Spread (lead) Nov. 14/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE last downward review of petroleum prices is not the actual reflection of the drop in the price of crude oil on the international market, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has said.
It explained that the move was purely intended to ensure a recovery from the huge losses that had been incurred over the period when adjustments in the prices were frozen.
Speaking to the media in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive of the NPA, Mr John Attafuah, noted that “the average decrease by our calculations was about 17 per cent but the authority, in consultations with the wholesalers, allowed only an average of 10 per cent reduction in the ex-pump prices to allow for the recovery of some of their losses”.
Analysts and members of the public had challenged the authority to come clean on the review as announced since November 1, 2008 because the percentage reduction in the prices was not a true reflection of what had transpired with respect to the downward prices on the international market.
The NPA boss said as per the arrangement between the NPA and the wholesalers, the recovery per month would be $12 million until the losses incurred had been fully recovered.
Mr Attafuah said the losses incurred since the freeze in May this year stood at $168 million.
He noted that despite the increases in crude oil prices to a record $147 per barrel on July 14, 2008, the motoring public in Ghana continued to buy fuel at prices set on May 3, 2008 when the crude price was $116 per barrel.
“Two very important factors used in the determination of petroleum product prices on the local market are world prices of crude oil and products and the exchange rate between the cedi and the US dollar. While the prices of crude oil and petroleum products were on the decline on the world market, the dollar, on the other hand, strengthened against the cedi, thereby making the local prices of petroleum products still high, compared to those set on May 3, 2008,” he said, adding, for instance, that “gas oil prices could have reached GH¢6.5 per gallon at the height of the crisis”.
Mr Attafuah also indicated that although the price premium in US dollar per litre was below the May 3, 2008 level from September 1, 2008, “the price premium in Ghana cedi per litre was higher than the May 3, 2008 figure”.
“It was not until October 16, 2008 that the price of premium, 70.850Gp per litre, started going below the May 3 levels of 76.3682Gp per litre,” he added.
Mr Attafuah noted that the “impact of the exchange rate on prices is the same for all the petroleum products”.
He said the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Bulk Oil Traders were expected to begin the recovery of their losses from November 1, 2008 when the prices were reviewed.
“We either pay it from the national budget or allow the NPA to manage its recovery through the pricing mechanisms,” he said.
Mr Attafuah said the NPA, by its mandate, was expected to protect the interest of both consumers and petroleum service providers.
“While we expect consumers to benefit from the price reductions on the world market, it is also important for us to ensure that petroleum service providers do not suffer unduly,” he said.
He said the decisions taken were the prerogative of the authority.
Contrary to public perceptions about the authority not being autonomous of governmental control, he insisted, “We have always worked to ensure the independence of the NPA, particularly with regard to the operational aspects of our mandate.”
“Indeed, the NPA Act, Act 691, 2005, requires that the authority, in performing its functions, shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority other than the minister who may give policy directions,” he added.
Reacting to speculations that some of the oil marketing companies (OMCs) refused to quote the new prices when the downward reviews were announced, he said the monitoring division of the NPA was at hand to check the allegations but found none contravening the directive.
He urged any person who identified any OMC not quoting the new prices to report to the authority for action.
On transport fares, he said the NPA had no authority over the control of transportation fares and indicated that that responsibility fell solely on transport organisations.
Mr Attafuah said the NPA had held meetings with the executives of the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council prior to the announcement to discuss a review of the fares.
He pleaded with the council and other bodies in the transport business to allow some respite in the fares in view of the reduction in petroleum prices.
Premium petrol, which stood at 118.53Gp per litre is now selling at 106.65Gp, while gas oil (diesel) also sells at 109.85Gp per litre from the previous price of 120Gp.
Kerosene has also been reduced from 135Gp per litre to 102Gp, while premix fuel, the special fuel used in running outboard motors by fishermen at sea, is going for 66.12Gp per litre from 73.48Gp.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has also been reduced from the 100.44Gp per kilogramme to 91.91Gp per kilogramme.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
SSNIT registers tremedious growth
Page 55 (lead) November 10/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) scheme has grown from GH¢630 million in 2003 to Gh¢1,639.8 million as of the end of last year.
This represents a positive growth of 160 per cent.
The trust also recorded a real return of 10.9 per cent on it investments last year, as against 4.3 per cent the previous year.
The Chairman of the SSNIT Board, Mr John Saka Addo, who announced this at the fourth SSNIT Stakeholders Forum in Accra, said the achievements placed the trust in a good stead to meet its obligations and liabilities in the years ahead.
The forum, which brought together a large number of contributors to the scheme, pensioners and the general public, afforded the stakeholders the opportunity to see the financial strength of the trust and the way forward.
Mr Addo said the trust was also able to reduce administrative cost ratio of contribution collection from 23 per cent to 14 per cent and noted, “We will not relent in our efforts and we shall pursue even more aggressive and prudent measures to be more efficient and judicious in managing the resources entrusted to us.”
He said while for the first time in the history of the trust it was able to record 102,567 new members last year, the pension population also recorded a steady increase of 10.39 per cent from 73,311 in 2006 to 80,952 in 2007.
He said the effort to recover social security contribution arrears recorded some modest gains and that reduced the cumulative indebtedness to 14.14 per cent of contributions, as against 15 per cent of contributions in 2006.
“We need to stress that the indebtedness of some distressed state-owned enterprises has greatly impacted on our overall debt recovery performance,” he said, adding, “We hope that in the coming years SSNIT and the government will agree on acceptable terms to settle those debts.”
In his report, the Director-General of the trust, Mr Kwasi Osei, said the results presented indicated that SSNIT was making steady progress in all its operational areas.
“A total amount of GH¢384.97 million was collected as contributions in 2007. This represented an increase of 34.23 per cent over the amount of GH¢286.80 million collected in 2006,” he said.
The chunk of the collection, he said, was payment from the private sector and the remaining from the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
He said the trust had been audited by external auditors who reported that in its present state it was solvent until 2042.
However, Mr Osei said the management of SSNIT would continue to review its operations and embark on more aggressive campaigns to ensure that the scheme lasted a lifetime because of its role in guaranteeing the future security of workers in the country.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) scheme has grown from GH¢630 million in 2003 to Gh¢1,639.8 million as of the end of last year.
This represents a positive growth of 160 per cent.
The trust also recorded a real return of 10.9 per cent on it investments last year, as against 4.3 per cent the previous year.
The Chairman of the SSNIT Board, Mr John Saka Addo, who announced this at the fourth SSNIT Stakeholders Forum in Accra, said the achievements placed the trust in a good stead to meet its obligations and liabilities in the years ahead.
The forum, which brought together a large number of contributors to the scheme, pensioners and the general public, afforded the stakeholders the opportunity to see the financial strength of the trust and the way forward.
Mr Addo said the trust was also able to reduce administrative cost ratio of contribution collection from 23 per cent to 14 per cent and noted, “We will not relent in our efforts and we shall pursue even more aggressive and prudent measures to be more efficient and judicious in managing the resources entrusted to us.”
He said while for the first time in the history of the trust it was able to record 102,567 new members last year, the pension population also recorded a steady increase of 10.39 per cent from 73,311 in 2006 to 80,952 in 2007.
He said the effort to recover social security contribution arrears recorded some modest gains and that reduced the cumulative indebtedness to 14.14 per cent of contributions, as against 15 per cent of contributions in 2006.
“We need to stress that the indebtedness of some distressed state-owned enterprises has greatly impacted on our overall debt recovery performance,” he said, adding, “We hope that in the coming years SSNIT and the government will agree on acceptable terms to settle those debts.”
In his report, the Director-General of the trust, Mr Kwasi Osei, said the results presented indicated that SSNIT was making steady progress in all its operational areas.
“A total amount of GH¢384.97 million was collected as contributions in 2007. This represented an increase of 34.23 per cent over the amount of GH¢286.80 million collected in 2006,” he said.
The chunk of the collection, he said, was payment from the private sector and the remaining from the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
He said the trust had been audited by external auditors who reported that in its present state it was solvent until 2042.
However, Mr Osei said the management of SSNIT would continue to review its operations and embark on more aggressive campaigns to ensure that the scheme lasted a lifetime because of its role in guaranteeing the future security of workers in the country.
Hundreds mourn Baah-Wiredu
Front page, Novermber 7/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
SEVERAL hundreds of mourners and sympathisers from all walks of life yesterday converged on the forecourt of the State House to participate in the solemn state funeral in honour of one of the country’s finest Finance and Economic Planning Ministers, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.
As early as 6.00 a.m., the coffin of the late minister, who died in South Africa at the age of 56, was placed under a special tent decorated in black and red, with beautiful flowers placed at the four corners, and opened for public viewing.
Gorgeously dressed in a black suit, a white shirt with a black bow tie to march, Baah-Wiredu, once an agile and active minister, lay motionless in a coffin, with his lower part covered with a rich Kente cloth.
The chief mourner, President J.A. Kufuor, and his wife, Theresa, arrived at the funeral grounds at exactly 9.30 a.m., shortly after the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and his wife, Ramatu, had arrived to pay their last respects to the first minister to be appointed in the regime of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2001.
Also present to pay their last respects were the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes; the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Woods, Members of Parliament, members of the Council of State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of State, representatives of the various political parties and their flag bearers and a cross-section of the general public.
Earlier, before the President and his entourage arrived, the officiating minister, the Very Reverend Titus Awortwi Pratt, the Superintendent Minister of the Mount Olivet Methodist Church, Dansoman, the late minister’s place of worship, had asked the public to file past the body to pay their last respects.
While they did so, the Mount Olivet Methodist Church Choir and the Ghana Police Band respectively sang and played solemn hymnals from the Methodist Hymn Book to console the many sympathisers.
The coffin, after it had been closed, was draped in the national flag as a sign of respect and recognition of the dedicated duties the late minister had performed when he was alive.
In a tribute to Baah-Wiredu, who was honoured post-humorously by the international community as the African Finance Minister of the Year, President Kufuor described him as one who was very much concerned with the development of all.
“It is a matter of public record that when I was first sworn in as President of the Republic, the first ministerial appointment I made was Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. I had no hesitation and he did not let me down. Indeed, in the two other portfolios that he later held, he was exemplary,” the President added in the tribute read on his behalf by the Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSIs, Mr Papa Owusu-Ankomah.
Parliament, for its part, said, “Death has stung the nation yet another time. The sting is monstrously venomous, the time most unpropitious, and the victim most humble, most unassuming, spring-bouncy, variegating-haired son of the soil in whom the nation is well pleased.”
Tributes by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, his former church, Mount Olivet Methodist, Dansoman, the Diplomatic Corps and the Bretons Wood institutions were also read in his honour.
In a sermon chosen from the Gospel of John 14: 1-6, 27, the Right Reverend Abraham Tagoe, the Methodist Bishop of Accra, asked public officers to take a cue from the work examples of the late Finance Minister in order to earn themselves the name and honour when they were also no more.
Rev Tagoe used the occasion to call on Ghanaians to be at peace with one another and carefully consider the various messages presented by the political parties contesting the December general election before casting their votes to elect a new administration to govern the nation.
The body was later conveyed to his home town, Agogo in the Asante-Akyem District, for another burial service and burial on Saturday.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
SEVERAL hundreds of mourners and sympathisers from all walks of life yesterday converged on the forecourt of the State House to participate in the solemn state funeral in honour of one of the country’s finest Finance and Economic Planning Ministers, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.
As early as 6.00 a.m., the coffin of the late minister, who died in South Africa at the age of 56, was placed under a special tent decorated in black and red, with beautiful flowers placed at the four corners, and opened for public viewing.
Gorgeously dressed in a black suit, a white shirt with a black bow tie to march, Baah-Wiredu, once an agile and active minister, lay motionless in a coffin, with his lower part covered with a rich Kente cloth.
The chief mourner, President J.A. Kufuor, and his wife, Theresa, arrived at the funeral grounds at exactly 9.30 a.m., shortly after the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and his wife, Ramatu, had arrived to pay their last respects to the first minister to be appointed in the regime of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2001.
Also present to pay their last respects were the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes; the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Woods, Members of Parliament, members of the Council of State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of State, representatives of the various political parties and their flag bearers and a cross-section of the general public.
Earlier, before the President and his entourage arrived, the officiating minister, the Very Reverend Titus Awortwi Pratt, the Superintendent Minister of the Mount Olivet Methodist Church, Dansoman, the late minister’s place of worship, had asked the public to file past the body to pay their last respects.
While they did so, the Mount Olivet Methodist Church Choir and the Ghana Police Band respectively sang and played solemn hymnals from the Methodist Hymn Book to console the many sympathisers.
The coffin, after it had been closed, was draped in the national flag as a sign of respect and recognition of the dedicated duties the late minister had performed when he was alive.
In a tribute to Baah-Wiredu, who was honoured post-humorously by the international community as the African Finance Minister of the Year, President Kufuor described him as one who was very much concerned with the development of all.
“It is a matter of public record that when I was first sworn in as President of the Republic, the first ministerial appointment I made was Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. I had no hesitation and he did not let me down. Indeed, in the two other portfolios that he later held, he was exemplary,” the President added in the tribute read on his behalf by the Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSIs, Mr Papa Owusu-Ankomah.
Parliament, for its part, said, “Death has stung the nation yet another time. The sting is monstrously venomous, the time most unpropitious, and the victim most humble, most unassuming, spring-bouncy, variegating-haired son of the soil in whom the nation is well pleased.”
Tributes by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, his former church, Mount Olivet Methodist, Dansoman, the Diplomatic Corps and the Bretons Wood institutions were also read in his honour.
In a sermon chosen from the Gospel of John 14: 1-6, 27, the Right Reverend Abraham Tagoe, the Methodist Bishop of Accra, asked public officers to take a cue from the work examples of the late Finance Minister in order to earn themselves the name and honour when they were also no more.
Rev Tagoe used the occasion to call on Ghanaians to be at peace with one another and carefully consider the various messages presented by the political parties contesting the December general election before casting their votes to elect a new administration to govern the nation.
The body was later conveyed to his home town, Agogo in the Asante-Akyem District, for another burial service and burial on Saturday.
SSNIT to undertake prudent investments
Buisness page, November 7/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has indicated that it will continue to invest the contributions of workers of its social security scheme in profitable ventures.
The move, it said was to enable the Trust to have better returns to sustain the scheme.
The Director-General of the Trust, Mr Kwasi Osei, gave the assurance when he delivered a report on the scheme at the Fourth SSNIT Stakeholders forum in Accra.
The forum which attracted a large number of employers and workers provided a platform for the public to review the performance of the scheme in order to chart the way forward.
“Investment is one of the critical functions in the management of the social security scheme; As a partially funded scheme, we are challenged to maximise the returns on the contributions to enable us meet payment of benefits as and when they fall due”, he said.
The total investment portfolio of SSNIT as of the end of December 2007 grew by 37 per cent from Gh¢1,195.2 million in 2007 to Gh¢1,639.8 million.
Mr Osei said the Trust was also adopting the aggressive application of the social security statute to enforce compliance by recalcitrant employers.
This measure is in respect of employers total indebtedness to SSNIT in respect of social security contribution as of December 31, 2007 which stood at Gh¢54.44 million, representing an increase of 26.5 per cent over the previous year’s figure of Gh¢43.03 million.
Mr Osei said the Trust would also prosecute defaulting employers.
He said while doing so, the Trust would not ignore negotiations for payment of contribution arrears by genuinely distressed employers.
During the public forum, members congratulated the management and board of the Trust for the openness in which the scheme was being operated and called for the pensions paid to be increased to reflect the present economic conditions prevailing in the country.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has indicated that it will continue to invest the contributions of workers of its social security scheme in profitable ventures.
The move, it said was to enable the Trust to have better returns to sustain the scheme.
The Director-General of the Trust, Mr Kwasi Osei, gave the assurance when he delivered a report on the scheme at the Fourth SSNIT Stakeholders forum in Accra.
The forum which attracted a large number of employers and workers provided a platform for the public to review the performance of the scheme in order to chart the way forward.
“Investment is one of the critical functions in the management of the social security scheme; As a partially funded scheme, we are challenged to maximise the returns on the contributions to enable us meet payment of benefits as and when they fall due”, he said.
The total investment portfolio of SSNIT as of the end of December 2007 grew by 37 per cent from Gh¢1,195.2 million in 2007 to Gh¢1,639.8 million.
Mr Osei said the Trust was also adopting the aggressive application of the social security statute to enforce compliance by recalcitrant employers.
This measure is in respect of employers total indebtedness to SSNIT in respect of social security contribution as of December 31, 2007 which stood at Gh¢54.44 million, representing an increase of 26.5 per cent over the previous year’s figure of Gh¢43.03 million.
Mr Osei said the Trust would also prosecute defaulting employers.
He said while doing so, the Trust would not ignore negotiations for payment of contribution arrears by genuinely distressed employers.
During the public forum, members congratulated the management and board of the Trust for the openness in which the scheme was being operated and called for the pensions paid to be increased to reflect the present economic conditions prevailing in the country.
Aliu launches special fund on human trafficking
Page 47 (lead) November/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Emma Ballantine Dykes
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has launched a special fund to support the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at the elimination of human trafficking.
The fund will be under the control of the Human Trafficking Board, headed by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. Ministries, including Health, Education, Science and Sports, Manpower, Youth and Employment and the Interior, are also represented on the board.
Alhaji Mahama condemned trafficking of any kind, ranging from the relocation of a child to work in the house of a relative to the highly organised criminal activities which lured vulnerable individuals into sex slavery or bonded labour.
He added that the government was committed to addressing trafficking within the country and said that “rigorous interrogation and effective remedial measures” were needed.
The Vice-President explained that Ghana already subscribed to a comprehensive legislature and programme framework aimed at tackling the menace and had signed various international treaties and agreements.
“The Human Trafficking Act of 2005 (Act 694) is expected to be the spear point that drives other rules forward. In this regard, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs has detailed national action plans for effective implementation involving partnerships with relevant agencies, international development partners and civil society groups,” he stated.
He also drew attention to the various government schemes already in place which were designed to address the needs of those made vulnerable to trafficking due to poverty, mentioning the LEAP programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
He emphasised, however, that those measures could only be successful if individuals appreciated the role they had to play in the campaign against human trafficking.
“Law enforcement agencies in particular need to be sensitive in their dealings because cross-border agreements are only as effective as the will to enforce them,” he warned.
The Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama, also underlined the seriousness of the issue, describing human trafficking as “a dehumanising heinous crime” which called for concerted effort for its elimination from society.
She gave assurance that developing the institutions involved in ending human trafficking and helping victims was a key aim of the Human Trafficking Board, adding that initiatives were already underway to sensitise and build the capacity of government officials, law enforcement and security agencies, the judiciary, civil society organisations, the media, religious bodies and children.
She highlighted the board’s efforts at assisting in the rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficked persons, providing support in the form of school uniforms, clothing, micro-finance and alternative livelihood skills training.
Hajia Mahama added that through interaction with community opinion leaders, chiefs, traditional rulers and queens, the board hoped to raise awareness of the issue in communities identified as ‘sending’ and ‘receiving’ areas.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Emma Ballantine Dykes
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has launched a special fund to support the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at the elimination of human trafficking.
The fund will be under the control of the Human Trafficking Board, headed by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. Ministries, including Health, Education, Science and Sports, Manpower, Youth and Employment and the Interior, are also represented on the board.
Alhaji Mahama condemned trafficking of any kind, ranging from the relocation of a child to work in the house of a relative to the highly organised criminal activities which lured vulnerable individuals into sex slavery or bonded labour.
He added that the government was committed to addressing trafficking within the country and said that “rigorous interrogation and effective remedial measures” were needed.
The Vice-President explained that Ghana already subscribed to a comprehensive legislature and programme framework aimed at tackling the menace and had signed various international treaties and agreements.
“The Human Trafficking Act of 2005 (Act 694) is expected to be the spear point that drives other rules forward. In this regard, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs has detailed national action plans for effective implementation involving partnerships with relevant agencies, international development partners and civil society groups,” he stated.
He also drew attention to the various government schemes already in place which were designed to address the needs of those made vulnerable to trafficking due to poverty, mentioning the LEAP programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
He emphasised, however, that those measures could only be successful if individuals appreciated the role they had to play in the campaign against human trafficking.
“Law enforcement agencies in particular need to be sensitive in their dealings because cross-border agreements are only as effective as the will to enforce them,” he warned.
The Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama, also underlined the seriousness of the issue, describing human trafficking as “a dehumanising heinous crime” which called for concerted effort for its elimination from society.
She gave assurance that developing the institutions involved in ending human trafficking and helping victims was a key aim of the Human Trafficking Board, adding that initiatives were already underway to sensitise and build the capacity of government officials, law enforcement and security agencies, the judiciary, civil society organisations, the media, religious bodies and children.
She highlighted the board’s efforts at assisting in the rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficked persons, providing support in the form of school uniforms, clothing, micro-finance and alternative livelihood skills training.
Hajia Mahama added that through interaction with community opinion leaders, chiefs, traditional rulers and queens, the board hoped to raise awareness of the issue in communities identified as ‘sending’ and ‘receiving’ areas.
Dont politicise any form of crime
Page 3 (lead) November 4/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Police Administration has asked politicians to desist from politicising every form of crime in the country and allow it to function as per its mandate.
“They should leave us alone to do our work and we can assure them that we will always live above reproach by being fair, neutral and impartial to all,” it added.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic in reaction to calls by the various political parties to the service to demonstrate its impartiality and fairness to all parties contesting the December polls.
The service has come under severe criticisms lately following its handling of various clashes among party supporters, particularly between those of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the parties, mainly those from the opposition side, many perpetrators of crime from the ruling party were let off the hook, while those belonging to the other side were either maltreated by the police or arrested, detained and made to face the full rigours of the law.
But DSP Ofori denied the allegation and said, “People only perceive this because they tend to politicise what we do by looking at what happens with a political eye and through political lenses.”
He said in effecting any arrest, the police did a thorough work to ensure that there was evidence of crime, saying where there was none, they let the suspect go free as per the law.
“By doing this, we are not being impartial because we do not consider the party colours of those we find to be infringing the laws of the country,” DSP Ofori said.
He said the police had never been part of any political party and would not do so under any circumstance.
He added that the police were not directly involved in the elections, saying, “Our duty is to provide security and that is what we are doing, for which we plead to be left alone to do our job.”
On the measures the police were taking to ensure the full protection of ballot boxes, he said, “We, in collaboration with the other security services, are going to deploy men to all the polling stations to ensure that ballot boxes are protected and also prevent any violent acts that may disrupt the voting process.”
He said there was presently in force a National Elections Security Task Force which was ably headed by the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Acheampong, and which comprised all the allied security forces to ensure a successful electoral process.
Asked whether the Police Service was training special forces to rig the elections in favour of the ruling party, as was being speculated in some quarters, he replied in the negative.
He said the Police Administration had special forces in place at all times which routinely trained in preparedness for major events in the country.
“They are a stand-by force which is deployed to maintain law and order when the regular forces are in difficulty and need rapid reinforcement to avoid bloodshed and mayhem,” he said.
DSP Ofori described what was being perceived as a special training to rig the elections in favour of one party as ridiculous, a fabrication and an absolute untruth being told to tarnish the image of the police prior to the December polls.
“We have not, in the history of this country, been held responsible for contributing to the rigging of any election and this is not the time for us to do so because it is not part of our mandate,” he stressed.
He reiterated his call on politicians to allow the service to function the way it ought to, adding that if they did that all would see how professionally the police discharged their mandate as per the law.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Police Administration has asked politicians to desist from politicising every form of crime in the country and allow it to function as per its mandate.
“They should leave us alone to do our work and we can assure them that we will always live above reproach by being fair, neutral and impartial to all,” it added.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic in reaction to calls by the various political parties to the service to demonstrate its impartiality and fairness to all parties contesting the December polls.
The service has come under severe criticisms lately following its handling of various clashes among party supporters, particularly between those of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the parties, mainly those from the opposition side, many perpetrators of crime from the ruling party were let off the hook, while those belonging to the other side were either maltreated by the police or arrested, detained and made to face the full rigours of the law.
But DSP Ofori denied the allegation and said, “People only perceive this because they tend to politicise what we do by looking at what happens with a political eye and through political lenses.”
He said in effecting any arrest, the police did a thorough work to ensure that there was evidence of crime, saying where there was none, they let the suspect go free as per the law.
“By doing this, we are not being impartial because we do not consider the party colours of those we find to be infringing the laws of the country,” DSP Ofori said.
He said the police had never been part of any political party and would not do so under any circumstance.
He added that the police were not directly involved in the elections, saying, “Our duty is to provide security and that is what we are doing, for which we plead to be left alone to do our job.”
On the measures the police were taking to ensure the full protection of ballot boxes, he said, “We, in collaboration with the other security services, are going to deploy men to all the polling stations to ensure that ballot boxes are protected and also prevent any violent acts that may disrupt the voting process.”
He said there was presently in force a National Elections Security Task Force which was ably headed by the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Acheampong, and which comprised all the allied security forces to ensure a successful electoral process.
Asked whether the Police Service was training special forces to rig the elections in favour of the ruling party, as was being speculated in some quarters, he replied in the negative.
He said the Police Administration had special forces in place at all times which routinely trained in preparedness for major events in the country.
“They are a stand-by force which is deployed to maintain law and order when the regular forces are in difficulty and need rapid reinforcement to avoid bloodshed and mayhem,” he said.
DSP Ofori described what was being perceived as a special training to rig the elections in favour of one party as ridiculous, a fabrication and an absolute untruth being told to tarnish the image of the police prior to the December polls.
“We have not, in the history of this country, been held responsible for contributing to the rigging of any election and this is not the time for us to do so because it is not part of our mandate,” he stressed.
He reiterated his call on politicians to allow the service to function the way it ought to, adding that if they did that all would see how professionally the police discharged their mandate as per the law.
Fairness Please
Front page (lead) November 1/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
POLITICAL parties contesting this year’s general elections yesterday asked three institutions — the Electoral Commission, the media and the security agencies — to help create an atmosphere for free elections in December by demonstrating fairness to all.
While committing themselves to ensuring peace wherever they found themselves on the political platform, they said the role of the three institutions were crucial and therefore urged them to eschew partiality and instead demonstrate absolute neutrality.
The parties, represented by either their presidential candidates or running mates, made the call at the Editor’s Forum in Accra, which was meant to provide a common platform for all the leaders of the parties to commit themselves to peace before, during and after the general election.
Party leaders who attended the forum included Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Petra Amegashie, running mate to the presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, running mate to the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Mr T.N. Ward Brew, presidential candidate of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP).
The rest were Mr Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi, presidential candidate of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Mr Kwabena Adjei, the presidential candidate of the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD), a breakaway faction of the NPP.
In turns, each of them demonstrated their commitment to peace, but emphasised that it was also necessary for the youth, as well as the government, to ensure that they fully backed the democratic process by tolerating divergent views from all quarters.
Concerning their placement on the ballot paper, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, who was asked to speak first, said his party , since its establishment, had demonstrated its love for peace and would continue to work towards that at all times.
He said his party’s commitment to peace did not begin this year but in 1992, when, after losing the general election, which he described as largely flawed, the party chose to write a book, “The Stolen Verdict”, which he authored, as a way of expressing the party’s resolve to maintaining peace in the country instead of resorting to violence.
Nana Akufo-Addo then turned his attention to the EC and entreated the commission to act with dispatch in responding to complaints from the political parties to maintain its integrity and credibility among voters.
He urged all media houses to show good judgement when reporting issues that may lead to violence and consequently appealed to the youth not to allow themselves to be used by any political party for any violent activity.
Mrs Amegashie, for her part, said there were agitations in the system because some political parties were not being treated fairly and, therefore, felt cheated.
“Each of us believe we will win but let us resolve that should we not win, we will only go back to learn from our mistakes and launch another campaign when the time is due because we might be lucky next time,” she added.
Mrs Amegashie entreated the parties to be each other’s keeper because each party’s contribution was key to ensuring accelerated development and growth in the country.
She said the media needed to be seen as neutral, adding that “even when there are inflammatory statements on the political platform, the media can tone down the language in their reports to the masses”.
Mr John Mahama of the NDC said the forum was not organised for what he described as a superficial show but for people to frankly indicate and demonstrate their commitment to peace.
He said Ghana was at a critical stage of its existence and said, “We have successfully held four general elections in this country and we cannot afford to fail this fifth time to maintain the goodwill and international respect we have earned as a country”.
Mr Mahama, however, noted that peace could not come when there was a lot of hot air being blown into the system and called on all to truly demonstrate their commitment to peace through their actions and statements.
He cited the role of the Electoral Commission as crucial, saying “the EC has a duty to organise elections in a manner that will not create room for any party to complain about its conduct.
Mr Mahama cited the incidents that characterised the limited registration of new voters, where minors were allegedly registered but the electoral officers and agents refused, for whatever reasons, to turn those minors away and noted that unless the polling assistants and the agents lived up to their responsibilities, there would be avenues for complaints that will not augur well for the democratic process and the peace the nation badly yearned for.
The Presidential candidate of the CPP, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, said the “CPP will continue to engage in politics of ideas and offer our brand of government of inclusion using people; I am offering a soft heart to create a just and caring society and a leadership that will work with great sense of urgency to implement solutions so that our people can enjoy the benefits early”.
While others called on the EC to be steadfast and fair to all, he said the CPP would not do or say anything that would undermine the credibility of the EC because “if the commission loses its credibility, so will the credibility of the elections be lost; if we have anything important to say to them, we will say it to them directly and also during the Inter-party Advisory Committee meetings”.
“We all must acknowledge the fact that we have problems,” he said and noted that “it is important to face the fact that there are differences between the postures of the political parties on the matter of peace; there are differences between the Presidential candidates; there are differences in our backgrounds outside politics and in government”.
He mentioned the role of the media in ensuring peace and brought to the fore some of the reckless attributions and twists given to speeches made on the political platform.
He claimed that he had been a victim of such attributions and twists and indicated that that was not good for the peace of the nation.
The presidential candidate for DFP, Mr Ansah-Antwi, said political parties should demonstrate their unflinching commitment to the election process by signing a pact to abide by the result of the election as the first step to consolidating the gains made since the inception of multi-party democracy in 1993.
“It is only then that we can do away with elements whose unbridled quest for political power, no matter the cost to the general welfare of the people, would be kept in check,” he asserted.
He said the media’s role had become more crucial than ever since democracy could not survive if the media, being the fourth estate of the realm, became aloof when openness and free expressions of thought were suppressed.
“The media cannot overlook the abuses of the liberties of the individual and the freedoms therein, which are vital for the growth and development of society,” he emphasised and affirmed his commitment to peace, noting that, “democracy thrives on openness and it is the media which can ensure this by exposing the failings of official holders and guiding them to their responsibilities”.
Mr T. N. Ward-Brew, for his part, expressed his commitment to peace and urged the electorate to also demonstrate theirs for peaceful elections in December by following the election procedures, and comporting themselves to avoid any disturbances at the polling stations.
He said it was the duty of every Ghanaian to behave well during the elections and called for fairness in each other’s private life as a reflection of the country’s commitment to holding peaceful election.
He later took a swipe at the IEA for what he described as the display of bias and gross injustice to the political parties that were not included in the recent presidential debate.
The RDP presidential candidate, Mr Kwabena Adjei, said it behoved the EC to give the election procedure the needed attention it deserved by not giving any preferential treatment to any political party.
“We are all calling for peace but none is calling for justice,” he stated, adding that the peace being called for was not just for the purposes of the elections but also period after them.
The function was chaired by His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, the Catholic Archbishop of Cape Coast, who expressed the hope that the symposium had created a symphony for peace in the country.
He urged all the candidates to ensure that they backed their words and pledges with deeds to make Ghana a country free of violence.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
POLITICAL parties contesting this year’s general elections yesterday asked three institutions — the Electoral Commission, the media and the security agencies — to help create an atmosphere for free elections in December by demonstrating fairness to all.
While committing themselves to ensuring peace wherever they found themselves on the political platform, they said the role of the three institutions were crucial and therefore urged them to eschew partiality and instead demonstrate absolute neutrality.
The parties, represented by either their presidential candidates or running mates, made the call at the Editor’s Forum in Accra, which was meant to provide a common platform for all the leaders of the parties to commit themselves to peace before, during and after the general election.
Party leaders who attended the forum included Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Petra Amegashie, running mate to the presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, running mate to the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Mr T.N. Ward Brew, presidential candidate of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP).
The rest were Mr Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi, presidential candidate of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Mr Kwabena Adjei, the presidential candidate of the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD), a breakaway faction of the NPP.
In turns, each of them demonstrated their commitment to peace, but emphasised that it was also necessary for the youth, as well as the government, to ensure that they fully backed the democratic process by tolerating divergent views from all quarters.
Concerning their placement on the ballot paper, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, who was asked to speak first, said his party , since its establishment, had demonstrated its love for peace and would continue to work towards that at all times.
He said his party’s commitment to peace did not begin this year but in 1992, when, after losing the general election, which he described as largely flawed, the party chose to write a book, “The Stolen Verdict”, which he authored, as a way of expressing the party’s resolve to maintaining peace in the country instead of resorting to violence.
Nana Akufo-Addo then turned his attention to the EC and entreated the commission to act with dispatch in responding to complaints from the political parties to maintain its integrity and credibility among voters.
He urged all media houses to show good judgement when reporting issues that may lead to violence and consequently appealed to the youth not to allow themselves to be used by any political party for any violent activity.
Mrs Amegashie, for her part, said there were agitations in the system because some political parties were not being treated fairly and, therefore, felt cheated.
“Each of us believe we will win but let us resolve that should we not win, we will only go back to learn from our mistakes and launch another campaign when the time is due because we might be lucky next time,” she added.
Mrs Amegashie entreated the parties to be each other’s keeper because each party’s contribution was key to ensuring accelerated development and growth in the country.
She said the media needed to be seen as neutral, adding that “even when there are inflammatory statements on the political platform, the media can tone down the language in their reports to the masses”.
Mr John Mahama of the NDC said the forum was not organised for what he described as a superficial show but for people to frankly indicate and demonstrate their commitment to peace.
He said Ghana was at a critical stage of its existence and said, “We have successfully held four general elections in this country and we cannot afford to fail this fifth time to maintain the goodwill and international respect we have earned as a country”.
Mr Mahama, however, noted that peace could not come when there was a lot of hot air being blown into the system and called on all to truly demonstrate their commitment to peace through their actions and statements.
He cited the role of the Electoral Commission as crucial, saying “the EC has a duty to organise elections in a manner that will not create room for any party to complain about its conduct.
Mr Mahama cited the incidents that characterised the limited registration of new voters, where minors were allegedly registered but the electoral officers and agents refused, for whatever reasons, to turn those minors away and noted that unless the polling assistants and the agents lived up to their responsibilities, there would be avenues for complaints that will not augur well for the democratic process and the peace the nation badly yearned for.
The Presidential candidate of the CPP, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, said the “CPP will continue to engage in politics of ideas and offer our brand of government of inclusion using people; I am offering a soft heart to create a just and caring society and a leadership that will work with great sense of urgency to implement solutions so that our people can enjoy the benefits early”.
While others called on the EC to be steadfast and fair to all, he said the CPP would not do or say anything that would undermine the credibility of the EC because “if the commission loses its credibility, so will the credibility of the elections be lost; if we have anything important to say to them, we will say it to them directly and also during the Inter-party Advisory Committee meetings”.
“We all must acknowledge the fact that we have problems,” he said and noted that “it is important to face the fact that there are differences between the postures of the political parties on the matter of peace; there are differences between the Presidential candidates; there are differences in our backgrounds outside politics and in government”.
He mentioned the role of the media in ensuring peace and brought to the fore some of the reckless attributions and twists given to speeches made on the political platform.
He claimed that he had been a victim of such attributions and twists and indicated that that was not good for the peace of the nation.
The presidential candidate for DFP, Mr Ansah-Antwi, said political parties should demonstrate their unflinching commitment to the election process by signing a pact to abide by the result of the election as the first step to consolidating the gains made since the inception of multi-party democracy in 1993.
“It is only then that we can do away with elements whose unbridled quest for political power, no matter the cost to the general welfare of the people, would be kept in check,” he asserted.
He said the media’s role had become more crucial than ever since democracy could not survive if the media, being the fourth estate of the realm, became aloof when openness and free expressions of thought were suppressed.
“The media cannot overlook the abuses of the liberties of the individual and the freedoms therein, which are vital for the growth and development of society,” he emphasised and affirmed his commitment to peace, noting that, “democracy thrives on openness and it is the media which can ensure this by exposing the failings of official holders and guiding them to their responsibilities”.
Mr T. N. Ward-Brew, for his part, expressed his commitment to peace and urged the electorate to also demonstrate theirs for peaceful elections in December by following the election procedures, and comporting themselves to avoid any disturbances at the polling stations.
He said it was the duty of every Ghanaian to behave well during the elections and called for fairness in each other’s private life as a reflection of the country’s commitment to holding peaceful election.
He later took a swipe at the IEA for what he described as the display of bias and gross injustice to the political parties that were not included in the recent presidential debate.
The RDP presidential candidate, Mr Kwabena Adjei, said it behoved the EC to give the election procedure the needed attention it deserved by not giving any preferential treatment to any political party.
“We are all calling for peace but none is calling for justice,” he stated, adding that the peace being called for was not just for the purposes of the elections but also period after them.
The function was chaired by His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, the Catholic Archbishop of Cape Coast, who expressed the hope that the symposium had created a symphony for peace in the country.
He urged all the candidates to ensure that they backed their words and pledges with deeds to make Ghana a country free of violence.
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