Business page June 13/2008
Story&Pic: Charles Benoni Okine, London
THE Commonwealth Heads of Government have called for reforms of the Bretton Wood institutions and the United Nations to enable them to respond adequately to the challenges of the 21st century.
According to the Heads of Government which included Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President of Ghana, since the world has witnessed continued financial turbulence, record levels of high prices of crude oil and food, there was no longer time to waste to surmount the challenges for the present and future generations.
The Heads of Government who made the call at a news conference shortly after a two-day mini summit of Commonwealth of Heads of Government at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London today said "We intend, individually and collectively to carry forward our reform agenda to relevant international for a. We will seek to enlarge the breadth of international commitment to our Commonwealth reform agenda, and call on others to join us in this endeavour".
The Heads of Government, representing one third of humanity and more than one quarter of the world’s sovereign governments, collectively expressed the concern of the 53 member states at Kampala in November 2007 that the current architecture of the international institutions no longer responds adequately to the challenges of the 21st century.
The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Mr Kamalesh Sharma who made the call in a statement after the mini-conference said "the institutions that were established in the mid-20th century enjoyed strong political agreement at the time on the ends to be achieved them and the means of doing so, underpinned by a commitment to multilateralism."
The food crisis, soaring prices of crude oil have created many problems for all the countries of the world including the most powerful such as the United States and Britain to the extent that strike actions have become the order of the day.
Outside the secretariat were placard bearing demonstrators mostly from Asia who chanted and sang as they protested and called on the Heads of Government’s to do something about the looming crisis.
He however noted that "that commitment is now at risk"; The majority of independent sovereign states today are politically subordinate and inadequately represented in these institutions."
Mr Sharma said since the 20th century, the world had witnessed continued financial turbulence among others and indicated that these challenges had further illustrated the fundamental weaknesses of a number of today’s international organisations that are charged with promoting economic stability and sustainable development.
"We recognise that sovereign states must have the capacity and freedom to determine national goals and implement national policies and strategies; Equally, we achieve reform of international institutions and lead to new institutions where necessary", he said.
He said well designed international institutions have a fundamental role to support all countries to meet heir economic, political and humanitarian and security challenges.
"Through collective cooperation, embodied in international institutions, the global community will foster the conditions for a fully-inclusive and equitable global society", Mr Sharma added.
He said it was the believe of the Commonwealth that the strength of multilateral co-operation founded on consensus amongst countries with diverse backgrounds, interests and cultures and added that ;"We believe that reform and construction of new international institutions should be built on the guiding principles.
He mentioned the principles saying"; Institutions must enjoy the legitimacy not only for their member states but also of the wider international community in other to command confidence and commitment".
"It is essential that all countries have equal voice and fair representation"; "A voice for all countries is only valuable if it is listened to and reflected in decision making".
"It is important that institutions are responsive with the interest of all members, especially the smallest and poorest being taken into account.
He said the activities and governance of institutions must be flexible, responding to new challenges, national priorities and specific circumstances of member states and changing global realities.
Mr Sharma said institutions must have clear responsibilities and the conduct of their business must be transparent and accountable to the entire membership and the wider public.
He said the Commonwealth believed that is was essential the institutions be effective and capable of addressing today’s global challenges.
Earlier, the Prime Minister of Britain, Mr Gordon brown who chaired the conference also emphasised the need for reforms of the Bretton Woods and the United nations saying "all they do must now be reflective of modern and future times".
He said the challenges of today were enormous and the principles that guided the formation of these institutions in the past needed to be reviewed to reflect what pertained now.
Mr Brown said the Commonwealth was committed reform that created an effective multilateral system and that supported a more democratic global society with greater equity and fairness.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Discussions on reform of World Bank, IMF begins
Spread June 11/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, London
MAJOR discussions on the reform of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday took centre stage when 10 prominent leaders of Commonwealth countries, including Ghana met at Marlborough House, London, on Monday.
The mini-meeting, which was held behind closed doors, is also said to have focused on practical steps which Commonwealth member states can take to achieve reform and coherence of global institutions.
Sources close to the meeting which was attended by Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on behalf of the Government of Ghana, had three parts and dealt with global environmental governance and the UN system. It is said to be the first step at implementing the decision of the November 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Leaders who attended that meeting decided to establish a small representative group from their 53-member association to undertake lobbying and advocacy for the reform of international institutions.
In front of the Downing Street, Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain welcomed each of the heads of government before they locked themselves up for about an hour-and-a-half.
Prime Minister Brown, who chaired the meeting, was quoted before the meeting as saying, “We have to reform our global financial institutions. It is absolutely clear that the national supervision that we have is inadequate and we need a global agreement.”
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, had earlier been quoted as saying that, “There is a need for change, and that change must reflect the full global spectrum of interests and needs.”
He said international institutions must support an inclusive and comprehensive globalisation, which benefits the entire global community.
* Pic Alhaji Mahama in a pose with the Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, minutes before a dinner for the leaders.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, London
MAJOR discussions on the reform of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday took centre stage when 10 prominent leaders of Commonwealth countries, including Ghana met at Marlborough House, London, on Monday.
The mini-meeting, which was held behind closed doors, is also said to have focused on practical steps which Commonwealth member states can take to achieve reform and coherence of global institutions.
Sources close to the meeting which was attended by Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on behalf of the Government of Ghana, had three parts and dealt with global environmental governance and the UN system. It is said to be the first step at implementing the decision of the November 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Leaders who attended that meeting decided to establish a small representative group from their 53-member association to undertake lobbying and advocacy for the reform of international institutions.
In front of the Downing Street, Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain welcomed each of the heads of government before they locked themselves up for about an hour-and-a-half.
Prime Minister Brown, who chaired the meeting, was quoted before the meeting as saying, “We have to reform our global financial institutions. It is absolutely clear that the national supervision that we have is inadequate and we need a global agreement.”
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, had earlier been quoted as saying that, “There is a need for change, and that change must reflect the full global spectrum of interests and needs.”
He said international institutions must support an inclusive and comprehensive globalisation, which benefits the entire global community.
* Pic Alhaji Mahama in a pose with the Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, minutes before a dinner for the leaders.
Swiss govt pledges support for Ghana
Regional news June 11/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Swiss government has expressed its interest to renew an agreement with Ghana to continue supporting the budget through the Multi Donor Budgetary Support (MDBS) programme.
This is to enable Switzerland to maintain its contribution to the development objectives of the country by supporting the government directly through its central budget when the existing three-year agreement expires at the end of this year.
Ghana has since the signing of the first agreement, benefited from $50 million, paid in three equal tranches since 2003.
Mrs Emeafa Hardcastle, Economic and Trade Officer at the Swiss Embassy in Accra, told the Daily Graphic that the intention of the Swiss government to continue with the support was as a result of the confidence the Swiss government had in Ghana.
She said the first agreement to that effect was initially signed in 2003 and renewed in 2006 and noted that the Swiss government was awaiting a request for an extension of the agreement to enable it to continue with the support.
Ghana is the only country besides South-Africa in sub-Saharan Africa and amongst seven countries worldwide where Switzerland concentrates its bilateral economic development co-operation.
Switzerland’s economic development co-operation with Ghana is oriented towards the implementation of the government’s Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRS II) in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mrs Hardcastle also outlined a number of areas where the Swiss government was supporting the government of Ghana and mentioned for instance financial support of $750,000 to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to enable it to develop tools for the monitoring and evaluation of the country’s procurement laws.
She said there was also a technical assistance programme together with GTZ in revenue generation under which Switzerland assists the Ghana government in increasing its financial resource base through the increase of tax and non-tax revenues.
This support was to the tune of $936,000, she said, adding that this was being done through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
On infrastructure development, the Economic and Trade Officer said Switzerland had approved $12 million to support Ghana in the energy sector.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Swiss government has expressed its interest to renew an agreement with Ghana to continue supporting the budget through the Multi Donor Budgetary Support (MDBS) programme.
This is to enable Switzerland to maintain its contribution to the development objectives of the country by supporting the government directly through its central budget when the existing three-year agreement expires at the end of this year.
Ghana has since the signing of the first agreement, benefited from $50 million, paid in three equal tranches since 2003.
Mrs Emeafa Hardcastle, Economic and Trade Officer at the Swiss Embassy in Accra, told the Daily Graphic that the intention of the Swiss government to continue with the support was as a result of the confidence the Swiss government had in Ghana.
She said the first agreement to that effect was initially signed in 2003 and renewed in 2006 and noted that the Swiss government was awaiting a request for an extension of the agreement to enable it to continue with the support.
Ghana is the only country besides South-Africa in sub-Saharan Africa and amongst seven countries worldwide where Switzerland concentrates its bilateral economic development co-operation.
Switzerland’s economic development co-operation with Ghana is oriented towards the implementation of the government’s Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRS II) in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mrs Hardcastle also outlined a number of areas where the Swiss government was supporting the government of Ghana and mentioned for instance financial support of $750,000 to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to enable it to develop tools for the monitoring and evaluation of the country’s procurement laws.
She said there was also a technical assistance programme together with GTZ in revenue generation under which Switzerland assists the Ghana government in increasing its financial resource base through the increase of tax and non-tax revenues.
This support was to the tune of $936,000, she said, adding that this was being done through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
On infrastructure development, the Economic and Trade Officer said Switzerland had approved $12 million to support Ghana in the energy sector.
Declare an agric revolution-Says World Bank Country Director
Business Page (lead) June 9/2009
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Michael Donkor
THE World Bank has called on the government to declare an agricultural revolution by cultivating the vast land, so as to produce enough food for both the local and export markets.
According to the bank, the world food crisis which has forced prices of food crops upwards, had created an opportunity for countries such as Ghana to grow more crops to become self-sufficient in food production and also earn some foreign exchange to support the economy.
Mr Ishac Diwan, Country Director of the World Bank in Ghana, told some selected journalists in Accra that the potential of the country in the agricultural sector was enormous, and “the time to act is now”.
The advice comes at the heels of the call at a recent UN summit on the global food crisis which asked rich nations to help "revolutionise" farming in Africa and the developing world to produce more food for nearly one billion people facing hunger.
The Nigerian Agricultural Minister, Sayyadi Abba Ruma, was quoted at the summit as saying: "The global food crisis is a wake-up call for Africa to launch itself into a 'green revolution' which has been over-delayed," adding that: "Every second, a child dies of hunger, and the time to act is now. Enough rhetoric and more action."
Mr Diwan said, “Ghana has a vast untapped land, it’s all good for food production. This is the time for the country to grow more food to feed itself and for export. This is the time to earn some more foreign exchange from food exports.”
The soaring world prices of food, a phenomenon coupled with the high prices of crude oil, have sparked waves of protests in many countries in Europe, the Americas and also in Africa.
In Ghana, the President, a couple of weeks ago, announced some mitigating measures which included tax rebates on a number of food imports, including rice, wheat, yellow corn and cooking oil.
Although some industrialists and rice farmers have frowned at the move, and described it as a measure to kick them out of business, the move has been welcomed as a means of forcing down prices.
Mr Diwan described the measures announced by the President as timely and necessary to ease the pressure on the very poor and vulnerable in society, but reiterated his call for the cultivation of the vast arable lands in the country.
Meanwhile, the World Bank has approved $20 million to support measures designed to urgently help Ghana deal with the rising costs of living, as a result of the global food and oil price hikes.
Half of the money is to be used to subsidise the purchase of fertilisers for local farmers to encourage them to produce more.
According to Mr Diwan, there was the temptation that some farmers might want to suspend their cultivation plans in the wake of the high prices of fertilisers and other farm implements, as a result of the global crisis.
He said should this be allowed to happen, Ghana would be found wanting as the impact would be worse felt.
Mr Diwan described the economy as resilient, because of its ability to receive the shocks following the global crisis.
He said although inflation, as well as interest rates, had gone up, the phenomenon, as compared to other countries on the continent and other developing nations was not bad.
Mr Diwan raised the issue about government subsidies on electricity, which he said, was not necessary, considering the huge amounts spent per annum.
He was, however, quick to add that the life line support was inevitable, but wondered why there were subsidies for those who could afford to pay a little more, particularly the business community.
“In simple terms, it is not the business of government to subsidise the electricity of businesses in the country, because the money could easily be channelled into more infrastructural development to mitigate the suffering of the poor and vulnerable,” he said.
The comment of the World Bank Country Director may spark another round of heated debate between the bank on one side, and industry and the business community on the other side.
But Mr Diwan said this year, the government was expected to spend up to $450 million in subsidies for electricity consumption, and noted that this whopping amount could be used for many more other things which could help further reduce the mass suffering of the very poor and vulnerable.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Michael Donkor
THE World Bank has called on the government to declare an agricultural revolution by cultivating the vast land, so as to produce enough food for both the local and export markets.
According to the bank, the world food crisis which has forced prices of food crops upwards, had created an opportunity for countries such as Ghana to grow more crops to become self-sufficient in food production and also earn some foreign exchange to support the economy.
Mr Ishac Diwan, Country Director of the World Bank in Ghana, told some selected journalists in Accra that the potential of the country in the agricultural sector was enormous, and “the time to act is now”.
The advice comes at the heels of the call at a recent UN summit on the global food crisis which asked rich nations to help "revolutionise" farming in Africa and the developing world to produce more food for nearly one billion people facing hunger.
The Nigerian Agricultural Minister, Sayyadi Abba Ruma, was quoted at the summit as saying: "The global food crisis is a wake-up call for Africa to launch itself into a 'green revolution' which has been over-delayed," adding that: "Every second, a child dies of hunger, and the time to act is now. Enough rhetoric and more action."
Mr Diwan said, “Ghana has a vast untapped land, it’s all good for food production. This is the time for the country to grow more food to feed itself and for export. This is the time to earn some more foreign exchange from food exports.”
The soaring world prices of food, a phenomenon coupled with the high prices of crude oil, have sparked waves of protests in many countries in Europe, the Americas and also in Africa.
In Ghana, the President, a couple of weeks ago, announced some mitigating measures which included tax rebates on a number of food imports, including rice, wheat, yellow corn and cooking oil.
Although some industrialists and rice farmers have frowned at the move, and described it as a measure to kick them out of business, the move has been welcomed as a means of forcing down prices.
Mr Diwan described the measures announced by the President as timely and necessary to ease the pressure on the very poor and vulnerable in society, but reiterated his call for the cultivation of the vast arable lands in the country.
Meanwhile, the World Bank has approved $20 million to support measures designed to urgently help Ghana deal with the rising costs of living, as a result of the global food and oil price hikes.
Half of the money is to be used to subsidise the purchase of fertilisers for local farmers to encourage them to produce more.
According to Mr Diwan, there was the temptation that some farmers might want to suspend their cultivation plans in the wake of the high prices of fertilisers and other farm implements, as a result of the global crisis.
He said should this be allowed to happen, Ghana would be found wanting as the impact would be worse felt.
Mr Diwan described the economy as resilient, because of its ability to receive the shocks following the global crisis.
He said although inflation, as well as interest rates, had gone up, the phenomenon, as compared to other countries on the continent and other developing nations was not bad.
Mr Diwan raised the issue about government subsidies on electricity, which he said, was not necessary, considering the huge amounts spent per annum.
He was, however, quick to add that the life line support was inevitable, but wondered why there were subsidies for those who could afford to pay a little more, particularly the business community.
“In simple terms, it is not the business of government to subsidise the electricity of businesses in the country, because the money could easily be channelled into more infrastructural development to mitigate the suffering of the poor and vulnerable,” he said.
The comment of the World Bank Country Director may spark another round of heated debate between the bank on one side, and industry and the business community on the other side.
But Mr Diwan said this year, the government was expected to spend up to $450 million in subsidies for electricity consumption, and noted that this whopping amount could be used for many more other things which could help further reduce the mass suffering of the very poor and vulnerable.
Veep urges Ghanaians to promote rule of law
Political page June 9/2008
Story: Abdul Aziz and Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called on Ghanaians to promote the rule of law and vote for tolerant and visionary leadership.
That way, he said, the country would continue to grow politically, socially and economically.
The vice-president, who made the call when launching the Ghana Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) in Accra, at the weekend, said Ghanaians ought to protect the basis for good governance.
He likened consumer protection to good quality politics, and urged Ghanaians to protect the country jealously with the choices they made during elections.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghanaians would be making better choices when they voted for tolerant and visionary leadership and not take the era of peace and plenty for granted.
He recalled times past when the economy was so weak, leading to scarce, irregular and poor services and a social infrastructure almost at the brink of collapse.
The vice-president explained that in such an environment, consumer protection was unthinkable, as standards and measures appeared not to matter to the market.
He said consumers were just grateful to find a desperately needed commodity or service, even if the price was unreasonable and the quality questionable.
Alhaji Aliu Mahama said presently, the trend had been turned around and given the state of the economy eight years ago, it was no mean achievement for the government.
He said the government inherited an economy with the cedi in a free-fall and a prohibitive interest rate which deterred business investment and planning.
He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government under the visionary leadership of President Kufuor took the bold decision to go HIPC, which was politically risky, but an economically sound decision.
The vice-president stated that the government had taken equally difficult decisions on the way to stabilising and growing the economy.
He said the nearly comatose financial sector was revamped and the political space expanded with the repeal of the criminal libel law.
Alhaji Mahama said those measures, including the respect for the rule of law, private property and strong commitment to good governance ensured the confidence that stabilised the economy and led to its growth.
The President of CPA, Mr Kofi Owusuhene, said the formation of the consumer protection group in the country was not meant at grounding businesses in the country through law suits.
He said the aim of the CPA was to provide channels of communication between businesses and consumers to ensure that in distribution of goods and services, both businesses and consumers would be satisfied.
Mr Owusuhene said the agency would mount a vigorous educational campaign to inform the consumers on their rights, as well as of their responsibilities to enable them know when they were being trampled on.
Story: Abdul Aziz and Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called on Ghanaians to promote the rule of law and vote for tolerant and visionary leadership.
That way, he said, the country would continue to grow politically, socially and economically.
The vice-president, who made the call when launching the Ghana Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) in Accra, at the weekend, said Ghanaians ought to protect the basis for good governance.
He likened consumer protection to good quality politics, and urged Ghanaians to protect the country jealously with the choices they made during elections.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghanaians would be making better choices when they voted for tolerant and visionary leadership and not take the era of peace and plenty for granted.
He recalled times past when the economy was so weak, leading to scarce, irregular and poor services and a social infrastructure almost at the brink of collapse.
The vice-president explained that in such an environment, consumer protection was unthinkable, as standards and measures appeared not to matter to the market.
He said consumers were just grateful to find a desperately needed commodity or service, even if the price was unreasonable and the quality questionable.
Alhaji Aliu Mahama said presently, the trend had been turned around and given the state of the economy eight years ago, it was no mean achievement for the government.
He said the government inherited an economy with the cedi in a free-fall and a prohibitive interest rate which deterred business investment and planning.
He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government under the visionary leadership of President Kufuor took the bold decision to go HIPC, which was politically risky, but an economically sound decision.
The vice-president stated that the government had taken equally difficult decisions on the way to stabilising and growing the economy.
He said the nearly comatose financial sector was revamped and the political space expanded with the repeal of the criminal libel law.
Alhaji Mahama said those measures, including the respect for the rule of law, private property and strong commitment to good governance ensured the confidence that stabilised the economy and led to its growth.
The President of CPA, Mr Kofi Owusuhene, said the formation of the consumer protection group in the country was not meant at grounding businesses in the country through law suits.
He said the aim of the CPA was to provide channels of communication between businesses and consumers to ensure that in distribution of goods and services, both businesses and consumers would be satisfied.
Mr Owusuhene said the agency would mount a vigorous educational campaign to inform the consumers on their rights, as well as of their responsibilities to enable them know when they were being trampled on.
Special Unit to collect talk tax
Page 19 (lead) June 7/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Value Added Tax (VAT) Service has set up a special unit to ensure the effective collection of the communications service tax (CST) throughout the country.
The unit, which will operate alongside the fraud detection unit of the service, is to ensure that none of the communications service providers underdeclare their earnings.
The service has warned that any of the companies caught to be "playing smart" will be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The Head of Public Affairs and Information Unit of the VAT Service, Mrs Florence Asante, told the Daily Graphic that the new unit had been fully resourced and had IT experts who could easily detect any fraudulent attempt by any of the operators to underdeclare their earnings for each month.
The CST is a tax levied on charges for the use of communications services provided by communications service operators as per Section (1) of the CST Act of 2008, which came into force on June 1, 2008.
Under the Act, national fixed network and mobile cellular network operators, Internet service providers and providers of free-on-air and pay-per-view television services, all classified under Class 1 License holders by the National Communications Authority (NCA) are to charge the tax from consumers.
There will be a GH¢ 2,000 spot penalty if a licensed business did not make any returns after the last prescribed day of making returns on the tax.
Moreover, an interest of 150 per cent of the prevailing commercial bank rate would be charged on the tax collected.
Mrs Asante said once the law came into force from June 1, the service would collect the VAT accordingly right from that date.
Reacting to reports that some of the cellular phone service providers had not started charging, she said "that is not our concern, because we are going to deduct the VAT as per the law".
Mrs Asante said there would be no compromises, because the business of the service is to collect the VAT, effective June 1.
She said the operators were in competition and may not openly say whether they had started collecting or not, and indicated that it was not the business of the service to know about that.
"What is expected of us is to charge six per cent on every service rendered at a time, and that is explicitly stated in the law," Mrs Asante noted.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Value Added Tax (VAT) Service has set up a special unit to ensure the effective collection of the communications service tax (CST) throughout the country.
The unit, which will operate alongside the fraud detection unit of the service, is to ensure that none of the communications service providers underdeclare their earnings.
The service has warned that any of the companies caught to be "playing smart" will be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The Head of Public Affairs and Information Unit of the VAT Service, Mrs Florence Asante, told the Daily Graphic that the new unit had been fully resourced and had IT experts who could easily detect any fraudulent attempt by any of the operators to underdeclare their earnings for each month.
The CST is a tax levied on charges for the use of communications services provided by communications service operators as per Section (1) of the CST Act of 2008, which came into force on June 1, 2008.
Under the Act, national fixed network and mobile cellular network operators, Internet service providers and providers of free-on-air and pay-per-view television services, all classified under Class 1 License holders by the National Communications Authority (NCA) are to charge the tax from consumers.
There will be a GH¢ 2,000 spot penalty if a licensed business did not make any returns after the last prescribed day of making returns on the tax.
Moreover, an interest of 150 per cent of the prevailing commercial bank rate would be charged on the tax collected.
Mrs Asante said once the law came into force from June 1, the service would collect the VAT accordingly right from that date.
Reacting to reports that some of the cellular phone service providers had not started charging, she said "that is not our concern, because we are going to deduct the VAT as per the law".
Mrs Asante said there would be no compromises, because the business of the service is to collect the VAT, effective June 1.
She said the operators were in competition and may not openly say whether they had started collecting or not, and indicated that it was not the business of the service to know about that.
"What is expected of us is to charge six per cent on every service rendered at a time, and that is explicitly stated in the law," Mrs Asante noted.
Gov’t assures of free, fair elections
Political page June 7/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE government has reassured the international community of its commitment to conducting another free, fair and transparent elections come December, to maintain the peace and stability in the country.
It has also indicated its preparedness and the frantic efforts being made towards ensuring a smooth transition to the next administration.
The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, gave the assurance when a five-member Parliamentary delegation from the French National Assembly paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, on Thursday.
“We continue to put measures in place to ensure that the peace that presently prevails in the country is not jeopardised before, during and after this crucial general election,” he said.
The delegation, which is being led by Mr Jean-Louis Christ, is on a fact-finding mission to see how best France and Ghana could improve their bilateral ties as part of the vision of the French President, Mr Nicholas Sarkozi.
Alhaji Mahama said since 1992, Ghana had been able to organise four general elections “and we have gained a lot of experience from that”.
He said the government was aware all political parties contesting the polls were determined to win and would, therefore, ensure that the elections were freely and fairly held to avoid bickering and petty squabbles.
“Ghana has become the icon of democracy on the continent and the whole world appreciates that,” Alhaji Mahama said.
He stated that with all eyes on Ghana, the government must not fail and indicated that nothing would be put to chance to mar the outcome of the elections.
“We have a reputation to protect and once our government strongly believes in the rule of law and democracy, we will have no excuse not to oversee a credible election,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghana had and continued to play a role in ensuring peace and stability in countries on the African continent, which have problems of stability.
He also mentioned the country’s peacekeeping efforts all over the world, and noted that “these efforts and commitments are evident enough to tell the international community that we will not do anything to jeopardise our fledgling democracy”.
When Mr Christ asked him about how Ghana was coping with its immediate neighbours, all of whom were Francophone countries, Alhaji Mahama said Ghana admitted that language difference but had managed to live in peace with all of them.
“We dialogue and share ideas constantly to ensure that we understand each other at all times and this has helped all of us,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama said the teaching of French in schools from the basic level was a must, expressing the hope that France would do more to assist the country in the smooth teaching and learning of the language to enhance communication with its neighbours.
He said Ghana was aware of the support that the French government was giving to the Francophone countries and urged the French government to extend similar assistance to the country, particularly in the area of agriculture, to boost food production.
Alhaji Mahama said more than 65 per cent of the labour force in the country was in agriculture, noting that any further support to boost the sector would help create more jobs for the people and push Ghana towards attaining food security.
He said the government, for its part, would continue to ensure that agriculture was mechanised.
“We have imported and distributed some tractors to the farmers to improve their farming methods,” the Vice President added.
Alhaji Mahama said following the recent global food crisis, the government had announced a package for farmers, including the provision of fertilisers at highly subsidised price.
He commended France for the debt forgiveness when Ghana went HIPC in 2001 and indicated that the bond of friendship between the two countries had grown over the years.
“We will continue to do things to keep the flames of the friendship burning,” he added.
Mr Christ, for his part, said the mission of the delegation was a fact-finding one and commended the Vice President for the vivid and candid information he had given about Ghana.
Mr Christ, who was accompanied to the Castle by the French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Pierre Jacquemot, praised Ghana for its role in ensuring peace on the continent and for its courage to submit itself to the Africa Peer Review Mechanism.
Ghana was the first African country to submit itself to the African Peer Review Mechanism a couple of years ago, a move which has been hailed by many governments all over the globe.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE government has reassured the international community of its commitment to conducting another free, fair and transparent elections come December, to maintain the peace and stability in the country.
It has also indicated its preparedness and the frantic efforts being made towards ensuring a smooth transition to the next administration.
The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, gave the assurance when a five-member Parliamentary delegation from the French National Assembly paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, on Thursday.
“We continue to put measures in place to ensure that the peace that presently prevails in the country is not jeopardised before, during and after this crucial general election,” he said.
The delegation, which is being led by Mr Jean-Louis Christ, is on a fact-finding mission to see how best France and Ghana could improve their bilateral ties as part of the vision of the French President, Mr Nicholas Sarkozi.
Alhaji Mahama said since 1992, Ghana had been able to organise four general elections “and we have gained a lot of experience from that”.
He said the government was aware all political parties contesting the polls were determined to win and would, therefore, ensure that the elections were freely and fairly held to avoid bickering and petty squabbles.
“Ghana has become the icon of democracy on the continent and the whole world appreciates that,” Alhaji Mahama said.
He stated that with all eyes on Ghana, the government must not fail and indicated that nothing would be put to chance to mar the outcome of the elections.
“We have a reputation to protect and once our government strongly believes in the rule of law and democracy, we will have no excuse not to oversee a credible election,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghana had and continued to play a role in ensuring peace and stability in countries on the African continent, which have problems of stability.
He also mentioned the country’s peacekeeping efforts all over the world, and noted that “these efforts and commitments are evident enough to tell the international community that we will not do anything to jeopardise our fledgling democracy”.
When Mr Christ asked him about how Ghana was coping with its immediate neighbours, all of whom were Francophone countries, Alhaji Mahama said Ghana admitted that language difference but had managed to live in peace with all of them.
“We dialogue and share ideas constantly to ensure that we understand each other at all times and this has helped all of us,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama said the teaching of French in schools from the basic level was a must, expressing the hope that France would do more to assist the country in the smooth teaching and learning of the language to enhance communication with its neighbours.
He said Ghana was aware of the support that the French government was giving to the Francophone countries and urged the French government to extend similar assistance to the country, particularly in the area of agriculture, to boost food production.
Alhaji Mahama said more than 65 per cent of the labour force in the country was in agriculture, noting that any further support to boost the sector would help create more jobs for the people and push Ghana towards attaining food security.
He said the government, for its part, would continue to ensure that agriculture was mechanised.
“We have imported and distributed some tractors to the farmers to improve their farming methods,” the Vice President added.
Alhaji Mahama said following the recent global food crisis, the government had announced a package for farmers, including the provision of fertilisers at highly subsidised price.
He commended France for the debt forgiveness when Ghana went HIPC in 2001 and indicated that the bond of friendship between the two countries had grown over the years.
“We will continue to do things to keep the flames of the friendship burning,” he added.
Mr Christ, for his part, said the mission of the delegation was a fact-finding one and commended the Vice President for the vivid and candid information he had given about Ghana.
Mr Christ, who was accompanied to the Castle by the French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Pierre Jacquemot, praised Ghana for its role in ensuring peace on the continent and for its courage to submit itself to the Africa Peer Review Mechanism.
Ghana was the first African country to submit itself to the African Peer Review Mechanism a couple of years ago, a move which has been hailed by many governments all over the globe.
Cal rumpus not over • poll vote to determine contentious issues
Front Page (lead) June 6/2008
Story: Lloyd Evans & Charles Benoni Okine
An extraordinary general meeting of the CAL Bank, which was expected to provide a test case for corporate governance in Ghana, yesterday failed to resolve the contentious issues on hand.
After some of the most convincing arguments and quotations from the Companies’ Code, and each of the contending forces entrenched in their positions, the rumpus was referred for a poll vote.
The stand-off was over two major issues that were put forward by the requisitionist, Mr Afare Donkor, the largest individual shareholder of the bank. Mr Afare Donkor had sought the meeting to remove Mr Frank Brako Adu Jr both as the managing director and as a director of the bank and to appoint him (Mr Afare Donkor) a director.
On the first issue, the shareholders rejected the removal of Mr Adu Jr by a simple majority vote, a situation that occasioned Mr Donkor to demand a poll vote, which was accepted.
When it came to the appointment of Mr Afare Donkor however, the representative for the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the biggest institutional shareholder of the bank, Mr Michael Addo, called for a poll vote even before the acting Chairman of the bank, Mr Robert Ahomka Lindsay, put the motion to the floor.
That notwithstanding, there was a general vote to determine a simple majority, which Mr Afare Donkor also won.
Section 170 (c) of the Companies Code of 1963 Act 179 states in part that, a member can call for a poll vote if that member or members present in person or by proxy represents not less than one twentieth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to attend and vote on a resolution.
These scenarios compelled Mr Lindsay to seek the advice of the National Trust Holding Company (NTHC), which had to conduct the poll vote of which the results are expected to be released by close of day tomorrow (Friday).
While the issues about Mr Donkor and Mr Adu raged on, the meeting approved Dr Kobina Quansah, a seasoned banker and the first Ghanaian Managing Director of the Barclays Bank, with a simple majority general vote as a director of the CAL Bank pending the approval of the Bank of Ghana.
It also succeeded in seeking the approval of shareholders to raise an additional GH¢100 million in tranches until 2012 to recapitalise the operations of the bank that won five major laurels in the recently held Ghana Banking Awards.
The fourth resolution by the requisitionist to the effect that, “The board of directors are hereby authorised to appoint from the newly re-composed board of directors, a new Managing Director, even if in an acting capacity, and a new Chairman of the Board of Directors”, the chairman made it clear that this contravened Section 193 (a) of the Companies Code.
The subsection states that “Unless the company regulations shall otherwise provide, the directors may from time to time appoint one or more of their body to the office of managing director and to such appointment the provision of section 192 of the Code shall apply.”
Shareholders who have legal background came with their Companies Code and quoted various sections to support their arguments either for or against an issue.
Earlier before the meeting that lasted a record time of more than three hours, shareholders could be seen in groups eagerly discussing the issues particularly with reference to the appointment of Mr Donkor to the board and the removal of Mr Adu as the Managing Director.
It was clear at that period that there was not going to be a clear decision on the matter as the entrenched positions of the groups were brought to the fore during the meeting, which ended inconclusive on the two issues.
On the issue about the raising of additional capital, Mr Donkor had proposed a GH¢100 million but that was rejected by the board earlier before the meeting but in the end, the chairman announced the reversal of the position of the bank saying that “we will do with this GH¢100 million for now but when the need arises, we will come to you to raise more”.
Mr Donkor was forced to drop Mr Yoofi Grant as a proposed member of the board when things seemed to be going tough for Mr Donkor as to the number of board members the bank could have.
This easily paved the way for Dr Quansah and him (Mr Donkor) to be voted for to fill the two vacancies available on the board. The position of Mr Donkor on the board will, however, be determined by the outcome of the poll vote.
Mr Donkor had proposed the three names because he was of the view that the meeting was going to support his bid for the removal of Mr Adu as the Managing Director and a director of the bank to create room for the three, a plan which backfired and even threatened his election to the board.
The shareholders, during the deliberations, raised a number of issues including the need for the two largest shareholders to be either personally or through a representative, be on the board to ensure a fair balance of ideas to move the bank forward.
They also contended that the idea of removing Mr Adu in spite of his role in making the bank one of the icons in the financial sector was tantamount to changing a winning team, which should not be allowed to stand because of the negative consequences it might have on the operations of the bank.
Issues of legality and good corporate governance from the Managing Director and the board were also raised as shareholders called for measures that would ensure that the situation that necessitated the EGM did not recur to disrupt the operations of the bank, which was operating in a competitive market.
When asked to move the vote of thanks, Mr Donkor intimated: “My reason for all these was just to get the right things done and I believe it is a lesson for all.”
He said it was time to move on to enable the bank to grow further from its present position to greater heights.
“I did not set this bank up for nothing and I was not the founder for anything,” he ended his comments, to a resounding applause from the few shareholders who were left in the Osu Presby Church Hall.
In an interview with Mr Adu after the hectic proceedings, he said, “I have decided not to comment on the matter until the whole issues come to a conclusive end.”
“However, I can say that I will continue to do my work as expected to seriously and continuously increase shareholder value.”
Story: Lloyd Evans & Charles Benoni Okine
An extraordinary general meeting of the CAL Bank, which was expected to provide a test case for corporate governance in Ghana, yesterday failed to resolve the contentious issues on hand.
After some of the most convincing arguments and quotations from the Companies’ Code, and each of the contending forces entrenched in their positions, the rumpus was referred for a poll vote.
The stand-off was over two major issues that were put forward by the requisitionist, Mr Afare Donkor, the largest individual shareholder of the bank. Mr Afare Donkor had sought the meeting to remove Mr Frank Brako Adu Jr both as the managing director and as a director of the bank and to appoint him (Mr Afare Donkor) a director.
On the first issue, the shareholders rejected the removal of Mr Adu Jr by a simple majority vote, a situation that occasioned Mr Donkor to demand a poll vote, which was accepted.
When it came to the appointment of Mr Afare Donkor however, the representative for the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the biggest institutional shareholder of the bank, Mr Michael Addo, called for a poll vote even before the acting Chairman of the bank, Mr Robert Ahomka Lindsay, put the motion to the floor.
That notwithstanding, there was a general vote to determine a simple majority, which Mr Afare Donkor also won.
Section 170 (c) of the Companies Code of 1963 Act 179 states in part that, a member can call for a poll vote if that member or members present in person or by proxy represents not less than one twentieth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to attend and vote on a resolution.
These scenarios compelled Mr Lindsay to seek the advice of the National Trust Holding Company (NTHC), which had to conduct the poll vote of which the results are expected to be released by close of day tomorrow (Friday).
While the issues about Mr Donkor and Mr Adu raged on, the meeting approved Dr Kobina Quansah, a seasoned banker and the first Ghanaian Managing Director of the Barclays Bank, with a simple majority general vote as a director of the CAL Bank pending the approval of the Bank of Ghana.
It also succeeded in seeking the approval of shareholders to raise an additional GH¢100 million in tranches until 2012 to recapitalise the operations of the bank that won five major laurels in the recently held Ghana Banking Awards.
The fourth resolution by the requisitionist to the effect that, “The board of directors are hereby authorised to appoint from the newly re-composed board of directors, a new Managing Director, even if in an acting capacity, and a new Chairman of the Board of Directors”, the chairman made it clear that this contravened Section 193 (a) of the Companies Code.
The subsection states that “Unless the company regulations shall otherwise provide, the directors may from time to time appoint one or more of their body to the office of managing director and to such appointment the provision of section 192 of the Code shall apply.”
Shareholders who have legal background came with their Companies Code and quoted various sections to support their arguments either for or against an issue.
Earlier before the meeting that lasted a record time of more than three hours, shareholders could be seen in groups eagerly discussing the issues particularly with reference to the appointment of Mr Donkor to the board and the removal of Mr Adu as the Managing Director.
It was clear at that period that there was not going to be a clear decision on the matter as the entrenched positions of the groups were brought to the fore during the meeting, which ended inconclusive on the two issues.
On the issue about the raising of additional capital, Mr Donkor had proposed a GH¢100 million but that was rejected by the board earlier before the meeting but in the end, the chairman announced the reversal of the position of the bank saying that “we will do with this GH¢100 million for now but when the need arises, we will come to you to raise more”.
Mr Donkor was forced to drop Mr Yoofi Grant as a proposed member of the board when things seemed to be going tough for Mr Donkor as to the number of board members the bank could have.
This easily paved the way for Dr Quansah and him (Mr Donkor) to be voted for to fill the two vacancies available on the board. The position of Mr Donkor on the board will, however, be determined by the outcome of the poll vote.
Mr Donkor had proposed the three names because he was of the view that the meeting was going to support his bid for the removal of Mr Adu as the Managing Director and a director of the bank to create room for the three, a plan which backfired and even threatened his election to the board.
The shareholders, during the deliberations, raised a number of issues including the need for the two largest shareholders to be either personally or through a representative, be on the board to ensure a fair balance of ideas to move the bank forward.
They also contended that the idea of removing Mr Adu in spite of his role in making the bank one of the icons in the financial sector was tantamount to changing a winning team, which should not be allowed to stand because of the negative consequences it might have on the operations of the bank.
Issues of legality and good corporate governance from the Managing Director and the board were also raised as shareholders called for measures that would ensure that the situation that necessitated the EGM did not recur to disrupt the operations of the bank, which was operating in a competitive market.
When asked to move the vote of thanks, Mr Donkor intimated: “My reason for all these was just to get the right things done and I believe it is a lesson for all.”
He said it was time to move on to enable the bank to grow further from its present position to greater heights.
“I did not set this bank up for nothing and I was not the founder for anything,” he ended his comments, to a resounding applause from the few shareholders who were left in the Osu Presby Church Hall.
In an interview with Mr Adu after the hectic proceedings, he said, “I have decided not to comment on the matter until the whole issues come to a conclusive end.”
“However, I can say that I will continue to do my work as expected to seriously and continuously increase shareholder value.”
World Bank approves $145 million to Ghana
Business page (lead)June 5/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Michael Donkor
THE World Bank has approved three credits for Ghana totalling $145 million, in fulfilment of its commitment to provide assistance to the budget annually under the Multi-Donor Budget Support (MDBS) framework.
The credits include additional funding valued at more than $20 million, to support measures designed urgently to help Ghana deal with the rising cost of living due to the global food and oil price hikes.
The other two are Poverty Reduction Support Credit of $100 million and Agriculture Development Policy Operation of $25 million.
The support is a harmonised partnership framework in which the government and a number of its development partners provide direct funding for the implementation of the Ghana Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy through the annual budget.
Since its inception in 2003, a total of $1.7 billion has been disbursed under the framework, with over $700 million coming from the World Bank alone, through six Poverty Reduction Support Credits.
The World Bank Country Director in Ghana, Mr Ishac Diwan, in an interaction with some selected journalists in Accra last Tuesday, explained that the $20 million was an additional amount meant to ensure that the mitigation measures as announced by the President benefited that poor and most vulnerable in society.
He said that amount had been divided into two equal parts and was to be used to support the purchase of fertiliser to encourage farmers to grow more crops during these trying times.
Mr Diwan said the second part will support the government’s LEAP programme and lactating mothers.
The World Bank Country Director described the measures as timely, saying, “they are to ensure that the poor and vulnerable in society escape to some extent, the very hash conditions that the increasing world food prices and soaring oil prices had brought to the world”.
He said the poverty reduction support remained the cornerstone of donor support for Ghana’s poverty reduction strategy, while the environmental governance programme and agricultural development policy will provide new important support for policy reform on natural resources and environment, as well as the agriculture sector.
He said policy actions under the poverty programme would focus on the implementation of various reform programmes to accelerate private sector-led growth by facilitating private sector development and increasing agricultural productivity and exports; develop human resources by consolidating achievements in education, health, and water and sanitation.
He explained further that these would also promote good governance by deepening decentralisation, strengthening public financial management and enhancing efficiency, transparency and accountability in public investments and service delivery at both central and decentralised levels.
Mr Diwan expressed the hope that the natural resource programme would support governance reforms in the interrelated sectors of forestry and wildlife, mining and environmental protection.
He said they were intended to ensure effective forest law enforcement, improve the mining and forestry sectors, revenue collection, management, and transparency.
Mr Diwan said it would also address social issues in forest and mining communities, environmental protection into growth, safeguards and adaptation to climate change.
He added that it would also initiate support to the adoption and future implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI++) approach in the existing forestry and mining sectors as well as in the emerging oil sector.
Mr Diwan noted that the agricultural development policy would support the recent positive achievements in the agricultural sector, including: Further diversification of horticulture exports; addressing constraints to productivity of food crops and improving the planning and execution of budgets in the sector.
He said the programme specifically supported the government’s national agricultural strategy by promoting key reforms essential for the growth of the sector.
Mr Diwan said in addition, it provided support to help the country respond to recent rises in global food prices.
He explained that these operations focused on accelerating the kind of growth that benefited the poor; improved environmental sustainability for the benefit of future generations; supported the delivery of basic services, especially water, to the citizens across the country, and continued to work towards better and more inclusive governance.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Michael Donkor
THE World Bank has approved three credits for Ghana totalling $145 million, in fulfilment of its commitment to provide assistance to the budget annually under the Multi-Donor Budget Support (MDBS) framework.
The credits include additional funding valued at more than $20 million, to support measures designed urgently to help Ghana deal with the rising cost of living due to the global food and oil price hikes.
The other two are Poverty Reduction Support Credit of $100 million and Agriculture Development Policy Operation of $25 million.
The support is a harmonised partnership framework in which the government and a number of its development partners provide direct funding for the implementation of the Ghana Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy through the annual budget.
Since its inception in 2003, a total of $1.7 billion has been disbursed under the framework, with over $700 million coming from the World Bank alone, through six Poverty Reduction Support Credits.
The World Bank Country Director in Ghana, Mr Ishac Diwan, in an interaction with some selected journalists in Accra last Tuesday, explained that the $20 million was an additional amount meant to ensure that the mitigation measures as announced by the President benefited that poor and most vulnerable in society.
He said that amount had been divided into two equal parts and was to be used to support the purchase of fertiliser to encourage farmers to grow more crops during these trying times.
Mr Diwan said the second part will support the government’s LEAP programme and lactating mothers.
The World Bank Country Director described the measures as timely, saying, “they are to ensure that the poor and vulnerable in society escape to some extent, the very hash conditions that the increasing world food prices and soaring oil prices had brought to the world”.
He said the poverty reduction support remained the cornerstone of donor support for Ghana’s poverty reduction strategy, while the environmental governance programme and agricultural development policy will provide new important support for policy reform on natural resources and environment, as well as the agriculture sector.
He said policy actions under the poverty programme would focus on the implementation of various reform programmes to accelerate private sector-led growth by facilitating private sector development and increasing agricultural productivity and exports; develop human resources by consolidating achievements in education, health, and water and sanitation.
He explained further that these would also promote good governance by deepening decentralisation, strengthening public financial management and enhancing efficiency, transparency and accountability in public investments and service delivery at both central and decentralised levels.
Mr Diwan expressed the hope that the natural resource programme would support governance reforms in the interrelated sectors of forestry and wildlife, mining and environmental protection.
He said they were intended to ensure effective forest law enforcement, improve the mining and forestry sectors, revenue collection, management, and transparency.
Mr Diwan said it would also address social issues in forest and mining communities, environmental protection into growth, safeguards and adaptation to climate change.
He added that it would also initiate support to the adoption and future implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI++) approach in the existing forestry and mining sectors as well as in the emerging oil sector.
Mr Diwan noted that the agricultural development policy would support the recent positive achievements in the agricultural sector, including: Further diversification of horticulture exports; addressing constraints to productivity of food crops and improving the planning and execution of budgets in the sector.
He said the programme specifically supported the government’s national agricultural strategy by promoting key reforms essential for the growth of the sector.
Mr Diwan said in addition, it provided support to help the country respond to recent rises in global food prices.
He explained that these operations focused on accelerating the kind of growth that benefited the poor; improved environmental sustainability for the benefit of future generations; supported the delivery of basic services, especially water, to the citizens across the country, and continued to work towards better and more inclusive governance.
Guinea worm cases in NR go down
Back page June 5/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, Tamale
GUINEA worm infection, the bane of many rural communities in the country, has drastically reduced in the Northern Region as a result of improved eradication efforts by the Ghana Health Services (GHS).
As of the end of April 2008, the region had recorded only 215 cases, as against 2,417 the same period in 2007, representing a 91 per cent reduction.
However, in spite of that achievement, maternal deaths in the region have reached alarming proportions.
According to figures from the service, 115 cases were recorded in the region in 2007, as against 92 in the previous year.
The Regional Director of the service, Dr Akwasi Twumasi, announced these when the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, inaugurated the Hajj Adams Clinic in Tamale.
Elaborating on the guinea worm cases, Dr Twumasi said the people were being educated to avoid using water from streams and river bodies without boiling it.
He said last year the region recorded a marginal decrease in the total infection rate from 3,679 in 2006 to 3,237 in 2007.
Dr Twumasi was of the view that with more clinics being built and an improved educational programme, the situation would be far different this year as the records already showed.
On maternal deaths, he said about 20 per cent of the women reported to the health facilities only in the third trimester of pregnancy, making it impossible for them to benefit from the full package of interventions available.
He said when it came to delivery, only 26 per cent were attended to by skilled attendants in 2007, adding, “No wonder our maternal deaths keep going up.”
He said although the region had six hospitals, seven districts had no hospitals at all.
He said considering the distances that referrals had to cover in times of serious emergencies, most of them perished on their way.
Dr Twumasi said skilled personnel, particularly doctors and technicians, to man the facilities continued to pose serious challenges for the health service.
“We have only 35 medical assistants in the region, instead of the required 232, representing only 15 per cent of what is required,” he said.
He said the region had 297 midwives, instead of 390, and out of the total 88 were expected to retire in the next five years.
The situation with the general nurses, he said, was no better, because out of the 817 nurses needed, only 251 were available, adding that the region was operating at a staff strength of only 36 per cent.
The Vice-President, for his part, commended the owner of the clinic for his contribution to the health delivery system in the country.
He said the government was unable to do all by itself, hence the need for the private sector to partner it in health care delivery.
Alhaji Mahama said the government had created the necessary enabling environment for people who wanted to venture into the provision of health care to do so without stress.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, Tamale
GUINEA worm infection, the bane of many rural communities in the country, has drastically reduced in the Northern Region as a result of improved eradication efforts by the Ghana Health Services (GHS).
As of the end of April 2008, the region had recorded only 215 cases, as against 2,417 the same period in 2007, representing a 91 per cent reduction.
However, in spite of that achievement, maternal deaths in the region have reached alarming proportions.
According to figures from the service, 115 cases were recorded in the region in 2007, as against 92 in the previous year.
The Regional Director of the service, Dr Akwasi Twumasi, announced these when the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, inaugurated the Hajj Adams Clinic in Tamale.
Elaborating on the guinea worm cases, Dr Twumasi said the people were being educated to avoid using water from streams and river bodies without boiling it.
He said last year the region recorded a marginal decrease in the total infection rate from 3,679 in 2006 to 3,237 in 2007.
Dr Twumasi was of the view that with more clinics being built and an improved educational programme, the situation would be far different this year as the records already showed.
On maternal deaths, he said about 20 per cent of the women reported to the health facilities only in the third trimester of pregnancy, making it impossible for them to benefit from the full package of interventions available.
He said when it came to delivery, only 26 per cent were attended to by skilled attendants in 2007, adding, “No wonder our maternal deaths keep going up.”
He said although the region had six hospitals, seven districts had no hospitals at all.
He said considering the distances that referrals had to cover in times of serious emergencies, most of them perished on their way.
Dr Twumasi said skilled personnel, particularly doctors and technicians, to man the facilities continued to pose serious challenges for the health service.
“We have only 35 medical assistants in the region, instead of the required 232, representing only 15 per cent of what is required,” he said.
He said the region had 297 midwives, instead of 390, and out of the total 88 were expected to retire in the next five years.
The situation with the general nurses, he said, was no better, because out of the 817 nurses needed, only 251 were available, adding that the region was operating at a staff strength of only 36 per cent.
The Vice-President, for his part, commended the owner of the clinic for his contribution to the health delivery system in the country.
He said the government was unable to do all by itself, hence the need for the private sector to partner it in health care delivery.
Alhaji Mahama said the government had created the necessary enabling environment for people who wanted to venture into the provision of health care to do so without stress.
Consider onshore oil exploration
Page 34 (lead) June 4/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has asked oil exploration companies to consider onshore exploration of oil in the country.
He said there were credible reports of large volumes of oil deposits in the sandstone areas in the country such as Brong Ahafo, Volta and Northern regions.
Alhaji Mahama made the call when a delegation from one of the biggest oil companies in Russia, Lukoil Oil Company, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
The company, which is currently in partnership with Vanco Oil, an oil exploration firm at Saltpond, wants to have its own block to enable it start its exploration activities.
It has also announced its preparedness to commit $100 million as its initial investment in the sector and subsequently spend up to $1 billion in social development projects in the country as part of its contribution to building a viable economy.
During the First Republic, Russian companies which were drilling wells for water gathered credible evidence that Ghana had prospects of onshore oil.
Since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities by Kosmos Energy from Texas, United States of America (USA) and Tullow from the United Kingdom, many other companies in the business continue to flock into the country for blocks to enable them undertake exploration.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghana was a peaceful and stable country and assured investors that their investments would be safe.
He said frantic efforts were underway to finalise institutional arrangements that could guide the use of oil revenues to the benefit of the country.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, for his part said although Ghana had no data on the onshore oil deposits, reports by the Russians to that effect were credible enough for companies in the sector to venture into.
He said most of the wells that were dug by the Russians had been capped and noted that when some of the companies from that country were allowed in, they would release the data for further work to be done on them.
Mr Ampofo-Twumasi said Lukoil was engaged in talks with the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) to obtain its own block either in the western or central blocks.
Mr Andrey R. Kuzyaev, President of Lukoil Overseas Holding Limited, said the company was highly committed.
He said the company was determined to make huge investments into the oil business in the country and noted that with its rich experience it was determined to begin operations as soon as it was granted its own block for exploration.
Mr Kuzyaev said the high level of peace and stability in the country made Ghana a safe haven for investment and added that it was the reason for Lukoil’s intention to invest an initial amount of $100 million in the exploration business.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has asked oil exploration companies to consider onshore exploration of oil in the country.
He said there were credible reports of large volumes of oil deposits in the sandstone areas in the country such as Brong Ahafo, Volta and Northern regions.
Alhaji Mahama made the call when a delegation from one of the biggest oil companies in Russia, Lukoil Oil Company, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
The company, which is currently in partnership with Vanco Oil, an oil exploration firm at Saltpond, wants to have its own block to enable it start its exploration activities.
It has also announced its preparedness to commit $100 million as its initial investment in the sector and subsequently spend up to $1 billion in social development projects in the country as part of its contribution to building a viable economy.
During the First Republic, Russian companies which were drilling wells for water gathered credible evidence that Ghana had prospects of onshore oil.
Since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities by Kosmos Energy from Texas, United States of America (USA) and Tullow from the United Kingdom, many other companies in the business continue to flock into the country for blocks to enable them undertake exploration.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghana was a peaceful and stable country and assured investors that their investments would be safe.
He said frantic efforts were underway to finalise institutional arrangements that could guide the use of oil revenues to the benefit of the country.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, for his part said although Ghana had no data on the onshore oil deposits, reports by the Russians to that effect were credible enough for companies in the sector to venture into.
He said most of the wells that were dug by the Russians had been capped and noted that when some of the companies from that country were allowed in, they would release the data for further work to be done on them.
Mr Ampofo-Twumasi said Lukoil was engaged in talks with the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) to obtain its own block either in the western or central blocks.
Mr Andrey R. Kuzyaev, President of Lukoil Overseas Holding Limited, said the company was highly committed.
He said the company was determined to make huge investments into the oil business in the country and noted that with its rich experience it was determined to begin operations as soon as it was granted its own block for exploration.
Mr Kuzyaev said the high level of peace and stability in the country made Ghana a safe haven for investment and added that it was the reason for Lukoil’s intention to invest an initial amount of $100 million in the exploration business.
Veep calls for support for small scale mining
Back Page (lead) June 4/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has urged mining companies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support the promotion of legal small-scale mining in the country to create employment opportunities for Ghanaians in that sector.
Such a move, he said, could also contribute to the reduction of the negative activities of illegal miners in the country.
The Vice-President, who said this at the opening of the 8th West African International Mining and Power Conference and Exhibition in Accra yesterday, said the activities of illegal miners in the country posed a major challenge to the industry.
The three-day exhibition and conference, which is on the theme: “Development through mining and power — a shared responsibility”, is being attended by 76 companies from mining countries in the sub-region with 26 coming from South Africa alone.
Alhaji Mahama challenged the participants at the function to come up with suggestions for the downstream processing of the various minerals.
Ms Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, who chaired the function, said the chamber was committed to creating the avenues that would enable to it create more jobs for the people.
She described the suggestion from the government for the collaboration as timely and pledged that the mining companies would consider it seriously.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has urged mining companies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support the promotion of legal small-scale mining in the country to create employment opportunities for Ghanaians in that sector.
Such a move, he said, could also contribute to the reduction of the negative activities of illegal miners in the country.
The Vice-President, who said this at the opening of the 8th West African International Mining and Power Conference and Exhibition in Accra yesterday, said the activities of illegal miners in the country posed a major challenge to the industry.
The three-day exhibition and conference, which is on the theme: “Development through mining and power — a shared responsibility”, is being attended by 76 companies from mining countries in the sub-region with 26 coming from South Africa alone.
Alhaji Mahama challenged the participants at the function to come up with suggestions for the downstream processing of the various minerals.
Ms Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, who chaired the function, said the chamber was committed to creating the avenues that would enable to it create more jobs for the people.
She described the suggestion from the government for the collaboration as timely and pledged that the mining companies would consider it seriously.
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