poku said he had earlier been told that his name had been mentioned in connection with the issuance of a diplomatic passport to Mr Thomas Osei, the man who drove his car into the President’s car last November, an accusation he denied.
Inside the house, Mr Poku later told Daily Graphic that he had been preparing his handover notes since Saturday, saying that “even this morning, they were here for correction of the notes and I made some additions”.
The Daily Graphic learnt from other sources that the National Security Co-ordinator, Dr Sam Amoo, had called Mr Poku on Tuesday and asked him to appear the following day (Wednesday) before a National Security Council panel, but Mr Poku told Dr Amoo that he had to submit his handover notes before any debriefing would be done as was the practice.
Other intelligence and legal sources criticised the exercise, saying debriefing was not done under compulsive circumstances unless the person was under arrest.
The intelligence sources said the fact that Mr Poku had not stepped in his office since Saturday indicated that he had nothing to hide.
A lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Raymond Atuguba, described the operation as illegal.
He said to restrict the movement of someone without telling him or her the reasons for the action was against the liberties of that person.
He quoted Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Code, Act 30, as prescribing the procedures under which someone’s movement could be circumscribed.
“Those officers have violated every provision of the law. Once you place restrictions on his movement, then you have put him under arrest,” he said.
Others who commented on the issue included Mr Egbert Faibille, Editor of the Ghanaian Observer and the Africa Co-ordinator of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Nana Oye Lithur.
Story: Albert K. Salia & Charles Benoni Okine
FORMER national security chief, Mr Francis Poku, and members of his household were yesterday besieged by heavily armed policemen, who prevented them from going out or receiving visitors.
It took the intervention of the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen J. B. Danquah, for the personnel of the Critical Incidence Response Team, drawn from the Ghana Police Service, to withdraw from Mr Poku’s residence.
Soon after, a new group of armed policemen were brought in but the Director-General of Police Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Timbillah, also came in to instruct the armed men to leave, and some of them had to sit in his car.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Office of the President, Castle, Osu, said “after Mr Francis Poku was relieved of his position as Minister of National Security on Saturday January 12, 2008, the national Security Council, as is routine and in conformity with world-wide practice, initiated a process of debriefing and completing a handover procedure”.
The statement, signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, said “this morning, Mr Francis Poku’s security detail, which was a military detail, was replaced with the police as is the norm with all ministers”.
It expressed surprise that the detail met some pressmen on the premises, who apparently misunderstood their presence and carried the news in an exaggerated fashion, calling the incident a “house arrest”.
“This statement is to confirm that Mr Francis Poku is NOT and has not been under house arrest, and that the events of this morning have been the routine workings of National Security, Mr Francis Poku as a security professional himself is very much aware of these routine procedures,” it said.
It assured the nation that the on-going events are in the best interest of the country.
Earlier, when Daily Graphic got to the scene, Mr Poku, who was accompanied by his children, had attempted to come out of the gate to usher his elder brother, sister and other relatives into the house, but was prevented by the armed policemen with the explanation that they had not received any instructions from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Acheampong, to allow Mr Poku out or allow anyone into the house.
Mr Poku reacted angrily, saying, “I do not take instructions from the IGP”, and ushered in his guests.
From his demeanour, Mr Poku looked well composed and unperturbed by the events around him and the scores of curious journalists who had gathered around his residence capturing every movement, including the movement of security men coming in and going out in different cars.
An army officer, who seemed worried about the high degree alert of the armed policemen, advised the journalists to move away from the residence so that they were not caught up in any mishap should the unexpected happen, a warning which made some of the journalists develop goose pimples and began looking for safe positions.
In the heat of the events, Mr Poku told the Daily Graphic on phone that the armed policemen came into the house at about 8:30am claiming they were under instructions not to let him or any member of his household leave the house.
He said he was told that his bodyguards and other security detail had also been withdrawn.
He said when he asked the reason for the restriction on his movement and that of his household, the policemen said they did not know.
“My brother, I have nothing to hide,” he stated.
Mr Poku said he had earlier been told that his name had been mentioned in connection with the issuance of a diplomatic passport to Mr Thomas Osei, the man who drove his car into the President’s car last November, an accusation he denied.
Inside the house, Mr Poku later told Daily Graphic that he had been preparing his handover notes since Saturday, saying that “even this morning, they were here for correction of the notes and I made some additions”.
The Daily Graphic learnt from other sources that the National Security Co-ordinator, Dr Sam Amoo, had called Mr Poku on Tuesday and asked him to appear the following day (Wednesday) before a National Security Council panel, but Mr Poku told Dr Amoo that he had to submit his handover notes before any debriefing would be done as was the practice.
Other intelligence and legal sources criticised the exercise, saying debriefing was not done under compulsive circumstances unless the person was under arrest.
The intelligence sources said the fact that Mr Poku had not stepped in his office since Saturday indicated that he had nothing to hide.
A lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Raymond Atuguba, described the operation as illegal.
He said to restrict the movement of someone without telling him or her the reasons for the action was against the liberties of that person.
He quoted Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Code, Act 30, as prescribing the procedures under which someone’s movement could be circumscribed.
“Those officers have violated every provision of the law. Once you place restrictions on his movement, then you have put him under arrest,” he said.
Others who commented on the issue included Mr Egbert Faibille, Editor of the Ghanaian Observer and the Africa Co-ordinator of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Nana Oye Lithur.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Government to plug revenue loopholes
Business (lead) Jan 16/01/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE government will this year put in place stringent measures to plug the loopholes in the revenue collection machinery of the state.
The measures include clearing all consignments that have overstayed at the ports, modernising the system for monitoring consignments meant for the free zones, as well as the warehousing and ex-warehousing movement of containers.
The Executive Secretary of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), Mr Harry Owusu, who disclosed this in an interview, said the monitoring system would be done electronically in order to flush out deviant behaviour.
He said the Justice Baddoo Report on investigations into customs operations would also be studied in detail and the recommendations carefully considered in order to plug every leakage in the revenue collection system.
Last year, the government, acting through the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service, exceeded its revenue collection target, having bagged GH¢3,031.55 million, as against a projected GH¢2,999.89 million.
That represented a 28 per cent growth over the previous year’s figure of GH¢2,370.77 million.
Mr Owusu said this year would see increased capacity building and training for the staff of CEPS and other revenue agencies.
He said it was time the tax agencies employed modern mechanisms and systems in their operations and that the computerisation of the IRS would be a reality by the end of this year.
Mr Owusu said the Ghana Community Network (GCNet) was also establishing the Transaction Price Database which would ensure that prices quoted on manifests or declared by importers were within internationally accepted price ceilings.
In preparedness to perform destination inspection, which used to be one of its core businesses, CEPS would also build its capacity in destination inspection to assume the function when the one-year extension for destination inspection companies in the country expired at the end of the year.
The executive secretary said the temporary importation of vehicles into the country was also an area of abuse which the board would devote a lot of attention and resources this year to curb.
After the importation of vehicles, particularly from neighbouring Togo, which operates a free port, the importers fraudulently registered them, using fake processes and procedures.
“This is now on a massive scale but we have our men on the road to apprehend the fraudsters. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority is also assisting with information leading to the interception of those vehicles,” Mr Owusu stated.
“This year we will intensify our efforts in this direction and commit more resources there for the appropriate duties and port penalties to be applied,” he added.
The RAGB head said the board would also intensify public education to warn the public against buying vehicles brought in under temporary importation permits.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE government will this year put in place stringent measures to plug the loopholes in the revenue collection machinery of the state.
The measures include clearing all consignments that have overstayed at the ports, modernising the system for monitoring consignments meant for the free zones, as well as the warehousing and ex-warehousing movement of containers.
The Executive Secretary of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), Mr Harry Owusu, who disclosed this in an interview, said the monitoring system would be done electronically in order to flush out deviant behaviour.
He said the Justice Baddoo Report on investigations into customs operations would also be studied in detail and the recommendations carefully considered in order to plug every leakage in the revenue collection system.
Last year, the government, acting through the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service, exceeded its revenue collection target, having bagged GH¢3,031.55 million, as against a projected GH¢2,999.89 million.
That represented a 28 per cent growth over the previous year’s figure of GH¢2,370.77 million.
Mr Owusu said this year would see increased capacity building and training for the staff of CEPS and other revenue agencies.
He said it was time the tax agencies employed modern mechanisms and systems in their operations and that the computerisation of the IRS would be a reality by the end of this year.
Mr Owusu said the Ghana Community Network (GCNet) was also establishing the Transaction Price Database which would ensure that prices quoted on manifests or declared by importers were within internationally accepted price ceilings.
In preparedness to perform destination inspection, which used to be one of its core businesses, CEPS would also build its capacity in destination inspection to assume the function when the one-year extension for destination inspection companies in the country expired at the end of the year.
The executive secretary said the temporary importation of vehicles into the country was also an area of abuse which the board would devote a lot of attention and resources this year to curb.
After the importation of vehicles, particularly from neighbouring Togo, which operates a free port, the importers fraudulently registered them, using fake processes and procedures.
“This is now on a massive scale but we have our men on the road to apprehend the fraudsters. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority is also assisting with information leading to the interception of those vehicles,” Mr Owusu stated.
“This year we will intensify our efforts in this direction and commit more resources there for the appropriate duties and port penalties to be applied,” he added.
The RAGB head said the board would also intensify public education to warn the public against buying vehicles brought in under temporary importation permits.
SHC managing director reacts
Page 31 Jan 16/01/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Managing Director of the State Housing Company (SHC), Mr Anthony Kwaku Sarpong Mensah, has indicated his preparedness to co-operate with any committee to audit his stewardship as the head of the company.
He stated however, that he will only leave office if his employer, the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing so directs.
Mr Mensah who spoke to the Daily Graphic in reaction to calls from the workers union of the company on him to resign said “I have not done anything wrong when it comes to the finances of the company. My employer has also not told me to leave office and until it says so, I am still the head of the company”.
The SHC workers on Monday embarked on a demonstration to call for the immediate retirement of Mr Mensah, whom they said had refused to retire after a two-year extension of his contract.
According to the Chairman of the Local Workers Union (LWU) of the company, Mr Samuel Atobrah, the director’s tenure had expired since 2006 but it was renewed by the then sector Minister, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, upon the director’s request.
Mr Atobrah said Mr Mensah had no mandate to hold himself as the Managing Director because his contract had expired.
Mr Mensah admitted that his contract was renewed last year by the then Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang which expired on December 17, 2007.
He said while in office before the expiry of his contract, a letter signed on behalf of the present sector minister by the Chief Director, Mr K. Amoa Gyarteng and copied to the Secretary to the President under the headline “Retirement As Managing Director” said “Your letter of 12th December, 2007 on the above subject matter refers. I am to inform you to stay action to enable the Hon. Minister to conclude discussions on the issue currently taking place”.
“The Board will certainly be informed of the outcome of the discussions for the way forward”, the letter concluded.
According to Mr Mensah, with the afore mentioned letter, neither the workers union nor the board chairman of the company can ask him to resign.
He however, reiterated that he was prepared to leave when asked to do so “but I am not leaving now because those who appointed me have not asked me to do so; Again, I am not 64 years as they claim, I am 62 now”.
On allegation that he sold portions of the land of the company at its head office for about Gh¢700,000 and misapplied the money, he explained that the amount generated from the sale of the land was not as much as the workers claim.
“We sold five acres for Gh¢200,000 each ; We then gave the money to the operations department of the company to turn around so that we could get some to pay workers salaries”, he said.
Mr Sarpong Mensah said since then the company is able to pay itself from some of the returns of that investment.
He said the company’s total salary bill is about Gh¢100,000 a month and it was as a result of this huge size of the bill that the old board called for what he termed as “productivity screening” which is being implemented by the current board.
He said the company still had some challenges but noted that much as frantic efforts were being made to surmount them, such unfortunate developments may have a negative impact on the fortunes of the company.
Mr Sarpong Mensah called for calm to enable work to progress as usual to enable the company to generate funds for expansion and other activities.
Meanwhile, red flags are still flying high on the gates and buildings of the head office of the company in Accra.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Managing Director of the State Housing Company (SHC), Mr Anthony Kwaku Sarpong Mensah, has indicated his preparedness to co-operate with any committee to audit his stewardship as the head of the company.
He stated however, that he will only leave office if his employer, the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing so directs.
Mr Mensah who spoke to the Daily Graphic in reaction to calls from the workers union of the company on him to resign said “I have not done anything wrong when it comes to the finances of the company. My employer has also not told me to leave office and until it says so, I am still the head of the company”.
The SHC workers on Monday embarked on a demonstration to call for the immediate retirement of Mr Mensah, whom they said had refused to retire after a two-year extension of his contract.
According to the Chairman of the Local Workers Union (LWU) of the company, Mr Samuel Atobrah, the director’s tenure had expired since 2006 but it was renewed by the then sector Minister, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, upon the director’s request.
Mr Atobrah said Mr Mensah had no mandate to hold himself as the Managing Director because his contract had expired.
Mr Mensah admitted that his contract was renewed last year by the then Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang which expired on December 17, 2007.
He said while in office before the expiry of his contract, a letter signed on behalf of the present sector minister by the Chief Director, Mr K. Amoa Gyarteng and copied to the Secretary to the President under the headline “Retirement As Managing Director” said “Your letter of 12th December, 2007 on the above subject matter refers. I am to inform you to stay action to enable the Hon. Minister to conclude discussions on the issue currently taking place”.
“The Board will certainly be informed of the outcome of the discussions for the way forward”, the letter concluded.
According to Mr Mensah, with the afore mentioned letter, neither the workers union nor the board chairman of the company can ask him to resign.
He however, reiterated that he was prepared to leave when asked to do so “but I am not leaving now because those who appointed me have not asked me to do so; Again, I am not 64 years as they claim, I am 62 now”.
On allegation that he sold portions of the land of the company at its head office for about Gh¢700,000 and misapplied the money, he explained that the amount generated from the sale of the land was not as much as the workers claim.
“We sold five acres for Gh¢200,000 each ; We then gave the money to the operations department of the company to turn around so that we could get some to pay workers salaries”, he said.
Mr Sarpong Mensah said since then the company is able to pay itself from some of the returns of that investment.
He said the company’s total salary bill is about Gh¢100,000 a month and it was as a result of this huge size of the bill that the old board called for what he termed as “productivity screening” which is being implemented by the current board.
He said the company still had some challenges but noted that much as frantic efforts were being made to surmount them, such unfortunate developments may have a negative impact on the fortunes of the company.
Mr Sarpong Mensah called for calm to enable work to progress as usual to enable the company to generate funds for expansion and other activities.
Meanwhile, red flags are still flying high on the gates and buildings of the head office of the company in Accra.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Akufo-Addo meets Aliu
Political page Jan 15, 2007
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has advised the presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to adopt an open and transparent campaign strategy to be able to attract grassroots support.
“Do not listen to people too much about what they are doing on the ground for you; Get to the grassroots yourself and touch the ordinary people with your message because it is then that they will know you care about them”, he added.
Alhaji Mahama gave the advise when Nana Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on him at his residence at Cantonments in Accra yesterday.
The visit, according to the NPP flagbearer was to renew the bond of friendship between the two after a heated but lively campaign in their bid to annex the position as the leader of the ruling party as well as wish him a happy and a prosperous new year.
At the last historic congress of the party to elect a flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo beat the Vice President to 3rd place.
“We do not have enough time to waste now and we need to get to the ground to ensue that we win power once again”, the Vice President said.
He said task ahead of the party was enormous and nothing should be left to chance if the NPP was to retain power.
“The party cannot afford to lose to the opposition because we have done a lot and we need to continue with our good works to bring prosperity to the good people of Ghana”, Alhaji Mahama said.
He described Nana Akufo-Addo as a capable person with rich experience, foresight and knowledge to be able to do what the party expects in the 2008 general elections.
“I respect him a lot because he is one of the main chaps within the government at the time who showed a lot of respect for me as the Vice President of the country”, he recalled.
Alhaji Mahama said since all the aspirants have pledged their support for Nana, the party was sure to go places and advised against any form of complacency.
He pledged to do all he could to ensure that the NPP presidential candidate enjoys a smooth campaign period.
“My campaign team is available for you and I believe should you tap their knowledge and experience, it would go to the advantage of this great party.
Vice President Mahama wished Nana Akufo-Addo well in his campaign and reiterated his full support for him.
Earlier, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that his campaign process could be incomplete without the support of the Vice President.
Amidst cheers from his campaign team he said the contribution of the Vice President in the past and present to the success of the party cannot be under-estimated and pledged his commitment to seek any form of advise to make his bid stronger.
“I know he has a role to play in the victory and sustenance of the party”, he added.
He admitted that during the campaign each aspirant was busy and could, therefore, not have enough time for each other and noted that now that the contest was over, there was the need to reunite and forge ahead to enable the party to retain power.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has advised the presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to adopt an open and transparent campaign strategy to be able to attract grassroots support.
“Do not listen to people too much about what they are doing on the ground for you; Get to the grassroots yourself and touch the ordinary people with your message because it is then that they will know you care about them”, he added.
Alhaji Mahama gave the advise when Nana Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on him at his residence at Cantonments in Accra yesterday.
The visit, according to the NPP flagbearer was to renew the bond of friendship between the two after a heated but lively campaign in their bid to annex the position as the leader of the ruling party as well as wish him a happy and a prosperous new year.
At the last historic congress of the party to elect a flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo beat the Vice President to 3rd place.
“We do not have enough time to waste now and we need to get to the ground to ensue that we win power once again”, the Vice President said.
He said task ahead of the party was enormous and nothing should be left to chance if the NPP was to retain power.
“The party cannot afford to lose to the opposition because we have done a lot and we need to continue with our good works to bring prosperity to the good people of Ghana”, Alhaji Mahama said.
He described Nana Akufo-Addo as a capable person with rich experience, foresight and knowledge to be able to do what the party expects in the 2008 general elections.
“I respect him a lot because he is one of the main chaps within the government at the time who showed a lot of respect for me as the Vice President of the country”, he recalled.
Alhaji Mahama said since all the aspirants have pledged their support for Nana, the party was sure to go places and advised against any form of complacency.
He pledged to do all he could to ensure that the NPP presidential candidate enjoys a smooth campaign period.
“My campaign team is available for you and I believe should you tap their knowledge and experience, it would go to the advantage of this great party.
Vice President Mahama wished Nana Akufo-Addo well in his campaign and reiterated his full support for him.
Earlier, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that his campaign process could be incomplete without the support of the Vice President.
Amidst cheers from his campaign team he said the contribution of the Vice President in the past and present to the success of the party cannot be under-estimated and pledged his commitment to seek any form of advise to make his bid stronger.
“I know he has a role to play in the victory and sustenance of the party”, he added.
He admitted that during the campaign each aspirant was busy and could, therefore, not have enough time for each other and noted that now that the contest was over, there was the need to reunite and forge ahead to enable the party to retain power.
NCCE urges parties not to declare election results
Political page (lead) Jan 15, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has made a passionate appeal to all political parties in the country not to announce the results of the 2008 general election to avoid any conflicts.
It said, as per the constitution of the state, it was the prerogative of one person, the Commissioner of the Electoral Commission (EC), to make any such announcement and asked all the parties to strictly respect that.
The Chairman of the NCCE, Mr Laary Bimi, made the appeal at a news conference in Accra to advise all stakeholders including political parties, religious bodies and traditional rulers on what to do or otherwise to ensure a peaceful election.
Without mentioning names, he said, “It happened in the last general election and it should not be repeated this time around for the sake of peace.”
Mr Bimi argued that should a political party announce the results only for another party to do same, Ghanaians could imagine what calamity may befall the country and reiterated that in the interest of peace and stability, the constitutional provision which mandated the EC Commissioner to do so should be fully respected.
The appeal of the NCCE Chairman comes at the heels of concerns raised by the Flag-bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, who earlier in the week raised similar concerns about a party announcing the results of a general election before the EC and noted that such a practice could be a recipe for disaster.
The good old professor sited the case when the former Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, called the results of the 2004 presidential elections before the constitutionally mandated body, the EC, could so do.
Meanwhile, Mr Bimi made it clear that to avoid the temptation of any party announcing the results, the onus lied on the EC to ensure that the results were announced on time to defuse any tension.
“The commission is aware of the anxiety of the participating political parties after the voting to know their position but we need to be patient to allow the EC to do its work to avoid a repetition of the Kenyan situation,” he added.
On promises made by political candidates during electioneering campaigns, the NCCE Chairman again cautioned against such practice.
“Many a time, they go to promise and when they get to the top, they find it difficult to honour their pledges to the people and that brings about problems which sometimes end in conflicts,” he said.
He said there were many areas in the country sitting on a time bomb and such unfulfilled promises could easily ignite conflicts at the least provocation.
On the participation of chiefs in active politics, Mr Bimi said the NCCE was not mandated by law to take chiefs that did active politics to task, adding that “we can only advise them against such a practice”.
He said as chiefs the commission expected them to be responsible enough to abide by the law to desist from the practice.
Mr Bimi said as traditional rulers, their word wielded a lot of power and noted that concentrating on their duties as chiefs would better serve the interest of their people and the state and added that “so they need to shy away from open politics and act as true custodians of their territories”.
The NCCE Chairman also noted that it was important for the state to provide security for all the presidential candidates of the various political parties.
“Each of them should be given the same number of bodyguards, the same number of motorcades and any other security protection; There must be equity; None should have more than the other,” he added.
According to Mr Bimi, Ghana ought to learn from what happened to the late former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated after addressing a campaign rally, adding that “today people are blaming the ruling government for masterminding the assassination because they wanted her out of their way”.
He said much as he did not wish any such incident to befall the country, it was a matter of course for the state to provide them with security to avoid any blames.
However, Mr Bimi stated that “any attempt to do so should be with their consent”.
He gave the assurance that the commission would play its role as mandated by the constitution to ensure a peaceful general election.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has made a passionate appeal to all political parties in the country not to announce the results of the 2008 general election to avoid any conflicts.
It said, as per the constitution of the state, it was the prerogative of one person, the Commissioner of the Electoral Commission (EC), to make any such announcement and asked all the parties to strictly respect that.
The Chairman of the NCCE, Mr Laary Bimi, made the appeal at a news conference in Accra to advise all stakeholders including political parties, religious bodies and traditional rulers on what to do or otherwise to ensure a peaceful election.
Without mentioning names, he said, “It happened in the last general election and it should not be repeated this time around for the sake of peace.”
Mr Bimi argued that should a political party announce the results only for another party to do same, Ghanaians could imagine what calamity may befall the country and reiterated that in the interest of peace and stability, the constitutional provision which mandated the EC Commissioner to do so should be fully respected.
The appeal of the NCCE Chairman comes at the heels of concerns raised by the Flag-bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, who earlier in the week raised similar concerns about a party announcing the results of a general election before the EC and noted that such a practice could be a recipe for disaster.
The good old professor sited the case when the former Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, called the results of the 2004 presidential elections before the constitutionally mandated body, the EC, could so do.
Meanwhile, Mr Bimi made it clear that to avoid the temptation of any party announcing the results, the onus lied on the EC to ensure that the results were announced on time to defuse any tension.
“The commission is aware of the anxiety of the participating political parties after the voting to know their position but we need to be patient to allow the EC to do its work to avoid a repetition of the Kenyan situation,” he added.
On promises made by political candidates during electioneering campaigns, the NCCE Chairman again cautioned against such practice.
“Many a time, they go to promise and when they get to the top, they find it difficult to honour their pledges to the people and that brings about problems which sometimes end in conflicts,” he said.
He said there were many areas in the country sitting on a time bomb and such unfulfilled promises could easily ignite conflicts at the least provocation.
On the participation of chiefs in active politics, Mr Bimi said the NCCE was not mandated by law to take chiefs that did active politics to task, adding that “we can only advise them against such a practice”.
He said as chiefs the commission expected them to be responsible enough to abide by the law to desist from the practice.
Mr Bimi said as traditional rulers, their word wielded a lot of power and noted that concentrating on their duties as chiefs would better serve the interest of their people and the state and added that “so they need to shy away from open politics and act as true custodians of their territories”.
The NCCE Chairman also noted that it was important for the state to provide security for all the presidential candidates of the various political parties.
“Each of them should be given the same number of bodyguards, the same number of motorcades and any other security protection; There must be equity; None should have more than the other,” he added.
According to Mr Bimi, Ghana ought to learn from what happened to the late former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated after addressing a campaign rally, adding that “today people are blaming the ruling government for masterminding the assassination because they wanted her out of their way”.
He said much as he did not wish any such incident to befall the country, it was a matter of course for the state to provide them with security to avoid any blames.
However, Mr Bimi stated that “any attempt to do so should be with their consent”.
He gave the assurance that the commission would play its role as mandated by the constitution to ensure a peaceful general election.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
NCCE wants voting period reviewed
Political page jan 12/01/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called for a review of the voting period of the general election in the country.
It said instead of the normal 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Electoral Commission (EC) could push the polling period to between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. because “it is our belief that the incidence of threats to peace due to problems created in the counting and collating of election results in the night may be prevented”.
At news conference in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Chairman of the NCCE, Mrs Augustina Akosua Akumanyi, said there were many areas in the country that did not have lighting systems and counting and collating the results in broad daylight would be of immense benefit to all parties involved.
She said the EC was the leading institution for conducting and supervising elections, adding, “This leadership role enjoin it to work efficiently with its key collaborators such as the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to consult on all major decisions concerning elections.”
Mrs Akumanyi said much as the NCCE was confident about the EC’s ability and competence to conduct credible elections, there were some issues the NCCE needed to bring to the attention of the EC.
She said the commission needed to ensure that all temporary staff to be engaged to assist with election duties were people of unquestionable character and must be well versed in the rules and regulations governing elections.
“Also of concern is the timely declaration of the election results. We also hope the EC in their voter education exercise would place emphasis on proper thumbprinting on the ballot paper to reduce the incidence of spoilt ballots,” Mrs Akumanyi said.
She expressed the hope that the EC, in revising, updating and undertaking transfers on the voter’s register, would ensure that people did not take political advantage of the process.
Turning to the IPAC, Mrs Akumanyi asked the committee to assist the EC with ideas that went beyond the parochial interests of political party representatives on the committee and place Ghana first in all their deliberations.
“We propose that the IPAC be replicated in all the regions and districts of the country,” she said, adding that “this will ensure that any disagreements would be nipped in the bud as early as possible”.
Mrs Akumanyi said the President as the father of the nation, should demonstrate fairness for all in his actions and speeches.
“The President has to prepare the grounds for a smooth handover to the candidate who would be declared winner by the Electoral Commission in December 2008,” she said.
To the candidates, the NCCE Deputy Chairman entreated all the candidates who were aspiring to be elected to leadership positions to use inspiring language and avoid utterances that would inflame passions.
Mrs Akumanyi said the candidates needed to prevail upon their followers to obey the electoral regulations, adding that “party supporters should be civil in their relationship with their competitors”.
She said candidates needed to dispel that notion that the 2008 elections was a matter of life and death, and should stop nurturing the desire to win at all cost.
“All the political parties should be prevailed upon to engage people who are truly committed to their parties and are knowledgeable enough to serve as polling agents,” she said.
Mrs Akumanyi said it was necessary for all the security agencies to demonstrate non-partisan stance and neutrality before, during and after the elections.
“The credibility of the December 2008 elections will also greatly depend on the way the security agencies conduct themselves throughout the period of the elections,” she said.
She recognised the role the media had played in the past during such crucial national elections and urged it on in the coming general election.
Mrs Akumanyi, however, asked the media to be mindful that the dissemination of uncertified election results and other unconfirmed information about elections could create confusion and chaos in society.
She also asked the media to ensure equity and fairness to all parties by giving each of them a balanced coverage.
Mrs Akumanyi asked religious bodies, traditional rulers and pressure groups to also play a positive role in ensuring that the country went through peaceful elections.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called for a review of the voting period of the general election in the country.
It said instead of the normal 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Electoral Commission (EC) could push the polling period to between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. because “it is our belief that the incidence of threats to peace due to problems created in the counting and collating of election results in the night may be prevented”.
At news conference in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Chairman of the NCCE, Mrs Augustina Akosua Akumanyi, said there were many areas in the country that did not have lighting systems and counting and collating the results in broad daylight would be of immense benefit to all parties involved.
She said the EC was the leading institution for conducting and supervising elections, adding, “This leadership role enjoin it to work efficiently with its key collaborators such as the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to consult on all major decisions concerning elections.”
Mrs Akumanyi said much as the NCCE was confident about the EC’s ability and competence to conduct credible elections, there were some issues the NCCE needed to bring to the attention of the EC.
She said the commission needed to ensure that all temporary staff to be engaged to assist with election duties were people of unquestionable character and must be well versed in the rules and regulations governing elections.
“Also of concern is the timely declaration of the election results. We also hope the EC in their voter education exercise would place emphasis on proper thumbprinting on the ballot paper to reduce the incidence of spoilt ballots,” Mrs Akumanyi said.
She expressed the hope that the EC, in revising, updating and undertaking transfers on the voter’s register, would ensure that people did not take political advantage of the process.
Turning to the IPAC, Mrs Akumanyi asked the committee to assist the EC with ideas that went beyond the parochial interests of political party representatives on the committee and place Ghana first in all their deliberations.
“We propose that the IPAC be replicated in all the regions and districts of the country,” she said, adding that “this will ensure that any disagreements would be nipped in the bud as early as possible”.
Mrs Akumanyi said the President as the father of the nation, should demonstrate fairness for all in his actions and speeches.
“The President has to prepare the grounds for a smooth handover to the candidate who would be declared winner by the Electoral Commission in December 2008,” she said.
To the candidates, the NCCE Deputy Chairman entreated all the candidates who were aspiring to be elected to leadership positions to use inspiring language and avoid utterances that would inflame passions.
Mrs Akumanyi said the candidates needed to prevail upon their followers to obey the electoral regulations, adding that “party supporters should be civil in their relationship with their competitors”.
She said candidates needed to dispel that notion that the 2008 elections was a matter of life and death, and should stop nurturing the desire to win at all cost.
“All the political parties should be prevailed upon to engage people who are truly committed to their parties and are knowledgeable enough to serve as polling agents,” she said.
Mrs Akumanyi said it was necessary for all the security agencies to demonstrate non-partisan stance and neutrality before, during and after the elections.
“The credibility of the December 2008 elections will also greatly depend on the way the security agencies conduct themselves throughout the period of the elections,” she said.
She recognised the role the media had played in the past during such crucial national elections and urged it on in the coming general election.
Mrs Akumanyi, however, asked the media to be mindful that the dissemination of uncertified election results and other unconfirmed information about elections could create confusion and chaos in society.
She also asked the media to ensure equity and fairness to all parties by giving each of them a balanced coverage.
Mrs Akumanyi asked religious bodies, traditional rulers and pressure groups to also play a positive role in ensuring that the country went through peaceful elections.
Crude Oil: Find other means of finance
Page 3 Jan 12/01/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, has called on the oil marketing companies (OMCs) to find other means of financing the purchase of crude oil on the international market to reduce the pressure on the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
He noted that the BoG always had to fall on the country’s foreign exchange reserves to finance the product on behalf of the OMCs, a situation that could have serious consequences for the economy.
He noted that the skyrocketing crude oil import bill in the country might negatively impact on the country’s foreign exchange reserves and said the OMCs could depend on other sources to allow the state to build its reserves to serve other equally important purposes.
Mr Baah-Wiredu made the call in an interview in reaction to the country’s high import bill on crude oil which is said to be taking a toll on the country’s foreign exchange reserves and added his voice to calls for the prudent and economic use of petroleum products in the country.
Ghana’s oil import bill reached more than $2 billion in 2007, almost three times the bill for 2004, which stood at $775 million.
The increase has been attributed to the increasing price of crude oil on the international market and the high demand for crude oil products in all sectors of the economy.
Since the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector some two years ago, the OMCs have been allowed to bring into the country some amount of finished and unfinished products.
As a result of the huge amounts of foreign currency required to purchase the products, the OMCs are said to have fallen on the BoG on many occasions to finance the purchase of the product, a development which Mr Baah-Wiredu described as not being the best and healthiest for the country.
On the use of fuel within public institutions such as the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the Finance Minister said all efforts would be made to ensure that they strictly adhered to the instructions for the economic use of petroleum products.
According to him, although a reduction in the consumption of fuel products within the MDAs would be marginal in terms of cost, it would be an important step towards cutting down on the fuel imported into the country.
He was quick to add that there had been some progress made in terms of a cut in consumption since the directive for a reduction in the consumption of fuel within the ministries was announced.
Mr Baah-Wiredu also entreated the private sector and individuals to ensure that they cut down on the use of fuel to reduce the quantity to be imported into the country.
He said there were other factors that had contributed to the significant increase in the oil import bill of the country and mentioned the increased construction activities in the country in terms of roads and other infrastructure as one of them.
He said the mining sector had also witnessed growth, while the manufacturing and industrial sectors were also booming.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said since all those sectors depended heavily on crude oil products to move their businesses, the oil import bill was likely to move up.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, has called on the oil marketing companies (OMCs) to find other means of financing the purchase of crude oil on the international market to reduce the pressure on the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
He noted that the BoG always had to fall on the country’s foreign exchange reserves to finance the product on behalf of the OMCs, a situation that could have serious consequences for the economy.
He noted that the skyrocketing crude oil import bill in the country might negatively impact on the country’s foreign exchange reserves and said the OMCs could depend on other sources to allow the state to build its reserves to serve other equally important purposes.
Mr Baah-Wiredu made the call in an interview in reaction to the country’s high import bill on crude oil which is said to be taking a toll on the country’s foreign exchange reserves and added his voice to calls for the prudent and economic use of petroleum products in the country.
Ghana’s oil import bill reached more than $2 billion in 2007, almost three times the bill for 2004, which stood at $775 million.
The increase has been attributed to the increasing price of crude oil on the international market and the high demand for crude oil products in all sectors of the economy.
Since the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector some two years ago, the OMCs have been allowed to bring into the country some amount of finished and unfinished products.
As a result of the huge amounts of foreign currency required to purchase the products, the OMCs are said to have fallen on the BoG on many occasions to finance the purchase of the product, a development which Mr Baah-Wiredu described as not being the best and healthiest for the country.
On the use of fuel within public institutions such as the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the Finance Minister said all efforts would be made to ensure that they strictly adhered to the instructions for the economic use of petroleum products.
According to him, although a reduction in the consumption of fuel products within the MDAs would be marginal in terms of cost, it would be an important step towards cutting down on the fuel imported into the country.
He was quick to add that there had been some progress made in terms of a cut in consumption since the directive for a reduction in the consumption of fuel within the ministries was announced.
Mr Baah-Wiredu also entreated the private sector and individuals to ensure that they cut down on the use of fuel to reduce the quantity to be imported into the country.
He said there were other factors that had contributed to the significant increase in the oil import bill of the country and mentioned the increased construction activities in the country in terms of roads and other infrastructure as one of them.
He said the mining sector had also witnessed growth, while the manufacturing and industrial sectors were also booming.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said since all those sectors depended heavily on crude oil products to move their businesses, the oil import bill was likely to move up.
Oil import bill skyrockets
Page 3 Jan 11/01/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
GHANA’s oil import bill skyrocketed to more than $2 billion in 2007, almost three times the bill for 2004, which stood at $775 million.
The increase, which has been attributed to the increasing price of crude oil on the international market and the high demand for crude oil products in all sectors of the economy, is also said to be impacting negatively on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.
Experts say that the situation may even get worse this year with the various activities, such as the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations (Ghana 2008), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting and the general election coming up.
In exclusive interviews with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the experts called for pragmatic measures to reduce the consumption of crude oil products in the country before the situation got out of hand.
Dr Ernest Addison, the Director of Research at the Bank of Ghana, said but for the resilience of the economy and its prudent management over the years, the import bill on crude oil would have been worrying.
He said the economy had largely been able to sustain the pressure because of the income from exports such as cocoa and gold which had seen impressive upward price movements on the international market, adding that “due to the trust in the economy, remittances have also gone up, while the nation is also enjoying the debt relief”.
As a result of the use of obsolete and high consumption machines and equipment in manufacturing and industry, the use of over-aged vehicles, among others, Ghana’s oil intensity (how many barrels of crude oil is used to generate a unit of Gross Domestic Product) is said to be extremely high.
Ghana was able to save $300 million in 2005 and $536 million in 2006 and it is feared that as the import bill on crude oil grows beyond expectation, it may be unable to save to build its foreign reserves.
Dr Addison, however, questioned the sustainability of the phenomenon and indicated that, as had often been done, there was the need to strategise to avoid shocks in the future when the situation reversed.
“From the economic point of view, we have been able to manage the situation well, but where do we go from here?” he asked.
He said there was the need for conservation by all to bring the bill down.
Dr Addison said energy generation had been a contributing factor and suggested alternative ways of generating power to enable the country to cut down on crude oil imports.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr John Attafuah, also expressed concern over the growing import bill on crude oil and added his voice to calls for conservation.
“The issue of conservation should be the talk of town because we may be entering a zone where we may not be able to find the money to do the imports because we may not be able to bear the consequences,” he cautioned.
Mr Attafuah said there was the need for the government to fully implement its directive to the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to cut down on fuel consumption, adding that “this general picture should be seen from the private sector as well because it is in our own interest as a nation”.
He raised the issue of the consolidation of the salaries of public and civil servants, arguing that “if the fuel for each person is consolidated in the salary, people will be more economic in consuming fuel and that will save the nation”.
Mr Attafuah said there was the need to practically restrict consumption to what had been approved, not by actual volumes but by consumption.
He said the situation at the moment went beyond politics because “fuel conservation is critical if we are to save the economy by having fuel available all-year round”.
Asked whether the deregulation of the petroleum sector which, among others, had, to a larger extent, caused consumers to pay the full cost of the fuel they bought on the market, had made an impact on consumption, Mr Attafuah replied in the negative and described the situation as a bit surprising.
He, however, noted that deregulation had had a significant impact on the economy because there were no debt build ups and that had also helped with the growth and stability of the economy.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
GHANA’s oil import bill skyrocketed to more than $2 billion in 2007, almost three times the bill for 2004, which stood at $775 million.
The increase, which has been attributed to the increasing price of crude oil on the international market and the high demand for crude oil products in all sectors of the economy, is also said to be impacting negatively on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.
Experts say that the situation may even get worse this year with the various activities, such as the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations (Ghana 2008), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting and the general election coming up.
In exclusive interviews with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the experts called for pragmatic measures to reduce the consumption of crude oil products in the country before the situation got out of hand.
Dr Ernest Addison, the Director of Research at the Bank of Ghana, said but for the resilience of the economy and its prudent management over the years, the import bill on crude oil would have been worrying.
He said the economy had largely been able to sustain the pressure because of the income from exports such as cocoa and gold which had seen impressive upward price movements on the international market, adding that “due to the trust in the economy, remittances have also gone up, while the nation is also enjoying the debt relief”.
As a result of the use of obsolete and high consumption machines and equipment in manufacturing and industry, the use of over-aged vehicles, among others, Ghana’s oil intensity (how many barrels of crude oil is used to generate a unit of Gross Domestic Product) is said to be extremely high.
Ghana was able to save $300 million in 2005 and $536 million in 2006 and it is feared that as the import bill on crude oil grows beyond expectation, it may be unable to save to build its foreign reserves.
Dr Addison, however, questioned the sustainability of the phenomenon and indicated that, as had often been done, there was the need to strategise to avoid shocks in the future when the situation reversed.
“From the economic point of view, we have been able to manage the situation well, but where do we go from here?” he asked.
He said there was the need for conservation by all to bring the bill down.
Dr Addison said energy generation had been a contributing factor and suggested alternative ways of generating power to enable the country to cut down on crude oil imports.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr John Attafuah, also expressed concern over the growing import bill on crude oil and added his voice to calls for conservation.
“The issue of conservation should be the talk of town because we may be entering a zone where we may not be able to find the money to do the imports because we may not be able to bear the consequences,” he cautioned.
Mr Attafuah said there was the need for the government to fully implement its directive to the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to cut down on fuel consumption, adding that “this general picture should be seen from the private sector as well because it is in our own interest as a nation”.
He raised the issue of the consolidation of the salaries of public and civil servants, arguing that “if the fuel for each person is consolidated in the salary, people will be more economic in consuming fuel and that will save the nation”.
Mr Attafuah said there was the need to practically restrict consumption to what had been approved, not by actual volumes but by consumption.
He said the situation at the moment went beyond politics because “fuel conservation is critical if we are to save the economy by having fuel available all-year round”.
Asked whether the deregulation of the petroleum sector which, among others, had, to a larger extent, caused consumers to pay the full cost of the fuel they bought on the market, had made an impact on consumption, Mr Attafuah replied in the negative and described the situation as a bit surprising.
He, however, noted that deregulation had had a significant impact on the economy because there were no debt build ups and that had also helped with the growth and stability of the economy.
Sottie drags Appiah-Ofori to court
Jan 10/01/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Mabel Aku Baneseh
Main story missing from the PC as a result of techinical fault on the server.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Mabel Aku Baneseh
Main story missing from the PC as a result of techinical fault on the server.
Veep calls for religious tolerance (Pg 3)
Jan 10/01/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE-PRESIDENT Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called for religious tolerance in every part of Africa to ensure peace at all times.
He said most of the conflicts on the continent were as a result of religious intolerance and noted that “since we all worship one God but through difference means, we should tolerate each other”.
Alhaji Mahama made the call when the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abuabakar, from Nigeria, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, today.
He said whether political or social, religion had been the major course of conflict on the continent and this cannot be allowed to continue.
Alhaji Mahama, therefore, entreated the most revered non-political leaders on the continent such as the Sultan of Sokoto to use their wise counsel to prevent such conflicts.
He recalled the long standing relations between the people and governments of Ghana and Nigeria and expressed the hope that that would continue to grow from strength to strength.
Alhaji Mahama said the several Nigerians continue to flock the country to invest and that was a manifestation of the brotherly love between the countries.
On the West African gas Pipeline project, he commended Nigeria for being at the forefront of the idea and indicated that the gas would be of tremendous benefit to the participating countries including Benin and Togo.
“This is also an indication of the efforts to enhance the ECOWAS integration process”, he added.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghana and Nigeria would continue to make significant impact when it comes to discussing issues of world trade to enable the continent to win.
Alhaji Abubakar who is also the 20th Sultan of Sokoto said it was necessary for Africans to pull their resources together to enable them to grow faster than they were doing now.
He wished the best for the two countries and the continent as a whole in the coming years.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE-PRESIDENT Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called for religious tolerance in every part of Africa to ensure peace at all times.
He said most of the conflicts on the continent were as a result of religious intolerance and noted that “since we all worship one God but through difference means, we should tolerate each other”.
Alhaji Mahama made the call when the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abuabakar, from Nigeria, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, today.
He said whether political or social, religion had been the major course of conflict on the continent and this cannot be allowed to continue.
Alhaji Mahama, therefore, entreated the most revered non-political leaders on the continent such as the Sultan of Sokoto to use their wise counsel to prevent such conflicts.
He recalled the long standing relations between the people and governments of Ghana and Nigeria and expressed the hope that that would continue to grow from strength to strength.
Alhaji Mahama said the several Nigerians continue to flock the country to invest and that was a manifestation of the brotherly love between the countries.
On the West African gas Pipeline project, he commended Nigeria for being at the forefront of the idea and indicated that the gas would be of tremendous benefit to the participating countries including Benin and Togo.
“This is also an indication of the efforts to enhance the ECOWAS integration process”, he added.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghana and Nigeria would continue to make significant impact when it comes to discussing issues of world trade to enable the continent to win.
Alhaji Abubakar who is also the 20th Sultan of Sokoto said it was necessary for Africans to pull their resources together to enable them to grow faster than they were doing now.
He wished the best for the two countries and the continent as a whole in the coming years.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Revenue agencies exceed target
Back Pg. (Jan. 10/08)
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Samuel Doe Ablordeppey
THE government has exceeded its revenue collection target for the year 2007, collecting GH¢3,031.55 million as against a projected target of GH¢2, 2,999.89 million.
This represents a positive variance of 1.1 per cent over the actual target for the year and 28 per cent growth over the previous year’s figure of GH¢2,370.77 million.
The Executive Secretary of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), Mr Harry Owusu, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday.
This achievement breaks a two-year jinx during which the agencies were unable to meet the targets for 2005 and 2006.
It also came at a time when the country faced its worst energy crisis when businesses were on the verge of collapse, a situation which many economists predicted was likely to affect revenue collection for the year.
In giving the breakdown as per the institutions, Mr Owusu, who was highly elated about the results said the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was able to collect GH¢910.37 million as against a target of GH¢887.68 million.
This represents a positive variance of 2.6 per cent and represents a 24 per cent growth over the previous year’s figure of GH¢734.1 million.
For the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service, Mr Owusu said the service recorded a positive figure of GH¢459.32 million as against a target of GH¢450.50 million.
The amount is 29 per cent higher than the 2006 figure of GH¢354.73 million and two per cent over the 2007 target.
Mr Owusu said the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) recorded GH¢1,661 million, or 0.15 per cent above the annual target of GH¢1,661.71 million.
The CEPS result for the year was also 30 per cent higher than the 2006 figure of GH¢1,281.91 million.
“This year, we have been given a target of GH¢3,973 million to collect”, he said and indicated that “we are poised to perform as expected because we want to collect more to help the government reduce its reliance on donor assistance for national development.
Mr Owusu said the RAGB, together with its agencies were able to intensify their auditing, both internally and externally, and noted that the resolve of the board to meet the target also helped.
“We were also able to check smuggling of goods into the country and that meant that we had more goods to tax, hence more money”, he said.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Samuel Doe Ablordeppey
THE government has exceeded its revenue collection target for the year 2007, collecting GH¢3,031.55 million as against a projected target of GH¢2, 2,999.89 million.
This represents a positive variance of 1.1 per cent over the actual target for the year and 28 per cent growth over the previous year’s figure of GH¢2,370.77 million.
The Executive Secretary of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), Mr Harry Owusu, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday.
This achievement breaks a two-year jinx during which the agencies were unable to meet the targets for 2005 and 2006.
It also came at a time when the country faced its worst energy crisis when businesses were on the verge of collapse, a situation which many economists predicted was likely to affect revenue collection for the year.
In giving the breakdown as per the institutions, Mr Owusu, who was highly elated about the results said the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was able to collect GH¢910.37 million as against a target of GH¢887.68 million.
This represents a positive variance of 2.6 per cent and represents a 24 per cent growth over the previous year’s figure of GH¢734.1 million.
For the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service, Mr Owusu said the service recorded a positive figure of GH¢459.32 million as against a target of GH¢450.50 million.
The amount is 29 per cent higher than the 2006 figure of GH¢354.73 million and two per cent over the 2007 target.
Mr Owusu said the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) recorded GH¢1,661 million, or 0.15 per cent above the annual target of GH¢1,661.71 million.
The CEPS result for the year was also 30 per cent higher than the 2006 figure of GH¢1,281.91 million.
“This year, we have been given a target of GH¢3,973 million to collect”, he said and indicated that “we are poised to perform as expected because we want to collect more to help the government reduce its reliance on donor assistance for national development.
Mr Owusu said the RAGB, together with its agencies were able to intensify their auditing, both internally and externally, and noted that the resolve of the board to meet the target also helped.
“We were also able to check smuggling of goods into the country and that meant that we had more goods to tax, hence more money”, he said.
Ghana to get $25m Indian loan
Pg. 14 (Jan. 09/08)
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
INDIA will release approximately $25 million loan to Ghana this year to support various projects in the country.
The amount constitutes the second tranche of support to Ghana under a special financial arrangement from India dubbed "Team 9", which is meant to support nine African countries including Ghana.
The first tranche of $60 million has already been released, half of which is being used on the Presidential Palace while the remaining amount is being used to support the country's rural electrification project.
The outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Rajesh Nandan Prasad, made this known when he called on the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, at the Castle, Osu, yesterday and said the projects would be named when the amount finally got to Ghana.
He said "Team 9" was a special fund set up by the Indian government and indicated that Ghana was selected to be part of the team because of the strong relations between the two countries.
On trade, he said exports from Ghana to India had grown by more than 100 per cent.
Mr Prasad said in 2004/2005, total trade between the two counties amounted to $234.36 million out of which Ghanaian exports to India stood at $51.28 million.
In 2006/2007, trade between the two countries shot up to $564 million with exports from Ghana to India reaching $103.21 million.
Mr Prasad said the Indian government was in the process of completing a tractor assembly plant in Kumasi.
He said these were all positive indications of how India cherished Ghana as a partner.
For his part, Alhaji Mahama commended the Indian government for the gesture and expressed the hope that the relationship between the two countries would grow stronger.
He urged the Indian government to support Ghana in the areas of agriculture, railways and Information Communication Technology.
On agriculture, the Vice-President said although India had a very large population, it was able to feed all its people “and we will be glad to learn from that experience”.
Alhaji Mahama said India also had an effective and efficient rail transport system.
“We are also making efforts to revive ours to haul goods and passengers across the length and breadth of the country and we will appreciate your support technically and financially,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama also asked India to play a leading role in enhancing the South/South co-operation, a move he indicated would go a long way to bring significant benefits to members.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
INDIA will release approximately $25 million loan to Ghana this year to support various projects in the country.
The amount constitutes the second tranche of support to Ghana under a special financial arrangement from India dubbed "Team 9", which is meant to support nine African countries including Ghana.
The first tranche of $60 million has already been released, half of which is being used on the Presidential Palace while the remaining amount is being used to support the country's rural electrification project.
The outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Rajesh Nandan Prasad, made this known when he called on the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, at the Castle, Osu, yesterday and said the projects would be named when the amount finally got to Ghana.
He said "Team 9" was a special fund set up by the Indian government and indicated that Ghana was selected to be part of the team because of the strong relations between the two countries.
On trade, he said exports from Ghana to India had grown by more than 100 per cent.
Mr Prasad said in 2004/2005, total trade between the two counties amounted to $234.36 million out of which Ghanaian exports to India stood at $51.28 million.
In 2006/2007, trade between the two countries shot up to $564 million with exports from Ghana to India reaching $103.21 million.
Mr Prasad said the Indian government was in the process of completing a tractor assembly plant in Kumasi.
He said these were all positive indications of how India cherished Ghana as a partner.
For his part, Alhaji Mahama commended the Indian government for the gesture and expressed the hope that the relationship between the two countries would grow stronger.
He urged the Indian government to support Ghana in the areas of agriculture, railways and Information Communication Technology.
On agriculture, the Vice-President said although India had a very large population, it was able to feed all its people “and we will be glad to learn from that experience”.
Alhaji Mahama said India also had an effective and efficient rail transport system.
“We are also making efforts to revive ours to haul goods and passengers across the length and breadth of the country and we will appreciate your support technically and financially,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama also asked India to play a leading role in enhancing the South/South co-operation, a move he indicated would go a long way to bring significant benefits to members.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Govt extends Bawku curfew
Pg 3 (Jan 08/08)
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Justina Ampadu-Nyarko
THE government has extended the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Bawku for another week because of the volatile situation in the area.
It has, however, reduced the curfew imposed on Zabugu and Garu from 6pm to 6am to 8pm to 5am.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, yesterday explained that “although calm has been restored to the area, there is still a lot of tension among the people”.
He said intelligence information reaching the state security indicated that there was still a lot of anger and suspicion among the contending factions, which could not be taken for granted.
Mr Bartels noted that while efforts were being made to defuse the tension, the curfew would remain.
Last week, a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on Bawku, Zabugu and Garu in the Upper East Region, following communal violence and killing in the towns.
That followed a meeting between the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and some traditional leaders in the area after a reported case of armed robbery erupted into a bloody ethnic conflict between Mamprusis and Kusasis, the two dominant groups in the towns.
The Interior Minister said some people had resumed work while business activities were fast picking up.
However, Mr Bartels said in spite of the progress in terms of the restoration of calm, there was still the need for a massive security presence to avert any further clashes in the area.
Unconfirmed reports reaching the Daily Graphic put the death toll at 35, but the Interior Minister maintained that real figures made available to the state security was eight.
“They tell us about some deaths but we never find the bodies when we rush there and therefore, we cannot confirm the figures being speculated; What we have is what has been confirmed at the hospitals,” he added.
Mr Bartels said out of the eight dead, seven were from Bawku while the other one was from Garu.
He said 16 people had been injured as per the records at the hospital.
On the number of houses burnt down, he said 75 were completely burnt down while 23 were partially burnt.
Mr Bartels said 15 stores had also been completely burnt down, adding that the number of vehicles burnt was five.
He would not say how much had been expended on the conflict but hinted that “we have spent a lot of money on this conflict and it is likely that the figures will go up”.
Mr Bartels said there were 301 police personnel and 150 soldiers deployed in the area.
He said apart from the ammunition they wielded, they also had two armoured vehicles.
“All these cost money, but it is our country and we have to do everything to ensure that peace is restored to the area,” he added.
Mr Bartels appealed to the factions to use dialogue to resolve their differences and noted that where they disagreed, they could also use legal means instead of fighting.
He said the human resource and the properties lost were of grave concern to the government and urged for a permanent calm.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Justina Ampadu-Nyarko
THE government has extended the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Bawku for another week because of the volatile situation in the area.
It has, however, reduced the curfew imposed on Zabugu and Garu from 6pm to 6am to 8pm to 5am.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, yesterday explained that “although calm has been restored to the area, there is still a lot of tension among the people”.
He said intelligence information reaching the state security indicated that there was still a lot of anger and suspicion among the contending factions, which could not be taken for granted.
Mr Bartels noted that while efforts were being made to defuse the tension, the curfew would remain.
Last week, a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on Bawku, Zabugu and Garu in the Upper East Region, following communal violence and killing in the towns.
That followed a meeting between the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and some traditional leaders in the area after a reported case of armed robbery erupted into a bloody ethnic conflict between Mamprusis and Kusasis, the two dominant groups in the towns.
The Interior Minister said some people had resumed work while business activities were fast picking up.
However, Mr Bartels said in spite of the progress in terms of the restoration of calm, there was still the need for a massive security presence to avert any further clashes in the area.
Unconfirmed reports reaching the Daily Graphic put the death toll at 35, but the Interior Minister maintained that real figures made available to the state security was eight.
“They tell us about some deaths but we never find the bodies when we rush there and therefore, we cannot confirm the figures being speculated; What we have is what has been confirmed at the hospitals,” he added.
Mr Bartels said out of the eight dead, seven were from Bawku while the other one was from Garu.
He said 16 people had been injured as per the records at the hospital.
On the number of houses burnt down, he said 75 were completely burnt down while 23 were partially burnt.
Mr Bartels said 15 stores had also been completely burnt down, adding that the number of vehicles burnt was five.
He would not say how much had been expended on the conflict but hinted that “we have spent a lot of money on this conflict and it is likely that the figures will go up”.
Mr Bartels said there were 301 police personnel and 150 soldiers deployed in the area.
He said apart from the ammunition they wielded, they also had two armoured vehicles.
“All these cost money, but it is our country and we have to do everything to ensure that peace is restored to the area,” he added.
Mr Bartels appealed to the factions to use dialogue to resolve their differences and noted that where they disagreed, they could also use legal means instead of fighting.
He said the human resource and the properties lost were of grave concern to the government and urged for a permanent calm.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Four stadia cost $157.2m
Spread... Jan. 05/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Mabel Aku Baneseh
A total of $157.2 million has so far been spent on the rehabilitation and construction of four stadia to host the 26th Africa Cup of Nations tournament (Ghana 2008) in the country.
The amount exceeded the $152.1 million initially projected, by $5.1 million.
The rehabilitated stadia are the Ohene Djan Stadium and the El-Wak Stadium in Accra and the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, while the newly constructed ones are at Tamale and Sekondi.
The Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwabena Adjei-Mensah, made this known in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra.
He attributed the increase in the cost of the projects to the construction of additional facilities “such as the expansion of the media stands to accommodate more media men and equipment for effective coverage of the tournament and additional work at various areas of the stadia as recommended by the inspection team of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), anytime they came around”.
He, however, said some marginal savings were made on the Tamale, Sekondi and El-Wak works, which were projected to cost $77 million but which actually cost $71 million.
For the Ohene Djan stadium, he said the project was initially estimated at $39 million but due to the additional works, the cost shot up to $49 million upon completion.
He said the government also had to spend an additional $1 million on the Baba Yara Stadium, which was initially pegged at $36 million.
Mr Adjei-Mensah said the projects had been executed very well in spite of the cost, adding that “because of the urgency of the project to host the tournament and to satisfy the CAF inspection teams, the amounts were released on request”.
However, he noted, the entire project costs would be audited after the tournament to ensure accountability.
Mr Adjei-Mensah said the cost of the training pitches was being compiled and pledged the commitment of the ministry to make the final figures public upon completion.
The tournament kicks off on January 20, 2008 and ends on February 9, 2008.
The participating countries are Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Nigeria, The Sudan, Cameroun, Angola, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Namibia, Zambia, Morocco, Tunisia, Benin and South Africa.
As the host nation, four-time champions and making its 16th appearance in the tournament, Ghana is hoping to win the trophy for the fifth time. This is the actual cost
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Mabel Aku Baneseh
A total of $157.2 million has so far been spent on the rehabilitation and construction of four stadia to host the 26th Africa Cup of Nations tournament (Ghana 2008) in the country.
The amount exceeded the $152.1 million initially projected, by $5.1 million.
The rehabilitated stadia are the Ohene Djan Stadium and the El-Wak Stadium in Accra and the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, while the newly constructed ones are at Tamale and Sekondi.
The Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwabena Adjei-Mensah, made this known in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra.
He attributed the increase in the cost of the projects to the construction of additional facilities “such as the expansion of the media stands to accommodate more media men and equipment for effective coverage of the tournament and additional work at various areas of the stadia as recommended by the inspection team of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), anytime they came around”.
He, however, said some marginal savings were made on the Tamale, Sekondi and El-Wak works, which were projected to cost $77 million but which actually cost $71 million.
For the Ohene Djan stadium, he said the project was initially estimated at $39 million but due to the additional works, the cost shot up to $49 million upon completion.
He said the government also had to spend an additional $1 million on the Baba Yara Stadium, which was initially pegged at $36 million.
Mr Adjei-Mensah said the projects had been executed very well in spite of the cost, adding that “because of the urgency of the project to host the tournament and to satisfy the CAF inspection teams, the amounts were released on request”.
However, he noted, the entire project costs would be audited after the tournament to ensure accountability.
Mr Adjei-Mensah said the cost of the training pitches was being compiled and pledged the commitment of the ministry to make the final figures public upon completion.
The tournament kicks off on January 20, 2008 and ends on February 9, 2008.
The participating countries are Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Nigeria, The Sudan, Cameroun, Angola, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Namibia, Zambia, Morocco, Tunisia, Benin and South Africa.
As the host nation, four-time champions and making its 16th appearance in the tournament, Ghana is hoping to win the trophy for the fifth time. This is the actual cost
Distance learning progressing - Veep
Pg. 3 Jan.05/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
Vice-President Aliu Mahama yesterday opened the 59th annual New Year School and said that a nation-wide distance education project aimed at spreading tertiary education to a larger Ghanaian community was progressing steadily.
The week-long school, on the theme “Tertiary Education and National Development”, is under the auspices of the Institute of Adult Education of the University of Ghana, Legon, and it is being attended by a cross-section of Ghanaians, including those in academia, educationists and economists.
The school provides a forum for prominent people to brainstorm on issues of national importance, reports of which are often presented to the government and policy makers for implementation.
Alhaji Mahama admitted that access to higher education was one of the greatest challenges the country faced and noted that “without going into the reasons at length, it is important to accept that over the years, inadequate investment in infrastructure and learning facilities has been a significant factor”.
However, he indicated that the government had over the years put in place measures to enhance infrastructure, as well as boost the quality of learning facilities.
The Vice-President said there were areas of social and economic needs that were deficient for want of appropriate and efficient application of knowledge.
“It is in this regard that we can argue that though education generally is a good tool for development, tertiary education should be better able to proactively equip the nation to tackle specific issues of under-development.
He said the link between tertiary education and national development could not be denied, but asked whether in the light of renewed public and private investment in tertiary education, “we are well positioned to tackle the problems of mass poverty, hunger, disease, ignorance and above all, unemployment”.
“I ask this question because of the persistent feeling that the current knowledge acquired at the tertiary level does not quite meet the skill needs for solving our most pressing problems,” he said.
“In other words, knowledge at tertiary should shape effective responses to the key needs of our time,” the Vice President said, adding that “we need to enhance health delivery, improve the quality of education, provide infrastructure, ensure regular utility supplies and expand industry and commerce”.
According to Alhaji Mahama, these objectives required quality manpower with the appropriate skills mix as it was only in that regard that the economy could absorb the under-employed with increased incomes and improved standards of living all round.
He urged the institute to use what he described as the unique opportunity of the distance learning programme to provide some form of training or guidance on national values and ethics as the programme was likely to reach a varied cross-section of the population.
“I wish to humbly appeal to participants to keep open minds and make meaningful contributions. This is a listening government and we are prepared to work in partnership to take on board the key suggestions for mutual improvement,” he added.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor C.N.B. Tagoe, said the university would launch its 60th anniversary next week.
He said in spite of the numerous challenges the university faced in terms of infrastructure and lack of learning and teaching facilities, it had been able to carry out a number of projects on campus to reduce the burden.
Professor Tagoe said the university had seeded off part of its lands to private estate developers to put up hostels on campus while a 7,000-bed hostel was being constructed from the resources of the university.
He also mentioned the distance learning programme of the university, which, he said, had provided the opportunity for many more people to access tertiary education in many parts of the country.
The Chairman of the University of Ghana Council, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, who chaired the opening, entreated the participants to come out with suggestions that would help surmount the numerous challenges of tertiary education in the country.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
Vice-President Aliu Mahama yesterday opened the 59th annual New Year School and said that a nation-wide distance education project aimed at spreading tertiary education to a larger Ghanaian community was progressing steadily.
The week-long school, on the theme “Tertiary Education and National Development”, is under the auspices of the Institute of Adult Education of the University of Ghana, Legon, and it is being attended by a cross-section of Ghanaians, including those in academia, educationists and economists.
The school provides a forum for prominent people to brainstorm on issues of national importance, reports of which are often presented to the government and policy makers for implementation.
Alhaji Mahama admitted that access to higher education was one of the greatest challenges the country faced and noted that “without going into the reasons at length, it is important to accept that over the years, inadequate investment in infrastructure and learning facilities has been a significant factor”.
However, he indicated that the government had over the years put in place measures to enhance infrastructure, as well as boost the quality of learning facilities.
The Vice-President said there were areas of social and economic needs that were deficient for want of appropriate and efficient application of knowledge.
“It is in this regard that we can argue that though education generally is a good tool for development, tertiary education should be better able to proactively equip the nation to tackle specific issues of under-development.
He said the link between tertiary education and national development could not be denied, but asked whether in the light of renewed public and private investment in tertiary education, “we are well positioned to tackle the problems of mass poverty, hunger, disease, ignorance and above all, unemployment”.
“I ask this question because of the persistent feeling that the current knowledge acquired at the tertiary level does not quite meet the skill needs for solving our most pressing problems,” he said.
“In other words, knowledge at tertiary should shape effective responses to the key needs of our time,” the Vice President said, adding that “we need to enhance health delivery, improve the quality of education, provide infrastructure, ensure regular utility supplies and expand industry and commerce”.
According to Alhaji Mahama, these objectives required quality manpower with the appropriate skills mix as it was only in that regard that the economy could absorb the under-employed with increased incomes and improved standards of living all round.
He urged the institute to use what he described as the unique opportunity of the distance learning programme to provide some form of training or guidance on national values and ethics as the programme was likely to reach a varied cross-section of the population.
“I wish to humbly appeal to participants to keep open minds and make meaningful contributions. This is a listening government and we are prepared to work in partnership to take on board the key suggestions for mutual improvement,” he added.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor C.N.B. Tagoe, said the university would launch its 60th anniversary next week.
He said in spite of the numerous challenges the university faced in terms of infrastructure and lack of learning and teaching facilities, it had been able to carry out a number of projects on campus to reduce the burden.
Professor Tagoe said the university had seeded off part of its lands to private estate developers to put up hostels on campus while a 7,000-bed hostel was being constructed from the resources of the university.
He also mentioned the distance learning programme of the university, which, he said, had provided the opportunity for many more people to access tertiary education in many parts of the country.
The Chairman of the University of Ghana Council, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, who chaired the opening, entreated the participants to come out with suggestions that would help surmount the numerous challenges of tertiary education in the country.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Govt earmarks $90m to repair Western Rail Line (pg 45) Jan. 03/08
THE government has earmarked $90 million for the rehabilitation of the western rail line to enhance the haulage of cocoa and minerals including bauxite from the western corridor of the country to Accra for export.
The move, forms part of a new strategy adopted by government to attract investors into the rail sector which has suffered massive deterioration in decades.
It is also to help reduce delays in the haulage of the products to the Tema port as well as ease the pressure on the country’s major road networks.
The Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic as he outlined some of the key activities of the ministry during the year.
“The release of the amount for the project serves as seed money which is expected to attract other investors to partner with the government”, he said.
Since its creation some three years ago, the ministry has undertaken many initiatives aimed at attracting investors into the sector to take up the management and rehabilitation of the country’s rail lines in the eastern and western corridors on a Build and Operate (BOT) basis.
These include the removal of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) from the divestiture list of state-owned companies.
At least 10 consortiums have expressed interest in one way or the other but after signing an agreement with the government, they do not show up again, leaving the lines in a more deplorable state as well as the ministry in limbo.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi explained that the reason for the government’s intention to adopt the new approach was to enable it participate in the process to revive the rail lines instead of waiting on investors alone.
“With this, the investors will real secure in putting in money while reducing the risk involved in undertaking such a huge project”, he added.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the financial outlay for the project was enormous and the consortiums have had it difficult to mobilise finds for the project.
The two lines in the two corridors have been roughly estimated to cost more than $4 billion.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi was of the view that should the investors see the seriousness with which the government was carrying out the project, they would feel motivated to put in some funds to finish the first phase.
On the Accra/ Tema rail line which was rehabilitated late last year, he aid the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) operated two shuttles, one in the morning and the other in the evening.
He said it will remain so for now until people become more interested in the service.
The move, forms part of a new strategy adopted by government to attract investors into the rail sector which has suffered massive deterioration in decades.
It is also to help reduce delays in the haulage of the products to the Tema port as well as ease the pressure on the country’s major road networks.
The Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic as he outlined some of the key activities of the ministry during the year.
“The release of the amount for the project serves as seed money which is expected to attract other investors to partner with the government”, he said.
Since its creation some three years ago, the ministry has undertaken many initiatives aimed at attracting investors into the sector to take up the management and rehabilitation of the country’s rail lines in the eastern and western corridors on a Build and Operate (BOT) basis.
These include the removal of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) from the divestiture list of state-owned companies.
At least 10 consortiums have expressed interest in one way or the other but after signing an agreement with the government, they do not show up again, leaving the lines in a more deplorable state as well as the ministry in limbo.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi explained that the reason for the government’s intention to adopt the new approach was to enable it participate in the process to revive the rail lines instead of waiting on investors alone.
“With this, the investors will real secure in putting in money while reducing the risk involved in undertaking such a huge project”, he added.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the financial outlay for the project was enormous and the consortiums have had it difficult to mobilise finds for the project.
The two lines in the two corridors have been roughly estimated to cost more than $4 billion.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi was of the view that should the investors see the seriousness with which the government was carrying out the project, they would feel motivated to put in some funds to finish the first phase.
On the Accra/ Tema rail line which was rehabilitated late last year, he aid the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) operated two shuttles, one in the morning and the other in the evening.
He said it will remain so for now until people become more interested in the service.
2008, Year of hope - Religious leaders (pg 31) Jan. 02/08
THE Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, has asked Ghanaians to be gracious to God for the relatively peaceful environment he provided the nation in 2007 and urged all to work collectively towards a prosperous 2008, reports Charles Benoni Okine.
He said Ghana is the true land of our birth and we all have a collective duty to ensure that we work hard towards achieving our aims.
In an interview on the prospects for the new year, the Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah said the year 2008 begins with the upcoming African Cup of Nations (CAN 2008) as the major event and noted that there was the need for Ghanaians as hosts to go beyond the normal hospitality and be more accommodating to ensure a peaceful tournament.
“We need to be polite in all that we do to show to our visitors that we are not only hospitable but also very polite”, he said adding that “we also need to be ensure that we co-operate fully with the security agencies at all fronts to enable them to discharge their duties as expected during the tournament”.
On the upcoming elections which many political pundits had already described as a crucial test for the country’s democracy, Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah, entreated all political party leaders to conduct a clean campaign during the period.
He called on the government to well resource the Electoral Commission to enable to conduct a free, fair and transparent elections and to declare the results early enough to avoid any anxieties among the contesting parties.
Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah recalled the 2004 elections which he indicated that the delay in the announcement of the final results brought tension “and we do not want a repetition this time around”.
He said all the candidates of the parties so far have the capability of governing the country, a situation which will make the election a tough one and urged all the leaders to ensure that they worked hard towards wining in an atmosphere of peace.
“We expect the losers to accept defeat in the end because it is only through a peaceful acceptance of the results that the nation would continue to enjoy peace”, Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah advised.
He expressed the believe that the EC would live up to the task by ensuring that there is no basis for any losing party to spark trouble in the country.
The Presiding Bishop also noted that the election period would be a major test for the security agencies in the country but expressed the hope that with tact and professionalism, they would be able to live up to the task to ensure no violence throws the peace of the country overboard.
Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah said the issue of immorality had been a problem in the 2007 and noted that there was the need for people to be content with what they had and deists from finding short cuts to success.
He said it behoves both the young and old to ensure that they lived upright lives in the new year to make Ghana a more peaceful place to live.
He said Ghana is the true land of our birth and we all have a collective duty to ensure that we work hard towards achieving our aims.
In an interview on the prospects for the new year, the Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah said the year 2008 begins with the upcoming African Cup of Nations (CAN 2008) as the major event and noted that there was the need for Ghanaians as hosts to go beyond the normal hospitality and be more accommodating to ensure a peaceful tournament.
“We need to be polite in all that we do to show to our visitors that we are not only hospitable but also very polite”, he said adding that “we also need to be ensure that we co-operate fully with the security agencies at all fronts to enable them to discharge their duties as expected during the tournament”.
On the upcoming elections which many political pundits had already described as a crucial test for the country’s democracy, Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah, entreated all political party leaders to conduct a clean campaign during the period.
He called on the government to well resource the Electoral Commission to enable to conduct a free, fair and transparent elections and to declare the results early enough to avoid any anxieties among the contesting parties.
Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah recalled the 2004 elections which he indicated that the delay in the announcement of the final results brought tension “and we do not want a repetition this time around”.
He said all the candidates of the parties so far have the capability of governing the country, a situation which will make the election a tough one and urged all the leaders to ensure that they worked hard towards wining in an atmosphere of peace.
“We expect the losers to accept defeat in the end because it is only through a peaceful acceptance of the results that the nation would continue to enjoy peace”, Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah advised.
He expressed the believe that the EC would live up to the task by ensuring that there is no basis for any losing party to spark trouble in the country.
The Presiding Bishop also noted that the election period would be a major test for the security agencies in the country but expressed the hope that with tact and professionalism, they would be able to live up to the task to ensure no violence throws the peace of the country overboard.
Most Reverend Aboagye-Mensah said the issue of immorality had been a problem in the 2007 and noted that there was the need for people to be content with what they had and deists from finding short cuts to success.
He said it behoves both the young and old to ensure that they lived upright lives in the new year to make Ghana a more peaceful place to live.
New Prices for petroleum (Spread) Jan.02/08
USERS of petroleum products have been ushered into the new year with upward adjustments in the prices of two main products, namely, premium petrol and premix.
The new prices took effect from yesterday, January 1, 2008.
However, the prices of three other major petroleum products declined marginally.
Premium petrol, the most used product on the market, is up to GHp102.70 per litre, from GHp101.99 per litre, while premix petrol, used and subsidised by the government for fishermen, also shot up slightly from GHp70.12 per litre to GHp70.69 per litre.
From GHp102.63 per litre, gas oil (diesel) now sells at GHp101.90 per litre.
The prices, which were released by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), also saw Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) moving downwards from GHp106.14 per kilogramme to GHp105.28 per kilogramme.
The last price review of petroleum products took effect from December 16, 2007, reflecting a downward movement in the prices of crude oil on the world market.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices of near $100 per barrel caused alarm in consuming countries in 2007 and analysts forecast another tense crude market this year with triple-figure records a real prospect.
Despite a murky outlook for the world economy, crude prices are seen settling at elevated levels, spelling more pain for consumers and a steady flow of petrodollars for the world's oil exporters.
From a low point of just below $50 per barrel in January 2007, prices doubled during the year, hitting $99.29 a barrel on November 21, an all-time record.
In spite of the fluctuating prices, which still remain above the $95 mark, the government has ruled out the possibility of hedging, which could see it negotiate at a price with producers to save it from buying at a higher price in the future.
The new prices took effect from yesterday, January 1, 2008.
However, the prices of three other major petroleum products declined marginally.
Premium petrol, the most used product on the market, is up to GHp102.70 per litre, from GHp101.99 per litre, while premix petrol, used and subsidised by the government for fishermen, also shot up slightly from GHp70.12 per litre to GHp70.69 per litre.
From GHp102.63 per litre, gas oil (diesel) now sells at GHp101.90 per litre.
The prices, which were released by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), also saw Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) moving downwards from GHp106.14 per kilogramme to GHp105.28 per kilogramme.
The last price review of petroleum products took effect from December 16, 2007, reflecting a downward movement in the prices of crude oil on the world market.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices of near $100 per barrel caused alarm in consuming countries in 2007 and analysts forecast another tense crude market this year with triple-figure records a real prospect.
Despite a murky outlook for the world economy, crude prices are seen settling at elevated levels, spelling more pain for consumers and a steady flow of petrodollars for the world's oil exporters.
From a low point of just below $50 per barrel in January 2007, prices doubled during the year, hitting $99.29 a barrel on November 21, an all-time record.
In spite of the fluctuating prices, which still remain above the $95 mark, the government has ruled out the possibility of hedging, which could see it negotiate at a price with producers to save it from buying at a higher price in the future.
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