Back page, October 31/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE 17th congress and 34th annual general meeting of the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association opened in Accra yesterday, with a call on the Veterinary Service Directorate to effectively deal with the prevention and control of diseases that affect livestock.
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who made the call, said diseases affecting livestock could have a devastating impact on animal productivity and asked the directorate not to lay back as diseases destroyed the country’s livestock.
The three-day conference, which is being attended by professionals in the veterinary medical practice from all over the country, is on the theme: “Control of emerging and re-emerging animal diseases in an environment of global warming - A challenge to the veterinary profession”.
The Vice-President said the impact of socio-economic losses due to outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging trans-boundary animal diseases included the dramatic reduction of herds and flocks through natural deaths and animals being culled to prevent the spread of disease to other farms.
He said this was the case when 13,371 birds died naturally of avian influenza, while another 27,356 birds were culled, bringing the total number of birds lost through Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks in the country in April, May and June of last year to 40,727.
Alhaji Mahama said emerging and re-emerging disease outbreaks led to importing countries applying restrictions and total bans on products due to diseases such as foot and mouth diseases, which made some farmers to stop livestock production altogether.
In his welcoming address, Dr Kwasi Bowi Darkwa, president of the association, recounted an array of problems that the association was facing and mentioned for instance that in the Northern Region, the Bole District veterinary clinic was now the office of the District Director of Agriculture, while Yendi clinic was now occupied by the Bureau of National Investigations.
“The newly built Tamale veterinary clinic has been taken over by the Metro Director of Agriculture and his staff. The once imposing veterinary office in Damongo has also been taken over by the District Director of Agriculture,” he said, adding, “As a matter of fact, the list of takeovers of the veterinary properties in the country is endless.”
It was against this background among other things that Dr Darkwa asked whether Ghana now needed an effective and vibrant veterinary service as existed in the 1960s and 1970s.
He said now that the world was now a global village, consumerism and free trade among nations were conducive to the spread of diseases, particularly with the emerging and re-emerging diseases due to climate change.
Dr Darkwa said Ghana needed more veterinarians and veterinary technicians to cope with the challenge and cited the recent avian influenza as an example.
He indicated the need to decouple veterinary service from mainstream agriculture in order to improve service delivery.
“There should be a structure in place where veterinary officers in the districts are directly supervised by more senior vets in the regions,” he added.
Friday, October 31, 2008
We/ll weather financial storm
Business page (lead), October 30/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Bank of Ghana says it is resolved to maintain sound fiscal and monetary policies to ensure that the economy remains competitive in the wake of the uncertainties from the turmoil in the world’s financial markets.
That, it said, was necessary to secure private investment and donor flows and ensure a robust and well-supervised financial sector to reduce the economy’s vulnerability to shocks.
The Governor of the bank, Dr Paul Acquah, who made the call at a news conference in Accra on Tuesday, said “this would strengthen the basis for growth in an environment of macroeconomic stability”.
The call comes in the wake of growing uncertainties among the public, particularly business people, about the impact of the global financial crunch on the Ghanaian economy.
Although the President has been quoted as saying that the crisis was not going to affect the country, there are many, including economics, who think otherwise.
The past three months has seen extraordinary turmoil in international financial markets and the onset of recession in industrial countries whose effects are now spreading globally.
Against this background, Dr Acquah said policies must be prudent and cautious to bolster the fundamentals of the economy to make it more attractive and self dependent to improve its resilience.
He said the bank was closely monitoring the situation both in the country and on the international front and would act as soon as the shocks hit the economy.
Dr Acquah said Ghana might suffer if investors, due to fear and uncertainties, refused to come to the country while the commodities on which the country relied so much on also faced a downturn on the international market.
“Assuming cocoa and gold prices were to soften by some 25 per cent, and oil prices were to move back to around $80 per barrel. This would entail an income loss of 2.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.
Dr Acquah said there could also be some tightening of donor flows and remittances and a more generally reduced appetite for investment in developing countries, adding, “all these would have implication for prices, macroeconomic balances, and prospects for growth.”
On the financial sector, he said the BoG as the lender of last resort was prepared to improve the liquidity of the banks should they suffer any such problems.
“Outstanding external borrowing by banks as a source of funding their activities is less than five per cent of total bank funding requirements, an indication of their predominant reliance on domestic deposits,” the governor said.
He added, “also, given the existing levels of outstanding borrowing, only a recall of a significant proportion (in excess of 50 per cent) in exceptional circumstances would have a material impact on the capital adequacy ratios of banks in the country.”
Dr Acquah predicted a real GDP of 6.6 per cent at the end of the year in stead of the projected seven per cent.
“Inflation has started to ease towards the disinflation path, with core inflation easing more rapidly; this year about 27 per cent before returning to 10 per cent in the last quarter of 2009,” he said.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Bank of Ghana says it is resolved to maintain sound fiscal and monetary policies to ensure that the economy remains competitive in the wake of the uncertainties from the turmoil in the world’s financial markets.
That, it said, was necessary to secure private investment and donor flows and ensure a robust and well-supervised financial sector to reduce the economy’s vulnerability to shocks.
The Governor of the bank, Dr Paul Acquah, who made the call at a news conference in Accra on Tuesday, said “this would strengthen the basis for growth in an environment of macroeconomic stability”.
The call comes in the wake of growing uncertainties among the public, particularly business people, about the impact of the global financial crunch on the Ghanaian economy.
Although the President has been quoted as saying that the crisis was not going to affect the country, there are many, including economics, who think otherwise.
The past three months has seen extraordinary turmoil in international financial markets and the onset of recession in industrial countries whose effects are now spreading globally.
Against this background, Dr Acquah said policies must be prudent and cautious to bolster the fundamentals of the economy to make it more attractive and self dependent to improve its resilience.
He said the bank was closely monitoring the situation both in the country and on the international front and would act as soon as the shocks hit the economy.
Dr Acquah said Ghana might suffer if investors, due to fear and uncertainties, refused to come to the country while the commodities on which the country relied so much on also faced a downturn on the international market.
“Assuming cocoa and gold prices were to soften by some 25 per cent, and oil prices were to move back to around $80 per barrel. This would entail an income loss of 2.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.
Dr Acquah said there could also be some tightening of donor flows and remittances and a more generally reduced appetite for investment in developing countries, adding, “all these would have implication for prices, macroeconomic balances, and prospects for growth.”
On the financial sector, he said the BoG as the lender of last resort was prepared to improve the liquidity of the banks should they suffer any such problems.
“Outstanding external borrowing by banks as a source of funding their activities is less than five per cent of total bank funding requirements, an indication of their predominant reliance on domestic deposits,” the governor said.
He added, “also, given the existing levels of outstanding borrowing, only a recall of a significant proportion (in excess of 50 per cent) in exceptional circumstances would have a material impact on the capital adequacy ratios of banks in the country.”
Dr Acquah predicted a real GDP of 6.6 per cent at the end of the year in stead of the projected seven per cent.
“Inflation has started to ease towards the disinflation path, with core inflation easing more rapidly; this year about 27 per cent before returning to 10 per cent in the last quarter of 2009,” he said.
BoG Maintains Prime Rate
Business Page, October 29/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Bank of Ghana (BoG) has maintained the prime rate, the benchmark for banks to fix their interest rates at 17. 0 per cent.
The move, which brings to rest the growing anxiety by business people as to the next line of action from the central bank in the wake of the global economic turmoil, was based on the recent developments in the market, particularly crude oil and the risks to inflation and growth in the country.
The Governor of the BoG, Dr Paul Acquah, who announced this at a news conference in Accra yesterday, said credit to the private sector and public institutions continued at a rapid pace into the third quarter of the year.
“For the 12-month period to August 2008, credit to the private sector and public institutions increased by GH¢1.6 billion (46.6 per cent) compared with GH¢1.36 billion (64.4 per cent) recorded for the same period in 2007,” he said.
In real terms, the Governor said credit to the private sector grew at an annual rate of 33.4 per cent, some easing from 41.8 per cent, recorded at the end of 2007 and 43.9 per cent for the corresponding period in August 2007.
He said the latest credit conditions survey by the bank showed a general net tightening of credit conditions for enterprises with a shift in accommodation from corporate to small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
Evidence also continues to show that banks had increased availability of credit to households, but credit for house purchases tightened in the third quarter of the year, against the background of strong demand for credit by SMEs and households.
Dr Acquah said generally the strong performance of the economy reflected in the activities of the non-financial corporate sector.
He said financial data released by listed companies for the period ended September 2008 pointed to strong turnover and profits by companies in manufacturing, distribution and agricultural activities which were driven mainly by the cost of control measures and efficiency in operations and aggregate demand growth.
“On the execution of the 2008 budget, provisional banking data for the first nine months of 2008 show that revenue growth has been strong and in line with budget forecast and the pace of economic growth,” he said.
Dr Acquah said total revenue and grants for the period January to September this year amounted to GH¢3,451.5 million (21.1 per cent of GDP) compared with GH¢127.3 million (22.4 per cent of GDP) for the corresponding period in 2007.
“Of this amount, grants accounted for GH¢428.4 million (2.6 per cent of GDP) compared with the budgetary estimate of GH¢338.5 million and GH¢499.2 million (3.6 per cent of GDP) recorded for the same period,” he added.
He said gross international reserves position at the end of September 2008 was $2,270.2 million. This compares with $1,811.34 million recorded the same period last year and represents 2.3 months cover of imports of goods and services.
Dr Acquah said there was increased activity on the foreign exchange market as well as re-alignment of exchange rates during the third quarter of the year.
Total purchases and sales in the foreign exchange market by banks and forex bureaux between January and September 2008 amounted to $6.6 million (8.2 per cent over 2007 level).
On the stock exchange, he said total market capitalisation had increased significantly by 46.5 per cent, from GH¢5,751 million to GH¢18,120.7 million in the first nine months of the year and attributed this to price appreciation and right issues.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Bank of Ghana (BoG) has maintained the prime rate, the benchmark for banks to fix their interest rates at 17. 0 per cent.
The move, which brings to rest the growing anxiety by business people as to the next line of action from the central bank in the wake of the global economic turmoil, was based on the recent developments in the market, particularly crude oil and the risks to inflation and growth in the country.
The Governor of the BoG, Dr Paul Acquah, who announced this at a news conference in Accra yesterday, said credit to the private sector and public institutions continued at a rapid pace into the third quarter of the year.
“For the 12-month period to August 2008, credit to the private sector and public institutions increased by GH¢1.6 billion (46.6 per cent) compared with GH¢1.36 billion (64.4 per cent) recorded for the same period in 2007,” he said.
In real terms, the Governor said credit to the private sector grew at an annual rate of 33.4 per cent, some easing from 41.8 per cent, recorded at the end of 2007 and 43.9 per cent for the corresponding period in August 2007.
He said the latest credit conditions survey by the bank showed a general net tightening of credit conditions for enterprises with a shift in accommodation from corporate to small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
Evidence also continues to show that banks had increased availability of credit to households, but credit for house purchases tightened in the third quarter of the year, against the background of strong demand for credit by SMEs and households.
Dr Acquah said generally the strong performance of the economy reflected in the activities of the non-financial corporate sector.
He said financial data released by listed companies for the period ended September 2008 pointed to strong turnover and profits by companies in manufacturing, distribution and agricultural activities which were driven mainly by the cost of control measures and efficiency in operations and aggregate demand growth.
“On the execution of the 2008 budget, provisional banking data for the first nine months of 2008 show that revenue growth has been strong and in line with budget forecast and the pace of economic growth,” he said.
Dr Acquah said total revenue and grants for the period January to September this year amounted to GH¢3,451.5 million (21.1 per cent of GDP) compared with GH¢127.3 million (22.4 per cent of GDP) for the corresponding period in 2007.
“Of this amount, grants accounted for GH¢428.4 million (2.6 per cent of GDP) compared with the budgetary estimate of GH¢338.5 million and GH¢499.2 million (3.6 per cent of GDP) recorded for the same period,” he added.
He said gross international reserves position at the end of September 2008 was $2,270.2 million. This compares with $1,811.34 million recorded the same period last year and represents 2.3 months cover of imports of goods and services.
Dr Acquah said there was increased activity on the foreign exchange market as well as re-alignment of exchange rates during the third quarter of the year.
Total purchases and sales in the foreign exchange market by banks and forex bureaux between January and September 2008 amounted to $6.6 million (8.2 per cent over 2007 level).
On the stock exchange, he said total market capitalisation had increased significantly by 46.5 per cent, from GH¢5,751 million to GH¢18,120.7 million in the first nine months of the year and attributed this to price appreciation and right issues.
Ghana ready to support evaluation of Africa's ecological systems
Spread, October 28/2008
Story: Abdul Aziz & Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has expressed the country’s readiness to participate in any initiative on the continent to build the capacities of professionals and institutions to develop decision support systems and relevant applications for the monitoring, management and evaluation of Africa’s ecological systems.
Speaking at the opening of the seventh international conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing and the Environment (AARSE) in Accra yesterday, Alhaji Mahama said such applications were also necessary to enhance the effective management of natural resources on the continent for the benefit of present and future generations.
The four-day conference, which has attracted geophysicists, researchers, geo-information scientists, practitioners and allied service providers from all over Africa, Europe, the United States of America, among others, is to increase the awareness of African scientists and institutions, the private sector and society at large of the benefits of developing, applying and utilising the products and services of geo-information and space technology in the sustainable management of Africa’s natural resources and the environment.
It is also to expose the potential applications of these technologies for poverty alleviation, one of the major problems in Africa.
Alhaji Mahama called for the development of a fast track technological capacity to develop space-based monitoring and evaluation systems for disaster management, strategic environmental assessment of the continent’s plans, policies and programmes for enhancing economic and social development initiatives.
“We need to think of innovative ways to bridge the geo-spatial science-policy gap in Africa,” he said, adding that “our universities and tertiary institutions could serve as centres of excellence for building the needed critical mass of expertise for earth-observation based applications development, spatial modelling and policy-relevant product generation for resource management”.
The Vice-President described the objective of the conference as laudable and all encompassing, given the dearth of national geo-information systems in Africa for monitoring Africa’s ecosystems on a sustainable basis.
He said although space-based technologies for gathering timely and high resolution earth observation data for environmental assessment had become a reality in recent times, Africa was yet to benefit fully from the advantages that those technologies provided.
Alhaji Mahama said sustainable development of the human and institutional capacities in the use of geo-information for environment and natural resource management and facilitating access to such space-based data sets would provide the necessary impetus for the acceptability of such useful tools by African policy makers.
That, he said, would be part of an effort to transform governance in Africa through the use of geo-based decision-aided tools for policy transformation.
“African countries have a tremendous need for geo-information tools in promoting the efficient use of resources for sustaining sound development planning, in addressing our environmental challenges and in the implementation of our development agenda,” he said.
According to the Vice-President, those tools were essential for good governance-driven sustainable development which, to a great extent, depended on the availability of reliable up-to-date spatial database.
The Director of the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geo-Information Services (CERGIS) at the University of Ghana, Legon, and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the conference, Mr Foster Mensah, expressed the hope that participants would work hard to address the various gaps in the developmental process on the continent through the use of geo-information systems.
Dr Giovanni Rum of the Geo Secretariat showcased a wide range of activities and products from the secretariat and urged members to apply them at all times.
Story: Abdul Aziz & Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has expressed the country’s readiness to participate in any initiative on the continent to build the capacities of professionals and institutions to develop decision support systems and relevant applications for the monitoring, management and evaluation of Africa’s ecological systems.
Speaking at the opening of the seventh international conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing and the Environment (AARSE) in Accra yesterday, Alhaji Mahama said such applications were also necessary to enhance the effective management of natural resources on the continent for the benefit of present and future generations.
The four-day conference, which has attracted geophysicists, researchers, geo-information scientists, practitioners and allied service providers from all over Africa, Europe, the United States of America, among others, is to increase the awareness of African scientists and institutions, the private sector and society at large of the benefits of developing, applying and utilising the products and services of geo-information and space technology in the sustainable management of Africa’s natural resources and the environment.
It is also to expose the potential applications of these technologies for poverty alleviation, one of the major problems in Africa.
Alhaji Mahama called for the development of a fast track technological capacity to develop space-based monitoring and evaluation systems for disaster management, strategic environmental assessment of the continent’s plans, policies and programmes for enhancing economic and social development initiatives.
“We need to think of innovative ways to bridge the geo-spatial science-policy gap in Africa,” he said, adding that “our universities and tertiary institutions could serve as centres of excellence for building the needed critical mass of expertise for earth-observation based applications development, spatial modelling and policy-relevant product generation for resource management”.
The Vice-President described the objective of the conference as laudable and all encompassing, given the dearth of national geo-information systems in Africa for monitoring Africa’s ecosystems on a sustainable basis.
He said although space-based technologies for gathering timely and high resolution earth observation data for environmental assessment had become a reality in recent times, Africa was yet to benefit fully from the advantages that those technologies provided.
Alhaji Mahama said sustainable development of the human and institutional capacities in the use of geo-information for environment and natural resource management and facilitating access to such space-based data sets would provide the necessary impetus for the acceptability of such useful tools by African policy makers.
That, he said, would be part of an effort to transform governance in Africa through the use of geo-based decision-aided tools for policy transformation.
“African countries have a tremendous need for geo-information tools in promoting the efficient use of resources for sustaining sound development planning, in addressing our environmental challenges and in the implementation of our development agenda,” he said.
According to the Vice-President, those tools were essential for good governance-driven sustainable development which, to a great extent, depended on the availability of reliable up-to-date spatial database.
The Director of the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geo-Information Services (CERGIS) at the University of Ghana, Legon, and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the conference, Mr Foster Mensah, expressed the hope that participants would work hard to address the various gaps in the developmental process on the continent through the use of geo-information systems.
Dr Giovanni Rum of the Geo Secretariat showcased a wide range of activities and products from the secretariat and urged members to apply them at all times.
No journalist of the year
Front Page, October 27/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
NO journalist picked the prestigeous ‘Journalist of the Year’ award when the 13th edition of the event was held at the weekend in Accra.
After a long wait to hear the announcement of the best journalist of the year to climax the well-organised and heavily patronised ceremony, Mr Affail Monney, the Vice-President of the GJA, mounted the podium to read out how the best journalist was selected and in the end dropped what many described as a courageous pronouncement on the part of the association.
According to him, none of the 10 award winners for the night merited the prestigious award, which had been the expectation of all present at the function.
Amazingly, a record 208 entries were received by the awards committee for consideration but none merited the highest award in the profession which has attracted more members.
In the end, Unilever, the long-time sponsor of the best journalist award, the prize of which includes an all-expenses paid six-week journalism training in London, had to reserve the package for probably next year.
Most of the attendees filed out of the Banquet Hall of the State House disappointed at the turn of events and wondering how that could have happened.
Instead of taking to the floor as the last item on the programme for the night, the attendees could be seen in groups passionately discussing the issue and wondering why, among the many journalists in the country, none could be found worthy of the prize.
The attendees, most of whom were retired journalists, described the decision of the GJA as bold and an indication that the association had come of age.
In a brief chat, the chairman of the GJA Awards Planning Committee, Mr Berifi Apenteng, explained that after a thorough selection process, none of the 10 winners stood the chance of winning the overall award.
He said the committee could not single out any of the winners for the night because it did not want to compromise its position as far as the criteria for the selection were concerned.
On whether the situation meant that the standards of the profession were declining, the President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, replied in the negative, saying, “It was not our intention to deny any deserving journalist of the award”.
He said it could mean that the best among the journalists in the country did not file their entries for reasons the GJA could not tell.
As a step to forestall a future occurrence, he said the GJA would consider the organisation of the awards again in its entirety.
Mr Tetteh said at it stood now, it was clear that most of the media houses did not take interest in the awards and, therefore, did not get involved in the selection of stories to be presented by their reporters.
That, he said, was part of the recommendations of the awards committee which would be worked at vigorously.
Mr Tetteh said to select someone to present the face of journalism in the country, it was crucial to have one whose work was of a high standard.
He said the GJA executives would collaborate with all the partners in the profession, such as the editors and the organising committees, to ensure that things worked out well.
The GJA President expressed the hope that in future the public and journalists alike would nominate one journalist in the country and justify why the one nominated deserved the award.
In all, 13 out of 22 categories were rewarded during the ceremony, which was full of glamour and fun.
Mr William Asiedu, a reporter with the Mirror, the leading weekend newspaper published by the Graphic Communications Group Limited, was adjudged the Best in Environmental Reporting. He also won a special award to become the only journalist to annex two prizes in the night.
Mrs Hadiza Quansah of the Junior Graphic also captured the prize for Best in Rural Reporting, while Nii Laryea Korley of the Graphic Showbiz grabbed the Arts/Entertainment/Domestic Tourism award.
Mr Innocent Appiah of the Ghanaian Times was adjudged the Best Reporter in the News Reporting (Print) category, while Mr John Vigah of the Times Sports carried away the Sports Journalist of the Year award.
Claire Banoeng Yakubu of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) won the Health Reporter of the Year award, with Ms Lauretta Vanderpuije, also of GBC, taking away the News Reporting (Television) category award.
Mr Merari Alomele of the Weekly Spectator won the Best Columnists award, with Mr Edward Nyarko of GBC winning the Business/Finance/Economic Reporting award. Mr Samuel Dowuona of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) emerged winner of the Best Features Writer (Print) award.
There were also special awards presented to individuals who had contributed immensely to the growth of the journalism over the years.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
NO journalist picked the prestigeous ‘Journalist of the Year’ award when the 13th edition of the event was held at the weekend in Accra.
After a long wait to hear the announcement of the best journalist of the year to climax the well-organised and heavily patronised ceremony, Mr Affail Monney, the Vice-President of the GJA, mounted the podium to read out how the best journalist was selected and in the end dropped what many described as a courageous pronouncement on the part of the association.
According to him, none of the 10 award winners for the night merited the prestigious award, which had been the expectation of all present at the function.
Amazingly, a record 208 entries were received by the awards committee for consideration but none merited the highest award in the profession which has attracted more members.
In the end, Unilever, the long-time sponsor of the best journalist award, the prize of which includes an all-expenses paid six-week journalism training in London, had to reserve the package for probably next year.
Most of the attendees filed out of the Banquet Hall of the State House disappointed at the turn of events and wondering how that could have happened.
Instead of taking to the floor as the last item on the programme for the night, the attendees could be seen in groups passionately discussing the issue and wondering why, among the many journalists in the country, none could be found worthy of the prize.
The attendees, most of whom were retired journalists, described the decision of the GJA as bold and an indication that the association had come of age.
In a brief chat, the chairman of the GJA Awards Planning Committee, Mr Berifi Apenteng, explained that after a thorough selection process, none of the 10 winners stood the chance of winning the overall award.
He said the committee could not single out any of the winners for the night because it did not want to compromise its position as far as the criteria for the selection were concerned.
On whether the situation meant that the standards of the profession were declining, the President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, replied in the negative, saying, “It was not our intention to deny any deserving journalist of the award”.
He said it could mean that the best among the journalists in the country did not file their entries for reasons the GJA could not tell.
As a step to forestall a future occurrence, he said the GJA would consider the organisation of the awards again in its entirety.
Mr Tetteh said at it stood now, it was clear that most of the media houses did not take interest in the awards and, therefore, did not get involved in the selection of stories to be presented by their reporters.
That, he said, was part of the recommendations of the awards committee which would be worked at vigorously.
Mr Tetteh said to select someone to present the face of journalism in the country, it was crucial to have one whose work was of a high standard.
He said the GJA executives would collaborate with all the partners in the profession, such as the editors and the organising committees, to ensure that things worked out well.
The GJA President expressed the hope that in future the public and journalists alike would nominate one journalist in the country and justify why the one nominated deserved the award.
In all, 13 out of 22 categories were rewarded during the ceremony, which was full of glamour and fun.
Mr William Asiedu, a reporter with the Mirror, the leading weekend newspaper published by the Graphic Communications Group Limited, was adjudged the Best in Environmental Reporting. He also won a special award to become the only journalist to annex two prizes in the night.
Mrs Hadiza Quansah of the Junior Graphic also captured the prize for Best in Rural Reporting, while Nii Laryea Korley of the Graphic Showbiz grabbed the Arts/Entertainment/Domestic Tourism award.
Mr Innocent Appiah of the Ghanaian Times was adjudged the Best Reporter in the News Reporting (Print) category, while Mr John Vigah of the Times Sports carried away the Sports Journalist of the Year award.
Claire Banoeng Yakubu of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) won the Health Reporter of the Year award, with Ms Lauretta Vanderpuije, also of GBC, taking away the News Reporting (Television) category award.
Mr Merari Alomele of the Weekly Spectator won the Best Columnists award, with Mr Edward Nyarko of GBC winning the Business/Finance/Economic Reporting award. Mr Samuel Dowuona of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) emerged winner of the Best Features Writer (Print) award.
There were also special awards presented to individuals who had contributed immensely to the growth of the journalism over the years.
Mediamen, be fair, neutral
Front Page (lead), October 27/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has observed that one of the preconditions for credible elections in December is for journalists in the country to live up to their role as neutral referees.
Describing the media’s role in the exercise as awesome, Mrs Justice Wood said theirs was to educate the electorate in a manner that would assist them to make wise political decisions, and not to prejudge the issues.
She made the observation as the Guest Speaker at the 13th annual Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards and Dinner Night held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra.
The Chief Justice noted, however, that effectively discharging that duty might not come easy for the media.
“Given that while in democracies you have a right to freedom of expression, you have a corresponding duty to ensure proper balance in all your undertakings, that is, to be fair and just to all,” she said.
The event was graced by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and the Diplomatic Corps, among others.
In that atmosphere, and with a heavy media presence, Mrs Justice Wood said, “At all times, and especially in an election year, you should follow the guidelines of the Media Commission and avoid deliberate presentation of scenes, episodes and facts that are meant to excite passion, hatred, contempt and prejudice.”
She said elections served as the cornerstone of any democracy, adding that the deep-seated suspicion and mistrust surrounding the upcoming elections and the potential or real threat of post-election violence in particular placed on every well-meaning Ghanaian a solemn and patriotic duty to proactively work towards free, fair, clean and transparent, credible and peaceful elections.
Mrs Justice Wood noted how journalists were enjoying the present democratic dispensation and cautioned, “Whenever there is an authoritarian system in place, whatever freedom is enjoyed at the beginning yields to a culture of silence or censorship.”
“Plain, good common sense has its rightful place in jurisprudence. Indeed, the philosophical underpinnings of the fairly large number of judicial principles are based on plain common, good sense,” she said.
It was against that background that she noted, “We can, therefore, use the same rationale to persuade you, that it lies in your own interest, if not somebody else’s, that all your actions be geared towards that which will promote national peace and stability.”
She said the use of decorous, temperate and refined language and manners was a strict requirement in the judicial setting and the same must apply to journalists.
Mrs Justice Wood said ethnicity was the worst threat to national peace and cohesion, adding, “Consequently, stories involving ethnic or even religious groups must be handled with sensitivity.”
Alhaji Mahama, in his goodwill message, said, “Election years are especially fragile; what the media choose to highlight and hammer is what influences the mood and determines the attitudes of the larger public.”
“Depending on the tone and choice of delivery, insignificant, localised political incidents may be blown up into nation-wrecking events,” he added.
The Vice-President said the people also had a role to play in ensuring that the media kept a good balance in the discharge of their duties and noted that that could be done through support for professionalism through training.
“We need to come to terms with the pervasive nature of knowledge dissemination in the modern age and facilitate access to quality information. In short, we ought to be proactive with reliable and constructive information, rather than react to rumour and idle mischief,” he said.
The President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, reminded journalists of their role in society, which was to promote high journalistic standards, strengthen the contribution of the association and its members to democracy and good governance and promote media accountability and self-regulation.
He said the awards scheme could not have come thus far without the involvement of the public and urged them to contribute to the nomination of the jurists by assigning reasons for their selection.
Mr Tetteh acknowledged the sponsors of the awards, particularly MTN, the BUSAC Fund, Unilever, UNESCO, the French Embassy, the British High Commission, among others.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has observed that one of the preconditions for credible elections in December is for journalists in the country to live up to their role as neutral referees.
Describing the media’s role in the exercise as awesome, Mrs Justice Wood said theirs was to educate the electorate in a manner that would assist them to make wise political decisions, and not to prejudge the issues.
She made the observation as the Guest Speaker at the 13th annual Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards and Dinner Night held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra.
The Chief Justice noted, however, that effectively discharging that duty might not come easy for the media.
“Given that while in democracies you have a right to freedom of expression, you have a corresponding duty to ensure proper balance in all your undertakings, that is, to be fair and just to all,” she said.
The event was graced by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and the Diplomatic Corps, among others.
In that atmosphere, and with a heavy media presence, Mrs Justice Wood said, “At all times, and especially in an election year, you should follow the guidelines of the Media Commission and avoid deliberate presentation of scenes, episodes and facts that are meant to excite passion, hatred, contempt and prejudice.”
She said elections served as the cornerstone of any democracy, adding that the deep-seated suspicion and mistrust surrounding the upcoming elections and the potential or real threat of post-election violence in particular placed on every well-meaning Ghanaian a solemn and patriotic duty to proactively work towards free, fair, clean and transparent, credible and peaceful elections.
Mrs Justice Wood noted how journalists were enjoying the present democratic dispensation and cautioned, “Whenever there is an authoritarian system in place, whatever freedom is enjoyed at the beginning yields to a culture of silence or censorship.”
“Plain, good common sense has its rightful place in jurisprudence. Indeed, the philosophical underpinnings of the fairly large number of judicial principles are based on plain common, good sense,” she said.
It was against that background that she noted, “We can, therefore, use the same rationale to persuade you, that it lies in your own interest, if not somebody else’s, that all your actions be geared towards that which will promote national peace and stability.”
She said the use of decorous, temperate and refined language and manners was a strict requirement in the judicial setting and the same must apply to journalists.
Mrs Justice Wood said ethnicity was the worst threat to national peace and cohesion, adding, “Consequently, stories involving ethnic or even religious groups must be handled with sensitivity.”
Alhaji Mahama, in his goodwill message, said, “Election years are especially fragile; what the media choose to highlight and hammer is what influences the mood and determines the attitudes of the larger public.”
“Depending on the tone and choice of delivery, insignificant, localised political incidents may be blown up into nation-wrecking events,” he added.
The Vice-President said the people also had a role to play in ensuring that the media kept a good balance in the discharge of their duties and noted that that could be done through support for professionalism through training.
“We need to come to terms with the pervasive nature of knowledge dissemination in the modern age and facilitate access to quality information. In short, we ought to be proactive with reliable and constructive information, rather than react to rumour and idle mischief,” he said.
The President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, reminded journalists of their role in society, which was to promote high journalistic standards, strengthen the contribution of the association and its members to democracy and good governance and promote media accountability and self-regulation.
He said the awards scheme could not have come thus far without the involvement of the public and urged them to contribute to the nomination of the jurists by assigning reasons for their selection.
Mr Tetteh acknowledged the sponsors of the awards, particularly MTN, the BUSAC Fund, Unilever, UNESCO, the French Embassy, the British High Commission, among others.
What is our share of oil revenue?
Business Graphic, 'Your Views' Page, October 25/2008
Article: Charles Benoni Okine
EVEN before the eggs are hatched, Ghana is already counting its chickens. This is as a result of its strong conviction that there is approximately 2 billion barrels of crude oil of the highest grade hidden in the deep seas of Cape Three Points in the Western region.
Kosmos Energy, the renowned Texas based oil exploration company and Tullow of Britain, last year announced the discovery of the 'Black Gold', an announcement which threw the entire country particularly the government into a frenzy. Perhaps, the euphoria that greeted the find is also clear indication of how 'money' hungry the country and its people are. But this is because as President Kufuor once put it; “Our country would not become a beggar in the energy sector anymore” (Myjoyonline June 18, 2007).
According to the two companies, production of the first quantities of the find is expected in the latter part of 2010.
It is amazing that with this announcement, political parties in the country are using the expected revenues in about two years to plan their budgets and the various kinds of projects they intend to undertake with the proceeds. They have already conceded that the find will not be a curse but a blessing and this is obviously a refreshing expectation.
However, in spite if this spectacle, what is Ghana's share in the find? This is a question that many have not asked yet continue to excite themselves about the find and its proceeds and what it will do for the country.
Petroleum operations in the country are governed by the Production and Exploration Law of 1984 which regulates the petroleum sector.
The law provides for only 10 per cent equity share, that is petroleum share for Ghana in the event of the discovery of oil in commercial quantities by an oil exploration company, in this case, Kosmos and Tullow.
The law empowers the Ghana national Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to open acreages on its own or in association with other foreign partners or operators. Again, the general terms of a fiscal package negotiated and agreed with the parties in the event of a commercial discovery are as follows;
1. Royalties in respect of oil and gas are 12.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively
2. Carried interest of the GNPC is 10 per cent
3. GNPC's additional interest is 10 per cent, but subject to reimbursement of GNPC to contractor for its proportionate share of its participating interest.
The are other advantageous terms of the contracts which include;
1. No front payments such as signature or production bonuses
2. Negotiable royalties
3. Income tax (presently at 35 per cent)
4. Cost recovery concession
5. Low rental payments
6. Generous repatriation of funds and
7. Import duty exemption on exploration and production equipment and materials.
The exploration companies, for instance, Kosmos tells us that it spends more than $700,000 a day in its exploration activities offshore, an amount which the government cannot afford in its present state of affairs as far as the economy is concerned and, therefore, allowing the exploration companies to fund the exploration process is one in the right direction.
The issue is rather about what Ghana's stake is in the entire process which is expected to last for more than 30 years when production finally commences.
At the maiden National Forum on Oil and Gas Development in Accra at GIMPA on February 25-26 2008, the issue of Ghana's share in the entire process came up strongly.
The boss of the GNPC, when he took his turn, enumerated all what Ghana stood to gain from the find t it was the majority including foreigners did not think it was enough, what the country's share was.
Cocoa and gold are the two major sources of foreign income to the country and they are those that have helped sustain the economy for several decades.
For gold for instance, although the resource is mined in the country with its negative effects on the communities in which the mining companies operate, what Ghana gets in terms of its share is nothing to write home about. It is for this reason that the country is not even excited about the recent high rise in the commodity on the international market when oil was eating the world's economies with it record high prices.
This is a lesson that Ghana can draw to ensure that its share in the oil find is something worth feeding on so that in the event of high prices on the international market, it will stand to gain and not lose or have nothing to be joyous about.
The call for a review of the present fiscal regime in the upstream sector in the dawn of this new era of discovery of oil in Ghana is not out of place.
There should be greater attention paid to the regulatory, contractual and fiscal framework of the petroleum industry before it is too late.
In doing that, the nation (government and citizens alike) should work to stem the any possible oil revenue leakages as this will help maximise the oil revenue to the nation.
Article: Charles Benoni Okine
EVEN before the eggs are hatched, Ghana is already counting its chickens. This is as a result of its strong conviction that there is approximately 2 billion barrels of crude oil of the highest grade hidden in the deep seas of Cape Three Points in the Western region.
Kosmos Energy, the renowned Texas based oil exploration company and Tullow of Britain, last year announced the discovery of the 'Black Gold', an announcement which threw the entire country particularly the government into a frenzy. Perhaps, the euphoria that greeted the find is also clear indication of how 'money' hungry the country and its people are. But this is because as President Kufuor once put it; “Our country would not become a beggar in the energy sector anymore” (Myjoyonline June 18, 2007).
According to the two companies, production of the first quantities of the find is expected in the latter part of 2010.
It is amazing that with this announcement, political parties in the country are using the expected revenues in about two years to plan their budgets and the various kinds of projects they intend to undertake with the proceeds. They have already conceded that the find will not be a curse but a blessing and this is obviously a refreshing expectation.
However, in spite if this spectacle, what is Ghana's share in the find? This is a question that many have not asked yet continue to excite themselves about the find and its proceeds and what it will do for the country.
Petroleum operations in the country are governed by the Production and Exploration Law of 1984 which regulates the petroleum sector.
The law provides for only 10 per cent equity share, that is petroleum share for Ghana in the event of the discovery of oil in commercial quantities by an oil exploration company, in this case, Kosmos and Tullow.
The law empowers the Ghana national Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to open acreages on its own or in association with other foreign partners or operators. Again, the general terms of a fiscal package negotiated and agreed with the parties in the event of a commercial discovery are as follows;
1. Royalties in respect of oil and gas are 12.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively
2. Carried interest of the GNPC is 10 per cent
3. GNPC's additional interest is 10 per cent, but subject to reimbursement of GNPC to contractor for its proportionate share of its participating interest.
The are other advantageous terms of the contracts which include;
1. No front payments such as signature or production bonuses
2. Negotiable royalties
3. Income tax (presently at 35 per cent)
4. Cost recovery concession
5. Low rental payments
6. Generous repatriation of funds and
7. Import duty exemption on exploration and production equipment and materials.
The exploration companies, for instance, Kosmos tells us that it spends more than $700,000 a day in its exploration activities offshore, an amount which the government cannot afford in its present state of affairs as far as the economy is concerned and, therefore, allowing the exploration companies to fund the exploration process is one in the right direction.
The issue is rather about what Ghana's stake is in the entire process which is expected to last for more than 30 years when production finally commences.
At the maiden National Forum on Oil and Gas Development in Accra at GIMPA on February 25-26 2008, the issue of Ghana's share in the entire process came up strongly.
The boss of the GNPC, when he took his turn, enumerated all what Ghana stood to gain from the find t it was the majority including foreigners did not think it was enough, what the country's share was.
Cocoa and gold are the two major sources of foreign income to the country and they are those that have helped sustain the economy for several decades.
For gold for instance, although the resource is mined in the country with its negative effects on the communities in which the mining companies operate, what Ghana gets in terms of its share is nothing to write home about. It is for this reason that the country is not even excited about the recent high rise in the commodity on the international market when oil was eating the world's economies with it record high prices.
This is a lesson that Ghana can draw to ensure that its share in the oil find is something worth feeding on so that in the event of high prices on the international market, it will stand to gain and not lose or have nothing to be joyous about.
The call for a review of the present fiscal regime in the upstream sector in the dawn of this new era of discovery of oil in Ghana is not out of place.
There should be greater attention paid to the regulatory, contractual and fiscal framework of the petroleum industry before it is too late.
In doing that, the nation (government and citizens alike) should work to stem the any possible oil revenue leakages as this will help maximise the oil revenue to the nation.
Will of electorate must prevail
Spread (lead), October 25/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called on the electorate to allow their will to prevail in the selection of whoever they deem fit to rule the country.
"These elections should not be a life-or-death affair because we stand to lose credibility in the eyes of the international community should we allow this to degenerate into chaos," he said.
The Vice-President, who made the call when the visiting Governor of Kano State in Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, called on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday, noted that the government had prepared the ground to ensure peaceful elections.
The Kano State Governor is in the country to attend the African Islamic Shariah Conference which is expected to commence in Accra today.
Alhaji Mahama said the government had experience in overseeing successful elections in the country and was using that experience to ensure that this year's elections did not degenerate into anything that would mar the reputation of the country.
"We know the world is watching and we are not going to disappoint them in any way," he added.
Alhaji Mahama asked Africans to ensure that they did not allow their traditional practices to deprive others of their rights.
He said each person had a right and that it was up to us to ensure that people performed their duties and activities as per their right but according to law.
The Vice-President also recounted the good relations between the two countries and indicated that the bond of friendship should not be allowed to wane "but be made to grow stronger".
Alhaji Shekarau, for his part, wished Ghana well in its elections in December.
"We expect Ghana to go through this elections peacefully so that it will continue to play its role in ensuring peace on the continent," he added.
Alhaji Shekarau said the relationship between the two countries had grown and expressed the hope that it would grow stronger, to the benefit of their people.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called on the electorate to allow their will to prevail in the selection of whoever they deem fit to rule the country.
"These elections should not be a life-or-death affair because we stand to lose credibility in the eyes of the international community should we allow this to degenerate into chaos," he said.
The Vice-President, who made the call when the visiting Governor of Kano State in Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, called on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday, noted that the government had prepared the ground to ensure peaceful elections.
The Kano State Governor is in the country to attend the African Islamic Shariah Conference which is expected to commence in Accra today.
Alhaji Mahama said the government had experience in overseeing successful elections in the country and was using that experience to ensure that this year's elections did not degenerate into anything that would mar the reputation of the country.
"We know the world is watching and we are not going to disappoint them in any way," he added.
Alhaji Mahama asked Africans to ensure that they did not allow their traditional practices to deprive others of their rights.
He said each person had a right and that it was up to us to ensure that people performed their duties and activities as per their right but according to law.
The Vice-President also recounted the good relations between the two countries and indicated that the bond of friendship should not be allowed to wane "but be made to grow stronger".
Alhaji Shekarau, for his part, wished Ghana well in its elections in December.
"We expect Ghana to go through this elections peacefully so that it will continue to play its role in ensuring peace on the continent," he added.
Alhaji Shekarau said the relationship between the two countries had grown and expressed the hope that it would grow stronger, to the benefit of their people.
We've nothing to hide
Spread (lead), October 23/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has explained that the government intends to invite foreign and local election observers to this year’s general election because the country has nothing to hide.
“We have championed democracy and the rule of law, freedom of the media and, above all, ruled transparently and it is for this reason that we open our doors to observers to see how transparent we will take this process through,” he added.
The Vice-President gave the explanation when the Deputy Head of the Department of International Co-operation of the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, Mr Frank Spengler, paid a courtesy call on him at his office at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
Mr Spengler and his group are in the country as part of their sub-regional tour to review the work of political parties to enable them to play a more meaningful role in enhancing democracy, the rule of law, among others.
Alhaji Mahama said since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) assumed the reins of government almost eight years ago, it had committed itself to ensuring that democratic principles were made more solid.
He mentioned the enhancement of the rule of law, the creation of an environment to enhance the freedom of the media, as well as good governance.
The Vice-President said Ghana had made a name for itself in the world and was, therefore, considered as an icon of democracy.
“We are working hard to ensure that the democratic principles in the country gain even firmer roots here,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama said it was against that background that the government had made preparations to ensure that this year’s elections were conducted in a peaceful, transparent, free and fair manner.
He said the government had also put structures in place to ensure a smooth transition from the present administration to the next one, “whichever party it may be, to ensure continuous peace”.
He said the government would welcome any assistance from credible institutions such as the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung in that direction.
For his part, Mr Spengler described the government’s request and invitation to foreign observers to observe the election process as laudable and welcome.
“We normally do not have this kind of open invitations for us to observe elections and we find the openness of the government a step in the right direction,” he added.
Mr Spengler said observing elections across the world also gave the observers the opportunity to learn and improve on what pertained in their countries.
He expressed the hope that this year’s elections would be different, as they had always been, and wished Ghana well.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has explained that the government intends to invite foreign and local election observers to this year’s general election because the country has nothing to hide.
“We have championed democracy and the rule of law, freedom of the media and, above all, ruled transparently and it is for this reason that we open our doors to observers to see how transparent we will take this process through,” he added.
The Vice-President gave the explanation when the Deputy Head of the Department of International Co-operation of the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, Mr Frank Spengler, paid a courtesy call on him at his office at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
Mr Spengler and his group are in the country as part of their sub-regional tour to review the work of political parties to enable them to play a more meaningful role in enhancing democracy, the rule of law, among others.
Alhaji Mahama said since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) assumed the reins of government almost eight years ago, it had committed itself to ensuring that democratic principles were made more solid.
He mentioned the enhancement of the rule of law, the creation of an environment to enhance the freedom of the media, as well as good governance.
The Vice-President said Ghana had made a name for itself in the world and was, therefore, considered as an icon of democracy.
“We are working hard to ensure that the democratic principles in the country gain even firmer roots here,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama said it was against that background that the government had made preparations to ensure that this year’s elections were conducted in a peaceful, transparent, free and fair manner.
He said the government had also put structures in place to ensure a smooth transition from the present administration to the next one, “whichever party it may be, to ensure continuous peace”.
He said the government would welcome any assistance from credible institutions such as the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung in that direction.
For his part, Mr Spengler described the government’s request and invitation to foreign observers to observe the election process as laudable and welcome.
“We normally do not have this kind of open invitations for us to observe elections and we find the openness of the government a step in the right direction,” he added.
Mr Spengler said observing elections across the world also gave the observers the opportunity to learn and improve on what pertained in their countries.
He expressed the hope that this year’s elections would be different, as they had always been, and wished Ghana well.
Govt will devote more resources to science, maths
Page 55, October 23/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has affirmed government’s commitment to continue to devote more resources to the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in the country.
That, he said, formed part of the government’s efforts to prepare Ghanaians for the nation’s industrialisation drive.
Alhaji Mahama said this when the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in Accra introduced nine new members of the Japanese Overseas Co-operation Volunteers (JOCV) to him at the Castle on Tuesday.
The new volunteers, who were presented by the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami, are expected to be posted to various parts of the country to work in different fields.
Alhaji Mahama commended the Japanese government for the release of the volunteers to support in the building of the manpower needs of the country.
He also expressed gratitude to the volunteers for accepting to take up appointments in areas that many might not want to go.
The Vice-President urged the volunteers to learn Ghanaian culture to enable them to adjust to their new environment
and assured them that Ghanaians were a hospitable people who would make their stay in the country comfortable.
He also urged them not to hesitate to ask for assistance from the communities in which they would be posted.
Mr Katakami, for his part, said more than 1,000 Japanese volunteers had served in the country.
He expressed the hope that the relationship between the two countries would be further strengthened.
In another development, the family of the late Major Benjamin Akwaitey (retd), one-time camp commander in the Ghana Army, called on the Vice-President to inform him about the death of the major.
The delegation was led by Nene Djagbletey, a divisional chief of Dodowa, who said the family had fixed November 10, this year for the funeral of Major Akwaitey.
Alhaji Mahama described the late major as a warrior who served the country selflessly and expressed the hope that those in the Army would emulate his exemplary leadership and dedication to duty.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has affirmed government’s commitment to continue to devote more resources to the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in the country.
That, he said, formed part of the government’s efforts to prepare Ghanaians for the nation’s industrialisation drive.
Alhaji Mahama said this when the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in Accra introduced nine new members of the Japanese Overseas Co-operation Volunteers (JOCV) to him at the Castle on Tuesday.
The new volunteers, who were presented by the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami, are expected to be posted to various parts of the country to work in different fields.
Alhaji Mahama commended the Japanese government for the release of the volunteers to support in the building of the manpower needs of the country.
He also expressed gratitude to the volunteers for accepting to take up appointments in areas that many might not want to go.
The Vice-President urged the volunteers to learn Ghanaian culture to enable them to adjust to their new environment
and assured them that Ghanaians were a hospitable people who would make their stay in the country comfortable.
He also urged them not to hesitate to ask for assistance from the communities in which they would be posted.
Mr Katakami, for his part, said more than 1,000 Japanese volunteers had served in the country.
He expressed the hope that the relationship between the two countries would be further strengthened.
In another development, the family of the late Major Benjamin Akwaitey (retd), one-time camp commander in the Ghana Army, called on the Vice-President to inform him about the death of the major.
The delegation was led by Nene Djagbletey, a divisional chief of Dodowa, who said the family had fixed November 10, this year for the funeral of Major Akwaitey.
Alhaji Mahama described the late major as a warrior who served the country selflessly and expressed the hope that those in the Army would emulate his exemplary leadership and dedication to duty.
President bares teeth at NDC
Page 55, October 17/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE President has given the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a 14-day ultimatum to produce the evidence or unreservedly retract allegations made to the effect that he (the President) engaged in an oil business, as a result of which he owed a Kuwaiti firm $5 billion.
At a news conference at the Castle yesterday, the Press Secretary to the President, Mr Andrew Awuni, said, “The NDC has gone ahead to say that as a result of this so-called debt the President owes, he is being dragged to The Hague and that a certain queen is intervening on his behalf.”
He asked the opposition party to provide the proof, retract or face legal action.
According to the Presidential Spokesman, the leadership of the NDC and the Weekly Standard newspaper alleged that President Kufuor owed over $5 billion to some Kuwait oil suppliers and that his personal properties were being appropriated to defray that debt, an allegation he denied.
“The NDC did not leave this wicked allegation to their propagandists alone to peddle but they have, as a party, actually issued an official statement repeating this same allegation,” he added.
“President Kufuor does not have dealings with any Kuwaiti oil suppliers,” Mr Awuni reiterated, and added, “President Kufuor does not owe any oil company; he does not owe any Kuwaiti oil suppliers or any company anywhere, for that matter.”
The Press Secretary described the allegations as blatant lies deliberately hatched from the campaign strategy document of the NDC to smear President Kufuor and his government in the run-up to the elections and vowed that “it is enough and the government will not allow this to pass by”.
“In a similar fashion as the Kuwaiti oil lie, some mischievous propagandists have produced and are circulating a so-called list of government officials, their account numbers and amounts to their names,” he said.
Mr Awuni said the amounts listed in those documents were so huge that their sum total would exceed the sum of all deposits in all banks in the country put together.
“That is how disingenuous the originators of the document are and yet they are moving from chop bar to chop bar, lorry station to lorry station, spreading these lies. Sadly, these evil plotters have made the military barracks another destination for distributing this document, when they know very well that these are total fabrications and lies,” he said.
Mr Awuni questioned: “What is the motive? Clearly it is to provoke ill feelings from the military against the President and the good people of Ghana.”
“This is a President who stands tall among his peers and has endeared himself to the international community through his devotion to duty and upholding the integrity of his high office,” he said.
Mr Awuni said that was evidenced by the several high national and international awards that the President had received and continued to receive, even as he approached the twilight of his Presidency.
He said the high recognition accorded the President world-wide was not only unprecedented in the country’s political history but was also “indeed, a fine proof of his hard-won reputation which cannot be easily tainted by these baseless lies”.
Mr Awuni said it was clear from the happenings that “these politicians have decided on deception as a means to political power”.
“They will repeat these lies, irrespective of how many times they are confronted with the truth,” he said, and asked the electorate to ignore those behind the act.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE President has given the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a 14-day ultimatum to produce the evidence or unreservedly retract allegations made to the effect that he (the President) engaged in an oil business, as a result of which he owed a Kuwaiti firm $5 billion.
At a news conference at the Castle yesterday, the Press Secretary to the President, Mr Andrew Awuni, said, “The NDC has gone ahead to say that as a result of this so-called debt the President owes, he is being dragged to The Hague and that a certain queen is intervening on his behalf.”
He asked the opposition party to provide the proof, retract or face legal action.
According to the Presidential Spokesman, the leadership of the NDC and the Weekly Standard newspaper alleged that President Kufuor owed over $5 billion to some Kuwait oil suppliers and that his personal properties were being appropriated to defray that debt, an allegation he denied.
“The NDC did not leave this wicked allegation to their propagandists alone to peddle but they have, as a party, actually issued an official statement repeating this same allegation,” he added.
“President Kufuor does not have dealings with any Kuwaiti oil suppliers,” Mr Awuni reiterated, and added, “President Kufuor does not owe any oil company; he does not owe any Kuwaiti oil suppliers or any company anywhere, for that matter.”
The Press Secretary described the allegations as blatant lies deliberately hatched from the campaign strategy document of the NDC to smear President Kufuor and his government in the run-up to the elections and vowed that “it is enough and the government will not allow this to pass by”.
“In a similar fashion as the Kuwaiti oil lie, some mischievous propagandists have produced and are circulating a so-called list of government officials, their account numbers and amounts to their names,” he said.
Mr Awuni said the amounts listed in those documents were so huge that their sum total would exceed the sum of all deposits in all banks in the country put together.
“That is how disingenuous the originators of the document are and yet they are moving from chop bar to chop bar, lorry station to lorry station, spreading these lies. Sadly, these evil plotters have made the military barracks another destination for distributing this document, when they know very well that these are total fabrications and lies,” he said.
Mr Awuni questioned: “What is the motive? Clearly it is to provoke ill feelings from the military against the President and the good people of Ghana.”
“This is a President who stands tall among his peers and has endeared himself to the international community through his devotion to duty and upholding the integrity of his high office,” he said.
Mr Awuni said that was evidenced by the several high national and international awards that the President had received and continued to receive, even as he approached the twilight of his Presidency.
He said the high recognition accorded the President world-wide was not only unprecedented in the country’s political history but was also “indeed, a fine proof of his hard-won reputation which cannot be easily tainted by these baseless lies”.
Mr Awuni said it was clear from the happenings that “these politicians have decided on deception as a means to political power”.
“They will repeat these lies, irrespective of how many times they are confronted with the truth,” he said, and asked the electorate to ignore those behind the act.
RPD also picks woman running-mate
Page 3 (lead), October 15/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD) has chosen a Cape Coast-based business woman, Ms Rosemond Abraham, as the running mate of the party’s presidential aspirant, Mr Kwabena Adjei.
The 40-year-old woman, who called at the offices of the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, in the company of the flag bearer, was one of three candidates presented for the party to choose from.
The selection of Ms Abraham comes two days to the filing of nominations by presidential and parliamentary candidates with the Electoral Commission (EC) and 24 hours after the People’s National Convention (PNC) had selected another woman as the running mate of Dr Edward Mahama.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after her introduction, Ms Abraham, who was until her selection the Women’s Organiser of the RPD, said, “I am well groomed to partner the flag bearer of our party to victory because of my passion for women.”
She said the urgency to get more women involved in the development of the country had become more crucial now than before and indicated that her selection was in recognition of that fact.
“I’m aware that women are a formidable force to reckon with in national development and I will not fail,” Ms Abraham added.
She gave the assurance that under her leadership, and with the support of Mr Adjei, women would be seen at the forefront of many issues in the country “because it is through this that we will see real growth”.
On health, she said doctors and nurses had been demotivated under the NPP administration and pledged her desire to ensure that that sector, which dealt with the health of the nation, was given the needed attention.
Ms Abraham also expressed her resolve to end the challenges that teachers went through.
“Our teachers have suffered for far too long and that is why we have experienced many strikes by them,” she said, and pledged to end that pattern.
She said the RPD was in to win the election and would not toy with its chances, adding, “I will put in my all to ensure a resounding victory that will surprise many.”
She ended with a call on the electorate to vote out the ruling NPP.
Mr Adjei, alias Bambaata, for his part, justified his selection of Ms Abraham, saying, “She has demonstrated her ability to partner me to clinch victory.”
He said at an emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive last Monday, his choice was unanimously endorsed, saying that demonstrated the confidence the executive had in Ms Abraham.
Asked why he did not follow the other parties which selected mostly people from the north as running mates of their flag bearers, he said, “I have a lot of respect for northerners and Muslims, but it just happened that the National Executive endorsed Ms Abraham, whom the northerners and the Muslims in the party felt was well positioned to give the party victory.”
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD) has chosen a Cape Coast-based business woman, Ms Rosemond Abraham, as the running mate of the party’s presidential aspirant, Mr Kwabena Adjei.
The 40-year-old woman, who called at the offices of the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, in the company of the flag bearer, was one of three candidates presented for the party to choose from.
The selection of Ms Abraham comes two days to the filing of nominations by presidential and parliamentary candidates with the Electoral Commission (EC) and 24 hours after the People’s National Convention (PNC) had selected another woman as the running mate of Dr Edward Mahama.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after her introduction, Ms Abraham, who was until her selection the Women’s Organiser of the RPD, said, “I am well groomed to partner the flag bearer of our party to victory because of my passion for women.”
She said the urgency to get more women involved in the development of the country had become more crucial now than before and indicated that her selection was in recognition of that fact.
“I’m aware that women are a formidable force to reckon with in national development and I will not fail,” Ms Abraham added.
She gave the assurance that under her leadership, and with the support of Mr Adjei, women would be seen at the forefront of many issues in the country “because it is through this that we will see real growth”.
On health, she said doctors and nurses had been demotivated under the NPP administration and pledged her desire to ensure that that sector, which dealt with the health of the nation, was given the needed attention.
Ms Abraham also expressed her resolve to end the challenges that teachers went through.
“Our teachers have suffered for far too long and that is why we have experienced many strikes by them,” she said, and pledged to end that pattern.
She said the RPD was in to win the election and would not toy with its chances, adding, “I will put in my all to ensure a resounding victory that will surprise many.”
She ended with a call on the electorate to vote out the ruling NPP.
Mr Adjei, alias Bambaata, for his part, justified his selection of Ms Abraham, saying, “She has demonstrated her ability to partner me to clinch victory.”
He said at an emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive last Monday, his choice was unanimously endorsed, saying that demonstrated the confidence the executive had in Ms Abraham.
Asked why he did not follow the other parties which selected mostly people from the north as running mates of their flag bearers, he said, “I have a lot of respect for northerners and Muslims, but it just happened that the National Executive endorsed Ms Abraham, whom the northerners and the Muslims in the party felt was well positioned to give the party victory.”
100 tractors in to boost agriculture
Page 47, October 13/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE first batch of about 100 tractors ordered by the government to boost its agricultural modernisation programme have arrived in the country.
The remaining 400 tractors, imported through Technik Agricultural and Equipment Company Limited, sole distributor of John Deere equipment, are expected in the country by the end of the year for onward distribution to farmers in the country at affordable prices to help them improve their yield.
This came to light when the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of John Deere International, Mr Robert W. Lane, paid a courtesy call on the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, at his office at the Castle, Osu, last Friday.
He was accompanied by Mr Kingsley Osei-Amankwah, Executive Director of Technik Agriculture and Equipment Company Limited and other senior officials of the company.
Alhaji Mahama said the government was paying great attention to the agricultural sector as part of its quest to make the country self-sufficient in food production.
He said although the international food crisis had not hit Ghana, “we are not taking anything for granted”.
The Vice President said many farmers in the country were not using modern farm equipment to increase their yield and noted that it was for that reason and others that the government decided to order the tractors for them.
“We express the hope that the prices of the tractors would be something that would meet the pockets of the farmers,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama said the government believed in the make of the tractors, saying “we have known the John Deere brand of tractors for long and we are happy to have them in the system once again”.
Mr Lane, on his part, thanked the government for the confidence it had in the tractors, which are being used in over 130 countries across the world and had a track record of success.
Mr Lane said the tractors were well built to be able to work in any terrain and till the most stubborn soil to increase agricultural yields.
Mr Osei-Amankwah, who worked as a senior technician of John Deere many years ago, said the necessary parts of the tractors were also available.
He expressed the hope that the final consignment would be delivered by the end of the year to enable the farmers who would have access to them to start work immediately.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE first batch of about 100 tractors ordered by the government to boost its agricultural modernisation programme have arrived in the country.
The remaining 400 tractors, imported through Technik Agricultural and Equipment Company Limited, sole distributor of John Deere equipment, are expected in the country by the end of the year for onward distribution to farmers in the country at affordable prices to help them improve their yield.
This came to light when the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of John Deere International, Mr Robert W. Lane, paid a courtesy call on the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, at his office at the Castle, Osu, last Friday.
He was accompanied by Mr Kingsley Osei-Amankwah, Executive Director of Technik Agriculture and Equipment Company Limited and other senior officials of the company.
Alhaji Mahama said the government was paying great attention to the agricultural sector as part of its quest to make the country self-sufficient in food production.
He said although the international food crisis had not hit Ghana, “we are not taking anything for granted”.
The Vice President said many farmers in the country were not using modern farm equipment to increase their yield and noted that it was for that reason and others that the government decided to order the tractors for them.
“We express the hope that the prices of the tractors would be something that would meet the pockets of the farmers,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama said the government believed in the make of the tractors, saying “we have known the John Deere brand of tractors for long and we are happy to have them in the system once again”.
Mr Lane, on his part, thanked the government for the confidence it had in the tractors, which are being used in over 130 countries across the world and had a track record of success.
Mr Lane said the tractors were well built to be able to work in any terrain and till the most stubborn soil to increase agricultural yields.
Mr Osei-Amankwah, who worked as a senior technician of John Deere many years ago, said the necessary parts of the tractors were also available.
He expressed the hope that the final consignment would be delivered by the end of the year to enable the farmers who would have access to them to start work immediately.
Ghanaians must insist on peace
Page 17 (lead), October 10/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine and Caroline Boateng
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has underscored the need for all Ghanaians to insist on peace as the basis for all their actions as they prepare for the December 7 general election.
He said their insistence on peace would ensure that no one threatened the prevailing peace in the nation.
Opening the 7th regional consultation of the West African Inter Religious Co-ordinating Committee (WAIRCC) in Accra last Tuesday, Alhaji Mahama stressed the need for peace as the pre-requisite to development and progress.
The week-long meeting is being organised in collaboration with the Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP), the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL) and Religions for Peace (RfP).
“As human beings, there will always be differences. It is the approach to resolutions that matters. And that is why the wonderful initiative of bringing different religions together in one council for dialogue must be commended,” the Vice-President told the participants.
He lauded the initiative of the organisers for bringing different beliefs and practices together to share and foster mutual respect for each other’s views, even where they differed fundamentally, and also their efforts at forging an international network of people of diverse religious backgrounds, beliefs and practices.
Alhaji Aliu said the potential of such collaborations were enormous because in using each other’s belief system as a common factor, leaders’ attitude and examples could greatly influence the perceptions and attitudes of numerous people.
He, therefore, tasked participants to provide the kind of leadership that shunned violence and intolerance, promoted respect for other people and rejected all forms of intolerance.
Welcoming participants, the Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Dr Wahab Adam, spoke about the need for all to collaborate to ensure peace in the sub-region since religion was meant to be a source of immense blessing for mankind.
The Ameer, who is also the Chairman of the GCRP, said although religion had been used to divide, cause anguish and pain, RfP focused on uniting people for the promotion of peace and development.
He expressed the hope that deliberations on the theme “Confronting Violence and Advancing Shared Security in West Africa,” would deepen the commitment of all in the promotion of peace.
The General Secretary of the Liberian Council of Churches and the Co-ordinator of WAIRCC, Dr Benjamin Dorme Lartey, tracing the beginnings of such collaborative efforts, said some warlords in the Liberian War tried to use religion as a factor for the conflicts.
He said Christian and Muslim leaders decided to come together to correct the erroneous impressions and their efforts had nurtured peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone, while further collaborations had been achieved in countries like Guinea, Cote d’Iviore and Ghana.
He announced the expansion of the network to Benin, Senegal and Nigeria.
“Our membership is increasing because it makes sense for religious leaders to come together and work to promote peace,” he added.
In a goodwill message, the West African Regional Director of RfP, Reverend William Tolbert III, said RfP was the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace.
It had also collaborated with inter-religious councils in 70 countries across six continents to build peace, eradicate conflict and advance sustainable development.
The Regional Programme Co-ordinator of the Advocacy for Children Programme for ACRL-RfP, Ms Zebib Kavuma, for her part, said that multi-religious co-operation was the only way forward in consolidating peace in the subregion and promote the development of people.
A Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr K. T. Hammond, assured Ghanaians that God was in charge of the country and would ensure a peaceful outcome in the December elections.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine and Caroline Boateng
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has underscored the need for all Ghanaians to insist on peace as the basis for all their actions as they prepare for the December 7 general election.
He said their insistence on peace would ensure that no one threatened the prevailing peace in the nation.
Opening the 7th regional consultation of the West African Inter Religious Co-ordinating Committee (WAIRCC) in Accra last Tuesday, Alhaji Mahama stressed the need for peace as the pre-requisite to development and progress.
The week-long meeting is being organised in collaboration with the Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP), the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL) and Religions for Peace (RfP).
“As human beings, there will always be differences. It is the approach to resolutions that matters. And that is why the wonderful initiative of bringing different religions together in one council for dialogue must be commended,” the Vice-President told the participants.
He lauded the initiative of the organisers for bringing different beliefs and practices together to share and foster mutual respect for each other’s views, even where they differed fundamentally, and also their efforts at forging an international network of people of diverse religious backgrounds, beliefs and practices.
Alhaji Aliu said the potential of such collaborations were enormous because in using each other’s belief system as a common factor, leaders’ attitude and examples could greatly influence the perceptions and attitudes of numerous people.
He, therefore, tasked participants to provide the kind of leadership that shunned violence and intolerance, promoted respect for other people and rejected all forms of intolerance.
Welcoming participants, the Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Dr Wahab Adam, spoke about the need for all to collaborate to ensure peace in the sub-region since religion was meant to be a source of immense blessing for mankind.
The Ameer, who is also the Chairman of the GCRP, said although religion had been used to divide, cause anguish and pain, RfP focused on uniting people for the promotion of peace and development.
He expressed the hope that deliberations on the theme “Confronting Violence and Advancing Shared Security in West Africa,” would deepen the commitment of all in the promotion of peace.
The General Secretary of the Liberian Council of Churches and the Co-ordinator of WAIRCC, Dr Benjamin Dorme Lartey, tracing the beginnings of such collaborative efforts, said some warlords in the Liberian War tried to use religion as a factor for the conflicts.
He said Christian and Muslim leaders decided to come together to correct the erroneous impressions and their efforts had nurtured peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone, while further collaborations had been achieved in countries like Guinea, Cote d’Iviore and Ghana.
He announced the expansion of the network to Benin, Senegal and Nigeria.
“Our membership is increasing because it makes sense for religious leaders to come together and work to promote peace,” he added.
In a goodwill message, the West African Regional Director of RfP, Reverend William Tolbert III, said RfP was the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace.
It had also collaborated with inter-religious councils in 70 countries across six continents to build peace, eradicate conflict and advance sustainable development.
The Regional Programme Co-ordinator of the Advocacy for Children Programme for ACRL-RfP, Ms Zebib Kavuma, for her part, said that multi-religious co-operation was the only way forward in consolidating peace in the subregion and promote the development of people.
A Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr K. T. Hammond, assured Ghanaians that God was in charge of the country and would ensure a peaceful outcome in the December elections.
Veep receives Congo envoy, October 8/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has urged African leaders to collectively devise means of harnessing the rich human and natural resources on the continent for their mutual benefit.
That, according to him, was the surest way to accelerate the social and economic development of the continent.
Alhaji Mahama said this at his Cantonment residence yesterday when a special envoy of Mr Sasssuo Nguesso, President of Congo Brazzaville, presented a special message to him for onward delivery to President Kufuor.
President Kufuor is being invited to Congo Brazzaville to attend the Sixth African Forum on Sustainable Development, which is expected to assemble African leaders to brainstorm on how to harness the rich resources on the continent for accelerated development.
Areas to be considered during the forum will be the rapid development of the agricultural sectors, while maintaining a greener forest and eco-system, as well as infrastructural development.
The forum will be under the auspices of the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa with technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Vice President said the forum was a crucial one, which comes in the wake of the soaring global food and crude oil prices on the international market.
He said the Presidents of the two countries had played major roles in the past to ensure the sustainable development of the continent and noted that the forum would further afford them the opportunity to put across more ideas for the benefit of the continent.
Early on, Mr Alain Akouala Atipault, Minister of Communications and Government’s Spokesperson, who delivered the letter, said Ghana was being invited because of the special role it had played and continued to play in the affairs of Africa and the world.
He said the government under President Sassou Nguesso had a lot of confidence in President Kufuor and expressed the hope that his participation in the forum would further enhance the rich collective decisions that would be taken afterwards.
Mr Atipault expressed his gratitude to Vice President Mahama for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has urged African leaders to collectively devise means of harnessing the rich human and natural resources on the continent for their mutual benefit.
That, according to him, was the surest way to accelerate the social and economic development of the continent.
Alhaji Mahama said this at his Cantonment residence yesterday when a special envoy of Mr Sasssuo Nguesso, President of Congo Brazzaville, presented a special message to him for onward delivery to President Kufuor.
President Kufuor is being invited to Congo Brazzaville to attend the Sixth African Forum on Sustainable Development, which is expected to assemble African leaders to brainstorm on how to harness the rich resources on the continent for accelerated development.
Areas to be considered during the forum will be the rapid development of the agricultural sectors, while maintaining a greener forest and eco-system, as well as infrastructural development.
The forum will be under the auspices of the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa with technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Vice President said the forum was a crucial one, which comes in the wake of the soaring global food and crude oil prices on the international market.
He said the Presidents of the two countries had played major roles in the past to ensure the sustainable development of the continent and noted that the forum would further afford them the opportunity to put across more ideas for the benefit of the continent.
Early on, Mr Alain Akouala Atipault, Minister of Communications and Government’s Spokesperson, who delivered the letter, said Ghana was being invited because of the special role it had played and continued to play in the affairs of Africa and the world.
He said the government under President Sassou Nguesso had a lot of confidence in President Kufuor and expressed the hope that his participation in the forum would further enhance the rich collective decisions that would be taken afterwards.
Mr Atipault expressed his gratitude to Vice President Mahama for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage.
Encourage reforms in public service
Spread (lead) October 7/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Timothy Gobah
THE Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called on the leadership of the African Public Service to encourage reforms that are homegrown and environmentally adaptable as a way of solving Africa’s development challenges.
“In doing this, we should not ignore our history, traditions, values and aspirations as well as our inherent strength and weaknesses,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama made the call when he opened the 30th African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) Roundtable conference in Accra yesterday.
The six-day conference is designed to provide an independent open environment for networking, to share information, identify and test ideas, exchange experience and discuss strategies for raising the performance levels of the African Public Service in order to bring development and prosperity to the continent.
It is on the theme: ”Enhancing the Performance of the Public Service in a Developmental State” with participants from Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Swaziland and Lesotho, among others.
He said concerns over current levels of performance in the public service in Africa were largely legitimate because the service played such a critical role in national development that any effort aimed at promoting its efficiency ought to be supported.
He said in terms of resource endowment, Africa was by no means a poor continent, but noted, however, that over the years its vast resources had been exploited by Western countries with the active collusion of local compradors to develop their economies.
Alhaji Mahama said while the continent’s citizens wallowed in poverty and disease its leaders looked outside the borders for handouts that eventually kept its people in perpetual debt due to an unfair world economic order.
“The question often posed is how should African countries manage and utilise these resources for the benefit of the vast majority of their people?” he noted.
He said the public service the world over were burdened with excessive control, bureaucracy, political interference or lack of political will to improve the service and its management.
“In our part of the world, these are compounded by ethnicity, patronage and other forms of management style which inhibit performance,” he said.
The Minister of Public Sector Reform, Mr Samuel Owusu-Agyei, said the effective delivery of public service was key to a functional state and economy yet making sure that these functions were carried out effectively was becoming more complex and challenging.
He said the globalisation phenomenon, combined with the technologically driven information and communications revolution, meant that public managers must think and act on a transitional basis.
He said an important component of the ongoing reforms was the recognition of the critical importance of the role of the human resource and the extent of managing its capabilities to secure successful reform outcomes.
The Head of the Civil Service, Mr Joe D. Issachar, said Africa was a continent that faced unprecedented opportunity to engage the developed world in trade and culture exchange, to build relationships of mutual benefit with other developing nations of the South.
He said the successful implementation of the NEPAD agenda would depend to a significant degree on inputs from the public service.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Timothy Gobah
THE Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called on the leadership of the African Public Service to encourage reforms that are homegrown and environmentally adaptable as a way of solving Africa’s development challenges.
“In doing this, we should not ignore our history, traditions, values and aspirations as well as our inherent strength and weaknesses,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama made the call when he opened the 30th African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) Roundtable conference in Accra yesterday.
The six-day conference is designed to provide an independent open environment for networking, to share information, identify and test ideas, exchange experience and discuss strategies for raising the performance levels of the African Public Service in order to bring development and prosperity to the continent.
It is on the theme: ”Enhancing the Performance of the Public Service in a Developmental State” with participants from Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Swaziland and Lesotho, among others.
He said concerns over current levels of performance in the public service in Africa were largely legitimate because the service played such a critical role in national development that any effort aimed at promoting its efficiency ought to be supported.
He said in terms of resource endowment, Africa was by no means a poor continent, but noted, however, that over the years its vast resources had been exploited by Western countries with the active collusion of local compradors to develop their economies.
Alhaji Mahama said while the continent’s citizens wallowed in poverty and disease its leaders looked outside the borders for handouts that eventually kept its people in perpetual debt due to an unfair world economic order.
“The question often posed is how should African countries manage and utilise these resources for the benefit of the vast majority of their people?” he noted.
He said the public service the world over were burdened with excessive control, bureaucracy, political interference or lack of political will to improve the service and its management.
“In our part of the world, these are compounded by ethnicity, patronage and other forms of management style which inhibit performance,” he said.
The Minister of Public Sector Reform, Mr Samuel Owusu-Agyei, said the effective delivery of public service was key to a functional state and economy yet making sure that these functions were carried out effectively was becoming more complex and challenging.
He said the globalisation phenomenon, combined with the technologically driven information and communications revolution, meant that public managers must think and act on a transitional basis.
He said an important component of the ongoing reforms was the recognition of the critical importance of the role of the human resource and the extent of managing its capabilities to secure successful reform outcomes.
The Head of the Civil Service, Mr Joe D. Issachar, said Africa was a continent that faced unprecedented opportunity to engage the developed world in trade and culture exchange, to build relationships of mutual benefit with other developing nations of the South.
He said the successful implementation of the NEPAD agenda would depend to a significant degree on inputs from the public service.
Be guided by truth and justice
Spread (Lead) October 6/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
A Special church service to usher in the 51st Legal Year has been held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Accra with a call on members of the Judicial Service and the Bar to be guided by truth and justice in the discharge of their duties.
The Most Reverend John Setamu, the Archbishop of York, who made the call in a sermon to mark the day, said it behoved members of the “noble profession” to always discharge their duties without fear or favour to enable them to maintain the dignity and trust reposed in the profession.
The new legal year is on the theme “Access to justice: Consolidating judicial accountability and integrity” and is expected to be full of exciting activities, particularly as Ghanaians prepare to go to the polls in December to elect a new President and members of the legislature.
The ceremony, which was beamed live on national television and graced by the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, first began with a colourful procession of all the Justices of the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court followed by those in the High Court, Circuit Courts, Tribunal Chairmen and the District Magistrates before the clergy.
Most Reverend Setamu, the second in command of the Anglican Church world-wide after the Archbishop of Canterbury, admitted that the profession was a challenging one but noted that it was necessary for the Judiciary to ensure that it was always guided by the principles as per the scriptures and deliver justice at all times.
He said it was necessary for them to show love and be religious without compromising their positions when it came to the interpretation of the law.
The Most Reverend Setamu said cases were brought before them because the truth needed to prevail and it was up to them to ensure that justice prevailed without fear or favour.
In a goodwill message, as captured in the ceremonial brochure, Mrs Wood said the theme underscored the intention of the Judiciary to further entrench efforts at contributing to a just and democratic society.
“We do already have in place systems which ensure accountability and transparency at even the highest levels of the courts structure; the duty to give reasons, the appellate and review systems, as well as the systems for complaints are all recognised methods of accountability,” she said.
Mrs Wood expressed the hope that the service would deepen these democratic values through the pursuit of accountability and integrity in enhancing initiatives.
“As we prepare for the December 2008 national elections, it has become increasingly clear that a truly impartial and independent, effective judiciary is sine qua non for national peace and stability,” she said.
Mrs Wood noted that a judiciary which willingly subjects itself to the principles of accountability, transparency and the highest judicial integrity has not much difficulty winning the respect, trust and confidence of the people it sought to serve.
To that end, she expressed the hope that “each one of us all, in our private and official capacities, will contribute to peaceful, free and fair elections”.
The Reverend Dr Justice Offei Akrofi, Primate and Archbishop of West Africa and Bishop of the Anglican Church in Accra, said prayers for the President and his Vice, the Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, the Judiciary, Members of Parliament and all Ghanaians for a peaceful elections.
Also present at the ceremony, which lasted a little over two hours, were the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Ebenezer Sakyi Hughes and his wife, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Joe Ghartey.
Early on, Mrs Wood, Mr Ghartey and Mr Benson Nutsukpui, acting President of the Ghana Bar Association, did the first, second and third scripture readings respectively.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
A Special church service to usher in the 51st Legal Year has been held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Accra with a call on members of the Judicial Service and the Bar to be guided by truth and justice in the discharge of their duties.
The Most Reverend John Setamu, the Archbishop of York, who made the call in a sermon to mark the day, said it behoved members of the “noble profession” to always discharge their duties without fear or favour to enable them to maintain the dignity and trust reposed in the profession.
The new legal year is on the theme “Access to justice: Consolidating judicial accountability and integrity” and is expected to be full of exciting activities, particularly as Ghanaians prepare to go to the polls in December to elect a new President and members of the legislature.
The ceremony, which was beamed live on national television and graced by the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, first began with a colourful procession of all the Justices of the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court followed by those in the High Court, Circuit Courts, Tribunal Chairmen and the District Magistrates before the clergy.
Most Reverend Setamu, the second in command of the Anglican Church world-wide after the Archbishop of Canterbury, admitted that the profession was a challenging one but noted that it was necessary for the Judiciary to ensure that it was always guided by the principles as per the scriptures and deliver justice at all times.
He said it was necessary for them to show love and be religious without compromising their positions when it came to the interpretation of the law.
The Most Reverend Setamu said cases were brought before them because the truth needed to prevail and it was up to them to ensure that justice prevailed without fear or favour.
In a goodwill message, as captured in the ceremonial brochure, Mrs Wood said the theme underscored the intention of the Judiciary to further entrench efforts at contributing to a just and democratic society.
“We do already have in place systems which ensure accountability and transparency at even the highest levels of the courts structure; the duty to give reasons, the appellate and review systems, as well as the systems for complaints are all recognised methods of accountability,” she said.
Mrs Wood expressed the hope that the service would deepen these democratic values through the pursuit of accountability and integrity in enhancing initiatives.
“As we prepare for the December 2008 national elections, it has become increasingly clear that a truly impartial and independent, effective judiciary is sine qua non for national peace and stability,” she said.
Mrs Wood noted that a judiciary which willingly subjects itself to the principles of accountability, transparency and the highest judicial integrity has not much difficulty winning the respect, trust and confidence of the people it sought to serve.
To that end, she expressed the hope that “each one of us all, in our private and official capacities, will contribute to peaceful, free and fair elections”.
The Reverend Dr Justice Offei Akrofi, Primate and Archbishop of West Africa and Bishop of the Anglican Church in Accra, said prayers for the President and his Vice, the Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, the Judiciary, Members of Parliament and all Ghanaians for a peaceful elections.
Also present at the ceremony, which lasted a little over two hours, were the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Ebenezer Sakyi Hughes and his wife, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Joe Ghartey.
Early on, Mrs Wood, Mr Ghartey and Mr Benson Nutsukpui, acting President of the Ghana Bar Association, did the first, second and third scripture readings respectively.
Protect Gains
Front (lead) October 1, 2008
Story: Nehemiah Owusu Achiaw & Charles Benoni Okine
THE President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, has asked Ghanaians to safeguard the numerous successes that the country has achieved over the last eight years by contributing their quota towards a peaceful and incident-free general election.
He cited the unprecedented road infrastructure in the country, improvement in health, the opportunities opened up in the educational sector and a relatively stable and resilient economy as some of the major achievements which should not be compromised.
President Kufuor, clad in a green agbada, made the call when he addressed a large gathering of Muslims, including his Vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, to celebrate this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr at the Independence Square in Accra yesterday.
The occasion, which also attracted some members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of State and Members of Parliament, was the last to be attended by the President in his present capacity.
He and his Vice were both presented with gifts by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, in recognition of their selfless stewardship of the nation so far.
President Kufuor said sections of the public were using some of the challenges that characterised the recent limited registration exercise conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) to predict a violent electoral process in December.
“I have asked the EC to use the experiences that characterised the registration process as a guide to ensure a successful process before December and beyond,” he said.
To that end, he entreated all Ghanaians to play their part to ensure that the elections were conducted in a free and fair manner for the nation to be at peace as always.
“On the part of my government, we will do nothing to undermine the electoral process,” President Kufuor assured the gathering, to spontaneous cheers.
He said Ghanaians owe it a duty to ensure that the country was at peace at all times and reiterated his call for all to be alert to their responsibilities.
President Kufuor asked the people to exercise their franchise without fear of any intimidation from any quarters, since the government was at hand to ensure that nothing untoward happened to mar the electoral process.
The President used the occasion to challenge Muslims to send their children, particularly the girls, to school, saying
the greatest future and legacy parents could give to their children was education and noted that that needed to be taken seriously to mould them into society.
The President said the country now had a lot of women in high positions and mentioned the present Chief Justice, among others, as a role model.
He commended the National Chief Imam for setting up a committee to manage this year’s Hajj and wished would-be pilgrims well as they embarked on that religious journey.
President Kufuor expressed his gratitude to the Muslim community for their contributions towards his administration and noted that through that support his government had achieved a lot for the nation.
“I would like to entreat you all to give my successor, whoever it may be, the same support so that we can all achieve what we desire for ourselves,” he said.
Sheikh Sharubutu, in his welcoming address, had praised President Kufuor’s administration for the number of successes that the country had witnessed over the past years.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Chief Imam also added his voice to calls for peace during the elections to sustain the stability that the country had enjoyed over the years.
He said Ghana, through President Kufuor, had managed to broker peace in countries on the continent that were at war and wondered why Ghanaians could not ensure that the peace that was being enjoyed was upheld.
Sheikh Sharubutu expressed the hope that the entire country would rally behind the leadership of the nation to ensure that this year’s general election was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere that would make the country the target of envy on the continent.
Sheikh Sharubutu reminded Muslims that the country was a secular nation which practised secular education, adding that it was against that background that they needed to educate their children for them to be able to take up respectable positions in society as they contributed positively to national development.
Early on, prayers had been said for the nation and the soul of the departed Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, who passed away in South Africa last week.
Story: Nehemiah Owusu Achiaw & Charles Benoni Okine
THE President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, has asked Ghanaians to safeguard the numerous successes that the country has achieved over the last eight years by contributing their quota towards a peaceful and incident-free general election.
He cited the unprecedented road infrastructure in the country, improvement in health, the opportunities opened up in the educational sector and a relatively stable and resilient economy as some of the major achievements which should not be compromised.
President Kufuor, clad in a green agbada, made the call when he addressed a large gathering of Muslims, including his Vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, to celebrate this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr at the Independence Square in Accra yesterday.
The occasion, which also attracted some members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of State and Members of Parliament, was the last to be attended by the President in his present capacity.
He and his Vice were both presented with gifts by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, in recognition of their selfless stewardship of the nation so far.
President Kufuor said sections of the public were using some of the challenges that characterised the recent limited registration exercise conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) to predict a violent electoral process in December.
“I have asked the EC to use the experiences that characterised the registration process as a guide to ensure a successful process before December and beyond,” he said.
To that end, he entreated all Ghanaians to play their part to ensure that the elections were conducted in a free and fair manner for the nation to be at peace as always.
“On the part of my government, we will do nothing to undermine the electoral process,” President Kufuor assured the gathering, to spontaneous cheers.
He said Ghanaians owe it a duty to ensure that the country was at peace at all times and reiterated his call for all to be alert to their responsibilities.
President Kufuor asked the people to exercise their franchise without fear of any intimidation from any quarters, since the government was at hand to ensure that nothing untoward happened to mar the electoral process.
The President used the occasion to challenge Muslims to send their children, particularly the girls, to school, saying
the greatest future and legacy parents could give to their children was education and noted that that needed to be taken seriously to mould them into society.
The President said the country now had a lot of women in high positions and mentioned the present Chief Justice, among others, as a role model.
He commended the National Chief Imam for setting up a committee to manage this year’s Hajj and wished would-be pilgrims well as they embarked on that religious journey.
President Kufuor expressed his gratitude to the Muslim community for their contributions towards his administration and noted that through that support his government had achieved a lot for the nation.
“I would like to entreat you all to give my successor, whoever it may be, the same support so that we can all achieve what we desire for ourselves,” he said.
Sheikh Sharubutu, in his welcoming address, had praised President Kufuor’s administration for the number of successes that the country had witnessed over the past years.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Chief Imam also added his voice to calls for peace during the elections to sustain the stability that the country had enjoyed over the years.
He said Ghana, through President Kufuor, had managed to broker peace in countries on the continent that were at war and wondered why Ghanaians could not ensure that the peace that was being enjoyed was upheld.
Sheikh Sharubutu expressed the hope that the entire country would rally behind the leadership of the nation to ensure that this year’s general election was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere that would make the country the target of envy on the continent.
Sheikh Sharubutu reminded Muslims that the country was a secular nation which practised secular education, adding that it was against that background that they needed to educate their children for them to be able to take up respectable positions in society as they contributed positively to national development.
Early on, prayers had been said for the nation and the soul of the departed Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, who passed away in South Africa last week.
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